Archives for 2019

As July draws to a close, we’re thrilled there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy. This week, check out some hidden gems on the Island with your family and do a few things you haven’t tried before. Here’s our recommendations for you.

Thursday, July 26
Visit a Nature Center
Nature centers offer a wonderful opportunity for learning experiences, especially in the warmer months when it’s easy to explore the great outdoors.
• The Greenbelt Nature Center has programs for kids of all ages, even toddlers. They’re located at 700 Rockland Avenue.
• The Blue Heron Nature Center features a summer program, Nature Adventures, that runs Saturdays, Sundays, Thursdays and Fridays, at 1pm and at 3pm until August 18, where Adventure Guides lead free nature-related programs. The Blue Heron Nature Center is at 222 Poillon Avenue.
• The Interpretive Center at Clay Pit Ponds also hosts nature walks and programs for toddlers through adults, and often offers special family programs one or two Saturdays a month. Find them at 2351 Veteran’s Road West.
Visit our Family Calendar for all nature center events and programs in Staten Island.

Friday, July 27
Chocolate Factory Tour
You don’t need a Golden Ticket to tour a chocolate factory — there’s one right here on the Island! Supreme Chocolatier offers factory tours for just $4. Click here to learn more and schedule your tour. Supreme Chocolatier is at 1150 South Avenue.

Saturday, July 28
Special Trip Saturday – Ferry Ride to Manhattan
The Staten Island Ferry is one of the coolest free rides you might mot be using enough. Your kids should definitely try it at least once to experience the beautiful views and joy of a boat ride to the city. Plus, the possibilities are endless once you make it to the other side.

Sunday, July 29
Beach Scavenger Hunt
Take home some souvenirs from your beach day with a family scavenger hunt! Buggy and Buddy has a free printable for kids to check off as they go.

Monday, July 30
Make Seashell Windchimes
Don’t let the treasures from your beach scavenger hunt go to waste. Easily turn them into a set of adorable handmade wind chimes with the kids.

Tuesday, July 31
Family Movie Night
Choose one of the Top 50 Movies for Kids to Watch Before 12 for your family’s next movie might. We promise, your kids haven’t seen them all. Most likely, neither have you.

Wednesday, August 1
Host a Lemonade Stand
It’s August and the weather won’t be cooling off anytime soon. Encourage your kids to host a lemonade stand to help chill down the neighborhood — and make a pretty penny at the same time. Make it pretty with this free lemonade stand printable kit from She Saved.

Why the “My Kids Turned Out Just Fine” Argument is Invalid

How many times have you argued with your parents or in-laws about how to take care of your kids? I can remember numerous heated discussions with my mother-in-law in particular when my children were infants. She just didn’t understand all the current parenting rules. Why do they have to sleep on their back? Why can’t they have a blanket in their crib? Why can’t they eat that food yet? She often said, “I didn’t follow any of these rules and my kids grew up just fine.”

Well, it turns out that these disagreements should not be taken lightly and modern parents should stand their ground. A recent study from Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health care provider, warns that grandparents who practice outdated health guidelines – sometimes based on myths and old wives’ tales – can put their grandchildren’s safety at risk.

As of 2012, more than seven million grandchildren in the United States are being raised by nearly three million grandparents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This trend is due to factors including the opioid epidemic, parental incarceration, or problems with parents’ physical or mental health. This number does not even include many of us who are raising our children but still rely on our parents to watch our kids while we’re at work, out of town, or even out on an occasional Saturday night. However, a lot has changed over the decades since these grandparents were parents themselves, so it is critical for them to keep up with the latest pediatric guidelines.

The study was conducted by surveying 636 grandparents in the United States. Researchers were shocked at how many health-related questions the grandparents responded to incorrectly. One issue highlighted in the study is that 44 percent of the respondents mistakenly believed that ice baths are a good way to bring down a very high fever. In reality, ice baths pose a hypothermia risk.

Another major concern involved sleep guidelines. Almost a quarter of the grandparents in the study did not know that infants should be put to sleep on their back, not on their stomach or side, to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). When asked whether scrapes or cuts heal better with or without a bandage, 68 percent of grandparents did not know that wounds should be covered.

Staying up to date with new parenting advice can be quite challenging, especially in this fast-paced technological society. With every new Facebook post or breaking news story, parents need to evaluate how that information impacts their children. So it’s understandable that grandparents might have difficulty keeping up.

