Spring 2015 Kid's World - Eastern Edition - Hersam Acorn

Summer camp is a beloved tradition in many families. Many parents of young chil-dren fondly recall spending their summers at summer camp, where they made lifelong friends and learned the finer points of roast-ing marshmallows and competing in three-legged sack races.

Parents looking for the right summer camp for their kids will soon discover there are various types of summer camps, each offering youngsters something different. The following are some of the summer camp options par-ents can expect to encounter as they search for the right camp for their kids.

Day camps are not overnight camps, which means kids will return home each night rather than sleeping over at camp. Day camps typically offer many of the activities people

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

Parks and recTown parks and recreation departments

have summer camps for youth. In Monroe, its parks and recreation department will once again be offering Summer Fun Days Camp.

This camp is geared for youngsters entering preschool through ninth grade and will run from June 29 to Aug. 21.

The camp day runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended day sessions available for each week.

Playmates and Kids will be held at Chalk

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

Nature’s ClassroomFor years, Connecticut Audubon

Society’s summer camp programs have given children the chance to experience the joys of learning in nature’s classroom.

From June through August, campers

Kids WorldFALL 2014 HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

Special Section to: The Stratford Star I The Milford Mirror I The Trumbull Times I The Huntington Herald I The Monroe Courier I The Easton Courier

have come to associate with camps, including crafts, sports and even day trips to experience local culture or attractions. Many day camps are co-ed, and counselors typically live within

Town parks and recreation departments have summer camps for youth. In Monroe, its parks and recreation department will once again be offering Summer Fun Days Camp.

This camp is geared for youngsters entering preschool through ninth grade and will run

The camp day runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended day sessions available for each

Playmates and Kids will be held at Chalk

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

Nature’s ClassroomFor years, Connecticut Audubon

Society’s summer camp programs have given children the chance to experience the joys of learning in nature’s classroom.

From June through August, campers

Children get exploring

and go outside with a day camp

A Barn Owl welcomes guests to the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Adirondack Night, hosted annually

at the Audubon’s Center at Fairfield.

See Camp on page 3

• 2 • • Kids World • Hersam Acorn Newspapers • • April 2, 2015 •

Get creative with your kids at homeby Hannah Perry

There are many ways to be creative with your children at home, from imaginative play to baking cookies and painting. It’s important not just for them, but for you, too.

Finding time to sit with your child and create something together is a special time.

Usually when a child asks a parent for help in drawing something, a standard reply is “I can’t draw a stick figure.” But to your child, whatever you draw is amazing, and taking that time to do that is important.

Drawing at home was pretty much the only thing I did as a child. I used to make my own drawing book and staple the pages together until it looked like a catalog. A fun way to start this with your children would be to do still life drawings and then give them the subject as a treat! For example, set up a plate of cupcakes and after drawing them, let the children choose which they want to eat. Hanging their artwork around your home is very important and builds self-esteem. Their sense of pride really shows when they want to show guests the amazing piece of work hanging on the wall.

Today it seems that children don’t use their imagination as much. Everything is computers and iPads and video games. Yet when you put out a variety of pencils, crayons, paper, and watercolors, they defi-nitely seem excited to explore. We don’t like the thought of glitter or paints in our home because of the mess it could leave. But watercolors are not very messy and are washable.

Now with the warmer weather finally approaching, we should be able to take these fun, creative activities outside. Cut a potato in half and let your child carve a pat-tern with a plastic knife or spoon or even a pencil and dip the potato into paints. Printmaking can be really fun, and the final product looks amazing.

Don’t forget that most things for creative play can already be found in your home.

So the next time your child says, “I’m bored,” don’t be afraid to set up a creative table and sit back and watch.

Hannah Perry is the owner of The Giggling Pig, an art studio specializing in kids’ crafts, Mommy and Me classes, Paint and Sip (for grown-ups), birthday parties, and more. The Giggling Pig is located at 472 River Road, Shelton. For informa-tion, call 203-919-1153 or visit thegigglingpi-gartstudio.com.

