Delaware County Moms

2015-12-17T12:29:00.001-05:00

2015-09-02T13:09:00.000-04:00

The Swarthmore Community Center has begun on the second floor of the center (located at 715 Harvard Avenue). Playgroup is for children ages 9 months – 4 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. We’ll play, sing songs, and read stories. We’ll also have special activities, parties, guests throughout the season.

Come play with us! Meet new people, make new friends, and hang out with old friends! If you're unable to attend the free open house, the first playgroup session is on October 3rd and starts at 9:30 am.

During the regular playgroup season, drop in rates & season passes are available. For more information about the dates & rates go HERE!

MLK Day of Service with Cradles to Crayons

2015-01-08T21:37:00.002-05:00

Cradles to Crayons MLK Day of Service drop site at the Swarthmore Community Center, hosted by The MOMS Club of Media

What We Need

We are in dire need the below current items:

New or Gently Winter Boots and Shoes – infant to adult 9
New or Gently Coats (Hats and Gloves)- infant to 14/16
New or Gently Coats - long pants - 5/6 to 14/16
New Socks and Underwear- 2T to 14/16
New PJ’s - infant to 14/16

Clothing, sizes newborn - 14/16 (youth)
Winter boots, sneakers, and sandals (infant/child sizes 0–13 and youth/adult sizes 1–10)
Hats, gloves, scarves
Fall/Spring jackets, sizes newborn - 14/16 (youth)
Books, especially baby board books and chapter books for children ages 10-12
New arts and crafts/school supplies
Baby crib & bassinet bedding (no bumpers, please)
Baby carriers (sling, Bjorn, Snuggli, etc.)
Diaper Bags
Diapers
Baby equipment, especially strollers, pack-n-plays and car seats (car seats must be less than 5 years old)
- Other items we accept: high chairs, baby swings/rockers, baby bouncy seats, baby bath tubs
- No cribs, please
Baby safety equipment (gates, bed rails, outlet covers, cabinet locks, etc.)
New baby hygiene supplies
Batteries, especially AA and C

What We Can’t Accept

ADULT CLOTHING sizes M, L, XL+
Due to the recent drop‐side crib recall, we are no longer accepting cribs of any kind
Stuffed animals
Car seats older than five years or that have been in an accident
DVDs/CDs/VHS tapes/computer games
Furniture
Room decor
Religious books/toys, including Christmas/Easter/Hannukah/Kwanzaa related items
Books about families (“I Love Mommy,” “Daddy and I”)
Underwear or socks out of its package or that are used
Used bathing suits
High-heeled shoes and shoes that are not in great condition
Soccer cleats
Clothing that is stained, torn, or has family writing ("mommy", "daddy", etc.)
Military related or violent toys/games (no guns of any type)
Oversized plastic play toys (please no toys larger than 24 inches)
Large backyard toys, slides, swings, baby pools, and structures
Used hygiene products
Baby food
Breast feeding supplies
Used arts and crafts/school supplies

Things to do the weekend of January 2-4

2015-01-02T14:46:00.001-05:00

By Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Things to do the weekend of January 2-4

Click event for more information

Friday 1/2

Indoor Mini Golf @ Linvilla

Blue Cross River Rink

Koziar's Christmas Village

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Longwood Garden Christmas

Saturday 1/3

Indoor Mini Golf @ Linvilla

Blue Cross River Rink

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Longwood Garden Christmas

Sunday 1/4

Indoor Mini Golf @ Linvilla

Blue Cross River Rink

Free Mornings at Brandywine River Museum

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Longwood Garden Christmas

Things to do the weekend of December 19-21

2014-12-18T19:40:00.000-05:00

By Jonik (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do the weekend of December 19-21

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Friday 12/19

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Kennett Square Lights Parade

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Saturday 12/20

Holiday Hayride at Arasapha Farms

Herr's Factory Christmas Snacktacular

Santa at Linvilla

Rose Tree Park Festival of Lights

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Sunday 12/21

Holiday Hayride at Arasapha Farms

Herr's Factory Christmas Snacktacular

Rose Tree Park Festival of Lights

Santa at Linvilla

Free Mornings at Brandywine River Museum

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Flea It Up Flea Market

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Things to do the weekend of December 12-14

2014-12-13T16:49:00.001-05:00

By L.Kenzel (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Things to do the weekend of December 12-14

