You don’t have to do it all. Not only is that okay, but it’s healthy
You’ve got a fridge papered with to-do lists and an epic bookmark backlog of work-life balance articles. But, let’s be real: Something’s gotta give. And first on the chopping block should be that tired old trope that you, working mom, can have it all. Ya can’t. But there’s no shame in accepting this. Because you can easily kill it at this mom life/work life thing by ditching unnecessary stressors. Think of it as Marie Kondo-ing your life. Here are 13 ideas about what working moms give up to help them stay sane.
1) Scratch-made meals. every. single. night.
While family dinner is great for kids, and we’re all gaga over the idealized concept of the home-cooked meal, we’re all about the cheats. Consider a healthy meal-delivery service, buy a bag of pre-made pasta and stir in some veggies, or get your takeout on.
2) Chasing a perfect 50/50 family/work split.
Some weeks your family will need more attention. And others, you’ve got to play it like Sandberg and lean in at work. The trick (basic but effective) is communication—tell your partner if they need to step up and be honest with your boss about your sick kiddo at home.
3) Work happy hours.
Sure, you can go big at important events like holiday parties. But watching Ben from IT perfect his “Friends in Low Places” game at karaoke every Friday night isn’t going to make a difference come annual review time. Kick it at home with a glass of wine or some family-friendly mocktails instead.
4) Being a DIY goddess.
Bakesale? Store-bought cookies. Party favors? Etsy. Done and done. And even Halloween costumes can be hacked: hot glue, not sewing; hitting the thrift store, not the craft store. (But if DIY is your thing? By all means, keep it up, Martha!)
5) That social-media addiction.
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Life’s little moments don’t all need Facebook documentation, and studies show that scrolling through endless feeds of life presented as perfect (when it never is) leads to a major self-doubt spiral. Designate a time to catch up—say 9-9:30 p.m. And if you still find yourself scrolling during the day, try switching your phone’s color settings to grayscale, which makes it a lot less appealing, or take your social apps off of your home screens so they’re more tedious to find.
6) Making it to every practice and every rehearsal.
Be there for your kids when it matters—at the big game or on opening night. But it’s perfectly fine to tag-team chauffeur duty with a mom-friend. And if your pal is a SAHM who picks up your slack during the week, let her kids hang out at your place some weekends to give her a break.
7) Saying “yes” to every friend invite.
Real talk: Friend time is one of the first things to go when you have littles. And while losing your social life completely is a no-no—consider re-evaluating your friendships. Prioritize those who infuse you with energy and joy. And cut out anyone who leaves you drained.
8) Doing everything for your kids.
Little guys can be more self-sufficient than we give them credit for! Assign them basic tasks like folding towels or watering plants. And, as they get older, graduate them to making their own simple lunches, dusting, and dishwasher duty.
9) Giving up your house to your children (and their stuff).
Toy creep—it’s a problem. When kid stuff is strewn all over the place, it means more picking up for you and dad. Limit their toys to a single room. Or, at least, designate toy-free zones like your bedroom and the primary bath.
10) Overcommitting.
Three birthday parties in one weekend? Just no. Keeping up with the scheduling of parties and playdates is hard enough, let alone the driving, hosting, baking, and present-buying (not to mention the, ahem, cost). Declining some invites = less stress and more family time.
11) Getting up with your kids every night.
When they holler “Mommmm,” it’s A-OK if dad comes to the rescue. And while an every-other-night deal with the hubs might be unrealistic, prioritize who does the calming based on what you each have on tap the next day.
12) That idea of the “perfect” work persona.
While setting boundaries might seem scary, you’ll find that your coworkers will come to respect them—whether it’s no meetings after five or no emails on weekends. Consistency is key. And if you’re hourly, let it be known (politely) that your hours are firm, and no, you can’t cover for your slacker co-worker who’s MIA again. Standing your ground—while otherwise crushing it at your job—is one way to reshape the workplace for working moms.
13) Stalling on switching jobs.
Despite giving it your best shot, sometimes your company just isn’t (and will never be) parent-friendly. In this case, it’s time to bust out the ole resume and start your job hunt. And don’t feel bad about it! Put out feelers with working-mom friends because they’ll have your back. And for part-time work, do a little research. There are great companies out there (like us at Alice’s Table!) that let you make your own schedules, or that offer benefits packages even to part-time workers (Starbucks, Whole Foods, Home Depot).
And as for what you should never give up—ever? “Me” time (even if you’ve got to schedule it in), “us” time (even if it’s just Netflix and chill), and time to breathe. You’ve got this!
Pride 2023 means parades, drag performances, museum events for families, and so much love
June is Pride Month in NYC (and everywhere!) and the city is ready to celebrate. The official and legendary NYC Pride Parade for 2023 is on Sunday, June 25. (If you and the kids don’t like crowds, maybe steer clear. It gets packed.) But the parade is far from the only way to celebrate pride with the kids. Head out to youth pride events, drag queen storytelling, LGBTQ+ history tours around NYC, and much more. Plus, check out some of our favorite queer lit to add to your shelves. Read on for all the family-friendly NYC pride events happening around town, all month long.
2023 Pride Month Events for Families in NYC
Share Your Pride at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum has set up a community mural where visitors can share what Pride means to them. Contribute to the collaborative Pride wall when you visit the museum this month. Stop by during an event day to craft a rainbow crown to ring in Pride month. Finally, visit on June 10 to watch the year’s Brooklyn Pride Parade (or ask at the museum how the whole family can march in the parade itself!).
Thur., May 25 and Thur., June 8, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat., June 3, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Pride parade is on Sat., June 10, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Online:brooklynkids.org
Hands-on History: Queer Pride at King Manor Museum
This month’s free “Hands-on History” family event is themed all around queer pride. Make rainbow salt dough ornaments from the Victorian Era and learn about the symbolism that flowers held for the community during that era. You can also get your hands on a booklet by Margaret Middleton, that explores the possibility of queer inhabitants in the historic manor (though there’s no concrete evidence of this). Walk around the museum with the booklet in hand to explore the hidden history of the space.
The Museum’s annual LGBTQ+ Teen Night will feature a range of art-making, performances, and other activities inspired by queer art and activism. This year’s theme is “In This Town, We Show Pride,” and a full schedule will be announced on the website. The program is free and open to all teens ages 14 and up, but space is limited, and registration is required.
