• When: Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30 pm
• Where: Portrait Bug – 2466 Broadway Between 91st and 92nd Streets
• Who: All parents
• Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Navigating New York City’s impossible and competitive private nursery admissions process is a daunting task.

Jennifer and Vimmi, the founders of PEAS (private education advisory service) know this first hand as they are also NYC moms that have gone through the arduous application process themselves with their own kids.

They have over 15 years of NYC private school admissions experience.   This workshop will focus on:

• The top ten things to be doing right now to get ready for the fall admissions season.
• Essay writing tips
• Parent and Child Interview etiquette
• The different types of schools
• What to look for in a school when you go visit
• The ERB test
• Thank you notes (when to send and when not to send)

Jennifer and Vimmi will then introduce their new book, “ The Private School Admissions Handbook” – An insiders’ guide to the NYC  admissions process from Nursery School through ongoing schools.

Jennifer Brozost attended New York University and received her Master’s degree in Education from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College.  She has a degree in the advanced teaching of Reading and Writing from Columbia University’s Reading and Writing Project.  Jennifer has taught second grade and worked for several years as an Admissions Officer in a prominent NYC private school.

Vimmi Shroff received her undergraduate degree in Business and Economics from University of Bombay in India. She has a Masters in Education from New York University. She has taught at various private schools in New York City. Vimmi worked as an Admissions Officer in a NYC private school and served as Director of Admissions at an Upper West Side private school.

2/8 No More Losing It: Getting to Calm When Our Kids are Not

• When: February  8^th 6:30 PM
• Where: Portrait Bug – Broadway bet 91st and 92nd
• Who: All parents
• Cost:  Free! ($10 refundable deposit required to hold your spot)

When it comes to developing great relationships and great kids we know our children need us to be cool, calm and collected. Yet the biggest challenge in parenting is being cool, calm and collected.  Why is it so hard and what we can do about it?

This informative and useful workshop will focus on how to stay calm even in the most stressful moments. You will leave learning how to increase your own maturity and how to decrease your knee jerk reactions when your kids push your buttons. And, let’s face it – our buttons are getting pushed all the time because our kids are masterful at finding them.  Whether it is fighting us when putting them in the car seat, throwing food off the high chair or screaming at the top of their lungs when in-laws are over, they can get our blood boiling.  How we ACT when our blood boils is what we have in our control and is the key to great parenting.  Don’t miss this popular workshop given on Feb 8^th.

Learn how to:

• Control yourself instead of controlling your kids
• Observe, think, act
• Develop and follow your principles of parenting
• Build emotional and physical stamina
• Get to your thoughts rather than to your emotions
• Think about and focus on your responsibilities as a parent
• Control the buttons that most trigger you
• Respond effectively to your kids tantrums, aggression, rude behavior, sibling battles, defiance and other frustrating behaviors

Presenter: Debbie Pincus, author and therapist:

For over 25 years, Debbie has maintained private psychotherapy practices in Manhattan, Larchmont, NY and Greenwich, CT.  She is a Certified ScreamFree leader who works with individuals, groups, couples and families, specializing in anxiety and relationship issues. Debbie also facilitates parent groups, leads workshops on strengthening relationships, and provides parents and couples coaching.  Debbie is the founder of The Relationship Center and the author of seven books on interpersonal relations.  For the past five years, Debbie has been a facilitator for the Parents Exchange in Greenwich.  She served as the Director of Counseling at the College of Mount Saint Vincent and presently serves on the Board of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Counseling Center.  Debbie has completed postgraduate training from the Gestalt Institute of New York and from the Family Institute of Georgetown.  She currently lives in Westchester County with her husband and three teenage children, and is reachable via phone (914) 834 4965 or email at debbieward@optonline.net

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• When: January 25, 6:30 PM
• Where: Wherever you want!  This is a call-in event, you must register to receive the call-in number.
• Who: All parents
• Cost: FREE!
  
