Spring is here! Spring is here! Spring is here!
Are you like me and doing the happy dance?
I know it is still pretty brisk at night, but the days are sunny and warm. It has been so nice that I have even contemplated putting on a pair of shorts (though I’m afraid my pasty white legs might blind someone.)
My kids wake up in the morning begging me to let them play outside. They are pulling out of the garage their tricycles, new balance bikes, and other play equipment. They are dirty and stinky at night and we have to re-institute baths every night. I love it!
So, as you are basking in the glow of this gorgeous Spring day, take a quick trip with me back in time. Let me give you the scoop on where we’ve been this past month and maybe it will spark some ideas for things to do this month.
One post I want to highlight is our trip to the Essex Steam Train’s Day Out With Thomas. We had the opportunity to go last weekend and the event is running again this weekend. If you have tickets already or are looking for weekend plans, check out Shawna’s post for all the outing details. We had such a great time and would highly recommend this family friendly train riding experience.
INDOOR PLAY:
I know, I know. Who wants to be indoors this time of year? But there will certainly be rainy days and days where you might enjoy a little more structured playtime. So here are some ideas:
Shawna finally had a chance to share with us her experience at the internationally recognized, Music Together program. Though she took the class in Glastonbury, the program is offered in many towns across our state, so there is bound to be a class offering in your neck of the woods. The curriculum based program sounds not only fun, but educational for both the kids and the parents. From egg shakers, to percussion instruments, to singing and dancing, there is so much to offer!
Though we have blogged about The Bright Spot Children’s Playplace in Vernon before, we had to give our readers an update on their NEW, expanded location. They didn’t move far (just a few doors down from the old location) and they didn’t lose any old amenities, but they did add additional space and a few new items. I think my favorite new area is the eating area. The kids can play, then grab a snack/lunch and head home for a nap. Sounds like the perfect morning outing to me. Come for the open play (Mon/Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat), sign up for a class (daytime or evening) or take advantage of their drop-off program for kids ages 2-4.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:
We added a few new playgrounds to our list this month with visits to the Miracle League Barrier Free Playground in West Hartford and then a trip to Northwest Park in Windsor.
The Miracle League Playground is less than a year old and that wonderful style of boundless play (which means it is perfect for children of all ability levels). I especially like that the ground cover is perfect for my crawling 8 month old. I don’t have to worry about her putting a random piece of mulch in her mouth here!
Northwest Park has a lot to offer on its’ 473 acres, the playground is just a start. There are also walking/hiking trails, a barn with animals, a pond with fish and ducks and plenty of other nature to explore. The setting is beautiful and there is a lot to offer to families with kids of all ages.
And who could forget about Shawna’s adventures at Wintergreen Woods in Wethersfield? It was like a behind-the-scenes tour of a typical OAAM outing (at least for me). She gave you the details on the mistakes she made so that you have the scoop for your next visit (though it ended up being kind of beneficial). What looked to be the hiking trail actually turned out to be the biking trail. But biking trail = paved path = perfect for strollers, so this might be a good option. If your little ones want to venture on foot, though, Shawna also has the details on an easy walking trail (1/3 to 8/10 of a mile long).
TIME TO EAT:
Shawna is always discovering new places to eat out with her toddler in tow. Her latest eating adventure was at Wood-N-Tap in Rocky Hill. This same restaurant is located throughout the state and other locations will most likely have the same kid-friendly atmosphere.
OUR HOMETOWNS:
And last, but not least, this past month, Shawna and I worked with the Connecticut Office of Tourism to help promote their latest contest where you can vote for your favorite Connecticut town. We each put together a post on our hometowns of Glastonbury and West Hartford to get our readers thinking about their favorite CT town (and maybe get a chance to win a getaway package).
Well, that sums up April. Now we are ready to enjoy the beautiful days of May!
Want to keep up with all our Out and About Mom adventures?
Check back every Tuesday and Thursday as we dish up more Momsense for getting out and about with your little ones. Don’t have time to check back in? Let us send you an automatic notification of new posts straight to your email inbox by signing up here. Also, you can like us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites.
Hello,
This is John Ambrose, Mount Sinai Hospital’s social media manager. I am writing to invite you to be my guest for the 6th annual Greening Our Children benefit luncheon on Monday, May 20, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Connecticut. This daylong event, which begins at 10:00am and ends at 4:00pm, will feature a green vendor expo, a silent auction, and two educational seminars. Learn more at http://bit.ly/12NiiGv
The event will honor Jessica Alba – actress, author, and founder of The Honest Company – for her dedication to promoting a healthy, toxin-free lifestyle for families. She will be presented with the Mount Sinai Champion for Children award at the luncheon. Our Blogger guests will have access to an exclusive 30 minute Meet & Greet with Jessica Alba during the event.
Proceeds from Greening Our Children benefit the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC). Under the leadership of renowned pediatrician and epidemiologist Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, the CEHC conducts groundbreaking research to identify the environmental causes of childhood disease and translates these findings into solutions that protect children’s health.
Here is a description of the two seminars:
Organic Food for Thought: A Seminar for Parents of Young Children
Join Joel Forman, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and co-author of the 2012 American Academy of Pediatrics report Organic Foods: Health and Environmental Advantages and Disadvantages, for a special seminar on organic food and our children’s health.
Learn what pediatricians recommend when purchasing organic produce, dairy products, and other foods.
Chemicals in Our Cabinets: A Seminar for Parents of Teens and Tweens
Join Annemarie Stroustrup, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, for a special seminar on phthalates and BPA – two chemicals that not only affect our youngest children, but are also suspected to impact the development of teens. These chemicals seem to be found everywhere – including in cosmetics, fragrances, and the containers that store our foods.
With so many products on the market, how can we be sure the safest ones are entering our homes?
The Hashtag is #GreenChildren and you can find us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mountsinainyc and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mountsinainyc.
Please let us know if you’re interested in attending by Wednesday, May 8th.
Thank you,
John Ambrose
Thank you for the invitation, John. We will contact you directly.