Armonk, NY
Lifestyle
Safe Sleeping For Babies Safe Sleeping For Babies
Safe Sleeping For Babies According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 3,500 babies in the U.S. are lost each year due to sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and deaths from unknown causes. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following safe sleep practices for newborns and infants: Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep in a bassinet, crib, portable crib, or play yard, including naps and at night. Use a firm and flat sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a …

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Content Partner: CareMount Medical
New City, NY
Lifestyle
Here’s How To Get Your Kids Away From Screens And Playing Outside Here’s How To Get Your Kids Away From Screens And Playing Outside
Here’s How To Get Your Kids Away From Screens And Playing Outside Dear Doctor: Like many families, we are coming off a few months with the kids cooped up inside. Summer is officially in full swing, but camp and other summer sports are either canceled or curtailed, and I’m becoming concerned with keeping my kids physically active. What strategies can I use to get them off their screens and outside without turning into a 24/7 nag? Signed, “Housebound But Hopeful” Dear Housebound: While the shuttering of summer activities might seem like the end of the world both for you and your kids, there are plenty of ways you can recreate the outdoor experience so th…

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Content Partner: Phelps Hospital
Ridgefield, CT
Schools
Playroom Filled With Toys But Kids Always Bored? Here's Who Can Help Fairfield County Parents Playroom Filled With Toys But Kids Always Bored? Here's Who Can Help Fairfield County Parents
Playroom Filled With Toys But Kids Always Bored? Here's Who Can Help Fairfield County Parents Does your child's playroom just keep them busy or promote independent play and learning? Mindful organizing is the key to optimize the latter. There's help for that in Fairfield County, where educator and organizer Alanna Gallo has a new business aptly called Play Learn Thrive. Playrooms can be powerful teaching spaces and her company offers a range of services to help you set it up for that. They are not just for hiding away toy clutter. "Play is how kids learn," Gallo explained. "Cognitive, social and emotional skills can be best developed in these spaces when they have "a more intentiona…

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by Donna Christopher
Northern Valley, NJ
Business
Norwood's New 'Flavor Lab' Holding Virtual Cooking Class For Kids Norwood's New 'Flavor Lab' Holding Virtual Cooking Class For Kids
Norwood's New 'Flavor Lab' Holding Virtual Cooking Class For Kids A new cooking studio that halted its Norwood opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic will soon be holding virtual classes for kids. The Flavor Labs, slated to open at 514 Livingston St., says the classes encourage kids to "think outside the bowl." Prices and launch date have not yet been announced. The classes will require minimal guidance and will give children an outlet to "express themselves creatively, while developing confidence in the kitchen," the website says.  Parents get a recipe card with a list of ingredients and tools needed a day ahead of the class to prepare. "Studi…

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by Cecilia Levine
DV Plus - Fairfield, CT
Schools
Remote Schooling Through April 20 Or Longer? Parents (And Kids) Are Adapting Remote Schooling Through April 20 Or Longer? Parents (And Kids) Are Adapting
Remote Schooling Through April 20 Or Longer? Parents (And Kids) Are Adapting For many children, including those of Sarah O'Brien Moles, a working mother from Milford, the initial excitement at home-schooling quickly melted into sadness.  "My daughter who's in the second grade loves school, and she was really sad when the school closed. Both my kids love their teachers and I'm bummed that time was taken away from them," said Moles, whose younger child, a boy, is in kindergarten. With a week and a half of managing their kids' at-home learning under their belts, parents like Moles talk of originally feeling frustrated but have still managed to adapt and …

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by Donna Christopher
Mahwah-Ramsey, NJ
News
Social Distancing: What About The Kids? Social Distancing: What About The Kids?
Social Distancing: What About The Kids? Two things were inevitable after Americans were asked to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus: Youngsters would spend more time outside with their friends and parents would spend more time on Facebook. Sure enough, exchanges among parents in large social media groups are increasing over the wisdom of large teen gatherings. It flared Wednesday in one of the dwindling number of North Jersey municipalities where public parks have remained open amid the pandemic. It was two days earlier that President Trump, speaking with alarming concern, asked the nation to avoid gathering in …

