To ensure delivery of Pier 1 emails to your inbox, simply add pier1@email.pier1.com to your address book. This email is intended for customers residing in the United States. Quantities and selection may vary by participating store. Prices in Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada may vary. Prices at store closing locations may vary. Advertised prices are subject to change as well as subject to state, provincial, and local taxes and fees. You received this message because you have opted in for Pier 1 Imports marketing emails. If you do not wish to receive email from us, you may unsubscribe. For questions, visit our help section online. We are not able to respond to replies from this email. Read our privacy policy. Copyright © 2011 by Pier 1 Imports | 100 Pier 1 Place | Fort Worth, Texas 76102. All rights reserved.

A New Local Business~ Worth a Look!

It's not often that we come across an idea that makes us say, "why didn't I think of that?!?!?"  This is one of those times...

Errands, Etc is a company dedicated to helping.  That's it.  Helping. Sounds too good to be true, right Mom's?

This Westwood-based company will help you with everything from pet care, to landscaping, snow removal, a quick run to the store for diapers when you have your hands full, they'll even get you a spot on line at the DMV!!!
Check out their website at http://www.runmyerrandsnow.com/

They've even opened a carpentry division~ they'll do any kind of job: woodworking, drywall, powerwashing, even hanging your flatscreen or entertainment system installation!

This company is owned and operated by a local family who truly enjoys helping others, AND you WILL save money when it comes to jobs around the house....No contracts needed, either! 

Call them at 855-ERRAND-1



What's New at Tumblebee???? Check it out!

TUMBLE BEE GYMNASTICS

Not just for the "little one" anymore

201-967-7188

Introducing NEW

Hip hop classes with Miss Caroline

Starts this THURSDAY, October 13th

Grades K thru 3rd 5:30-6:15

and

Grades 4th thru 7th 6:30-7:15

Call today for details and special rates

HALLOWEEN PARTY DATE NIGHT

Friday, October 28th

6:30-9:00

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY

Space is limited

SPECIAL

NYC PLAYDATE TRUNK SHOW

IS BACK AGAIN WITH GREAT NEW STYLES AND ACCESSORIES

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17TH

STOP BY 9 - 12

Things to Do This Month....

BLUEGRASS & CIDER at the WORTENDYKE BARN 1:30-3:30 pm, Sun., Oct. 16 Outdoor concert at this County Historic Site with mandolinist Barry Mitterhoff and guitarist Joe Selly. Free concert & refreshments. Barn museum opens at noon. Bring chairs & blankets. 13 Pascack Rd., Park Ridge.
GARRETSON FARM, A COUNTY HISTORIC SITE – Harvest Festival: The 1800s Farm 1:30-3pm, Sun., Oct. 16 Family day with seasonal harvest activities, tours of this historic stone house museum and heirloom gardens. Freewill donation. 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, 201-797-7545, www.garretsonfarm.org
NJ Children's Museum 13th Annual "Halloween Spooktacular"

When:Tue, October 18-21 and 25-28, 10am – 5pm

WhereNJ Children's Museum, 599 Valley Health Plaza, Paramus (map)

DescriptionFrom Oct 15th to Oct 30th put on your costume and come to the most non-scary Halloween event for preschoolers & toddlers. Fun-filled activities include pumpkin decorating, Trick or Treat Candy & Toy stations, hand/face painting, Halloween Story Time & More. Special Admission Price: $14/per child; $10/per adult Hours: Tues through Thurs 10am-5pm; Fri, Sat, Sun: 10am-7pm.

THE PUFFIN PEACE JAM Friday, October 21, 2011 at 7pm. An evening of poetry and song from veterans and friends opposed to war, emceed by Walt Nygard (VP of Veterans for Peace, Norther, NJ). $5 Donation is suggested. Reservations recommended. Puffin Cultural Forum, 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck. For more information please call 201-836-3499 or go to www.PuffinCulturalForum.org
BERGEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY EVENT – Harvest Homecoming. 6:30-9:30 pm, Sat., Oct. 22. All Hallow’s Eve with speakers and photo exhibit of Bergen County cemeteries. Suggested donation: $7 adults; $5 kids; 1201-1209 Main St., River Edge. 201-343-9492; www.bergencountyhistory.org

Dine at Union Restaurant and Support Breast Canser Awareness Month: Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26

Wednesdays
Union Restaurant, 22-24 New Main St., Haverstraw

Nyack Halloween Parade: Oct. 22

Saturday, 4pm
Village of Nyack, Main St. and Broadway, Nyack

New AAP Car Seat Safety Guidelines

These guidelines (c/o parenting.com) includes items you may not be aware of regarding carseat safety, and how to make sure your little one is safe....

