For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, April is a happy month of beginnings: the start of springtime and the restarting of the zodiac cycle, which begins with Aries. For those with an April birthday, longer days and the renewal of seasons have imbued April babies with bubbly personalities and positive outlooks. Here are some other fun facts (like what’s April’s birthstone) and traits of people born in April, the fourth of the year.
They’re born in the middle of the pack
April babies are usually neither the youngest nor the oldest students in their class, neatly fitting in the middle of the school calendar. A study from the University of Exeter found that first-time moms were more likely to attempt to plan their delivery dates for the spring.
Aries are natural-born leaders
If you know someone born under the sign of Aries, (March 21 – April 19) you’ll know that thanks to their ambitious and tenacious natures, people born in April tend to be leaders. They can be innately stubborn and bossy—a potent combination (when used right) that can lead to people born in April to achieving their goals.
April’s birthstone is one the rarest of all—the diamond
When worn, the diamond is thought to increase the wearer’s inner strength. One of the hardest materials on the planet, April’s birthstone is also the symbol of eternal love and is one of the most popular gems to give as a gift. In the middle ages, the diamond was thought to have healing powers.
Your BFF is probably born in April
Passionate and caring, those born in under the sign of Taurus (April 20 – May 20) are steadfast, making loyal and generous friends. But be forewarned: April babies can be chatterboxes who love attention and can sometimes want to hog the spotlight.
People born in April can be emotional
Aries babies are known to be passionate, fiery, and impatient, which means they tend to wear their emotions on their sleeves. The good news is, this makes them wonderful friends because they bring all that passion to every relationship in life.
April babies are fearless risk-takers
Aries is the most fearless sign of them all. This means there’s a good chance your baby born in April will be enthusiastic about everything they do and be unafraid of taking risks. That’s great news if you’re a parent who doesn’t like to stay still because April babies are feisty and possess seemingly boundless energy.
People born in April are hard workers and love routine
Those who are born under the sign of Taurus tend to be hard workers—they’re not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get the job done, already. They’re also a huge fan of consistency, so don’t be surprised if your April baby thrives on a routine (aka, don’t EVER skip the nap).
They share their birthday month with these celebrities born in April
Plenty of famous people have April birthdays, including Michael Fassbender, Pedro Pascal, Robert Downey Jr., Natasha Lyonne, Pharrell Williams, Elle Fanning, Samira Wiley, Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Garner, and Tim Curry. Notable (fictional) characters born in April include animated smart-aleck Bart Simpson (born April 1, 1979) and heavyweight boxer Rocky Balboa (born April 6, 1946).
From newborn massages to facials for big kids, these local salons offer cute and creative Mommy & Me experiences and more
No doubt about it: Being a kid is hard work. After visiting all the indoor playgrounds, hitting all the neighborhood parks, and practicing their climbing skills on everything (including your furniture), it’s a wonder kids have any energy left at the end of the day. Sounds like a much-needed chill break is in order. Luckily, Chicago has several salons that not only welcome kids, but have special spa treatments for kids too. Whether you’re hosting a kid’s birthday party or introducing your little one to the benefits of a good mani/pedi, we’ve got one suggestion for you—get in on the action and make an appointment for yourself. You deserve it.
It’s never too early for self-care at Chicago’s premier infant wellness studio. Offering early childhood services which promote the development of motor, sensory, and cognitive skills and bonding with parents for infants from ages 2 weeks and up. Metta Baby offers sessions in water movement, infant massage, music, and play. Plus, their space is available for private playgroups, too.
Learn the art of infant massage in the comfort of your own home. Infant massage is a great way to not only promote wellness and relieve stress for your baby, but it is also a way to communicate without words. Adriana Liwsky, a Certified Educator of Infant Massage, will guide parents (yes, you too, dads) through learning the art of infant massage to help build a cherished relationship and nurturing bond with your baby. Added bonus: infant massage also relieves stress in grown-ups, too. Contact them to schedule an appointment.