Cap Pride Month festivities by getting out on the water with the Seaport Museum to join the LGBTQ+ sailing club Knickerbocker Sailing Association’s (KSA) 21st-annual floating parade.
Two of the Museum’s National Register-listed historic vessels will join over 30 vessels for the sail, which means you can join part of the parade on the 1885 schooner Pioneer or the 1930 tugboat W.O. Decker. The fleet of 30+ vessels will feature sails designed by Gilbert Baker who created the first pride flag and was a member of KSA.
For each Pioneer and W.O. Decker ticket purchased, the Seaport Museum will donate a sailing ticket to Ali Forney Center, which is dedicated to protecting LGBTQ+ young people from the harms of homelessness and empowers them with the tools needed to live independently.
Want to enjoy the parade from shore? No problem! The procession of vessels is expected to sail past the Seaport Museum between 3-3:30pm and anyone can come to Pier 16 to cheer them on. While on the Pier, you are invited to browse and support the Hester Street Fair Pride Market, which will feature all queer-owned or -operated businesses.
June 24
Sailing Departure: 1pm
Viewing Times: 3-3:30pm
Head to the Queens Botanical Garden to watch spectacular performances by the queen of drag, Marti Cummings. Joining the host this year are two other (family-friendly) performers, Nani Tsumani and Janae SaisQuoi. Enjoy a live DJ, pride-themed crafts, dance performances, food trucks, and drinks for both kids and adults. Tickets to this event are $25 for non-members and $20 for members.
Teen LGBTQ+ Comics Chat at the NY Public Library (Virtual)
Teens 13 to 18 are invited to join the Riverside Library in a virtual chat about queer authors and themes in comics and manga. The virtual meet is hosted by three librarians, who’ll share their favorite queer comic picks. Participants can visit one of three libraries after the event to pick up a free copy of a comic! Register in advance to get an email with the link to this free online event.
Join the MoMA in this free event to celebrate LGBTQ+ art and culture. The day’s festivities include a visit to the museum, which you can wander around at your leisure, as well as art-making activities, music, drinks, and food. Members and their guests can attend without a ticket, but non-members will need to register in advance, once tickets are released in June.
Christina Aquilera is headlining Pride Live’s Stonewall Day event on June 23. Held outside the LGBTQIA+ landmark the Stonewall Inn, the holiday is a national day of awareness to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. The event will be hosted by Angelica Ross and include performances from Betty, Mila Jam, and Mariyea. This year’s event honors everyday heroes, like members and friends of the community who fight for equality every day, in whatever way they can.
The celebration of and for LGBTQIA+ and ally teens returns this year with DJs, musical performances, special guests, games, drinks, snacks, and much more. The event is completely free but registration is required.
The big event, the 54th Annual NYC Pride March, takes place on June 25, kicking off from 25th Street and Fifth Avenue at noon. More than 75% of all marching groups are non-profit organizations, and more than half are participating free of charge. The theme for the 2023 Pride March is “Strength in Solidarity,” with a strong focus on building a strong community and helping each other against the current political and social upheaval of the queer community. This year’s Grand Marshals and more information are yet to be released, so keep an eye on the website.
Join CMOM in celebrating Pride Month by singing and dancing along with queer creators. This year’s lineup includes guest appearances by Lindz Amer, creator of the Queer Kid Stuff webseries, and Ayo Nish!, genre-bending artist, songwriter, and performer—among others. The programs are designed to help kids form a strong sense of community, boost their sense of self-worth, and “spark joy”!
The New York City Parks Department is hosting Pride events all month long, all around the city—and many of them are free! The lineup is still being released, so stop by the website to see what’s happening in a park near you this month. In the meantime, you can see how queer culture and pride live in the city’s parks even when it’s not being actively celebrated by visiting the “Pride at NYC Parks” website.
Drag Queen Story Hour is coming to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, as well as several Brooklyn libraries. Kids will delight in the read-along event, which is hosted by drag queens and followed by a Q&A and art-making activity. You must register in advance.
Throughout the month of June, the Whitney Museum will be hosting many events to celebrate Pride Month. Included in the lineup is a celebration of “The Stroll” (a documentary detailing the history of the Meatpacking District through the eyes of the trans women of color who lived there), a queer teen night full of music and art, queer history tours and presentations, an evening gala, and a family festival. Visit the website for details on the long lineup of events!
Your local library is a hub for community events, and this June, libraries around all five boroughs have Pride events and activities lined up for kids and teens. Browse the websites for what a nearby library has planned or head out on an adventure to a brand-new library. Events include arts and crafts workshops (like pin making, rainbow jars, tote bag decorating, and more), themed storytime and singalongs, teen LGBTQ+ meetups, movie screenings, talks and poetry jams, and much more.
Create your own walking tour (or visit spots virtually) with the help of the excellent NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project. Filter by neighborhood, public spaces, notable residences, cultural and educational institutions, and more. You can even download it to your phone for a self-guided tour! If you’d rather have a guide on your adventure, you can join one of the upcoming hosted tours.
In addition to pride parades and street fests, there are other ways to open the age-appropriate lines of communication with your children about the LGBTQ community—and acceptance of all people, regardless of gender, race, religion, and sexuality differences. We recommend browsing one of our favorite NYC independent bookstores for kids for books dedicated to diversity and acceptance. These reads are a great place to start.
“And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole This classic is based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins who formed a pair at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. This charmingly illustrated children’s book tells the story of what happens when the two are allowed to adopt an egg.
“PRIDE: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag” by Rob Sanders Just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Pride Flag comes a picture book that tells the empowering true story about how the flag came to be. From its start in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its role spanning the globe today, you’ll hear a story of love, hope, equality, and, of course, pride.
“A Tale of Two Mommies” and “A Tale of Two Daddies” by Vanita Oelschlager Both of these stories are great reads for ages 4-8 and allow us a peek inside the conversation between kids who are curious about one friend’s two mommies and another’s two daddies. They’re both perfect for introducing kids to same-sex families that are becoming increasingly common to see in society.
“This Day in June” by Gayle E. Pitman Show your kids the beauty of the pride parade without ever leaving your house. This picture book perfectly captures the diversity, exuberance, and, well, pride on display and provides a solid springboard into a meaningful conversation. As a bonus, this book includes a reading guide chock full of facts about LGBTQ history and culture.