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by Jerry DeMarco
New City, NY
Lifestyle
Why Do Babies Cry? Some Much-Needed Answers Why Do Babies Cry? Some Much-Needed Answers
Why Do Babies Cry? Some Much-Needed Answers Crying is the main way babies express themselves Newborns routinely cry a total of 1-4 hours a day. Crying spells often peak at about 6-8 weeks and then gradually decrease. Reasons babies cry: Hungry Tired Need a diaper change Want to be held Too cold/too warm Overtired/overstimulated Sick Helps them de-stress Sometimes they don’t know why they cry Is it colic? Colic usually follows the rules of 3s: starts around 3 weeks of age and lasts until 3 months of age crying 3 or more hours a day, 3 or more days a week, for 3 or more weeks, in an otherwise healthy infant Crying associated wit…

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Content Partner: Westchester Health
DV Plus - Fairfield, CT
Schools
Connecticut Courage To Speak Founder Warns Parents About Signs Of Drug Use Connecticut Courage To Speak Founder Warns Parents About Signs Of Drug Use
Connecticut Courage To Speak Founder Warns Parents About Signs Of Drug Use If you are a parent and worried your kids are saying yes to drugs you are not alone.  But first. Do you know why kids use drugs? Stress, pain, peer pressure, fitting in, some say it's cool, to feel better and boredom, according to an expert in the field whose family tragedy turned into her mission to help kids say no to drugs. The good news: All parents have this in their arsenal: communication. The number one way for parents to prevent drug abuse is to talk to their kids, says Ginger Katz, CEO and Founder, along with husband Larry Katz of the Courage to Speak Foundation.It was founde…

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by Donna Christopher
Bedford, NY
Lifestyle
Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family
Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family It’s hard to say goodbye to summer. Heading back into the school routine can create more stress for everyone in the family. Busy schedules, academic pressure, and lack of sleep can raise anxiety levels. Furthermore, we have less time to relax and connect with each other. With that in mind, here are some strategies to ease the transition back into the school year. Build the family’s resilience and positivity. Resilience is our ability to bounce back from difficult events or emotions. The more resilient we are, the more we can handle the stress of the busy school year. Fortunately, there ar…

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Content Partner: Newport Academy
Newark, NJ
Lifestyle
Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family
Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family It’s hard to say goodbye to summer. Heading back into the school routine can create more stress for everyone in the family. Busy schedules, academic pressure, and lack of sleep can raise anxiety levels. Furthermore, we have less time to relax and connect with each other. With that in mind, here are some strategies to ease the transition back into the school year. Build the family’s resilience and positivity. Resilience is our ability to bounce back from difficult events or emotions. The more resilient we are, the more we can handle the stress of the busy school year. Fortunately, there ar…

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Content Partner: Newport Academy
Ridgewood, NJ
Lifestyle
Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family
Back-to-School Strategies For The Whole Family It’s hard to say goodbye to summer. Heading back into the school routine can create more stress for everyone in the family. Busy schedules, academic pressure, and lack of sleep can raise anxiety levels. Furthermore, we have less time to relax and connect with each other. With that in mind, here are some strategies to ease the transition back into the school year. Build the family’s resilience and positivity. Resilience is our ability to bounce back from difficult events or emotions. The more resilient we are, the more we can handle the stress of the busy school year. Fortunately, there ar…

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Content Partner: Newport Academy
Stamford, CT
Obituaries
Jon Jester Of Stamford, Devoted Dad Of Two, Dies Suddenly At 51 Jon Jester Of Stamford, Devoted Dad Of Two, Dies Suddenly At 51
Jon Jester Of Stamford, Devoted Dad Of Two, Dies Suddenly At 51 A Stamford man known as being a devoted father died suddenly at age 51. Jon Gregory 'Greg' Jester died Saturday, June 29. He was a "dedicated, passionate and devoted" father to sons Tyler and Matthew, according to his obituary. Jester is recalled as having had a joy of life and his passion for his boys, friends, skiing, baseball, gardening, yoga, climate change, and  "peaceful acceptance of the present moment." He is survived by his mother Beverly Meade, stepfather Newtie; sisters, Karen Jakubak and Suzanne Cionci; brothers-in-law; and nieces and nephews. His father, Jon Anthony Jeste…

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by Donna Christopher