This spa is a perfect spot for Mommy & Me nail services. Their Little Miss Bedazzled menu offers manicures, pedicures, and polish at great prices for little hands. Their space is also available for birthday parties that call for a little pampering.
The Spa-Palooza package at ASHA SalonSpa will give even the most stressed-out teen a break from homework and extra-curricular activities. Teens are treated to a full spa experience complete with a Teen Clean Facial, Reflexology Experience, and a session to create a signature perfume as unique as your child. Customized massages are also available. Younger children (10 & under) can make an appointment with a stylist complete with consultation, sensory-pleasing oils, and head & shoulder massage. Expectant mothers can also have their first "Mommy & Me” spa day with a soothing Hydrating Belly Treatment.
Gold Coast, Woodfield, Butterfield, or Rockford locations Online: ashasalonspa.com
Blo Blow Dry Bar
Sometimes you just want to be pampered, and Blo offers just that. Your mini sidekick can choose a fun hairstyle (mermaid braid, perhaps?) and you can get yourself a blowout to make it an official mommy-and-me day.
887 E. N. Milwaukee Vernon Hills, IL Online: blomedry.com
Milk & Honey
Milk & Honey offers fully customizable spa experiences using vegan or vegetarian, hyper-clean, natural products. Kids ages 5 and up can enjoy a mani/pedi and kids ages 12 and up may schedule facial services that help them achieve their skin goals. Products used during the services can also be purchased at checkout so you can bring the experience home.
This spot is the brainchild of Jenny Duranski, who worked as a nail technician for years when she got sick from the toxic fumes and chemicals and threw herself into becoming an expert on natural beauty and health products. Named after her daughter, Lena Rose is Chicago’s first Green beauty boutique and Green spa which focuses on non-toxic, vegan products and farm-to-facial services that are 100% safe for you. You can feel good about setting up a date for a mani/pedi with your child here.
4645 N. Rockwell St. Lincoln Square/North Center Online: lenarosebeauty.com
Lilies & Spikes
From first haircuts to prom-perfect make-up and brows, Lilies and Spikes has your pampering needs covered from head to toe. After ten years of salon ownership, the owners wanted to create a space that made kids feel special, and boy did they succeed. Here pampering kids is the focus, but hair and skin services are also available for mom and dad. Not only can kids express their individuality by adding special touches like hair chalk and feathers, but there are party packages designed to facilitate memorable birthday and spa experiences.
Teach your teens the importance of taking care of their skin with visits to the Oasis Face Bar in Lincoln Park. The Soothe Facial is perfect for t(w)eens who aren’t worrying about acne and includes a cryo massage, deep cleanse, exfoliating mask, and all of the relaxing benefits of a little pampering. For older teens and those who have concerns about acne, the Clear Facial is just for you. This treatment begins with a cryo massage and includes extractions and a mask that will pull out all the congestion and bacteria that causes acne. Oasis knows time is important, so all their standard services take only 30 minutes and maintain that "ahhh" feeling you get from a facial.
Is your Superhero or Princess looking for a new ‘do or to have their nails glammed up? OMG Spa in the South Loop is your spot. This full-service spa knows how to pamper kids and adults in their lives with high-quality products and a welcoming environment.
1620 S. Michigan Ave., Ste. 200 South Loop Online: omg-spa.com
The Peninsula Chicago is the perfect hotel for a decadent weekend of wellness, kids included. Step into kid-sized slippers and robes and head to the half-Olympic-sized swimming pool, and be sure to order some poolside snacks then head to the spa for a kid-focused mani/pedi.
Located in the Southport Corridor, this nail spa has just what you need to keep your kid's hands and feet looking fresh. With a selection of great colors, you can treat your child to a mani/pedi take a moment to catch up on their life, or just relax and recharge. Plus, their great location makes planning a whole Mommy and Me date possible with great shops and restaurants, and even a playground nearby.
