Jessica Laird

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

5 Special Summer Day Camps for NJ Kids

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 10:00am

At Apple Montessori Schools there are daily swim lessons with Red Cross certified instructors.

School may not be in session come June, but there are plenty of summer programs in and around New Jersey with opportunities for kids to keep on learning and growing—all while having fun, of course.

You'll find long-standing family-owned camps that foster relationship building and community. There are unplugged camps that encourage children to explore and embrace nature. There are arts-focused camps that inspire creativity and boost confidence. And there are even STEAM-centric camps that push kids to ask questions and experiment. Most of these programs serve up a ton of quintessential summer camp activities too, so kids really get the best of all worlds. And some offer perks parents can really appreciate, like flexible schedules and transportation.

To help you sort out your kiddo's summer plans, we're sharing a list of some of our much-loved New Jersey camp partners below. For even more options, take a look at our New Jersey Camp Guide or browse the Directory, where you can search by location or camp type.

Ski Free All Spring with the 2019 Ikon Pass - And Save $100 on Kids’ Passes

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 03/05/2019 - 9:00am

If you hit the slopes at least one week a year, a ski pass can mean serious savings for your family. Ikon Pass is an annual ski pass that gives you access to over 30 skiing and snowboarding destinations across 12 states, 4 Canadian provinces, and 4 continents. And even better, if you buy your pass now, you get this year’s spring skiing for free!

While you might think of skiing as a quintessential winter activity, the higher temps, longer days, and shorter chairlift waits make spring break the perfect time for a family ski trip. Whether you're a bunch of black diamond die-hards or some of your gang's still all about the bunny hill, an Ikon Pass will definitely help you make the most of spring on the slopes—and since the pass for the 19/20 season literally just went on sale, you can use it for the rest of this season, as well as all of next year.

5 Fun-Filled Los Angeles Day Camps and Summer Programs for All Ages

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 5:00pm

Stratford School infuses its STEAM curriculum into an innovative and enriching summer camp experience for preschoolers to 8th graders.

When it comes to summertime, the stakes are kinda high, right? With eight to ten school-free weeks to fill, kids expect nothing short of serious fun, and we want to deliver. Fortunately, Los Angeles summer day camps and programs do not not disappoint—and we're sharing a few of our top picks!

These five camps offer everything from camp classics, like archery and horseback riding, to out-of-the-box activities like aerial arts and go-karts; from hands-on STEAM-centric projects to swim classes for water lovers. There's even a camp where each day is pretty much a new choose-your-own adventure. This summer is bound to be a blast. And if you don't see a summer camp below that speaks to your kiddo's idea of fun, there are loads more to choose from in our LA Camp Guide and Camp Directory.

8 Summer Day Camps Long Island Kids Will Love

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 3:00pm

Pierce Day Camp has a pool for every age. Each summer, campers graduate to a deeper pool with more features - like the Double Chute Water Slide at the age 6 pool.

Lucky for Long Island families, the area is practically a summer camp mecca. You don't need to go very far to find sprawling green campuses, on-site water parks, air-conditioned state-of-the-art athletic facilities, and Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses. There are fun and enriching programs for kids of all ages, and plenty of flexible schedule options—like partial weeks and extended care—to keep busy parents happy, too.

With so many options, the search isn't easy. So, if you're seeking out a day camp for your LI kiddo this summer, take a look at some of these top picks from our camp partners below. You can also head to our Long Island Camp Guide or browse our Directory for even more options.

Country Day Camps Right Outside of New York City

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 11:00am

<i>New York City's YMCA offers a day camp and sleepaway camp just 90 miles from the city, plus 70 camp sites across the boroughs.</i>

There's certainly no shortage of much-loved day camps right here in NYC, but did you know your kid could be boarding an air-conditioned bus to a right-outside-the-city summer oasis?

From sprawling campgrounds and top-notch athletic facilities to outdoor adventures and classic activities like canoeing and archery, these day camps from our partners offer amenities and activities that are tough to come by in our wonderful but admittedly crowded city. And as if that isn't reason enough to trade a humid crosstown hike or a stifling subway ride for door-to-door bus service, many of the camps also provide on-site lunch, healthy snacks, and even towel service. Did we mention these tried-and-true traditional summer programs have been adored by families across the tri-state area for decades?

When Pediatric Urgent Care Can Save a Visit to the ER

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Wed, 10/17/2018 - 9:00am

It's past bedtime, but a barking cough and noisy breathing are keeping your toddler wide awake. Weekend soccer practice ends abruptly with a slide tackle right to your middle schooler's ankle. Your otherwise healthy teen is suddenly covered with welts from head to toe. The pediatrician’s office is definitely closed and panic starts to set in as you weigh whether the circumstances warrant an emergency room visit.

Well, as it turns out, there may be a better option. A pediatric urgent care center—like those operated by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in Chalfont, Pa., Glen Mills, Pa., and King of Prussia, Pa.—can actually handle all of these problems and then some, including a number of illnesses and injuries you might think require an emergency department visit. And while many issues may feel ER-worthy to us worried parents, they might not meet the medical criteria that require a trip to the hospital. So, instead of booking it to the nearest emergency room or waiting for the pediatrician's office to open for your kiddo's next fever or fall, call your child’s doctor and ask if an urgent care for kids might be the best option. These facilities treat your child when you need it—on evenings and weekends—and how you need it—with special consideration for his or her needs.

The School in Rose Valley is a One-of-a-Kind Find Near Philly

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

Picking a preschool or elementary school is a big decision, so when we hear about a one-of-a-kind option like The School in Rose Valley, we're eager to get the scoop (and share the details, of course). Nestled away in the woods, this progressive preschool through 6th grade program pairs organic gardening, fort building, and chicken coop tending with a challenging core curriculum that includes literacy, math, science, social studies, Spanish, woodshop, art, and music. Plus, the beautiful, sprawling campus is just a short drive from Philly.

We spoke with the Head of School, Rod Stanton, to learn a little more about the oh-so-unique program. Read on to find out if The School in Rose Valley might be just the right fit for your family, and save the date for the upcoming Fall Family Open House & Children's Book Fair on Saturday, November 3.

New Bilingual Nursery Threes Program Arrives at the Lycée School

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Fri, 10/05/2018 - 11:00am

The earlier the better when it comes to learning a second language. And that's exactly why the launch of the Lycée's bilingual Nursery Threes Program in September 2019 is really big news for "mamans" and "papas" who are hoping to raise young French-speakers—and anyone hoping to raise bilinguals in today's interconnected world.

Established way back in 1935, the Lycée Français de New York has been considered one of the most renowned bilingual schools in the city for years, providing students with an authentic, immersive French educational experience that features aspects of a classical European education, while incorporating the creativity, ingenuity, and optimism associated with American programs. The school offers an engaging project-based curriculum and rigorous academics across high school, middle school, elementary school, and now preschool. In fact, with the addition of the new Threes Program, the Lycée actually offers the complete "cycle one" of the French primary school system, also known as "the early learning cycle" or "maternelle.

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

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