How to Choose a Summer Camp

There are many reasons why you should send your child to camp this summer.  It may be as simple as needing a good daycare option, or maybe you want your child to put down the iPad and gain some new experiences or friendships.

Campers enjoy splashing in the pond at Hale Reservation.  Photo by Eve Elizondo.

Whatever your reason, camp is a smart choice.  Summer camp has been proven to increase a child's sense of independence and confidence, while also enhancing social skills as children learn to explore a new environment with their peers.  In addition, camps often provide the physical exercise and outlet that children so rarely get these days.  However, with over 12,000 summer camps across the country, how do you know which camp to choose?  Here are a few things to think about when deciding which camp is right for your child.

WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAM IS A GOOD FIT?

Begin by asking yourself a few basic questions like:

• Do I want a rustic, outdoor camp with trekking and exploration of nature?
• Do I want something indoors with a clean, polished campus feel? 
• Am I ready for my child to spend the night away for a week or two at a residential camp?
• Do I want to hear about the day camp experience each night at the dinner table? 

After deciding on a type of program, consider a few more questions about activities, staff, and whether the camp is licensed and accredited.

WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITIES WILL BE OFFERED?

Ask yourself why you are sending your child to camp.  Do you want your child to have a traditional camp experience, or do you want your child to be the next Serena Williams or David Beckham?  Do you want your son to come home having learned how to swim or make a layup?  Do you want your daughter to explore an artistic side, or learn about robotics?

In the wide world of camp, there are both specialty camps which can help your child develop a skill, and traditional camps which offer a more well-rounded summer experience.  Either way, your child will be stepping out from under your umbrella and experiencing something on his or her own.

This is how to play Gaga Ball.  Photo by Eve Elizondo.

WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT THE STAFF?

You would not leave your child with the bagger at the grocery store without a thorough background check.  Camp should be no different.  Make sure that the camp you choose completes a criminal background check on all of their employees before they begin working.  Find out what certifications the counselors and instructors have.  All staff at camp should be at least CPR and First Aid certified.

Ask about staff to camper ratios.  If your child is in a very large group overseen by one staffer, it could be time to find another camp.  In general, the younger the campers are, the more supervision they should have.  A quality camp will make sure that your child is supervised by qualified, attentive staffers who will not be distracted by too many other children.

For a day camp, transportation is a very important component that you will probably have to deal with every day.  Find out what are the pick-up and drop-off times and where are the bus stops.   Ask the camp if it offers transportation.  You may need to pay extra for transportation, or some camps will provide transportation free of charge.  In the end, you need to figure out how much your time is worth.  The last thing you want is to be late for work because of the wait in line to drop off your child.

Campers take a break on a long hike.  Photo by Eve Elizondo.

IS THIS CAMP LICENSED AND ACCREDITED?

The camp that you choose should at the very least be licensed, meaning that the town or state is verifying that the staff is qualified to watch children, and that the camp is a safe place.

If you want to make sure the camp has been evaluated by experts in the field, choose a camp that is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA).  This guarantees that the camp is held to high standards.  The staff of an ACA camp will be trained for a minimum of 40 hours, compared to other camps that may have little to no training requirement.  All camp staffers are certified.  The staff to camper ratios will be reasonable and ACA camps are visited regularly by ACA officials.

You have already made the first, hard decision just by choosing to send your child to camp.  Now, it's time to figure out which camp is the best fit for you and your family, and then watch your child bloom.

About the Author
Shannon Obey has been the Director of Membership and Events at Hale Reservation for the past four years.  Hale offers a wide variety of summer camp experiences from Traditional Camp to Specialty Camps, and a Family Membership Program.


