Jessica Laird

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

NYC Summer Day Camps with Swimming Programs

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 04/03/2023 - 12:01pm

With 70 sites throughout the five boroughs and a sleepaway camp upstate, the YMCA offers a wide variety of action-packed summer programs.

If swimming at summer camp is a must for your city kid, you're in luck. Here in NYC, not only will you find summer camps totally dedicated to swimming, but also traditional day camps where taking a dip is almost always on the agenda, plus totally unique summer camps that combine sports or STEM activities with prioritized pool time.

Whether your kiddo is ready to work on their backstroke or just eager to play a round of Marco Polo, we've gathered some of our favorite NYC summer camps with awesome swimming programs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and across the city. Find more high-quality summer camps in NYC, including our picks for the top sports summer camps and great sleepaway camps in the Northeast in our New York City Summer Camp Guide. You can also search our Summer Camp Directory by borough, camp type, and age.

Technology and Kids: Screen Time Limits, Social Media Safety, Cyberbullying, and More Expert Advice

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 03/09/2023 - 2:12pm

Connecticut Children's has created an online parenting toolkit that addresses challenges like choosing appropriate apps and understanding parental controls.

Kids are growing up in an increasingly digital world filled with apps, games, and social media– and that means lots of new challenges for parents wanting to keep children safe and healthy. From screen time limits to cyberbullying, plus the ever-changing landscape of social media and online games, it can feel almost impossible to keep up.

Navigating the Digital World is an online parenting toolkit with clear and simple advice that addresses challenges like choosing appropriate apps and understanding parental controls on social media platforms. Developed by pediatric psychologists, sleep specialists, gaming specialists, and other experts at Connecticut Children’s, you can feel confident that the information comes from a trusted source.

Save Up to 85% on Kid and Baby Gear with GoodBuy Gear’s Online Marketplace

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sat, 12/10/2022 - 11:00am

With online marketplace GoodBuy Gear, purchasing gently used and open box items like strollers, car seats, toys, and sports equipment is safe and easy.

Buying secondhand kid and baby gear is cost-effective and environmentally-friendly. And, now, with online marketplace GoodBuy Gear, purchasing gently used and open box items like strollers, car seats, toys, and sports equipment is safer and easier too.

Not only is the marketplace filled with products from some of parents’ most-loved brands–from UPPAbaby to Lovevery to 4moms (a few of my personal favorites). A team of experts thoroughly inspects every single item for safety, functionality, and cleanliness before it’s listed with real photos and a detailed description. That means no more messaging with unknown sellers only to wind up with a stained sleepsack or a broken baby swing. And, when you’re done with an item, GoodBuy Gear will pick it up and re-sell it for you too.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is the Ultimate Indoor LEGO Playground in Yonkers

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 12/06/2022 - 5:15pm

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester in Yonkers’ open-air Ridge Hill Mall is a great day out for families.

Billed as an action-packed indoor entertainment center for LEGO-lovers ages 3 to 10, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester in Yonkers’ open-air Ridge Hill Mall is a great day out for families. Small but mighty compared to the LEGOLAND theme park, the center packs LEGO building stations, play areas, rides, and a 4D movie theater.

I headed there with my 4- and almost-7-year-old daughters on a recent half-day to check it out. Read on for my take on what to expect at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester, who it’s best for, and how to get the most out of your trip.

Online Santa Visits: Zoom with Santa Claus and Virtual Santa Photos for Kids this Christmas

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Tue, 12/06/2022 - 1:00pm

Photo courtesy of A Virtual Visit from the Clauses

Over the last few years, even Santa Claus has had to learn how to Zoom. This season, families looking for a virtual meet and greet with Father Christmas can choose between a number of 2022 Santa photos and visits that use technological magic to create a remote way for kids to connect with Old Kris Kringle.

From perfectly customized video greetings to live cameos by Mrs. Claus and the elves, there are so many ways to hang with Saint Nick and his crew from the comfort of your own home. Silver linings: no long lines, no crowds, and the ability to really personalize the visit to make your 2022 Santa Claus meet-and-greet extra special.

Read on for some of our favorite virtual Santa visits, coming to you from a few of our partners who sure know how to spread the holiday cheer when we need it most.

How to Tackle Tough Stuff With Your Kids: Depression, Stereotypes, Surgery, and More

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 7:40pm

The new Connecticut Children's toolkit, Overcoming Challenges, is filled with expert advice on facing difficult conversations we encounter with our kids.

While we can handle many of the day to day issues that come up for our kids, there are some times where a Google search doesn’t cut it and it’s time to turn to help from experts. From discussing a family cancer diagnosis to navigating hurtful stereotyping, eating issues in kids, and more, Connecticut Children's has created a new toolkit called Overcoming Challenges filled with advice on facing some of the difficult situations and conversations we encounter with our kids from pediatric psychologists, child life specialists, registered dieticians, and other pediatric experts.

It seems like children are facing an increasing number of tough challenges lately. Check out some of the ones tackled in the Overcoming Challenges toolkit and click through to get all the advice, including when and how to reach out to a specialist–there’s even a link to easily request a virtual or in-person appointment.

This App Offers Up to 80% Off the Whole Family’s Prescription Meds–Here’s My SingleCare Review

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 10/27/2022 - 10:00am

SingleCare offers major savings on more than 10,000 prescription drugs through its free app.

Our take: SingleCare is one of the best discount pharmacy programs, offering major savings on more than 10,000 generic and brand name prescription drugs through its free app.

I’m not the only one who’s stood nervously at the pharmacy cash register waiting to see whether my kid’s latest ointment or antibiotic would ring up as five bucks or five hundred dollars, right?

The reality is, whether you have insurance or not, filling a prescription can be totally unpredictable and very expensive. So, when I heard that SingleCare is trying to end the dreaded drugstore guessing game with an app that offers upfront discount pricing on over 10,000 prescription drugs at over 35,000 U.S. pharmacies–including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, and many more–I couldn’t have signed up any faster. We’re talking about prices that are often lower than what you’d spend on your insurance copay.

Read on for my honest take on the SingleCare app, including how much the discount pharmacy program saved me on my family’s prescriptions and tips for maximizing your savings.

Best Nature Preschools and Outdoor Forest Schools in the Philadelphia Area

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 10/24/2022 - 7:13am

Cultivate a love of nature at an early age. Photo courtesy of The Philadelphia School

Nature preschools and outdoor education programs have received an increasing amount of attention over the years, and rightfully so. With nature at the core of the curriculum, these schools make the most of kids' innate curiosity about the natural world to spark an interest in and a love of learning. Nature-based schools also emphasize extensive outside time—oftentimes in all weather—and incorporate the environment into every element of learning. In programs with indoor classrooms, you'll typically find nature-centered books, natural materials, and lessons focused on seasonal happenings. In forest schools, kids may actually spend little to no time indoors, instead focusing on learning through outdoor play and hands-on discovery.

Read on to learn about some of the of much-loved nature schools and forest schools in the Philadelphia area. You'll find programs that include all ages—from nature-based mommy-and-me classes at preschools to programs that continue through elementary or high school.

You can find more preschools for kids in our directory of schools and preschools and in our Philly Preschools Guide. Check our Philadelphia Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

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