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APRIL 2021
Virtual camps:
Pros & Cons
Join the
SUMMER ACTIVITIES &CAMP GUIDE
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APRIL Number 4 Volume 34
4
what’s inside
your 18
community
parenting
resource for
over 30 years!
featured topics
2 Editor’sNote 6
in this issue
50+ things to fill Easter eggs
22
Summer is going to be tricky (that aren’t candy)
4 S teamForward 14
Budgeting after baby
Best puppet buddies forever
16
What to pack for day camp
7 H
umorMe 18
Virtual camps – The Pros & The
My daughter wants a day off Cons
8 CoverStory 22
Questions to ask camp directors
Join the mobile movement
27 Around&About
April activities and events
special section
16 – 26 SummerActivities & CampGuide
READ
Online Today
www.pittsburghparent.com
• Lucky Mint Brownie Perfection - How lucky
you are to come across this recipe just in
Around&About - Calendar of activities & events time for St. Patrick’s Day
This issue of Pittsburgh Parent includes our Around&About cal-
endar of activities and events. Please submit your upcoming events to • Understanding why Autism is a disorder
calendar.pittsburghparent@gmail.com - the deadline for our May issue and not a disability - March 29 – 2 April
is March 31, 2021. Visit pittsburghparent.com to add your event to is World Autism Awareness Week
our online calendar.
Remember to check all event’s websites since cancellations due to • Exploring girls' engagement in STEM
the pandemic are still taking place in some cases. activities - GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math
Our thanks to our readers for your continued patience and partner- and Science), an international network of
ship as we evolve to meet the needs of our clients and our community!
hands-on out-of-school time clubs
PittsburghParent.com APRIL 2021 1
Editor’sNote Patricia Poshard
Summer is going to be tricky!
Summer is going to be tricky – for both parents and
camps. Many decisions will be made based on what we have
experienced since March 2020. Progress has been made in Pittsburgh Parent is published 12 times
managing the spread of Covid-19, we have adjusted to masks a year by Honey Hill Publishing, Inc.
and social distancing, and most of all we have learned how to
be creative and find ways to do what is best for our children! P.O. Box 674, Valencia, PA 16059
According to Andy Pritikin, a camp director, past president 724-898-1898 • PittsburghParent.com
of the American Camp Association, and host of the Day Camp Podcast: Office hours: Mon - Thurs, 9am-3pm
“While some families and staff chose to postpone their camp attendance until
2021 — most didn’t want to miss out, even in the midst of a pandemic, despite ap- Publisher: Lynn Honeywill-Norris
prehensions. What were these people, crazy? Absolutely not. They strongly believed manager@pittsburghparent.com
that the benefits outweighed the perceived risk. So after two compromised school
years and everything that’s gone along with it, our children’s need for the benefits Editor: Patricia Poshard
editor@pittsburghparent.com
that summer camps provide will be crucially important:
1. REAL HUMAN CONNECTION — Zoom and remote learning have saved us Calendar: Tracy Ashbaugh
in so many ways. But there’s no substitute for real human connection. Making and calendar.pittsburghparent@gmail.com
strengthening relationships while being guided by loving people is what camp is all Marketing & Finance:
about. The essence of camp is in the friendships we forge, something we are all lack- manager@pittsburghparent.com
ing and craving these days.
Production • Web • Social Media:
2. REACQUAINTING OURSELVES WITH NATURE — While society has been Kathy Geib • web@pittsburghparent.com
trapped indoors for the past year, most of the world is outdoors, and it is amazingly
Media Account Executive:
beautiful, and fills our soul with joy. From picture perfect days, to “liquid sunshine”
Corina Shutack
washouts — it’s real living. Our bodies yearn for the outdoors, and that’s where most
Advertising Sales:
summer camps happen.
sales1@pittsburghparent.com
3. RESILIENCY — Our kids are certainly developing it; experiencing disappoint-
ments that will make them stronger. Learning to be brave and confronting challenges Editorial • Social Media:
and fears are also important facets of resiliency. It’s easier to stay at home and stare Maria Castello
at screens — but we want our kids to grow up with the kind of courage and “can-do” Founding Publisher:
attitude that our health care, essential workers, and superhero school teachers have Marilyn McCabe Honeywill
learned and cultivated. 1931 - 2013
4. *MENTAL HEALTH* — While summer camp is widely known for its physical
health benefits, according to the CDC, “Children’s mental health during public health Follow Us on Social Media
emergencies can have both short and long term consequences to their overall health
facebook.com/pittsburghparentmagazine
and well-being,” so it’s no surprise that hospital visits related to mental health have
risen dramatically for school age children and adolescents. Kids are resilient and can instagram.com/pghparentmag
bounce back quickly. But a year and a half of stress and anxiety is bound to leave a
mark. Extroverted kids are suffering, missing the energy of their peers. Introverted pinterest.com/pghparentmag
kids may seem to enjoy sitting in their homes, away from life’s normal pressures —
but they need social interaction just as much.” twitter.com/pghparentmag
Why can summer camps be successful during a Pandemic?
Here is how Andy Pritikin puts it: “Good camps breed creative adaptability, and www.PittsburghParent.com
get things done — and always have. How do you get a group of third-grade boys to @ Sign Up For Our E-Blast at
listen? What do we do about the incoming storm? The bus is running late, animals PittsburghParent.com
got into the supplies, no electricity in the kitchen, kid pooped in the pool . . . Camp
Pittsburgh Parent is produced monthly with circulation
people don’t complain — we figure it out and make it happen. Last summer, we were targeted in and around Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver,
able to facilitate 99 percent of what we normally do at camp — including lunches, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. Due
bussing, instructional swimming and assemblies. Were they a little different than to the COVID-19 pandemic the publication is online
at pittsburghparent.com and e-mailed to the homes
usual? Sure — but all were accomplished, with smiles and appreciation. of over 55,000 parents. Distribution of this magazine
Camp offers kids the unique opportunity to step back into a simpler time, with no does not constitute an endorsement of information,
internet connection or mute button needed. A place where a small community can products or services. The publisher reserves the
right to reject any advertisement or listing which is
have faith in the human spirit and support from one another without judgment, sim- not in keeping with this publication’s standards. The
ply because it’s the right thing to do. Our kids need to be out of our homes, playing entire contents of the publication are copyrighted
with other kids, and camps have proven that it can be done safely, even under the and may not be reproduced or copied in any form
without the permission of the publisher. Copyright
most challenging circumstances.” Honey Hill Publishing, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved.
