About Our Children, May 2014

Useful Information for the Next Generation of Jewish Families
Supplement to The Jewish Standard May 2014

Making Memories for Mothers Day
Recipes, free-gift ideas and more
Best Bets for Birthday Bashes
Spotlight on Autism
ABOUT OUR CHI LDRE N MAY 2014
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Chilton has joined one of the nations top health systems, Atlantic Health System. This means well be expanding
the breadth and scope of services we offer as well as providing seamless access to Morristown Medical Center,
one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation*. And Morristown Medical Center is the home of Gagnon Cardiovascular
Institute, which is in the top 2% of all cardiac programs in the nation. Youll be able to draw on the expertise of
Atlantic Neuroscience Institute at Overlook Medical Center, #1 in NJ for the treatment of stroke and neurological
disorders. Plus you will have access to the full spectrum of pediatric care from Goryeb Childrens Hospital. And
while you will continue to get the same great care from doctors you trust, one thing has changed, our name.
Were now Chilton Medical Center.
With Atlantic Health System behind us,
we have a great future in front of us.
CHILTON HAS JOINED ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM.
97 West Parkway, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
For more information call
1-888-CHILTON
or visit atlantichealth.org/chilton
* Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Gynecology and Geriatrics - U.S. News & World Report
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May 2014
Mothers Day Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Beautiful priceless presents that dont cost
Mothers Day Recipes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Sweet or savory pancakes
Mothers Day Reections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Using the day to think of your own values
Birthday Bashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A plethora of places to celebrate
Jewish Summer Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Good reasons to send your child
Simchas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Celebrating lifes great moments
Our Daughters, Our Selves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Why Barbie is no living doll
Cause Im Happy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Role model the mood for your children
Special Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Focus on autism
Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Pictures of our precious children
Top Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Hot picks for May
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Great things to do this month
3
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I
f you dont use it, you lose it.
A truism when referring to your muscles and your brains, but
your gift certifcates?
When Jeff and I got married 14 years ago, in addition to getting a
great husband, I got several settings of beautiful china (Lenox India pat-
tern, lovely), many generous gifts in the form of checks and a few gift
certifcates to favorite stores.
Im not sure about most peoples shopping habits, but sometimes
these gift certifcates would linger at the bottom of a drawer because,
while I liked the store to which the certifcate belonged, there wasnt
necessarily something I needed or wanted at the time I might be visiting.
And to just use a gift certifcate for the sake of using up the gift cer-
tifcate for something that I just had to buy just because, well, I just had
to buy it, didnt seem like a satisfying shopping experience. (And after
all, shopping is a feeling)
So unused gift certifcates that were stored underneath other draw-
er essentials or non-essentials got forgotten about. Every now and then,
I would think about what I might get from this particular store, The
Judaica House on Cedar Lane in Teaneck. I was working for another
Bergen County newspaper at the time and I would wander into the store
and admire the beautiful books, artwork, ceramics and other items of
Judaica.
Perhaps I should get some art? No.
Perhaps a mezuzah? No.
So without buying anything at the time, the gift certifcate remained
unused.
At one point I thought I should buy a hot water
urn that I could use on Shabbat. It would serve my
guests and us and it would be a ftting wedding gift.
Furnishing a way for our guests that we hosted to
have a nice warm drink on Shabbat.
Nah, advised my friend, Devorah. They get
yucky on the inside and need replacement. Use the
gift certifcate for a sefer, a book for the kids, she
suggested. Again, I never got to the store. Never
purchased anything.
Then it was time for our family to have another simcha.
It was our son, Yehudas bar mitzvah, and as is the fashion for the
bar mitzvah boys, Yehuda wanted to design his own kippah. He wanted
a cool kippah that was ftting for his turning a bar mitzvah.
So we returned to The Judaica House, and Yehuda designed a won-
derful royal blue and yellow yalmulke, with a logo of two lions, the To-
rah and a big letter Y. It was gorgeous.
Remembering that I had the gift certifcate, I thought to bring it
when we went to pick them up. It was so long ago, our wedding. Id
have to wipe the dust off that gift certifcate, but I thought why not try?
When I paid the balance, I presented the gift certifcate to the sales
clerk. This is pretty old, I explained. It was from our wedding. But can I
use it? It was from so long ago, the sales clerk that signed it in 1999 was
no longer working at the store.
To my absolute surprise and delight, not only were they willing to
take it, but they were amused and saw the poetry in that transaction.
What a wonderful use for the gift certifcate.
Better than art. Better than a mezuzah. Even better than a book.
We used our wedding gift for our frst-born sons bar mitzvah. For
his kippah.
It certainly was a gift certifcate that kippahs on giving.
Cheers,
musings from the editor
Dont Miss About Our Children in June
Published on May 23, 2014
Natalie Jay
Advertising Director
Peggy Elias
George Kroll
Karen Nathanson
Janice Rosen
Brenda Sutcliffe
Account Executives
About Our Children is published 11 times a year by the New Jersey/Rockland Jewish Media Group,
1086 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666; telephone: 201-837-8818; fax: 201-833-4959.;
e-mail: AboutOC@aol.com.
OurChildren
About
Rachel Harkham
Yvette Alt Miller
Adina Soclof
Slovie Jungreis-Wolff
Denise Yearian
Contributing Writers
MissionStatement
About Our Children is designed to help Jewish families in our area live healthy, positive lives that make the most of
the resources available to them. By providing useful, current, accurate information, the publication aims to guide par-
ents to essential information on faith, education, the arts, events, and child-raising in short, everything that todays
Jewish family, babies to grandparents, needs to live life to the fullest in northern New Jersey and Rockland County.
James L. Janoff
Publisher
Marcia Garnkle
Associate Publisher
Heidi Mae Bratt
Editor
Deborah Herman
Art Director
AdvisoryBoard
Dr. Annette Berger, Psy.D.
Psychologist, Teaneck
Michelle Brauntuch, MS,CCLS
Child Life Specialist, Englewood Hospital, Englewood
Hope Eliasof
Marriage and Family Therapist, Midland Park
Howard Prager, DC, DACBSP
Holistic Chiropractor, Oakland
Jane Calem Rosen
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Barry Weissman, MD
Pediatrician, Hackensack and Wyckoff
Cheryl Wylen
Director of Adult Programs and Cultural Arts
YM-YWHA of North Jersey, Wayne
OurChildren
About
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Free but Priceless Gifts for Mothers Day
DE NI S E Y E A R I A N
M
otherhood is a 24-hour job with
no pay, no vacation and few
fringe benefts. Fortunately, there
is a day set aside to give mothers the at-
tention and appreciation they deserve.
After asking dozens of moms what they
would like for Mothers Day the answers
were irrefutably the same.
Its not so much what is purchased,
but the gift of I love you through words
and actions, says mother and grand-
mother Ella Catron, local mother and
grandmother.
Karen Kolek, mother of three,
agrees. Anything the kids come up with
for a craft-type memory is well worth the
time, effort, and messiness. These things
go further than any expensive item.
So stash your wallets and start brain-
storming about what would make their
mother feel appreciated and special.
Here are fve no-cost ideas to get you
started.
1. A Family Tree. Show Mom what
a special part of your family she is by
creating a family tree. Find a short tree
branch and place it in a decorated can.
Stabilize the branch with sand, clay or
plaster. Next cut out large leaf shapes
from construction paper. Write the
names of family members on one side
of the leaves and tape or paste photo-
graphs of them to the other side (dont
forget your pets!). If you dont have a pic-
ture of someone, draw it. Punch a hole
through the top of each leaf and thread
a piece of yarn through it. Now tie the
leaves to the tree branches.
2. At Your Service. The gift of ser-
vice is something that keeps on giving.
Talk with family members about the
chores your mother does around the
house. On small strips of paper write
down each job she does, and on the
other side write the name of one family
member who will volunteer to do that
task for her. Continue this until you have
covered all of her responsibilities. Find
an old shoe box, place the strips of pa-
per in it, and wrap it up. Present this to
Mom and in the days to come give her
service with a smile.
3. This is Your Life. Make Mother
feel honored with a special presentation
of This is your Life. Stage the show as
if it were a television special. Have one
person be the show host who interviews
other family members regarding what
they love about Mom. They may also
want to share a story or memory they
have of her. Between interviews, prepare
a special song, poem or other talent in
her honor. Ask Dad to videotape the pro-
gram and your mother will have a keep-
sake for years to come.
4. Queen for the Day. A day of re-
laxation and royalty will make Mom feel
extra special. When she wakes up, greet
her with a homemade crown and tell her
she will be queen for the day. Serve her
favorite breakfast in bed and ask what
she would like to do today. If she needs
a little prompting, suggest a family hike
in the morning, a picnic in the park for
lunch, and a nap in the afternoon. While
she is having down time, wash her car
and fll it up with gas. Make the evening
special with a home-cooked dinner and
movie. During the movie, dote over her
by rubbing her feet, brushing her hair, or
giving her a manicure. Throughout the
day, remind her of how much you love
and appreciate her.
5. Time Alone. Most mothers of
young children have little time for them-
selves. Give Mom the day off to get a
massage, go shopping, or sip coffee with
an old friend. While she is gone, clean
the house, do the grocery shopping,
and prepare a special Best Mom in the
World banner for her arrival home.
Still want to purchase something for
Mothers Day? Here are a few tried-and-
true ideas: fowers, plants, or a tree; per-
fume; jewelry; scarf; bath set; clothing;
CD or DVD; gift certifcate for a massage,
manicure, book, coffee, home clean-
ing service, etc.; tickets to a show; gym
membership.
Denise Yearian is the former editor of two
parenting magazines and the mother of three
children.
OurChildren
About
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For Breakfast or Brunch, Sweet or
Savory Pancakes to Make Mom Smile
RAC HE L HA R K HA M
A
mothers day haiku anagram:
Maybe go out for brunch?
Or make her breakfast-in-bed-
Mom will love these pancakes.
Whether she has a sweet toot, or
is the spicy-savory type, Mom will def-
nitely enjoy a hot plate of pancakes on
Mothers Day especially if she doesnt
have to cook them herself. These reci-
pes serve up two versions of pancakes:
sweet and fruity and spicy and savory.
Both are full of favor.
The Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes with
Berry Conft, are sweet and lemony
and berry juicy. Thick creamy ricotta
is mixed into the batter together with
fresh lemon juice and bright lemon rind.
These fuffy pancakes go to the next level
of luscious when you serve them with a
gorgeous puddle of stovetop berry con-
ft. Garnish with sour cream or whipped
cream if youd like. Its a breakfast treat
any which way.
