Archives for October 2019

Community Education Council 31 President and former NYPD Lieutenant Michael Reilly weighs in on the new app sweeping the nation.

You may have seen adults and kids alike moving aimlessly around our parks and other public places., looking down at their smart phones. Many of them are probably playing the new interactive game known as Pokemon Go.

The game places virtual Pokemon in public locations using geo-locations, which are map coordinates that can be tracked like Google maps. The Pokemon are strategically placed in Parks, amusement attractions, museums, and other prominent public locations. The object of the game is to find as many Pokemon as possible and catch them by pointing your smart phone at them.

While on our recent family vacation to Orlando, Florida, my son was engulfed in the Pokemon Go craze. He was circling our resort and met a young worker playing Pokemon Go in between transporting guests in his golf cart. The pair joined forces and traveled the complex searching for the characters. While visiting Universal Studios, we discovered there were several hundred Pokemon across the park. We even observed a Universal Studios crew member playing as we left the park at closing.

So when you see kids and adults walking with their heads down glued to their phones, they are probably searching the area for the illustrious little virtual critters. The game was introduced in the United States in early July and has spread like wildfire. On a positive note it has moved gamers from the couch to the outdoors, logging multiple miles while walking to find Pokemon.

Although it is getting people moving, it does present some danger. There have been several reports of people falling in ditches, suffering foot and leg injuries as they walk around searching for the Pokemon. There have even been instances of people playing while bicycling and driving. Unfortunately, this has the potential to make our roads even more dangerous.

CRIME IMPACT

As we recently read about in Missouri, colliding virtual gaming with the real world can provide a prime opportunity for the criminal element. Some teenagers have used the opportunity to commit robberies at gunpoint on unsuspecting victims arriving at desolate public places to retrieve the Pokemon.

Sadly, this new game may open a new opportunity for pedophiles to seek out young victims. There is a segment of the game that allows a player to create a “Gym” which places several Pokemon in the same location to lure participants to the location with hopes of catching a large number of Pokemon at once.

The internet and social media have presented many challenges for parents. We must continually remind our children not to agree to meet strangers they interact with online because they may not be who they appear to be. This new real world interactive gaming is no different. We must remain vigilant and discuss the potential hazards.

Talk to your kids and remind them to always be aware of their surroundings, especially when playing the virtual treasure hunt game.

By Community Education Council 31 President Michael Reilly.

Here are, according to Moviefone, twenty five titles of kid-friendly flicks that are sure to be a hit with the entire family:

The LEGO Movie (2014)
Chicken Run (2000)
Elf (2003)
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Big (1988)
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
E.T. (1982)
Up (2009)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
The Sound of Music (1965)
Home Alone (1990)
Annie (1982)
Harry Potter Franchise (2001)
The Princess Bride (1987)
WALL-E (2008)
Babe (1995)
Frozen (2013)
Mary Poppins (1964)
The Lion King (1994)
Toy Story (1995)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Allowing Enrichment Activities Without Adding Stress

Every parent wants their child to be well-rounded and develop additional talents beyond excelling academically, and after school enrichment programs can be the answer.

Whether you are considering sports, theater, or martial arts, or music, ballet, or art lessons for your youngster, experts say everything from scheduling and to financial commitments can help make the selection easier.

The most important criteria for determining a child’s activity is their age, according to several experts we spoke with recently.

The best age to introduce drama and theatre is kindergarten at age five or six, according to Nicole Hermansen, who runs a theater group at four Island schools, called “Standing Ovation Players.”

Even at that young age, students can learn the basic terminology of a stage production, while vocal lessons should be introduced at around age eight, she noted.

“We have found that the best timing for scheduling classes with kids is directly after school or on Saturday mornings,” she explained.

“The skill level of each child determines their work load,” according to Ms. Hermansen, who runs her company with Fiona Gannon at St. Teresa’s School, St. Joseph Hill Academy, Our Lady of Good Counsel, and P.S 38.

Magi Kapllani, owner and director of DEA Music & Art School, recommends elementary school children take individualized lessons once a week for 30 minutes.

“They can add more classes depending on their skills and grade level,” Kapllani said. Trial classes can help them decide which instrument is best for them, she added. “This will give them a real feel to see how it works,” Mrs. Kapllani noted.

Diane Bush, owner of Dance, Dance, Dance in West Brighton, also suggests a monthly trial.

Three-year-olds should maintain one class for 60-90 min. weekly as to not overwhelm them, especially if they suffer from separation anxiety, according to Ms. Bush, who has owned and operated the school with her sister, Karen, for 32 years.

Older dancers can take an average of two and a half to three hours of instruction a week, while dancers on the competition team put in six to eight hours a week.