To find an excellent camp for your kids this summer check out pittsburghparent.
com to visit our online Summer Activities and Camp Expo or try the American Camp
Association’s Find a Camp search. And, as always, do what you think is best for your
child! n
2 APRIL 2021 PittsburghParent.com
Attention Advertisers
Look What’s Coming
in the May Issue of
Pittsburgh Parent
Great mily
Fa
Camping
Where to go? Our readers want to know!
BUSINESS PROFILES
An advertising & Here to Help
By Catholic Charities
editorial opportunity
Having a child will be the most exciting time in your life, but it can
also be the most overwhelming period, especially for first time moms.
Catholic Charities has always affirmed, supported and encouraged
expectant and new parents to be the best they can be for themselves
and their babies.
to showcase your
Our educational support to new and expectant mothers and fathers
includes nutrition classes, parenting instruction, child development
classes, life skills education, information on prenatal nutrition, and
guidance with parental self-care. Counseling provided through
Catholic Charities’ Pregnancy and Parenting Program is designed
to be educational, supportive, and functional, and is available to
both mothers and fathers. We also provide a generous selection of
business, service,
tangible items − including diapers, wipes, infant formula, and other
baby care items. All tangibles are distributed to clients free of cost.
We have offices in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and
Washington County. Visit us at www.ccpgh.org to find an office near
you or call 412-456-6999. There are no eligibility requirements for
this program.
organization,
Catholic Charities mission is simple, to serve all in their time of need,
regardless of religious affiliation. It’s a faith tradition of services
that we’ve proudly carried out for more than 100 years and that
we are honored to continue. Along with Pregnancy and Parenting
Services, Catholic Charities provides services in the following areas:
Counseling, Housing and Homeless Assistance, Medical and Dental
product or school
Care for the uninsured/underinsured,
Overcoming Trauma, Safety Net and
Stability Services, and Services for
the Aging.
The May issue will feature a special section on
Careers In Technical Training
May Issue Space Deadline
April 1, 2021
For More Information on Advertising
724-898-1898
PittsburghParent.com APRIL 2021 3
SteamForward Ann K. Howley
Best
puppet buddies forever
rial and all ages’ expressions of practice
into my portfolio. It’s been great having
Dave as such an amazing friend and
teammate on this goofy project.”
Dave and Darrell bring more than 25
years of experience around education,
i, I’m Sophia and this is Bob.” community contextual practice, non-
On my computer screen, I am watching a charm- traditional performance art, and arts
ing eight-year-old girl with glasses sitting in front of nonprofit management to this collabo-
a decorative fireplace with letters spelling HOME ration. They consider puppet karaoke
on the mantel. On her lap sits as a vehicle
a big, white mouse puppet to appreci-
named Bob, who is wearing an ate American
orange plaid shirt, black pants popular music,
and snazzy, red sneakers. With engage black
Sophia’s assistance, Bob the and brown
Mouse sings Twinkle Twinkle audiences in
Little Star. culturally rel-
“That was a solid ventrilo- evant puppet
quist performance,” says artist experiences,
and educator, Dave English, explore di-
who has been passionate about verse repre-
puppeteering since he was a sentation in
kid and earned a degree in puppetry from West Virginia performance arts, and present intergen-
University. Last fall, he and local artist Darrell Kinsel hosted erational arts experiences for families.
the BOOM Jam Puppet Slam, a free livestreamed event “A puppet slam is like open mic
produced in collaboration with BOOM Concepts, City of night,” Dave explains. “It’s a term that is
Asylum and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. common in puppetry world.”
“Puppeteering has been a great way to expand my per- In October 2020, the Children’s
formance art practice and begin to characterize different ex- Museum of Pittsburgh offered online
periences and ideas,” says Darrell. “After becoming a father puppet workshops for kids and families,
in 2018, I wanted to incorporate more family friendly mate- who were invited to submit videos for
4 APRIL 2021 PittsburghParent.com
Divorce • Child Custody • Support • Adoption
One Oxford Centre, Suite 270
301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-849-6831 • www.darbouzelawgroup.com
the big event, the upcoming BOOM Jam Puppet Slam. Working with Zena Ruiz
at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Dave and Darrell selected twelve videos
for two super cool puppets named Dr. D and Party Machine to introduce to the
livestream audience with the puppeteering help of Darrell and Dave, who mostly
stood behind the green curtain and occasionally popped into view.
“Every video was so different,” Dave says. “You never knew what you were
going to see next.”
One video was submitted by an eight-year-old-girl named Nova, who par-
ticipated in the Children Museum of Pittsburgh’s fall workshops. She created a
delightful blue mama dragon that cooed and fussed over her shiny egg that
hatches by the end of her video.
“That girl is really talented. Her knowledge of materials and the way she
pushes herself to make art is like talking to a grad student. Her dragon was
amazing,” Dave says.
Another video, that
reminded me of Mr. Rogers’
Neighborhood of Make Believe,
depicted a clever story about
a Barbie-type doll whose long
black hair keeps getting ruined by
Small classes. Big ideas.
well-meaning friends and stylists
until she discovers that her hair is
“already beautiful” with the help
of a magical cat named Griselda.
One of my favorite videos
showed local hip hop artist, Mars Jackson, with his puppet friend, Marzey the Cow,
who sings along to her favorite song by singer Doja Cat called “Moo.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m a cow. I’m not a cat. I don’t say
meow. The cow goes moooooooo,” rapped Marzey
the Cow alongside her smiling, chuckling puppet
master, Mars.
I was singing that “Moo” song for the rest of the
Open House
day.
Sophia, who lives in Ellwood City, first became
interested in puppetry when she saw puppeteer
Darcy Lynn on the popular television show Ameri- Saturday, March 20
ca’s Got Talent several years ago and then saw her 1:00pm - 4:00pm
in person at Heinz Hall in November 2019.
Inspired, Sophia taught herself ventriloquism and got a mouse puppet, which For more information, please email:
she named Bob because her Grandpa, who she regularly visits on FaceTime, always admissions@kentuckyavenueschool.org
makes up stories about a mouse named “Bob” who likes cheese, doesn’t like or call 412.228.7127
cats, and has lots of adventures. Sophia wants to use her puppet mouse to tell her
Grandpa’s stories and think up even more adventures. 5701 Fifth Avenue K-8
Sophia agrees that Bob the Mouse is definitely her “best puppet buddy for- (at Negley)
ever.” Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Aside from her Grandpa, that is. n
KENTUCKY AVENUE SCHOOL
Ann K. Howley is a Pittsburgh writer, speaker and aspiring novelist. Check out
her new website at annkhowley.com.
kentuckyavenueschool.org
PittsburghParent.com APRIL 2021 5
50 + things to fill
FREE TO
CONNECT
Easter eggs (that aren’t candy)
By Sarah Lyons
Connect your student to remote
one-on-one learning support and live
homework help, to language learning
resources and virtual storytimes,
we’ve got learners of all ages and
stages covered.