“Princess Princess Ever After” by Kay O’Neill This graphic novel is an excellent book for the tweens and pre-teens in the family. It turns the theme of the traditional fairy tale on its head, by introducing two princesses who are very different. When the brave princess saves the kind-hearted princess, they set off on an adventure that leads to self-discovery and a budding (kid-friendly) sapphic romance. Beautifully illustrated, this book is an exploration of what it means to be yourself, no matter what society expects.
“Welcome to the Family” by Mary Hoffman Explores one element of its prequel, “The Great Big Book of Families,” which is the arrival of new members into a family. Written with a humorous tone, you’ll have an opportunity to light-heartedly explore all the different ways a baby or child can become a member of a family—natural birth within a nuclear family, adoption, fostering, and same-sex families—while sending the message that all families are special and equal.
“The Family Book” by Todd Parr Children are introduced to an array of families through whimsical, colorful illustrations. Pages are full of silly examples of differences (i.e.: some families like to be messy, some like to be clean), plus serious topics like adoption, same-sex relationships, and single parenting.
“It’s Okay to Be Different” by Todd Parr Similar to “The Family Book,” Parr reinforces the need for acceptance of individuality through repetition and fun and colorful drawings. He mixes big ideas (“It’s okay to have different dads”) with random silliness (“It’s okay to eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub”).
“King and King” by Linda de Haan In this fairytale, a prince must find a mate to help rule the kingdom so the Queen can retire. While being introduced to a series of princesses, the prince meets a suitor’s brother and it’s love at first sight. Collage-style illustrations are bright, colorful, and altogether engaging.
“10,000 Dresses” by Marcus Ewert Bailey loves dresses in all the colors of the rainbow. Dresses that sparkle, that shine, that twirl. His parents, however, are in his ear to remind him that he’s a boy and boys don’t wear dresses. In comes Laurel, a friend that shows him that it’s okay to be whoever he wants to be. This is an inspiring friendship story that any kid can relate to—but especially those who refuse to conform.
“This Is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids” by Dannielle Owens-Redi and Kristin Russo Have a child who recently came out or is early on in the stages of questioning their sexuality? First off, congratulations that you’ve created an environment where your child feels open enough to talk about those feelings. Next up? This book. Written in Q&A format, it’s a go-to resource for parents committed to understanding and being the best support possible for their child. The authors share insight on everything from the emotional to the practical topics, peppered with real-life experiences of gay kids and their parents.
Here are all the Pixar movies ranked from “Not tonight, kids,” to “Let’s fire it up!”
From its very first release—Toy Story, way back in 1995—Pixar has been an animation powerhouse. The studio has been reliably pumping out hits on an almost yearly basis ever since, and so many of them have become timeless classics. As with most kids’ movies, however, there’s a chance that if your little one falls in love with a Pixar flick, you’re going to get stuck watching it approximately 703,128 times in a row. So before you press play, you’re going to want to make sure your next family movie night includes one of the Pixar movies ranked at the top of our parental enjoyment list—but let’s be real: even the ones a little lower on this list are still going to be pretty darn good.
After all, the animation studio has a knack for creating kid-friendly fare that also appeals to adults. Whether it’s the nostalgia of Toy Story or the beautiful love story in Up, Pixar makes adults want to sit down and watch right alongside their kids. Filled with pop culture references and witty humor, Pixar films prove they can draw an adult audience with ease.
Race car superstar Lightning McQueen is on his way to the big race when he gets sidelined in Radiator Springs, a small town in the first installment of the series. Cars 2 finds Lightning and his friend Mater headed to an overseas race. Cars 3 finds an older Lightning set up against a sleeker and faster generation of race cars.
Parent Ranking: Sorry, racing fans! When it comes to ranking Pixar movies parents will want to watch, with no disrespect to Lightning McQueen, the Cars franchise isn’t likely to get mom or dad revved up about movie night—even if the kiddos are eager to speed through the whole trilogy. Mater’s voice alone is enough to make parents wish they could hit an eternal pause button, and the film’s childish plotline appeals more to kids than parents.
What if dinosaurs hadn’t been wiped out by a cataclysmic event? The Good Dinosaur answers that question and pairs a cute dinosaur with a human boy. The two head out on an epic journey filled with themes of friendship and loss.
Parent Ranking: This dino tale is often dubbed Pixar’s first-ever box-office bomb. But with a string of absolutely beloved films under its belt, the studio had to miss the mark sometime, right? While the film does feature beautiful scenery, the tale lacks the normal adventure, humor, and joy that have become cornerstones of Pixar films.
Flik, the proverbial black sheep of his ant colony must do his best to be the hero after a group of grasshoppers take over. He goes on a mission to find a group of bugs to help him, but the bugs are circus performers.
Parent Ranking: Pixar’s second animated feature holds a special place in the hearts of many and has an Oscar nomination for Best Music, Original Musical, or Comedy Score, but it hasn’t quite had the staying power of some of the studio’s other hits. Nature-loving little ones might enjoy seeing adorable insects on screen, but grown-ups may prefer the more advanced comedic offering of Pixar’s rival Dreamworks film Antz, which was also released in 1998.
Clownfish Nemo’s forgetful friend Dory gets her very own film. Dory goes in search of her parents while she brings a few friends along for the ride. Featuring the voices of Bill Hader, Kate McKinnon, Albert Brooks, and Ellen DeGeneres, the animated film was nominated for a 2017 BAFTA for Best Animated Feature Film.
Parent Ranking: While Dory’s appearance in Finding Nemo was memorable, some fans felt her solo movie wasn’t necessary. Many found the film a bit dark and drawn out. Though the sequel was fine, parents will likely prefer the original flick.
Buzz and Woody are back with their friends as they head out on an epic road trip alongside Bonnie and her parents. The gang gets caught up in a misadventure, and Woody is reunited with an old friend. The fourth film in the series won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.
Parent Ranking: It’s always great to see Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang, but some fans felt the franchise should have ended as a trilogy. The fourth film felt like an attempt to eke out an unnecessary installment in the beloved series. While kids adore Forky, many parents find him annoying. They may also feel like Pixar sold out and tarnished one of their best film franchises.
Pixar returned to the Toy Story franchise with Buzz Lightyear’s origin story. Buzz and a band of merry misfits attempt to defeat aliens as they go on an intergalactic mission. The film features a new voice for the stellar space ranger, with Chris Evans stepping in for Tim Allen, who voiced Buzz in the first four installments of the series.
