Kids World

SPRING 2013

Special Section to: The Valley Gazette

The Stratford Star

The Milford Mirror

The Trumbull Times

HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

Faireld Sun

The Herald

The Monroe Courier

The Easton Courier

Taking a look into kids closets

New seasons
must-haves
by Lois Alcosser
Good-bye, summer clothes! Those almost see-through tops and
very short shorts. Farewell til next year those wild-print pants.
Thanks, polka-dot bikini! Fall is on the way, almost around
the corner, and its time to fill shelves and load hangers with
brand-new clothes. What are the trends for girls and boys,
age 5 to teen? (Most stores say that fashion-consciousness for girls starts around age 5.)
Littlejohns in New Canaan prides itself on being
chic, classic, as well as elegant/ trendy. They have
many brands of French jeans, admittedly for skinny boys and girls. The favorite look for fall: a longer-than-usual sweater, leggings and simple top.
Boys always want to be comfortable and casual, the stores fashion consultant said. We have
boys wear from England thats very good-looking,
but casual; khaki pants, wool jackets, basic T-shirts.
Speaking of jackets, we have wool jackets and leatherlook jackets that make any outfit look good.
Some fashion people say that olive is the new neutral,
though navy blue, purple and lots of black are very popular colors. Short dresses and skirts stay short this coming season. For little girls, smock-style dresses are considered antique.
Jeans and skinny pants are here to stay reports B Chic in
Wilton. They believe that printed and patterned jeans will be popular.
Fall maxi-dresses look wonderful with flats or boots. Neutral colors seem to be back: taupe, grey and black. Gold or silver accents
give classic jeans or sweaters a fun, sparkly
look. Expect to see lace, crystals,fringe, studs
on denim jeans. For the first time in ages,
there are fake fur muffs for girls. Leathery
materials look new and different. Dresses and
pencil skirts are still popular.
Puffy vests are almost a necessity as well
as puffy jackets, it seems, and they come in a
choice of very attractive colors.
Boys and girls have turned scarves into true
articles of clothing and fun hats are not just
for costume parties anymore. Real or fake fur
trim on jackets looks and feels cozy. Jumpsuits
have skin-tight legs. But the biggest news all
around is the look of oversize sweaters.
At Cindy Nichols in New Canaan, boys
are opting for less denim and more microfiber pants and tops. The younger, elementary
school kids are sensible this fall. They want
to be comfortable, with leggings, tights and
easy-fit dresses. For this age, theres not as
much pink as there used to be more reds
and blues.
Its predicted that lots more shopping is
going to be online this fall, but local shops
will always have the advantage of kids trying
on clothing before purchasing it and getting
opinions from mom and friends right away.
Kids are expensive: they want to go back to
school looking great, looking cool. They may
have outgrown most of last years wardrobe,
but they never outgrow the urge to change
into something new, something fun.
Designers and buyers have gone all out
Bryan Haeffelle photos
to give boys and girls (and their parents)
Alexander, in an outfit from Island
an exciting new season, with a closetful
Outfitters in New Canaan and
of answers to: What should I wear today,
Fairfield, gives a boost to Kit in Caren
Forbes clothes.
mom?

Sara and Kit model

summer into fall
looks from Caren
Forbes & Co., New
Canaan.

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

A great fall tradition:

Corn maze days

A-maze-ing
Local Farms

by Melissa Ezarik
Its too early for foliage and autumn still
technically hasnt even arrived, but theres
plenty of fall fun to be had at Connecticut
farms. For adventurous types, its the perfect
time to get lost in a corn maze. With a little
luck and know-how at some farms, which
offer clues and trivia to point you in the right
direction your family will get through the
maze in time to enjoy other farm festivities,
ranging from hayrides and animal encounters
to corn pits and farmstand shopping.
Here are some kernels worth knowing for
getting the most out of the corn maze experience:

