Our Favorite Parenting News Stories Of The Week

Chris-Pratt-Our-Lady-of-the-Lake-Childrens-Hospital-June-2015Awesome celeb dad Chris Pratt made a whole bunch of kiddos smile when he visited a children’s hospital recently and re-enacted his now-famous raptor control scene from the new “Jurassic World” movie. (Crushable)

Going into labor on a hospital bed is one thing. Imagine how this new mother must have felt when she gave birth in a car that was stuck in the wilderness–and was then stranded there for three days with her newborn. (Yahoo!)

Your kids might be taking advantage of nap time to have fun over actually sleeping. This adorable video features siblings who crawl out of their cribs and play while they think their parents have left the premises! (BuzzFeed)

General Mills is removing all artificial coloring from their cereals. So while you may need to bid farewell to your kid’s favorite breakfast food, the cereal sans coloring is a healthier addition to your kitchen shelf. (Mommy Nearest)

Families came together in celebration of NYC Pride along the Hudson River, and these pictures of joyous LGBTQ parents and their children are heartwarming. (Mashable)

One mother decided to boycott school heath forms after her kid came home from kindergarten class with a survey asking the mother if she’d had a C-section or a vaginal birth. (The New York Times)

Wonder why there are so many Jennifers and Marys out there? Here’s a slide show of the most popular girl names over the past decades. (BrainJet)

With many city kids heading off to summer camp this week, don’t forget to stock up on last-minute camp essentials! This stylish list is sure to have you covered. (MINIMODE)

Planning a family getaway this summer but not yet sure where to go? Martha’s Vineyard is relatively easy to get to from the city and offers up a ton of fun! See one mom blogger’s fave family spots on the island. (La Petite Peach)

One mom shares her reasoning behind opting for a home birth for her second child after she went to a hospital for her first–and her responses may surprise you! (Early Mama)

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Atlantic Acting School

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Looking for a fun and exciting theater program for kids and teens? Join us at the Atlantic. Our programs are intense, exciting and fun!</span></p>

The Ailey School – First Steps and Bounding Boys

<blockquote style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <div dir="ltr"> <div class="m_-3740164643787738207m_4977048992707393770WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0070c0;">At The Ailey School, FIRST STEPS offers a structured creative movement curriculum that allows girls (ages 3-6) and boys (age 3), to develop body awareness and control and learn the basics of dance technique. BOUNDING BOYS (ages 4-6) provides a more athletic experience, and an energetic approach to teaching dance skills.</span></p> </div> </div> </blockquote>

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>