It’s a school year like no other and
the Library is here to help!
CLP – Homework Help/
Learning Support
Call: 412-622-3114
Text: 412-775-3900
As a mom of a
carnegielibrary.org/kids-teens
child with food
allergies, it is always
ur family loves an a challenge to find
Easter egg hunt. items to fill all
It is always fun
to see the kids those plastic eggs
running through the yard with that are
rushing to find the most not candy.
eggs. As a mom of a Something
child with food allergies,
it is always a challenge to practical
find items to fill all those Practical items can be
plastic eggs with that are fun too. Try filling eggs
not candy. Having a vari- with erasers, pencil sharp-
ety of egg sizes helps you eners, key chains, magic
to stuff all your new ideas towels, cute bandaids,
into the eggs without travel size lotion, or hand
frustration. sanitizer. My kids favorite
Whether, like me, your child has a practical Easter egg filler is money!
food allergy, or you would just like to
cut down on sugar overload, here are Something to wear
some non-candy ideas to fill all your Your kids can have fun and acces-
eggs for the annual hunt. sorize with these ideas – barrettes, hair
ties, socks, nail polish, chapstick, lip
Small toys gloss, silly shoe laces, bracelets, ear-
There are numerous ideas for small rings, rings, temporary tattoos, zipper
toys that you could fill eggs with: bouncy pulls, or bead necklaces.
balls, small craft items, play-doh, tiny cars
like Micro Machines, Shopkins, whistles, Snacks
mini kazoos, hand stamps, Polly Pockets, If you are avoiding candy due to the
Barbie accessories, mini rubber ducks sugar rush try these little snacks that
or other bath toys, finger skateboards, are the perfect size for Easter eggs:
marbles, jacks and a ball, fake bugs and Goldfish crackers, pretzels, grapes,
worms, pirate patches, play money, soup crackers, cuties (oranges), veggie
stickers, tops, Legos, sticky hands, or just straws, berries, animal crackers, bite size
for fun – confetti! When choosing small graham crackers, nuts, raisins or other
toys to fill your eggs, please consider the dried fruit. n
age of the children participating in the
FREE TO THE PEOPLE egg hunt. Small toys may pose a choking Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and
hazard for young children. mom from Kansas.
6 APRIL 2021 PittsburghParent.com
HumorMe Rick Epstein
My daughter
wants a day off
he debate lasted through dinner, but as we shoveled in the
last of the grub, I made my ruling. “No. You’re not blowing
off a day of school to go hang around with your sister at
college,” I said. “School is your job.”
My 15-year-old daughter Sally looked me in the eye and
said with controlled anger, “You’ll regret this.” Then she
stalked up to her room.
A three-day weekend had been on the school calendar, advice and sends her back into the ring. Their relation-
but Sally wanted to expand it to four. Otherwise her trip to ship is beautiful and should be encouraged.
Threehundredmilesaway College would entail almost as much 3. “The kid has never given us a speck of trouble and
bus-riding as visiting. deserves some consideration,” said Betsy, when I asked
One of my core principles was at stake, namely, the value her.
of Showing Up. Maybe you won’t hit a home run every day, 4. Sally is usually right.
but you DEFINITELY won’t if you aren’t even there. In fact, my
only sports hero is Lou Gehrig, “The Iron Horse of Baseball.” A painful hour after I’d made my decree, I told Sally, “All
Even broken bones did not prevent him from playing 2,130 right, you can miss this one day of school to go see Marie. Al-
consecutive ballgames for the New York Yankees. though right now your job is to go to school, it’s not like you’ll
At the office that I manage, anyone will tell you, “Epstein be letting anyone down if you miss a day. But don’t count on
might not do much, but by golly he always shows up.” And I this happening again.”
like to hold others to that high standard. Whether I’m right or wrong to let her go, I’ll admit the
I got this way during my first week of college. When an decision-making process was messy. AND weak, AND stupid,
upperclassman heard I was afraid of flunking out, he said, AND inconsistent, you say? Well, you have your parenting
“The only people who flunk out are the ones who miss a lot of style and I have mine. n
classes.” So I pledged myself to Perfect Attendance. Although Rick Epstein can be reached at rickepstein@yahoo.com.
some days I did little more than sit there imagining some of
my classmates naked, some knowledge was bound to leak in.
And for a student like me, being there made the critical differ-
ence between failure and success. Well, between failure and
non-failure, anyway.
My wife, who slipped through college using other tech-
niques (such as studying), is lax on attendance. So it’s been
up to me to hammer it into the kids. As a result, their favorite
video is “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” That’s the 1986 movie in
which a high school boy feigns illness and has a day of wild
adventure.
The kids know that to miss school they must convince me
they are really sick. My policy provided so much early dramatic Providence Heights Alpha School is an independent,
exercise for my oldest daughter Marie that her acting abil-
ity won her a college scholarship. At the audition she didn’t
Catholic school for students in PreK through 8.
pretend to be merely sick, she pretended to be DEAD! Her
portrayal of the tormented ghost of Emily Gibbs of “Our
Town” melted the icy hearts of the faculty and swept her into
the school on a wave of money.
Although Marie had to writhe and emote for every Mental
Health Day she ever got, Sally managed to dodge an entire
year of school by convincing the authorities that she didn’t
need eighth grade. So now we were fussing over one undistin-
r NOW ENROT,T,TNG
guished day of her junior year.
My wife, Betsy, stayed out of the discussion. That meant
she agreed with my scrappy, little opponent. There are four
reasons for this:
1. Sally has hit a rough spot in her academic career. She
is taking a cruel pounding in U.S. History and is barely
surviving daily combat with an egomaniacal American Lit Call for more information or to schedule a private tour.
teacher. But she fights doggedly on.