Bishops Orchards,

1355 Boston Post Rd.,

Guilford; 203-453-2338; bishopsorchards.com

Bunnell Farm,

498 Maple St., Litchfield; 860567-9576; bunnellfarm.org

Buttonwood Farm,

471 Shetucket Turnpike,

Griswold; 860-376-4081;buttonwoodfarmicecream.com

Castle Hill Farm,

25 Sugar Lane, Newtown;

203-426-5487; castlehillfarm.
net

Shop around first. Corn mazes come in

various shapes and sizes. If youre a firsttimer with a toddler in tow, it makes sense
to choose a maze with less paths and total
acreage. You might also discover a 2013
cant-miss theme. In addition, not all corn
mazes are stroller- or wheelchair-accessible.
Call ahead. On a sunny day following a
rainy one, the paths could be muddy and
impassible, causing a corn maze closure.
Avoid arriving close to quitting time. You
wont likely be thrown out on your ear, but
staying beyond closing is no way to butter
up a farmer.
Go after dark. Some farms keep their corn
mazes open for treks by flashlight.
Dress the part. Even days with a nip in the
air can quickly feel dreadfully hot when
the sun is beating down and youve been
trapped for 45 minutes with a cranky kindergartener or fuss-pot fourth-grader. In
other words, layers it is.
Play the game. Farms that offer directional
hints or numbered checkpoints do so not
just as entertaining extras, but because the
maze may seem near-impossible without
them.
Keep moving. Even if youre not sure of
the best path to take, standing around

Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm

Corn Maze,

227 Ekonk Hill Rd., Moosup;

860-564-0248; getlostinthemaze.com

Ellsworth Farm,

461 Cornwall Bridge Rd.,

Route 4, Sharon; 860-3640025; ellsworthfarm.com

Fort Hill Farms,

Last years corn maze at Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm in Moosup.

260 Quaddick Rd., Thompson;

860-923-3439; forthillfarms.
com

Foster Family Farm,

to debate it causes corn maze congestion

and doesnt get you to the finish line any
faster. While peak times do of course vary,
corn mazes are popular and having a lot of
company along the way is almost a given.
Plaskos Farm in Trumbull estimates that
10,000 people a year visit the maze.

90 Foster St., South Windsor;

860-648-9366; fosterfarm.
com

Gardens Dream Farm,

355 Taylor Rd., Enfield; 860835-6652; gardensdream.com

Lyman Orchards,

32 Reeds Gap Rd., Middlefield;

860-349-1566; lymanorchards.com

Keep your cool. Look at getting lost or

reaching a dead end and having to backtrack as extra family together time. As the
corn maze rules at Foster Family Farm in
South Windsor state, children are responsible for their parents behavior at all times.

Plaskos Farm,

670 Daniels Farm Rd.,

Trumbull; 203-268-2716;
plaskosfarm.com

Scantic Valley Farm,

Know when its time to go. If the experience

turns too trying, ask a corn cop staffer
where the nearest escape route is. If the
kids (or the adults) cant beat the challenge
this year, theres always next year.

327 9th District Rd., Somers;

860-749-3286; scanticvalleyfarm.com

Wells Hollow Farm,

656 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton;

203-926-0101; wellshollowcreamery.com

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

Tips on proper
backpack use
to avoid injury

Fairfield Prep invites you

to Open House

Open House
Sunday, October 6, 24 p.m.

Entrance Exams
Saturday, October 19, 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, November 16, 8:30 a.m.

Fairfield College
Preparatory School

Michael R. Marks, MD MBA, of Westport,

spokesperson of the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons, provides the following
tips on backpacks. Dr. Marks is also vice president of business development at Norwalk
Hospital and president, Norwalk Hospital
Physicians & Surgeons.
1) Most injuries that occur are muscular in
nature. They occur mostly in the upper
back but to some extent in the lower back.
It is rare for children/adolescents to injure
a disk carrying their backpack.
2) Most backpack-related injuries are due to
improper wearing and packing of the pack.
Shoulder soreness comes from wearing the
pack only on one shoulder, or using a pack
with straps that are too thin. A/C joint
problems come from similar problems with
the straps going across the joint with direct
force. Wearing the pack too low or wearing
a pack that is too large (sits too low on the
body) can cause bruising to the lower buttocks and upper thighs.
3) There is no significant correlation between
age/gender, with the exception that the
youngest children seem to be wearing
puts more stress on the low back to have
packs that are truly too big for them. An
your body slightly turned and dragging
elementary school child should not be
something behind you. Ask any traveler
wearing a pack that was designed for a
through airports.
high school student.
6) The best way to prevent injuries is to Pack
4) Parents have a great deal of concern
it right, wear it right. Put the heaviest
because of the large number of books that
and largest books closest to your back.
the children cart back and forth to school.
Have well-padded straps pulled tightly
Backpacks should be just that a method
so the packs sit between your shoulder
to transport books. They shouldnt be surblades and use the belt strap to prevent
vival kits. There is no reason a child should
the pack from bouncing back and forth.
be carrying around their books all day long
The Sherpas in the Himalayas dont seem
through school or have unnecessary items
to have a problem carrying heavy loads.
in the pack. They should be left in their
It isnt suggested that children carry these
locker.
heavy packs all day long, but they certainly
5) Backpacks have no correlation with creatcan transport their needs to and from
ing or worsening scoliosis (an old wives
school. The schools must give the kids
tale). Many companies have created backtime to use their lockers.
packs on wheels. These seem to have cre7) If your child is having back pain that you
ated even more problems than traditional
think is related to their backpack, make
backpacks as they are even heavier to lift
an appointment to see your pediatrician
and in crowded hallways there is no room
or an orthopaedist who understands back
for a backpack on wheels. Some children
injuries. Bring the backpack with you and
have tripped over them while running
let the physician show the proper method
through the hallways. Additionally, it
of wearing it.

