5 Best NYC Day Trips For Kids & Parents

5 Best NYC Day Trips For Kids & Parents

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Kids don’t always share our ideas of fun. For us, long, lazy days of summer are the height of happiness. For them, those days can get a little boring. So this summer, give them something exciting to look forward to and plan a field trip or two to break up the monotony. Check out these five destinations just outside Manhattan that are fun whether you are four or forty.

The Hudson River Museum

511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY
Distance from NYC: 45 minutes

This turn-of-the-century museum beckons families with creative programming that combines art and science. Art projects geared toward kids ages 7+ include flower pot decorating, planet sculpting, and 3D printmaking. The Early Explorers room, designed for kids under 5, hosts a puppet theater, books, blocks, and a large-scale dollhouse. The gardening program allows children to transplant seedlings to pots, taste fresh-picked beans, and see how vegetables are grown.  Kids ages 5-8 will be awed by the on-site planetarium, which includes live presentations from astronomers, as well as short movies by Sesame Workshops, professional filmmakers, and well-known narrators. A guide will take you back to 1876, as you learn about the Victorian family who originally inhabited the historic Glenview Mansion.

 

Belmont Park & Race Track

2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY
Distance from NYC: 53 minutes

Start your day with Breakfast at Belmont, a tasty continental buffet, available from 7 to 9:30 am on weekends and holiday mornings at the Trackside Café. Afterward, board the tram for a ride through the stable area, giving kids an up-close view of the horses and the starting gate loading area. Check the calendar for the next Family Fun Day to enjoy bounce houses, a petting zoo, carousels, and carnival games included with your $5 admission. Pack a picnic lunch or take advantage of concession stands in the Belmont Backyard, where you’ll also find a children’s playground and duck pond. Parents can place their bets on the strangely-named horses, for as little as a dime, at one of the many TV/betting stations. Belmont Park is best known for the Belmont Stakes in June, but there are thrilling races Wednesday through Sunday, through mid-July.

 

Bear Mountain State Park

Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911
Distance from NYC: 1 hour, 23 minutes

It’s difficult to compete with the Bronx Zoo, but the Trailside Zoo and Museums at Bear Mountain State Park are still impressive and enjoyable for visitors of all ages. Kids can see wildlife aplenty – from rehabilitating mammals like fox, black bear, coyote, and porcupines, to snakes, frogs, and turtles at the herpetology house, to the magnificent birds of prey like bald eagles, owls, and raptors. Museum space is dedicated to natural history, geology, and human history. While you’re there, be sure to take a spin on the hand-carved Merry-Go-Round, and rent a paddle or row boat to enjoy Hessian Lake. Popular summer activities include: lunch in the shaded picnic groves, lake and river fishing, navigating trails with easy hiking and biking, dipping into the swimming pool, and tossing a ball around the spacious play field. An outdoor ice skating rink is open from late October through Mid-March, and Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April through late November for a spectacular view of the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Adventurous families with babies in carrier backpacks or teens can hike to the 1,300-foot summit for a day packed with adventure.

 

The Franklin Institute

220 North 20th Street, Philadelphia PA
Distance from NYC: 1 hour, 47 minutes

While “a penny saved is a penny earned,” you won’t mind dropping some cash at the Franklin Institute for the day, with its 10 interactive, hands-on attractions and permanent exhibits that never get old. Older kids can experience the thrill of a mirror maze, virtual reality, and two escape rooms, while younger ones will love riding on a full-sized, smoke-blowing, whistling train and “training to fly” in the Wright Model B airplane. Walk through a 220-foot model of the human heart, bike across a high wire 28 feet above the Atrium floor on the SkyBike, see the stars in the Fels Planetarium, run in a simulated race against pro athletes in the SportsZone, or crawl through a “tunnel of neurons” in the award-winning Your Brain exhibit. Temporary displays have focused on kid-friendly artifacts like dinosaurs and mummies. Crafty science carts located around the museum offer paper-making and bridge construction projects that keep both mind and hands busy. Once the kids are done running around, you can settle in for a relaxing IMAX film before grabbing dinner in neighboring ChinaTown and heading home.

