These Major Retailers Will Be Closed on Thanksgiving This Year

by Jennifer SwartvagherJuly 29, 2020

Without a doubt, the holidays are going to look very different this year. Many retailers have altered their business hours and safety protocols due to the pandemic. Now amid the rise of cases across the country some stores are making the decision to close businesses on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.

As of today, these are the retailers that will be closed this Thanksgiving. The list will be updated as more stores make announcements.

Walmart

On Jul 21 Walmart announced all of their locations and Sam’s Club locations will be closed for Thanksgiving Day.

“We know this has been a trying year, and our associates have stepped up. We hope they will enjoy a special Thanksgiving Day at home with their loved ones,” said Walmart U.S. president and CEO John Furner in a press release. “We are certainly thankful to our people for all of their efforts.”

The company also announced another round of bonuses for employees working on the front lines of the pandemic: $300 for full-time hourly workers and $150 for part-time hourly and temporary workers.

Target

On Jul. 27, Target announced that all national stores will be closed for Thanksgiving this year.

“This year more than ever, a joyful holiday will be inseparable from a safe one, and we’re continuing to adjust our plans to deliver ease, value and the joy of the season in a way that only Target can,” said Target CEO Brian Cornell in a statement.

Best Buy

In a press release on Jul. 28, Best Buy announced they will close all stores across the country for Thanksgiving Day. Shoppers will still be able to purchase items online and via the Best Buy app.

Best Buy will also be enhancing the way it fulfills orders, including offering more convenient pickup times at stores and making sure online orders arrive on time.

DICK’S Sporting Goods

On Jul. 27, DICK’S Sporting Goods announced they will close all stores and distribution centers for the Thanksgiving holiday. The company also announced a 15-percent premium through the end of the year for store and distribution center employees.

“We are so thankful to our teammates for their hard work and dedication,” said Ed Stack, Chairman and CEO in a news release. “They have navigated this year with strength, commitment and care for each other and for our customers. We will continue to do all we can to support them and show our gratitude.”

Kohl’s

Kohl’s announced they will be closed on Thanksgiving in a press release on Jul. 29. “The holiday season is when Kohl’s shines brightest, and as we move into the holiday season of this very unusual year, we are adapting our plans in response to changing customer expectations and behaviors,” said Michelle Gass, Kohl’s chief executive officer. “We are deeply appreciative of how our team of Kohl’s associates have shown up to serve our customers through this pandemic and know that they will continue to show Kohl’s at our best throughout the holidays.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Lucrezia Carnelos on Unsplash

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How a Lobster Can Teach Your Kids Social Distancing

By Meghan Fitzgerald

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

July 13, 2020

Photo: Tinkergarten

Most summers, the night we do a lobster dinner (it’s a whole thing) and the next-day lobster rolls are a highlight. This year, lobsters will be important in our family—and at Tinkergarten—all summer and beyond. Lobsters are going to teach our kids how to social distance. As you prepare for whatever you have on deck this summer, we hope lobsters can help your family too!

How Lobsters Became Our Teachers

As a parent, I needed to help my young kids learn to stay 6 feet from humans they love. As an educator, I needed to design lessons to help kids play and learn together while maintaining distance.

The design requirements in both cases were the same: Kids had to be together with people they love and with friends; kids had to learn to maintain distance, and kids had to feel great about it—not just be “unharmed” but great, in control, playful and joyful. Sounds like a tall order, but that is just the kind of design challenge I love.

The answer? I know that animals make powerful allies for children. So, the key was to find an animal that could help me teach kids to back up and keep their distance. It turns out, lobsters can move backward even faster than they move forward. As the Wild Kratts team would say, that is one super cool “creature power.”

How to Teach Kids to Lobster
Give them the right introduction, and lobsters can start helping right away:

1. Look at pictures of lobsters and/or watch some clips of lobsters in motion. If screens are active in your house, Watch a PBS Kids Wild Kratts episode about Lobsters or watch real like lobsters in St. Maarten here! In Tinkergarten class, each child gets a personalized note from a lobster!
2. Ask kids what they notice and what seems special about lobsters.
3. Share “I learned something about lobsters that I think is amazing; do you want to hear? Lobsters can move as fast backward as they can move forward! I know I can’t do that!”
4. Try it yourself! “Want to try to lobster walk?!” As you pretend to move like lobsters, it’s fun for kids who are really steady on their feet to feel how much harder it is to go fast backward as humans. Don’t forget to add in some pretend claws as you play!
5. Suggest another lobster walk a few times a day for a while—and stay silly with it.
6. Reinforce it. Eventually, you can say things like, “Hey, let’s take a little lobster walk…” or even just quietly make a pinching-claws motion with a wink, and kids will back right up.