Create your online admissions account at

www.fairfieldprep.org/admissions

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

Performing Arts Center of Connecticut holding

auditions for a capella ensemble
PACC offers new
classes for fall

PACC students performing. A new a capella group is being formed now.

Auditions for the Performing Arts Center

of Connecticuts all new, mixed-voice a capella ensemble The AutonoTunes will be
held Saturday, Sept. 7 at noon at the center,
located at 18 Lindeman Drive, Trumbull.
The center is looking for a group of 12 to
16 male and female singers of middle school
age (11-14 years old).
Auditioners should come prepared with a
headshot and brief bio (if you do not have
a professional photo any photo will do) and
six bars of a song of your choice, to be performed a capella; please bring two copies of
your music.
Before the final selections for The

AutonoTunes is final, select singers will be

invited to callback auditions the following
Saturday, Sept. 14, at noon. Once the singers
have been selected, they will rehearse once
a week, either on Friday or Saturday afternoons, depending on members schedules.
There are no fees to be a member of this
group.
The AutonoTunes will have three benefit
performance opportunities throughout the
year, along with a showcase performance in
the spring of 2014.
The AutonoTunes musical director Gregory
Sullivan, a graduate in voice education from
Western Connecticut State College, is team-

ing up with the Performing Arts Center to

donate time, talent and space.
While at Western, Sullivan performed in
numerous operas, including Die Zauberflte
(Sarastro) and Le Nozze di Figaro (Count
Almaviva) by W.A. Mozart and Kurt Weills
Street Scene (Frank Maurrant). He brings
a classical vocal approach to his extensive
choral experience. He has sung in several
select auditioned choirs, directed the WCSU
Summer Music Camp choirs in 2011 and
2012, and continues to teach there each
summer.
Please call PACC 203-372-2787 to sign up
for a 10-minute audition block.

Stretch & Strength: Monday 8-9 p.m.

with Adam Holms. A toning and core
strength class the goals work on flexibility, conditioning, stamina and building a solid core.
Adult ballet: Tuesdays 7:30-9 p.m. with
Adam Holms. Session 1 is Sept.Nov.
and $300 for the session; Session 2
runs Feb.-April, also $300 for the session.This is a beginner through intermediate class.
Acro/tumbling: Wednesdays 4-5:15
p.m. and 8:15-9:30 p.m. with Maria
Cherniske. This is a beginner/intermediate level class taught by Maria, who
is a gymnast and certified by the U.S.
Olympic Gymnastic Committee.
Heels class: Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m. with
Yvonne Sain. Hip Hop goes the way of
Beyonce and Rhianna; fun hip hop class
for those girls who like to work in heels
and beast their feminine side.
Mind/body/movement: Thursdays 89:15 p.m. with Erika Wuhrer. This class
takes yoga ideas and movements as a
warm up and builds into a composition
class that puts you into your body and
mind so you can feel where you want
to move; a different approach to creating movement.
Pilates: Saturdays 10-11 a.m.; for adults
and dancers.
Contemporary ballet: Mondays with
Nikole LaChioma. The main goal of a
contemporary ballet class is to give
the body a larger and more expressive range of motion while remaining true to classical ballet technique.
Contemporary ballet incorporates
several modern dance concepts, which
fuse together with classical technique
to create a broader and vaster range of
movement. From these ideas, we will
learn how to effectively increase the
bodys spatial limits and options. When
used together properly, classical ballet
technique and modern dance concepts
will provide innumerable options for
movement creation and exploration.

Congregation Rodeph Sholom

Jewish Education for a Lifetime

2385 Park Ave. Bridgeport, CT

203-334-0159
www.rodephsholom.com

Infants Toddlers Pre-School

Transition Kindergarten

Educating and caring for children for over 40 years!

