Welcome Dallas Parents and Babysitters!

The Dallas Fort Worth Area is the newest addition to the UrbanSitter family. We are pleased to offer parents and Dallas babysitters a safe and reliable way to connect.

Parents, you now have access to top-rated sitters whom you can conveniently and easily book within minutes! What a way to start the year… and just in time, as there are scores of opportunities and events going on that would make for the perfect day or night out without the kids.

Here are a few favorite Dallas date night ideas:

Image from Dallas Museum of ArtDallas Museum of Art – Late Nights

You may be no stranger to the museum’s late nights held the third Friday of each month. Whether you are a regular or a first-timer, this month’s Late Night, held January 18th, is a can’t miss event. It’s the museum’s 110th Birthday Celebration, complete with dancing, artist talks and tours.  January 18th from 6 pm to 12 midnight.

Image by Dallas By ChocolateDallas by Chocolate Taste Tours

We love this idea for a fun girls’ outing! Dallas by Chocolate Taste Tours give you a tour of Dallas bakeries and “chocolate-related emporiums,” with ample taste samples and an insider peak at the behind-the-scenes secrets that go into making chocolate treats. Tickets start at just $30 per person, which includes bus transportation, wine, and tastings. Many tours begin at Empire Baking Company. Tour itinerary and meeting place will be sent after tickets are purchased, or you may call 972-814-5997.

Logo Courtesy of ImprovComedian Pablo Francisco, AKA The Movie Trailer Guy, is at the Addison Improv

After his wilding successful Comedy Central Special and DVD, “They Put it out There,” Francisco is known as one of most popular touring comedians worldwide. Get a group together to share a hilariously fun night out at the Addison Improv. Showtimes: January 17-20th. Thurs. 8:00PM / Fri. 8:00PM & 10:30PM / Sat. 7:00PM, 9:00PM, & 11:30PM / Sun. 7:30PM Tickets: $25 – $35. Call 972-404-8501 or visit web site.

Image by Eismann CenterFor the Whole Family – Charles W. Eismann Performing Arts Center Presents “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” Family Theater Series

The cast brings to life seven popular children’s stories, including Amazing Grace, Borreguita and the Coyote, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Imogene’s Antlers, Master Man, Math Curse and Owen. Here’s a nice opportunity to spend time with your older children, leaving the baby home with a sitter. Held January 20th at 2:30 pm. Details and tickets here.

Regardless of how you spend your much deserved time away from the kids, we hope you give UrbanSitter a try for finding a babysitter or nanny. You may just find your new favorite!

How About a Family Trip to Washington DC this Fall?

photo by D Sharon Pruitt

Our nation’s capital is an awesome place for a family get-away, especially in the fall when the humidity has subsided and the city is abuzz with excitement post-election. Surprisingly, Washington DC can be a relatively inexpensive family trip, as the majority of its many museums are free, and it’s pretty darn kid-friendly, too.

Need another reason to go? UrbanSitter is there! We’ve expanded to provide families in the DC area with reliable, trustworthy sitters they can book quickly and easily. Why not let us find you a sitter for a night out while you’re in the area? It’s just as easy as booking a sitter at home.

Below we’ve highlighted a few hot attractions to take the family – a couple you likely haven’t heard of – and just for you, we’ve also included suggestions for a presidential night out without the kids. Check these out:

Kids Euro Festival

You need to act quickly if you don’t want to miss this groovy international festival. It’s only running through November 14th. The festival is presented by the 27 European Union Member States, each offering a taste of its homeland. There are performances, workshops and screenings for children, storytelling, and puppet, dance and magic shows. Some performances require reservations. All are free. Check web site for schedule and to purchase tickets.

Smithsonian

The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities.  The museums can be overwhelming for anyone, especially kids, so do a bit of homework to determine which few you’ll visit this time and save the rest for your next visit (kinda like a trip to DisneyWorld). There are some astonishing attractions that will blow the socks off your kids. Consider a few of these:

  • A 70-million year old dinosaur egg, dinosaur skeletons and a Hope Diamond at the National History Museum, the most visited history museum in the world.
  • Live children’s theater at the Discovery Theater. Shows are Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. See the current schedule of performances. Tickets are $6 per adult, $5 per child and $4 for Smithsonian Resident members. You may purchase tickets in advance by calling (202) 633-8700.
  • The largest collection of spacecraft, awesome planetarium shows and Hubble Space Telescope test vehicle at the National Air and Space Museum.
  • The Giant Pandas and the Elephant Trails at the very kid-friendly National Zoo.

