What’s the PSP Chinese Group talking about this week? Our parents have some recommendations for the best Lunar New Year picture books. Put in your order now to keep the festivities going!
Did you know that Park Slope Parents has more than a dozen bilingual and heritage groups to help you get connected to families in Brooklyn who share your cultural background? Click HERE to get connected; and if you’re not yet a member of PSP, join us HERE!
The findings from the 2020 annual Park Slope Parents Holiday Tips Survey, in which Brooklyn residents report their upcoming end-of-year gifts to service providers, nannies, and teachers.
As we head into a most unusual holiday season, we at PSP hope you’ll join us in supporting those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic and its effects on poverty, food insecurity, and housing insecurity. No matter your age, skillset, or availability, there’s an opportunity for you to donate some time or money to lend a hand this holiday season.
Events, socially distanced ideas, and trick-or-treating updates
Like all other aspects of life, spooky celebrations will look a little—or a lot—different this year. But we at Park Slope Parents are a resourceful bunch, and we’ve got some tricks up our sleeves to help you have a hair-raisingly haunting Halloween despite the circumstances. Read on...if you dare!
Are you a parent in Brooklyn who's not yet a Park Slope Parents member? JOIN US today to
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Here are all the great holiday happenings in Brooklyn and beyond this season. Also check out our article about Where to See Christmas Lights (including Dyker Heights). Holiday window displays run until the new year!
Giving is a great way to help those who need a hand up this holiday season. We have many ways to help, including gift drives, warm winter wear drives and more. For any of the great drives below, feel free to organize a toy drive with your office or your baby group! Have a holiday party potluck and have people bring gifts to donate.
Share these drives with work colleagues, block associations, or on social media. Every little bit helps!
How to survive the Thanksgiving Holidays
NOTE from Park Slope Parents, November 2020: If you're meeting up with relatives this holiday season, getting tested for the coronavirus is a great way to help put your mind at ease and keep your family as safe as possible. We have an article on Covid Testing in Brooklyn: Where to Go and What to Know, which includes guidance on testing and quarantining for travelers; links to important public health
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It was a great Halloween! Next year Halloween is on a SATURDAY! Fun to come! Make sure to join Park Slope Parents to be up on all of the action!
Here are some PHOTOS of the Parade:
Park Slope Jewish Center
PSJC welcomes you and your family to join us for our youth and family services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur! Our open tent (literally!) service are open to the community and welcome your entire family from toddlers to teens a place to celebrate with singing, stories, and the shofar. For service descriptions and times for all of our options from toddlers to teens to family services, please visit the websites below.
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Here are our picks for Family Friendly PRIDE Events for June 2019
Kidding Around Family Pride Picnic
When: Saturday, June 29, 10am - 1pm
Where: On the High Line (16th Street to Gansevoort Street)
How Much: Free (Guests must register in advance herehttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/kidding-around-family-pride-picnic-tickets-59243127790
What: A celebration of LGBTQ+ families and Pride through a summer festival with carnival-style games, face
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Parenting puts a lot of pressure on a relationship, even a good one. With this in mind, here’s a short list of things to do to strengthen relationships. Make these things priorities starting this Valentine's Day (if you haven't already)!
Here are the key findings from the 2018, 7th annual Park Slope Parents Holiday Tips Survey in which Brooklyn residents report their upcoming end of year gifts to service providers, nannies, and teachers.
Getting too many presents for your kids? Here's some ideas on how to decrease the consumerism.
Quick link: Just looking to find a loving home for unneeded items? See PSP’s list of places to donate toys, gifts and household items. Also check out our page on How to Help this Holiday Season, which includes several donation and toy/gift drive opportunities.
The ins and outs of creating (or not creating) the Santa Claus myth.
Find donation and volunteer opportunities for every family and budget.
Want more good stuff? Check out the PSP Guide to the Holidays to find your perfect celebration.
Not yet a member of Park Slope Parents? Join us today to get connected to the PSP Activists Group, Volunteer Corps, and so much more!
Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service? In honor of Dr. King's legacy fighting for systemic change, this Monday, January 17th, is a great time to volunteer to improve our community.
Here are a few ways you and your kids can help!
Supporting a food pantry is a great way to help New Yorker in need. It’s also an easy way for kids to learn about the importance of helping others. A food drive is a great way to involve even young children. You can collect food as a family, with a group of friends or in your child’s class at school. Here are some local food pantries to consider...
It's end of summer and what do you do when it comes to saying farewell to the counselors that kept your little tots busy & happy all summer long. This article offers advice on tipping summer camp counselors from neighborhood parents.
Parting is such sweet sorrow... Looking for a special gift idea to give to your nanny when saying goodbye? Here are some member suggestions.
One PSP member asked their baby group: "I'm putting together a baby gift for my newly pregnant friend, and the theme of the gift is "highly practical baby items." (I suspect most of her other gifts will be highly impractical.) Thinking back to after you had your baby: what were highly practical, must-have items you wish you'd gotten in advance, rather than having to do a midnight Duane Reade run?"
