Kids World

FALL 2014

Special

Section

to:

The

Stratford

Star

The

Milford

Mirror

The

Trumbull

Times

The

HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

Huntington

Herald

The

Children
get exploring
and go outside with a day camp
Summer camp is a beloved tradition in
many families. Many parents of young children fondly recall spending their summers
at summer camp, where they made lifelong
friends and learned the finer points of roasting marshmallows and competing in threelegged sack races.
Parents looking for the right summer camp
for their kids will soon discover there are
various types of summer camps, each offering
youngsters something different. The following
are some of the summer camp options parents can expect to encounter as they search
for the right camp for their kids.
Day camps are not overnight camps, which
means kids will return home each night
rather than sleeping over at camp. Day camps
typically offer many of the activities people

have come to associate with camps, including

crafts, sports and even day trips to experience
local culture or attractions. Many day camps
are co-ed, and counselors typically live within
the community.

Hill/Sandy Hook School.

The Tweens program
will be at Wolfe Park.
Registration is now open
with an early bird rate
in effect until April 30. For
additional details and to register,
visit MonroeRec.org.

Parks and rec

Town parks and recreation departments
have summer camps for youth. In Monroe,
its parks and recreation department will once
Natures Classroom
again be offering Summer Fun Days Camp.
For years, Connecticut Audubon
This camp is geared for youngsters entering Societys summer camp programs have
preschool through ninth grade and will run
given children the chance to experience
from June 29 to Aug. 21.
The camp day runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the joys of learning in natures classroom.
From June through August, campers
with extended day sessions available for each
week.
Playmates and Kids will be held at Chalk
See Camp on page 3
A Barn Owl welcomes guests to
the Connecticut Audubon Societys
Adirondack Night, hosted annually
at the Audubons Center at Fairfield.

Monroe

Courier

The

Easton

Courier

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

April 2, 2015

Get creative with your kids at home

by Hannah Perry

Hannah Perry, owner

of The Giggling Pig in
Shelton, teaches her
young students art. From
hand prints to decorating
planters students get their
creative juices flowing.
Perry says art can happen
anywhere inside or outside of the home.

There are many ways to be creative with

your children at home, from imaginative
play to baking cookies and painting. Its
important not just for them, but for you,
too.
Finding time to sit with your child and
create something together is a special time.
Usually when a child asks a parent for
help in drawing something, a standard
reply is I cant draw a stick figure. But to
your child, whatever you draw is amazing,
and taking that time to do that is important.
Drawing at home was pretty much the
only thing I did as a child. I used to make
my own drawing book and staple the pages
together until it looked like a catalog. A fun
way to start this with your children would
be to do still life drawings and then give
them the subject as a treat! For example, set
up a plate of cupcakes and after drawing
them, let the children choose which they
want to eat. Hanging their artwork around
your home is very important and builds
self-esteem. Their sense of pride really
shows when they want to show guests the
amazing piece of work hanging on the wall.
Today it seems that children dont use
their imagination as much. Everything is
computers and iPads and video games.
Yet when you put out a variety of pencils,
crayons, paper, and watercolors, they definitely seem excited to explore. We dont
like the thought of glitter or paints in our
home because of the mess it could leave.
But watercolors are not very messy and are
washable.
Now with the warmer weather finally
approaching, we should be able to take
these fun, creative activities outside. Cut a
potato in half and let your child carve a pattern with a plastic knife or spoon or even
a pencil and dip the potato into paints.
Printmaking can be really fun, and the final
product looks amazing.
Dont forget that most things for creative
play can already be found in your home.
So the next time your child says, Im
bored, dont be afraid to set up a creative
table and sit back and watch.

Some examples of artwork done at The Giggling Pig.

Hannah Perry is the owner of The Giggling Pig,

an art studio specializing in kids crafts, Mommy
and Me classes, Paint and Sip (for grown-ups),
birthday parties, and more. The Giggling Pig is
located at 472 River Road, Shelton. For information, call 203-919-1153 or visit thegigglingpigartstudio.com.

