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Pa re nt
Me r r i m a c k Va l l e y
Smoothies
for
Breakfast!
Four Ways
That Parents
Can De-Stress
O c t o b e r 2014
Happy
Halloween!
Creative
Pumpkin
Carving
Special Needs:
Early Intervention
Sensory Processing
Disorder
www.merrimackvalleyparent.com
Free
In this
Issue
Four Ways that Parents can De-stress
5
Creative Pumpkin Carving
6
Pa re nt
It’s that time of year, kids off all ages have
been waiting for it…CANDY! Halloween
night (and in some cases the parties leading up to it) can induce stress in so many
of us. We try all year long to set healthy
examples for our kids and limit the amount
of junk they can consume. However, for
some children, just donning that costume
also means gorging on candy bar after
candy bar. Halloween night doesn’t have to
be a source of angst for parents. By setting
clear guidelines, you and your youngster
can still have fun and enjoy those bars of
chocolate! We all know that serving our
kids a healthy, hearty meal before we head
out can minimize candy-overload while
ringing those door bells. However, here are
my tips for minimizing candy-coma in the
days that follow the 31st:
Pumpkin Carving
- Page 5 -
Focus on Special Needs
8
Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder
10
Early Intervention: Your Child’s First Step Along The Way
Columns & Departments
3
Happy and Healthy Halloween
11 Merrimack Valley Dad
Also...
13 October Calendar of Events
Pa re nt
Page 3
By Jane Ciccone
www.merrimackvalleyparent.com
Smoothies for Breakfast!
Merrimack Valley Parent
Have a Happy (and Healthy) Halloween
Me r r i m ac k Va l le y
Features
4
See the new Digital Edition of
•
•
Allow your kids to snack on 3 pieces
of candy while roaming around the
neighborhood, then they can choose
2 more when you get home (by giving
them a clear number, they can decide
what candy is worth snacking on and
what is worth saving).
When you get home, store the candy
•
•
•
in the fridge (yes, the fridge!). Studies
have shown that keeping the candy
cold reduces the amount your kids
will eat. In some cases, the kids say the
candy doesn’t taste the same and they
lose interest. Others report that when
the kids wait for it to reach room
temperature, they often get involved
in other things and forget about it.
Allow your child to take 1-2 pieces of
candy to school each day. This way,
they will eat the sugary stuff during
the day when they can burn it off,
rather than after dinner when we are
all more sedentary.
Don’t hide the candy and make it
taboo, this will just make them want
it more (human nature!). Show them
where you are going to put it; either
in the fridge or in a cabinet. This way
they will have some control over the
process. But, be very clear with how
many pieces they can have during the
day.
Talk to the kids about donating the
candy to our service men and women
overseas. Depending on the age of
your children, this is a great conversa-
tion to begin.
If you’re like me and have a love of all
things candy, sometimes it’s hard (real
hard) to set a good example on Halloween
night. I reluctantly admit, I have been
caught dawdling at the back of the group,
sneaking a pack or two of licorice so my
kids wouldn’t see. However, a couple of
years ago, I created a healthy recipe that
I snack on while we are trick or treating
and it keeps those licorice cravings at bay.
It is the perfect combination of salty and
sweet and it always hits the spot. I make
extra and pack it in my kids lunches and
even bring it to the movie theater…don’t
even get me started on the movie theater
popcorn.
Sweet and Salty Snack Mix
• 2 cups puffed rice cereal (Kashi or Bar
bara’s Puffins are great)
• 1 cup tiny pretzel twists
• ½ Annie’s cheddar bunnies or Whole Wheat goldfish
• 1 ½ TBSP organic butter, melted
• ½ cup raw nuts, cashews, almonds, maca
damia etc. (optional)
• 1 TBSP low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• Olive oil
• ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
• ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
1.
2.
3.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Combine the first 4 ingredients and
nuts (optional) in a bowl. Combine
butter, soy sauce, ground spices and
salt drizzle over cereal/nut mixture,
tossing to coat. Spread mixture into a
roasting pan coated lightly with olive
oil. Bake at 250º for 30 minutes or until
crisp, stirring twice.
When the mixture is cooled, add the
chocolate and raisins, toss well and
serve.
Jane Ciccone is the owner of Onesto Foods.
She teaches private, in-home cooking classes
and also recently launched Onesto Artisan
Crackers. For more information on taking
a class or where to purchase some crackers,
visit her website at: www.onestofoods.com
Me r r i m ac k Va l le y
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(978) 427-3676
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Mike Nercessian
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Our mission is to provide an academically
Apply online at www.sjdarc.org or
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Accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year
within a Catholic faith community
OPEN HOUSE DATES: DECEMBER 3rd & JANUARY 25th
Page 4
Merrimack Valley Parent
Four Ways That
Parents Can
De-Stress
Merrimack Valley Parent
Page 5
Creative Pumpkin Carving
By Mike Sullivan
By Bill Corbett
I watched 3 little children in a store
yesterday as they chipped away at
their mother’s sense of calmness. One
child asked her questions, another one
spoke loudly over the other two, and
the third must have been over tired
as she whined and kept hitting the
other two children in the shopping
cart. Mom finally succumbed to the
stress and snapped at them to STOP
THE NOISE. It did nothing to quell the
chaos.
I remember the moments of stress
while raising my own 3 children. The
noise and the chatter would sometimes get to me easily. I had to learn
how to calm myself so that I did not
take out my stress on the three little
kids who just wanted to be heard and
who felt like they were fighting for my
attention in competition with their
siblings.
On a recent episode of my television
show Creating Cooperative Kids, I
interviewed a parent time and stress
management coach who offered tips
for parents. Virginia Ann Griffiths (weleap.com) said the number one thing
that parents can do anywhere to calm
down is to breathe intentionally. What
she meant by this is to breathe deeply
to get oxygen to our brain so we will
have the power to remain calm in moments of chaos. Here are more tips for
parents for distressing.