New AAP Car Seat Safety Guidelines: Rear-Facing Until Age 2

A parents’ must-read guide to the new car seat guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Plus: Are you making one of these car seat mistakes?

In a new policy statement published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics now advises parents to keep toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age two, or until they exceed the height or weight limit for the car seat, which can be found on the back of the seat. Many parents currently choose to flip their child to forward-facing around his or her first birthday.
Previously, the AAP advised parents to keep kids rear-facing as long as possible, up to the maximum limit of the car seat, and this has not changed. But it also cited one year and 20 pounds as the minimum for flipping the seat, which many parents and pediatricians interpreted as conventional wisdom on the best time to make the switch. The new policy clarifies the AAP’s recommendation, making age two the new guideline—a real game-changer for parents of toddlers.
A 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention found that children under age two are 75 percent less likely to die or to be severely injured in a crash if they are rear-facing. Another study found riding rear-facing to be five times safer than forward-facing.
“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” said Dennis Durbin, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatric emergency physician and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author of the policy statement and accompanying technical report.
Parenting talked to Ben Hoffman, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and a child passenger safety technician, to get answers to parents’ most pressing questions about the new policy.
Although the new baseline is now age two, the AAP has advised parents since 2002 to keep kids rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit of their car seat. Why are parents so eager to turn their car seats?
“Parents are interested in milestones, and the minimum of one year and 20 lbs has been interpreted as gold standard instead of the minimum,” says Dr. Hoffman. “Parents are always looking for the next stage of development because in every other scenario, that’s a good thing. With car safety seats, however, that's often not the case."
But isn’t forward-facing easier for everyone?
Yes, it’s easier to interact with your child when she is facing forward, and less awkward to get her into the seat. But safety should be the main concern. “I would ask parents to consider the protection of the child in addition to comfort,” says Dr. Hoffman. “It’s minimally acceptable to change to forward-facing at a year, but parents can do better than that.”
What about squished legs?
Kids who have only been rear-faced will most likely not be bothered, since they don’t know anything else. And it’s completely fine for their feet to touch the seat back, or for their legs to bend. “Once you make the switch, it’s hard to go back, so try not to ever switch them before they are ready,” says Dr. Hoffman.
Why are so few parents aware of even the older guidelines that say kids should stay rear-facing as long as possible?
There may have been some confusion with the message, with many parents mistaking the minimum for the ideal age to make the switch. The AAP hopes that by making age 2 the new guideline, the message will be less confusing for parents and for pediatricians.
If my child turns 2 before he reaches the height or weight limit for the seat, should I keep him rear-facing?
Yes. The safest decision is to keep him rear-facing until he reaches the height or weight limit for the seat.
If my child reaches the height or weight limit for my seat before age two, what should I do?
Once your child exceeds the height and weight limit of his infant car seat, purchase a convertible car seat with a higher height or weight limit (most go to 35 pounds rear-facing) and continue to use it rear-facing until age two, or until your child hits the height or weight limit for rear-facing use. At that point you can make the switch to forward-facing—or you can purchase a convertible car seat with a higher weight limit for rear-facing (some go up to 45 pounds). “That’s a very personal decision for the parent,” says Dr. Hoffman, one that may also be influenced by the size of your car, the arrival of a younger sibling, or your budget.
What should I do if I’ve already switched my under-two child to forward-facing?
The best advice is for parents to consider switching their child back to rear-facing. But the next best thing is to, at a minimum, make sure you correctly use the seat you have: Make sure the seat is harnessed tightly to the vehicle, that the harness is snug over the child and the chest clip is in the correct position, and that the seatbelt or LATCH system are installed correctly.
Why didn’t my pediatrician tell me about this?
“Pediatricians should be talking about this,” says Dr. Hoffman. “But given everything else that needs to happen in a well-child visit, sometimes this message gets left behind. I would love to see a day where every family-care health provider knew the best possible advice and shared it with their patients.” Hopefully this new policy will keep things moving in that direction.

Is Your Teen Asking for a Cell Phone??? (or possibly your 8-year-old?)

