Heat wave 2012 is here!

Water Slide World

Splash your heart out at Water Slide World in Lake George, NY, where there are 2 kid-friendly play areas for youngsters and plenty of thrilling adventures for adrenaline-seekers. This park is particularly accommodating to little ones, so no one will be left on the sidelines. Enjoy 12 curling slides, play volleyball, or float in the sun—no matter how you and your family play, everyone will have a splashing good time.

Zoom Flume Water Park

Zoom Flume Water Park is a drenched getaway set in the scenic Catskill Mountains that is sure to be a hit with the whole family. Daring visitors can explore twisting water slides like the “Black Vortex,” a pitch-black tube which takes you for an unpredictable thrill ride. For pint-sized visitors, the park has a playful “Lagoon Activity Pool” and relaxing Lazy River. Located about 2 hours from the city, the park could make for a fun day trip or a weekend escape.

Mountain Creek Waterpark

Sitting at the top of a mountain in Vernon, NJ, you’ll find a winter ski resort turned warm-weather waterpark at Mountain Creek. The adventure-seeker will find plenty to do: jump off a cliff, swing among the trees and free-fall into the water, or plummet 99-feet on the H2-Oh-No’s vertical drop. Tamer guests can try the River Runner Slide or the Junior Rapids–both great for the timid rider. For those who would prefer to sit and watch, you can splurge on a cabana for around $100–fully equipped with Wi-Fi and shade.

To read the full article at New York Family Magazine click here.

Via New York Family Magazine.

Need a hot place to cool off with your kids this summer? Look no further–here are the city’s sweetest spots for the iciest treats.

Coolest Drink: Neelys Barbeque Parlor
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Opened by Food Network stars Pat and Gina Neely, Neely’s has the coolest, wackiest kids drinks on the menu. Our fave is the Fish Bowl–ginger ale with floating Swedish Fish candy.

An NYC Tradition: Serendipity 3
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The Frrrozen Hot Chocolate here is trademarked—it’s that good. And no summer in New York is complete without a visit to Serendipity 3—just try to go on the  weekdays as they don’t take reservations and the wait can get ridiculous.

Shake It Up: Shake Shack
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Love it or hate, Shake Shack is one of its kind in NYC—and you know there’s nowhere else to go for a shake when the frozen deliciousness is in the establishment’s name. You can get fancy and do a mix-in with your favorite candy, but the traditional black and white is a standout.

Classic Ice Cream Sundae: Big Daddy’s
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Both Big Daddy’s  locations, in the UES and Union Square, pack a mighty punch when it comes to dessert for the minis. You’ll have to ask them to make the treats smaller—the typical sundae is enough for two or three…and a least as many smiles!

Gelato With A View: Ciao Bella World Financial Center
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Even though you can find pints of Ciao Bella’s homemade gelato in grocery stores, its so much better hand-dipped and is worth trekking downtown for—especially given the many kid-friendly parks in the neighborhood. The portions are small but pack in tons of flavor.

Ice Cream On A Stick (Not From A Truck): Pop Bar
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Pop Bar, where you can outfit gelato, sorbet, or yogurt popsicles in a host of chocolate dippings and crunchy toppings, is the coolest thing to happen to ice cream in theWestVillage. The treats and dressings only use all-natural ingredients and the freshest fruits, so they’re guilt-free, too. The Chocolate Popgelato dipped in white chocolate is insane

Water 2.0: Rita’s Water Ice
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Maybe it’s because I’m a Jersey girl at heart, but on a hot, hot day, there is nothing better than cold sweet water ice (known to some as Italian ice) to cool you down. And Rita’s does it right—though the treats are fat-free, standout flavors like cherry and lemon won’t leave you feeling cheated.

To read the full list at New York Family Magazine click here.

1. Our zoos and aquariums have lots of popular animals. Match the following with the names everyone knows them by:

A. A male California sea lion at the Bronx Zoo

B. A polar bear at the Central Park Zoo

C. A sea otter at the New York Aquarium

1. Gus

2. Tazo

3. Kiani

Find the full quiz at New York Family Magazine by clicking here.

via New York Family Magazine

When you have a baby on the way, pampering is definitely your prerogative. But if getting a mani-pedi is one of your favorite ways to relax, better check those polish labels. Various studies have discovered that three chemicals typically found in nail polish may be linked to birth defects. Though more research is needed, it’s still a good idea to steer clear of polishes with ingredients referred to as the “toxic 3”: phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde. That doesn’t mean your toes have to go unpolished, though. Try one of these pregnancy-safe polishes for your next at-home manicure, or bring one along with you to the salon.