Intentional Breathing. Close your
eyes for just a moment and slowly pull
in a series of deep breaths through
your nose. Feel the air going into your
lungs and imagine that you can see
the air filling your lungs. Hold it just
of a second and then breathe out
through your mouth. Just a couple of
deep breaths can help you calm down
and think clearly before reacting.
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Quiet Toys. Keep small quiet toys in
your purse to give to the kids when
they begin to act up. They are likely to
create temporary distractions that will
give you a few moments of silence to
calm yourself. Although many parents
hand their child their cell phone or a
tablet, avoid this solution. Small media
devices are not healthy alternatives for
small children.
Engage Them in Your Shopping. If
you’re out shopping with your children, create a list of items that you’re
looking for and get them to help you
locate them. Be sure to set up rules
in advance before entering the store
(such as remaining in the shopping
cart and what you are not willing to
buy) and get them involved in the adventure. For younger children, cut out
and provide for them, pictures of items
to find as a way of helping.
Take Care of Yourself. Make it a priority to take time out for you whenever
you can. Make use of family members
and friends who can take the kids for
short periods of time so you can have
time to yourself. Other matters that
seem to be urgent can take over the
little time you have away from the
kids, but don’t let it. Schedule in time
to take care of yourself physically, spiritually, socially and emotionally.
Bill Corbett has a degree in clinical psychology and is the author of the award
winning book “Love, Limits, & Lessons:
A Parent’s Guide to Raising Cooperative Kids,” in English and in Spanish. He
is happily married with three grown
children, two grandchildren, three step
children, and is a Massachusetts native.
You can visit his Web site www.CooperativeKids.com for further information and
parenting advice.
880 Boston Road
Haverhill, MA 01835
(978) 521-7000
www.cedarland.net
To carve or not to carve, that is the ques-
tion.
Some see it fitting to create a scary face to
mirror the mood of the season, while others find the round shape of the pumpkin
best suited to a jolly jack o’ lantern. But
there’s a new camp of carvers creeping
about the pumpkin patch, looking for the
optimal orange globe that offers itself as
the best canvas for which to craft an elaborate design.
Whatever your preference, it’s the time of
year grab a gourd and get carving.
After you’ve selected your prey, but before
you begin slicing your pumpkin with
surgeon-like precision, there are many
things you will need, no matter how fancy
shmancy you decide to get, the right tools
will make your task a lot easier.
Things you’ll need include a grease pencil
for sketching your design or face; wood
chisels for gouging into the skin and
removing those bits of pulp that are intruding on the final product; melon ballers are
ideal for shaping eyes and other rounded
objects or scenes; small saws or knives
work well when having to cut through
thick-skinned pumpkins and carving large
areas; and ice cream paddles or large serving spoons work well when removing the
inside of the pumpkin – think seeds, which
should be put aside for roasting, but that’s
a story for later.
Now that you’ve got all the right tools in
place, you’re ready to get into the meat of
the matter – literally and figuratively.
Start by cutting a large hole in the base of
the pumpkin and embarking on the laborious task of scooping out the inside. As you
extract the pulp and seeds, place them off
to the side in a bowl in order to separate
the seeds for roasting.
If you’re going to get creative and carve a
scary scene in your gourd it’s best to trace
that scene onto a thin piece of paper, tape
the paper to the pumpkin and with push
pins or knitting needles begin tracing the
scene onto the pumpkin by poking holes
through the paper with the needle or pin
and into the skin. What you’re really doing
is tracing the scene onto the pumpkin’s
surface almost in a paint-by-numbers
manner. After tracing the scene onto the
pumpkin, remove the paper but leave it
next to you on the table so you can use it
as a guide when carving. If you’re a decent
drawer, or prefer to create your own scene
this is where you would grab a grease
pencil and sketch your design onto the
pumpkin’s skin.
After all the prep work it’s time to grab
your knife or saw and start dismantling the
gourd piece by piece. Start with the most
delicate parts and then move on to carving
out the larger portions that don’t demand
the most precise of cuts. No matter how
big, small or intricate the cut, always
remember you’re using a sharp knife, work
slowly and carefully.
After you’re finished cutting the pumpkin,
take some Vaseline and apply a thin layer
around the exposed areas of the pumpkin.
This will keep the pumpkin from drying out
faster.
Bringing life to your jack o’ lantern is as
easy as placing a lit votive candle or tea
light inside the candle to get that festive
glowing working its way from the inside
out. But there are some items that can
easily be found around the house that will
give extra life to your gourd.
Think of using clear marbles for eyes and
poking them into the areas scooped out
with the melon baller. When illuminated
the marbles give an added dimension
and personality to the pumpkin. Gum, like
white Chiclets, are great for pushing into
the flesh around the mouth and using as
teeth, or dip baby carrots in white paint
and poke into the flesh of the pumpkin to
create fangs. Ear rings, neck ties, boas, or
plastic spiders and ants can all be fastened
to the pumpkin to give it that extra flash.
When you’re done, place the finished product on the porch for all to see.
What to do with all those seeds?
If you picked a really fresh pumpkin you’re
going to get a lot of seeds from it, don’t
toss them in the garbage. Those seeds can
easily be turned into a snack. Below is what
you’ll need and how to roast the seeds.
1 tablespoon of kosher salt, plus a little
more for sprinkling
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon of paprika, or same amount of
cayenne pepper, depending on how much
heat you like
Add all the dry ingredients into a bowl and
mix well.
On a cookie sheet or baking pan separate
the seeds and discard the pulp. Sprinkle
with the spice mix you just made and mix
them all well, then spread them out on
the tray in a single layer, trying to keep
the seeds from clumping together, this
will cause the seeds to steam and won’t
produce the crunch you’re looking for.
Bake the seeds at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring them half way through cooking to turn them over so the other side of
the seeds gets a chance to bake.
After cooking transfer to a bowl and lightly
season with more salt, eat and enjoy.