Some examples of artwork done at The Giggling Pig.

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

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• April 2, 2015 • • Kids World • Hersam Acorn Newspapers • • 3 •

age 4 through 14 may attend one or more weeklong programs designed to present science and nature-based topics. In full- or half-day sessions, experienced staff take full advantage of the Larsen Wildlife Sanctuary and facilities to inspire children to devel-op a connection to, and appreciation for, the natural world.

Campers explore woods, marshes, ponds, and streams to investigate nature’s riddles, learn about habitats, develop outdoor skills, and meet live animals up close. A sampling of offerings for preschoolers includes Jeepers, Creepers, What’s That?, Slink, Slither and Hop, Beetles to Butterflies, and Fantasy Fairy Forest.

Campers who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade may choose Wacky Wetlands, Geology Rocks, Wilderness Skills, and Muck

it Up!, among others.Enrichment programing is avail-

able to students who have completed grades six to eight. These Junior Science Lab sessions offer advanced inquiry and hands-on experimen-tation. Bits and Bones: Forensic Science teaches campers about crime scene investigation. Zoology: Biology Dissection includes opportunities to dissect a frog, grasshopper, worm, and starfish. Fun-Omenal Physics gives future mechanical engineers the chance to explore the science and design of motion and create a simple machine.

Camp sessions are led by teacher-naturalist and college-educated staff with experience in education and/or science. Counselors and Junior Volunteers provide additional sup-port. Staff trained in first aid, CPR and EpiPen are present.

For more information, call 203-259-6305, ext. 109, or visit ctaudu-bon.org/center-at-fairfield to down-load a camp brochure or to register.

CampContinued from Page 1

Faith-based campsFaith-based camps offer many of the same

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

Sports campsSome summer camps focus on a particular

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

Family campsFamily camps are opportunities for the whole

family to enjoy the summer camp experience. Family camps typically tailor their activities around tasks families can complete together, with counselors providing assistance when it’s needed. Family camps may be faith-based or secular, and families typically stay overnight, sleeping in facilities on the campsites or in lodg-ing away from home.

Special needs campsParents of children with special needs can

still send their kids to summer camp, as there are many camps that cater to such youngsters. Special needs camps may cater to campers who are blind, deaf, learning disabled, or mentally or physically disabled.

Staff at special needs camps typically undergo extensive training, which helps to calm some of the fears parents may have about leaving their special needs children at camp. Facilities at spe-cial needs camps are often built to accommodate the specific needs of campers.

Camp listings, including summer jobs, are at kids.ct.gov/kids/cwp/view.asp?q=437286.

Many kinds of camps

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The bridge between Pre-School and Kindergarten that provides students with extra time to develop fundamental skills in an age- and

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LITTLE WHITE HOUSE69 Woodmont Road • Milford

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

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By Dr. Joshua B. Frank Coastal Orthopaedics

As spring begins, we all start thinking of getting active outdoors and what it will bring. Many of us also start thinking of baseball, tennis and other spring sports. While this does cause excitement it also brings with it some trepidation.

Over the years we have learned a tre-mendous amount about sports, physiol-ogy, biomechanics and technique. This advancement in knowledge has allowed youthful athletes to become faster, stron-ger, quicker and more efficient.

Another area that has advanced is that of sports medicine. In particular, the study of young athletes. Whenever we talk about sports injures, it is probably best to divide injuries into acute injuries and sub-acute or chronic injuries.

AcuteAcute injuries are often obvious and

can cause immediate onset of pain. In some circumstances the initial injury is not quite as dramatic and may not cause play to stop. It is important to recognize and address these injuries in a timely manner, as they can go on to cause per-manent disability.

We have learned that children can sus-tain similar injuries as adults. The diagno-sis of pediatric anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscal injuries is on the rise. This may be related to increased aware-ness and better diagnosis of these injuries.

