Dive In and Learn the Hows and Whys of Public Schools

    by Karen on 5/24/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    This is something that keeps me up at night:  where will my kids go to school? Finding and considering the options are intimidating and nerve-racking but I know I am not alone.  However daunting the process is, it doesn’t mean I’m going to bury my head in the sand.  Deep breath……exhale…..dive in! Even if your [...]

    Sand: What You Need To Know Before Getting In the Sandbox This Summer

    by Jill on 5/23/12 | 5 Comment(s)

    My kids happily play in the sand – beach or sandbox – for hours at a time. Now that Jenn has outgrown the sand-eating phase and is almost out of the sand-throwing phase, it’s fun for all of us. I have rolled my eyes at my friend who won’t let her daughters play in the [...]

    Cool Map Games for Kids

    by Karen on 5/18/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Are you searching for a fun way to teach geography to your kid…and maybe brush up on it yourself? Here are a few that I really like: Rethinking Schools’ Map Game This map game is easy to follow. Just drag a country’s name to its proper place. I admit I made quite a few mistakes- [...]

    Our Family Vitamin: Smartypants Offering Discount + Win Gift Card

    by Karen on 5/17/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    In my family, there are 3 things that we do religiously for our health: Drink power shakes. See my recipe here. Eat vitamins. Walk. (That’s pretty easy to accomplish in Brooklyn). Anyone that hangs out in our home knows that I always have a power shake in the fridge and vitamins on our kitchen table. [...]

    Added New Free Super Soccer Stars Class

    by Karen on 5/16/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    We have had such a great response to the free Super Soccer Stars classes we are offering to our readers, that we opened up 2 more additional classes. Here is the full class lineup for this Sunday. Sunday, May 20th Ages            Time 2-3            9:15-9:55 am (just announced). Please RSVP here if you want a spot! [...]

    Albee Square Summer Concerts Begin This Week

    by Karen on 5/14/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Last summer, Brooklyn got a great new addition to the lineup of summer concert series: the Albee Square Summer Concert Series. These free concerts every other Thursday are geared to kids and their caregivers. There is usually plenty of seating- whether in your stroller, steps or chairs and ample room for dancing too!  The Fulton [...]

    Exclusive Free Class with Super Soccer Stars for Our Readers

    by Karen on 5/08/12 | 2 Comment(s)

    Try soccer for free with our exclusive Super Soccer Stars classes next Sunday.  We took the class for 4 semesters so I can attest to its great coaches and solid programming. If you don’t know about Super Soccer Stars – they teach soccer skills in a fun, non-competitive and educational environment. Through an age-specific curriculum, [...]

    Rock N Roll Hits High Note At Frolic! Playspace

    by Karen on 4/27/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Last week we finally visited Frolic!, the new children’s play space in Williamsburg but the reviews we have heard were right on: it is the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll play space. Located at The Edge’s brand new luxury waterfront property, Frolic! is a 5,00o square foot space that features an indoor play area, private party [...]

    Get Inside An Ambulance, Tow Truck and Garbage Truck for Touch A Truck This Weekend

    by Karen on 4/26/12 | 1 Comment(s)

    Do you have a kid who’s mot0r vehicle obsessed? Would your kid flip out to climb inside an ambulance or get behind the wheel of a tow truck? Building on the popularity of last year’s event, Touch-A-Truck Brooklyn 2012 will have more than 20 vehicles for your kids to touch and explore. This year the [...]

    Do You Have A Tooth Grinder In Your Home?

    by Karen on 4/25/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Have you ever heard your child grind her teeth or seen her clench her jaw? I heard my son grinding his teeth the other night and wondered if he was going to have any baby teeth left! I cringed: was he under stress at just 5 years old?! Medically, this gesture is called “Bruxism”.  Just [...]

    Get Nailed! A Party For Moms!

    by Karen on 4/20/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    I am really excited about this party we are having with Babeland and Polish Bar BK. It’s been in the works for a couple of months- and it’s finally here! So….Get Nailed with us! Get Nailed! Mom’s Party with Babeland, Polish Bar BK and A Child Grows in Brooklyn Need a break from the stroller [...]

    7 A.M. Enfant Sample Sale This Friday

    by Karen on 4/17/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Not too long ago, a lot us ran around to the sample sales in Soho, scavenging for designer duds at half price. It seems those days are mostly over as we hunt for deals for our kids’ closets instead. This Friday, I, along with parents from all over NYC, will descend on Beekman Street for [...]

