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Ripe This Way: 8 U-Pick Apple Orchards near Portland

by Katrina Emery

Apple picking season means fall is on its way in

This year’s scorching summer has ripened fruit quickly, and that means fall is set to bring bushels of bounty. The orchards around Portland are flowing with all varieties of apples, pears, peaches, and more, and we know you’re ready to pick with the kids. We’ve rounded up the best farms around, and they’re all gorgeous enough to sneak in those beloved fall family photos. How can you resist?

Not up for a drive? Here’s where to go apple picking near Portland

Bell’s Orchard

This sweet Beaverton farm boasts a bright red barn that welcomes families daily—they even have evening picking for these gorgeous warm summer nights. Gravenstein apples are now available for U-pick at $2.50 per pound, as well as Bartlett pears for $1.50 a pound. The short-style orchard means that everyone can pick without ladders. Fill your buckets with varieties of apples, pears, and juicy peaches—your only problem might be stopping before you have enough for 50 pies.

24350 S.W. Farmington Rd.
Beaverton, OR
Online: bellsorchard.com

Related: U-Pick Pumpkin Patches You’ll Definitely Want to Visit

Sherwood Orchards

In the rolling hills past Newberg, the 1,300 trees of this orchard produce pears, apples, plums, quince, and even persimmons. U-pick is available over the 26 acres with more than 70 varieties of apples ranging from tart cooking apples to sweet ones—check the website or Facebook for updates on availability. Please bring your own boxes and bags to both pick and bring your fruit home in, and make sure you wear sturdy shoes (not sandals or flip flops) because the grounds are uneven. Get your camera ready, because this spot offers the perfect opportunity for those back-to-school or holiday themed photos.

23995 S.W. Pacific Hwy.
Sherwood, OR
Online: sherwoodorchards.com

Related: Get Lost! Corn Mazes to Visit This Fall

 

These family-friendly apple orchards along the Hood River Valley Fruit Loop (& beyond) are worth the drive

Kiyokawa Orchards

 

Family-owned and operated in Parkdale, this orchard produces apples your family won’t be able to resist, and did we mention it’s the largest in the Hood River Valley? No wonder it’s been a standing favorite for Portland families looking to get their fresh fruit fix for years. As it happens with Mother Nature, the usual apple picking schedule is a bit off this year. Currently, they’re running about two to three weeks behind, but have plans to open in early September. Rest assured that when the apples are ripe, families will be filling their baskets with any number of the nearly 150 different varieties of fruits they offer during the harvest season. That’s right, you can also score some sweet pears when you pick here. Be sure to keep an eye on their website or social media accounts to find out when the time is ripe to head over.

5625 Hutson Rd.
Parkdale, OR
Online: mthoodfruit.com

Mountain View Orchards

Three generations in and this 50-acre orchard near Portland is still producing stellar fruit that goes above and beyond apples. August and September see peaches, plums, pears, apples, nectarines, late blueberries, and even dahlias, corn, carrots, and beets. Make it whole day with a hayride later in the season, topped off with fresh cider and donuts. And the adults in the group should check out their special hard cider on tap or in bottles to take home. They are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and pups are happily allowed on a leash.

6670 Trout Creek Ridge Rd.
Mt. Hood, OR
Online: mtvieworchards.com

Related: We Picked the Best Fall Farms Around

Beilke Family Farm

Near Salem, Beilke Family Farm boasts up to 15 varieties of irresistible apples like Ruby Mac, Cripps Pink, and Gold Rush available for picking between late August and mid-November. Four generations have worked these trees, and the care shines through in well-organized rows that are easy to navigate so you can find your favorite fruit. The dwarf trees make it a cinch for kids to pick and fill their buckets. Please bring your own buckets or boxes to take home your picked apples; the farm’s five gallon plastic buckets are only for use in the orchard. Opening times are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

4925 Rockdale St. N.E.
Brooks, OR
Online: beilkefamilyfarm.com

Hood River U-Pick Organic

Bask in the shadow of Mt. Hood at this scenic farm that offers organic U-pick apples around the middle of September. Relaxing is the farm vibe here, and kids will love interacting with the many animals that roam the farm. We’re talking chickens, pigs, and even alpacas. Enjoy a picnic under the shade of the farm trees, or let the kids roam when they’ve had their fill of pickin’.

