Best Of The Web: April 4-10

Contributors: Meghan
Gearino and Elizabeth Raymond

Here’s a weekly roundup of parenting articles that piqued
our interest. Enjoy! —

Looking to avoid the post-Easter cavity fest? Here are 10 non-candy
ideas for your kiddos’ Easter baskets. (Lil
Sugar
)

One hopefully high school-bound student is an encyclopedia
of sports knowledge, but he’s been benched
during the first round of school admissions
. But family and friends are
confident that Omri Shefet will be picked up by the right school, reminding the
boy of experiences like Jeremy Lin and Victor Cruz. (New York Times)

Ever heard of “nature deficit
disorder
”? A recent report says that children in the UK
are shown to experience suffering levels of health and education because less
time is being spent outdoors. (BBC)

Do the fate
of an autistic child and race intersect
? Find out what the new study in
Pediatrics says about this social injustice problem. (The Huffington Post)

Forget Tiger Moms. Helicopter
Moms
are now the new micromanaging-parenting queens, advising their
daughters on how to dress for dates and even writing their college essays! (ABC News)

Schools are now banning too-sexy prom dresses in hopes of
stalling the disturbing trend. Many of the banned gowns imitate red carpet
dresses. See for yourself and check
out the photos
. (The Huffington
Post
)

One of America’s
favorite fast food chains is getting healthier for you and your family! Check
out what new
items
Burger King will begin offering on their menu. (The Washington Post)

Hilary Duff shares baby photos! Well, just the feet. Take a
peek at Luca’s
little toesies
. (Babyrazzi)

Be careful about how you talk to your children about race. A
new Anderson Cooper investigation explores whether black
or white children are more optimistic about race
issues than their peers—and
indicates that optimism or pessimism starts in the home. (CNN)

A clothes-less household: See one mommy blogger’s explanation
as to why she thinks nudity at home is no problem. (New York Times)

Just about the most casually chic maternity clothes we could
imagine. HATCH
has just launched their awesome spring collection. (A Cup of Jo)

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Speakitaly NYC

<p>SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.  Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress. </p> <p>Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge.</p> <p>Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City… Who doesn’t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history & in the arts?</p> <p>Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor’s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"</p>

Bounce! Family Entertainment Center

<p>Bounce! Family Entertainment Center is an indoor birthday party and play space located in Syosset, NY. Perfect for birthday parties, group events, open play, and more! We have the best party packages on Long Island! Our facility has multiple AWESOME attractions: The Trampoline courts, The Adventure Zone, Bumper Cars, Laser Tag, Soft Play, Arcade, & MORE! If you need a break from jumping and climbing, try out some of our delicious food from The Bounce Bites Kitchen! Come on in to any of our Open Play, Toddler Time, or Glow Night sessions!</p>

Polaris Productions Theater Camp

<p>Kids will learn, rehearse, and perform the wonderful Maurice Sendak and Carole King musical, Really Rosie. For 10 weekdays, campers will take part in physical and vocal warm-ups and learn choreography, staging, and vocal parts. They’ll develop skills in acting, singing, character development, and more. This camp will ignite your child’s imagination and passion for performing, build their self-esteem, and help them form lasting friendships. They’ll have fun! At camp’s end, the kids will perform Really Rosie for family members and friends. Kids of all levels of experience, ages 8 through 13, are welcome to join.</p>