For later-in-the-day pancakes or for
those who prefer a salty/savory bite, a
batch of Cornmeal Green Chili Pancakes
with Spicy Mango Salsa would be just
right. This recipe is more of a Johnny-
cake than a traditional pancake. The
batter is made from cornmeal and four;
diced green chilies and sharp cheddar
cheese are mixed in for piquant favor.
Fresh, colorful mango salsa offers a juicy
spice, but if you like things on the mild-
er-side, substitute a dash of red pepper
fakes for the diced jalapeno.
This Mothers Day offer Mom a
homemade dish that is as unique and in-
teresting as she is.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
2 to 4 tablespoons canola oil
cup all-purpose our
1 tablespoon baking powder
teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons sugar
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 eggs, room temperature
cup milk
Zest from one large lemon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or about
half a lemon
2 to 4 tablespoons canola oil
1. In a medium sized bowl combine the
our, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
2. In a separate large bowl mix together
ricotta, eggs, milk, lemon zest, and lemon
juice.
3. Pour the our mixture into the wet ingre-
dients and mix until the ingredients are well
combined.
4. Heat canola oil in a frying pan over medi-
um-high heat. When pan is sizzling drop
batter in cup increments onto pan.
5. The pancakes are ready to ip when
small bubbles form on the surface. Repeat
process until batter is all used up. Serve
with Berry Cont.
Makes between 8-10 pancakes
Very Berry Confit
1 cup of fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries
cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
teaspoon potato starch or cornstarch
1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat
combine blueberries and raspberries. Mix in
sugar, lemon juice and potato starch, break-
ing down berries as you stir. Cook for 3 to 4
minutes until a thick and juicy.
Recipe yields approximately 1 cups berry
topping
Rachel Harkham is a recipe developer,
cookbook author and chocolatier. She lives
with her family in Rockland County. Visit
her at www.reciperachel.com
Cornmeal-Green Chili Pancakes
cup cornmeal
cup all-purpose our
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix or 2 tea-
spoons chili powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons corn oil
cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 4 ounces can diced green chilis
2 to 4 tablespoons corn oil
1. In a large sized bowl whisk together
cornmeal, our, baking powder, salt, taco
seasoning mix, sugar.
2. In a medium bowl stir
together egg, milk, corn oil.
Pour into the dry ingredients
and mix ingredients together
until just combined.
3. Fold in the shredded
cheddar and the diced
green chilis.
4. Heat corn oil in a frying
pan over medium-high heat.
When pan is sizzling drop
batter in cup increments
onto pan.
5. The pancakes are ready to
ip when the pancakes sides
pull away from the pan.
Repeat process until batter
is all used up. Serve with
Mango Salsa.
Makes between 8 to 10
pancakes
Mango Salsa
2 ripe mangoes, peeled and
diced into small cubes
6 scallions, white and light
green parts sliced thin
1 red pepper, nely chopped
1 jalapeno, diced or a pinch of red chili akes
Juice of I lime (about 2 tablespoons)
cup white vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste
1. Place ingredients in a medium bowl and
mix well. If you prefer a chunkier consis-
tency leave as is. For a smoother texture,
pulse in a blender or food processor for a
few seconds.
Recipe yields 2 cups
OurChildren
About
7
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Using Mothers Day to
Reect on Your Familys Goals
Y V E T T E A LT MI L L E R
M
others Day gives us a valuable
chance to pause and refect on
our goals for our family life. So
whether youre a mother or not, take
a few minutes to sit quietly and think
about your answers to the following six
questions.
1. What do I want the atmosphere
to be like in my home?
John Lennon famously said life is what
happens while youre making other
plans. Too often, the mood in our homes
is a by-product, what naturally happens
while were busy pursuing other goals.
One of the highest Jewish wishes for a
person is that they should have shalom
bayit, shalom peace in their homes.
Shalom is an absence of strife, a state of
relating to each other with respect and
kindness. But in Hebrew, Shalom means
even more than that. Shalom has a
second meaning as well: it denotes com-
pleteness. When we wish for shalom in
our homes and our families, were asking
for more than a mere cessation of argu-
ments; were asking for a sense of com-
pleteness, a sense of truly knowing one
another.
2. Do we have enough unscripted
time together?
Getting to know other people takes time,
and families are no exception. Yet these
days, time seems like the one commod-
ity were low on. With pressures from
work and from school, not to mention
the constant pressure of staying con-
nected electronically, spending time to-
gether with no outside distractions can
seem like an impossible goal. One place
to start re-thinking our schedules is
mealtimes. A host of studies has shown
that children who eat regularly with their
parents have signifcantly lower rates
of drug and alcohol abuse, earn higher
grades, and have better self-images. The
way in which families eat together seems
to be important too: families that ate
together while watching TV had higher
rates of family tension than those who
conversed during the meal. Judaism also
gives us a weekly formula for the kind of
togetherness associated with healthier
families. Shabbat is a time when families
traditionally tune out of the pressures
of work, school and the like, and turn
inward to focus on each other instead.
Shabbat dinner and other meals can be a
needed break from the thick of the week,
giving us a chance to relax, unwind, have
a live conversation with loved ones and
guests, and even begin to get to know
one another again.
3. What are my familys
spiritual goals?
Many of us arent used to thinking in
terms of spirituality, but each family has
a spiritual part of their life (whether we
use words like spiritual not). Every-
body craves a connection with some-
thing larger than themselves. Children,
especially, wish to make sense of the
world around them. And the ways in
which we choose to live help our fami-
lies come up with their own answers to
the big questions in life.
Do our children see us doing char-
ity? Going out of our way to help others?
Acting with honesty and honor? Are we
showing them that we value our tradi-
tions? That we care for our communities
and turn to them in times of trouble?
That we seek to connect with God? It can
seem daunting to infuence the spiritual
growth of our families, particularly when
many of us havent completely worked
through our own thoughts and feelings
yet. But others are watching our exam-
ples just the same.
A famous Jewish story shows the
awesome power of a Jewish woman. Its
recorded that in ancient times, there was
a righteous Jewish couple. Unfortunate-
ly, they were unable to have children
with each other, so they decided to di-
vorce and seek better fortune with new
spouses. Each of these righteous people
in turn married a very wicked spouse
but their fates were very different. For in
time, the virtuous mans evil wife infu-
enced him to become wicked also. But
the righteous woman gradually induced
her wicked husband to become good
like her. Like this woman, we each have
the power to infuence those around us.
Mothers, especially, are well placed to
display behavior they wish their families
to absorb.
4. What am I going to buy today?
The ideal Jewish woman is good at shop-
ping. This isnt a line out of pop culture,
but a deep observation in Jewish tradi-
tion. Each Friday night, Jews around the
world recite the Woman of Valor prayer
praising the supreme Jewish woman.
The poem, taken from the end of the
biblical Book of Proverbs, describes this
supreme woman as a businesswoman,
making and trading goods from afar. Jew-
ish educator and writer Tziporah Heller
comments on this image. She points
out that each one of us is a merchant,
selecting what things not only goods,
but also ideas and values we wish to
bring home from afar, from outside our
homes. Each of us thus goes shopping
every day. Its our job to be discerning:
to identify and embrace those things
that will strengthen our families, and us
and to have the wisdom to leave the rest.
5. What is my legacy?
Alfred Nobel, a 19th Century Swedish
chemist, invented dynamite. In 1888,
when he was 55, a French newspaper
erroneously published his obituary,
and he was horrifed by what he read.
Death and destruction were his only
legacies.
Nobel decided to change and do
something positive with the rest of his
life. He used is fortune to establish the
Nobel Prize, given in perpetuity to hon-
or advances in sciences, literature and
peace. In 50 years, when our grandchil-
dren tell their own grandchildren about
us, what do we want them to say? Most
of us wont have the shock that Alfred
Nobel did, but we can each heed his ex-
ample and consider what our legacy will
be.
6. What are you grateful for?
Its easy to get caught up in the work
of being part of a family and forget the
joy. Many people feel that in order to be
happy, its easiest to go out: see a mov-
ie, have a meal, to somehow be enter-
tained. Yet researchers fnd that outside
sources of happiness quickly lose their
potency. (Theres even a psychological
term for it: hedonic adaptation.) Instead,
researchers fnd, the quickest way to in-
crease our happiness is to focus on the
good in our lives. Specifcally, psycholo-
gists have found that writing a list of
things were grateful for makes people
signifcantly happier.
Try taking a moment to write down
what were thankful for. Thinking about
our families, our health even the mi-
raculous fact of our very existence can
help us appreciate our families much
more, and enjoy them better too.
Reprinted with permission of Aish.com.
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I
ts that time of year. Birthday party
time. What to do for your little one,
or bigger one? If you want something
more than an at-home soiree with cake
and hats (how old-fashioned is that?),
there are very many local options to give
your child a memorable birthday expe-
rience. Not only can you visit with faux
dinosaurs or bounce on infatables, but
also the best part is that you dont have
any after-party cleanup to handle.
Bounce U in Paramus is party cen-
tral for the 2 to 14-year-old set, says Jon
Horwich, owner of the venue that boasts
several infatables and a host of activi-
ties with the blown-up playthings that
keep the party-goers busy from room to
room.
The kids just love bouncing and
walking on the moon and all the activi-
ties, says Horwich. But what is really
special about our place is that we bend
over backwards for our guests. What re-
ally distinguishes us is our customer ser-
vice. Weve had families that have had 8
or 9 parties with us.
The popular Paramus spot has book-
Birthday Bashes from Prehistoric to Contemporary
trails, a knowledgeable party planner
designated for your group, birthday cup-
cakes, an optional lunch and VIP seating
at one of our two live shows. Every birth-
day boy and girl gets a photo opportunity
with our realistic T-Rex and a special hat
to remember his or her incredible trip
back in time. All guests receive a party fa-
vor as a thank you for sharing this special
day with your child.
The Jewish Center of Teaneck
800 Broad Street, Teaneck, NJ
201-833-0515 ext. 205
www.jcot.org
The JCT Fitness Program provides fun
gym or swim parties for all occasions.
Celebrate a birthday, a bar or bat mitz-
vah, graduation or any other special
event with a memorable or unique party.
Parties take place in the JCT full-sized,
heated indoor pool or sports basketball
court and private party room.
Ice Vault
10 Nevins Drive, Wayne NJ
973-628-1500
www.icevault.com
The Ice Vault offers three fun-flled party
packages. All parties include private par-
ty room, Carvel ice cream cake, food, soft
drinks, invitations and an off ice party
attendant.
Medieval Times Dinner and
Tournament
149 Polito Ave, Lyndhurst, NJ
866-543-9637
www.medievaltimes.com
This dinner theater venue in Lyndhurst is
a rollicking, jousting good time that takes
its audience back to the days of King Ar-
thurs Court. Offering several different
packages. Kosher meals available.