4320 Royal Anne Dr.
Hood River, OR
Online: hoodriverupick.com

Draper Girls’ Country Farm

Even on a rainy or overcast day, you can head to this Hood River Valley farm to go apple picking in the fall. After you check in and grab a bucket for picking, it’s as easy as finding ripe fruit within reach. You’ll find apples and maybe some peaches, depending on how late in the apple-picking season you head over. Charming goats may be there to greet your kids, and they’ll love swinging on the tree swing when they’re done. Apples are priced based on weight, and they keep for a long time, so have a few recipe ideas on hand for the coming weeks.

6200 OR-35
Mt. Hood, OR
Online: drapergirlsfarm.com

Smith Berry Barn

Head to Hillsboro, just a short drive from Portland, where this charming farm offers the most delicious fresh produce. Stroll through the picturesque orchard and pick from rows upon rows of apple trees bursting with fantastic fruit. Your kids will have a blast exploring the farm and enjoying the fresh country air.

24500 SW Scholls Ferry Road
Hillsboro, OR
Online: smithberrybarn.com

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These Live Cams of Polar Bear Cubs Will Brrrring a Smile to Your Face

by Karly Wood

It’s time to get excited: Polar Bear Week is almost here! Running from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, the special time coincides with the annual gathering of hundreds of polar bears on the shores of Hudson Bay where they wait for the sea ice to freeze so they can start hunting seals out on the frozen ocean.

Polar Bears International (PBI) is using this week to focus on protecting polar bears and people. Families can tune into Polar Bear Live Cams, play polar bear cam bingo, access free curriculum and activities, and watch live-streamed “Tundra Connections,” with scientists and experts.

photo: ©Kt. Miller + Polar Bears International

Polar Bears International will also be doing a live, family-friendly concert to kick off Polar Bear Week for the first time. The concert will host a performance by Kishi Bashi (multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter) with bears in the background, and families can tune in this Wed., Oct. 27 at 1:30 PST / 4:30 EST (it’s free, just RSVP here).

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: ©BJ Kirschhoffer + Polar Bears International

 

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5 Unexpected Things I’ve Learned from My Daughter

By Flow Belinsky

Before my daughter was born, my husband and I wrote her a song called “Wise Teacher.” We knew she would teach us a lot by coming into our lives. It’s hard to remember her wisdom sometimes when she is picking her nose and handing it to me or when she is throwing an epic tantrum because I ran out of bananas and offered an apple instead.

But, there is no doubt that becoming the mother to this little being has totally transformed me. Here are some of the unexpected things I learned from her.

1. I have to prioritize caring for myself in order to care for her.

This girl is a high energy, high maintenance little force of nature. As sweet as she can be, caring for her every day gets exhausting. If I don’t deeply care for my physical, mental and emotional parts, I will burn out. I have to meditate. I have to get in nature. I have to journal and go to therapy. I have to eat well. I have to prioritize sleep. I have to take baths, feel my feelings and get out to have some fun on my own.

I have to do all that and more in order to be well-resourced and rested enough to be the best mom possible for her.

2. Meltdowns are not just for toddlers.

Even with all my self-care routines, sometimes it just gets to be too much for me. Running a business and raising a child is an epic juggling challenge. Sometimes I drop a ball or two and that can lead to an emotional meltdown for me. But, just like with toddlers, it’s not actually a big deal.

My emotional tantrums are a natural part of life, a release valve when the pressure gets too high. And, just like I love her through her big emotions, I too am lovable and worthy of support in my meltdowns. They don’t mean I am bad, wrong or crazy. They are a show of my vulnerable humanness and it’s ok.

3. It’s okay to need people.

Obviously my tiny daughter needs us. We dress her, feed her, comfort her, play with her, make sure she doesn’t die, etc. And obviously I needed my parents that much too. But somewhere along the way I decided it wasn’t ok or a good idea to need people. I tried to be so independent, to not care if I didn’t have someone there for me, to not rely on anyone.