Low staff turnover
Hours 6:30am - 6pm
Convenient location: Just off Exit 40, I-95
6 weeks to 36 months full time 5 days
$273.00/wk
3 to 5 years full time 5 days
$228.00/wk
Part time days and hours are available
Call for other rates and availability
Ask about our referral program

LITTLE WHITE HOUSE

69 Woodmont Road Milford

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

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

Cycle into autumn

Hopping on your bicycle solo, or grabbing a family
member or your entire family and checking out
the foliage or simply enjoying the brisk air of autumn
on two wheels is a must-do during September and
October, and even into November.
Garrett Finley, the graphic designer at Outdoor
Sports Center in Wilton, who also happens to be a
bike mechanic, suggests the following bike trails for a
fun fall ride. He also points out that Outdoor Sports
is the largest service center with the most experienced mechanics and the most knowledgeable staff in
the area, and we are all avid bikers.
Housatonic Rail Trail in Trumbull, a.k.a.
Pequonnock Valley Greenway. Great spot for families, roughly five miles, kid-friendly.
Mianus Maze/Mianus River State Park in Stamford.
Another good one for families/all skill levels; about
14 miles with a river, kid-friendly.
Huntington State Park in Redding. Great for families, about 10 miles; mostly biking, kid-friendly.
Old Mine Park in Trumbull. Eleven-mile loop
mostly biking; more technical.
Trout Brook Valley in Eason. About 10 miles, mostly biking; intermediate.
Indian Ledge Park in Trumbull. Mostly for experienced bikers but has a BMX track and other features for people new to the sport.
Cranbury Park in Norwalk. Family-friendly, kidfriendly; very easy biking.
Wilton Woods in Wilton. Experienced bikers; technical terrain about seven miles.
The following websites are also good resources for
trails: alltrails.com, traillink.com, nemba.com and
ctnemba.com.

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

After school:

Extracurricular activities need not involve sports

Music
Some youngsters might not know the difference between
a first down or the first inning. But many kids who are not
inclined to play sports may be inclined to play a musical
instrument. And some kids are inclined to play both a sport
and try their hand at music. Many school music programs
have fallen victim to governmental budget cuts, leaving
students who want to play an instrument without a proper
introduction to music or an opportunity to play. Parents
must therefore make that introduction on their own, discussing kids' attitudes toward music with them. That discussion
should include asking kids if they would like to play a specific
instrument or be part of a choir.
In addition to giving kids a creative outlet, music may even
benefit them in the classroom. Stanford University researchers
found that musical training improves how the brain processes
the spoken word. In addition, in an analysis of data on more
than 25,000 secondary school students, researchers at the
United States Department of Education found that students
who report consistent involvement in instrumental music during middle school and high school perform significantly better
in mathematics by grade 12 than those who do not participate
in music programs.

Rare is the child today who returns home immediately after

school. Many school-aged children now have busier schedules
than their parents. Involvement in an extracurricular activity
can help kids make friends while they learn about responsibility. Some extracurricular activities even allow kids to apply
lessons learned in the classroom in real-world situations.
Many students play a sport as their extracurricular activity. In fact, according to the National Federation of State
High School Associations, participation in high school sports
increased for the 23rd consecutive year in 2011-12, when
nearly 7.7 million student-athletes participated in high school
athletics.
Such heavy participation in sports can make it easy for
parents to encourage their youngsters to go out for a school
team. But not all youngsters want to play sports, and even
those who do might not be able to make a team. But lacking
the desire or talent to compete in high school sports does not
mean students cannot participate in extracurricular activities.
The following are a handful of extracurricular activities that
can benefit students even if they don't require them to lace up
their cleats.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way for school-aged kids to spend
some of their free time. Student volunteers can often pick
when they want to perform service, and that can make it
easier on kids who want to focus on their performance in the
classroom. For example, students can focus on their studies
on weekdays and volunteer on the weekends. Many organizations, from animal shelters to hospitals, accept student
volunteers, who can learn about the benefits of helping others
and the importance of making a positive impact in their communities.
Volunteer organizations do not typically require a long-term
commitment, so students will not have to continue to volunteer if an organization is not what they hoped it would be.
But parents should discuss kids' interests with them before
choosing a volunteering opportunity. For instance, youngsters
who love the beach might be best suited to an organization

devoted to cleaning up the beach, while animal lovers would

likely love to volunteer at a local animal shelter. Finding the
right organization will benefit both parties, and parents will
be happy to have fostered a sense of responsibility to the community in their youngsters.

