How Dance Classes Can Positively Influence Your Child

November 19, 2013 by 1 Comment

Children may rely on their parents and other family members for approval at a young age, but once they enter school they’ll begin a shift that causes them to lean heavily in favor of their peer group when it comes to building their self-esteem. It is because of this that many children struggle with self-confidence as they head in to their adolescence; other kids can be rude, crude, and downright nasty as they, too, try to discover their own identities by trying on a variety of hats. However, there is a third option to build your child’s self-esteem, aside from the spheres of school and home life. You can also enroll your children in extracurricular activities. And although dance may not be the first thought that comes to mind (team sports and music lessons might be your first choices), there are several reasons why dance classes could be a better confidence booster for your kids.

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For one thing, dance classes allow your kids to interact socially in a setting that has some structure and purpose, but also a social element that is more relaxed than school. And this can help them to develop both individually and as part of a group of like-minded children. If they excel in dance, they will start to feel good about their abilities. They can gain confidence not only from seeing their skills grow with instruction and practice, but from knowing that they can set their mind to a goal and accomplish it with hard work and diligence. And the fact that they’re sharing the experience with other children who are also building their self-esteem makes for a positive social environment in which to form relationships. This is not to say that the dance world can’t be cliquey and competitive, especially as the age group advances. But from an early age it can certainly help to endow your kids with a special skillset that provides them with added confidence.
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How to Teach Children to Respect Religious Beliefs Outside Their Own

November 10, 2013 by 2 Comments

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Many parents who hold religious beliefs wish to pass them along to their children. They want their children to know the special connection with a higher power that has enhanced their own lives. But no matter which religion you subscribe to, you may also want to ensure that your kids grow up tolerant of the spiritual tenets that others follow. Unfortunately, this can be rather difficult to accomplish. Children that have been raised with one set of religious beliefs may have trouble reconciling what they’ve been taught with the existence of other religions. They might not understanding why others don’t believe the same things they do. But as a parent and the main source of spiritual guidance for your kids, there are things you can do to make the process easier. Here are just a few tactics you can try when it comes to helping your kids learn to respect the religious beliefs of others.

The first thing you’ll want to do is talk to your kids about other religions. They’re bound to have a lot of questions and you can be the one to address them. If you don’t know the answers, you can always ask your own religious leaders for information, or do a little research on your own. When you have a better understanding of world religions, it can only help you when it comes to having this complicated conversation with your children. Plus, it can’t hurt to practice what you preach. When we don’t understand something, it’s easy to discount. So it’s important that you take the time to learn at least a little about other religions and why people feel so strongly about them. Of course, your own faith can also inform you here; since you know what it means to hold strong beliefs you can see where others are coming from where their particular religions are concerned.
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Neighborhood Toy Store Day This Weekend

November 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Why shop for toys locally instead of at a big chain?  The reasons are as many and varied as the toys that you can find inside your toystore, but my personal favorite is that there is just better customer service most of the time.  The shops really get to know the area that they reside in, and their customers and what they like.  And if you can’t find what you are looking for, they will get it for you.  Many shops even offer awesome extras like gift wrapping and party invitations (which you can do online or have your child make “wish lists” for relatives who would like a few ideas to choose from).  I love all the options- and they toys are of good, quality material I know I won’t have to take back and exchange because they broke in a week.

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Neighborhood Toy Store Day

Did you know this Saturday, November 9th, is Neighborhood Toy Store Day?  Perfect reason to get out and support those who support your town.  If you would like to find an event near you, go to yourneighborhoodtoystore.org

You will find unique and different products then you would at a box chain, as well as the benefits to the community such as jobs, community support, a thriving neighborhood, the availability of specialty brands that can be harder to find, a wide variety of educational (yet still fun) toys your kids will love to get their hands on, and even environmental benefits like less traffic and carbon use.  Need some more reasons to shop locally?  Take your kids inside- you won’t be overwhelmed immediately and stressed out, ready to leave as soon as you get what you came for.  You won’t even mind browsing for a while (you might actually enjoy it- promise).

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You can find many of the ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids in local stores, since the quality is better, and ASTRA only chooses the best and most intriguing toys for kids.  Non-Profit organization ASTRA helps parents and people with kids in their lives easier by compiling a list of the year’s best toys that they can refer to, based on a panel of 650 expert judges.

Some of the included toys this year are (click here for the full list of toys)-

pic3Squigz

Squigz are fun little suckers- as you apply pressure to two or more, the air goes out and they connect to each other.  They also connect any solid surface, flexible and sticky- but not “sticky” with the gross factor.  When they pull apart, they POP with quite a sound.  Creative and fun, you and your child can build creations, cars, houses, horses, spaceships- you name it.  Or just make a lot of popping noise (which may not at first sound enticing, but how much fun do you have with those plastic popper sheets you get in the mail?  Don’t deny it!)
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5 Kid-Friendly Destinations Around the World

November 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

It’s that time of the year again. The holiday season brings around a familiar setting and a yearning for togetherness. For some, family holiday vacations are a yearly tradition. Not only do parents and kids get to travel to new places, but they also learn how different cultures celebrate the holidays.

Of course, travel during the holiday season requires a lot of forethought. Not only do you have to purchase tickets (bus, plane, train) tickets ahead of time, but you have to agree with your family on your destination way beforehand in order to dodge the holiday season rush and price hikes. So, now’s the time to choose your destination, make it a good one.  If you’re running low on ideas, why not consider the following family-friendly destinations?

