Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester
PHOTOS BY LESLIE REGAN
The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival was as always, and in its fourth year, an amazing way to get kids excited about reading. Children and adults from in town or out of town all took pleasure in meeting authors and finding new reading material. There were plenty of exciting booths to peruse, a dazzling array of genres to pick from, and a variety of fun arts and crafts to enjoy!
By Heather Skolnick
What is the one place where everyone has fun (besides Disney)? The playground! What could be better than good, old fashioned fun outside?
Playgrounds offer an opportunity for children to be children. Playgrounds are one of the few places left where batteries are not needed, and there is nary an IPad, IPhone, or Playstation in sight. Kids can run around to their hearts’ content and can use their imaginations galore.
Playgrounds offer more than a place to just play. For moms and caretakers, they are a place to meet others.
New Chappaqua resident Nikki Cosentino has been using playgrounds as one way to meet other moms within the community. She comes with her two daughters and lets them play in an enclosed environment while she socializes. Nikki says, “We have moved twice since I had my first daughter, and I always head to the local playground right away to connect with other moms. The park was our first stop here after move-in day in April. Sure enough, I was able to chat with a local mom and get some inside tips on our new town while our kids played together.” Nannies, too, enjoy the social benefits of the playground. When my nanny started, she used the playground as a place to meet people caring for kids in the same age range.
Playgrounds also serve as a place where children can develop and hone social skills. Special Educator Janet Weingarden works with children in many of our local schools. She often uses the playground as a forum for learning. She said, “The way we learn social skills is through practice and watching others. Being in a playground is a particularly effective place to do both of those things.”
She continued, the playground “offers opportunities for sharing, turn taking, collaborating, cooperating and a fantastic opportunity to build empathy. There’s also an opportunity to practice social scripts…as well as problem solving skills.” It’s no wonder Janet often goes there with her students!
From a physical standpoint, the playground offers all kinds of ways to strengthen gross motor and motor planning skills. Play structures are also filled with opportunities to improve some sensory and vestibular sensitivities. Swinging on a tire swing provides vestibular input to help increase the ability to process movement. Jumping is an example of “heavy work” which many teachers and therapists have found to improve attention and calmness for hours afterwards. Physical activity also increases arousal level which can help raise confidence. All in all, the learning opportunities on the playground could rival the classroom!
Now that we know all the benefits of playgrounds, where can we find them within our community? Specifically in New Castle, there are five playgrounds from which to choose. According to the 2010 census, the town has an approximate population of 23,000 people, 23% of whom are under the age of 18. With about 5,300 kids to keep busy, it’s no wonder that the town has a plethora of exciting playgrounds!
Gedney Park is the first playground that comes to mind for most. It includes baseball fields, soccer fields, hiking trails and the pond. Gedney offers two playground areas. The main playground area includes two distinct playground structures (one for the bigger kids, one scaled down for smaller children) with all the standard fixings–twisty slides, bouncy bridges, things to climb, etc. There are also monkey bars, swings and even a clubhouse complete with sandbox area. What else could a child want? Town Recreation Superintendent Bob Snyder said that a new play structure offers tons of fun in a safe, updated format for children.
Still at Gedney, a short walk leads to another, smaller play structure. This area is ideal for families who might have another child playing baseball at the adjacent fields Some children like this mini playground because it’s more subdued, having far fewer children playing at a time. Lastly, Gedney Park also has clean bathroom facilities just off the path from the main playground. This is an important feature for the potty training set.
Discover the “Train Park”
Formally listed as Recreation Field Park on the Town’s website, my kids call it the “Train Park.” If someone doesn’t tell you it’s there, you’d never know. Set back behind Recreation Fields and also adjacent to the train’s rear parking lot, it’s not readily visible from the road. With its proximity to the town Library, it makes for a great combination outing. The playground itself offers lot of unique features sure to entertain the pre-school kids as well as more sophisticated activities like the “zip line” for older kids. This playground is also budgeted for an overhaul soon.
Chappaqua mother of two Dayna Lord recently had a playdate at Recreation Field Park. After her first visit there, she said, “This is one of the most kid-friendly parks around that can easily be combined with a trip into town, the library, diner or ice cream. This is a perfect park for toddlers and those learning to walk, too!” It sounds like she will be back soon!
