Disney has always been the go-to resource for magic and none more so than during the holidays. Continuing with its tradition of over 70 years, the Walt Disney Company and the Marine Toys for Toys Foundation are launching this year’s Disney Ultimate Toy Drive!
From Nov. 4 through Dec. 14, you can help spread Christmas cheer by donating a new, unwrapped toy in several ways. Visit shopDisney.com to donate online, or stop by in person at Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort or Disney Springs at Walt Disney World.
photo: Disney
To kick off the event, Disney is making a $500,000 donation to Toys for Tots to help provide toys and the spirit of hope during the holiday season. Once you donate, be sure to share with #DisneyUltimateToyDrive on social media and inspire others.
A year plus of pandemic turbulence has put friendships through the wringer. But the relationships that survive are pure gold.
My daughter cheerfully returned to full-time, in-person school this fall only to discover that COVID had shattered her core group of three best friends. One girl’s family fled the city, the second missed the first several weeks of school while quarantining, and the third left for her original school—she had only joined us last year because our school offered some precious in-person days.
As a result of this heart-wrenching, disorienting loss, my daughter kept bemoaning, “I don’t have any friends!”
“Well, that’s not true,” I retorted, listing off the myriad playmates she runs around with on the playground at school pickup.
“But those are Bethany and Kimberly’s friends,” Emily moped.
Oh, the trials of being a middle child. Apparently her siblings’ buddies—while super fun—weren’t filling the void left behind from the loss of her close peers. And yet, for the time being, it’s been more comfortable to tag along with these family friends than to forge new friendships of her own.
I’m guilty of it too. My best friends in the school realm are the parents of my oldest kids. Those time-tested friendships are irresistibly cozy when held in comparison to friendly but relatively new acquaintances I know through my younger children.
So, when another parent in Emily’s second-grade class organized a back-to-school get-together in Central Park, we immediately prioritized it on our calendar. This was our chance to finally meet the families we never crossed paths with last year during virtual schooling and intentionally shift some familiar faces into the friend zone.
My daughter seemed eager enough to attend the class picnic that we cut short a day of apple picking upstate to return in time. When we arrived, however, she suddenly stuck to my side like tacky glue, repeatedly refusing my promptings to join the groups playing dolls, stickers and soccer.
“These are just my classmates,” she murmured. “Not my friends.”
“Well, this would be a great chance to get to know them,” I ventured.
“I already know them.”
Ugh! The social butterfly in me cringed while she proceeded to be a stick in the mud. I also ached for my daughter’s heart, not wanting her to feel alone and unloved because of her skewed perspective on reality.
You see, when I spoke to Emily’s teachers at conferences last spring, they gushed about how Emily is such a kind friend that other students vie to partner up with her during class. But apparently Emily is blind to the fact that she is, in fact, surrounded by love.
These classmates have the potential to become close friends, but it would require some initiative on my daughter’s part. In my attempt to be a coach rather than a fixer, I determined to step back and let Emily make the next move.
The opportunity presented itself when, three days in a row, my daughter asked if she could sign up for an afterschool program. This has only happened one other time in her seven years of life, so I knew to take her request seriously. We talked through some options, and she settled on a program offered at our school building that mixes art and yoga.
When I picked her up after her first day, she quietly but happily shared her oil-pastel tiger and stories of playing Candy Land after class. I could tell her experience fed into her desire to have something uniquely hers, beyond the default relationships of classmates and siblings. Perhaps she’ll meet a kindred spirit while striking a Triangle Pose?
Things only got better as the week progressed and my daughter’s best friend finally returned from quarantine. In true friend-from-birth fashion, they picked right up from where they left off in June, trading snacks and bolting across the basketball court hand-in-hand. They conspired to win the school Readathon by staying up all night reading. They even planned a playdate for her friend’s belated half-birthday. They celebrated today, complete with the abundant giggles (and cupcake crumbs) we know and love.
When Grandma asked my daughter who she plays with at school, Emily immediately smiled and mentioned that friend. And in her bedtime prayer tonight, Emily thanked God that her friend came over to play. What a relief that this cherished friendship didn’t bite the COVID dust! I can’t wait to see how their bond continues to deepen this year and what new friends they’ll welcome into the fold.
My daughter’s transformation from gloom to joy in the last week speaks to the power of even one meaningful relationship. While some of us prefer a crowd, others like Emily thrive with a couple loyal friends.