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

April 2, 2015

Camp
Continued from Page 1
age 4 through 14 may attend one or
more weeklong programs designed
to present science and nature-based
topics. In full- or half-day sessions,
experienced staff take full advantage
of the Larsen Wildlife Sanctuary and
facilities to inspire children to develop a connection to, and appreciation
for, the natural world.
Campers explore woods, marshes,
ponds, and streams to investigate
natures riddles, learn about habitats,
develop outdoor skills, and meet
live animals up close. A sampling of
offerings for preschoolers includes
Jeepers, Creepers, Whats That?,
Slink, Slither and Hop, Beetles to
Butterflies, and Fantasy Fairy Forest.
Campers who have completed
kindergarten through fifth grade may
choose Wacky Wetlands, Geology
Rocks, Wilderness Skills, and Muck

it Up!, among others.

Enrichment programing is available to students who have completed
grades six to eight. These Junior
Science Lab sessions offer advanced
inquiry and hands-on experimentation. Bits and Bones: Forensic
Science teaches campers about crime
scene investigation. Zoology: Biology
Dissection includes opportunities to
dissect a frog, grasshopper, worm,
and starfish. Fun-Omenal Physics
gives future mechanical engineers
the chance to explore the science
and design of motion and create a
simple machine.
Camp sessions are led by teachernaturalist and college-educated staff
with experience in education and/
or science. Counselors and Junior
Volunteers provide additional support. Staff trained in first aid, CPR
and EpiPen are present.
For more information, call 203259-6305, ext. 109, or visit ctaudubon.org/center-at-fairfield to download a camp brochure or to register.

Many kinds of camps

Faith-based camps
Faith-based camps offer many of the same
activities as more traditional summer camps,
but do so while simultaneously offering campers
the opportunity to celebrate and further explore
their religious beliefs. Some faith-based camps
may focus heavily on religion, incorporating faith
into daily camp activities, while others may be
more subtle with regard to integrating religious
beliefs and lessons into camp activities.

Sports camps
Some summer camps focus on a particular
sport, catering to young athletes who want to
further develop their athletic talents. Sports
camps may feature guest lectures and lessons
from notable local athletes and coaches, while
some camps may provide instruction from current and/or former professional athletes. Some
sports camps are overnight, while others are day
camps.

Family camps
Family camps are opportunities for the whole

Infants Toddlers Pre-School

TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN

The bridge between Pre-School and Kindergarten that provides

students with extra time to develop fundamental skills in an age- and
developmentally-appropriate setting.

Educating and caring for children for over 40 years!

Low staff turnover Hours 6:30am-6pm
Convenient location: Just off Exit 40, I-95

family to enjoy the summer camp experience.

Family camps typically tailor their activities
around tasks families can complete together,
with counselors providing assistance when its
needed. Family camps may be faith-based or
secular, and families typically stay overnight,
sleeping in facilities on the campsites or in lodging away from home.

Special needs camps

Parents of children with special needs can
still send their kids to summer camp, as there
are many camps that cater to such youngsters.
Special needs camps may cater to campers who
are blind, deaf, learning disabled, or mentally or
physically disabled.
Staff at special needs camps typically undergo
extensive training, which helps to calm some of
the fears parents may have about leaving their
special needs children at camp. Facilities at special needs camps are often built to accommodate
the specific needs of campers.
Camp listings, including summer jobs, are at
kids.ct.gov/kids/cwp/view.asp?q=437286.

6 weeks to 36 months full time 5 days

$287.00/wk
3 to 5 years full time 5 days
$240.00/wk
Part time days and hours are available
Call for other rates and availability
Ask about our referral program

LITTLE WHITE HOUSE

69 Woodmont Road Milford

Call for a Tour! 203-877-5167
Visit our Website! LittleWhiteHouseLearningCenter.com

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

April 2, 2015

Keeping up with todays youth sports injuries

By Dr. Joshua B. Frank
Coastal Orthopaedics

sideline a young athlete. Over the past

years, there has been an increased focus
on sports. While sports are great and
teach children excellent life skills as well
as improve physical condition, there is
a point where it can get to be too much.
That point may be different amongst athletes and may change as a child grows.

