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Ok, first I have to confess that I am NOT fond of Elmo. His high-pitched voice and incessant laughter are grating to me so listening to any DVD that includes him - or worse, features him - is not appealing to me. But it's not always about what the parent wants because my 4-year-old daughter happens to like him. I tolerate him, not for her sake, but because I think the Sesame Street learning DVDs are entertaining and educational.
Let's get another confession out of the way: we all let our kids watch TV. I try to justify its use by trying as much as possible to steer my daughter towards programs that have some educational value. I've also realized recently after watching Preschool Prep's DVDs with my daughter that entertainment value is not to be underestimated either. For example, repetition is the foundation of teaching a new skill or concept to children such as learning their numbers or letters, but I felt that Meet the Numbers and Meet the Letters by Preschool Prep were beyond excessive. The videos would show a number or letter and repeat it more than a dozen times (I stopped counting after that). Even my daughter asked, "Why do they keep saying the number over and over?" I'm not sure whether her reaction is proof that the suggested age range - 18 months to 5 years - for many of their DVDs is too broad but her response certainly showed she didn't enjoy it (and the fact that she hasn't asked to watch it since). In contrast, Sesame Street's 123 Count with Me offers a kind of backstory to the numbers game with Ernie counting in real-life situations. There is repetition to enhance learning; however, it isn't delivered in a near monotone like Preschool Prep and the numbers are repeated in a larger variety of settings. Don't get me wrong, songs like "1 and 2 and 3" sung by three crows will certainly get stuck in your head but it didn't bother me as much as simply hearing a number said multiple times with basic animation. I still cringe at Elmo's rapping about the number 5 on this DVD but it happens to be one of my daughter's favorite parts. I tolerate it to humor her and because overall the program offers a storyline, jokes and cute characters to present numbers in a fun as well as educational format. I do think Preschool Prep's DVDs might be more valuable for a younger child. Personally, I think Meet the Numbers and the like are more suited for children under 2 years old and they might make a nice introduction to the concepts of letters and numbers for that age. However, I still think if you had to choose, Sesame Street's DVDs have much more to offer and really can be enjoyed by children of various ages; and as a mom who is listening to this stuff, the Sesame Street format is easier to tolerate. Other Sesame Street DVDs worth trying include Learning About Numbers and Learning About Letters.
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Summer fairs and festivals are a great opportunity for some family fun in New Jersey. From agricultural fairs to balloon festivals, families can really enjoy the Garden State in the summer months.
You can find information on different types of fairs - from crafts to music - at Fairs and Fun. You can find the various New Jersey agricultural fairs on the NJ Ag Fair website. We've highlighted some below:
Looking for a local playgroup for your toddler? Maybe you want to find other parents interested in exercising. Or perhaps you want to discover other families seeking to foster a foreign language.
Then you should check out Meetup.com, where you can search by location or interest to find like-minded groups. Many are run by concerned parents and are free to join. Some charge a nominal fee for membership. Several groups host activities and social events. For example, some groups focused on play or socialization as well as a support group and adult-only events:
Is your iPod Touch or iPhone such an important part of your life that your friends have joked it might need surgical removal? Or maybe you just like new, techie ways to do things especially when it comes to your kids?
