Dream Halloween will take place on October 21st form 1pm – 4pm at the legendary Hard Rock Café in New York City. Here is the link to the information page, http://keepachildalive.org/events/dream-halloween-ny-2012/. Co-founded by Grammy Award winner and new mom Alicia Keys, Keep a Child Alive does cutting edge work, reaching children most in need with compassionate care.
In addition to raising funds for sites in Africa and India, Keep a Child Alive will be sponsoring children from agencies here in New York City that support families affected by HIV /AIDS to partake in this joyful event, and will provide small grants to local agencies supporting children affected by HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
This event will be hosted by Padma Lakshmi and will have a performance by Cody Simpson.
Today on Wednesday, October 17th, LifeLock is stepping up to donate $1 to the Pat Tillman Foundation for each Facebook like received on this day up to $25,000!
For anyone unfamiliar with this organization, “The Tillman Military Scholars program supports our nation’s active and veteran service members and their spouses by removing financial barriers to completing a degree program of choice. The scholarships cover not only direct study-related expenses such as tuition and fees, but also other needs, including housing and child care. Since the program’s inception, the Pat Tillman Foundation has invested over $3.2 million in financial support to 230 Scholars.”
This is the final chance to see the original lineup of The Wiggles ( Anthony, Greg, Murray and Jeff )…and this is also your first chance to see the NEW wiggles Lachy, Simon , and the first female wiggle, Emma. These new wiggles are being introduced at each show as “Wiggles in Training.” There are only two NYC shows at Town Hall on Wednesday, October 10th for two shows at 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM.
After 21 years of entertaining and educating children around the globe, Red Wiggle Murray Cook, Yellow Wiggle Greg Page and Purple Wiggle Jeff Fatt have decided to hang up their trademark colored jerseys.
The Celebration Tour, which corresponds with the release of their new DVD and CD, “The Wiggles Big Birthday,” will honor over two decades of Wiggly singing, dancing, and performances for children and their parents. Beginning in 2013, The Wiggles will launch a new lineup that will usher in an exciting new era for future generations of children to continue to delight in the Wiggles unique brand of music, fun and learning. The group’s founder, Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, will be joined on stage by Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, and the first-ever female Wiggle, Emma Watkins, who have been handpicked by the group to become the Purple, Red and Yellow Wiggles.
Tickets for NYC are on sale now and are available through all Ticketmaster locations (www.ticketmaster.com) or by calling (800) 745-3000 and the venue box office. Prices range from $39.00 – $85.00 (additional facility fees, service charges and $.50 donation to Reach Out and Read may apply). $85.00 tickets in the Wiggles VIP section are limited, and will include the best seats in the house, an exclusive gift, an activity sheet and your last chance to dance along with The Original Wiggles themselves!
Come and wiggle in the aisles forThe Celebration Tour! Audience participation features include:
Start the fun at home by creating a giant wiggly sign.
Having fun with your favorite wiggly pal as they sing and dance through the audience.
Children can have even more wiggly fun while they wait for the show by visiting www.WiggleTime.com, The Wiggles’ very own virtual world created specifically for preschoolers and their parents. Parents can monitor their child’s progress and have access to premium promotional offers, contests, merchandise discounts and presale Wiggles tickets! You can also follow the gang on Twitter via Twitter.com/ItsWiggleTime or become a fan of the group’s official Facebook page Facebook.com/TheWiggles
The legendary Harlem Globetrotters are about to kick off their first game in Brooklyn at the new Barclay Center. I figured no better time then to take kiddo to his first professional basketball game then one that really engages the minds of little kids and of the big kids like me.
The Barclay Center rocked last week with Jay-Z but now its game time… the first basketball game to christen the new hardwood will belong to the Harlem Globetrotters.
On October 7, 2012 the Harlem Globetrotters will be in Brooklyn! Join me for a historical event: The Globetrotters’s First Ever Game in Brooklyn, the first basketball game even before the BROOKLYN NETS hit the court and a basketball game your kids won’t soon forget!
Visit Sesame Place during its month long celebration of Halloween—The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular. Sesame Place has been transformed into a not-too-spooky Halloween haven featuring two themed mazes, a character hayride, three Halloween shows and everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends dressed in their Halloween attire.
During The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular, which runs from September 24th through October 30th, families are encouraged to come dressed in costume as they enjoy Sesame Place, which is decked out with Halloween decor. In addition to the park’s Spooktacular-focused attractions, Sesame Place’s dozen dry rides are also open for guests to enjoy. And if your family is looking for even more Halloween fun, the park will also host special events like The Count’s Halloween Party, Abby Cadabby’s Fairy Pumpkin Party and our annual Halloween Costume Contest.