Piggy Paint
A concerned mom created this line when she saw her young daughter spill nail polish on a Styrofoam plate–then watched as the polish burned a hole straight through it! Piggy Paint has both a princess-friendly line for girls and a series of colors called “Refined” that are perfect for expectant moms.
$6.99-8.99; piggypaint.com

Knocked Up Nails
The inventor of this line wanted moms-to-be to know it was made just for them. That’s why she came up with hilarious names like Craving a Creamsicle, O-Blue-GYN and Prenatal Princess.
$10; knockedupnails.com

Scotch Naturals
Another mom-created line, this brand extended out from Hopscotch Kids, which makes popular child-safe polishes. Besides offering luxurious colors with names like Paisley Martini and Morning Glory Fizz, Scotch Naturals also created its own soy-based nail polish remover.
$11.99-14.99; scotchnaturals.com

Zoya
This toxin-free makeup company has over 300 colors to choose from. Check out the cheerful and beach-ready Surf Collection, ideal for summer.
$8; zoya.com

To read the full list at New York Family Magazine click here.

By Mary DiPalermo

After having three kids and a sporadic (but mostly quiet) freelance existence at home for fifteen years, I went back to work last fall. Back to the grind. Up and at it. Forty hours a week.

I didn’t plan to return to office life but we really needed the health insurance. And like most of my major life decisions, I stumbled into this one. It was a three-week writing gig that kept up. I’m reviewing children’s books—a nice fit for a mom who’s been buying them for nearly seventeen years—and the job is now considered semi-permanent (just like my hair color).

My most frequently used phrase these days is: the balls are dropping. Curiously, all the work balls seem to be airborne—it’s the home balls that are crashing down. Maybe crashing is too strong of a word. Perhaps plopping is better.

Permission slips aren’t getting signed. Backpacks aren’t getting checked. My youngest son had a record number of tardys on his latest report card. And the house looks worn—dust bunnies are gathering at a rapid pace and the clutter is multiplying. And those little things that need to be done? Read: laundry, laundry and laundry—aren’t getting done either.

My kids greet me at the door every night like a pack of crazed wolf pups—each one more hungry than the last for fresh bits of undivided attention. And with my eyes crossed from hours of computer gazing and wordsmith-ing, I’m not always undivided.

I have a recurring wakeful nightmare where Dr. Phil or Oprah steps out of my disastrous front hall closet and urges me to live my best life. “Pay attention!” “When you know better, you do better!” “Your child is speaking to you, stop thinking about your dang Fresh Direct order!”

Having three kids is like having three pans of risotto cooking on the stove simultaneously. You’ve got to keep your eye on each one—stirring and tending—while watching them as a whole. Returning to work at this stage of the game has turned up the heat on every burner.

To read the full column at New York Family magazine click here.

Photo courtesy of New York Family Magazine.

By Laura Deutsch and Heather Ouida

Editor’s note: One of the questions most often asked by parents during the holidays is, when it comes to shopping for our kids, when is enough, enough? Here, Laura Deutsch and Heather Ouida of babybites—an educational and social group for new moms and moms-to-be—tackle the question of materialism and modern parenting.

For many families, December is associated with shopping, presents, parties, presents, food, presents, glitter, presents, religion, and of course, presents. The question of “How much is too much?” comes up a lot in our community of moms at babybites. As moms of young children ourselves, we turned to our own mothers—financial advisor Dahlia Peyserand parenting coach Dr. Karen Rancourt—for some sage advice on celebrating the season without spoiling our kids.

How can I be generous with my kids without being overindulgent?

Dahlia Peyser: I see no harm in enjoying the commercial aspects of the season. Problems arise when the consumer is purchasing for personal needs inconsistent with a healthy relationship to money: “I want my kids to feel cared for,” “I don’t want my child to be jealous of others,” “I want to give my child everything I didn’t get when I was growing up.” Most problems arise when the children absorb the parents’ conflicted attitude and begin to use spending and accumulating as a weapon.

How can I effectively deal with my child saying, “I want…?”

Karen Rancourt: Keep a running list of all these I-want items for your child and each time she says, “I want…” say, “Let’s add it to your gift wish list and then we can consider it as a birthday or holiday gift.” Then, when gift-giving time is on the horizon, you can prioritize the wish list with your child. When grandparents and others ask what they can get for your child, reference his or her gift wish list. Keeping a gift wish list for your child has several benefits: it helps him learn deferred gratification, it cuts down on disappointments, it eliminates the exchange frenzy and it helps gift givers feel that they’re giving something that is truly of value or interest to the child.

How can I encourage relatives not to overindulge my children?