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Recently, we heard about Straight Talk.  They have unlimited minutes, texting, and data for $45!  They even carry Android on Straight Talk as well as major brands like LG, Motorola, and Nokia. And don't worry about the cost for a new device. Refurbished phones are just $10~ great for a teen that tends to lose things~ they’ll take it Hook, line and sinker!

There’s even a Call a friend plan that you can use to call internationally from your cell, home or office phone.  This is a really cool feature if you're still using a landline as well as your cell.  Many international calling companies don't allow for use on both land and mobile lines~ you have to pick one...

The All You Need plan has Everything you need with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts, and 30 MB of data. You can keep your child in check so they don't "live" on their phone.

All of the plans have no activation, termination, or reactivation fees.  There’s also no cost to dial 411. 

You CAN control your child’s usage with this phone, and have a little left over to spend for yourself : )

 

To see more, click on the video....

'Tis the Season....Pumpkin Farms in Northern NJ!

Check out these Northern NJ pumpkin farms (c/o fortlee.patch.com)

BERGEN COUNTY PUMPKIN FARMS

Abma's Farm: 700 Lawlins Rd. Wyckoff
Located right here in Bergen County, Abma's Farm offers hayrides on the weekends and a petting zoo. It also has a great country store where you can buy fresh-grown produce, fresh eggs, fresh baked cakes, pies and cookies and specialty items. If you're looking for a fun place to take the family for lunch or dinner, try The Barn located at 359 Sicomac Ave, Wyckoff. It's a great casual place for burgers with a kids' menu and a fully stocked bar.
Demarest Farms: 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
Another great farm located right here in Bergen County, Demarest Farms has been my family's go-to place for apples, pumpkins and summer barbecues. Owned and operated by the same family since 1886, Demarest Farms is a staple for the local community. The pumpkin patch is only a hayride away and will take you through all of the orchards. Don't forget your camera. After picking your pumpkins, take the kids back to the market where they can roam the corn maze, and marvel at all of the Halloween decorations. It's a great day out!
Depiero's Farm: 300 West Grand Ave, Montvale
Depiero's Farm is also located in Bergen County, and it's farm consists of over 250 acres that span into New Paltz, N.Y. Depiero's really goes out of their way to make pumpkin picking a special event for the kids. Not only do they offer hayrides to the pumpkin patch, but they have inflatables that the kids can play on when they've chosen their pumpkin. There's also an amazing farm market that offers fresh fruit and produce, flowers and plants, a fresh bakery, specialty items and so much more! Afterwards take the family to Nanuet Pizza for the best thin-crust pizza over the Rockland County border!
Secor Farms: 168 Airmont Ave, Mahwah
Another farm with a long-standing history in Bergen County, Secor Farms, offers hayrides into the pumpkin patch where the kids can choose their perfect pumpkin. There is a hay maze and an animal farm. Also, Secor Farms has a great selection of fall flowers to choose from.

ESSEX COUNTY PUMPKIN FARMS
Fairfield Farms: 177 Big Piece Road, Fairfield
Not far from Bergen County is Fairfield Farms. Fairfield offers hayrides into the pumpkin patch as well as a corn/hay maze, an obstacle course, and other outdoor fall family games. Fairfield also offers a light menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, cider and more! They also have an extensive selection of fall flowers, corn stalks and hay that you can purchase to decorate your yard for fall.

MORRIS COUNTY PUMPKIN FARMS
Alstede Farms: 84 Rt. 513, Chester
Enjoy family hayrides, pumpkin picking, a corn maze and lots of family fun at Alstede farms. Alstede goes all out to make pumpkin picking a great family experience. They offer pony rides, moon bounce, corn kingdom and a wagon train ride. It's a great day out!
Riamede Farm: 122 Oakdale Road, Chester
Bring your own cutting shears if you're going to pick your pumpkin at Riamede Farms. Give the kids an experience they'll never forget! Let the hayride take you into the patch, but get ready to cut your own! The market offers fresh-baked donuts and cider.
Stony Hill Farm: 15 North Road 8, Route 24, Chester
Stony Hill Farms grows gigantic pumpkins in their pumpkin patch. Take a hayride to the patch, and pick the perfect jack o' lantern! After you're done picking, there are a variety of mazes for the kids to explore--a corn maze, rope maze, tile maze and more! There's a garden center and a fresh farm market to enjoy some fresh-baked goods.

