March 2012: Scoop

APP

Giggle Goes Mobile

Hooray for giggle! The popular
multi-platform brand that sells baby products to city-dwelling parents has just
launched its registry app. We love that it’s free and can be managed from
virtually anywhere, but best of all, you can personalize your registry with
notes on product picks: This would look
cute in baby’s new nursery! Imagine how helpful it will be for the people
buying you gifts—and how fun it’ll be for you to add items. The app lets you
scan products via your iPhone, browse must-have and customer favorite lists and
share your registry through Twitter and Facebook. Available from iTunes. For more information, visit giggle.com.

ACTIVITY

Game On At Gaga

Check out the Gaga Center on the Upper East
Side this spring—the first (and only) place in Manhattan
dedicated to Gaga. Parents will be thrilled to find a place (other than their
living rooms) where kids four and older can run, jump, dodge and throw.
Founders and NYC moms Alissa Schmelkin and Marcy Singer wanted to get serious
about this growing sport and have opened a 3,000-square-foot facility to
host the dodgeball-like pastime. The center includes high ceilings, tons of
sunshine, three pits and an amazing sound system. Interested in throwing a
party at Gaga? They have a separate mezzanine just for celebrations. Classes
start this month. For more information,
visit gagacenter.com.

STATIONERY

Boddington
Knows Best

Inside a whimsical NYC studio, Mr. Boddington’s
hand-tailored paper goods—sporting playful patterns and fonts—will take your
breath away. New parents will delight in selecting custom baby announcements in
designs like “Pram in the Lane,” “Already for Caviar Baby,” and “What’s Up
Buttercup?” Moms and dads can invent their own color combos or ask the studio for
input. Correspondence has never been so chic! For more information, visit mrboddington.com.

CLASS

Explore With
Mohr

Looking for a unique outdoor program in NYC? Rain or shine,
you’ll find Mohr’s Explorers outside playing games, hiking, climbing, fishing,
orienteering, building forts, identifying birds and learning basic wilderness
survival. Mike Mohr offers an amazing after-school program in Central
Park which takes kids on an exploration of the great outdoors for
an afternoon full of fun. Mohr’s Explorers also offers summer camps, mini camps
and camping trips—even an outdoor birthday party experience. Just be sure to
check the weather first and come prepared with the right gear! For more information, visit
mohrs-explorers.com.

BOOK

Does Your Kid
Speak Blubberish?

Has your kid ever blown out the candles on another
child’s birthday cake? There’s a word for that. What about when a child refuses
to take a family photo? Yep, there’s a word for that, too. Local author
Eric Ruhalter has penned a hilarious book to describe those indescribable
things that all kids do. The Kid
Dictionary releases this month and you won’t be able to put it down. It’s
amazing how accurately Ruhalter—a father of three—captures the small moments
that define childhood with hilarious new words. But you’ll have to pick up a
copy to learn the lingo! A hilarious present for any parent, new or seasoned,
to get them laughing (and in the know). For
more information, visit sourcebooks.com.

Speakitaly NYC

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.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; 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. 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&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;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!"

The Little Gym of Bay Ridge- Bensonhurst

At The Little Gym of Bay Ridge-Bensonhurt, we specialize in unique, educational classes that revolve around active play. We give children a safe and inspiring space to direct their energy, build confidence, and develop key skills. Explore the range of classes we offer at The Little Gym of Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst to find the one that&rsquo;s just right for your child.&nbsp;