Staten Island Parent Staff

Impress Your Kids With These Facts about Snow

November 23, 2020 By Staten Island Parent Staff

Snow is much more than white, wet and cold. There are many different facts about snow that make it unique and one of the more complex types of precipitation.

Although snow appears white because of the countless tiny surfaces of each snowflake crystal reflecting most of the wavelengths of light, snowflakes are actually colorless. Snow may take on other colors thanks to particulates in the air or even from different strains of algae.
Many places around the world hold certain world records pertaining to snow. The most snow to fall in a 24-hour period occurred in 1921 in Silver Lake, Colorado, where 76 inches of snow fell. However, the most snow to fall in one year took place on Mount Baker in the state of Washington. This area saw more than 1,000 inches of snowfall during the 1998-99 season.
The world’s largest snow sculpture was called “Romantic Feelings” and was 656 feet long and 115 feet tall. The sculpture was on display at the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in Heilongjiang Province in China.
Snowflakes come in many different shapes, and their sizes are determined by how many ice crystals connect together.

It can be too cold for snow to form. Without enough water droplets in the air, snow will not fall during extremely cold weather.
The largest snowflakes ever recorded fell in the state of Montana. The snowflakes were 15 inches in diameter.
The average snowflake falls at a speed of 3.1 miles per hour.
Snow that has been compacted after multiple melting and refreezing cycles is known as snow pack.
A snowstorm describes a heavy snowfall that results in several inches of snowfall. A blizzard classifies a snowstorm combined with wind, obscuring visibility.
Snow will either melt or sublimate. Sublimation is when snow turns from a solid form into a gaseous form without an intermediary liquid phase.
Snow can be heavy or light depending on its water content.
An avalanche occurs when snow that has accumulated on a mountain is disturbed by a thermal or physical impact, which causes the snow to rush downhill in a large mass. Preceding an avalanche is a phenomenon known as an avalanche wind caused by the approaching avalanche itself, which adds to its destructive potential.

45 Ways to Keep Kids Busy on a Snow Day

November 23, 2020 By Staten Island Parent Staff

As exciting as a snow day seems at first, it can quickly go from delightful squeals of joy to those two words that no parent ever wants to hear: “I’m bored.” Need some boredom busters to get through the day? Try a few of these ideas to keep your whole family entertained ’til bedtime!

Make pillow and blanket forts.
Have a puzzle race– see who can finish their puzzle first!
Go sledding outside. No sled? Use cardboard or garbage can lids.
Bring toy dump trucks outside and play “snow removal.”
Bake snowman or snowflake cookies together.
Warm up with some homemade hot chocolate.
Movie time: hot chocolate + popcorn. Dim the lights!
Have a scavenger hunt. Use themes like colors or numbers.
Get creative with colored tape: floor maze, racetracks, hopscotch, limbo, endless possibilities!
Play simple card games like Go Fish and Rummy.
Go on a nature walk. Gather winter nature items, like pine cones and icicles. Look for frozen “fossils.”
Make ice bubbles by blowing bubbles and watch them freeze on the wand.
Throw an indoor “beach” party with beach towels, sand pails, bathing suits, sunglasses, etc.
Silly storytelling; take turns making up funny stories.
Host a coloring marathon. Find coloring sheets of your kids’ favorite characters on the internet and print them out.
Ask the kids to help you shovel (the little ones may like this more than the big ones).
Grab the mani/pedi kit and have a spa day.
Host an indoor picnic; invite the dolls and other stuffed animals.
Fill your bathtub with snow and let the kids play.
Dress up time! Host a fashion show. Make it even more fun by capturing it on video.
Write letters to friends, family, the President, anyone!
Make magazine collages.
Help a neighbor. Check in on elderly friends and neighbors and offer to shovel their driveways and walkways, if necessary.

