Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/173907
In this issue FEATURES 12 Does my child have ODD? How to diagnose and treat oppositional defiant disorder BY MEAGAN RUFFING 14 Superfoods to the rescue Lunchbox additions that won't break the bank 16 Zoonotic diseases 101 Can our pets make us sick? BY LAURA DANELLA 18 Healthy habits Getting your child to eat better, get fit at school 22 Germ busters! Help your kids battle the bugs in the classroom 24 The wonder years Why is middle school so dramatic? BY LAURA LICATA SULLIVAN 26 Costumes on a budget How to stretch your dollar this Halloween BY TIFFANY DOERR GUERZON 28 Fall family to-do list Our bucket list of 25 ways to experience autumn with your kids. BY LARA KRUPICKA 30 Make your ADHD child feel special Simple tricks to maintaining a positive parent-child relationship. BY GINA ROBERTS-GREY 33 Hudson Valley Baby Guide COLUMNS 6 Editor's Journal: Meet our new editor! BY KATY WEBER 8 Child Behavior: Navigating the Internet BY DR. PAUL SCHWARTZ 10 Family Life: Pumpkin art for little fingers 44 Calendar: Great festivals and farm events 49 Marketplace: Hudson Valley products and services 38 Restaurant Review: A day at Daddy O's ON OUR COVER This month's cover kid is Sophie, a 9-year old from Hopewell Junction who loves modeling and acting. According to mom, Sophie writes her own scripts and tapes her performances. We may be seeing a budding star. The Hudson Valley Baby Guide cover kid is Stephen, an 10-month-old from Coldenham. He likes books, fire trucks and being outside exploring his world photo by Kit DeFever; KitDeFever.com 4 Hudson Valley Parent n October 2013 What's happening only at hvparent.com HVP'S SOCIAL STORIES We asked our Facebook friends what they thought of the Department of Education's proposal to eliminate the "2 percent" rule in assessing students with disabilities. Here's what they had to say: "When does reality come into the picture? Every child is not college bound, and there is nothing wrong with that. Will we not need mechanics and plumbers in the near future? We are not all academics. This is another illogical and hurtful move that doesn't meet the needs of students." — Susan A. Dowling, Stormville "This sets students up for failure, plain and simple. Discouraged students drop out. How is that better for our society?" — Dawn Green, Saugerties "Why don't we just get to the real root of the problem — $$$$$." — Sara Howell, Monroe "Sadly, I think our educational system is moving toward a 'one-sizefits-all,' check-box system that will make it increasingly difficult for children of all abilities to move ahead. All of these efforts are to prepare our children for the demands of college. When they graduate, they won't be able to afford college because funding options for college are limited. Our government and the DOE are creating their own Catch-22." — Roxanne Ferber, Saugerties