There are so many ways to take advantage of Atlanta’s long summer days. Hitting the local splash pad with the kids, heading out on a bike odyssey around the city, lounging in one of the many nearby lakes. That’s pretty much what summer in the city is all about. But nothing is more quintessentially summer than packing up a picnic and heading to a park. That’s why we’ve found six scenic spots where you and the kids can picnic and play into the evening. All that’s missing is great friends to join you. Here’s where to plan a perfect picnic and park playdate before summer ends.

via Instagram

Piedmont Park

Just because it's well known doesn't mean there aren't perfect picnic spots just begging for your blanket and basket to pay them a visit at Piedmont Park. We like the Promenade for its easy proximity to the parking deck and Gardens, but if you want to wander, head towards 10th Street and the Eastern-most side of the lake.

10th & Monroe Ave.
Midtown
Online: piedmontpark.org

Sope Creek Park

This peaceful picnic spot is located part of the scenic Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Its three miles of trails lead to the ruin of a Civil War-era paper mill, surrounded by a forest. The many streams and ponds you'll find along the way provide stopping points for kids to play. After your picnic, set your kiddos loose on the boulders and waterfalls that you can find along the trails.

Insider tip: Plan your picnic to coincide with the weekly ranger walks on Wednesdays and you've got a picture-perfect lunch plan.

3760 Paper Mill Rd.
Marietta, GA
Online: nps.gov

Related stories: Play All Day: Discover Atlanta's Top Playgrounds

a family enjoys a picnic on a sunny day
iStock

Sweetwater Creek State Park

You won't believe the beautiful rapids and duck ponds at Sweetwater Creek State Park. Located just west of Atlanta this picnic spot steeped in history is just a short drive away. Take a hike to Civil War-era ruins, and during spring and summer, rent canoes, stand-up paddleboards and boats—after you pack up your picnic, of course.

1750 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Lithia Springs, GA
Online: gastateparks.com

Rogers Bridge Park

Adjacent to the Chattahoochee, Gwinnett County’s Rogers Bridge Park in Duluth has running trails, an historic steel bridge and ample greenspace where you can enjoy your picnic spread. A small playground nearby and a dog park make this a place where you can eat and play with your whole family (fur babies welcome). And although the nearby tubing launch point is currently closed, you should still bring your water shoes along so everyone can wade in (not too far) and cool off before heading home.

4291 Rogers Bridge Rd.
Duluth, GA
Online: duluthga.net

Related stories: National Parks That Atlanta Families Love (& Awesome Cabins Nearby)

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Centennial Olympic Park

While the entertainment district may not fall into the secluded picnic spot category, families will find both plenty of green space and things to do at this popular gathering spot. During the early evening hours, it's easier to find a spot on the sprawling, grassy lawns. Plus the play factors are pretty much unlimited here. Head to the children's playground, splash in the Rings Fountain or take a quick stroll to a nearby kid favorite, like the Georgia Aquarium, Children's Museum of Atlanta or World of Coca-Cola

265 Park Ave. W N.W.
Atlanta, GA
Online: gwcca.org/centennial-olympic-park

Vickery Creek

Another one in nearby Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, you'll find lots of charming elements that'll entertain the kids on this picnic outing. With a wooden covered bridge, historic remnants of the Roswell Mill and over five miles of trails through a forest and past waterfalls, Vickery Creek promises plenty to do beyond the basket. 

85 Mill St.
Roswell, GA
Online: atlantatrails.com

Related stories: Atlanta's Best Free (& Cheap) Events for Families in August

—Allison Sutcliffe & Shelley Massey

Calling all mini hip-hop artists! Fisher Price has outdone themselves with the newest collector’s edition Little People that will have parents secretly coveting the new toy.

You can already play with tiny versions of your fave characters from The Lord of the Rings, The Office and Frozen––but now its time to turn to the music industry with the Run-DMC set! Get ready to get down with Joseph “Run” Simmons, Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels in a whole new way.

The three-piece set comes in a stylized box and no detail is left out. Each member boasts their signature style in the form of hats, shoes and gold jewelry that will have your littles begging for their own pair of Adidas.

