Best Of The Web: October 5-11

Inspired by our upcoming New
Parents Expo, here’s a weekly roundup of pregnancy and new parent articles that piqued
our interest. Enjoy! —

Manhattan photog
Monica Shulman guest posts
for Joanna Goddard, on the difficulties
of getting pregnant. Crying in public over fertility troubles? She’s the
first to admit to it, and she’s one of so many. (A Cup Of Jo)

Have a little one with a birthday candle to blow out soon?
Check out this great roundup of some first birthday
party ideas. (Rookie Moms)

Have you made a dent in that stack of parenting books on
your nightside table? Didn’t think so. Here’s a quick list of the
must-reads. (Psst! The authors of the first two books on the list will be
at our New Parents Expo next weekend!
Check it out.) (Stroller Traffic)

Title X, the federal grant that funds birth
control and family planning for low-income citizens, is being targeted by
the GOP (for the second time this year). Is this the proper measure for
slashing the deficit? (HuffPo)

Stylish
fall fashions from Rosie Pope Maternity line. The Bardot
Dress is totally hot. (Rosie’s
Blog)

Not for the faint of heart! Here are some myths about
circumcision…that most of us believed until reading this.
(Psychology Today)

Funny lady Jenna Fischer welcomed
her first baby boy, Weston Lee, this past weekend with hubby Lee Kirk. (People)

No need to change your birthing plan, but here’s an
interesting recent find on C-sections
and incidences of allergies and asthma. (Pregnancy Weekly)

This mom
rant had us chuckling all morning. Check out the line of new parent
stickers she hopes to start marketing. Any buyers? (Motherhood Uncensored)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Haven’t even
bought a Halloween pumpkin yet, but already getting into the seasonal spirit
with these adorable
Santa diapers, as reviewed online by one of our favorite moms, Colleen
Padilla. (Classy Mommy)

Advantage QuickStart Tennis

A proven teaching method, customized by age and ability for ages 3 and up. Special kid-sized racquets and playing area, plus slower-bouncing balls, make it fun from day one!

Play On! Studios

Play On! Studios offers theater day camps and after-school classes on the UWS that are guaranteed to give kids a summer full of acting, music, and fun they won't soon forget! Young actors will rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment and play lots of drama games! Creative Drama Camps are perfect for kids entering grades K-4. Campers will work each week to put on a brand-new show! Each session, they will receive a script, rehearse a production, make a set and costumes, and perform their play. Kids will also play drama games, play outside (weather permitting), and have tons of fun! Musical Theater Camps are aimed at kids entering grades 4-9. In Musical Theater Performance Camp, campers put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips, and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show! During the school year, classes are great for beginners or more experienced actors - sing, dance, and put on a play! Whether your child is just starting out, or ready for Broadway, we&rsquo;ve got the class for them. Classes are available for grades PreK-8, after school or on Saturdays! Come play with us. &nbsp;

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.