Newsflashes
Newsflashes
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The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) is a Federal program to provide food benefits to children who will miss out or have missed out on school meals due to the pandemic. Those of us with children in NYC public schools (and most charter and parochial schools) will receive a P-EBT card that can be used in the same way as SNAP (food stamp) cards.
Here, find help for some of the most common P-EBT issues, including getting a replacement card if you haven't received yours.
Looking for information on redistributing your P-EBT? Visit our page with Four Steps You Can Take to Help Food-Insecure Families.
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While we’re all aware of the job losses triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, a less publicized aspect of the crisis is the skyrocketing level of food insecurity across the country. According to Feeding America, the number of people without adequate access to nutritious food is likely to grow by 17 million in 2020, including nearly seven million children. Bringing that number down starts in our local communities—so we’ve compiled a few actions you can take today to help combat food insecurity in Brooklyn, NYC, and beyond.
Click here to skip to info on P-EBT, including how to redistribute your funds and what to do if you didn't receive your card.
For more P-EBT info and updates, visit our page with FAQs on P-EBT.
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Parenting has changed drastically over the past 50 years, from family-centered to child-focused and instinctual to expert-driven. Please join Park Slope Parents for a free forum on RETHINKING PARENTING co-sponsored by Community Bookstore on Thursday, April 8th from 8:00pm - 9:15pm.
Head HERE to sign up.
What: PSP Rethinking Parenting Forum
When: Thursday, April 8th
Time: 8:00pm - 9:15pm
Cost: Free
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Eligible for a vaccine, but not sure where to begin? Navigating the appointment process can be a bit of a maze, but PSP members have you covered with top tips on what websites to visit, who to call, and how to make it happen.
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Face coverings are crucial in keeping yourself and your neighbors safe, but some little ones are having trouble coming around to the idea. If your toddler or young child is finicky about face masks, these tips sourced from PSP members might do the trick!
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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!
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NYC.Gov’s Snow Response Page (you can track the snow plows!)
Ready.Gov’s Winter Weather Resources
Your Family:
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Shop early and shop smart. Definitely pick up hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows, but also make sure you have easy-to-eat foods on hand in case the power goes out.
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Buy some “hot hands” or other hand and feet warmers.
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Keep your cell phones and other devices charged in case of a power outage.
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Check in on family members outside your home to make sure they are okay.
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Have extra water on hand just in case. (Filling up a bathtub or some big pots works.)
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Get blankets, fuzzy socks and fun layers ready in case the heat goes out. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Wear a hat to keep your whole body warmer. A warm neck helps too, so remember to wrap up in a scarf!
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Co-sleep if the power goes out!
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Have flashlights, candles, and books on hand to read if the power goes out.
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Heat up a blanket or towel in the dryer and snuggle up if you have power. Watch the flakes fall and talk about fun times in the snow.
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Check out the We Are PSP video for a crash course on our community. All we're missing is YOU!
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While it’s hard to believe what happened on Capitol Hill today, the effects on our psyches are undeniable. Even though Congress has reconvened and is getting back to the work of certifying the election results, this could be a very upsetting time for our families.
Knowing that we may be able to give you some tools to talk to your kids, I called my social worker brother—who has a lot of experience counseling families—and he helped me pull together some ways to help our kids (and ourselves) during difficult times. Below are some tips about helping kids cope with today’s situation.
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What a year! There are lots of things we want to leave in our rearview mirror for 2020, but there are also a lot of people in the Park Slope Parents circle who kept us going and growing. As we look ahead to what HAS to be a better 2021, we wanted to take a minute to thank our awesome community members and some of our great helpers for what they’ve given us in 2020.
PSP Members We Love!
Mister Rogers tells us to notice the helpers, and we had those in spades this year. To start off the 2020 Gratitude Jar, we’d love to thank a few folks who went above and beyond the call of duty.
Our brand-new parents who joined our Birth Experience Zooms and helped let our expectant parents know what’s on the horizon. It took a pandemic to show us how awesome it was to have new parents—who likely wouldn’t have been able to join in person—meet up with expectant parents to share their wisdom. Your input helped develop our PSP Birthing and Beyond Toolkit. These helpful folks include: Margaret Nagarajan, Jessica Hahn, Elia Monte-Brown, Ari Autumn, Zoe Geller, Jenny de Oliveira, Alexandra Bacopoulos-Viau, Ruthie Jehu-Appiah, Bianca Fox, Shannon McLaughlin, Alex Wynne, Casey Papp, Emily Rinebold, Hila Mehr, Junette Teng, Krystal Hawes-Dressler, Erica Miller, Jill Rappaport, Susie Middleton-Leong, Elise Batscha, Kathryn Lisa, Abigail Reddel, Wesley Gross, Louise O'Neill, Madeline Clapps, Marylen Massen, Michelle Weiss, Stacy Holbrook, Gwen Radsh (go twins!), Dahlia Bouari, Heidi Kim, Ingrid Haftel, Marian Paredes, Elena Avramov, Kate Shutzengel, Leah Charlesworth, Rachel Steinberg, and SarahJean Billeiter.
