Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in silicon valley, CA

Father's Day Weekend Outlook, June 19th-21st

by bonggamom

June 18, 2009

They say that the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.  If that's true, then it must be true that Dads are just big kids at heart.  So for the Father's Day edition of our Weekend Outlook, we're featuring some special Father's Day events that any Dad would love to be treated to -- because he can say he chose it because he loves his kids and wants them to enjoy the day, but really, secretly, he wants to go because he knows he's going to love it himself.

1) Nautical dads can sail down to Treasure Island for the Summer Sailstice Festival at Treasure Island on June 20.  If you don't have a boat, you can catch free sailboat rides, watch sailboat races and enjoy live music.  And even landlubbers will lubb, I mean love the Treasure Island Yacht Club's treasure hunt.  All kids, whether dressed in bathing suits or pirate garb, are welcome to grab a shovel and dig in the sand for coins and prizes.  Digging begins at 2:30PM on Saturday, June 20.

2) Airpilot dads will love the "Vertical Challenge" Helicopter Air Show at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos.  Visitors will see dozens of helicopters on display, witness first hand helicopter operations, watch hang glider and parachute demos, and (for a fee) enjoy a helicopter ride!  The fun starts at 9AM on Saturday, June 20.

3) Families of train-loving dads can take their Hats Off To Dad at the Roaring Railroad Camp on Sunday, June 21.  Special Father's Day steam train rides are scheduled with chuck wagon BBQ's and live country entertainment.  Each dad gets a train engineer's cap, and one lucky Dad per train trip will be selected to ride down the mountain in the engineer's cab.  Woo, wooooo!!

4) NASCAR dads (and Hotwheel sons) have plenty to be excited about, because the NASCAR Sprint Cup series is making its only 2009 Northern California stop at the Infineon Raceway on Father's Day Weekend!  The Toyota/Save Mart 350 and Bennet Lane Winery 200 series take place from June 19-21.  Expect lots of cool stuff at the vendor booths, live music, Q&A sessions, and of course, lots of racing!

Happy Father's Day!

Basic Boosts for Busy Parents (And a Giveaway!)

by bonggamom

March 02, 2009

 Want to try this drink for free?  Read on to find out how!

I know, I know, being a parent is tough.  We're so focused on taking care of our children that sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves.  Nutrition-wise, we often take the quick and easy way out -- a cookie here, a bag of chips there, a cup of coffee for breakfast, half of our children's mac-n-cheese at dinnertime .  I'm as guilty as anyone.  But what's a busy parent to do? Today's guest posters, Bonnie Johnson and Deanna Segrave-Daly, serve up five great ways parents can maintain a healthy lifestyle even in the midst of all the childhood chaos.  As registered dieticians, they know the ins and outs of good nutrition.  Even more important, they are moms who understand that our busy, crazy schedules means we need quick, manageable solutions -- and all the help we can get. 

Weight Bias and Self Esteem in Children: an Interview with Emme

by bonggamom

February 23, 2009

 This week is National Eating Disorders week, and raising awareness is more important that ever.  It may be tempting for parents of young children to dismiss eating disorders as an adult or teenage diseases -- but 1 in 5 children today are obese, and we are seeing more and more children under the age of twelve developing eating disorders.  It is estimated that 40% of nine year olds have already ideted and we are beginning to see four and five year olds expressing the need to diet. 

As parents, it is more important than ever to teach our children NOW how to eat healthy, have a healthy image of themselves.  It is just as important for parents to be aware of the physical and emotional consequences of weight disorders, whether in our own children or other children.  So to educate ourselves, a handful of Savvy Source city editors spoke with supermodel Emme Aronson on the issues of body image and weight bias.  A perennial style icon and self esteem advocate, Emme is also a spokesperson for Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.  Here is what she told us:

Thoughts on Infertility

by bonggamom

February 16, 2009

 Would you like to win this book?  We're giving a copy away to one lucky Savvy reader!  Read on.....

While the story of Nadya Suleman and her octuplets has brought out many ethical considerations and concerns regarding in vitro fertilization, it is important to remember that IVF and other fertility treatments remain a wonderful use of modern technology and continues to help many couples conceive.  Today's guest poster, Julie Irwin Zimmerman (who incidentally grew up right here in Silicon Valley, in Saratoga), is a former fertility patient and the author of "A Spiritual Companion to Infertility". Below, she offers her thoughts on the the octuplets' mom and her struggles with infertility.

Things that matter and things that don't

by Bonggamom

January 06, 2009

Today, Being Savvy editors around the country are looking at The Big Picture, counting down the Top 5 Things that Really Matter with preschoolers, and 5 Small Things that Really Donâ??t. Here's my list: Top 5 Things that Really Matter with Preschoolers 1) Making food fun All-out food fights are discouraged in our household, but my kids enjoy eating peas with one's fingers, fashioning  Read more...

Where are the Dads? #1 Increasing your geek factor

by Shawn Burns

June 26, 2008

If you are an at-home dad what activities can you do with your kid that will be great for him, but also allow you to interact with other dads out there in the Silicon Valley? From time to time I'll be writing about these secret locales and what you can do, either as a dad or as a mom with a partner who is looking for some ideas. This week the theme is "Increasing your geek  Read more...

Princess?

by Shawn Burns

May 22, 2008

I think my wife secretly can't wait to take Erin to http://www.pinkiesnailsalons.com/treatments/treatments.php ">Pinkie's for Princess manis and pedis. I shudder to think. And at least she'll have to wait another four years. But knowing that this place is out there, somewhere in our future, has me mired pretty deep in the Princess Funk. The Princess Funk is an emotional experience I  Read more...