The "Art" of Child Care

Vino was delighted this afternoon to be able to provide last minute drop-off sitting to Joshua, one of our youngest and newest tots in the NY City Explorers family. For Joshua's musician parents whose hectic schedules demand a need for flexible and often last-minute child care, NY City Explorers' drop-off sitting is a perfect fit! Our sitters are particularly sensitive to the flexible scheduling that an artists career demands as many of the Bag or Tricks Babysitters are artists of one form or another themselves. Today's drop-off sitter, family fave Vino, is himself a working screen actor who filmed a Golden Corral commercial just this month! Keep your eyes peeled for his winning smile and athletic frame in upcoming ads!
Our Bag of Tricks Babysitters all love the work that they do caring for your little Explorers, but as is the case with all artists, we know that they're happiest when practicing their crafts. That's why even though she will be sorely missed by clients and staff alike, we congratulate Sitter Rachel Black on her upcoming Holiday singing engagements, set to occur at churches and other venues throughout the East Coast.
One of Rachel's last sitting gigs before her 3 week departure from NY City Explorers? Caring for the daughters of NY City Explorers' Co-Owner, Kisha Edwards-Gandsy. After collecting 4-years-old Haven from pre-K, the pair headed to NY City Explorers' 399 Atlantic Avenue playspace to get in some one-on-one big girl fun before strolling to the Explorers Academy Preschool to pick up lil' sis Shelton. Haven was delighted to find Amy hard at work at the space, while 3-month-old baby Olive was wide awake and ready to be held and snuggled by her older friend! Little Olive doesn't give her smiles to just anyone, but it didn't take long before adorable Haven joined the short list (Other members including Olive's daddy and NY City Explorers' Co-Owner Keyanna Murrill!) Perhaps we have a Sitter-in-training on our hands!

We are Thankful for our little ones and yours!

Happy Monday to Brooklyn's cutest! We hope everyone had as wonderful a Thanksgiving weekend as our staff, most of whom enjoyed four days of fun and food with family and friends. While Kisha and her girls noshed on Southern-style stoop-smoked duck at home in Bed-Stuy, Keyanna hosted Mama Murrill at a restaurant catered dinner Thursday night, and Amy took new baby Olive Ginger home to New Jersey for some roasted turnips and apple stuffing. After nursing their tryptophan hangovers, our sitters were on-duty the following morning, playing with New York City's tiniest as mams, papas and grandparents hit the pavement early on Black Friday in search of the best deals on holiday gifts. We're excited that so many of you took advantage of our Thanksgiving sale to scoop up Drop-off Babysitting Bundles, Class Packs and Play Passes along with your other weekend steals!
The early holiday gift we're most thankful for this season? Our amazing students at Explorers Academy Preschool and the men and women who have raised them so well! Kudos to Explorers Academy Preschooler Jakob's parents for raising such a little gentleman! When little Lila dropped her favorite pink bunny during playtime, our superhero ran quick as a wink and faster than a speeding bullet to scoop up Little Bunny Foo Foo and deliver her safely back to Lila. Who says chivalry is dead?
Our superheros expend tons of energy being so cute and kind to each other all day, so Miss Katiya understands when her Caterpillars need a snack break to refuel. Niko must have been playing extra hard on Friday, though, since he quickly gobbled up not only his own pita chips and hummus,but tried to swipe the leftovers from the plates of his friends as well! Good thing Miss Katiya has eyes in the back of her head---and an extra pair of eyes as well, thanks to our experienced teacher's assistant Yamileth.

Milking Our Good Fortune for All it's Worth!

