Oregon Children’s Theatre Pulls the Curtain Back on Jane Goodall’s Adventurous Life

by Tinybeans TeamSeptember 25, 2019

The last time you asked your kiddos what they wanted to be when they grow up, veterinarian and zookeeper ranked high on the list.

They’ll smile the whole way through Me…Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall. The musical follows the trailblazer as she frolics with squirrels in her English backyard and convenes with chimpanzees in Africa. Best of all, they’ll see the gutsy heroine defy expectations and chart her own course, proving there’s nothing wild about following your dreams.

Tickets start at $15. Showing Oct. 19–Nov. 17, Sat., 2 p.m. & 5 p.m. and Sun., 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. at the Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon.

These Are the Best States to Have a Baby In

by Erica LoopAugust 16, 2019

WalletHub recently released its data on the best and worst states to have a baby, and if you’re expecting (or thinking about having a baby), you need to check out the list.

After comparing the 50 states and District of Columbia across 30 different measures (including health care accessibility, related costs and baby/family-friendliness), Vermont scored the number one spot!

photo: Daria Shevtsova via Pexels

So which states also got high marks on WalletHub’s 2019 Best and Worst States to Have a Baby list? Massachusetts ranked in second place, followed (in order) by North Dakota, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut and Utah.

Even though those were the top winners, some states also excelled in specific areas. If you’re looking for the lowest hospital Cesarean delivery charges, Maryland and New Hampshire are at the top of the list. When it comes to a conventional (non C-section) delivery, the highest honors in the price category go to North Dakota and Maryland.

If infant child care matters to you, the states with the lowest costs are Mississippi and South Carolina, but Vermont and Arkansas tied for the most child care centers per capita. For the full list of winners, and losers, visit WalletHub here.

—Erica Loop

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Fodor’s Inaugural Travel Awards Reveal the Best & Worst Airports

by Shahrzad WarkentinJune 18, 2019

Traveling can be a big investment, especially with the addition of kids so when you plan that family vacation you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Now Fodor’s is making planning a little bit easier with the first Fodor’s Travel Awards.

Influential travel guide publisher Fodor’s has just launched their first annual awards for all things travel, including the Best and Worst Airports in the nation. Bad news for travelers headed to Disneyland and the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, as Fodor’s has ranked Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as the worst in the nation. Luckily another Los Angeles area airport is at the top of the list.

photo: Oleksandr Pidvalnyi via Pexels

The Hollywood Burbank Airport has been named the best in the nation by Fodor’s. “Burbank is an airport free of most of the hassles that take the fun out of travel plans,” Rachael Levitt, managing editor of Fodor’s Travel, said in a press release.

Fodor’s also awarded the best international airport to Singapore’s Changi Airport. London’s Heathrow Airport was named best for shopping, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey best for foodies and Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming is best tiny airport.

The inaugural Fodor’s Travel Awards covered several other areas of travel as well, including airlines. Delta Air Lines was named the best airline overall, while the best airline for traveling with kids is Qatar Airways.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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These Are the Best States for Working Moms, According to Study

by Shahrzad WarkentinMay 7, 2019

Juggling parenthood and a career is never easy especially for moms who face obstacles, like gender pay gaps and difficulty returning to work after taking time off. According to a new study, where you live can make a big difference in how these factors impact your career. Find out if your state ranks in the top ten best states for working moms below.

The study conducted by WalletHub used three main factors to determine the best states for working moms, including child care, professional opportunities and work-life balance. Within those categories they assessed each state based on 16 specific metrics, like gender pay gap, pediatricians per capita, school ratings, median women’s salary, and child care costs among others. With data collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Partnership for Women & Families, and several other studies and research organizations, WalletHub ranked each state based on the metrics.

Based on WalletHub’s findings here are the top 10 states for working women:

Massachussets
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Vermont
District of Columbia
New Jersey
Minnesota
Wisconsin
New Hampshire
Washington

“Given that we still lack federal paid family leave in the United States and it is unlikely to materialize in at least the short term, firms should provide paid leave so all workers – not just professionals – have the financial ability to take time off after the birth of a child,” said One E. Winkler Ph.D. a Professor of Economics & Public Policy Administration at the University of Missouri at St. Louis who was part of a panel of experts on the study.