Parent Ranking: The adventure features a cool new sidekick, a robot cat named Sox, who provides some genuinely funny moments. While the idea of finding out where Buzz came from is interesting, the film felt a bit forced and parents may be disappointed with just how little it offers. It, like the fourth Toy Story, feels like an add-on.
This prequel to Monsters, Inc. focuses on the origin of the friendship between monsters Sulley and Mike. They meet while attending Monsters University and don’t exactly hit it off as they navigate typical college experiences including joining a fraternity.
Parent Ranking: There’s much to enjoy about this flick, but adults might find it merely imitates—while never exactly duplicating—the magic of the original. They may also feel disappointed that the original characters do not appear in this film and may notice a hiccup between the two Monster films. In Monsters, Inc., Mike and Sulley were said to have met in fourth grade, while Monsters University contradicts this by making their first meeting in college
This Oscar-nominated, coming-of-age film features two sea monsters who become friends when they disguise themselves as humans to experience the world outside the water. They befriend a human girl and do their best not to have their true identities revealed.
Parent Ranking: The downside to watching Luca is that you’ll want to book a vacation to the Italian Riviera ASAP. The sea monster movie takes place in the fictional town of Portorosso, and even though it’s animated, the scenery is stunning. While beautiful to look at, Luca is a bit of a bore and offers less wit and originality than many of the other Pixar films.
Two teen brothers, who also happen to be elves, go on a quest to spend one last day with their father, who died before they got to know him. After she realizes her sons are missing, their mother, Laurel, goes after them with the help of a warrior sidekick.
Parent Ranking: Despite voice work from Chris Pratt and Tom Holland, Onward is one Pixar film that doesn’t seem to get as much love. Bad timing might be to blame; the movie hit theaters in February 2020— weeks before the world was upended by the coronavirus pandemic. The film also feels uneven, with the second-half offering more of a reward than the first.
When Joe, a music teacher, and musician, dies just as he is about to get what appears to be his big break, he gets caught in the Great Before. With the help of a friend he meets there, he must find a way to get back to the life he took for granted. The film won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.
Parent Ranking: Soul made history as the first Pixar feature to debut on Disney+, likely thanks to its pandemic-year release. It was a holiday gift for both kids and parents in 2020, dropping on Christmas Day. While not the best Pixar has to offer, adults will enjoy performances by Tina Fey and Jamie Foxx as they voice this fun and thought-provoking film that isn’t afraid to challenge both young and old to face life’s greatest questions.
Young Miguel loves music, though his family has banned it. When he gets caught in the land of the Dead, he buddies up with skeleton Hector, and Miguel finally discovers the true history of his family and their ties to music. Coco won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) and another for Best Animated Feature Film.
Parent Ranking: The film features an amazing soundtrack and a moving message about love and loss, which makes Coco a hit for all ages. The voice cast is also impressive and includes Gael García Bernal, Edward James Olmos, and Cheech Marin, and is a loving tribute to Latin culture. While parents will enjoy all these things, they may also find it a gentle and non-threatening way to discuss loss with their kids.
Tween Meilin turns into a giant red panda when she gets excited, which makes her entry into adolescence even more frightening. She discovers that she isn’t the only one this has happened to. Her helicopter mom also went through the change, thanks to an ability passed down through generations of women in her family and their strong connection to the red panda.
Parent Ranking: The words “Pixar” and “controversy” don’t usually belong in the same sentence, but this 2022 film certainly stirred up a bit. Some parents didn’t love Turning Red’s depiction of tween-age rebellion and mentions of menstruation, but plenty of others found it full of heart and humor. Parents will enjoy a nostalgic return to their tween days and just how awkward and awe-filled they were, while also commiserating with Meilin’s parents about exactly what it means to parent an adolescent.
A rebellious spirit and a love of archery make Princess Merida, unlike other princesses. While doing her best to remain true to herself, Merida unleashes a curse that turns her mother, the Queen, into a bear. Merida must figure out how to fix things and restore order to the kingdom.
Parent Ranking: Don’t call her a damsel in distress. Brave‘s Merida breaks the mold of the typical Disney princess, and parents might appreciate the respite from all that chasing after Prince Charming. Not only will modern parents enjoy the film’s twist on the princess trope, but they will also relish the film’s historical accuracy, which encompassed everything from the chess set to the tartan patterns and colors the characters wear. Mothers in particular may be pleased to see the film explore a complicated and realistic mother/daughter relationship.
When food-loving rat Remy gets caught up in the Parisian culinary scene, his dreams of becoming a world-renowned chef may be within reach. Of course, convincing people that a rat belongs in the kitchen won’t be easy.
Parent Ranking: The only time you want rats in the kitchen is when you’re watching this adorable movie. Adult viewers will enjoy the humor that comedians Brad Garrett, Will Arnett, Janeane Garofalo, and Patton Oswalt, as Remy the Rat, bring to the film. The rat shows us the beauty of following your dreams—no matter how many people try to stand in your way. The scenery is also eye-catching and makes this film worth a watch.
Former superhero couple, Bob and Helen Parr have settled into life in the ‘burbs with their three children. When an opportunity to return to crime fighting presents itself, Bob will need the help of his superhero wife and kids to save the world. In The Incredibles 2, the family goes on another mission. This time Helen is out in the field while Bob stays home with the kids.
Parent Ranking: The franchise that launched a million matching family Halloween costumes is worthy of a watch. The first film came out in 2004, and a sequel arrived with much fanfare in 2018. The joy of this film is that parents will identify with the suburban malaise that settles over parents Bob and Helen Parr, who once lived exciting lives as superheroes, and how good it feels to reclaim their youthful dreams in middle age, even if it’s alongside their children. Parents will also see their own lives reflected in the Parr’s with moments pulled straight from their own homes, like the moment when Bob tries to help his son with math homework and he shouts in frustration, “I don’t know that way. Why would they change math? Math is math.”
This futuristic adventure follows Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class (WALL-E) as he cleans up an abandoned Earth. When a new robot named Eve joins him, WALL-E falls in love and follows her back to a dystopian ship where humanity is a shell of its former self. Once there, he must find a way to save mankind.
Parent Ranking: Some have called the movie Pixar’s most adult offering ever, with almost no dialogue and a strong environmental message. It’s a testament to powerful storytelling that kids love this movie too. Adults may also enjoy how the film pays homage to many science fiction film classics like Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The robot’s cockroach companion is named Hal, after the antagonist in the 1968 Kubrick film.
