Jessica Laird

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

Long Island Children’s Museum Reopens Seasonal Sensory Garden and Popular Permanent Exhibits

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 06/22/2021 - 11:00am

Seasonal outdoor sensory garden, Our Backyard, has returned to LICM for the summer.

Yes, Long Island Children's Museum is open—inviting families to explore 13 interactive exhibits, weekly early childhood classes, and even a newly reopened seasonal garden!

Located on Nassau County's well-loved Museum Row, this popular destination makes the perfect day trip for families across Long Island and New York City. Enhanced safety measures—like timed entry and continued mask wearing—make the Museum a safe option where kids of all ages can explore, play, and learn. Plus, a thoughtfully designed sensory room, monthly "Friendly Hours" with altered lighting and sound, and extensive resources for visitors with disabilities mean everyone is able to enjoy the Museum.

What’s Safe? Your Guide to Summer Fun With Not-Yet-Vaccinated Kids

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 06/22/2021 - 11:00am

Connecticut Children's is the only health system in the state that's 100% dedicated to kids.

Keeping up with ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines has been hard for parents and, with the world starting to reopen, we're all trying to figure out once again where our kids fit into the picture. Now that summer's here, parents of young children just want to know what activities they can safely do and what they still need to sit out while the under 12 crowd remains unvaccinated.

At Connecticut Children's—the only health system in the state that's 100% dedicated to children—pediatric experts have been monitoring the COVID situation very closely since the start of the pandemic. Read on for helpful guidance from some of Connecticut Children's top specialists, as we all try to navigate this "next normal" with our families.

9 Car-Free Day Trips Los Angeles Families Can Take on Metrolink Trains

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sat, 06/12/2021 - 12:00pm

Metrolink has launched a new Saturday service on the Ventura County Line, plus "Kids Ride Free Weekends."

Nothing spoils a fun family outing like sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic or desperately searching for parking once you finally reach your destination. That's why we're big fans of car-free getaways! And with a recent weekend service expansion on Southern California's Metrolink rail system, plus the new “Kids Ride Free Weekends,” there's never been a better time to plan a day trip to one of the many awesome spots easily accessed by train.

Since 1988, Metrolink has been taking pressure off the freeways and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while providing SoCal locals with safe, efficient, and reliable rides to work, school, family, and fun. Now, just in time for summer—and for the first time in its history—Metrolink has launched a new Saturday service on the Ventura County Line, which connects Ventura County residents in Moorpark and Simi Valley through the San Fernando Valley stations at Chatsworth, Northridge, Van Nuys, Burbank Airport and Burbank Downtown and Glendale with Los Angeles Union Station. All Metrolink lines except Riverside now also have a weekend service that can take families to popular destinations across Southern California.

And, to make your car-free day trips even easier, kids ride free every weekend on Metrolink. For just $10 per adult, kids ages 17 and under can actually ride for free with no ticket required.

Of course, all this news has had us thinking about all of the family-friendly Southern California day trip destinations that are a hop, skip, and jump from Metrolink stations. Here are some of our favorite family outings convenient to Metrolink.

Pawp Offers Affordable 24/7 Online Vet Care with Emergency Coverage

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 06/10/2021 - 11:05am

Pawp is a new pet insurance alternative that lets pet owners talk to a vet online and helps cover unexpected medical bills for emergency care.

If you have a pet in the family, you know the stress of your cat's mysterious middle-of-the-night tummy troubles or one of those panicked trips to the nearest emergency clinic following a freak sock incident with the dog. Well, the creators of Pawp clearly know that stress too, and they've created a new pet insurance alternative that gives pet parents access to online vet care while also helping to foot the bill if you find yourself in the midst of an emergency.

Of course, pet insurance can be pricey and it still doesn't cover all medical costs, so Pawp set out to eliminate the need for expensive veterinary visits due to issues that can be resolved at home. For $19 a month, the platform gives members instant and unlimited access to a team of on-demand online vets. These experienced cat and dog pros can answer questions about everything from diet woes to skin concerns, and help you determine what issues warrant emergency call-the-babysitter-for-the-kids care and what can probably be taken care of at home. Pawp also offers members a $3,000 emergency fund that can be used at any in-person clinic if the unexpected happens.

For pet-loving families, this one-of-a-kind platform is a game-changer, enabling you to talk to a veterinarian anytime about anything—plus, the perks don't stop there.

Sneak Peek at the Newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book — Plus FREE Downloadable Activities

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 05/27/2021 - 11:00am

If you and your kiddos haven't had a chance to get to know Greg Heffley—the imaginative and quick-witted middle-schooler of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series—you've got some reading to do! The latest addition to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, BIG SHOT, is about to drop this fall and, whether you're a newbie or a superfan, it's time to get caught up on the well-loved collection from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney.

Ross School Offers Sports, Academic, and Traditional Camps for Hamptons Families

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 05/24/2021 - 10:00am

If you're spending the summer out east, you'll be happy to hear that registration is open for Ross Summer, the much-loved Hamptons camp known for serving up immersive week-long specialized programs, for-credit academic courses, high-level athletic training, and even early childhood options. Built on the foundation of Ross School—an innovative PreK-12 day and boarding school located in East Hampton—Ross Summer offers three enriching summer programs for kids ages 2 to 18. Read on to find out which one is the best fit for your family.

EZ Dis Offers Families Free Disney Vacation Planning Services with No Catch

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Fri, 04/16/2021 - 1:00pm

Founded by Magic Kingdom-loving mom and certified "Disney Master" Sandy Nussbaum-Giercyk, EZ Dis by Instant Impressions Travel Services has game-changed the Disney vacation planning process with their personal concierge-style services. Staffed with specialized consultants who know all the ins and outs of the parks and properties, the Disney authorized agency can help you customize and book your entire vacation at zero cost to you.

Why plan your trip with a Disney travel specialist, you ask? As Sandy says, planning a Disney vacation is like no other—and she would know! Not only has she been frequenting the park since she was a kid, but she now personally visits Walt Disney World® 7 to 10 times a year to keep her team and clients up to speed on the latest and greatest offerings. Known to attend multiple performances of every new show just to see it from all angles and to rotate through hotels on a 3-year cycle to review everything from the sheets to the pool, her one-of-a-kind informational vlogs, weekly podcasts, and hands-on planning services are worth their weight in Treasure Island gold (plus, she's undoubtedly earned that honorary Disney master's degree).

Play-Based Early Childhood Center at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Taking Applications for 2021-22

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Fri, 04/16/2021 - 10:00am

At the Early Childhood Center at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue on the Upper West Side, creative play-based learning and a commitment to helping kids build a strong Jewish identity are top priority. And with select spots available at the popular Manhattan nursery and pre-K program for kids ages 18 months to 5 years, applications are now open for the 2021-2022 school year.