Activities

  • Activities, Baby, Lifestyle, Motherhood, New Mom, Sponsored, Toddler

    My Baby’s Swimming Lessons at Goldfish Swim School {Update}

    This post is in partnership with Goldfish Swim School. As usual, all opinions are my own. 

    Back in the spring, I shared that my baby, who was five months old at the time started taking swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School, Garden City where my older two kids are enrolled. It’s a full seven months since she started and I wanted to share an update on what the experience has been like if you’re considering enrolling your baby in swimming lessons. I started her much earlier than my older kids because I regretted waiting so long with them, I felt like I did them a disservice and while they’ve come a really long way and can both swim now they’re still working on becoming more confident swimmers.

    Baby's Swimming Lessons at Goldfish Swim Schoo

     

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    When we first started her lessons she really enjoyed splashing in the pool, she would light up during that part of her lesson, and I have to admit that seeing how happy it made her, made it my favorite time too. As she approaches her first birthday and is a bit more aware of her surroundings, she’s very excited about the toys and floaters used in the class. She loves when the puppet sings to her at the end and waving to her siblings sitting in the gallery area looking at her.

    She’s not swimming yet, this class takes a very gentle approach, and the focus is to help little ones feel comfortable in the water. When she first started, they started with getting her used to water on her face and now she also does underwater dips. Over the time, she’s getting more comfortable with both of these.

    Swimming Lessons at Goldfish Swim School

     

    We love bonding with her during class! 

    When she first started because of the timing of the lessons my husband didn’t get to get into the pool with her so although we absolutely loved her first instructor we switched her time so she could rotate and her new instructor is just as impressive.

    We’re huge fans of Goldfish Swim School, and I share clips from each class on my Instagram. You can watch them here. A few of you have also joined our location or messaged me that a location opened up close to you and you joined too. If you have also joined, please shoot me a message. <3

     

    Swimming Lessons at Goldfish Swim School

  • Activities, Lifestyle, Motherhood

    One Month Update: Violin Lessons at Guitar Center

    This post is in partnership with Guitar Center via The Motherhood. 

    I tend to overthink most decisions that involve my children out of fear of making the wrong one. When my daughter asked me a few years ago to sign her up to take violin lessons, it wasn’t one of those decisions I had to think long and hard over. I knew that learning to play a musical instrument would be beneficial to her. But after two years, I noticed that she hit a plateau; she seemed a bit bored, so it was clear she needed a change. Enrolling her for individual violin lessons at Guitar Center proved to be the type of change she needed. Her instructor, Monica is a talented musician who is very inspiring to my daughter. Monica has continuously found ways to make the lessons exciting for my daughter from her first lesson by playing her favorite song “Havana.” It’s been over one month since she’s been taking music lessons at Guitar Center and I have to say that overall my daughter is much more confident which is contributing to higher self-esteem not just when she’s playing music but in all areas of her life. I’m so impressed that I enrolled my son for piano classes at Guitar Center too. Here are a few things I’ve noticed since my daughter’s started taking violin lessons at Guitar Center:

    Violin Lessons at Guitar Center

    She’s motivated again.

    My daughter practiced to play her violin daily when she first started taking group violin lessons two years ago but her enthusiasm fell off, and I noticed that she practiced less and less. It got to the point where I would have to remind her to practice, but we’re out of that zone. I’m impressed that she comes home from violin lessons and practices immediately. She practices daily, sometimes a few times a day. It’s nice to see her excited and enjoying violin again.

    Violin Lessons at Guitar Center

    She’s improved overall.

    During the first class, my daughter’s instructor evaluated her, and she’s worked on helping her improve everything from proper posture, better use of her bow and other things that would be harder to improve in a group lesson. The individual attention has been really good for her and I can hear the difference when she plays now, she’s still a beginner but sounds much better.

    Violin Lessons at Guitar Center

    She is much more creative.

    I’ve always rented an instrument for my daughter for violin lessons since violins are expensive and I wasn’t sure if she would stick with it, but after her third lesson at Guitar Center, I saw so much promise in her that I purchased a violin for her. Having her own instrument has given her a sense of freedom and since then; she’s been much more creative. She lets me know all the time that she’s writing music and I love that she’s inspired creatively in this way.

    Guitar Center is a community.

    We haven’t had a chance to attend yet, but Guitar Center has free workshops for kids like guitar classes as well as community events where everyone from regardless of their levels can come together and play music. Now that she’s officially out for summer break and her brother is starting piano, I plan to take them.