I’m relieved to see my daughter emerging out of her friendship loss—an unfortunate yet inevitable part of life for which our kids need to be prepared. They will need to cope with loss in various forms long after COVID has removed its claws from our immediate circumstances.
It will be their ability to stay rooted in deep friendships (when they are lucky enough to find those gems) and the confidence to put themselves out there (making room in their hearts for new friends) that will truly enrich their lives.
As a song from my childhood wisely suggests, “Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold.”
Kristin Van de Water is a former journalist and teacher who relies on humor, faith, and her mom crew to get her through the day. Raising four kids in a two-bedroom NYC apartment, Kristin is always on the lookout for life hacks to save time, space, money, and her sanity.
School is officially back in session, whatever it may look like. Whether you’re still doing virtual learning or your children are attending child care or classes in-person, routines have been dramatically altered to accommodate life in an ongoing pandemic. And these routines may already be exhausting you and your family.
One effective way to deal with the stress of “normal” life in a not-so-normal time is to make space each day to practice mindfulness. It’s a lot easier said than done, especially when you look at your to-do list filled with professional and personal tasks. However, when you practice mindfulness, you’re practicing the art of creating space for yourself—space to think, breathe, slow down, connect and be fully present.
“Mindfulness is to pay attention on purpose, in the present moment, to just slow down and notice all the beautiful things around you,” said Sandra Graham, Kiddie Academy’s director of training. “It can help children focus, manage stress, self-regulate emotions and develop a positive outlook. Particularly right now, it can offer them relief from the stress and difficulties that may be occurring in their lives and help build resiliency.”
Practicing Mindfulness Each Day
We’ve developed a few activities for “Mindful Minutes,” suggestions of things you can do with your child to achieve mindfulness each day. These Mindful Minutes reflect the Kiddie Academy Life Essentials philosophy and help children concentrate on the positives around them, developing a sense of appreciation, gratitude and contentment.
In a playful way, use these activities and games to introduce your child to breathing practices and other techniques to develop focus and sensory awareness, while reducing stress and regulating emotions.
Take your children for a walk outside. Invite your little ones to listen to how the leaves blow in the wind. Direct their attention to the warm sun as it bathes their faces. Listen to birds in the distance as they chirp. Focusing on the surroundings helps your children connect to their environment. It brings their attention to the here and now.
Encourage your little one to think from head to toe about how they’re feeling. This can be a good way to start the day or just something to do when you think your children need to center themselves.
Find a relaxing place, or a “happy” place. Sit comfortably in a quiet place that’s free from too many distractions and set a timer for one minute. Breathe deeply in and out, slowly. Let your mind and body rest and relax from any pressures.
The busyness and hurry of life shows no signs of slowing down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take time when you and your child need it. So, remember to take a minute (or more!) each day with your kid(s) to practice mindfulness and center yourself in the present moment. You may come out with a sense of gratitude or energy for the days ahead of you.
Joy has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. As Vice President of Education at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, she oversees all things curriculum, assessment, training and more. Joy earned a B.S. in Education from Salisbury University.
This is a literary town, and not just for adults. NYC is home to not only many amazing children’s book authors and illustrators, but also spirited independent bookstores that sell — and support — their work. Read on to see some of the new fall releases for kids from local writers and illustrators we’re excited about. And don’t forget!: The Brooklyn Book Festival returns as a hybrid event with in-person and online programming from September 26 to October 4. Children’s Day is October 2, and is packed with events at which kids can meet authors and artists for kids of all ages—even some of the people below!
Major Makes History: From the Shelter to the White House
Harper Collins
From the mind that brought you New York Times best-selling bunny Marlon Bundo (and other animals advocating things like kindness and equity) comes the tale of President Biden’s friendship with his German shepherd, Major, the first shelter dog in the White House. Written by Jill Twiss and illustrated by Maribel Lechuga, the book is told in Major's voice, and is filled with Twiss’ signature humor and heart. Bonus: this picture book for ages four to eight also includes back matter about past presidential pets and information on adopting shelter animals.
Queens-based author Traci N. Todd and renowned illustrator Christian Robinson (Last Stop on Market Street) have collaborated on the first-ever American picture book biography of legend Nina Simone. This vibrant and illuminating book tells the story of little Eunice who grew up to become the acclaimed singer Nina Simone and her bold, defiant, and exultant legacy.