Parks Farms: 525 State Route 24, Chester
Take a ride out into the pumpkin patch and get to work picking your pumpkins! Parks Farms is a great farm that offers a variety of fresh grown produce.
Brookhollow Farms: 301 Rockaway Valley Road, Boonton Township
Not only does Brookhollow Farms have a great pumpkin patch, but it is also home to many Alpacas and an amazing barnyard where children are invited to pet and visit the animals. Small children will enjoy driving their own toy tractors, pretending to be excavators with toy front loaders in the sandbox or taking an old-fashioned wagon ride pulled by a vintage blue tractor. The petting farm includes goats, sheep, cows, donkeys, mini-horses, llamas, alpacas, pigs, ducks and chickens. To continue with the farm theme, Brookhollow offers hands-on lessons about each animal. The great train mountain where kids can watch a G scale train wind through a miniature village is yet another attraction not to be missed.
Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill: 104 State Park Road, Chester
Located in beautiful Chester Township, right in the midst of beautiful Hackleberry State Park, Hacklebarney Farm is a popular destination for all ages. There is a beautiful pumpkin patch where the kids can wander the rows in search of the best pumpkin. The farm offers wood-pressed apple cider and homemade baked goods made daily in their bakery located on the farm. There are corn mazes for the kids to play in and cider-making demonstrations.
Hillview Farms: 223 Meyersville Road, Gillette
If you're looking to take a nice trip with the family, hop in the car and go to Hillview Farms. It's a great place to see the leaves changing color. Hillview offers hayrides into the pumpkin patch and there's also a great market where you can purchase fresh produce and baked goods.
Hamilton Farms: 130 Old Denville Road, Boonton Township
Hamilton Farms has Hayrides, farm Animals, and the best-of-the-season farm fresh fruits and vegetables. Mouth watering pies and apple cider donuts! Jump on the hay wagon and venture out to the pumpkin patch to choose your pumpkin! Then be sure to let your family enjoy the Halloween displays and hay maze that await you upon your return. Stop in and visit with Wilbur, Cupcake and the gang in their petting zoo. Hardy garden mums and fresh, fall produce are available.
Middle Valley Farms: Pleasant Valley Road, Mendham
Middle Valley Farms gives hay rides to their "pick-your-own pumpkin" patch and a challenging, five-acre corn maze. But if you are not up to these adventures, relax on a hay bale with a cup of cider and a hand-dipped candy apple, breathe in the clean fresh air, and enjoy the rolling countryside while the vibrant hues of autumn surround you.
Ort Farms: 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley
In addition to picking your own pumpkins, Ort Farms offers corn maze, train rides, Clysdale horses rides, a petting zoo, and so much more. They also offer cornstalks, hay, and flowers for purchase so you can decorate your own yard for the holidays!
Sun High Orchards: 19 Cranfield Ave, Randolph
The whole family will enjoy visiting the friendly animals. Their alpaca "Jersey Gold" and mini donkey "Jessica" are always looking to make new friends. In the market, you can play a game of checkers or Candyland in front of their reconsturcted historic bee hive oven and fireplace. The pumpkin patch opens the last weekend in September with continuous hayrides on the weekends. There's a market that offers fresh produce, freshly baked bakery goods, and so much more!

SOMERSET COUNTY PUMPKIN FARMS
Doyles Farm: 771 Mill Lane, Hillsbourgh
Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, corn cannon, tractor-pulled hay rides, prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, pony rides, farm animals, and so much more!
Norz Hill Farm: 116 South Branch Road, Hillsborough
Take a ride into the pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkin and when you're done you can take a wagon tour of the farm where your guide will explain farm practices to the children and you'll get to see all of the farm animals. Some of the animals you will find are calves, miniature donkeys (yep, they have donkey like Dominick the donkey!), horses, llamas, sheep, chickens, goats, bunnies, a zonkey and even a water buffalo.

HUNTERDON COUNTY PUMPKIN FARMS
Burjan's Pumpkin Festival: 524 Old York Road, Flemington, NJ
The scenic 20 minute hayride takes you around the farm and past all of the poultry that they raise and into the pumpkin patch. After you've picked your pumpkin, there's lots to do for the kids--inflatables, an incredible corn maze, snacks, and so much more. A beautiful day trip that is definitely worth the ride.
Grochowicz Farms: 2401 Route 31 South, Glen Gardner
Grochowicz offers Fall Family Fun. In addition to their pumpkin patch, fun hayrides where you get to see the farm's cows grazing, junior corn maze, huge hay maze, visit the farm animals, ball pit, corn pit, and more children's activities.
Schaefer Farms: 1051 Flemington/Whitehouse Road, (County Rte 523) Flemington, NJ
Bring your family on a scenic hayride to our 40+ acres of home grown pumpkins, free with the purchase of a pumpkin. Visit the friendly farm animals and tour the educational barn. Bounce in Daisybelle the cow, lose yourself in the corn maze and enjoy good food. Fun for the whole family. The farm stand is filled with fall harvest. You will find Country Treasures and fall decorations. Buy Schaefer's own Indian corn, gourds, kale, corn stalks and a wide variety of colorful mums take home some local apple cider and fresh baked pies.