Click event for more information

Friday 12/12

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Elsa, Olaf and the Ninja Turtles @ Marple Sports Arena

Kennett Square Lights Parade

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Saturday 12/13

Santafest at the Helicopter Museum

Christmas on the Farm at Colonial Plantation

Holiday Hayride at Arasapha Farms

Herr's Factory Christmas Snacktacular

Rose Tree Park Festival of Lights

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Sunday 12/14

Holiday Hayride at Arasapha Farms

Herr's Factory Christmas Snacktacular

Rose Tree Park Festival of Lights

Free Mornings at Brandywine River Museum

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Flea It Up Flea Market

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Arden Theatre Company Beauty & the Beast

2014-12-09T11:14:00.002-05:00

My family & I were invited to view the Arden Theatre Company's newest children's play, Beauty & the Beast last week & we jumped at the chance. This wasn't our first Arden show, we've been to many of the Children's shows & my husband & I sometimes go without the kids too!

So let's clear a few things up quickly...this is NOT the Beauty & the Beast you think you know. There are no singing teapots, forks, etc, in fact there is very little singing at all!
This Beauty & the Beast is set in Great Britain and it was a little dark. We took our children 11 & 7 who loved the play & the way they used shadows to make the play come alive! My husband & I both enjoyed the show as well, which is nice because it's hard to agree on shows as a family sometimes! I don't want to give away the set & special effects but it's very cool & interesting.

The Arden Theatre describes the play: "Meet two sisters: Cassandra, eager to experience life; and Belle, who is afraid of the world. After their father loses the family fortune, they leave London to start life anew. But nothing prepares them for what happens next. When Belle meets the Beast, she begins an adventure unlike any she could have imagined. From the team that created Arden’s Cinderella comes a bold new telling of this classic tale." Best for ages 5 and older...which I would agree with, there were a few scenes that might scare our younger friends.

After the show, the actors wait on stage and answer questions from the audience then head to the lobby to answer additional questions and pose for pictures.

Beauty & the Beast runs through February 1st, 2015 and you can order tickets or request more information HERE!

Holiday Baking Tips from Miss A!

2014-12-07T10:47:00.004-05:00

Holiday Baking Tips from Miss A

We all love the taste of a freshly baked cookie at holiday time. Each family has their own set of cherished recipes that are made each year. For most of us, baking has become a luxury due to our busy schedules running from here to there all year long, especially during the holidays. If you are in the mood for some holiday baking, consider these tips to make your holiday baking more enjoyable and less stressful!

Plan it out: Choose a manageable amount of recipes to make. If you know your schedule is already packed, then don’t push yourself to make 5 different types of cookies. 2 well executed recipes are much tastier than 6 recipes you threw together. Once you have your recipes, sit down and look at all of them. Take stock of what ingredients you already have and what you need at the store. If you are making several different cookie recipes, consider shopping for butter, flour, sugar, and eggs at BJ’s or Costco. It will save you some money!

Mix in advance: Instead of trying to make everything from start to finish in one day, mix all of the cookie dough over the span of a few days. If you’ll be baking the dough within a week then it can stay in the refrigerator. If you are working a few weeks in advance, it is perfectly fine to store cookie dough in the freezer. I like to wrap the dough in wax paper and place it in a gallon size reseal-able freezer bag. Another way to store the dough is to pre-scoop or roll the dough before storing in the freezer. This can be done with most cookie dough, even sugar cookies can be rolled and cut out in advance. I lay them out in a flat layer on a cookie sheet and separate multiple layers with waxed paper.

Enlist helpers: Invite a friend over, open a bottle of wine, and bake together! Not only will you have an extra hand to help but it is a great way to connect with friends during the busy holiday season. Also, involve the kiddos! They can be great helpers when mixing dough, scooping, and cleaning up. More tips for baking with kids to come next time!! J

Things to do the weekend of December 5-7

2014-12-05T06:44:00.003-05:00

By Lotus Head from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=view&id=223106) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Things to do the weekend of December 5-7