Monster Mini Golf
49 East Midland Ave., Paramus, NJ
201-261-0032
www.monsterminigolf.com
The private party room, once reserved,
is for 1 hour and 30 minutes, followed by
18 holes of Monster Mini Golf.
Tappan Golf Center
116 Route 303
Tappan, NY 10983
845-359-0642
www.clostergolfcenter.com
Have fun with mini-golf, go-karts and bat-
ting cages. Ask for Dorothy for details on
how to make the perfect party.
Birthday Bashes continued on p19
9
AOC-9
Summer Camp that Makes
Judaism Meaningful and Fun
Y V E T T E A LT MI L L E R
O
f all the things we do as a family
each year, sending our children
to Jewish summer camp is one
of the most meaningful. It bolsters our
childrens Jewish identities, strengthens
our familys bonds, and helps all of us to
enjoy our Jewish life more. Not everyone
feels the way we do about Jewish camp,
but I thought it worthwhile to comment
on a few myths Ive heard about the Jew-
ish summer camp experience, and share
the reality weve experienced.
Myth #1
I want my kids to enjoy summer, not
have to learn about religion.
A lot of children spend long hours
each year in Sunday or Hebrew school,
or with a bar- or bat-mitzvah tutor.
Shouldnt summer give them a break
from all that studying?
The beauty of Jewish summer
camps, of course, is that they make Jew-
ish life fun. In fact, for many children
Jewish summer camp is the one time
all year when being Jewish is a joy, not
a burden.
When youre with a group of young-
sters and counselors, all singing along
to beautiful Jewish songs together, it
creates a magical Jewish experience
that has nothing to do with studying or
tutors. When children do fun crafts to-
gether that have a Jewish theme, theyre
learning about their religion in a fresh,
new and non-threatening way.
Summer camp is also a chance for
youngsters to try out fun aspects of Ju-
daism that they might not get to at home.
Most Jewish camps have some sort of
Shabbat celebration, for example. Even
if your own family doesnt always do
Shabbat, summer camp provides chil-
dren with the chance to celebrate Shab-
bat more fully, along with their friends
and counselors, in a fun way.
Sometimes children even bring home
what theyve learned at camp like a
new Shabbat song and teach the rest
of the family. My own children learn a
lot of traditional Jewish stories at their
Jewish camp, and I always enjoy hearing
them when my children come home. Its
a chance to bring a fun new side of Juda-
ism into our family each summer.
Myth #2
Jewish summer camp is too expensive.
This is another complaint I hear a
lot, and theres no one answer. Certainly,
the costs of Jewish summer camps vary
widely. My own childrens Jewish camp
is cheap relative to others in the area,
but I know of others that offer a Cadil-
lac camp service: very fancy, but very
expensive.
Luckily, there are a number of com-
munity initiatives that help to cover the
cost of Jewish camp, particularly for
children who havent attended Jewish
camp before. One place to start looking
(in the United States) is your local Jew-
ish Federation (www.ujc.org). Indepen-
dent programs like the PJ Library (www.
pjlibrary.org) and One Happy Camper
(www.onehappycamper.org) also offer
help with camp costs.
Another option, if you can, is to talk
with grandparents or great grandpar-
ents. Many grandparents would love to
help enhance their grandchildrens Jew-
ish experiences, and some might be will-
ing to help contribute to their grandchil-
drens Jewish camp costs.
Finally, one option for older children
might be to look into being a junior or
a regular camp counselor at a camp
for younger kids. At my own childrens
camp, for instance, a group of teenagers
helps the younger ones with activities
(swimming, going to amusement parks,
crafts, putting on plays, etc.). The coun-
selors get to have a fun summer outside,
with the obvious beneft of being paid to
enjoy the camp experience, rather than
paying.
Myth #3
Jewish summer camp sounds nice, but
my kids are really interested in soccer
(or baseball, or space, etc.).
Many of my friends children have
passions for extracurricular activities
that they love to indulge during the sum-
Daily Catered Hot Lunches
Transportation
Low Camper to Counselor Ratio
Red Cross Instructional Swim
Extended Day Option Available
Arts & Crafts
Archery
Mad Science
Basketball
Cooking
Serving Pre-K
to 10th Grade
CIT Program
Nature
Go Karts
Ropes Course
Soccer
Football
and so
much more!
Announcing Our New
4-Year-Old Program!
Summer Camp continued on p. 10
OurChildren
About
AOC-10
10
mer. But this doesnt mean that theres no room for Jew-
ish camp, too.
One option is to combine sessions: Spend half the
summer at space camp, and the other half at Jewish camp.
Look into Jewish camps, though, and the range of
activities they provide might surprise you. Theatre,
music, swimming, and sports: these are all common at
Jewish camps, but often more esoteric activities such
as gymnastics, rocket building, computers and ballet
are part of Jewish camp schedules, too.
Take a look at some nearby Jewish camps. Talk to
kids whove attended them if you can, or browse the
Internet. The number of Jewish camps is growing year
by year, and there truly is something for everyone.
Finally, take a moment to think of what your kids
will gain from Jewish camp, even if going means they
cant indulge their every specifc hobby. Children often
outgrow particular interests and activities, but they
never outgrow being Jewish. Giving children the gift of
Jewish summer camp means giving Jewish memories
and knowledge that will never leave them, and will en-
rich their whole Jewish lives.
Myth #4
Jewish summer camp isnt for us because were just
not that religious.
Jewish summer camp gives youngsters from all
sorts of homes from the most secular to the most reli-
gious the chance to forge their own Jewish identities.
Away from their homes and parents, kids fnd new
Jewish friends and role models. In a Jewish camp, its
normal to be Jewish, and fun too. Small wonder that
many kids fnd that Jewish summer camp is a welcome
break: a chance each year to live and grow fully in their
Jewish identities. The results pay off. Jews who attend-
ed Jewish camp are more likely to marry other Jews as
adults, more likely to belong to a synagogue, to donate
money to Jewish causes and to identify with Israel.
Reprinted with permission of Aish.com.
Summer Camp continued
OurChildren
About
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4Certied Teachers
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19 Emerson Plaza East, Emerson
(201) 634-8622
Now Registering for Summer Camp Ages 2-9
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Professional instructors with extensive training,
performance and teaching backgrounds
85 Godwin Ave Midland Park, NJ 07432
Rear of Midland Park Shopping Center
201-670-4422 www.misspatti.com
To register and for
detailed camp information
visit our website at
misspatti.com
Mail or bring in your
completed registration form
I. Ages 4, 5, 6 & 7/8
Weeks of July 7 and July 14, Mon-Fri 9:30-12:30
Wonderful quality instruction in ballet, jazz and tap
applicable to each age group. Includes other fun-filled
activities such as crafts, tumbling, hip hop, dance videos
and an endearing end-of-camp week performance.
NYC trip to see Lion King Friday July 18, 2:00pm matinee
performance. Reservations, including round-trip bus
must be made in advance (see website for details)
II. Ages 8/9-17
July 21-August 1, 9:30am-3:15 daily
Variety of popular dance styles...ballet & pointe,
musical theater, jazz, modern, hip hop,
character (folk), ballroom and bollywood.
NYC trip to a hit Broadway Musical.
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August 4-15
Professional training in classical ballet technique and
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Now Accepting Registration for Fall
Classes beginning September 8th
Transitioning Turbulent Teens
The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is hosting Transitioning
the Turbulent Teens to educate parents of youngsters
grades 7 through 9 about major social, emotional and
academic challenges they will face during this transition.
The panel is free and open to the community and will be
held on May 18 from 10 to noon at the Kaplen JCC on the
Palisades, 411 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafy. For information,
call Sara at 201-408-1469 or ssideman@jccotp.org.
PeeWee Pilates
The Valley Hospitals Center for Family Education is
offering PeeWee Pilates, a great way to regain core
strength, pelvis foor control, and get rid of your post-
pregnancy tummy. The program will be held on Friday,
May 2, 23 and 30 from 10:30 11:30 a.m. Held at the
Destination Maternitys Learning Studio, 35 Plaza on
Westbound Route 4, Paramus. To register online, www.
ValleyHealth.com/FamilyEducation. 201-291-6151.
Driving Range
Early Bird Special
6am-12noon Mon-Fri, 6am-10am Sat, Sun, & Hol.
BUY ONE BUCKET, GET ONE FREE!
Tappan Golf Center
116 Route 303 Tappan, NY
845-359-0642
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153 Homans Ave. Closter, NJ
Driving Range & Miniature Golf
AFTER EARLY BIRD: BUY ONE JUMBO GET ONE SMALL FREE
BATTING CAGES
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4 5
AOC-11
11
Bissli
Family Pack
MOHEL
Rabbi Gerald Chirnomas
TRAINED AT & CERTIFIED BY HADASSAH HOSPITAL, JERUSALEM
CERTIFIED BY THE CHIEF RABBINATE OF JERUSALEM
(973) 334-6044
www.rabbichirnomas.com
Bnai mitzvah
NATHAN BARCUS
Nathan Barcus, son of daugh-
ter of Janet and David Barcus
of Woodcliff Lake and brother
of Sophie, 15, and Gillian, 8,
celebrated becoming a bar
mitzvah on April 5 at Temple
Emanuel of the Pascack
Valley in Woodcliff Lake.
JUSTIN BECKER
Justin Becker, son of Shari
and Daniel Becker of Wyckoff
and brother of Zachary and
Matthew, celebrated becom-
ing a bar mitzvah on March
29 at Temple Beth Rishon in
Wyckoff.
ELYSE BELL
Elyse Bell, daughter of Lynda
LiVecchi-Bell and Jeffrey
Bell of Hillsdale and sister of
Jacob, celebrated becom-
ing a bat mitzvah on March
29 at Temple Beth Or in
Washington Township.
HANNAH DELLA FAVE
Hannah Della Fave, daughter
of Geri and Paul Della Fave
of Franklin Lakes, and sister
of Sarah, celebrated becom-
Wyckoff.
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DYLAN DISTELL
Dylan Distell, son of Stacey
and Gary Distell of Cresskill,
mitzvah at Temple Sinai of
Bergen County in Tenay
on March 29. He is the twin
brother of Ryan and older
brother of sister, Sami, 10.
He is the grandson of Susan
Wax, Rochelle and Donald
Greenbaum, and Stephen and
Judith Distell.
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RYAN DISTELL
Ryan Distell, son of Stacey
and Gary Distell of Cresskill,
mitzvah at Temple Sinai of
Bergen County in Tenay
on March 29. He is the twin
brother of Dylan and older
brother of sister, Sami, 10.
He is the grandson of Susan
Wax, Rochelle and Donald
Greenbaum, and Stephen and
Judith Distell.