As spring begins, we all start thinking

of getting active outdoors and what it will
bring. Many of us also start thinking of
baseball, tennis and other spring sports.
While this does cause excitement it also
brings with it some trepidation.
Over the years we have learned a tremendous amount about sports, physiology, biomechanics and technique. This
advancement in knowledge has allowed
youthful athletes to become faster, stronger, quicker and more efficient.
Another area that has advanced is that
of sports medicine. In particular, the
study of young athletes. Whenever we
talk about sports injures, it is probably
best to divide injuries into acute injuries
and sub-acute or chronic injuries.

Play multiple sports

Acute

Acute injuries are often obvious and

can cause immediate onset of pain. In
some circumstances the initial injury is
not quite as dramatic and may not cause
play to stop. It is important to recognize
and address these injuries in a timely
manner, as they can go on to cause permanent disability.
We have learned that children can sustain similar injuries as adults. The diagnosis of pediatric anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) and meniscal injuries is on the rise.
This may be related to increased awareness and better diagnosis of these injuries.

Dr. Joshua B. Frank

If left untreated, it is possible that

these injuries can lead to further damage
to the knee and even the onset of early
arthritis. Acute knee injuries should be
evaluated by a medical professional and
may require x-rays or even an MRI.
Chronic injuries

Sub-acute or chronic injuries can also

In an effort to improve athletic ability,

children and adolescents are often specializing in one sport and participating in
that sport year-round. Whether it be on a
team, in camp, or even in the backyard,
year-round sports can lead to fatigue and
injury. Overuse injuries can occur all
over the body. There are even names to
associate injuries with certain sports. For
example, a chronic, over-use injury to the
growth plate of the proximal humerus
(shoulder) is known as Little Leaguers
Shoulder.
Obviously, these types of injuries are
not limited to baseball. We do not yet
know how much time is too much time
in gymnastics practice, or running or
even playing basketball outside.
We do believe that performing multiple
sports over the course of a year allows for
different muscles to be used and rested.
Also, period of rest and time without any
major sports participation is also beneficial.
Another important recommendation is
to prepare for the upcoming season well
in advance. A period of limited activity

401 Monroe Turnpike Monroe

203-452-1063 CanterburyPediatrics.com

About Coastal

Coastal Orthopaedics surgeons provide

complete orthopedic treatments for children and young athletes from head to toe
in four offices: Norwalk, Westport, Darien
and New Canaan.
A new walk-in urgent care facility known as Coastal Ortho Express is
now opened extended hours Monday
through Saturday for sprains, injuries
and pain at 761 Main Avenue in Norwalk
where patients can be treated without an
appointment.
Statewide doctors voted Coastal
Orthopaedic surgeons Top Docs Orthopedic
Surgery in Connecticut Magazine since 2009.
For more information, call 203 845-2200
or visit coastalorthopaedics.com.

Where children come first, and where pediatricians and parents work together to provide
exceptional medical care for kids. We provide compassionate, comprehensive services to children
from birth through adolescence. Let Canterbury Pediatrics become your childs Medical Home.

John Tsalapatanis, MD
Luisa Milevoj, DO
Marilyn Smith, MD
AND WE WELCOME
F. Hayato Coutu, MD

followed by a sudden onset of intense

training can easily lead to aggravation of
growth plates, tendons and apophyses.
In general, a graduated schedule
of increased activity with appropriate
stretching may help prevent these conditions. Even though training camp begins
in August, young athletes should be preparing on their own well in advance of
these intense training periods.
Sports are great. With the increased
prevalence of childhood obesity it has
become even more evident that many
children are not nearly active enough.
With appropriate training, rest and conditioning we hope to prevent many injuries
and keep our young athletes safer.