Click event for more information

Friday 12/5

Aston Winter Festival and Tree Lighting

Darlington Art Center Holiday Open House

Wayne Christmas Tree Lighting

Malvern Victorian Christmas

West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Saturday 12/6

CCC Breakfast with Santa

Woodland Winter Wonderland at Tyler Arboretum

Wayne Santa Parade

Malvern Victorian Christmas

West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas

Rose Tree Park Festival of Lights

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Sunday 12/7

West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas

Rose Tree Park Festival of Lights

Free Mornings at Brandywine River Museum

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Flea It Up Flea Market

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Longwood Garden Christmas

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Give Kids A Smile

2014-12-02T13:04:00.000-05:00

Hey friends!
Welcome back from your tryptophan infused coma, aka, Thanksgiving. I hope you had a lovely time with friends and family.
If you saw my post a few weeks back you know that this Friday, Dr. Alex and I will be heading to CVIM to volunteer with Give Kids A Smile. We are looking forward to this event and want you there with us! We will be posting about our time there on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Be sure to follow us.

Check out my last blog HERE if you missed it so you know exactly what this event is all about!

Also, if you have any events coming up or would like us to come to your children's school let us know! We really enjoy reaching out to the children in our community to educate and treat!

Rose Tree Kids Website

Rose Tree Kids Facebook page

Tiny Teeth with Ashley, R.D.H. Facebook page

Things to do the weekend of November 28-30

2014-11-26T11:32:00.000-05:00

By Huhu Uet (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do the weekend of November 28-30

Click event for more information

Thursday 11/27

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Longwood Garden Christmas

Friday 11/28

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Longwood Garden Christmas

Saturday 11/29

Chadds Ford Winery Fire & Spice Weekends

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Longwood Garden Christmas

Sunday 11/30

Free Mornings at Brandywine River Museum

Peddler's Village Gingerbread Houses

Chadds Ford Winery Fire & Spice Weekends

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Flea It Up Flea Market

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Adventure Aquarium Christmas Celebration

Longwood Garden Christmas

Media Santa Fun Run and Parade

Pictures with Santa

2014-11-26T08:19:00.000-05:00

We love Santa at Delaware County Moms & we really love to see Santa outside of the mall!

SANTA TRAINS

West Chester’s Santa Express
http://www.westchesterrr.net/

The Strasburg Railroad also has Santa Trains-
Santa’s Paradise Express
http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/christmas-trains/

FARMS AND MUSEUMS

Shady Brook Farm- Santa arrives by helicopter on Nov. 28th
http://shadybrookfarm.com/
Here is a link to video from last year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTMeSERLros&feature=youtu.be

Arsapha Farms-in Glen Mills- Holiday Hayride
See real live Reindeer and have a picture with Santa, while you are there cut your own Christmas Tree.
http://www.holidayhayride.com/attractions.html

Linvilla Orchards
Christmas Around The Farm
http://www.linvilla.com/family-fun/christmas-around-the-farm/

SANTA AT THE ZOO

Elmwood Park Zoo

Elmwood Park Zoo has a number of events with Santa & reindeer!

http://elmwoodparkzoo.org/event/79

A FEW MORE

Brunch with Santa at Victory Brewing Company-Dec 7 10-2pm

http://www.victorybeer.com/ai1ec_event/brunch-santa/?instance_id=5957

Kitchen Kettle Village-An Old Fashioned Christmas Experience in Lancaster County with S’mores, carols and dinner with Mrs. Claus

http://www.kitchenkettle.com/events/old-fashioned-christmas.asp

Swarthmore Community Center Santa Paws
December 6th from 9:30-11:30 get your picture taken with Santa AND you can bring your dogs! Benefits the Delaware County SPCA. https://www.facebook.com/events/515570818546624/

2014 Gag Gifts

2014-11-21T09:04:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you just need a good gag gift and these are sure to get a few laughs at your next Ugly Sweater party!

My favorite, Poo-Pourri Original Bottle - 2 Ounces Toilet Spray "Spritz the bowl before you go & no one will ever know!"
Canned Unicorn Meat-I honestly don't know what's in the can!
Fred S/4 Muffin Tops Baking Cups-muffin cups that look like pants so you have a literal muffin top.
Bacon Lovers Combo Set-Perfect for the bacon lover in your life!
Fart Machine No need to say more!
Chia Pets...because they're funny!
Big Mouth Toys Toilet Mug perfect for a hot cup of coffee or maybe even candy :)
A Christmas Story Nightlight Leg Lamp
Fake Lottery Tickets
Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer

ENTER FOR Birthday Party GIVEAWAY HERE!

2014-11-21T06:48:00.001-05:00

Enter to win!

