Ach! Growing Pains
by Karen on 2/02/12 | 8 Comment(s)
We thought we were golden with our 3.5 year old’s sleep pattern: um, yeah, right! We have had lots of middle-of-the-night wakeups from nightmares and now- growing pains. When our son wails from the pain, I get it. I had them too. But, what I don’t get is what they are and how to help [...]
Chalkboard Paint Just Grew Up!
by Karen on 1/31/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Chalkboard paint has gotten a color facelift! Though we love to draw on a chalkboard as much as anyone, having a wall of dark grey in a room can be a bit….drab. Hudson Paint, a small paint manufacturer in the Hudson River Valley, has become the Pantone deck of chalkboard paint. Now, any chalkboard can [...]
10 Most Common Car Seat Installation Mistakes
by Karen on 1/30/12 | 4 Comment(s)
I know I’ve made about 4 of these car seat installation mistakes and I’m pretty sure that I’m not alone. In fact, I know I’m not: studies show that 82 percent or 9 out of 10 car seats are not installed and used correctly. Even more upsetting? Crashes are the leading cause of death for [...]
Big Movies for Little Kids Start Up This Monday
by Karen on 1/20/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Nothing beats the cold more than a good movie and snuggling up to your …..baby, toddler or little kid! If you love classic movies and want to share them with your child in an actual theatre, then head out to the popular series Big Movies for Little Kids. This series, begun by two mothers, is [...]
Kids Can Try a New Language for Free
by Karen on 1/16/12 | 0 Comment(s)
If your child can say “nǐhǎo” and “gracias”, you might not worry so much about them saying “please” and “thank you” in English. This week and next, two language programs are offering the opportunity to give both Spanish and Mandarin a try with your tikes- for free! Lango Kids NYC Free Trial Mandarin Class It [...]
DOE Announces Kindergarten Application Deadlines (we have PreK too)
by Karen on 1/10/12 | 3 Comment(s)
Sharpen your pencils, get out your walking shoes and get ready for the kindergarten application season! It’s not fun, but by the end of it, hopefully you will be happy with where your child ends up. Here’s the scoop! The kindergarten application period is open from January 9, 2012 through March 2, 2012. Visit the [...]
A New Playspace Opens Today: Get In Line To Check It Out
by Karen on 1/09/12 | 3 Comment(s)
With the grand opening of Frolic! today in Williamsburg, you have even more options for indoor play this winter. Located in the new condominium building, The Edge, Frolic has the advantage of lots of space (approximately 5,000 square feet), ground floor access and ample stroller parking. The soft opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was on [...]
Looking to volunteer as a family for the holidays?
by Karen on 12/21/11 | 2 Comment(s)
“Small hands can bring big changes.” It’s the perfect time of year for your kids to see how true that statement is. From making cards to holding someone’s hand, there is great potential to make a difference. We found some wonderful opportunities for your family to help out this holiday season. Stockings with Care Stockings [...]
Build A Bath Bomb! Construct A Catapult! Winter Field Trips For Girls
by Karen on 12/14/11 | 0 Comment(s)
I’m pretty sure you aren’t thinking about summer camp yet, but Curious Jane , a popular summer program for girls, wants to help you with your winter camp plans! If you have a daughter that might be interested in making toys, trying a trapeze, building a catapult or making bath bombs, get your mouse ready! [...]
Inexpensive Family Theatre: including the Nutcracker
by Karen on 11/14/11 | 0 Comment(s)
If you are looking for reasonably-priced tickets to dance, theatre and music, some of the best deals around can be had at Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College. Thanks to big corporation sponsorship (Target for the family series), seats are available for less than a movie ticket price. $7 for a Nutcracker [...]
Free Forum For Pre-K Families
by Karen on 11/14/11 | 3 Comment(s)
The DOE (Department of Education) loves their acronyms, so if you are getting started in the admission process- let me start by saying: The OECE (Office of Early Childhood Education) is doing a series of information sessions on Pre-K (Pre-Kindergarten) and UPK (Universal Pre-Kindergarten) next month. Got that?! These sessions are intended to help parents [...]
50% Discount On My Fav Vitamins For My Fav Readers
by Karen on 11/09/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Last year I wrote about my triumph in finding the perfect multivitamin for my children. Yes, some go on a quest to find themselves, but my 3 year quest was to find the ideal kid’s vitamin! SmartyPants gummy is an all-in-one vitamin that has BOTH the Omega-3s and 100% of recommended daily vitamins. Forget that [...]
