| A Note From New York Family's Editor |
Time for Camp? Stirred up by the New York Times front page story on the excesses of parents who can't quite say goodbye to their children once they're in sleep away camp (and instead hide cell phones in their trunk), and a follow-up column by Times blogger Judith Warner (author of "Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety") with her own ideas about what camp should be about, I've been hearing a lot of camp chatter lately--mostly bursts of indignation over those parents who would break camp rules to communicate with their kids. My daughter, who is going into third grade, wants to go to sleep away camp next year. So far, my wife and I have told her not to count on it. Her motivation is that she sees some of her friends taking the plunge. Our reason is that it's too soon. But aside from our use of our cell phone minutes, are my wife and I really that much different from the parents featured in the Times story? We don't want her to go to camp yet because it's too soon for us, not for her. I know I'm lucky to have a child with such an independent streak. But what's her hurry?--- Eric Messinger (emessinger@manhattanmedia.com) |
| Parenting Tip |
| Quiet Swim: The fact that New York City has 54 free outdoor pools open all summer long is no secret; what's surprising, however, is how pleasantly tranquil these pools can be early in the day, before the afternoon crowds descend upon the water. City pools generally open at 11 am; babies and children are allowed in the pool with parents (check individual pools' height specifications to see whether or not children can enter the water by themselves). Some of our favorite pools include Asser Levy (23rd Street near FDR Drive), John Jay (77th Street, east of York Avenue), and 59th Street (59th Street between 10th and 11th). The City Parks Department also offers a number of free swimming lessons and programs for toddlers through teens (call Parks Citywide Aquatics at 718-760-6969 for details). For more information and a list of pools, go to www.nycgovparks.org. (And note: For working parents who want to take a dip at the end of the day, some pools are open until 7 pm.) |
| Joy's Shopping Tips |
Me and My Shadow: Famed cosmetics brand Stila has developed an innovative product directed at teaching women how to apply eye shadow or lip gloss. Open up the compact and press a button that will give instructions on how to apply and in what order. It's perfect as a gift for a new mom or anyone who may need some cosmetic instruction, or a fun pick-me-up. Time-pressed moms will love it, and it's compact enough to go in a purse. $40; www.sephora.com.
Junior Builders of NYC: Children from the ages of 5-12 are invited to build a creative and original model made entirely from K'NEX, a set of construction toys. Three grand prize winners will each receive a $10,000 savings bond. Other prizes are seven $1000 savings bonds, K'NEX building sets, and invitations to visit the K'NEX headquarters. The contest will run from now until September 30, 2008. Winners will be announced on October 28. Entries must fit into one or four categories: models that move, architecture, vehicles, and amusement park thrill rides. Kids can enter online at www.knex.com.
Vintage Bikes: With gas prices up, more and more people are turning to bicycles for not only recreation but for getting around. The new trend for bikes is taken from the old vintage looks of the original Schwinn bicycle. You can find the bikes in offbeat shades like root beer or canary yellow. Seats come in all sorts of comfortable styles. Landmark Vintage carries a full selection of vintage and new styles that look old. You can rent them, purchase them, or even upgrade and trade in. Best of all, the shop serves ice-cold Slush Puppies for free. 136 East Third Street, 212-674-2340, www.landmarkbicycles.com.
*Joy Sherwood is the Style Director of New York Family. She can be reached at jsherwood@manhattanmedia.com.
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| Activity Tips* |
Modern Dancing in the Street: To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater is hosting an all-day street party at the New York City Center on Saturday, August 9. The party will feature free performances by Ailey dancers (at 11 am, 2 pm, 4:30 pm), free dance and drumming classes from 11 am to 5 pm, and a plethora of kids' activities, prizes, music, and food. Details: NY City Center, 130 West 56th Street, 212-405-9000, www.alvinailey.org.
Fringe Festival for Kids: This year's New York City Fringe Festival (August 8-24) has a number of plays tailored for kids ages 5-12 through its FringeJR program. FringeJR plays include "A Silly Silverstein Show," which brings Shel Silverstein's poems to life through puppetry. And in "Thumbelina: The Story of a Brave Little Girl," the title character is a smart and feisty little girl who must stay courageous through a tumultuous adventure that separates her from her mother. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 12 for FringeJR shows. For more information and performance venues, visit www.fringenyc.org/About/jr.asp.
Go North: Come out and join some cold-weather animal friends at the Central Park Zoo for the zoo's annual Chill Out weekend festivities this Saturday and Sunday. Polar bears, penguins, and snow monkeys are the guests of honor at the event, which also features cool activities like ice carving, activities, and Arctic-themed theater. Details: All ages; 10 am-4 pm. 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, 212-439-6500, http://nyzoosandaquarium.com. And for more Nordic fun, check out "The Myths and Magic of Iceland" at the Scandinavia House. The exhibit, which runs through August 15, features an interactive play area and a number of stories centered around the fairy and folk tales of Iceland. Details: Ages toddler through 7 years; $5 per child. Open Tuesday through Friday, 12-5 pm. 58 Park Avenue, 212-879-9779, www.scandinaviahouse.org.
*Activity Tips are from New York Family and GoCityKids.com. |
| The Week's Bonus Tips |
The Inside Scoop on Nursery Admissions (Downtown Edition): As the nursery school admissions season begins, New York Family magazine and Citibabes have put together an admissions panel with a special focus on downtown. The session features some the most well-regarded school directors, admissions directors, and admissions consultants in the city, including Sharon Shorofsky Mack of the Jewish Community Project; Dana Haddad of Claremont Preparatory School; Ayala Marcktell of Tribeca Community School; C. Z. Zuckerman of Citibabes; and Patti Wollman Summers of Smart City Kids. Details:
Wednesday, September 10, 6:30-8:30 pm. $50 per person. Citibabes, 477 Broadway, 3rd floor (between Broome and Grand Streets). For more information or to register, go to www.newyorkfamily.com. And note: Anyone who registers for the admissions seminar will also be eligible to participate in Citibabes' Trial Week, from September 8-14, in which interested parents can enroll their child for free in age-appropriate classes as well as enjoy the club's gym, café, and indoor playground. For more details on Trial Week, write to RSVP@citibabes.com. Nominate Your Favorite Doorman: Do you have a doorman you love? If you do, you can honor him or her in a special awards ceremony called "Building Workers of The Year." The event is co-sponsored by Manhattan Media ( New York Family's parent company), and nominations are accepted online through August 15. As well as doormen, you can nominate other building workers who go above and beyond the norm, including office cleaners, maintenance workers, and security officers. To nominate someone, or for updated details about the awards ceremony in October, visit www.manhattanmedia.com.
Baby Bites hosts a dinner for working moms (and moms returning to work) on August 19 from 6-8 pm, focusing on tips for teaching your nanny how to promote your baby's cognitive and language development. For more info: www.babybitesnyc.com. Big City Moms teams up with Dr. Harvey Karp on September 4 for two back-to-back parenting seminars: the first is focused on babies, and the second addresses toddlers. The event takes place at Reidy Hall at All Souls Church at 4:30 pm (baby) and 7:15 pm (toddler). For more info: www.bigcitymoms.com. |
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