  

Did you know that as parents you can detect future potential reading difficulties when your child is as young as two years old?  Did you know that even the most intellectually bright and gifted kids can have difficulties learning to read?  There are lots of early signs to reading difficulties that parents don’t know about!   In this talk, we will discuss:

• The earliest warning signs/red flags for future reading difficulties.
• When do those red flags become ‘concerns’?
• Dyslexia. How is dyslexia related to reading?  I thought it meant mirror writing or seeing things backwards!? ? Let’s debunk this myth!
• How to help your child when they are exhibiting difficulty.
• Bright students with reading difficulties? Yes, even intellectually gifted students at the best NYC schools are having trouble reading!

Dr. Amy Schwartz is a pediatric neuropsychologist specializing in evaluations of children, adolescents, and young adults in her private practice on the Upper West Side of New York City.  She provides clinical evaluations of childhood and adolescent neuropsychological disorders, including dyslexia and other learning disabilities, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, neuropsychiatric disorders (Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, and Autistic Spectrum Disorders), and neurological and genetic disorders that impact behavior and learning.  She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and an adjunct faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital.  Dr. Schwartz completed a post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychological training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center/Columbia University, earned her doctorate in Child Clinical Psychology from George Washington University and graduated from the University of Michigan with a major in psychology and a minor in education.  Dr. Schwartz currently lives on the Upper West Side of New York City with her husband and two children.

You Don’t Have to Live with a Picky Eater Anymore!

Parenting and Nutrition Call-in Workshop with Dina Rose, PhD

• When: January 19, 1-2 PM
• Where: Wherever you want!  This is a call-in event, you must register to receive the call-in number.
• Cost: FREE!
  
  

IT’S NOT ABOUT NUTRITION workshops present the latest research in parenting, sociology, nutrition and food psychology.  Parents learn:

• How to use taste, texture and appearance to expand vegetable consumption
• How to avoid the common ways parents inadvertently teach bad eating habits
• Alternatives to bribing and begging children to eat their meals
• Solutions to their individual questions and concerns

Dina Rose, PhD is a food sociologist and mother.  Her work has been featured on websites such as Babble.com, ZisBoomBah.com Work It Mom.com, and Great Parenting Practices.com and Dina has appeared on Good Parenting Radio, Baby and Toddler Instructions Radio, WFSB Better Connecticut, NBC Connecticut News Today, and in Treasure Coast Parenting, New Jersey Family Magazine, The Globe and Mail and The Hoboken Reporter.

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12/8 ScreamFree Parenting Webinar with Hal Runkel, Founder of The ScreamFree Institute

• When: Wednesday, December 8th , 7:00PM – 8:00PM
• Where: The comfort of your own home
• Cost: $9.95
• RSVP

What is ScreamFree Parenting?

Emotional reactivity is behind every bad pattern, bad decision, and bad relationship. Whenever we get reactive – whether by screaming, cutting ourselves off, overcompensating for others, or taking things personally or defensively – we operate out of our anxiety and, ironically, end up creating the very outcomes we were hoping to avoid. ScreamFree parenting takes this reactivity very seriously and stresses that the number one step toward creating the types of relationships we truly crave is learning to calm down.

ScreamFree offers a revolutionary new option by inviting parents to focus on themselves, grow themselves up, and calm themselves down. The ScreamFree Parenting principles will lead parents of all ages (with kids of all ages) to create and enjoy the family relationships they’ve always craved starting now.

Join Hal Runkel, author of the New York Times Best-seller ScreamFree Parenting: Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool, and the founder and President of The Screamfree Institute on Wednesday, December 8th from 7:00 – 8:00 PM for the event that will open your eyes to what parenting really should be about. This breakthrough one hour webinar, Five Truths Every Parent Needs to Know, has already inspired tens of thousands of parents to create revolutionary changes in their homes. You don’t have to watch it live as the session will be recorded for you to view at your leisure and as often as you’d like. But, you do have to purchase a ticket.

BABYBITES AND KIDDYBITES MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE SPECIAL PRICING FOR THIS WEBINAR. THE NORMAL PRICE IS $29.95. BABY/KIDDYBITES MEMBERS ONLY HAVE TO PAY $9.95 – A $20 SAVINGS! Only valid until the day of the event. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET NOW!

Be sure to check out our article on Positive Parenting – How Do Kids Get Attention in Your House?

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10/26 Oh, _________! My Mother/Mother-In-Law is Coming.