Read Next | 35 Boredom Busters

Read a book about the snow or winter together.
Make your own book about snow together. Take pictures of the storm and print them out, then write captions.
Make snowflake cut-outs and hang them up for an “indoor” snow storm.
Make puppets out of old socks and have a puppet show.
“Paint” the snow using water, food coloring, and squeeze bottles.
Host a board game marathon; each family member chooses a game.
Make a big pot of soup together. Kids can help toss ingredients in the pot! Click here for some great recipes.
Host a tea party. All the stuffed animals are invited!
Have a dance party. Let your little ones pick the tunes.
Create an indoor obstacle course.
Put on a play. Have kids act out scenes from their favorite movies or TV shows.
Go camping indoors by setting up a tent in your living room. Stovetop s’mores, anyone?
Ditch the snowman; make snow monsters!
Reverse school day: have your kids be the teacher and teach the “class” what they are learning in school.
Make giant marbles: fill water balloons with colored water and leave outside over night.
Make a “train” using kitchen table chairs. Kids can take turns playing conductor.
Same concept as #39, but make a roller coaster instead. Weeee!
Do some Lunar New Year-themed crafts. It’s the Year of the Rooster!
Shovel a shallow path in the snow around the yard to create a snow maze.
Host a marathon video game battle.
Play some fun indoor games.
Make a winter-themed craft.
Tell some hilarious snow-themed jokes.

Teach your kids some fun facts about the snow!

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5 Tips for Balancing Working from Home with Kids During COVID-19

September 17, 2020 By Staten Island Parent Staff

Many parents are currently navigating an entirely new normal: Working from home while taking care of their kids As school picks back up and many kids remain at home for remote learning, figuring out how to balance their schedule and a full-time job sometimes feels totally unmanageable.

Most parents have had experience working remotely in one-off, unplanned situations. However, working at home day in and day out for the foreseeable future while also caring for (and in some cases, teaching) kids at home proves to be a major struggle without careful planning where needed and flexibility when possible.

Read on to learn how to create better routines and habits that can help parents maintain a healthy work-life integration:

1. When possible, keep things flexible

This is often easier said than done. However, when you do have the ability, consider getting creative with your work schedule to base your hours around your kids’ schedules. Giving yourself the flexibility to work differently during this time is crucial to maintaining work-life balance.

This can work in a variety of ways. For example, if you’re an early morning person or a night owl, or you are used to commuting a long way, consider working on projects during these times when kids are usually sleeping. Of course, there will always be vital tasks and meetings that require collaboration with your colleagues during regular work hours, but finding ways to give yourself time for small breaks during the day will help you and your kids stay on track.

2. Establish a kid-free zone

There will be times when you need to hunker down and complete work items free from distractions, which is why it is important to establish an area of the house where you can separate yourself from your family.

Not only is it important for this space to be free from other people, but it also needs to be free from other distractions such as dirty laundry and other messes. Keeping the area clean and organized will keep you from wanting to disengage from work to complete other tasks.

3. Clearly communicate with your family

If you have a partner who is also working from home and sharing kid duties with you, it is crucial to communicate the times you can and cannot help out during the day. Setting these expectations will allow for a much smoother daily routine.

It is also important to communicate with your children if they are old enough. Set expectations for when there will be breaks in your day that you can check-in, whether it be a quick snack break, lunch, or even hourly check-ins.

4. Utilize special toys and screen time during work hours

Set aside designated toys and other gadgets, as well as movies or TV shows, to be used when you need to focus-in during the day. This will give your kids something to look forward to and will allow for some distraction-free work time.

5. Don’t overwork

During this time, it can be easy to feel like we need to push ourselves to work extra hours, but the reality is that taking the time to unplug and reset each day is critical to success as a parent and an employee.

With schools and offices closed, parents are likely finding themselves faced with a to-do list that has only grown. Although many of us have now had a few months to settle into fully-remote work, that does not mean keeping up with distance-learning while figuring out the best way to accomplish your work has gotten any easier. Designing a schedule that fits your needs is easier said than done, but following the above tips should help ensure you are on the right track.