Well then you should check out Baby Book by Emmbook ($4.99), a new application for iPhone & iTouch users available on iTunes that I was asked to test by its developers. It is a simple yet comprehensive application for tracking your baby’s progress, milestones and more. In the Diary section, you can input and track your baby’s growth, feedings and even naps & diaper changes in seconds (a little longer if you add notes to an entry)– which can all become a blur in those first months as a parent. This section also enables you to track immunizations, which I think is really helpful especially when you take your new baby to the doctor so often in the first several months. The one feature lacking right now is there is no way to remind you of upcoming visits or needed vaccines; however, the developers are considering it as part of future program enhancements. For the on-the-go parent, you also can track your child’s “firsts” and “favorites” and you can add family members to your baby’s book, including their photos, gifts they’ve given and quotes you want to preserve. You can add photos through your iTunes, sync with your device and then place the pictures where you want them. You can treat your child or friend to a slideshow of all the photos or select a category such as "Firsts & Favorites." This app is geared for the baby years but I've actually used the "Firsts" for my daughter who is nearly four years old. There are default "firsts" such as smile, laugh, first steps, but you can also add your own. I included her first pony ride and I've used it to record the funny things she says when we're out. It takes me a little getting used to the keyboard entry - I'm not a texting pro - but I often don't seem to have a pen and paper and it's saved me from forgetting what she said at the time. The only big drawback I found with the current app is that you can't really transfer anything you have in the Emmbook to your computer so you'd have to copy by hand anything you'd want to take from the app and say, put in your regular scrapbook. I'm new to the iPod Touch but with the Classic, the sync with your PC is usually one-way (unless you use some creative approaches). The good news is the developers say they are exploring the option of sharing notes and photos on the web, which would be wonderful for the parents who use photo-share sites and community sites like Facebook. Overall, this is a neat program for the gadget-loving parent but any mom or dad can easily use it. The Miller-Cory House in Westfield, NJ is another historic site that offers a variety of family events this season.
I am looking forward to stopping by for Hocus Pocus on Oct. 25, where kids will be able to decorate their own Halloween cupcake among other crafst and there will be storytelling. This event, runs from 1:30 to 4 pm and guests are encouraged to come in costume. The cost is $4 for children while accompanying adults are free. The Miller-Cory House will host other events nearly every Sunday, including:
And there will be more to do in December, including Gingerbread Sunday on Dec. 6. From 1:30 to 4 pm, children will make a simple gingerbread house to take home and hear stories. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED and space is limited. There is a cost for this program, which is recommended for ages 5-10. People can call the museum at 908-232-1776 to register for programs or for more information. We were at the Lord Stirling 1770s Festival in Basking Ridge today (an annual event I recommend, for families) & we received information on the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts in Madison, NJ. I have to admit the name didn't make me think of anything I'd be interested in but then the woman handing me a brochure mentioned that they have hands-on activities for kids, usually for ages 6-11.
My daughter is 3 1/2 but I decided to check out their site to see what else they might have and they have lots of neat-sounding events and programs. They have an after-school Kids' Club for ages 6-11, with a variety of themed activities throughout the year. They also have several events for all ages including a family-friendly concert series. For kids they have Tricks N Treats on October 31. Kids in costume can come for a number of activities including games & crafts. In November, children can attend a Teddy Bear Picnic in honor of National Teddy Bear Day. Kids can bring their stuffed buddy and enjoy teddy bear stories. This event is appropriate for ages 2-6. On December 6, older children ages 9-12 can get hands-on experience in jewelry making in their Jewelry Making Workshop. Next year's programming for kids looks really creative, too, with a Dragon Tales Pajama Party, a Stuffed-Animal Sleepover and more. There's plenty for adults as well. In October, there is a Chocolate event and in November, there's Wine & Song, an annual fundraising event. In December, there is a Jewelry Making Workshop for Adults. And there's plenty more. I'm looking forward to checking this place out and let me know if you do, too. Be aware that many of these programs recommend advance registration so call the Museum at 973-377-2982 x 14. The kid in me is always looking for some spooky fun so I was happy to stumble upon the Grimlock Manor, which has creepy hallways & secret passages to explore. There are lots of fright fests out there so I love when they have a story behind the ghouls. According to their website, the Manor is where:
"billionaire Griswald Grimlock had hired a paranormal research team to try and create a device that would bring his beautiful wife Lucilla back from the dead. Recent unexplained events coming from behind the manors monstrous walls suggest that Mr. Grimlock may have succeeded! Be the first to join a new team of paranormal recruits to enter the manor and uncover the truth behind the strange happenings." I have never been to this attraction but I'm going to try and find the time to check out this place, which has a creative back story and a creepy cast of characters. Getting a Halloween thrill is inexpensive ($8 13 and up; $5 for kids ages 12 and under) and even better, 25% of all proceeds will go directly to the Metuchen EMS, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing emergency medical services to the Metuchen community. For more Halloween and other holiday events, check out ParenthoodNJ's event calendar. |
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