Before you go, explore with your kids the Smithsonian’s web site created for kids. It’s informative, interactive and very cool.

The Washington Monument

The white obelisk is one of the most recognized landmarks in the country. It’s especially fitting to visit near election time, since the memorial honors our first US President, George Washington. What a great visual for a mini history lesson your kids will long remember. Spend some time at the base of the building, letting kids count the fifty flags symbolizing our 50 states, then take the elevator 555 feet to the top for a bird-eye view of the city. It’s spectacular!

Historic National Theatre

The Historic National Theatre holds “Saturday Morning at the National,” a free performance series designed for kids age four and up. Performances range from puppet, magic, music and ballet. Seating is limited and tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis 30 minutes before show time. Check website for performance schedule. Show times: 9:30 am and 11 am.

Don’t Forget Date Night!

Your kids will undoubtedly be tuckered out after a jam-packed day in DC. Let a sitter put them to bed early while you hit the town. Where to go? You ‘ll feel like a real First Lady when you pick one of these hot restaurants where the Obamas reportedly celebrated Michelle’s past two birthdays:

  • The Source. This Wolfgang Puck high-end eatery located next to Newseum, hence its name, is a three-story, modern architectural wonder. It’s earned many awards for its food and dining experience. The downstairs lounge offers a more casual, Japanese Izakaya-style menu, which includes sushi, sashimi and noodle dishes (and kobe sliders diners rave about). Upstairs is a finer affair with contemporary interpretations of Asian dishes. The wine and sake menus are outstanding, as are the floor-to-ceiling windows with a view.
  • Equinox. Todd Gray’s Equinox is one of the first to embrace sustainability practices, including eating local, when it opened in 1999. Its cuisine is mid-Atlantic done clean and modern with a Northern Italian twist. Reviewers consistently mention the tasting menu and upscale comfort foods as the best picks on the menu. How does it feel? It’s minimalist and slick, but anything but cold, thanks to a glass fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a stunning marble bar. Even if you don’t spot the Obamas there, we hear it’s quite a hot spot for people watching.

What are you waiting for?! DC is calling.

Need a DC babysitter? Sign up for a free account and search by date & time to find available sitters on UrbanSitter.com.

UrbanSitter Mobile App is Here – Book a Sitter on-the-go

Do you want to find and book a babysitter from anywhere, at anytime… in other words, when the inspiration (or an invitation) to do something without the kids strikes? Now you can!

We’ve just launched the UrbanSitter Mobile App to allow you to easily search for sitters, review profiles of those who are available, and book them from your iPhone or iPad. You get an instant notification when a sitter responds to your request and a tool that allows you manage your bookings so you are always on top of it, always organized.

And we didn’t stop there. The new app turns into a very cool messaging tool, so once a job is booked, you can easily and efficiently communicate with your sitter to discuss the details of the job–or call them at the click of a button.

It’s just as awesome for sitters, too, because it allows them to immediately see and respond to your job requests. They can also use it to communicate with you about the job and even view of map to your home.

We figured you already shop, get directions, talk with your friends, and book dinner reservations on-the-go. It’s about time you can now find and book a sitter from your phone, too!

You can find the UrbanSitter Mobile App as a free download in the Apple iTunes Store. It will be available for Android later this year.

Now go ahead and accept that last minute invitation to dinner, or grab tickets to see your favorite band before they are sold out. We’ve got your kids covered!

Get the UrbanSitter app now! Download here.

UrbanSitter’s Top Ten NYC Babysitters

If you haven’t already seen it, check out the article The Wall Street Journal published Saturday profiling UrbanSitter’s #1 NYC Babysitter, “The Queen of All Babysitters.”

UrbanSitter’s Abby Berger was applauded as “the city’s most popular, in-demand, top-recommended babysitter.”

Who else makes the list of Top 10 Most Popular Babysitters in NYC?

Here’s a glimpse of UrbanSitter.com‘s most frequently booked babysitters in New York. We think you’ll agree from their impressive profiles and glowing reviews from parents that their popularity among NYC families is no surprise.

Top 10 Most Popular Babysitters in New York City:

Sign up for UrbanSitter to book one of these great sitters and many others!

Are After-School Activities Really Worth the Time and Money?

No doubt, the impending start of a new school year is already taking a toll on your budget. It’s a bit hard to swallow the thought of also adding in the cost of after-school activities, including registration fees, uniforms and equipment. Those activities might be fun for your kids, but in addition to quickly adding up to become a not-so-insignificant line item on your household budget, they also require a a good deal of scheduling logistics, carpool coordination and on-the-fly dinner preparation. It may sound appealing to forego the extracurriculars this year, but before you do, read on.