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Page 6
Merrimack Valley Parent
Smoothies for Breakfast!
By Joni Lazisky
If you find a recipe that calls for sugar,
try it without the added sweetener first.
You may not need it depending on the
natural sweetness of the fruit you are
using. Don’t be afraid to play around
with different ingredients to suit your
taste. If you want a sweet smoothie,
use pineapple juice or orange juice for
the liquid. Try milk, soy milk or coconut
milk if you’re in the mood for something
creamy.
Be sure to try different flavored yogurts
or combinations of fruits.
Mornings can be absolutely crazy. The
chaos that surrounds getting ourselves
ready for work and the kids ready for
school can cause us to look for ways
to save a few minutes here and there
to make sure everyone gets to their
destination on time and appropriately
dressed and fed.
While it’s easy and fast to pour some milk
over cereal for breakfast, it doesn’t really
provide any member of the family with
enough nutrients and energy to power
through the day.
If your mornings look anything even
remotely close to mine, it is just not possible to cook a full course meal before
getting everyone out the door.
Luckily there is solution that doesn’t
involve setting an alarm for four a.m. to
prepare breakfast.
Smoothies are a great way to ensure you
and your family get all the necessary
servings of fruits and vegetables and
other essential nutrients to keep you
going strong all day. They can be made
in minutes and with all the kid-friendly
recipes available, it is easy to find the
perfect smoothie for even the pickiest
eater because they can be tailored to
suit individual needs.
Kids perform best in school when they
start their day with a good breakfast.
With the bright color and delicious taste
of a smoothie, they’ll think they are getting a treat instead of a nutritious shake.
Plus, most kids will love putting all
the ingredients into the blender and
pushing the button to whip everything
together.
Try an Off to School smoothie to start.
It’s made with vanilla yogurt, bananas
and strawberries and contains a good
amount of vitamin C and protein.
Help promote strong bones and teeth
with the calcium rich Purple Monster
Smoothie.
Kids will love the name and the amazing
taste of grape juice, red grapes, blueberries and vanilla yogurt.
If your family doesn’t have any nut allergies, a passion fruit and nut smoothie is
a delicious way to incorporate protein, fiber, vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants
into your child’s diet.
Remember, a smoothie is not just a
drink, it’s a meal. They are sweet and
creamy, like a milkshake, but they are
also hearty and healthy enough to be
served for breakfast.
Save the big breakfast of pancakes, fruit,
eggs, bacon and all those other yummy
bits for a weekend morning when the
whole family can sit down and enjoy it
together.
Kid-friendly Smoothie recipes:
Off to School Smoothie
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup strawberry nectar
3/4 cup frozen strawberries; unsweetened and quartered
1 frozen banana; sliced
Berry Blast
2 cups loosely packed baby spinach
(about two handfuls)
2 cups frozen mixed berries (ex. strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries)
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1 cup low-fat milk (may also use soy,
almond or coconut milk)
1 tbsp honey
Purple Monster
1/2 cup grape juice
3/4 cup red grapes; frozen
3/4 cup frozen blueberries; unsweetened
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt; frozen
Berry Fruit Smoothie
1 1/2 cups dark sweet frozen cherries
(pitted, unsweetened)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup non-fat vanilla soy milk
1 tbsp frozen lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup low-fat lemon yogurt
Sunrise Smoothie
1 cup ice
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup vanilla soy milk
1 medium banana
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp honey
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Abbot Hill Road, Wilton NH 03086
2 Brazil nuts
4 walnut halves
3 blanched almonds
Green Smoothie
1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup non-fat milk
1 cup kale or spinach; washed and
chopped
1 cup frozen/chopped bananas
1 cup frozen/chopped strawberries
Banana & Prune
1 banana; peeled and chopped
5 prunes; pitted
1 tbsp flax seed oil
1/4 cup orange juice
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
Passion Fruit & Nut
1 passion fruit; pulp and juice (sift is
preferred)
1 1/2 mangoes; peeled, pitted and
chopped
1 banana; peeled and chopped
1 cup pineapple juice
Fresh Spinach
1 cup orange juice
1 cup water
2 handfuls fresh baby spinach
1 banana
2 cups frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
invites you and your family to join us at our
Date: October 25, 2014
* Specializing in Family Chiropractic and Wellness care
HIGH MOWING SCHOOL
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
3/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
1 tbsp honey
Page 7
For Prospective Students and Their Families
Open House - Saturday, November 8th, 10am - 2pm | Visit highmowing.org to register!
Call to schedule your visit today!
Merrimack Valley Parent
Sunshine Smoothie
1/2 cup baby carrots
HIGH MOWING SCHOOL
www.highmowing.org
We are a family friendly office and
strive to help your family optimize
their overall health and wellness.
Parker River Chiropractic & Wellness
95 Parker Street Newburyport, MA 01950
(p) 978-462-0263
www.ParkerRiverWellness.com
Time: 9:30am - 11:30am
Come explore our school and classrooms to learn about the unique
opportunities available to your elementary or middle school child at
Hampstead Academy. Members of our community, including
faculty, staff, students and current parents will be available to
speak with you about our academic and co-curricular programs.
Children will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on
activities with members of our community.
For more information and to register,
please call 603-329-4406,
or visit us at www.hampsteadacademy.org
We look forward
to meeting you
and your family!
Once my son was diagnosed, the
intervention began. The first step was
awareness, and I quickly learned that
the sensory system included more than
sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
Three others – vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive- were areas that
I had never heard of but were the most
problematic for my son.
Finally, the interoceptive system features internal sensors that tell how organs are feeling, such as being hungry
or sick. Often my son would forget he
was hungry until he was starving, and I
was baffled when he was having bowel
movement accidents after school.
However, I learned that his senses were
probably overwhelmed after a long
“Methuen is pro-active when it comes
to educating their teachers to help their
students. We work to help students
access the curriculum in the least
restrictive environment,” states Upton.
