Arts for KidsMay 2018 BROOKLYN FREE Family www.NYParenting.com powerMom mantras Fun crafts for Cinco de Mayo Improving behavior by setting limits New Country Day Camp Transportation from Manhattan and Brooklyn is provided to Staten - Island’s 75 acre Henry Kaufmann Campground, where swimming pools, hiking trails, and open meadows set the scene for a summer of Transportation from Manhattan andadventure Brooklyn and isenrichment provided through to Staten Jewish sensibilities Transportation from Manhattan- and Brooklyn is provided to Staten - acre Henry Kaufmann Campground, where swimming Island’s 75 acreIsland’s Henry Kaufmann 75 Campground, where swimming pools, hikingpools, trails, and hiking open meadowstrails, and set theopen scene meadows for a summer set of the scene for a summer of adventure and adventureenrichment through and enrichment Jewish sensibilities through Jewish sensibilities Campers entering K-8th grades Swimming 2 periods daily Campers entering K-8th grades Camp provided lunch and a�ernoon snack Swimming 2 periods daily served 5 days per week 10 specialized unit ac�vi�es Camp provided lunch taught by experienced staff and a�ernoon snack served 5 days perEmail: week [email protected] Phone: 646-395-4357 10 specialized unit ac � vi � es Campers entering K-8th grades www.newcountrydaycamp.org taught by experienced staff Swimming 2 periods daily Email: [email protected] Phone: 646-395-4357 www.newcountrydaycamp.org Camp provided lunch and a�ernoon snack served 5 days per week 10 specialized unit ac�vi�es taught by experienced staff Email: [email protected] Phone: 646-395-4357 www.newcountrydaycamp.org Brooklyn Family NEW YORK May 2018 Parenting Where every child matters 38 FEATURES COLUMNS 8 Viva DIY! 6 Short Stuff Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with fun crafts BY DENISE YEARIAN 10 Behavior & Beyond BY DR. MARCIE BEIGEL 12 The Montessori mind How this educational approach 28 Just Write Mom promotes mindful learning BY DANIELLE SULLIVAN BY MALIA JACOBSON 30 Family Financial Planning 24 20 ‘Dye’ worrying BY ANTHONY N. CORRAO Daughter’s dabbling with food coloring has this dad on edge 34 Healthy Living BY DANIELLE SULLIVAN BY PATRICK HEmpFING 24 Power mantras for 46 New & Noteworthy BY LISA J. CURTIS mothers Positive self-talk for moms for the whole family’s sake CALENDAR BY ChRISTINA KATZ 38 May Events 26 Double duty Bilingual children’s books entertain and teach kids some valuable skills SPECIAL SECTIONS BY ShNIEKA L. JOHNSON 14 Montessori Directory 32 Discussion vs. discipline 22 Arts Directory Five practical tips about setting limits 27 Bilingual Education BY DR. MARK BERTIN Directory 36 ‘Autism Uncensored’ 45 The Marketplace Mom tells son’s story in autobiography BY ALLISON PLITT 28 May 2018 • BROOKLyn FAMILY 3 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER The Mom factor s spring moves in and New York City kids are Being a Mom is being a part of a larger the days grow warmer, lucky! A mix of almost any- community. One of the great things about A there will be parks to thing you might think of is social media and media in general, ours for visit, ball games to play in available in our city. All kinds example, is that you don’t have to feel iso- and attend, and farmer’s mar- of educational opportuni- lated. You can be having dialogues, seek- kets to shop in. The role of ties and a diverse population ing advice, and enjoying a sense of being mothering our kids will move makes growing and living in a larger family that aids, instructs and from always indoors to often here loaded with languages, sometimes even comforts. outdoors and then we will all cuisines, cultures, and var- That said, we have begun a Mom to celebrate Mother’s Day. ied arts, all of which are pre- Mom Facebook Group with just that intent. Being an engaged Mom is sented throughout the bor- Check it out. a big job. Our kids are our kids even when oughs by not only terrific After school pro- Wishing all of you a very Happy Moth- they are grown, taller than us, and living grams, but also incorporated into many er’s Day! Happy Spring! Thanks for read- on their own, and maybe parenting their of our more interesting and challenging ing. own kids. But when they are new, little and academic institutions. young, the job is more than full-time. The The truth is that in New York City lots of importance of what we do, how we direct options are available and parents are wise them, what lessons of life we teach and to take advantage of them. A well-rounded what exposure we offer them to the world start in life is extremely important, and we Susan Weiss-Voskidis, around our families, can determine their need to give our kids all the positive expo- Publisher/Excutive Editor future to a large degree. sure they can absorb. [email protected] Community News Group Contact Information CEO: Les Goodstein ADVERTISING: WEB