NOVEMBER 2016 magazine Technology Ages 2 – 5 Years Table of Contents New TK Program 4 16 www.ggmg.org Letter from the Editor: Technology and Kids: The Full Time & Year Round Modern Family Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Using technology rather than being used Nurturing technology smarts BOARD OF DIRECTORS Preschool Bilingual Spanish Option by it Jami Grich Chair Laurel Kellam Kirsten Pfleger Vice Chair Cathy Tran 20 Secretary Laura Kabler Oswell 5 Treasurer Kristen McGuire Must-Have Apps for Busy Moms Letter from the Board: Motherhood: there’s an app for that Community Support Tiffany Bindoo Shaheen Bilgrami External Communications Addie Bjornsen Celebrating Diversity Internal Communications Virginia Green Announcing GGMG’s newest committee Kids Events Justine Simpson Cathy Tran 24 Play-based philosophy Member Engagement Sasha Fahimi Integrating Technology into Operations Laura Kim 6 Elementary Education Enroll Parent Education Katrina Dirksen inspired by Get the 411 on tech in San Francisco Partnerships Shikha Goyal-Allain Out and About classrooms Technology Sarah Soto A Very Alternative Thanksgiving Day in Reggio Emilia and the City Lynn Perkins Jennifer Butterfoss Montessori Now COMMITTEES Li’l Kid, Big City: Ocean Avenue 28 Megan Bushnell Community Support Operations Hey Amazon, Where’s My Toy? Diversity & Inclusion Parent Education Sharing Holiday Warmth The nuts and bolts of one of the world’s Entrepreneurship Partnerships Jenny Shaw biggest retailers th Just for Moms Playgroups Rutuja Khanzode Conveniently located in the Mission near 24 St. BART Kids Activities PR/Marketing 8 Magazine Recruiting Ask the Expert: Detecting and 39 Membership Social Events Newly renovated building features: ♥ Web Team Preventing Cyberbullying I Mom: Dining Together Understanding the perils of cyberspace Light & spacious classrooms, gross motor gym, art and sensory for kids When You’re 3,000 Miles Apart Digital dinners bring a family closer Eve Kupferman studio, playground with garden area, new bathrooms, MAGAZINE Jennifer Hofmann Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Pfleger seismic retrofits, and state of the art security. Managing Editor Sonya Abrams 10 Senior Editor Megan Bushnell Dadlands: Channeling The GGMG at Work Art Director JoJo Rhee Chevalier Good Ol’ Days Repeating history with technology 4 Writers Stephanie AuWerter, Shaheen Bilgrami, Housekeeping tug-of-war Jennifer Butterfoss, Tara Hardesty, Laure Latham, Interested in admissions? Bobby Shukla, Catherine Symon P.J. Leffelman 5 Copy Editors Sarah Brandstetter, Emily deGrassi, Anna Gracia, From Our Readers Contact us: [email protected] Arwen Griffith, Neha Masson, Jenny Shaw, Sandy Woo 12 Advertising Sherri Howe Books for Kids: 9 Designers Jessica Franklin, Jesse Recor, Drives & Contest Visit: sftikesacademy.com Lani Schreibstein, Lora Tomova Science and Engineering For inquiring minds of all ages Photographers Lindsay Lovier, Anna Psalmond, 15 Lic #384002757 (pending) Aviva Roller, Carolyn Soling Laure Latham New Arrivals 32 For information regarding how to advertise in this magazine, 14 GGMG Events contact [email protected]. From Womb to World: For questions or comments regarding magazine content, contact [email protected]. How Activity Trackers Work 34 Opening Fall 2016! For questions or comments regarding all other aspects of GGMG, Demystifying your magic wristband Committee Updates including how to advertise an event to our membership, Catherine Symon please contact [email protected]. Cover Photo by Carolyn Soling Photography; Cover model: Elsa (6), Cora (8) Letter from the Editor: Letter from the Board: Modern Family Celebrating Diversity By Kirsten Pfleger By Cathy Tran odern technology happens in the real world can be challenging. Rutuja Khanzode elcome to November and the start of the busy holiday Board of Directors by is such a core part offers a primer on the magic of Amazon on page 28. On page 24, season! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, engaging our shared of our daily Lynn Perkins delves into how San Francisco schools are using and I am so thankful for this wonderful community of experiences, and promoting a Mexistence that it’s hard to technology in education. Wparents who have shared such great advice and shown each other community of respect that imagine life without it. There is no shortage of apps, devices, and services promising amazing support. The holidays are a time to come together, and honors the humanity of all. Sometimes, I wonder how my to make our lives easier. But who has the time to figure out which an ideal time to celebrate the spirit of inclusion. This work will be parents managed to get ones might actually be worthwhile? On page 20, Shaheen The members of the GGMG Board are a diverse group of women accomplished by creating an through their day without Bilgrami helps you out by creating a list of useful apps specifically representing many socioeconomic backgrounds and family internal culture that is GPS, phones that predict for busy women and parents. Catherine Symon digs into activity makeups. We strive to ensure that GGMG is not only diverse but responsive to the needs and Teresa O’Brien Photography Teresa what you need, and instant trackers on page 14, investigating how they work and why you welcoming and supportive to all moms—no matter their background, assets of diverse cultures and Kirsten loves her smartphone, but sometimes dons communication. Other times, might or might not want one. ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or religion. by adapting the Cathy Tran is mom to two boys, Charlie and a watch and leaves her phone at home, just to see when I’m up late to catch up Instant communication has also changed the way that we With that goal in mind, we have recently created an Inclusion and organization's operations and James, and wife to an amazing and supportive what will happen. on emails or watch a show I interact with one another. On page 39, Jennifer Hofmann shares Diversity Committee, whose mission statement is below: programs to be more attuned husband, Peter. She is the co-host of the parenting podcast The MomVent. In her (limited) DVR’d, I contemplate the how her children have dinner with their grandparents twice a The purpose of the Inclusion and Diversity Committee (IDC) is to to the needs and assets of spare time she enjoys dinners out with friends, luxury of being able to live in the moment. Imagine taking the week, while physically being 3,000 miles apart. On the flip side, (a) identify the inclusion and diversity strengths, issues, and communities of color. nights in watching Bravo, and finding the best time to complete a conversation rather than dashing off hasty Eve Kupferman discusses cyberbullying in our Ask the Expert opportunities within all aspects of GGMG; (b) develop strategies The Inclusion and Diversity breakfast burrito in San Francisco. texts throughout the day, or accepting that we may not have the column on page 8. While technology continues to advance, on and plans to examine ways in which we include and exclude Committee has exciting plans time to watch every show. page 10, P.J. Leffelman reminds us that we are not the first for its initiative, including developing ways to educate members As parents, we often consider how technology affects our generation of parents to tell our kids to “just turn that thing off We strive to ensure that GGMG is not only on various issues surrounding inclusion and on ways to children and our parenting. Jami Grich looks at the current and go outside to play already". So even as we reap the benefits communicate with more sensitivity—with one another and with of technology marching on, some things never change. diverse but welcoming and supportive to our children. The committee will also be promoting educational [W]hen I’m up late to catch up on emails And maybe that's a good thing. all—no matter their background, ethnicity, books and movies for both adults and children. In addition, its socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, members are planning educational seminars and panels, with the or watch a show I DVR’d, I contemplate anticipation of hosting at least two celebratory events next year. the luxury of being able to live in the or religion. We are very excited by the work this committee is already doing, moment. (however unintentionally) GGMG members; (c) systematically and we are looking for more volunteers to contribute to this examine aspects of GGMG to enhance its effectiveness and ability to important work. Please email [email protected] to get started! research concerning the effect of screen time on children’s Thank you to everyone who filled out our survey. meet the needs of its diverse membership; and (d) respectfully cognitive function on page 16. Helping young children understand celebrate cultural events and holidays. The IDC serves the GGMG If you haven't, please take a moment to answer the relationship between what happens virtually and what 6 short questions to help us serve you better. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B2C57Q2 Housekeeping From Our Readers Opinions expressed in this issue are those of the contributors. Acceptance costumes, PSL with lots of extra shots, and all the alcohol during debate of advertising does not constitute endorsement by GGMG of any products or watching, family free conference, toddler talk. services. The editors reserve the right to accept, edit, or reject any content “I just wanted to let you know how much submitted to the magazine. COMING NEXT: December/January—Inclusion; February/March— International; April/May—Fertility I and my 2-yr old son enjoyed last month’s ADVERTISING: Advertisements are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For submission information, email [email protected]. CONTEST: Congratulations to Laura Terlouw, the winner of the perfect issue. He ‘read’ the ‘choo-choo book’ so video keepsake from GrandVideo.