Another fun option is Smith Park in Mount Kisco. This is a lesser known park as it is really tucked away amid residential streets. It offers a fun play structure with a well mulched ground to protect from any skinned knees. There’s a basketball court for older kids and a large grassy area for a catch or for walking your dog.
Millwood Park is another local option. Set atop the baseball field and adjacent to the tennis courts, the playground offers a standalone twisty slide, a set of swings, and a seesaw. This playground is a convenient option for families trying to entertain children while a softball game is underway.
Lastly, Amsterdam Park in Ossining also has a playground to entertain kids while a sibling is playing soccer. With so many options, there’s always a good reason to get the kids outside.
As the weather warms up, have the kids put down the electronics, and head to the playground!!
Heather Skolnick, her husband and three children live in New Castle. Heather works for a major retailer where she designs systems and processes to support Omnichannel shopping.
By Heather Skolnick
Spring has sprung but for those who have not finalized camp selections for their children, now is the time. The camp selection process can be an arduous one. As a mom who recently enrolled her two youngest in their first real camp experience, I know first-hand how daunting this can be. Fortunately, our community has many ways to help parents navigate the complexity of camp selection. But how is one to know what a successful interaction between prospective camps and families looks like?
One popular option is to attend a camp fair. These fairs are a way for families to get exposed to multiple camps in one fell swoop. They also provide the ability to associate a face with the camp experience and speak in person with the directors of the facility. For camp directors, this type of interaction with families allows them to explain the points of differentiation of their camp.
Westchester Family hosts a couple local camp fairs, which have a great representation of our local camps. Editor Jean Sheff says, “A successful camp fair is one where parents and camp representatives get to interact in a meaningful way. Parents are looking to match their family’s needs with the right camp, and camps are looking for new campers. It’s a real win-win when the match is made.”
Westchester Parent hosts a similar camp fair; this year was their 34th annual event. Jacqueline Lachman, head of marketing, said “Our goal is to expose parents to a wide variety of camps and summer activities, so they can get a lot done in one place in a few hours. Additionally, we want to be sure that parents are able to see that all of their questions are answered and the kids have a little fun. There is often a mix of parents who are embarking on this decision for the first time, some returning for new options and those looking to make a change to accommodate each child during various life stages. We try to have each group represented. Camp fairs are best when there’s a mix of local day camp opportunities.” She added, “It also helps to have some sleepaway camps on-site, to let parents explore that option without having to drive all over the place, and maybe decide it is time to switch.”
The Camp Connection is another resource with Susan Pecker as the local expert. Pecker is an experienced camp consultant who covers camps across Westchester, Rockland, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. She can help ensure campers are well matched with camps. Pecker says that a good visit with the camp or camp director is critical. When working with Pecker, both parties already know about each other and what they are looking for so they have a solid starting point. She feels it’s important for the camp director and camper to have face-to-face interaction so that they can each determine if they are a match for each other. Pecker recommends looking at each camp individually. She finds that it may be difficult to have meaningful dialogue between prospective families and camps at large camp fairs. Pecker added, “Going to visit a camp is a great idea but going to see a camp this time of year doesn’t give a great representation of what it’s like. Go to see a camp when it’s active and in session–that is the best way to evaluate it.” Some parents may choose to visit a camp’s open house, allowing them and their children a chance to see first-hand what the camp has to offer.
“Some camps might think an open house is about bells and whistles, about putting on some awesome display to entice prospective families,” said Chris Del Campo, director of communications at Harvey Cavalier Camp. “But my 20-plus years as a camp director has shown me that moms and dads (and grandmas, too) want to meet face-to-face with the people who will be caring for their child in a safe and nurturing environment where kids will have fun doing the things they enjoy.”
“Open houses are a great way to bring prospective families to your camp to experience what makes your camp so special,” explained Matt Pritikin, the Associate Director of Breezemont Day Camp in Armonk. “In the few hours parents and kids spend at our camp, our goal is to maximize the number of things they see and do, culminating in a unique experience shared together.”
In speaking with parents, what constitutes a successful interaction between them and their children and prospective camps varies. Local mom Amanda Goldberg is already looking into camp for the summer of 2017. Her family will be attending an informational session for a specific summer program and will speak with camp directors at that time. “The three of us will have an opportunity to ask questions of the directors,” she said. “While my son has watched all of the promotional videos for the camp program, he has some very specific questions that cannot be answered from a video. It would be our son’s first time away from home and it is also important to meet the people who will be caring for him for six weeks.”