Mix spa services, runway training, and glamour shots at this little-known photo studio. It doesn’t normally offer spa services, but if you book a photo party for eight guests (ages 4 & up), everyone is treated to updos and make-up. Rock stars and princesses can also get manicures, etiquette lessons, and design-your-own feather fans (a sassy prop if we ever saw one). Top things off with a fashion runway show, complete with fancy gowns and accessories. As a bonus, every guest leaves with a professional group photo.
Mireille Hamon has been beautifying Chicagoans for over 20 years and that includes teens as well. This full-service studio, offering everything from make-up to massages, offers a 45-minute Teen Facial which will include a deep cleansing, mild exfoliation, extraction (if needed), and soothing mask.
Did your sporty kid turn into a stinky kid? Kobi Kids, created right here in Chicago, offers safe products for kids to keep them feeling and smelling fresh no matter how hard they play. Making deodorants and body powders that are kid-friendly, gentle for sensitive skin, and light on fragrance for boys and girls. Their Gear Therapy Spray can help keep your car, closet, gym bag, and shoes from smelling like a locker room.
Looking for handmade, natural products to spoil your tweens and teens? Visit Mojo Spa Cosmetics and pick up some sweet-smelling products created with kids in mind. Bath fizzies, soaps that smell and look good enough to eat, lip balms, and so much more can be found here.
1468 N. Milwaukee Ave. Wicker Park Online: mojospa.com
Shop with complete confidence you're using products that are 100% safe for you and your family. This woman-owned boutique offers a wide selection of non-toxic and vegan products for you and your family. They are also a great resource for identifying the right products for you with years of expertise in natural beauty and care.
4645 N. Rockwell St. Lincoln Square/North Center Online: lenarosebeauty.com
The National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is Mar. 2 this year and the world’s first and only streaming platform that brings storybooks to life through animation is celebrating! Vooks (rhymes with books) is launching its “Read Along With Vooks” initiative, a special 7-day free preview that opens up the platform’s entire library.
From Mon. Feb. 28 through Sun. Mar. 6, kids can read anything they want on Vooks for free! Perfect for kids ages two to eight, the website helps inspire a love of reading at a young age.
As part of the “National Reading Month,” Vooks is also debuting a new friend at their special Read Along release party on Mar. 6, so be sure to mark your calendar.
Vooks is packed with animated storybooks that are specially curated for kids. Young readers and their parents can choose from books centered around SEL, STEM, vocabulary and more.
You can access Vooks available worldwide and on most devices including Apple’s iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Apple TV, in addition to Android platforms and devices, Roku and Amazon TV Fire Stick. If you’d like to sign up for unlimited access going forward, you can sign up for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 a year. Not sure yet? Sign up between Feb. 28 and Mar. 6 and get the entire month for free!
Calling all Barbie fans! America’s favorite doll is headed off on a new adventure in Netflix’s newest film.
Debuting Sept. 1, Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams follows Barbie Roberts across the country to New York. Excited to spend the summer at the Handler School for Performing Arts, no one is more surprised to run into another student named Barbie Roberts, than Barbie herself!
The music-packed film brings Barbie and Barbie together as the two share their dreams of making it big on Broadway. With new nicknames to set them apart, Malibu and Brooklyn both set out to win the program’s Spotlight Solo with their own unique talents.
While Malibu Barbie is self-taught, Brooklyn Barbie has been trained for years in music, dance and singing. The duo demonstrates that there is never one single path to success, and that anyone can succeed if they bring their A-game!
The newest Barbie film celebrates the potential in every child to succeed and that sometimes a competition is more about bringing out the best in each other, rather than winning.
Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams will debut on Netflix Sept. 1. Keep an eye out for a new line of dolls, playsets and accessories all themed after the film this fall.