Should you find yourself out of work during this time, consider that there are other work options out there, such as freelance and contract work, that may help you meet your scheduling and finance needs. Freelancing is also a great source of supplemental income for people while they look for new full-time employment. Just make sure you choose the right platform to help you get the right kind of projects, such as Bunny Studio.

By Sheyla Scaffo, People Experience Associate & Executive Business Administrator at Bunny Studio

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NYC Public Schools Closed Until Further Notice

November 18, 2020 By Staten Island Parent Staff

Updated Nov. 18: Starting November 19, 2020, all NYC school buildings are closed for in-person learning until further notice. All students who were learning in school buildings part of the week will transition to remote learning every day. Visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus for more.

According to the New York City Department of Education, schools are to close when the percent of positive tests in New York City is equal to or greater than 3% using a 7-day rolling average.

If you need a device, need technical support or to fix a broken device, or are dealing with a lost or stolen device, call DOE’s IT Help desk at 718-935-5100 and press 5 to get assistance. Visit schools.nyc.gov/devices for more information.

All families can continue to go to any school building (9am-12pm on weekdays) to pick up three free grab-and-go meals. No identification or registration is necessary. Halal and kosher meals are available at some sites. Learn more: schools.nyc.gov/freemeals.

Learning Bridges, the City’s free childcare program for children in 3-K through 8th grade, will continue to serve families enrolled in blended learning. Priority is given to children of essential workers. Learn more and apply at schools.nyc.gov/learningbridges.

3-K & Pre-K classrooms in district schools & DOE Pre-K Centers will be closed. If your child attends a program in a community-based center that is not located in a public school, or attends a family childcare program that is part of a DOE network, it will remain open. If you are not sure which type of program your child attends or have questions about your child’s services, contact the program directly.

2020-2021 NYC Public School Calendar

Wednesday-Friday, Sept. 16-18: Fully remote, partial school days for students

Monday, Sept. 21: First full day of school; blended learning commences for 3-K, pre-K, and District 75 schools

Monday, Sept. 28: Yom Kippur, schools closed

Tuesday, Sept. 29: K-5 and K-8 schools in-person learning begins

Thursday, Oct. 1: Middle and high schools, secondary schools, transfer/ adult education in-person learning begins

Monday, Oct. 12: Columbus Day, schools closed

Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day, fully remote instructional day for all students

Wednesday, Nov. 4: Evening parent teacher conferences for elementary schools and K-8 schools

Thursday, Nov. 5: Afternoon parent teacher conferences for elementary schools and K-8 schools

Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day, schools closed

Thursday, Nov. 12: Evening parent teacher conferences for high schools, K-12, and 6-12 schools

Friday, Nov. 13: Afternoon parent teacher conferences for high schools, K-12, and 6-12 schools

Wednesday, Nov. 18: Evening parent teacher conferences for middle schools and District 75 school programs

Thursday, Nov. 19: Afternoon conferences for middle schools and District 75 school programs

Thursday-Friday, Nov. 26-27: Thanksgiving Recess, schools closed

Thursday-following Friday, Dec. 24- Jan. 1: Winter Recess, schools closed

Monday, Jan. 18: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, schools closed

Monday, Feb. 1: Professional Development Day for 9-12 and 6-12 schools in Districts 1-32 only; students in these schools do not attend. Students in K-5 and D75 schools and programs are in attendance.

Friday, Feb. 12: Lunar New Year, schools closed

Monday-Friday, Feb. 15-19: Midwinter Recess (includes President’s Day and Lincoln’s Birthday), schools closed

Wednesday, March 3: Evening parent teacher conferences for elementary schools and K-8 Schools

Thursday, March 4: Afternoon parent teacher conferences for elementary schools and K–8 schools

Wednesday, March 10: Evening parent teacher conferences for middle schools and district 75 schools and programs.

