Author: PartywithMoms

  Fred Wierdsma - Educator, Sportsman, Friend, Father & Grandfather Fred founded and became Headmaster of The Putnam School in 1973, following years of being a beloved teacher and hockey coach at Greenwich Country Day School. Fred invented the famous Smokey’s Bounders Program. In 1978, when the school merged with Indian Field School, Fred took the helm for 23 years until his retirement in 2001. He remains there today as Development Officer, nature teacher and a fun...

Trying to think of an outing for kids on these frigid weekends? Here’s a suggestion: have brunch at the Cos Cobber. Brunch is served from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, and it features lots of menu items that appeal to kids. Chocolate chip or blueberry pancakes, and French Toast with strawberries are perennial favorites. Adults may prefer the choice of omelets, delicious Eggs Benedict or the bagel with smoked salmon and...

  My last column discussed emotional self-regulation, the ability to control impulses and behave in a way appropriate to the circumstance. By developing this skill, children become more productive and socially competent.  There is a cognitive aspect to self-regulation as well, which helps children overcome their reluctance to engage in challenging school activities. Again, children initially need lots of help from adults. They need encouragement to keep trying even when the activity is difficult or unappealing.  As a...

[caption id="attachment_5717" align="aligncenter" width="310"] Dr. Paul Lowe – Admissions Guru[/caption] Dr. Paul Lowe of Greenwich Admissions Advisors is offering a free information session for parents on Saturday, February 28th from 2 – 3 PM at the Women’s Club of Greenwich (89 Maple Ave). The session is for parents of high schoolers who are planning to apply to Ivy League, highly selective schools and BA/MD programs. A Q. & A. will follow the presentation. Seating is limited. Please RSVP. Parking...

Pecora Brothers is a full service residential and commercial construction management company. This family-owned business by Joseph and Sylvester Pecora, is Greenwich based and boasts 20 years experience. Pecora Brothers specializes in New Home Construction Home Renovations Commercial Construction Building Maintenance  They will help you in all aspects of your building project: planning, permits and approvals, cost analysis, construction and supervision. When your project is complete, Pecora Brothers can also provide property management consisting of Preventative Maintenance, Landscaping and Lawn Care,...

Photo by Classic Kids Greenwich Head Photographer, Katie Farro. What do you love to do with your children? How old are they? And what is your greatest wish for them? My sweet beautiful daughter Piper Jane is 5 and the lovely Augustus is nearly 3. They are our moon and our stars. We spend a lot of time together as a family and are often found working on and restoring our almost 100 year-old house. We...

If you want a hassle-free birthday party for your child, Chelsea Piers is the way to go. Event staff plan the party, provide the space, supervise the activities, serve the food, and clean up afterward. A parent’s dream! Tutus and Tiaras (Ages 3 – 5) is a party that features dance instruction in the new Dance Academy. Children will learn primary ballet movements while dancing to their favorite music. A short performance at the end for parents...

  What is self-regulation? How do children develop it? We are told all the time how important that development is to future success in school and life.  Self-regulation may be defined as the ability to control one’s own behavior and emotions and adapt them in response to a particular situation. For young children, self-regulation begins as external control by teachers, parents, and caregivers. As the child grows, hopefully that ability to control initial impulses and respond appropriately...

Take your date to Pinot’s Palette in Stamford to Paint, Drink and Have Fun. On Thursday, February 12th, from 7-9pm, celebrate GALentine’s Day with your girls. Each reservation comes with your Audrey accessories, faux pearls and sunglasses. Snap a picture in your best pose, upload to Facebook, tag yourself & Pinot’s Palette for a chance to win a free date night.  On Date Night Friday, February 13th from 7-10pm, put two canvases together so both of you...

One of the best ways to experience Tengda is to go with a group and sample the appetizers. Rather than settling on one dinner dish, this allows you to have a tasting feast by sharing with your friends. The appetizers at Tengda are amazing, with surprising contrasts of tastes and textures!  Party with Moms favorites: Tuna Tower - like a tiny building, four layers of fresh raw tuna are presented between four wonton crisps with a topping...

Lizzy walked behind her mother as they approached the door of her nursery school. Just inside, the principal, Mrs. Carmichael was waiting to greet them. “Good morning Lizzy. Good morning Margaret. How are you today?” She put her hand out to Lizzy, but Lizzy ducked behind Margaret and looked down at the floor. “Good morning, Mrs. Carmichael,” Margaret smiled. “I think Lizzy is feeling a bit shy again today. Lizzy, will you shake hands? No? Okay, let’s...

Putnam Indian Field School - An independent day school for children Two through Five years old. Tuesday Tour Days: February 17, February 24, March 3, March 10 PIFS looks forward to meeting you. RSVP to Maria Sabito 203-869-0982 maria.sabito@pifs.net Tuesday Tours begin at 1:00 p.m. Private tours are also available. 101 Indian Field Road, Greenwich, CT 06830 Tel. 203.661.4629 - www.PIFS.net ...

  Cos Cob Author Offers Game-Changing Advice For Super Bowl Sunday via greenwich.dailyvoice.com COS COB, Conn. -- Aside from the commercials, the halftime show and the snacks, the Super Bowl offers an opportunity for teachable moments with your kids. So says Cos Cob resident Suzanne Wind, author of "The SMART Playbook: Game-Changing Life Skills For A Modern World."  "The Super Bowl is a great opportunity for parents to reinforce the importance of character," says Wind. "Even at the highest levels of competition,...