If left untreated, it is possible that these injuries can lead to further damage to the knee and even the onset of early arthritis. Acute knee injuries should be evaluated by a medical professional and may require x-rays or even an MRI.

Chronic injuriesSub-acute or chronic injuries can also

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

Play multiple sportsIn an effort to improve athletic ability,

children and adolescents are often spe-cializing in one sport and participating in that sport year-round. Whether it be on a team, in camp, or even in the backyard, year-round sports can lead to fatigue and injury. Overuse injuries can occur all over the body. There are even names to associate injuries with certain sports. For example, a chronic, over-use injury to the growth plate of the proximal humerus (shoulder) is known as “Little Leaguer’s Shoulder.”

Obviously, these types of injuries are not limited to baseball. We do not yet know how much time is too much time in gymnastics practice, or running or even playing basketball outside.

We do believe that performing multiple sports over the course of a year allows for different muscles to be used and rested. Also, period of rest and time without any major sports participation is also benefi-cial.

Another important recommendation is to prepare for the upcoming season well in advance. A period of limited activity

followed by a sudden onset of intense training can easily lead to aggravation of growth plates, tendons and apophyses.

In general, a graduated schedule of increased activity with appropriate stretching may help prevent these condi-tions. Even though training camp begins in August, young athletes should be pre-paring on their own well in advance of these intense training periods.

Sports are great. With the increased prevalence of childhood obesity it has become even more evident that many children are not nearly active enough. With appropriate training, rest and condi-tioning we hope to prevent many injuries and keep our young athletes safer.

About CoastalCoastal Orthopaedics surgeons provide

complete orthopedic treatments for chil-dren and young athletes from head to toe in four offices: Norwalk, Westport, Darien and New Canaan.

A new walk-in urgent care facil-ity known as Coastal Ortho Express is now opened extended hours Monday through Saturday for sprains, injuries and pain at 761 Main Avenue in Norwalk where patients can be treated without an appointment.

Statewide doctors voted Coastal Orthopaedic surgeons “Top Docs Orthopedic Surgery” in Connecticut Magazine since 2009.

For more information, call 203 845-2200 or visit coastalorthopaedics.com.

Keeping up with today’s youth sports injuries

Dr. Joshua B. Frank

477 Main Street Monroe, CT 06468

203-261-1347www.connecticutdance.com

Little DancersAugust 10–17 • 9:00 AM–2:00 PM

2 Year Olds 9:00-11:003 & 4 Year Olds 9:00-12:005-7 Year Olds 9:00-1:00This unique summer program us designed

as an alternative to the typical camp experience,

and is perfect for beginners or those

with just a little bit of experience! Children

will enjoy dance class, tumbling class, craft,

and acting, all of which will incorporate the “Frozen” theme! Karaoke to your favorite

Frozen songs, make your own gemstone tiara, and play with “snow” on hot summer days!

RenaissanceBallet TheatreJune 29–July 17

9:00 AM–12:30 PM • All AgesThis year’s production: Beauty & the Beast

A three-week one of a kind experience

culminating in a fully staged

production of a classical ballet! Each

dancer will be accepted at his/her level of ability and will be motivated to develop their technique and performance

skills. So join us this summer and make dance memories that will last a lifetime!

Celebrating

our 25th

Season!

Last year: “The Wizard of Oz”

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John Tsalapatanis, MDLuisa Milevoj, DO Marilyn Smith, MD

AND WE WELCOMEF. Hayato Coutu, MD

401 Monroe Turnpike • Monroe203-452-1063 • CanterburyPediatrics.com

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

TRUMBULL LOVES CHILDRENTrumbull Loves Children, Inc (TLC), is one of Connecticut’s best before and after-school care programs. With locations in Trumbull’s elementary schools, as well as in our own Fun Zone Center for 4th to 8th graders. TLC’s mission is to provide quality childcare for Trumbull’s working parents.