EDITOR'S NOTE:  Parent Talk's 4th Annual Summer Camp Fair will be held Tuesday, January 26, 2016, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Newman Elementary School Cafeteria.  With representatives of 40 camps expected (including Hale Day Camp, Exxcell Gymnastics & Climbing, LINX Camps, Nobles Day Camp, and Summer at Tobin Beaudet) and available to answer your questions, there is a good chance that your family will find a perfect fit.  All attendees will have a chance to win prizes, including camp certificates and one week of free LINX Camps.  Parent Talk members attend for free; nonmembers pay $10.  Advance registration is not required.  The snow date is February 2, 2016.

Giving Thanks for My Parent Talk Village

"It takes a village to raise a child." - African proverb

My babies, Kiera and Padraig, in 2011.  Photo credit: J+R Photography 

I remember when the first wave of panic set in. My husband told me that he had a five day work trip right after we closed on our new Needham home. Images of eight-month pregnant me, sitting defeated on our living room couch next to our 21-month-old daughter, surrounded by countless unpacked moving boxes, filled my mind. Thankfully, my godmother from New Jersey swooped to the rescue and stayed with us that first week and helped me unpack. But it made me wonder, what had we done? Why did we move away from our village in New Jersey?

Moving had never been an issue for me before. I moved from Singapore to Illinois for college, then to New Jersey upon graduation, and then to Massachusetts for my husband’s work. But the move of merely 9.1 miles with 1.5 kids, from the South End in Boston to Needham, was terrifying. Aside from a few of my husband’s colleagues, we did not know anyone (or, technically speaking, I did not know anyone). Yes, people comforted me with, "You will meet people when your kids are in school." But how was I going to survive being isolated in the suburbs for the next three years before our firstborn entered kindergarten?

“You need to join Parent Talk,” my husband’s colleague’s wife stated matter-of-factly. So I did.

The 2-year-olds from our playgroup with friends, nicknamed the "Bigs," at Spooky Walk in 2011.

It was a slow introduction to Parent Talk, just because getting out of the house with two kids (a 2-year-old and an infant) by myself was almost impossible. So, as a start, we attended PT's family events (e.g., Frosty’s Festival, Story Time with Elmo) to maintain the critical one-to-one adult to kid ratio. Then, we graduated to the PT parenting lectures which gave us a few more tools to add to our parenting toolbox. And the YMCA discount for Parent Talk members was phenomenal! It pretty much made up for the membership fee, assuming we made it to the gym. And then we hit the jackpot -- Playgroup.

We were arbitrarily assigned to one of several playgroups based on our daughter’s age. This meant that we were coming into a playgroup that had started two years ago, and had grown to include 20 to 30 families. Not intimidating, right? But after I sent the initial awkward email introduction about our family, there was an immediate response. "Hello. Welcome to our playgroup. Like you, we are all in the trenches. It does get easier. We meet at the Playspace or Perry Park every Friday morning. Join us."

The "Bigs" a few years later with younger siblings, the "Littles," at Spooky Walk. in 2015.

The relief I felt was palpable. No pressure to host others, no pressure to attend every playgroup gathering. Come as you are, when you can. After my kids and I got into the swing of these weekly Friday playdates, an interesting thing happened. These were not just playdates for my kids, they became my playdates too.  

What an incredible group of moms, dads, caregivers and kids -- generous, kind, fun, creative, organized, intelligent, and honest. This group was a source for vacation ideas, contractor recommendations, recipe swaps, and sharing parenting ups and downs. This was group parenting at its best, as we exchanged candid and valuable information. We worked at Parent Talk Sales together, attended family events (Memorial Day Picnic at DeFazio Park, Spooky Walk), volunteered for meal trains, socialized at Moms’ Nights Out (and Away!), and there were even a few poker nights for dads. Through life’s best and worst moments, we have been there to support each other.

Mom's Night Away, Portland, Maine, 2015.

It has been a little over four years since our family moved to Needham. We honestly thought we would head back to New Jersey when the appropriate job opportunity for my husband came up in the New York or New Jersey area. The PT playgroup changed that trajectory. Our playgroup has morphed into our extended family. My husband and I no longer feel the need to move. We know in our hearts that Needham is home and this is where our family can grow roots. And it all started with Parent Talk.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful to Parent Talk for helping me build my village.