MATTHEW FISHMAN
Matthew Jacob Fishman,
son of Pamela and Simon
Fishman of Oakland and
brother of Joshua, celebrated
becoming a bar mitzvah
on April 12 at Temple Beth
Rishon in Wyckoff.
AMY GERSHBERG
Amy Gershberg, daughter of
Merrill and Barry Gershberg
of Woodcliff Lake, and sis-
ter of Charlotte, celebrated
becoming a bat mitzvah on
March 22 at Temple Beth Or
in Washington Township.
LILY GREENBERG
Lily Greenberg, daughter of
Abbe Seidman of Teaneck
and Eric Greenberg of
Teaneck and sister of Maya
and Russell, celebrated
April 12 at Temple Emeth in
Teaneck.
ANNA KASMANOFF
Anna Kasmanoff, daughter of
Caryn and Sam Kasmanoff
of Wyckoff and sister of
Nathan and Noah, celebrated
March 22 at Temple Beth
Rishon in Wyckoff. Her
grandparents are the late
Harriet and Marvin Paul of
North Woodmere, N.Y., and
the late Trudy and Norman
Kasmanoff of West Orange.
JARED LAWRENCE
Jared Lawrence, son of Mala
Lawrence of River Vale and
Keith Lawrence of Hillsdale
and brother of Alexis, cele-
brated becoming a bar mitz-
vah on April 12 at Temple
Beth Or in Washington
Township.
JARED LIPSKY
Jared Lipsky, son of Danielle
and David Lipsky of Glen
Rock, celebrated becom-
ing a bar mitzvah on April
5 at Temple Israel and
Jewish Community Center in
Ridgewood.
EMILY LOMBERG
Emily Lomberg, daughter of
Linda and Paul Lomberg of
Wyckoff, and sister of Perri,
celebrated becoming a bat
Beth Rishon in Wyckoff.
ALEXA MILLER
Alexa Miller, daughter of
Karen and Scott Miller of
Tenay and sister of Emma,
Sinai of Bergen County in
Tenay. As a mitzvah proj-
ect, Alexa has been working
with local libraries to donate
American Girl dolls so that
children can lend them out
just like books. She has been
collecting gently used dolls
(and donations to purchase
new dolls) and is organizing
tea parties and other fun
events for local children.
ALYSSA MUSARRA
Alyssa Musarra, daughter
of Liza and James Musarra
of Paramus and sister of
Julie, celebrated becom-
ing a bat mitzvah on April
SHELBY PEARLMAN
Shelby Pearlman, daughter
of Deborah and Joffrey
Pearlman of Woodcliff
Lake and sister of Kyle, 15,
and Alexis, 18, celebrated
April 12 at Temple Emanuel
of the Pascack Valley in
Woodcliff Lake.
EVAN RUDOLF
Evan Rudolf, son of Cindy
and Howard Rudolf of Fair
Simchas
C
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S
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G
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Y

G
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Lawn, celebrated becoming
a bar mitzvah on April 5 at
the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/
Congregation Bnai Israel.
OLIVIA SCHAPIRO
Olivia Schapiro, daughter of
Rachel and Daniel Schapiro of
Ridgewood and sister of Zoe,
Beth Or in Washington
Township.
SARAH STEINBERG
Sarah Steinberg, daugh-
ter of Jamie and George
Steinberg of Westwood and
sister of Rachel, celebrated
April 5 at Temple Beth Or in
MAXWELL URIBE
Maxwell Uribe, son of
Debra and George Uribe
of Woodcliff Lake and twin
brother of Olivia, celebrated
becoming a bar mitzvah on
March 22 at Temple Emanuel
Woodcliff Lake.
OLIVIA URIBE
Olivia Uribe, daughter of
Debra and George Uribe
of Woodcliff Lake, and twin
sister of Maxwell, celebrated
March 22 at Temple Emanuel
Woodcliff Lake.
MADISON YORMARK
Madison Yormark, daughter
of Amy and Brett Yormark
of Franklin Lakes and sister
of Drake, celebrated becom-
ing a bat mitzvah on April
Wyckoff.
JAKE ZAGE
Jake Zage, son of Marcie and
Jeffrey Zage of Franklin Lakes
and brother of Andrew, 23,
and Brian, 20, celebrated
becoming a March 29 at
Barnert Temple in Franklin
Lakes.
SAMANTHA ZAINTZ
Samantha Zaintz, daughter
of Ellen and Glen Zaintz of
Woodcliff Lake and sister of
Charlotte, celebrated becom-
AOC-12
12
Blaming Barbie: Raising Daughters with Self-Esteem
S L OV I E J UNGR E I S - WOL F F
M
any have criticized Barbie for her
super thin, impossible to achieve
fgure that has had a negative ef-
fect on the way girls see their own bod-
ies. Some have even connected Barbie
dolls with eating disorders and girls
poor body image.
Meet the Lammily Doll. Dreamed up
by 25-year-old Pittsburgh artist Nickolay
Lamm, this doll is being described as the
Anti-Barbie. Lamm frst posted his rendi-
tions of what Barbie would look like if
she had an average 19-year-olds body.
The difference between the two fgures
was eye opening and his post went viral.
After getting tons of inquiries, Lamm de-
cided to produce the more realistically
proportioned doll. He raised more than
$400,000 in 10 days, exceeding his goals.
Lamm describes himself as a normal
dude with a laptop who thinks we can
use another option.
Lamm says that he had not thought
about this issue until one day when he
looked at Barbie and thought it looked
weird. I can sometimes feel insecure;
its hard for me to imagine what women
have to go through. Theyre subjected
to much higher beauty standards than
men.
The motto of this new doll is Aver-
age is Beautiful.
As much as I would like to believe
that we are all in agreement when it
comes to the awful pressure girls and
women face with keeping up their body
image, I do wonder how many parents
out there would fnd it easy to say my
daughter is average and average is
beautiful. We have somehow been con-
ditioned to feel that our child must be
special, amazing or awesome. And when
it comes to our girls, there is an increas-
ing focus on how they look and their
physical shape being tied to this feeling
of special. Who would proudly say, My
daughter looks average?
How can we parents help our daugh-
ters discover healthy self-esteem in this
materialistic society that constantly
stresses perfect beauty and size?
Your Daughters Self Worth
We are surrounded by media and fashion
magazines that are obsessed with wom-
ens looks. Magazines track the weight
of celebrities. Ads are constantly telling
us that we can look better if we would
only use this new product. Airbrushing
and Photoshop create distorted images
that our girls aspire to become. And too
often, movies, videos, reality TV shows,
and advertisements all portray women
and girls in a demeaning manner. Body
posture, exposed clothing and facial ex-
pressions do not mirror a woman who
lives with self-dignity and self-worth.
Our girls have come to defne beauty
with impossible body measurements.
Often they end up feeling that that they
just dont measure up. Disregarding
the cost to ones self-image, the heart
and soul that lie within become easily
ignored. The emphasis on the perfect
pose creates a culture where it is hard
to see beyond ones clothing or fgure
to realize the intrinsic value of a human
being.
Too many feel that their self-esteem
is connected to their bodies; they dont
see the treasure that lies within.
While gauging themselves against
these impossible standards, our girls
have neglected to learn the meaning
of true self-worth. Too many feel that
their self-esteem is connected to their
bodies; they dont see the treasure that
lies within. Selfesteem comes when we
value our internal beauty. Its not based
on the size of our waist or how others
think we look. One of the greatest life les-
sons we can teach our daughters is that
their self-worth is based on the unique
role they play in this universe of ours.
Looks can come and go. Attractiveness
is based on the perceptions of others
and has nothing to do with greatness of
character or effort to accomplish and
create goodness. Instead of focusing
on fashion and fgures, we must teach
our daughters to ask themselves these
questions: What have I done to make
a difference in this world? What is
my mission? How have I brought love to
the people in my life? What is my spe-
cial fngerprint that will one day become
my personal legacy? This is about the
identity of our young girls, our tweens
and teens knowing who they are beyond
their outward appearance.
No one can ever negate the acts of
kindness you have accomplished, the
efforts you have exerted, or the feeling
of success after picking yourself up and
trying once again. Sadly, we fnd weekly
stories about celebrities and society
women who seem to have had it all
fashion, beauty, gorgeous homes, and an
incredible social life yet a void remains
and they end up destroying their lives.
Something is missing. It is the inherent
belief that I count. I am vital. I am here
for a higher purpose. This is the defni-
tion of true self-worth.
Girls who possess high self-esteem
are bold and fearless in their beliefs.
They are not afraid to express them-
selves or to side with those who are
not the it girls. They possess a serene
confdence, a spirit that goes beyond a
name brand jacket or pair of expensive
boots. Independent of other peoples
perceptions, girls with high self-esteem
feel secure. These girls see themselves
as a positive force in this world, and no
celebrity or media mes-
sage can strip their
energy away.
Anti-Barbie
As girls grow, their
sense of self-esteem
changes and often de-
clines. Buckling under
Barbie continued on p.19
OurChildren
About
The Lammily Doll
AOC-13
13
studio-info@cresskillperformingarts.com
www.cresskillperformingarts.com
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June 30 - August 29
FENCING CAMP
Weeks of June 23 & August 25
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Dentistry, Infancy thru Adolescence and Special Needs
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Role Modeling Our Way to
Teaching Children to be Happy
A DI NA S OC L OF
H
appiness has become a na-
tional preoccupation. Will
the latest, greatest iGadget
make our children happy? The
biggest birthday bash? The most
expensive gym shoes?
Of course we want our to be
children happy. The question is
how do we give our children the
gift of authentic happiness, hap-
piness that is internal, the kind
of happiness that lasts after the
boredom from the iGadget sets
in, the partys over and the gym
shoes get worn out?
The essential factor wheth-
er or not you will live a happy life
is not based so much on external factors such as wealth
success or fame but on your attitude towards life, to-
wards yourself, towards other people and towards
events and situations, says Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, author
of several books on happiness.
So how do we teach this attitude to our children?
1. Role modeling:
In Martin Seligmans book, The Optimistic Child,
Seligman states the importance of children having good
role models. He feels that parents who are optimistic
are more likely to have children who are optimistic. An
optimistic mindset is key to dealing with adversity in
life. Being able to deal with adversity in positive ways is
one of the keys to true happiness.
Children are watching our every move, so when
parents deal with adversity in positive healthy and fex-
ible ways are actually using their behavior (often un-
knowingly) to teach children these very skills.
Seligman suggests that we should be more con-
scious about it and talk out loud, where our children
can hear us, about our thought process as we deal with
our everyday problems.