 

Field Station: Dinosaurs

40 Fort Lee Road Leonia, NJ
Distance from NYC: 47 minutes

Fans of “Jurassic Park” can play paleontologist for a day at this unique attraction.  A field guide greets you upon arrival, introducing you to the camp and giving you passport books to become “Super Paleontologists” by collecting stamps at each of the exhibits. You’ll work your way through fossil excavation, art tents, a nursery with baby dinosaurs, and several research tents. Amphitheater shows include a Dinosaur Dance Party, a T-Rex “Feeding Frenzy”, and the Olympic-style T-Rex Games competition. Workshops, games, and movies pack plenty of educational content in with the “wow factor.” Of course, no dinosaur attraction would be complete without animatronics! Undoubtedly, the highlight of your trip will be the forested walking trail, complete with 30 full-size animatronic dinosaurs.

Taking youngsters out of The City for a day isn’t always easy. There’s a lot to plan and pack! But there is a lot for parents to learn about and love in these excursions, and you can be rest assured your kids will be talking about the family bonding time for years to come!

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

8 Ways Kids Can Entertain Themselves at Your Fourth of July Party

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The best Fourth-of-July parties are entertaining for kids and adults. Here are some of our favorite open-ended party activities that will entertain and engage kids, while grown-ups enjoy cocktails and conversation.

Top 8 July 4th Activities

 

1.      July 4th Firework Crafts

Firework crafts are easy enough for older kids to do without supervision or for a teenager to oversee the littler ones. Simply cut the end of paper towel rolls into strips for a great firework template that can be dipped into glitter paint. The bounce and twist motion it takes to create “fireworks” encourages hand-eye coordination and fine motor development, while kids use their imagination and combine colors. Another variation of this craft uses shaving cream, liquid water colors, and toothpicks. You can also use forks to make a circular pattern or dab a dish brush onto the paper for a similar effect.

2.      Independence Day Scavenger Hunt

Plan to pair younger kids with older kids, and make a patriotic-themed Scavenger Hunt around the yard or house before guests arrive. There are countless variations, but the basic idea is to write out a riddle leading kids to the next clue. An example might be: “An old fable says that George Washington chopped one of these down” – which, of course, will lead the sleuths to a cherry tree on the property. You could hide the American flags to be collected as part of a patriotic theme, or make printouts of famous patriots, places, and symbols from American history. To add a layer of intrigue, you could attach an activity to each discovered clue, such as “Do five pushups” or “Sing the Star-Spangled Banner.” An easier version can be made for younger kids by simply providing a list of hidden items to find. They can be very specific patriotic items / printouts, or broader items like “something fuzzy” and “something pretty.”

3.      Red, White and Blue Water Balloons

Water balloons are always a hit at any outdoor summer picnic. Of course, there is some liability that adult guests may get a little wet, too. Encourage structured games, rather than all-out warfare. The basic Water Balloon Toss involves two lines of people standing across from one another, tossing and catching small water balloons. Partners who drop and break the balloon are out. If the partners successfully complete the toss without the balloon breaking, they take one step back. Another fun game is Water Ballon Dodgeball where two teams are divided up and take turns hurling water balloons back and forth until one team is left standing. Buy red, white, and blue balloons to make it festive. When the sun goes down, you can bust out these glow-in-the-dark balloons recommended by a camp counselor.

4.      4th of July Bicycle Parade

The Fourth of July naturally lends itself to pageantry. Set up an Americana themed costume box with props and outfits like the Statue of Liberty, Paul Revere, George and Martha Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Colonial soldiers. Or you can ask young guests to come dressed as their favorite patriotic attire to compete for the “best costume” prize. Kids can bring their bikes to decorate for a “parade” around the block (or the driveway). Have streamers, flags, stickers, construction paper, markers, and spoke beads on hand for decorating.

5.      Independent Jewelry Making Station

Older kids can enjoy hours of making red, white, and blue bracelets and necklaces. Supply them with red, white, and blue beads, as well as beads shaped like stars or letter beads that allow them to write messages. Oriental Trading is a cheap place to find patriotic charms and supplies, or you could try Etsy.

6.      Capture the (American) Flag

Divide the team into the red team vs. the blue team, using bandanas to signify who is on which team. For team flags, you could use the American and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags. The object of this classic game is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to their territory. If you’re tagged by an opposing team member, you have to go to the designated “jail.” You can only get out of jail if your team member tags you. Each team typically divvies themselves up into “Guards” who try to tag opponents sneaking into their territory, “Attackers” who are on a mission to find the other team’s hidden flag, and “Scouts” who rescue team members from jail and support the other roles.

7.      July 4th on TV!

Electronic media is never our first pick, but what if it’s raining? What if the kids have been running around for hours and crave that little bit of “down time” to recharge their batteries? Our best educational TV pick for the Fourth of July is Liberty’s Kids, an entertaining-yet-educational series about the American Revolution. Other picks may include movies like: “Johnny Tremain,” “This is America, Charlie Brown,” “All Aboard America,” or “Ben and Me.”