Winkler continued, “Such policies benefit firms as well as parents by improving worker morale and attachment to the firm. Other policies that support families include on-site high-quality, affordable day care or subsidies to help workers purchase this care. Flextime is also important so that parents can adjust their schedules for doctor’s visits, etc.”

You can check out the full list if rankings for all 50 states here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Christina Morillo via Pexels

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If Wellness Is Important to You & Your Fam, Here’s Where You Should Live

by Erica LoopMarch 8, 2019

What does living well mean to you? If healthy lifestyle, high life expectancy, low obesity, low risk for depression and government spending on healthcare are important to you, check out what LetterOne’s Global Wellness Index found.

Instead of rating riches, retail or anything else that comes with an economic edge, LetterOne’s Indigo Wellbeing Index—a global wellness ranking of over 150 countries—looked at 10 health-related metrics: blood pressure, blood glucose, obesity, depression, happiness, alcohol use, tobacco use, exercise, healthy life expectancy and government spending on healthcare. What they found was pretty surprising, especially when it comes to which countries come out on top.

If you want to live well, move to Canada, this new “wellness index” says pic.twitter.com/SSKHMq3Yw6

— Bloomberg Originals (@bbgoriginals) March 4, 2019

Using data from the World Health Organization, the World Happiness Report and other public health experts and reports, the index creators ranked which countries are the healthiest. Despite our economic size and influence, the United States isn’t at the top of the list. So which country did take top honors?

According to the index, our neighbor to the north—Canada—is the big winner, followed by Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. If you’re wondering where we stand, the United States didn’t even break into the top 25, instead ranking as number 37 out of over 150 countries ranked.

While the Indigo Wellbeing Index is certainly a comprehensive look at global health, it isn’t the only stat-based ranking. Earlier this year, Bloomberg released a similar list, naming Spain as the world’s healthiest country.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Daria Shevstova via Pexels

These Are the Best States in America for Babies to Grow Up Healthy & Happy

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These Are the Best States in America for Babies to Grow Up Healthy & Happy

by Shahrzad WarkentinMarch 5, 2019

Where a baby is born and lives for its first few years of life can have a significant impact on their overall well-being. New research highlights the best states for kids to grow up healthy and happy.

A new report released by early childhood development nonprofit ZERO TO THREE and nonpartisan research organization Child Trends reveals the many challenges that babies can face during their early years of life, including food insecurity and unstable housing. The report titled the State of Babies Yearbook: 2019, found that as many as 45 percent of infants and toddlers live in poor or low-income households.

photo: Bruce Mars via Pexels

By highlighting how each state ranks in specific areas, like health, strong families and positive early learning experiences, the report hopes to create more awareness of the obstacles that babies face in growing up and in hopes that policies will be redesigned to meet their needs.

“The first three years of life will shape every year that follows, and development during this time has an enormous impact on how a child learns and grows throughout his or her lifetime,” said Myra Jones-Taylor, chief policy officer at ZERO TO THREE. “Rather than labeling babies ‘at-risk,’ we should stamp ‘unlimited potential’ on each tiny onesie to change the frame for policymaking.”

Based on the report’s findings the states in the Northeast ranked the highest in all three categories, while States in the Northeast and West were more likely to score in the top two tiers of states across all three areas. States in the West also ranked second highest in Good Health. To learn more about how your own state ranks check out the full report here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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Parents, Here Are the 5 Best Companies for Flex Jobs—& They’re Hiring, Too

by Shahrzad WarkentinAugust 17, 2018

Part time and remote positions are quickly becoming a popular option among parents who want to stay home with their kids and still earn an income. Finding a decent gig in your area of expertise isn’t always easy, however. In order to help in your job search, FlexJobs has ranked the top companies that hire flex positions. Here are the five best companies with flex jobs for parents.

UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth

This health care company is a provider of benefits and insurance coverage worldwide, including all 50 states. It also encompasses Optum, a provider of technology and information-enabled health services. The great thing about UnitedHealth Group is that it allows those parents with an advanced medical or business background to put their degrees to use without having to work long hours or leave home.

Current open flex jobs include positions like Sr. Developer/Analyst, Sr. Business Analyst and In-patient Coder.