TLC is accepting applications online now for TLC Preschool, Summer Camp TLC, ��

��for the children of Trumbull’s working parents. Come be a part of the TLC family.

Trumbull Loves Children2 Corporate Drive, Suite 207

Trumbull, CT 06611(203) 452.9626

Visit us to learn more or register: www.tlctrumbull.com

TLC...where children come to learn and Play!

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

• Hip-Hop Dance for ages 5-8 is on Tuesdays, April 7 and 21 and May 12 and 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. Runs four weeks. Cost is $47.

• Hoop Fitness Kids for ages 6–10 is on Tuesdays, starting April 7, 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Runs eight weeks. Cost is $62.

• Zumba Kids for ages 5-12 is on Thursdays from 5 to 5:45 p.m. starting April 9. Runs eight weeks. Cost is $45.

• Little Kickers Soccer for ages

4 and 5 is on Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m., starting April 9. Also on Fridays, 5-6 p.m. or 6-7 p.m. Runs eight weeks. Cost is $90.

• Lego for ages 5 and 6 is on Saturdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. starting April 11. Runs six weeks. Cost is $114.

• Lil’ Dragons Karate is on Tuesdays from 9:30 to10 start-ing April 21. Runs eight weeks. Cost is $85, which includes the uniform.

Register, cash or check, at the Shelton Community Center, 41 Church Street. Information: 203-925-8422.

Classes for kids forming

The Trumbull/Monroe Regional Head Start Center is enrolling chil-dren for the 2015/16 school year. To enroll, the child must be 3 or 4 by Dec. 31.

The center serves Trumbull, Monroe, Stratford, Fairfield, Bridgeport, and Easton. The pro-gram, which is federally funded, is free for children of income-eligible families. The program also meets the needs of children with dis-abilities.

Children attend the program Monday through Friday, 8:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., with a full-day option of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for those families that meet the criteria. In addition to kinder-garten preparation for the child, health care, child development, social services, and nutrition infor-mation and services are available for families.

For more information, call 203-452-4504.

Regional Head Start is looking for students for next year

Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley, Griffin Hospital and The Derby Elks are teaming up to offer a free training on child car seats and a seat give-away on Wednesday, April 15, 2-6 p.m. at Griffin Hospital’s Community Outreach parking lot, 4 Mountain Street, Derby.

The training will help answer questions about safety requirements for children in various car seats. At the end of training, participants will receive a free

seat appropriate to their child’s needs and instruc-tion on proper use.

To be eligible for the giveaway, participants must pre-register.

Free seats are limited, so the program will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

To sign up or for more information, call Cathi at 203-732-1337 no later than April 8.

April 15

Free child car seats and training

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

1 to 5 pm

Open HouseMay 3rd •1 to 5 pm

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• Pediatric Dentistry

• Routine Cleanings

• Tooth Brushing & Flossing Lessons

• Emergency Oral Care

• Infants, Toddlers & Tweens

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We hear this more and more: A seven-year-old who screams and swears or an adolescent whose mother is afraid his mood may esca-late to the point of hurting a family member. So many children today just seem so angry. Temper tantrums are normal for very young children, and lashing out with sharp tones and words is typical for adolescents, but today’s children are becoming more and more overwhelmed, and it shows. The question is why?

Angry, aggressive, argumentative, oppo-sitional, defiant, emotionally reactive, low frustration tolerance, poor coping strategies are some of the words today’s parents use to describe the behavior of their children. “Computer rage” and “net rage” are becoming common terms. Parents are scared, feeling lost and unsure of how to handle their child.

A study commissioned by the NIMH and led by Ronald Kessler of Harvard Medical School found that “nearly two-thirds of ado-lescents (63.3%) had repeated anger attacks that involved destruction of property, threat-ening violence or engaging in violence.”