The latest in the New York Times best-selling series from Karina Yan Glaser, this book for kids ages eight to 12 follows a Harlem family as they try to find the perfect 40th birthday present for dad. Along the way, they learn a lot more about their mysterious grandparents. The fun and funny tale all goes down in Harlem, the NYC neighborhood Glaser calls home.
Writer Matthew Burgess and illustrator Kara Kramer (both Brooklyn residents) tell the story of artist, nun, educator and activist Corita Kent in this biography for ages six to 12. Made in close collaboration with the Corita Art Center, it includes reproductions of her colorful works, a chronology, and author and illustrator notes.
Brian Selznick (author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck and more) is back with Kaleidoscope, a story of two people bound to each other through time and space, memory and dreams. At the center of their relationship is a mystery about the nature of grief and love which will look different to each reader. Selznick brings his masterful storytelling ability to the book, illuminating how even the wildest tales can help us in the hardest times. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
On a Saturday morning, baby Dracula visits the zoo with his family, where baby Penguin lives with hers. But these intrepid young adventurers are not content with staying in their proper places. Baby Dracula slips into the Penguin House to spend the day eating, swimming, and hanging around, while baby Penguin waddles into the stroller to explore the rest of the zoo. Dracula’s family doesn’t even notice the switch—will they bring the right baby home?
Author of the smash hit Wonder R. J. Palacio's latest is Pony, a coming-of-age adventure that explores what it means to be courageous. After a harrowing night, a boy sets out on a quest to rescue his father, with only a ghost as his companion and a mysterious pony as his guide.
Set in the summer of 1987, this coming-of-age story is the debut middle-grade novel from best-selling author Gayle Forman. Bug's looking for someone to hang out with, but mom's busy and her brother is down on the boardwalk with his friends. The only one around is her neighbor's nephew Frankie, and she's less than thrilled. Over the course of the season, two become friends, helping each other learn about family, friendship, allyship, and finding your way in a complicated world. (P.S. the audio book is narrated by Stockard Channing!)
For the kids who spend a lot of time at the dojo (or watching Cobra Kai), check out this story of imagination and determination from Dan-ah Kim. A picture book featuring a young, female black belt, The Grandmaster’s Daughter is a celebration of teamwork and friendship for fans of The Three Ninja Pigs and Hello, Ninja.
The narrator wants to play hide and seek with Gordon and the reader, but kooky Gordon just wants to stand out. This madcap, fourth-wall–breaking picture book from writer Adam Jay Epstein and illustrator Ruth Chan is packed with humor and full, zany spreads with details kids will love to point out time and again. Recommended for kids ages four to eight.
Note: Chan will be participating in the Brooklyn Book Festival's popular illustrator draw-off event, which is always a good time!
Do you believe in jumbies? Naya does, and she sets out to go find one. In this picture book for kids ages four to eight, New York Times bestselling author Tracey Baptiste takes readers on a fun, creepy romp through a forest filled with creatures from Caribbean folklore. Amber Ren provides illustrations.
It’s no secret that we love a good BOGO. And when it’s a BOGO involving donuts, that’s even better! Krispy Kreme is celebrating World Gratitude Day with a whole week of a sweet offer: send a dozen donuts and get a dozen in return.
Starting tomorrow you can send the sweet treat (with free gift wrap) straight to the door of someone you want to thank. Head to KrispyKreme.com or the brand’s app and select the World Gratitude Week Bundle, which comes in either an original glazed or classic assorted dozen. To get the free decorated sleeve, select the Custom Gift option and add THANKS in the checkout code.
As long as your recipient lives within 10 miles of most Krispy Kreme shops, delivery is available. But if not, you can order the donuts for pickup and deliver them in person! Once you’ve ordered, you’ll receive a digital voucher for a free original glazed dozen, to redeem in stores through October 27.
While you’re ordering, make sure to grab the last fall glaze flavor that’s available this month. You can order maple-flavored donuts until Friday. Celebrate a new season with Krispy Kreme!
This year’s back-to-school season is once again shaping up to be another uniquely-COVID experience for teens and parents. With schools finally moving back to in-person after over a year of remote school, online extracurriculars, hybrid partial-return-to-school models, and constant uncertainty, we don’t have to tell you that this transition might be tough.
In-person learning has so many social and academic advantages…but it also includes all of the social anxiety of peer interactions, the combined demands of balancing school work with extracurricular activities, and for many a dramatic increase in overall time spent in activities. With the current rise in COVID cases, your child might also be stressed about their health or the uncertainty of what yet another atypical fall may look like. This year’s back-to-school season is likely to bring a great deal of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety to students and families.
