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Archives for 2019

Archives for 2019

Indoor & Outdoor Snow Day Ideas

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Outdoor Fun Ideas for Snow Days

Shovel a shallow path in the snow around the yard to create a snow maze.

Bring toy dump trucks outside and play “snow removal.”

Ask the kids to help you shovel (the little ones may like this more than the big ones).

Go on a nature walk. Gather winter nature items, like pine cones and icicles. Look for frozen “fossils.”

Make giant marbles: fill water balloons with colored water and leave outside over night.

Ditch the snowman; make snow monsters! Get fun snowman ideas at siparent-com.go-vip.net/snow-fun.

Help a neighbor. Check in on elderly friends and neighbors and offer to shovel their driveways and walkways, if necessary.

Blow bubbles and watch them freeze in mid-air.

Go sledding. Check nycgovparks.org/highlights/places-to-go/sledding to find the best sledding spots in local parks. Anywhere with a hilly terrain will do!

Indoor fun Ideas for Snow Days

Do some Lunar New Year-themed crafts.

Make a “train” using kitchen table chairs. Kids can take turns playing conductor. Or make a roller coaster instead. Weeeee!

Movie time: hot chocolate + popcorn. Dim the lights!

Throw an indoor “beach” party with beach towels, sand pails, bathing suits, sunglasses, etc.

Fill your bathtub with snow and let the kids play.

Get creative with colored tape: floor maze, racetracks, hopscotch, limbo, endless possibilities!

Make a big pot of soup together. Kids can help toss ingredients in the pot!

Have a scavenger hunt. Use themes like colors or numbers.

Silly storytelling; take turns making up funny stories.

Go camping indoors by setting up a tent in your living room. Stovetop s’mores, anyone?

Host a coloring marathon. Find coloring sheets of your kids’ favorite characters on the internet and print them out.

Grab the mani/pedi kit and have a spa day.

Write letters to friends, family, the President, anyone!

Make snowflake cut-outs and hang them up for an “indoor” snow storm.

Make an indoor hopscotch board using cardboard squares.

Make indoor basketball hoops using rounded pool noodles duct taped to the wall.

Track the DSNY snow plows as they clear the streets in your neighborhood. Go to maps.nyc.gov/snow.

Host a fashion show. Use long hallways as a “runway.” If more than two inches of snow have accumulated on paved surfaces, call Naperville snow removal service!

Host a board game marathon. Go to siparent-com.go-vip.net/family-game-night-top-15-board-games/ for ideas!

Have a karaoke contest. No machine? Just use YouTube instrumental videos with lyrics.

Make some sticky slime. Go siparent-com.go-vip.net/slime-time to find out how.

Have a paper airplane race.

Make finger paint masterpieces. You can even google how to make homemade fingerpaint.

Play Mad Libs or create your own.

Use electrical tape to make an indoor racetrack for toy cars on your kitchen floor.

Got extra boxes leftover from the holidays? Make cardboard box crafts, like “Feed Your Monster” on page 74.

Forts! Couch cushion forts, blanket forts, furniture forts – anything works as long as you can hide out in it all day long. It wouldn’t be a problem even if you were looking for an antique option, because that’d only add a flair of antiquity to the place.

Get crafty. Find ideas for winter-themed crafts at siparent-com.go-vip.net/winter-craft-ideas-for-kids.

Make Valentine’s Day cards and surprises for the special people in your life.

Have a reading marathon. Pick a special book theme like winter, sports, or selections from famous women or African Americans.

Bake together. Make cookies, cake, muffins, anything that kids can help out making.

Combine glue and epsom salt on paper in a sensory activity for little ones that might get messy but will be fun!

Apply for 3-K & Pre-K on February 4!

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Parents of children entering 3-K or Pre-K in the fall can apply starting Monday, February 4, 2019. Here’s what you need to know:

3-K

3-K will be offered in Staten Island (District 31) for the first time in the fall of 2019. Children born in 2016 who live in New York City are welcome to apply.

• The application period runs from February 4 until May 3, 2019.

• You can search for schools on the NYC MySchools website or app. Click here for the directory.  A complete list is not yet available. We will update this post when it is.

• If you don’t see many schools in your area offering 3-K, don’t panic! More schools will be added throughout the application period, so bookmark the directory page and check back often. You have until May 3 to apply, so research your options and don’t rush.

• You can subscribe here for 3-K updates from the Department of Education.