Working
Many students live in communities that allow them to work
once they reach high school age. While working might not be
as fun as playing an instrument, getting a job can teach high
school students valuable lessons they will carry with them
throughout their lives. Even though high school students only
work part-time, such a work schedule can still teach them the
importance of money management and the valuable lesson
of reaping what you sow. High school students can save their
money to finance their college educations or purchase their
first cars, each of which can teach them the value of saving
money. Working in high school also can prepare students for
college, where many will need to work in order to support
themselves.

We inspire children to become

forever-learners.

At Tutor Time, we believe:

SHELTON

MILFORD

Tour our school.

Get an
appointment
packet.
Then enroll.

Two Convenient Locations:

Bridgeport Ofce 203-333-20/20
101 Boston Avenue

Family Vision
Centers

Stratford Ofce 203-377-20/20

775 Main Street
M, T,F 9-6pm Th 9:30-7:30pm Sat 9-2pm

www.FamilyVisionCenters.net
Where Quality is Affordable

Comprehensive Eye Exams for all ages

Treatment of Eye Diseases & Injuries
Contact Lens ttings Latest Digital Imaging Technology
Most Insurances Accepted 10% Senior Discount
Designer Frames

Its About More than Dance...

Its About Enriching Lives

Registration Dates

Fall Classes

Break Dancing
Musical Theatre
Contemporary
Rhythm Tap
Acro
Ballet and Pointe
Lyrical
Modern
Hip Hop

Sept. 3rd
4-6pm
Sept. 4th
10am-12pm 4-7pm

New Fall Classes

Boys Jazz
Boys Strengthening
Boot Camp
Stretch and Tone
Beginning Tap for Teens
Ages 3 through Adult
Beginners to Pre-Professional

Pre-School Programs
Mornings & Afternoons

Dance Birthday Parties

Master Classes

Classes begin September 9th

Limited Space Available!

Free Trial Classes

2013-2014 Fall Schedule

www.MonroeDance.com

Small Class Sizes 3 Spacious Studios

Sprung Floors

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR FAMILY

MONROE DANCE ACADEMY

203-268-1200

838 Main Street Monroe

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

Tutor Time child care programs

give children an early edge
by Carol Anderson
Owner, Tutor Time
As a parent, you want to ensure your children have outstanding care that helps them
reach their full potential. Countless studies
show high-quality early education has a profound and long-lasting impact not just on
later academic success, but on virtually every
aspect of a persons life. At Tutor Time Child
Care in Shelton and Milford, a the pathway
to learning begins with providing nurturing
care and education right from infancy, preschool, pre-kindergarten and through before
and after school programs.
Our infant program offers classroom spaces
that encourage infant exploration and stimulation including a curriculum that focuses on
your childs developmental stage and interests.
Our preschool and pre-kindergarten
classrooms feature a new Focus on Literacy
curriculum that features vocabulary development, phonics, print awareness and alphabet
knowledge and sets a foundation for reading.
Themes of character building are introduced
through high quality childrens literature and
Word of the Month programs. Children are
introduced to Spanish through our Tutor
Tiempo program, and in Shelton, Mandarin
Chinese instruction is included.
This year, Tutor Time is proud to announce
its new Grow Fit Program that teaches
children in our pre-kindergarten program
all about healthy eating, exercise and keep-

ing their bodies healthy. Both centers offer

a before and after school care that includes
transportation to local elementary schools.
Our childcare center in Shelton is among
the first communities in the country to experience Tutor Time StartSmart, a new curriculum for infants, toddlers and two-year-olds.
Developed by top national early education
experts, the StartSmart program is a precursor
to the proven Tutor Time LifeSmart preschool
curriculum.
StartSmart has been designed to develop
the boundless skills that children are born
with the ability to think, their readiness
to learn and their capability of experiencing

Bunny Village

Child Care and Development Center

feelings and developing relationships. This

proprietary program provides the three components of a high-quality early childhood
curriculum: developmentally appropriate
experiences, engaging classroom spaces and
responsive child-teacher relationships.
Since young children best understand
what they can directly sense and experience,
StartSmart experiences for infants, toddlers
and two-year-old children are active, sensorybased and meaningful. Using StartSmart,
Tutor Time teachers plan the curriculum to
strengthen childrens emerging language, cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills.
The teachers individually select activities for

each child, based on his or her needs and

interests.
Tutor Time teachers have undergone specialized training for StartSmart to help them
observe, assess and plan for each childs growing skills. The program also includes fun skillbuilding activities for parents to help boost
their childs development and brain power
even before baby learns to talk.
Tutor Time is currently accepting enrollments for children ages 6 weeks-12 years old.
More info/register: Shelton location at 203-926-1126; Milford
at 201-876-1555; tutortimeshelton.com or tutortimemilford.com