Learning about various summer programs can be accomplished many different ways. Each approach offers something different and it is important to recognize what a successful interaction entails. Ultimately, what’s important is that parents, children and camp directors leave with a clear indicator of whether or not that camp is a good fit for the child.
Heather Skolnick and her husband and three kids are New Castle residents. Heather works for Macys on their Omnichannel Process and Systems team. She often reminisces fondly about her fun-filled summers at camp.
Kids still want to make a good first impression on the first day of school. Here are some hot runway trends this fall.
Black-and-white and monochrome photo prints are in! Think leggings, skirts or pants in monochrome–that spells out infinite possibilities for mixing and matching. For boys: paint splatters have been seen in every line of jeans this fall, making jeans the easiest and the most fashionable choice of wear. And, of course: layers layers layers, think little moto jackets for both boys and girls–in faux leather!
Visit: lolkidsarmonk.com
By Jodi Baretz
Summer is the time we all look forward to–it’s the weather, of course, but it’s also the relaxed vibe and laziness of it all. As summer begins to wind down and the back-to-school craziness begins, one may well wonder how to hold onto some of that tranquility and calm; how to relish the days and not become frazzled and frantic with lives, schedules and children. The weather will inevitably change, and so too our children’s schedules, but that doesn’t have to mean the end of nirvana.
No matter how old one’s child is, chances are their schedules will be chaotic and hectic. This is the nature of childhood these days, and the culture we live in. We tend to fear that if we don’t put our child in every sport, art class or lesson, they will get left behind. If we don’t give them every possible opportunity to excel, they will be stuck in mediocrity for the rest of their lives.Take a step back and ask yourself if they really need to be in so many structured activities. When we over-schedule our children, we take away that crucial unstructured time where they learn to play. We also worry that unscheduled free time will just lead to more screen time, or, perhaps, that we will have to fill it ourselves. I suggest you do allow some down time; it may just let you be with your children–without screaming to get out the door when they’re exhausted, not to mention save you an extra carpool. It will also take some pressure off your children and send a message that it’s ok to recharge, relax and just be a kid. Maybe if we experiment with this concept, and slow down, we will be calmer and better able to enjoy the fleeting time we do have with our kids. Remembering to love and accept every child for themselves, not what they achieve, is crucial to their state of mind and ours.
Helping your child adjust to the stress of a new school year can feel overwhelming. I can recall the butterflies in my stomach the first day of school every year. Beginnings always produce some sort of anxiety, just like endings can produce sadness. The important thing to remember is that this is normal, and not to trivialize or ignore their feelings, or your own. You might tell them that everyone experiences feelings of nervousness, but the feelings are sure to go away as a routine settles in and that you expect they will soon feel just fine. Telling them that you went through the same thing as a child can also ease their anxiety. We don’t want to push the anxiety away, but shifting it from their head (our minds can make up doomsday scenarios) to feeling it in their body can sometimes diffuse it as well. You do this by asking them what part of their body they feel it in. Can they breathe into it, and simply allow it to be there?
To ease your kids into the back to school structure, you may want to have them start going to bed a little earlier every night, so they are not completely wiped out when the early mornings arrive. Kids may also feel like their screen and play time will be over, so it’s important not to take that away completely in exchange for a rigid schedule. Personally, I am planning to make some screen time rules during homework time. What I’m suggesting is that new rules be implemented, and that they are reasonable, not punitive.
As summer slowly fades away, and a new school year begins, we have a choice. We can approach it with sadness, stress and anxiety, or we can chose to view it as a new beginning, a new challenge with new joys. We cannot change or hold on to the summer months, but we can approach this transition with a sense of wonder, curiosity and gratitude for what it will bring. If things get too stressful and you see the anxiety start to build, remember to STOP–Stop, Take A Breath–open and Observe what you’re feeling, and then Proceed! You might even consider sharing that one with your kids!
Jodi Baretz is a psychotherapist and mindfulness coach, with a private practice at The Center for Health and Healing in Mt. Kisco. In addition to her private clients, she leads a variety of small group mindfulness trainings from busy moms to corporations, teaches mindfulness for Chappaqua Continuing Education, and a “Mindfulness Bootcamp,” four-week program. She lives with her husband and two teenage boys in Millwood. You can reach her at jodibaretz@gmail.com or visit jodibaretz.com.