Sidekicks need more love, especially since they’re often the best movie characters. Disney’s new board game puts your favorite sidekicks—Timon and Pumba, Tinker Bell and Abu—front and center.
Spin Master Games is launching Disney Sidekicks on Aug. 1. The premise? Villains have captured familiar heroes and locked them up in a castle. Sidekicks to the rescue!
You’ll play cooperatively and travel through the gameboard, battling villains, rescuing villagers and collecting locks to open the castle and save the heroes.
Players will have a bevy of characters to choose from, including Lumiere and Flora, Timon and Pumba and Fauna and Merryweather. Familiar nemeses include Captain Hook, Gaston, Jafar and Scar.
Grab this game from your favorite retailer for $29.99 in August. Time for the sidekicks to steal the spotlight and save the day!
Sesame Street wants to help with efforts for Americans to return to a state of normal. In a new partnership, Sesame Workshop, the Ad Council, COVID Collaborative and CDC are coming together to create a series of public service announcements and resources to educate adults about the COVID-19 vaccines.
The PSA’s spotlight how the new vaccines are available and their power to bring about “sunny days.” They feature the Muppets, Elmo and Elmo’s dad Louie and are available in English and Spanish.
photo: Courtesy of Sesame Street Workshop
Each PSA was created in collaboration with the CDC and directs viewers to visit GetVaccineAnswers.org to access all updates related to the vaccines. Sesame Workshop is also dropping even more bilingual resources that answer questions and help explain why adults are getting vaccinated. These resource can be found at SesameWorkshop.org/caring.
Viewers can head to YouTube to check out the new spots that include:
I’ll Be Seeing U: The Sesame Street gang reflect on activities that families miss and want to return to.
Healthy Family with Elmo and Louie: Elmo’s Dad Louie is vaccinated and explains how he can get back to doing things he has missed, like seeing family and friends
“Getting back to the activities children and families love starts with grownups getting vaccinated. Together with the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative, and with help from the Sesame Street Muppets, we can harness the power of Sesame Workshop and the reach of the Ad Council to help adults understand why it’s important to get vaccinated, where to learn more, and how to build hope for sunnier days ahead,” said Samantha Maltin, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Sesame Workshop.
Get ready for a year filled with Disney princesses! Disney recently announced the “Ultimate Princess Celebration”—and this year-long event includes everything from awesome activities to magical merch.
The princess-packed celebration is more than just an ode to Disney’s fab, fearless ladies. Disney’s imaginative event and the accompanying activities spotlight the theme of courage and kindness.
The celebration will start with the debut of Disney Publishing Worldwide’s new Tales of Courage and Kindness storybook. The 14 original stories featured in the book are told by the Disney Princesses and include artfully crafted illustrations. Fans can download the book for free through the end of August here.
Your littles can also check out dramatic readings of the stories by Mandy Moore (voice of Rapunzel from Disney’s Tangled), Auli’i Cravalho (voice of Moana from Disney’s Moana), Tamron Hall,Kelly Marie Tran (voice of Raya from Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon) and Anika Noni Rose (voice of Tiana from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog).
Celeb singer Brandy, who starred in The Wonderful World of Disney,Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, will also debut a new song as part of the celebration’s launch. The song, “Starting Now,” is available May 21. If your princess fan just can’t wait, they can stream a curated playlist of fave Disney princess songs from Walt Disney Records here.
As if that’s not enough, in August the Disney Channel will premiere the video of Brandy’s song during a half-hour show— Disney Princess Remixed – An Ultimate Princess Celebration. If you miss the show’s debut, you can catch it streaming on Disney+.
Find princess-themed merch for this super-celebration at ShopDisney, score a sweet pair of sneakers from the Adidas Little Mermaid Collection ($96) from adidas.com, or get a Disney Princess Moana Lokai from Lokai.com ($1 of each purchase will go to Make-A-Wish).
Your kiddo’s Disney music dream is about to come true! If they’re all in for hour after hour of magical music and more, tune in to SiriusXM’s new Disney Hits channel.
