With the prevalence of electronic everything, I’m finding that many kids – even little ones – are so plugged in that they won’t hold a conversation or sustain attention. This is, at a minimum, annoying and rude; and at worst, creating a generation woefully deficient in interpersonal communication and concentration skills. Still, simply confiscating their […]
Parenting Tips
Summer Camp Scoop: 10 Camp Planning Tips
Before you know it, school’s out for summer so camp should be top-of-mind. Want to make the most of your kid’s time off from school? Here’s the lowdown about why and how. Sleepaway camps, in particular, provide kids with the opportunity to unplug, connect with nature, have fun, make new friends, experience new adventures, learn […]
Hints on Sharing a Vacation Home
With summer just around the corner, many of us are planning vacation rentals. This often means sharing a home with extended family or close friends. Many times, the result is a convivial, festive romp that produces fond memories and occasional hilarity. Unless it doesn’t. There are several situations that may arise, particularly around other people’s […]
The Park Avenue Wig: One Mom’s Journey to Beating Cancer
I keep thinking about the last episode of Sex and the City where Samantha gives a speech I keep thinking about the last episode of at a Cancer benefit saying, “She’s brave, she’s capable, she’s you. Oh f*@k it she’s me.” Watching that episode in 2004 with my college friends, I would have never imaged […]
Spring Fever for Families in Transition
Whatever your spring holiday tradition, Easter baskets, Passover or celebrating the Vernal Equinox, for families in transition, it can be a time when tensions run high, patience runs low, and the appetite for creating a perfect holiday may exceed the ability to produce an emotionally balanced meal that suits everyone’s tastes. Holidays conjure up the […]
Put The Happy Into Your Mothers Day: Ideas To Keep You Positive And Centered As A Mom
With Mothers’ Day fast approaching, and with it the prospect of receiving another adorable round of glitter-covered picture frames and half-raw pancakes, it may be time to reflect on what mothers really need. Most moms readily declare that more sleep would be a singularly precious gift, or perhaps the metaphysical power to halt time! Yet, […]
Peaceful Parenting: Workshop Re-Cap
In case you missed it, Mommybites Bergen hosted one of its signature in-person events last week, which brought moms together for lunch, socializing and important parenting information. The Peaceful Parenting event featured expert Dr. Kevin Brennan, Clinical Psychologist and Parent Coach, and focused on how to remove frustration and anger from the tough job of […]
Reducing Test-Taking Anxiety
The Situation Today With New York State tests just around the corner, hearing children in your life complaining about their fears or frustrations around writing short answers and extended responses, explaining their answers, or the “stupid Common Core”, may be frequent. As a tutor in Manhattan to several third, fourth, and fifth grade public school […]
The Do’s and Don’ts of Parent-to-Parent Sensitivity
Parenting can be a rocky road. Sure, there are moments of rapturous joy – the first time your kid rides a bike, or skis down a hill, or performs in a dance recital, or remembers to put her clothes in the hamper – but there are also painful, difficult, heartbreaking spells, too, when your children […]
Play is Critical to Healthy Brain Development
How do young children learn? The unanimous answer is that they learn by playing. Child Development specialists such as Vivian Gussin Paley, Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget all support that children need to play for the healthy development of their brains. While children are playing with hands-on-material or toys, this helps them to learn. The […]