The season is upon us, and soon we will all be setting off for sun, fun, and a break from reality. Be sure to pack these top tips for making the most of summer travel memories, too!

Summer vacations offer more than just a chance to get away and have fun together as a family – they are a chance to connect and create great memories that will last long after those long, lazy days are gone.

Are you heading for nearby beaches in New Jersey or Delaware, planning urban daytrips in Philadelphia, or hopping on a plane for a longer summer family journey? No matter where you’re headed, a little planning will help you make the most of summer travel with your family.

Before you go.

Whether you are planning a lazy beach vacation or a more cultural city trip, you’ll want to have at least a rough day-by-day itinerary. A great place to start your trip planning is the chamber of commerce or convention and visitors bureau website for the destination you’ll be visiting. Even if you’ve been there before, check in for up-to-date information about this summer’s special activities and festivals. Use an app like Evernote to keep track of your itinerary, and you’ll have access to it on your computer and your mobile devices while you’re on the road.

Create a rough day-to-day outline that includes both active and down time each day. Be sure to include both familiar activities you know your child will love, as well as some new experiences. For example, even very young children can spend some time appreciating art in a museum or using a guidebook to identify birds or plants. Always have contingency plans for weather-dependent activities.

Talk about your trip with your children before you leave. Show them photos or websites of the places you will be visiting, and talk about what you plan to do there. Older kids might want to be even more involved in trip planning – browse the websites of potential attractions or restaurants together and see what interests them.

On the road.

Once you arrive at your destination, a great way to get insider information from other parents is to head to the nearest playground and strike up a few conversations. Be flexible about the itinerary you’ve created, allowing it to change as you discover new things.

Encourage your child to collect tactile “treasures” to bring home – beach glass, small stones, shells, or even inexpensive colorful plastic tchotchkes are fun and tangible reminders of your trip that you can display once you’re home. Other free items to collect include free maps and brochures and paper menus from restaurants where you’ve dined.

If you’ve got an older or inexpensive digital camera, let your children take their own pictures. They have a different perspective than you do and will take photos of things that they see or that matter to them, creating a personalized record of your trip.

Each evening while you’re away, encourage your child to keep an age-appropriate journal or record of what you’ve done. There are as many different ways of doing this as there are kids. Young children might draw a picture and then dictate a caption that you write for them; older kids can write their own words. Or upload the photos your child has taken to your laptop or tablet and let your child take notes there. Once you’re home you can print these pages off and assemble them into a book.

Home again.

What can you do to keep that glow from your fabulous trip? It’s easy to let all those photos you took languish in your camera or on your computer. Act quickly to edit and organize them so you don’t forget where and when you took them. If you’ve collected souvenir brochures and maps, you can either preserve them as part of a scrapbook or scan them into your computer and add them to a photo book for your trip.

Once you’ve made your photo or scrapbooks, put them on a shelf that your children have access to along with the journals they created. Pull these books out routinely and look at them together, talking about what you did and where you went. (This is a great bedtime activity.)

If you’ve collected “treasures,” buy some inexpensive clear containers and display them. Allow your children to take the treasures out and touch them. Encourage them to share their memories with you – you’ll be amazed at how often they will remember exactly where they found a special object and what kinds of specific details they can tell you about it.

Set up a map in your children’s play- or bedroom and use colored pushpins or stickers to mark the places you’ve visited. This is a great way not just to remember your travels but to show your kids that they are global citizens.

May is pure magic — the sun remembers how to shine, the air is warm but light, and it seems everyone is just looking for an excuse to get out and do something upbeat and fun. And lucky for you, we have a selection of fun and often al fresco ways for you to do just that.

ArtTime Pajama Tour at The Barnes

What’s more fun that expiring the amazing collection of the esteemed Barnes Foundation? Um, how about seeing it all in your favorite footie PJs? On Friday, May 17, at 6 pm, young visitors and their parents can do just that. This month the focus is families, so tours will stop at pieces that showcase moms, dads, and kids, allowing kids from 2-5 to connect with a topic they can grasp. Register online or by calling 215-287-7200. Museum admission required.

It’s hard to put a mother’s love into words, but with these sweet and stylish personalized baubles, you can at least showcase it with a few important letters.

Heartstrings Mother’s Necklaces

What it is: Handcrafted necklaces in a classic and more modern styles that, when personalized, allow Mom to carry her children close to her heart daily.

Why it’s a must: As a parent yourself, you know the dramatic, unending depths you would go to for your children. So you know that one mere day honoring this lifetime of love isn’t enough, and a grocery store bouquet of quickly fading flowers may not speak the volumes of thanks you want it to. While we all will agree that a Mother’s Day gift is not about the value of the present but the thought and meaning behind it, it’s also true that an offering that can combine beauty, appreciation, and love in one package wouldn’t be scoffed at. While thoughtful and stylish any time of year, Heartstrings necklaces offer you the opportunity to show your mom (or your sister, or friend, or yourself through a well-placed hint) how much family means while helping her feel just a little bit more pulled together.

The highlight of this collection is the sheer diversity of styles available, making it easy to create a custom piece that suits her personality. Brightly colored acrylic monograms can honor the woman of honor, or the letters can be replaced with the first initials of her children. A more classic look can be done in gold, rose, or silver filigree, and a Mother’s Pendant option allows a combo message with the mother’s monogram at center surrounded by an engraved hoop bearing her children’s names. Metalworks options include a disk or rectangle of the same metals stamped with initials, names, or important dates, tied to a chain-link necklace or bracelet and accented with colored baubles (pick birthstones or simply Mom’s favorite hues). The same custom messages (think a brand new mom’s newborn’s name and date of birth) can be included in the Behind the Glass collections (pictured above), where patterns like chevron or paisley in a host of colors make up the background and are topped with a glass dome for a casual, trendy look.

Sure, the fashion-forward and sentimental pieces of this company got our attention. But there are other perks. Each piece is custom created per your request, so you always get the piece perfect for the recipient. Most orders offer 24-48 turnaround, meaning even a last minute gift can be beyond thoughtful. And when you order something from the Behind the Glass line, 25 percent of profits go to Helping Honduras Kids, an organization that helps orphaned, abandoned, abused, and/or neglected children through shelter, schools, and opportunities for growth and purpose.

Where to find it: Hatch, 12 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-646-1907

Price: Necklaces start at about $50.

Bonus! Hatch will help you make Mom’s day! Mention Main Line Parent when you order a piece, and save 10% off the purchase price!

May is all about Mom. The greatest gift you can give (or receive) is a few kind words that share just how much you truly care, but a special meal or gift is sure to be appreciated, too. A few of our local friends wanted you to know what they have planned for Mom — check out their special events, promotions, and deals below!

Restaurants

Azie on Main
789 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova; 610-527-5700

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 12, 11 am to 2:30 pm

$32 per person

Enjoy the classic Azie on Main Sunday morning spread, upgraded for Mom with carving stations, enhanced sushi selections, and more.

Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar
555 E. Lancaster Ave., Radnor; 610-688-9463

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 12, 11:30 am to 3 pm

$36.95 per person, $17.95 children 12 and younger

Enjoy a three-course, innovative brunch of classic favorites. In addition, each mom will receive a $25 dining card valid for a future visit.

Paramour
138 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-977-0600

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 12, 10 am to 3 pm

Keep an amazing meal going — all Mom’s will receive a take-home treat from the pastry kitchen!

Yoga Services

The Yoga Garden
131 N. Narberth Ave., Narberth; 610-664-2705

Family Yoga (Ages 3+ with parent or care giver)
May 12, noon to 1 pm

$10 per person

Enjoy time together, experience the benefits of yoga, and leave feeling replenished and renewed. Taught in an interactive and fanciful format, these classes will have a sprinkling of yoga games, songs, asana stories, and magical meditations. Every class ends with a snuggly savasana with soft blankets and colorful eye pillows.

SPECIAL:
10% off any gift certificate for a package of three massage sessions.
All three sessions must be with the same therapist and purchased by Mother’s Day, May 12, 1013. Gift certificates are valid for a full year.

Synergy By Jasmine
3901B Main St., 2nd Floor, Philadelphia; 610-352-1177

Manayunk Couples Yoga Class For Mothers Day Weekend

$20 per person.