Examples of Upton’s efforts to educate
the staff include warm up exercises
prior to writing, therapy balls, weighted
lap pads, power stations, head phones,
and seat cushions.
the greater Newburyport area
For membership benefits, please explore
our website at www.greaternewburyportfamilies.org
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The vestibular system consists of balance and spatial awareness. A child that
spins and is a dare devil on playground
equipment can indicate that the child is
hyposensitive and not getting enough
input; whereas a child that is hypersensitive does not tolerate movement well
and may get carsick, avoid bike riding,
swings, and slides.
Parents and caregivers should not shy
away if they suspect SPD. According to
Early Intervention occupational therapist Barbara Brissenden, parents can
request an evaluation without obtaining a doctor’s note. She adds that tactile difficulties can be present as early
as infancy and may even be related to
problems with latching in breastfeeding
infants. Fortunately, Brissenden notes
rt •
po
Sensory processing disorder (SPD) also
known as sensory integration disorder
(SID), is not new to me. My oldest was
diagnosed at 27 months. A neurobiological disorder, it was first identified by
psychologist and occupational therapist A. Jean Ayres in the 1960s. Ayres
concluded that there is a “traffic jam” in
the brain because the nervous system
has difficulty processing information
taken in through the senses. If the brain
When there is a glitch in the central processing, behavior can appear unpredictable. Problems related to the disorder
include impulsivity, distractibility, difficulty with transitions, and frustration, as
well as being inflexible, irrational, and
having low self-esteem. Others would
comment that my oldest was going
through the “terrible twos,” but I sensed
there was more to the smashing, crashing, impulsivity, distractibility, trouble
transitioning, throwing objects in the
air, and appearing as if in a rage.
The proprioceptive system is the awareness of joints and muscles, movement,
and body position. While a hypersensitive child may have weak strength,
poor coordination, and even avoid
playground equipment, the hyposensitive child will do the opposite and crash
and bash because he/she is not getting
enough input.
he
I am lucky that I only have to travel
several miles on Rt. 495, but she is crying again, and a red light off the ramp
allows me to examine the shoe situation. She is aggressively trying to rip
the shoes and socks off. I twist around,
extend my arm in the back, but I can’t
get them off before the light changes.
I announce that she’ll just have to cry
I feel defeated, overwhelmed, and
confused about how to solve her tactile
defensiveness. I’m late to appointments
because dressing is time consuming and nearly catastrophic. And all
of those beautiful new dresses and
tutus…I’ll never see my daughter wear
them because she can barely keep a
onesie on. I feel limited. I skip trips
to stores and talk my husband out of
family outings because I can’t endure
another torture-filled ride, even if it’s up
to the outlets to check out a great sale.
is able to modulate and turn on and off
the sensory systems as needed and inhibit behavior responses to stimuli that
is not useful, then the individual can act
and use the information in a meaningful way.
When the child graduates from Early
Intervention on his/her third birthday,
the staff works with parents to access
resources in their community to continue to support the child, including the
school system. Although legal education documents such as an Individual
Education Plan (IEP) or 504 can include
accommodations for SPD, today, good
teaching practices help children,
regardless, says Methuen public school
occupational therapist Erin Upton.
Laura Murphy is a former Boston-market
news writer and enjoys writing. She holds
a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
and is a MA certified teacher grades 1-6.
She worked for several years as a fourth
grade teacher at St. Augustine School in
Andover and currently works as a tutor
for Methuen Public Schools. All three of
her children have SPD, as well as several
of her former students. You can reach her
at murphy.laura@comcast.net
M ot
ride because my daughter was severely
distressed about shoes on her feet. Not
the fussing type, but the piercing type
that makes your eardrums hurt and
your blood pressure spike. My two sons
are complaining about the noise; one
can’t hear his Mr. Popper’s Penguins audiobook, the other is covering his ears
with his hands because the screaming
is impacting his auditory sensitivity. I’ve
pulled over the car not just once, but
twice within the last 500 feet because
her shirt doesn’t feel right against the
car seat. I’ve smoothed out the shirt,
but that isn’t enough. Now the shirt
comes off because I don’t know what
else to do. I’m hoping she will comply
with keeping her onesie on, but I can’t
be sure.
for the next two miles because I can’t
stop the car again. She takes me up on
that offer, and the life-threatening cries
continue.
After parents and caregivers have an
awareness of the problem, occupational
therapists and developmental specialists work together to design a “sensory
diet” – activities designed to give the
child the right amount of sensory input
to feel skillful and organized throughout the day. Sensory diets are customized, as each case is different. Strategies
can include playing with shaving cream
to help with tactile defensiveness while
weighted blankets and vests can help
with proprioceptive input.
As I turn the corner to my street, I’m taking deep breaths at this point. I never
felt so blessed to have an XM free trial
in my car at a time like this. I turn Nick
Lowe’s “Jungle Fever” up a little louder
so I can hear the song through the
crying. I know it will be alright. I have
resources in place, and a child development team will be arriving on Wednesday. I will get through this challenging
time, and I know I’ll be all the better for
it.
sC
I just endured another scream-filled car
sensory processing difficulties can be
significantly improved with effective
strategies customized for each child.
e
By Laura Murphy
day at school, and that it was hard for
him to understand what his body was
telling him.
Page 9
lu b
Making Sense:
Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder at Home and School
Merrimack Valley Parent
• Gr
Merrimack Valley Parent
sC
Page 8
a n d F a m ili e
Activities Include:
Indoor PlayMAZE
Mini-Golf/Batting
lSports Games
lBasketball
lHomework Time
lArts ‘n Crafts
lDaily Outdoor Playtime
lFree Swim Wednesdays & Fridays
Full Day Kindergarten - 5th Grade
l
l
Let your child experience the benefits
of a creative, fun-filled,
fitness-oriented after-school program.