Spooktacular Shows & Parade Times:
The Not-Too-Spooky Howl-o-ween Radio Show!: 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m.
The Neighborhood Street Party Spooktacular Parade: 4:00 p.m.
For more information on rides & attractions, special dines & events, and Halloween menu items, click here.
I’m giving away a 4 pack of single day tickets to the theme pack to be used in the next couple of weekends (the park is now only open on the weekends).
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. October 5th, 2012.
You must comment telling us your favorite Sesame Street Character, please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email)
You get 1 extra entry for tweeting about this contest (you can do this daily). Must contain the following information:
@SesamePlace @dadarocks – http://dad.tc/OAoTQy and you must also comment with the link to your twitter message.
Example: I want to win a family 4 pack of tickets to @SesamePlace for #halloween from @dadarocks – http://dad.tc/OAoTQy
You get 1 extra entry for becoming a FAN on facebook –facebook.com/DaDaRocks you must comment that you’re a fan
You get 1 extra entry for becoming a Fan on facebook of Sesame Place – facebook.com/SesamePlace you must comment that you’re a fan
You get 1 extra entry for subscribing to our Feedburner digest mailing (right side subscribe by email) – you must also comment that you’ve subscribed
You will have 24 hours to reply before we pick another winner!
Disclaimer: Sesame Place is providing these tickets for the raffle.
Back-to-school season is officially here. Do you remember the days when you were preparing to head back to elementary school after the lazy days of summer? How did you roll back to the classroom? What was your back-to-school style?
Radio Flyer, the famous maker of the little red wagon, wants to help your kids roll back to school in style.
Be the first kids on the block to experience the new Radio Flyer GrooveGlider (with built in MP3 speakers to rock and roll at the same time) and Shockwave (FLEXDECK technology for bigger jumps) scooters – designed for girls and boys ages 5+ with the latest bells and whistles they want most.
GrooveGlider Scooter– 5 years +
$59.99 on RadioFlyer.com
The GrooveGlider is a first of its kind… giving girls a scooter that speaks to their top 3 interests – music, socializing and riding through the neighborhood
With a built-in MP3 speaker case positioned conveniently between the handle bars, the GrooveGlider lets girls rock out to their music while they ride
The MP3 storage case projects great sound and is weather resistant, even durable enough to handle the inevitable scooter drop
The 3-position adjustable handlebars on the GrooveGlider allows for a grow-with-me feature, while a quiet, no-rattle ride
Shockwave Scooter – 5 years +
$59.99 on RadioFlyer.com
There are two things boys are concerned about when it comes to their scooters – speed and big jumps. Shockwave delivers both.
A unique FLEXDECK technology gives the thrill of bigger jumps and provides suspension for a smooth, fast ride.
Solid steel frame and bolted, 3-position handle bars allow no-rattle ride and quality that endures
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. September 19th, 2012.
You must comment with which scooter you’d like to win? please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email).
College students often look forward to moving out of their parents’ home and living on their own – with their own rules. Occasionally these new experiences could include fake identification to purchase cigarettes or alcohol. While this is not only against the law in all 50 states, it also makes the underage student vulnerable to potential identity theft when they order the fraudulent ID.
Personal information, including but not limited to your name, date of birth, address, Social Security number or email address, can be compromised in many ways, including hackers gaining unlawful access to computer files containing student information (even SSNs). Since identity theft can strike at any stage in life, whether you knowingly hand over your personal information to a criminal or not, LifeLock recommends college students do the following to help better protect their identities:
Keep it Real: A recent report by the Arizona Republic has identified identity theft rings in China that offer underage students the opportunity to purchase a fake ID that looks like “the real thing” and is often undetectable as a fake. These fake ID shops are a cover for more elaborate identity theft rings. More frequently, these rings are targeting college campuses where students are willing to pay a small fee and willingly hand over personally identifiable information in order to get a fake ID. Follow the law and use your real identification. Creating a fake ID can cause more harm than good.
Wi-Fi! Why Not? – Many campuses offer free Wi-Fi services, which can be great for research or just surfing. When connected through a free Wi-Fi connection, understand that the connection is not always secure and identity thieves may have the ability to intercept wireless activity and see where you are going and what you are doing. Avoid social networking sites, online bill pay, checking your financial accounts and shopping online when connected via free Wi-Fi.