In a city filled with monsters, the screams of children provide electricity to keep the lights on. Best friends Sulley and Mike scare children, whom they believe are toxic. When a child manages to sneak into their world, they realize things aren’t exactly what the corporation they work for, Monsters, Inc., led them to believe.
Parent Ranking: Mike Wazowski and Sulley (voiced by Billy Crystal and John Goodman, respectively) are one of the most dynamic duos ever dreamt up by Pixar. The sweet film scares up laughs for the whole family. Parents, especially those plagued by nightmares as a kid, will enjoy the humor behind the monsters that go bump in the night. The movie may also serve as a way to help parents deal with the monsters their kids may be dealing with in their own rooms.
Clownfish and father, Marlin warns his young son Nemo not to wander out into the open ocean from their safe home in the Great Barrier Reef. When Nemo does, he gets captured and confined to a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Nemo does his best to get free, while Marlin works with forgetful fish Dory to find Nemo.
Parent Ranking: If there’s one thing Pixar knows how to do well, it’s a tug at the heartstrings. This underwater tale does that in a big way, but thankfully, there are lots more laughs than tears. Adults will enjoy witty writing and sharp humor. Moms and Dads may appreciate seeing a variety of parenting styles represented in the film as well.
This Oscar-winning film features a young Riley whose family’s move throws her life, and emotions into chaos. As Riley does her best to navigate her new home, her emotions do as well—from headquarters, located just inside Riley’s mind. A sequel to the film is expected to hit theaters in 2024.
Parent Ranking: The stacked voice cast, including Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, and Lewis Black makes Inside Out just as fun for the adults as it is for the kids. The film will remind adults what it was like to be a kid struggling with emotions, and parents may also discover a renewed understanding of how overwhelming youth can feel.
Carl Fredricksen is an elderly gentleman who always wanted to explore South America. He finally gets the chance when his house travels to Paradise Falls with the help of a ridiculous amount of balloons. His companion on the journey is a young Wilderness Explorer named Russell.
Parent Ranking: When it comes to ranking Pixar movies, is there a more heartbreakingly beautiful love story in all of movie-dom than Carl and Ellie’s? Both the love story and the loss when it ends, will appeal to adults. After the opening scene shatters your heart, the rest of this lovely movie will put it back together again. Adults will also enjoy the intergenerational bromance that develops between Carl and Russell, which proves there are no age limits when it comes to friendship.
Toy Story and its follow-ups focus on the relationships between toys and their humans. The first Toy Story introduces a shiny new toy, space ranger Buzz Lightyear to Andy on his birthday and features the reaction of his favorite old toy, cowboy Woody. Toy Story 2 finds the gang going on a mission to save Woody from a thieving toy collector. The third installment, Toy Story 3, finds the toys inadvertently sent to a daycare instead of being stored in the attic as Andy gets ready to leave home for college.
Parent Ranking: While Toy Story 4 may not have quite lived up to its predecessors, the original three films remain the best of the best among Pixar’s offerings. The three movies have it all—plenty of action, lots of laughs, and, of course, all the feels. Keep the tissues handy, especially during Toy Story 3, which is an epic nostalgic return to the times when we needed to navigate the thin thread that separates childhood from what lies just beyond. The film also offers some unforgettable pop culture references from parents’ own childhood.
Are you raising a little social justice warrior? Well, there is no time like the holiday season to get kids into the mindset of thinking about others. As described in Race, Class, and Parenting: 7 Strategies for Raising Sensitive, Confident, and Loving Kids, gratitude and empathy form the foundation of social justice parenting. Keep reading for our top ideas to help you teach your children awareness, compassion and service.
1. Volunteer at a Food Bank or Organize a Food Drive
Family meals are typically such an important part of our holiday season, but so many individuals and families struggle to put a meal on the table year-round. In 2020, an estimated 10.5% of U.S. households were food insecure, according to the USDA Economic Research Service. Volunteering at a local food bank is an effective way to make our children more aware of their privilege and to teach our children the importance of service. If your child is too young to actually serve or stock food, you can help them organize a food drive among their family, classmates, teammates and friends.
The number of people who are without permanent homes has been on the rise this year, particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has forced so many people out of work. In January 2019, even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Point-in-Time Count, seventeen out of every 10,000 people in the United States experienced homelessness on a single night. Of these 567,715 people, more than 35,000 were children.
A fairly simple, but meaningful project is to make care packages with toiletry items, like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and deodorant for people who are displaced. These kinds of sanitation items help to restore a sense of dignity for people who are struggling to maintain their hygiene during this transitional period in their lives. You can set a budget for picking up these items from a local dollar store, or you could even creatively repurpose hotel shampoos and lotions. Because coronavirus is still a significant risk, consider adding a small bottle of hand sanitizer. These items can be distributed through formal organizations that service these populations, or you can just keep freezer bag parcels in the back of your car to distribute in safe situations when you are out and about.
In a year when we seem to be struggling more than ever to maintain respect for people who are different than us, there has never been a better time to establish a tone of inclusion and acceptance in our own family culture. This holiday season, be sure to make time to learn about the traditions and experiences of people who are different than you. Set an important example for your children by taking the time to understand what matters to your neighbors and why. Here are some of the holidays that are being celebrated around the world through fall and winter:
Even as you make an effort to learn about others, don't forget the importance of sharing your traditions as well. Striving for a more equitable society means we are willing to participate in a reciprocal exchange of cultures and traditions. Consider sharing your traditions with friends of different backgrounds. Invite two to three neighbors to participate in a recipe swap for Thanksgiving; encourage them to share a food/recipe they grew up eating. Perhaps you can invite a friend to participate in a spiritual service at your temple, church or mosque. To move us forward as a society, we all have to be willing to be more vulnerable with one another, and there are many simple ways to do so over the holiday season.
5. Craft Holiday Cards for Seniors in Assisted Living Communities
Loneliness is a significant burden on the elderly, including those who reside in assisted living communities. According to the CDC, lonely seniors are at greater risk for dementia, depression and premature death. Teach your children to be sensitive to this vulnerable population by planning a crafting day to make holiday cards that you can drop off for seniors at a facility in your community. These cards will spread cheer to people who can really benefit from knowing that they are remembered and appreciated by their neighbors.