Main Street Music

Your Hometown Music Connection

Your Back-to-School Band & Orchestra Rental Headquarters

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 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

Music instruction:

Finding a perfect match

Maybe your child just wants to learn
a few songs to play for friends and family. Perhaps you have simply noticed that
your preschooler loves to clap his hands
and dance to all types of music. Your family has produced many musical talents
and your child wants to learn to play like
aunt Barbara and couin Mark. Or maybe
your preteen fancies himself the next guitar hero.
Whatever the reasons you have for
enrolling your child in music lessons, you
should do it. It is never too soon to introduce a child to the performing arts.
Before enrolling, however, you should
take the time to observe a class or a lesson if possible, and it is a good idea to
meet the teacher.
Here are some music centers you may
want to check out.

The Creative Music Center

701 Main St.
Monroe
203-261-7301
thecreativemusiccenter.com
Giuliano's Music Center
87 High Ridge Road
Stamford
203-353-9062
gmusiccenter.com

New Canaan Music

72 Park St., New Canaan
203-920-1800
facebook.com/newcanaanmusic

Westport Music Center

1460 Post Road E., Westport
203-259-7615
westportmusic.com

Trumbull Music Studios

964A White Plains Road
Trumbull
203-268-0097
trumbullmusic@sbcglobal.net

Greenwich Music
1200 E. Putnam Ave.
Riverside
203-637-1119
greenwichmusic.com

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Enhance your childs school music experience with private lessons
Experienced, professional staff
Individualized approach
Classical and Contemporary Repertoire

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www.TheCreativeMusicCenter.com

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

Six fun family activities

tailor-made for autumn
Fall is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors.
Beautiful fall foliage coupled with great weather
compel many people to spend ample time outdoors before the arrival of harsh winter weather
drives them back indoors. The following are a
handful of actvities that are tailor-made for fall.
Raking leaves: While raking leaves might
not jump out at you as a great way to spend a
nice fall afternoon, families often find raking
leaves together soon turns into a fun day in the
yard. Build leaf piles and let the kids jump in,
and then do it again. When raking, encourage kids to collect some colorful leaves and set
them aside. Once the raking is done, you can
then enjoy making some homemade crafts with
the leaves you and your youngsters just collected.
Apple picking: Perhaps no activity is more
synonymous with fall than apple picking.
Many apple orchards encourage customers to
come by and pick their own apples in the fall.
Once your family and you have scoured the
orchard for the perfect apples, relax with a cup
of warm apple cider before returning home
to make some homemade apple sauce and, of
course, a delicious apple pie. Some apple picking places locally include Blue Jay Orchards in
Bethel, Warrups Farm in West Redding, Jones
Family Farms in Shelton and Silvermans Farm,
Easton.
Hayride: Hayrides are another fall tradition, and many farms offer relaxing hayrides
throughout fall. Younger children who may tire
if asked to patrol an apple orchard for apples
might find a hayride is more their speed. Some

farms may even allow customers to walk the

grounds and visit the animals on the premises.
Hiking: Hiking is a fun activity that can be
enjoyed nearly year-round, but it's especially
enjoyable in the fall. That's because few things
in nature are as captivating as a park or forest
when the fall foliage is in full bloom. Early fall
also boasts ideal temperatures for hiking, as
the mercury likely won't rise enough or sink
low enough to produce the kind of extreme
temperatures that can compromise a hiker's
afternoon. Instead, fall temperatures tend to be
mild and comfortable, allowing hikers to fully
enjoy their often beautiful surroundings.
Corn maze: Visiting a corn maze is another
activity that many people instantly associate
with fall. Some farmers transform their cornfields into corn mazes once the temperatures
dip, and such mazes can be fun for adults and
children alike. Though adolescents can often
be trusted to find their way through corn
mazes, younger kids should be accompanied
by an adult. (See full story on page 2.)
Pumpkin picking: Much like apple picking
is best in fall, so is pumpkin picking. Rather
than buying your Halloween pumpkin from
the grocery store, where your options may be
limited, go straight to the source and pick your
future jack-o'-lantern from a nearby pumpkin patch, which will provide a much wider
selection. Let your youngsters pick their own
pumpkins and then spend the rest of the day
carving them at home. And don't forget to save
those seeds, which can be roasted over an open
flame to make a delicious snack.

