march edition

March 2011 | NENY, Northeastern, NY | KidsFunPlaza 1

Volume 6 |March 2011 | KidsFunPlaza

CAMP GUIDE in North Eastern NY

Raising Kids to Appreciate Their Community

Unique, Creative & Gorgeous

Painted Pottery

Teen Summer Rite of Passage

Making Healthy Living

a Priority

Desperately Seeking New Moms

and finding Mothers Support Groups

Playing Veggie Roulette

with CSA Boxes

Building a Sense of Community

Things to Consider

When Looking at Schools

Getting the Support

You Need

2 KidsFunPlaza | NENY, Northeastern, NY |March 2011

ContentsEducation: Things to Consider When Looking at Schools ................ 4

Megan Brophy-McLean MSW Heath Care Provider of the Month ................................................... 6

Getting the Support You Need .......................................................... 8

Camp Guide for North Eastern NY .................................................. 11

Desperately Seeking New Moms (and finding Mothers Support Groups) .......................................... 13

Ways to Get Your Toddler Involved in the Community ................... 14

KidsFunKitchen ............................................................................... 17

Raising Kids to Appreciate their Community ................................. 20

Unique, Creative, & Gorgeous Painted Pottery .............................. 21

Getting Kids Involved in the School Community ............................ 23

Playing Veggie Roulette with CSA Boxes ......................................... 24

Teen Summer Rite of Passage ........................................................ 26

Building a Sense of Community ...................................................... 28

La Placita: Mi Hija ... Arquitecta de su Fe ....................................... 29

Here Is What ’S Happening ............................................................ 31

2 KidsFunPlaza | NENY, Northeastern, NY | Dec-Jan 2010/2011


Meet Our Team

PublisherAna Roca Castro

[email protected] in Chief

Christina [email protected]

Art DirectorCatalina Arango

[email protected] Director

Coleen [email protected]

Advertising CoordinatorKelly Razzano

[email protected] Manager

Roxanna [email protected]

ColumnistsEducator of the Month, Parent of the Month,

Toddler, Kiddo

Beth [email protected]

Green & Healthy, Health Provider of the Month, Arts & Crafts

Alina M. [email protected]

Preschooler, Special NeedsChristina Gleason

[email protected]

KidsFunKitchenAna Roca Castro

[email protected] Placita

Roxanna [email protected]

Community EventsRoxanca Chirac

[email protected]

Sandra [email protected]

Grandma’s WisdomLinda Carmical

[email protected]

Check out our Facebook Page for more contests.http://facebook.com/KidsFunPlaza • Follow us on Twitter @KidsFunPlaza

Kids Fun Plaza Facebook ContestYou can win a $100 Visa gift card from Kids Fun Plaza! Here’s how:

Like Kids Fun Plaza on Facebook http://facebook.com/KidsFunPlaza

Write on our wall and tell us about your favorite part of Kids Fun Plaza or if there’s anything we’re missing that you would like us to add.

One lucky winner will be chosen at random for the $100 Visa gift card and an-nounced in our next issue. So stop by our Facebook page today and enter to win!

EDITOR’S LETTER

I love our Kids Fun Plaza community. I’ve lived in this area my whole life, and my only major complaint is the winter weath-

er. (Because of the way our publishing schedule works out, it’s the middle of February as I write this, and there’s snow everywhere. And bitter cold.) But our area is really quite amazing.

I went to college in New Jersey for both my undergraduate and my graduate work, and I have to say that I hated the area. One of my classmates liked to point out that it was the second richest county in the United States. As such, they weren’t overly thrilled about having a bunch of poor college students in town. There was no public transpor-tation, which left me (without a vehicle) at the mercy of my friends who did have wheels for things like going to the grocery store or hanging out at the diner. Of course, being stuck on campus is part of what gave me the time and the motivation to run the student newspaper, but the only real sense of community I had there was among my newspaper staff.

And that’s probably why I’ll never leave this area again. What don’t we have going for us? We live in Tech Valley, after all, and we’re on our way up!

There’s so much to be proud of in our community, and that’s why I love this issue. Ali spoke with Megan Brophy-McLean from Albany County about helping families get healthy in our area – what a great interview. Sandra dives into the world of new moms groups for some much-needed support. Beth has some ideas for getting your kids in-volved in their school community. And I really love Linda’s piece about building a sense of community in her Grandma’s Wisdom column.

What are your favorite things about our community? What don’t you like about it? These are things we don’t often think about, but as par-ents, we should try to foster connections and behavior that will give our kids a sense of belonging within the community.

Chistina Gleason


Education

Some schools will also allow a prospective student to shadow another child for a day to see what the classes are like. This is a great opportunity for children to see what they think.

If you are looking at public schools, remember that the days of mandated neighborhood schools are over. Many districts have options for students to apply for open enrollment at other buildings within their system. Call your district to find out about your options and rights.

Interview the School

Let’s be honest, these days you have the option to be the one asking the questions when you visit a school. Here are a few suggestions to ask the principal:

1 Tell me how you engage all students within the school day.

2 What options do students with special needs have? Not only children with IEPs, but also intellectually gifted students and those with other unique needs.

3 How do you deal with student behavior?

4 What is the tenure of teachers in your building? Do any members of the faculty have their National Teacher’s Certification?

5 Do you have multi-teacher or multi-aged classrooms?

6 What extracurricular activities do you offer?

7 Is there an active PTA or other parent organization at the school?

Things to Consider When

Looking at Schools

Whether you are looking for an elementary, middle, or high school, there are a few things

that you need to think about. We all want the best for our children, and these days, we have choices. Families need to check out all of the possibilities that will work for their budgets. This means public, private, charter, and homeschooling. It is crucial to select a school that complements your child and their learning style. You are the best advocate for your son or daughter, and it is up to you where they will receive their more formal education.

Where to Begin

Start making a list of schools that you are interested in learning more about. It may take time to research, but will be well worth it down the line. Go to the New York State Department of Education website and look at school report cards. The schools are required publish these facts.

Tour Schools

A school may look wonderful on paper, but could make a very different impression in person. Visit the websites for the schools that make your list. Look to see if they have any open houses scheduled. If they do, those are great to go to. Most have faculty, staff, and students available to answer questions as you tour their buildings. In addition to this, call and ask to take a tour on another day. You want to get beyond the scripted speeches and pamphlets that will be given out on those days. Ask to observe classrooms in action. Nothing is more telling than walking into a room and seeing learning in progress.

By Beth Levine, TheAngelForever.com


Sit down and brainstorm other items to ask and do not be afraid to pull out a piece of paper and take notes. Your child deserves this.

Homeschooling Option

In recent years, many families have opted not to send their children to a public, private, or charter school. Instead, they are homeschooling their children. The homeschooling community is getting larger within the Capital District and throughout the country. There are now many groups that get together for group activities and support. Many places within the community offer programs for enrichment and actively seek out homeschooling participation. Remember, just like selecting a traditional school, you need to look into the specifics and research what your legal responsibilities are within New York State.Go With Your Gut

You know your child the best. Your family will know what environments, policies, and structure will work to help your child live up to their potential. Decisions need to be made based on all of the above items, along with anything else that is a factor for your child and family. Do not feel pressured into making a decision. To help with this, your best bet is to start this process early, talk to others in your community, and figure out with enough time before the start of next the school year.

a School report cards and scores on state tests can be found here. Compare over years and see how schools have progressed with time. http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs/reportcard/

a List of public and private schools within New York State http://usny.nysed.gov/parents/schools.html

a New York State Office of Special Education’s information and resources http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/

Beth is a happily married teacher, now SAHM to her two young sons. She has a passion for all things Disney, reading, crafting , and traveling. A camera is always close to catch memories for her blog, TheAngelForever.com

a Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education http://usny.nysed.gov/programs.html

a Our own columnist, Sandra Foyt, has tips on Albany Kid for finding homeschoolers in the Capital District http://albanykid.com/2010/11/12/how-to-find-homeschoolers-in-the-capital-region/

a Don’t forget to check out the schools section on KidsFunPlaza.com

Some Online Resources to Help

Phot

o: La

nce C

pl. S

alvad

or M

oren

o


Megan Brophy-McLean MSW

Heath Care Provider of the Month

By Alina M. Hensley, TheCraningGap.blogspot.com

It isn’t just the health of the individual that is of the utmost importance, but also

the health of our communities. Two issues ago, I interviewed a social worker, and we spoke on the topic of forgiveness among families. But mental health isn’t the only thing that those in the social work field are focusing on. Physical health is also becoming a pressing concern.

Putting a healthy meal on the table can become a weight on the shoulders of those families who sometimes can’t even afford a trip to the grocery store. On one hand, children are going hungry. Yet in the same places, often the same children are struggling with obesity. It’s a double whammy of unhealthy worry.

Why is this happening in our neighborhoods? I went to speak with Megan Brophy-McLean MSW, a Prevention Worker from Albany County. I sat with her in her Latham home and talked about the ongoing battle between income and nutrition, which she has become passionate about while working with low income families.

