How Different Cultures Celebrate December Holidays

December 7, 2019/in Celebrate, Guide, Learn, Party/by Shine

When the ground freezes and the earth is covered in a blanket of snow, we tend to think of hibernation, rest, and quietude. Busy cultural calendars around the world stand in juxtaposition, as the colder months prove a time of feast and festivity. Learning about other traditions around the world is an interesting lesson in history, religion, and culture, but also an important opportunity to promote greater tolerance, acceptance, and celebration of diversity. Here are 10 different December holidays you may introduce to your child to provoke discussion and reflection of the winter season.

St. Nicholas Day (December 6, 2019)

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in Eastern Christian religions — particularly in Russia and Greece, where Saint Nicholas is the patron saint. The Roman Empire bishop is known for generosity, kindness toward children, calming the seas, and performing miracles. The feast day is celebrated with children’s masses, special hymns, and prayer. In Western and Central European countries like Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and the Netherlands — where children put out a boot for St. Nicholas on December 5^th in hopes of receiving small coins, candy, oranges, toys, or glass ornaments in the morning. Historical recordings dating back to medieval times allege that nuns used the night of December 6^th to distribute anonymous baskets of food and clothing at the doorsteps of the needy.

St. Lucia Day (December 13, 2019)

St. Lucia’s Day is celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and Swedish-speaking parts of Finland to honor the third-century virgin martyr. She is recognized as a symbol of light and purity, so the eldest daughter of the family dresses up in a long white gown with a red sash and wreath of burning candles on her head. She awakens the family by singing songs and bringing them coffee and twisted saffron buns called lussekatter (Lucia cats). Finland celebrates the day with a torchbearer parade of light. Norwegians hold processions through schools, hospitals, nursing homes, daycares, and senior centers to warm the heart and celebrate emergence out of the darkest winter nights.

Winter Solstice (December 21, 2019)

Winter Solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years by cultures all around the world. The shortest day of the year may have been observed as early as the Neolithic Period (the end of the Stone Age) in 10,200 BC. Archaeologists theorize monuments like Newgrange in Ireland, Maeshowe in Scotland, and Stonehenge in England were a place of December ritual. Today, there are large gatherings at these sites. Ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a weeklong holiday of feasting and drinking in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Norsemen of Scandinavia celebrated Yule from the winter solstice through January, where they would feast until a large Yule log burned out. Zuni and Hopi Native American tribes commemorate the beginning of the new year with ceremonial mask dances, fires, and gift-giving. From hot yuzu fruit baths in Japan, to the “Burning of Clocks” in Brighton, England, Winter Solstice is celebrated in different ways around the world.

Hanukkah (December 22-30, 2019)

Jewish people around the world celebrate Hanukkah, a religious holiday honoring the Maccabee’s victory over King Antiochus, who forbade Jews from practicing their religion. During the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the menorah’s candles were said to have miraculously burned for eight nights, even though there was only enough oil for a single day. Today, nine menorah candles are lit in the home for eight nights. During Hanukkah, blessings are said, special foods like potato pancakes (latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are eaten, songs are sung, and children spin tops called dreidels to win nuts, raisins, and chocolate coins. Holidays like Passover and Rosh Hashanah are much more significant to the religion, but Hanukkah is special to many families as a cherished winter tradition nonetheless.

Christmas (December 25, 2019)

Christmas originated as a religious holiday celebrated by Christians around the world to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God. Religious celebrations involve candle-lit wreaths to represent the four weeks of Advent, songs like “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” readings of Christmas stories in the Bible, the display of Nativity Scenes, and December 24^th Midnight mass in darkness to celebrate the birth of light. Over the years, Christmas has been adopted by non-Christian peoples as a secular holiday of gift-giving, decorating, caroling, storytelling, and feasting. Traditions vary around the world. Evergreen trees decorated with ornaments and lights date back to 16^thCentury Germany. In Australia, where Christmas falls during summer, people head out to the beach and decorate a Christmas Bush. Depictions of Father Christmas or Santa Claus, based loosely on Saint Nicholas, go back at least as far as the reign of Henry VIII, where he appeared in plays wearing fur-lined green or red robes to deliver peace, joy, food, wine, and good cheer. Some say Santa arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer to deliver gifts to good girls and boys, but he arrives by boat in Hawaii and on water skis in Australia. Instead of leaving milk and cookies out for Santa Claus, children in England leave mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas. Iceland has thirteen Santas known as Yule Lads who leave small gifts for good children in shoes left on the window sill, and potatoes in the shoes of naughty children. From lantern festivals in the Philippines and Kentucky Fried Chicken dinners in Japan, to 42-foot-tall straw yule goats in Sweden and late night fireworks in Brazil, there is no shortage of ways to observe Christmas around the world.

Kwanzaa (December 26, 2019 – January 1, 2020)

Kwanzaa is a relatively young holiday created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 following the Watts riots in Los Angeles. He wanted to reconnect African Americans to African culture roots, borrowing traditions from Swahili “first fruit” harvest celebrations. Celebrations include song, dance, drumming, storytelling, poetry reading, and feasts. On each of the seven nights, a child lights a candle on the Kinara to represent the seven principle values of African culture: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Though it is celebrated mostly in America, more than 20 million people now celebrate the holiday from Jamaica, London, and South Africa, to Ghana, Toronto, and Paris — as seen in the documentary “The Black Candle.”

Boxing Day (December 26, 2019)

The observation of Boxing Day originated in the United Kingdom during the Middle Ages as a day where the church collection boxes for the poor were distributed to communities. Servants were given the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families. Boxing Day is now a public holiday in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where mail carriers and trade professionals enjoy a day of rest. For retail workers, Boxing Day is the busiest shopping day of the year, due to post-Christmas sales. In Ireland, they celebrate St. Stephen’s Day. In the Bahamas, the Junkanoo street parade and festival is held on Boxing Day. Not only is it a popular day of continued celebration and shopping, but also sport – with horse races, soccer matches, and ice hockey contests in European nations.

Ōmisoka (December 31, 2019)

Japan’s New Year’s Eve called Ōmisoka is considered one of the most important days of the year. Families visit shrines or temples at midnight for joya-no-kane, the striking of large cast bells for each of the 108 earthly desires that cause human suffering. Families gather to enjoy a feast of soba or udon noodles for one last time in the old year. Homes are cleaned and de-cluttered from top to bottom in osoji (the big cleaning). Many people also look forward to the national broadcast of the Red vs. White Singing Competition, which is akin to our “American Idol” competition.