Thursday, March 11: Afternoon parent teacher conferences for middle schools and district 75 schools and programs

Thursday, March 18: Evening parent teacher conferences for high schools, K–12, and 6–12 schools.

Friday, March 19: Afternoon parent teacher conferences for high schools, K–12, and 6–12 schools

Monday-Friday, March 29-April 2: Spring Recess, schools closed

Thursday, May 13: Eid Al-Fitr, schools closed

Monday, May 31: Memorial Day, schools closed

Thursday, June 3: Anniversary Day. Chancellor’s Conference Day for staff development. Students not in attendance.

Tuesday, June 8: Clerical Day for K–5, K–6, 6–8, and K–12 and D75 schools and programs only; students in these schools do not attend. Students in 9–12 and 6–12 schools in Districts 1–32 are in attendance.

Friday, June 25: Last day of school for all students.

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This Is How to Help a Grieving Child and How Not To

October 28, 2019 By Staten Island Parent Staff

When grieving the loss of a loved one, or even a pet, it can be overwhelming for parents to cope with their own grief while also helping children cope with theirs.

5 “Do’s” for Helping Grieving Children Cope

Permission to Grieve: Allow the child to show that they are in an active state of mourning, and give them permission to do it in their own way.

Curiosity and Care: Be curious about what the child is experiencing. Ask lots of questions, yet with care. The questions are unobtrusive and paced. Once the question has been posed, patiently wait for a response. Allow the child to process in their own time.

Questions and Honest Answers: When kids lose a parent, sibling or anyone who has been dear to them, they will start to ask questions about death. Answer them as honestly as you are able. Find a way to be honest and yet respond appropriately for their age.

Separation of Grief: If the family is suffering from the loss of a loved one, often the children experience the loss of the loved one and the loss of the grieving parent(s). Though it is difficult to put the emotions of grief aside, remember that children are vulnerable, taking cues from the way in which the caregiver copes with the loss.

The Gift of Grief: In every loss there is a birth. In the moment of the active state of mourning it is very difficult to imagine that there could be something empowering about the loss. Often, children become more inventive, or better at sports or more insightful when they have lost a loved one or a pet.

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5 “Don’ts” for Helping Grieving Children Cope:

Time for Mourning: Since grief is individual to everyone, know that children will not grieve the way the parents grieve. If you see them playing, don’t stop them, as they may be working out some of their grief in their language or comfort zone.

The Truth, Please: Saying “Daddy is in a very restful sleep” or “You will see your dog in your dreams” implants a false belief that can cause undue stress and fear for your child. No matter how old your child is, using metaphors for death that liken it to sleep often creates a fear of sleep. This can lead to anxiety and depression for children.

Children Need to be Children: It is often a knee-jerk reaction to the loss of a parent to adultify the children in the house. Expecting them to take on adult responsibilities creates a role for the child that they need not have. Let them be children and give them age-appropriate responsibilities, although not given as a response to the loss.

Hide and Seek The Game of Grief: The phases of mourning come to you, rather than you seeking them out. When in the state of grief, children can have outrageous responses to simple situations and stimuli. Put punishments aside for now, and allow for backward movement if it occurs. If you normalize the reactions, the child will re-enter their appropriate developmental phase.

Go for a Group: Children often cope with their losses when they are exposed to other kids who have had a similar loss. Local houses of worship, YMCA’s, and even family clinics often offer grief support groups for kids of all ages. See below for some wonderful groups in Staten Island.

By Edy Nathan, MA, LCSWR, the author of the critically acclaimed book It’s Grief: The Dance of Self-Discovery Through Trauma and Loss, and a nationally recognized keynote speaker. Find her at edynathan.com.