Licensed by the Dept. of EEC & Located at:
aMAZEment Action Playcenter
931 Boston Road, Haverhill, MA 01835
978-521-7700 ext 101
www.cedarland.net
lBradford
lHillview
Transportation From:
Elementary
Montessori
lGreenleaf
lSacred
lSt. Joseph’s
Hearts lSilver Hill
Sign-up for 1 or 5 Days/Week
Enrollment is on-going
Details and fee information on
www.greaternewburyportfamilies.org
For questions or inquiries please email
consignment@greaternewburyportfamilies.org
Register to be a seller at
www.seller.myconsignmentmanager.com/newburyport
Welcome Family offers a nurse home
visit for moms and newborns at no cost.
Get answers, resources and support.
Learn more and make an appointment.
Call our referral department.
1-800-333-4799
Home Health VNA
The Leader in Home Health Care
Page 10
Merrimack Valley Parent
Merrimack Valley Dad
Early Intervention
Your Child’s First Step Along The Way
By Aimee Phleger, CEIS, B.S.SPEd, B.S.EEC
Early Intervention Educational/Group Coordinator
The Professional Center for Child Development
Many people ask… “What is Early Intervention (EI)?”
Early intervention is a system of services
that helps babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.
Early intervention focuses on helping
children, age birth to three, who are
experiencing delays in their development
or are at risk for development, learn the
basic and brand-new skills that typically
develop during the first three years of life,
such as:
•
•
•
•
•
physical (reaching, rolling, crawling,
and walking);
cognitive (thinking, learning, solving
problems);
communication (talking, listening,
understanding);
social/emotional (playing, feeling
secure and happy); and
self-help (eating, dressing)
a child is born that EI will be essential
in helping the child grow and develop.
Children at risk for delays include children
who are diagnosed at birth with a specific
condition or disability or who experience
significant prematurity, very low birth
weight, illness or surgery. Some children
have a relatively routine entry into the
world, but may develop at a slower rate
than others, experience set backs or
develop in ways that seem different from
other children. With EI therapies, a vast
majority of these children overcome their
delays and are able to enroll in preschool
and school systems without further issues.
The key component to the success of the
EI Program is that highly-skilled specialists provide coordinated services and care
to families in the comfort of the child’s
home. By understanding the child’s natural environment, the team can develop
the most effective strategies for service
delivery.
Sometimes it is known from the moment
Educational
A baby’s needs cannot be separated from
the needs of his or her family. For that
reason, EI services are designed to help
the family to feel comfortable and confident as they raise, nurture and educate
their child. And, because parents are their
child’s best and very first teachers, it is
important for them to be involved in all
the services their child receives. Parents
can take the education they learn through
the EI visits and continue working with
their child to reinforce lessons and skills
introduced during a home visit. Through
the coaching of the EI team, parents
learn how, through play and by providing
stimulating experiences, they can teach
their child to explore his/her surrounding
environment and become aware of what
is around them.
“normal” schedule of baby milestones.
“He should be saying a few words by
now…”
Have questions about your child’s development?... you’re not alone.
It is not uncommon for parents and family
members to become concerned when
their baby or growing toddler doesn’t
seem to be developing according to the
At the time of referral, with the parent’s
permission, an EI team will conduct a
developmental assessment. The team will
look at all areas of development. After
establishing eligibility for EI, the team
(Continued on Page 11)
Therapeutic
By Mike Nercessian
“The little girl next door is already sitting
up on her own…”
“She hasn’t rolled over yet…”
While it’s true that children develop differently, at their own pace, and that the
range of what’s “normal” development
is quite broad, it’s hard not to worry and
wonder. If you find yourself asking questions like these, you might want to bring
your questions to your family pediatrician
or contact the Early Intervention Program
in your area to refer your child for an EI
evaluation.
Inclusive
Our programs include:
32 Osgood Street, Andover, MA 01810
Developmental Day School
Early Intervention Program
Pediatric Therapy Program
Regional Consultation Program
Inclusive Preschool & Playgroups
439 S. Union Street, Lawrence, MA 01843
www.theprofessionalcenter.org
Merrimack Valley Parent
I remember the bomb threats in col-
lege.
They came at night via a phone call to
the RA working the front desk, usually
after 11pm and they were specific to
our dorm. Though I don’t recall the frequency, it seemed like they happened
twice a week for a month then would
take a hiatus for a few weeks only to
return in full force.
The bomb threats became so commonplace we started “hiding” in our
rooms rather than exiting into the
night to stand with those who had
much better sense then ourselves. The
police and fire departments would
arrive and secure the building, knocking on our locked doors while we hid
silently in our beds wondering to ourselves if we had made the right choice
in staying behind. Wondering if this
time it wasn’t a prank after all.
This was all before the attacks of Sept
11, the tragedy in Newtown, CT and
bombs being detonated at the Boston
Marathon. In other words, this was
before I understood it could happen
anytime, anywhere.
On September 9, 2014, my son’s fourth
day as a high school freshman, an
email was sent to a staff member of
Newburyport High School indicating
people in the building were going to
die at 8:30am. The news came to us
parents via an email from the high
school indicating a threat had been
received, that the school was in lock-
down and our children were safe.
Page 11
70 Merrimack Street
Haverhill, MA 01830
Phone: 978-521-6150
www.angelcarekids.com
“Bombs and Threats: Just Like Old Times”
These “threats” were a nuisance, likely
some intoxicated undergrads not
recognizing the magnitude of their
prank while having a laugh as their
neighbors streamed out of the building. Or perhaps the threats were made
by someone who meant business, but
who thankfully didn’t follow through.
Helping children of all
abilities achieve their full
potential for 41 years
We are a pediatric occupational and speech
therapy practice, specializing in sensory
integration, evaluations, treatments, and child
advocacy. We accept most types of insurance.
Information released later indicated
the threatening email was sent in a
manner sometimes used by terrorist
organizations to mask their identity
and, therefore, would be investigated
by federal authorities. As of this writing, no direct connection has been
reported.