Get that 5th date feeling back with a spicy and soulful Yoga-licious night. As you go through the motions together, you and your partner can expect a closer, more romantic and more soulful relationship than ever with each other through giggles, movement, and massage.
Pre-registration with payment required – register online or by calling the studio.

SPECIAL:
FREE couples yoga class for you and your sweetie if you bring another full paying couple with you to the class. This contest is available for the FIRST couple to call and/or book online with their name and the other couple’s name will win a free class – must be for the Friday, May 12th class and mention the Main Line Parent Mother’s Day promotion when booking online or on the phone. Only 1 couple can win this offer for this promotion.

Arts & Crafts

Wayne Art Center
413 Maplewood Avenue, Wayne; 610-688-3553

Teddy Bear Tea
May 11, 2-4 pm

$50 admission for one child and adult, $25 each additional child.

Enjoy an authentic sit down tea service with your mom or grandma, led by pastry Chef Maureen Hughes. Also included will be 45 minutes of craft-time (2 projects) along with a 30-minute live performance. This event is open to ages 4 and up.
Cost includes all activities and crafts. Pre-registration is required.

Painting With A Twist
107 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 484-367-7254

Moms and Mimosas!
May 12, 2-4 pm

$35 per painter

Come celebrate mom with mimosas and a painting party! You will have step-by-step instruction by a local artist who will guide you to create your own masterpiece on canvas! No previous painting experience needed! Uncork your inner artist!

The Handwork Studio
35 N. Narberth Ave., Narberth, 610-660-9600

May 5, 3-5 pm

Send your daughters in to make a needle arts Mother’s Day gift!  To register call Miss Alexis or register online.

The Center on Central
24 W Central Ave., Paoli; 610-710-1487

Kids Night Out
May 9, 6:30-9 pm

$30 first child, $20 each additional

Have your kids come and make a Mother’s Day gift, enjoy pizza snack, crafts, and a movie on the ceiling while you spend a night out on the town.

Home & Fashion

Louella
227 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; 610-293-9800

SPECIAL:
Mention Main Line Parent magazine and receive 10% off your total purchase Mother’s Day Weekend — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 10-12.

Comfy Cozy

SPECIAL:
Use code “Main Line” at checkout and receive a 25% discount on all orders placed thru June 30, 2013.

Bankie Baby
484-362-7766

SPECIAL:
In honor of Mother’s Day, take 10% off all any bankie baby organic blankets — super-soft pieces featuring unique baby animal designs. Locally made, eco-friendly, and personalized. Use coupon code “newmom”at checkout. Offer expires July 30, 2013.

Spa Services

Lavenders Body Care Clinic
814 Fayette St., Conshohocken; 610-832-9470

SPECIALS:
Mommy-to-Be Package: 1 hr pre-natal massage, baby feet relief (foot massage add-on to alleviate swollen, tired feet), mini mommy-to-be facial. 90 minutes. $150
Citron Rose Scrub & Massage & Mini Facial: Zesty scent of oranges and limes with sweet fragrance of roses invigorates deyhrated skin while relaxing mind & body, paired with a mini Lavenders signature facial. 2 hours. $150
Golden Mother Package: Gold revitalizing facial combined with eco-fin hydrating hand treatment, 85-minute classic Swedish massage, and Indian head massage, 2.5 hours. $250
Packages available starting May 9, gift packages may be purchased through May 11.

Live Well Holistic Health Center
16 E. Lancaster Ave., Suite 104, Ardmore; 610-896-1554

SPECIALS:
15% off all gift certificates through May 12th! Certificates are available for these services:
Natural Healthcare & Stress Relief
30-minute visit = $75 | 60-minute new patient = $95
Relaxing Therapeutic Massage
60-minute = $60 | 90-minute = $90
Gentle Chiropractic Treatments
15-minute Visit = $50 | 30-minute visit = $75 | 60-minute new patient = $95
Prices listed are before 15% discount. Discount cannot be combined with any other specials at Live Well.

Museums & Attractions

Winterthur Museum
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE; 800-448-3883

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 11 & May 12

$34.95 per adult; children under 12 are 50% off; Members receive 10% discount up to a party of 4.

Come celebrate mom with a delicious Mother’s Day brunch at Winterthur. Seatings at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.

Second Saturday Garden Walk
May 11, 1 pm

Join Winterthur’s horticulture staff for a garden walk highlighting interesting and seldom seen parts of the Winterthur landscape. On May 11, the spotlight is on Winterthur’s glorious azeleas and beautiful spring wildflowers.

Photo Services

bcm art & photography
215-353-1054

SPECIAL:
Mother’s Day Portrait Package Special – Purchase a standard family/newborn portrait package and get a FREE CD of images from your session!
Offer available through Saturday, May 4. Portrit sessions may be schedule within six months of package purchase.

Want to add your promotion here? Email details to melissa.greiner@mainlineparent.com.

Warmer weather beckons, but staying safe involves being smart. Read up on how to protect you and your kids as we enter tick season.

It’s that time of the year once again — you begin to enjoy spring, and all the outdoor activities that come with it. Unfortunately, deer ticks are also taking advantage of the warmer weather, and are waiting for you as you step outside. This is the time of the year when you are most likely to be bitten by a deer tick and to become infected with Lyme disease. Not only is Lyme disease a grave health risk to families, but there are other debilitating diseases one can also become infected with from ticks, such as babesiosis, anaplasmosis, bartonella, tularemia, tick paralysis, and viruses.

Pennsylvania leads all 50 states with the highest number of new Lyme disease cases reported each year, and this section of the state is particularly endemic for Lyme disease. When you realize that children represent the highest risk age group for contracting Lyme disease, you come to understand how extremely vigilant you have to be to protect the health and welfare of your family from ticks and the disease organisms they carry.

Little bug, big problem.

One must know a little about ticks to understand how such a small bug can cause such big problems for all of us. Ticks are parasites which survive by feeding on the blood of hosts such as mice, chipmunks, shrews, birds, squirrels, opossum, rabbits, and deer.  Regrettably, these hosts can also include people and their pets. Although the deer tick season is pretty much year round now, the peak of the deer tick’s activity starts in May and begins to wind down in August. During this time, the nymphal deer tick (about as small as a poppy seed) is actively looking for a host. And it will be from the nymphal deer tick bite that you and your children will most likely contract Lyme disease and/or another tick-borne co-infection.

Deer ticks require a humid environment to survive and can be found anywhere their hosts live  Thus they can be encountered in a variety of settings including woodlands, leaf litter, brush piles, your lawn, ground cover (pachysandra, etc.), and gardens. They can also be found near old stone walls, woodpiles, tree stumps and fallen logs, bird feeders, and storage sheds. They have even been found on park picnic tables and benches.

Plan for prevention.

When your children play outdoors in tick endemic areas, it is strongly recommended that they wear tick repellent clothing. The clothing should be treated with permethrin, an insecticide which repels and kills ticks and which has been approved by the EPA as safe for use on clothing apparel worn by adults and children. You can treat your own clothing and footwear, or purchase pre-treated clothing with the proprietary Insect Shield label from suppliers like REI, LLBean, ExOfficio, or Orvis. Once per month you should also spray outdoor shoes, athletic gear, tennis bags, back packs, camping gear (anything that could end up on the ground outside) with permethrin to keep the ticks away. Wearing an EPA-approved insect repellent on exposed skin parts will also provide added protection, but by itself, does not work as effectively as tick repellent clothing

Some simple prevention measures which are highly recommended for you and your family to follow include:

1. Avoid areas where there are ticks to the maximum extent possible. This is much easier said than done, but is well worth the effort.
2. When outside, wear clothing that is treated with permethrin. This is one of the easiest things to do with big prevention payoffs.  Also spray your outside shoe wear with permethrin once per month. And clothing your children wear at summer camp, such as T-shirts, shorts, and socks, should likewise be treated.
3. If you do not choose to treat the clothing yourself (good for six washings), you can also send it to be treated at the Insect Shield facility in North Carolina. It will come back, looking the same as you sent it, but with the permethrin protection bonded to the fabric and good for more than 70 washings.
4. Wear a tick repellent on your exposed skin. The tick repellent must say on the container that it repels ticks and for how long.  You can buy insect repellents with chemicals such as IR3535, Picaridin, and DEET in them; or if you prefer using organics, try essential oils like lemon eucalyptus oil and cedar oil.
5. Keep your outside clothes outside your home; there can be ticks on the clothing from outdoor activities. As soon as your children come in from outdoors, put their clothes in a separate hamper in the mud room or garage if possible. Then as soon as you can, put their clothes in the clothes dryer on high heat for 20 to 30 minutes. The dry heat will effectively kill any ticks that may be on them.
6. Do not allow any pets which go outside to sleep with your children or allow your pets on couches. They can bring ticks into your home which can get transferred to your children.
7. Treat your pets with tick repellent products as recommended by your veterinarian, and check them for ticks when they come in from outdoors.
8. Conduct full body tick checks of family members who go outside, both when they return indoors as well as at night before they go to bed. You can never check too often as ticks can be very hard to find.