SUSSEX COUNTY PUMPKIN FARMS
Pochuck Valley Farms: 962 McAfee Glenwood Rd, Glenwood, NJ
Great family destination for pumpkin picking! Great hayrides into the pumpkin patch and a great country store where you can buy fresh produce and baked goods. Great family day out!
Heaven Hill Farm: 451 Route 94, Vernon
Heaven Hill Farms offers their Fall Pumpkinland Festival--picture it as a country-style carnival that the whole family can enjoy! The hayride will take you to the pumpkin patch that is bursting with pumpkins. This is a GREAT family day out!
Lentini Farm: 251 Rt 94, Newton; Take a hayride to pick your own pumpkin and then get lost in the corn maze! There are farm animals, pumpkin painting, picnic area, food and so much more!
Sussex County Strawberry Farm: Highway 206, Andover
Yes, you can pick your own pumpkin at the Strawberry farm! After pumpkin picking the kids can enjoy pony rides. There's also hayrides, horse-drawn carriage rides, fresh produce and cider, and so much more!
ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK
Orchards of Concklin, 2 South Mountain Rd., Pomona
So close to home, but seemingly miles away, Orchards of Concklin is a great day out for the entire family. After you pick your perfect pumpkin, stop by the farm store where you can buy fresh produce and baked goods while the kids play outside on the Kids Haunted House & Bounce, and the slide & Jurassic Adventure.
Dr. Davies Farm, 306 Route 304, Congers
Here's a little trivia: the Birthday Song was composed at Dr. Davies Farm. Take a scenic hayride into the pumpkin patch and let the kids run wild as they try to find the perfect pumpkin. There's no other way to say it, but roaming the patch with the leaves changing all around at Davies is like walking in paradise.

UPromise Celebrates its 10th Anniversary!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of UPromise for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

In honor of UPromise's 10th anniversary, they are giving away $20,000 to users that share their story about making a child's dream come true.  UPromise members have received more than $6M in college savings, and with the price of higher education on the rise, this is a VERY good thing! 

 

You can participate by going to www.upromisetodream.com, and submitting your story.  You can also "like" stories to vote for the ones you like best.  You can copy and paste the link, pass it along to friends, post on Facebook, or share in any way you'd like to get your friends and family to vote for your story or even post their own!  You're also welcome to leave a comment with a story of your child's dreams and how you hope to help them achieve them...

 

My story was simply about my little ones and their desire to help people. I pray that they are always willing to do that, and eventually will focus that drive into a career where people can benefit from this love. 

 

Here are the dream wall official rules ....Good Luck! Don't forget to get yourself enrolled with UPromise (if you're not already) so that YOU and your family can benefit from this awesome program!

 

Back to School Tips from the AAP

The American Academy of Pediatrics has posted some tips for an easy back-to-school transition...

BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS

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<> <><>  Click Here to Send These Tips to a Friend or Family Member!

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The following health and safety tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety in any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of source.

MAKING THE FIRST DAY EASIER

• Remind your child that she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
• Point out the positive aspects of starting school: It will be fun. She'll see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh her positive memories about previous years, when she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits because she had a good time.
• Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your youngster can walk to school or ride with on the bus.
• If you feel it is appropriate, drive your child (or walk with her) to school and pick her up on the first day.

BACKPACK SAFETY

• Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
• Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child’s body weight.
• Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
• If your school allows, consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.

TRAVELING TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Review the basic rules with your youngster:

School Bus

• If your child’s school bus has lap/shoulder seat belts, make sure your child uses one at all times when in the bus. If your child’s school bus does not have lap/shoulder belts, encourage the school to buy or lease buses with lap/shoulder belts.
• Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
• Do not move around on the bus.
• Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing the street.
• Make sure to always remain in clear view of the bus driver.
• Children should always board and exit the bus at locations that provide safe access to the bus or to the school building.