Free Marple Mountain or Skating Party for 10 children plus the birthday child a ($159 value) food is not included but can be purchased when booking party. Party slots are on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 and 3:00 (2 hr time slots). Coupon can be used up to a year after it is received.

Want to check out their site? Marple Sports Arena
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Things to do the weekend of November 21-23

2014-11-20T19:51:00.001-05:00

Things to do the weekend of November 21-23

Click event for more information

Friday 11/21

Peddler's Village Grand Illumination

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Saturday 11/22

Brookhaven Holiday Parade

Chadds Ford Winery Fire & Spice Weekends

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Sunday 11/23

Free Mornings at Brandywine River Museum

Chadds Ford Winery Fire & Spice Weekends

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Flea It Up Flea Market

Rothman Institue Ice Rink at Dilworth Park

Yuletide at Winterthur

Thursday 11/27

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Volunteering with Give Kids A Smile

2014-11-18T12:16:00.003-05:00

By Ashley Valco

One thing I love to do is give back to the community. I do not have as many opportunities as I would like, especially with chasing a toddler around and currently housing another that will be here in April. So, when an opportunity comes along, I take it.

I am excited to tell you that, on December 5th, Dr. Alex and I will be heading to Community Volunteers in Medicine for a Give Kids A Smile Event.

I want to know about both of these amazing organizations. It is important to raise awareness for a need that is so pressing right in our very own area, and how these organizations help that need.

In many areas, even those with mid to high income, there are underserved children going without dental treatment. Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) was launched over 11 years ago for this specific need. GKAS’s mission statement:

“The American Dental Association launched the Give Kids A Smile program nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists across the country to join with others in their community to provide dental services to underserved children. The program initially began as a one-day event in February, but has since grown to local and national events year-round. Dentists and other team members volunteer their time, and services, to provide screenings, treatments and education to children throughout the United States. Each year, approximately 350,000 children benefit from more than 1,500 events, all because of the efforts of 40,000 or more annual volunteers. The ADA's Give Kids A Smile® program enhances the oral health of large numbers of needy children. Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) activities also highlight for policy

makers the ongoing challenges that disadvantaged families face in finding dental care.”

Community Volunteers In Medicine (CVIM) is a wonderful facility that I had the pleasure of volunteering my time during and after hygiene school. They are located in West Chester and provide dental care to low income families. CVIM’s mission statement:

“CVIM is a community-based, volunteer nonprofit organization providing primary medical and dental care to low income, working people in Chester County without insurance, enabling them to continue to be contributing members of the community.

The program is designed to provide services for those individuals whose income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty guidelines and are not eligible for Medical Assistance, Medicare, VA benefits or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

CVIM welcomes clients without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, handicap, or ability to pay for health care services.”

We are looking forward to December 5th to give back to the community and we hope you will cheer us on! Like us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date and see some pictures from the event.

Rose Tree Kids

Rose Tree Kids Facebook

Tiny Teeth with Ashley, R.D.H.

Baking Tips from Miss A Introduction!

2014-11-18T06:54:00.001-05:00

Miss A will be giving us some baking tips this holiday season! I wanted to share with you a little bit about her. Please watch for her tips coming later this week. Looking forward to SWEETENING UP my holiday! Take it away Miss A...

Growing up I always loved being in the kitchen. I can remember baking with my mom from a very young age, waking up early Saturday mornings to make pancakes pretending I had my own cooking show, and I even started my first cookie business in the 5^th grade. (Wish I would have saved some of that money!) As I got older that love of cooking and baking stayed with me and I started college as a Hotel and Restaurant Management major. I had dreams of owning my own restaurant and being a wedding planner. As time went on I decided to move towards a more family-oriented profession, teaching. My other love and passion has always been working with children and helping them learn, which led me down the path of being a teacher.

I love being a teacher. However, when my son was born in January 2012 I knew I needed to find a way to be more present for him. I missed out on seeing all of the major milestones during his first year and I knew I had to make a change. My goal was to switch to teaching part time and I looked back on other things I enjoyed and had a knack for in order to make extra money for my family. And so, on a bleary eyed morning before heading to school, Miss A’s was born! My original goal for Miss A’s was to provide customers with cookie trays and other baked goods for their special events. I specialize in traditional flavors, as well as Italian recipes and chocolate covered items. To incorporate my love for working with children I also launched “Bitty Bakers” which offers birthday parties, baking classes, and camps for children ages 4 and up.