• When: Tuesday, October 26th, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
• Where: Portrait Bug, 2466 Broadway between 91st and 92nd Streets
• Cost: FREE – ($10 deposit to hold your spot, refunded after the event to all who attended)
• RSVP: sign up below

Fill in the blank! Parenting coach, author, mother and grandmother Dr. Karen L. Rancourt will discuss the realities and challenges of the relationships between a daughter and her mother when the daughter becomes a parent, as well as the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law relationship when grandchildren are involved. Find out what might be behind some of the words used to fill in the blank and what young moms, their moms and their mothers-in-law might do to sustain and/or change these relationships.

In this important seminar, moms (grandmoms and mothers-in-law) will:

• Learn about their parenting styles and preferences
• Understand how their parenting preferences may be positively and negatively impacting relationships between new and young moms, their moms, and their mothers-in-law
• Learn and discuss guidelines for new and young moms
• Learn and discuss guidelines for grandmoms and mothers-in-law

Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., is an educator, coach and author, as well as a mother, wife and grandmother. She works with parents, helping them to understand what they might to do to be a more effective parent. Karen received her Ph.D. in human behavior and education from the University of Maryland; she completed her undergraduate work in education and social sciences at Boston University. She is the author of three books and over a dozen business and education articles.

Contact Karen via her Web site, www.RancourtParenting.com or by phone at 917-543-4364

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10/20 – FREE WEBINAR: Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child

• When: Wednesday, October 20^th, 8:30 – 9:30 PM
• Where: Comfort of your own home
• Cost: FREE! (Sponsored by Partners for Safety)

Wishing your child a life filled with happiness and success is universal among parents, though the roadmap there isn’t so easily found. One of the biggest tasks of parenthood involves teaching our children about their feelings and ultimately helping them to regulate their own emotional life so they can build meaningful relationships as they grow, which is key to lifelong happiness. Join us for an interactive webinar where we’ll share a roadmap for raising a child who is emotionally aware and has the tools to thrive in his social world. This webinar is presented by Janeen Hayward, founder of swellbeing.

More about our sponsor:

Learn CPR Training in 20 Minutes With Our DVD!

Peace of Mind is Just One Click Away.

Partners for Safety is proud to announce our newly released Step-By-Step CPR Training Program devoted to helping parents, grandparents, babysitters, friends — everyone — learn, review, and practice the latest CPR techniques and choking first aid for babies and children. As parents we were concerned about recalling what to do in a medical emergency. We realized we weren’t alone. Studies show that memory of CPR skills tends to deteriorate as early as three months after training — even among highly trained professionals like doctors and nurses.

We at babybites are very excited one of our new sponsors, Partners For Safety, has won a 2010 Mom’s Best Award for their Step-By-Step Infant and Child CPR DVD. As a special offer for babybites members, PFS is offering 15% off for all members who purchase by Oct 15th! Go to www.partnersforsafety.com to order and enter bbites to receive the discount.

Visit our website. Learn more about our mission and the peace of mind it offers. www.partnersforsafety.com

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My Body Belongs to Me

• When: Tuesday, September 28^th, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
• Where: The Portrait Bug 2466 Broadway between 91st and 92nd Streets
• Cost: FREE – This event is sponsored by Partners For Safety ($10 deposit to hold your spot, refunded after the event to all who attended)
• RSVP: sign up below

In this seminar Jill will discuss how, if children are not educated about the importance of telling an adult they trust, the abuse can continue and escalate. Ms. Starishevsky has prosecuted child abuse and sex crimes in New York City for more than a decade. She will speak to us as an author who wants to prevent children from suffering in silence and prevent child sexual abuse through education. Her book is geared to 3- to 10-year old children and was recently featured in Time Out New York Kids.

Did you know that studies show that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be molested?

In this important seminar parents will:

• Be provided with 10 tips to keep their children safe
• Address 3 big truths about child sexual abuse
• Discuss the cycle of silence
• Learn how to equip children as young as 3-years old how to learn the language and skills that can protect them from sexual predators

Jill Starishevsky is an Assistant District Attorney in New York City, where she has prosecuted hundreds of sex offenders and dedicated her career to seeking justice for victims of child abuse and sex crimes. Outside the courtroom, Jill’s fondness for writing led her to create thepoemlady.com, where she pens personalized pieces. Her mission to protect children, along with her penchant for poetry, inspired My Body Belongs to Me. A mother of two, Jill is also founder of HowsMyNanny.com, a service that enables parents to purchase a license plate for their child’s stroller so the public can report positive or negative nanny observations.