Found one?

Removing deer ticks promptly can prevent the transmission of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. If you discover a tick attached to you, use pointed tweezers or other tick removal tool to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull the tick straight out, taking care not to twist or squish the attached tick. Finally, wash the bite site and apply an antiseptic. Save the tick, dead or alive, in a zip-top bag for future identification and testing for possible disease organisms. A reputable lab in this area is the Northeast Infectious Disease Diagnostic Laboratory located at East Stroudsburg University (download the tick submission form). You should also seek the immediate assistance of your health care provider for advice on initiating prophylactic treatment.

Spot the symptoms.

There are over 100 possible symptoms associated with Lyme disease, and that is one of the reasons why it is so very difficult to diagnose—it mimics so many other disease conditions that it is usually not diagnosed early on in the disease, allowing it to spread to most every part of the body.

Soon after a tick bite, you or your children may get a rash and have vague flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, sore throat, fatigue, muscle ache, stiff neck, and swollen lymph nodes. Other more serious conditions can affect your brain and nervous system, heart, muscles and joints, bones, and skin. Not uncommon are extreme fatigue, joint and muscle pain, chronic headaches, sleep disturbances, allergies, stomach pain, ear ringing, blurred vision, sensitivity to sounds and smells, facial numbness and tingling, mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks, memory impairment, and lack of concentration.

If you follow these recommendations and use good common sense when outdoors, you can keep your family safer from ticks and the diseases they carry.

Bob Oley, PE, MSPH, is a Public Health Consultant who writes and speaks before groups on ticks, tick-borne diseases, and prevention. He also conducts inspections of residential and commercial properties and advises owners how to make them safer from ticks.

Hildebrandt Learning Centers, LLC is a leader in developing and managing employer/organization-related early learning centers in Pennsylvania, and the middle-Atlantic region of the United States for over 20 years. Our company began operations in 1991 with its first center at Lancaster Laboratories, a company that has been regularly featured as a “Working Mother” top 100 companies for working women. Presently, Hildebrandt operates 45 employer/organization-sponsored early learning programs and 2 adult day services centers, and is a pioneer in the intergenerational concept of caring for both young and elderly in the same setting.
In addition to being a leading management company of on-site, employer/organization-related centers, Hildebrandt Learning Centers is committed as an organization to provide children and their families with the finest in early childhood education programs. This commitment is supported by our efforts to achieve National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation for our centers. Presently, 30 Hildebrandt centers are accredited by NAEYC with a number of centers awaiting their accreditation review.

Accreditation by NAEYC denotes a program demonstrating a commitment to providing high quality care, far exceeding state licensing standards, for young children and their families. In the United States, approximately 7% of all licensed centers have the distinction of accreditation by NAEYC. In addition, 27 Hildebrandt centers have been designated as Keystone STAR Four centers by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, their highest distinction. In February 2011, Hildebrandt Learning Centers was listed as the 4th largest employer child care management organization in the United States by Exchange magazine.

Locations:

Vertykes Learning Place 1001 Old Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312 (610) 407-94710

Our Kids’ Academy at Eagleview 510 Herman O. West Drive, Exton, PA 19341 (610) 458-8284

Sound Start Child Care Center 2970 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267) 941-1600

Enjoy Main Line Parent‘s picks for fun celebrations of Earth Day, and for the rest of the week!

Monday, April 22

Visit the National Constitution Center’s Earth Day celebration today, where visitors can find out how they can help their communities “go green”—a key part of being an active citizen! Throughout the day, Philadelphia-based eco-friendly organizations will be on hand to discuss important topics such as the significance of eating locally grown foods. Children can create environmentally friendly crafts, including recycled paper and art projects made from recycled materials. If you can’t make it into the city today, tune into the Constitution Center’s ‘Hall Pass,‘ an online program exploring the history of Earth Day in the United States.

Kids’ Storytime is on today at Longwood Gardens. Young horticulturists will learn about a garden-related topic through engaging activites. For children ages 3–5. Space is limited to 20 children per session, so registration is recommended.

The Upper Schuylkill Valley Park hosts A Day of Celebration today in honor of Earth Day. Enjoy the celebration with an educational program focusing on ways to help the environment and celebrate the first birthday of the wolf pups who were born at the center last year. Best for children aged 3-7. Pre-registration is required.

Understanding and Demystifying College Admissions will be offered this evening at 7:30 pm at the Tredyffrin Public Library. Join former admissions counselor and assistant dean at Swarthmore College, Cigus Vanni, to talk about the current trends and hot topics in college admissions. During this free series for students and parents, learn how to match your interests, abilities, values, and karma with the right college. Discover how a college admissions committee operates and exactly what they are really looking for. And get information on how to pay for it all!

Tuesday, April 23

Kids of all ages are invited to join in at story time at the Pottery Barn Kids store in King of Prussia. Members receive an official Book Club Passport at their first story time, and a special gift after attending five story times.

Wednesday, April 24

Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse hosts Story Time in the Playhouse today at 10:30 am for children 5 and younger. Each session is led by Smith staff and volunteers, and features stories and songs.

Paoli Library hosts its popular Toddler Storytime today at 11 am.

Head to the Philadelphia Museum of Art this evening for Hair Affair. Visitors young and old will be inspired by the Museum’s collection of Victorian jewelry that incorporates locks of hair as tokens of love, loss, and remembrance. We will provide (synthetic!) hair for you to arrange and weave into jewelry. You are also invited to bring a lock of your own hair or of someone you love to create a more personal work of art. All ages welcome.

Thursday, April 25

Head to the Barnes Foundation today to enjoy their ARTTime Story Time at 10:30 am. Today, you’ll enjoy A Blue Butterfly: A Story about Claude Monet. Monet painted beautiful flowers, and you will too!

Today at the Tredyffrin Library you can tour a real TE school bus and enjoy songs and stories in honor of PA’s One Book, Every Young Child 2013 selection The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom. All ages welcome! No registration necessary.

Friday, April 26

The Independence Seaport Museum hosts Astronomy Night this evening starting at 6 pm as part of the Philadelphia Science Festival. Bring your telescope and join in the fun!

Radnor’s brave firefighters will “show and tell” their uniforms and gear today at the Tredyffrin Library, discuss fire safety and prevention, and explain what to do if there is a fire. Children will be able to tour the fire truck if weather permits. No registration necessary.

Saturday, April 27

Pinkalicious is on the stage at the Media Theater today! This is the first area presentation of the off-Broadway sensation about the girl who only likes things pink and how it affects everyone around her. Based on the very popular series of children’s books. The musical runs through May 25.

Joseph Robinette’s delightful musical adaptation of the E.B. White classic Charlotte’s Web is on today at the Hedgerow Theater. The show tells the tale of the friendship between Wilbur the Pig and Charlotte the Spider. The stage at Hedgerow is transformed into a barnyard, complete with Charlotte’s spiderweb.

Green Lane Park hosts their Early Bird Walk this morning. The spring migration will be well underway for migrants returning
from the tropics. Join us in search of warblers, flycatchers and more. Best for ages 8 and older. Pre-registration is required. Bring your own binoculars!