We don’t just want to teach our children how to be caring, we want to empower them with the skills to actually make the changes we need for a better world. This holiday season, support your children as they take the lead on organizing a toy, clothing or blanket drive. Start with research about communities that could benefit from this kind of activism, including unhoused people, children in orphanages and families displaced by hurricanes and fires this year. Help them figure out how to communicate and raise awareness about the social issues that create these needs. Encourage them to enlist help and form partnerships to scale their impact. Teach them to set goals and to be persistent towards their goal. Ultimately, they will internalize a powerful lesson about their ability to influence change.
7. Raise Awareness and Spread Love with Holiday Cards
Holiday cards are such a fun way to spread cheer among our friends and family. Consider designing a card or sharing a more intentional message among your social network this holiday season. Give updates on the social justice activities you have executed over the past year or share your positive intentions for the world in the coming year. Create holiday cards that encourage, enlighten and inspire this year.
8. Gratitude Activities
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Children who are grateful are better able to feel confident, show compassion and leverage their privilege on behalf of others. Gratitude is the most valuable perspective in social justice parenting. Create new holiday traditions focused on gratitude; consider Thanksgiving crafts or activities that inspire your kids to think about what they are grateful for. Plan to go around the dinner table and reflect on what each person appreciates in his or her life. If you use an Advent calendar in your holiday traditions, consider connecting each daily ritual to an explicit statement of gratitude. Help your children communicate in the dialect of thankfulness this holiday season and all year long.
This holiday season, use your purchasing power to promote social justice. As we are buying gifts for family, friends and all of the people in our lives who have helped us get through the year, think about where and how you spend your money. Make a point to buy from small businesses who have been disproportionately impacted by pandemic closures. Purchase goods and services from minority-owned businesses. When planning gift purchases, try to buy dolls, toys and books that represent all people of different races, ethnicities and abilities. Every dollar you spend is truly a vote for the type of world that you want to live in.
10. Make New Year’s Resolutions around Social Justice Issues
It is never too early to form a resolution or set a vision for the coming year. Even young children can and should be taught to dream and set goals for themselves and their communities. For the coming year, you and your family can set specific resolutions around social justice issues. Perhaps you will commit to reading books and learning more about systemic bias or environmental justice. Maybe you will commit to volunteering on a regular basis in your community in the coming year. You may decide to become more politically active engaging your local politicians or pursuing an elected or appointed position yourself. You might decide as a family to rescue a new pet. Setting intentions are a powerful first step to evolving as an individual, as a family, and as a society.
Are you watching the Tokyo Summer Olympics? At Xyza: News for Kids we’re watching along and sharing some Olympics trivia with families around the world. Ready to test your knowledgeabout the biggest sporting event in the world? Race ya to the finish!
1. Which of these sports is making its debut in the 2021 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo?
A. Skakeboarding
B. E-sports
C. Cricket
D. Rollerskating
Answer is A: Skateboarding, surfing, sports climbing, and karate will make their debuts at the highly-anticipated Tokyo Summer Olympics. Fans of skateboarding will be cheering on their favorite athletes such as thirteen-year-old Sky Brown from Great Britain and twelve-year-old Kokona Hiraki from Japan, two of the youngest athletes to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
2. What did Japan introduce to the world the last time they hosted the Olympic games?
A. Robots
B. Bullet trains
C. Jet Planes
D. Vending machines
Answer is B: Bullet trains. In 1964, Japan became the first country in Asia to ever host an Olympic Games and the first to introduce a high speed train called the Shinkansen, or bullet train. The bullet train took passengers between Tokyo and Osaka, a distance of 247 miles, in approximately two hours and thirty minutes. When the first bullet trains began operating, they traveled at a speed of approximately 125 miles per hour. Now, bullet trains can travel at speeds of over 200 miles per hour and Japan Railways, the company behind these speedy trains, is building trains that will go even faster! Zoom!
3. What did the Tokyo Olympic Committee recently send to space in preparation of the games?
A. Mario and Luigi figurines
B. Nintendo Switch
C. Robots Gundam and Zaku
D. Mascot Miraitowa
Answer is C: Robots Gundam and Zaku. In March of 2020, two of Japan’s most popular animated robots, Gundam and Zaku, rocketed to outer space in a mini satellite named, “G Satellite Go To Space.” The reason for their trip? Japan wanted to welcome the world to the Olympic Games both on Earth and from outer space! The idea was that the two robots would transmit images and messages about the Games back to Earth in English, Japanese, and French during the Olympics!
4. What sport did Japan introduce the last time they hosted the Olympics?
A. Karate
B. Volleyball
C. Basketball
D. Swimming
Answer is B: Volleyball. In 1964, Japan hosted its first ever Olympic Games and introduced two new sports: judo and volleyball. Although volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan, the sport wasn’t added to the Olympics until 1964. In fact, two-person beach volleyball wasn’t added until 1996. Shocking, we know! Bump, set, spike, anyone?
5. In what other year was the Olympics postponed?
A. 1916
B. 1940
C. 1944
D. None of the above
Answer is D: None of the above. Recently, the International Olympic Committee announced that the 2020 Summer Olympics would be postponed until the summer of 2021 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. It’s a big deal because, believe it or not, no other Olympic Games have ever been postponed before. What?!?!? Nooooo … Yes! That’s not to say, however, that the Olympics have never been canceled before. We’re sneaky, we know. 🙂The Olympics were canceled in 1916, 1940, and 1944 because the world was fighting in World Wars I and II.
We're two perfectly imperfect moms who have five very different kids between the two of us. We believe that topics in news are a fantastic way to spark conversations in families. That's why we started the Dinner Table Conversation series here at Xyza: News for Kids. Won't you join us in the conversation?
If you’re like me, you’ve had a lot of time with your children this past year (too much, maybe). But, also like me, I’m going to guess most of that time was not spent in deep, meaningful engagement with them. Sure, you were sharing the same physical space, but you weren’t spending every waking hour on memory making moments. More like do the dishes, fold the laundry, break up a sibling squabble, help with virtual learning, log onto another zoom call, repeat. Still, with more time on our hands, we definitely had more opportunities to make special connections with the people who matter most to us.
As the world opens up, and we all emerge into a freer, vaccinated world this summer and fall, our schedules are returning to normal, too. Our days are filling with more variety, and our calendars are filling with outside obligations and to-dos. That coronavirus pandemic offered very few silver linings, but one was that our lives were less hectic and less cluttered. We had more time for special time with our little ones.