Eventually that all backfired and I realized I am actually stronger with the support and connection of others. But, that realization is still landing fully in my body and life. Seeing my daughter receive our care and love and experiencing her needing us so fully helps me deeply remember and accept that I need people to help and care for me, too. And that’s okay. It’s actually great and really natural.

4. When I follow my passions, everyone wins.

When I first started this motherhood thing, I felt like I had to give up things I really loved doing and creating in order to be a good mom. But what I learned from raising my daughter, is that when I leave her in the care of someone else so I can do something I love, like write or give a healing session or create music, it is great for all.

My daughter gets a chance to be loved by and bond with another family or community member, the caregiver gets blessed with a really fun and nurturing time with my awesome kid and I get filled up inside with the glow of creative vitality that only comes from pursing my true passions and doing my creative work in the world.

Then, my relationship with my husband is better because my vitality is flowing, my daughter benefits because I am able to be more present and attentive to her when I am done and I get the absolute joy of feeling like I really can have it all without guilt, which also benefits my health and stress levels.

5. Running around naked is the best feeling ever.

Ok, bare with me on this one. Before or after bath time, if we let her, my daughter will streak up and down the halls of our house naked, laughing and shrieking with joy. She absolutely, unabashedly loves it. Yes, I like being naked too, but where I’m going with this is more metaphorical.

By baring my soul, by sharing my raw truth, by being nakedly vulnerable with my emotions and insides, life becomes a lot more thrilling and fun. Being transparent and authentic is the best feeling ever. Instead of hiding parts of myself or pretending to be something I’m not, I’ve gotten incredibly honest in my motherhood journey. I tell the truth, I share the hard parts and the real details of my journey. I let it all hang out.

And, just like my little naked daughter, people love me even more for it. I inspire others to get more naked in their truth and life is way more interesting, connective and fulfilling.

So, those are a few of the unexpected things I’ve learned from raising my daughter. I know this girl and this journey of motherhood will continue to teach and inspire me in ways I don’t even know yet. She’s only a toddler, after all.

We have a lot of growing and learning to do together in this life. But, through all the ages and stages, I commit to learning from her as much or more than I teach, to stay humble as a student of life and to receive all the wisdom I can from my little wise teacher.

Flow is an Author and Memoir Writing Coach for Womxn. Feeling the call to write your true life story into a book that inspires? Sign up to join a Free Memoir Writing Breakthrough Workshop through her website, and get the clarity and momentum you need to make it happen.

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This Surprising Idea Saved Our Weekends

By Elizabeth Allison

“If I do it, can I play Xbox after?”

“Is everyone doing it?”

“Can you just do it since you’re better at it?”

So would begin the litany of questions when I assigned my sons even the most basic weekend chores. Whether charged with watering, dusting, or raking, the boys inevitably would whine, slump their shoulders and feign sudden, fretful bewilderment. “How do I know which plants need water?”  “What’s a Swiffer?” “We have a shed?”

Truthfully, my children were not sparing me much labor by pitching in. I cannot count how many times I would stop what I was doing to liberate an area rug being swallowed by a vacuum or to rescue a vase perched a micrometer from a mantel’s edge. Still, I soldiered on, determined to instill in my kids a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility. Each weekly outburst, though, stoked simmering doubts that my mission was succeeding.

Then one dreamlike Friday the tables turned.

My seven-year-old announced that he would need to finish his science fair project over the weekend. With a toothy smile, he turned from my husband to me and with complete sincerity asked, “Who wants to help me?” I waited for him to appreciate the irony.

Though that night did not afford our family any lessons on paradoxes, it did produce our new favorite tool for a stress-free weekend: The “Help Wanted Bulletin Board.” Our family has found this device to be most valuable when used in the following way.

