It Takes a Village! The Best Facebook Groups for San Diego Parents

by Nikki WalshSeptember 2, 2020

Staying connected online is a necessity these days. Working from home, social distancing and homeschooling can be isolating and overwhelming, so we’ve found over a dozen Facebook groups you can join to reach out and connect with other parents in the San Diego community. Read on to find that support, shared knowledge and camaraderie are just a few clicks away in a local online group for parents.

SDPopUp Play Date
SDPopUP Play Date is how you can find out where kids can get those wiggles out! Littles can dance to the virtual concerts by Hullabaloo while you get the latest scoop from San Diego parents. With plenty of playdates booked at fun and unique venues (once life is back to normal) and cool parents, this is a great online group.

San Diego Mom
Nurture yourself. This group is specifically for San Diego moms and focuses on life in the city. They talk about everything that you deal with as a mother. This is a place to lift up, support and offer help with parenting. With over 11,000 members you’ll find a conversation and mom village that’s perfect for you.

San Diego Moms Co.
You'll definitely want to click the "like" button to follow San Diego Moms. This Facebook community defines itself as a "parenting resource community in San Diego written by moms and for moms. We meet online and offline at community events, moms night outs, and more" (once Covid restrictions are lifted). Their page spotlights local moms, provides distance learning tips, keeps you in the know on the latest and greatest summer camps and even provides some comic relief.

San Diego Moms
Connect with other parents all over the city, get recommendations about local businesses, find the best family photographer, get advice and input from other moms about a wide range of topics: from what to do when school starts again and you're an essential worker to finding a babysitter or the best hiking spots.

Buy Nothing Grateful Hearts
Do you need clothing for your kids or new housing decor? Then join this community group where you can give and take––helping each other out where help is needed. Anyone can receive, gift, request, trade, and swap. There’s no monetary attachments whatsoever. Everything in this group is absolutely free.

Mom Tribe, San Diego
Log on and talk about topics ranging from identity-loss and boredom to self-doubt, and loneliness to name a few. As a mom, it’s easy to lose track of your own needs, so Mom Tribe is a place for San Diego moms to connect and refresh. This Facebook page is about coming together in motherhood. It’s also a wonderful source of services and events that honor women as whole beings.

San Diego New Moms Network
Started by a first time mom living in San Diego, this is a group for moms with infants and toddlers to network, support each other, share local events and resources, meet, ask for or share referrals, and whatever else could be of interest and relevance to newer moms.

San Diego Kids Activities
Click on this page to learn about so many fun things to do with your kids all over the city. In their own words: "this Facebook page is about making new friends and discovering new things to do with our kiddos in the San Diego area. If you see something fun to do, please share it with our group! Let’s make raising our kids in SD an amazing experience for everyone!"

The Well
This new Facebook community/San Diego business offers the following: "At the physical location of The Well, we provide co-working space, events, and an inclusive kid’s program so that you can create, gather and grow in all areas of your life. Through our social media platforms, we want to engage all of our community to provide resources and encouragement to inspire you and make connections with others!"

San Diego Autism Support Group
Whether you are a mom, dad, family member of someone with autism, or you yourself are on the spectrum, you are welcome to join this group. Share stories, ask questions, post accomplishments and frustrations, and feel like you have a place to connect.

Real Moms of North County
Live in North San Diego? Then this group’s for you. Local North County moms who are doing their best to enjoy parenthood yet honest enough to admit that some days bedtime can’t come soon enough! This Facebook group is a resource for local events, doctor recs, school changes and any other recommendations to make the most of this stage of life.

San Diego Circle of Moms
Organized playdates and meet-ups, inspirational quotes and more will flourish in your feed when you follow San Diego Circle of Moms. One of their most recent get-togethers was a field day at Liberty Station Park where they had activity stations set up for kids ages 1-6, including ball toss, tube crawls, and hula hoops. Fun!

San Diego Moms Chat, Meet-Up & Network!
Are you a mom new to the San Diego area? Do you need to have an adult mom conversation? Or are you a local who just wants to touch base with other moms? Join this smaller Facebook group and chat it up!

Single Moms of San Diego
Join a group of single moms for emotional support and camaraderie. Here, mothers may speak openly about challenges concerning the separation process, career advancement, child rearing, dating, and more. This group is meant to empower and provide a safe space for single moms.

San Diego Dads Group
This is a group for dads in San Diego who want to connect with other fathers, ask questions, help each other out and socialize and network.

––Nikki Walsh & Beth Shea

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Creating Great Study Spaces for Students

By Gil Gibori

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

February 25, 2020

Photo: The House

Our inability to perform at a high-level is often a direct result of our environment. Think about how you feel on a rainy day compared to a sunny one, or, in a bright room instead of a room that’s dimly lit. The temperature can even affect you. All of these factors influence our mood, energy, and productivity.

So, if the environment plays such a crucial role, why are we expecting our kids to learn in an environment not conducive to learning?

