In 1945, my 5 year-old mother traveled 4 hours by bus from New York City to the Berkshires to attend sleep away camp. She was there to spend 8 weeks learning how to play sports, swim, canoe, and get along with other 5 year old girls. She cried for the first few days until the … Continued
Hi Big City Moms! I’m Michelle Bridges, coach of Biggest Loser: Australia, and I’ll be in the Big Apple this Thursday, April 10, to set a Guinness World Record live on the TODAY Show! We’d love for you to be a part of this historic fitness event, marking the largest group workout ever to use … Continued
When your child reaches the age of 4, they are truly beginning to refine their skills as communicators. Overall, they understand over 2,800 words! Receptively, they have learned the concept of numbers up to 3, continue to understand spatial concepts (e.g. – up, under, behind), recognize up to 3 colors or more, answer complex two-part … Continued
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been talking to my parenting groups about the importance of play in the lives of their children. Learning through play has long been recognized as a critical aspect of childhood and child development. I began to think about the role of play in the life of adults. … Continued
Trying to keep our kids and families healthy has become more and more of a challenge. The mixed messages we receive from big businesses promoting their products leave us confused, stressed and probably a little discouraged. Is it possible to buy the right products, cook clean ingredients and deliver a strong, healthy adult into the … Continued
We have all heard the axiom…The magic of camp! It is very clear to me, that the most effective camp directors truly understand the magic of camp as well as anyone. They understand what makes the environment that we call camp so special, and how camp is so different from the other ten months of … Continued
It’s one of the biggest challenges parents face: finding reliable childcare. Hiring a babysitter or nanny comes with an unavoidable, inherent element of blind trust. One way parents try to overcome some of their initial concerns is to seek a touch point or connection to a sitter to increase their comfort level about a potential … Continued
Hi mammas! Colby Carrot here checking in from the road. We’re in Austin, TX turning regular kids into super heroes as we travel across the country! It’s plain to see how we’re doing it: we show them how to eat their super (veggie) powers! We’ve turned thousands of kids into super heroes on our tour, … Continued
It has been a challenging winter so far. The temperatures have been below freezing, and it seems like every week we are experiencing a snowstorm. Winter is in full force. The weather has definitely been a “downer” and our friend the groundhog predicted six more weeks of it. Many of us are feeling the “winter … Continued
Computers, laptops, tablets, cell phones, television, social media, texting, video chatting… on March 7th, thousands across the globe will disconnect from these daily devices in order to reconnect with the analog world. National Unplugging Day, observed this year from sundown March 7th to sundown March 8th, has its roots in the Jewish tradition of the … Continued
As if you don’t have enough going on, is moving homes on your to do list in the next few months? The biggest question along with “how am I going to pack all those boxes” should be “How can I best prepare my young children for the move?” Toddlers are remarkably resilient. However, such a … Continued
Ways to Promote Speech & Language Skills – 3 – 4 years old At around 3 to 4 years old, your child will really be blossoming in terms of language. Receptively, children now understand a vocabulary of 1200-2000+ words, follow 2-3 step commands, and are conscious of past and future events. Expressively, they are even … Continued
Your child going to summer camp for the first time is a big step in his or her life. So how do you know when the right time is to send your child to camp? The American Camp Association, NY and NJ recommends families consider the following when figuring out whether your child is ready … Continued
We all know camp is fun. How could it not be with so many different activities and special events! But besides the fun children have, there are many benefits for children who attend camp. Here are just five of the benefits of camp. Camp allows kids to unplug from technology – Today’s children spend over … Continued
Bringing your newborn home from the hospital is an exciting event, yet it is important to remember that being a bit nervous about how to care for this new bundle of joy is common too. As a parent, you will come to know your baby best. Trust your instincts, and try not to take too … Continued
Statistics for proper car seat installation haven’t changed in more than a decade. Despite changes in federal regulations, the availability of car seat installation checks and ongoing education campaigns, three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly. While some may need minor adjustments for proper installation, others sometimes need to start from ground one. … Continued