8.       Stand up and Sing, Patriots!

What better time to brush up on everybody’s favorite patriotic songs that embody the very spirit of our independence? For a comprehensive list of all the most classic patriot tunes and lyrics, check out https://www.scoutsongs.com/categories/patriotic-songs.html. Or curate your own list of modern pop hits that celebrate what it means to “R.O.C.K. in the USA”, be an “American Girl”, or remind your favorite kid what a “Firework” he is. Or if you have a Broadway baby, why not host a Hamilton sing along!

Additional Resources: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/shaving-cream-fireworks/

Holidays are an exciting time for the kids, so be sure to put their boundless energy to good use. Have them work on easy table decorations, or inspire their inner “chef” by having them assemble these simple 4th of July snacks. While you are celebrating America’s independence, your little ones will be celebrating their growing sense of independence, too.

Have a sensational party!

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

Summer Road Trip Tips: How to Keep Peace in the Backseat

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When I first imagine my family on a summer road trip, we’re smiling, singing, snacking, and snapping photos. We’re making sweet memories that will last a lifetime. But a moment later, I’m panicking, imagining teary toy battles, bored screaming, and endless complaining.

Having survived it more than once, I know you can take more than one high-energy kid on a road-trip and survive. Sure, I’ve cheated, using DVD players and Kindles to pacify them – yet, I’ve found some of the best activities don’t involve electronics.

For happy car travel, try one of these boredom busters…

For the Littles:

  • Mesmerize them with the magic of coloring books. My girl was never big into coloring, but for some reason the mess-free magic really appealed to her. This worked out great because I’d rather not worry about melted crayons or permanent marker on my seats! I tried a few different varieties, but preferred the ones from Bendon books. The colors are vibrant, the character selection is good, and the pages are bound together so they’re not flying out the open window. (Just hang onto the cap, so your child doesn’t lose it… and buy a stack of books to last!)
  • Let them enjoy “being a kid” with the whimsy of bubbles. The idea of bubbles used to make me cringe, but Fubbles no-spill bubbles is a game-changer. If your child recently learned the art of blowing bubbles, then you know this activity can keep them busy for quite a while – especially when they realize the unending joy of bubbles drifting lazily down the interstate. (Note: I figured the cars behind us may not appreciate the free window cleaning, so we reserved these for the lonelier stretches of road.)
  • Encourage your little engineer. My 1-year-old likes anything he can bang, pound, or disassemble. I like the little tool box toys with hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, drills, shape sorters, and sound effects. The portable tool toy not only kept my son busy in the car, but relieved boredom during hotel downtime as well.
  • Draw them into an imaginative environment (that isn’t the car) with magnetic toys. Many a mom has sworn by the use of cookie trays and the classic alphabet magnets. What’s not to love? It’s easy enough to procure and pack. (Only use these toys if your children are beyond the stage of putting toys in their mouths!) For our trip, I picked up a couple of Hape’s magnetic travel sets. My imaginative 2-year-old loved playing “Vet Clinic” and “Circus.” Other magnet kits I’ve seen let children change a character’s outfit – which, any mother-of-a-toddler knows, never loses its novelty.

For School-Aged Children:

  • Inspire your aspiring architect with Legos. For the 4-7 demographic, Legos are always a hit. If you have Legos already, you can make a DIY travel case out of a baby wipes container, metal lunch box, or craft organizer bin. I was starting at square one with my kids, so I found myself browsing the Lego Junior Suitcase kits, which were compact and ready-to-travel, with themes like Supermarket, Fire Patrol, Farm, and Vehicles for hours of creative play in the car.
  • Beat boredom and make time pass faster with classic board games. What better time to play a board game than when you’re cooped up in the backseat? Kids ages 8 and 9 will love Grab & Go classics like Clue, Battleship, Trouble, Connect 4, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Monopoly, and Life. For younger ones, try Guess Who. Kids ages 4-7 may also like memory games that challenge their budding skills.
  • Show your thoughtfulness by making each child their own Activity Binder. There’s something so special about having a binder with your name on it and a set of art supplies that is all your own. If you have the time and desire to prepare, visit the craft store to pick up: a three-ring binder, sheet protectors, scissors, pencil pouches, glue sticks, colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, drawing paper, and stickers. Activities can include Road Trip Bingo, Scavenger Hunts, Word Puzzles, Crosswords, Art Prompts, Story Starters, Mad Libs, Word Searches, and other activities. Check out this PDF for ideas on making “Road Trip Activity Binders” for each child. (If you have no time, you can be rest assured Melissa and Doug make everything… and I mean, thing.)

