Jessica Laird

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

How to Choose the Best Pediatric Dentist or Orthodontist in NYC in 2024

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 10:00am

Upper East Smiles is a comprehensive dental practice in Manhattan that includes General Dentists, Periodontists and an Endodontist.

When searching for a good pediatric dentist or orthodontist in NYC, there are a number of factors to consider–from location to credentials to anxiety-reducing practices. We spoke to Dr. You-na Kim and Dr. Junginn Choi from Manhattan’s Upper East Smiles for guidance on choosing the best pediatric dental practice for your kids in 2024.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that infants see a dentist for their first checkup within six months of getting their first tooth or by age one. “A dental home should be established by the first birthday to help children and their families institute a lifetime of good oral health,” pediatric dentist Dr. You-na Kim explained to us.

But, where do parents begin to look for this “dental home” in a city full of dentistry practices? And how do you find the best fit for your family? After showing us around Upper East Smiles’ brand new pediatric office on East 78th Street and 2nd Avenue–just around the corner from its first Upper East Side location–we sat down with Dr. Kim and orthodontist Dr. Choi for some much-needed expert advice on what to look for in a pediatric or orthodontic dental practice in 2024.

Top Summer Day Camps in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sun, 03/17/2024 - 6:20am

WCS Education has your summer covered with fun, educational camp experiences at our zoos and aquarium! Photo courtesy of WCS

There are myriad summer camps in NYC for kids of all ages, with everything from preschool summer camps to summer day camps for teens. Whether you're looking for a day, a week, or a whole summer of fun, summer camps in NYC are seemingly unlimited.

Below we've rounded up some of our favorite summer camps in NYC, and take note: Summer camp registration is already underway, and the time to sign up is now. For even more ideas, check out our New York City Summer Camp Guide, or browse our NYC Kids' Summer Camp Directory where you can search for summer camps in NYC by type, age, and location.

Fever Facts, Ear Infections, and How to Identify Common Kids’ Illnesses

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 02/20/2024 - 4:00pm

The pediatric health experts at Connecticut Children’s have you covered with answers to common children’s health questions.

What temperature is a fever? Are ear infections contagious? What is colic in babies? These common children’s health questions and more can be answered by the pediatric health experts at Connecticut Children’s.

Read on for their helpful guidance on some of the most common conditions and illnesses you’ll encounter over the years. And, for more straight-forward, age-appropriate, expert advice, you can visit Connecticut Childrens’ Growing Healthy Blog or subscribe to their information-packed newsletter.

Top STEM Summer Camps in Chicago: Robots, Coding, and More

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sun, 02/18/2024 - 10:00am

Work on skills at a fun STEM summer camp. Photo courtesy of Camp Invention

Chicago is jam-packed with STEM summer camps at local universities, museums, and other nearby centers, so if architectural model making, video game development, battle bot competitions, 3D printing, and Harry Potter science sound like the makings of your kiddo's perfect summer, you're in luck. As science, technology, engineering, and math become increasingly crucial in our tech-centric world, you can give yourself a pat on the back for hooking up your kid with skills that will serve them long after their school days.

Here are our picks for the best Chicago area STEM summer camps. For more of the best Chicago summer camps, check out our Chicago Summer Camp Guide or our directory of summer camps in Chicago.

Help Keep Your Family Healthy This Holiday Season With These Expert Tips

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 11/20/2023 - 8:00pm

Pediatric health experts at Connecticut Children’s share information on the most common health challenges around the holidays.

The holidays are the season of joy, but colder temps, travel, big gatherings, and seasonal bugs can make it tough to keep your family’s physical and mental health in check. That’s why the pediatric health experts at Connecticut Children’s reached out to us to share information on the most common winter health challenges among children, from understanding flu and RSV symptoms to tips on how seasonal blues can affect children.

Read on to see their insights on how to keep your family healthier through the holidays and cold winter months. And, for more straight-forward, age-appropriate, expert advice, you can visit Connecticut Childrens’ Growing Healthy Blog.

Eco-Friendly Living in One Of Manhattan’s Most Kid-Friendly Neighborhoods

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 09/21/2023 - 11:00am

With amenities for all ages and new three-bedroom residences, The Solaire is a family paradise in Battery Park City.

Battery Park City is a favorite neighborhood for families because it provides an almost-suburban lifestyle where kids get to play in sprawling parks and playgrounds, participate in sports leagues, and attend high-quality local schools–all while being steps from Tribeca, the Financial District, and everything that Manhattan has to offer.

Within the beloved neighborhood, The Solaire stands out as a family-friendly luxury high-rise with eco-conscious features, three-bedroom homes, and a suite of amenities for all ages (think nature-themed playroom for kiddos and a state-of-the-art fitness center for busy parents).

If afternoons on the giant slide in Teardrop Park and fun family dinners at Brookfield Place’s enormous food court sound good to you, read on to learn more about living in this incredibly kid-friendly neighborhood and building.

Sprawling 3- and 4-Bedrooms Make This UWS Rental Building Great for Families

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 08/31/2023 - 11:00am

This stunning 17-story rental building manages to maintain its historical charm while offering modern conveniences for families.

If your growing family–or your fast-growing kids–have put “space” high on your list of priorities, the luxury 3- and 4-bedroom homes at The Laney might be just what your apartment dreams are made of.

Not only does the boutique Upper West Side rental building offer sprawling pre-war layouts that feature open living spaces, expansive views, and coveted in-home laundry–it’s situated in one of the most kid-friendly neighborhoods here in New York City.

Read on for some of our favorite perks of living in this stunning 17-story building, which manages to maintain its historical art deco charm while offering totally modern conveniences for city families.

25 Back-to-School Tasks You Didn't Know You Could Pay Someone Else to Do

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 08/24/2023 - 10:30am

Task-tackling service Taskrabbit is able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing.

Maybe best known for furniture assembly and moving help, for-hire task-tackling service Taskrabbit is also able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing–freeing up your time or even just maintaining your sanity. From organizing and storing last year’s artwork, to family meal planning, to thoughtfully decorating a dorm room, experienced Taskers can seriously cut down your to-do list and help you get those argument-inducing, potentially-marriage-ending jobs done.

Taskrabbit has been so helpful in managing my seemingly never ending list of errands and projects, but I do find it easy to forget just how many ways the service can lend a hand. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of things you probably didn’t know you could hire a Tasker to do this back-to-school season–to remind myself, and all of us, of all the ways we can use Taskrabbit to lighten our loads.

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

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