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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.
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The ultimate gift guide for the 3s, 4s, and 5s in your life has arrived! From art supplies to costumes to puzzles and beyond, Park Slope Parents members have suggestions for kids of all genders, interests, and attention spans.
Read on for the recommendations—and if you’re not already a member of PSP, join our community today to connect with families raising young ones the same age as yours.
Shopping for someone on the younger side? We have crowdsourced Fantastic First Birthday Gift Ideas, plus member recs for Top Toddler Toys and Activities!
PSP may receive small amounts of compensation for purchases made through affiliate links in this post. We are a community-supported site, and we include these products because they've received positive reviews from our members.
Adventurer kit
Things to include…
-Binoculars
-Flashlight
-Journal
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Tweens and teens may be notoriously difficult to shop for, but our Park Slope Parents members have them outsmarted with these savvy suggestions.
Read on for the recommendations—and if you’re not already a member of PSP, join our community today to connect with parents in our Tweens & Teens Group!
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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.
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Getting tested for Covid-19 is a great way to put your mind at ease and keep those around you safe. We’ve compiled the most recent member experiences at a range of Health + Hospitals sites, urgent care centers, and medical offices around Brooklyn, plus general tips to help your testing experience go as smoothly as possible.
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Park Slope Parents ran two Zoom sessions for expectant parents, which included new parents who had their babies in July, August, September, and October of 2020. We had someone join with a four-day-old! Here’s a summary of some of the great advice they imparted to our expectant parents from the Park Slope Parents November 2020, December 2020, January 2021, and February 2021 groups!
If you’re not yet part of the Park Slope Parents community, join us HERE.
Also check out the PSP Birthing and Postpartum Toolkit, featuring more than 60 pages of information on all aspects of the expectancy, birthing, and postpartum journey!
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Hey all,
I thought it was about time to send an update and some positive energy out into the cosmos and the community. It’s been a rough couple months for a lot of us, including me, and with the election tomorrow and everyone on edge about that, I thought it was extra important to send out a note of encouragement and an update on how things are going at PSP headquarters.
As the pandemic trudges on, I have to find more and more creative ways to stay motivated and energized. I don’t know about you, but most Zoom calls have lost their appeal for me, and even really rewarding work can seem less than. Winter is approaching, and the thought of hunkering down out of the cold seems like a punishment for all the hard work New Yorkers have been doing over the last few months to stay safe and keep others safe.
Let me say that you are all my heroes. Working from home, handling remote and hybrid learning, having babies during a pandemic, pivoting on short notice, getting kids to wear masks, figuring out life in a time of such great uncertainty—you’re juggling so much. We’ll look back on this time and remember how challenging it’s been, but we’ll also look back on how we made it tenable despite the collective suck.
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According to Brookings, a record 83 percent of voters say that it really matters who wins the election in 2020. Compare that to the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, when just 50 percent of the voters thought that it really mattered who won. That unprecedented level of enthusiasm could translate into record-high turnout in November, but achieving that will be a collective effort on a massive scale. Come on, PSP—let’s make it happen!
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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 chat with fellow families about trick-or-treating best practices, share intel on the best pumpkin patches, and get advice on everything from costumes to carving to crafting. Hop on your broomstick and sign up HERE!
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We’ve teamed up with Park Slope Neighbors, the Park Slope Civic Council, Roots Café, and The Old Stone House to collect coats and other winter gear for the Shirley Chisholm WIN Family Housing Shelter at 4th Avenue and 15th Street. Our goal is to have coats and winter gear collected by October 24th for delivery the following week.
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The results are in from our 2020–21 Birthing Experience Survey! More than 250 Park Slope Parents members shared their honest reviews of OB GYNS, midwives, doulas, hospitals, and other support folks throughout Brooklyn and beyond, and they also passed along sage advice on pregnancy, birthing, and the post-partum period.
For member reviews and recommendations, view our Ob-Gyns, Birthing, Fertility and Post-Partum category; and for wisdom, read on!
Also check out the PSP Birthing and Postpartum Toolkit, featuring more than 60 pages of information on all aspects of the expectancy, birthing, and postpartum journey!
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So you’re looking to enter (or re-enter) the exciting world of dating! It can certainly be daunting, but just know—all of us at Park Slope Parents are rooting for you! Here is some handy advice for navigating those pesky dating apps.
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As we get ready for fall, it’s time to make sure that everyone’s health care maintenance is up to date.
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Happy Anniversary to Park Slope Parents! 18 years old this week!
Wow! 18 years old. A few of you have been around from almost the beginning, and we thank you for your loyalty and support. Some have just joined, and we’re excited to welcome you to our amazing community.