For Game Lovers:

  • Get zany and creative with a game of License Plate Lingo. I love this variation of the classic License Plate spotting game. Read off the license plate letters of a car ahead of you, and ask the kids to come up with a silly acronym. For instance, “CKU” might be “Colorful Kangaroo Underwear” or “Creepy Koala Umbrella,” or “Cat-Kissing Unicorn.” I’m competitive, so I like to make the game more exciting by doling out dole out stickers for the funniest or zaniest ideas each round, and offering the winner a small toy or treat at the next rest-stop.
  • Build memory skills with The Picnic Game. You may recall this game from school, which is played by simply adding foods onto a picnic list ranging from A to Z. The first player begins with, “I went to a picnic Saturday and I brought…” then states a food that starts with A like apples. The next player repeats the first bit and adds a food starting with B, such as: “I went to a picnic Saturday and I brought apples and bananas.” It’s not so easy to remember 23 items, plus coming up with something you can take to a picnic that starts with X!
  • Reward observant passengers with the Cows On My Side game. For the rural road trip, Cows On My Side is an easy game kids as young as 3 will appreciate. When you see a cow on your side of the road, holler, “Cows on my side!” to get a point. You can also call out, “Cows on your side!” to steal a point from another player. If you see a cemetery, shout, “Ghost cow!” and steal all of the other side’s points. There are, of course, many other games you can play, powered by your collective minds. The guessing game “21 Questions” should be familiar to all parents. Simply think of a person, place, or thing, and have each player take turns asking questions to find out more about your noun. Another game that always has me busting a gut is “Fortunately/Unfortunately.” One person starts by saying “Fortunately,” and describing an event. The next player begins with “Unfortunately,” and puts their own twist on what has happened. The last player tries to find the silver lining by coming back full circle to “Fortunately.” So, for instance, a round might go: “Fortunately, I finally saw someone after 20 miles of driving down the desolate highway. Unfortunately, that person was a zombie. Fortunately, I, too, was searching for a pit stop serving brains for lunch.”

Snacks and activities are enough to keep most kids occupied. (Oh, we had cheese sticks, pretzels, carrot sticks, yogurt melts, nuts, apple slices, and granola all over the floor of the SUV… but, by God, the kids were happy!) If yours are particularly rowdy, you may have to up the ante. One mom said she gave each child a roll of quarters to be spent on whatever they wished once they reached their destination – but only if they were “polite, patient, and obedient” during the drive. If they had to be asked to do something (or not do something) more than once, they lost a quarter. And if all else fails, you can always build your own backseat divider like this clever father of triplets did!

Happy traveling!

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri. If she’s not writing, rest assured she’s out enjoying nature, digging in sand, cruising the high seas, drinking coffee, or hanging out with a pair of German Shepherds.

Natural Tick Prevention

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We’re not panicking alarmists, but we are pragmatists, so we’ve been researching natural tick protection for our kids. Reported Lyme Disease cases have tripled over the past few decades. About 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme Disease each year. “Cases of vector-borne disease have more than tripled in the United States since 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported, with mosquitoes and ticks bearing most of the blame,” says Joyce Sakamoto and Shelley Whitehead from the Washington Post.

What is Lyme Disease?

We tend to worry about ticks and Lyme Disease while packing for camping trips, but ticks are just as likely to strike in a backyard or urban park setting. Ticks can be as small as a poppyseed, so they’re easy to miss. Not everyone gets the telltale “bulls-eye” rash. Sometimes it’s just red and expanding. The flu-like symptoms of early stage Lyme Disease can be easy to miss, too. Complications of untreated disease may include facial palsy, neuropathy, cognitive impairments, heart arrhythmias, and joint inflammation.

This sounds pretty awful, but keep in mind:

  • Not all ticks carry Lyme Disease.
  • It takes about 24-36 hours for infected ticks to transmit the pathogen.
  • Early one-day treatment with doxycycline is enough to prevent harmful effects.

How can you prevent Lyme Disease?

As they say, “prevention is the best cure!” Unfortunately, the Lyme vaccine by French biotech company Valneva is still in early human trials and at least six years away from release, so there is no way to completely keep ticks away.