You can find the Run-DMC Little People Collector dolls on Amazon for $14.99

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Fisher Price

 

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There’s nothing like giving kids a place to get creative and messy. And since warmer weather is just a couple of months away, it’s the perfect time to consider an outdoor space to do exactly that. From a classic mud kitchen to one with wheels, we’ve rounded up 11 adorable mud kitchens you can buy on Etsy. Scroll down to see them all. 

Double-Sink Mud Kitchen

This gorgeous double-sink outdoor cedar kitchen is begging for mud fun!

Buy it here, $479.

Dark-Finish Mud Kitchen

Double shelves with a dark finish make this mud kitchen a classic you’ll love for years.

Buy it here, $198.

Personalized Mud Kitchen

How cute is this personalized mud kitchen? The metal sink is even removable!

Buy it here, $86.89.

Mud Kitchen with a Stove

You can pick your worktop configuration and have this special outdoor kitchen personalized. It even comes with a recipe! 

Order it here, $333.14.

Mud Kitchen in Different Colors

This well-made mud kitchen comes in three different sizes and four different colors. The smallest size is super affordable! 

Buy it here, $180.53.

Mud Kitchen with Pump Sink

This mud kitchen has a double sink and hand pumps with working water! 

Buy it here, $695.

Upcycled Mud Kitchen

This outdoor kitchen made from upcycled wood pallets can be customized to have a washing machine in the middle.

Buy it here, $361.06.

Single-Sink Mud Kitchen

This adorable outdoor kitchen has a stainless steel sink, a towel bar, a lower shelf and can be used inside or out. 

Buy it here, $305.

Mud Kitchen with Shelves

This mud kitchen is so awesome we want one for ourselves!

Buy it here, $454.02.

Plexiglass Window Mud Kitchen

This go-big-or-go-home mud kitchen has four sinks and plexiglass windows perfect for drawing whatever their hearts desire.

Buy it here, $2,500.

DIY Mud Kitchen

These might be only building plans, but for anyone crafty out there, how can you resist? 

Get them here, $10.

—Gabby Cullen

 

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Your kids will be begging for more bricks when their breakfast is in the shape of blocks. Hammacher Schlemmer’s Building Brick Waffle Maker made its debut on Kickstarter and quickly surpassed its goal. Now it’s available for purchase!

The Building Brick Waffle Maker takes meals to the next level, literally. Create a house or a towering skyscraper made of delicious waffles, then cover it in syrup and demolish it.

Building Brick Waffles

Bake up interlocking bricks in this waffle maker that makes10 short bricks, two long bricks, and two individual bricks at the same time. The finished products can be easily stacked, making any structure you can dream of.

The Building Brick Waffle Maker is made from die-cast aluminum with a food-grade, non-stick coating that is easy to clean. It currently sells for $59.99 and the next batch will ship in January. Breakfast for dinner, anyone?

—Jennifer Swartvagher & Karly Wood

photos: Hammacher Schlemmer

 

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Do you dare watch this show until the end? Grover is begging fans not to. Sesame Workshop will launch its first-ever animated Sesame Street special The Monster at the End of This Story on Thurs. Oct. 29. 

A reimagining of Sesame Street’s all-time best-selling picture book The Monster at the End of This Book, the special follows Grover’s reluctant journey to the end of the story, where, based on the title, he believes a monster awaits. Drawn in the unmistakable style of the beloved book first published in 1971, the special adds new sequences, songs and surprises, and introduces other familiar Sesame Street characters, including Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and Rosita, to the tale.

“After nearly 50 years, the lesson in The Monster at the End of This Book remains timeless: It‘s okay to feel afraid, but also important to have courage and keep moving forward in spite of those fears,” said Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop’s Executive Vice President of Creative and Production. “We brought this classic story from page to screen in a way that will feel familiar to longtime fans and exciting and engaging for young viewers. By expanding the original narrative and adding new layers, we share a strong lesson in friendship, showing how Grover learns to manage his fear with the support of his friends.”