Such behaviors are becoming more promi-nent and some, depending on the severity, have specific diagnoses attached to them, such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Intermittent Explosive Disorder. The larger per-centages of our children, however, are not labeled with these disorders. Research reveals that theses children seem to have a distinct imbalance in maturity of the brain known as a Functional Disconnection Syndrome (FDS).

Brain’s balanceFDS describes an imbalance in maturity

in one of the brain’s two major hemispheres and lack of connectivity between them. The left and right hemispheres are quite different

but have to complement each other and send signals back and forth all day long very quickly. Imagine a tennis game in which both players are of the same skill. This results in a very competitive match — the ball goes back and forth over the net very efficiently. This is a good rep-resentation of the typical balanced brain.

However, if we replace one of the players with a far less skilled player, that player will get quickly overwhelmed and the game will break down. The more skilled play-er will also have to try to compensate, leading to overexertion. This is a representation of the imbalanced brain.

Anger, emotional over-reactivity, impul-sive behaviors, lacking an understanding of consequence, lacking empathy — these are all common symptoms of a child suffering from FDS, and generally they suggest an underdevelopment in the right hemisphere

of the brain. The brain’s right hemisphere is the home of “the big picture.” It is the side of our brain that helps us see more than what is immediately in front of us.

The right hemisphere is also home to our EQ (emotion quotient), our social skills, nonverbal communication skills, and our

ability to empathize. When the right hemi-sphere is underdeveloped, we not only suffer in those areas, we also have to deal with a left brain that is on over-drive, causing hyper focus on details on specific situations and making con-sequences and outcomes to behaviors

very difficult for the child to consider or understand. This left brain overdrive can

also cause anxiety, compulsive behaviors and hyperactivity, which can all lead to angry outbursts and an inability to react within rea-son.

Imagine the brain as an orchestra in which many musicians are playing at the wrong speed, time, and tempo. The result would be

chaotic — a jumbled mess, and not what one would call harmonious. Similarly, children suffering from functional disconnection may feel as if they’re in the middle of a jumbled and chaotic mess, making simple tasks over-whelming and often resulting in unpleasant behaviors.

In addition, many children have certain retained infant reflexes that are still active. These reflexes are like “training wheels” for the brain and should be inhibited or gone by one year of life. Many children still have these reflexes which “locks the child in an immature state,” and exacerbates the imbal-ance. Once identified, these reflexes, through certain activities, can be inhibited.

These children and their families are suf-fering. The good news is that there is hope. By identifying this imbalance and determin-ing where the weakness lies, FDS can be addressed. The brain behaves much like a muscle, and the underdeveloped hemisphere can become stronger and more connected through specific activities and exercises. Connectivity can be established so that both sides become balanced once again and con-tinue to develop in a connected and balanced manner.

To find out more about functional discon-nection and corrective treatment, contact Brain Balance Achievement Center for a com-plimentary consultation and tour.

Brain Balance is at 15 Cross Street, Norwalk. For information call 203-847-3000 or email [email protected].

#&$@Helping kids find mental health

in a chaotic world

children, and lashing out with sharp tones and words is typical for adolescents, but today’s children are becoming more and more overwhelmed, and it shows. The question is

Angry, aggressive, argumentative, oppo-sitional, defiant, emotionally reactive, low frustration tolerance, poor coping strategies are some of the words today’s parents use to describe the behavior of their children. “Computer rage” and “net rage” are becoming common terms. Parents are scared, feeling lost and unsure of how to handle their child.

A study commissioned by the NIMH and led by Ronald Kessler of Harvard Medical School found that “nearly two-thirds of ado-lescents (63.3%) had repeated anger attacks that involved destruction of property, threat-ening violence or engaging in violence.”

Such behaviors are becoming more promi-nent and some, depending on the severity, have specific diagnoses attached to them, such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Intermittent Explosive Disorder. The larger per-centages of our children, however, are not labeled with these disorders. Research reveals that theses children seem to have a distinct imbalance in maturity of the brain known as a Functional Disconnection Syndrome

Brain’s balanceFDS describes an imbalance in maturity

in one of the brain’s two major hemispheres and lack of connectivity between them. The left and right hemispheres are quite different

net very efficiently. This is a good rep-resentation of the typical balanced brain.