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As vaccination levels rise and Covid infections drop, the pandemic is undoubtedly entering a more hopeful stage. Still, you may be contending with a range of concerns when it comes to new babies and in-person visits—particularly due to the fact that little ones under 12 are not yet able to be vaccinated. In making decisions on in-person visits, you’ll want to think through a variety of factors from all sides of the equation in order to find a solution that’s safe, appropriate, and responsible.
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Hey All,
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve checked in with you all. My social worker brother always seems to come through when I am grappling with my feelings, so maybe you’ll get some comfort from this too (I hope so). He told me about the term crisis fatigue, which pretty accurately describes the state of the world and how we’ve all been constantly pumping cortisol for the past 3 months. As this Wired article points out:
“You might at this point feel lost or numb, and that’s perfectly natural. Psychologists call it crisis fatigue: Your body is well adapted to handle temporary stresses, but it can get overwhelmed by the constant, unrelenting pressures of this horrible year.”
All that cortisol is doing a whammy on our psyches. Unless we take the time for self-care, we will not have the energy to reach our short-term and long-term goals going forward. Here are some tips that will hopefully remind you to “put on your own mask before helping others” and give you information on how to do so.
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Park Slope Parents stands in solidarity with BIPOC communities in Brooklyn and all over this country. As a community we must stand up for the injustice happening around us to say “Black Lives Matter” and “we see you.” This did not start with George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, or Breonna Taylor; they are just the most recent in a long line of injustices.
To our families of color, we'd like to reaffirm our commitment to you by providing a safe and nurturing space for you. While it’s not your responsibility to educate families on Park Slope Parents, we hope that you feel comfortable pointing out when we can do better. We will work to be better allies, keep the conversations going, educate ourselves, and reflect on our own privilege.
Each and every parent in our community also has an important obligation in dismantling racism in ourselves as well as teaching our children to be anti-racist. For many of us, confronting our own implicit biases is inherently difficult; it takes self-reflection and energy that, especially right now, may feel like a monumental task. However, it is one that must be done.
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Your one-stop shop for PSP resources and advice on life in the time of coronavirus.
For the most updated links, please check out our full Covid Resources section!
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While the shelter in place has not been lifted, folks may be starting to think about having their house cleaners return. Hopefully you’ve been able to continue paying your domestic workers and have stayed in touch with them during the lockdown. As you reconnect and invite them back into your home, these tips and things to consider can help keep both your cleaner and your family safe.
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Whether you have to break your lease, your rent has risen dramatically, or you're being given notice that you have to leave your apartment, it can be hard to know what steps to take. If you’re finding yourself in a challenging situation with your apartment or small business venue, these resources and tips sourced from PSP members can help.
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Hey All,
I wanted to send an update and see how folks are doing. We need to pat ourselves on the back and realize that we’re in extremely uncharted waters around this pandemic and we’re making the best of it. At this point the shock and newness has worn off for most of us and we must more actively motivate ourselves to practice self-care and fight the urge to become sedentary and apathetic. Control aversion and Zoom fatigue are real but we must and will persevere. Here are some self-care ideas we are working on.
- We’ve had some great Mental Health Check-ins and we are planning more. There’s a Mental Health Check in for Expectant Parents tomorrow, Thursday, May 21st. Sign up here. We’re also planning a mental check-in for folks who’ve recently given birth, parents of elementary aged kids, people who are dealing with aging parents, motherless mothers, and more meditations. If you are an expectant or new parent feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and with no end to the darkness, contact Seleni, The Motherhood Center, or Boober for mental health help.
- We’re continuing Park Slope Parents workout sessions. Yes you could probably workout to any YouTube video, but there’s something bonding about working out in real time with other folks. Check the Park Slope Parents Calendar for dates and times. We are seeing a small drop in attendance so maybe folks are getting outside, but please try to get some fresh air, move your body, and take breaks meditating, watching something funny, and connecting with other folks.
- Focus on Some Good News, on good journalism, and continue to take breaks from the media. There are lots of folks from the media in this community and they’re right; there are un-biased, positive places where you can get your news. Thanks to those people who are fighting the good fight and helping keep us informed (and in some cases, alive!) while not playing on our emotions!
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Hey All,
We've received a few private emails about a "mysterious COVID-19-linked illness in children" that the media has been covering far and wide. Dr. Philippa Gordon, our Park Slope Parents Medical Liaison, and I wanted to speak to this to help alleviate some of the fears we've heard from parents. First and foremost, know that Kawasaki is a well-known, rare, and well-understood syndrome, and pediatricians are always on the lookout for it. Second, remember that much of the media focuses on attracting eyeballs to sell advertising; they want you to be emotionally moved by their articles using words like "mysterious," "threat," "scary," and "likely."
Here's a more detailed description from Dr. Gordon about what's happening from a scientific perspective:
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Go HERE for the updated guide: Everything You Need to Know About DIY Giant Bubbles and Face Painting
If you've been to any of our outdoor events around Brooklyn, you've probably seen our giant bubbles. Since we aren't holding in-person events these days, we're sharing our secrets for our giant bubble recipe and DIY giant bubble wands!
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