“The three biggest obstacles facing families are access to fresh, healthy foods, the knowledge and time to prepare them, and adequate resources with which to purchase them.”

These are often concerns for inner city families, for whom options can be limited. “Carrying a week’s worth of groceries home on the bus is a major inconvenience, especially in the summer, when perishables are at risk of spoilage. Cab fare is not affordable, and major grocery chains are not often located in urban areas,” says Megan. Instead, families end up walking down to the corner mart or nearby convenience store, where prices are steep and the availability of fresh grocery

items is limited. If not that, they end up at the closest fast food joint. Dedication to getting to the store and home again has to become a priority for any family.

So many people are unaware that Food Stamps are an option, or if they do receive them, they’re forced to feed their entire household for a month on the amount of money a high-income family might spend at the store in a week. Information about food pantries isn’t always readily accessible, either.

As we talk, Megan is prepping veggies in her kitchen, and both of us, accustomed to suburban life, cannot imagine it being difficult to procure a head of broccoli, such as the one she’s chopping. But the truth is, it’s much harder. The advent of the urban farmer’s market, especially those that accept Food Stamps, has helped alleviate some of the farm country/inner city disconnect. But the rift is still so obvious.

Why then, is obesity such a problem in low income areas, if food is so hard to come by? “Less

VS


nutritive food tends to be far more affordable,” Megan says, “you could buy a fast food hamburger, or two apples, for a dollar. The burger has more calories, and will keep you fuller, longer – and it’s easier to get kids to eat it, too.” Given the math, the burger will always appear to be the better choice. However, the apples are full of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Things you won’t find in your standard helping of ground beef and white bread. “Families get accustomed to eating in this manner, and our bodies can become addicted to fats and refined sugars. Where do we begin to make changes toward a healthier diet?”

Megan recalls one experience she had with a family whose son struggled with obesity. “I discussed with his mother some easy changes she could make in order to provide better choices for her son. For example, swapping out sodas and fruit drinks for water, or even diluted 100% juice.” Even in her own household, she helped her husband cut his soda habit by offering him flavored seltzer waters.

“Changes have to be made by the whole family in order for it to work. It’s not fair for one child to be eating cookies when the other has carrot sticks. Parents also have to be on board and remain positive about healthy foods.” She laughs. “If you think a food is yucky and say that it’s yucky right in front of your kids, they probably won’t be willing to try it.”

Struggling with affordability is something many families can relate to. “How can you keep your grocery bill low while keeping nutrition high?” As a Member Worker of Honest Weight Co-op, Megan recommends buying healthy staples in bulk to keep costs down. Items such as rice and other grains, dried beans, peas and lentils (for meals); and nuts, seeds, and dried fruits (for snacking) are all affordable and excellent sources of nutrition.

“Cooking from scratch requires a little planning ahead, but the payoff for your health and your wallet are well worth the

time.” Buying veggies when they’re on sale and prepping them as soon as you get them home from the store is a great way to keep you ready to throw a healthy meal on the table. Keep them stashed in baggies in the freezer, that way they’re always ready to go. What could be more convenient than that?

Getting kids involved with cooking is of major importance. “Kids are very

proud of things they make, be it an art project or dinner. If they take ownership in the preparation of food, they’re more likely to try it.” Megan mentions encouraging their ability to nurture. If you have some space for even a pot or two, they can grow foods from seed. “Try growing an herb or two. Even tomato plants can thrive in pots on a sunny porch or balcony.” Involving the whole family in the meal-creating process brings a sense of responsibility, pride and love to the table – necessities for any healthy change, no matter what neighborhood you live in.

Alina Hensley is happily raising her daughter in her native New York, and passionately passing on her love for writing, culture, and the arts.


Special needs kids have par-ents who have their own brand of special needs.

Whether our kids have issues that are physical, emotional, neurologi-cal, or something else, we take on a lot of things that other parents will never know about. Between argu-ing with pediatricians and special-ists about a diagnosis and trying to hammer out an IEP or 504 plan with your child’s school, you know what it means to really fight for your kid. Is there anyone out there working hard for you the way you work hard for your child? The answer is yes. Our local community has a lot to offer.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Have you considered a support group for parents of kids with special needs? Sometimes it helps just being able to talk with other parents who have gone through the same things you’re going through now.

You can vent your frustrations and share helpful strategies. You can cry, if you need to, even if you won’t allow yourself to get emotional in front of your kids. Just knowing that you’re not alone, that other people are struggling with some of the same issues, it can work wonders for your state of mind. I never took advantage of it, but TJ’s preschool had a support group for parents. I wanted to go several times, but it didn’t work out with my schedule. I know it was fairly well attended, though.

ECONOMIC SUPPORT

You can’t put a price tag on your child’s safety and well-being, but some of the things our special needs children need certainly aren’t cheap. Medical bills, therapy sessions, special equipment – all of these things add up. There’s no shame in getting help that you’re qualified for. (I will readily admit to being a part of the WIC program when I was laid off after TJ was born.) Depending on your in-come, your county Department of Social Services may have a variety of programs to help your family, especially when it comes to health care. If you don’t qualify for Medicaid, you may still be eligible for something like Child Health Plus, which can ensure that your child never has to go without care due to cost.

By Christina Gleason, CutestKidEver.org

Christina Gleason is a happily married mom of one very active little boy and Founder of Phenomenal Content LLC, which provides online copywriting for businesses. Read her blog at www.CutestKidEver.org!

Getting the

Support You Need

Special Needs

RESPITE SERVICES

We all know how much you love your child, and how you know him or her best. But who’s taking care of you, the caregiver? You may not go out and do much by yourself or with your significant other because you can just hire a babysitter the way other parents do – your child needs special care. There are adults who have been trained specifically to care for special needs kids, and you can turn to them for respite services. St. Catherine’s provides respite services for emotionally dis-turbed children. The Center for Disability Services also provides a range of respite care services, from after school programs to over-night and weekend programs. Talk to your health care provider to learn more about res-pite care in your area.

Take Care of Yourself!

Don’t be a martyr and let your-self get burned out. You don’t have to go it alone. You may be your child’s best advocate, but you’ll be a better parent if you allow yourself to be a whole person and do something for yourself every once in a while.


By Linda Carmical

for KidsFunSummer Expo at the Colonie Center on April 16th

HEY PARENTS !

THE LARGEST SUMMER CAMP FAIR IN NORTHEASTERN NY

No need to drive around from camp to camp. Come meet over 40 Summer Camps at the Colonie Center on April 16th and get:

Free reusable Camp Fair 2011 tote bag with all relevant information and goodies

A full day of Camp workshops to give your kids a feeling of the camp activities

Meet and take pictures with all the characters: Eastern Bunnies, Clowns, Super Heroes and more!

Enjoy the Bouncy Castles free of charge

Parents and future campers can visit with over 40 local and out-of-state representatives from:

* Residential Camps* Day Camps* Academic Summer Programs* Athletic Summer Programs* Teen Adventure Programs* Fine Art Programs* Public andaPrivate School Camps* County Offerings* and much more.

All the information you need to find a summer camp for your family

will be here. Don’t miss this ONE DAY

ONLY event! FREE ADMISSION.

FREE PARKING.

For ideas about your summer camp options, pick up the March 2011 Day Camp Directory at any Price Chopper, YMCA or Public Library. The directory will also be distributed at Camp Fair and online listings are viewable all year long.

For Exhibitors - Be a part of this sold-out multi-booth expo. Go to http://advertise.kidsfunplaza.com/kidsfunsummer-expo/


It’s almost here! There’s an excitement in the air, and your kids know that summer is just around the corner. That means

fun times, great memories, and building friendships that will last a lifetime. Summer camp provides a child adventure and the chance to push them to do things they never thought they could.

Camps can expose a child to activities they may otherwise never have the opportunity to experience. What kid wouldn’t like to have the chance to participate in canoeing, sailing, fishing, swimming, team sports, team activities, wilderness adventures, rope courses, campfire songs, survival training, hiking, and so many more exciting activities?

We have compiled a list of some of the local summer camps to help you find the right one for your child or children.