However, if we replace one of the players with a far less skilled player, that player will get quickly overwhelmed and the game will break down. The more skilled play-er will also have to try to compensate, leading to overexertion. This is a representation of the imbalanced brain.

Anger, emotional over-reactivity, impul-sive behaviors, lacking an understanding of consequence, lacking empathy — these are all common symptoms of a child suffering from FDS, and generally they suggest an underdevelopment in the right hemisphere

of the brain. The brain’s right hemisphere is the home of “the big picture.” It is the side of our brain that helps us see more than what is immediately in front of us.

The right hemisphere is also home to our EQ (emotion quotient), our social skills, nonverbal communication skills, and our

ability to empathize. When the right hemi-sphere is underdeveloped, we not only suffer in those areas, we also have to deal with a left brain that is on over-drive, causing hyper focus on details on specific situations and making con-sequences and outcomes to behaviors

very difficult for the child to consider or understand. This left brain overdrive can

also cause anxiety, compulsive behaviors and hyperactivity, which can all lead to angry outbursts and an inability to react within rea-son.

Imagine the brain as an orchestra in which many musicians are playing at the wrong speed, time, and tempo. The result would be

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��“It’s About More than Dance...

It’s About Enriching Lives”YOUNG DANCERS CAMP4-6 YR. OLDSSession 1 • July 13th-July 17th

AM Mon-Fri • 9am-11:30am“FROZEN” PM Mon-Fri • 12:30pm-3pm“American Girl”

Session 2 • July 20th-July 24th

Mon-Fri • 9am-11:30am“Disney Princess”

Join us for “Lunch Bunch”Session 111:30am-12:30pm

3 YR. OLDSPre-Dance Saturdays9am-9:45am

MONROE DANCE ACADEMY

DANCE FEVER 20157-12 YR. OLDS


Mon-Fri • 9am-3pm“Pop Star Week”


Mon-Fri • 9am-3pm“Broadway Week”

4 YR. OLDSPre-Ballet/Pre-Tap

Saturdays9:45am-10:45am

CREATIVE MOVEMENT & MODERN

August 3rd-7th

9am-11:30am • 3-5 yr. olds2pm-5pm • 6-9 yr. olds

OPEN HOUSEJUNE 24TH

2015 Summer Programswww.MonroeDance.com

203-268-1200838 Main Street • Monroe

MASTER CLASS INTENSIVEAges 10 & Up

Intermediate/Advanced LevelsJuly 13th-July 17th

9:45am-3:45pm • Mon-FriExperience 5 days of amazing

master classes with professional artists from NYC!

View website for artist bios.

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BRIDGEPORT • MONROE

PEDIATRIC GROUP, P.C.

Call to Schedule School and Sports Physicals

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www.BMPediatricGroup.com��

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

SUMMER CAMP 2015

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Engaging Activities • Games • Arts & Crafts • ProjectsPicnics • Special Guests • Creative Cooking • Fun–Filled Days


Fairfield Country Day School attracts boys to educate at its school in Fairfield.

“Our students engage with each other and their teachers in meaningful interactions that guide their learning experi-ence,” the school said.

Research shows relational learning in all-boys schools leads to improved academic and character performance. Through a combination of cutting edge technology, a vibrant arts program, and a rigorous academic curriculum, our boys experience varied connections each day.

The Learning Commons at Fairfield County Day School allows it to expand the students' interactions beyond the classroom. There they are able to explore new technologies and collaborate across all grades.

Family style lunches, Link Day, public speaking, the Blue Door, and other time-honored traditions remain hallmarks of the FCDS experience.

FCDS schools boys preschool age through ninth grade. Students are active learners and are acknowledged in the

curriculum. Just in March, students were able to round out a science lesson on the human body by actually being able to dissect a pig’s heart.