If your parents are helping to take care of your kids, then it’s critical to build a positive, working relationship with them so that you can feel comfortable leaving your precious ones in their hands, and they can feel confident that they are doing everything properly. It’s really our responsibility to continuously educate the grandparents about the latest guidelines, and their duty to be willing to listen and learn even if it contradicts how they raised us years ago.

If you know that your parents will be involved from the beginning then start getting them educated about the latest parenting do’s and don’ts while you’re pregnant. Here are some ways to keep the grandparents involved and in-the-know so that they have the tools they need to successfully care for their grandchildren in this day and age.

• Take grandparents shopping with you to purchase or register for all the baby equipment. Spend the time to explain why your baby needs these items and how they work. For example, when we were kids, we were not strapped into a rear-facing five-point harness car seat.
• Buy your parents special books about being a grandparent or copies of the parenting books you’re relying on.
• Bring grandparents along for parenting and baby safety classes offered at your local hospital, community center, or baby store.
• Once the baby is born, invite the grandparent caring for your child to pediatrician appointments so they can hear firsthand what the doctor recommends. Give them a chance to ask questions as well.
• Introduce the grandparents to the same resources you’re referring to for the latest child safety news, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Children websiteand Baby Center.

By Sandi Schwartz

Welcome August! Stay home or head out — there’s always something fun to do in the summer! Here’s this week’s lineup:

Thursday, August 2
Make a First-aid kit
Last week’s powerful storm ripped through the island, sending flash floods down streets, uprooting trees and knocking power out for many residents. It was a scary reminder that you need to always prepare for the worst. Take time to go over important safety procedures with your family in the event of an emergency. It’s also a good time to assemble a first-aid kit together to have at the ready. Here’s a helpful checklist to get you started.

Friday, August 3
Visit a Museum
There’s so many museums to try both on and off the island. Click here to check out our Museum section!

Saturday, August 4
(Special Trip Saturday) Try Something New Day
Check out our list of 62 day trip ideas for your family and pick something you’ve never tried!

Sunday, August 5
Put on a Stand-Up Comedy Show
Take turns putting on your own “set,” reciting jokes and making everyone laugh! Here’s a list of fun jokes that are just for kids.

Monday, August 6
Lazer Tag
Play lazer tag at Fun Station. Perfect activity for a hot or rainy day. Click here for more info on Fun Station.

Tuesday, August 7
Water Play Day
Set up the backyard with water balloons, squirt guns, sprinklers and go nuts! Here’s a super fun list of outdoor water play ideas for kids.

Wednesday, August 8
Mini Golf
Go mini golfing at SI Fun Park!

With just a few weeks left to go, summer is winding down soon. Check off your summer bucket lists before it’s too late! Here’s this week’s lineup of fun>

Thursday, August 9
Declare Random Acts of Kindness Day
Make someone smile today! Here’s a list of 100 different acts of kindness from Coffee Cups and Crayons for kids to do.

Friday, August 10
Special Trip Day – Jenkinson’s Boardwalk
Enjoy a summer day at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, where you can soak up some sun, ride the waves, check out the aquarium, play games on the boardwalk and even hit the Amusement Park. Plan to spend the whole day!

Saturday, August 11
Go Stargazing
Go stargazing with the Amateur Astronomer’s Association in Great Kills Park. Spot some constellations using the telescopes provided for free. Setup starts at sundown, around 8:30pm.

Sunday, August 12
Family Adventure Race
CityParks Foundation is hosting its annual Family Adventure Race in Conference House Park, where families team up on an obstacle course featuring javelin throw, jump rope, hurdles, mini climbing wall and more in an exciting race to the finish line. Click here to register for the 9am race or click here to register for the 10am race.

Monday, August 13
Ultimate Crafting Day
We’ve been busy this summer perusing Pinterest and pinning the coolest crafts for kids. Click here to check out our Kids Crafts Pinterest Board featuring over 100 of our favorites!

Tuesday, August 14
Special Trip Tuesday Wild West City
TWO special trips in a week??? Yup! It’ss ummer! And there’s only a few weeks left so make the most of it while you can. Check out Wild West City in Stanhope, NJ for an entirely new experience for families. The Western theme park has 22 different live action shows, old western trains, stagecoach and pony rides, and much more.

Wednesday, August 15
Visit the Zoo
Spend an afternoon with Amur leopards or the sweet sea otters at the Staten Island Zoo. Admission is free for all from 2-4:45 pm every Wednesday (donations welcome).