For example, lets say the washing machine re-
pairman is late in coming and you need to leave to a
doctors appointment, you can say in earshot of your
children:
This is a really big problem. I have this doctor ap-
pointment, and the repairman was supposed to be here
already. I have a few options. I can call Grandma and
see if she could let the repairman in. I could reschedule
the repairman, but I really need the washing machine
repaired. I could reschedule my doctor appointment,
but thats pretty important too. Let me start by calling
Grandma and then I will work from there.
Speaking in this way gives children a clear picture
of positive thought processes that help us handle our
everyday stresses.
2. Its not going to last forever:
Another key to happiness, according to Seligman, is un-
derstanding that our problems are usually temporary.
Thinking our problems are permanent and insurmount-
able can breed hopelessness and despair.
People who feel their problems are generally transi-
tory, will have an easier time believing that they have
the resources to cope with whatever comes there way.
For example, if you did not get the job you want-
ed, do you tell yourself, I cant
believe it. Something must be
wrong with me. I will never get
any good jobs?
Or do you think that it is
temporary, and think, Thats
too bad. I am pretty upset but
Im not going to let this get me
down. Im going to brush up on
my interviewing skills and make
some more phone calls starting
tomorrow.
How do we teach this con-
cept to our children? Again, the
best way is by role modeling
and talking out loud about your
thought processes:
Gosh, I cant believe my
computer crashed again. This
is crazy! I have to remember that I can get it fxed and
this problem is not going to last forever. If I keep that
in mind, I can think clearly and do what I need to do to
come up with a solution to this problem.
3. Embrace bad moods and let children be sad:
I was meeting with the director of a prestigious pre-
school. We were discussing the content of the parent-
ing workshops I would be presenting. I asked her, What
is the most important problem your parents have with
their kids? She said, Its not so much that they have
problems with their kids, its that they want a quick fx,
they dont know how to just leave their kids alone and
let them be sad when theyre sad, and that their job is
not to make their kids happy all the time. They need to
stop micromanaging their kids feelings.
Its true. As parents we think a childs mood refects
our ability to parent effectively. A happy kid equals
good parents, an unhappy kid equals bad parents.
When we work from this baseline our childrens angry
moods become unbearable. We cannot stand to see our
children distressed or disheartened.
Our job is not to make our kids happy all the time.
Instead we need to remember that all people have low
states and high states, good moods and bad moods.
It is part of the human condition. Our job as parents
is not to make our children happy all the time but to
teach children ways to help themselves manage the in-
evitable ups and downs of life. They need to learn not
to sweat the small stuff through trial and error.
Children need to fnd their own ways to deal with
lifes bumps, and to pursue happiness and satisfaction
in life. It is a very personal journey. Pushing children to
be happy and not letting them be sad robs them of that
opportunity.
It is more helpful if we empathize and name their
feelings and then leave them alone.
Boy you look kind of down. Looks like you had a
rough day. That could be tough. Not getting the toy
that you want can make you feel pretty sad. I can see
how disappointed you are
Just having someone understand your feelings can
be all the help you need.
Adina Soclof, is the director of Parent Outreach for A+
Solutions, facilitating How to Talk so Kids will Listen and
Listen so Kids will Talk workshops as well as workshops
based on Siblings Without Rivalry. Visit her at www.
parentingsimply.com
OurChildren
About
AOC-14
14
Autism Awareness
for Every Month of the Year
HE I DI MA E B RAT T
I
n order to highlight the growing need
for concern and awareness about au-
tism, the Autism Society has marked
April as National Autism Awareness
Month since the 1970s. But every day
is an opportunity to educate the public
about autism and issues within the autism
community. About Our Children turned to
Dr. Lisa Nalven, director of Developmen-
tal Pediatrics and Director of Adoption
Screening and Evaluation Program at the
Kireker Center for Child Development at
Valley Hospital, for her expertise and in-
formation on the matter.
Q: What is autism?
A: Dr. Lisa Nalven: Autism is a disor-
der of brain development and function
that usually presents in the toddler and
preschool years, although in mild cases,
the symptoms may not be obvious until
school age, when increasing demands are
placed on the child. Autism is a label that
is used to describe a recognized pattern
of atypical behaviors. Individuals with
autism have a range of diffculties in the
areas of communication (use and under-
standing of language), socialization (inter-
acting with others) and behaviors (play
skills, atypical behaviors, sensitivities). In
many cases there is a delay in skill, but the
defning feature is an abnormal or atypi-
cal quality to how a child speaks, plays,
and interacts with others. Pragmatics,
the social rules or the how of commu-
nication, is a primary area of diffculty. A
child will have diffculties knowing how
close to stand to someone, modulate eye
contact, take turns in a conversation or
during play.
Q: Who is at risk for autism?
A: The most recent statistics released
by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
for the year 2010 report that the preva-
lence of autism in the United States in 1
in 68 children ages 8 years of age, but the
prevalence can vary greatly depending
on geographic location, gender, and level
of severity. This represents a signifcant
increase over the rates in 2008 and the
reasons remain unclear. We know that we
are identifying more children with milder
cases of autism than in the past. In some
cases, families are moving to areas that
are known to provide good services, but
overall there seems to be a true increase
in the number of cases. Siblings of chil-
dren with a diagnosis are at increased risk
for the diagnosis due to an underlying ge-
netic factor, with a recurrence risk of ap-
proximately 18 percent. Other situations
that are associated with an increased risk
for being diagnosed with autism include
older parental age, premature birth and
certain medications if used during preg-
nancy (e.g. Valproate). In addition, certain
medical/genetic conditions are associ-
ated with higher rates of autism such as
Fragile X, Down syndrome, tuberous scle-
rosis. The exact cause of autism remains
unclear, but genetic and other prenatal
factors with the possibility of environ-
mental triggers which turn on/off autism
related genes continue to be researched.
Q: What does being on the autism
spectrum mean?
A: The DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statis-
tical Manual 5th Edition) was released in
May 2013 and redefned the criteria for
an individual being diagnosed as having
an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In
the prior edition of the DSM, there was
a category of disorders called Pervasive
Developmental Disorders which included
three subtypes: autism, Aspergers syn-
drome, and pervasive developmental dis-
order-not otherwise specifed (PDD-NOS).
These subtypes represented differences
in the severity of symptoms, with autism
being the most severe, PDD-NOS repre-
senting milder symptoms, and Aspergers
identifying a group of individuals with
normal intelligence but atypical behav-
ioral profles. With the DSM 5, the range
of symptoms and severity all come under
one diagnosis called Autism Spectrum
Disorder, and symptoms are described
as being mild, moderate or severe and the
prior subtypes no longer exist.
Q: What are the signs and symptoms
of autism and how and when do they
present?
A: According to the DSM 5 there are
two major domains that are affected in
individuals with autism: social commu-
nication and a pattern of repetitive and/
or atypical behaviors. Research indicates,
that in some cases, signs of autism can
be detected as early as one year of age,
but may be subtle and therefore may not
be noticed until a child is a bit older and
does not meet expected developmental
milestones during the toddler and pre-
school years. There is also a group of
children who are reported to exhibit nor-
mal early development, but somewhere
around 15 to 18 months exhibit a regres-
sion or loss of skills, particularly in the
area of language and social engagement.
Early signs of social communication def-
cits that raise the concern for autism
include, poor eye contact, limited or un-
usual language, absence of pointing to
draw parents attention to something or
to indicate wants. The absence of joint
attention which involves reciprocal play
(playing catch with a ball) and a prefer-
ence for solitary or parallel play in an old-
er child. Older children may have extreme
reactions if they are not frst in line, or
if they lose at a game. In mild cases, a
child may seem shy or socially awkward.
Atypical language patterns may also de-
velop such as echolalia (repeating some
or part of what someone else has said),
scripting (repeating lines from TV shows,
books), or a tendency to label without us-
ing language to communicate. Atypical
behaviors may include lining up objects,
repetitive play, hand fapping, walking
on toes, sensory issues such as an aver-
sion to certain textures, sounds or high
pain tolerance; extreme pickiness with
regard to foods based on color, texture
or smell. Overfocus on shapes, colors,
numbers, letters may be seen in toddlers.
In older children, excessive preoccupa-
tion and knowledge about certain topics
may emerge (Thomas the Train, cars, di-
nosaurs, geography, presidents). http://
www.frstsigns.org/ It is important to rec-
ognize that there are other disorders that
may have overlapping symptoms with au-
tism but still need to be identifed as they
also require intervention (i.e., hearing or
vision loss, or language delay in combina-
tion with anxiety.)
Q: Traditionally, what is the treat-
ment for autism?
A: There are many advertised in-
terventions, but we focus on those that
are evidence based and confrmed to
be effective by well-done research. ABA
or applied behavior analysis has been
shown to be a highly effective teaching
strategy, which starts by breaking tasks/
skills down into smaller steps and reward
each attempt made by the child to do the
skill. Behavioral approaches can also be
used to reduce unwanted behaviors. As
a childs skills develop, the approach ex-
pands and becomes more complex. The
Early Start Denver Model combines ABA
with developmental approaches, such
as speech, occupational therapy and has
been shown to have a signifcant impact.
For older children, the development of
approach social skills (particularly inter-
acting with peers under different situa-
tions) becomes important, and there are
social skills curriculums (e.g. Carol Gray
Social Stories) available. The focus of in-
tervention is social engagement and the
explicit teaching of skills, which the chil-
dren are not learning on their own (inci-
dental learning). There has been a fair bit
of press regarding the role of immuniza-
tion, gluten, dairy, heavy metals, vitamin
defciencys as causes for autism. To date,
none of these have been proven, yet there
are people who promote treatments di-
rected at these causes. There are children
who truly have food allergies, and other
issues that may make them uncomfort-
able or irritable and thus make their be-
havior worse, but this is different that be-
ing the cause of autism.
Q: What sorts of intervention are
helpful and useful? When should a parent
begin intervention?
A: Focusing on engaging a child as
soon as a diagnosis has been made has
been shown to have a signifcant impact
SPECIAL NEEDS
15
AOC-15
on changing a childs developmental tra-
jectory. 20 years ago, we did not provide
intensive early intervention and children
were left to their own course and many
become less engaged and did not develop
skills to be independent. With interven-
tion, we are seeing more children enter-
ing mainstream classes, have less severe
symptoms with skills development and
having much more successful outcomes.
However, there are children, that despite
the best available intervention, who con-
tinue to have signifcant diffculties. In
New Jersey, if you have concerns about
any aspect of your childs development,
the following resources are available for
an initial evaluation and intervention ser-
vices for children who qualify:
1: For children under the age of 3
years can be obtained by calling Early In-
tervention/Special Child Health Services
at 888-653-4463.
2. For children ages 3 years t and old-
er, the Child Study Team can be contacted
through your school districts board of
education offce.
