Abacus Mom

Too Much Publicity about ERB Prep?

Yes.  With the New York Times article about ERB prep books, the cat is out of the bag.

Prepping for kindergarten admission is rampant.  NYC private school admissions directors, who meet regularly to discuss admissions policies, are not going to sit idly by.  For many years, they have explicitly discouraged prepping.  Many parents (and educational consultants) haven't been listening, and now the news has hit the paper of record.

No admissions director likes getting snowed.  I predict that this year, while scores will still matter, children's performance at interviews and school reports, as well as parents' credentials, will be examined more carefully than ever. 

In my Preschoolers' Prep and other personalized programs, I continue to help families help their kids in ALL realms, and help parents present themselves in the best possible light.  If you are interested, please call ASAP because my September schedule is almost completely booked.  (For 2011 kindergarten admission, please call in late fall or Jan.)

Blogging Break

My busy season helping families through the private school admissions process begins in mid-August, so I need to significantly cut down my blogging for the next few weeks.

Good luck with the new school year!

Best ISEE Tutors

A top ISEE score is critical for admission to elite NYC private middle schools and high schools.  The best ISEE tutors book months in advance.

If you are interested in an introduction, you should contact me ASAP.  Tutoring starts months in advance of actual ISEE testing, which usually takes place in December.

Best Guide to Afterschool Activities in NYC

Time Out offers a great introduction to NYC with kids, and has the best listings of enrichment, party venues, etc.
Time Out New York Kids Magazine subscription

Good guides to raising a baby to preschooler in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
City Baby NYC
City Baby Brooklyn

Coming soon, the sequel:
City Kid New York: The Ultimate Guide for NYC Parents

Best Magazine for Preschoolers / Little Kids

Looking to get your child a magazine subscription?

As you may remember from your own childhood, kids love getting mail.  When I was a girl, receiving my Ranger Rick magazine was a thrill.

Even in the computer age, many kids like magazines.  If you want to get your preschooler or kindergartener a subscription to a quality magazine, this is the best one my clients and I have found:

Click

Click teaches kids about music, science, and nature, often including excerpts from quality picture books as well as original features such as "Click and the Kids".  

Best ERB Prep Toys?

These are the best-known and most popular kindergarten ERB prep toys: 

Mighty Mind

BrainQuest Cards

Parents always ask me: are they any good?

Or, do these prep toys provide productive test prep? 

While I have more effective toys in my clients' ERB prep arsenal, I do give both these toys a thumbs up if you want to give them a try.  Your kid should like playing with Mighty Mind, and talking with you about the card questions in BrainQuest.

Moving Documentary about Bipolar Disorder and Teen Suicide by New York Filmmakers

Last night I viewed Boy Interrupted, a moving and edifying documentary about bipolar disorder and teen suicide.  The movie was made by New York filmmakers Hart and Dana Perry, whose son Evan committed suicide at fifteen.

The Perrys' extensive film footage chronicling Evan's life from babyhood to adolescence shows a loving family who gave every possible attention to Evan.  Growing up in Manhattan, Evan attended PS 11 as well as the private school York Prep.  The Perry parents describe York as a nurturing school where Evan received a strong education and met a circle of caring, thoughtful friends.

The film has much to teach viewers.  First, symptoms of Evan's mental illness were evident even when Evan was a preschooler.  His involved parents noticed and sought help from therapists.  As an educational consultant who has done research about mental health and worked closely with Toby Glick of the New York firm ParentConfidante Special Needs Consulting, I have learned that emotional problems often start very young.  Parents need to be alert to symptoms.  The Perry parents certainly were.  They documented Evan's issues, helping them to help him.

The Perry parents also spoke highly of the Wellspring School , a therapeutic special education facility in Connecticut which they credit with having saved Evan's life, giving him another few years of function after an earlier suicide attempt.  The school's philosophy, that kids need to be taught that they are ultimately responsible for their actions and the consequences, is helpful for all families to know.

Tragically, ultimately nothing the Perry parents did allowed them to save Evan from himself.  This rare message--that the most loving, caring parents cannot always make things better--is a hard but honest truth.

NYC Classical Music Concerts for Little Kids

If you want to introduce your preschooler to classical music, do try The Little Orchestra Society Lolli-Pops Concerts for 3-5 year olds, and Happy Concerts for older children.  The Lolli-Pops Concerts feature four dancing costumed animals to represent the four families of the orchestra, providing young children with an accessible and delightful introduction to classical music.  I have sat through four years of Lolli-Pops Concerts and can personally attest that adults enjoy them too.

Best Books for Learning to Read

If your preschooler is showing interest in reading, you're probably interested in supplying her with some teaching materials.  I know that people ask me all the time about best learn-to-read workbooks. 

Over the years, I have spoken to a number of Manhattan reading experts, including Irene Daria, who runs the well-regarded Fun with Phonics reading course and tutoring program in Manhattan.

Remember that reading readiness occurs at different ages, so there is no need to rush your child.  I have known many late readers who once they learned, became great readers!  Hearing of this always reminds me of the slow but ultimately successful lion in the children's book, Leo the Late Bloomer.

If your child wants to learn to read and you're game, here are a few goodies reading specialists have recommended to me:

Explode the Code Workbook series

Bob Books, Set 1  Beginning phonics readers

Starfall Learn to Read Phonics Book Set  More beginning phonics readers, great to use along with Starfall website

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons  Just what it says