Once the boredom with turkey and stuffing sandwiches has set in (We know, we know, but it will happen eventually!) pop by 186 Underhill Avenue to play in the cozy playspace and catch Vino in the act of fun, mixing flour, food coloring and a handful of other kitchen cabinet staples into homemade play dough for the birthday party he'll facilitate with Bag of Tricks Babysitter Rachel Black on Sunday. While we've always been proud of the personalized children's birthday parties that carry the NY City Explorers name, we're especially excited to unveil our brand new series of mix-and-match parties, designed to make planning a party perfectly suited to your tot a breeze! Be on the look-out in the coming weeks for our Plan-a-Party menu which will present add-on options including a pinata, water balloons and karaoke!
Babysitter Rachel Black may not have held her grown-up birthday party at our playspace, but it was filled with style and flair nonetheless. Joined by friends, including NYCE staff members Sam Pinkleton and Amy Yurcan, Rachel ushered in another year on Earth during a cowgirl-themed celebration at Manhattan's Rodeo Bar, a venue perfectly suited for a Southern belle like Rachel!
The long weekend ahead has most Explorers delighted at the prospect of extra time with mom, dad and the rest of the family, but those tots who have been pummeled by the yucky stomach bug that's been making its way through the borough won't be able to enjoy tomorrow's feast quite as much as their healthy friends. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to all affected little ones, including Kisha's youngest, Shelton. A baby who loves to eat that much missing out on Thanksgiving dinner would be bad news bears indeed!
During this upcoming Holiday season, as you reflect on all of the many things you are thankful for, consider that not all babies are born as lucky as those who share your home. Volunteering time and resources at soup kitchens, shelters and Goodwill are great ways to help those less fortunate than ourselves. New moms, however, often have another precious gift that they can share with the most vulnerable among us. Huge numbers of infants are born underweight, premature, drug-addicted or orphaned every day with no access to the myriad feeding options that many of our own newborns have. To that end, check out www.milkbanking.net and consider donating breast milk to little ones in need!

'Tis the Season...

...to visit family! Last week marked the last week of NY City Explorers' enrichment classes until the winter session commences on December 6th, 2010. While our class instructors and the rest of the NYCE staff are enjoying homecooking on Thursday and Friday, we'll be back at your service on Saturday morning, ready to open the playspace doors at both 186 Underhill Ave and 399 Atlantic Avenue. We know you'll be enjoying this unseasonable gorgeous late Autumn weather as long as possible, but once a chill hits the air, we hope you'll stop in to see us, visiting grandparents in tow!
The leaves seem only to have begun to turn, but behind the scenes we're already gearing up to make Summer 2011 the best Adventure Camp season yet! If you simply can't wait until June to see your old friends, or if you're thinking of sending your Explorer along for the fun for the first time and would like more info, come hang out at our Summer Adventure Camp Holiday Reunion Party. RSVP online at www.nycityexplorers.com, and then meet the gang at 186 Underhill Avenue from 3pm-5pm on December 12th for songs, crafts and wintery treats! Want to enjoy the Holiday fun, but rowdy campers may be too much for your little Explorer? Nosh on an awesome spread and listen to some wintertime tunes at our 1st Annual Breakfast with Santa! At only $10 per family, don't pass up some quality time with the jolly guy in the red suit sans crazy mall lines! Log on to www.nycityexplorers.com top RSVP to any of our upcoming events.
We've been delighted to care for your Explorers in Brooklyn for the past few years, and now we're excited to announce the expansion of Bag of Tricks Babysitting into Manhattan and Queens! Now our roster of CPR-certified, tons-of-fun Sitters are available to travel into whichever borough the need may arise. The same simple online form you've been using to book here in Brooklyn can be used by mamas and papas the whole Metro area through!

We have so much to be thankful for!

Our Explorers Academy Preschool Thanksgiving Potluck yesterday was a huge success! We are so grateful to all of the members of the EAP family who, through their attendance, conversation and delicious baked goods, gave all of us an evening to be truly thankful for.
With so many amazing desserts to choose from, including pumpkin pie, cheesecake, brownies, chocolate chip muffins and cookies, courtesy of our little Explorers' families, it's impossible to say what was best. One thing is for certain: the giant cupcake, big enough to feed ten hungry men, certainly wouldn't take home last place, and some might gift it the blue ribbon! Adorable preschooler Lev might not agree, though, as he ate piece after piece of the homemade "corn cake" (read corn bread) that his parents contributed to the feast.
Thanksgiving is always a busy and crowded affair, and our especially so, as not only did even Kisha's husband Chris and Amy's husband Bryan join in the gobbling, but parent conferences and a preschool tour were also scheduled for the evening. While showing the tour's attendees around the EAP, Amy was especially delighted to recognize little Joshua, touring with Mama Sandra. Joshua was one of the very first students at our Explorer's Club enrichment drop-off program at our first location at 388 Atlantic Avenue. Although he is no longer the toddling 10-month-old that he was when we saw him last, clutching on to former teaching assistant Gayla's shirtsleeve while she gave him reassuring hugs, he's just as cute!
While this year's celebration was filled with new friends and members of the NYCE family, missing from the festivities and sorely missed by our staff were Liliana, Simone and their parents, Alex and Joy. Lili and Simone were our very first toddlers when the Explorers Club enrichment program, which evolved into the EAP, first began over 2 years ago. The twins, now almost 5 years old, are spending a gap year in India with their wonderful parents before beginning kindergarten next fall. We wish them all of the best on this most amazing of Explorations yet!