This event is sponsored by Partners for Safety

First Aid Training in 20 Minutes!

Learn How to Keep Your Children Safe.

Partners for Safety is proud to announce our newly released Step-By-Step CPR Training Program devoted to helping parents, grandparents, babysitters, friends — everyone — learn, review, and practice the latest CPR techniques and choking first aid for babies and children. As parents we were concerned about recalling what to do in a medical emergency. We realized we weren’t alone. Studies show that memory of CPR skills tends to deteriorate as early as three months after training — even among highly trained professionals like doctors and nurses.

Visit our website. Learn more about our mission and the peace of mind it offers. www.partnersforsafety.com

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May 20th – Demystifiying the ERB’s

Do you have a child who is taking the “ERB” this year and you want to know WHAT the “ERB’S” really are? Has your child already taken the “ERB’s” and you are confused what all the numbers from the results mean? If so, then this talk is for you. In this seminar, we will discuss what the “ERB” is, what the “ERB” is NOT, what are the subsections of the “ERB”, what your child should expect, and how to read and interpret your child’s results.

• Who: All Parents
• Where:  Columbia Faculty House, 64 Morningside Drive, New York, NY
• When:  Thursday, May 20, 7:00 PM – 7:40 PM
• Cost:  Early Bird: $40 per person (expires 4/1/10)  Regular Rate $50 per person, $60 day of.

(Note: This session is part of the Mommybites Summit agenda. Classes will be held all evening beginning at 6:00 PM. Click here to see the full agenda.)

Join us at the Mommybite’s Summit for an informative discussion of Demystifying the ERB’s  with  Dr. Amy Schwartz.

Dr. Amy Schwartz is a pediatric neuropsychologist who for over ten years has worked with children – preschool through young adulthood – confronted by developmental, learning, or emotional challenges. In her private practice on the Upper West Side, Dr. Schwartz performs neuropsychological evaluations, provides guidance for parents, and consults with educators and schools regarding how to best facilitate the development of children. Her areas of expertise include language difficulties, processing weaknesses, nonverbal and other learning disabilities, reading problems/dyslexia and academic issues, autistic and pervasive developmental disorders, emotional issues, executive functioning deficits, and ADHD, as well as neurological and genetic disorders that impact behavior and learning.

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May 20th – Illuminating the Kindergarten Admissions Process

GET PREPARED IMMEDIATELY FOR 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 ADMISSIONS .  According to experts, we already know that 2009-2012 will be, without question, the most competitive admissions years in history for BOTH preschool and K-12 admissions. Fear Not.

• Who: All Parents
• Where: Columbia Faculty House, 64 Morningside Drive, New York, NY
• When: Thursday, May 20, 8:50 PM – 9:30 PM
• Cost: Early Bird: $40 per person (expires 4/1/10)  Regular Rate $50 per person, $60 day of.

(Note: This session is part of the Mommybites Summit agenda. Classes will be held all evening beginning at 6:00 PM. Click here to see the full agenda.)

Join us at the Mommybite’s Summit for an engaging discussion of  the Kindergarten Admissions Process.

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May 12th  Storytime at FAO Schwartz (for mixed ages 0-4)

• When:   Wed, May 12th 11:30am to noon
• Where:  FAO Schwarz, 767 Fifth Ave. (59th St.) 2nd floor
• Cost:      Cost:  $20 per child (sibling under 5 months welcome for free with paying older sibling)
• RSVP:   Ronni@babybites.com

Join us for a fun half hour with Barefoot Books! Mixed ages encouraged to attend.

Treat your tots to an eye and ear opening experience for storytime at Barefoot Books in FAO Schwarz! Barefoot Books is an independent publishing company started by two moms in 1992 in Bath, England. They have since located in Cambridge, MA as well and FAO Schwarz is their second retail location. Join Barefoot as we “kick off our shoes”, relax, hear stories, sing songs and enjoy the timeless tradition of reading together!