Anxiety has been one of the most common health impacts related to COVID for teens, with 19-36% of teens showing new or worsening anxiety during the pandemic. Unfortunately, anxiety tends to intensify in periods of stress and in uncertain or unfamiliar situations. This year’s back-to-school anxiety may look different for everyone. It could be stress about meeting new people and making new friends for a student’s first time on campus despite having “attended” the school virtually last year. It could be rising juniors’ or seniors’ fears that online learning did not adequately prepare them for the rigors of these important years.
Back-to-school stress is typical. However, it is important to recognize it and address it. Look for ways back-to-school stress could be presenting itself in your child. Some ways stress tends to manifest itself includes:
Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and difficulty sleeping.
Negative thoughts such as “I’m not going to make any friends”, “I’ll never get into college/get a good job if I don’t do well”, and “My parents will be disappointed in me.”
Anxious or depressed mood including agitation, difficulty focusing, and low motivation.
Unhealthy coping behaviors such as oversleeping, over or under-eating, substance use, or self-injury.
If your teen is experiencing anxiety about the transition back to school, encourage them to talk about it with you, or with a trusted support such as their school counselor or therapist. When these worries come up at home, our natural parenting instinct is usually to try to reduce our child’s distress, often by trying to convince our teens not to worry. For example, we might say things like ‘If you work hard in all your classes you will be fine’ or ‘Everybody is feeling nervous about going back!’ While this is fine for occasional worries, if you find yourself reassuring your teen about similar topics multiple times per day, it might be time to switch tactics. Instead of reassuring, validate their emotions such as ‘You sound pretty worried about not getting to be with your friend group at lunch’ and then ask your teen to come up with a possible solution, or to use therapy skills for coping with their anxiety (like ‘riding the wave’ of anxiety, using coping skills, or practicing an exposure).
As you start to shift back to typical routines, also make sure that you schedule in extra downtime for your teen. Uncertainty is exhausting, and there is a lot of it right now. Let your teen know that you understand they are probably feeling overwhelmed or tired and that you want to give them space for self-care.
Your student might not be experiencing any of the symptoms above; however, they could still be feeling worried and anxious about going back to school. Try starting a conversation with them. Ask, “How are you feeling about going back to in-person school? What are you excited about? What are you least looking forward to?” Or, “You’ve already been through so much change this year, how can I make the transition back to in-person learning easier for you?”
For most students, their schedule is about to be the busiest it has been in over a year. Recognize that and work with them to help address their fears and chart a schedule so they can be successful and manage the stress that comes with returning to school.
Amy Mezulis, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, mother of two teens, and Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer at Joon Care, a teletherapy practice for teens and young adults. Dr. Mezulis specializes in youth mental health and her research has been funded by the NIMH and the APA.
Is your day lacking a little magic? Do you have a Disney lover in your house? Then you’ll love the new Disney Princess Hotline, featuring messages of courage and strength from your family’s favorite heroines.
To celebrate World Princess Week, shopDisney has launched the royal hotline and it’s free! Call 877-70-DISNEY and you can hear from Moana, Jasmine, Ariel, Tiana or Belle. You can ring it as many times as you’d like to get inspiration from all of the princesses, but it’s only available for a limited time.
For the Frozen lovers, Disney has also set up messages from Anna and Elsa. They’re available at shopDisney.com and come straight from Arendelle and the Enchanted Forest. Perfect for an after school (or after work) pick-me-up!
Disney Parks visitors can take advantage of special in-person offerings this week, including the opening of Princess Tiana’s playground at EPCOT. There’s also plenty of new merchandise to celebrate the occasion. And on Friday, the Disney Channel will air an all-new musical special Disney Princess Remixed– An Ultimate Princess Celebration at 7:30 p.m. ET. This week just became a little more magical!
Have you ever been eating a delicious bowl of Kraft Mac n Cheese and wondered how you could make it even better? Forget the hot sauce, bread crumbs or bacon. Say hello to Macaroni & Cheese ice cream!
That’s right, two of your childhood favorite foods have combined for a potentially delicious (or disastrous) treat. Thanks to Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, you can try the new flavor starting tomorrow in honor of National Macaroni & Cheese Day. You can order it at $12 a pint online or Instagram it in person at Van Leeuwen stores across the country, while supplies last, of course.