Moving can be a stressful time. But if you take steps to familiarize yourself with the way it is regulated and what rights and responsibilities you have, you'll likely have a much smoother move. Here are some things to think about as you prepare for your move.
Need some tips for making the transition with kids run more smoothly? Check out our Moving with Kids article.
Image by Nicolas Huk
Calling all ghouls and ghosties—PSP's Halloween roundup has arrived! We'll continue updating this page as new events cross our desk, so check back for the best and spookiest happenings all around Brooklyn and beyond.
Are you a parent in Brooklyn who's not yet a Park Slope Parents member?JOIN US today to chat with fellow families about trick-or-treating best practices, share intel on the best pumpkin patches, and get advice on everything from
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February is Black History Month! Here are events (both in person and online) and resources to help you and your kids educate and celebrate all month long.
Everything you need to know for this holiday season in Brooklyn! We’re updating this page as new events cross our desk, so keep checking back.
Want to give back to folks in the community? Check out our article on How to Help!
Not yet a member of Park Slope Parents? Give yourself the gift of a supportive community and join us!
Whether you're looking to relax at home or go the extravagant route with a trip to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, PSP has tips to help your family have a wonderful experience this holiday season!
By the way—Park Slope Parents is thankful for YOU! If you're not yet a part of the PSP community, join here.
Park Slope Parents hosted a webinar with Joey Ackerman, LCSW-R, who shared wisdom on handling the realities of this holiday season and accepting the challenging emotions it may bring.
To get access to more events like this one, and to find solidarity with other parents in Brooklyn navigating life and raising kids during the pandemic, join the Park Slope Parents community today!
Planning a staycation over the December holidays? Here PSP members share ideas of what to do with kids in New York City during the December school break.
This is a growing NYC holiday tradition: watching model trains zip through a display of 150 landmarks, each re-created with bark, leaves, and other natural materials—all under the twinkling glow of the conservatory at the NY Botanical Garden.
Here are PSP member tips about making the most of this magical event...
Park Slope Parents is not doing our “official” Easter Egg Hunt this year…
but we wanted to give you folks some tools so that you may plan your own!
We're in desperate need for a nanny, but we don't need a great one. A "pretty good" , "slightly used" or even "like new elderly" nanny will be fine.
Ideal candidate will be FROM PARK SLOPE. We want the right kind of nanny, and since our kids are from Park Slope, why look outside of perfect? Additional requirements: advanced degree in a child-related field or social work, or retired teacher (no gym teachers please). Fluency in English required;
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Dyker Heights "Mansion'
I want to set up a family Christmas tradition. My husband’s family attends Christmas Eve mass and mine carols. Now I want to give my sons a family holiday experience unique to our lives in Brooklyn. My friend mentioned her family drives through Dyker Heights to see the Christmas lights on Christmas Eve. Bingo! A Brooklyn Christmas tradition!
Here are the key findings from the annual Park Slope Parents Holiday Tips Survey, in which Brooklyn residents report their upcoming end-of-year gifts to service providers, nannies, and teachers.
Not yet part of Park Slope Parents? Join HERE for access to crowd-sourced and expert wisdom on all aspects of parenting and living in Brooklyn.
Is it okay to ask for no presents? PSP members discuss the do's, don'ts, and etiquette of requesting no gifts at a party.
Have a Nanny? Here are the ins and outs of year-end bonuses.
Thanks to everyone who filled out the Holiday Survey!
Here are the key findings from the annual Park Slope Parents Holiday Tips Survey in which Brooklyn residents report their upcoming end of year gifts to service providers, nannies, and teachers.
Wondering what to get the grandparents as a gift? PSP members share their ideas.
Here are the key findings from the annual Park Slope Parents Holiday Tips Survey:
Mother's Day gift ideas from PSP members.
Here are the findings from the annual Park Slope Parents Holiday Tips Survey.
Whether it is for a grandparent or a teacher; a nanny leaving or for mom/dad - here are ideas parents have shared about making homemade gifts, tokens and momentos.
Here are the findings of the annual Park Slope Parents 2014 Holiday Tips Survey.
Okay, in our effort to keep dollars local I wanted to post about another idea: purchasing MEMBERSHIPS as GIFTS.
From a parent: "I posted a question last week regarding year-end holiday gifts for daycare providers. I didn't receive many replies, but I have posted the ones I did receive below."
Thanks to everyone who answered the survey! How much do folks spend on holiday tips/gifts?
How generous are people with holiday tips/gifts? Look at the results of the 2012 Holiday Tips/Gifts/Bonuses Survey!
Looking for Christmas or Chanukah Gift ideas this Holiday? Here are some suggestions for Brooklyn-based presents to give.
Park Slope Parents offers some suggestions on tipping over the Holiday season.