Common prophylactic measures include chemical applications of DEET (sold in products like OFF!) and Picaridin (sold in products like Skin So Soft). While deemed “safe,” these ingredients have been found to cause acute skin, eye, and lung irritations. Furthermore, animal studies conducted by a Duke University researcher linked long-term exposure with impaired muscle control, strength, coordination, memory, and learning abilities.

Are there natural products to repel ticks?

Fortunately, if you’re not too keen on the idea of dousing your children in chemicals every time you want to go for a hike, there are a few natural alternatives.

The CDC recommends essential oil blends of garlic oil, rosemary, cedar, peppermint, thyme, lemongrass, and geraniol. Common Sense Home offers this homemade tick repellent recipe: 20 drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil, 10 drops of Sweetgrass Essential Oil, 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil, 5 drops of Citronella or Lemon Essential Oil, 4 oz. of Rubbing Alcohol, Witch Hazel, Apple Cider Vinegar, or Distilled Water. The downside of natural oils is that they aren’t effective for more than 30 minutes, so you have to keep a spray bottle handy for constant re-applying.

The Environmental Working Group recommends parents choose tick repellents for kids with less than 30% DEET, 20% Picaridin, and 30-40% Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (if your child is over 3 years old). Based on these principles, Cool Mom Picks recommends tick repellents by: Sawyer Fisherman, Repel, Nantucket, and Ben’s. Simply apply by spraying it onto your hands and rubbing it on exposed areas like the neck, legs, and arms, taking care to avoid the eyes, ears, and mouth.

According to Consumer Reports testing, the most effective NATURAL tick repellents were made by brands like: All-Terrain, Babyganics, Burt’s Bees, California Baby, and Cutter – which contained ingredients like citronella, geraniol, lemongrass, and rosemary oil. These products kept ticks away for at least six hours.

You can also buy clothing sprays or treated clothing containing Permethrin, which kills insects carrying Zika, Malaria, West Nile, and Lyme Disease.

Have a great summer!

With natural tick repellent stowed in your bag, you’ll have the peace of mind to confidently enjoy the great outdoors all summer long. If you’re looking for unique outdoor adventures and new ways to explore The City, contact us to learn more about Shine NYC workshops, camps, and parties.

 

Additional Tick Repellent Resources:

  1. org, Did You Get Bit by a Lyme-Infested Tick?, http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/06/518065660/if-you-get-bit-by-a-lyme-infested-tick-here-are-5-tips
  2. gov, Natural Tick Repellents and Pesticides, https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/natural-repellents.html
  3. EWG, EWG’s Guide to Bug Repellents in the Age of ZIKA: Kids, http://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-guide-bug-repellents/kids#block2

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

5 Fantastic Ways To Spend Father’s Day in NYC

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New York City is a vast playground for engaged dads to explore with their children, whether they’re babies and toddlers or full-grown with children of their own. Some fathers enjoy sports and the great outdoors, while others may be artistically inclined and connoisseurs of fine food. Some dads thrive in big crowds, while others prefer something more intimate. There are parks and events that cater to all types in this big, bold city that we love. Here are a few options if you’re still undecided on where you’ll end up on Father’s Day.