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

10

August 29, 2013

Tips for Talking With Your Kids

About Bullying
Do you think bullying is just harmless teasing? An estimated 160,000
children miss school every day due to
fear of attack or intimidation by other
students, according to the National
Education Association. And Yale health
researchers have found a connection
between suicide the fourth leading
cause of death in children ages 10 to
14 and bullying and being bullied.
Experts say that kids themselves
have the power to put a stop to bullying. Unfortunately, both victims and
bystanders dont always know the best
way to handle bullying situations as
they occur.
Most kids feel terrible when they see
friends or classmates get bullied. They
want to help, but they dont what to
do, Alice Cahn, Cartoon Network vice
president of social responsibility, said.
Having strategies for these situations
can help prepare children to intervene
when the time comes.
With this in mind, Cartoon Network
launched the award-winning Stop
Bullying: Speak Up in 2010 to educate kids on what to do when they
see friends getting bullied. In partnership with official advisors, including
staff from the U.S. Departments of
Education and Health and Human
Services, and partners including CNN,
The Anti-Defamation League, the Pacer
Foundation, and nationally recognized
academic experts, the bullying prevention campaign aims to put a stop to
this common and serious problem.
The pro-social campaign is offering
these tips for parents and kids to help

stop bullying in their schools:

Tell an adult: When someone gets
bullied, tell a parent, teacher or trusted
adult. Talking about it isnt tattling or
snitching. Its helping someone out.
Be friendly: Bullying can make a
victim feel alienated and lonely. Saying
a few kind words to the person who
has been bullied makes a huge difference.
Volunteer: Your schools bullying
prevention program needs parents and
students to help encourage everyone to
speak up against bullying.
Say it loud: Ask your school to fly
or display the official Stop Bullying:
Speak Up flag, which indicates that the
school is a place where bullying actions
will not be tolerated.
Learn more: Free online resources
can help you learn how to deal with
bullies. Visit StopBullyingSpeakUp.
com to access public service announcements, two 30-minute documentaries
and tips sheets for parents and teachers
that offer a step-by-step guide for safe
and effective ways to be an active bullying bystander. The site also provides
links to the Anti-Defamation League,
Boys and Girls Club of America and
other partners providing expert advice
about bullying. All materials are available in English and Spanish.
Dont stop there, said Cahn. These
resources are meant to spark a conversation.
No child should feel like his or her
school is not a safe place to learn.
Parents, teachers and students can
work together to make a difference.

Milford hosts only food allergy awareness walk in the state

The FARE (Food Allergy Research
& Education) Walk for Food
Allergy brings together thousands
of Americans seeking a safe world
for those living with food allergies.
It is a family-friendly event that takes
place in communities nationwide to
fund food allergy research, education,
advocacy and awareness. The only
FARE Walk in Connecticut will
be held at Walnut Beach Rotary
Pavillion in Milford at noon on

Sunday, Oct. 20. The walk route is two

miles and takes place rain or shine.
Whether you are walking for your
health or in honor of a loved one
with food allergies, your fund-raising
efforts and support will make a difference, according to the walk organizers,
who say Help us say FAREwell to
food allergies.
According to FAREs website, it
works on behalf of the 15 million
Americans who have food allergy,

including all those at risk for life-threatening

anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease
affects one in every 13 children in the United
States, or roughly two in every classroom. In
the United States, food allergies send someone
to the emergency room every three minutes.
A study has shown that the number of children living with a peanut allergy has nearly
doubled from 1997 to 2002.
Formed in 2012 as the result of a merger
between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis
Network and the Food Allergy Initiative,

FAREs mission is to ensure the safety and

inclusion of all those with food allergies while
relentlessly seeking a cure. It does this by
funding providing evidence-based education
and resources, undertaking advocacy at all
levels of government, increasing awareness of
food allergy as potentially life-threatening and
a growing public health issue and by investing
in world-class research that advances treatment and understanding of the disease.
For more information about FARE and food
allergies, visit foodallergy.org.