TRUMBULL LOVES CHILDREN

Trumbull Loves Children, Inc (TLC), is one of Connecticuts best before and
after-school care programs. With locations in Trumbulls elementary schools, as
well as in our own Fun Zone Center for 4th to 8th graders. TLCs mission is to
provide quality childcare for Trumbulls working parents.
TLC is accepting applications online now for TLC Preschool, Summer Camp TLC,

for the children of Trumbulls working parents. Come be a part of the TLC family.

Trumbull Loves Children

2 Corporate Drive, Suite 207
Trumbull, CT 06611
(203) 452.9626

Visit us to learn more or register:

www.tlctrumbull.com

TLC...where children come

to learn and Play!

ng
ratith
b
e
l
Ce ur 25 !
o ason
Se

Renaissance
Ballet Theatre

June 29July 17
9:00 AM12:30 PM All Ages

This years production: Beauty & the Beast

A three-week
one of a kind
experience
culminating in
a fully staged
production
of a classical
ballet! Each
dancer will be
Last year: The Wizard of Oz
accepted at
his/her level of ability and will be motivated
to develop their technique and performance
skills. So join us this summer and make dance
memories that will last a lifetime!

Little Dancers

August 1017 9:00 AM2:00 PM

2 Year Olds
3 & 4 Year Olds
5-7 Year Olds

9:00-11:00
9:00-12:00
9:00-1:00

This unique summer

program us designed
as an alternative to the
typical camp experience,
and is perfect for
beginners or those
with just a little bit of
experience! Children
will enjoy dance class,
tumbling class, craft,
and acting, all of which will incorporate the
Frozen theme! Karaoke to your favorite
Frozen songs, make your own gemstone tiara,
and play with snow on hot summer days!

477 Main Street

Monroe, CT 06468
203-261-1347
www.connecticutdance.com

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

April 2, 2015

Classes for kids forming

The Shelton Parks & Recreation
Department is offering special
classes for children to get moving.

4 and 5 is on Thursdays from

10 to 11 a.m., starting April 9.
Also on Fridays, 5-6 p.m. or 67 p.m. Runs eight weeks. Cost
is $90.

Hip-Hop Dance for ages 5-8

is on Tuesdays, April 7 and 21
and May 12 and 19, from 6 to
7 p.m. Runs four weeks. Cost
is $47.

Lego for ages 5 and 6 is on

Saturdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
starting April 11. Runs six
weeks. Cost is $114.

Hoop Fitness Kids for ages

610 is on Tuesdays, starting
Lil Dragons Karate is on
April 7, 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Runs
Tuesdays from 9:30 to10 starting April 21. Runs eight weeks.
eight weeks. Cost is $62.
Cost is $85, which includes the
Zumba Kids for ages 5-12 is on
uniform.
Thursdays from 5 to 5:45 p.m.
starting April 9. Runs eight
weeks. Cost is $45.

Register, cash or check, at the Shelton

Community Center, 41 Church Street.
Information: 203-925-8422.

Little Kickers Soccer for ages

Regional Head Start is looking

for students for next year
The Trumbull/Monroe Regional
Head Start Center is enrolling children for the 2015/16 school year.
To enroll, the child must be 3 or 4
by Dec. 31.
The center serves Trumbull,
Monroe, Stratford, Fairfield,
Bridgeport, and Easton. The program, which is federally funded, is
free for children of income-eligible
families. The program also meets
the needs of children with disabilities.

Learn the safe way to install a car seat for your child.

April 15

Free child car seats and training

Children attend the program

Monday through Friday, 8:20
a.m. to 12:20 p.m., with a fullday option of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m., for those families that meet
the criteria. In addition to kindergarten preparation for the child,
health care, child development,
social services, and nutrition information and services are available
for families.
For more information, call 203452-4504.

Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley, Griffin

Hospital and The Derby Elks are teaming up to offer
a free training on child car seats and a seat giveaway on Wednesday, April 15, 2-6 p.m. at Griffin
Hospitals Community Outreach parking lot, 4
Mountain Street, Derby.
The training will help answer questions about
safety requirements for children in various car seats.
At the end of training, participants will receive a free

seat appropriate to their childs needs and instruction on proper use.

To be eligible for the giveaway, participants must
pre-register.
Free seats are limited, so the program will be filled
on a first-come, first-served basis.
To sign up or for more information, call Cathi at
203-732-1337 no later than April 8.

1 to

5 pm

Pediatric Dentistry
Routine Cleanings
Tooth Brushing & Flossing Lessons
Emergency Oral Care
Infants, Toddlers & Tweens

Open House

May 3 1 to 5 pm
rd

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Helping kids find

mental health
in a chaotic world
We hear this more and more: A seven-yearold who screams and swears or an adolescent
whose mother is afraid his mood may escalate to the point of hurting a family member.
So many children today just seem so angry.
Temper tantrums are normal for very young
children, and lashing out with sharp tones
and words is typical for adolescents, but
todays children are becoming more and more
overwhelmed, and it shows. The question is
why?
Angry, aggressive, argumentative, oppositional, defiant, emotionally reactive, low
frustration tolerance, poor coping strategies
are some of the words todays parents use
to describe the behavior of their children.
Computer rage and net rage are becoming
common terms. Parents are scared, feeling lost
and unsure of how to handle their child.
A study commissioned by the NIMH and
led by Ronald Kessler of Harvard Medical
School found that nearly two-thirds of adolescents (63.3%) had repeated anger attacks
that involved destruction of property, threatening violence or engaging in violence.
Such behaviors are becoming more prominent and some, depending on the severity,
have specific diagnoses attached to them,
such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder,
Conduct Disorder, and Intermittent
Explosive Disorder. The larger percentages of our children, however,
are not labeled with these disorders.
Research reveals that theses children
seem to have a distinct imbalance
in maturity of the brain known as a
Functional Disconnection Syndrome
(FDS).

#&$@

but have to complement each other and

send signals back and forth all day long
very quickly. Imagine a tennis game in
which both players are of the same skill.
This results in a very competitive match
the ball goes back and forth over the
net very efficiently. This is a good representation of the typical balanced
brain.
However, if we replace one of

the players with a far less skilled player, that

player will get quickly overwhelmed and the
game will break down. The more skilled player will also have to try to compensate, leading
to overexertion. This is a representation of the
imbalanced brain.
Anger, emotional over-reactivity, impulsive behaviors, lacking an understanding of
consequence, lacking empathy these are
all common symptoms of a child suffering
from FDS, and generally they suggest an
underdevelopment in the right hemisphere
of the brain. The brains right hemisphere is
the home of the big picture. It is the side
of our brain that helps us see more than
what is immediately in front of us.
The right hemisphere is also home to
our EQ (emotion quotient), our social skills,
nonverbal communication skills, and our
ability to empathize. When the right hemisphere is underdeveloped, we not only
suffer in those areas, we also have to
deal with a left brain that is on overdrive, causing hyper focus on details
on specific situations and making consequences and outcomes to behaviors
very difficult for the child to consider or
understand. This left brain overdrive can
also cause anxiety, compulsive behaviors
and hyperactivity, which can all lead to angry
outbursts and an inability to react within reason.
Imagine the brain as an orchestra in which
many musicians are playing at the wrong
speed, time, and tempo. The result would be

Brains balance
FDS describes an imbalance in maturity
in one of the brains two major hemispheres
and lack of connectivity between them. The
left and right hemispheres are quite different