Pearson

wokandapix via Pixabay

Pearson is a global learning company that offers tools and services for educators and students. Their offerings include platforms like MyLab, SuccessMaker and enVisionMATH, as well as the Pearson Institute of Higher Education. This is an excellent company for parents with an education background who aren’t ready to leave the living room and head back to the classroom yet.

Current open flex jobs include positions like Customer Success Specialist/Educational Consultant and Test Administrator.

SAP

SAP, which was founded in Germany, stands for Systems Analysis and Program Development. The company provides technical support and software to companies around the world. Its services include analytics, application platform and infrastructure, data management, IT management and security software. The company prides itself in supporting work-life balance by offering multiple flex positions.

Current open flex jobs include positions like Fashion Solution Architect and Program Manager.

Hilton

Keith Allison via Flickr

Chances are you’ve stayed at one of the over 5,000 hotels that Hilton manages under its umbrella of various brands including DoubleTree, Embassy Suites and Hampton. With round-the-clock services you can find a role to meet even a parenting-first schedule.

Current open flex jobs include positions like Part Time AM Host and Senior Manager.

BAYADA Home Health Care

rawpixel via Pixabay

BAYADA offers a variety of home health care services like nursing and therapeutic care. With many positions working in the field on home visits, this company offers flexibility of hours away from the normal 9 to 5.

Current open flex jobs include positions like Part Time Group Fitness Instructor and Home Health Aide.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: UnitedHealth

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This Is the Most Popular Birthday in the US

by Shahrzad WarkentinSeptember 12, 2017

photo: Pixabay

If you’ve found yourself overbooked for birthday parties this month, there’s a good reason. September is the most popular month for birthdays and one day in particular stands out above the rest.

According to US birth data, those born in September are in good company, with the month ranking as the busiest for births in the country. Of those September dates, the 9th ranks as the most popular day to be born. Using data collected by FiveThiryEight on births from 1994 to 2014, The Daily Viz created a heatmap that displays the rankings of every single birthday throughout the year. September 9th was ranked first with September dates taking 9 out of the 10 top spots, making it overall the most popular birthday month. The other most popular dates included September 19, 12, 17, 10, 20, 15, 16 and 18. As The Daily Viz cleverly points out, by calculating gestation period, most of these babies were conceived around Christmas, making the holidays a popular time for the business of baby-making.

While September is a busy month for birthdays, ultimately there isn’t a tremendous difference overall between the top dates and others. According to The Daily Viz, the average number of births per day is about 11,000 so the 12,301 rate for September 9th is in actuality not that much higher than any other day. In other words, be prepared for the onslaught of weekend birthday parties and cake-fueled sugar rushes to continue throughout the year.

Is anyone in your family born in September? Tell us in the comments below.

The Most Kid-Friendly Cities to Visit in the U.S.

by Shahrzad WarkentinJune 19, 2017

photo: Beth Shea

Deciding where to go on vacation often boils down to one very important question: is it kid-friendly? From hotel accommodations, to activities and dining options, the best spots for families are ones that cater to kids by keeping them entertained and well fed. A new survey lays out the top cities in the U.S. for a family getaway.

A new study conducted by RewardExpert, a travel company that helps you find the best ways to spend your miles and points, compared 53 of the largest cities in the country and evaluated them based on 16 key metrics in three key categories: kid-friendly recreation, city profile and affordability. Based on the data collected, they gave each city a ranking. The top five most kid-friendly cities overall were:

1. San Diego, Ca

2. San Francisco, Ca

3. Portland, Or

4. Atlanta, Ga

5. Washington, D.C.

They also ranked cities based on specific categories, like the best playgrounds, where San Diego also ranked first. Tampa topped the list of most kid-friendly accommodations, Washington D.C. had the most kid-friendly museums and Atlanta was the best in kid-friendly dining. For the full list of rankings click here.

Where are some of your family’s favorite destinations? Tell us in the comments below.

Register for BASIS Independent Schools Open House

by Tinybeans TeamDecember 6, 2016

Join BASIS Independent Schools for an Open House on January 21! Learn about their two schools in NYC, located in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Their program graduates students who are ranked amongst the top global performers for critical thinking in math, reading, and science, and for satisfaction with their teachers. Register today!

ML Interest Tag: ranked

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