Credit – One Size Fits All – Consider relying on your credit card vs. your debit card. If you and your debit card are targeted by an identity thief, you could potentially lose the money you have in your checking or savings account. If your credit card is compromised by an unscrupulous thief, you have 60 days to notify your financial institution and you won’t be out your direct checking and savings account funds, instead your line of credit.
Here’s My Number – Some colleges/universities may still use your Social Security number as your student identification number. If this is the case at your school, request a unique identifier instead of your Social Security number. Keep your Social Security card locked in a safe place where no one, not even a new roommate, can access.
Weekend Getaways: As college students near the end of each semester, email offers frequently arise for long-weekend vacations. Identity thieves can pose as trusted sources offering you the “deal of the day” if you just follow their link. Verify all offers by opening a new Web browser and typing in the official web address to confirm the authenticity of the offer.
How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular Visits New Jersey in the IZOD Center Sept 27-30
This summer, audiences across North America will experience the magic of fire-breathing dragons that soar through arena skies in DREAMWORKS’ HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON LIVE SPECTACULAR. DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA), Global Creatures and S2BN Entertainment announced HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON LIVE SPECTACULAR will embark on a worldwide tour following its critically acclaimed debut in Australia and New Zealand. The tour will be produced by RZO Dragon Productions to deliver 23 dragons, some with wingspans of up to 46 feet, Viking warriors and world-class circus artists and acrobats, to perform against a state-of-the-art, wall-to-floor immersive projection measuring more than 20,000 square feet.
Tickets are on sale now and start at $24.50 plus applicable facility fees and service charges. Tickets are may be purchased through the arena Box Office, by going to Ticketmaster.com or calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. A limited number of premium seats and special VIP ticket experiences and family packages are also available. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, for showtimes and much more. There are three amazing VIP packages as well. CLICK HERE for details on how to meet the dragons as well as other VIP opportunities!
SPECIAL OFFER….SAVE 25% on weekday performances (select premium seats), including Friday night, by entering the code MOM in the promo box which says “Promotions and Special Offers” Get great seats for a big discount!
IZOD CENTER 50 State Route 120, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 www.izodcenter.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
7:00 PM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
11:00 AM
7:00 PM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
11:00 AM
3:00 PM
7:00 PM
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
7:30 PM
REGULAR TICKET PRICES:
# $69.50, $54.50, $39.50, $24.50
+ $79.50, $64.50, $49.50, $29.50
* $89.50, $74.50, $59.50, $39.50
A limited number of additional VIP experience packages are also available.
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. September 18th, 2012.
You must comment with which character from HTTYD is your child’s favorite? please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email).
You get 1 extra entry for tweeting about this contest (you can do this daily). Must contain the following information:
” win a 4 Pack of Tickets to see @DWdragonslive from @dadarocks – http://dad.tc/RKpDCP ” and you must also comment with the link to your twitter message.
Example: I want to win a 4 pack of tickets to see @DWdragonslive from @dadarocks – http://dad.tc/RKpDCP
You get 1 extra entry for becoming a Fan on facebook – facebook.com/dadarocks you must comment that you’re a fan
You get 1 extra entry for subscribing to our Feedburner digest mailing (right side subscribe by email) – you must also comment that you’ve subscribed
You will have 24 hours to reply before we pick another winner! Limited to the USA.
Disclaimer: How to Train Your Dragon Live is providing the prize for the raffle – all thoughts of the product are my own.
Many of the emotional meltdowns children experience between about 9 and 30 months old bubble up from the frustration of not being able to communicate. So, the“terribletwos“ can be much less terrible the more children learn how to get across their intense and conflicting thoughts.
You can fairly easily prevent tantrums (or, as I like to call them, “emotional storms”) by understanding them in context and following some easy tips for becoming a “toddler-whisperer.” And, clearly this advice isn’t exclusive to dads, but sometimes it’s nice to have some secret tricks up your sleeve to show off what an awesome parent you are. Just don’t keep it secret too long – it’s great for everyone to know how to help ease the frustrations of your child!
First, let’s get some context by trying to understand your child’s perspective. Children in the developmental stage known as the “TerribleTwos,” or “FirstAdolescence,” increasingly become aware of all the choices available to them and as a result become angry or frustrated when they are powerless over those choices. This frustration can quickly escalate into a full-blown storm.