YMCA Camp Chingachgook Kattskill Bay, New YorkGender: Boys and Girls

Ages: 7 – 16Phone: 518-656-9462

www.cdymca.org/Locations/CampChingachgook/Home.aspx

Camp WaldenDiamond Point, New York

Gender: Boys and GirlsAges: 8 – 16

Phone: 518-644-9441www.campwalden-ny.com/in-

dex.php

The ZoneCampGilboa, New York


Phone: 866-843-9663www.thezone.org/

www.jewishboyzone.com/1-877-BOYZONE

www.jewishgirlzone.com/1-877-GIRLZONE

Forest Lake Camp for BoysChestertown, New York

Gender: Boys Ages: 8 – 16

Phone: 518-623-4771www.forestlakecamp.com/

Forest Lake Camp for GirlsChestertown, New York

Gender: Girls Ages: 8 – 16

Phone: 518-623-4771www.forestlakecamp.com

Camp Echo LakeWarrensburg, New YorkGender: Boys and Girls

Ages: 3rd – 11th GradesPhone: 518-623-9635

www.campecholake.com

Bits, Bytes & Bots - Computer Adventures Clifton Park, New YorkGender: Boys and Girls

Ages: 6 to 14Phone: 518-533-8018

bitsbytesbot.com

Camp Cedarbrook in the Adirondacks

Corinth, New YorkGender: Girls

Age of Campers: 6 - 17Phone: 518-608-6800

www.campcedarbrook.net

eba, Inc.Albany, New York


Phone: 518-465-9916http://www.eba-arts.org/

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York

Albany, New YorkGender: GirlsAge Groups:

• Daisy-GradesK-1• Brownie-Grades2-3• Junior-Grades4-5• Cadette-Grades6-8• Senior-Grades9-10• Ambassador-Grades

11-12Phone: 518-489-8110

www.gsneny.org

Hola La, LLCMalta, New York

Niskayuna, New YorkSaratogaSprings,NewYork

Gender: Boys and GirlsAges: Toddler and UpPhone: 518-542-4568

www.hola-la.com

JMU 4 KidsDelmar New York

Gender: Boys and GirlsAges: 7 and Under

Ages: 8 - 14Phone: 518-376-6668www.jmu4kids.com

KidzArtGuilderland New York

Gender: K - 7Ages:

Phone: 518-456-4101www.kidzartcrny.com

The Language Learning Institute, LLC

Albany, New YorkGender: Boys and Girls

Ages: Variety of Age Groups – Call for InformationPhone: 518-346-7096

www.languagelearninginsti-tute.com

Community Guide

By Linda Carmical

Camp-Guide North Eastern NY


Mad Science of the Capital District

Clifton Park, New YorkGender: Boys and Girls

Ages: 3 - 12Phone: 518-373-2864

www.madscience.org/thecapitaldistrict

NYS Department of Environmental

Conservation Environmental Education

CampAlbany, New York

Camps: Colby, DeBruce, Rushford, and Pack Forest

Gender: Boys and GirlsAges: Varies by Camp: 12 - 14

Phone: 518-402-8014www.dec.ny.gov/educa-

tion/29.html

Sidney Albert Albany JCC

Albany, New YorkGender: Boys and Girls

Ages: Contact for Information

Phone: 518-438-6651www.saajcc.org

Stardom School of DanceTroy, New York

Gender: Male and FemaleAges: 18 Months to Adult

Phone: 518-279-1510www.stardom-

schoolofdance.com

The Learning Lab


Ages: K – 6 GradePhone: 518-369-0598 or

518-928-4963www.thelearninglab.us

Tiny Tots Tea Room and Learning Center


Ages: Contact for InformationPhone: 518-348-1050

www.tinytotstearoom.com

Tumbling Tykes

Latham, New YorkGender: Boys and Girls


www.tumblingtykes.org

The Culture Vulture CampGlens Falls, New York

Gender: Boys and GirlsAges: Contact for Information

Phone: 518-793-2773www.worldchildrens

museum.org

Double H RanchLake Luzerne, New YorkGender: Boys and Girls


www.doublehranch.org

Camp BrookledgeMiddle Grove, New York

Gender: Contact for InformationAges: Contact for Information

Phone: 518-882-6885

Saratoga Regional YMCATravelCamp&CampStarhitch

SaratogaSprings,NewYorkGender: Contact for Information

Ages: Contact for InformationPhone: 518-583-9622 ext. 110

www.ymcasaratoga.org/

Adirondack CampPutnam, New York

Gender: Boys and GirlsAges: 7 - 16

Phone: 518-547-8261www.adirondackcamp.com

Camp-Guide North Eastern NY


Baby

Back in the Dark Ages, when I was expecting my first child, I didn’t know any new

moms. I was the first in my family, and amongst my friends, to tackle parenthood. At the time, it never occurred to me to search for a mothers support group. Instead, I did everything the hard way.

When I needed to find playmates for my little girl, I stalked other moms in the neighborhood and on the playground. If I needed a doctor referral, I interrogated my husband’s coworkers. Best deals? Where to go? What to do? Forget about it. Finding anything required hours of fruitless searching. Never mind finding someone to listen to mommy rants.

When you don’t know what to expect when you’re expecting, it can be comforting to connect with other moms who share your concerns. But how do you find new moms?

You can start by looking for moms who blog. With nearly four million mom blogs online, it’s just a matter of locating one that

appeals to you. On mommy blogs, you can learn from women who share their personal experiences, and join a community centered on the blog. Often, you can interact within that community via blog comments, as well as on related Facebook pages or Twitter.

While a mom blog community is an excellent way to connect with women who share a common interest, sometimes you want local advice. For that, you can seek out a mommy blogger in your region, such as the talented writers on the Kids Fun Plaza blog. Or, you can visit a regional online forum. Several mothers support groups feature members-only message boards where you can get advice free from public scrutiny.

Nowadays, moms clubs offer varying levels of involvement that suit different needs.

There are organizations catering to moms of twins or preschoolers and groups that only offer weekly playgroups while others fill the calendar with a range of activities from Mom’s Night Out to family outings. Some moms clubs plan all their events during the day to suit stay at home mothers, while others stick to evenings or weekends to meet the needs of working moms. And some moms clubs offer both.

Finding the right one for you can be as simple as deciding on your needs. Amy Clark lists a number of mothers support groups, many with local chapters throughout the country, in Finding a Moms Group. And there are many more that are independent, local moms clubs. For a list that includes both national and independent groups based in Northeast NY, take a look at How to Find Moms Clubs in the Capital Region.

For new moms, getting advice and making new friends has never been easier.

Sandra Foyt is the mother of two: a teen girl and a tween boy. She has been eagerly exploring Northeastern New York since both gave up naps on their first birthdays, and she writes about fun and learning in the Capital Region on www.AlbanyKid.com.


Teaching children by example starts at an early age. As toddlers are beginning to ex-plore the world around them, it is important to involve them in activities within your community. You may be wondering how a small child can do this, but it is possible. Children learn through role models. If we begin to take our children to activities, events, and volunteer opportunities at this age, it will become second nature to them.

Library Story TimeMany people may not realize that local libraries are great resources for activities to do with toddlers. Libraries within the Upper Hudson Library System (Albany/Rensselaer Counties) and others in the Capital District run weekly story hours. Most of them are in the mid-morning and geared for the toddler set. When I took my son to one of them, the librarian read a few age-appropriate stories. In between the

Toddler

Visiting People for SmilesWhen my oldest son was a toddler, my grandfather was in a nursing home. As we walked through the halls we noticed how the residents would smile, perk up, and talk to him. When we would hear about events that were taking place we would often take our son to them to interact with not only my Papa Sol, but others. NHL loved the attention and would dance and sing for everyone. If you want to make someone smile, call some nursing homes in your area to see if they have times when children can come. Many have mu-sic sessions that they love having toddlers to dance and play.

Caring CraftsToddlers love to make crafts. An easy project is to have them make cards. They can put their hand print, color freestyle, or use other items you have at home. Think about donating some homemade cards to local hospitals, military members overseas, or another location. The Ronald McDonald House and Albany Medical Center Pediatric Ward are places that I have donated to in the past. Brainstorm on locations in your immediate area and call them. This would make a perfect pro-ject to do within a playgroup setting.

With toddlers, it is important to think outside of the box. Remember that if you volunteer and help others when they are just starting to walk and explore, it will make a positive impact later in life.


Ways to Get Your Toddler Involved in the Community

Additional Ideas to Introduce the Community to Your Toddler:

• Call the local fire department to see if/when they give tours. Most have days when they invite the community in to see/meet them.

• Take a tour of your grocery store. Show your child the different sections and practice identifying people and items.

• Spend time at your place of worship helping out. Even toddlers can help you to stuff envelopes and feel like helpers.

• Talk to your department of parks and recreation to see if you can assist in get-ting playgrounds ready for the spring.

stories, she sang songs that got the kids up and moving, used a felt board, and talked with the kids. Sometimes there were crafts that were done at the end of the hour. It was a perfect time to meet other children, explore the library, and learn through play. Be sure to check out KidsFunPlaza online for calendars that have been submitted by many of the local libraries.


KidsFunKitchen


SUN

DA

Y M

ar 6

MO

ND

AY

Ma

r 7M

ON

DA

Y M

ar

14M

ON

DA

Y M

ar

21M

ON

DA

Y M

ar

28

TUES

DA

Y M

ar 8

TUES

DA

Y M

ar

15TU

ESD

AY

Ma

r 2

2TU

ESD

AY

Ma

r 29

WED

NES

DA

Y M

ar 9

WED

NES

DA

Y M

ar

16W

EDN

ESD

AY

Ma

r 23

WED

NES

DA

Y M

ar

30

WEE

K 1

WEE

K 4

WEE

K 3

WEE

K 2

WEE

KLY

GO

AL

FOR

KID

S (2

-8)

WEE

KLY

GO

AL

FOR

MO

M

35 O

z

14 C

up

s

10 ½

Cu

ps

10 O

z

35 C

up

s 42 O

z

GLO

SSA

RY

BREA

KFA

ST

SNA

CKS

LUN

CH

DIN

NER

DES

SERT

GRA

INS

VEG

GIE

S

FRU

ITS

DA

IRY

MEA

TS/B

EAN

S

Fin

d a

ll th

e re

cip

es a

nd

sh

op

pin

g li

sts

on

Kid

sFu

nK

itch

en.c

om

SUN

DA

Y M

ar

13SU

ND

AY

Ma

r 20

SUN

DA

Y M

ar

27

Monthly Menu

Cin

nam

onH

oney

Gla

zed

Stic

ky

Go

Out

for l

unch

!