The academic, social and physical benefits of extracurricular activities are undeniable. The Afterschool Alliance, an advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of after-school programs, reported research that shows kids who participate in after-school programs and activities have big advantages over their peers who don’t get involved. Just a few of the benefits of participation include the following:

  • Better academic success.
  • Higher school attendance rates.
  • Lower risk of obesity thanks to far less time in front of a computer or TV screen.
  • Development of leadership and cooperative skills.
  • Stronger friendships and mentoring relationships
  • Bigger ambitions for their futures.
  • Down the road, kids who are involved are less likely to use drugs or get in trouble.

Sold on signing them up, but wondering where to begin? There is no shortage of activities, including independent and team sports, music and dance lessons, art and language classes, and science and nature clubs. This year, rather than bowing out of the registration frenzy or signing them up for the same roster as always, why not break out of the box and let them try their hand at something new?

We’ve scoured extracurricular offerings and talked to insiders in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Chicago to find some of the most fun, unique offerings for your preschool and elementary-aged kids. Next, check out “Super Cool After-School Activities Round-Up!”.

Before You Go…. Advice to the World’s Newest Students

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt

Over the past week or two, many of us have ushered our babies off into the world as they embarked on their first day of kindergarten. As mothers and fathers, we’re left with an empty hand and a jumble of emotions.

We’re excited for our children and all they are about to see and do and learn, ecstatic that we have survived the baby and toddler years, and a bit sad and nostalgic for the early years that have flown so quickly by.

Of course, our babies aren’t truly gone and our job as a parent has only just begun.  Maybe the hard part is just about to start.  If only we could program their little heads with an instruction manual for how to move through the years without us there to protect them. Provide a guide for how to avoid any unnecessary emotional bumps, bruises and broken hearts.

Allison, who writes an entertaining, irreverent, honest and hilarious blog about her life with kids, summed it up nicely in a post she wrote for her blog, Motherhood WTF.  “What I Wish He Knew” is a list of the advice she wishes she could tell her five-year-old as he goes off to school for the first time. With her permission, we’d like to share with you a few of our favorite words of her wisdom. We hope it’ll help you get started on creating a list of your own.

What advice would you add to the list? What do you wish your child would take to heart, remember throughout the years so that he’s a little wiser, a little stronger, a little bit more protected from all life will send his way?

Here’s what Allison would tell hers:

?       Don’t exchange what you know in your heart for what you think others will find cool.

?       Peer pressure is stupid, and anyone applying it is not worth your worry.

?       Whatever it is that is breaking your heart today, I promise that it’s not that important. Let it go and move on.

?       Your life is so long ahead of you. All of this daily drama is small in the big picture.

?       Don’t let yourself be labeled or pigeon-holed. People will try. You can be as many different things as you want to be, and you can always change.

?       It’s OK to be different.

?       It’s OK to have a lot of friends. It’s OK to have a few.

?       It’s OK to do and be whatever it is you want.

Start your list by sharing with us what you’d like to tell your child. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Super Cool After-School Activities You Won’t Want to Miss

We’ve surveyed the afterschool landscape in search of the hippest, hottest, most fun extracurricular activities for your preschool and early elementary-aged children. And we’ve scored! Some of these activities look so thrilling, you’ll want to check out their adult classes, too!

Classes fill quickly, so take your pick and get your kid on the roster ASAP. Remember, even if you can’t swing afternoon carpool, there’s a babysitter out there that’s just right for the job. Log onto UrbanSitter and search by the days and times you need. It’s as easy as that!

In the San Francisco area:

SeeSaw

A very groovy play studio in Hayes Valley with great workshops and classes for after school up to age 10, and something throughout the day for kids as young as one.  They offer a range of classes, including toddler play time, language and music lessons,  arts and crafts, yoga and emotional and social skill building.

House of Air

This trampoline gym offers a “Junior Geronimo” program for ages 3-6, giving little ones a safe, supervised jump space and parents an onsite café where they can take advantage of some free time.

In the New York City area:

Trapeze School New York

Really. The school claims children as young as four often have the coordination to attend classes here, but our insider mom recommends 6 as the starting age.

Brooklyn Robot Foundry

A very cool place that blends designing, building and playing, while teaching kids about electricity, gears, motors, and how things work. The DIT (Do It Together) class concludes with the kids bringing home their own robot. Fall classes start in October.