Autism Starts Here: What Families
Need to Know is an excellent resources
that can be down loaded for free from
Autism New Jerseys website http://www.
autismnj.org/document.doc?id=23) This
publication summarizes early signs, diag-
nosis, interventions, and resources
Q: Are there any cutting edge treat-
ments that are on the horizon for autism?
A: Current research is looking at
medications that target specifc receptors
in the brain that are responsible for neu-
ron development and function. The role
of autoimmune functions is also being
explored. Ongoing research uses highly
specialized imaging studies of the brain
that look at microarchitecture and brain
function during different activities are
helping to understand which parts of the
brain are developing and working differ-
ently. Identifying specifc genes and gene
combinations that play a role in the devel-
opment of autism is also an active area of
research.
Q: What is the role of a developmen-
tal pediatrician and when should a parent
seek out such a specialist?
A: Developmental pediatricians re-
ceive their initial training in general pedi-
atrics and then additional training in de-
velopmental/behavioral pediatrics and/
or neurodevelopmental disabilities and
are board certifed physicians in these
area of specialty. (certifcation status can
be checked at www.abp.org) Develop-
mental Pediatricians evaluate children
who either demonstrate developmental
differences (such as a child with autism)
or who at risk for developmental issues
because of their prior history (e.g., pre-
mature birth, diagnosis of Down Syn-
drome) Developmental Pediatricians can
be consulted any time there is a concern
about a childs development. As part
of the consultation, the physician will
evaluate the childs entire developmental
profle in order to determine the childs
strengths and weaknesses. Is there only
language delay or are there other con-
cerns, such as atypical behaviors that are
seen in autism? Does the child have low
muscle tone or other motor abnormali-
ties consistent with cerebral palsy and
therefore is exhibit delays in mastering
motor skills? Other area of expertise in-
clude diagnosing learning disabilities or
ADHD in a school age child, intellectual
disabilities, and syndromes that impact
a childs development. Once there is an
understanding of what the childs devel-
opmental/behavioral issues, the next
step is trying to determine if there is an
identifable cause for the childs diffcul-
ties. Further evaluations may include vi-
sion and hearing evaluations, blood work
including genetic tests, and in some cases
and MRI of the brain or other specialized
studies. The physician may also recom-
mend more detailed testing of skills by an
occupational therapist, speech/language
therapist, school psychologist or other
professionals. In addition, making recom-
mendations for the types of therapeutic
and educational interventions is key as
is monitoring the childs progress and
helping families to identify appropriate
resources in the community that will sup-
port their childs development.
Autism Awareness
for Every Month of the Year
each attempt made by the child to do the
skill. Behavioral approaches can also be
used to reduce unwanted behaviors. As
a childs skills develop, the approach ex-
pands and becomes more complex. The
Early Start Denver Model combines ABA
with developmental approaches, such
as speech, occupational therapy and has
been shown to have a signifcant impact.
For older children, the development of
approach social skills (particularly inter-
acting with peers under different situa-
tions) becomes important, and there are
social skills curriculums (e.g. Carol Gray
Social Stories) available. The focus of in-
tervention is social engagement and the
explicit teaching of skills, which the chil-
dren are not learning on their own (inci-
dental learning). There has been a fair bit
of press regarding the role of immuniza-
tion, gluten, dairy, heavy metals, vitamin
defciencys as causes for autism. To date,
none of these have been proven, yet there
are people who promote treatments di-
rected at these causes. There are children
who truly have food allergies, and other
issues that may make them uncomfort-
able or irritable and thus make their be-
havior worse, but this is different that be-
ing the cause of autism.
Q: What sorts of intervention are
helpful and useful? When should a parent
begin intervention?
A: Focusing on engaging a child as
soon as a diagnosis has been made has
been shown to have a signifcant impact
SPECIAL NEEDS
How to Know if You Need to Go
to the Emergency Room
Children fall down, scrape their knees,
catch viruses, and run fevers all the time.
So can you distinguish a minor injury or
illness from a true medical emergency
that warrants a trip to the emergency
room?
A lot depends on how your child
looks and behaves, says Dr. John McG-
real, pediatric emergency medicine physi-
cian at The Valley Hospital Bolger Emer-
gency Departments pediatric ER.
For example, Is she drinking and act-
ing like her happy, lively self? Is he run-
ning around? Or, is she listless, grumpy,
and refusing to drink? Is he out of breath,
moping, and sitting on the couch? he
asks.
Common medical emergencies in-
clude high fevers, ingestion of a foreign
object or poison, and broken bones.
If your baby is newborn to 3 months
old and has a rectal temperature of 100.4
degrees or above, contact your pediatri-
cian or come to the ER for an evaluation.
For children older than 3 months, the de-
gree of the fever tends to be less impor-
tant than the childs general appearance.
See if your child will take some sips
of water or other liquid that does not con-
tain sugar, says McGreal. Seek medical
care if your child is also vomiting and ex-
periencing persistent diarrhea, because
children can become dehydrated very
quickly.
Refrain from offering anything to eat
or drink if your child has ingested a for-
eign object, such as a button, screw, or
coin; adult medications; too much of any
kind of medication (even a small overdose
of acetaminophen can result in liver dam-
age); or a liquid that could be poisonous.
If you have an old bottle of syrup of
ipecac in your medicine cabinet, throw it
out, says Peter Lee, M.D., director of Val-
leys pediatric ER, of the liquid that was
once prescribed to induce vomiting. Do
not try to get the child to throw anything
up. Call the Poison Control Center hotline
at 1-800-222-1222, contact your pediatri-
cian, or jump in the car and get to the ER.
Bone and joint injuries can be hard
for parents to evaluate and may require
an exam by an ER doctor or orthopedist.
Because childrens bones continue
to grow until they are about 17 years old
and are more fexible than adult bones, an
injury that appears minor in a child can
actually be major, says McGreal. The
only sure way to know if a bone is broken
is to evaluate it clinically and on an X-ray.
If a child can bear weight on an in-
jured leg or use an injured arm, rest and
putting ice on the injured area are rea-
sonable frst-aid measures, notes Dr. Lee.
However, if the pain persists, or the child
cant bear weight on the extremity, or the
injured area swells quickly and signif-
cantly, its time to seek medical care, he
adds.
Should you hold off giving your sick
child medication to ease the pain or fever
until you get to an ER?
No, says McGreal. One dose of
acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help the
child become more comfortable will not
affect the childs treatment in most cases,
unless surgery is required.
All head injuries should be reported
to your pediatrician, say Drs. Lee and Mc-
Greal. Loss of consciousness, vomiting,
and trouble walking are three sure signs
that your childs head injury requires a
physicians evaluation. Close observa-
tion is imperative, of course. If you are
unsure of what to do, contact your childs
pediatrician.
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AOC-16*
16
1. Nineteen students from The Elisabeth
Morrow School (EMS) won regional awards
in the 2014 Scholastic Art and Writing
competition. Each year, more than 250,000
art and writing pieces are submitted by
seventh through twelfth grade students
across the country, Canada, and U.S. schools
abroad. EMS students won with three art
and 16 writing submissions, and one of the
four regional Gold Key award winners, Claire
Fink of Cresskill, New Jersey, won a National
Gold Medal for her personal essay/memoir
Braving Fear. Historically, the national gold
medal winners represent the top 1 percent of
entries.
2. Ben Porat Yosef third graders visited the
New York Botanical Gardens on Wednesday,
April 9th, in conjunction with their study of
desert and rain forest plant adaptations. The
students were guided by Ben Porat Yosefs
science specialist, Jean Myers.
3. Jordana Braverman and Alison Stiel,
residents of West Orange, currently studying
at Midreshet AMIT in Jerusalem, recently
participated in the Jerusalem Marathon.
Jordana and Alison were members of Team
AMIT, which raised more than $16,000 for
the children of AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled.
Beit Hayeled, located in the Gilo section of
Jerusalem, is a home to 110 children, ages
5 to 15, in foster care. The young women
who attend Midreshet AMIT, which is a post
high school program, live on the Beit Hayeled
campus. They both engage in advanced
Judaic studies and serve as big sisters to
the children living at Beit Hayeled.
4. Lubavitch on the Palisades Elementary
School Science Day was a big hit. Students
were assigned groups and stations based on
interest and ability. There were 9 stations
set up around the elementary school and
students were able to visit four stations. I
liked science day because I learned things
I never knew and I had fun. I liked the
static electricity station the most. I learned
that your hair can spike up when you walk
with socks on a rug, said 3rd grader Ariel
Hakimian.
5. Glen Rock Jewish Center Gimel students
had a mock trip to Israel This photo imagines
them on a plane to Israel. They would then
experience customs, visiting a kibbutz,
bargaining in the shuk and tasting Israeli
foods. For information about Glen Rock
Jewish Centers Hebrew School, contact
officegrjc.org or 201-652-6624.
6. Glen Rock Jewish Center Hebrew Schools
Daled Class Shtetl and Sephardic Jewish
Fair. Glen Rock Jewish Centers Daled class
recreated the feeling of shtetl lifestyle and
enjoyed delicious Eastern European and
Sephardic foods on March 23.
7. Youngsters from the School of Dance at
the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly
entertained seniors at the Jewish Home
Assisted Living in River Vale, recently.
Eighteen girls, ages 6 to 13, performed a
variety of jazz, hip hop and tap dances for
the residents.
8. The Kitah Hey class at Temple Emanuels
Religious School recently welcomed some
residents of the Jewish Home Assisted Living
in River Vale for a model Passover seder. The
seder was led by teachers Beth Held and Amy
Wolk. Rabbi Benjamin Shull also participated
in the event. Pictured are the Hey students
from Woodcliff Lake, Upper Saddle River,
River Vale and their guests. A wonderful
afternoon was enjoyed by all.
9. Ben Porat Yosef Kindergarten students
learn experientially about how grapes must
be squashed in order to make the grape juice
for the four cups of grape juice that they will
drink at the family seder on Pesach. Shown
here, a group of children removed their shoes
and socks and did their best squishing.
1 2
4
7 8
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17
OurChildren
About
TopChoices
M A Y 2 0 1 4
COMP I L E D BY HE I DI MA E B RAT T
AOC-17
Art Blossons
at bergenPAC
Check out the 11th Annual YCS Blossoms Art Exhibit, which has become a much-
anticipated tradition at bergenPAC in Englewood. This years show, displaying the work
of special needs students in grades K through 12 in Bergen, Hudson and Essex counties
Youth Consultation Services
schools, promises to be diverse
and inspirational. Much of the
work includes Inca-inspired
metal embossed masks,
Impressionist painting, Peruvian
and Tlingit-inspired weaving,
Colonial American yarn dolls
and more. The show will be
on view during the month of
May in the mezzanine. Bergen
Performing Arts Center,
30 North Van Brunt St.,
Englewood.
