Our Favorite Parenting News Stories Of The Week

Scientists say sleep should be an essential family value. A new study suggests that more parental sleep is related to more child sleep, which is related to decreased child obesity. (ScienceDaily)

Some say the more improvement is made in baby-related technology, the more paranoid parents become—and manufacturers are cashing in on the frenzy. (BBC)

Nezo art is officially the coolest (and cutest) naptime craft of all time! The Japanese “sleep posture art” that transforms napping babies into colorful adventurers crosses the Atlantic. (Distractify)

Is 2014 the “Year of the Dad’? Just in time for Father’s Day, a tally of this year’s successful “dad books” show promise of equality in parenting. (The Daily Beast)

Mother and writer Catherine Newman makes a bold claim: give kids your undivided attention or no attention at all—and it sounds about right. (The New York Times)

Who doesn’t love a party in the summer, especially a birthday party! Check out these cool ideas for a birthday theme that the kids will love! (Martha Stewart)

Disney movies wouldn’t be complete without a villain that we root against. These villains’ are actually based off of real people, which should come as no surprise because of Disney’s creative and thoroughness. (Flavorwire)

If you thought being an adult was stressful, try being a baby again! A spa in Texas now offers a spa for babies, giving the infants a relaxing break from their everyday life. (Today)

If you have a tween, chances are they have John Green on the brain! Get the scoop on just what the kids are reading (and watching) these days. (The New Yorker)

Hey dads–looking for the ultimate in Father’s Day chic? Follow Brad Pitt’s lead and sport a shirt with your child’s artwork on it! (The Stir)

Following the concept of the latest LEGO Ideas winner, LEGO is about to release its “Research Institute” collection, which will include, for the first time, female scientists! (Mentalfloss)

Pregnant Mila Kunis tells Jimmy Fallon she wants dads-to-be to stop saying “we’re pregnant” when announcing that their wives are expecting. (Time)

Athletic Association of Yorkville Youths

Serving the families and children of NYC for over 50 years with high-quality recreational activities that foster life-lessons which empower young people to succeed beyond sports. Our programs encourage positive attitudes and growth through teamwork and sportsmanship, attendance, fair play, respect, hard work, integrity and fun. Your child can participate in clinics and leagues in such sports as baseball, basketball, flag-football, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, wrestling, track, and tennis. We also offer weekly dodgeball tournaments, drama and musical theater workshops, and after school programs.

Saf-T-Swim

For over 35 years, Saf-T-Swim Swim School has been teaching lifesaving swimming skills throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and now Little Neck. The school is proud to be Long Island's #1 swim school and a leader in water safety education. With swim programs for infants as young as 4 months, beginners, and advanced swimmers, Saf-T-Swim offers swimming programs for every age and skill level. Discover why generations of Long Islanders have trusted Saf-T-Swim time and time again with equipping their little ones the essential skill of swimming. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Brooklyn Robot Foundry - Virtual Classes

Brooklyn Robot Foundry offers super fun online robot-building classes for children 2-13 years old!&nbsp;&nbsp;Each week, students are introduced to new engineering concepts and components while building that day&rsquo;s robot in their own &ldquo;workshop&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;All classes maintain a very low student-to-teacher ratio, allowing for plenty of individualized instruction and socializing. The supplies are shipped in advance and classes are led by amazing instructors, taking all the pressure off parents.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Foundry&rsquo;s main focus however, is that kids have fun, get creative, and enjoy being part of this STEAM-loving community!&nbsp;