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Feb 23rd – My Body Belongs to Me

• Who: All parents
• When: Tuesday, Feb. 23rd, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Where: The Portrait Bug 2466 Broadway between 91st and 92nd Streets
• Cost: $30 per person (includes a copy of My Body Belongs To Me book!) $50 per couple

In this seminar Jill will discuss how, if children are not educated about the importance of telling an adult they trust, the abuse can continue and escalate.  Ms. Starishevsky has prosecuted child abuse and sex crimes in New York City for more than a decade.  She will speak to us as an author who wants to prevent children from suffering in silence and prevent child sexual abuse through education.  Her book is geared to 3- to 10-year old children and was recently featured in Time Out New York Kids this month.

Did you know that studies show that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be molested?

In this important seminar parents will:

• Be provided with 10 tips to keep their children safe
• Address 3 big truths about child sexual abuse
• Discuss the cycle of silence
• Learn how to equip children as young as 3-years old how to learn the language and skills that can protect them from sexual predators
• Leave with a copy of Jill’s acclaimed childrens’s book My Body Belongs to Me – this book can help you start a conversation with your child about this difficult subject

Jill Starishevsky is an Assistant District Attorney in New York City, where she has prosecuted hundreds of sex offenders and dedicated her career to seeking justice for victims of child abuse and sex crimes. Outside the courtroom, Jill’s fondness for writing led her to create thepoemlady.com, where she pens personalized pieces. Her mission to protect children, along with her penchant for poetry, inspired My Body Belongs to Me. A mother of two, Jill is also founder of HowsMyNanny.com, a service that enables parents to purchase a license plate for their child’s stroller so the public can report positive or negative nanny observations.

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February 2nd - Parenting with Principles

A Specialized, Two-part, Interactive Workshop for Parents of Children Ages 2 – 6

PART ONE:

Parenting with Principles will help you to parent from your highest principles rather from your deepest fears.

The workshop will give you a road map of the potential parenting pitfalls and how to steer clear of them.

While your children are navigating the curves and bumps of life, this workshop will help you strengthen your relationship and maintain your sanity!

• What: In-person seminar
• When: February 2nd, 6:30 pm
• Where: New York Kids Club 601 Amsterdam Ave (at 89th Street)
• Cost: $25 single/$40 couple in advance

Learn how to:

• Respond to your kids when they refuse to do what you ask
• Control yourself instead of controlling them
• Create a relationship environment that fosters responsible, caring and thoughtful children
• Handle your mate when he or she is on a different parenting page
• Handle your kids when they are being disrespectful or have bad attitudes
• Get out of powers struggles
• Respond to eating and bedtime struggles

Presenter: Debbie Pincus, author and therapist:

For over 25 years, Debbie has maintained private psychotherapy practices in Manhattan, Larchmont, NY and Greenwich, CT.  She is a Certified ScreamFree leader who works with individuals, groups, couples and families, specializing in anxiety and relationship issues. Debbie also facilitates parent groups, leads workshops on strengthening relationships, and provides parents and couples coaching.  Debbie is the founder of The Relationship Center and the author of seven books on interpersonal relations.  For the past five years, Debbie has been a facilitator for the Parents Exchange in Greenwich.  She served as the Director of Counseling at the College of Mount Saint Vincent and presently serves on the Board of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Counseling Center.  Debbie has completed postgraduate training from the Gestalt Institute of New York and from the Family Institute of Georgetown.  She current lives in Westchester County with her husband and three teenage children, and is reachable via phone (914) 834 4965 or email at debbieward@optonline.net

PART TWO:

 

• What: Lunch and Learn Conference call
• When: Tuesday, Feb 9th, 12:00
• Where: anywhere with a phone!

This call with Lifestyle Coach and Certified ScreamFree leader, Carla Hugo, will not only answer questions that may have come up after the seminar but will give parents more techniques on how to parent with principles and stay calm during stressful parenting moments.  Carla is an expert at utilizing The 4 C’s of Peaceful Parenting:

Cool                  Calm              Confident                  Connected

 

Carla is an EFT Practitioner (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and will share with you this powerful tool, as well as tips on re-framing your thoughts around parenting.  Your thoughts are powerful – choose them wisely!

Carla will teach you how to  become the calm and confident parent you want to be, and how to stay in control!

