Family Summer of Fun Weekend Planner

The weather forecast for this weekend on the East Coast is finally predicting some long awaited sunshine and warm weather. So it is time to go outside and play. In this weeks planner we highlight some great playgrounds, but first there are some special events going on at a few of New Jersey's State Parks.

Monmouth Battlefield State Park is hosting the 231st Commemoration of the Battle of Monmouth on Saturday, June 27, 2009; 10 am to 5 pm and
Sunday, June 28, 2009; 10 am to 3 pm

One of the largest battles of the American Revolution took place in the fields and forests that now make up Monmouth Battlefield State Park. The park preserves a splendid rural 18th-century landscape of hilly farmland and hedgerows that encompasses miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic areas, a restored Revolutionary War farmhouse and a visitors center.
Click Here for the full event schedule

Waterloo Village Season of Canal Society Activities
Some of the features of the 14th Annual Canal Day include:
mule-towed boat rides, live period music, food, guided tours of the village by an architectural historian and of Morris Canal-related sites and the Canal Museum,
a blacksmith plying his trade, a 19th century canal boat captain telling tales of life on the canal,
exhibits on the Morris Canal Greenway and the Sussex Mine Railroad,
tours of the Waterloo United Methodist Church, celebrating its 150th anniversary.

Hackensack River Greenway Through Teaneck

Sunday, June 28, 10:00 a.m. to noon, The Windsor Park Trail. Walk the Windsor Trail with Wayne Thoen, hiker and naturalist. This walk goes from Fire Station on Windsor Road, just south of West Englewood Avenue to the parking lot of the former Perfume Factory. We will make arrangements for a return drive back to your car. It is a rarely walked trail that few people in Teaneck know. Be prepared for a long hike, fabulous sights, and a lot of fun. You can park on West Englewood Avenue.
Click here for a map of the Greenway

For more information email: info@teaneckgreenway.org


Playgrounds in area that are extra special:

This week we will highlight some local playgrounds that have something extra to offer, from a wet and cool sprayground to a Kayak ride along the Hudson River.

Ridgewood Duck Pond - On East Ridgewood Avenue. The park has two large playgrounds, paved bike trails, a large pond, a stream with bridge crossings and a small waterfall.

Afterwards take a ride into Ridgewood there are shops and places to eat including a Ben and Jerry's to stop for Ice cream.

Lyndhurst Town Park: 367 Valley Brook Avenue
This playground has a great sprayground fenced in for the younger kids. There is also a traditional playground with both toddler and 5+ swings and Jungle gym. Diagonally across the street there is a Pizza Place and a dollar store.

Van Suan Park - 216 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ‎ - (201) 634-1104‎

This Park is great! It has an amazing expansive playground, Merry-go-round, Pony rides, Train rides, Zoo, fishing, bike paths, and more Van Suan is truly a shinning star among the parks in Bergen County.

Ross Dock Park Area, Fort Lee, NJ
This is at the first Boat Basin on the southern park entrance (Henry Hudson Drive) will be on the left part way down the hill (river road). Follow Henry Hudson Drive about one mile to the Ross Dock circle and follow signs.
During the Summer months there is usually a fee to park. ($5) The playground here is really great though with a Small and Large version of the same Jungle gym. Lots of slides and things to climb. Picnic area and rest rooms as well.

Peirmont NY

A trip up scenic 9W and through Tallman State Park will land you in Peirmont a quaint town with a playground that was updated this year and has see-saws a Jungle Gym with a few slides a merry-go-round and a few other attractions. Next door to the Playground is Paradise Canoe and Kayak Where you can rent a Canoe or 2 person Kayak and paddle through the salt water marsh and even out onto the Hudson river near the Tappan Zee Bridge You can see some pictures from a post I did last year after our outing. The town of Peirmont has many places to eat and window shop and Sunday they host a Farmers Market

So this weekend get out and have some fun :)

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Make This Summer the Best Ever

Summer is here and although the weather has not been cooperating so far, We here at kidzense have been busy compiling a stack of Summer fun for you and your family.
We will be bringing back the weekend planner and over the next 8 weeks we will prove you with ideas and activities for making this your best summer ever.



Here is a summary of some areas we will cover in more depth.