In celebration of the upcoming special, Sesame Workshop released a new video of The Monster at the End of This Book being read aloud by celebrities Kelsea Ballerini, Sofia Carson, Ciara, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Josh Groban, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Lil Nas X, Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Maggie Rogers, Jordin Sparks, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Sudeikis, Jonathan Van Ness and Olivia Wilde. 

The Monster at the End of This Story is the official special of Sesame Street’s 51st season, set to launch on HBO Max later this fall.

This special caps off the release of Sesame Workshop’s series of “Monster”-themed content, digital activities, and product releases, which to-date have included an interactive The Monster at the End of Your Story video on Sesame Street’s YouTube page,  a “Monsterize Me!” avatar creator, the release of new editions of The Monster at the End of This Book and more.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Sesame Workshop

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We’re all doing our part by staying home as much as we can, but what about when a little one gets sick?

Brave Care Everywhere has the answer. The modern, kid-friendly clinic is now offering virtual care visits for families across Oregon. Appointments are available from 10 a.m.–10 p.m., 365 days a year. Brave Care is known for providing excellent pediatric urgent care and wellness visits. With the new distance care, it is easier than ever to get your Little healthy again.

Your kids will be begging to go outside again before you know it.

A 19-month-old picks up a delicious snack, but instead of eating it they hand it over to an adult who wants it. You may think this is an isolated case, but now imagine dozens of babies giving away their treats as well. According to a study that tests the beginning of altruism in humans published on Tuesday, that is exactly what happened. 

Mother and baby

The babies “looked longingly at the fruit, and then they gave it away!” said Andrew Meltzoff, co-director of the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, in a statement. “We think this captures a kind of baby-sized version of altruistic helping.”

Meltzoff and his team studied nearly 100 babies who were 19 months old, a time when many babies are starting to have temper tantrums, especially when told no, according to the American Academy of Pediatricians (PDF). As they approach the “Terrible Twos” developmentally these babies are more likely to act out by hitting, biting, or scratching when denied what they want. 

Studies show that food sharing among non-human primates is rare. When they do share, it appears to be among close relatives, or when they think it will benefit them by strengthening relationships with other chimps outside their inner circle.

In our society, humans often respond to people in need of food through donating to food banks, fundraising or simply sharing their lunch or snack. This study delves into the question; when does altruism begin?

Using favorites such as blueberries, bananas and grapes, the study tested whether the infants would give their food to a total stranger without being asked.

After showing the baby a piece of fruit, the researcher gently tossed it onto a tray on the floor which was within the baby’s reach but beyond the researcher’s grasp.In the control group, the researcher did not show any emotion. 

The test group, called the “Begging Experimenter Group” had the researcher appear to toss the fruit accidentally and then unsuccessfully try to reach it. 

If the baby was in the test group, called the “Begging Experimenter Group,” the researcher appeared to toss the fruit accidentally and then tried unsuccessfully to reach for it.

According to the study, more than half of the babies in the test group picked up the fruit and gave it to the adult. Only 4% of the babies in the control group did the same.

In a  second experiment, a different group of 19-month-old babies were tested at their normal snack or meal time. Since this was a time when the babies were typically used to eating, the researchers wanted to test if they would keep the fruit for themselves. 

The babies in the control group did keep the fruit, but 37% of the babies in the test group gave the fruit away to the hungry adult. 

Psychologist Mark Strauss, who directs the Infant and Toddler Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh,  said “we really don’t know that the differential behavior between the two groups has to do with food. It could be that the toddlers recognize in the ‘begging condition’ that the adult didn’t want to drop and they are being helpful.

Strauss, who was not involved in the study said, “Finally, given that the children may not have been hungry. There really is no evidence that the children are being altruistic, but rather just being helpful.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher  

Featured photo by Daria Shevtsova via Pexels

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Your kiddos have mid-winter cabin fever and are begging to play ball—inside. Now they can! Ollyball is an award-winning toy and it’s made specifically for indoor use.

When the husband and wife creators of the Ollyball needed a way to keep their kids busy inside, minus the indoor destruction a soccer ball or baseball can cause, they took matters into their own hands.