Bana

naT

ortil

laS

nack

Asp

arag

us C

arb

onar

a

Che

rimoy

a-l

ime

Sorb

et

Eggs

Ben

edic

t

Gre

en s

alad

with

moz

arel

la

Lunc

hbox

Sna

cks

Beef

Str

ogan

off

Rasp

ber

ry T

artle

ts

Tart

lets

with

Van

illa

Shak

e

Beef

Bur

ritos

Mel

ony

ogur

tSna

ck

Roas

ted

Sal

mon

And

Rhu

bar

b

Gin

ger Y

ogur

t with

Fru

it

Baco

n an

d C

hed

dar

Om

elet

te

Salm

onS

alad

Bage

ls fo

r Bru

nch

Go

out f

or L

unch

!

Coc

onut

Sna

cks

Easy

Bak

ed P

enne

Gia

ndui

a M

ouss

e

Ana

’s Eg

gs B

ened

ict

Mex

ican

Tor

tilla

Gob

ble

Up

Gra

nola

Sna

cks

Pep

per

ed B

eef F

illet

Stra

wb

erry

-M

asca

rpon

eTr

ifle

Pie

with

Hot

Cho

cola

te

Tuna

Cas

erro

le L

efto

ver

Poac

hed

Egg

s w

ith s

pin

ach

and

rico

tta

Go

Out

for l

unch

!

Yogu

rt C

over

ed P

retz

els

Gno

cchi

with

cre

amy

Gor

gonz

ola

Cho

cola

te C

hip

Gra

nola

Bar

s

Saus

age

Brea

kfas

tCas

sero

le

Turk

eyS

alad

Frui

t with

Cho

cola

te a

nd P

ista

chio

St

icks

Beef

Ste

w

Can

die

d W

alnu

ts

Toas

twith

Jam

Frui

tand

Str

ing

Past

a al

la B

olog

nese

Frui

tand

Str

ing

Che

ese

Gril

led

Fis

h

Pear

Mou

sse

Mou

sse

with

mix

ed fr

uits

Mar

inat

edB

ean

Sala

d

Pota

to &

Bac

on O

mel

et

Go

Out

for l

unch

!

Kid

-Frie

ndly

Sus

hi

Ore

chie

tte

al P

esto

Cho

cola

te P

eanu

t But

ter P

ie

Hon

ey A

pric

ot C

ornb

read

Pros

ciut

oan

dM

elon

Sal

ad

Salte

dD

ark

Cho

cola

teA

lmon

ds

Stan

din

gRi

bR

oast

with

Cog

nac

Sauc

e

Flan

Map

le-C

inna

mon

Ap

ple

sauc

e

Mea

tloaf

Bur

rito

Kid

-Frie

ndly

Sus

hi

Tila

pia

with

sca

llion

s an

d

bla

ck b

ean

sauc

e

Cho

cola

te P

eanu

t But

ter P

ie

Pota

to P

anca

kes

Gre

en B

eans

with

Bac

on

Coc

oa-N

ut B

anan

as

Beef

Bur

rito

Med

iterr

anea

nPi

ckni

cSn

ack

Spic

edS

eaB

ass

with

Car

mel

ised

Fe

nnel

Rasp

ber

ry P

ie


THU

RSD

AY

Ma

r 10

THU

RSD

AY

Ma

r 17

THU

RSD

AY

Ma

r 24

THU

RSD

AY

Ma

r 31

FRID

AY

Ma

r 11

FRID

AY

Ma

r 18

FRID

AY

Ma

r 25

FRID

AY

Ap

ril 1

SATU

RDA

Y M

ar

12SA

TURD

AY

Ma

r 19

SATU

RDA

Y M

ar

26SA

TURD

AY

Ap

ril 2

3212

1923

1112

,117

Cal

Just

ent

ery

oura

ge,h

eigh

t,w

eigh

t & g

ende

r at:

myp

yram

idtr

acke

r.gov

/p

lan

ner

WEE

KLY

GO

AL

FOR

DA

D

17 ½

Cu

ps

10 ½

Cu

ps

12 O

z

35 C

up

s

56 O

z

21 C

up

s

14 C

up

s

21 O

z

45 ½

Cu

ps

FIN

D O

UT

YOU

RS

Nu

mb

er O

f Se

rvin

gs

1619

1612

2211

,630

Cal

1613

1627

2510

,983

Cal

2018

1016

2512

,751

Cal

Vegg

ies

Scra

mb

led

Egg

s

Gre

enS

alad

with

Oliv

esa

ndM

ozar

ella

Won

Ton

Sna

cks

Caj

un R

ainb

ow T

rout

Ind

ivid

ual A

pp

le C

harlo

tte

Hue

vos

Ranc

hero

s

Gre

enS

alad

with

Tro

ut

Sesa

me

Stic

kSn

acks

Span

ish

Tort

illa

Are

pa

Cup

cake

sw

ithB

anan

aSh

ake

Chi

cken

Sal

ad

Qui

ck&

Yum

my

Snac

k

Pork

Ten

der

loin

Cho

cola

teT

ruffl

es

Parm

esan

Tris

cuit

Snac

ks

Roas

t Chi

cken

Coc

onut

Cup

cake

s

Baco

n an

d C

hed

dar

Om

elet

te

Salm

onS

alad

Lem

onB

ars

inS

pan

ish

Oat

mea

l

Tuna

San

dw

ich

Pean

utB

utte

rSna

ckC

ups

Salm

onin

par

chm

ent

Pist

achi

o M

erin

gues

with

toas

ted

co

conu

t

Yuca

with

Cho

risos

Sop

ad

em

aris

cos

(sea

food

sou

p)

Man

goS

orb

et

Man

gu

Flan

de

Coc

o

Coo

kies

with

Ras

ber

ryS

moo

thie

Turk

eyS

alad

Pizz

aSn

acks

Pizz

aSn

acks

Lem

on B

ars

Ham

and

Sw

iss

Rolls

Stuf

fed

Tru

key

Brea

st

Gia

ndui

aSa

ndw

ich

Coo

kies

Pie

with

Hot

Cho

cola

te

Tuna

Cas

erro

le L

efto

ver

Cak

e w

ith H

ot C

hoco

late

Cap

rese

Sal

ad

Frui

t with

Cho

cola

te a

nd P

ista

chio

St

icks

Mar

mal

ade-

glaz

ed H

am

Frui

twith

Sor

bet

Eggs

Flo

rent

ine

Pork

Sal

ad

Frui

t and

Gra

ham

Cra

cker

s

Cre

amy

Fish

Cho

wd

er

Che

esec

ake

with

Lim

e-Po

ache

d P

ears

Brea

kfas

t Bur

ritos

Sea

Soup

Frui

tand

Str

ing

Che

ese

Locr

io L

oco

Dul

ce d

e Le

che

Yogu

rt w

ith F

ruit

Stra

wb

erry

Tor

te

Verm

ontS

pic

eC

ake

Mou

sse

with

mix

ed fr

uits

Mar

inat

edB

ean

Sala

d

Ap

ple

Cak

e

Ap

ple

-bra

ised

Tur

key

thig

hs

Cre

pes

Suz

ette

Has

h Br

own

Fritt

ata

Go

out f

or L

unch

!

Kid

-Frie

ndly

Sus

hi

Cor

iand

er-c

rust

ed P

ork

tend

erlo

in

Min

cem

eat P

ie

Can

adia

n-b

acon

Str

ata

Pork

Tor

tilla

Pum

pki

n Pi

e

Bake

dS

outh

wes

tern

Tila

pia

Min

cem

eat P

ie

Pie

with

Ave

na

Baca

laito

s w

ith C

horis

os

Coc

o b

alls

The

Dom

inic

an F

lag

Braz

o G

itano

Pota

to P

anca

kes

Gre

en B

eans

with

Bac

on


Preschooler

Raising Kids to Appreciate their Community

The wonderful thing about the three-to-five-year-old crowd is that they love being helpful.

They want to help with laundry, dishes, making dinner, baking cookies…It’s a great time to teach them about helping their community.

If you’ve ever seen Little Bill on Nick Jr., that show teaches preschoolers a lot about being a part of the community. Community means something a bit different to Little Bill, who lives in the big city and can walk to the corner store with his great-grandma. Most of us around here live a very suburban life – some rural! – and our kids have to be driven everywhere they need to go. It takes a little more effort to teach them that they are a part of a community, but it can be done.