Get your tackle box and head to the 2013 Annual Rotary Club Kid’s Fishing Derby this morning at Lorimer Park. Learn the basics of fishing from the “experts” then try and land that big one for a prize! The Pennypack Creek will be freshly stocked with trout so everybody will have a great opportunity to catch a fish. Those age 16 and older who are fishing need a license and trout stamp, available from most sporting goods stores or the PA Fish & Boat Commission website. For ages 7-14 (with adult present).

Back by popular demand today at Green Lane Park, you can meet the beavers! Discover PA’s natural lumberjack. Take a short hike with a park ranger and meet our resident beavers. See for yourself their extraordinary tree cutting abilities! Pre-registration required.

Sunday, April 28

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts offers a workshop today for families called Personal Perspectives. From up high or down low?  How about around a corner?  Two drawings of the same place can look completely different depending on your perspective. Using the architecture of downtown Philadelphia’s inspiration, learn to find new views of the city, or even invent your own unique perspective.

Head to the Philadelphia Museum of Art today to view the first exhibit in the Art Splash program, which will transform the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building into a summertime family destination during the run of five exhibitions, all perfect for children and families. The first exhibit, All Dressed Up: Fashions for Children and Their Families, is open in the Costume and Textiles Study Gallery.

Few children choose green beans over gummy bears, but with some patience and positivity, parents can find ways to make vegetables a healthy, standard part of their child’s diet. 

Question: My toddler simply refuses to eat vegetables, no matter how often I push or plead. How can I get him to try them?

Expert: Kristin Quinn, MA, is the owner of Toddlers and Tomatoes, LLC, a consulting service for families struggling at mealtimes. With close to 15 years of experience as a child care provider, mental health professional, behavior therapist, and most recently, parent, Quinn has acquired the tools needed to help families experience positive mealtimes with their little ones.

Answer: Vegetables get a bad rap. From the time we are very small, the message we receive is that things that are good for you taste bad. Not only is this a bad message to pass on to our children, it is just not accurate. I know several children who prefer broccoli to all other foods, including sweets. Everyone has their preferences, and should be allowed to say “that’s not for me.”  However, young children need to be exposed to a wide variety of tastes and textures before they really know what foods are pleasing to them and which are not.

Many adults assume that getting their kids to eat vegetables has to be a battle. Before the peas hit the plate, the adult is already anticipating WWIII. Kids sense that. There is an aura around vegetables that kids pick up on. They know you are nervous, and they are going to take advantage of that.

It is true, some vegetables are bright colors, or oddly shaped, or they have skin, or layers, or unusual textures. It’s understandable that kids take one look at some veggies and say “No!” But as the adults, we have to offer a wide variety of foods to create a well-balanced diet, and help kids learn to try new things.

Here are some suggestions for expanding your child’s diet, despite the protests:

1. Don’t act like ‘vegetable’ is a bad word. Your child listens to you and picks up on your cues. If you talk and think about vegetables as ‘bad’, ‘yucky’, or something to be eaten specifically to get dessert, your child will do the same.
2. Don’t be afraid of your children’s reactions. Your child is likely to turn their nose up at anything new or different, things that are a different color or shape than they are used to, things that have a strong smell, or a lot of seasoning on top of it. This isn’t specific to vegetables, and you should expect it. Don’t back down!
3. Create simple mealtime rules that apply to any food that is offered. Establish simple rules for mealtimes, for everyone at the table. Something like this, “Everyone will come to the table, sit at the table, and try at least one bite of everything.” Don’t designate ‘vegetables’ as the food group to fear. Children (and adults, too!) should be encouraged and expected to try at least one bite of each item on the table.
4. Make reasonable expectations, and follow through. Consider whether the vegetables you are presenting are easy for your child to chew and swallow, and how they look compared to other foods your child has eaten. Make sure you start with only a very small taste of a new food (as in the size of your child’s pinky nail). Insist that they try at least the one small bite, not an entire serving. Note: some veggies have skin that is hard for little ones to chew. Save corn, green beans, and other foods with a tough, waxy skin for children who aren’t new to chewing.
5. Focus on quality before quantity. Although you want your child to eat an age appropriate serving of vegetables, you have to build up to this. Start with one small piece of something new on their plate. Once a single, small bite goes well, increase the size of the bite/serving at each meal it is served.
6. Praise cooperation. Most importantly, praise your child for trying new things!

Have a question you’d like a local professional to take on as part of the Asked & Answered series? Share it with us in our Facebook Community, or fill out our submission form. No names or identifiers are ever used. 

Don’t let the April showers early in the week get you down! They pave the way for beautiful spring flowers! And we have a few flower-themed activities that are sure to delight you and your families in this week’s Main Line Parent Family Fun.

Monday, April 15

Kids’ Storytime is on today at Longwood Gardens. Young horticulturists will learn about a garden-related topic through engaging activites. For children ages 3–5. Space is limited to 20 children per session, so registration is recommended.

He’s longer than most cars. He can swallow an entire turkey in a single gulp. He’s Mighty Mike – America’s biggest, baddest alligator, and he’s at Adventure Aquarium this Spring! Pay him a visit today.

Tuesday, April 16

The American Swedish History Museum’s littlest visitors are invited to participate in a new monthly program designed just for them. Toddler Time allows children, ages 18 months to 4 years, to explore the museum through the theme of the Four Seasons, using song, movement games, art, dramatic play, and science activities. The program occurs on the third Tuesday of each month. The April session is called “Swirly, Whirly, Windy Days”.

Kids of all ages are invited to join in at story time at the Pottery Barn Kids store in King of Prussia. Members receive an official Book Club Passport at their first story time, and a special gift after attending five story times.

The Avon Grove Library offers their Mother—Daughter Book Club today (and 3rd Tuesday of each month) at 4:30-6 pm. Read great books, and enjoy time together. Refreshments provided. Free program for Moms and their daughters in 3rd to 6th grade.

Wednesday, April 17

Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse hosts Story Time in the Playhouse today at 10:30 am for children 5 and younger. Each session is led by Smith staff and volunteers, and features stories and songs.

Paoli Library hosts its popular Toddler Storytime today at 11 am.

Looking for preschool this Fall? Come to the preschool open house today at the Darlington Arts Center in Garnet Valley, and see what makes learning through the arts so special! Meet instructors, tour facilities, and preview curriculum. Please RSVP to Katie@darlingtonarts.org. RSVP not required but appreciated, 9am – noon.

Thursday, April 18

Come explore Longview Farm at 10 am this morning, with a weekly story time that promises to excite the five senses while learning about the wonderful world of plants!

Head to the Barnes Foundation today to enjoy their ARTTime Story Time at 10:30 am. Today, you’ll enjoy A Blue Butterfly: A Story about Claude Monet. Monet painted beautiful flowers, and you will too!

Friday, April 19

Main Line Art Center offers their popular Family Workshop today at 9:30. In each fun-filled workshop, child and their caregiver work together to create a theme-inspired project using a variety of art materials. Experiment with art, get creative, and take home your very own masterpiece. Advanced registration strongly suggested, as space is limited (group sign-ups welcome!). No more than two little artists per adult. Tuition covers one child and adult pair. Open to ages 2-4 with caregiver.

The American Museum of Jewish History offers jkidphilly, a casual playdate at the Museum where kids and families can socialize and enjoy stories, songs, and snacks. Most appropriate for children ages 5 and under. Museum admission not required to participate. Admission and café discounts available for playdate participants. Kids are always free.

Enjoy a night out while your children enjoy exploring their creativity at the Center on Central’s Parents Night Out/Kids Night In. Includes a pizza snack, an arts activity and/or craft project, and ends with a movie-chill out time to be ready for bedtime after pick up. Cost: $30 for first child, $20 for each additional sibling. Preregistration is preferred; drop-ins are accepted if there is space available.

Saturday, April 20

Head over to the Haverford Reserve today for their Arbor Day and Earth Day celebration. Don’t miss the Eco-Scavenger Hunt for Kids, starting at 12:30 pm, where each clue will take you to a different environmental feature within the open space of the Haverford Reserve and the (soon to be) LEED-certified CREC building. Starts in the CREC Environmental Lab.

