World Oceans Day

Don’t let the weather wear you down!  The sun is scheduled to come out this weekend, just in time to enjoy a fun filled and family friendly event at The New England Aquarium, organized by Boston’s own Ashley Malloy, Senior Program Educator at the NEAQ and renowned Sea Squirts Teacher.

Below are some of the activities you will enjoy with your family at this year’s event:

Seafood cooking demonstrations with Aquarium’s Head Chef Bill Bradley, Josh Lewin from Bread and Salt, Peter McCarthy from EVOO and more! Featured species on the menu will be: Squid, trout and Pacific halibut
Live appearance by Magic 106.7
Try on real water survival suits
Experiment with kelp and learn about its characteristics
Design your own Hard Rock Guitar Save the Planet pin
Enjoy free Ben & Jerry’s scoops starting at noon under the Harbor View Terrace Tent (while supplies last)
An appearance by Calvin the life size inflatable right whale
MIT SeaGrant ROV’s
An Augmented Reality Sandbox
Lots of arts and crafts
Plus, we have exciting giveaways leading up to and during the event!

The Dirt on Cleanses

Monkey see, monkey do. Your baby and toddler will model your eating behaviors so instill in them good habits at a young and influential age.  Encourage your munchkin to get excited about food and expose them to diversified dining experiences.  Help them to develop healthy lifelong habits.

 

Spring is in the air, winter is *hopefully* behind us, and summer finally feels like it is right around the corner.  What better time to cleanse, right?

But spring cleaning for your home is one thing…your body is another.  So when did everyone get so excited about the idea of “cleanses” and the concept behind cleaning out your body by supplementing fancy (and financially frivolous) juice cleanses for solid food?

While no one can deny that drinking your dinner…at least a few times a year…has become a trend, can anyone really explain why or if it is even a healthy option for your mind and body?

Boston Babies wanted to provide parents tempted by this new lack of food fad a feature from a Boston based dietician on the concerns behind cleanses.  Before you drink (or buy!) that bottled beverage promising to cleanse your body and open your mind, read below to see what Sandy has to say on the subject…

Searching for a Family Friendly City to Visit?

Test out your toddler’s tastebuds at Tantric, one of Boston’s best Indian restaurants, located conveniently downtown. Visit bostonbabies.org to learn more about Tantric’s top dishes.

Boston Babies has always been a big advocate of introducing infants and toddlers to all the opportunities that you, as parents, once enjoyed pre baby.  Whether it is fine dining on the city’s most “fancy food,” or exploring an exciting new ethnic restaurant hidden among the many, or vacationing to an exotic place, despite the inconveniences that travel presents…

The reason for including baby in the mix, even if it does result in some expected mayhem is two fold:

1.  Don’t Stop Living–Embrace  Your New Life
Parents often think that their life is over once babies come in to the picture.  That is absolutely not true!  Life as you know it may change, but most will agree it is for the better.  You now have the unique luxury of seeing the world, and all its intricacies through the innocent, easily impressed, eyes of your child.  That is a rare and beautiful experience that should not be shied away from, but instead embraced and explored.  Allowing your baby and toddler to participate in parents’ hobbies, dining experiences and vacations enables them to have a hands on approach to their education, learn about new cultures, appreciate different places and ultimately bond with you, building lasting family memories.

2.  Dare to Fear–Expose Your Child to Exciting Opportunities
While no one will dare pretend that traveling with children doesn’t have its obvious complications (the gear, the security checks at airports, the tantrums, the lack of sleep, the need to plan accordingly while allowing for flexibility, to name a few…) It is worth it in the end.  Whether you plan a family focused trip, or even a dinner out to introduce your little one to a new, fun food, exposing your child to these diverse experiences enables them to learn, grow and appreciate a bigger world than the one they know on a day to day basis.  Daring to do this will present problems, but it will also create an educated, independent, curious and cultured young person, excited to truly live life.

If you are looking for a city to start your early exploration as a family, Chicago offers some great options.  From the FREE Lincoln Park Zoo, the endless green space, such as Millennium Park, to Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile, there are endless options to engage your whole family.

See below for some tips for traveling with your family to Chicago, from featured and resident Chi Town Mom, Kendra Thornton.

4th Annual Angel’s Masquerade Ball

As a Mom, Valentine’s Day has become more fun filled and fanciful than remembered.  A once potentially dreaded, over commercialized excuse of a holiday has morphed in to a day that requires preparation of “pretty” cards (princess at this point of course), colorful candies (pink and red preferred), and cookies for special friends and teachers.  Stickers adorn cards chosen with great skill and consideration and there is a sense of warmth and love surrounding the whole pomp and circumstance of Valentine’s Day.

Thanks to children changing the way we, as parents, look at things, this once hostile holiday has been turned in to a wonderful way to show our friends, families and teachers that we love and appreciate them–a lesson always worth instilling in our little ones.  When watching our children we witness their innocence and pure exploration and enjoyment of all the details in a day, that adults often overlook.  We are reminded to reflect on our own happiness, health and good fortune, and give back to those in need.

In that spirit, read below to learn more regarding The Glenna Kohl Fund for Hope, Inc. and their Annual “Angel’s Masquerade Ball,” taking place this holiday season on February 15th in the Cape.  The information below was provided by Dara Plummer, a Member of the Melanoma Committee.  While the event is held on the Cape, Glenna’s 3 year battle with melanoma took place at Boston’s own MGH, which is why Dara is hoping to involve the city in celebrating Glenna’s life and raising awareness and funding to aid in future research.  See below for details…

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Warm up this winter with signature Ritz-Carlton cookies and delicious hot cocoa.  Mingle with parents and meet potential babysitters just in time for the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  Boston Babies teams up with UrbanSitter for its last FREE event of the fall season.