Religious Groups

If you belong to a church, temple, or other religious group, your children get to be a part of that community early on. I remember going to Sunday school as a child and being so excited to bring canned goods with me to donate to the food pantry. I didn’t really understand what going hungry meant, but I did know that there were families who didn’t have a lot to eat, and I wanted to help them. Whatever local charity your house of worship supports, you can feel confident that your child is learning to help those who are less fortunate.

Clubs and Activities

Little girls can join the Brownies at age 5, but little boys have to wait until first grade to become Cub Scouts. The Boys and Girls Club of Albany has a 3-year-old program and a pre-K program that starts at age 4. Your local YMCA has programs for all ages, as well. Being a part of a community group can help your child feel part of something,

and they can begin to understand that there is more to life than just what they want. They can meet friends from all different backgrounds; little kids don’t care about religion, politics, national origin, skin color, or economic status. These sorts of clubs and organizations will help your child gain perspective and expand their horizons all in the name of fun and learning.

On Your Own

If you don’t have a house of worship and your child doesn’t belong to an organized club or group, there are still plenty of ways to get him or her involved in something at a community level. Your local library offers a number of free programs for young children like story time or other special activities. TJ loves going to the music programs run monthly at the Clifton

Park-Halfmoon Library with Diane Payette. Check your local newspaper (or newspaper’s website) for other fun activities for kids. You can find things to do in your community nearly every day, even if it’s not a planned event. Picking out books at the library, taking a walk in the park, and visiting local farms and orchards when the weather gets better are all great ways to show your little ones what your community has to offer.


Christina Gleason is a happily married mom of one very active little boy and Founder of Phenomenal Content LLC, which provides online copywriting for businesses. Read her blog at www.CutestKidEver.org!


I recently met a person who is incredibly creative. Rachel Breidster is one of those

constantly happy people with a contagious smile. When I heard she did pottery pieces, I just had to see them for myself. Knowing Rachel, I was sure they had to be beautiful. With her personality, it was a given. Even so, I was in awe of Rachel’s talents.

Rachel started painting pottery in 2001, and her years of experience truly show. Rachel not only loves to make pieces, but also teaching others to do so. In 2005, Rachel became certified to teach Creative Brush and teaches classes once a month at The Pottery Place in Stuyvesant Plaza.

By: Kelly Razzano, AlbanyMommy.com

Unique, Creative, & Gorgeous

Painted Pottery

Each painted pottery piece Rachel does is given her meticulous all. She sits down with each customer and goes over what they are looking for. Customers can go into detail about colors, shapes, techniques, or even bring in a picture of what they would like on their pot-tery piece. Rachel will then go through what she can and can’t do and give a time estimate. I have always worried about commission pieces like this that I wouldn’t “jive” with the person doing the piece and it would be far from what I had in mind. Rachel is very thorough, and will tell you right away if she thinks she isn’t quite getting what you want for your piece.

What can you use painted pottery for? Wedding presents, anniversary presents, something for the person who has everything, baby announcements, and so much more. Many years ago, when I was first married, we had a platter paint-ed with a bride and groom and our wed-ding date and used it for all the guests to sign in on. I absolutely adore it still. A friend had baby footprints painted on a dish along with their infant’s birth date, length, and weight. It’s a beautiful way to showcase a special event!

Buy Local

Rachel’s most impressive painted pot-tery piece? She painted a decorative vase to match the very detailed uphol-stery on a couch. This particular piece took over 30 hours and is amazing. “It literally looks like the same people who printed the fabric also painted the vase.” That’s how painstaking Rachel is with each piece.

Want to get a special gift for someone? A custom made piece for decoration at your house? Commemorate an event? Give yourself a one of a kind piece that no one else has? You need to see Rachel. Just look at the pictures of the pieces she has done. Aren’t they incredible?

You can contact Rachel by email at [email protected] for more information about her pieces and what she can do for you.

I want a decorative tea set for my daughter. She’s at the age where tea parties are great fun, and I would love to have a tea set decorated specifically for her.

Kelly RazzanoPart time pediatric nurse and part time stay at home {meaning constantly on the go} Mom of 2. I have been blogging at AlbanyMommy.com, show up on the news frequently, and I love to help small local businesses. In my “spare time” I do web design and search engine optimization and have tons of fun doing it!


If your child is in school, you know that their days are packed within the

academic curriculum.

Homework starts to come home even in kindergarten. Still, we need to make sure that our chil-dren become active members of their school community. In or-der to get a full experience out of elementary school, kids need to do things that make them proud of the school community they are part of.

RECYCLING PROJECTS

A lot of schools are working on placing recycling bins within all of the classrooms. Elementary aged children are old enough to be responsible for this type of project. They have grown up learning about recycling and

can implement this where they spend most of their days. Kids could be in charge of making sure that bins are kept in a place where papers can be placed and taking them to a central location before it gets over loaded. Not only will the kids be helping their school, they will also be helping the planet. It’s a win-win situa-tion for everyone.

HELP TO RAISE MONEY

As parents, we all know too well about fundraisers that come home in large envelopes asking us to sell wrapping paper, cookie dough, and various other items. Companies are working to help schools and in a way that children can get involved. Box Tops for Education (BoxTops4Education.com) are found on numer-ous everyday products and are

worth ten cents apiece to school. It may not seem like a lot, but they add up quickly when all families in the school work to-gether. Campbell’s Soup Labels for Education, Tyson Project A+, Capri Sun Drink Pouch Brigade, Cartridges for Kids, and other programs pay schools for turning in items. Kids could make a collection envelope for all of the different labels that are worth money to their school. They can make sure that they are put in them at home and brought back to school to the main collection area.

SCHOOL PRIDE

Kids need to have pride in the appearance of their school. Earth Day celebrations often inspire groups to go around the grounds picking up trash. This

Getting Kids

Involved in the School Community


needs to be something that kids work on throughout the school year. With help from parents and school staff, children can make sure they keep the grounds clean, the playground area safe, and hallways kept tidy. Another great way is to see if your child’s school displays art work in the building. Kids really do love to see their work up for everyone to see when they are walking around from place to place.

As children get older, they need to be active members of their own peer community. As el-ementary students, this begins at the school and works well with support from home and adults within the school building.

Kiddo

Beth is a happily married teacher, now SAHM to her two young sons. She has a passion for all things Disney, reading, crafting , and traveling. A camera is always close to catch memories for her blog, TheAngelForever.com

a Joinafterschoolclubsandhelpto

promote them around the building.

Remember, if there is nothing that

interests your child, suggest more items

and be willing to volunteer within the

school and PTA.

a SeeifyourschoolhasanactiveGirl/Boy

ScoutTroop–lotsofgreatcommunity

service take place within this extracur-

ricular option.

a Seeifstudentscanformareadingclub

during recess, or another time during or

after school. Great time for kids to explore

literature together in a non-threatening

environment.

a Seeifyourschoolwilldoaletterwriting

service to local members of the military.

Kids can write cards thanking members

and send them to local service men and

women overseas.

a Run penny drives for a local charity.

Donating to others and working together

can help to raise great school spirit.

ADDITIONAL WAYS FOR CHILDREN BE ACTIVE IN THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY


By Alina M. Hensley, TheCraningGap.blogspot.com

Alina Hensley is happily raising her daughter in her native New York, and passionately passing on her love for writing, culture, and the arts.

Green & Healthy

In nature, there are careful balances struck everywhere you look – be-tween worker bees and their queen,

between insects and the rain forest, be-tween trees and the oxygen we breathe. More likely to observe the balance be-tween our schedules and smart phones are we, that it’s easy to forget that we are not apart from that nature, we are a part of it. As we dash into the big-box grocery store, we forget that we are the variable that keeps the small farmer producing their precious loads of goods, so fleeting between the first harvest of early spring peas and asparagus, and the late season apples and squashes.

This delicate balance is taking place all around us. Our community farmers are relying on co-ops, farmer’s markets, and their own farm stands to sell their goods. But there is an-other way they’re branching out. It’s called Community Supported Agriculture, and it’s the most interesting and creative way to give even those in the depths of the concrete jungle a taste of the local countryside.

Started in the 1960s in Europe and Asia, CSA groups were formed to assuage con-cerns about food safety and agricultural land management. Since then they have taken off worldwide, offering vegetable boxes, dairy se-lections, cuts of meat, fresh flowers, and more from local producers, available either for pick-up or home delivery, depending on the farm in question.

Half of the fun of CSA boxes is that they’re a bit of a gamble. You pay the annual dues to the farm, and they supply you with whatever is ripe and in season, once a week. It’s something like veggie roulette. If there are tomatoes ripe this week, you get tomatoes. If late blight takes out the entire tomato crop, you get no toma-toes this year at all. Nothing can possibly be set in stone; everything is subject to the influence of nature’s mercurial ways.

Committing to a CSA is no small project. You must be willing to remain on your toes, since you never know what you’re going to have on your hands. A friend of mine last year spent the better part of a week churning out huge batches of delicious red sauce because her CSA box was overflowing with juicy tomatoes that she simply couldn’t keep up with. Her freezer was full, and I bet she’s still working her way through it all! CSA cooking requires dedication to grocery runs, a stocked pantry, and a high degree of creativity, above all.