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Helpful Resources

Emma’s Place, Staten Island Grief and Loss Center for Children and Families

• Year-round, free, professional grief counseling for children and families. Offering groups, educational training, workshops and presentations for schools and businesses.
347-850-2322 • emmasplacesi.org •
[email protected]

Camp Good Grief of Staten Island

• A free camp for grieving children and teens.Campers create positive memories, participate in age appropriate activities, and experience much more. Next camp is May 31 – June 2.
1-888-507-4474 • campgoodgriefsi.org • [email protected]

The Compassionate Friends Staten Island Chapter

• Provides personal comfort, hope, and support to families experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.
718-227-6516 • sitcf.com • [email protected]

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10 Non-Tech Holiday Gift Ideas

October 28, 2019 By Staten Island Parent Staff

As the holidays approach, children fill their wish lists with items like tablets, video gaming consoles, smart watches, and even Internet-connected traditional toys such as dolls and teddy bears that are advertised as being able to “converse” with kids. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offered up some alternatives to help families find a technology balance as well as build children’s language skills and promote learning.

Mad Libs, word finds and crossword puzzles. Not only do these games build vocabulary and literacy skills while keeping kids of many ages entertained on winter days, but they also provide fun family activities. There often are “junior” editions available for new readers.

Photo albums/scrapbooking materials. Many parents keep hundreds—if not thousands—of photos on their phone, but creating physical photo albums or scrapbooks provides an excellent opportunity to talk about family members, memories, family trips or events, and much more.

Camping supplies. Whether used for real camping (another great opportunity to disconnect, talk and bond with kids) or pretend indoor play, items like tents, flashlights and sleeping bags make excellent gifts. Nothing gets the imagination and conversation going like a tent or fort in the living room. And basics such as making flashlight animals on the wall stand the test of time—even in a gadget-heavy world.

Magazine subscriptions. Prices are down on most magazine subscriptions, and there are many high-quality publications specifically tailored for children (Highlights or National Geographic Kids, for example). Kids will be excited to get their own mail, and practice makes perfect when it comes to reading.

Puppets or magic kits. These activities encourage creativity and help build language skills as children develop story lines and dialogues. Parents and siblings will also enjoy the free entertainment.

Clay or Play-Doh. These items let kids get their hands dirty and help with fine-motor skills. They also help with language and learning. Children can talk about their creations and have conversations with different characters.

Journal or diary. A fabulous gift for practicing writing skills and building literacy that’s appropriate for many different ages.

Karaoke machine. An alternative to family movie night, this can bring the whole family together. And singing along to the words means kids practice reading, too!

Building, science and engineering sets/tools. Family members can work on these activities together, talking, building vocabulary and problem-solving as they go along. These activities are more popular than ever.

Bikes, trikes and scooters. Physical movement can be paired with language development opportunities. Kids can talk about what they see, hear, smell, feel and think about as they ride. These vehicles let kids get out, explore nature, their neighborhoods and the world around them—and are activities parents and kids can do together.

Whatever gifts parents choose—tech gifts included!—it’s always valuable to remember the importance of talking and interaction to children’s development. There’s no better time for conversation and family bonding than the holidays.

By the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association/ASHA Leader. Click here for the full article.

Get Activities for Kids

Impress Your Kids With These Facts about Snow

45 Ways to Keep Kids Busy on a Snow Day

5 Tips for Balancing Working from Home with Kids During COVID-19

1. When possible, keep things flexible

2. Establish a kid-free zone

3. Clearly communicate with your family

4. Utilize special toys and screen time during work hours

5. Don’t overwork

NYC Public Schools Closed Until Further Notice

2020-2021 NYC Public School Calendar

This Is How to Help a Grieving Child and How Not To

5 “Do’s” for Helping Grieving Children Cope

5 “Don’ts” for Helping Grieving Children Cope:

Helpful Resources

Emma’s Place, Staten Island Grief and Loss Center for Children and Families

Camp Good Grief of Staten Island

The Compassionate Friends Staten Island Chapter

10 Non-Tech Holiday Gift Ideas