Best Of The Web: February 8-14

Contributors: Sharon
Beesley, Meghan Gearino, Elizabeth Raymond

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

GO GIANTS! Check out how Park
Slope
celebrated another NY Super Bowl win! (Park Slope Patch)

The French aren’t just more fashionable than we are, they
are also better
parents in some ways
! Find out what you can learn from them–and how you
can make parenting more of a pleasure. (The Wall Street Journal)

As if Harry
Potter
needs any more problems on his plate. Doctors have now diagnosed his
constant head pains as nummular headaches. (MSNBC)

Was travel and adventure on your list of New Years resolutions?
Check out these
10 Incredible New Adventures for 2012
–including kid-friendly trips! (USA Today)

Oh, kids these days! Studies have shown that high schoolers
are actually participating
in less risky behavior
.
Surprised? (NY Times)

The
halftime show angers parents…yet again
. The Parents Television Council is
lashing out at NBC, the NFL and M.I.A. on Sunday’s very blatant flip slip. (TMZ)

Claire McCarthy, M.D., weighs the pros
and cons
of getting her 11-year-old daughter a cell phone. (The Huffington Post)

Candy-free fun may not be your kids’ idea of a sweet time,
but we promise they won’t miss the sugar if they have this adorable DIY Valentine
Fortune Teller
. (Design Mom)

Gwyneth Paltrow admits to being a very hands-on parent—even
bathing with her kids
! Is that weird? (Harper’s Bazaar)

Would you let a Facebook poll choose
your baby name for you
? An Illinois
couple did just that when they had decided on a boy’s name…but had a girl. (Babble)

Relevant Directory Listings

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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>

Collina Italiana, The Italian Language and Cultural Center

<p>Learn Italian the fun way. Children practice and absorb the language through arts & crafts, activities, games, songs and stories!</p>

Treehouse Shakers

<div>Treehouse Shakers’ Branching OUT After-School program is for ages 12-14. This awarded program is for young people who identify as LGBTQIA+, or are seeking to become better allies. Branching OUT centers on discovering and exploring one’s story and identity through an intentionally artist-led format. During our community-based program, young people will explore and reflect on their own story to create a larger, more meaningful experience, while gaining self-empowerment and gathering with like-minded peers. Through the guidance of our awarded teaching artists, young people will create narratives that will be turned into podcasts, dances, songs or poetry. </div> <div> </div> <div>Young people have the opportunity to learn new art forms, work with professional artists, while building a meaningful community.</div>