In the Chicago area:

Menomonee Club

Awesome indoor center with activities to spark the interest of any kid, including sports and fitness, cooking, science and engineering labs, arts, music and dance, theater and martial arts. Most are geared toward the TK and up crowd, but they do have a few selections for preschoolers.

Common Threads

After-school cooking and nutrition classes for elementary-aged children, focusing on basic cooking skills, healthy eating and world cuisine. Students are taught by real chefs, and prepare healthy meals to share with their classmates. The school also offers an outdoor gardening class (Spring and Fall) where kids learn to grow and harvest their own healthy eats, and then incorporate them into recipes.

In the Los Angeles area:

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The LACMA has several offerings for kids, including an intergenerational art class for kids at least 3 ½  years old and their families. It’s a chance for kids, parents and grandparents to learn about and make art together at the museum.

Los Angeles School of Gymnastics

It’s more than just gymnastics here – although you can’t find a better place to learn the basics and team level sport. Let your kids pick what speaks to them – tumbling, trampoline, karate, All Star Cheer, parent and tot classes, and Rhythmic Gymnastics (think gymnastics blended with dance and ballet with twirling ribbons and hula hoops!).

In the San Diego area:

ArtSoup

Drop-in art studio for kids age 2 to 14. Tons for your kids to sink their hands into at this open studio, which includes a VW Bug as a canvas, glass and chalk walls, activity tables, a 20K brick Lego Castle, and a stocked, self-serve craft bar.

Alma Latina Dance Company

For a low monthly price, your child can take unlimited classes, attending a favorite class or two or choosing to try something new each week.  Offerings range from ballet and hip hop to Latin dance and yoga.

If you like our picks, let us know and we’ll keep’em coming with new selections for your kids to mix it up this school year!

UrbanSitter Back to School Handbook: Part 3 – Awesome Lunchbox Ideas for Your Preschooler

In millions of homes from coast to coast, parents are about to begin the often dreaded ritual of packing their children lunches for school.  As you or any mother who has packed her share of lunches can attest, it’s not just a matter of throwing together a quick meal to-go. It’s the challenge of creating a meal that kids will eat and mom or dad (or the sitter) can actually feel good about sending. And the real zinger… it has to be created again and again for an entire school year, which means you  need more than just a handful of ideas that work.

Thanks to mom bloggers, parenting publications, and food and cooking sites, there is no shortage of kid and parent appealing lunchbox ideas out there. We’ve zoned in on Awesome Lunchbox Ideas for Preschoolers, who are often pickiest of the lunchbox toting crowd.

Check out these ideas and visit our Pinterest board for more favorites:

  1. Healthy, protein-packed pasta that can be served for dinner and leftovers saved for tomorrow’s lunch. Mix it up by alternating the veggies and protein combo, and whether you serve it hot, cold or room temp.
  2. Bento-style works especially well for little ones who only need little bites. Use what you have on-hand, including dippable chunks of fruits and veggies with healthy dips like yogurt or hummus; carbs for extra energy;  bites of protein such as hard boiled egg, chicken or cheese; and a tastey bite of sweet.
  3. Freezer smoothies. The ultimate make-ahead meal for on-the-go. Blend your child’s favorite fruits with yogurt, a handful of flax seeds, and some milk, almond, soy or  rice milk, and freeze. Take them out of the freezer at least four hours before lunch for a frosty treat that’s fit to be a meal.
  4. What kid doesn’t love breakfast for lunch!? And who knew how easy this could be? Pack a leftover waffle or pancake, hard boiled egg, a piece of bacon or sliced chicken sausage, and fruit. Milk completes the meal.
  5. Sliced strawberries and goat or cream cheese make a sweet, sunny, open-faced sandwich. This recipe uses strawberry preserves as “glue” and tops it all on a toasted English muffin.

Missed Part 1 and 2 of UrbanSitter’s Back to School Handbook? See the Back to School Style Guide and 3 Tips for Taming the Morning Chaos.

3 Ways to Beat the Birthday Party Barrage

photo by D Sharon Pruitt

It’s about to start. We’re not talking about the early morning alarm, the arrival of the school bus or soccer season kickoff. We’re talking about the budget-busting bombardment of birthday parties!

If you have just one child, the steady stream of invitations might not seem so overwhelming, but if you have more than one who falls within prime birthday party years (say age 2 or 3 to at least 12), you’re looking at a flood of kiddie party invitations and Evites.