Hogmanay (December 31, 2019)

During the Protestant Reformation, Christmas was banned in Scotland for some 400 years, so prior to 1958, the biggest winter holiday was Hogmanay, which started on December 31^stand spilled over into the New Year. Families gathered for bonfires, large feasts, and the cleaning out of the fireplace. Many people still recognize the ancient tradition of “first-footing,” where it is believed the household is presented with good fortune when the first person to cross the threshold is a dark-haired male. (In those days, a red or blonde-haired stranger was probably an invading Norseman!) Different parts of Scotland have their own quaint Hogmanay traditions as well. For instance, Edinburgh is home to a huge street party and torchlight processions; balls of fire swing through the fishing village of Stonehaven; and fancy-dressed partiers swim in the icy waters of Firth of Forth at South Queensferry in what is called “the Loony Dook.”

New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2019)

“Out with the old and in with the new” is the idea behind the celebration of New Year’s Eve. Since New Year’s Day is a public holiday, the night before is spent feasting, partying, and ringing in the New Year at midnight. Most countries celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks – with the largest displays in New York’s Times Square; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; London, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Dubai, UAE. In Spain, 12 grapes are eaten at midnight to represent each month of the New Year. In Denmark, old plates and glasses are broken against the doors of friends and family to banish bad spirits. In Columbia, three “fortune-telling” potatoes are placed under the bed and pulled out at midnight – one peeled (financial problems), one unpeeled (abundance), and one half-peeled (something in between). In Ecuador, families symbolically burn a straw man at midnight in hopes that their faults with disappear with him. In Canada, New Year’s Eve is a popular ice-fishing day.

No matter what you’re celebrating this holiday season, you can find a place at Shine. We foster natural curiosity about cultures from around the world through crafts, storytelling, music, and culinary delights. Contact us to learn more about our wide range of inclusive workshops, classes, parties, and enrichment activities.

6 Best Fall Foliage Hikes for East End Families

October 15, 2019/in Celebrate, Fun, Guide, Learn/by Shine

“Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn,” said Garden Designer and Writer Elizabeth Lawrence. We agree that autumn is a blissful time, where trees burst with dying beauty and blaze like torches, lighting the way to winter – but we disagree that you have to “sit still” to partake in all the glory of the year’s grand finale.

Philosopher Henry David Thoreau tells us, “An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” Gathering our families up for a fall foliage hike is a treasured tradition for us here in the East End. Create warm family memories, enjoying an active, bright, clear weekend at one of these East End New York City hidden gems.

Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge

(2595 Noyack Road, Sag Harbor)

This wildlife haven sits on a 187-acre peninsula overlooking Noyack and Little Peconic bays. Birdwatchers delight in autumnal migrations of double-crested cormorants, horned grebes, beach sanderlings, common loons, Forster’s and arctic terns, and turkeys. Cold-stunned loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley turtles wash ashore to warm up on their way south for the winter. The endangered osprey boasts a commanding presence at Morton, with at least two nesting pairs active in the area for three decades. Sharp-eyed tots may even spot resident eastern chipmunks, eastern cottontail rabbits, gray squirrels, red fox, or white-tailed deer.

Laurel Lake Park and Preserve

(5501 NY-25, Laurel)

The preservation of Laurel Lake is part of the Peconic Land Trust, dedicated to maintaining the natural beauty of 480 acres of land, including 14 miles of well-groomed trails clearly marked for your family to follow. A winding two-mile loop trail will take you up and down changing topography through towering cedars, oaks, dogwood, and laurels around the lake. Don’t forget to pack a picnic to enjoy at the scenic lakeside picnic tables. A playground adds to the fun for your youngsters.

Mashomack Preserve

(79 S Ferry Rd, Shelter Island)

Choose from five flat trails amid over 2,000 acres of mature oak woodlands, freshwater marshes, floral fields, and tidal creeks. The accessible trails range from one or 1.5 miles to three, six, and 12 mile loops. The trails and visitor’s center are open every day (except Tuesdays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but we especially recommend “Souper Sunday,” which feature a guided six-mile green trail hike to Bass Creek Cottage for homemade soup, or “Nature’s Halloween Trail,” which offers friendly costumed characters and light refreshments.

Ogdens Brook Trail

(50 South Fairview Avenue, Montauk)

Ogdens Brook Trail is a section of the 125-mile long Pamanok Path inside Montauk Point State Park that follows Montauk’s famous Oyster Pond. This easy 1.5 miles of unpaved road conveniently starts at the parking area, continuing over a stream footbridge, through the wetlands, and into a maritime forest of undisturbed beech, black tupelo, red maple, and shadbush. Cool sights along the way include a lighthouse and abandoned military bunkers. Later in the season, harbor seals can be seen on the coastal rocks down the yellow-marked “seal haul-out” trail.

Quogue Wildlife Refuge

(3 Old Country Road, Quogue)

The 300-acre Quogue Wildlife Refuge is a favorite for kids, as the Outdoor Wildlife Complex houses injured bald eagles, owls, falcons, red fox, chinchillas, bearded dragon lizards, tortoises, and other New York native species. The Charles Banks Belt Nature Center offers additional wildlife exhibits, a nature library, touch table, children’s room, gift shop, and the best views of Old Ice Pond. Seven miles of walking trails take you through diverse habitats – bogs, fields, Pine Barrens, tidal estuaries, and wetlands. The main trail is not only scenic, but stroller-friendly, too. For $10, you can make a reservation for their annual “Enchanted Forest Trail” walk, taking place at noon on October 26^th or 27th, featuring games, activities, and costumed characters.

Sears Bellows County Park

(63 Bellows Pond Road, Hampton Bays)

Sears Bellows takes you through clearly marked trails of 979-acre parkland, suitable for beginners. The easiest trail is the one-mile, stroller-friendly jaunt around Bellows Pond, but there are paths to continue on along Sears Pond. A fun playground overlooking the water is a great place to park for an extended lunch break. Older kids may enjoy fishing for bass, bluegill, pickerel, or perch.

Pro Tip: We keep an eye on the I Love NY Fall Foliage Report to determine the best timing. (As of early October, we’re at about 15% color change, with an explosion of color expected in the coming weeks.)

Love the fall season? So do we! Join our team of educators in one of our fall classes for seasonal crafting, cooking, traveling, and learning opportunities aplenty. We have something for everyone ages six months to 10 years!