Newburyport: A sleepy city on the
coast of Massachusetts known for its
quaint downtown, good schools and
safe streets. Yes, here.
Growing up, we lived in the shadow of
the cold war, but the Soviets seemed
much more interested in showing
us up at the Olympics then causing
us real harm. Despite our conflicting
ideologies, they weren’t concerned
with disrupting our lives. As long as
we knew they could lift more weight
and stick the landings when they
dismounted the balance beam, they
were generally satisfied with our
coexistence.
That was our normal and our laidback
reaction to the bomb threats to our
dorm didn’t appear out of place.
At 11:39am on September 9, 2014, I
received an update from the Superintendent’s Office indicating Newburyport High School was searched
and deemed safe and a normal class
schedule had resumed.
Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that
2014’s normal is a lot more tenuous.
Breakfast & Lunch
Carleen's
Thirty years serving
the Merrimack valley
*Great food & friendly staff
*Open 7 days a week
Breakfast all day
Lunch Monday thru Friday
978-682-3466.
carleens.com.
209 South Broadway. Lawrence ,Massachusetts 01843
Early Intervention
(Continued from Page 10)
will write an Individualized Family Service
Plan (IFSP). In this document the team
will develop strategies and outcomes in
an effort to maximize the child’s potential.
Services and the amount of intervention
are determined at this time. The family is
always an important member of the team!
The first three years of life are a period of
incredible growth in all areas of a baby’s
development. Together with the family,
Early Intervention helps children acquire
vital skills and achieve developmental
milestones - because every child deserves
a chance to reach their full potential.
To access Early Intervention in Massachusetts… simply call. There are over 50
Early Intervention Programs in the Commonwealth, each has a catchment area
that they serve. The Central Directory for
Early Intervention is at www.MassFamilyTIES.org. The Professional Center is the provider for families living in Andover, North
Andover, Lawrence & Methuen. Call PCCD
for more information 978-475-3806.
Merrimack Valley Parent
Page 13
Merrimack Valley Calendar of Events
October
Warm Caring Fun Staff!
Where Patients
are our
Dental Family
Comprehensive Dentistry for the Whole Family
Periodontal and Implant Specialist on Site
24hr emergency call
Cosmetic Dentistry, Children’s Dentistry,
Oral Surgery, Nightguards and TMJ Therapy
UnderArmour sports guards
Modern Solar Powered Dental Office
Dr. Merabi & Dr. Rosania
7 Brown Square • Newburyport, MA
978-462-4590
portsidefamilydental.com
Wednesday, October 1
Crafternoon with Sarah
Come to the teen room for a craft with
Sarah! http://mhlteenroom.tumblr.com/
Date / Time:: Wednesday Oct 1, 2014
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Junior Friends of
Memorial Hall Library
Weekly meeting of Junior Friends of
Memorial Hall Library, ages 8-11.
For more
information, email Kate Belczyk at kbelczyk@mhl.org.
Date / Time:: Wednesday Oct 1, 2014
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM
Location: Activity Room
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Thursday, October 2
Half Day Movie: Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows Part 2
October 2 | 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Spend your half day with Harry at our free
afternoon screening of Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows Part 2! Snacks will be
provided! Please contact Jessica Hilbun,
Teen Services Librarian, at 978-465-4428
ext. 246 or nplteenlibrarian@gmail.com.
This free program is sponsored by the
Friends of the Newburyport Public Library.
Friday, October 3
Teen Doctor Who Party
October 3 | 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Attention Teen and Tween Whovians: Join
us as we celebrate all things Doctor Who.
There will be crafts, games and snacks.
This program is for teens and tweens ages
10-18 only. No children, adults, daleks or
cybermen allowed! Please contact Jessica
Hilbun, Teen Services Librarian, with questions at 978-465-4428 ext. 246 or nplteenlibrarian@gmail.com. This free program will
take place in the Children’s Activity Room,
and is sponsored by the Friends of the
Newburyport Public Library.
Saturday, October 4
Halloween Movie & Craft
(K to 4th grade)
This is a special Saturday program for families! A short animated Halloween film will
be shown. After the movie, we will make
a craft entry for the pumpkin decorating
contest. Adults are welcome
to attend with their children and create a
family entry for the pumpkin decorating
contest based on a book character.
Date / Time:: Saturday Oct 4, 2014
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Contact:Children’s
Department 978-686-4080 ext. 26
Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen
Sunday, October 5
TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: BEACH CREATURES OF PLUM ISLAND
Adults and children can spend quality
family time in the great outdoors finding,
observing, and admiring local wildlife.
Excursions might include a group game
to burn off some steam, an on-the-water
scavenger hunt, or a guided tour. We’ll
observe, investigate, and compare coastal
environments and their inhabitants, both
on- and offshore. Each adventure will leave
your family excited to come back for more!
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2 pm to 4:30 pm.
Location: Meet at Joppa Flats Education
Center, One Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. Fee: Adult $11, Child $8.
Preregistration required.
Monday, October 6
Make iPad Origami with Foldify
Learn how to design your own custom
origami with the Foldify iPad app. Then
print and fold!
http://mhlteenroom.tumblr.com/
Date / Time::Monday Oct 6, 2014
3:00 PM - 4:00 PMContact: Clare or Anna
978-623-8401 x 56 ya@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Tuesday, October 7
Sewing Club
October 7 | 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm
Grades 3-6. Come learn how to sew! We will
learn to thread a needle, sew a button, and
sew basic stitches to make fun projects.
This program runs for 6 weeks beginning
October 7th. Registration is required. Stop
by the Children’s Room or call to register at
978-465-4428 x235.
Newburyport Public Library
Teen Movie Night
Come to the teen room to watch a movie!
http://mhlteenroom.tumblr.com/
Date / Time:: Tuesday Oct 7, 2014
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Contact: Clare or Anna
978-623-8401 x 56 ya@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Wednesday, October 8
Junior Friends of
Memorial Hall Library
Weekly meeting of Junior Friends of
Memorial Hall Library, ages 8-11.