2. When teen life – including boyfriends, girlfriends, teach- 9000 Babcock Blvd. 412.366.4455
ers, parents and mid-term exams – drives her into an
emotional corner, Sally phones her big sister. Marie figu-
Allison Park, PA 15101 AlphaSchool.org
ratively rubs the battling bantam’s shoulders, gives her Founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence
PittsburghParent.com APRIL 2021 7
Join the In
some ways,
mobile
mobile services have
been around for a
long time.
movement By Ann K. Howley
Old favorites
Diaper service
ong ago, my grandfather worked For decades before disposable diapers became ubiquitous in the
1970s, young mothers had the choice to either wash and fold their own
as a milkman and drove a dairy cloth diapers, or hire a service that delivered clean, fresh diapers every
truck around town in the wee week and hauled away the stinky diaper pails. Although disposables
have been the most popular diaper of choice for many years, interest in
hours of the morning to cloth diapering is still strong, particularly among parents who are con-
cerned about environmental issues and the chemicals used to manufac-
drop off bottles on porches so ture disposable diapers.
that kids had fresh milk to pour Since 2010, Judy and Brandon McAuley have owned and oper-
ated Green Cheeks Diaper Service, which is currently the only diaper
on their breakfast cereal. service available in the Pittsburgh region.
Green Cheeks Diaper Service serves approximately 70 families in
Hardworking moms and dads the roughly 20 miles radius of Pittsburgh, which encompasses almost
all of Allegheny County. They occasionally make exceptions to serve
have long appreciated conve- outside areas, especially if there are several families that are interested.
They have one van that pick-ups and delivers diapers every week. The
nience and options. What has length of service varies, as some families use the diaper service from
birth to potty training, while others use the service for the newborn stage
changed is that today a van or a only.
truck is as viable as a brick and Judy remembers how nervous she was about trying cloth diapers
when her now 12- year-old son was born.
mortar storefront to provide a “The hardest thing is to make people realize that using cloth diapers
is not a hard thing to do. Everyone seems to be intimidated by it, but
wide range of timesaving servic- it’s not difficult, especially if you’re using the service. The benefits are so
es for families. many, and the environmental savings are huge. There are no chemicals,
the diapers are pH balanced at the end of every wash, and cloth diaper
babies often potty-train earlier. It’s healthier for the planet.”
So let’s explore some old, some Green Cheeks Diaper Service
new, and maybe some surprising 412-818-7185 • greencheeksdiaperservice.com
mobile services that are available
Bookmobiles
in the Pittsburgh region. Although the first mobile libraries consisted of horse drawn wagons
in 19th century England, bookmobile services in the Pittsburgh area be-
gan around 1950 and were basically designed as a city and a county
program. As communities began to grow, bookmobiles began to be
used to test specific areas for suitability for building a library building.
8 APRIL 2021 PittsburghParent.comHowever, as more libraries were built, bookmobile services ACLA Mobile Library Services
waned. aclabookmobile.org
Early on, the service was contracted to the Carnegie Library Facebook: @aclabookmobile
of Pittsburgh to run and paid for by Allegheny County.
In 2001, funding began to be transitioned away from Allegheny
County and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, resulting in the Food trucks
current structure in which the Allegheny County Library Depending on who you ask, food trucks either originated
Association (ACLA), which is not related to the county govern- with a Texas cattle herder who built drawers and shelves inside
ment, stepped in to assume operations of the program. an old army wagon after the Civil War and fed dusty cowpokes
from his “chuck wagon,” or an enterprising cook,
who parked his covered wagon in front of a news-
paper office in Providence, Rhode Island in 1872
ACLA Mobile Library to sell sandwiches, coffee, and pie to the workers
Services inside.
Carts, wagons, and trucks have long been used
aclabookmobile.org to sell food, but in the 1950s and 60s, the reputa-
tion of these moving food vehicles took a hit. Many
Facebook: remember when they were called “roach coaches,”
@aclabookmobile the unflattering name they earned by observing less
Preschool than stellar sanitary standards.
Things changed in the late 2000s when the
modern food truck boom started in Los Angeles and
“Our main goal is to provide these services to those who quickly spread across the country. Food trucks became so popu-
cannot take advantage of traditional library services
in a building due to age, transportation, economic
constraints, or disability,” says Chuck Arrigo, opera-
tions manager for ACLA Mobile Library Services. Burgh Bites
“We focus on older adults in high-rises and assisted
living facilities and on preschoolers in Head Start burghbitestruck.com
programs and daycares.”
The preschool services normally consist of a
Follow on Facebook
20-minute story time, followed by a visit to the book- @theburghbitescart
mobile by the students and teachers.
“For most, if not all, of these kids, we are their
first library card and the first exposure they’ve had to
a library. Our collection is suited to the curriculum of
the Head Start program to aid the teachers in their lessons, and, lar that in 2011, the go-to restaurant guide, Zagat, started rat-
of course, there is a wide variety of picture books for the kids to ing food trucks along with traditional restaurants and eateries.
choose from. They keep them for a month, and then return them Today, Pittsburgh boasts dozens of food trucks serving
at our next visit and do it all over again,” Chuck explains. specialties dishes ranging from ever popular barbeque to fish
Library operations have been impacted due to COVID, and tacos, shawarma, and Vietnamese banh mi. Some trucks have
although some libraries have resumed some limited in-person a regular schedule, setting up in designated locations every
services, bookmobiles do not have the luxury of
being able to do that due the confined space in the
vehicle. Currently, all mobile library services offer
curbside pick-up and drop-off. The Mac & Gold Truck
“We place patron's requested items in brown
paper bags with their name on it and deliver them Follow
according to a schedule,” Chuck says.
In 2020, the ACLA Mobile Library served 46
@macandgoldtruck
high-rises/assisted living centers, 49 preschool on Facebook and
locations (60 classrooms), 1 adult daycare, and 6 Twitter
community stops, encompassing 47 municipalities in
Allegheny County.
For the most up to date information on upcom-
ing dates and locations, check out the ACLA Mobile Library’s week, while others change dishes and destinations more or less
website and Facebook page. frequently.
Social media and the internet are the lifeblood
of the mobile truck movement. Mobile Nom is an
ACLA Mobile Library app designed by University of Pittsburgh students to
provide real-time food truck locations. Food vendors
Services also use websites, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
to publish their menus and locations.
aclabookmobile.org Here are three popular Pittsburgh food trucks that
offer particularly family-friendly cuisines.
Facebook:
Burgh Bites, sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos.
@aclabookmobile burghbitestruck.com • Check the latest schedule on
Community Facebook @theburghbitescart
Continued on page 10…
PittsburghParent.com APRIL 2021 9Continued from page 9… adds, “there are no cages in the van. It is a low-stress environ-
ment for the pups because there is not a lot of com-
motion and there are no other barking dogs from an-
other household to distract and excite them. We only
Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck utilize high-end shampoos and conditioners. Many
of our customers take advantage of latch-key service
pghpierogitruck.com where they do not even have to be home – they just
get to come home to a freshly groomed pup!”