Narberth celebrates Earth Day today with their NarbEarth Day from noon to 4 pm. Activities for children include a scavenger hunt, recycled material craft projects, flower pot planting to take home, live domestic and small wild animals, and a walk through the Children’s Garden.

The Longview Center in Collegeville celebrates Earth Day with from 10 am-2 pm today! Come by and get your picture taken with the Lost Creek Alpacas and enjoy a dry felting demo, a spinning demo, angora rabbits with a 4-H representativee, and alpaca products for sale.

Fun with Fishing for Kids is on today at the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park. Kids can learn the very basics of fishing from Park Rangers. Information will include the use of bobbers, types of bait, use of fishing hooks, the variety and use of fishing poles, and more. Hands on tying activities and casting will be part of the fun. An emphasis will be placed on safety while explaining all of the need-to-know information. Ages: 6 to 15; suggested donation $2 per participant; pre-registration is required, this event will be held weather permitting as all activities will be outdoors; all PA Fish and Boat Commission regulations apply; visitors must bring their own fishing supplies; participants should meet at the main pavilion/picnic center in the Park.

Pennypacker Mills celebrates Earth Week today with A Tree Birthday! Learn how to tell the age of a tree, read a children’s book, and find out some of the ways that trees are part of our everyday lives. You’ll take home a craft project and enjoy refreshments. Ages: 5 and up, accompanied by an adult.

Come donate your plastic toys at Smith Memorial Playground today from 11 am – 2 pm and enjoy some family fun with Kohl’s Cares and Second Chance Toys. Kohl’s Cares will be celebrating Earth Week by collecting, cleaning, and donating gently used plastic toys to organizations serving disadvantaged children. There will be entertainment and activities for all and a visit from first-round NFL prospect and Philadelphia native Sharrif Floyd, in addition to the opportunity to enjoy Smith’s Playground and Playhouse! A toy donation on April 20 will get you a free face painting OR balloon art at Smith!

Pinkalicious is on the stage at the Media Theater today! This is the first area presentation of the Off-Broadway sensation about the girl who only likes things pink and how it affects everyone around her. Based on the very popular series of children’s books. The musical runs through May 25.

Held on the beautiful school grounds of Fairville Friends School in Chadds Ford, the spring Fun Fair has activities throughout the day for the entire family. Enjoy moon bounces, pony rides, face painting, games, arts & crafts, live music, a silent auction, great food, and more! You won’t want to miss this wonderful opportunity to connect with the local community and enjoy a fun-filled day of family-focused activities.

Sunday, April 21

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts offers a workshop called Terrific Terrariums. If you could make your own world, what would it look like?  Terrariums are a popular way of creating self-contained little ecosystems using natural and artificial materials. Learn to create one of these intricate, dreamlike worlds and even sculpt fanciful little inhabitants to live inside your environment.

Bring your whole family to Linvilla Orchards for a fun-filled Family Garden Center Day! Plants and flowers will be on display with expert advice to get your garden off to a great start. Take a hayride to the fields to plant a Linvilla Christmas Tree. Learn about growing Christmas trees and how they benefit the environment. Enjoy crafts and visits with costumed characters, Honey Bear, Handyman Rob, and Traveling Train. Events from 11 am-3 pm.

Earth Day is coming up — Monday, April 22. And the infomercials are true — it only takes a small change to impact a big difference. Try one of our three easy ideas to get you and your family seeing green. 

For many of us, Earth Day doesn’t pop up on our radar until the kids — or more likely, our Facebook feed — reminds us. Although I’d like to think I live a fairly “green” existence, I also know there’s always room for improvement. When Earth Day circles back around, I take it as a reminder to add a few more earth-friendly habits to my routine.

Since I have no immediate plans to install solar panels or switch over to geothermal heating just yet, the changes I make need to be quick, easy, and inexpensive… and require little to no dirt under my nails, because I just got them done. (Hey… I never said I was Ralph Nadar.)

Here are a few simple changes you and your family can make to observe Earth Day, and feel great doing it:

1. DIY Cleaners

Have your ever read and researched the ingredients in your cleaning products? Let’s just say there’s a reason why we don’t drink the stuff. It kills germs, for sure, but it also leaves a chemical residue that ends up on your hands, in your food, and in the soil. Switching over to a non-toxic brand, such as Mrs. Meyers, is a great start. But making your own cleaning products earns you a green star!
DIY cleaners reduce our reliance on plastic packaging, and lessen the pollution from manufacturing and the use of fossil fuels from delivery. Just add equal parts water and white distilled vinegar and about 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil to a clean, recycled spray bottle. Give it a little shake before each use and it’s great for countertops, bathrooms, and windows. (Just be sure test all new surfaces in an inconspicuous area before first use.) Check out this article for more tips on non-toxic cleaners.

2. Reusable Bags

Ok, you probably have a stack of these bags at home, right? Me, too. I feel great when I use them, but guilt sets in when I forget. And I forget all the time! Until, that is, I bought bags that fold up into the size of a deck of cards. Now I keep a few in my purse or car so I’m never caught with my preverbal (but reusable) pants down. And I feel good that I’m not contributing to the 12 million barrels of oil it takes to produce the estimated 100 billion plastic bags Americans use each year. In the market for a new bag? Check out this sweet little number.

3. Meatless Mondays

Factory-farmed meat is tough on the environment. Period. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the “meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions that accelerates climate change.” The land that’s used for grazing animals and growing crops for their food takes up 30 percent of the Earth’s land mass. Going one day without meat makes a big difference. No matter which way we slice the carrot, lessening our dependence on factory-farmed meats could help the environment and might also change our waist lines and improve our cholesterol levels! For recipes and more information check out www.meatlessmonday.com or watch Forks Over Knives.

Warm weather making you crave the outdoors with the kids? This weekend the Philadelphia Zoo debuts KidZooU, the new wildlife academy that unites a world-view education center with an up-close and personal children’s zoo.

The Philadelphia Zoo is one of those annual must-do destinations, and for families it’s always been a place for educational moments and laid-back fun. And this Saturday, April 13, America’s first zoo will open to the pubic their newest addition — a special hands-on section dedicated to their youngest visitors, KidsZooU.

The former Pachyderm House, where the zoo’s previously resident elephants lived, has been reinvented as an education center and wildlife academy focusing on the theme Saving Energy to Save Wildlife. This cool space teaches kids of all ages simple ways they can make a difference through conservation stations and interactive exhibits. A polar bear peeks into your living room to remind you how reducing your electricity consumption can ultimately preserve their habitat. An enclosure of colorful butterflies and lush vegetation accompanies a display showcasing our beautiful city reinforcing lessons of water conservation.

The outdoor portion of KidZooU is brimming with activity with a barnyard and stables where kids can still brush the sheep and feed the ducks. In this new space, though, they can also observe a 400-foot trail for rare goats to roam which included a goat bridge, built above the KidZooU entrance where goats walk overhead. While the goats scale their own supersize tower in the barnyard, children can climb a parallel structure to see the goats up close and practice playing just like they do.

The Philadelphia Zoo is the first zoo in the world to implement an animal rotation plan on a campus-wide basis. Through these trails, animals will move throughout the zoo, creating a constantly changing experience for the animals – and guests alike.

The Philadelphia Zoo worked with experts from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Autism Research and the Overbrook School for the Blind to ensure the design of KidZooU is friendly to special needs communities. KidZooU includes Braille, sign language, and a picture exchange system for children on the autism spectrum.

For more information on the KidsZooU, not to mention the zoo’s new, convenient parking garage, visit their website.

Want a closer look? MLP’s Sarah Bond and Carrie Hill take you into the KidsZooU during their visit:

Treasures from last Fall’s Clover Market.

We hope you already had the first Clover Market of the Spring season on your calendar for this Sunday, April 14! But now we want you to come with more than an empty trunk and your best decorating ideas — stop by the Main Line Parent table at the event and bring us a new or lightly-used clothing or coat donation for Cradles to Crayons! We’ll be trading clover face painting for contributions!

Where: Central Ardmore
When: April 14, 11am to 3pm
Who: Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive — at home, at school and at play. These items are supplied free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need.
What: Donations of new or gently used clothing, coats, socks, and underwear, sizes newborn to 16 (youth).