• In-town: Holiday celebrations, Street fairs and parades
• Local attractions: Be a tourist in your own backyard - Day Trips to landmarks and hot spots in NY, NJ, PA, and CT
• Get Outside: Parks, Playgrounds, Rails-to-trails, hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating.
• Stay Inside: Just because the sun is hiding doesn't mean you need to hide in
There are a number of Museums, Indoor amusement parks, and activities to share inside.

• Reach for the Stars: NJ and NY has a number of Planetariums. Enjoy Movies under the Stars
• Sail Away: Make like Gilligan and take a 3 hour tour on the Hudson
• Get Crafty: We will provide regular crafts and activities.
• Acting out: Check out a play or musical here in NJ or on Broadway
• Shore thing: For many Tri-staters summer means heading to the beach we will review popular beach destinations from Montauk to Manasquan and more.

Of course we will pass along deals as they come along like this one from HeBuddy.com
(get a free t-shirt when you read 10 books to your child)

Previous weekend planners

"What do I want to take home from my summer vacation? Time. The wonderful luxury of being at rest. The days when you shut down the mental machinery that keeps life on track and let life simply wander. The days when you stop planning,
analyzing, thinking and just are. Summer is my period of grace." -- Ellen Goodman

Save upto 46% off many popular Kids Magazines at Amazon

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Give Your Cuts and Burns Sweet Relief with Honey

One of the best remedies for small cuts and burns may not be in your medcine cabinet.
In ancient Egypt honey was used to help heal cuts and burns... Hippocrates used it on skin problems... and Romans used it for cleansing wounds.

Now centuries later scientists are discovering that this prized bee product can be good modern medicine for us—especially as a dressing to prevent burns and wounds from becoming infected.

One study published in the Cochrane Library showed that honey may promote faster healing of mild or moderate burns than regular dressings, and other studies have shown that honey can aide in healing wounds. This golden liquid appears to help increase the rate of both new tissue growth and the removal of dead tissue around the wound. It also contains natural hydrogen peroxide, which helps with healing. Now doesn't that sound like a sweet way to help heal your hurts?

Additonal Information:
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/alternative-medicine.html
http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/Honey_for_Cuts_and_Burns
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/honey/AN01796

Goodbye Grandpa

My grandfather passed away this past week the last of my grandparents to pass on. He was 94 and lived a long life. An immigrant from Portugal he came to the United States. He later fought in WWII as an American Solider. Although he never really spoke about the war I knew he was a cook but wasn't sure if he saw any actual combat. During one of my last visits with him I had asked him about his time in the service - He stormed Normandy on D-day. He raised 7 children 2 girls and 5 boys with his wife Irene who preceded his passing by almost 6 years.

They originally lived in Newark NJ later moving to Kearney where he purchased two homes. During their retirement years they moved to Florida. They were joined later by some of my uncles and their families. I think this gave my grandparents much joy having their grandchildren around. Grandpa loved to fish and was happiest by the ocean. He would go fishing whenever time allowed.
As a child he took my Uncle Dennis, Brother Steve, and myself fishing many times.
I learned how to cast and drag a net we would come home with Fish and Crabs and have cookouts on many Sundays.
There was a real sense of family almost everyone lived in the same town and we had frequent get togethers. As kids we could walk or bike to any family members house.

Grandpa as most of the men in my family was the cook he renovated the basement in his Kearney house to have a downstairs kitchen where he would prepare most meals and would always offer you something when you visited. Holiday dinners were prepared in the main Kitchen So that when you arrived the smell of food filled the house.
There was a grown-up and Kids table. My Aunt Elaine would come in after she was done to check on us. If we didn't finish everything she would clear off our plates and report back that we were finished. (Onto desert)

My grandfathers passing marks the end of an era of European immigrants who came over to the US to live out the American dream and were able to maintain a sense of family and old world values. He taught me how to fish, that money didn't grow on trees, and about hard work. He was somewhat stoic but if you made him laugh it was a genuine hearty laugh that would put a smile on your face.

Grandpa we will miss you.

Book recommended by Sue:

It's like riding a bike

Milestones such as learning to walk and talk are fundamental. If your child could not perform these tasks you would address it. (For a more detailed list of developmental stages visit this link)

In addition to these basic milestones, activities like learning to ride a bike are also extremely important to your child's development.