Mind/Body Wellness Activities For Kids 4-10

September 30, 2019/in Guide, Learn/by Shine

Parents share many of the same concerns and goals for their children. We all worry about the effect of screen time and the pressures of school. We all hope to encourage adequate nutrition and exercise. We hope that our children will grow to become kind, happy, strong, healthy, and self-assured. Mind/body wellness is a growing area of child research that seeks to improve physical health through the reduction of mental stress. By the same token, taking care of the body can have a tremendous impact on mood and overall happiness. If you’re wondering where to get started on developing your child’s mind/body wellness connection, try one of the following activities.

Self-Defense Training

Interest in martial arts is at an all-time high. Youth programs start as young as three or four. Parents see it as the ideal supplemental education for their kids, as it combines traditional fitness movements with situational awareness and role playing. Students aren’t learning “how to fight” so much as they’re learning how to sense danger, use their own strength, make coordinated movements, and build up discipline. As Jiu-Jitsu Grand Master Rorion Gracie put it: “Self-defense is not just a set of techniques; it’s a state of mind and it begins with the belief that you are worth defending.”

Juggling

A study published in the journal Nature found that just three months of learning to juggle increased the volume and density of gray matter in the brain’s mid-temporal area and the posterior intraparietal sulcus. Individuals must keep practicing to keep the increased muscle mass, but changes in this area can produce improvements in memory, the use of language, and sensorimotor function. Juggler Chet Pope explained, “It has totally changed my life. It has helped me to be mindful in the things that I do, and no matter how many times that I fail at something, I can always pick myself up, or the ball, and try again.”

Yoga

Yoga is the perfect place to start for children ages 4-10. A growing body of research suggests yoga can decrease anxiety, curb impulsive behavior, boost attentiveness, and improve executive functioning associated with decision making. For the younger kids, the emphasis is on feeling the body move, reaching the arms and legs, balancing on one foot, and participating in fun energy flow games. Songs, mantras, and chants help reinforce the learning. As the kids get older, attention shifts to improving the quality of movement, maintaining good posture, and using visualization to create a calm, relaxed state.

Meditation

Mindful meditation teaches kids to connect to themselves, which is critical for connecting with others and their communities at large. The research on meditation benefits for elementary school age children is robust. One study found that kids who learned mindful awareness practices had better executive function after just eight weeks. Another study found that mindful yoga meditations helped kids self-regulate their emotions over the course of a year. Children with ADHD who participated in meditation twice a week with their parents had better concentration at school. A similar study focusing on ADHD boys found that eight weeks of mindfulness training significantly reduced hyperactive behaviors. Mindfulness helps kids reduce anxiety and boost memory function during high stakes testing. A school in California found that adding a half hour of meditation into the day improved attendance and grades, reduced suspensions, and led to a happier student body. Green Child Magazineoffers a number of delightful meditation scripts you can try with your kids at home.

Social-Emotional Learning Activities

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) recommends focusing on five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills. There are countless ways to build up these areas, from reading books and reflective writing assignments to class service projects and games like musical chairs. Social-Emotional Learning is part of every NYC school curriculum, but it is important to promote these core competencies in extracurricular activities and home life outside school to reinforce them.

Foster Your Child’s Total Mind-Body Wellness With Enrichment Classes

If you live in the New York City area, contact Shine to enroll your four to 10-year-old in our new “I, Shine” program. This signature class combines yoga, self-defense training, and social-emotional learning activities geared toward total mind/body wellness. Our classes are not based around any particular spiritual philosophy; we welcome children from all religious denominations. Children will learn helpful self-regulation techniques, improve their social skills, develop their independence, and gain self-confidence. These classes are taught by certified special education teacher Elizabeth Chavez.

7 Hidden Gems in the Hamptons

September 12, 2019/in Fun, Guide, Learn, Party, Play/by Shine

Whether you live in the East End or you’re looking to get out of Manhattan for a day, the Hamptons provide a wealth of environmental treasures for families. These destinations evoke a sense of wonder, awe, and imagination in young and old alike. Shine play groups meet at some of these locations on a weekly basis, while others we visit for special events, parties, and workshops. With the Indian summers we’ve been having, autumn is the perfect season to get out and explore some of these hidden gems at a time when the crowds are thin.

LongHouse Reserve

Stroll this 16-acre sculpture garden to find a giant chess board designed by Yoko Ono, a beautiful pond with lotus plants and frogs on lily pads, and Buckminster Fuller’s iconic “Fly’s Eye Dome,” designed with water collection systems and solar panels as a “self-sufficient home of the future.” Kids delight in the maze-like layout, while embarking upon a scavenger hunt for the unique and captivating. All ages are welcome, but the ideal age is six and up, as they are less likely to climb on the sculptures, shout at the top of their lungs, or be tempted to play hide-and-seek.

Visit: 133 Hands Creek Road, East Hampton, 613-604-5330, www.longhouse.org

Bridge Gardens

Part of the Peconic Land Trust, designed to preserve Long Island’s working farms and natural lands, the five acres of Bridge Gardens offer the perfect respite from City life for birdwatching, painting, photography, and nature study in the heart of Bridgehampton. The land boasts a collection of perennial and annual beds, as well as hedgerows and herb gardens. The garden hosts many educational and family-friendly events in partnership with Shine and the local children’s museum.

Visit: 36 Mitchell Lane, Bridgehampton, 631-537-7440, www.peconiclandtrust.org

Children’s Museum of the East End

Parents and children alike will enjoy the magic of this interactive play center geared toward ages 2-7. The town-like setting takes families through a farmers’ market, a windmill, a potato chip factory, a 1950s diner, a library, a fire station, a construction site, a pirate shipwreck, and a musical forest. Active children will delight in the wooden climbing structures, soft foam areas, and slides. Keep an eye out for classes, workshops, and special performances throughout the year.

Visit: 376 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, 631-537-8250, www.cmee.org

Amber Waves Farm

Amber Waves was founded in 2009 to produce healthy, organic food for the local community such as wheat, popcorn, and over 300 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and cutting flowers. You’ll also see dozens of chickens running about. Guided tours, pizza-making workshops, story hours, toddler play groups, and a hands-on Farm Club program are all part of the family-oriented experience.