  1. Cruise with brews. Hornblower Cruises offers a unique view of the New York skyline and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge — from aboard an intimate luxury yacht. The two hour Father’s Day cruise serves up a delicious brunch buffet featuring omelets, eggs benedict, vegetable frittata, French toast, waffles, bacon, sausage, potatoes, salads, bagels, meat carving stations, and pastries. Live jazz music sets the atmosphere, while dad enjoys free-flowing beer in his official Hornblower mug. The cruise sets sail Sunday, June 18th at noon from Pier 40. After your cruise, you can take a free self-guided tour of Greenwich Village, check out the trapeze school, or explore all that Hudson River Park has to offer, from kayaking to mini golf. Young kids will enjoy the splash-park and carousel.
  2. Enjoy the finer foods in life. Foodies have many ways to celebrate this Father’s Day. The Museum at Eldridge Street in the Lower East Side is holding an Egg Rolls, Egg Creams & Empanadas Festival to celebrate the area’s cultural diversity. Watch Peking Opera performers dazzle the crowd; listen to klezmer bands; learn how to make empanadas; take free language lessons; or play a round of mahjongg. The block party is free, but there will be plenty of Jewish, Chinese, and Puerto Rican food for sale. Or you can head on over to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for Smorgasburg, which the NY Times has called “the Woodstock of food” with over 100 food and super flea market vendors. Treat your tastebuds to everything from crispy pork belly on a stick and French steak tartare, to Nutella-dipped churros and spaghetti donuts.
  3. Explore Van Cortlandt Park with the little ones. Sometimes when you have young children in tow, you need a Father’s Day plan that doesn’t involve too much hassle. Van Cortlandt Park in the northwest Bronx is the perfect place to pack a picnic and stay the day. The Forever Wild Preserves offers nature trails ideal for easy hiking, biking, or horseback riding. In fact, kids ages 4-10 will enjoy free pony rides at Riverdale Stables from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday! There are four playgrounds, an Urban Park Rangers’ Nature Center, a historic museum, a golf course, two free outdoor pools, a toddler wading area, barbecue grills, fishing, and sports fields. It’s impossible to cover it all in one day, but the main attractions are conveniently located near transit hubs or parking lots.
  4. Promote family fitness with a father-and-tot Fun Run. Think N’ Fun is holding a special Father’s Day race for the whole family. Each father and child receive a commemorative medal for their participation. Age categories include Tadpoles (early walkers), Goldfish (2), Guppies (3-4), Starfish (5), and Young Runners (6+). Recovery snacks will be served after the race, while families check out the photo opp station and “make-n-take” craft station. Dads looking to really break a sweat can opt to take the optional adults race through Riverside Park after taking their jog with the kids.
  5. Give dad’s bucket list dreams wings. Get a bird’s eye view of NY, while experiencing the thrill of piloting a light aircraft designed for flight training. Experienced FAA Certified Flight Instructor Patrick O’Toole will give dad a one-hour flying lesson departing from Republic Airport in Farmingdale. When he lands, you can visit the American Airpower Museum, ride old-fashioned amusement park rides at Adventureland, hike the Adventure Park at Long Island, or grab a drink at the Barrage Brewing Company.

Father’s Day with young children may not be filled with “R&R,” but it can be the perfect excuse to skip the honey-do list for the weekend and spend it cooking up new memories, at play with his #1 fans.

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

10 Fun Things to do on Mother’s Day 2017 with the Kids in NYC

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Moms deserve to be celebrated every day, but if there’s one day that demands it- it’s Mother’s Day. With the big day fast approaching, the pressure is on to make the perfect plan. New York City is a vast playground, so we’ve narrowed down a few of the best options that go beyond the standard brunch.

 

  1. Go where the wild things are. The Central Park Zoo is hosting a family-friendly party for mothers and children ages 2-10 on May 14th. Meet zoo animal moms and babies, enjoy tasty treats, make Mom a special gift, and go on a scavenger hunt.

 

  1. Set sail. Sail out of Port 40 on a relaxing two-hour Hudson River cruise that includes a brunch buffet and dessert station, coffee, tea, “free-flowing” Mimosas and Sangria, and a live jazz band. Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Governors Island, and the Manhattan skyline.

 

  1. Explore the city on a scavenger hunt. If “relax” isn’t really in your family’s vocabulary, you may love a Mother’s Day Scavenger Hunt. This three-hour event starts at Slattery’s Midtown Pub (8 East 36th Street) and leads you around the city with the ScanQuest app. It’s a fun, interactive journey that will challenge your party mentally and physically. Winners receive a NYC gift package.

 

  1. Create a work of art. Mother’s Day is the perfect excuse to visit the Children’s Museum of the Arts in SoHo. Moms enjoy free admission to watch their young artists create upcycled picture frames, painted portraits, spiky sculptures, tie-dye tissue paper composites, clay farm animals, dot marker cards, and more.

 

  1. Get your fill of thrills at Coney Island. Though the beach is closed, everything else is open – the restored B&B carousel and rides at Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel, the New York Aquarium, and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow (which offers kid-friendly attractions during the day). Grab a hotdogs at Nathan’s and ice cream at Coney’s Cones to enjoy the simple pleasures in life with the ones you love most.

 

  1. Have a picnic in Central Park. Picnics can be easy with pre-made picnic boxes by Perfect Picnic NYC, Picnic in the Park, or Chelsea Market. Park your clan anywhere in Sheep Meadow, Strawberry Fields, or the Pond and enjoy one of Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks.

 

  1. Enjoy nature at Wave Hill. The brunch always sells out quickly, but you can always bring a picnic lunch or reserve a basket from The Café. Wave Hill offers bird watching, open-air yoga classes, crafts at the Family Art Project, jewelry shopping, and a Family Nature Walk.