Car

• All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat.
• Your child should ride in a car safety seat with a harness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when she has reached the top weight or height allowed for her seat, her shoulders are above the top harness slots, or her ears have reached the top of the seat.
• Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle's seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age). This means that the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down and the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, and not the stomach.
• All children younger than 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles. If you must drive more children than can fit in the rear seat (when carpooling, for example), move the front-seat passenger’s seat as far back as possible and have the child ride in a booster seat if the seat belts do not fit properly without it.
• Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You should require seat belt use, limit the number of teen passengers, do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone conversations or texting to prevent driver distraction; and limit nighttime driving and driving in inclement weather. Familiarize yourself with your state’s graduated driver license law and consider the use of a parent-teen driver agreement to facilitate the early driving learning process. For a sample parent-teen driver agreement, see www.healthychildren.org/teendriver

Bike

• Always wear a bicycle helmet, no matter how short or long the ride.
• Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic.
• Use appropriate hand signals.
• Respect traffic lights and stop signs.
• Wear bright color clothing to increase visibility.
• Know the "rules of the road."

Walking to School

• Make sure your child's walk to a school is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.
• Be realistic about your child's pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision.
• If your children are young or are walking to a new school, walk with them the first week or until you are sure they know the route and can do it safely.
• Bright colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers.
• In neighborhoods with higher levels of traffic, consider starting a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.

EATING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

• Most schools regularly send schedules of cafeteria menus home. With this advance information, you can plan on packing lunch on the days when the main course is one your child prefers not to eat.
• Try to get your child's school to stock healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water and 100 percent fruit juice in the vending machines.
• Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60%. Restrict your child's soft drink consumption.

BULLYING

Bullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. It can happen at school, on the playground, on the school bus, in the neighborhood, or over the Internet.

When Your Child Is Bullied

• Help your child learn how to respond by teaching your child how to:
  1. Look the bully in the eye.
  2. Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
  3. Walk away.
• Teach your child how to say in a firm voice.
  1. "I don't like what you are doing."
  2. "Please do NOT talk to me like that."
  3. "Why would you say that?"
• Teach your child when and how to ask for help.
• Encourage your child to make friends with other children.
• Support activities that interest your child.
• Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions.
• Make sure an adult who knows about the bullying can watch out for your child's safety and well-being when you cannot be there.

When Your Child Is the Bully

• Be sure your child knows that bullying is never OK.
• Set firm and consistent limits on your child's aggressive behavior.
• Be a positive role mode. Show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening or hurting someone.
• Use effective, non-physical discipline, such as loss of privileges.
• Develop practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, counselors, and parents of the children your child has bullied.

When Your Child Is a Bystander

• Tell your child not to cheer on or even quietly watch bullying.
• Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult about the bullying.
• Help your child support other children who may be bullied. Encourage your child to include these children in activities.
• Encourage your child to join with others in telling bullies to stop.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE

• During early and middle childhood, youngsters need supervision. A responsible adult should be available to get them ready and off to school in the morning and watch over them after school until you return home from work.
• Children approaching adolescence (11- and 12-year-olds) should not come home to an empty house in the afternoon unless they show unusual maturity for their age.
• If alternate adult supervision is not available, parents should make special efforts to supervise their children from a distance. Children should have a set time when they are expected to arrive at home and should check in with a neighbor or with a parent by telephone.
• If you choose a commercial after-school program, inquire about the training of the staff. There should be a high staff-to-child ratio, and the rooms and the playground should be safe.

DEVELOPING GOOD HOMEWORK AND STUDY HABITS

• Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Youngsters need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy.
• Schedule ample time for homework.
• Establish a household rule that the TV set stays off during homework time.
• Supervise computer and internet use.
• Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child's homework for her.
• Take steps to help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying. It may be helpful to close the books for a few minutes, stretch, and take a break periodically when it will not be too disruptive.
• If your child is struggling with a particular subject, and you aren't able to help her yourself, a tutor can be a good solution. Talk it over with your child's teacher first.

© 2011 - American Academy of Pediatrics

Westwood Restaurant Week Begins This Sunday!!!

Restaurant Week

Sunday, September 18, 2011 from to

Westwood Chamber of Commerce is hosting it's first annual Restaurant Week 2011. Starting on Sunday, September 18th and ending on Sunday, September 25th Enjoy Westwood’s finest dining establishments at a reasonable price fix of $20.11.