Visit: 367 Main Street, Amagansett, 631-267-5664, www.amberwavefarms.org

Madoo Conservancy

Madoo is an enchanting oasis – from the pruned boxwood and grove of ginkgos of the central walkway and the Chinese bridge overlooking a pond, to the blue wrought-iron gated gardens and the fairytale cottages with yellow doors. With free admission, there’s really no excuse to miss out on this local landmark and tribute to artist/gardener Robert Dash. Children’s programming includes storytelling in the gardens from 10-11 am on Monday mornings through October 7^th. During the summer months, they offer an art program based on East End painters for kids ages 5-8.

Visit: 618 Sagg Main Street, Sagaponack, 631-537-8200, www.madoo.org

Nova’s Ark

Artist Nova Mihai Popa hoped the enormous sculptures set on the 95 acres of Nova’s Ark would “reflect the spirit and knowledge all around us.” One can’t help but be impressed by the bronze-colored structures reaching over five stories high. While you’re there, stop by to see the resident grazing sheep and the majestic horses boarded at Big Sky Ranch. The Ark serves as a great introduction to unique architectural styles, with the Elliptical House (designed to have a small ecological footprint), the Castle Barn celebration center (renovated from an old dairy barn), and the Cities of the Future (cosmic brick homes that can be easily replicated in factories).

Visit: 60 Millstone Road, Water Mill, 631-537-0061, www.thearkproject.com

Wölffer Estate Winery

This vineyard is assuredly kid-friendly. Co-owner Joey Wölffer explains, “There is nothing better than having my daughters at the Wine Stand with me on Friday and Saturday nights. Kids love to run around and play together, and it’s a great place to bring the family.” Across the road from the main vineyard, music starts at 5:00 pm and runs through the end of September. Bring blankets and chairs to enjoy a sunset picnics with wines by the bottle and glass, cheese and charcuterie platters, as well as beverages and snack boxes with raisins, string cheese, and Goldfish crackers available for the kids. During the summer months, Wölffer runs a pony camp for kids. (Nearby Channing Daughters winery is another one of our kid-friendly favorites.)

Visit: 3312 Montauk Highway, Sagaponack, 631-537-5106, www.wolffer.com

Fun Summer Science Experiments For Ages 4-10

July 29, 2019/in Fun, Guide, Learn, Play/by Jason Manuel

Now that summer is in full swing, we don’t have to tell you twice: this season is a hot mess! From water puddles out of the pool and dripping Popsicles, to digging in the garden and gooey marshmallows around the campfire, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy life to its filthy fullest. The kids are home from school and the days are longer, so it’s the perfect time to get outside with science projects that are both educational and fun.

Learn About Chemical Reactions with…

Ice Volcanoes

What You’ll Need: Baking soda, water, vinegar, food coloring, small bowls, golf balls, and plastic wrap.

Step by Step:

Place a golf ball into the bottom of a small bowl.
Place plastic wrap over the top of the ball and over the edge of the bowl.
Fill the bowls with a third baking soda, two thirds water, covering the ball completely.
Add food coloring.
Place in the freezer to solidify.
Once they’re frozen, thaw them until you can pull the plastic wrap off and pry out the golf ball with a butter knife.
Add a squirt of vinegar, with a medicine dropper if you have one, to watch them explode.

Why: The volcano is a classic science experiment, but with this version, kids not only love watching the eruption, but also playing with the melting creation. It’s as fun for a 4-year-old as it is for a 10-year old.

Tips: Use skin-safe bath bomb soap dye to avoid staining little hands. You can do this activity along with reading the National Geographic book on volcanoes to make it more educational for older kids.

Learn About Super Saturation with…

DIY Rock Candy

What You’ll Need: A wood skewer, glass jar, large saucepan, clothespins, 3 cups of sugar, 1 cup of water, food coloring, and candy flavoring. (To scale up and make a variety of colors, you can use 30 cups of sugar and 10 cups of water, keeping a 3:1 ratio per jar.)

Step by Step:

Combine equal parts sugar and water into a saucepan over low, heating until all sugar dissolves.
Slowly add more sugar, stirring until the water looks cloudy and no more sugar will dissolve.
Add candy flavoring if desired, heating to a low simmer.
Remove the sugar-water from the heat and cool completely.
Dip skewers into water and roll them in sugar. You may need to cut long skewers to fit the jar.
Pour the cooled sugar-water into the jars, using one jar for each color of rock candy.
Place a dried stick into each jar, using a horizontal clothespin to hold the stick in the middle.
You should note growth after one day. Wait about a week for a sizable candy worthy of eating.
Let the candies dry on a clean, cool surface before devouring.

Why: We’d be lying if we didn’t confess the best part of this experiment is eating the candy! Edible science is pretty exciting for empowered kids big and small. In this case, you’ll see how an overabundance of solute (a.k.a. the sugar) is unable to dissolve into liquid. Over time, the liquid water evaporates, leaving behind a super-saturated solution, with seed crystals forming and molecules expanding. A finished piece of rock candy has about a quadrillion molecules in it, which is pretty mind-boggling!

Tips: It is imperative that the sugar skewers have completely dried in order for the crystals to grow off it and not dissolve in the water. It is also important to make sure the sticks do not touch the bottom or sides of the jar, hence the clothespin. You can grow your rock candy longer than a week if desired.

Learn About Density and Polarity with…

A Homemade Lava Lamp

What You’ll Need: A bottle, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, and Alka-Seltzer.

Step by Step:

Fill three-quarters of the bottle with vegetable oil.
Fill the rest with water, which will sink to the bottom.
Add a few drops of food coloring, which will also sink to the bottom.
Break an Alka-seltzer tablet into a few small pieces and add them to the bottle one at a time.
As the reaction slows, add more Alka-seltzer.

Why: Kids love the mesmerizing activity of lava lamps, and it’s even cooler to make one. The lava lamp works using two scientific principles – density and polarity. Density, the measure of mass over volume, is evident once you add the tightly-packed water molecules to the mix. Polarity prevents the oil and water from mixing together. two hydrogen atoms side of a water molecule is positively charged, while the oxygen end is negatively charged. Like a magnet, the positive end of a water molecule will connect with the negative end of other molecules – except that oil molecules are non-polar, lacking a positive OR negative charge. For this reason, oil and water do not mix.

Tips: If you don’t have Alka-seltzer, you can also try filling a jar with water and adding 1/3 cup vegetable oil, food coloring, and kosher salt.

If you want your children to develop a healthy interest in science early-on, but don’t necessarily want the mess at your house, you can sign up for one of Shine’s classes, workshops, summer camps, or parties. We incorporate science, art, education, and fun into an unforgettable, interactive experience your kids won’t soon forget. Contact us for details on programs we’re running in NYC and the Hamptons.