The school focuses on 10 core competencies — scholar-ship, resiliency, stewardship, leadership, digital citizenship, empathy, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and com-munication.

For more information, visit fairfieldcountryday.org or call 203-259-2723. Fairfield Country Day School is at 2790 Bronson Road.

Educating boys through active learning

by Allison B. Spitzer

Do you have a sibling who teased you relentlessly or brutally? Were you bullied by an older brother or sister who still wants to hurt you? If you are harboring resentments 40 years later, you are not alone. This secret’s out, and newly recognized as a much-too-common trigger for family breakdowns as siblings age. So when your children or teens are at odds, be aware that the scars might run deeper and last far longer than you ever imagined.

The phenomenon has become a “diagnosis.” We carry those deep hurts and the questions surrounding them into adulthood. That child-hood bully, the brother or sister who teased you, smacked you, and brutalized you emo-tionally, needs to be seen for what he or she was: an aggressor. A needy, damaged, or hurt-

ing child left untreated. You were the closest target. Or, as the favored child, perhaps the sibling left you far behind without a care.

“Bullying” creates fear, low self-esteem, and worse, may begin at home when emotionally there is no safe place offered by parents. In childhood, there is simply no way to escape sibling abuse when parents are dismissive.

Especially before bullying came into the public eye as a topic for school guidelines, parents often let things go at home. They said, “That’s how boys are.” Or, “She’s your sister, just ignore it.” We’ve learned that rough-housing or demeaning stings deeply when it’s repeatedly the same sibling being hurt. And the impact intensifies because it is cumulative.

The brother or sister who relentlessly called you names, excluded you, frightened you, and did hate you, had true psychological

problems your parents never addressed. That sibling shaped your world view and self-image. The harmful, unspoken message from your parents was that “you are alone in life.” Or worse, as a child or teen, you may have come to believe you deserved it.

What child wouldn’t feel hopeless, or enraged, or unworthy of love, success, or being treated with respect? If the foundation of our security and wholeness stems from the unconditional love we receive from our parents, then lacking that protection puts us at risk as adults for fundamental social and emotional problems.

Siblings share unique common histories and memories. Under the best of circum-stances, they mature, settle their differences and jealousies and let go of long-held hurts by communicating clearly and with compassion.

Both must be willing to “come to the table” to heal, and to view his or her sibling as the per-son is today, not as the person was long ago.

If you are a parent, put a stop to sibling abuse. Facilitate the dialogue. Address the problems. If you are a teen, speak up if you are suffering. If your “rotten” sib still needs to hurt, you don’t have to take it. If you are or have been the aggressor, do the right thing. Air it out and put it to bed once and for all. If you can’t do it alone, then get help.

Allison B. Spitzer MA is a communications and life skills coach and expressive arts therapist with a private practice in Trumbull. Find more about her at periwinklehealth.com, find her on Facebook at Periwinkle Health, follow her on Twitter at Spitzer-Health, or find her on LinkedIn.

Sibling abuse: when teasing turns nasty

Boys get to learn hands on.

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Here are upcoming programs at the Webb Mountain Discovery Zone in Monroe

After School AdventuresEight-week program, April 14, 15 and

17, geared toward kindergarten through first grade on Wednesdays, and for sec-ond-fifth on Thursdays. Program uses the ecosystem of the Discovery Zone to let kids expend some energy while gaining all the health and educational benefits of being in nature.

Salamander CrawlThe first warm spring evening after a

nice soaking rain, the salamanders will move in large numbers towards the vernal pools.

Registering for the chance to see this event will place you on a call list and you will be contacted the day of the program.

Things That Go Bump in the NightA nighttime vernal pool investigation

May 2 at 7:30 p.m. with Hank Gruner, vice president of programs at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford and a state expert in biology and herpetology. What may look like a calm little pond during the day comes alive at night as the creatures that inhabit the vernal pools come out to hunt for food, migrate to a new home or seek a mate.