Here’s how you can meet your gift-giving responsibilities without breaking your neck or the bank:

1. Buy in bulk. Becoming the woman who has a stash of ready-to-give gifts will free up a tremendous amount of your shopping time and help you avoid the all too common, last-minute stop at the toy store on your way to the party. Buying in advance and in abundance also has big budget-saving advantages. Forego the free gift-wrapped presents at the pricey local toy store, and instead load up at Target, an online sale, or even not necessarily top of mind places like an art supply or sports store. If your daughter loves Tangled, chances are her friends do, too. Buy a few extra dolls when you choose one for your child. See a sale on a cool craft kit that will delight a child and give her mother a break? Stock up.

Gift cards may seem like an odd choice for little kids, but even kids can appreciate the power of having their pick of a present. Consider a movie pass, bowling or miniature golf rounds, even an iTunes card for those toting iPads or iTouch.

2. Choose a signature wrapping. Having a signature wrapping method means you’ll never have to stop for a gift bag on the way home, buy expensive paper that the young recipient will never appreciate, or have to give up precious closet space for a mirage of supplies. Keep it simple and unisex. How about a solid turquoise paper with a red bow? Or the same combo in a gift bag version. Better yet, go green and use reusable gift bags or recycled paper your child can decorate with stickers and stamps. It makes life much easier if you can slap on a gift tag with your child’s name. Try printing your own with the free printables offered at Pizzazzerie.

3. Be a trail blazer. Ask for donations to a charity in lieu of gifts for your child. This will set the stage and encourage other parents to do the same. Does any child in your playgroup really need another tiara, Lego set or floor puzzle? Instead, encourage giving where there is truly a need. There are many charities whose mission can touch the hearts and interests of children –  your local humane society, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital , Americans Feeding Americans, World Wildlife Society, and many, many more.

Asking is as easy as a simple request in the invitation, something along the lines of: “Please join us in supporting the American Cancer Society by giving a gift in (your child’s name) to (name of the fund). Help us find a cure for cancer!”

Pooped from one-too-many birthday parties? Hire a babysitter on UrbanSitter and treat yourself to an adult evening out!

Round Up: A Luxury Vacation with More than a Little Something for the Kids

The Wall Street Journal published an article this week about luxury hotels adding more kid-friendly services in order to meet the demand of parents and grandparents who are bringing little ones to high-end hotels and resorts more than ever before.

The article reminded me of a trip we took with our then 9-month, 3 and 6 year-old children. It was a family wedding at a Beaches resort in Turks and Caicos. While I wouldn’t call it a luxury hotel experience, the place was incredibly family-friendly, our kids’ favorites being the swim-up ice cream bar and dinner-and-movie nights at the kids club. With our kids having so much fun, we didn’t feel guilty about sending them off to the “childcare,” and we were able to truly have a vacation, enjoying some quiet time by the pool and a few adults-only dinners.

The hotel industry has finally caught on. Parents today would happily step up the family vacation and pay a little more to stay at a high-end hotel, as long as they felt it was enjoyable for the kids.

Here’s our round up of the most impressive hotel offerings for kids, many taken from the WSJ and others are own favorites:

  • Hyatt just weeks ago rolled out a new kids’ menu with adult-style meals based on fresh, organic ingredients rather than the ubiquitous frozen chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. The menu was developed with collaboration from Alice Waters.
  • Costanoa Lodge outside of San Francisco bills itself as an eco-friendly adventure resort. They have a fantastic kids club centered on exploring tide pools.
  • Rosewood and some Ritz Carlton hotels offer spa services for kids, including a Princess Fizzy Pedicure at Ritz Carlton, St. Thomas.
  • You have less to pack and carry thanks to Mandarin Oriental providing baby strollers and organic crib sheets.
  • Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, CA, offers outdoor science experiments and locally inspired art projects for kids.
  • Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Cape Cod sports a pirate ship water park and treasure chest-shaped ball pit, in addition to twice-a-day ice cream by the pool for kids and a mini kids camp for 2-4 year olds.
  • Rose Buds Program by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts incorporates Montessori elements in its 17 kids programs world-wide, allowing them to offer truly educational fun.
  • Sea Island, a resort on the coast of Georgia, carefully recruits a special team of college students, selected for their leadership skills and enthusiasm, to serve as role models for young guests at its impressive Camp Cloister.
  • Esperanza, an Auberge resort in Cabo San Lucas, allows kids to “adopt” baby sea turtles and release them on the beach.

As an additional service to guests with kids, most hotels are willing to book a babysitter to watch your children in your room. For a more personalized, often less expensive alternative, try UrbanSitter to select and book a sitter while you’re away from home.

Contributed by UrbanSitter blogger and mom of three, Dawn Van Osdell.