We can only accept quality items – not ripped, stained, broken, or missing pieces.

Most needed items:

• Winter coats, sizes 0 – 12 months and 5 – 14/16 (youth)
• Boys PJs, sizes 11/12 and 14/16
• Girls PJs, sizes 11/12 and 14/16
• New girls underwear sizes 3tT – 14/16
• New boys underwear sizes 3T to 11/12
• Boys tops and pants, sizes 9/10, 11/12, and 14/16
• Girls tops and pants, sizes 9/10, 11/12, and 14/16
• New socks for infants

Thank you for your participation in supporting our community!

Is this the week when we’ll finally be able to shed those winter layers and enjoy the sunshine? The Main Line Parent Family certainly hopes so. Here are our top picks for this week, to be enjoyed while the sunshine lasts!

photo by Carrie Hill

Monday, April 8

Kids’ Storytime is on today at Longwood Gardens. Young horticulturists will learn about a garden-related topic through engaging activites. For children ages 3–5. Space is limited to 20 children per session, so registration is recommended.

He’s longer than most cars. He can swallow an entire turkey in a single gulp. He’s Mighty Mike – America’s biggest, baddest alligator, and he’s at Adventure Aquarium this Spring! Pay him a visit today.

Tuesday, April 9

Drop into Nest in Philadelphia today for their pottery class. Glaze a sculpted piece, let the staff at Nest fire it for you, and pick it up at your next visit! All ages welcome. Registration required.

Enjoy the Splish, Splash, Spring! program today at Norristown Farm Park. Mud, earthworms, salamanders, frogs, and flowers are all associated with spring showers. Learn about rain and how important it is for living things. For children aged 3-6, and their caregivers. Registration is required.

Pandora’s Garden in Bryn Mawr is offering a parent and child nature class this Spring on Tuesdays and Fridays through June 7. In these weekly classes, children will plant flowers and vegetables in their own private garden, plus enjoy teddy-bear picnics, read stories, and sing songs. For children 18 months to 3 years, all ages are welcome. Registration is required.

Kids of all ages are invited to join in at story time at the Pottery Barn Kids store in King of Prussia. Members receive an official Book Club Passport at their first story time, and a special gift after attending five story times.

Wednesday, April 10

Opening today at the Sellersville Theater is Pushcart Players’ production of Peter and the Wolf. The production runs through Saturday, April 13.

Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse hosts Story Time in the Playhouse today at 10:30 am for children 5 and younger. Each session is led by Smith staff and volunteers, and features stories and songs.

Paoli Library hosts its popular Toddler Storytime today at 11 am.

Thursday, April 11

Come explore Longview Farm at 10 am this morning, with a weekly story time that promises to excite the five senses while learning about the wonderful world of plants!

Head to the Barnes Foundation today to enjoy their ARTTime Story Time at 10:30 am. Today, you’ll enjoy A Children’s Treasury of Poems, illustrated by Linda Bleck. From The Cats Have Come to Tea by Kate Greenaway to Vachel Lindsay’s The Little Turtle, this humorous collection of classic poems and garden verses will amaze and delight. And everyone will get to sculpt a turtle to bring home to remember your fun day!

Radnor Library hosts a special vehicle-themed storytime this evening at 6:30, based on the English/Spanish picture book The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom. Children age 2-5 and their families are invited to the Winsor Room for stories, songs, activities, and a craft. Please register online.

Friday, April 12

Upper Darby Performing Arts Center presents Click Clack Moo this evening at 7:30 pm. All day long Farmer Brown hears “click clack moo, clickety clackety moo…” The cows are typing and protesting their working conditions! A hilariously “moo-ving” new musical about compromise, based on the award-winning book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin.

Saturday, April 13

At the Radnor Library, Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences will present Bugs to Butterflies, exploring the journeys of various insects from egg to adult using activities, museum specimens, and one live arthropod. This live-animal show is designed for children age 6 and up, and will be held in the Radnor Library Winsor Room.

Sunday, April 14

At the Second Sunday Family Workshop at the Penn Museum enjoy Roman Rituals, a workshop where you can do as the Romans do (or did!) by molding votive offerings and statuettes to place in altars to achieve wishes or to thank the gods. Will your wish come true?

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts isn’t horsing around. Today’s workshop introduces the basics of animal drawing, including looking closely at the shapes, colors, and textures of animals that come onsite to be your live models.

National Museum of American Jewish History, in observance of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for victims of war and in celebration of Yom Haatzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, we invite families to join The Clay Studio for a special “hands”-on project at the museum. Create your own hamsa – a palm-shaped symbol embraced by many cultures, particularly throughout the Middle East and Africa, as a talisman against the evil eye.

Happy Opening Day, Phillies! Kick off the season with the family tonight, and check out our reasons to head down to the park this summer.

Take me out to the ballgame! The Philadelphia Phillies are welcomed home with anxious fanfare tonight, and the anticipation that the season that will follow may be as hot as a seat behind home plate on a mid-August afternoon. Whether you have tickets for today’s game or are planing to head down sometime this summer, here’s five reasons you’ll be excited to be there are wearing your red with pride!

1. The boys of summer.

We love our boys, and this year, they are poised for a great season. Fan favorites Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are back after injuries, and Roy Halladay has a strong bullpen to back up his strong arm. Could a pennant be on the horizon?

2. The food.

Yes, we love baseball, but one of the real reasons we all trudge down 76 to Citizens Bank Park is the grub! The park has won awards for its concession selection — including their options for vegan fans — and the new menu items for 2013 seem sure to score. Center City mecca Federal Donuts is opening a spot in Ashburn Alley, handcrafted burritos and paninis have been added to concession stands, parents can now relax in a stunning beer garden with a custom brew made just for Phillies fans, and the park’s first exclusively gluten-free stand is sure to make snacking between innings a breeze for those off wheat. Now wipe the drool from your keyboard.

3. The gear.

The park is a great spot to grab the Phillies jersey that, come playoffs, you will refuse to wash lest it bring the team bad luck, but there are plenty of other finds worth scouting. A new women’s jewelry selection will allow diehards to show their pride in pieces appropriate enough for the office, while a new Phanatic of the Month bobble head line will add “phlair” to your son’s bedroom shelves.

4. The technology.

It does feel odd to tout technology with such an old-timey classic like baseball, but really, when was the last time you left behind your smartphone for even a local Little League game? The two can live in harmony, and the Bank has embraced that by launching park-wide Wifi this season. There are also two new ticket kiosks, allowing you to pick up tickets with your credit card or buy a quick four-pack before heading home to ensure you get to enjoy it all over again soon.

5. The family-friendly atmosphere.

The day at the ballpark just screams family, and Citizens Bank Park is built to make the experience even easier for those who may have younger kids not ready to stay still until the 7th Inning Stretch. The Phanatic Phun Zone by the first base gate is a great place to take a break and let them run off some energy. There are trivia games to play by Ashburn Alley, special kid-sized concession items at two dedicated stands, and if your child wears their Phillies red to a Sunday game, they may be chosen to join the team on the field for the National Anthem. If it’s your child’s first time to the park, ask an attendant about scoring an official certificate of fandom to commemorate the experience.

We all know bullying is a problem. This local organization is showing all of us — from parents to teachers to students — how we can each make an effort to solve it.

Bullying is not at all uncommon.

Unfortunately often we hear about incidents only when it’s too late. Perhaps something big happens in our neighborhood schools or in our community or in a town far away and suddenly, bullying comes to the forefront of everybody’s minds again.

For kids who are bullied, though, and their families, it’s not something that disappears. This is their life – every single day.

That’s what Dr. Claudio V. Cerullo and his team are working on tirelessly to change.

In November 2011, after being approached by concerned parents, Cerullo took $10,000 from his own pocket and his extensive experience with bullying prevention and anti-violence intervention and founded Teach Anti-Bullying, Inc. or TAB. He has worked to raise awareness and support families impacted by bully-related issues in their school or community ever since.