K.R.: Your child’s gift givers typically think of purchasing something material, but including on the wish list events and experiences as gifts can be incredibly enriching and valuable. Think how excited your child will be to learn that as a gift, Grandma and Grandpa are taking her to the circus, or for art lessons at the museum, or to rent a boat in Central Park, or to see a Broadway musical.

How can I emphasize graciousness and gratitude when receiving gifts? 

K.R.: Prior to your son’s opening his presents, review with him the cardinal rule of accepting gifts: “Even if you are disappointed, always look at the gift giver and say, ‘Thank you!’” You can also help your child be a gracious gift receiver by handing him each gift to be opened, making sure he opens each card and either reads it himself or has it read to him.

To read the full article at New York Family Magazine click here.

Photo courtesy of New York Family Magazine.

By Heather Chaet

My name is Heather and I have a confession.

I wear mom jeans.

I’m not quite channeling Tina Fey in that “Saturday Night Live” sketch. And my denim isn’t as scary as those Pajama Jeans advertised on TV. Yet, in my jeans, I’m sloppy, dowdy, and frowzy… Yes, rejected Smurf names could describe how I look. I know I have a problem, but I have no clue how to fix it. Paralyzed by so many choices when shopping, I get stuck. Stuck while wearing mom jeans. Not good, people. Not. Good. At. All.

Enter Beckie Klein and Martina Gordon, a.k.a. my Fairy Godmodels. When I met New York Family’s resident style mavens for drinks, it ohsoquickly turned into a jean-tervention. “Jeans are part of your closet’s foundation, just like the
little black dress or the white shirt,” they told me. “Once you have the right foundation, everything else falls into place.”

My days of wearing mom jeans had to stop. With Beckie and Martina as my guides, I now have that elusive perfect pair of jeans (actually three of them). Sure, it took nine stores and five hours, but you can do it too—by following Beckie and Martina’s five laws for finding the best pair of jeans for your bod.

Law #1: Meet Slim, everyone’s BFF.
“The only jean you really need is a slim, fitted jean in the dark wash,” Martina says. Also called skinny or straight, “all of our clients—sizes 0 to 14—rock in this style of jeans. It follows the simple rule that if it fits and is body-hugging, it’s more flattering than when you try to hide your figure,” Beckie adds. Other must-haves: a white pair and a grey pair or a pair in a dark, but more casual wash.

Law #2: It’s going to take time.
“Think of jeans shopping as a mission,” Beckie reminds me. “Go to stores where you can try many different brands at one time,” Martina says. And forget the number on the tag – try on your regular size, as well as a size up and a size down. The process may be frustrating, but it is one worth doing. “You are investing this time to save time later – after you find the perfect jeans, your daily dressing will be so much easier,” Martina adds.

Law #3: Price doesn’t matter.
Beckie and Martina swear by a pair of jeans that costs $40. So, why should I buy one that costs $189? “You don’t need to – if you find the perfect jean for $59, buy a couple of pairs and call it a day,” Beckie says. If you find a pair that screams “I will change your life!” and costs a bit more than you usually spend, Martina says to think about how many times you will wear them. If you live in jeans like I do, the “cost per wear” is pennies, even for a $150 pair.

To read the full article at New York Family Magazine click here.

Not really, but it’s helpful to know the myths and realities of the admissions process

With 1.4 million school-aged children, New York City has the nation’s biggest public school system, the densest concentration of private schools, and admissions competition for the under-5 set so intense that it has inspired satirical novels and critically-acclaimed documentaries—while bewildering and frustrating countless parents. Each year, rumors and misinformation about the availability of spots and what it takes to get into certain schools only make matters worse.

To help guide you through the city’s various admissions processes, here’s an overview of recent trends in admissions for nursery school and both public and private kindergarten, along with answers to common questions and helpful resources.

NURSERY SCHOOL

The good news: If you apply to enough private preschools—and your list goes beyond the most competitive schools—you are likely to get in somewhere. (This is not the case with public pre-K, which is only offered to 4-year-olds, and has recently seen an increase in applications.)

Gina Malin of the Parents League, a nonprofit group supported by independent schools and member families, advises parents to contact “10 schools to get eight applications,” but adds that “this isn’t a hard and fast number.” If you have twins or live in a family-heavy neighborhood like the Upper East Side, you should probably add a few more schools to the list.

As you are forming your list, it’s especially important to contact the schools (or visit their websites) and note their systems for giving out applications (i.e. website, phone call or lottery). Get out your calendar: many schools only give out applications on the day after Labor Day (and the most popular ones often run out by midday), while other schools offer applications more freely in the course of the fall.