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January 21st – Clarifying the Special Needs School Admissions Process

• When: Thursday, January 21^st, 6:30PM
• Where: PortraitBug 2466 Broadway, between 91st and 92nd Streets
• Cost: $25 per person ($40 per couple) in advance

Who should Attend this seminar?

This seminar is for all parents with children ages 1-6 who have experienced one or more of the following:

• Are in any way concerned about their child’s verbal, behavioral or sensory development

• Have a child who is not reaching one or many developmental milestones

• Have a child who has had any type of early intervention or neuro-study

• Have had a professional, pediatrician or teacher suggest your child be evaluated and/or suggested special need based preschools or continuing schools

We will help demystify the special needs admissions process, the schools themselves, the preschool programs, and the INCLUSION programs (both special needs and mainstream).

This seminar is not only about how to gain admission into a special needs school or program, but also how to assure that mainstreaming is possible, how it is done, and how to tell when a child is ready. As your child’s first and best advocate, this is vital and invaluable information.

In this important seminar parents will:

• Learn about all types of special needs testing and a receive a comprehensive overview of what testing can and cannot reveal

• Take home a list of relevant schools, each school’s individual specialization, and the details of each school’s admissions process (all are different)

• Most importantly, take away a firm understanding that learning challenges – whether verbal, behavioral or sensory – have no effect on a child’s intellectual development…parents will learn how differentiating between learning challenges and intellectual development can be reinforced by schools

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The Ins & Outs of  the Kindergarten Admissions Process

An educational exchange on the ins and outs of the kindergarten admission process.

• What: Seminar for toddler and pre-school parents
• When: December 8^th at 7:15 PM
• Where: The Saloon,  1584 York Ave. btn 83rd and 84th
• Cost: $25 per person ($40 per couple)

GET PREPARED IMMEDIATELY FOR 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 ADMISSIONS

According to experts, we already know that 2009-2012 will be, without question, the most competitive admissions years in history for BOTH preschool and K-12 admissions.  Fear Not.  We will cover:

-       The do’s & don’ts of admissions

-       The myths of private pre-school and independent school admissions

-       Frequently asked questions

-       How you and your family can be better prepared

This is the third in a series of “Kiddybites” seminars designed to help you network with people in-the-know. Please visit our blog to learn more about our last seminar, demystifying the ERB’s with Dr. Amy Schwartz (KiddyBites blog) and email me if you would like a copy of the super informative 17-page hand-out on the ERB and intelligence testing from that event.

You can also follow our updates and comments about the event on twitter: http://twitter.com/babybites.

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Demystifying the “ERB”

• When:   Tuesday, November 10th, 7:00 PM
• Where:  Saloon, 1584 York Ave. btn 83rd and 84th
• Cost:      FREE
• RSVP Required:    http://kiddybiteserb.eventbrite.com/

Do you have a school-age child who is taking the “ERB” this year and you want to know WHAT the “ERB’S” really are?  Has your child already taken the “ERB’s” and you are confused what all the numbers from the results mean?  If so, then this talk is for you.

Kiddybites in conjunction with P.E.A.K. Hour are excited to announce our next seminar, Demystifying the “ERB”.

In this seminar, we will discuss…

• What the “ERB” is
• What the “ERB” is NOT
• What are the subsections of the “ERB”
• What your child should expect
• How to read and interpret your child’s results 

Dr. Amy Schwartz (amyschwartz@hotmail.com) is a pediatric neuropsychologist specializing in evaluations of children, adolescents, and young adults in her private practice on the Upper West Side of New York City.  She provides clinical evaluations of childhood and adolescent neuropsychological disorders, including dyslexia and other learning disabilities, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, neuropsychiatric disorders (Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, and Autistic Spectrum Disorders), and neurological and genetic disorders that impact behavior and learning.  She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and an adjunct faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital.  Dr. Schwartz completed a post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychological training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center/Columbia University, earned her doctorate in Child Clinical Psychology from George Washington University and graduated from the University of Michigan with a major in psychology and a minor in education.  Dr Schwartz currently lives on the Upper West Side of New York City with her husband and two children.