April 2, 2015

chaotic a jumbled mess, and not what one

would call harmonious. Similarly, children
suffering from functional disconnection may
feel as if theyre in the middle of a jumbled
and chaotic mess, making simple tasks overwhelming and often resulting in unpleasant
behaviors.
In addition, many children have certain
retained infant reflexes that are still active.
These reflexes are like training wheels for
the brain and should be inhibited or gone
by one year of life. Many children still have
these reflexes which locks the child in an
immature state, and exacerbates the imbalance. Once identified, these reflexes, through
certain activities, can be inhibited.
These children and their families are suffering. The good news is that there is hope.
By identifying this imbalance and determining where the weakness lies, FDS can be
addressed. The brain behaves much like a
muscle, and the underdeveloped hemisphere
can become stronger and more connected
through specific activities and exercises.
Connectivity can be established so that both
sides become balanced once again and continue to develop in a connected and balanced
manner.
To find out more about functional disconnection and corrective treatment, contact
Brain Balance Achievement Center for a complimentary consultation and tour.
Brain Balance is at 15 Cross Street,
Norwalk. For information call 203-847-3000
or email norwalk@brainbalancecenters.com.

Its About More than Dance...

Its About Enriching Lives

YOUNG DANCERS CAMP

4-6 YR. OLDS
Session 1 July 13th-July 17th
AM Mon-Fri 9am-11:30am
FROZEN
PM Mon-Fri 12:30pm-3pm
American Girl

DANCE FEVER 2015

7-12 YR. OLDS
Session 1 July 6th-July 10th
Mon-Fri 9am-3pm
Pop Star Week

Session 2 July 20th-July 24th

Mon-Fri 9am-3pm
Broadway Week

Session 2 July 20th-July 24th

Mon-Fri 9am-11:30am
Disney Princess
Join us for Lunch Bunch
Session 1
11:30am-12:30pm

3 YR. OLDS
Pre-Dance Saturdays
9am-9:45am

MASTER CLASS INTENSIVE

Ages 10 & Up
Intermediate/Advanced Levels
July 13th-July 17th
9:45am-3:45pm Mon-Fri
Experience 5 days of amazing
master classes with professional
artists from NYC!
View website for artist bios.

2015 Summer Programs

www.MonroeDance.com

4 YR. OLDS
Pre-Ballet/Pre-Tap
Saturdays
9:45am-10:45am

CREATIVE MOVEMENT
& MODERN
August 3rd-7th
9am-11:30am 3-5 yr. olds
2pm-5pm 6-9 yr. olds

OPEN HOUSE
JUNE 24TH

203-268-1200

MONROE DANCE ACADEMY

838 Main Street Monroe

BRIDGEPORT MONROE

PEDIATRIC GROUP, P.C.

Call to Schedule School

and Sports Physicals

SUMMER CAMP 2015

EngagingActivitiesGamesArts&CraftsProjects
PicnicsSpecialGuestsCreativeCookingFunFilledDays

www.BMPediatricGroup.com

16 Hickory Street Trumbull 203-261-0499 cornerstonekids.com

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

April 2, 2015

Educating boys through active learning

Fairfield Country Day School attracts boys to educate at
its school in Fairfield.
Our students engage with each other and their teachers
in meaningful interactions that guide their learning experience, the school said.
Research shows relational learning in all-boys schools
leads to improved academic and character performance.
Through a combination of cutting edge technology, a vibrant
arts program, and a rigorous academic curriculum, our boys
experience varied connections each day.
The Learning Commons at Fairfield County Day School
allows it to expand the students' interactions beyond the
classroom. There they are able to explore new technologies
and collaborate across all grades.
Family style lunches, Link Day, public speaking, the Blue
Door, and other time-honored traditions remain hallmarks
of the FCDS experience.
FCDS schools boys preschool age through ninth grade.
Students are active learners and are acknowledged in the
curriculum. Just in March, students were able to round out
a science lesson on the human body by actually being able
to dissect a pigs heart.
The school focuses on 10 core competencies scholarship, resiliency, stewardship, leadership, digital citizenship,
empathy, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and communication.
For more information, visit fairfieldcountryday.org or call
203-259-2723. Fairfield Country Day School is at 2790
Bronson Road.