How Gardening Grows Your Child’s Mind, Body, and Soul

May 21, 2019/in Guide, Learn/by Shine

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
– Cicero, Roman statesman

“Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden?”
– Robert Brault, American author

“Let them once get in touch with nature, and a habit is formed, which will be a source of delight through life.”
– Charlotte Mason, English educator

A garden is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. Your time is another. This summer, dig down into the dirt with your children to find countless benefits for the mind, body, and soul. Whether you have a backyard filled with raised beds, a sunny patch out front, a few patio containers, or a community garden, the advantages are all the same.

How Gardening Benefits the BRAIN

Garden food ensures your kids get brain-boosting vitamins and minerals. According to Harvard researchers, the best foods for the brain include easy-to-grow leafy greens (kale, spinach, collards, broccoli), as well as berries (strawberries and blueberries).
Being out in the sunshine boosts the body’s vitamin D. One study found 67% of children had insufficient levels of Vitamin D. Deficiency in this area has been linked with mood disorders, behavioral problems, and psychological difficulties that persist into adulthood. Just 10-30 minutes of sunlight a day is all your kids need!
Soil mycobacterium reduces depression. Multiple studies found that harmless mycobacterium found in soil can double as an antidepressant by triggering the body’s natural release of serotonin. Beyond that, the feeling of self-satisfaction and accomplishment that follows harvest time is priceless for a little one’s emotional health.
The act of gardening reduces stress. Kids stress about changing schedules, inability to complete tasks independently, limitations to their freedom, demands placed on them by school, fitting in with social peers, parental fighting, and a glut of other issues. Dutch researchers found that just 30 minutes of digging reduces the level of the body’s notorious stress hormone, cortisol. They compared the results of the gardening group to a group of readers and found that “positive mood was fully restored after gardening” — but not with reading.
Gardening is science in action. There’s so much science happening before our eyes in the garden. Ask your kids questions like, “What three things do plants need to grow? How does the plant drink water? Why are worms good for the plants? Do you know what photosynthesis is?” Examine the parts of plants with a microscope or magnifying glass, and talk about identifying which plants are beneficial, and which can be dangerous to people.
Math and gardening go hand-in-hand. Incorporate math concepts by measuring depth, distance between plants, and how much they’re growing each week. Add in art by taking pictures of the plants from week to week and turning it into a “plant journal” or garden scrapbook. Supplement your experience with trips to the botanical gardens. Shapes, symmetry, problem-solving – these are all concepts to be explored in your garden.

How Gardening Benefits the BODY

Kids who garden snack healthier. One study found young gardeners exhibited a preference for choosing fruits and vegetables at snack time.
Gardeners eat healthier as adults. Another study found that households participating in gardening ate 40 percent more fresh produce per day, and were 3.5 times more likely to achieve the recommended five servings.
The garden builds immunity. Professor, Author, and Germ Expert Jack Gilbert says the exposure to garden microbes stimulates and strengthens young immune systems. In his 2016 study, he found Amish children who grew up on farms had asthma at half the rate of the national average.
Gardening improves physical activity levels, as well as nutrition. After the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service added an after-school gardening program for grades K-8, they found the percentage of kids who ate fruit and vegetables every day increased from 21 to 56%, and the number of kids who were physically active every day increased from 51 to 79%. Gardening is one way to curb childhood obesity, as kids can burn over 300 calories an hour stooping, standing, kneeling, watering, and weeding.
Heavy work improves motor skills. Lifting heavy watering cans or digging with a shovel gives kids the chance to demonstrate their strength, while pushing a child-sized wheelbarrow or crouching down low to plant improves balance. These activities that use the big muscles of the arms, legs, and torso hone gross motor skills –which, in turn, improves posture, strength, endurance, and coordination. Grasping a trowel or rake, as well as pinching seeds or weeds, improves fine motor skills used in writing and cutting with scissors.

How Gardening Benefits the SOUL

Gardening breeds empathy and improves relationships. A 2017 research paper suggests that being close to nature evokes positive emotions. Outdoor activities like hiking, bird-watching, and gardening act as a tangible catalyst to happiness. Attachment to plants and animals in early childhood stimulates feelings of empathy, compassion, and connection with others. Kids (and adults) who are physically connected to their natural landscape have an increased sense of belonging, the authors indicate. Gardening as a household is a “relationship connector,” says Bonnie Lehman of Michigan State University. You’re solidifying relationships among family members with time spent together and creating loving, fond, stress-free memories.
Planting improves self-esteem. “Gardening helps make children feel more capable,” according to Dr. Wendy Matthews, a Mindprint Learning consultant. “It is wonderful for building a child’s sense of competence, as they engage in a real life activity that they might have previously seen as only for adults.” In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending a quarter of a million dollars to improve the self-esteem and environmental stewardship of teenagers by teaching them sustainable gardening.
Gardening is a mindfulness activity. Our children are not immune to the anxieties and stresses of life – a life that has become more digitized than ever before. Unplugging and focusing on the gentle tasks of gardening is a wonderful exercise in mindfulness. “When you are planting, watering, weeding and harvesting your senses are fully engaged in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and tactile sensations of your garden,” explains psychic medium James Van Praagh, adding: “Gardening gives us time to connect with something tangible and real.”
Planting is cathartic, especially for kids with disabilities or health issues. “For patients who find themselves restricted by a disability, even the simplest gardening experience – such as growing a potted plant from a cutting – gives them a feeling of control,” Horticultural Therapist Teresia Hazen explains. She adds: “Gardening, more than most rehab activities, has the ability to be very distracting. Simply by taking people’s minds off their problems can alleviate pain and depression.”
Teach patience, sharing, responsibility, and communication. The family time spent together in the garden gives us the ideal time to teach the crucial life lessons that make our children better people. They need to be patient to wait for their seeds to go. They need to be responsible to water and weed their plants every day. They need to share garden tools with siblings, share the workload with others in the family, and put in their own effort for the benefit of the greater good. They learn to express their frustrations, their hopes, and their feelings in the moment. When it’s all said and done, they can literally taste the fruits of their persistence and hard work.

Ready, Set, Grow!

If you’re just getting started, try these easy plants that are suitable for the most impatient toddlers or try one of our Garden Project classes that combine art, science, and nature in compelling ways. If you’ve been a green thumb for years, you may find the following research added comfort that you’re digging down the right path.