Take note of the minimum age of entry at schools that interest you, as well as the age at which the school has the most openings. Manhattan has more programs that start closer to or at age 3 than those that start at age 2, but the number of schools offering classes for 2-year-olds has expanded greatly in recent years. Some schools that start at age 2 may take most of their students at that age, whereas other schools with 2-year-old programs might have a greater share of their students starting at age 3.

If you do not receive any preschool acceptances or if you have moved to the city too late to apply, you can call the Parents League to find schools with openings. Executive director Kathy Shea says the number of parents who are rejected from all the preschools they apply to is “not huge” and “they pretty much get placed somewhere.”

Looking ahead? Parents may have an unfounded fear that only the “right” preschool will guarantee entry to a good private kindergarten. Wendy Levey, founder and director of Epiphany Community Nursery School, says that on the contrary, “ongoing schools are trying to take children from a variety of programs,” an assertion backed by private schools reports. At the same time, if parents applying to nursery school think they are likely to be applying to private school in a few years, they should inquire about a nursery school’s track record for placing children in private school to ensure that it’s a school with experience in ex-missions and has positive relationships with a lot of private schools.

To read the full article at New York Family magazine click here.

By Leah Black

The last weeks and days of pregnancy can sometimes feel like a waiting game in which you’re twiddling your thumbs, anxious for the baby to arrive. But as any new parent can tell you, your last moments pre-baby are also your last chance to have some quality “me time” before your little game changer gets here! Because although having a baby is amazing, life will never be the same again. Sure, you’ll go to the movies again… but you might fall asleep in your seat or lament about how much money you’re spending on babysitting. So, while you might be a tad bit uncomfortable in the final days before your due date, try to enjoy this special time. Here are just a few ideas for how to make the final days of pregnancy memorable.

Take a pregnancy picture of yourself. While by now you’re used to having a gigantic tummy, once the baby arrives you’ll have trouble remembering what it felt like! One of my most precious pregnancy mementos is a photo I have of myself standing in our apartment just days before my son was born. When I look at it now, I can’t believe how huge I was and that my little boy was inside there just waiting to come out. I always tell friends to take a similar photo of themselves as a keepsake.

Start a journal. Baby books are well and nice, but if you’re anything like me you’ll be too forgetful to actually keep at one. But writing a line here and there every few days? That’s something I can do. I started a journal a month or two before my son was born and have kept at it ever since—sometimes writing every week and sometimes just once a month. It’s fun to go back and read what I was thinking before my son arrived and in the days after he was born, compared to two years down the road.

Get a manicure or pedicure. Once the baby arrives, you’ll be reminiscing about all the time you had to spend on yourself. Recently, a pregnant friend called me debating about whether to spend money on a pedicure or not—after all, it was $25 that could go towards the new baby. “Do it!” I urged her. “You won’t have time for a pedicure for months after the baby arrives.” She did and was glad she treated herself to some well-deserved pampering. Not to mention, a massage feels pretty good on pregnancy feet!

Grab lunch or dinner with a girlfriend. Before you become a parent, a meal out on the town is no big occasion. But post-baby? Grabbing a simple salad at a restaurant can feel like a major social event. The first time I went out to dinner by myself sans baby—six months after my son was born—I didn’t stop smiling the entire subway ride there because I couldn’t believe I was finally out of the house. So, linger over a nice meal with a good friend at a favorite restaurant. You’ll remember it with nostalgia soon enough!

To read the full article at New York Family magazine click here.

Okay, so we all agree: it’s a bummer that the Fourth of July lands smack in the middle of the week this year. Alas, there isn’t much we can do about that, but there is something we can help you with to make your day of fireworks and fun that much easier.

Meet the official app of the 36th Annual Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks!

Macy’s has teamed up with the tech gurus at MyCityWay to provide an all-in-one, must-have app that will make your Independence Day sparkle like, well, a sparkler. You may remember back in November 2011, Macy’s and MyCityWay partnered together for the first-ever Thanksgiving Day Parade app, which provided an up-to-the-minute rundown of the parade, so your daughter didn’t miss that elusive Hello Kitty balloon, alongside a gazillion other helpful tips.

That was balloons, this is fireworks. Free for your iPhone or Android or any mobile device, the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks app provides everything you – or out-of-town guests – need to know to get the best view of the dazzling show by the Hudson River, as well as what to do once you’re waiting for the fun to begin. Get transit info and details on where to go – even play the synchronized musical score from your phone as you and the kiddos ooooh and aaaahhhhh. The app offers the lowdown on the weather and even tidbits about Katy Perry (she’s a performer, you know). One feature we love: the bathroom locator (genius!).

To read the full article at New York Family Magazine click here.