• 3-K will be offered in District Schools (certain elementary schools), Pre-K Centers run by DOE staff, or NYC Early Education Centers (community-based organizations contracted by the DOE or the Administration for Children’s Services to provide 3-K).

• More information on 3-K can be found here.

• NYC families who have a child born in 2016 can apply to 3-K for All in School Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 19, 23, 27, 31, and 32.

• To apply, you will need two documents containing proof of address, proof of your child’s age, and immunization records.

Pre-K

Pre-K will once again be offered in Staten Island (District 31) in the fall of 2019. Children born in 2015 who live in New York City are welcome to apply.

• The application period runs from February 4 until March 15, 2019.

• You can search for schools on the NYC MySchools website or app. Click here for the directory. 

• You can view the NYC Pre-K Admissions Guide for a complete list of schools offering Pre-K and additional information on each school.

• You can subscribe here forPre-K updates from the Department of Education.

• Pre-K will be offered in District Schools (certain elementary schools), Pre-K Centers run by DOE staff, or NYC Early Education Centers (community-based organizations contracted by the DOE or the Administration for Children’s Services to provide 3-K).

• More information on Pre-K can be found here.

• To apply, you will need two documents containing proof of address, proof of your child’s age, and immunization records.

February Family Fun on Staten Island

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February Family Fun

A small month with big holidays!

With just 28 days (barring leap years, of course), February is the shortest month. Many people have no idea why that is, as it’s the only month to have fewer than 30 days. There is no scientific reason behind that distinction, but rather we can contribute it to the Romans. The early Roman calendar did not include January or February because winter had no agricultural advantages. February was later added by Julius Caesar, who likely shortened the month simply to get to March more quickly (can you really blame him?). Although it’s a short month, there’s no shortage of significant holidays. Here’s how to celebrate tons of February family fun on the Island:

Black History Month

Celebrate black history all month month long at the Staten Island Children’s Museum with Caribbean recipe workshops on Friday afternoons and collage-creation inspired by Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu on weekends. You can also check out Rossville’s Sandy Ground, the oldest continuously inhabited free black settlement in the United States. Click here for more information about Sandy Ground. Check your local library for programs as well, or go to siparent-com.go-vip.net/events.

Lunar New Year

It’s the Year of the Pig! Lunar New Year takes place on Tuesday, February 5. Public schools will be closed in observance of the holiday. Celebrate with the Korean community at the Korean Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 2 at the Staten Island Museum (on the grounds of Snug Harbor). You can also check out the Year of the Boar celebration at Greenbelt Nature Center on Sunday, February 3 and celebrate festive Lunar New Year events all day at the Staten Island Children’s Museum on Tuesday, February 5. Get more details about these events at our Family Calendar at siparent-com.go-vip.net/events.

Valentine’s Day

There are tons of ways for families to celebrate love in Staten Island this month! Both Home Depot and Michaels offer Valentine’s Day crafting for kids on various Saturday mornings throughout the month. Create some old-fashioned love notes at Historic Richmond Town’s Victorian Valentine Workshop on Saturday, February 2. Show some love to our animal pals at the Staten Island Zoo on Saturday, February 16 at their annual I Love the Zoo event. Feeling fit? Grab a partner and run the Valentine’s Day 5k at Conference House Park on Sunday, February 16. Both adult and youth runners are welcome to register. Design a special valentine tee shirt for your sweetie at Fort Wadsworth on Saturday, February 10. And of course, check our calendar (siparent-com.go-vip.net/events) for free programs at local library branches.

President’s Day

You can thank our country’s many leaders for a whole week off of school this month! The midwinter recess usually lands during President’s Week. Create a portrait inspired by Barack Obama’s official portrait at the President’s Day Art Workshop at the Staten Island Children’s Museum on Monday, February 18 (enjoy reduced admission all day as well). On Tuesday, February 19, stop by the Greenbelt Nature Center for a fascinating lesson on presidents’ horses and real life war horses from American history. You might even get to meet a real horse!

Groundhog Day at the S.I. Zoo

Will winter be quick and painless or long and drawn-out this year? Ask Staten Island Chuck, the Staten Island Zoo’s famous resident groundhog, who will once again emerge from hibernation on Groundhog Day to make his annual, seasonal prediction. According to tradition, if Chuck emerges from his burrow and fails to see his shadow, spring will arrive early. However, if he comes out and is frightened by his shadow, causing him to return to hibernation, winter will persist for six additional weeks.