Karen, with House Call Mobile Grooming,
specializes on smaller dogs. “I’m more of an artistic-
type groomer,” she says, and based on the photos
that she posts on the business’s Facebook page,
these pint-sized pups emerge from the van looking
absolutely adorable.
The Mac & Gold Truck, traditional and gourmet mac n cheese.
• Follow @macandgoldtruck on Facebook and Twitter Mobile groomers emphasize that cleanliness and safety are
of utmost importance. Protocols include disinfecting between
Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck, pierogi, haluski, stuffed
cabbage. • pghpierogitruck.com
The Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival, spon- Bow Wow Mobile Bath
sored by the Observer-Reporter, traditionally takes
place over Memorial Day weekend at The Meadows & Grooming
Racetrack & Casino in Washington County. Although
the festival had to be postponed in 2020 due to the bowwowgroom.com
coronavirus, keep your eye on the event website for
the latest 2021 information at www.pghfoodtruck-
fest.com
Newer trends
Mobile pet spa and grooming each canine or kitty customer and deep cleaning on a daily
basis. In response to the covid pandemic, Pawsitively Purrfect
I’ve never had a dog that liked getting a bath and I’ve al- Mobile Pet Spa promotes the addition of UV sanitation in their
ways hesitated taking them to a grooming shop, fearing that the trucks, as well.
water, cages, other barking dogs, and noise from blow dryers
might stress them. Also when I think about the time and energy Prices for mobile pet grooming are typically determined by
it took to pack up the kids in the car and drive to the groomer to size, age, breed and service selected. Some groomers in West-
ern Pennsylvania provide services for both dogs and
cats. Since mobile pet spas usually cover specific
areas, be sure to check websites or call to find the
Pawsitively Purrfect right provider in your area.
Mobile Pet Spa Pawsitively Purrfect Mobile Pet Spa
(Finleyville and surrounding area)
pittsburghmobileg- pittsburghmobilegrooming.com
rooming.com Bow Wow Mobile Bath & Grooming
(Westmoreland Co.)
bowwowgroom.com
House Call Mobile Grooming
(North Hills, North Allegheny area)
drop off our pup, and then bide my time for hours, not knowing 412-926-5211
what time our dog would be ready to pick up, I like the idea of Facebook: @house call mobile grooming
a mobile groomer.
Jessica Hawkins, who owns Pawsitively Purrfect Mobile
Pet Spa, has been operating since 2013. “The vans are com-
Bus parties
pletely self-contained,” she says, “we have our own warm water When life returns to post-coronavirus normal, parents look
and electric supply, and the vans are climate-controlled for our forward to planning birthday parties and special occasions
four legged clients’ comfort.” without having to worry about enclosed spaces, masks and
social distancing. When that time comes, consider this: why not
Shauna Caudill, with Bow Wow! Mobile Bath & Grooming,
have a party on a bus?
If Steel City Gamerz was around when my sons
were young, they would have been ecstatic to see
House Call Mobile a 32-foot mobile video game theater roll up to our
house for a video game birthday party.
Grooming Seven years ago, Brad Michaelson knew he
wanted to start a business that was different, but his
Facebook: @house first thought was to have a food truck.
call mobile grooming “I just knew food trucks were going to be big,”
he says.
Since Brad has been in the military for almost
20 years, he has traveled to dozens of countries all
10 APRIL 2021 PittsburghParent.comThe Style Truck mystyletruck.com
Steel City Gamerz Whimsical Wardrobe Boutique
whimsicalwardrobeboutique.com
steelcitygamerz.com Magnolia on Main magnoliaonmain.net
While most boutiques on wheels primarily carry
women’s fashions, there is one Pittsburgh fashion
boutique with a special mission for kids. Beverly’s
Birthdays is a nonprofit organization whose mis-
sion is to make kids feel special on their birthdays,
especially the thousands of children in southwestern
over the world and he really liked the idea of a food truck that Pennsylvania who experience poverty and homeless-
offered cuisines from some of the different places he’s visited. ness. The organization has a mobile fashion truck that visits
However, there was one significant problem. children on their birthday and helps them celebrate by allowing
“I realized I couldn’t make the food,” he admits.
Then he stumbled on the idea of a game truck,
something that was big on the West Coast and other
cities across the country. After doing the research, he
Whimsical Wardrobe
shifted from having a food truck to building a game Boutique
truck that would provide a completely new and dif-
ferent kind of birthday party experience for kids. whimsicalwardrobe-
Steel City Gamerz was born.
Brad’s luxury, limo-style theater on wheels fea- boutique.com
tures five wide screen, high-definition TVs, surround
sound, an action station, and multiplayer gaming
with over 100 video game titles on an assortment of
gaming systems, including Wii, Xbox 360, PlaySta-
tion 4, Nintendo Switch and SNES/NES Mini for classic video kids and their families to “shop” for free clothing and items in
games. Because the truck is climate controlled, parties can be the truck. Over the last 10 years, Beverly’s Birthdays has spread
booked all year long. birthday cheer to tens of thousands of kids across the region.
More recently, Brad added laser tag parties to
his game truck offerings.
“We pull up in front of your house and set it up
in the back yard,” he says. While a game coach Magnolia on Main
makes sure the kids are having a blast, parents get
to relax. magnoliaonmain.net
“Some families have done parties with me every
single year,” Brad says.
Party dates are usually reserved 2 to 3 months in
advance and bookings are made on the website.
Steel City Gamerz 412-715-1709
steelcitygamerz.com
Beverly’s Birthdays
Mobile fashion boutiques beverlysbirthdays.org
I first discovered the mobile fashion craze a few years ago
at a book fair, when local favorite, The Style Truck, set up Surprising ideas
“shop” in the parking lot outside the library venue. I thought it
was amazing how owner and proprietor, Jackee Ging, con- Mobile pet care
verted a former military/tool truck into an adorable fashion A hundred and twenty years ago, most veterinarians pri-
marily focused their practices on horses and other
livestock, which were important for transportation
and farming in that era. It wasn’t until the early 20th
The Style Truck century that most people even thought of providing
medical care for dogs, cats, rabbits, and various
mystyletruck.com household pets.