About the author

Joyce McCafferty is an unexpected stay-at-home Needham mom. She is so glad that her husband chose to relocate to Needham because that one choice set into motion so many wonderful events


EDITOR'S NOTE: This Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect time to take a moment to consider and share all of the things we are thankful for. If you have your own story of gratitude for the Parent Talk village, an experience, PT's offerings, events, or anything else, please share it with us with the Comments section below. Or join us on on Facebook and Twitter, beginning your story with "I am thankful to Parent Talk for . . . " and tag it with #Thankful4PT.

Flicks on the Field -- Free Screening of The Incredibles

Parent Talk is hosting its annual Flicks on the Field this weekend. Thanks to the YMCA for sponsoring this event!

Source

Bring lawn chairs, blanket, picnic, and of course, the little ones to watch The Incredibles for free at Memorial Field in front of Needham High School on Saturday, August 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 pm.  Come dressed as your favorite super hero! There will be activities and concessions beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the movie begins at sundown, around 7:45 p.m.  There is also an opportunity to volunteer at this event.  Rain date is Sunday, August 23, 2015. 

Play Space and Party Room Spruced Up and Available to Rent

A Parent Talk membership affords us with great community building opportunities and unites us as families with a common goal: to raise happy, healthy children while having fun and making friends in the process. You may already be taking advantage of the Yahoo message board to find a great painter/plumber/daycare etc. Maybe you have even been to one of the organized events like the trip this past week to Drumlin Farm, but did you know that we have a beautiful, large, clean space that you can rent for your next Halloween/birthday/playgroup or holiday gathering? It is down the hall from the Dover play space and just underwent a major face lift. As a ParentTalk member you can rent out the play space as well as the room next to it for a nominal fee. 

The newly tiled floors will make clean-up a snap!

The play space is an 1800 square foot indoor space at the Caryl Community Center in Dover, three miles from Needham Center. It is made for children age 5 and under to play, and features age appropriate toys and play structures to engage children's imaginations. The party room was renovated this summer, and the playspace is undergoing a big toy clean-out and replenishing in the next month. If you haven't been, now is the time to check it out in person to see all the changes.

The room next to the play space is room #215, and you are able to have food and drinks in this location. The space has been freshly painted, has a newly tiled floor, a wall to wall blackboard and windows! Bring your decorations and entertainment, or let the children play in the play space and move into the party room for cake. Tables and chairs are provided, and the room can hold parties both large and small. 

The blackboard provides a blank slate for your decorating ideas

At $75 for the rental the price cannot be beat. The play space is available for private rentals on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and only you and your guests will be able to access it during your event. There is even an Elmo costume available to rent for $30! 

To see when Parent Talk play space and party room are occupied click here

If you are interested in booking your party, please go to this page for further instructions.

Dates are booking fast for this fall, so don't wait and book yours today!

About the author:

About the Author:

Betsy Deitte is the Play Space Party Rental Coordinator. She and her family moved to the Broadmeadow are of Needham in 2012. Betsy is a former nurse who hung up her scrubs to take care of her three most important charges: Elise, age 4, Annabel age 2, and Elliot age 1.

Is your child’s class peanut-free? How to Host Playdates and Parties with Food-Allergic Friends

You may have noticed signs posted at eateries, “Inform the server if you have food allergies,” the bold fonts listing common allergens below the ingredients’ labels, and cautionary statements on packaging such as, “This product may contain traces of peanut, tree nuts and soy.”  Perhaps you have had to read these labels because of school and/or camp restrictions on foods from home.  For families with food allergies, these are daily, required reading assignments to keep their child(ren) safe.  Families with newly discovered food allergies have many questions.  They can feel overwhelmed and terrified, wondering what to feed their child, how to be an advocate, and how to deal with social situations involving food, and so forth.  So what can you do?  You can become well-educated about food allergies to keep all kids healthy, happy and safe.

