Q&A: Family Talk

Family Talk is a new feature on Little Neck Patch that is part of a new initiative to reach out to parents and families.

Little Neck Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in northeast Queens.

Each week in Family Talk, our Parents Council of experts and "smart moms" take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Do you know of local moms raising their children in the Tiger Mother's way and is it the best way? Where can we get information on local flu shot clinics for children? How do we talk to our children about the Tucson shootings? How can we help our children's schools weather their budget cutbacks?

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with this Q&A from our Parents Council:

With more than a foot of snow, ice and slush on the ground (and more coming everyday, it seems), how do you keep your kid(s) occupied?

Brooke Bailey, Little Neck Patch Parents Council member: Well, we actually play in the snow everyday! We have a big fort that we just add to each time it snows.  It's so great to finally have a real winter! But for indoor fun we put puzzles together, play board games and interactive computer games and have all-out nerf wars.

Kia Lazar, Little Neck Parents Council member: 

1. On Wednesdays from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., the has an indoor gym. No registration is required; come and go as you please. $7.

2. On Wednesdays at the on Marathon Pkwy next to at 10:30 a.m., Miss Abby hosts a toddler reading with songs. Free.

3. On Friday's at the on Northern Blvd, across from Stop and Shop at 10:15, Miss Tina hosts a toddler reading with songs. Free.

4. On Monday's at the Bay Terrace at 11 a.m. they have a toddler reading. Free.

5. On Tuesday's at the Fresh Meadows Barnes & Noble on Union Turnpike and Utopia Parkway at 10:30 a.m., they have a toddler reading. Free.

6. On Tuesday's at My Gym in Fresh Meadows on Union Turnpike and Utopia Parkway (hint: it's upstairs ) at 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., they have an indoor gym. No registration is required; come and go as you please. $7.

7. On Thursday's at the Manhasset Barnes & Noble at 10:30 a.m. they have a toddler reading. Free.

8. Play in the snow! Free.

Lisa Tamari, Little Neck Parents Council Member: I have three children, ages 2, 6, and 8. Here are some of our family’s suggestions regarding keeping them busy:

We built a snow fort on our front lawn from the snow shoveled off the driveway.  The kids then carved “moghuls” out of the snow and had a collision course with their sleds/saucers.

After several hours of that fun, the kids came inside and watched a “yoga for kids” video to calm down.  

I do a lot of baking with my kids. They each get to participate and then eat the yummy results, and lick the bowl clean.