Consider the grocery store — as an adult, you can choose whether or not you want to go to the grocery store, when to go, what products you’re going to buy, and which products you won’t. Your child has no control over any of these choices. To make the supermarket situation worse, there are cleverly-designed packages up and down the aisles that scream, “Buy me! Buy me! Buy me!” To a large extent we are able to tune that out, but for a small child who is just learning to make choices, it’s like going to a deafening rock concert. Visually they are overwhelmed by high-decibel choices. They are compelled to start wanting some of these attractive items. And, when they can’t have what they want, they dissolve into tears and worse — deafening screams.
While you can’t avoid tantrums altogether, you can do an awful lot to help prevent them and reduce how many you and your child suffer through.
Here are 3 simple tips:
1. Be proactive. Children are most susceptible to storms when they are tired, hungry, uncomfortable or bored, so be attentive to avoiding these physical states.
2. Interact with your child. Whatever you’re doing, talk (or whisper) to your child. If she knows enough words, you can have simple conversations about what she thinks about whatever is happening at the moment. Even something as mundane as grocery shopping can be a delightful opportunity to talk about the world – would your child rather be a strawberry farmer or milk cows to make yogurt? If your child is still in the early phases of speech development, you can ask her to point to things that are the color red. Or, you can use a free app like KidGlyphs, which uses graphics, spoken words, and text to help children communicate beyond their verbal skills – an invaluable tool to help prevent tantrums!
3.Let your child make a couple simple choices. Remember the situation from your child’s perspective: you are going along in this world making choice, after choice, after choice, but when he tries to make a choice, he doesn’t get what he wants. You can see how frustrating this would be. Back to the store example, it’s often helpful to let your child pick out one or two things. A good way to do this is when a child asks for something, instead of saying, “No,” say, “Let’s write that down.” Then write it down. When your child asks for something else, write that down, too. Then when you’re all done, read back a few of the things on the list that you think would be good choices, and let him pick one or two of the things on the list. If you’re at home and it’s bath time, ask him which towel he’d like to use and if he’d rather you wash his hair or if he’d like to try himself (limiting choices is imperative). If children can make some choices, they will both learn more and feel better.
That’s it! Make these tips a habit and in no time at all, your toddler-whispering skills will be the talk of the playground. Have fun!
This post is written by: Dr. Alan Greene, MD, FAAP
Pediatrician Alan Greene, MD is the founder of DrGreene.com, WhiteOut Now, and KidGlyphs. He is the author of numerous books including award winning Raising Baby GreenandFeeding Baby Green. Media appearances include the TODAY Show, the Dr. Oz Show, and The New York Times. He is the recipient of the Healthy Child Healthy World Prevention Award and Intel’s “Children’s Health Hero of the Internet” award. He is the father of four and he wears green socks.
When you’re a parent safety is the #1 factor… shortly behind that comes easy of use. Living in manhattan you take certain things in stride – like I’ll just hold my baby instead of carrying a carseat into and out of every taxi from FiDi to the Upper East Side. Truth is we dont lug those things around because of the pain in the neck that is it to always put them in to and out of cars… which is why when my son hit 4 years old (he had already met all the other height and weight requirements) I was happy about moving over to a Clek Olli booster seat.
This is super cool in looks – ease of use is second to none… as long as your car was made in 2003 or newer (select 2001 & 2002) – you have the latch system and its easy peazy to install.
In 2012 Clek announced an Olli that even this papa bear was drooling over the Olli Cooper which is a leather booster seat. You know in modern times colors/fabric choices are how we parents define ourselves and our kids personalities.
Here’s the kicker when is comes to lugging many other booster seats in and out of cars they can be 20 lbs without blinking an eye… you can carry the clek at just 5lbs — thats lighter then most bowling balls.
How do you know if you’re child is ready to move from the convertible car seat to a booster seat – and a back-less booster seat at that… you really need to think about sleep patterns – is your child always falling asleep in the car then switching them over to a backless booster might not be the right fit.
But really – Who Should Use the Olli?
Booster seat laws vary by state. Please check your local booster seat laws.
Height Weight Recommended Age
40-57 in. (101-145 cm)
40-120 lb (18-54 kg)
4 years and up
If you’re a leather guy – like I am – you really need to check out the Limited Edition Black Leather Cooper… but if I had to go in a different direction I’m loving that tadpole green color… but the Jet and Storm also work for me.
Our friends at Clek are sooo cool they’re offering an Olli up as a giveaway prize… pretty simple pick out which olli color you’d like to own (your choice other then the cooper thats off limits because of its limited edition numbers).
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. September 6th, 2012.
You must comment with which color Olli you’d like to own? please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email).