Summer programHalf-day summer program June 29

-July 3, 9 a.m.-noon, for children age three through fifth grade. This program will include adventures and investiga-tions in archaeology, rocks, bugs and vernal pool critters, in addition to games, hikes, stories, crafts, live ani-mals and more.

To register for programs or events, visit webbmountaindiscoveryzone.com or email [email protected].

Webb Mountain Discovery Zone offers Spring programs

Some children are self-motivated and always strive to get good grades and please their parents and teachers. Other children struggle with their schoolwork, which often discourages them from wanting to learn new material and put in a lot of effort at school.

Extreme emphasis on grades and test scores does not encourage children to try harder and to do their best. Research has shown that when children enjoy learning, they retain and comprehend more and are eager to challenge themselves.

Creating a safe, supportive home environ-ment often motivates children to work hard and excel in the classroom. Smart Playrooms founder Karri Bowen-Poole and co-owner Chris Simpson are two former teachers and moms sharing their tips on how parents can help motivate kids to learn.

ConversationDuring dinnertime, parents should try

to find out how their children are feeling and what they are experiencing during their day. If a child is in emotional turmoil, the cognitive system must expend energy on the emotional system before the brain can focus on learning. This means that parents must help their children to talk about their feel-ings before trying to motivate them to work on their math or their essay.

For example, you may want to try asking, “What was the best/worst thing that hap-pened today?” This encourages your chil-dren to explore their feelings and emotions. Remember to acknowledge their feelings, even if you don’t understand how or why they are feeling that way.

Homework routineCreating a productive homework rou-

tine must begin when your child is young. Children should get in the daily habit of hanging up their backpack, emptying out the contents and the homework, and com-pleting homework in an organized place that is designed just for homework.

This means that homework should not be done at the kitchen table, where families eat, or on the couch in the living room. Children will complete homework more productively when they can sit at a designat-ed desk or table, free of clutter, with materi-als easily accessible. Adding a magnetic or bulletin board above the desk provides a perfect place for daily or weekly assignment sheets and other school reminders.

DesignChildren really benefit when parents have

set aside time each day for them to play independently or cooperatively with friends in a playroom. When we overschedule our children with after-school activities, we may think we are giving them many educational advantages, but in fact this overscheduling causes stress and doesn’t allow time for chil-dren to think on their own.

When children engage in free play (play that has no rules and regulations), they are actually leaning how to self-regulate, which means they will be able to control their impulses and behavior, which can help them to focus more in a classroom. A smart playroom design incorporates many open-ended creative activities, such as a pretend play area, a building area, music and move-ment, and an art studio.

What do they like?Children are born with a natural desire

to learn, so it is our role as parents to help them to continue this desire as they grow older. Children will be self-motivated to learn when they feel competent about some-thing or are encouraged to learn more about their interests.

If a child is interested in horses, head to the library to take out books on horses, and read and ask questions about all aspects of horses. You could also sign your child up for lessons or take the child to a farm to observe and interact with a horse. If your child is a math whiz, find ways outside of school to expose him or her to math in the real world — such as computers, science museums, and math camps.

MilestonesWhen your child gets his or her first gold

star or A on a really tough quiz, celebrate it. Explain that the hard work really paid off. Help your child to set a meaningful academ-ic goal (completing assignments for a week or reading a challenging book) and then set up a meaningful reward system.

Some of our favorite rewards include a special activity with Mom or Dad (going to the zoo or a sports outing, for example) or heading to the bookstore to buy a book. When their hard effort and good work is recognized, children will feel proud of their accomplishments and more motivated to continue working toward successfully accomplishing their academic goals.

For more information, visit smartplayrooms.com.

Celebrating children and their rooms

At a camp outdoors students get to explore nature.

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Summer of Dance

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Documents

Spring 2015 Kid's World - Eastern Edition - Hersam Acorn