For more
information, email Kate Belczyk at kbelczyk@mhl.org.
Date / Time:: Wednesday Oct 8, 2014
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM Location: Activity Room
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Tuesday, October 7
Animal Cracker Club
This program is geared to children between the ages of 5-6. We will share some
stories, rhymes, and a simple craft that
center around a popular animal. There will
also be an animal cracker snack to share
too! Please register online the name of the
child who will be attending the program!
Date / Time:: Tuesday Oct 14, 2014
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM Contact: Kim Bears 978-623-8400 x39 kbears@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Thursday, October 9
IMAGINE, SING, & LEARN 10A:
PERSONAL PONDING
This parent/child program is designed for
the creative, curious, and active preschooler. Each 90-minute session offers
a structured series of activities including
original songs, movement, dramatic play,
hands-on science, and a thematic snack.
You’ll receive coloring pages, song lyrics,
vocabulary, a fun fact sheet, and a suggested reading list in an electronic goody
bag! Date: Thursday, October 9, 10 am to
11:30 am.Location: Meet at Joppa Flats
Education Center, One Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. Fee: Adult $8, Child $7.
Preregistration required.
NATURE ART CLASSES AT JOPPA FLATS:
IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT...
Any season is a great time to notice nature’s beauty and to make it come to life
with amazing works of art! Join teacher Jan
Morris to learn how creativity intersects
with science, technique, and construction
in a fun and rewarding way. Nature Art is
run as a series. Each fall series requires a
minimum of four participants. Materials
will be provided. Parents are welcome to
stay during this program.Date: Thursdays,
October 9, 16, 23; 3:45 pm to 5:15 pm.
Location: Meet at Joppa Flats Education
Center, One Plum Island Turnpike, New-
buryport. Fee: $54 for all three classes.
Preregistration required.
IMAGINE, SING, & LEARN 10B:
PERSONAL PONDING
This parent/child program is designed for
the creative, curious, and active preschooler. Each 90-minute session offers
a structured series of activities including
original songs, movement, dramatic play,
hands-on science, and a thematic snack.
You’ll receive coloring pages, song lyrics,
vocabulary, a fun fact sheet, and a suggested reading list in an electronic goody
bag! Date: Thursday, October 9, 1 pm to
2:30 pm. Location: Meet at Joppa Flats
Education Center, One Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. Fee: Adult $8, Child $7.
Preregistration required.
Saturday, October 11
Brain Building in Progress: It’s Science Time! (3 to 5 year olds)
Stop by the Nevins library to participate
in a variety of reading and play activities
that help support your child’s learning and
language development. We will present
the activities in this program using two different sized groups; everyone as one large
group and in small self-paced parent/child
pairs. Each child in attendance will get a
free book from our community partner,
the Greater Lawrence Community Action
Council. Date / Time:: Saturday Oct 11, 2014
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Contact: Children’s
Department 978-686-4080 ext. 26
Location: Garden Room
Tuesday, October 14
Pajama Party
Pajama Party is our evening story time for
preschoolers and their
favorite adult. Wear
your pajamas, bring a stuffed animal, and
share
stories, songs, and a simple craft. No
registration required. Date / Time::
Tuesday Oct 14, 2014
6:30 PM - 7:15 PM Location: Activity Room
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Wednesday, October 15
Candy Corn Craft
Candy corn craft for teens! Stop by!
http://mhlteenroom.tumblr.com/
Date / Time:: Wednesday Oct 15, 2014
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Contact: Clare or Anna
978-623-8401 x 56 ya@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Page 14
Merrimack Valley Parent
Thursday, October 16
Peep your Favorite Book Halloween Edition!
Make book dioramas out of marshmallow
Peeps and other supplies!
http://mhlteenroom.tumblr.com/
Date / Time:: Thursday Oct 16, 2014
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Contact: Clare or Anna
978-623-8401 x 56 ya@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Friday, October 17
Find-Out Friday
Find-Out Friday combines stories and
science for ages 5-8. Each month
we will
share a story, do some experiments and a
simple craft. In October
we will be talking
about leaves, the changing of the seasons,
and apples.
Please register, space is limited.
Date / Time:: Friday Oct 17, 2014
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM Location:
Activity Room
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Saturday, October 18
Family Book Bingo
Join us as we play 4-5 rounds of bingo and
the prizes you could win are books! There
will be books for all ages available to win,
so bring the whole family for an hour of
fun! Please register online the name of
each person who will be attending the
program. Date / Time::
Saturday Oct 18, 2014
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Contact: Kim Bears 978-623-8400 x39 kbears@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
ing with LEGOS, this club is for you! Every
month there will be a different challenge
to build with a small team.
Date / Time: Wednesday Oct 22, 2014
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Contact:
Children’s Department 978-686-4080
Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen
Thursday, October 23
Dumbledore’s Army
October 23 | 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Hey Harry Potter fans! Join us for this
month’s meeting of Dumbledore’s Army.
We will be playing Harry Potter charades.
This program is for teens and tweens ages
10 and up. No children, adults, or Death
Eaters allowed! Please contact Jessica
Hilbun, Teen Services Librarian, at 978-4654428 ext. 246 or nplteenlibrarian@gmail.
com. Newburyport Public Library
Teen Writing Club
Do you have a story to tell or a poem to
share? Do you enjoy writing fan-fiction?
This is the group for you! We will work together with different writing prompts and
exercises and have fun writing whatever it
is that we need to write. Open to those in
grades 7-12. Date / Time::
Thursday Oct 23, 2014 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Contact: Sarah 978-686-4080 x 35 nevinsteens@gmail.com Location: Trustee’s
Room, Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen
Wednesday, October 22
Teen Crafternoon: Notebooks
October 22 | 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Teens and tweens: Stop by the Children’s
Activity Room for some noteworthy notebook crafts! We’ll be adding collages to
boring spiral notebooks, and making mini
books of our own. Please contact Jessica
Hilbun, Teen Services Librarian, at 978-4654428 ext. 246 or nplteenlibrarian@gmail.
com Newburyport Public Library
Friday, October 24
Great Old Book Sale EXTENDED HOURS!