With a nearly 80% accuracy rate, we hope Chuck doesn’t see that shadow! Want to meet him? The Groundhog Day event at the zoo is free and open to the public, with gates opening at 6:30am on Groundhog Day (Saturday, February 2), ceremony starting at 7am and Chuck’s prediction at 7:30. This year’s ceremony will feature a special appearance from Patrick Raftery Rock-a-Silly Band and the P.S.29 chorus.

Did you know Chuck has his very own book? Groundhog Chuck Builds a Weather Station, authored by Deputy Borough President Edward Burke and released in 2017, follows Staten Island Chuck and his animal friends as they work together creating a weather-tracking team. You can purchase it at the Staten Island Zoo gift shop; proceeds support the zoo’s educational programs.

Sandy Ground: A Piece of African-American History in Staten Island

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As February rolls in we celebrate and honor the rich African-American history of our country. Schools and communities explore the struggles and triumphs of African-Americans in the United States, from the blight of slavery to the civil rights movement and up to today.

On Staten Island’s South Shore there is a majestic piece of African-American history in Sandy Ground, located in today’s community of Rossville. Sandy Ground first appeared in records dating back to 1799. The name Sandy Ground refers to the rich soil which covered the area.

The first African-American land owners appeared in documents in 1828, migrating from New York, Maryland and Delaware. The first freed black families arrived at Sandy Ground to establish farms and prosper in the oyster trade when new laws in Maryland severely restricted them from harvesting oysters. The South Shore Staten Island oyster trade was very prosperous for these new settlers until it dried up due to overfishing, pollution and industrialization of the area. Eventually the oyster trade ceased to exist after a major typhoid outbreak linked to eating contaminated oysters hit the community. This led to the closure of the oyster bed in 1916.

Read Next | Women’s History Month: Books For All Ages

Rossville AME Zion Church

In 1930 and 1963 the Sandy Ground community was impacted by severe fires that destroyed significant parts of the community. The community was still able to persevere. One of the anchor points of Sandy Ground was the Rossville AME Zion Church, founded in 1850. Aside from Sunday services, the church hosted many events, including fundraisers, socials, summer camps, concerts and dances. It truly was the epicenter of the community.

One notable member was Reverend Thomas James, a famous abolitionist and civil rights leader. The church served as a stop on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.

As the congregation expanded, the community needed a new church. The new AME Church was built in 1897 on Crabtree Avenue between Bloomingdale Road and Turner Street. The original church building was demolished around 1930, but its cemetery still exists with over two dozen gravestones, some dating back to the community’s first days. The AME Zion Church eventually moved to the current location at 584 Bloomingdale Road, where it stands today.

Read Next | Kids’ Books, Podcasts, and Other Resources about Diversity, Race, and Inclusion

Legacy Lives On 

The Sandy Ground community is preserved in many ways, including the work by the Sandy Ground Museum and Historical Society located at 1538 Woodrow Rd. (Executive Director, Mrs. Sylvia Moody-D’Alessandro). The Museum & Historical

Society hosts classes for children and adults. For more information visit sandyground.wordpress.com.

The newest Public School in the area, a “green” environmentally friendly school located on Bloomingdale Road, includes Sandy Ground in the name: Public School 62: The Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability on Sandy Ground.

In April 2017 Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that one of the three new Staten Ferry Boats operated by the New York City Department of Transportation will be named Sandy Ground. The Sandy Ground will join The Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis when the new Boats hit the waterway beginning in 2019.

By Michael Reilly, NYS Assemblyman, former District 31 Community Education Council President and former NYPD Lieutenant

three kids at preschool
Read Next | Learn about All the Best Pre-school or Daycare Centers on Staten Island

Valentine’s Love Bots

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valentines love bots

Boot up your creativity this Valentines Day with these adorable Valentine Love Bots! You and your little sweethearts can even create a whole Love Bot family together. Here’s how to make them.

Materials:
Googly eyes
Tape
Glue
Scissors
Marker
Pipe cleaners
Valentine’s Day decorations such as hearts
2-5 used 6.75-ounce Juicy Juice boxes
Valentine’s Day gift wrap

Step 1 – Wrap your empty juice box in Valentine’s Day gift wrap using glue or tape.
Step 2 – Use glue to adhere your robot’s eyes in place.
Step 3 – Now it’s time for the arms! Use glue or tape to adhere your robot’s arms (pipe cleaners) in place.
Step 4 – Continue to bring your robot to life by using tape or glue to add another pipe cleaner to the top of the robot’s head.
Step 5 – Use a marker to draw your robot’s mouth.
Step 6 – Decorate with the supplies of your choice! We used red, white and pink hearts.
Step 7 – Repeat Steps 1-6 at least once or twice to create a whole robot family!