    So yes, I place a great deal of thought when I make decisions for my children so I am happy that enrolling my daughter for violin lessons at Guitar Center was a good decision. I don’t plan to send her back to the group lessons at school when the new school year starts and will continue at Guitar Center. Based on her performance in the short time since she’s started it’s safe to say that individual lessons are better for her. I want to note that while I did partner with Guitar Center for lessons for a trial period for my daughter, I am putting my money where my mouth is with this recommendation as I’m paying for my son. The lessons are affordable and well worth every dime in my opinion. If you’re considering signing your children up, there are over 200+ Guitar Center locations across the country, and you can make your schedule and the process to reschedule is easy if you ever need too. Find a location close to you here. Also, my kids chose violin and piano but they offer lessons for every instrument.

    Do your children take music lessons?

     

  • Activities, Baby, Family Travel, Lifestyle, Motherhood, New York City Kids, Sponsored

    4 Things to do in New York City with a Baby

    This post is sponsored by Baby K’tan. All opinions are based on my experience.

    The best part of living in New York City is raising my little ones here! It’s a really baby-friendly city although most people who don’t live here may not think so. I love the diversity that it’s walkable, and It’s refreshing that there is always something fun to do with them regardless of their age. Baby Rattles is now six months old, and she loves observing her environment, people watching and animal watching. I wanted to share four things to do in New York City with a baby, things we did with all of our babies that I believe you should know about whether you’re visiting or you live here. Before I share, I want to warn you that you should always walk with all of your little one’s necessities when hanging out in the city as it’s easy to get carried away and stay out much longer than planned. Right now we love to take the Baby K’tan weekender diaper bag filled with everything all three kids needs for our outings like extra clothes, snacks, water, toys, etc. The Weekender is perfect because there is plenty storage space, a wet bag for soiled baby clothes, a cooler pocket where I can store all of their snacks and a handy wipes dispenser.

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    Queens Waterfront – Long Island City

    One of the things we love about Long Island City waterfront is that while it’s gorgeous and offers some of the most breathtaking views of the city, it’s never really as crowded as some of the waterfront areas. On days when we want some low-key fun, we hang out there. Last week, we put her on the baby swing at one of the playgrounds there for the first time, and she seemed to love. Whenever we hang out there, I love that they have decent bathrooms and our Baby K’tan diaper bag changing pad with antibacterial lining makes changing her a bit more pleasant especially with easy access wipes dispenser is very convenient. When we’re not playing with her on the swing and slide here, we’re sitting people and birdwatching. She loves to scream at the bird (hahaha).

    Bryant Park

    When my husband and I were dating, we would sit in Bryant Park and talk for hours so now that we have our kids it’s one of our favorite places to hang out with them. There isn’t a part of this park that isn’t beautiful; it’s one of the most gorgeous spaces in New York City and very baby and kid-friendly. This weekend, we enjoyed story time played games there and took her for her first carousel ride on the Le Carrousel. This carousel is very baby-friendly since it’s small and slower than most. We sat on the bench which she seemed to enjoy it. You can watch us on my Instagram “New York City with Kids” highlights. I tell all my mom friends this, Bryant Park’s bathrooms are clean. They usually have an attendant there all the time, and it’s potty-training friendly.

    Brooklyn Bridge Park

    If you’ve been following me for a while, I know you expected Brooklyn Bridge Park to be on this list because it’s somewhere we go very often, every summer. I was there with my son only days after I gave birth to him; it’s a great place to take your baby for a walk, to play, picnic, Jane’s Carousel, etc. Be sure to pack a sun hat or bonnet for your little one as well as sunscreen for a trip to Brooklyn Bridge Park and avoid going when the sun is at its peak. It can get hot and uncomfortable for babies.

    Central Park Zoo

    Later this month, we’re planning to take our the kids to the Central Park Zoo. We chose this zoo for her because it’s small and not as overwhelming as the Bronx Zoo which is better for bigger kids. I’m excited to see her reactions to all of the different animals as well as her sibling’s excitement to have this experience with her. A trip to the zoo usually takes an entire day so the Baby K’tan Weekender will come in very handy with its built-in wet bag for any messes and insulated pocket that will keep food cold.

    We can fit everything we need in it, and I love that there is a handy pocket for everything. This bag is unisex so both my husband and I can use it. If you’re planning to travel this summer, this bag is perfect for packing all of your baby’s things.  We have the Baby K’tan Weekender in charcoal, but you can buy it in Olive Green and Navy blue as well. This baby no longer uses a pacifier but this bag comes with an antimicrobial pacifier pouch, I’ve had to purchase those separately in this past, so I appreciate the thoughtfulness of this design.

    Share your favorite places to hang out with your baby in NYC below. And, if you loved the Baby K’tan Weekender as much as we do after reading more about it, grab yours over on their site.