Veterinary care is no longer the domain of rural
America, as thousands of small animal practices
have been established in urban areas to take care
of household pets. Over the years, a small number
of veterinarians in the Pittsburgh area began to use
mobile clinics to provide in-home services ranging
from wellness checks, diagnostics, and surgery.
boutique, complete with a fitting room, shelves, and racks of The husband and wife team, Dr. Claire Catt and Dr. Kevin
clothes and accessories. Catt, who started House Calls Veterinary Service in 1994, use
Post-pandemic, you can count on seeing other Pittsburgh mo- a 24-foot van to provide the same quality care for pets as their
bile fashion boutiques, like Whimsical Wardrobe Boutique and stationary hospital located in Valencia. And Dr. Michael Meneo
Magnolia on Main at various events around town like festivals, and his staff at Pittsburgh Mobile Veterinary Services are
street fairs, fundraisers, and home parties. Continued on page 12…
PittsburghParent.com APRIL 2021 11Continued from page 11…
Pet Loss at Home
(Euthanasia services)
Beverly’s Birthdays 877-998-7647
petlossathome.com
beverlysbirthdays.
org Composting service
Every day I peel off a plastic lid and drop fruit
and vegetable scraps into a small plastic bucket
under my kitchen sink. Then once a week, I dump the
rotting contents into a bigger plastic bin in my back
yard until the spring when my husband, who is re-
dedicated to offering “premier veterinary care at your door- sponsible for periodically stirring up this witches brew of decay,
step.” scoops out shovelfuls of rich soil to spread in our gardens.
A few local veterinarians provide a very specific mobile ser- That being the extent of my composting experience, I was
vice: end of life care for your pets. After practicing small animal intrigued to discover Worm Return, an innovative Pittsburgh
medicine for many years, Dr. Tamara Padgelek decided to focus company founded in 2018 by environmentalist, Laura Totin
on helping pets and their families by providing in-home pet Codori, who says that the primary goal of the company is to
euthanasia and cremation services. In 2014, she started Pgh prevent and divert wasted food, which includes keeping food
Pets at Home. Dr. Padgelek and another local vet, Dr. Mary scraps out of landfills.
Ann Bender, are part of the Pet Loss at Home network, a na- Now, grab your kids for a quick science blast, because ac-
tionwide service that recruits veterinarians to partner with them cording to Laura, the widely accepted belief that organic mate-
to provide private pet euthanasia. Dr. Padgelek and Dr. Bender rial simply decomposes into nothingness in a landfill is wrong!
not only help families navigate the difficulty of knowing when it’s “What people don’t realize is that yes, the material does
time to say goodbye to their beloved pet companions, these vets disappear,” Laura says, “but when things such as food scraps
come into your home to quietly and painlessly end your pet’s life decompose in a landfill without the presence of oxygen, the
in a caring and compassionate way. scraps turn into methane gas, which has the capacity to speed
House Calls Veterinary Service global warming far more than carbon dioxide.”
(serves Cranberry and surrounding areas) BAM.
724-898-7833 • www.doctorcatt.com Worm Return provides containers for households and busi-
nesses and comes to pick them up and replace them
with fresh containers once or twice a week.
The Worm Return website fascinated me so much
Pittsburgh Mobile that I studied every page and every product they
Veterinary Services sell, like red wiggler worms (sold by the ½ pound)
and Worm Tea, a liquid that Laura describes as a
www.pghmobilevet. “soil amendment,” but looks alarming like a gallon
jug of something I’d pour over a tall glass of ice.
com What excites me most about this mobile service is
the opportunity for parents and kids to learn science
facts about the environment, gas emission, organic
farming, and landfills every time they pop a banana
peel into the Worm Return container.
“What I do teaches kids science and math, and they don’t
Pittsburgh Mobile Veterinary Services
even realize it,” Laura says.
(serves 20 mile radius around Pittsburgh center)
Worm Return is a service that is worth its weight in gold… or
412-509-8215
red wiggler worms.
www.pghmobilevet.com
Worm Return
Pgh Pets at Home
www.wormreturn.com.
(Euthanasia services)
So, we have explored some old, some new and maybe some
412-346-1177
surprising mobile services that are available in the Pittsburgh
pghpetsathome.com
region. I challenge you to keep your eyes open all around town
and join the local mobile movement! ■
Ann K. Howley is a Pittsburgh-based writer and
House Calls Veterinary blogger. Check out her website at annkhowley.com.
Service
www.doctorcatt.com
12 APRIL 2021 PittsburghParent.comDON’T CHANGE THE WAY THEY LEARN.
CHANGE THE WAY THEY’RE TAUGHT.
TO ENROLL NOW, GO TO AGORA.ORG.
enrollment@agora.org | Phone: 844-462-4672 | Agora.org | Public School Tuition Paid By PA. Taxpayers
PittsburghParent.com APRIL 2021 13Budgeting after baby By Sarah Lyons
abies cost a lot of money! Diapers, Formula buying gently used clothing and/or ask-
formula, clothes and baby gear Breastfeeding is not always an op- ing friends for hand me downs. If you
can take a huge chunk out of your tion for families for a variety of reasons want new items, buy less than you think
monthly budget. Some families and formula is pricey. Coupons and you will need because they are used for
find that with the cost of child care or rebates are readily available from the only a short time.
reducing to a single income makes the
adjustment even more difficult than
manufacturer. Go to the manufacturer’s Child care
website and sign up for additional cou-
expected. Here are some tips to cut pons and have friends and family do the To save money on childcare, you
down on spending. same. You can also ask your obstetri- have to get creative. Ideas include hav-
cian and pediatrician for free formula ing a family or friend watch the baby at
Trimming your baby budget samples. a lower rate, trading babysitting with
another family, or alternating shifts with
Diapers
Baby gear your partner to reduce time in child
To save on diapers, consider switch- care. Some companies offer flexible
ing to cloth. Modern cloth diapers are Car seat, stroller, high chair, bouncer,
swing and more. There sure is a lot of spending plans to pay for child care
easy to use and come in cute designs. with pre-tax money.
The initial cost is typically $10-20 per gear for someone so small and it seems
each item costs $100, often more. It’s
diaper, but they can be reused for
wise to buy a new car seat that meets Trimming other areas
years.
If cloth diapers aren’t for your family, current safety standards but all the Wardrobe
there are still ways to save money on other items can be purchased gently The key to saving money on adult
disposable diapers. Check manufac- used and later sold again when your clothing is to shop for versatile pieces
turer websites for high dollar coupons family no longer needs them. that can be worn many different ways. A
and combine with store sales. Generic Baby clothes solid color top can be worn with jeans,
diapers are another great way to save slacks or a skirt and paired with a scarf,
Babies grow fast! It doesn’t make necklace, jacket or worn alone for a
and they are typically comparable to sense to spend a lot on several cute
name brand. variety of looks. Once you have your
baby outfits when your child outgrows key pieces, only buy clothing when you
them only a few weeks later. Consider really need them.