For many of us today is an day off from school and a time when we try to arrange things to do with the kids to fill the time. I did, however, want to take a minute to also remind folks that it’s Veterans Day, a day to remember the soldiers who have served (or are serving) in the nations armed forces. Do you know that it was on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November (the 11th month) of 1918 they signed the Armistice Treaty (I didn’t). And
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Thinking about summer and Block Parties? Since it can take 60 days (or 90 in some areas), you might need to get crackin’ on plannin’.
Here’s some information about throwing a great party as well as links to applying in Community Board 6 and CB7.
Daylight saving time arrives and departs annually at 2 am local time. In spring, clocks move forward (think: "spring forward"); in fall, they go back (think: "fall back").
Read on for some advice about adjusting to the time changes.
Happy Valentine's Day!
If you couldn't get a sitter this Valentine's Day - why not make it a Family Valentine's Day? Here are a few ideas to make the day feel special:
1. Have a family date night
Go on a family date night. Check out one of these member recommended family and kid-friendly restaurants then do an activity like a movie or bowling.
2. Do a family movie night
Make some popcorn and have a movie night at home. Here are some family
So it's the holidays or the end of the year, and you are probably wondering what you should do about giving gifts to your child's teacher. What exactly is expected from parents? Do you go all out with something big or can you keep it small & more personal? You've even heard rumors that giving gifts aren't even allowed. Park Slope Parents explores the dos & the not to dos of what to give teachers & discusses what exactly the rules are when it comes to
...Ben Austin wrote up a great email last year about the West Indian Day Festivities-- He's given me permission to repost it here (Thanks Ben!).
Julia Ward Howe; one ambitious mother
The history of Daylight Saving Time
A quick guide to talk you through all the major Jewish events.
Christmas + Hanukah = ?
We've complied stories from interfaith families who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukah and how they honor these two religious holidays. We are including here two separate questions from families who have raised questions about tradition and family.
All you need to know about Hanukah
Wondering how to recycle your Christmas tree? Read on!
Where to buy your Christmas tree in Park Slope. Did Foley’s Firs hold up? Did the expensive guy in front of CVS have trees that were perfect? Here are what PSP members say about their Christmas trees.
Want to see some great Christmas Lights? Here are some local and further destinations worth checking out.
Christmas can bring more than presents, cookies and Santa Claus. With it can come stress, worry and anxiousness. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the Holiday buzz and feel like yourself spinning out of control.
Santa tells it like it is - a Santa Clause computer/phone app!
Park Slope Parents tips for Caroling this Christmas!
No need to drop big bucks at a holiday market or take out a second mortgage to skate at Rockefeller Center this year. There are lots of fun and affordable things to do with kids that are all about spending time together.
Please be accepting of all children who arrive at your front door on Halloween because sometimes they are struggling with hidden challenges and the act of trick or treating doesn't come easily to them. They are thankful in their hearts and minds even if they may not tell you!
So your little one has food allergies. How do you handle Halloween, a holiday where allergens - more scary than the ghosts and witches out at night - will be everywhere?
Face painting is almost always a hit with the 3-8 year old set. Hiring a face painter can be expensive, but they bring all the equipment and it's good stuff. You can also decide to try your own hand at making it happen.
Over the years, pop up costume shops and stores selling Halloween gear have been available at the following Brooklyn locations...
Halloween in the Slope is lots of fun but it comes with its own unique set of challenges - like how to tell your Princess Leia and Spiderman from the 400 other princess Leias and Spidermen. Here are our top tips for making our urban Halloween safe and fun.
You can make something wonderful (or at least socially acceptable) with as little as a few plastic bags and a snuggie. Here are some of the last minute costume ideas we came up with.
Is it your first Halloween in the neighborhood? Here is the spooktacular scoop on having a great Halloween with very small children.
Papier mâché creations: limited only by the imagination (and the laws of physics). For committed do-it-youselfers, papier mâché is the costume craft of choice. It's pliable,easy and kid-friendly, plus it's fun to watch your ideas take shape.
The homemade, DIY costume is easy - all it takes is a little time and inspiration. Here are some tips to get you started on a creative costume!
Parents share their cooking tips, recipes, decoration ideas & more for making a fun and festive Thanksgiving Dinner at home...
Get a sneak peek of the Macy's Day Parade & watching the balloons get inflated the afternoon before! Many PSP Members suggest this as a great alternative to the Parade watching experience. Here are tips, information & more...
Catering Thanksgiving - Dinner made easy.
Tips for traveling in and out of New York and the 'Slope over the Thanksgiving period.
Here are PSP members best tips for seeing parade with kid
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Ideas for memorial gifts that are more than flowers or a donation.
What do you when you find yourself solo over the holidays? A PSP member asked the the Park Slope Parents Separated, Divorced, and Single (SDS) Group what to do over Christmas/New Year’s. Here are the replies, and includes tips for other major events including Thanksgiving.
JOIN the Park Slope Parents Community. We watch out for each other (including making sure no one steals your packages)!
If you're a parent in Brooklyn, we're here for you!
Expecting some packages to be delivered? Here are our top tips to keep your packages from being stolen.
A personal tale of the importance of carbon monoxide detectors.