Boys get to learn hands on.

Sibling abuse: when teasing turns nasty

by Allison B. Spitzer
Do you have a sibling who teased you
relentlessly or brutally? Were you bullied by
an older brother or sister who still wants to
hurt you? If you are harboring resentments 40
years later, you are not alone. This secrets out,
and newly recognized as a much-too-common
trigger for family breakdowns as siblings age.
So when your children or teens are at odds,
be aware that the scars might run deeper and
last far longer than you ever imagined.
The phenomenon has become a diagnosis.
We carry those deep hurts and the questions
surrounding them into adulthood. That childhood bully, the brother or sister who teased
you, smacked you, and brutalized you emotionally, needs to be seen for what he or she
was: an aggressor. A needy, damaged, or hurt-

ing child left untreated. You were the closest

target. Or, as the favored child, perhaps the
sibling left you far behind without a care.
Bullying creates fear, low self-esteem, and
worse, may begin at home when emotionally
there is no safe place offered by parents. In
childhood, there is simply no way to escape
sibling abuse when parents are dismissive.
Especially before bullying came into the
public eye as a topic for school guidelines,
parents often let things go at home. They said,
Thats how boys are. Or, Shes your sister,
just ignore it. Weve learned that roughhousing or demeaning stings deeply when its
repeatedly the same sibling being hurt. And
the impact intensifies because it is cumulative.
The brother or sister who relentlessly called
you names, excluded you, frightened you,
and did hate you, had true psychological

problems your parents never addressed. That

sibling shaped your world view and selfimage. The harmful, unspoken message from
your parents was that you are alone in life.
Or worse, as a child or teen, you may have
come to believe you deserved it.
What child wouldnt feel hopeless, or
enraged, or unworthy of love, success, or
being treated with respect? If the foundation
of our security and wholeness stems from
the unconditional love we receive from our
parents, then lacking that protection puts us
at risk as adults for fundamental social and
emotional problems.
Siblings share unique common histories
and memories. Under the best of circumstances, they mature, settle their differences
and jealousies and let go of long-held hurts by
communicating clearly and with compassion.

Both must be willing to come to the table to

heal, and to view his or her sibling as the person is today, not as the person was long ago.
If you are a parent, put a stop to sibling
abuse. Facilitate the dialogue. Address the
problems. If you are a teen, speak up if you
are suffering. If your rotten sib still needs to
hurt, you dont have to take it. If you are or
have been the aggressor, do the right thing.
Air it out and put it to bed once and for all. If
you cant do it alone, then get help.
Allison B. Spitzer MA is a communications and life
skills coach and expressive arts therapist with a
private practice in Trumbull. Find more about her
at periwinklehealth.com, find her on Facebook at
Periwinkle Health, follow her on Twitter at SpitzerHealth, or find her on LinkedIn.

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

April 2, 2015

Celebrating children
and their rooms

Some children are self-motivated and

always strive to get good grades and please
their parents and teachers. Other children
struggle with their schoolwork, which often
discourages them from wanting to learn new
material and put in a lot of effort at school.
Extreme emphasis on grades and test
scores does not encourage children to try
harder and to do their best. Research has
shown that when children enjoy learning,
they retain and comprehend more and are
eager to challenge themselves.
Creating a safe, supportive home environment often motivates children to work hard
and excel in the classroom. Smart Playrooms
founder Karri Bowen-Poole and co-owner
Chris Simpson are two former teachers and
moms sharing their tips on how parents can
help motivate kids to learn.