Special Delivery:
Best Baby Shower Ever
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is helping expectant moms prepare for baby
by delivering a day of fun and education with The Best Baby Shower Ever, now in its
8th year. This popular and free event on May 10 offers complimentary consultations
with board-certied pediatricians and maternity staff, an opportunity to meet with
top baby product vendors, special activities for dads-to-be, pre-natal tness demos,
rafes, giveaways, refreshments and more. Last years shower drew more than 200
participants. Saturday, May 10, 2 to 4 p.m. Englewood Hospital and Medical Center,
The Ferolie Gallery, 350 Engle St., Englewood. 866-980-34-62, www.englewood-
hospital.com.
Sweets for the
Sweetest: Mothers Day
Chocolate Program
What could be sweeter for mom than a mothers
day chocolate program? Treat the mothers in your
life to something delicious this year a chocolate
tasting that features tasty tidbits and bite-sized
facts about Jews and chocolate. The program fea-
tures Rabbi Deborah
R. Prinz, author of On
the Chocolate Trail: A
Delicious Adventure
Connecting Jews,
Religions, History, Travel,
Rituals to the Magic of
Cacao. Sunday, May 11,
2:30 p.m. The Museum
of Jewish Heritage:
A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, Edmond
J. Safra Plaza 36 Battery Place, New York, NY
(646) 437-4202, www.mjhnyc.org.
Dinosaurs Wake Up
Secaucus this Memorial Day
Get ready for the Jersey Jurassic
adventure as Field Station: Dinosaurs
reopens to the public Memorial Day
weekend for its third season. Families
can enjoy 32 life-sized animatronic
dinosaurs as well as interactive shows
starring a 15-foot juvenile T-Rex,
game shows to test your dinosaur
knowledge, a dig site, the 3D movie
Dinosaurs Alive! and other activi-
ties throughout the day. There are
also hands-on workshops, created
with paleontologists and scientists at
the New Jersey State Museum. Field
Station: Dinosaurs 1 Dinosaur Way,
Secaucus, 855-999-9010,
www.eldstationdinosaurs.com.
To Our Readers: To Our Readers: This calendar is a day-by-day schedule of events. Although all information is as timely as we can make it, its a
good idea to call to verify details before you go.
To Add Your Event to Our Calendar
Send it to:
Calendar Editor
About Our Children
New Jersey/Rockland Jewish Media Group
1086 Teaneck Road
Teaneck, NJ 0766 AboutOCaol.com
or fax it to: 201-833-4959
Deadline for Summer issue (published May 23):
Tuesday, May 14
Saturday, April 26
Teddy Bear Clinic: The Valley Hospital Volunteer
Department is offering a free education for
children ages 3 to 8 years old to learn through
medical play, childrens crafts and tour an ambu-
lance how things work. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The
Valley Hospital Terrace. 201-447-8138, teddy-
bearclinic@valleyhealth.com.
Sunday, April 27
Open House: Temple Beth Tikvah, 950
Preakness Ave., Wayne, hosts open house 10:30
am to 12:30 p.m. Families with children pre-K to
3rd grade can stop by to learn what Temple Beth
Tikvah and its Religious School have to offer. This
event is free and open to the community. 973-
628-5504.
Yom HaShoah at the JCC: Commemoration at
7 p.m. with keynote speaker Herbert Kolb, a sur-
vivor of the Theresienstadt Concentration camp.
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 E. Clinton Ave.,
Tenay. 201-408-1426.
Kids in Action: Chabad of Passaic County will
hold its monthly program focusing on the ve
senses and the eyes to see a good world. Join
and visit Israel, make Israeli food and watch a lm
about the countrys history. 1 to 2:30 p.m. $10
per child. The Chabad Center, 194 Ratzer Road,
Wayne. 973-694-6274.
Monday, April 28
Wear Your Pajamas Day: The Gerrard Berman
Day School, Solomon Schechter of North Jersey
invites children ages 3 to 5 to a Russian bedtime
story hour and craft before bed. Springtime story
in Russian and craft before bed. To register, Susan
Scher, 201-337-1111, gbds@ssnj.org. The Little
Academies at GBDS, 45 Spruce St., Oakland.
Thursday, May 1
Fancy Nancy Tea Party: Calling all Fancy Nancy
fans! Kids K-3rd Grade are cordially invited to a
Fancy Nancy Tea Party. At 3:30 p.m. Wear your
best and well do the rest. RSVP by pre-register-
ing in the Childrens Room. Johnson Public Library,
274 Main St., 201-343-4169 to pre-register.
Story Time in Closter: Temple Beth El invites
nursery school-age children to story time with
school director, Abbe Rosner, 4:30 p.m. Open to
the community. RSVP nsdir@tbenv.org or 201-
768- 3726. Temple Beth El 221 Schraalenburgh
Road, Closter.
Friday, May 2
Tot Shabbat in Closter: Temple Beth El hosts
Tot Shabbat led by Rabbi David S. Widzer and
Canter Rica Timman, which starts at 5:15 p.m.
Tot Shabbat is open to all nursery school age
children and features song, stories, and crafts.
An optional Shabbat dinner follows at 5:45 pm.
Open to everyone. 221 Schraalenburgh Road,
Closter. RSVP for dinner, 201-768-5112.
Temple Emeth Family Worship: Shabbat ser-
vices for the family starting at 7:30 p.m. Temple
Emeth, 1666 Windsor Road, Teaneck. 201-833-
1322, www.emeth.org.
Saturday, May 3
Healthy Kids Day: The Wayne YMCA holds its
2
nd
annual event from 11 to 2 p.m. Free and
open to the community. Activities include climb-
ing wall, swim, zumba, gym games. There will be
plenty of giveaways. The Y is located at 1 Pike
Drive in Wayne.
Sunday, May 4
Fit Run: Benet Rutgers Hillel Israel Advocacy
with this Fit 5K run/Walk. Registration is ongoing.
All proceeds for the run, which will take place in
Buccleuch Park, New Brunswick, will go directly to
funding Israel programming at Rutgers University
Hillel. For information, Diana Diner at Rutgers
Hillel, 732-545-2407, Diana@rutgershillel.org.
Randy Kaplan in Concert: Blending her
American roots, Delta blues, ragtime and
quirky lyrics, this musician entertains families
at 2 p.m. at the Jewish Museum. Tickets, $18
adults, $13 per child. The Jewish Museum, 1109
Fifth Ave., Manhattan. 212-423-3337, www.
thejewishmuseum.org.
Open House: Temple Avodat Shaloms Religious
School will house an open house from 9:30 to
10:30 a.m. where parents and children will be
able to observe classes for students age 3 to
grade 12, meet the rabbis, cantor and teach-
ers and see the synagogue. 120 Sylvan Ave.,
Englewood Cliffs, 201-947-6900, ext. 274.
Ghetto Tango: The National Yiddish Theater-
Folksbiene presents Ghetto Tango with artistic
director Zalmen Mlotek and singers Daniella
Rabbani and Avram Mlotek. 2:30 p.m. $20, $15
museum and Folksbiene members. The Museum
of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the
Holocaust, Edmond J. Safra Plaza, 36 Battery
Place, New York. 646-437-4202, www.mjhnyc.org.
Monday, May 5
Robotics at the Library: Learn to create func-
tional robots from simple household items. For
students grades 4 through 6. Pre-registration
required. Johnson Public Library, 274 Main St.,
201-343-4169 to pre-register.
Tuesday, May 6
Israels Independence Day at the Wayne Y:
Celebrate Yom Haatzmaut from 4 to 6 p.m. with
a tour of Israel, craft making, eating an Israeli din-
ner at the Tel Aviv Caf and enjoy birthday cake.
Free event is open to all in the community. The Y,
1 Pike Drive, Wayne.
Wednesday, May 8
Meet & Greet: Brunch for Family Support
Organization of Bergen County celebration
Childrens Mental Health Week. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30
p.m., pizza dinner 4 to 6 p.m. For more informa-
tion and to RSVP Danielle, 201-796-6209 x107,
dc@fsobergen.org.
Saturday, May 10
Tot Shabbat at Temple Emeth: Bring your chil-
dren to the bimah while Cantor Tilum and Rabbi
Sirbu lead in song and story. 9:30 a.m. Services
followed by a bagels brunch. Temple Emeth, 166
Windsor Road, Teaneck. 201-833-1322, www.
emeth.org.
Best Baby Shower Ever: Englewood Hospital and
Medical Center is helping expectant moms pre-
pare for baby by delivering a day of fun and edu-
cation. Come to Englewood Hospital and Medical
Centers Ferolie Gallery, 350 Engle St., Englewood
from 2 to 4 p.m. for free and complimentary con-
sultations. Registration, 866-980-3462.
Sunday, May 11
How sweet it is: Mothers Day Program with
author Rabbi Deborah R. Prinz, who penned
On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure
Connecting Jews Religions, History, Travel Rituals
and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao. 2:30 p.m.
sample tasty tidbits of chocolate and bite sized
facts about Jews and chocolate. $5, free for
members. The Museum of Jewish Heritage: A
Living Memorial to the Holocaust, Edmond J. Safra
Plaza, 36 Battery Place, New York. 646-437-
4202, www.mjhnyc.org.
Monday, May 12
Magic Tree House Discussion Book: Join and
read and discuss another book in this series.
Grades 1 to 3. 3:30 p.m. Johnson Public Library,
274 Main St., 201-343-4169 to pre-register.
Thursday, May 15
Arts and Crafts: For grades 2 and up. 3:30 p.m.
Johnson Public Library, 274 Main St., 201-343-
4169 to pre-register.
Friday, May 16
Musical Shabbat at Temple Emeth: Sing and
dance to the joy of Shabbat music starting at 8
p.m. Temple Emeth, 166 Windsor Road, Teaneck.
201-833-1322, www.emeth.org.
Tot Shabbat in Franklin Lakes: Service and pizza
dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Barnert Temple,
747 Route 208 South, Franklin Lakes. For more
information, 201-848-1800. Visit our Web site at
www.barnerttemple.org.
Sunday, May 18
Lag BOmer BBQ: PJ Library and the Bergen
County YJCC invite families with children 2 to 6
to a Family Field Day and BBQ from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. at the YJCC, 605 Pascack Road, Township
of Washington. Carnival games, sports and story
time. RSVPs requested. $5 per person, $20 per
family. 201-666-6610.
Summer Youth and Teen Show Auditions:
Auditions for shows Godspell, Jr. for ages 5 to 13
from 2 to 4 p.m. For Avenue Q (school edition)
for ages 13-18 will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. call
the Ys Cultural Arts Director, Meryl Budnick, to
reserve a timeslot, 973-595-0100 ext. 257. The
Y, 1 Pike Drive, Wayne. 973-595-0100, www.
wayneymca.org.