Representatives from Teach Anti-Bullying have visited schools and community organizations to speak on bullying. They have also addressed bullying in the workplace and provide anti-bullying training for employees. The group provides online support for children and their families. TAB representatives have even served as expert witnesses in anti-bullying cases and worked with families who need advocates in school IEP meetings.

Daniela Redpath, vice president of Teach Anti-Bullying, Inc., has also been at the forefront of this important work. In the first year of the organization’s existence – the first year alone – the group booked more than two dozen presentations to more than 1,000 parents, more than 1,000 educators and professionals, and more than 2,000 students in the greater Philadelphia region.

But their work is far from over, according to Redpath, who sees the effects of bullying firsthand as a parent of a child on the autism spectrum who has experienced bullying at school.

Children with special needs are at much higher risk for bullying than non-special needs students, says Redpath. Specifically, 62 percent of students with hidden disabilities are victimized, as opposed to 27 percent of students without those hidden disabilities, according to a 2011 CDC study. Hidden disabilities can include Aspergers, ADHD, and learning disabilities, among others.

What can you do in your own home to be aware of and to help prevent bullying? Be engaged and proactive, says Redpath. “Sit down with your child at night,” she says. “Ask who they played with at recess and what they played. Ask all the questions, not just ‘how was your day.’ Make a conversation with your child.”

There are four types of warning signs for bullying that parents can watch for in their own kids, including physical, emotional, academic, and behavioral. Physical signs include missing possessions or unexplained injuries, while emotional signs include aggression or depression. Academic signs can be a drop in grades and behavioral signs can include withdrawal or changing routine habits (i.e. your child suddenly wanting to rides to and from school, if he or she previously walked).

The group is currently working closely with Rep. Dan Truitt of West Chester on the PASS (Pennsylvania Safe Schools) Act. Dr. Cerullo spoke on the House floor in support of the Act. If the bill passes, it would “require clearer definitions, follow-up requirements and an online system for recording, tracking and reporting incidents of bullying in PA schools,” according to Truitt’s website. “Every school has to have a policy [on anti-bullying], but it’s not always enforced,” Redpath says.

The bill would also mandate that all teachers complete anti-bullying training every five years.

“This is a collaborative effort,” says Redpath. “If we don’t have everyone on board – teachers, parents, law enforcement, the community – then we’re fighting a battle that’s not going to be won.”

How to get involved:

If you’d like to get involved with Teach Anti-Bullying, Inc., you can donate online or via mail (P.O. Box 1716, Havertown PA), volunteer, book a school assembly or speaking engagement on bullying, or join their cause on causes.com (for free) to help show your support.

Or join Teach Anti-Bullying at their upcoming fundraising event:

Teach Anti-Bullying, Inc. 1^st Annual Fundraiser
Maloney’s Pub & Restaurant
2626 County Line Road, Ardmore, PA
Saturday, April 13, 2013
7 to 11 pm
Join them for a 2-hour open bar and light buffet from 7-9 pm and a “bid and buy” and 50/50 all evening. Proceeds go to educational resources and advocacy.

Some things simply never go out of style, so pass on bright plastic and instead enjoy the beauty and nostalgia of this wooden favorite.

Uncle Goose Classic ABC Blocks

What it is: A set of meticulously handcrafted, old-fashioned A-B-C letter blocks.

Why it’s a must: It’s hard to find great children’s toys. Ideally, they should be educational and promote creativity, but they also need to be fun. These beauties feature letters (enough for four full alphabets), numbers, and a variety of animals and math symbols, meaning they can help teach children how to read, count, and sort, but we all know the stunning castles and tower cities that can result when kids let loose with their creativity. This is a set than can grow with your child. Little ones can toss them around and use them to build and demolish towers, but as they get older they can learn the sounds of the animals on the blocks and put blocks together to spell and create stories.

What’s more, this updated version offers heirloom quality with modern materials and sustainability — they are Eco-friendly too! Manufactured in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, the blocks are created from sustainable Michigan basswood grown around the Great Lakes. Each block is then embossed and printed with a colorful range of bright, non-toxic inks. Lindenwood Toys, the company that produces Uncle Goose blocks, regularly tests each batch of ink used on the blocks and they always surpass national and international standards on ink safety. No sealers or coatings are added to the blocks, so they are “mouth-safe” if your little one happens to chew on them (though that’s not recommended as they are not a teething toy.)  The company also sells individual replacements if one becomes a chew toy for the dog or happens to go missing. Beyond the classic English A-B-C blocks, we also love that these alphabet blocks come in many languages, including Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish, as well as Braille and Sign-Language. The perfect modern take on a staple for any household toy box.

Where to find it: Character Development, 209 Haverford Ave., Narberth
The Little House Shop, 503 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne

Price: Classic Blocks range from $36-39

Bonus! Character Development will help you save before you stack! Mention Main Line Parent when you pick up the set, and save 10% off the purchase price!

It’s here, dear readers! And may we say, it’s beautiful!

We are so excited to share out new Spring/Summer print magazine — Issue 6! — with our community, and what better way to show off the new book and celebrate our amazing MLP family than with a festive Mingle!?

Please join us for a release party at Azie on Main on April 11, 2013, from 6-7:30 pm. There will be complementary light bites from the chefs of Azie, discount drink specials, and your first opportunity to leaf through the new magazine. We hope to see you there and share this milestone with you!

RSVP here!

MLP Issue 6 Release Mingle

April 11, 2013   6 pm

Azie on Main, 789 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova

Happy April  from the Main Line Parent team! Here are our picks for great family fun this week.

Monday, April 1

Kids’ Storytime is on today at Longwood Gardens. Young horticulturists will learn about a garden-related topic through engaging activites. For children ages 3–5. Space is limited to 20 children per session, so registration is recommended.

“Big Bugs!” will debut at Morris Arboretum today. Eleven immense garden sculptures, some as large as 25-feet long and 1200 pounds, will be on display throughout the arboretum. Made from natural materials, primarily from fallen trees and plants, these whimsical bugs were created by artist David Rogers. The exhibit opens today, but don’t miss the grand opening on April 6 from 11 am to 2 pm. And, if you can’t make it this week, don’t fret. The Big Bugs will be on display all summer long!

Tuesday, April 2

Enjoy the Play and Learn Morning Club today at the Willow Grove Park Mall at 10:30 am. The program is held on the first and third Tuesday of every month, and features free exciting activities planned with you and your young family in mind.

Kids of all ages are invited to join in at story time at the Pottery Barn Kids store in King of Prussia. Members receive an official Book Club Passport at their first story time, and a special gift after attending five story times.

Wednesday, April 3

On today at the Walnut St. Theater, Diary of a Worm, A Spider, And a Fly is a slimy, and hilarious rock-n-roll romp in a big bug’s world. Is Spider getting too big for his own skin? Will Fly find her superhero powers in time to save her Aunt Rita from danger? Will Worm learn to stand on his own two feet? Find out at this delightful children’s show.

Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse hosts Story Time in the Playhouse today at 10:30 am for children 5 and younger. Each session is led by Smith staff and volunteers, and features stories and songs.

Paoli Library hosts its popular Toddler Storytime today at 11 am.

Thursday, April 4

Is your child a budding builder? Join the Lego Club at the Tredyffrin Library on Thursdays at 4:30 pm. Drop in and join in the fun of free-style Lego building. The library supplies the Legos, you bring the imagination. Recommended for ages 7-12.

Head to the Barnes Foundation today to enjoy their ARTTime Story Time at 10:30 am. Today, you’ll enjoy A Children’s Treasury of Poems, illustrated by Linda Bleck. From The Cats Have Come to Tea by Kate Greenaway to Vachel Lindsay’s The Little Turtle, this humorous collection of classic poems and garden verses will amaze and delight. And everyone will get to sculpt a turtle to bring home to remember your fun day!

Friday, April 5

Enjoy a night out while your children enjoy exploring their creativity at the Center on Central’s Parents Night Out/Kids Night In. Includes a pizza snack, an arts activity and/or craft project, and ends with a movie-chill out time to be ready for bedtime after pick up. Cost: $30 for first child, $20 for each additional sibling. Preregistration is preferred; drop-ins are accepted if there is space available.