The GREAT OLD BOOK SALE continues with
extended hours. The sale will be held in
the Library Program Room from 9:00 AM
to 6:30 PM on Friday, October 24th. Please
note: the Library closes at 5:00 for regular
business, but the book sale is open until
6:30 PM. This event is sponsored by the
Friends of the Newburyport Public Library.
Proceeds will benefit the Newburyport
Public Library collections and programs.
Volunteers welcome!
Newburyport Public Library
K’NEX Club (4th to 6th grade)
If you like to build things and enjoy play-
Boggle Fun!
Play Boggle in the Teen Room!
http://mhlteenroom.tumblr.com/
HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS OCTOBER 24 & 25 AT MASS AUDUBON’S
IPSWICH RIVER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IN TOPSFIELD
Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield will hold its annual
Halloween Happenings for families on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25.
Join us for a safe, non-scary, fun-filled, guided family night walk through the forest to
learn about the creatures of the night. Children and adults are encouraged to come
in costume, but dress warmly as you will be outdoors for about an hour. Allow about
1-1/2 hours total. Recommended for children ages 4-12 accompanied by an adult. The
program begins in the barn with games and activities that will keep you entertained
until your group goes out. Please choose an arrival time: 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45, 7:00,
7:15 and 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will greet participants at the end of the program.
RAIN OR SHINE. Advance registration with payment is required. No walk-ins. FEE: $10
per person (adult or child) ($9/Mass Audubon members). To register, call 978-8879264.
Date / Time:: Friday Oct 24, 2014
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Contact: Clare or Anna
978-623-8401 x 56 ya@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Saturday, October 25
Dads and Donuts
Join us the last Saturday of each month at
10am for a story time targeting Dads and
children
ages 2-5 (although all are welcome). After we share some stories, songs,
rhymes and a
craft we will share some coffee, juice, and donuts. Come for some fun
and friendship! Date / Time:: Saturday Oct
25, 2014 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
MYSTERY FESTIVAL FREE-FOR-ALL
Get into the Halloween spirit! Witness live
creepy crawlies, enjoy (semi) spooky attractions, and take home creative crafts. For
ages 7 and up, examine a “crime scene” and
perform a series of forensic investigations
(e.g., soil sample comparisons, water sampling, chromatography, pH tests, and track
identification) to solve the mystery and
pinpoint the culprit. For ages 2 to 6, there
will be stories and songs, silly and festive
crafts, and a kooky treasure hunt. Family presentations will be offered at 11:00
am and 1:00 pm. Fly in on your broom
for an hour or stay all day for some fun
pre-Halloween family time! Date: Saturday,
October 25, 10 am to 3 pm.
Location: Meet at Joppa Flats Education
Center, One Plum Island Turnpike,
Newburyport. Fee: FREE.
No preregistration required.
Monday, October 27
Halloween String Dolls
Make tiny ghosts, zombies, skeletons, and
other spooky characters from embroidery
floss!http://mhlteenroom.tumblr.com/
Date / Time:: Monday Oct 27, 2014 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM Contact Clare or Anna 978-6238401 x 56 ya@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Teen Craft: Halloween
We are getting into the Halloween Spirit
with this month’s craft! We will be making
a fun Halloween decoration. All materials
will be provided! Open to those in grades 7
and up Date / Time:: Monday Oct 27, 2014
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Contact: Sarah 978686-4080 x 35 nevinsteens@gmail.com
Location: Garden Room
Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen
Sometimes, keeping kids healthy
takes creativity.
Thursday, October 30
All Hallow’s Eve Party for
Teens and Tweens
October 30 | 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Teens and tweens: Join us for Halloween
candy, contests and crafts! This free program will take place in the Children’s Activity Room. Please contact Jessica Hilbun,
Teen Services Librarian, with questions at
978-465-4428 ext. 246 or at
nplteenlibrarian@gmail.com.
Newburyport Public Library
Friday, October 31
Hallowteen Party!
Come to our Hallowteen party! Costumes
encouraged! http://mhlteenroom.tumblr.
com/ Date / Time:: Friday Oct 31, 2014
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Contact: Clare or Anna
978-623-8401 x 56 ya@mhl.org
Memorial Hall Library, Andover
Please send any events you would like
considered for the Calendar of Events to
Editor@merrimackvalleyparent.com
The Cedarland Aquatic Center is offering a FREE Parent ‘n Tot or
Advanced Tot with Parent Lesson
The Cedarland Aquatic Center is offering a FREE Parent ‘n Tot or Advanced Tot with
Parent Lesson now through October 30th. Pick from 2 different times:
Monday at 10 am or Thursday at 10 am. New swim lesson participants only.
These classes provide information and techniques for parents to orient their children
to the water and learn how to safely supervise all water activities. This is a great way
to introduce your child to the water and to help them feel comfortable in the water.
The Parent and Tot class is for children between the ages of 8 months and 2 years old.
The Advance Tot with Parent is for children 2 - 3 years old. All children must be accompanied in the water by a parent or an adult.
Children not toilet trained must wear a swim diaper.
To reserve your spot please contact Stacy Roberts at (978) 521- 7700 or email her at
sroberts@cedardale-health.net
One thing it doesn’t take is a drive to Boston.
When you have a child with an illness, driving to Boston to see a specialist adds extra stress. So, Lawrence General Hospital is
bringing the specialists to you. At The Pediatric Specialty Center – Lawrence, you can see top Boston specialists from Floating
Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, right here, close to home.
NOW OFFERING TOP PEDIATRIC SPECIALTY CARE IN:
• Cardiology
• Developmental and
Behavioral Services
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• General Surgery
• Genetics
• Hematology
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 978-228-5763 OR VISIT TogetherForHealthyKids.com.