 

  1. Stop and smell the lilacs. This year, the New York Botanical Garden’s Mother’s Day Garden Party will show off the newly reopened Lilac Collection. You can watch dancers perform on the Daffodil Hill stage, play a game of Giant Chess, putt a few rounds of croquet on the green, take a guided walking tour, get professional photographs taken, and take the kids to the craft room to make homemade watercolor cards. Picnic brunch is also available by reservation.

 

  1. Roadtrip! Less than two hours from NYC is kid-favorite, Rocking Horse Ranch, an all-inclusive Hudson Valley resort that offers an indoor waterpark and an abundance of organized family activities. Other activities include horseback riding, miniature golf, bowling, ping-pong, archery, rock climbing, and more! Ask about their Mother’s Day weekend promotion where kids are 50% off.

 

  1. Spice things up with a private cooking class. Freshmade NYC teaches knife skills, kitchen safety, and how to prepare delicious, easy recipes. Book a private one-on-one cooking session with a chef or create your own cooking class if you have at least four children in your group. Recipes cover a wide range of different flavors, with items like: sweet and savory crepes, mini sweet potato and kale lasagnas, BBQ chicken-apple pizzas, wild salmon burgers, and baked falafel, to name a few. Family cooking classes are suitable for kids ages 2 to teen.

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Making 2017 The Thank You Year

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As I reflect on 2016 — its crazy turns, speed bumps that turned out to be potholes and the unexpected dead ends — I am truly thankful. I’m thankful for my love, my home, my job, and for quiet Sunday afternoons when I get to write about my childhood, new and old picture books, and admire the creativity in kids. I am thankful for this open, magical and welcoming space right here. And I plan on taking these feelings of gratitude with me as I start my journey into 2017.

imagesI can’t think of a better way to say goodbye to 2016 than by saying a proper farewell to some chums, Gerald and Piggie. I know. Say it ain’t so?! It’s sad but true. The 25th and final book in Mo Willems’ “Elephant & Piggie” series came to an end this year with “The Thank You Book.”

For one last time, the comedy team of Gerald the Elephant and Piggie’s spirited banter is in full bloom as Piggie thinks, “I am one lucky pig.” And decides to “get thanking.” This peaks Gerald interest as he glumly tells her he’s sure she’ll forget someone. But Piggie won’t have it. She grits her teeth and replies, “I. Will. Thank. EVERYONE. It will be a THANK-O-RAMA!”

In true Willems fashion, the parade starts as he brings back every character who has ever made an appearance in an Elephant & Piggie book.

Piggie thanks the Squirrels for their great ideas, Snake for playing ball, and the Pigeon “for never giving up,” while adding “sorry you do not get to be in our books.” Of course fans know the mischievous bird photo bombs the endpapers of all the Elephant & Piggie books. So he slyly replies, “That is what you think.”

Piggie thanks, thanks, thanks! She is a “thanking machine!” She continues to thank the Whale, the Ice Cream Penguin, Doctor Cat, and Brian Bat. But Gerald continues to interject that she’ll forget “someone VERY important.” It’s only when Piggie finally runs out of thanks that she gets it, and Gerald is straight up mad. “I goofed,” Piggie concedes before thanking Gerald.

But unfortunately it’s not Gerald whom Piggie forgot to thank! He reveals the “someone important” is…“Our reader.”
This is a fun and heartwarming, a family-reunion that perfectly brings an end to a beloved series. I don’t know about you, but I think Piggies is on to something! I’m going to start this New Year with a THANK-O-RAMA! I hope you do too.

By Claudia Chung for Shine

Giving Thanks & Saving Room for Dessert

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November may not be the warmest of months, but the sensation that fills us is incandescent. The foliage is radiant in reds, glowing in oranges and electric in yellows. The sky is saturated in rich blues and soft clouds. Without even thinking of the times we are about to share with our family, November fills our hearts with its striking beauty.

Well, now it’s about to fill our belly. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we all know what that means: trying every dish that was brought to the table so your quirky aunt doesn’t get mad and listing to your loud uncles argue about who’s better, the Jets or the Giants. Since this day is known for overindulgence, have a plan before you start. Hamptons Wellness on Wheels is here to give you tips on how to make your day healthier and your appreciation stronger.

Happy November and happy Thanksgiving!

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By Sara Colletti, Hamptons Wellness on Wheels

Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet, Give Me Something Good to Read!

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Shine’s Picture Book Picks for a Fun and Spooky Halloween

 

Ever since I learned that one day each year, I can knock on a stranger’s door, yell “Trick or Treat!” and get a candy bar, I’ve been all about Halloween. My costumes varied over the years, but throughout grade school, they all had one thing in common: they all featured the dead! A dead prom queen, the corpse of 50s girl, and a bride that never made it to her wedding because, well… she was dead.