Food
There are several ways to cut costs
in this area. Purchasing groceries with
coupons, on sale or generic brands
can save money. Also, consider making
items from scratch and eating out less
to help trim your food budget. A quick
google search will provide you with
several $5 meals ideas.
Entertainment
Just because a new baby is in the
house doesn’t mean that you have to
stop enjoying entertainment but you
might need to approach a night out in a
new way. You do not have to go without
movies, concerts or area attractions
but you should check deal sites to see
if there are any options available to
you. This will require planning ahead
to make sure it fits into the budget and
that you have childcare covered, if nec-
essary. Also consider if items like cable
or streaming subscriptions are neces-
sary. Choose to pay for the entertain-
ment you use and enjoy.
Reduce
Our homes are filled with items we
rarely use. Consider selling these items
to put extra cash in your hand that can
be used for all those new baby expens-
es. Have a garage sale, utilize con-
signment sales, or sell items in online
marketplaces.
14 APRIL 2021 PittsburghParent.comJoin the Achieva
Early Intervention
Community
ON OUR EXCLUSIVE
FACEBOOK PAGE!
Access to child development information,
insight from Achieva Early Intervention
therapists and experts, plus more!
Join us, and the conversation, today!
Sign up for our monthly E-blast! @AchievaEarlyIntervention
Go to: or scan the
QR Code:
1. www.pittsburghparent.-
com/e-blast-signup/
2. add your email and
3. then verify it through your email.*
Pittsburgh Parent is the one and only local
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deliver it straight to your inbox every month!
Achieva is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation
Signing up is voluntary and you can
* 412.995.5000 • www.Achievaearlyintervention.org
unsubscribe whenever you want.
Trim expenses
Look at the family budget and
evaluate where you can easily trim
expenses. Do you belong to a gym,
have club memberships, subscriptions,
or other monthly bills that you do not
use enough to justify the expense?
Discuss with your partner whether some
of these items can be cut to free up the
money for other expenses.
DIY
A simple way to save money is to
do things yourself. Cleaning and lawn
services are nice but expensive. Taking
care of it yourself is free. Instead of
paying someone to repair or remodel
things around the house, try it yourself
first and save the money you would
have spent on labor.
Bringing home a new baby is an
adjustment in many ways and financial
priorities may have shifted in your fam-
ily. In time, you will adjust to your new
lifestyle and budget and you will feel
comfortable with budgeting after baby.
n
Sarah Lyons is a stay at home mom
of six children, including two year old
triplets. She has learned to cut costs
and save money in a variety of ways
over the years as they added to their
family.
PittsburghParent.com APRIL 2021 15PITTSBURGH PARENT
SUMMER ACTIVITIES &CAMP GUIDE
What to for day
pack camp
By Tanni Haas, Ph.D.
ou’ve found a great day camp wet wipes and instruct them on how
for your kids, signed them up, to use it properly and frequently.
and are getting them ready
for all the fun ahead. But what
Insect repellent and
should you pack for them every
anti-Itch cream
day? Drawing on my own experi- A day in the park or in woods can
ences as a seasoned parent of day be a nightmare if they don’t have insect
campers, I’ve compiled the following list repellent. If they get bitten, anti-itch
of things to pack. cream will help relieve any discomfort.
Food and snacks
Bag pack Kids need lots of energy for the
Money for treats
Buy a lightweight yet durable and many camp activities. Pack one or two Pack a couple of dollars for treats.
roomy bag pack, like fabric or nylon. It’s sandwiches and some healthy snacks You don’t want your kids to be the only
useful if it has many compartments, so in case they get hungry before and/or ones without money if the camp makes
that you can put different items in differ- after lunch. Put all the food in a thermal a pit stop at the ice cream truck.
ent places, including an outside pocket bag so that it stays cool and fresh all Playing cards
for the water bottle. day.
Sometimes, the campers will spend
Baseball cap and sunglasses Hand sanitizer and wet wipes an hour or more on a bus en route to a
It can get hot, especially if they’re Let’s face it: Kids get dirty, espe- destination. Playing cards can help your
spending much or all of the day outside. cially if they’re spending a lot of time kids connect with other campers and
Shades and a hat will keep them cool outside. Pack some hand sanitizer and pass the time in a fun way.
and comfortable.
16 APRIL 2021 Summer Activities & Camp Guide PittsburghParent.comHOW WE EXPLORE
Learning outdoors allows
students to experience nature
firsthand and connect their
discoveries to academic
disciplines. Our Country Day
School students write nature
poems in our treehouse
classroom – the only one of its
kind in Western Pennsylvania!
How will you foster your
child’s need to explore?
BECAUSE “HOW” MATTERS
PK-12 • Four Campuses
VISIT OPPORTUNITIES SHADYSIDEACADEMY.ORG/VISIT
Plastic or ziploc bags Windbreaker
Pack a couple of plastic bags or, It can get chilly later in the day, even
even better, Ziploc bags. These are if it starts out warm and sunny. Pack a
great for any wet items like swimsuits or lightweight windbreaker or a hoody. Both
towels. will protect your kids against any rain.
Prescription medication … And a little surprise
If your kids are young, give the camp Once you’re done packing, put a
counselors any prescription medication little surprise item (a favorite snack, an
to carry. If they’re older, they most likely I-love-you note) in a place where you I am honored to be voted
would want to carry the medication know your kids will look, Wexford’s Businessperson
themselves. like in the lunch box. of the Year!
It’ll put a smile on their Thank you for your support!