Gobble Gobble!

The Explorers Academy Preschool was filled with the scent of Autumn this morning, as Miss Brittany's Butterflies fluttered into the kitchen to make homemade cranberry sauce as their contribution to tomorrow's Thanksgiving Potluck. With Kisha's husband hard at work smoking up a Southern style Thanksgiving turkey and desserts promised from so many of our EAP parents, not a single belly will leave our party empty!
While Brittany's class stirred pots and licked lips, Miss Katiya's Caterpillars crawled down Schermerhorn Street to their weekly pre-ballet class at Brooklyn Ballet. No one was more excited to show off his moves than Hugo, now 2 years old and ready for preschool! Hugo's friends were already so happy to learn of his arrival that they ran to the door to greet him this morning, but once they saw the pumpkin cupcakes his mom, Elisa, had brought to celebrate his first day, an army couldn't have held back their enthusiasm! We're sure Hugo is happy to be with his friends and while we're delighted to have him we know that his old friend Rowan Magee, the NY City Explorers Bag of Tricks Babysitter who has been caring for Hugo for the past few months, is sad to see him go. Don't worry Rowan; We'll take great care of him! For now Hugo leaves his friends behind each night to snuggle with Mom and Dad at home, but in a few short weeks he'll have a playmate at home too! Hugo's mom, Elisa, and Dad, Julian, are expecting a new addition to the family any day now,and we can't wait to welcome another addition to the NYCE family!
With cupcakes, new babies, gorgeous Autumn weather and Thanksgiving on the brain, our Explorers and staff have so much to smile about most of the time, so everyone was sad to see kid-favorite staff member Edwin arrive this morning with a scratch on his face! Poor Edwin walked right into a tree this morning while walking his dog; We hope our Explorers learned an important lesson about always watching where you're going!

First comes love...

Our blog posts may not have increased in number over the last few months, but our New York City Explorers family sure has! On September 16th, 2010, Creative Director and Child Care Coordinator Amy Yurcan and her husband Bryan welcomed a beautiful little girl to the world. Olive Ginger Yurcan, born 6 lbs. 15 oz., already has a head full of hair and a face full of smiles! While Olive is our youngest Explorer for the moment, once March rolls around all that will change, as City Explorers' co-owner, Kisha Gandsy welcomes her new addition to a family that already includes 4-years-old Haven and 2-years-old Shelton, two of the cutest little girls this side of the Brooklyn Bridge. In our last bit of baby news, we are delighted to congratulate former Explorers Academy Preschool student Luca on the arrival of his new baby brother Gabriel!
While we sure have missed Luca at EAP in the weeks since he moved with mom, Nicole, and dad, Joseph, to Fairfield County, Connecticut, they could not have picked a better time of the year to begin exploring their New England digs. This past week has brought temperatures so mild, air so crisp and leaves so saturated with color that we can almost understand why they left life in the big city behind. Almost!
We're hoping that this lovely weather continues into the rest of the week, as Thursday we're looking forward to seeing the families of every one of our EAP students at our Thanksgiving Potluck. If you have a little Explorer enrolled at EAP and haven't RSVP'd yet, be sure to do so by emailing Office Manager Melissa Bayer at mbayer@nycityexplorers.com or calling (718)797-3707.
Our Thanksgiving Potluck may be for Explorers Academy Preschool families exclusively, but there are plenty of annual events that we'd love to see each and every one of you at, little Explorers in tow! December 18th will see the arrival of the big guy in the red suit to Underhill Avenue for our first annual Breakfast with Santa! Visit our website at www.nycityexplorers.com for more information and to reserve your family's spot. We "Ho!"-"ho!"-hope to see you there!