Stuff We Like: Cool Grad Gifts

Is your little one getting ready to take the leap from preschool to kindergarten? Moving up from elementary to middle school? We recently had a discussion in the office about “graduation” ceremonies for these types of milestones, and there were some differing viewpoints. Do these smaller “graduations” give kids a feeling of accomplishment and confidence in... Read More

From Reading with Babies to Reading with My Own Baby by a Brooklyn Librarian

I have been a children’s librarian for more than 15 years. I loved sharing books with rooms full of toddlers and with my nephew, young cousins, and the kids of friends, but it was not until I had my own son that I saw how challenging it can be to share books with a newborn. I made an effort to share books from the moment he was born (in the delivery room, I recited him one... Read More

And the Senior Superlative Goes to…the Parents!

One more reason I love social media: Without it, I likely would not discover stories such as this one, headlined “Adorable Same-Sex High School Couple Wins ‘Cutest Couple’ Yearbook Superlative.” Brad Taylor and Dylan Meehan were named “cutest couple” at Carmel High School in Putnam County, NY—it was the first year same-sex couples were “eligible” (I wonder: Were... Read More

Stuff We Like: Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Last week we posted about some great books for Father’s Day, and this week–with Father’s Day approaching on June 16–we’ve got a dozen great gift ideas for the dad in your life, whether he’s a first-timer, tech geek, DIY-er, or just a cool dude.   First Father’s Day #gallery-5 { margin: auto; } #gallery-5 .gallery-item... Read More

Bragging Rights: Yours, Mine, Every Parent’s

Our Constitution guarantees us freedom of speech—and as far as I’m concerned, that includes parental bragging rights. I’m not one of those obnoxious parents who touts my child’s every last feat to every person I meet, nor do I post hourly video updates of his antics to my Facebook page. But I do boast when it’s called for, and I do share milestone albums on Facebook, funny... Read More

Stuff We Like: Books for Father’s Day

One of the most beloved objects of my childhood was the Big Green Chair in my bedroom. It was an overstuffed armchair covered in a sort of olive green corduroy material, but I didn’t love it for its vintage ’70s look (not least because, at the age of 3 or 4, I’m sure I had no concept of ‘vintage’). I loved it because that was the one spot in the house... Read More

Call It a Comeback: Sea Lions Welcome You to Their New Home!

   New York Aquarium, normally the only Coney Island attraction open to the public every day of the year, opens its doors again today after having been closed since Hurricane Sandy hit our shores last fall. The partial re-opening allows guests to see otters, walruses, and plenty of other marine mammals, including the resident sea lions. NYMetroParents got a preview of the... Read More

Stuff We Like: Fun in the Outdoors

Soon that last school bell will ring and kids everywhere will be jumping into the open arms of summer, a season full of sunshine, freedom, and–okay, sometimes–boredom. You know it’s coming. The exact second after the novelty of no-school wears off, it starts: “There’s nothing to do,” your little angel will whine say. Of course, this is nothing... Read More