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Helping Your Child Have a Great School Year!

for parents with children ages 4  through 8

• When:   Tuesday, October 13, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
• Where:  Chyten Tutors,  1461 3rd Avenue btn 82nd and 83rd, 2nd floor
• Cost:      $20 ($25 day of)
• RSVP:    heather@kiddybites.com

This event is sponsored by Kids Konserve.  The first 30 people to sign up and pay in advance (and attend the event) will take home a Kids Konserve stainless steel bottle, green food cozy, and green drawstring bag!

Your child’s school year has started. Hopefully, things are going well for your child, but you may have some actual or potential issues or concerns about your child’s school experiences.

For example:

• Is your child anxious about going to school?
• Is she not getting along with her peers?
• Does he feel like the other children don’t like him?
• Is your child having a difficult time with his homework?
• Are you, the parent, not ‘clicking’ with your child’s teacher?

E-mail your questions, issues and concerns to our October kiddybites’ speaker, parenting expert Dr. Karen Rancourt (Karen@RancourtParenting.com). In addition to addressing your e-mails in her presentation, Dr. Rancourt will discuss a variety of ways you can help your child have a great school year.

We hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity to submit your questions in advance and have them addressed by our speaker. If you are unable to attend Dr. Rancourt’s lecture, as a kiddybites member, you will have access to a pdf file that has the highlights of her presentation.

Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., is an educator, coach and author, as well as a mother and grandmother. Dr. Rancourt works with parents (www.RancourtParenting.com), helping them understand: their child-rearing preferences and styles, how their preferences and parenting styles are similar to those of their spouse/partner, how they may differ, and how to use these preferences to be a more effective parent. Karen received her Ph.D. in human behavior and education from the University of Maryland; she completed her undergraduate work in education and social sciences at Boston University. She is the author of three books and over a dozen business and education articles.

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Art Farm Sample Class

Please join us for Kids’ Critter Club – a unique, fun and educational new class at The Art Farm (voted best petting Zoo by New York Magazine!). Great for pre-schoolers, siblings and future zoologists.

This all new after school program will give your child the rare opportunity to spend time with animals and develop and strengthen the important science process skills of observation, classification and communication.

Using a hands-on approach to learning your child will participate in age appropriate science activities, stories, fun games and creative crafts. Every session will include actively caring for our friendly critters, up-close animal encounters and time to record observations, reading an animal themed book or just relaxing with a favorite creature on the Farm.

This one of a kind experience will instill in your child the importance of care, respect and responsibility for all living creatures.

Details:

• When: See below for dates and times
• Where: Art Farm, 419 E. 91st St(York and 1st)
• Who: toddlers/kids ages 3 – 8
• Cost: $10 per family (siblings come for free)
• RSVP: frontdesk@theartfarms.org / 212.410.3117

Dates/Times:

• Monday, November 16th 3:30-4:30 (4-5 years)
• Monday, November 16th 4:30-5:30 (6-8 years)
• Tuesday, November 17th 3:30-4:30 (3-4 years)
• Wednesday, November 18th 3:30-4:30 (5-6 years)
• Thursday, November 19th 3:30-4:30 (3-7 years)

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kiddybites Co-Founders Laura Deutsch and Heather Ouida

Heather Ouida always thought that motherhood would get a whole lot easier once her two boys entered school.  She quickly realized that although she left the sleepless nights and toddler tantrums behind, a whole new set of age-specific challenges arose.  As she always did when she had parenting questions, Heather turned to Laura Deutsch, founder of babybites.

Together Laura and Heather co-founded kiddybites. They decided to use babybites’ already successful format and tailor it to the needs of parents with children aged 4-12 years old.  kiddybites’ mission is to provide advice and education through lectures to help parents better support, understand and interact with their children.

Heather used her experience—both as a mom as well as a learning specialist with over 15 years of experience in London and at Dalton in Manhattan—to establish a lecture series that fosters the physical, emotional and intellectual development of children, facilitated by top child and parenting professionals.

Heather lives on the Upper East Side with her husband Jordan and their two sons. Heather is also the founder of Out of the Box Organizing, a home organizing business.

Have an idea for a kiddybites lecture?  Please e-mail Heather with any questions or feedback regarding lectures, speaking engagements or advertising.   heather@kiddybites.com