The Parents of Children with Food Allergies, a support group affiliated with Parent Talk, was created about 5 years ago with the goal of helping families deal with food allergies in everyday life.  Currently, there are more than thirty (30) families in the group, with a range of children’s ages from newborn to preteen, and more join their membership every month.  This group meets regularly and shares life experiences -- doctor recommendations, recipes, school and camp options, travel/resort tips, party and play date advice, dining experiences, and so forth.  If requested, parents new to food allergies can be paired up with a family experienced in dealing with similar allergies.

                We asked the group, “What do you, as parents of food allergic kids, wish that other parents knew?”  There were many responses, with the most common being the feeling of huge appreciation for the friends and family in their lives who make it a priority to be supportive and educated.  In addition, there were a few repeating responses concerning common social situations that we have paraphrased below: 

1.  Willingness to use an Epi-Pen Injector:  “As my child gets older, there will be play dates at other kid’s houses without me.  There will even be sleepovers.  I am going to do my utmost to make it easy and safe.  But in the end, you are taking responsibility for my child.”  For our kids, there must be an adult at that social situation willing to learn how to administer an Epi-Pen Injector, and call 911 if an emergency arises.  If the adult isn’t comfortable with needles or using the Epi-Pen Injector, it’s really important to admit it.  Honestly, we appreciate your honesty!  We’ll work with you to find other ways to have safe play dates. 

2.  At Social Gatherings like Birthday Parties:   Parents of children with food allergies will call or email prior to the social gatherings, letting you know that their child(ren) have food allergies.  They let you know, “I will bring their Epi-Pen Injector and a special ‘treat’ and/or safe snack to eat in place of whatever is being provided.  I’ll teach you how to use the Epi-Pen Injector or stay for the celebration.”  When you get these calls, please don’t take offense or feel that you should offer to find/bake an allergen-free treat.  We, and our children, are calling ahead and bringing safe snacks because we want the focus of the party to be on your birthday boy/girl.  It is your child’s moment “to shine.”  By providing a treat that we absolutely know is safe assures that everyone’s memories of the party will be about the party and your child, not about our children going by ambulance to the Emergency Room.

3.   It’s Emotional as well as Physical:  Food allergies aren’t just a physical issue, but they can cause emotional issues for children.  Please be sensitive.  This is most likely a lifelong condition.   As one family put it, people shouldn't ask, “Oh dear, but he/she will grow out of it, right?” in front of the child.  It’s rare for food allergies to be outgrown, and children need to accept their limitations, while not feeling diminished because of them.  But please, don’t hesitate to ask parents privately about their child’s food allergies.  Parents of children with food allergies willingly answer questions, because the more people learn about food allergies, then the safer the world becomes for their children.  As the saying goes, knowledge is power.

4.  Be like everyone else – be described as something else first:  Children with food allergies do not want is to be defined or labeled by their food allergies.  You know Little Johnny, he’s the food allergy kid.  Their parents want their children to have as typical a childhood as possible, for their children to be safe, yet enjoyed and befriended for their personalities.  

                The number of children being born with food allergies, or who develop food allergies later in childhood, grows every day.  For great more great information about food allergies and how you can help, please visit www.foodallergy.org  and www.asthmaandallergies.org.

 Contributed by: Cindy Aswad, Christine Burns, and The Parents of Children with Food Allergies Group.


Christine Burns lives in the Boston area with her husband and their three children.  A former teacher, she earned a B.A. in English eons ago from Colby College, as well as a M.A. from Simmons College and a M.Ed. from Lesley University.  She is an active member of Parents of Children with Food Allergies.  

One Mom’s Journey: A Lesson in Love, Life, and Loss

Written by Jodi Rooney

The fairytale starts here…

When I signed up to be a mom, I signed up for the fairytale version. I wanted an uneventful pregnancy, a quick natural childbirth, a typical stay in the hospital, baby next to me the entire time. What I got was quite different. If you ask me now, if I knew then what I know now, would I still have become a mom, the answer is an unequivocal YES. But honestly, I would have done certain things a bit differently.