This will probably be the one of the first activities that your child will need to consciously work at over a period of time.
Learning to ride may not come easy, they will need to overcome an element of fear. They may get hurt. They may get discouraged. Overcoming these obstacles and learning how to ride their bike will give your child a great sense of accomplishment and pride. It will also set the foundation for how they deal with obstacles and difficulties later in life.

A learning Opportunity for you
So what is your role in all this? As a parent your job is to recognize risks and mitigate them, Provide support and encouragment, Guide without dictating (probably the hardest element)

So how do you do this? Create a safe environment - Make sure your child has proper safety equipment. At a minimum a helmet, Gloves and pads can also help to prevent unnecessary cuts and scrapes and provide some extra confidence.
Find a generally flat, traffic free area to practice.

Make sure the bike is the right fit for your child - If you are unsure check with your local bike shop but here are some basic pointers
Bikes for children are sized by their wheels: 12”, 16”, 20” and 24”.
Your Child should be able to dismount and comfortably straddle the bike flat footedly.
With a slight lean of the bike, get their bottom back onto the seat, put their foot on the pedal and, when the skill is there, ride away. When the foot is on the pedals there should be a slight bend in the leg that is fully extended. There should be a slight bend at the waist and your child should not have to stretch to reach the handlebars

Be positive and have realistic expectations: Your Child will make mistakes and may not follow your guidance let them find their own way, encourage and congratulate their success's no matter how small.

Know when to call it a day: or Don't beat a dead horse. This is a corollary to the previous paragraph you want to ensure that the experience is positive don't let frustration set in. Try to end on a positive note.

Here are some Links to stories about bike riding that you can read to your child

Mike and the Bike

Amazon Recommendations

Free KFC Chicken Dinner Coupon

Oprah is giving away free KFC grilled chicken dinners.

You must print the coupons today but can use them until 5/19/09.

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Free from Oprah: 2 piece grilled chicken dinner from KFC with 2 sides and a biscuit!You must print these today only!! You can print 4 of the coupons!! They expire on the 19th! Pass it on... print today only!!

Swine Influenza FAQ

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised it’s pandemic alert to level 5.
This means that the Swine Flu (Influenza Type A H1/N1) is now spreading rapidly in many countries.

According to the WHO’s Director General "This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical industry and the business community that certain actions should now be undertaken with increased urgency, and at an accelerated pace"

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza
viruses. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine
flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this
transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.


What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and
include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people
have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.
In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection
in people.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way
that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through
coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by
touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.


What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of
sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious
food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close
contact with people who are sick.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and
then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an
infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches
respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their
own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday
actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like
influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
 Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue
in the trash after you use it.
 Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
 Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
 Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
 If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or
school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work
or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may
prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover
your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every
time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or
clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with
soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not
available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find
them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry.
The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

Does the Flu shot protect me from Swine Flu?
It is not believed that the current seasonal flu shot offers any protection against swine flu,
though it may help to reduce the severity of any infection.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with
influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or
vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you
are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether
influenza testing or treatment is needed.
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as
possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.
 Wash hands often when you are sick.
 Cover your mouth and nose with tissue every time you sneeze, blow your nose, or
cough. Do not use handkerchiefs. Put used tissues into the nearest trash can.
 If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve to cover your mouth and nose. Do not use
your bare hands.
 Always wash your hands after sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing, or after
touching used tissues.
 When visiting your doctor or clinic, notify the receptionist if you have a fever with
cough or rash. They may ask you to wear a mask or wait in a separate area.
 Stay home if you have a cough and fever. Keep away from family members that are
very young, very old, or have a serious disease or weak immune system.
 Because cold viruses can survive for hours outside the body, cleaning surfaces with a
virus-killing disinfectant (such as a 1 part household bleach to nine parts water
solution) might help prevent spread of infection.
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical
care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
 Fast breathing or trouble breathing
 Bluish skin color
 Not drinking enough fluids
 Not waking up or not interacting
 Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
 Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
 Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
 Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
 Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
 Sudden dizziness
 Confusion
 Severe or persistent vomiting

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from
eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.