See the lobster walk in action here!

Why Lobsters Make Such Great Teachers
First and foremost, we know little kids can learn this—coming to understand and respect others’ and our own personal space is a fundamental lesson of early childhood. And even very young kids can get behind the reason we are doing this: to keep ourselves and our friends safe. But, reason alone won’t do the trick, since the actions required to keep distance are opposite from what kids are used to. Plus, little kids are still learning impulse control. Kids need reminders and plenty of practice to get this down.

By learning to walk backward like lobsters, we give our kids a fun and imaginative way to practice backing up—just enough to make their bubbles a bit bigger. Kids can have a blast practicing lobster walks before they even get into a new social situation. Even more importantly, we have a way to give our kiddos the reminders they need once we are in a social situation—and a reminder that is kid-friendly, non-shaming, and super fun.

This summer, no matter what you do, put lobster on your menu of teaching tools—and just watch. Who knew that what could look like nagging could turn into joyful, creature-inspired play—and the chance for you to breathe a little while kiddo gets to be safe outdoors with friends and family again!

This post originally appeared on Tinkergarten.

Meghan Fitzgerald

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

After 18 years as an educator, curriculum developer and school leader, Meghan has her dream gig—an entrepreneur/educator/mom who helps families everywhere, including hers, learn outside. Today, Meghan serves as co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Tinkergarten, the national leader in outdoor play-based learning.

Gerber Celebrates Winner of 10th Annual Photo Search

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 15, 2020

There is a new Gerber baby, and she’s adorable. Chosen from over 327,000 entries, Magnolia Earl from Ross, CA was announced as the winner of the 10th annual Gerber Baby Photo Search. Magnolia’s adoption story highlights all the beautiful and unique ways families are made.

Just a year ago, Magnolia’s parents received a surprise phone call from an adoption agency saying an expectant mom in active labor wanted to speak with them, and overnight, this family of four grew to a family of five.

Baby Magnolia was chosen as the 2020 Gerber Spokesbaby from more than 327,000 entries submitted through photosearch.gerber.com where families could upload photos, videos and share stories. As the newest Gerber Spokesbaby, Magnolia represents every Gerber baby, and her family’s story serves as a reminder of what unites all parents and drives everyone at Gerber: the promise to do anything for baby.

“Magnolia has brought so much joy to everyone she meets. Her personality is beyond happy and joyful,” said Courtney Earl, Magnolia’s mother. “On May 9th, 2019 we received a call from the Adoption Agency that there was an expectant mom that was in labor and wanted to talk to us! We pulled off the highway, got a chance to connect with her amazing birth parents, and a few hours later, this sweet baby girl was born. Adoption is incredibly special to our family’s story. Winning Photo Search is an opportunity to tell Magnolia’s story and shed light on all the beautiful and different ways families are made.”

“Our Gerber family of farmers, factory workers, employees and customers are all united in our pursuit to do everything and anything for baby. We believe every baby is a Gerber baby and standing behind our babies has never mattered more than it does now,” said Bill Partyka, President and CEO, Gerber. “At a time when we are yearning for connection and unity, Magnolia and her family remind us of the many things that bring us together: our desire to love and be loved, our need to find belonging, and our recognition that family goes way beyond biology.”

Launched in 2010, Photo Search was inspired by the countless photos received over the years from parents who see their little ones in Gerber’s iconic baby logo, which features the original Gerber baby, Ann Turner Cook. Photo Search celebrates babies and families from all backgrounds, highlighting the belief that every baby is a Gerber Baby.

“Photo Search is a moment of celebration that so many families look forward to each year. And this year – perhaps more than ever – the Gerber family is thrilled to celebrate with Magnolia and her family, and with families across America,” said Kelly Schneider, a spokeswoman for Gerber. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made all of us feel more isolated than ever before, so finding new ways to feel connected has never mattered more.” 