    Blew My Tiara Off: Princess Party Gone Elegant

    by Karen on 4/17/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    I’ve never felt more sorry for doing plastic superhero tablecloths and throwaway goodie bags than I did when I went to a recent 3 year old’s birthday party. When I walked in, I thought I had opened up the pages of Martha Stewart’s Living Magazine. This was the most elegant princess party I have ever [...]

    Vitamin D: Why You and Your Kids Need it NOW

    by Jill on 4/13/12 | 1 Comment(s)

    This morning at breakfast, I remembered that the kids and I hadn’t taken our vitamins since before vacation, a week ago.  Not really a big deal, though with all the press that vitamin D has gotten lately, I made sure the kids and I took ours today. What can happen if we don’t have enough [...]

    Blast from the Past: Streamers- but for Scooters!

    by Karen on 4/12/12 | 3 Comment(s)

    A lot of Brooklyn kids “surf the sidewalk” with their scooters as they glide to and from school and the playground.  It seems the scooter of choice for the 3-5 year old set in Brooklyn is the mini-kick. It’s almost impossible to pass any park and not see those 3-wheeled Swiss scooters all lined up [...]

    New Daycare Opens with Play Based Arts Program

    by Karen on 4/12/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Over the last five years, I have visited loads of daycares and schools for the blog, so it’s exciting when I can suggest a daycare that I think is worth looking into for your child.  Sitters Studio , a well respected sitting service with a recently opened daycare in Carroll Gardens is expanding with a [...]

    Got a G&T Notice? Now What? 2 Events For You

    by Karen on 4/12/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Parents are receiving their child’s G&T scores this week, which means that some families are now looking at new options for their children.  If your child scored between the 90th and 96th Percentile, your child is eligible to apply to District Gifted & Talented programs. If your child scored at or above the 97th Percentile, [...]

    A Day Trip To Queens with Adventure, Sprinklers and Science

    by Karen on 4/10/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    If you are looking for a phenomenal day of play with intellectual exploration, sprinklers and adventure….we have a great day trip for you in Queens. You can begin your Queens “play day” at The New York Hall of Science. Their recently opened Maker Space, a new space designed by the Brooklyn-based firm Situ Studio, will [...]

    Passover Craft: Frogs, frogs, frogs

    by Karen on 4/06/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    If you celebrate Passover then you know why frogs are important. Frogs were one of the ten plagues that Moses imposed upon the Egyptians to convince the Pharaoh to release the enslaved Jews. It took ten plagues for the Pharoah to relent. During the plague of the frogs, Moses sent hoardes of frogs from the [...]

    Raising Global Citizens: World Brooklyn Event

    by Karen on 3/26/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Are you raising your child bilingual? Or teaching them about different cultures, exposing them to other religions? Then you are raising a global child- a child that will be “at home in the world.” Maybe you are just starting to investigate these ideas and wonder how to engage your child in the larger world. This [...]

    Yee Haw! Bike Swap and Rodeo NEXT Weekend

    by Karen on 3/22/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    There’s a rodeo happening in Brooklyn next weekend! Well, a bike rodeo- so instead of donning cowboy hats, strap on those bike helmets and get ready for a full day of all things cycling. P.S. 261 is hosting the Bike Rodeo and Bike Swap where you can get bike tune-ups, learn to ride, swap out [...]

    Southpaw Closed- NY Kids Club Opening in Park Slope

    by Karen on 3/18/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    Don’t feel sorry for the former owner of the historic music venue Southpaw- he’s happy to get out of Park Slope. “I’m kind of over Park Slope — it’s not a destination for nightlife anymore,” said Palms, who also owns Public Assembly NYC in Williamsburg. “It’s time to go.” And, with that, the djs and [...]

    Sassy Pippi Comes to Brooklyn on Monday

    by Karen on 3/15/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    If you love classic movies and want to share them with your child in an actual theater, then head out to the popular series Big Movies for Little Kids. This series, begun by two mothers, is meant to be totally casual: no one minds if your child bursts into tears or runs into the aisles. [...]

    Join the Fastest Growing Sport in America- Lacrosse in Brooklyn

    by Karen on 2/13/12 | 1 Comment(s)

    Lacrosse is a big deal in our house and I was thrilled to learn that this year, The Brooklyn Crescents Lacrosse Club has expanded their program to include PreK kids. That means I can get two kids out on the field this year!  According to the 2011 Sporting Goods Manufacturer Association Participation Report, Lacrosse is [...]

    Miss Your Dancing Days? Get Your Disco Pants On….

    by Karen on 2/13/12 | 0 Comment(s)

    If you have been pining away for your lost nights of dancing and raves, kiss those sad thoughts away. You can dance your disco pants off but now you can get home early with no hangover and entertain your kids at the same time.  Baby Loves Disco is a huge disco party where you can [...]