Playing Veggie Roulette

with CSA Boxes

If you’re up to the challenge of on-your-feet cooking, the Christmas-like excitement of finding out what’s in the box, and the warm fuzzies you get from knowing you’re helping sustain your community growers and feed your fam-ily the very best, most fresh, and most lo-cal the area has to offer, then buying into a CSA is for you. And this summer when you’re at the grocery store? Skip the pro-duce aisle. It doesn’t have anything you need, anyway.

Visit LocalHarvest.Org to find out where your local CSA opportunities are, and join the movement.

Tomatoes Photo: Ben Mc. Leod on Flickr


to inspire a sense of wonder about extraordinary scientific and technological developments: past, present,

and future


Teens

I will never forget my first trip to Bogota, Colombia. It was the early 1980s and I was just 15 years old,

charged with delivering the payroll to my family’s leather factory. It was scary traveling alone, carrying $8000 in cash to a poverty stricken area of an alien city.

A weighty responsibility for a young girl, but passing this test marked a major transition to adulthood. In time, I would refer to this trip as the pivotal event that shaped the person that I would become.

When I look back on this with the eyes of an adult, it was clearly irresponsible par-enting to send an adolescent on such a dan-gerous errand. And yet, how can teenagers find out what they are capable of if they don’t take risks?

A better option for a teen rite of passage is one where youths face challenges, away from immediate family, but with adult guidance. A summer program can be transformative, building up confidence, and setting the young adult on a path to claim their place in the world.


BySandraFoyt,AlbanyKid.com

“This event is an explosion of clarity, a statement of purpose, a letting go of limitations, an acknowledgement of responsibility, a lesson of true power and the ultimate unforgettable vision of their true selves!”-Aaron Huey, Owner of Fire Mountain


Sandra Foyt is the mother of two: a teen girl and a tween boy. She has been eagerly exploring Northeastern New York since both gave up naps on their first birthdays, and she writes about fun and learning in the Capital Region on www.AlbanyKid.com.


Start by talking to your teen. They may already have a strong opinion about how they want to spend their summer. If not, here a few ideas to jumpstart planning:

Go to camp. Does your teen have a special interest or hobby? It’s likely that you can find a spe-cialized program tailored to their special interest, however unusual or offseason. Winter sports during the summer? No problem. Local ski racers head to a summer camp program at Mount Hood, where they have a good shot at find-ing snow all summer long. Check with coaches and teachers for the best camps in the field.

Get a job. Easier said than done, finding a job for a teen can be difficult in the current economy. Even unpaid internships can be elusive. Canvass friends and family and

check with places that usually hire teens: pools, zoos, city park and recreation de-partments, and camps. Your teen’s best bet may be to start out by volunteering, and then work their way up to a paid position.

Go away. There are many operations that special-ize in organizing teen travel, both in the US and abroad. Students can sign up for adventure trips, language immersion programs, or to volunteer in an impover-ished region of the world. With so many options, it’s best to do your research and choose carefully.

These ideas should get you started on plan-ning a summer program rite of passage. For more suggestions, visit the Kids Fun Plaza Teen column.

Teen Summer Ideas

a Summer Camp Ideas for Teens - http://goo.gl/8QcNK

a How to Get a Job As a Teen - www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Job-As-a-Teen

a Transitions Abroad – Teen Planning - http://goo.gl/FnPEL

The Court Club accepts Aqua Blue. Save up to $250 on all memberships!!

We offer a wide variety of activies to get you in shape- including racquetball, handball and squash, group fitness classes such as Body Pump, Spinning, Pilates, and Yoga. We also have a complete weight room with state of the art Nautilus circuit as well as free weights, and a cardio room. In addition, we are the only health club in the capital region with an indoor rock

climbing.

“Look no further, The Court Club has it all.”

How do you find the right summer program for your teenager?


Grandma’s Wisdom

What’s the true value of a sense of community? What is its true meaning? Many differ-

ent perceptions are around about what a sense of community really is. For me, it’s a feeling of belonging and having an importance to another person and group of people. Having faith that each person will unite to see individual and common goals come to fruition. The level of seriousness a person’s involve-ment has in a community is equal when the four ingredients of its makeup are considered.

First is the membership in a community. When a person feels they have a vested interest in the success of a community and sense that they are welcome and belong, they feel that connection and become emo-tionally secure. There’s an attachment and caring that comes with a sense of belonging. People appreciate a sense of community and will go out of their way to protect and nurture it.

The second ingredient is people need to feel they count and their views mean something. Their opinions need to be shown respect and taken seriously. The person with the most influence is the one who listens to others and acknowledges opinions giving them respect and importance. Letting a person know their opinions and ideas have value to the community is important for the community to function successfully and reach its full potential. If the community has close knit friends, this can be even more important to its success.

The third ingredient is what I like to call the 3 R’s (Respect, Recognition, and Reward). These are fundamental to a sense of community. It doesn’t matter the age; a person is shown respect for just being them and recognized by some sort of reward for their participation in the community. The reward can be something as small as a pat on the back or a simple “Nice job, Frank!” or “Thanks for putting all the toys away, Sally!” Not only does this help maintain the sense of community, but reassures the person they matter to the group and their interactions are noticed. This positive reinforcement will build a strong sense of community.

The fourth and final ingredient to feel a sense of community is for people to share an emotional connection to each other and the community they’re part of. This may be the most important ingredient of all four for people to experience a true sense of community. This is easiest to understand if you think of a time or experience you’ve shared with a person. It doesn’t matter if it is a pleasant experience or a bad one; the important lesson is the bond you formed. The bond is something you only share with that person or group of people. You have that “special connection.” You have a special history together and your own “sense of commu-nity” between the members of your small knit group.

In my next blog post at KidsFunPlaza.com, I’ll give you information on how to build a sense of community. There are steps you can take to have yours thriving, so be sure to stop by for my tips. You’ll find them under Grandma’s Wisdom.

Building a Sense of Community

By Linda Carmical, LindaCarmical.com

LindaCarmical.comThis grandma is a southern girl at heart who came to realize one day staying home, being my own boss, blogging, and dabbling in web content was where it’s at. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell me I’d be working harder and longer hours than ever before! It’s a good thing I love this!


La Placita

By María del Pilar Casas

Cada mañana abrazo la vida en todo su explendor y doy gracias a Dios por la gran oportunidad de tener el

milagro hermoso de la existencia. Ser mujer es un verdadero regalo que envuelve grandes misiones por realizar, entre ellas el ser madre. En estos tiempos difíciles en los que la familia tambalea un poco y los valores se han per-dido, la mujer especialmente, desempeña un rol muy importante para mantener esos lazos irrompibles y hacer de su núcleo familiar un verdadero remanso de paz, amor, respeto, union y fe, en el que se respiren esos prin-cipios olvidados actualmente en cualquier sociedad.

Hace muy poco mi hija Stephania de 18 años, decidió asistir a un retiro espiritual en nuestra Parroquía de Mother of Christ en Miami. Un retiro para jóvenes entre 15 y 25 años de edad. El motivo principal de su decision era vivir esa linda experiencia, para reencontrarse con Dios y enfocar su atención durante un fin de semana completo, a esa vivencia espiritual que le permitiría además de conocer nuevos amigos, descubrir qué se siente estar en un ambiente alejado total-mente de la tecnología, los celulares, la tel-evision, el internet y todo lo que hoy envuelve al mundo y en el que principalmente los muchachos viven atrapados, sin “aparente escapatoria” a los avances tecnológicos que se les impone.

Stephania afirma: “ Este retiro fue una expe-riencia incomparable, una manera de abrir más mi corazón a Dios y sentirme realmente emocionada al experimentarme tan cerca de El. Es un momento muy especial en el que los jóvenes tienen la oportunidad de conocer a Dios, analizar sus vidas y cambiar sus cami-nos si han estado equivocados. En verdad es una gran oportunidad para ver la vida de una manera diferente y valorar todo lo que tenemos. Considero que todos los jóvenes deberían darse este regalo así mismos y per-mitir que Dios entre con fuerza en sus vidas”.

Mi hija, siempre ha demostrado ser una per-sona centrada y muy profunda en sus con-vicciones y manera de ver la vida. Ahora y después de haber vivido esta reconfortante experiencia, dentro de sus ideales está el motivar a muchos otros jóvenes a vivir este hermoso encuentro. Un día a la semana se reunen con sus amigos y escuchan charlas que tienen que ver con la fe, comparten un rato especial, tocan guitarra, realizan foga-tas, cenas y un sinnúmero de actividades que les permiten ver la vida de otra manera y les motiva a ayudar a su comunidad.

Son jóvenes que construyen nuevos caminos con la firme convicción de que sin Dios y sin fe, la vida no tiene ningún sentido. En es-tas nuevas generaciones veremos brillar ese mundo que todos anhelamos, esas futuras familias de las que nacerán hombres y mu-jeres convencidos que el amor y la paz son los soportes sólidos que forjarán un mundo mejor.