Cookies and Hot Cocoa is the perfect way to start your family’s celebrations.  Nibble on treats and sip the sweetness of a holiday season in the city.

See below for details on this decadent event and how to RSVP today:

Date Night Sweepstakes: UrbanSitter

As parents push their oversized city strollers through the now colder streets of Boston, the chill of winter is in the air and the growing to do list on their minds.  While no one loves the holidays more than Boston Babies, the hustle and bustle can be overwhelming (and exhausting!) for even your most organized and productive parent.  Not only ’tis the season for sitters, there is no time like the present (pun intended) to connect with your mate during all this merriment.

Taking your fall family photo, ordering your holiday cards, cooking your favorite meal and cleaning in time for friends and family…all of that will wait for you.  So take a night off from the day to day frenzy and reconnect with your loved one.  UrbanSitter has everything you need to spice up your date night this season…Read below to learn how to enjoy a lavish date night on them!

Spend a Spooky Sunday in the City!

Let your kids get creative this Halloween and start the season with a crafting project at Paper Source!

Spend a spooky Sunday in the city with your family and kick off your Halloween week with ghosts, goblins and other fall festivities.  See below for a list of family focused activities taking place on Sunday, October 27th.

HALLOWEEN CRAFTING PROJECT

Date:    Sunday, October 27th
Time:    10:00-11:00am

Venue:  Paper Source, Boylston Street
Cost:      FREE, compliments of UrbanSitter

RSVP:     bostonbabiesevents@gmail.com

Take your cutest creatures and giggling ghosts to Paper Source on Boylston Street to enjoy a private party for your Boston Babies before the boutique opens.  Enjoy light refreshments and have a hauntingly good time as you and your little ones make arts and crafts for the holiday.  Costumes encouraged!

Sponsored by:  UrbanSitter
Organized by:   Boston Babies and Ellie Cooper Events

Hosted by:        Paper Source, Boylston Street

Make Your Kids’ Lunches Better with Bento Boxes!

Take the classic story of The three Little Pigs from fairy tale to food time with Bento Boxes!

As many Boston Babies prepare for their first year of school this fall, it can be an unsettling time for both toddlers and parents.  While many moms and dads have had their little ones in enrichment classes, or other child care services, sending your tiny tot to a more structured school setting can still be a very real adjustment for everyone.

While providing consistency is always important when change occurs for children, sprinkling little snippets of love throughout their structured routine adds another element to the mix.  This allows children to both acclimate to a set schedule through structure, while looking forward to the little treats and personal touches along the way that soften those sometimes scary new experiences.

When searching for new and innovative ways to show your little one you care, consider filling their lunches with fun and their bellies with food!  Preparing Bento Boxes are a great way to let your kids know you are thinking of them during their snack or lunch time.  *Bento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine.  A traditional bento holds rice, fish or meat, with pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container.

This creative cooking lets you connect with your kids, even while they are at school.  The lunches are balanced, colorful and engaging, allowing for an imaginative alternative for meal time.  Read below to learn more with the help of Elly Chou Newbower, on how to make food fun for your family…

Movement Matters: The Importance of Active Activities for Kids

Bring balance in to your baby’s life, both in class and at home, through FKO’s enrichment programs.

Boston Babies is happy to welcome back regular featured writer, Shari Kurtzman.  With a Masters in Child Development, she shares best practices with readers, helping parents navigate through some of the more common and challenging hot topics, providing insight and suggestions.  Below you will find information on how to keep your kids active, even during those colder New England months.

The importance of movement for children and families is a topic that has been recently discussed in the news, and more actively addressed as a way to target childhood obesity and establish a strong foundation for healthy living at an early age.  Boston Babies will continue to keep you on the parenting pulse of what’s best for your bouncing baby or tenacious toddler.

Read below to hear from Shari on how to keep your munchkin moving…

As the weather gets colder and we spend more time inside, kids need to find new outlets for their energy.  Scheduling one or two regular classes or activities for your family helps to break up the monotony of the work/school week and has added benefits for kids. Whether they are creative classes such as Zumbatomic and yoga or traditional structured classes like karate and dance – all programs support social skills and healthy habits that will continue as children get older.

Check out these five benefits of active activities for kids:

Back-to-School Survival Kit Sweepstakes

Getting back to Boston and settling in to your baby or toddler’s schedule is not a small accomplishment.
UrbanSitter has something for you to look forward to, while helping to ease your family in to the fall semester.

Win the Ultimate Back-to-School Survival Kit from UrbanSitter with over $800 in prizes for you AND your kids!

Weekly drawings for UrbanSitter gift cards, plus grand winner wins an espresso machine, yoga mat, superhero backpacks, scooter, books and more!

To learn more or to enter to win the Ultimate Back-to-School Survival Kit:  “Like UrbanSitter” on Facebook 

Stay tuned to Boston Babies and UrbanSitter to learn about all the family friendly activities they have planned for you this fall.  The Fall Festival is the next program in the series of seasonal events.  See details below and RSVP today!

When:  Sunday, September 15th
Where: Sports Club/LA-Boston (Basketball Court)
Time:    11:00am-1:00pm

COST:  FREE for Members; non-members complimentary curtesy of UrbanSitter

Enjoy a traditional New England Fall Fair, including a bouncy house, face painting, balloon twisting, DJ, cider donuts, pumpkins and more…