Winter birthdays can be hard. How many kids do you want in your home? For how long? And what--with outdoor opportunities limited--will they do?  Pinot’s Palette in Stamford offers a solution. For the 6 – 12 age group, Pinot’s Palette will take your child’s unique painting of choice and teach his or her entire guest list how to paint it in a step-by-step and fun way. There is no need for a goody bag when everyone...

The Cos Cobber is a great place to view the Super Bowl while enjoying delicious food and drinks. Watch the Seahawks battle the Patriots on the Cobber’s huge TVs in the restaurant and bar. If you like traditional fare - amazing cheeseburgers, wings, Philly cheese steak, and fries, you’re in the right place. And the Cobber’s pulled pork sliders are the best in town! Or, if you prefer something lighter, try the seared tuna salad...

  My last column described “hypothesis testing” as a mindset children need to develop to become successful learners. Hypothesis testing can be defined as learning by hands-on trial and error until understanding is acquired.  Another helpful mindset to encourage in children is risk-taking. Don’t worry. Encouraging risk-taking doesn’t mean letting your child jump off the roof, or point his skis straight downhill on his first run ever. For a young child, willingness to risk means being willing...

What child wouldn’t benefit from some one-on-one time with a talented tutor in his or her own home?  Katie Linhares graduated from Notre Dame, has a Masters from NYU and taught in New Canaan, Manhattan and Eagle Hill in Greenwich. She currently teaches Special Ed in the Greenwich Public Schools. Her Special Education training is key to helping her tailor her sessions to individual learners. Every child would benefit from her professional attention.  Katie’s specialties are reading...

What do you love to do with your children? How old are they? And what is your greatest wish for them? My boys are 12 and 10. I love being a part of their day. Whether it is working on their homework, driving them around, watching them play sports, or just hanging out at home… I am happiest when I am with them.  My greatest wish for them is health and from there… to be confident and...

  For the past two years, Julien has managed Organic Planet, a popular Greenwich restaurant featuring organic, non-GMO, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Now he is embarking upon his dream job – to be a photographer and videographer. This is something Julien has wanted to do for years. He plans to focus on architectural and real estate photography and videography locally, and also on people and special events. Other interests of Julien’s include rock climbing, surfing, fishing, traveling...

“Mommy, the birds’ nests are blowing a lot in the wind. I feel sorry for the birds.”  Marian and her son, Denny were driving to the Farnsworth’s for a simple supper. It was very windy. They both saw how much the branches were bending. “Oh dear Denny, birds know how to build their nests so they are perfect for them, wherever they live. I really think they will be fine.”  They pulled into the driveway and in seconds...

[caption id="attachment_5708" align="aligncenter" width="310"] Dr. Paul Lowe – Admissions Guru[/caption] Join Dr. Paul Lowe, leading global educational and admissions expert, and senior advisor and founder of Greenwich Admissions Advisors, as he helps you navigate the agonizing waters in preparing and getting your child into college. This free informative seminar is for high school parents and students who are interested in applying to Ivy League, highly selective and competitive schools and Combined BA/MD Programs. Join other concerned parents and...

What do you love to do with your children? How old are they? And what is your greatest wish for them? I have two children: Ben, age 14, and Sarah, age 10.  I have two dogs (semi-children): Mak, a lab mix, age 8, and Petunia, an English bulldog, age 6.  I love spending time with my kids.  I especially enjoy our vacation time when we can escape from the daily grind of work, school, sports, driving...

“In the car, Patty. We’re late. I mean now. All that dawdling is going to cost you.” “You’re not the boss of me,” four-year old Patty squawked. “Wanna bet?” Patty tried to resist her father’s grasp. Jeb picked up his daughter, put her in her car seat, and snapped down its lock. “Getting the picture now, right Patty? I AM the boss of you.” Jeb got into his seat quickly. He looked in the rear view mirror. Patty was sticking...

  On the spectrum of helicopter parents, I hover somewhere in the middle of all the hovering. I've been known to hand feed my 6-year-old daughter bites of broccoli if she's too distracted to get the job done. I hold myself back from adding activities to our calendar, restricting my kids to a mere "too many." I won't comment on how many bottoms I'm wiping on any given week. [caption id="attachment_5487" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Great article by one...

  Parents wonder what they can do to help their children become successful learners. There are certain “mind sets” that are important for young children to develop which will help them considerably later on. One is known as “hypothesis testing.” Children have a lot of questions about the world. Often they make a wrong assumption about why something happens. You can provide the correct explanation, but a better way is not to provide an immediate answer. Rather,...

Former New York City Ballet principal dancer, and current School of American Ballet instructor, Yvonne Borree will be teaching classes, at the brand new Chelsea Piers Dance Academy January 10th and 11th. Classes will be used to place prospective students.  Children ages 3-6 dance for free! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an extraordinary ballerina. www.chelseapiersct.com    ...

One of our Moms of the Week, talented singer-songwriter, actress, Anitra Brooks has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of her first album of eclectic pop music entitled “I Walk In Your Light.”  To date, Anitra has raised $9,000 of the required $14,000.  We love Anitra and her music and know you will too.  Please consider helping the campaign by supporting this cool project.   Everyone will benefit from Anitra's success.  There are only...