Back to school tips to get your home organized for a successful year
When your carefree summer comes to an
Eliminate clutter: Designate a specific
end, getting the family ready to go back to
location to store school papers and materischool can seem a little daunting. Establishing
als. This will keep homework and projects
a routine will help students kick off the new
from getting lost or in the way. Label indischool year and reduce stress for the whole
vidual baskets for each child.
family.
Create a family calendar: A family calGoing back to school is a pivotal time for
endar displayed in a central location will
children and families across the country,
keep everyone organized and in the know.
Wendy Froehlich, vice president of marketing
Include important project reminders, after
for Homes.com, said. Get your home and
school activities and test dates. Get the kids
life organized now to ensure the transition is
involved by having them write in their own
smooth and the school year is the best yet.
activities. Review the calendar together to
With that in mind, Homes.com is offering
keep everyone on track.
tips to help beat the back to school blues and Make lunch a breeze: Pre-pack food for
ensure an A+ performance year-round.
the week and store it in easy-to-see con-

so they can get quick help, while others

tainers, so little helpers can lend a hand.
might need a more private, quiet space.
Hang an over-the-door shoe organizer in
Eye-catching inspiration: Hanging a
the pantry and fill it with lunch supplies
bulletin board in the study area creates a
like sandwich bags, napkins and snacks
place for important reminders at eye level.
that children can access when packing their
lunches.
Cover bulletin boards in bright fabric to
Create perfect study spaces: Creating
bring color to the space and spark brilliance
a dedicated study space is an ideal way to
and imagination. Or paint an area above the
help a student focus and stay on top of
desk with chalkboard paint so children can
their schoolwork. And several studies show
write with chalk on the wall to stay on top
that by learning childrens study habits and
of projects or work through math problems.
tailoring spaces to reflect how each child
A little prep can go a long way in ensuring
best learns, you can help kids achieve their your familys transition back to school is well
maximum potential. For example, some
organized and stress-free.
students need to work in a central location

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 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

August 29, 2013

11

Is My Child Overscheduled?
by Melissa Ezarik
With so many options for after school and
weekend activities for kids these days, youd
be hard-pressed to find a family that isnt busy
adhering to schedules outside of the alreadyhectic academic one. But determining how
much is too much and visualizing an ideal is
a complicated endeavor. And its rarely obvious right away whether the decision to keep
an activity or drop it was the right one.
Kara-Lynn Flockhart, a Stratford mom of
three and a social worker at the middle school
in Redding, has experienced this first-hand.
When her six-year-old son wanted to quit
T-ball, she considered that he tended to not
like following through on activities. So instead
of letting him leave baseball behind, she
would simply reassure him by saying Youll
have a great feeling when you finish each
game.
But when one of her daughters, now 9,
began her fourth year of dance with an interest in jazz which required her to take ballet at the same time and commit to two days
of dance a week Flockhart sensed it was
too much. She found herself having difficulty
keeping up with the routine as well. Four
weeks into the session, each time wed need
to leave for class I would spend too much
time coaxing her to go, she recalled.
I made her go a few times to make sure
she was sure, then finally listened and withdrew her for the year, Flockhart said. I figured she could always go back to dance if she
really missed it. When her daughter did great
academically that school year, it became clear
that dropping dance had been the right move.
Whether its an outright request from the
child to stop a particular activity or a more
indirect sign that something is not right, such
as difficulties in school or with sleeping, parents shouldnt leap to the conclusion that its
due to the child being overscheduled, said
Mary M. Georgette, a licensed marriage and
family therapist at ClearView Counseling in
Milford. Its important that overall parents
know their children and pay attention to anything that seems to be a problem.
That may mean its time to help your child

decide what activity to stop. And it may not.

With a team sport, for example, you may not
want to send the message that its OK to quit
in the middle of something, Georgette said.
Age and the time of year are also factors,
said Georgette. Really its about balance. A
child should have some downtime.
The best time for a new activity or continuing an existing one? That would be summer,
Flockhart said.
No matter what time of year, she suggests
looking for any or all of the following signs a
child is overscheduled:
1. Persistent resistance to going to the activity.

2. Falling behind or being unable to keep up

with homework assignments.
3. Showing signs of irritability or being seemingly overwhelmed with simpler, routine
tasks, such as brushing teeth.
These signs should trigger a chat. Making
pro/con lists boost decision-making skills and
prioritization later in life when your children
must make their own decisions, Flockhart
pointed out.
During such a discussion, help your child
identify his or her feelings. At school with students, Flockhart shared, Ive used the terms
feeling on overload and needing to regroup

when transitioning from multiple activities

and commitments. So much so that the child
will later say, I just need to regroup.
Talking it out is especially important
because there is no across-the-board right
amount of activities.
Every child is different, said Georgette.
Children are no different than adults. Some
can handle more things than others. Some
children enjoy being active, some children
dont. It depends on the child, the age, and
the activity. It depends on what the child can
comfortably handle, and having a balance is
very important.

 Kids World Hersam Acorn Newspapers

12

August 29, 2013

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