Here are upcoming programs at the

Webb Mountain Discovery Zone in
Monroe

Conversation
During dinnertime, parents should try
to find out how their children are feeling
and what they are experiencing during their
day. If a child is in emotional turmoil, the
cognitive system must expend energy on the
emotional system before the brain can focus
on learning. This means that parents must
help their children to talk about their feelings before trying to motivate them to work
on their math or their essay.
For example, you may want to try asking,
What was the best/worst thing that happened today? This encourages your children to explore their feelings and emotions.
Remember to acknowledge their feelings,
even if you dont understand how or why
they are feeling that way.

Salamander Crawl
The first warm spring evening after a
nice soaking rain, the salamanders will
move in large numbers towards the vernal
pools.
Registering for the chance to see this
event will place you on a call list and you
will be contacted the day of the program.

Homework routine
Creating a productive homework routine must begin when your child is young.
Children should get in the daily habit of
hanging up their backpack, emptying out
the contents and the homework, and completing homework in an organized place
that is designed just for homework.
This means that homework should not
be done at the kitchen table, where families
eat, or on the couch in the living room.
Children will complete homework more
productively when they can sit at a designated desk or table, free of clutter, with materials easily accessible. Adding a magnetic or
bulletin board above the desk provides a
perfect place for daily or weekly assignment
sheets and other school reminders.

At a camp outdoors students get to explore nature.

Webb Mountain Discovery

Zone offers Spring programs
Things That Go Bump in the Night
A nighttime vernal pool investigation
May 2 at 7:30 p.m. with Hank Gruner, vice
president of programs at the Connecticut
Science Center in Hartford and a state
After School Adventures
expert in biology and herpetology. What
Eight-week program, April 14, 15 and
may look like a calm little pond during the
17, geared toward kindergarten through
day comes alive at night as the creatures
first grade on Wednesdays, and for secthat inhabit the vernal pools come out to
ond-fifth on Thursdays. Program uses the
ecosystem of the Discovery Zone to let kids hunt for food, migrate to a new home or
seek a mate.
expend some energy while gaining all the
health and educational benefits of being in
Summer program
nature.

Half-day summer program June 29

-July 3, 9 a.m.-noon, for children age
three through fifth grade. This program
will include adventures and investigations in archaeology, rocks, bugs and
vernal pool critters, in addition to
games, hikes, stories, crafts, live animals and more.
To register for programs or events,
visit webbmountaindiscoveryzone.com
or email info@webbdiscoveryzone.org.

Design
Children really benefit when parents have
set aside time each day for them to play
independently or cooperatively with friends
in a playroom. When we overschedule our
children with after-school activities, we may
think we are giving them many educational
advantages, but in fact this overscheduling
causes stress and doesnt allow time for children to think on their own.
When children engage in free play (play
that has no rules and regulations), they
are actually leaning how to self-regulate,
which means they will be able to control
their impulses and behavior, which can help
them to focus more in a classroom. A smart
playroom design incorporates many openended creative activities, such as a pretend
play area, a building area, music and movement, and an art studio.
What do they like?
Children are born with a natural desire
to learn, so it is our role as parents to help
them to continue this desire as they grow
older. Children will be self-motivated to
learn when they feel competent about something or are encouraged to learn more about
their interests.
If a child is interested in horses, head to
the library to take out books on horses, and
read and ask questions about all aspects of
horses. You could also sign your child up
for lessons or take the child to a farm to
observe and interact with a horse. If your
child is a math whiz, find ways outside of
school to expose him or her to math in the
real world such as computers, science
museums, and math camps.

Milestones
When your child gets his or her first gold
star or A on a really tough quiz, celebrate it.
Explain that the hard work really paid off.
Help your child to set a meaningful academic goal (completing assignments for a week
or reading a challenging book) and then set
up a meaningful reward system.
Some of our favorite rewards include a
special activity with Mom or Dad (going
to the zoo or a sports outing, for example)
or heading to the bookstore to buy a book.
When their hard effort and good work
is recognized, children will feel proud of
their accomplishments and more motivated
to continue working toward successfully
accomplishing their academic goals.
For more information, visit smartplayrooms.com.

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