Mother’s Day Keepsake Crafts Kids Can Make

May 7, 2019/in Celebrate, Fun, Guide, Learn, Make/by Shine

By mid-May our “spring cleaning” kick is in full swing – just in time for the kids to create toilet paper flower bouquets, construction paper tulip cards, and paper plate purses we simply can’t throw away. Instead, consider one of these more durable keepsake crafts you can do together or have a partner orchestrate.

Tile Coasters for the Coffee or Tea Loving Mom

For this craft, you’ll need 4.25 x 4.25 white ceramic tiles from the hardware store, ultra-fine black Sharpie markers, colored pencils, felt pads, acrylic sealer, and Modge Podge. A whole classroom can complete this craft for under $10.

Have the kids use this template or free-style their drawings on paper with the Sharpie and colored pencils.
Coat the tile with Modge Podge and stick the drawing on, aligning the top corners and smoothing downward.
After the paper dries, add a thin layer of Modge Podge over top.
Once the Modge Podge dries, spray with a sealant.
Glue circular felt pads onto the back corners to prevent scratching your tables.

Lady Bug Garden Rocks for the Green Thumb Mom

With the last frost having passed us on April 26^th, our gardens are ready for plants and decorations. If you don’t live near a natural creek, you can easily pick up rounded “river rocks” at home improvement stores, craft stores, garden centers, dollar stores, or online. You’ll also need colorful acrylic Patio Paint and Patio Paint Clear Coat to withstand the elements, paintbrushes, and a toothpick.

Wash and dry your rocks.
Add the colorful Patio Paint on the tops of the rocks. Don’t paint the bottoms if you want these with your plants.
Paint on a black head and allow time to dry.
Use the handle of the paintbrush to dot black spots onto the lady bug. Let it dry completely.
Use the handle of the paintbrush to make two white dots for the eyes. Let it dry completely.
Use the toothpick dipped in black paint to add black pupils to the eyes. Let it dry completely.
Paint the tops of the ladybugs with Patio Paint Clear Coat to seal. You can also use outdoor Modge Podge.

Older kids like the lady bugs. If your family’s unconventional, you could also make “glowing monster rocks,” which are fantastically spooky Halloween decorations. We also love this butterfly footprint flower pot as an easier alternative when working with babies and toddlers.

Marbled Clay Jewelry Dish for the Fashionable Mom

It’s hard to believe these clay jewelry dishes didn’t come from a store. All you’ll need is Sculpey Premo! Polymer Clay (which you can find at Michaels, Joanns, or online), a rolling pin, plastic knife, muffin pan, and a Krylon Gold Leafing Pen.

Break off pieces of different colors you’d like in your dish.
Roll a long thin piece of each color and twist them together.
Smoosh the clay in a ball, mixing it with your hands until you notice a marbling effect.
Roll the clay to ¼” thickness. If you don’t have a jar or craft rolling pin, try Sculpey’s Essential Tool Kit.
Cut the clay into a circle with a cookie cutter or glass bottle top – something that won’t touch food.
Turn a muffin pan upside-down and center the clay circle over a muffin spot.
Drape the clay down the sides and create a few tucks for rippled edges.
Bake the pan upside-down in the oven, according to the clay package directions (about 15 minutes at 275.)
Once your dish cools, remove it from the muffin pan and use the gold leafing pen to decorate the edges.
If you want a glossier finish, you can also paint the bowl with clear glaze.

Rock or Seashell Picture Frame for the Sentimental Mom

Do you have bags and bags of shells from your last trip to Florida, or “special rocks” found on your nature walks? What can you do with all of these treasures? One practical idea is to super-glue them onto a picture frame for a rustic look. You can also supplement with polished rocks from the Dollar Tree if you prefer a more uniform aesthetic. Otherwise, you’ll just need a cheap frame from the Dollar Store, paint, and super glue or hot glue.

Wash and dry your rocks or shells.
Remove the glass and backing to paint the frame. Dark gray, dark brown, or black work well.
Super glue or hot glue your rocks onto the frame, starting at the outside edges and working your way in.
After the glue has dried, add the backing and glass, along with your favorite photo or hand-drawn picture.

Thumbprint Serving Platter for the Culinary Goddess Mom

It seems one can never have enough serving platters for a special event. All you need for this craft is a rectangular white porcelain serving tray, non-toxic glass paint or dishwasher-safe multi-surface paint, a fine-tipped Sharpie, and a wet rag handy to correct wiggly finger mishaps.

Divide the plate based on how many family members you have – into fourths for a family of four. Place a tiny dot of paint where you want each fingerprint so the spacing is equal.
Place a small amount of paint on foil, wax paper, or a paint tray. Dip your child’s finger into the paint and press two prints to form a heart shape.
Use the damp rag to wipe off the print and start over if the shape doesn’t look quite right.
Write names under each fingerprint heart with the Sharpie. You can add a date and any other text you like, too.
To cure, let the project dry for an hour and place it in a cool oven. Once the temperature reaches 350 degrees, bake for 30 minutes. Wait 72 hours before using.

If your children love crafting, consider all that Shine has to offer families in the East End. Our enrichment programs are geared toward ages six months to 12 years. You can see some of our little ones making gifts and sharing what they love most about their moms in this video or contact us to learn more.

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Popsicles

April 21, 2019/in Fun, Guide, Learn, Make, Taste/by Shine

Inviting kids into the kitchen can be a fun, family-friendly experience where kids explore new foods and learn about nutrition and healthy food choices.

Start with simple recipes like these Dark Chocolate Raspberry Popsicles made with fresh fruit, coconut palm sugar, and dairy-free chocolate chips. A simple and delicious recipe the entire family can enjoy.

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Popsicles

Ingredients

½ can full fat coconut milk

1 cup frozen raspberries

½ banana

3 tablespoons coconut palm sugar

Dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

Add coconut milk, raspberries, banana, and coconut palm sugar into a blender and blend on high until smooth
Evenly distribute chocolate chips into the bottom of each popsicle mold
Pour raspberry mixture into each mold filling it to the top
Insert popsicle sticks and freeze, 4 hours or until solid
Gently remove frozen popsicles from mold, serve and enjoy.

By Karla Salinari for Shine

Join us on Saturday, May 11 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm for our next “Second Saturday” workshop at the Children’s Museum of the East End where we’ll be celebrating moms with our special guest Karla Salinari of FlipBox. We will be baking healthy treats for mom and creating some food-inspired art. To register or for more info, contact info@shinenyc.net or call 212.414.5427.