I have been in business for 2 years this month (November), and I am still learning and growing every day. I love the flexibility of making my own hours (which most times are late into the night after my little man has gone to sleep J). This past year it has been so exciting to see my business bloom and I am now reaching customers that are beyond the circle of my family and friends. I am so very grateful for all of the support I have received from my customers- those who have been ordering from the very beginning and those I am beginning to get to know! I am also forever grateful to the networking groups I am a part of via social media, especially the amazing ladies of “Bizzy Mamas.” Not only have I reached a larger client base because of them, but I have also learned so many invaluable lessons about business! It is my hope to see my business continue to grow so that I can one day open my own bakery with space for children’s parties.

Please visit my website Miss A's Website Click Here

Save $140 on the Kindle Fire HDX! #ad

2014-11-17T09:04:00.000-05:00

The links in the post are affiliate links, which help us pay the bills but you don't pay extra!

Looks like the Kindle deals are starting today! Save $140 on the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9", HDX Display today. I know the box says $399.00 but if you click it, the price changes to $259! This kindle also has a camera.

Gift Guide: Experience Gift Ideas 2014

2014-11-15T09:26:00.001-05:00

I love experience gifts! They don't add to the clutter in my home (and trust me, there is clutter!) and these gifts can last all year long. These are just a few of the great places you can take your family, but the greater Philadelphia area is loaded with family fun!

Family Gifts: Great options for a one shot deal!

The Media Theatre close to home and lots of fun!

Arden Theatre Tickets My family loves going to the children's theater & my husband & I enjoy going without the kids! BLACK FRIDAY-CYBER MONDAY DEAL: For just $50, you’ll get a gift certificate for a family four-pack to any Arden Children’s Theatre production OR two tickets for any Mainstage production (subject to availability). This is a $50+ savings for either package!

Tyler Arboretum Membership: Tons of family fun throughout the year and plenty of room for energetic kids to run, the Tyler Arboretum offers something for everyone in the family.

Wilmington Blue Rocks : A variety of game packages, the Blue Rocks will entertain your family all summer long. Package tickets with t-shirts and hats to make a great winter holiday gift!

Longwood Gardens Fun for the entire family, all year round!

For the Kids:

Please Touch Museum

Philadelphia Zoo

Upper Darby Performing Arts Center-get tickets to one show or buy an entire season!

Marple Sports Arena Playdate! Check it out!

2014-11-15T07:51:00.000-05:00

Kids Zumba!!!

The weather is getting colder and our thoughts race as to what we can do with our kids this winter?!?! Marple Sports Arena has play dates for just $5 during the week. It is a great way for kids to run off steam, jump, play, climb, and color. There are tables so you can sit an enjoy a snack you bring with you.

Bounce Houses!

Bats, balls, roller carts and more!

Coloring to cool down.

Climbing time!

As you can see from my sampling of pictures there is a ton to do. These two characters where worn out by the time we were done. It was a perfect after Kindergarten activity or if you have a pre-schooler a great morning activity! We brought our lunch and ate it at the tables. It was a perfect playdate indoors! The kids had a blast!

For more information on dates and times, please see: Marple Sports Arena

Local Charities Gift Guide-2014 #givingtuesday

2014-11-14T11:53:00.000-05:00

For the person on your list who has everything, it can often be tough to find the perfect gift. In this case, I always consider making a donation in their name to a charity! I find that people love this gift & are more appreciative of it than a gift that you buy out of obligation.

Newly formed but an organization that is easy to support:
Plaid Pajamas, you can go on the website & choose a child to purchase new pajamas for, that they will receive in time for the holidays. My children open a new pair of pj's every year on Christmas Eve, so I have an extra special place in my heart for this organization. It's also affordable. Have a $15 limit? Buy one pair. More to spend you can help more kids!

Local charities that I've supported in the past include:

Alex's Lemonade Stand is trying to raise $40,000 by Dec. 31st
Kisses for Kyle,
Cradles to Crayons,
Philabundance
Delaware County SPCA Not only monetary donations, but ADOPTING your next pet is the gift that keeps on giving! Check out the http://www.theshelterpetproject.org/ to find the perfect pet for you!

I like these organizations because my donation stays local...do you have an organization that you support? Let us know!