As it stands, the average American school isn’t set up to optimize student performance. Most classrooms today consist of an inspirational poster or two, a whiteboard at the front of the room, and desks filed in neat rows—similar to the classroom you or I might have sat in 20 years ago.

The design is based on a one-size-fits-all model. A desk, for example, was created with the average student in mind—both physically and emotionally, but what we’ve learned over time is that there is no average student, so why haven’t more schools evolved to include seating arrangements more helpful to today’s learners and teaching styles?

A 2012 study in the U.K. found that classroom design could enhance or setback a student’s academic progress up to 25% during the course of a year.

And it’s not just the classroom that isn’t working. Spaces that we typically dedicate to homework also aren’t ideal. Take a look at your home, for example. There are so many distractions, from phones and television to noise created by siblings. Many home environments are too chaotic to allow a student to concentrate on getting work done.

Since space can either inhibit or improve learning, it would make sense to create environments that give the modern student more flexibility, similar to what we see in learning at the university level or in today’s workforce where many adults choose to work away from their desks.

Here are some examples of other study space solutions for students:

Grab the books and a cup of coffee. The library can be a great space for a student who needs complete silence to learn best. Conversely, a coffee house can be a great option for a student who likes a bit more external stimulus, or a place for small-group studying. With a pair of headphones, it can also be a good environment for tuning out the world and getting into the zone.

Soak up the natural environment. Studies have demonstrated the numerous benefits that come from spending more time in the great outdoors, like improving short-term memory and reducing stress. Many of those benefits can improve a student’s focus and attention. Studying or doing homework outside gives students the opportunity to get fresh air that helps clear their minds, destress, and access their creativity.

Choose a creative co-working space for kids. Most cities offer a variety of after-school spaces for students to do schoolwork among peers, encouraging collaboration. These spaces help cultivate an environment where they can relax, learn, and grow in a positive way. By offering different options, students get to find the best climate for them to work in and thrive where they feel most comfortable.

With the many issues facing education today, creating environments that can promote learning, boost confidence, and produce positive feelings about education can be one of the most cost-effective, easy solutions we can implement to enhance our children’s education.

Gil Gibori

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Gil is CEO and founder of The House, an on-demand, parent-free tutoring lounge for students. The House has revolutionized tutoring by giving students a space they can learn and grow on their own terms. Currently based in Glencoe, IL, Gil is looking at expanding the concept into new communities nationwide.

This Business Magazine Is the First to Feature a Pregnant CEO on the Cover

by Shahrzad WarkentinSeptember 19, 2019

Juggling a career and motherhood is never easy, but that doesn’t mean being a mom should be hidden from view in the workplace. The Wing CEO Audrey Gelman proudly bares her baby bump on the cover of Inc. magazine and it’s about time.

The October issue of Inc. magazine features a cover story about female founders with a prominent image of Gelman in a snug-fitting black dress against a bright yellow background. There’s absolutely no denying that beautiful baby bump and it’s a groundbreaking day for working women everywhere.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Audrey Gelman (@audreygelman)

“My hope is that women see this and again feel the confidence to take greater professional risks while also not shelving their dreams of becoming a mother and starting a family,” Gelman told TODAY.

“You can’t be what you can’t see.” @audreygelman is the first visibly pregnant CEO to grace the cover of a business magazine ever.

She sat down with @MorganRadford to talk about why she’s proudly revealing her baby bump on the magazine cover. pic.twitter.com/TnBALec1YL

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 18, 2019

Gelman is the co-founder and CEO of The Wing, a women’s co-working space with locations across the country including New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago. She explained to TODAY that images like this are critical to eliminating the bias that women can’t successfully balance a career and motherhood.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Inc. via Instagram

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This New Rent the Runway Location Is a Working Mom’s Dream Come True

by Shahrzad WarkentinMay 9, 2019

Working moms understand the value of multitasking better than anyone and are bound to be excited about the latest Rent the Runway location opening in San Francisco.

Part dream closet, part co-working space and part coffee shop, the newest addition to the Rent the Runway family gives women a space where they can literally get it all done. The new location is the largest space yet and goes beyond the clothing retail space to include stylists, a beauty bar, a coffee cart, a desk space for co-working and even space for networking and evening events.

Hey SF – our new flagship store at 228 Grant Avenue between Post and Sutter is officially open today!

Drop by for a visit to find double the inventory, a fully-equipped beauty bar, a bright coworking space, unlimited coffee from @BluestoneLane and so much more. See you there! pic.twitter.com/AAMo1takk8

— Rent the Runway (@RenttheRunway) May 8, 2019

The only downside to this amazing spot is that you’ll never want to leave. “Think of it like your gym or your Starbucks; it’s part of what you do on a daily basis,” Rent the Runway chief operating officer Maureen Sullivan told TechCrunch.

photo: Courtesy of Rent the Runway

Rent the Runway was previously an online-only retailer, but in the past year it has opened five brick-and-mortar locations, including this space which will be it’s largest. The other stores are located in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Washington, DC.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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Women’s Co-Working Space Adds Its Best Perk Yet: On-Site Childcare for Working Moms

by Shahrzad WarkentinFebruary 5, 2019

Juggling work and motherhood just got a little bit easier thanks to a new addition at a popular women’s co-working space.

