Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/386368
4 Hudson Valley Parent ■ October 2014 In this issue 8 I am a Hudson Valley parent Rachel Napolitano: Fostering hope for children BY KATHLEEN WILLCOX 11 Do you ask? Learn the facts about guns in the home BY ALEXA BIGWARFE 12 The struggle with sleep Help your child with special needs get a better night's sleep BY MALIA JACOBSON 14 Join a local SEPTA How you can nd support with a Special Education PTA BY KELLY AURIEMMO 18 Pick o' the patch Reader photos of their favorite local pumpkin places! 20 Making the call Experts and parents weigh in on early intervention BY ELORA TOCCI 26 All hail the ice buckets! BY KATY WEBER COLUMNS FEATURES 6 Editor's Journal: I'm so glad I made the call BY KATY WEBER 7 Common Core @ Home: How does the Common Core aect children with special needs? 25 New Moms: Saving money with a new baby 30 Calendar: Great places to go and things to do 36 Marketplace: Hudson Valley products and services ON OUR COVER HV PARENT READER FEEDBACK Do you think parents should help their kids with their homework? "Yes, they should help as needed to show that they care about what their child is learning and that it's important to do. However, there is a huge difference between helping and doing it for them. Doing it for them teaches them nothing." — Meghan Craft "I sat with my daughter the whole time and I wish I had let her do it first and then go over it with her. It was a long 12 years." — Debbie Powell-Cole "No, not beyond making sure it gets done and helping them with time management. How is a teacher to know if a child is not getting a concept if we help?" — Mary Ann McCullough "Yes. Teachers know how a child is doing. Homework is just a piece of it." — Priscilla Morales "It really depends on the work and the age of the child. As a teach- er, I hope children attempt the work on their own. I only send review work from the lesson taught to help master the skill. If the child has difficulty, the parents may help or request I help the next day prior to school via e-mail. Homework should not be long or troublesome! As a parent, I hope my kids have teachers as understanding as I am." — Sara Howell This month's cover kid is Angelina Shaughnessy, 13 months. Angelina's favorite things to do are playing with her toys and watching her favorite movies: Tangled, Frozen, and The Croods. Photo by Michael Bloom