San Juan, Puerto Rico

One of the most popular U.S. territories and vacation destinations, San Juan, Puerto Rico, is definitely recommended for beach goers. If you and your family are looking to find a good place to have some fun in the sun, this island may just be what you’re looking for. Many cheap airlines are now adding this destination to their itineraries, and tickets are being offered at a bargain value, especially for those traveling with kids. San Juan is also rich with historical sites and is easy to get lost in it’s archaic beauty. It may even give you and your family the photo opp you’ve been looking for to use as the family Christmas card.

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Cancun, Mexico

Much like San Juan, Cancun has beaches for days. Popular for it’s buzzing tourist industry complemented by stretches of golden sands, Cancun has been gaining fame for being one of the best family-friendly tourist destinations in the world. Cancun is abundant in kid-friendly, beach themed attractions while still providing an attractive nightlife for parents; not to mention both airfare and accommodations fit well within budget.
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Looking For Haunted Happenings?

October 25, 2013 by 2 Comments

If you are like us, you love a good scare this time of year.  Whether you prefer a light hearted haunted house, or a true spine tingling experience, there are plenty of places to give yourself a good fright no matter what your scare-level may be.

If you prefer a family experience, plan a visit to Coney Island for Luna Park’s Halloween Harvest, taking place every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm onward in October. Activities range from rides and games, picking pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch, pumpkin painting, and seasonal foods. A full program of FREE activities is available, complete with trick or treating, scavenger hunts, “spooky” character illustrations, balloon artists, meet and greets and photo ops with costumed characters, and daily entertainment at the Air Race stage. There are also contests and prizes.

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The 4th Annual Coney Island Children’s Halloween Parade will take place on Saturday, October 26th, beginning at 11am. The parade is free, and attendees will be treated to free entertainment at MCU Park, featuring live music and entertainment including magicians, face painters, and costumed characters.

“The Sideshow”, a must see Coney Island attraction, is in October replaced with the HAUNTED Sideshow. It’s just like the Coney Island Circus Sideshow that Coney Island visitors have come to know and love since 1985, but just a little bit scarier, offering a perfect tie-in for Fall-Time-Fun in Coney Island. HAUNTED Sideshow performers include Serpentina, Princess Pat, Alejandro Dubois, and Leo the Human Gumby. The show features each Saturday and Sunday in October, including Columbus Day from 1pm to 8pm.
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Keeping Your Kids Safe While Trick Or Treating

October 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Halloween brings with it scary ghosts, jack o lanterns, and all sorts of ghouls and goblins, both in the forms of dressed up merry makers and in the supernatural activity perceived in our all-to-willing minds. So how do we be still our overactive adrenal glands? Following some simple safety tips, and being aware of your surroundings will take you far.

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According to the Vanished Children’s Alliance, “most potential abductors grab their victims on the street or try to lure them into their vehicles.” Child abductions and attempted abductions are on average 5% higher on Halloween then on an average day in the USA, so it pays to be vigilant.

1- Safety in Numbers.

Travel in groups of 4 or more, and if your child is young, always have at least one parent present. By present, I not only mean physically there, I also mean “present”. The times when your kids are running up to strangers doors, crossing busy streets, trying to sneak pounds of candy, and on a day with creeps out starting at the wee ones is not the best time to be checking out that new app or tweeting. You can do that later. I know, it’s hard, but you can do it!

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 2- Make Sure Costumes Fit Well.

If it’s too long, hem it (not with pins, those will just poke the kiddo’s as soon as they trip), and make sure if the child is wearing a mask, he or she can see properly and breathe well (you may need to modify it). If your kids are small, you may also want to consider how easily getting to the bathroom will be. It’s not something you want to consider when you really have to consider it, plan ahead for smooth sailing.
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5 Toddler Birthday Party Planning Tips

October 16, 2013 by 1 Comment

 kids birthday party

Your toddler is getting to an age when he or she can begin to appreciate and enjoy a birthday party! He or she will be excited to play with all of their friends, enjoy yummy food, and open presents and toys! When planning a toddler birthday party, it is important to consider these 5 tips to help keep yourself organized and stress free throughout the process and the event.

Plan Ahead

  1. Start planning at least a month ahead of time in order to give yourself ample time to make sure everything is in order. Making a checklist can help you to keep track of what you will need as well as phone calls you need to make, and invitations you need to send. Break everything down into major categories such as food and cake, games, decorations, invitations, goody bags, and entertainment.

  2. Next, choose a date and time that will work best for you. Check with some guest first to see if this seems like a good day for most people. Just be sure not to conflict with any other big events like a school function or another party. Once you have the day, it is often a good idea to choose an afternoon party. This will give you plenty of time to set up and get ready before your party guests arrive for the festivities.

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Great Date Night Ideas for Parents

October 13, 2013 by 1 Comment

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Once you’ve got a house full of tots (or even just one) it can be difficult to find time to spend with your significant other. But you don’t want to let go of the loving relationship that brought your kids into the picture in the first place. And this means you need to devote some time and attention to each other if you want to fan the flame of passion. A great way to do this is with a dedicated dated night. Of course, it’s not going to be as easy as it was before you had children, what with arranging for a babysitter and working on a smaller budget (no doubt about it: kids are expensive). But that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to keep the romance alive by planning some truly spectacular date nights for you and your honey. Here are a few ideas you might want to try.

  1. Carpet picnic. Sometimes you will find it impossible to get out of the house for a date. Your kids might fall ill or your sitter may be unavailable. You simply might not have the extra cash on hand to pay for dinner, a movie, and childcare. But don’t give up on the prospect of spending a little alone time with the one you love. Just put the kids to bed and have a romantic carpet picnic. Light up the fireplace or get the candles going, arrange some salami, cheese, crackers, and fruit on a plate and pop open a bottle of champagne, then shove aside the coffee table and settle on the carpet for some nosh and a bit of bubbly. You might end up having some of your most memorable dates at home.

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