Things to do the weekend of November 14-16

2014-11-13T19:43:00.002-05:00

By Rob Barros (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Things to do the weekend of November 14-16

Click event for more information

Friday 11/14

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Saturday 11/15

MOMS Club of Media Presents The School and Family Festival

Chadds Ford Winery Fire & Spice Weekends

Bubby's Birthday Bash @ Elmwood Zoo

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Sunday 11/16

Artists United Multi-Media Festival

Free Mornings at Brandywine River Museum

Breakfast with the Animals @ Elmwood Zoo

Chadds Ford Winery Fire & Spice Weekends

Koziar's Christmas Village

The Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread House Display

Hershey Park Christmas Candylane

Franklin Square Holiday Festival and Electrical Spectacle

Flea It Up Flea Market

X-rays: Read Before You Decide

2014-11-11T12:11:00.000-05:00

By Ashley Valco

It seems like the moment you hear your baby’s first cry you are going to do everything in your power to keep them safe. So many things, big and small, are out of your control and you do what you can to protect them.

The first time they cry and you can’t figure out what is wrong. The first time they fall and bump their head. The first time they cut their knee. Of course the second, third, fourth and so many other times these happen...they are out of your control but it doesn’t hurt your heart any less.

You bring them to all of their physical and dental appointments to keep them healthy and follow all the instructions given by their doctors. Then one day the hygienist comes into the waiting room to bring back your child and mentions that it may be time for X-rays and you think,

“No radiation! It will hurt them!”

When this happens, it might be a good idea to consider the following before turning them down.

We are all exposed...

Every day, all of us are exposed to small amounts of radiation from our environment. The radiation comes from several different sources, air, water, materials in buildings, outer space, and even the ground. The term for this is natural background radiation. Natural background radiation exposure varies from person to person depending on where the live. People living in higher elevations are closer to outer space, therefor are exposed to more radiation than those living near the sea.

Should you allow x-rays?

With many things in the health care world, medication, procedures, treatment, etc...the benefit should always outweigh the risk. The benefits of what can be determined by the X-rays (ie: disease, decay, or delayed development) outweigh any risk of exposure to radiation.

Why are x-rays necessary?

X-rays help us determine dental issues and the proper course of treatment. They also allow us to give information on a specific area that may have the beginning stages of decay and tell you what to do to prevent it from developing into something that will need treatment.

When are x-rays necessary?

X-rays become necessary when information needed is not directly visible, when a visual examination cannot provide adequate answers. Generally speaking, around age 5 children’s teeth begin to move closer together. This is usually a time when bite-wing x-rays are necessary so that the dentist is able to view the areas between the teeth since this area is no longer viewable to the eye. Areas between the teeth are more susceptible to decay, especially if flossing is not taking place during the home care routine.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommendation on X-rays is every 6 months for children who are at a high risk for tooth decay. Our office takes X-rays less frequently unless there is something of more concern.

My child has never had a cavity, why should they get x-rays?

While x-rays are an important tool to determine cavities that are not visible during a visual examination, they provide much more information. X-rays are necessary to plan orthodontic treatment, to diagnose and treat conditions no directly visible, evaluate injuries that may have occurred, diagnose any disease present in the bone, as well as to evaluate teeth that have not yet erupted.

Many of these things observed with regular X-rays are found during early detection and can prevent costly, time consuming procedures down the line.

How safe are x-rays?

As with everything else, our office takes the protection and safety of your child very seriously. We minimize the exposure of radiation by using safeguards like led aprons and thyroid collars. However, using digital X-rays significantly reduces the amount of radiation exposure. According to the American Dental Association, digital X-rays are 80-90% less radiation then those of the traditional x-rays which were already low.

Please consider the chart below provided by the American College of Radiology:

mSv is the measurement of radiation. I realize this chart may be confusing, but consider that the natural background radiation is a 3 (the highest) and the 4 bitewings is a .005 (the lowest). Also, keep in mind that most of the time, children are only receiving 2 bitewings as opposed to 4.

Always express any concerns you have with dental X-rays and feel free to call our office with any questions. Just remember, all of us here at Rose Tree Kids has your childs best interest and safety in mind.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to comment. If you have specific concerns about dental treatments for your children's teeth, you can call my office, Rose Tree Kids, at 610-892-3825.