“Dance is something that takes years to master — it’s not an instant gratification sport,” Ms. Bush explained. “It takes years to mold the body a certain way.”

Dance and martial arts are two of the enrichment programs the experts here say can give students invaluable life skills.

“It’s a real confidence booster,” Ms. Bush said of dance.

Joanne McKernan, a Great Kills resident, said her son, Peter, 13, found a love of Tae Kwon Do at the age of seven after taking a few trial classes and is now awaiting promotion to third-degree black belt.

“I feel this type of training helped him focus, it helped him with his self esteem, it helped his maturity level, Mrs. McKernan added.

A $140 monthly fee allows Peter McKernan to attend twice a week — and the option of a Saturday class, a schedule he has juggled successfully over the years as his mom felt it was flexible enough not to interfere with his academics, and the tuition was affordable.

Many of the enrichment programs offer monthly or quarterly payment plans to make it economical for parents — especially if they have more than one child, or more than one program.

Martial arts can be the right choice for students who want to learn discipline, character, respect, and courage, according to Shihan Carmel Sorrento, owner of Legend Karate in Midland Beach.

“We teach structured learning and we try to instill trust, patience, and eye-hand coordination, so it does enable them to go into other sports,” she said.

She recommends younger students from age four to six attend classes two days a week for continuity, but not more than that. “We don’t push it,” she said.

Meanwhile, Thomas Cordes, 9, followed in his brothers’ footsteps on the basketball court, according to his mother, Jennifer Cordes. “They have a lot of interest in it,” she said.

Her older sons, Matthew, 13, and Christopher, 12, play travel basketball, which Mrs. Cordes’ husband, Chris, said can cost up to $500 just to join the team — not to mention the cost of gas, tolls, and lodging.

The timing is also a consideration, Mrs. Cordes said. Thomas spends no more than one to two hours a week playing basketball, while his brothers play five hours on average, not including the weekend traveling. “They do all their school work first, and practice is later,” their mom said.

By Christine Albano

Look through the pages of SI Parent magazine to find the perfect activity for your child, or check the directory listings on our home page.

School’s out for the summer and kids are enjoying alarm-free mornings and homework-free afternoons. While parents are likely more focused on planning vacations and keeping their kids occupied, summer is a good time to pick up select school supplies for the upcoming season. Taking advantage of summer sales means spreading out the cost of back-to-school supplies, which in 2015 cost families an average of $630.

While electronics and basic supplies are better purchased in August, the following items can be purchased over the summer at a discount.

1. Basic Apparel Styles
Starting Memorial Day weekend, spring and summer apparel staples including tees, tank tops, shorts, and skirts go on sale as retailers try to woo consumers who are otherwise focused on outdoor activities. These basics are great for back-to-school because they can be worn during the first several weeks of school and as layers when the weather starts to cool off. Look for savings of 20% to 50% off, and use online resources like Retale and Flipp to scan store circulars digitally and compare discounts between retailers like Target, JCPenney, Kohl’s, and more.

2. Uniform Garments
Though kids are not focused on school during the summer months, retailers know parents are always thinking ahead. In the past, uniform basics like polos, skirts, and slacks are offered at a discount from retailers ranging from Macy’s to Old Navy to Lands’ End.

3. Athletic Apparel & Goods
Parents of athletic kids know how expensive sporting gear can be at the start of each new season. Fourth of July sales often feature deals from such retailers as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, and Big 5 Sporting Goods. During the first two weeks in July last year, for example, Sports Authority offered savings of up to 40% on football gear, while Big 5 Sporting Goods offered discounts on name-brand competitive swimwear. Look for stackable discounts from sites like
CouponSherpa.com, where you can sometimes find coupons with extra percentages off your purchases.

4. Furnishings for the College Bound
Grown-up kids heading back to college can find deep discounts on furniture basics in July. New styles of furniture debut in February and August, making the month prior to each of these events a great time to pick up clearance styles for less. Last year, Target and Kohl’s offered great discounts on furniture in July. In addition to department stores and furniture shops, scout online stores like Overstock and Wayfair, both of which offer a huge selection of furniture and discounted or even free shipping.

5. Double-Duty Supplies
While some supplies are better purchased at the end of summer, items your child can use right now and later are a good buy. For example, a new travel backpack can double as a school backpack once class starts, and online retailer eBags typically has discounts and sales of some kind to help offset the cost. Same goes for crayons and markers, which can be used during family road trips and at the start of class. One way to save money on double-duty items that aren’t yet on sale is to sign up for retail e-mail clubs. You can often score 10% to 25% off with a new-member discount.