OR PRINT ADDRESS PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER: (718) 260-4554 New York Parenting Media/CNG Jennifer Goodstein [email protected] 1 Metrotech Center North 10th Floor CIRCULATION Brooklyn, NY 11201 New York Parenting (718) 260-8336 [email protected] PUBLISHER / EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Susan Weiss EDITORIAL www.NYParenting.com PUBLISHER / BUSINESS MANAGER: (718) 260-4554 Clifford Luster [email protected] OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE: CALENDAR NEW YORK Tina Felicetti (718) 260-2523 SALES REPS: Erin Brof, Mary Cassidy, Parenting Shelli Goldberg-Peck, Jay Pelc ART DIRECTOR: Leah Mitch The acceptance of advertising by New York Join the conversation on Facebook. Parenting does not constitute an endorse- New York Parenting has been recognized for WEB DESIGNER: Sylvan Migdal ment of the products, services or informa- editorial and design excellence by PMA. tion being advertised. We do not knowingly GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Arthur Arutyunov, present any products or services that are New York Parenting is published monthly by Gardy Charles, Earl Ferrer, John Napoli, fraudu lent or misleading in nature. New York Parenting Media/CNG. Subscrip- tion rate is $35 annually. Reproduction of Mark Ramos Editorial inquiries, calendar information, New York Parenting Media in whole or advertising rates and schedules and subscrip- part without written permission from the tion requests may be addressed to New York th publisher is prohibited. All rights reserved. Parenting, One Metro tech Center North, 10 Copyright©2018 MANAGING EDITOR: Vince DiMiceli Floor, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201. ASSISTANT EDITOR: Courtney Donahue New York Parenting can also be reached by COPY EDITOR: Lisa J. Curtis calling (718) 260-4554, emailing Family@ NYParenting.com or by visiting our website, CALENDAR EDITOR: Joanna Del Buono NYParenting.com. 4 BROOKLyn FAMILY • May 2018 ABOUT SOCCER SHOTS SUMMER SEASON Soccer Shots is an engaging children’s soccer program for ages 2-8, with a focus on character AND CAMPS development. Our caring team positively impacts children’s lives on and off the field NEAR YOU! through best-in-class coaching, curriculum and communication. Scan code for more info about Soccer Shots (Use your phone! Open camera app & point at QR code) ENROLL ONLINE AT NYCCENTRAL.SSREG.ORGMay 2018 • BROOKLyn FAMILY 5 Short Stuff Getting kids ready for spring sports As the spring sports season kicks off, tic ointment, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, traveling to and from competition. This is parents of young athletes need to get insect repellent, gauze bandages, and especially important when playing with ready, too, to help their kids avoid injury water will be helpful if there is a minor travel teams that can keep you out of the and be ready to respond if there is an ac- injury on the field — and give parents house all day (and sometimes sitting in cident on the field. peace of mind even if there’s not. Make unplanned traffic jams). PM Pediatrics Senior Medical Advisor sure your cellphone is charged, and you 4. Bring your documents, too. If you Dr. Christina Johns has the following tips have things like your medical insurance don’t normally carry it, bring along your for parents: card with you in case a trip to the hospi- health insurance card and a copy of the 1. Prepare to play. After a winter tal happens. card of any children traveling with you. stuck inside, get young bodies 3. Remember your meds. Storing information on your phone like ready by heading to the park From prescriptions to epi- relevant medical history including health for an informal practice. pens, make sure you have conditions like asthma or allergies are Re-learning how to use the medications your also helpful. Healthcare apps can store muscles and reflexes that child might need while this information, too. might have gotten rusty you are at a game or 5. Arrive early for the game. Nothing over the colder months helps avoid injury more than properly will help kids avoid injury warming up with the team. Even and excel on the field. athletes as young as 5 years old 2. Pack your game need to stretch and prepare for bag. Injuries are rare, competition. Don’t arrive two but they happen. Pack- minutes before game time and ing a small bag with expect your child to be ready Band-Aids, antisep- to play. It’s also courteous to the coaches who have a whole team to look after. 6. Plan ahead. Try to not have your athlete “eat on the way” to the game. A healthy, balanced breakfast eaten two hours before play will boost en- ergy and won’t cause any stom- ach aches. Kids’ sports games are all about fun and skill-building. By making these simple preparations, parents can prepare for the unexpected and keep the focus on enjoying the game.