Tonight is First Friday at the Creative Living Room in Swarthmore. Enjoy the Pillow & Pajamas’ Family Time, starting at 6 pm. Tonight’s program: Earth Day – reduce, reuse, recycle. 10 Thousand Villages in Media will be on hand to help you and your little ones find creative ways to integrate these concepts into your home.

Saturday, April 6

Pinkalicious is on the stage at the Media Theater today! This is the first area presentation of the Off-Broadway sensation about the girl who only likes things pink and how it affects everyone around her. Based on the very popular series of children’s books. The musical runs through May 25.

The Hedgerow Theater plays host to Charlotte’s Web, Joseph Robinette’s delightful musical adaptation of the E.B. White classic that tells the tale of the friendship between Wilbur the Pig and Charlotte the Spider. The stage at Hedgerow is transformed into a barnyard, complete with Charlotte’s spiderweb.

Have older kids? Looking for something fun to do this afternoon? Head out to the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville for their 2 pm showing of the classic movie, Grease. Recommended for children aged 12 and older.

Sunday, April 7

The Pennsylvania Ballet comes to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts‘s Family Workshops! Join us for this inspiring live performance and see demonstrations of the ways artists suggest movement in their works through different materials and gestures. Capture the beauty of the performance in a series of movement drawings of your own to take home.

Enjoy EUREKA! at the Abington Art Center today at 1 pm. Families of any size shape and artistic ability can explore the galleries and make art together. The project for March is recycled sculptures. EUREKA! costs $5 per project, and no reservations are required.

Join the Miracle in Motion team for their 2013 Bunny Hop 5K and Family Fun Run/Walk to raise funds for research to benefit children who have suffered a severe brain injury during birth or as a neonate. There are so many families who have not yet had the fortune of receiving the miracle of watching their child in motion. This race helps create grants for the funding to purchase equipment and therapeutic scholarships to help their child become mobile.

From marathons to 5Ks, many Philadelphia-area races welcome kids or host a child-friendly version of the main event, allowing everyone to break a sweat. 

The family that stays fit together, stays together. Or something like that, right!? Whether its you working on your next sub-4 marathon or your kids getting into their first tastes of track and field, get outside as a family and take part in the many area races and walks that allow you to spend time together, keep active, and often help support a great charity. Lace up those sneakers, let’s get going!

April 6

Collegeville Rotary Run Around, Perkiomen High School, Collegeville
5K, open to children 12 and older
$25

Dash 4 Diabetes, Chester County Justice Center, West Chester
5K run, 2.5K walk, Kid’s Run
$25 adults, $10 children

April 7

Miles for Moms 5K, Phoenixville Area High School, Phoenixville
5K run, 1 mile walk
$20

April 12

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

April 13

Gener8tion Run, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
8K run, .8K walk, family festival
$35 run, $15 walk

Oreland 5K, EPI Center, Oreland
5K, 1 mile loop walk (strollers welcome), Kid’s Fun Run
$20 race, $15 walk, $10 children

April 14

Finding Her Footing 5K, Delaware County Community College, Media
5K walk/run, Kid’s Dash
$20, children are free

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

April 19

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

April 20

5K Run For Clean Air, MLK Drive, Philadelphia
5K run, 3K walk, Kids’ Fun Run, Earth Day Celebration
$30 run, $20 walk, $10 children

Footsteps for Friends, Haverford Friends School, Haverford
5K run, 1 mile fun run
$25, $15 age 14 and younger

Spring Zing, Shady Brook Elementary School, Blue Bell
5K run, 1 mile walk
$20, $10 age 12 and younger

April 21

Art and Sole Run, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown
5K race, Kid’s Dash for younger runners
$25 adults, $12 children

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

Burning for Learning, Upper Dublin High School, Fort Washington
5K run/walk, 1 mile walk (strollers welcome)
$30 run, $10 walk (mile)

Radnor Elementary SMART Run, Radnor Elementary School, Wayne
5K run/walk, 1 mile Kid’s Fun Run
$20, $10 ages 6-14, $5 age 5 and younger

Valley Forge Revolutionary Run, Valley Forge National Historical Park, King of Prussia
5 mile run, 3 mile walk, 1 mile Young Patriots Fun Run
$30 run, $15 walk, $5 children

April 26

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

April 27

Twilight Run & Walk, Haverford High School, Havertown
5K run/walk, 1 mile Elementary Challenge
$20 adult, $10 students

Narberth Cystic Fibrosis Run, Narberth Park, Narberth
5 mile run, Kidz Run
$30, $10 children

April 28

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

Run Wild Save the Orangutans Run/Walk, Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia
5K run/walk (strollers welcome)
$25, discounts for families

May 3

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

May 4

Alex Wake Run, The Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr
5K run, 1 mile fun walk
$22, $15 student

May 5

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

May 10

Healthy Kids Running Series, Smithbridge Park, Glen Mills
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

May 11

Broad Street ReRun, Broad Street, Lansdale
5 mile run, 1 mile family walk, 1/2 mile kids’ run
$35, $10 children

May 12

Healthy Kids Running Series, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon
50 yard dash for PreK to 1 mile for middle schoolers
$10

Mother’s Day 5K, Church Street, West Chester
5K run, 1.5 mile walk, female-only (strollers welcome)
$25

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Eakins Oval, Philadelphia
5K run, 5K walk, 1 mile walk, Kids Dash for the Cure
$35, $15 children

May 19

Thrill On the Hill, Hill Top Preparatory School, Rosemont
5K run/walk, 1 mile fun walk
$20 run, $10 walk

June 9

Great Amazing Race Family Day, Neshaminy State Park, Bensalem
Amazing Race-style competition
$40 per family/team

Did we miss a race you are involved with? Please send us the details and we’d be happy to include! Send information to melissa.greiner@mainlineparent.com.

Hippity, hoppity, Easter is on its way. Keep the jellybeans at a bay for a few more days (good luck!) and gear up with our ode to eggs to-do list.

Ready for an egg-celent Easter? Religious beliefs and that candy-toting rabbit aside, we see the holiday as a celebrating of spring, newness, and possibility. And what embodies all these attributes better than the egg? So let’s get started!

1. Buy the eggs.

It’s no Easter without eggs! And while you can easily head to the local supermarket and pick up a dozen large white, we love heading to a local farm like Maple Acres in Plymouth Meeting for some fresh orbs. The experience is enhanced by getting up close with the little fluffy creatures that came from your dozen’s brothers and sisters — check out the chick house to the right of the market barn.

2. Play with the eggs.

Now you can be the mom that says you CAN play with your food! Egg-centric party games are classic and have an old-timey charm that just goes perfectly with kids in gingham dresses and plaid bow-ties. Start with the traditional egg-on-a-spoon race, where participants hold a spoon in their mouth, place an egg in the bowl, and shuffle across the yard hoping to avoid a scramble. Others that could create some photo-worthy moments include an egg toss or egg roll. Just be sure to keep some extra eggs safe and sound for step 3.

3. Cook the eggs.

Our olfactory de ja vu kicks in when we smell vinegar — instantly we are back in our mother’s 1980s kitchen watching eggs bob away on the almond-hued stovetop. Sure, you can do that way, but have you tried baking your eggs? We were suspicious as well, but this comes from food genius/scientist himself Alton Brown, so who are we to argue? The result is easier to peel shells, creamier eggs, and a kitchen that doesn’t smell like your high school’s chem lab.

4. Decorate the eggs.

We beg you — pass on the harsh dye pods you find at big box stores and let the kids get more creative. Make a bevy of colors from everyday kitchen items with these easy, natural dye recipes. Let the little ones scribble with crayons prior to a dip in the dye for a tattooed look, or go nuts with stickers or rubber bands to create dots or stripes. Once dry, glue on sequins or glitter. Or skip the dye all together — have fun with metallic Sharpies or break out the paints and let the brush transform the blank canvas into a bright masterpiece.

5. Eat the eggs.

Yum! Slice in half, add salt, and devour. Dump the yokes into a bowl and make a creamy batch of tabasco-spiked deviled eggs. Chop and sprinkle with bacon and blue cheese over lettuce for the freshest cobb salad around. Not creative enough for you? OK, how about mixing some into chocolate chip cookies. Yea, that got our attention, too!