With no other option already on the market, the duo built their own ball. Five years later the Ollyball was born! Made from a lightweight shell (it’s also PVC, Latex, BPA and phthalate-free) and the patented KrunchCOR interior, the ball is made for full-force indoor play.

So how does Ollyball work and, more importantly, why won’t it destroy your home with one volleyball-like spike? Even though the ball is full size, it only weighs 19 grams. If you’re not sure exactly how light 10 grams is, it’s less than one ounce. In comparison, a soccer ball weighs an average of about 16 ounces, according to Ollyball’s website. To use the ball, simply inflate it with the included straw.

Not only does the innovative light-weight design allow for indoor play, but it’s also washable and your kiddo can color (with permanent markers or crayons) on the outer shell.

To order the Ollyball, visit the brand’s website here.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Ollyball via YouTube

 

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Photo: Pixabay

To the mom that second-guesses her decisions all the time, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that raised her voice at her kids today, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that sometimes feels inadequate as a mother, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that feels guilty about leaving the house every day to go to work, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that feels like she can’t ever get ahead, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that just wanted to curl into the fetal position in the middle of Target, while her kids wreaked havoc on everything, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that always gets mom-shamed by her family members, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that compares herself to her friends, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that feels like a bad mom for just wanting to be alone sometimes, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that feels like no one else pulls their weight around the house, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that watches the dishes pile up in the sink and has no desire to wash them, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that dresses herself each day straight from the dryer, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that works hard to provide home-cooked meals every night that no one ever wants to eat, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that looks at herself in the mirror every morning, and hates what she sees, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that tries to keep her house in some sort of order, that no one else respects, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that let her kid eat three doughnuts for breakfast, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that hides in the closet to have a snack, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that’s shoveling food into her mouth, over the sink, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that was scanning the grocery store for the nearest exit, as her toddler was having a meltdown over their goldfish being two different sizes, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that wants to get through one episode her favorite Netflix show without getting interrupted, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that barely got through one load of laundry today, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that hates waking up early to pack school lunches, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that wants to just give the entire school drop-off line the middle finger, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that dropped an F-bomb in front of the kids, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that had Daniel Tiger babysit the kids for a bit, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that sat on her cell phone at the park, instead of socializing with the other moms, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that volunteered to bring napkins and plates to the classroom party, because she just didn’t want to bake or cook anything, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that feels like she is absolutely failing her children, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that spends so much time hoping that she raised her kids to be decent human beings, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that wants to savor every moment, but finds herself counting the hours until bedtime, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that ventured out of the house today, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that managed to get out of bed today, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that did her hair and makeup today, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that didn’t do her hair and makeup today, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that’s feeding her kids pizza, or chicken nuggets, or mac-n-cheese for the eighth time in a row, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that sent her kids to bed early, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that picked a fight with her husband out of sheer exhaustion, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that’s barely hanging on, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that’s begging for help, you’re doing a great job.

To the mom that just doesn’t feel like herself, you’re doing a great job.

For every mom out there—no matter what season you’re in, no matter what you’re going through, no matter what happened yesterday or today, and what happens tomorrow, for everyone that needs to hear this, because you DESERVE to hear this—you’re doing a great job.

This post originally appeared on Facebook.

My name is Dana and I am a not-so-typical Millennial woman navigating her way through marriage and motherhood, one clueless experience at a time. I am journeying into motherhood for the first time and hope others can relate to my utter lack of inexperience!

 

My mind is awake long before the alarm chimes. I am far from prepared to face another day—the impending doom already settling in. I know I must wake my daughter right away to get us to school and work on time, but as soon as she wakes up, the battles will begin again.

Slowly, I walk to her door, stalling along the way, allowing myself just a few more minutes of peace. I quietly creep into her room, and tears flood my eyes as I see her angelic face, peacefully asleep. Just as I know the day looms in front of me, I know her sense of peace and calm will be wiped away the moment her eyes blink open. For a moment, I stare at her beautiful silhouette, reminding myself how lucky I am to be her mom. She is the sweetest, kindest, funniest person. Sadly, most days her strengths are hidden behind the mask of mental illness.