“As big fans of Van Leeuwen, we knew they’d be the perfect partner to create this ice cream with us. Not only does it taste delicious, but it’s also made with high-quality ingredients and contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, or dyes just like our Kraft Macaroni & Cheese,” said Emily Violett, Sr. Associate Brand Manager for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
Of course, the color of the ice cream is nearly identical to those familiar blue box cheese packets. The real question: does a sweet, cold version of your kid’s favorite pasta actually taste good? Or is it the stuff of gastrointestinal nightmares? The verdict is out…for now!
The last few months have been filled with long-awaited hugs, in-person hangouts and, for some, meeting in real life for the first time! Once you get to meet a tiny new addition in person, you want to hold and cuddle them as close as you can—which is why we teamed up with Nuna to capture families’ heartwarming moments of meeting loved ones after far too long. Thanks to Nuna’s CUDL Baby Carrier, parents, family and friends can keep baby close and comfy! Learn more about the Nuna CUDL.
I get excited when I see social media posts in the United States about people gathering, friends hugging and going to the grocery store without wearing masks. My social media feeds are finally filling up with concerts, parties, and vacations. July 4th looked considerably different in 2021 versus 2020. 2020 was rough and consisted of lockdowns, endless bad news about COVID-19, limited celebrations, and few get-togethers. Thankfully 2021 featured an abundance of BBQs, parades, get-togethers, and exploding fireworks that matched the excitement in everyone’s hearts as they finally get back to normal.
While this is a reality for many of the world, it is not for many expatriates overseas. Where I live specifically, the COVID-19 numbers have been higher than they’ve ever been the past five days, and new restrictions, including a lockdown, have been mandated. It feels like a repeat of 2020 but with far worse statistics.
I had to explain to my daughters that for the next few weeks, and likely the remainder of their summer, they would be inside. No more pool, no more water parks, no more malls, no more restaurants—there were all closed. On top of that, we don’t know what school will look like in the fall, but we know it won’t be back to normal.
Oof. Talk about a heavy heart and major disappointment. While most of the world is taking steps forward, we are moving backward here in southeast Asia.
Life is full of disappointments, and those disappointments come in all shapes and sizes. It could be something as simple as not getting what they expected for their birthday or not being in the same class as one of their best friends. Or, in this case, likely not returning to in-person school and embarking on yet another year of virtual school. Learning how to navigate simple disappointments at a young age will help children build resiliency tools to handle the bigger disappointments in life.
So how do we teach children to handle disappointment well? Start with these simple tips.
1. Listen & Empathize
When you listen to understand, you are letting your child that you care. And it’s ok, to be honest with how you’re feeling too! This will let your child know that they are not alone in how they are feeling.
2. Guide Expectations
It’s tempting to sugarcoat the situation to minimize the sadness. However, that could lead to more disappointment. Instead, be your child’s mentor. Tell them what to expect next and then help guide them through whatever the situation may be.
3. Learn Self Calming Skills
When a child gets disappointed, they often get sad or angry. Learning breathing exercises and grounding techniques are great ways to center, calm down, and refocus. These are helpful for adults as well!
4. Remind Them of What They Can Control
Kids tend to feel out of control when they are disappointed, so it’s good to remind them that they won’t feel this way forever and that there are some things they can control. Attitude and mindsets are great places to start. Some other examples include:
They can’t see their friends in person, but they can still be social by connecting over facetime or zoom.
They can’t meet with their piano teacher, but they can still practice the piano.
Their favorite flavor of ice cream is out, but they can choose another flavor.
5. Practice Gratitude
There are many benefits to showing gratitude. Studies show that expressing gratitude positively affects your health, mindset, and relationships. Working with your child to make a list of things you’re both thankful for is an excellent way to practice gratitude.
Remember, big or small, experiencing disappointment at times in life is inevitable. So, the next time playdates are canceled, they don’t make the team, or their recipe didn’t turn out as they expected, remind your child of everything they’ve already overcome and help them through the disappointment they’re facing right now. Doing so will strengthen their mental and emotional health and prepare them for whatever life throws their way—it may even help you, too!
Jamie is married to her high school sweetheart and has three beautiful daughters. Through years of experience working with children, and raising her own, she knows how difficult parenting can be. She is an advocate for children's mental health and is best known for her creativity, optimism, and kind heart.
