Jessica Laird

Latest posts by Jessica Laird

How to Tackle Tough Stuff With Your Kids: Depression, Stereotypes, Surgery, and More

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 7:40pm

The new Connecticut Children's toolkit, Overcoming Challenges, is filled with expert advice on facing difficult conversations we encounter with our kids.

While we can handle many of the day to day issues that come up for our kids, there are some times where a Google search doesn’t cut it and it’s time to turn to help from experts. From discussing a family cancer diagnosis to navigating hurtful stereotyping, eating issues in kids, and more, Connecticut Children's has created a new toolkit called Overcoming Challenges filled with advice on facing some of the difficult situations and conversations we encounter with our kids from pediatric psychologists, child life specialists, registered dieticians, and other pediatric experts.

It seems like children are facing an increasing number of tough challenges lately. Check out some of the ones tackled in the Overcoming Challenges toolkit and click through to get all the advice, including when and how to reach out to a specialist–there’s even a link to easily request a virtual or in-person appointment.

This App Offers Up to 80% Off the Whole Family’s Prescription Meds–Here’s My SingleCare Review

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 10/27/2022 - 10:00am

SingleCare offers major savings on more than 10,000 prescription drugs through its free app.

Our take: SingleCare is one of the best discount pharmacy programs, offering major savings on more than 10,000 generic and brand name prescription drugs through its free app.

I’m not the only one who’s stood nervously at the pharmacy cash register waiting to see whether my kid’s latest ointment or antibiotic would ring up as five bucks or five hundred dollars, right?

The reality is, whether you have insurance or not, filling a prescription can be totally unpredictable and very expensive. So, when I heard that SingleCare is trying to end the dreaded drugstore guessing game with an app that offers upfront discount pricing on over 10,000 prescription drugs at over 35,000 U.S. pharmacies–including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, and many more–I couldn’t have signed up any faster. We’re talking about prices that are often lower than what you’d spend on your insurance copay.

Read on for my honest take on the SingleCare app, including how much the discount pharmacy program saved me on my family’s prescriptions and tips for maximizing your savings.

Best Nature Preschools and Outdoor Forest Schools in the Philadelphia Area

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 10/24/2022 - 7:13am

Cultivate a love of nature at an early age. Photo courtesy of The Philadelphia School

Nature preschools and outdoor education programs have received an increasing amount of attention over the years, and rightfully so. With nature at the core of the curriculum, these schools make the most of kids' innate curiosity about the natural world to spark an interest in and a love of learning. Nature-based schools also emphasize extensive outside time—oftentimes in all weather—and incorporate the environment into every element of learning. In programs with indoor classrooms, you'll typically find nature-centered books, natural materials, and lessons focused on seasonal happenings. In forest schools, kids may actually spend little to no time indoors, instead focusing on learning through outdoor play and hands-on discovery.

Read on to learn about some of the of much-loved nature schools and forest schools in the Philadelphia area. You'll find programs that include all ages—from nature-based mommy-and-me classes at preschools to programs that continue through elementary or high school.

You can find more preschools for kids in our directory of schools and preschools and in our Philly Preschools Guide. Check our Philadelphia Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Art of Problem Solving’s Math and English Enrichment Program Teaches Thinking, Not Memorization

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Fri, 09/02/2022 - 10:00am

AoPS Academy students collaborate with other outstanding peers, working with the same student cohort throughout the year.

Art of Problem Solving offers math and language arts enrichment for advanced learners from grades 2-12 in the Bay Area.

A generation ago, many occupations required people to repeatedly solve routine problems–but, now, most of those jobs are performed by computers! To set today’s students up for success, they need to learn critical problem-solving skills, and the earlier the better. Understanding how to tackle difficult problems–not just replicas of ones they've already seen–teaches kids how to learn, and prepares them for the challenges of top-tier colleges and competitive careers.

That’s the focus of Art of Problem Solving (AoPS). At AoPS Academy, an in-person after-school, weekend, and summer academic program geared toward advanced learners, students build a problem solving skill set to prepare them for many of life's challenges. The program combines a rigorous curriculum, expert instruction, and community to create a one-of-a-kind enrichment experience at 13 locations across the country, including 3 in the Bay Area: Pleasanton, Santa Clara, and a brand new campus in Fremont.

6 Expert Tips for a Healthy Back-to-School Season

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 08/25/2022 - 10:00am

Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut dedicated to children.

The last thing busy parents need at the beginning of the school year is another item on their to-do list, but that doesn’t mean children’s health and safety concerns should take a back seat.

Art of Problem Solving’s Math and English Enrichment Program Teaches Thinking, Not Memorization

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 08/25/2022 - 10:00am

Art of Problem Solving offers math and language arts enrichment for advanced learners from grades 2-12 in Irvine, Orange County.

That’s the focus of Art of Problem Solving (AoPS). At AoPS Academy, an in-person after-school, weekend, and summer academic program geared toward advanced learners, students build a problem solving skill set to prepare them for many of life's challenges. With 13 locations nationwide, including a brand new campus in Irvine, California, AoPS combines a rigorous curriculum, expert instruction, and community to create a one-of-a-kind enrichment experience.

Sanity-Saving Snacks for Back to School Wins

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sat, 08/13/2022 - 4:00pm

Tastykake's kid-approved treats are ready to solve some of your snack-related back to school woes.

For moms and dads, the start of the school year means a return to frantic lunch packing, endless carpool planning, and way too many opportunities to drop the ball. But what if you could solve a slew of parenting problems with something as simple as, say, a cupcake?

With the back-to-school season right around the corner, we put our heads together with the baked goods-loving pros over at Tastykake® to brainstorm how their kid-approved treats can solve some of our snack-related back to school woes. Unsurprisingly, it turns out that when a little something sweet is the answer (and sometimes it is), Tastykake has parents covered.

How to Find the Right Chicago Daycare or Preschool for Your Kid

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Sat, 08/06/2022 - 4:00pm

Bright Horizons operates more than 1,000 nurturing, enriching, and convenient early education centers across the globe.

If looking for a daycare or preschool in the Chicago area is feeling like a black hole of Google searches and Excel spreadsheets, we’ve got you (quite frankly, because we’ve been there…).

To help put an end to the all-too-familiar chaos of the childcare hunt, we connected with the experts at Bright Horizons–who operate more than 1,000 nurturing, enriching, and convenient early education centers across the globe–to compile a list of the most important things to consider when evaluating a Chicago daycare or preschool. So, before you book that preschool tour or drop a deposit, find out what factors should be top of mind in your preschool search.