Mañana al despertar…nuevamente dare gracias a Dios por mi hogar, mis hijos y por todos esos jóvenes como mi amada hija Stephania, que desde ahora trabajan para conocerse a sí mismos y colmados de fe en Dios y en la vida, serán desde ahora los ar-quitectos de una sociedad llena de valores que construyan lo que hoy se ha perdido… el amor por la familia, el respeto por la so-ciedad y la vida.

Maria del Pilar Casas. Colombian writer and publicist living in Miami Florida. He has published three books of poems and participated in various cultural publications in the United States and his native country. Her children and home are the driving force and inspiration of her life. What she loves the most ... writing. mariadelpilarcasas.com.

¡Mi hija… arquitecta de su fe!


Child’s First Name: _____________________

Age: _______Grade: _____

School: ______________________________

Parent Full Name: ______________________

Email: _________________________________

Address: _____________________________ City_____________ State, ________ Zipcode ________

Yes, I authorize KidsFunPlaza to publish the letter/drawing and to send my child a prize if he/she wins.

ParentSignature: _____________________

KidsFunKorner

Send your letter/drawing to KidsFunPlaza at Clifton Corporate Parkway, Suite 470, Clifton Park, NY 12065

2nd Place:

Nathaniel

Albany – 3rd Grade

I join the recycle project and we

post 10 new recycle tips on our

school board every week..

1st PlaceAnthony

Troy – 3rd Grade I’m a big brother in school so

I help 1st graders with their

homework. They’re all from

my community so I’m helping

my community by helping my

little brothers.

3rd Place: Wendy Cohoes – 1st GradeI help clean up our community

park. If it’s clean then we’re all happier!

Winning Letters about Summer Dreams

Spring is finally Here! Answer the question: What is your favorite Spring Activity? And win many prizes. 1st price: $100 Visa Card2nd price: $50 Visa Card3rd price: $25 Visa Card The prices will be awarded at the KidsFunSummer Expo on Saturday, April 16th at 3:00 pm at the Colonie Center MallPh

oto b

each

: Eric

k Sch

onfel

d


Saratoga County

HYDE COLLECTIONChildren’s Vacation Art Studio Classes - Drop-in

activity program for kids 6-12 with adult chaperone.

• TOURS FOR TOTS . March 8, 15, 22, 29. 3:00-4:00 pm At Louis P. Brown Art Studio. Every Tuesday children ages 3-6 and their adult chaper-ones are offered a guided tour with a museum educator of historic Hyde House, the permanent collection, or current exhibitions. Afterward, children and chaperones are invited to create their own work of art in the Louis P. Brown Art Studio.Anewtopiceachtime!

here is WHAT ’S HAPPENING

Schenectady

SCHENECTADY MUSEUM & SUITS-BUECHE PLANETARIUM

• FETCH! LAB: 3:00 4:30 pmCome to this exciting weekly program to learn about science and do hands-on activities like the ones on the popularPBStvshow!

Eat Like a BirdIt’s feeding time! Learn how a bird’s beak type relates to what it eats and where it lives attheSchenectadyMuseum&Suits-BuechePlanetarium’sFETCH! Lab. FREE with Museum admission. March 17, 18, 19 and 20.

Go Fly a KiteHold on to your hats! Build an indoor kite and learnwhatmakesitflyattheSchenectadyMuseum&Suits-BuechePlanetarium’sFETCH! Lab. FREE with Museum admission. March 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Send your letter/drawing to KidsFunPlaza at Clifton Corporate Parkway, Suite 470, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Under PressureSharpenyourengineeringanddesignskillswhenyouuseone sheet of paper to construct a support for the weight ofabookattheSchenectadyMuseum&Suits-BuechePlanetarium’s FETCH! Lab. FREE with Museum admission. March 24, 25, 26 and 27.

• LITTLE WONDERS OF SCIENCE. March 17 and 19,

11:00-12:00 pm. Cat in the Hat There’s No Place Like Space. Introduce children ages 3 to 5 to the wonders of space with CatintheHatThere’sNoPlaceLikeSpaceandafuncraft.Advance registrants receive a FREE book and materials to continuethestudyofscienceathome.Spaceislimited.Call518.382.7890 to register today!FREE with Museum admission.

• ST. PATRICK’S DAY GREEN

SCIENCE. March 17. 1:30pm -

2:30pmExplore the science of green withaspecialmakeandtakeSt.Patrick’s Day activity! FREE with Museum admission.

15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady Phone: (518) 382-7890 Email: [email protected] • schenectadymuseum.org

• ARTFUL AFTERNOONS

March 9, 16, 23, 30. 2:00-4:30PM At Louis P. Brown Art Studio. Drop-in time for children, ages 6-12, with an adult chap-erone. Learn about a specific artist or work of art from the permanent collection or current exhibitions with a special guide available in the Museum lobby. Retrieve the secret password then explore a variety of art-making techniques to create a Hyde-inspired masterpiece.

161 Warren St Glens Falls. Phone: (518) 792-1761. Feb 22 - Feb 25Email: [email protected] • hydecollection.org


here is WHERE TO GO

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AT SARATOGA•TUESDAY FOR TOTS. 10 am - 12 pm and 1 -3 pm. This is a special time for our younger visitors to gain preschool readiness skillsinafunandsocialenvironment.Joinusanytimebetween10:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1 – 3 pm for playdough, crafts, games andfriends!Tuesday15’sthemeisSt.Patrick’sDay!Tuesday22’sthemeisSpringhasSprung!AndTuesday29’sthemeisTelling Time!

Saratoga Reads! March 13. 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm. For kids at the Museum. Free with Museum admission. Joinusforanafternoonofcraftsthatexplorethethemesofthisyear’sSaratogaReads!bookselection

Alphabet Soup. (March 16, 23 and 30). 10:30 – 11:30am. Free with Museum admission, ages 3+. Joinusforourfunweeklyprogram,AlphabetSoup!Startingwiththe letter A, each week we will learn a new letter of the alphabet through crafts, games, stories, songs and more. This whole language experience is a great way to reinforce early literacy in preschoolers!

Story Art. (March 17, 24 and 31). 10:30 – 11am Free with admission.Reading together is always better, so please join us Thursdays for an exciting new story each week. We’ll use our imaginations and the story to inspire art projects that explore different media and styles.

Stretching with Stuffee. March 18. 10 am-10:30 am. FreewithMuseumadmission.Stuffeewilljoinustofacilitateexercise through silly songs and stretching. This gentle program willpromoteimaginativemovementandflexibility.Kidsandparents, please come dressed to move! This week Dr. Q, from AACFamilyWellnessCenters,willjoinusinStretchingwithStuffee!

Wiggle and Giggle. March 11 and 25. 10 am—11:30 am. Free with Museum admission, drop-inThis is a special time for younger children to learn what they can do with their bodies through structured group activities and guided free play. Together, caretakers and the museum foster the physical development of children in a social and creative environment. Kids can crawl through tunnels, walk the balance beam, roll bolls, toss bean bags, and make music with all kinds of instruments. This is a great opportunity to meet new friends and getsomeexercise!SpecialthankstotheCommunityFoundationfor the Greater Capital Region’s Standish Family Fund for theirsupport of Wiggle and Giggle.

69 Caroline St., Saratoga Springs • Phone: (518) 584-5540. Dec 21 -Jan 18. cmssny.org

CLIFTON PARK-HALFMOON PUBLIC LI-BRARY

Parent/Child Library Time

Monday. 9:00 – 10:00 am. 2nd week of the month: For the first 30-35 minutes, children and parents play and interact with others while using age appropriate toys, puzzles, books, and craft materials. The second part of the program includes stories and songs. This weekly program is for children 2-3 years old* accompaniedbyanadult.Siblingsarewelcome.

St. Patrick’s Day Family Celebration.

Sunday 13. 2:00 PM-4:00 PM. Wear something green - come sing, hear stories, and MAYBE meet a real live leprechaun!! This is a drop-in program for families with children ages 3-8; no registration is necessary.

How the Wind Roars.

Tuesday 15. 6:30 PM-7:30 PM. Have a roaring good time as we share stories and songs about the March winds...and we’re not “lion!”

Preschool Story Time Registration.

Monday 21. 10:00 AM-9:00 PM. Online registration begins for the following preschool programs: Parent/Child Library Time, Bouncing Babies, and Wonderful Walkers. Registration is RESTRICTEDtoresidentsoftheCliftonPark-HalfmoonPublicLibrary District for the first 48 hours.

Animal Book Adventures: Just Ducky.

Tuesday 22. 4:00 PM-5:00 PM. Joinusforstories,factsandacraft about these fascinating creatures. For children in grades K-2. Registration is REQUIRED and begins Tuesday, March 15 at 9 am.

Eat a Rainbow. Wednesday 23. 4:00 PM-5:00 PM. Look at the colors in the fruits and vegetables we’ll pass around whilereading“EataRainbow“bySamanthaBerger.We’llmakeour own rainbow book and finish by making a rainbow salad. For children in grades K-2. Registration is REQUIRED and begins Wednesday, March 16 at 9 AM.