In addition to the opportunity to be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year, Magnolia and her family were rewarded a $25,000 cash prize, $1,000 in Gerber Childrenswear, $1,000 from Walmart and phones with a year of free unlimited service from Verizon – all to provide the best possible start for baby.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Gerber

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Random House Children’s Books to Publish Picture Book Honoring Essential Workers

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 6, 2020

The essential workers putting their lives on their line to keep us safe are true heroes. Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, will publish a picture book honoring essential workers entitled THANK YOU, HELPERS: Doctors, Teachers, Grocery Workers, and More Who Care for Us. The ebook will go on sale Jun. 9, 2020, followed by the print paperback edition on Jun. 30, and will be accompanied by a donation to Americares, a global health-focused relief and development organization that is providing critically needed protective supplies, training and emotional support for health workers in the United States and around the world.

A celebration of all essential workers, THANK YOU, HELPERS features upbeat, rhyming text from Patricia Hegarty and illustrations by Michael Emmerson. From health care workers to delivery people, grocery workers, teachers, and more, this joyful read-aloud honors those who help us every day and provides caregivers an opportunity to practice gratitude with the young children in their lives.

Barbara Marcus, President & Publisher, Random House Children’s Books said, “This book celebrates the heroic efforts of essential workers everywhere who keep us safe and healthy all the time, and especially now during the crisis we are facing. Thank You, Helpers provides an important opportunity for families to talk about the role of, and express their appreciation for, the many helpers in their communities. Our donation to Americares will support the transformative work done by the health care workers in America and across the world.”

“Now more than ever, health workers need our support,” said Christine Squires, Americares President and CEO. “Random House Children’s Books’ generous donation will allow us to provide more protective gear and training to keep these brave men and women safe and supported during this difficult time.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Random House Children’s Books

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Anderson Cooper Announces Birth of Son Wyatt

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 1, 2020

Anderson Cooper is a father. Wyatt Morgan was born on Apr. 27 weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces. Cooper shared photos of Wyatt at the end of Thursday’s televised weekly global town hall on the coronavirus pandemic.

View this post on Instagram

I want to share with you some joyful news. On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was. My son's middle name is Morgan. It's a family name on my mom's side. I know my mom and dad liked the name morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me. Wyatt Morgan Cooper. My son. He was 7.2 lbs at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy. As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth. Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing - what she, and all surrogates give to families who cant have children. My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him. I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.

A post shared by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Apr 30, 2020 at 6:51pm PDT

On Instagram, Cooper wrote, “I want to share with you some joyful news. On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was.”

Wyatt’s middle name, Morgan, is a family name on Cooper’s mom’s side. He knows that his parents liked the name because he found it on a list they made when naming him.

Cooper said, “As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son’s birth.”

“I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him,” Cooper wrote. “I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Marcel Fagin on Unsplash

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The 1 Thing Missing from Your Holiday To-Do List

By Dana Sheridan

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

January 15, 2020

Photo: Shopify Partners via Burst

Around the holidays, you tend to look for ways to slow down a little and spend quality time connecting with your kids. Reading with your children is a fun, easy and truly special way to accomplish this. There are so many benefits of cozying up and reading with your young ones during this joyful season. Here’s a few!

Reading with Your Kids Deepens Relationships

When you and your kids read together, you sit close to each other. Your children feel safe snuggling near you. They feel important with the focus just on them in that moment. No phone, no job, no chores are distracting you while you are reading together. It’s just 10 to 15 minutes with you and your children sharing a good story.

Reading with Your Kids Shares Your Values

Reading stories and then talking about them with your children shows them what your family values. You can discuss decisions that characters made and show what your family believes. These discussions could be about how to treat others, how to share and give or how to react when someone hurts you. You can share religious books to discuss what you believe and talk about your faith. Your kids can ask questions of you to learn what you believe and why. You can share how you would like them to behave. These are teachable moments establishing the roots that make up your family.

Reading with Your Kids Develops a Love of Reading

Improving reading skills starts with the love of reading. Children learn to love reading when they associate it with good feelings and memories. When a parent models enjoyment of reading–and I mean reading an actual book, not on a phone or computer–children emulate that. When children love to read, they naturally improve their reading skills. They talk about what they have read, they picture what is going on in a text like a mental movie, they predict what could happen next and they think about what a character might be feeling. These are critical foundations for comprehension; all just from a simple and enjoyable experience with a book.

Reading with Your Kids Slows You Down

Unfortunately, no matter what you do, the holidays are a hectic time. We want to focus on others and family, but we fill our schedules and “to-do” lists with so much that there seems to be little time to just enjoy. When you read with your child, time slows down. You relax, your child relaxes, you breathe more easily and deeply and you just get to be together. You get to read a story for pure enjoyment. This brings a calming effect to the entire season. It can truly be a “silent night” when “all is calm.”