My daughter has debilitating anxiety. From the moment she wakes up until the moment she falls asleep, her mind and body battle the beast. This has been her life for the past 8 years. As with most mental health issues, the intensity of her anxiety ebbs and flows over time.

For most children, getting ready for the day may not be enjoyable, but it’s a fairly standard event. In our family, there are tears, tantrums, screaming, and begging all before we leave the house at 8 a.m. When she was 7 years old, we were able to manage morning routines with slightly more success. Now, at 12 years old, mornings are all-out hell.

While your child may groggily walk to the kitchen to prepare a bowl of cereal, my daughter cries and begs not to go to school while she eats her breakfast. While your child lazily gets dressed, my daughter cries and yells from the bedroom that nothing fits or the material feels weird. Clothes get put on and pulled off so many times that I lose count. While your child st‌yles their hair or applies makeup, my daughter sees nothing but sadness in the mirror, refusing to put forth the effort to improve her sullen appearance.

Most days, the anxiety takes over as we prepare to walk out the door, leading her to beg and plead to stay home. Nothing I say or do prevents the immense beast from clinging to her every thought.

Related: How to Help Your Child Manage Their Anxiety When You Have Anxiety Too

This chaos is taking place while my husband and I are attempting to prepare ourselves for the workday (he, a high-school administrator; me, a teacher). We no longer enjoy the smell of freshly brewed coffee or the sound of the morning news. Instead, sadness, crying, and frustration engulf our senses.

Our ten-year-old son also is also getting ready. I walk a tightrope between recognizing that my daughter’s challenges are real while trying to shelter him from the hideous routine our family faces each morning. I plaster on a smile when talking with him, encourage him to get ready in our bathroom to avoid his older sister’s meltdowns, and close the door of the guest room, allowing him time on his video games before school, simply to offer some respite from the noise.

On days we convince my daughter to get in the car and head to school, I know that our battles are far from over. Arriving at school just ups the anxiety around actually entering. Having held myself together for the past one-and-a-half hours, the tears now start to fall. (Sadly, I have learned never to apply my makeup prior to drop-off.)

As the clock ticks down to when my workday begins, I do all that I can to help calm my daughter’s mounting fears. Some days, she meets a teacher and walks in immediately, while on others, I spend 20 minutes in the drop-off loop. Then there are the days I have to call my husband for reinforcement and support so that I can make it to work before the students arrive.

Two hours after I wake up, I am safely at work. I know that this is just one hurdle I have managed to stumble over during my day. There will be more. My phone will blow up with messages from both my daughter and her school, expressing either her anxiety or asking what they should do in certain situations.

Evenings may be a bit more relaxed than the morning, but there will be blow-ups and meltdowns as the stress of the school day wanes and the fear of tomorrow rises. We will walk around on eggshells waiting for the anxiety to erupt. I will crawl into bed, exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically, knowing I will wake up in 8 hours and do the whole thing over again.

This is the life of a mother of a child with anxiety-based school refusal. Yes, we are actively helping our daughter. Yes, she regularly sees a therapist and psychiatrist. No, our daughter is not a spoiled brat. She is ill. Trust me, I wish I could simply say, “Calm down. You are fine. Go to school.” It doesn’t work like that.

Fortunately, my daughter’s school finally sees our reality and is actively working to ease her transitions in the morning. After years of searching, we have found an incredible therapist. Everyone reading this with a child who wakes for the day, prepares themselves to head off to school, and leaves the house with little resistance, do not take the simplicity of your morning task lightly. Some of us may never know the ease with which you are blessed.

This post originally appeared on Good Bye Anxiety, Hello Joy.
Colleen Wildenhaus
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I am Colleen, a mother, teacher, and the founder of Good Bye Anxiety, Hello Joy, a site dedicated to parents and teachers supporting a child with anxiety.  In addition to advocating for child anxiety, I love the beach, fresh cookies, children's laughter, and new school supplies!