The fairytale started in 2005, when we were actively trying to conceive. It only took two months and we had ourselves a “bun in the oven.” The typical symptoms of pregnancy took hold and the first three months were filled with varying emotions and nausea. The next six months were wonderful. My once girly figure gave way to a beautiful bump that I wouldn’t trade for the world. Ending my 37th week, I awoke in full labor. The baby was coming and there was nothing I could do. Six hours later my little girl was under the bright lights of the delivery room, being checked to ensure she was unaffected by a meconium-filled sac. Deep breath, she was ok.

A day and a half later, the “not what I had expected” started. My daughter was admitted to the NICU for observation for fear of dehydration and some possible obscure genetic defect. All ended well, and my daughter came home after a 2-day NICU stay – happy and healthy. We were a little worse for wear, but we had our beautiful daughter.

Fast forward to 18 months later (2007). Pregnant again. Bring on the extreme morning sickness, twice as bad as my first. I told myself I can get through it all, I really can. We were going to have 2 kids, just like we planned. I was happy. January 2008’s ultrasound confirmed differently. We were going to add not one, but two kids to our current family dynamic.

Secretly, I always wanted to have twins. There was something so unique about it. Though it had a rocky start, my fairytale was going to continue. Shocked when we heard the news from the ultrasound technician, I was also very excited. What follows is NOT what was supposed to happen. It changed my life forever and the reason why I became involved in Parent Talk’s Caring Committee, the March of Dimes, and partnering with another Parent Talk mom to start a Pre-, Peri-, and Neo-natal Loss Yahoo! Group.

The fairytale ends here…

Two months after finding out the big news, I was placed on bed rest for premature thinning of my cervix. Two weeks later – five days after my daughter turned two – I was rushed to Brigham and Women’s for what was to be an emergency c-section to deliver my sons at 25 weeks and two days gestation. For me, I was delivered into my own personal hell. I couldn’t even image what my husband was going through at the time, watching as all this played out in front of him.

My sons, later learned to be identical, laid still in the NICU weighing in at 1 pound, 15 ounces each. Hooked up to an unimaginable number of tubes and wires, they were no longer in the safe haven of my belly. I was no longer in control.

Doctors, nurses, tests, and more tests – the first two days after the birth were a war zone. We were dodging the bullets of extreme prematurity. But it wouldn’t last long. The mother of all bombs exploded right in front of our faces. We were told that Baby B (second of the boys to be born, and whom we named Brendan) had a Grade 4 brain bleed, perforated lungs, and a failing heart. Chances of survival were slim. Quality of life if he did survive? Very poor. Two parents faced with a decision no parent should ever have to make. I won’t go into any of the extreme details of how we knew what decision to make, but we trusted our hearts. On Brendan’s fourth day of life we held our baby boy until he took his last breath. At that moment, the normal in my life was no longer. I was faced with grieving for my lost son and the trials of helping my other son survive the next few months all the while ensuring my 2-year-old was getting what she needed.

“It takes a village…” comes to mind at this moment. If not for the support system we had created since moving to the area, we would not have weathered this storm as well as we did. Enter in family, friends, and Parent Talk. Food was delivered to our door, gift cards for local restaurants around the hospital were sent to us in the mail, and an outpouring of love and prayer from all we knew (and didn’t know). It was about two months into this new journey that I realized I needed to do something positive with this horrifying experience.

The fairytale is rewritten…

After 100 days in two NICUs and almost a year of isolation (for fear of RSV or other illnesses that could be transmitted to my son, Leo), I was able to really start processing all that had happened. I was able to ask myself: “How could I best give back to the community that has helped my family,” “What can I do to help others in similar situations,” and “What can I do with the resources I currently have to make a small difference in the lives of others.” The answers came to me very easily. The answers even helped me to see that I need not do this alone. My resilient family can be a part of this too. What better way to teach my children the gift of giving then by getting them involved in the cause.