SiriusXM recently announced the addition of a first-of-its-kind Disney music channel—moving to the service’s lineup on Thursday, Mar. 25. Along with music from new Disney fan faves, Disney Hits (channel 302) will also include beloved classics.
photo: Courtesy of SiriusXM
Listen for music from Disney movies, TV shows and so much more. This includes tunes from The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast,Toy Story as well as Frozen 2, Moana, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Descendants 2.
The new channel will also feature Disney-themed hours and celeb guests hosts. The first celebrity host take -over will feature Sofia Carson (star of the Descendant’s) on Mar. 26 at 9:00 a.m. ET, 12:00 p.m. ET, 3:00 p.m. ET, and 6:00 p.m. ET. Carson will host a Be Our Guest 4 the Day hour, featuring her top four fave Disney songs.
Disney Princess fans can also get in on the listening action. The new channel will present a new featured hour premiere every Monday. The first of these awesome experiences will air Mar. 29 and will include songs from famed Disney Princesses such as Belle, Ariel, Tiana, Cinderella and other icons. Following the first featured hour, the Disney Hits channel will put a spotlight on “Disney Villains.” Listen for Scar, Ursula, Cruella de Vil and others on Apr. 5.
Get the scoop on how to listen to Disney Hits on SiriusXM here.
Starting today and available exclusively on Amazon Kids+ on compatible Echo devices, kiddos can now ask Alexa to open Frozen Sing! and Star Wars: C-3PO Translates! The two new features join a slew of others that include Disney, Pixar, Star Wars,and Marvel-themed skills.
First up, say “Alexa, open Frozen Sing!” and choose from 10 popular songs from Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2. Get up to par in “Rehearsal Mode” before making it count in “Spotlight Mode” where kids can sing without lyrics or have the option to use high or low volume lyrics.
If you have an Alexa screened devices, you’ll get visuals for each song and a visual congratulations at the end of each performance.
Always wonder what Chewbacca was saying? Now just say, “Alexa, open C-3PO Translates!” to learn tons of alien languages from the Star Wars galaxy.
This skill is hosted by C-3PO and SD-89 and teaches key phrases in Shyriiwook and Droidspeak. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, try talking with the characters in their native language. You can even try beeping it up with R2-D2 and BB-8!
To instill the new skills just open the Alexa app on your and tap the menu icon at the top-left. Then, open the top menu and tap “Skills & Games,” then the magnifying glass icon to search for the skill, and finally tap “enable to use.”
Mattel has announced the latest historical icon to be honored in Barbie’s Inspiring Women Series. This year, ahead of Black History Month, Barbie is continuing to inspire girls to dream big by honoring writer, author, activist and teacher, Dr. Maya Angelou, who used her voice and unique writing style to connect with people and inspire generations of Americans.
Dr. Maya Angelou had a multi-hyphenated career and numerous awards and accolades, including over 50 honorary doctorates and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was nominated for a National Book Award in 1970, her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings continues to move readers around the world today.
The Maya Angelou doll wears a head wrap and floor-length dress with floral print. She also holds a miniature replica of her prolific autobiography so girls can be inspired by her stories through play.
In 2018, Barbie debuted the Inspiring Women Series, a doll line dedicated to honoring historical and present-day role models who paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before. The series has paid tribute to a diverse lineup of women including Amelia Earhart, Katherine Johnson, Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Sally Ride, Billie Jean King, Ella Fitzgerald, Florence Nightingale and Susan B. Anthony.
As part of Barbie’s 2020 commitment to the Black community, the brand pledged to spotlight more Black role models and, moving forward, more than 50% of global role models featured will be Black, Indigenous and Women of Color. Barbie knows that kids’ early childhood experiences shape what they imagine to be possible, so it’s important that all girls not only see themselves reflected in product and content, but also see inspiring role models who have come before them.