Children, especially from birth to 5 years of age, need security and consistency to form self-esteem, develop resilience, and develop lasting healthy relationships with their caregivers. To do that, they need our time and attention. They need to know that in this rapid-fire, whirlwind world, they have a special place in our hierarchies that no one else can take. Prioritizing and supporting our kids means remembering they are among the people we love most.
I spend a lot of time coaching moms that when they thrive, their kids thrive. Taking time away from our kids to work, or just to take care of ourselves, is in no way selfish. Our kids don’t need our attention 24-7. That said, our kids may not need us to spend our every waking hour with them, but they do need us to spend a substantial amount of time with them. A few moments here and there are just not going to cut it. They don’t deserve our leftovers.
Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MS Ed, FAAP, got real on this subject when he wrote in Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings, “In our overscheduled lives, we often talk of making quality time for our children. I agree—a few moments, when parents are truly present and undistracted, can be most meaningful. At the expense of saying something unpopular, though, quantity matters too. All parents are stretched to fulfill multiple obligations, but we need to make available as much time as possible for our children. To some extent, the quality of our time with them is influenced by the quantity of that time. I’m not suggesting that you quit your day job. I am saying that there will be more opportunities to listen if we spend more time with our children. We won’t always be there for the crises or heart-to-heart moments, but the more time we spend with them, the more likely we will be available to listen during a significant moment.”
When we do prioritize moments to intentionally focus on our relationships with our children, practicing special time is one of the best ways we can make the most of it. Special time can mean setting aside 20 minutes per day to remove distractions, get on the floor or sit at the table with our kids, and play. We let our kids lead us, refrain from using any judgment statements (good or bad), and spend time doing what they want to do. As opposed to a time-out, when you intentionally remove your attention for bad behavior, it’s a time-in with your child, when you intentionally focus on your child and your child alone.
This doesn’t have to be complicated. When your child is a baby, this may be as simple as you getting on your hands and knees next to his activity mat. When he’s a toddler, it can literally mean playing with toys on the floor. Set a timer, turn your phone off—make this time only about you and your child. As your children get older, floor time can morph into mommy-son dates to the coffee shop or mommy-daughter dates to the pool. When we remove the distractions of the outside world and focus just on our children for discrete periods of time they can count on, we build a foundation of memories and mindfulness, ultimately building resilience and connection.
Special Time Ideas by Age
For Preschool Kids
Coloring, drawing, painting
Trip to the local park
Backyard picnic or tea party
Reading
Sidewalk chalk
Vegetable garden planting
Pretend beauty shop
Water play with measuring cups and bowls
Indoor/outdoor scavenger hunt
For Elementary School Kids
Pottery painting, drawing, painting
Bike ride around the neighborhood
Gardening
Sunset watching, stargazing
Board games, puzzles, card games
Backyard camping trip with s’mores and tent • Daisy chains at the local park
Baking or cooking together
Reading at home or the local bookstore
Home karaoke or a dance party
For Preadolescents & Adolescents
Coffee shop breakfast, lunch, or dinner date
Drive to the beach, woods, or lake for overnight or day trip
Local hike or run
Online or in-person class together
Volunteer together
Reading together
Board games, card games
Baking or cooking together
Life gets busy. Our schedules, especially in an (almost) post-pandemic world, are most definitely going to fill up. That’s a great thing. As moms, though, it’s important to leave space for who and what are most important to us as we navigate a freer, safer, new world, including our kids and ourselves.
I'm a pediatrician and a mama mindset expert. I host The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, and am a mom to two young girls in Portland, Oregon. I'm also author of The New Baby Blueprint and The Working Mom Blueprint from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
We’ve had a year of shifting academics and social interaction to a virtual platform due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Gardening is an easy, screen-free activity that can provide your child with numerous benefits.
Designing and digging a garden can be the perfect outdoor parent-child bonding activity. Not only is it fun and rewarding for kids, but studies have shown interacting with plants has benefits ranging from reducing stress to promoting healthy eating habits. Another reason to grab your garden gloves? Working with your child to plan, organize, and plant can help develop their executive functioning skills. And that could improve your child’s ability to complete academic and daily life tasks. How exactly can you boost your child’s developmental skills through gardening? Let’s dig in!
Step 1: Plan the Plot
Start by letting your child choose what plants to grow. A few ideas:
Pizza Garden. Include veggies you can use to top your family’s next homemade pizza, like mushrooms, spinach, and broccoli.
Salsa Garden. Are chips & salsa a favorite snack in your household? Cilantro, tomatoes, and onions it is!
Rainbow Garden. Think cucumbers, bell peppers, strawberries, and other colorful fruits and veggies.
Salad Garden. Plant lettuce and any favorites to make the perfect side salad at your next dinner!
Browse through a gardening magazine or website to order the seeds. Ask open-ended questions about what plants your child thinks you should choose and why. That can help develop cognitive skills like organization and reasoning.
Do some research with your child on the items you plan to include in your garden. Challenge your child to put their planning skills to work by gathering information on the stages of growth they can expect to see from their plants and what tools or materials they’ll need.
Step 2: Map It Out
Now it’s time for you and your gardening buddy to map out the location of the plants in your garden! Help your child draw a picture of where each plant should go or use an online tool like this one.
Asking cause and effect questions can help your child use critical thinking skills. Do certain plants need to get more or less sun? Will some veggies need more room to grow than others? How will that affect where you choose to plant your seeds? Help your child see the different options available when thinking about how to plan their garden. As they start to see that they can go about completing a task in multiple different ways, their cognitive flexibility skills can strengthen. That can help them tackle all kinds of to-dos in their daily life.
Step 3: Dig In!
Time to let your green thumb shine and plant the seeds. This part helps your child develop their ability to execute a plan. Before you get started, talk about what steps you’ll need to follow: weed, dig, plant, add soil, water. Through this, their sequencing skills can soar! Focusing on following each step can develop your child’s inhibitory control. They’ll need to control their behavior, attention, and thoughts to each task at hand in order to get their garden growing. And even more good news! Outdoor activities like gardening have been proven by the American Journal of Public Health to improve children’s attention skills.