Monday, May 19
Murder Mystery: A body has been found! Egads!
Who done it? Search for clues by asking charac-
ters throughout the library for forensic clues to
solve this crime! Grades 4-6. 3:30 p.m. Johnson
Public Library, 274 Main St., 201-343-4169 to
pre-register.
Wednesday, May 21
Volunteer Appreciation Evening: The Friendship
Circle hosts its annual event 7 to 8:30 p.m.
at the Chabad Center of Passaic County, 194
Ratzer Road, Wayne. Featured speaker is Richard
Bernstein, an attorney, blind since birth and an
advocate for disabled rights. $18 per guest. To
RSVP, email chaya@fcpassaiccounty.com or call/
text 973 694 6274. www.fcpassaiccounty.com.
Thursday, May 22
Beatles Hit the Library: When the Fab Four
appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show 50 years ago,
they made history. Liverpool musician Kenny
Cunningham will serenade the audience at 7 p.m.
in celebration. Johnson Public Library, 274 Main
St., 201-343-4169 to pre-register.
Lego Day: Calling all future architects and dream-
ers. Have fun making buildings and see what
works. Second grade and up. 3:30 p.m. Johnson
Public Library, 274 Main St., 201-343-4169 to
pre-register.
Thursday, May 29
Story Time in Closter: Temple Beth El invites
nursery school-age children to story time with
school director, Abbe Rosner, 4:30 p.m. Open to
the community. RSVP nsdir@tbenv.org or 201-
768- 3726. Temple Beth El 221 Schraalenburgh
Road, Closter.
Friday, May 30
Tot Shabbat in Closter: Temple Beth El hosts
Tot Shabbat led by Rabbi David S. Widzer and
Canter Rica Timman, which starts at 5:15 p.m. Tot
Shabbat is open to all nursery school age children
and features song, stories, and crafts. An optional
Shabbat dinner follows at 5:45 pm. Open to
everyone. 221 Schraalenburgh Road, Closter.
RSVP for dinner, 201-768-5112.
DaybyDay
AOC-18
OurChildren
About
M A Y
The Good Life With Kids
18
See Teddy Bear Clinic, Saturday, April 26
See Lego Day, Thursday, May 22
Sunday, April 27
Open House: Temple Beth Tikvah, 950 Preakness
Ave., Wayne, hosts open house 10:30 am to 12:30 p.m.
Families with children pre-K to 3rd grade can stop by to
learn what Temple Beth Tikvah and its Religious School
have to offer. This event is free and open to the commu-
nity. 973-628-5504.
19
AOC-19
PARTY
973-661-9368
societys pressure can bring our daugh-
ters to see themselves in an unhealthy
light. Among 5th to 12th grade girls, 59
percent surveyed were unhappy with
their body shape. 47 percent in the
same survey admitted that they wanted
to lose weight because of magazine pho-
tos. By age 15, girls are twice as likely as
boys to become depressed. Too many
children grow into adulthood having
suffered from anorexia, bulimia and
binging-sometimes never conquering
their eating disorder. Yo-yo dieting be-
comes a way of life.
Can a Barbie doll be held partially
responsible?
According to Mattels spokeswom-
an, Kim Culmone, Barbie is not the prob-
lem. She feels that the infuence on these
Barbie continued
issues of body image comes from peers,
moms, parents and social circles.
While psychologist have differing
views when it comes to the negative im-
pact toys can have on developing chil-
dren, we can certainly decide to take a
stand with our kids and try to make sure
that we are giving them a positive mes-
sage about their selfworth. Mothers es-
pecially have tremendous infuence on a
daughters body image. When a mother
looks at her daughter with a judgmental
eye or comments on weight and size-
even complaining about her own fgure,
she is becoming part of the problem.
What We Can Do
Be a positive role model. Try not to be
obsessed with talk about fashion, di-
eting, and criticizing your own body.
Remember that your daughter is listen-
ing to your words and sees the world
through your eyes. Show your child that
you are happy with who you are.
Dont nag about the pounds. If you
have a concern about your daughters
(or sons weight) stress the importance
of health and ftness instead. Get your
family moving. Be active in a fun way.
Play a sport, go bike riding, take up an
active hobby together instead of singling
out one child to go do exercise that feels
like a punishment. Keep healthy foods
and snacks around.
Watch your praise. Do you praise
your daughter solely for her looks? Have
you forgotten to focus on her character
and efforts? This includes dads too! Girls
need fathers who offer emotional sup-
port and who are present as a positive
voice in their lives.
Most importantly, encourage your
daughter to see the great power she has
to accomplish good in this world. Help
her feel vital. Discover the power of pas-
sion for a cause. Teach her, as Judaism so
wisely teaches us, that the real beauty of
a woman lies deep within. We walk with
dignity. We are called the daughters of
the King and our ever day refects the
majesty of our soul.
True beauty cannot be defned by
a doll or a perfect dress size. It is the
wonder of recognizing who we are and
the joy of fnally realizing that we are,
indeed, each beautiful, created in the im-
age of God.
Slovie Jungreis-Wolff is a parenting coach
and author of Raising a Child with Soul
(St. Martins Press).
Reprinted with permission of Aish.com
PeeWee Pilates
The Valley Hospitals Center for Family
Education is offering PeeWee Pilates, a
great way to regain core strength, pelvis
foor control, and get rid of your post-
pregnancy tummy. The program will be
held on Friday, May 2, 23 and 30 from
10:30 11:30 a.m. Held at the Destination
Maternitys Learning Studio, 35 Plaza on
Westbound Route 4, Paramus. To regis-
ter online, www.ValleyHealth.com/Fami-
lyEducation. 201-291-6151.
CATS Audition at bergenPAC
BergenPACs Performing Arts School is taking it to the next level with CATS. If
you are 13-25 years old and have a passion for musical theater then this is where
you want to be this summer. Auditions will take place Sunday, April 27, 4 p.m.-
8 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, 12 p.m.-7 p.m.; and Wednesday, May 28, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
All auditions will take place at The Performing Arts School located at 1 Depot
Square. Accompanist will be provided. Please make an audition appointment with
Arlene 201-482-8373 or by emailing education@bergenPAC.org. Those audition-
ing should prepare (1) Song from the show CATS & (1) additional Song from an
Andrew Lloyd Webber Show (not from CATS). Please prepare a monologue one
minute or less in length. Bring dance clothes as you will be asked to dance.
Help Send Cancer-Stricken
Children to a Broadway Show
For the past three summers, Miss Pattis
School of Dance has sponsored a trip
to Manhattan for children with cancer
to dine at Johns Pizzeria and to see a
Broadway show. Last years trip to see
Cinderella was a great event for the
children and their families. For many of
the youngsters, it was their frst Broad-
way show. This years choice, Lion
King, is already being met with great
anticipation. Given the cost to fund the
trip, Julie Dance is seeking donations
from our dance school community.
Donations can be made at the dance
school or at the dance recital where a
Julie Dance table will be set up. Please
forward donations to: Julie Dance, 85
Godwin Ave, Midland Park, NJ 07432 or
call Darryl Vigon 201-670-4422.
OurChildren
About
ings for parties sometimes two to three
months in advance, Horwich says.
An up-roar-ious time is in store for
celebrants at the recently opened Field
Station: Dinosaurs in Secaucus. But you
have to have a birthday, or at least cel-
ebrate it, during the season in which the
part flled with prehistoric animatronics
is opened, from May 24, Memorial Day
to Nov. 2, says Lynn Schreur, director
of marketing. Packages include the Cre-
taceous Celebration, with VIP seating
to the show and a photo opportunity
with T-Rex, to the Fossil Fete, another
popular package. If you cant make it to
Secaucus, no worries. Off-season, Field
Station: Dinosaurs offers a T-Rex Trou-
badour, who will come to the house for
either 45 or 60 minutes and play guitar
while he educates party-goers on the
prehistoric facts.
For dance or yoga or acting or arts
and crafts fans, Cresskill Performing
Arts will whip up any party that will be
both creative and fun, says owner Betsy
Daly. Birthday parties galore are for the
making her at this diverse arts studio
which offers everything from all kinds of
dance parties to yoga parties to acting
and theater games to arts and crafts par-
ties. Most parties are at their Cresskill
location. The studio will accommodate
kosher partiers with kosher food or
bring-your-own. Cresskill Performing
Arts hosts parties for youngsters from
three to teenagers.
For the good sport, the Jewish Cen-
ter of Teaneck provides fun gym or swim
parties for all occasions. Celebrate a
birthday, a bar or bat mitzvah, gradu-
ation or any other special event with a
memorable or unique party. Parties take
place in the centers full-sized, heated in-
door pool or sports basketball court and
private party room.
Ice skating fans can glide anytime of
the year The Ice Vault in Wayne, which
offers three fun-flled party packages.
All parties include private party room,
Carvel ice cream cake, food, soft drinks,
invitations and an off ice party attendant.
For golf and go-kart fun, the Tappan
Golf Center in Tappan, N.Y., lets the birth-
day boy or girl celebrate in style with
mini-golf, go-karts and batting cages.
At Medieval Times, this dinner the-
ater venue in Lyndhurst is a rollicking,
jousting good time that takes its audi-
ence back to the days of King Arthurs
Court. Offering several different pack-
ages from the Kings Royalty Package to
the Celebration package, participants
can get goodies along with their dinner
and theater. Partnering with kosher ca-
tering, Medieval Times is able to provide
a kosher meal to its customers
At Monster Mini Golf, guests get to
plan 18 holes of Monster Mini Golf in a
glow-in-the-dark arena as part of their
celebration.
Heidi Mae Bratt is the editor of About Our
Children.
Birthday Bashes continued on p19
AOC-20
20
THE PEDIATRIC ER
ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT
WE ARE HERE
FOR YOUR KIDS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Children become ill at all hours of the day and night. Thats why
The Valley Hospital is keeping its Pediatric Emergency Room open
around the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Pediatric
Emergency Room offers young patients a soothing environment in which
to be evaluated and treated. It is equipped with appropriate pediatric technology
and is situated away from the adult treatment areas.
SERVI CES I NCLUDE:
I
Board-certified pediatricians with expertise in
pediatric emergency medicine.
I
Separate pediatric waiting areas and treatment rooms.
I
Full roster of consultants.
I
Lab tests, X-rays, CAT scans, MRI, and ultrasound
are available.
The Pediatric ER
For more information visit www.ValleyHealth.com.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recipient of the J.D. Power and Associates
Distinguished Hospital Award
for Emergency Services Excellence
VH Pediatric ER Ad_11x14 1/14/14 1:59 PM Page 1

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Useful Information for the Next Generation of Jewish Families

Supplement to The Jewish Standard May 2014

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