No matter how you celebrate the holidays, make time to read great books with your children. Let them pick a few and you share some of your favorites as a child. Surprise them with a new book at the start of each week to enjoy together. Let reading become your holiday tradition.

Dana Sheridan

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Before joining Village, Dana worked in public education for fourteen years as a Special Education Counselor, Autism Coordinator, Special Education Supervisor, and Assistant Director of Special Programs. Throughout her educational career, Dana assists students, parents, and staff with the social/emotional component of learning. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and shopping.

Now You Can Shop Amazon for “Frozen 2” Water Bottles & Snack Containers from S’well

by Erica LoopDecember 9, 2019

Your Frozen fan is in luck! Not only can your kiddo finally see Anna, Elsa, Olaf and the rest of their fave characters on the big screen again, but now they can also get their very own Frozen 2-themed water bottle or snack container on Amazon from S’well!

So what sweet scores does S’well have for your Elsa enthusiast? To start with, the nine-ounce stainless steel water bottle from beloved brand now comes on a Regal Elsa design ($25).

If your Frozen-fanatic prefers another cool character, S’well serves up film fun with the Daring Anna, Enchanted Olaf, Joyful Olaf and Frozen Quest options (all $25). Along with these picks, Amazon also has a 10-ounce stainless steel S’well Queen of Arendelle bottle ($15).

For snacking on-the-go, you can’t skip the S’ip by S’well storage containers ($20). Check out the Brave Princess, Queen of Arendelle, Trusty Sidekick and Frozen Adventure options!

—Erica Loop

Photos: Amazon

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This Is How You Can Get Paid $1,000 to Watch Hallmark Holiday Movies

by Shahrzad WarkentinDecember 1, 2019

Do you count down the days until Hallmark’s holiday movies return for the season? If you’re already planning to curl up with a cozy blanket and the Hallmark Channel, why not get paid $1,000 while you’re at it?

CenturyLink wants to pay a lucky fan to spend 12 days watching 24 Hallmark holiday movies. All you have to do is complete a short questionnaire and upload a two to three-minute video showing off your joyful Christmas spirit. You also have to be somewhat social media savvy and be willing to share your movie marathon with your followers.

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A post shared by Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel)

If you’re chosen for the dream job, you’ll be paid $1,000 to watch and critique Hallmark’s holiday movies for 12 days. You’ll post on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter each time you watch a movie with the hashtags #CountdowntoChristmas and #HallmarkDreamJob.

The winner will also be gifted with a Hallmark movie watching kit, which includes a streaming service subscription, packet of hot cocoa, box of Christmas cookies, string of fairy lights, mini Christmas tree and plenty of Hallmark swag. Get started by completing the application here. The application period is open now until Dec. 6.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Hallmark Channel via Instagram

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Dunkin’ Has $2 Lattes & Extra Reward Points to Celebrate the Season of Giving

by Shahrzad WarkentinNovember 26, 2019

Whether you’re prepping for Thanksgiving dinner or waiting in line for Black Friday deals, to fuel that holiday spirit all month long Dunkin’ is offering $2 lattes and some other great rewards.

Now through the end of November, Dunkin’ fans can score a medium-sized latte, cappuccino or americano for just $2 every day from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to this joyful deal, you can also earn a $10 digital promo card when you purchase a minimum of $50 of Dunkin’ gift cards from Nov. 29 to Dec. 24 on the Dunkin’ site.

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A post shared by Dunkin’ (@dunkin)

Using your Dunkin’ app will also get you some extra perks. Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2, you can earn triple points on your food and drink purchases when you use the app. If you don’t have it yet, you’re in luck. It’s free to download the Dunkin’ app and sign up for the DD Rewards program.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Dunkin’ via Instagram

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Home Depot Has Christmas Inflatables from “Christmas Vacation” & So Much More

by Shahrzad WarkentinNovember 19, 2019

If you like decking the front yard with all the holiday inflatables then you’ll want to shop Home Depot’s Christmas collection where you’ll find plenty of joyful cheer inspired by your favorite movies and characters.

From A Christmas Story to Star Wars, Home Depot has a massive selection of movie-themed holiday inflatables to choose from. Here are a few of our favorites.