The Wing, a women-focused, members-only community workspace with locations in New York City, Washington D.C. and San Francisco, has added a much-needed amenity to it’s already awesome space. The workspace for professional women, which also offers empowering events, speakers and community-building activities, has now added childcare.

https://twitter.com/the_wing/status/1090627902830460929

The Little Wing, which debuted at The Wing’s flagship location in New York City offers babysitting services and kids programs right in the same building so that moms can skip the nannies and daycare drop-offs in favor of bringing their tots to work, without the stress of actually bringing them to work.

“By offering a solution for our members who are parents, we want to help contribute to a world where there is no perceived motherhood penalty. One of the greatest barriers to working as a parent is lack of flexible work schedules and access to affordable care, and with the opening of the Little Wing, we hope to serve as a solution to both of those issues,” explained the company’s COO Kassan in an interview with Forbes.

The Little Wing’s babysitters, named Wingsitters, are available for kids from ages one to six for the fee of $25 for two hours. The facility will also offer enrichment classes, like music and yoga for an additional fee, as well as parenting classes and support groups. Of course, use of the The Little Wing also requires membership in The Wing which currently starts at $215 a month or $2,350 a year. The company plans to roll out The Little Wing component at its other locations in the future.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Christina Morillo via Pexels

This City Now Offers Free Public Daycare for Kids Ages 0 to 3

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No Kidding! NYC’s Only Co-Working Space With Childcare

by Mimi O'ConnorNovember 17, 2014

In New York, more and more people (read: freelancers, consultants, entrepreneurs) are making their money outside the traditional setup of a 9 to 5, office-based job. Our happening tech scene seems to produce a groovy new co-working space on the regular. You love the idea of co-working! But co-working spaces don’t love the idea of your kids (i.e.: you can’t bring them there.) Except for one: Read on to learn about the only co-working space in NYC with free on-site childcare. (We’ll wait ’til you get back up off the floor.)

Wait, what?

It’s hard to believe, but there really is only one co-working space in New York City that provides free, on-site childcare: the Explorer’s Academy in downtown Brooklyn. (It’s down the street from the Transit Museum on Boerum Place and a short walk from the Brooklyn Bridge.) Co-working is not the Explorer’s Academy’s only bag; in fact, the co-working space is an organic off-shoot of what Explorer’s Academy really does: educating, entertaining and caring for kids.

Who’s Behind This?

Operating in the sizable Schermerhorn Street facility that formerly housed the Brooklyn Friends School, Explorer’s Academy runs its eponymous preschool and a Universal Pre-K program in the building. (The full portfolio of the New York Explorer’s Group also includes a summer and after school program, Backpacks and Binoculars and babysitting concierge service Bag of Tricks Babysitting.)

Located on the third floor of the building, the co-working space includes five work stations and provides free secure wifi, as well as use of a phone, printer, copy and fax machine. Also: office supplies, coffee and water! (Does your home office even have all of that?) They’ve even got some potted succulents and colorful decor to warm up the joint.

What’s it Cost and How Do I Sign Up?

A co-working spot can be booked at the rate of $12/hour for care for up to two children of any age. (You can bring more than two kids for an additional fee.) The space can also be booked in its entirety for group meetings. Signing up for a space is a two-step process. First, applicants must fill-out a Co-Working Family Profile form; after that is approved all bookings can be made and paid for online. (You can also pay with a credit card on site the day you work.)

Co-working spots are available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be booked far in advance (or even day-of, if space-permitting.) Have an FSA account? You can use it to pay for co-working here! For an additional fee, Explorer’s Academy will provide a snack or lunch prepared with local and organic ingredients by the school’s on site chef.

photo: Explorer’s Academy

Who’s watching my kid? And where are they while I’m working?

The co-working service at Explorer’s Academy utilizes the roster of CPR and first aid-trained childcare professionals from its sister pre-school, camp, and babysitting programs, and adjusts the staff according to the specific group of kids needing supervision. (i.e., an additional person could be called upon to care for an infant in a group that also includes five four year-olds.)

Kids of co-working parents play in one of two spaces: a room adjacent to the co-working space stocked with books and toys, or the Academy’s outdoor space, which is enclosed and outfitted with a play structure, slide, riding toys and more.

And yes, you can pop out of the office space and say “Hi” to your little munchkin at any time. (Now get to work!)

Know of a co-working space with childcare in NYC that we don’t? Tell us about it in the comments below!

—Mimi O’Connor

ML Interest Tag: co-working-space

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Gil Gibori

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