I just didn’t understand the pretty fairies, princesses, or kitty cats that weren’t dead. I mean, after all, it was Halloween. Weren’t we all supposed to be spooky? I have a vague recollection of going to my best friend Grace’s house to go trick or treating together. When she came to the front door, I was stumped by her costume. Grace was dressed as a doctor. And not the psycho kind that used a butcher’s knife instead of a scalpel, but the kind you go see when you have a tummy ache. Me? I was dressed as a dead Checker Girl.

While she had on a pristine white coat, I was dressed like a checker-pattern wearing hobo. Grace had a stethoscope around her neck. I had fake blood down the sides of my mouth. She was wearing pretty make-up that accentuated her delicate features. I painted my entire face with black and white checkers that smeared with my fake blood. But that’s the beauty of Halloween—everyone interprets it differently. No matter what you chose to be, it’s a holiday that can be full of magic!

Here are Shine’s Picture Book Picks for a Fun and Spooky Halloween:

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Creepy Carrots By Aaron Reynolds, illus. by Peter Brown

This Caldecott award winning book does it all. A spot-on-parody of 50s classic horror films, Jasper Rabbit suspects mean and spooky carrots are following him. He hears the “Soft… sinister… tunktunktunk of carrots creeping.” This Hithchcock-esque story for the 4-to-8 set is a good read all year round. You may even want to add the Twilight Zone theme music to your readings to take it to the next level.

Miss Nelson Is Missing! By Harry Allard, illus. by James Marshall

My childhood favorite, this was my first mystery book. The kids in Room 207 were the worst behaved class in the whole school. They were rude and nasty and they didn’t pay any attention to their sweet-natured teacher Miss Nelson. Then one day, Miss Nelson does not come to school! In her place is the nasty, mean, foul-tempered witch Miss Viola Swamp. Uh-oh…

It was only after reading this charming book over and over and over again that I realized how the story unraveled. It was thrilling to be in on the secret.

The Dark By Lemony Snicket, illus. by Jon Klassen

A match made in heaven. Snicket and Klassen hit all the right notes on—what else?—the universal kids’ fear of the dark. Laszlo lives in a house with “a creaky roof, smooth, cold windows, and several sets of stairs.” There is darkness everywhere! With an uncharacteristic end, this is a good introduction to suspense storytelling and what it means to confront your worst fears.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? By Margaret McNamara, illus. by G. Brian Karas

If your families are not that keen on mysteries, thrillers or suspense, have no fear! How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin will do the trick. The smallest boy in the class, Charlie, has a teacher who presents the students with three pumpkins: small, medium and large. They predict how many seeds are in each one. Then the class does the messy but fun work of removing the seeds and counting the contents.

A sweet lesson intertwined with some good old fashion math, this pumpkin tale can easily come to life with real pumpkins and a little elbow grease.

The Monster At The End Of This Book by Jon Stone, illus. by Mike Smollin

I love Sesame Street in all kinds of ways. But I am afraid I am one of those teachers who steers clear from the overly saturated commercial characters—with the exception of one. The one and only truly successful Sesame Street book to touch the young hearts and minds of readers everywhere, Monster is a perfect Halloween book for fans of the Pigeon books by Mo Willems and for the younger set, 3 and up. It’s interactive, engaging and fun!

 

By Claudia Chung for Shine

Falling Into Healthy Habits

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Autumn is a time of change and as the leaves begin to fall we start to change our palates from summer time barbeque and sweet to more savory and hearty.  Besides our changing tastes we also change our behaviors.  The summer brings spontaneity and passion while the fall keeps us grounded as we search for new concepts and paths. Grounded: being fully present and aware of the now while staying balanced, centered, and aligned.

When it comes to lifestyle patterns in the summer, often we tend to lose sight of what is important.  With the excitement of sunshine and warmth we start to forget about what our bodies need and we focus on what our minds want. The fall gives us the chance to find or reinvent ourselves and maintain a grounded inner peace.  When choosing our nourishment we need to reach for those grounding foods. A delicious and nutritious vegetable is the beloved pumpkin. This seasonal symbol gives us to many options: carving, painting, toasting seeds, making soup, and so much more – all creating moments that are fulfilling to the soul while benefiting from incredible nutrients. Loaded with vitamins, minerals and proteins, let’s welcome this grounding vegetable back into our lives and kitchens.

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By Sara Colletti, Hamptons Wellness on Wheels

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