Here are some of the participating Restaurants: PJ Finnegan's The Iron Horse
The Melting Pot
BiBi'z - 3-Course Dinner Prix-Fixe $20.11
Banchetto Feast
Pompilio's
Your Way Cafe Harmony Tea Room - Soup and Salad for TWO at $20.11
Burke's on Old Hook It's Greek to Me
Jack's Cafe
Granita Grille
Broadway Pizza Westwood Prime Meats

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Place: Westwood
Event Contact Name: Luke Farrelly (PJ Finnegan's)
Contact Phone: 201-916-8700
Contact Email: info@westwoodchamberofcommerce.com

What to Do in September....

AVIATION HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM OF NJ - WINGS & WHEELS EXPO 2011! Sat., Sept. 10 (9am-5pm) & Sun. Sept. 11 (9am-4pm). Huge popular annual family event – historic & vintage airplanes, exhibits & vendors. Call for admission. Veterans with VFW or American Legion hats & active duty military with current ID free. 400 Fred Wehran Drive, Teterboro Airport, Teterboro. 201-288-6344; www.njahof.org

GARRETSON FARM, A COUNTY HISTORIC SITE – Butterfly Release 1:30-3pm, Sat., Sept. 10 Garretson Farm is a certified monarch butterfly way station. Freewill donation. 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, 201-797-7545, www.garretsonfarm.org

EDGEWATER ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL BENEFIT Wednesday, September 14, 2011. Come help support the 20th Annual Edgewater Arts & Music Festival at FLEMING'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE and WINE BAR at City Place. Enjoy a sampling of the wines & snacks. Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm, COST: $40.00. For reservations, please contact: LMGRASZ@aol.com or k_thieme@verizon.net, or call: 201-886-7288. For more info, please go to www.edgewaterarts.com

20th ANNUAL EDGEWATER ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL Sunday, September 18, 2011 11 am to 6pm. Old River Road at Thompson Lane. FREE outdoor art exhibits and live concert. Featuring Arts, Music, Fun, Food, Prizes. For more information, please go to the Edgewater Arts Council website: www.edgewaterarts.com

2011 PARK RIDGE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES PARK RIDGE NEW JERESEY RECREATION AND CULTURAL COMMITTEE CONCERTS 2011. Sept. 22, 2011, LARRY STEVEN'S ACOUSTIC SHOW. 7pm- 8:30pm. Location: the Gazebo in Veteran's Park, Park Ave, near the train station. Bring chairs or blankets! If rain, concerts will be held in the Community Center by the Park Ridge Library, 51 Park Ave, Park Ridge. For more info, please call: 201-680-2439.

"HANDLELESS ENCOUNTERS THE TCC Dance project: a unique event. audience follows dancers through the Conservancy to selected spaces where dance es are performed to explore the relationship with the earth and ourselves. Wear walking shoes. Rain date: Sat., Sept. 25th. at 5:30pm, $10 suggested donation, Reservations advised. Puffin Cultural Forum, 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck. For more information please call 201-836-3499 or go to www.PuffinCulturalForum.org.

"MUNDO NINOS FOR CHILDREN" AT THE PUFFIN Two-part workshop for ages 3-7. Roberto Rodrigues and Suzie Ibarra blend Latin, Asian, American & African influences to teach rythym, melodies, improvisation, musical expression, & appreciation.Second session children perform for parents. $10 per child per session (with parent). Must pre-register. Puffin Cultural Forum, 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck. For more information please call 201-836-3499 or go to www.PuffinCulturalForum.org.

Rockland County:

Pick Your Own at the Orchards of Conklin
Sept. 11-Oct. 23
Weekends Only, 10am-5pm
Pick your own apples and pumpkins during our fall harvest season! We have special events for children, featuring our 120 square foot haunted house, a giant blow up slide, and our well known 1/2 acre corn maze that is the ultimate fun for children and adults alike. Located at 2 S. Mountain Rd., Pomona

Picking poles are available, $5 deposit with a $1 rental fee
For more information visit www.theorchardsofconcklin.com or call 845-354-0369

Apple Picking at Dr. Davies Farm
Sept. 5-Nov.11
Mon-Friday,10am-4:30pm
Pick your own apples on 35 scenic acres in Congers, NY. Picking poles are available. Cash Only. Located at Rte. 304, Congers

For more information visit www.drdaviesfarm.com or call 845-268-7020.