Preschool Movies. Thursday 24. 10:15 AM-11:00 AM. A series of short, literature-based films for children ages 3-6 will be shown. This is a drop-in program; registration is not required, howeverchildrenmustbeaccompaniedbyanadult.Siblingsare welcome.

Lego Club. Friday 25. 2:00 PM-3:00 PM. LEGO builders in Grades 3-5 are invited to take part in CPH Library’s LEGO Club! Within a time limit, groups or individuals will create a LEGO display based on a theme. Use the Library’s LEGOs or bring your own.* Registration is REQUIRED and begins one week prior to the program.

Teddy Bear Sleepover. Wednesday 30. 6:30 PM-7:30 PM. Teddy Bear songs and stories. Bring your bear or favorite friend to stay overnight in the Library. Pick up the next day in the Children’s Library.

Saratoga County


Rensselaer County

Albany County

BETHLEHEM PUBLIC LIBRARY

•Stories and Play. Wednesdays. 10:30 AM-11:30 AM. Up to age6andfamilies.Storiesandsongsfollowedbyfreeplaytime.

• Family Storytime 1:30 PM-2:15 PM. Up to age 6 and families.Storieswithsongs,moviesorcrafts.

• Tiny tots. Tues, Wed and Thurs. 9:30 AM-10:00 AM. Story-times for children up to 35 months accompanied by a parent or caregiver. 10:30 -11:00 am. Only Tuesdays.

• On my Own. Tues and Wed. 1:30 PM-2:00 PM, Age 3-5. Parents stay close by at our lobby cafe tables. At 10:30 – 11:00 am on Thursdays.

• Pajama-Rama. Tuesday March 22. 6:30 PM-7:00 PM. Uptoage6andfamilies.Stories,songsanddancing--wearyourPJs!

• Children’s Circle. Thursdays March 24 and 31.

6:30 PM-7:00 PM. Stories,songs,craftsandtoysforspecial

needs children and their families.

451 Delaware Ave • Phone: (518) 439-9314 . Email:[email protected] • bethlehempubliclibrary.org

NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM

• Furry Tales And Touchables -

March 26. 11:00 -11:45 AM. Meet at Discovery Place. Recommended for children 4 to 6 years of age. FREE Program. Storiescometolifeasyoungsterstouchrealanimalskins,bones,plants, and more while listening to a storybook reading.

• Rain Or Shine ... It’s Reading Time. March 30. 10:30 to

11:30 AM.2nd and last Wednesdays of the month. Read a story with Mu-seum staff and visit a special exhibit to learn more about New YorkState.MeetatKids’Cove.For Preschoolers Only FREE Program

TROY PUBLIC LIBRARY• Preschool Family Story TimeFamilyStorytimewillbeofferedforchildrenuptotheageof5,accom-panied by parents and caregivers. We will share stories, rhymes, songs

and simple crafts.

Mondays at 10:30 am–SycawayBranch

Wednesdays at 10:30 am – Main Library

Fridays at 10:30 am – Lansingburgh Branch

•Tutor TimeLansingburgh Branch

Saturdays March 12, 19 and 26. 10:00-3:00 pmRPI’s Tutor Time was founded in Fall 2001 by a group of students participatingintheAmericaReads/AmericaCountsWorkStudyprogram, a government sponsored program that promotes the “no child left behind” initiative. Its goal is to ensure that each child, grades K-9, receive assistance in basic math and reading skills.Tutor Time works on an appointment basis at each of its locations. Studentsaregivenonehourappointmentsbetween10a.m.and3p.m.Please make your appointment by calling The Tutor Time Hotline - 518-276-3098

•Anime Club at the Main Library

- Main Library 5:30.SecondWednesdayofthemonth.

- Last Wednesday of the month at Lansingburgh Branch. 6:00 pm. ThankstotheWeedandSeedProgram,theAnimeprogramisbackattheTroyPublicLibrary,andit’sbetterthanever!JoinusforAnimeview-ings, DDR nights, contests, and prizes EVERY Wednesday.If you have any questions, feel free to call the library at 274-7071 and ask for Maria

Sycaway Branch : School 18, Hoosick Street , Troy NYPhone: (518) 274-1822Lansingburgh Branch: 114th Street and 4th Avenue, Troy NY Phone: (518) 235-5310Main Library: 100 Second Street, Troy NY Phone: (518) 274-7071. Email: [email protected] • thetroylibrary.orgwww.engagedpatrons.org/Eventscalendar

PJ Storytime

For ages 2-6. 5:45 or 6:30 pm Join Diane Payette, local performer and educator, for a quietstory time. PJ’s are welcome. A nice opportunity for childrenwhose parents work outside the home. This is a weekly drop-in programforfamilieswithchildrenages2-6,beginningJanuary24 and ending March 7 (No session Feb. 21) and April 4ththrough25th(nosessiononApril18).

475 Moe Road, Clifton Park, NY. •Phone: (518) 371-8622Email: [email protected] • cphlibrary.org

ACTIVITIES in North Eastern New York


NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM

“Jack And The Beanstalk” Presented By Opera To Go

March 19, 2011 : 2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Description: Opera to Go, Lake George Opera’s program for children, presents“JackandtheBeanstalk.”ThisretellingofthebelovedfairytalebyJohnDavies,settothemusicofSirArthurSullivan,isforyoungaudiencesofallages.Joinusonamusicaladventuretofindouthowthe Giant realizes that you should treat people the way you’d like them to treat you! This performance is full of “Fe, Fi, Fo, FUN!” This free family program is located in the Huxley Theater. Please arrive early. There is no admittance to the theater after the performance begins.

Family Fun Day

- March 19, 2011 : 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. The Museum offers fun for everyone with family games, crafts, and other theme-based activities.

- Salem Art Works: Building Beautiful. March 19

Cultural Education Center of the Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY.Phone: (518) 474-5877. Email:[email protected] • nysm.nysed.gov

Schenectady County

PROCTORS THEATRE

• After School Media ImmersionProctorsEducationhasteamedupwithOpenStageMediatoofferAfterSchoolMediaImmersion,anafterschoolprogramcombiningvideo technology with fun, project-based, team-building activities for students in grades 6-8 in the Capital Region.

This constructive program is designed to challenge students to think visually, work as a team, and develop media skills crucial to expanding their organizational and tactical learning skills. Topics range from storyboarding and editing to documentary and news journalism.

There is one 10-week session left; March 22 - June 2. The program runs twice a week from 3:30 - 5:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

ELA and Arts curriculum standards are incorporated into lesson plans, with media literacy as a primary goal.

Spaceislimited,register by March 16th!

Dinosaurs Alive! Mon/Fri at 9:30am / Wed at 11:00am•WorldwidepaleontologistsfromtheAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory travel the world on a mission to discover pre-historic dino-saur evidence. As fossils and forms emerge through the exploration, this film brings them to life; dinosaurs from the Triassic Period to monsters of the Cretaceous bound from the giant screen and come alive in a way that is astoundingly realistic and fascinating! Dino-saurs Alive! depicts archeological expeditions in exotic places, from the sand dunes of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert to the mountains of New Mexico.

Molecules to the MAX! 3D

Mon/Fri at 11:00am / Wed at 9:30amCatcharidetoNanoSpacewithOxyandhercrewtoboldlygowhereonly atoms have gone before!

AboardtheMolecularium,themostfantasticshipintheuniverse,flythroughthecrystallinestructureofasnowflake,explorethemetallicmaze of a penny, blast through the far reaches of space, escape the tangled polymers of chewing gum and discover the molecular machinery of a living cell. This animated adventure brings audiences into amazingly small places and fascinates them with incredibly big ideas. This film was created entirely at Rensselaer Polytechnic Insti-tute.

FormoreinformationaboutSchoolEventsortoordertickets,pleasecontact the Education department at 518-382-3884 x 139 or [email protected].

432 State Street, Schenectady • Phone: (518) 382-3884 Email: [email protected] • proctors.org

“Rain or shine, at Saratoga Strike Zone we have fun for everyone!”

Bowling at the new Saratoga Strike Zone couldn't be more fun. Our state of the art light and sound show make your bowling expe-

rience one you won't soon forget!

Our Ballocity ball pit is a ton of fun for the kids. The bumper cars are fun for all ages.

Games, games, and more games. Our redemption arcade is one of a kind.

here is WHERE TO GO


Editorial Calendar for KidsFunPlaza!

Theme

New Beginnings

Love

Community

Spring

Family

Summer

Arts & Crafts

Education

Autum/Nature

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Holidays

Month

January 11

February 11

March 11

April 11

May 11

June 11

July 11

August 11

September 11

October 11

November 11

December 11

Guide

Health Care Providers

Schools

Camps

Daycares

Traveling

Staycations

Museums/Local Arts

After Schools

Farmers/Markets

Party Resources

Non-Profits

Kid Friendly Restaurants

To be on the guides contact [email protected] call 888-512-1444

march edition

Documents