  1. The “Help Wanted Bulletin Board” is literally a bulletin board that hangs next to our refrigerator, the most visited spot in the house.
  2. Throughout the week, each member of the family takes a piece of paper, jots down a chore they anticipate may require assistance and pins it to the board. Each person posts two jobs in total.
  3. The activities must be reasonable in scope. Our family defines “reasonable” as any task that can be performed by any family member in one hour. Jobs have included cleaning out the toy chests, skimming the pool, practicing math facts, and weeding the back yard.
  4. All requests should be posted by Friday night.
  5. Although everyone peruses the job postings throughout the week, no one commits to any until Saturday morning. At that time, each member of the family signs their name onto two posted job requests. I have found that my boys have a greater sense of control and approach their responsibilities more eagerly when they can select their jobs. To that end, the adults choose last so that the kids have more tasks from which to pick.
  6. All jobs must be completed by early Sunday evening. The job solicitor and the job assistant decide together when they will work to complete the assignment.
  7. When a job is done, the posting is crossed out. I am still amused by how triumphant the boys look when they do this, but I also understand that the “x” is tangible proof of their success and a validation of their work.
  8. Finally, right before bedtime on Sunday night, we gather at the bulletin board and review what our family accomplished. Each job solicitor thanks his or her assistant, and it is impressive how much goodwill is fostered before our children retire for the evening.

Ending the weekend on a harmonious note is but one benefit of this approach to chores. Others have followed. With the board sitting in plain view every day, my sons understand that the weekend will bring housework. This visual reminder allows the boys to prepare mentally for chores. By eliminating any surprises, the board has reduced much of the whining in our house.

Though household duties are still inevitable, they no longer feel arbitrary. The board lets my children consider how they will contribute in the days ahead. They have developed a sense of ownership by having a say in what they do, and this autonomy has fostered pride in their work.

Each family member appreciates the support they receive while simultaneously feeling good about helping someone. There now exists a feeling of our family operating as a team. We enter the weekend knowing that someone has already offered to help us. What’s more, no one is shunted off to a corner of the house to work alone, as sometimes would happen before we used the board. Instead, each of us enjoys companionship while we work. More than once my kids have spontaneously offered up stories about what is happening at school while occupied with sweeping or washing dishes beside me. For me, these unprompted talks are the happiest consequence of the way we handle housework now.

My kids now take time to discern which of their own tasks they can do by themselves and which are best suited to a team effort. Subsequently, they have become more transparent about which responsibilities they find difficult and which they just do not want to do.

Finally, the “Help Wanted Bulletin Board” reinforces the notion that everyone needs help. Often children are told at school or at home that asking for help is not a flaw, but an asset exhibited by strong leaders. The “Help Wanted Bulletin Board” reinforces this sometimes-challenging idea. Each day it literally shows my boys that even the “oldest and wisest” can seek support and even the smallest and youngest can provide it.  

 

This post originally appeared on Scary Mommy.

I spent many joyful years in education, but I made the difficult choice to leave the classroom to focus on my children and my writing. I recently published a short children’s book, Many Miles to Walk, an extended conceit written for my younger son to explain his birth via surrogate

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Chrissy Teigen & John Legend Announce Pregnancy

by Karly Wood

Thursday was a big day for the Legend/Teigen family. The singer dropped his newest music video “Wild,” and the model revealed the couple is pregnant!

Rumors immediately began swirling as fans watched Legend’s video, especially at the 3:21 mark where Teigen can be seen cradling what looks like a baby bump. Watch the video below and see for yourself!

Inquiring minds didn’t have to wait long. Thankfully, Teigen confirmed her pregnancy later that day via Twitter:

The new baby will join big sister Luna and big brother Miles, the couple’s other children. No news yet on when baby is due, but Teigen’s always transparent and hilarious social media sharing means we’ll likely be treated to all the deets throughout the pregnancy.

Congrats to the fam!

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com

 

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These Clear Jigsaw Puzzles Are the Perfect Challenge

by Jennifer Swartvagher

If you tried to jump on the puzzle craze during the pandemic but were not able to find any in stock, now you’re in luck. Many retailers have been able to replenish their supplies. Those looking for a challenge, or a way to occupy the kids for a few hours, a clear puzzle might be the way to go.

Practically Impossible Clear Jigsaw Puzzle

Practically Impossible Clear Jigsaw Puzzle
Amazon

The Practically Impossible Clear Jigsaw Puzzle is perfect for that next rainy day. This 150 piece puzzle is one of the hardest you can find.  According to the description on Amazon, “If you conquer it, please post a picture with the hashtag #Puzzibility. We will offer a free custom puzzle each week to a random user that posts their accomplishment.”

