Jessica Laird

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

YMCA Offers Affordable Day Camps, Sleepaway Camps, and Specialty Summer Programs for All Ages

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 02/06/2018 - 10:00am

With more than twenty locations that proudly served a combined total of over 12,000 young New Yorkers last year alone, you're unlikely to make it through all those parenting listserv threads about summer coverage without coming across YMCA's much-loved camps. Offering fun-filled early childhood options for tots, traditional sleepaway options for tweens and teens, and specialty programs focusing on everything from STEAM to soccer, it's no surprise the popular programming has been a hit with parents and kids across the city since 1885.

Audio Stories That Entertain Kids Anytime and Anywhere from Pinna

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sat, 02/03/2018 - 12:30pm

The screen time struggle is real. So, I can't imagine I'm the only parent who's quite literally all ears when they hear that kids' podcasts and audiobooks are officially a thing now. On-demand audio programming certainly feels like the perfect way to bring some screen-free entertainment to playtime, add a little excitement to the bath, or even just wind down before bed, but finding awesome options for kids can be really hard. Enter a new subscription-based service called Pinna, which is packed with Peabody-winning original series, popular podcasts, and favorite audiobooks for listeners ages 4 to 12 — and zero commercials — making it a major parenting win. Read on to find out more and get a free 7-day membership to try it out.

Winter 2018 Classes That Long Island Kids of All Ages Will Want To Try

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sun, 01/07/2018 - 10:33am

Gold Medal Gymnastics has been a leading gymnastics center on Long Island since 1973.

Baby, it's cold outside! And that means it's time to sign up for winter-worthy indoor activities. Luckily, Long Island serves up something for everyone, from infants to teens.

Warm up at a fitness class designed for new parents and their babies, or swim lessons in a heated aquatic center. Get kids moving and expressing their creativity with gym or art classes, or join a culturally rich sing-along for tots. The possibilities are seemingly endless. Search our Classes Guide and Directory Listings by type or location to help find the perfect fit.

Read on for some great options across Long Island that'll get you and the kids out of the house to have some serious fun. Snag a spot by enrolling now before the temperature drops any lower!

Great Classes in Manhattan To Try in Winter 2018 for Tots To Teens

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 01/02/2018 - 10:05am

Circuitry meets art-making at the Children's Museum of the Arts' Invention Lab.

When the weather gets chilly, classes can be a total lifesaver. Luckily, New York City delivers an unbelievable array of options for babies through teenagers.

Try something literally off the wall, like drop-in parkour classes, or let kids' creativity take shape in a claymation class over school break. Develop new skills in gymnastics, tennis, and even Chinese. The options are virtually limitless.

You can search through dozens of classes by type or location in our Classes Guide and Directory Listings, but we've also rounded up some great options to inspire your family to find something new this season, especially now that the weather has us all stuck inside. 'Tis the season to sign up for winter and spring 2018, so take a look!

Science, Language & Arts International School Brings New Language Immersion Programs to Brooklyn

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 12/14/2017 - 11:45am

Bienvenue to Brooklyn! Or should we say 欢迎?

Dual-language schools are all the rage as parents and educators realize the growing importance of preparing kids for our quickly globalizing world. Here in Brooklyn, Science, Language & Arts International School (SLA) continues to grow with the increasing demand for its innovative and effective immersion program. Founded by linguist and bilingual education specialist Jennifer Wilkin back in 2011, the independent school has expanded to offer a rigorous, project-based education in a bilingual French or Mandarin setting for kids ages two to fourteen. And starting this academic year, SLA is launching a brand new pre-K Mandarin immersion track to run alongside the existing French immersion track, as well as middle school tracks for 6th to 8th graders in both Mandarin and French.

Not only does SLA offer a rich science, math, and arts curriculum in a bilingual environment, but it does it at a significantly lower tuition than many other local private schools.

New Guidelines and Tips for Early Allergen Introduction to Babies

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Wed, 10/18/2017 - 9:00am

From crying it out to co-sleeping, swaddling to self soothing, conflicting parenting ideas can make our poor sleep deprived heads spin. And even more so when it comes to feeding. For decades, new parents were instructed not to introduce possible allergens before baby's first birthday or later. Foods like fish, eggs, cow's milk, and peanuts were stuck under a fridge magnet with a scary warning about potential life-long allergies, and the need to create an allergy management plan, if your little one was found to have an allergy when you finally introduced these forbidden foods.

More recently though, research is changing the way families approach the introduction of potentially allergenic foods. In fact, in 2015, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) said that there is no reason to delay the introduction of potentially allergenic foods past 4-6 months of age - a total reversal from previous beliefs and practices. Since that time, even more research regarding the early introduction of allergens has been pouring in and, most recently, the FDA approved a qualified health claim for the early introduction of ground peanuts just this month.

Head spinning yet? We’ve partnered with Inspired Start to provide tips to simplify introducing potentially allergenic foods to baby, in accordance with AAAAI’s latest information:

Zombies and Wizards Teach "Sneaky STEM" at Guard Up in Boston Area

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 10/05/2017 - 9:00am

Celebrate a birthday by battling the undead in a zombie apocalypse. Spend the school break brewing potions in the Mages' Guild. Cap the school day with an epic afternoon NERF battle. These fantastic adventures are 100% reality at Guard Up, a local spot in Burlington and Waltham, Massachusetts, offering weekly classes, summer camps, birthday parties, and school holiday camps for ages 4 and up.

As magical as Guard Up may seem, the real wizardry is that the carefully developed programs actually teach creative problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and yes, even STEM, all through gamified adventures kids will love. And that's just the tip of the iceberg; the more you hear about Guard Up the cooler it sounds.

New LICM4All App Helps Families Enjoy The Long Island Children's Museum Even More

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 09/18/2017 - 11:00am

The Long Island Children's Museum gets it: under the best circumstances, it takes planning to pull off a great outing with kids; if your child has special needs, even more so. That's why we think their new smartphone app isn't just smart, it's brilliant.

Designed specifically to support children with neurodiversities and physical challenges, the free LICM4all app aims to take the guesswork out of planning a visit to the museum. Before the trip, families can download the app from either the App Store or Google Play and create a totally customized schedule based on their interests, as well as their needs. Short videos offer a sneak peek into current exhibitions, while also showing kids what to expect — like that they may get a little messy at the Bubbles exhibit, or that they might have to wait their turn at the TotSpot. Meanwhile, the color-coded, sensory-friendly museum map identifies galleries that are quieter or louder, and a list of tips provides parents with helpful details on accessible parking, restrooms, service animals, and more.