Got a Karate Kid in Brooklyn…or maybe it’s you?
by Jimmy on 11/09/11 | 5 Comment(s)
Remember the movie The Karate Kid? A boy moves from New Jersey to Los Angeles and gets bullied. His new neighborhood and the kids he has to go to school with actually make him miss New Jersey! This goes on until the gardener/handyman gives the boy some chores, which vaguely resemble karate moves. Thirty minutes [...]
Daylight savings sleep tips!
by Karen on 11/04/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Daylight savings is coming up this Sunday: this is when we move our clocks back one hour and “gain” an extra hour. Even just an hour change can be a disruption in your child’s (*and yours!) sleeping. Janeen Hayward, a parent consultant at Swell Being, was kind enough to share her daylight savings sleep tips [...]
Mathnasium: One Solution to “U.S. Teens Are Among Worst At Math”
by Karen on 11/04/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Here’s what I like to think: my kids will be in high school, take the SAT’s (those looovely tests), and do well enough on both the verbal and math components to have a choice selection of colleges to attend. Until recently, I didn’t realize that I may be dead wrong. Results from Education Next’s study [...]
Meatloaf Mummies, Witches Fingers, Spider Cupcakes
by Karen on 10/20/11 | 3 Comment(s)
Brooklyn goes a little bit crazy on Halloween: how do we know? How about the 66 Halloween events we have listed for Brooklyn parents and their little witches?! Carroll Gardens mom and blogger, Maggie da Silva, has found a way to get your little urchins to eat something of Halloween fun before trick or treating. [...]
Researching Schools in Brooklyn- Which Sites Give You What
by Serena on 10/18/11 | 1 Comment(s)
Growing up in Brooklyn I don’t ever remember my own mother researching schools – we simply went to the school that was in our neighborhood. And now? As parents, we discuss zoning, applying out of zone, G & Ts, charters, magnets- and it isn’t enough to just discuss it sometimes: you really need to research [...]
My Favorite Handmade Halloween Costumes (and you don’t have to make them yourself!)
by Karen on 10/11/11 | 3 Comment(s)
Just for fun I have been searching Etsy for innovative, creative and hilarious costumes- I didn’t have to search for too long. This Red Angry Birds Tutu gave me a huge laugh. From LittlePiggysMarket for $64. Love this Frankenstein mask and it would be easy to pair this with ripped clothes for the full effect. [...]
Library fines? Fuhgeddaboudit!
by Karen on 9/22/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Does your family have library fines because of a little forgetfulness? If you have been afraid to come back to the library because of some hefty fines- rejoice! New York City’s three library systems are teaming up to give children and teens across the five boroughs the opportunity to eliminate their prior fines and fees [...]
Want To Join A Babysitting Co-Op? We’ll Tell You How
by Karen on 9/21/11 | 1 Comment(s)
Do you want to meet other parents, have a date night and make playdates for your children? Join a babysitting co-op! The parents of the 1970′s had it right when they realized that instead of paying for babysitters, they could pay “in kind” for a swinging night out with their partner. Times have changed, but [...]
Radiators- childproofing and safety
by Karen on 9/16/11 | 6 Comment(s)
Now that we are in September, those of us less inclined to the cold chill, have started our heat. That means steaming hot radiators and floor-to-ceiling scalding hot pipes. How do you child proof them and do you really need to? The short answers are: many ways, and definitely yes, yes! First: Is your landlord [...]
Get your head around Brooklyn schools at SchoolFest
by Karen on 9/15/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Everyone knows how daunting the NYC school search can be- you only need to watch Nursery University to get a taste of it. Whether you are just beginning to look into daycare, schools or are looking for middle or high schools, this week’s SchoolFest can help you. This school fair by TownSquare, invites all schools [...]
New Preschool, Classes and Afterschool Care from Bija Kids
by Karen on 8/16/11 | 1 Comment(s)
It’s a good day in school-starved Brooklyn when we can announce that a new preschool is opening. It’s an even better day when we can announce that it’s a preschool that we know will be of high quality. Bija Kids, a reputable and locally loved yoga school and camp for kids, is opening a preschool [...]
Where to donate clothing, toys, baby items and…everything!
by Karen on 8/01/11 | 18 Comment(s)
I had 2 readers write in asking if we could do a post on where to donate used kids’ and household items. It is the perfect time of year to clean out and declutter your kids’ toy boxes and book shelves. So, box up the old baby items, strollers, swings and even stuffed animals- and [...]
Homemade bubble blower for all ages
by Karen on 8/01/11 | 1 Comment(s)
We went to a May fest and one of the things we learned besides “choose one of the top ribbons on the pole or you get twisted up”, was “how to make a bubble blower.” It’s better than any of those bubble machines you can buy and it costs next to nothing. This homemade toy [...]
