Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in pittsburgh, PA

Going Global at the Dinner Table

by Jennifer Signore

July 07, 2009

I know that everyone is pinching pennies these days, so a ‘round-the-world vacation is probably out of the question.  Well, what if you brought the world to your home?  Or, more specifically, to your table?  I bet that would fit into a lot more of our budgets.

There are so many ways to make the meal and preparations into a wonderful learning experience for your kids.  And, if you bring the international dining to your own home, you'll be less stressed if the kids decide they are less interested in eating the meal than they were in talking about the meal.  Here are some ideas to get you started. 

Tick Tock: Marking Time with Kids

by Jennifer Signore

February 17, 2009

So, you want to teach the kids about time, huh?  Here are a few places around town to get started:

The Brewery Clock

The large clock face clearly visible as you cross the Birmingham Bridge into the South Side sits atop a building that once housed the Duquesne Brewing Company and is now used as lofts for artists.  Considered a Pittsburgh landmark (and famous in its day for appearing in the movie Flashdance), it was the largest single face clock in the world when installed in 1933. Measuring 60 feet in diameter, the clock face is nearly twice the size of London's Big Ben.  Sometimes the first step in understanding time is just recognizing a clock face, and this one's a Pittsburgh classic.

Three Days in Pittsburgh: Day One--Soaking in the Skyline

by Jennifer Signore

February 02, 2009

Many people these days are choosing to spend their vacation time exploring their own city, rather than trekking off to a distant locale. This has been termed a "staycation" and is becoming more popular as the economy struggles. If you are planning a "trip" of this type or are trying to get some friends to visit and they keep asking, "But what can we do in Pittsburgh?" then I have a treat  Read more...

Party Preparations with the Kids

by Jennifer Signore

January 29, 2009

Unless you've been away on a remote island isolated from the rest of the world, you may have heard that the Steelers are going to play in the Superbowl this Sunday. And, chances are that many of you are either throwing or attending a Superbowl party. And that means food. So, why not get the kids involved in the action? Here are a few ideas to let the kids help you with party preparation  Read more...

Perspectives on Junk Food

by Jennifer Signore

January 12, 2009

I was doing a casual read on some of my regular blogs and came across a post over at Shapely Prose that might be a good read for anyone dealing with weight issues. If you do not struggle with weight, give it a read anyway--it gives some interesting insights into indulgences and deprivation. One topic it addresses, and the reason I am bringing it to your attention, is food choices  Read more...

Pittsburgh Holiday Traditions

by Jennifer Signore

December 02, 2008

Pittsburgh's rich ethnic heritage, while always a part of life in the 'Burgh, becomes clear to all when the holidays approach. So many cultures have come together to form our city, but it's the differences between these cultures, the traditions they hold dear, that truly make this place we call home so special. I'd like to focus on a handful of holiday traditions that I look forward to each  Read more...

Surviving Holiday Preparations

by Jennifer Signore

December 01, 2008

We have no sooner recovered from Turkey Day and we find ourselves neck deep in preparations for the winter holidays. No matter the holiday you celebrate, you probably find yourselves completely worn out by the time the holiday actually arrives. Am I right? Or is it just me? What I would like to offer today is a list of things that help me minimize holiday stress. As a working mom, I am  Read more...

Animal Thanksgiving at the Zoo

by Jennifer Signore

November 13, 2008

If you are looking for something to do on Saturday, November 15, consider a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo for the Animal Thanksgiving. The animals will have their own special feast, complete with pumpkins, gourds, yams, and more. You can use the trip as an opportunity to talk to your kids about your own Thanksgiving menu, comparing what you will have with what the animals are eating. What do  Read more...