After the birth of her daughter, Carolina, Karla learned the importance of good nutrition. From a family of Miami-based and Puerto Rican food lovers, Karla began to “flip” recipes, replacing unhealthy ingredients with gluten-free, organic, and higher-quality ones.

Now based in Brooklyn, her weekly blog helps others do the same. One blog was so successful that Karla launched Flipbox, an organic, gluten-free, dye-free and healthier version of a cake-in-a-box. Each kit comes with an apron, mini spatula, and the dry ingredients needed to create a cake and frosting, but more importantly to spend quality time with your kids, enjoying healthy food.

Karla also runs baking parties and participates in Pop-Up events. When she’s not flipping recipes, Karla helps lead an Annual Woman’s Summit that promotes woman empowerment and networking. Karla also enjoys running, traveling with her daughter and husband, Joe, and exploring neighborhood restaurants.

Best Places To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in NYC

March 13, 2019/in Celebrate, Fun, Guide, Learn, Party/by Shine

Every March 17^th, various locations around the world commemorate the life and death of St. Patrick (385-461 AD) with feasts, parades, parties, and festivities. The Irish have observed this date for more than 1,000 years, but the holiday is also revered in America, Japan, Singapore, Russia, and other countries where Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutherans are found.

For New York City’s Irish, St. Patrick’s Day is about more than celebrating the man who once explained the Holy Trinity using a shamrock or “expelled the snakes” from Ireland. It’s about recognizing the struggle of Potato Famine immigrants in America and how they overcame stereotypes and racial prejudice to gain acceptance in the New World.

But, as the saying goes, “Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!” The food, music, dancing, and culture have much to offer revelers. Here are some of the more family-friendly events taking place around New York City this weekend.

NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Midtown, Manhattan

When: Saturday, March 16 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Where: Fifth Avenue, from 44^th Street to 79^th Street (ideally the calmer North End, with kids)

Cost: Free

While it’s not technically on St. Patrick’s Day itself, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention one of the “10 Best St. Patrick’s Day Events in the Country,” as Country Living calls it. The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Manhattan is not just the oldest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States (dating back to 1762); it’s also the first St. Patrick’s Day parade anywhere in the world. Today the NYC procession is still the biggest, with roughly 150,000 marchers and 2 million spectators. If you can’t make it, you can also stream the parade live on nbcnewyork.com.

Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Park Slope, Brooklyn

When: Sunday, March 17^th at 1:00 pm

Where: Prospect Park West and 15^th Street to Seventh Avenue and Garfield Place

Cost: Free

The first Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade was founded by Irish American Parade Committee members whose forefathers fought in the Battle of Brooklyn. Following a Re-dedication Ceremony for the victims of 9/11, the beloved local parade has enough bag-piping, step-dancing, decked-out dogs, and leprechauns for the whole family. Also of note: for the first time in the parade’s 44-year history, LGBTQ marchers will be included in the procession. If you can’t make it to this parade, you can also try Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 24^th.

Family Workshop at the Queens Museum

Flushing, Queens

When: Sunday, March 17^th from 1:30 – 4:30 pm

Where: Queens Museum, New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 11368

Cost: Free activity with admission ($8 adults, kids under 18 free)

Chase the rainbow and welcome spring with a gentle, holiday-appropriate activity. Families are invited to create rainbow suncatcher crafts together, while listening to fun stories about the natural spectrum of colors every hour starting at 1:30. All drop-in workshops are free and open to the public, with no need to register in advance.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Upper West Side, Manhattan

When: Sunday, March 17^th from 10:00 am – 4:45 pm

Where: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 W 83rd St, New York, NY 10024

Cost: Included with admission ($14 for adults and children over 1 year of age)

CMOM is hosting a variety of fun events for St. Patrick’s Day, including:

“Green Takeover” (All day) – Kids ages 6+ make art using the color green.
“Clover Green Mural Wall” (12:00 – 12:45 pm) – Kids under 6 finger-paint a clover green mural.
“Lucky Leprechaun Hats” (1:00 – 1:45 pm) – Kids under 6 make hats and learn about traditions.
“Jewelry Design Workshop” (2:00 – 2:45 pm & 3:00 – 3:45 pm) – Kids 6+ make felt and bead jewelry.

Due to limited space, sign-up is required for the jewelry-making class hosted by guest artist Kendra Pariseault. As always, CMOM provides five floors of fun and discovery for kids of all ages.

Sober St. Patrick’s Day

Lower Manhattan

When: Saturday, March 16^th from 4:00 – 7:00 pm

Where: St. Patrick’s Youth Center, 268 Mulberry Street

Cost: $10-$25

It’s no secret rowdy drinkers love St. Patrick’s Day. If you want to be sure your children aren’t exposed to bad behavior, you can head down to this family-friendly “sober” celebration. Here you’ll enjoy all the same classic Irish entertainment. This year’s attendance includes seven-time All-Ireland champion button accordion player John Whelan, five-time All-Ireland champion fiddler Brian Conway, the Donny Golden School of Irish Dancers, and a number of accomplished singers. Tickets to this popular event always sell-out in advance, so get yours today!

Taste Buds Kitchen

Chelsea, Manhattan

When: Sunday, March 17^th from 9:00 – 10:00 am

Where: Taste Buds Kitchen, 109 W. 27^th Street

Cost: $45 per parent/child pair

Want to bake with your child, but hate the mess in your kitchen? Taste Buds Kitchen is whipping up St. Patty’s Day Rainbow Cupcakes, with a tutorial geared toward little bakers ages five to eight and their parents. Learn the secret of perfect cupcake batter, practice your frosting skills, and enjoy an outing that is as delicious as it is colorful.

Merchant’s House Museum

NoHo, Manhattan

When: Sunday, March 17^th at 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm, or 3:30 pm

Where: Merchant’s House Museum, 29 E 4th St, New York, NY 10003

Cost: Included with admission ($15 adults, $10 for students, free for children under 12)

Older kids may appreciate a back-stairs tour of the only fully-preserved 19^th Century family home. Experience the Merchant’s House through the eyes of Irish immigrants who worked as domestic servants for the Tredwell family. The servant’s quarters on the fourth floor are the oldest intact site of Irish habituation in New York City. Tredwell servant Bridget Murphy leads you back through time, treating your family to beautiful singing and celtic harp.

While you’re here, check out our 5 Favorite Irish Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day. You may also contact Shine for more information on events, parties, and festivities; sign up for one of our popular classes or workshops; take a guided field trip with us; or hire us to entertain at your next party.