Step 4: Let Your Garden Grow
Your child can’t bite into a juicy watermelon from their garden just yet! Give them some responsibilities for caring for their garden, like these:
Watering
Weeding
Watching for the plants to reach each stage of growth
Maintaining the garden through these tasks can help work your child’s memory skills each day. Getting up and working on the garden can also encourage their ability to initiate tasks. Finally, let your child enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of their labor. Watching their plants grow, picking, and eating from their garden can boost self-confidence and provide positive reinforcement for all of that hard work.
If you have concerns about your child’s ability to complete aspects of tasks such as organization, maintaining attention, planning, or reasoning, consider consulting an expert. TherapyWorks is a company that provides speech therapy services with licensed professionals that can evaluate your child and, if needed, provide ongoing therapy services.
I'm a mom entrepreneur and Co-Founder of TherapyWorks, a pediatric therapy company that provides services via telehealth. I recognized the need to make high-quality pediatric therapy more convenient after one of my own children needed therapy and launched TherapyWorks with my Co-Founder, an experienced speech language-pathologist, with that in mind.
Since sleeping past seven on a Saturday has become a luxury now that we have small kids, why not get a jump on the day by exploring some of Atlanta’s best farmers markets? You’ll find fresh air, bearable temperatures, and who knows? It might be just the trick for getting your littles to love their veggies! Here are our picks for the markets that are the cream of the crop.
Alpharetta Farmers Market
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You'll find free parking in the City Center and Milton Avenue parking decks, and at Alpharetta Baptist Church on Old Roswell Street. There’s also easy pedestrian access across Main Street, making it easy to access this market with over 100 vendors, live music, and a small-town vibe.
When to Go: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Sat.
Find It: North and South Broad streets in front of City Center, alongside Town Green
You'll find over 40 vendors—both new and returning—at this year's Brookhaven Farmers Market. Be sure and make a stop at Stroopwafels for a thin caramel and cinnamon waffle.
Drink organic coffee, eat a fresh-baked breakfast sandwich, and shop for tonight's dinner—all while watching the kids play nearby at the Dunwoody Farmers Market. Expect to see new vendors from across Georgia, including Watsonia Farms strawberries and produce, Dickey Farms peaches, Java Gensis organic coffee, and a variety of locally grown, pesticide-free produce, meats, eggs, cheeses and baked goods. We are your weekly stop for honey, jams, frozen treats and desserts. Enjoy kids activities, wellness seminars, composting and gardening tips, all while having access to fresh seasonal produce.
This market regularly schedules educational programming, and the amount of EBT dollars swiped is matched with an equal amount of tokens for fruits and vegetables for shoppers using EBT. Masks are required, hand sanitizer is available, social distancing is encouraged, and many vendors offer touch-free checkout.
This year-round staple on Atlanta's farmers market scene is open rain or shine every Saturday of the year. They even stayed open through the coronavirus pandemic, doubling in size just to allow for better social distancing.
When to Go: Open year-round; 8:30 a.m.-noon every Sat.
Find It: Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway, Atlanta
Go for the produce but leave with a bouquet of flowers and (soon) tie-dye merch. You can also pick up canned and jarred foods from local vendors, and they match EBT dollars with tokens for fruits and veggies.
When to Go: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Sun.
Find It: Eventide Brewery, 1015 Grant St. SE, Atlanta
The Grand Dame of farmers markets ITP, the Green Market at Piedmont Park is back with new safety protocols, including mask requirements, sanitation stations and distancing requirements that reflect local government and CDC requirements. Find local produce, honey, dairy, meal kits, and more at this weekly festival of fresh. Traditional programming, including live music and demonstrations, are TBD this season, but be on the lookout for an announcement soon.
When to Go: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Sat., seasonally
Find It: 12th Street and Piedmont Ave. in Piedmont Park
This younger market, only now in its second year, is nothing to sneeze at. With 40 ventors, locally grown and produced food and wellness items, and free parking, this is definitely worth a look.
Taking pandemic precautions seriously, the Marietta Square Sunday market has been suspended, but they're opening an hour early (from 8-9 a.m.) for shoppers with health concerns. You'll find vendors in masks, plenty of hand sanitizer, and no food samples, in addition to the local produce and food you've come to expect from this established market in Historic Marietta Square.
You'll find over 50 vendors at this producer-only market, and all of the farmers are certified organic or certified naturally grown. Live music and a not-to-miss end of season holiday artist markets featuring over 25 local artists make this farmers markets festive.
When to Go: 8:30 a.m.-noon every Sat. through mid-Dec.
While early childhood educators have long touted the importance of play, it has never been more crucial than during the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath.
We know that play and social interaction are critical to children’s emotional development and that it is loaded with cognitive learning opportunities as well. In fact, the social-emotional benefits of play boost learning, which cannot occur when children are stressed.
Understandably, parents and educators are worried about the losses resulting from distance learning for all children, especially those from households with limited access to computers and the internet. However, experts are warning that trying to make up for losses can backfire if the social and emotional losses are not addressed first.
Since schools provide much-needed childcare as well as academic instruction, I am aware of the concerns that families have about turning down summer school opportunities. However, communities should push for local government to provide day camps and recreational activities instead of traditional summer school or at very least, in addition to.
Now is the time to be thinking about your child’s summer plans and that might include urging local school and community officials to provide increased recreational activities for children of all ages.
Many children have experienced heightened anxiety and depression as a result of social isolation. Providing increased opportunities for social interaction and physical activity is a much-needed antidote to the effects of nearly a year of quarantine and social distancing. In the words of Mr.Rogers, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
With many restaurants closed and people still taking careful precautions during the coronavirus pandemic, Valentine’s Day dinner is going to look different. But by now, we’re used to it and this creative option from Cozymeal makes staying in fun.
Purveyor of online cooking classes, Cozymeal is offering some limited-time Valentine’s Day classes that will up your Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or virtual date night game. The platform has the largest collection of virtual experiences that include cooking, mixology, wine tastings and more, that are all hosted by world-class culinary professionals, starting at $29.
photo: Courtesy of Cozymeal
Looking for something more on the fun side? You’ll want to check out Cozymeal’s pop-culture inspired classes. You can recreate favorite dishes from films and shows that include The Crown, Sex & The City, The Mandalorian (and those galactic macarons pictured above!), Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and more.
Each online offering shares the ingredients and kitchen equipment you’ll need so you’ll be prepared for the big day. Not only that, you can add ingredients directly from Cozymeal to your virtual shopping list and submit to your favorite grocery delivery service. Dinner is served!
To check out all the experiences available, head to cozymeal.com.