Printed with permission from Juicy Juice. See more crafts at juicyjuice.com.

Read Next | Virtual Valentine Ideas for Kids

What Are the Types of Camps and What Questions Should I Ask When Deciding On a Camp?

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It’s time to consider summer camp options. We know what you’re thinking. It’s freezing outside! Who’s already thinking about camp? The truth is, now is the time to start thinking about where and how your child will be spending their summer. Summer camp open houses will be starting soon – March or even earlier – and many will be full not long after the registration period begins. To ensure your child makes the most of his or her summer vacation, start researching camps now and you will be ready when it’s time to sign up.

There are various types of summer camps, each offering youngsters something different. With camps to meet every interest, price range, and schedule, camping can be good for anyone! The following are some of the summer camp options parents can expect to encounter as they search for the right experience for their little campers.

Day camp

Day camps are not overnight camps, which means kids will return home each night rather than sleep over at camp. Day camps typically offer many of the activities people have come to associate with camps, including crafts, sports and even day-trips to experience local museums or attractions. Many day camps are co-ed, and counselors typically live within the community.

Sports camp

Some summer camps focus on a particular sport, catering to young athletes who want to further develop their athletic talents. Sports camps may feature guest lectures and lessons from notable local athletes and coaches, while some camps may provide instruction from current and/or former professional athletes. Some sports camps are overnight, while others are day camps.

Read Next | Let’s Talk About Camp! Begin Planning Kids’ Summer Recreation Now

Special interest camp

Some camps focus entirely on one particular activity that will serve the main interest of its campers. Campers will spend the majority of their time on this main activity. Types of special interest camps could include drama, nature, computer/technology, dance, music, art, or science/math. There are many special interest camp options right here in Staten Island.

Faith-based camp

Faith-based camps offer many of the same activities as more traditional summer camps, but do so while simultaneously offering campers the opportunity to celebrate and further explore their religious beliefs. Some faith-based camps may focus heavily on religion, incorporating faith into daily camp activities, while others may be more subtle with regard to integrating religious beliefs and lessons into camp activities.

Camp for children with special needs

There are many camps that accommodate children with special needs. Staff at these camps typically undergoes extensive training, which helps to calm some of the fears parents may have about leaving their children at camp. Facilities are often built to accommodate the specific needs of these campers.

Questions to Consider in Selecting a Day Camp:

  • What is a typical day like? Can the children select their activities or do they follow a strict schedule?
  • Are parent visits permitted? Can you “drop in” any time or is there a parent visit day?
  • What is the ratio of counselors to campers? For day camps, the American Camp Association guidelines call for one staff member for every six campers ages 4 and 5; eight campers ages 6 to 8; one staff member for every 10 campers ages 9 to 14; and one staff member for every 12 campers ages 15 to 17. ACA standards also include the need to train staff to minimize 1:1 camper/staff interactions when out of sight of others.
  • What are the qualifications and training requirements for the staff? Are there Counselors in Training (CIT)? You may want to consider a CIT program if your teen is aging out of the camping experience.
  • What is included in the camp fee? Is there an extra charge for certain activities, camp shirt, food, lessons, field trips, transportation, extended care?
  • Is there a lunch program, or do campers bring their own lunch, drinks, and snacks? Will it be kept in a refrigerator or cooler? Are their food/drink restrictions?
  • Is transportation available, and is it door-to-door?
  • Is there a before and/or after care program?
  • Is there a pool or other water activities? If there is a pool, is there a lifeguard on duty? Are swimming lessons offered?
  • How are discipline issues resolved?
  • Is the camp accredited? ACA collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to be sure required practices are current and sound.
  • What is the camp policy regarding cell phones and other technology items brought to camp?

If you are considering a Day Camp, the American Camp Association (ACA) recommends considering your child’s interests, personality, and maturity level. Be certain to include your child in the decision-making process. Together with your child, research camp options and examine the information the camps provide. Many camps have web sites that include a good overview of what they have to offer. There may be photos, maps or virtual tours of the camp facility, sample daily schedules and menus, and information about the directors and key staff. As children become better acquainted with the camp experience and are more involved in the decision-making process, they will have less anxiety about going to camp.

summer camp kids
Read Next | This Is Everything You Need to Find an Amazing Summer Camp Program in Staten Island

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