The Clearly Impossible Puzzle 200 Piece!

The Clearly Impossible Puzzle 200 Piece!
Amazon

The Clearly Impossible Puzzle 200 Piece! This 200 piece puzzle is  great for family game night.It has been designed with multiple hidden false edges and corners for an extra challenge.

Biubee 108 Pcs Clear Jigsaw Puzzle

Biubee 108 Pcs Clear Jigsaw Puzzle
Amazon

The Biubee 108 Pcs Clear Jigsaw Puzzle is another option for those looking for a challenge. Since it is a transparent puzzle, there is no coherent pattern on the surface of the product making it difficult to figure back from front. 

Broken Glass Puzzle - Clear Puzzle - Unique Clearly Impossible Puzzle

Broken Glass Puzzle - Clear Puzzle - Unique Clearly Impossible Puzzle
Amazon

Broken Glass Puzzle - Clear Puzzle - Unique Clearly Impossible Puzzle is unique as it resembles a sheet of broken glass. Each of the clear pieces are different and make it difficult to determine front or back.

 

Order one (or all) of these if you are up for the challenge.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Amazon

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GigaPets Are Back & They’re Better Than Ever

by Jennifer Swartvagher

In the 90s virtual pets were all the rage. We could never imagine how these types of toys would foreshadow our future in the digital age. Now GigaPets is making a comeback in a big way. 

GigaPets

This summer, GigaPets is proud to announce three new releases: GigaPetsAR, GigaPets Trolls and GigaPets Pixie. These new styles include all the features from their 90’s predecessors with tons of fun and exciting upgrades like augmented reality, more advanced game play and evolutions and fun additions to the housings like wings, limbs and hair. 

 

GigaPets AR

GigaPets

 

Choose between a Puppy, Unicorn, or a T-Rex. Experience full pet responsibilities including feeding, putting it to sleep, cleaning and bathing, taking it to the doctor, teaching it tricks, and discipline. Includes retro themed tinted transparent shells, better graphics and game play than in the 90’s, upgraded hardware, and an extended battery life.

The free augmented reality app lets you experience your pet in 3D augmented reality. Complete activities on your GigaPets device to unlock screens which can be scanned to reveal special animations on your phone.The app also includes all the classic GigaPets features like feeding, cleaning, playing games and more so that you get two games for the  price of one.

 

GigaPets Trolls

 

GigaPets

Go on fun adventures with your new virtual friend, but whatever you do, try and avoid the barber. Every day the Troll’s hair will grow longer, but if you neglect it, those crazy locks will be cut and you will drop back down to day one. Don’t worry though your friend will always bounce back because Trolls never die. 

 

Two of the games (avoid the barber and jump the hurdles) can be accessed at any time. Keep your Troll happy and healthy to unlock 3 additional games (skateboarding, surfing, and mountain climbing) which get harder as you progress. Each device also comes with a set of possible limbs to help them stand up on their own and a full set of hair for added play value.

 

GigaPets Pixie

 

This is the most advanced GigaPets ever with 8 different evolutions to experience. In this game magic and the choices you make help determine your outcome. Additionally, each Pixie also includes a set of rubber wings and antenna for a more tactile experience. 

Choose from 4 different games that get harder as you progress. Collect elements such as clovers dew, seeds and fireflies by successfully casting spells and playing games. Use those elements to brew potions which will help your Pixie grow and determine their evolution path.

GigaPets will be available on Amazon and launching Summer 2020 at Target Stores nationwide.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of GigaPets

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This Study Shows the Stress Working Parents Face Could Actually Cost Them Their Jobs

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Working parents have a lot on their minds between balancing work and family life. They often face the difficult choice between wanting to take on more at work and the disappointment at home when their job takes priority over family events. According to a new study by Bright Horizons, since they are fearful of career-impacting repercussions, they believe they still can’t be transparent about family responsibilities.

office

The report reveals that over half of working parents admit that they have needed to sneak out of work to take care of family commitments because they couldn’t be honest with their colleagues.