Sunscreen faces and ensure they
Sunscreen is important to protect have a great day. Beth Rupert
your kids from sunburn. Teach them
how to apply it properly. As with insect Finally, label all of Solid Foundations Academy, LLC
repellent, you don’t want them to get it their things includ-
ing their lunches. We are BUILDING your child’s FUTURE!
in the eyes, ears, or mouth. Apply it in
the morning before they leave for camp Day campers are An academic hub for the ENTIRE FAMILY
often asked to servicing people from six weeks up to geriatrics.
and encourage them to reapply during
the day. take out their • All-Day/Drop-In Childcare
lunches and put • Kindergarten Enrichment
Swimming gear them in a com- • Academic Preschool
i
Many day camps include weekly munal box, which • Summer Camps
trips to the pool or the beach. Always is carried by one of • Mastery
have swimming gear packed: bathing the camp counselors. It can be difficult • Academic Remediation,
suit and cap, goggles, a towel, and to tell which lunch belongs to who if it’s Enrichment, and Tutoring
water shoes. not labeled. n • Before/After School Care
• Special Needs Programming
Water bottle Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in • Family/Community Events
Pack a reusable water bottle, ideally the Department of Communication Arts,
in an easily accessible compartment. Sciences, and Disorders at The City Uni- SolidFoundationsAcademy1@gmail.com
Put the bottle in the freezer overnight versity of New York – Brooklyn College. SolidFoundationsAcademy.com
so that it stays cool and fresh all day. 724-799-8038
PittsburghParent.com Summer Activities & Camp Guide APRIL 2021 17Virtual
Camps –
The Pros
&
The Cons
to play chess? Do magic tricks? Write
music? Improve soccer skills? Build a
submarine? Explore ancient wonders of
the world?
By Ann K. Howley There is no limit to virtual learning.
An online program probably exists for
any topic that interests your child and
lthough online learning has been can hardly wait to shake off the school virtual camps are not restricted by loca-
around for decades, virtual year and get into summer. However, tion. You don’t need to travel to Paris
camps turned into a popu- since it’s too soon to know when mitiga- for your eight-year-old to be trans-
lar alternative last summer. tion efforts and new vaccines will finally ported to the Louvre to learn to speak
After months of fearing both known put covid in our rearview mirror, virtual French in an immersive online language
and unknown risks of the coronavirus, camping will likely continue to be an camp (languagekids.com). And what kid
virtual camping gave kids a chance to option for the foreseeable future. wouldn’t love stars like Jennifer Garner,
learn, socialize and enjoy summer camp Drew Barrymore or LeBron James to be
fun from the comfort and safety of their The pros their camp “counselors” every day at
homes. There’s a virtual camp for Camp Walmart (camp.eko.com)?
Now after a solid year of coping with every interest
pandemic life and remote learning, kids Cost
Does your child want to learn how Traditional summer camps are
Open to student of all faiths, races, and national origins.
TOURS AVAILABLE
Schedule a Private Tour By Appointment.
Go to SaintJosephHS.com
for a new Virtual Tour!
Enrolling Freshmen & Transfer Students
18 APRIL 2021 Summer Activities & Camp Guide PittsburghParent.comexpensive. In 2019, the American Camp
Association estimated that the average
weekly rate for day camps ranged from
Camp Deer Creek . . . since 1933
$199 to $800, while overnight camps
could cost between $680 and $2,000
per week.
Last year, many camp providers who
switched to a virtual platform reevaluat-
ed and adjusted their pricing structures,
since the costs and fees associated
with online programming are generally
lower than in-person camping. Reduced
tuition is, of course, good news for par- Pittsburgh’s Oldest & Finest Family Owned & Operated Children’s Day Camp
ents. But the better news is that there is
June 14 - August 6, 2021 • Transportation provided in many Pittsburgh areas
a wide variety of online camp providers
who offer classes for free. For ideas, Ages 4 - 15 • campdeercreekonline.com • 412-767-5351
check out summercamphub.com/free-
online-summer-camps.
Structure
If there is one thing that homebound
SUMMER CAMPS AT DRAGON'S DEN!
parents, teachers and kids have learned Outdoor Explorers: June 28-July 2, Ages 7-13 1008 Amity Street
One minute from The Waterfront
over the past year, it’s the importance Connect with nature in our backyard!
of keeping a schedule. As challenging Circus in the Sky: July 5-9, Ages 7-10
as remote learning has been for the Become a ringmaster at the Dragon's Den Cosmic Circus!
educators and families, having a daily Myths and Magic: July 5-9, Ages 7-10
Dazzle and amaze your friends with illusions!
plan with goals and assignments helped
keep everyone afloat. Dragon’s Spotlight: July 12-23, Ages 10-18
Find your voice on the Dragon's Den stage and ropes course!
Having a set summer schedule,
Dragon’s Laboratory: July 26-30, Ages 7-13
even weeks in advance, gives children Explore science in the world around you and on our course!
a sense of normalcy. When kids have
Strong Like a Dragon: Aug 2-6, Ages 7-13
something to look forward to every day, Push yourself to new athletic heights!
especially online classes that person- @DragonsDenPGH
ally interest and excite them, it brings Information at dragonsdenpgh.org/summer-camps/
needed structure to their lives.
The cons to have firewalls in place to protect a
More screen time child’s personal information from being
Looking Forward to Brighter Days!
Even before covid, parents were shared, but these regulations only apply
already worrying about how much to organizations that fall under federal
time their kids spend staring at digital regulation, so most camps do not have
screens every day. Child behavioral spe- to meet these guidelines. Parental
cialists have long warned that unlimited controls are not consistent between the
screen time could be harmful for chil- programs, and even with safety precau-
dren and could contribute to behavior, tions in place, these apps may still be
academic and sleep difficulties, plus vulnerable to unwanted visitors with ill
obesity and increased risk for mental intent, such as “Zoombombers,” who
health problems like depression. hack into calls to share explicit content
The American Academy of Pediatrics or graphic language.
offers guidance on setting reasonable
There is no substitute for fresh air
limits on digital media based on age,
and parents should consider these and socialization
guidelines when making decisions Virtual camping will never replace
about their children’s online activities. traditional summer camp experiences
that take place in person at parks,
Virtual camps are only as reliable pools, schools and classrooms. Online
as the technology they use interaction is different from the psycho-
Nobody expected that Zoom would logical and emotional connection that
be the technology darling of 2020, but occurs when kids participate together in
early last year when much of the country a community environment.
sheltered in place, virtual platforms However virtual camping provided
like Zoom, Skype, YouTube, Twitch, a lifeline for many children and their
and Google Meet suddenly became families last summer, and even when
important tools for educators, who the pandemic ends, virtual camps could Summer 2021
were scrambling to develop new online very well continue beyond the summer Join us at one of our two locations,
teaching protocols. There’s no doubt of 2021. n Bridgeville or Robinson
that these apps can help keep kids con- Call: 412-257-2000 or
nected and engaged. However, there Pittsburgh writer Ann K. Howley ad- Visit: www.thomasdance.com
are a few downsides. mits that she has learned to like Zoom. Camps, Classes, and Workshops for
Federal guidelines require programs all ages, all summer long!
PittsburghParent.com Summer Activities & Camp Guide APRIL 2021 19You can also read