Special Ways To Honor Your Littlest Valentines in NYC & The East End

February 8, 2019/in Celebrate, Fun, Guide, Learn, Make, Play/by Shine

Valentine’s Day has different meanings to different people. While some couples relish this excuse to secure a babysitter and indulge in fine dining or other adult pursuits, others couldn’t imagine spending the day without their littlest loves. After all, what could be a better teaching experience? When we show our children love, we show them how to love others. There is no better gift than your time, so consider these unique ways for families to celebrate Valentine’s Day in NYC and the East End.

Children’s Museum of the East End

When: Saturday, February 9^th, 2019 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: 376 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
Ages: 4-9 for special programming; Babies to age 10 for museum

Beginning in January, Shine began hosting a monthly workshop at CMEE based on our summer camp in the Hamptons material. Our two-hour program features a theme that brings together art, culture, crafts, community, and fun. This month’s theme is the Lunar New Year. Special guests, local artists, and artisans drop for an unforgettable adventure. The cost is $75 per child, which includes all materials. Sibling discounts are available. To register, call 212-414-5427 or email info@shinenyc.net. (If you miss us this month, try our next Second Saturday workshop on March 9^th!) Also happening at the museum this weekend is “Paint by Number,” where toddlers and youngsters are invited to paint a lobby window mural. As always, you can enjoy all the imaginative exhibits at CMEE, including seafaring ships, windmills, sand puppets, food trucks, mini golf, and a kid-sized Main Street.

PuppetWorks

When: Saturday, February 9^th and Sunday, February 10^th at 12:30 pm or 2:30 pm
Where: PuppetWorks, 338 Sixth Avenue (at 4th Street) Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Ages: 3+

What better way to celebrate love and the idea of finding a perfect match than with “Cinderella,” a timeless story which dates back to 1697? Director Nicolas Coppola brings this classic fairy tale to life with wooden puppets, artistic painted scenery from 18^th century France, and the music of Jules Massenet. Admission is $10 for children and $11 for adults. Advance reservations are recommended by calling 718-965-3391 or emailing puppetworks@twcmetrobiz.com.

NYC Candy Shops

Hershey’s Chocolate World – Plan your own visit!

When: Any day, 9:00 am – Midnight
Where: Times Square (701 Seventh Ave. on 47th St. NYC)

Hershey’s Chocolate World just tripled their footprint in NYC. Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to check out their 7,800 square foot store in the heart of Times Square. Scrumptious s’mores are doled out from a vintage camper, which fits in line with their overall vibe: “Unwrap your adventure.” You can mix and match your favorite Hershey products with a floor-to-ceiling candy machine, sure to boggle the mind of children and adults alike. You can personalize a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar wrapper or Hershey Kiss message for your little love, order custom s’mores, or shop the Kitchens Bakery.

Dylan’s Candy Bar – Plan your own visit!

When: Any day, 10:00 am – 11:00 pm OR 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm for special event
Where: 1011 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10065

Dylan’s Candy Bar is another iconic sweet spot in NYC. This shop is a must-stop for celebrity parents like Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, and Julianne Moore. Inspired by Willy Wonka, you’ll find the world’s largest selection of candy and candy-related gifts here. For a special treat, they’ll be hand-dipping chocolate treats like strawberries, Rice Krispy Treats, and pretzel rods before your eyes. You’re invited to dip and decorate your own take-home confections.

Max Brenner’s – Plan your own visit!

When: 9:00 am – 1:00 am
Where: Union Square, 841 Broadway (at 13^th Street), New York, NY

You simply won’t find a better cocoa than Max Brenner’s “Hug in a Mug.” Your liquid heaven comes in an ergonomic mug that’s perfect for little hands. Their breakfast crepes and sugar waffles provide a warm-and-fuzzy way to start your day. Kids love the “chocolate syringe” that injects chocolatey goodness directly into their mouths. The restaurant can be very busy at times, so be sure to make advance reservations on Open Table or by calling 646-467-8803.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

When: 2/9 – 2/14, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm for regular museum hours, Various times for special programming
Where: The Tisch Building, 212 W 83rd St, New York, NY 10024
Ages: 5+

Drop in and choose your fancy out of the Valentine’s Day craft workshops at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan – all included in the $14 admission fee:

3D Valentine’s Day Cards (2/9 & 2/10, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm)
Stuffed Animal Repair Workshop (2/9, 2/10 & 2/14, 10:00 am – 4:45 pm)
Best Bud Love Bug Making (2/9, 2/10 & 2/14, 12:00 pm)

Tastebuds Kitchen

When: Sunday, February 10^th, 9:30 – 10:30 am
Where: Chelsea, 109 West 27th Street, 10FL New York, NY 10001
Ages: 2-8 (with a caregiver)

We love our partnerships with Tastebuds Kitchen! Their cooking classes are the perfect way to get children interested in baking and the culinary arts. With this seasonal favorite, you’ll create your own “Love Shack” out of gingerbread with pink frosty roofs, heart-shaped window panes, and countless other accoutrements. Enjoy a mug of pink hot cocoa and the sounds of cheerful love songs. The cost is $75 per child, with one caregiver included.

Gurney’s Montauk Igloos

When: Fridays and Saturdays in February
Where: 290 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk NY

Gurney’s Montauk resorts has opened a new winter installation, perfect for the whole family! Even if you’re not staying the night, you can book time in their outdoor heated igloos made from PVC and twinkle lights. Inside, you’ll find a curated selection of games and puzzles. “Order in” from the Gurney’s Little Bites menu of chicken tenders, hot dogs, and other kid favorites for $9. Book complimentary storytelling from 7:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights. When you’re done chilling, head outside and warm up around the toasty fire pit. Call 631-668-2345 to book.

Long Island Children’s Museum

When: Thursday, February 14^th 2019, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: 11 Davis Ave. Garden City, NY 11530
Ages: 3-5

Listen to a reading of Mark Sperring’s “The Shape of My Heart” and take home a book-inspired craft. Make a “Love Monster” puppet. Valentine’s Day crafts are included with $14 admission. Your kids will enjoy all the usual exhibits – song-making, giant bubbles, percussion instruments, climbing sculptures, a a toddler-sized town, tools, the animal diner, building blocks, and the Sandy Island beach station.

Whether it’s reading, crafting, baking, sweets, science, the arts, or roughing it in the great outdoors – open a window into your life, inviting your little love(s) to share your passions with you to make this Valentine’s Day truly special.