“We think as a society we are progressing in the workplace, but the data from the Modern Family Index tells a different story. It is clear that more progress is needed. Employers need to support working parents and create work environments in which all employees feel comfortable being honest and transparent about their family obligations,” says Bright Horizons Chief Human Resources Officer, Maribeth Bearfield. “There are some easy strategies employers can adopt to help alleviate stress, mental load, and burnout and improve workplace culture. Especially in a tight talent market, employers need to be doing as much as they can to attract and retain working parents.”

The study shows that employee burnout is at an all-time high. Employers may pay the price without a supportive work atmosphere that enables everyone to be successful in the workforce. According to the survey, employees will walk out the door if things don’t improve or they will risk facing burnout. 

Bearfield said, “The collective impact of being stretched thin at work while facing continued disappointment at home is forcing parents to leave their jobs in search of workplaces that are more in tune with modern priorities. It is time for all employers to focus attention on the needs of their workforce or risk being left behind in the war for talent.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher  

Featured photo: Photo by Ant Rozetsky on Unsplash

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Getting Pumped for Work When You’re a Nursing Mama

By Rachael Sablotsky Kish

Editor’s Note: Here at Red Tricycle, we respect and celebrate every mom’s feeding journey. Bottle? Boob? It doesn’t matter—we believe fed is best. Our Spoke Contributor Network is inclusive and open to all parenting journeys—yours, too!

Interested in sharing your child’s feeding journey? Whether it’s transitioning to formula or introducing solids, to navigating food allergies or raising your kids vegetarian—Spoke is the place to share your rockstar moments and inspiring journeys. Submit your own feeding story to Spoke right here.

 

 

If you have recently given birth and are a working mom, that means you’re probably preparing to go back to work and, for many, pumping will be part of that journey. Although that isn’t the fun part of going back to work, showing off the pictures of your new baby is! It’s now been eight weeks since I gave birth to my third child and our team at Imalac is in the thick of getting ready to launch Nurture this summer.

As I am shifting back to work full time, I thought I would share some tips for nursing moms on how to smoothly transition from breastfeeding a newborn to pumping at the office.

Plan, Prioritize, Pump

If you have read any of my blogs before, you already can guess my first and biggest tip—plan ahead. I think that’s a rule of thumb for most things in life. But in this case, preparation will be a lifesaver as you get back to work.

Planning the night before is a huge help for me in visualizing how I will take control of my day and manage my time accordingly. Whether it’s packing lunches for my older kids or laying out clothes for them and myself, I feel it gives me the ability to prioritize with a clear mind and minimize my daily stress.

I also recommend setting an alarm to wake up before your children. This is an important time to have for yourself and give you some peace while getting dressed and ready for your day. This helps to avoid scrambling to get yourself and everyone else out the door simultaneously.

An early start to your day can also help allocate time to nurse and bond with your new baby before your other kids or partner wake up. Alternatively, you can use your early waking hours to pump. This is a huge time-saver that will easily mark one more thing off your to-do list as well as help maintain your milk supply.

Do Not Disturb

When getting back to work, it is a good idea to have a transparent conversation with your supervisor and coworkers regarding your choice to pump. Make sure they are aware that you will have to make time throughout the day to pump and ask to take your time into consideration with work-related tasks, meetings, etc. Scheduling “pumping hours” on your calendar is a professional way of updating your coworkers so that you won’t have to constantly announce or ask for 30 minutes to pump.

If you are in a meeting, consider talking about your situation in advance and excuse yourself when it’s time. The most important aspect of getting back to work as a nursing mom is that you are on the same page as your supervisor.

Another suggestion I recommend is to buy or make your own “Do Not Disturb” sign to hang on your office door or other designated pumping area that will signal to your coworkers that you are unavailable. A hard knock on the door while you are pumping can be a little unnerving and certainly won’t help you get that milk out any quicker!

While having a space to pump will vary depending on your situation, you should be able to find an area that is private or makes you feel comfortable. If you are in an employee-centric workplace, they may even have a designated lactation room.