Rose Tree Kids Website

Rose Tree Kids Facebook page

Tiny Teeth with Ashley, R.D.H. Facebook page

Educational Toy Guide 2014

2014-11-10T07:36:00.000-05:00

One of my absolute favorite trends this holiday season is a real push for toys that really allow children to be creative & scientific. It could be building a robot or making candy, anytime we pull our kids away from the tv & they use their hands to create is a huge win in my book. Learning while they play is a big bonus too!

The Kindle Fire less expensive than Ipad, but still fun, be sure to add Kindle Freetime to the device to control how much time is spent playing games & watching movies...then you're not the bad guy! For the younger crowd, you might want to look into the Leappad Ultra which is made for the younger crowd. Little Scholar Educational Kids Tablet is another great option & comes loaded with apps, videos, books, games & songs plus has a rubber case included in the purchase!
Sport Stacking with Speed Stacks Cups no batteries, no computer, just you against the clock & it's tons of fun!
Thames & Kosmos Crystal Growing but if crystals aren't your kids speed, they have a variety of other educational but very cool, learning toys & games.
HEXBUG VEX Robotics Ant build your own Hexbug robotic ant that you use a remote control to maneuver. There are multiple sets in this line & they can be mixed & matched to create you own bug! I also like Laser Pegs they can be matched up with Legos but these blocks make your buildings & cars glow!
Experience Gifts: So not exactly a toy, but still a great option! Children will stop playing with toys, but the memories of going to a special place with a friend or family member, can last a lifetime. My childrens' list don't include many toys this year but a few places they'd like to go instead. I love these kinds of gifts because my kids get to spend time with someone they love AND they don't need another toy!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide-Toy Guide

2014-11-09T09:19:00.000-05:00

This post contains multiple affiliate links, they help us pay the bills but don't cost you a dime!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

Toy Guide

As the holidays approach, I get the unique opportunity to see many of the year’s hottest toys & speak with companies about the latest & greatest trends in children’s holiday gift buying! It’s a tough job but someone has to do it! My favorite trend though, is a push by many toy manufacturers to challenge children’s creativity & push them to learn math & science concepts through play! I love toys that do more than just entertain (though there is nothing wrong with that either!)

You can’t be the hottest movie of the year & not be listed first! Frozen! If you want something from Elsa & Anna you better start looking now. Amazon has a lot, but not a lot on sale…and anything that does go on sale will be snatched up quickly. This theme I recommend snatching up as soon as you see it.

Doc McStuffins Mobile Cart The good doctor makes the list again! Last year her check up center sold out everywhere & there is some talk that it could happen to the Mobile Cart this year too.

Bungees Battleground - Exclusive Master Arena This is a new toy that reminds me of Pokemon & kind of mix of Beyblades. The arena is a little expensive but you can purchase additional "guys" for around $3 a pack. Each player comes with a collectible trading card & disk.

Pound Puppies...they're back & I loved mine, so my kids stand a good chance at getting one, because I want one! If you want one, watch for sales, Target had them for 50% off just the other day!

It's My Biz This is an interesting product & not really a toy. Geared towards older girls, there are a variety of guides to help you learn to promote a variety of businesses (bakery, vintage t-shirt designs, etc). The sets include recipes, shopping lists, ledgers to keep track of incoming & outgoing expenses.
Board Games...Yes board games! I LOVE that games are making a come back---I've already purchased both Sorry! and Monopoly for my kids, at less than $10 each they're affordable & fun!

Now completely switch gears to the newest video game Skylanders Trap Team Starter Pack . This game looks like a ton of fun & is on the wish list of a few kids I know. I'll be on the look out for a deal too!

Ninja Turtles...These green, crime fighting turtles are still popular & are on so many wish lists!

Crayola Virtual Design So far there are two sets you can purchase, Car & Fashion designs. Basically you color in a picture then you can take your drawing to a virtual world to race or walk down the runway, adding more customization along the way.

Spaghetti Headz Charms are a fun way to decorate your child's hair with color & charms plus they can be reused! These are a great stocking stuffer & come in a variety of themes (Christmas, Hanukkah, St. Patty's Day, etc.)

Let us know what you're looking for this holiday season & we'll keep an eye out for great prices & deals. I'll also be posting additional guides for educational gifts, local stores we love & more! Watch for those in the next few days.

This post contains multiple affiliate links, they help us pay the bills but don't cost you a dime!