Rose Gordon Sala

Latest posts by Rose Gordon Sala

Baby Sleep Boxes Offered to Every NJ Parent for Free in 2017

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 4:00pm

Expecting a baby in 2017? If you're in New Jersey, you'll have the opportunity to receive a FREE Baby Box that can serve as mini crib for the newborn months and comes stocked with infant supplies, such as diaper and wipe samples.

The boxes, created by Baby Box Co., are modeled after the same ones provided by the Finnish government for decades to new moms and aimed at tackling SIDs, or SUID, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, aka, every parent's worst nightmare. The sturdy cardboard box is considered a safe sleeping environment and has earned the seal of approval from CPSC, Health Canada, and EN for safe infant sleeping spaces. It can also be kept close by, which makes things easier on parents but also further encourages healthy habits, from breastfeeding to bonding. Finland has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, and the boxes, along with the prenatal counseling that comes with them, are credited with its successful rating.

GoList 2017: The Best Family Events this Year in NYC

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sun, 01/15/2017 - 4:04pm

There's so much fun new stuff going on in New York City every day that it can be hard to keep up—and it looks like 2017 will be no exception. Luckily for you, it's our job to stay on top of this when it comes to kid and family events. We've rounded up all the top annual family festivals, plus the really cool new things coming to NYC this year, including a miniature model city, mummies, big shows, new art, and a virtual aquarium coming to Times Square.

We just took a look at the best openings of 2016 for NYC kids, including dozens of new indoor play spaces, plus cool playgrounds and cultural spots. But I have a feeling that this year might just top last!

Read on for all our best picks for NYC kids in 2017, and let us know via our Facebook page if you have more suggestions. And don't forget, you can always check our Event Calendar for upcoming events and activities and our monthly GoLists.

NYC New Year's Eve Celebrations for Preschoolers and Little Kids

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 12/29/2016 - 4:00pm

Ringing in the new year at the iconic Times Square ball drop or at an impressive fireworks display are on many a native and traveler's NYC bucket list. But for new parents? Or those with a preschooler or toddler in tow? Let's be honest, you'll be lucky to be awake at 10pm.

Still, there are plenty of events in New York City for early-to-bed families. From museums to restaurants, read on for our best bets for ringing in 2017 with toddlers, preschoolers, and any kid or parent who prefers getting extra ZZZs over sticking around for the annual fireworks barrage.

Find family events happening all weekend in our New Year's roundup, and more seasonal fun in our Holiday Fun Guide.

Best New Destinations for NYC Kids That Opened in 2016

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 12/27/2016 - 6:00pm

You’re forgiven if you don’t count 2016 among your favorite years. There was Zika, ISIS, the Orlando massacre and more shootings than we care to count, the ongoing Syrian tragedy, the untimely deaths of public figures like David Bowie and Carrie Fisher, and yes, our acrimonious presidential election. But if you’re looking for a little glimmer of light, something to brighten your way into 2017, there sure were some positive signs in NYC when it came to new destinations for kids and families.

Even as we lost some of those quirky spots that make New York, well, New York, such as The Morbid Anatomy Museum and local bookstores BookCourt and P.S. Bookshop (all three in Brooklyn), the completely revamped 53rd Street NYPL reopened with a lovely children’s room and teen programming. We also gained several new playgrounds, including this whopper on the Upper West Side and a piano-shaped sprayground in Queens—and more than a dozen new kiddie gyms and play spaces across the five boroughs. And don't forget about Slide Hill on Governors Island, along with the city's first ever adventure playground. Certainly there seems to be an upward trend and more diverse lineup in terms of destinations when compared with 2015.

We’re looking forward to 2017 when the Bronx Zoo will gain a zip line (woot!), a miniature block-long city (Gulliver's Gate) will open for your gawking pleasure, downtown Brooklyn will add a new food court, and some spectacular family shows will arrive on Broadway. And let’s hear it for the Second Avenue subway, eh? Onward all, and onward to our favorite openings last year.

Weekday Fun: Freebies, Make Music, Holiday Crafts, Santa

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sun, 12/18/2016 - 10:00am

NYC kids are no doubt worked into a holiday frenzy this week. They can sense the school vacation headed their way—and are hopped up on holiday treats, and good cheer! Keep 'em focused with cool art projects like snowy dioramas and reindeer sock puppet making, or let them shake out some of that energy with Make Music Winter, a free outdoor musical event happening all over the city this Wednesday.

Catch Santa for FREE all week at Bryant Park, and kick off the holiday vacation with FREE museum hours this Friday. There are also Hanukkah celebrations, concerts, and menorah lightings, and don't miss out on these NYC maker spaces for drop-in fun, especially as the weather turns, well, frightful.

Whether you're sticking around the city this whole week, or headed off for the holidays, it's worth getting out to cross off those last items on your NYC holiday bucket list, from a department store windows walk to checking out some of the most colorful and brightly lit trees. Don't forget what the city looks like come February. OK, a lot less crowded, but a lot less festive, too.

Read on for our best bets for NYC kids this week, December 19-23, and don't forget to check out our daily Event Calendar for more things to do with the kids the week, or our Holiday Activities Guide for more seasonal NYC fun...all December break long.

Santa Visits 100 Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us Stores in 2016

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Mon, 12/12/2016 - 12:00pm

Count your local Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us as one more spot where you can score that cute photo with Santa.

The national toy and baby gear retailer teamed up with WorldWide Photography to bring a Santa photo package experience to 100 select stores across the country in 2016, including in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, and California.

Review: Ballerina Swan Meets Her Nutcracker in New Holiday Show

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Thu, 12/08/2016 - 11:00am

The city is awash in Nutcracker performances come holiday season, from the iconic New York City Ballet’s production at Lincoln Center to the abridged, children-friendly Keith Michael's The Nutcracker. For NYC families with kids under 5, the question always is: are they ready? Will they even make it to intermission before they lose it?

I had that same thought as my almost 4-year-old and I took our seats at the Clurman Theatre on 42^nd Street for a Nutcracker-themed family musical, Ballerina Swan and The Nutcracker, from The New York City Children’s Theater, and it was only 50 minutes with no intermission.

I shouldn’t have worried. As soon as the dancers took to the stage, my daughter was riveted. Read on for our parent review of this brand-new piece that incorporates ballet, acting, and puppetry into a special holiday show for young children.

New Children's Play and Art Space Arrives in Dumbo with Spark

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Tue, 11/15/2016 - 1:00pm

The ever-changing Dumbo waterfront just gained a new kid-friendly tenant. Spark, the brand-new annex of the Brooklyn Children's Museum, opened in mid-October with drop-in play hours and educational programming for kids ages six months to 6 years. It's modest in size, with 1,850-square-feet spread out across one floor, but that intimate setting is particularly manageable for those with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

I visited the space on opening weekend with my 3-year-old. Read on for our full review of this new drop-in play spot in Brooklyn.

Rose Gordon Sala

Rose Gordon Sala

Latest posts by Rose Gordon Sala

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