Parent Talk Caring Committee

It was a friend who got the ball rolling and involved Parent Talk’s Caring Committee in supporting our family. At first it was only to help while I was on bed rest and maybe after the boys were born. I figured I would be out of commission for a few weeks and then everything would go back to “normal.” Little did I know a few weeks turned into a few months and nothing was normal about it. Through the use of a website, dinners were delivered to our door two to three times a week for more than two months. It was a blessing not to have to think about dinner when I was spending most of my day in the NICU with my son. Once back on my feet, I joined the committee and volunteer to provide meals to others who could use a little love during a stressful time. To join the committee, visit Lotsahelpinghands.

March of Dimes, March for Babies

I used to think “folic acid” when I thought of the March of Dimes (MOD). In college I participated in “Walk America” as a community project for my sorority. Little did I know that MOD would one day save my son’s life.

In Leo’s case, the MOD gave him the drug surfactant to strengthen his undeveloped lungs. In other cases, the MOD gives babies: the PKU test (an inherited condition that can cause mental retardation if left untreated); testing for over 40 inborn metabolic disorders; a newborn hearing screening; access to a NICU; and access to sonograms and ultrasounds, an innovation pioneered by March of Dimes.

On May 12, 2012 my family will participate in our fourth walk together and I am thrilled to help lead a group of families to walk in the name of Parent Talk. Click here to join the team.

Pre-, Peri-, Neo-natal Loss Group

We are out there, but we blend in with our surroundings. Our pain is hidden deep in our hearts. Our losses are unique, yet we all have lost a future we held near and dear to our hearts. We talk about our loss only when we feel it is safe to do so and with those who are truly willing to hear our pain. We look for the comfort of knowing we are not alone. The first few days in the NICU after Brendan’s death, I truly thought I was alone. It took weeks to learn that I was not. There are many in Parent Talk who have faced miscarriage, stillbirth, and newborn death, whether it be a singleton or multiples. Parent Talk has established an online Yahoo group for those who have experienced a pre-, peri- or neo-natal loss or for those who know someone who has experienced a loss and want to learn more about how they can support the family. To learn more or join the group, visit us here.

The somewhat “Happily ever after”…

It will be four years this April since the start of this unexpected journey my family has taken. For most of my life I was a believer that things do happen for a reason, we just need to wait it out, whether it takes days, months, or years, until the reason presents itself. I lost that belief when the boys were born and Brendan was taken from me. How could his death and such an early birth have any purpose in my life? It was just cruel and unjust. Four years later, I can say that the early birth and death has given my life new meaning and direction. It has opened doors I never saw myself walking through. And I am grateful. Grateful for the new friends I have met, the grieving parents I have supported, and the idea that I can make a difference, even a small one, in the life of another person.

To help reach our fundraising goal of $3,000, Parent Talk, a Needham-based non-profit organization, is combining forces every Tuesday in April with Not Your Average Joes Needham to fundraise for Parent Talk’s March for Babies team. Patrons who eat at or take out from Not Your Average Joes in Needham, and show Parent Talk’s March for Babies flyer, will have 15% of their bill donated to the team. The printable flyer is located at www.scribd.com/doc/87740193/NYACause-ParentTalk

 

Join forces with Parent Talk and help support the March of Dimes by eating at or taking out from Not Your Average Joes Needham on any Tuesday in April. And don’t forget to print and bring the team flyer with you in order for Parent Talk’s team to earn 15% of your bill. To make a direct donation to Parent Talk’s March for Babies team, visit:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1709809.

Help me raise research funds to prevent prematurity.

 www.marchforbabies.org/jodirooney

 Join the Parent Talk Team Today: http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1709809

Jodi Rooney lives in Needham with her husband, 2 living children, and guardian angel. Jodi is an active member in Parent Talk and a member of the NICU Parent Advisory Group at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is also a member of Newton Wellesley’s Planning Committee for their yearly HEAL service – a remembrance service for families who have lost a baby.