Seeing Double

If it’s possible to have two or more sets of pump accessories or other tools you may use, you can keep one set at home and the other in your car or office. This can help alleviate the stress and time associated with pumping and reduces how much stuff you have to lug back and forth.

In addition, handling more than one shoulder bag is not only uncomfortable for the day-to-day pumping mom, but detrimental to your back and health over time. Instead, my tip is to use a backpack to carry the items you will need for a successful pumping experience when being on the go. I always like to pack necessities such as quick wipes that can be used to clean the pump parts, as well as an ice pack to properly store milk.

Ultimately going back to work can be a daunting proposition, but setting good expectations for yourself, your peers, supervisors and family can make a big difference. Planning ahead and investing a little extra in whatever you can do to make life a little more convenient for you will help ease the transition.

This post originally appeared on Imalac.
Rachael Sablotsky Kish
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Rachael Sablotsky Kish is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Imalac, a med-tech company which created Nurture, a hands-free breast massage system for nursing mothers that uses an attachable massage component to replicate hands-on pumping. Kish is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), educating and training women on breastfeeding.

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Think on This: An Exhibit on Learning Where Kids Can Play

by Anna Knoebel

Our kids’ schedules are so packed with after school, weekend and school break educational opportunities (now your 3 year old can learn to sew or make movies with a simple class), it’s easy to forget learning doesn’t start and stop, as long as our kids love to learn. A new and free exhibit, “The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children,” which opened on Jan. 15, aims to demonstrate how early childhood education, specifically the Reggio Emilia approach, can produce life-long learners, and delivers some wondrous playtime besides. Read on to discover why your kids will love the interactive exhibit, too.

What is the Exhibit All About?

If you’ve been through the preschool admissions process, chances are you’ve encountered the Reggio Emilia philosophy, but did you know Reggio Emilia is actually a place in Italy? The Wonder of Learning is a 7,000 square foot exhibition hosted by Williamsburg Northside School, presented by Teaching Beyond the Square, New York City Encounters with Reggio Emilia, and Beginnings Nursery School, in collaboration with Reggio Children and North America Reggio Emilia Alliance. It demonstrates how children think and collaborate by showcasing the work of children and teachers from Reggio Emilia, where the eponymous educational approach has been practiced in early childhood since the end of World War II.

What’s In It for the Kids?

While the Wonder of Learning is an excellent source of information for educators and parents (schools can schedule private tours on the WOL website), it stands to reason an exhibit about kids should offer something for kids. To that end, two ateliers – a Natural Materials Studio (7th Fl.) and a Light Studio (6th Fl.) – are set up in brightly lit and peaceful  rooms alongside the exhibit. In the Natural Materials Studio, kids will create projects using materials like acorn tops, bark and dried flowers. In the Light Studio (which is open to the public on weekends), kids will manipulate objects with light projectors, and observe light as it hits reflective, transparent and opaque materials around the studio.

Why Your Kids Will Want to Come Back

Studio facilitators will be on hand to guide you through projects that you’ll create with your child, so if you’re thinking this could be an incredible alternative to your favorite indoor play space, you’re right. The ateliers will offer new experiences every couple of weeks. Come back again and again.

If you need to pick one day to visit, go on Apr. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when WOL will host a Materials Day. Think of the outdoor event, also free and open to the public, as a giant version of the ateliers, where visitors can interact with and experience found materials in the open air. With any luck, the weather will be beautiful, so stay all day, basking in sunshine while you design a found object costume, create a collaborative plastic bottle cap mandala, or crawl through a cardboard city. Musicians will also be performing and helping visitors engage with sound-making materials.

“The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children”
When: Jan. 15 – May 15, Wed.–Sun., 12-6 p.m., & until 8 p.m. on Feb. 4, Mar. 5, Apr. 2, & May 7
Natural Materials Studio open during exhibition hours. Light Studio only open weekends.
Tickets: Free
Where: Williamsburg Northside School
299 North 7th St., enter on Meeker, btw. N 7th and N 8th
Brooklyn
Online: newyorkcitywol.org

Have you visited this exhibit? Tell us what you think.

--Anna Knoebel
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