Southwest New Jersey Kids' Directory

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Burlington, Camden & Gloucester Counties November 2018

Southwest New Jersey

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Table of Contents Amusements & Entertainment

Crayola Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Elite Climbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Birthday Parties

Beauty Cuties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Crayola Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Elite Climbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Eats & Treats Dine on a Dime . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Education Burlington County Parks . . . . . . . . 2 Library Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Mathnasium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Robotech Educational Services . . . . 5

Orthodontics

Tenbrook Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . 16

Volunteer Opportunities Parent Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Worship Kid’s Lighthouse Church . . . . . . . 9 Kids’ Directory 1999. This Directory, in part or whole, is not to be reproduced or copies without written permission.

Kids’ Directory® is a registered trademark of Hidden Values, Inc.

Victorian Holiday Celebration Kick off the Holiday Season at Historic Smithville Park complete with a visit from St. Nick, who arrives in the afternoon. Festivities will include ice carving demonstrations, entertainment, kids’ activities, and a holiday marketplace event. Lookout for that Grinch!

December 2

1:00-5:00pm

The Rancocas Santa Quest

December 9, 1:00 pm Join us for a holiday family-fun adventure as we look for signs of Santa along the trails. Bring a camera or cell phone to document this unique Santa sighting. Enjoy hot chocolate and a campfire back at the center. For this special program, registration is mandatory. To register, call the Rancocas Nature Center at 609-261-2495 or email info@rancocasnaturecenter.org Rancocas Nature Center Indoor and Outdoor programs Clubs , Parties and much more!

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STEM Resources for

& Accessible

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Inspiring kids' interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) now could help prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that occupations related to STEM are projected to grow 13 percent by 2022 - faster than projections for all other occupations over the same time.

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Although the need for professionals with STEM experience is growing, a recent survey of U.S. high school students shows that only 24 percent of boys and 11 percent of girls are interested in STEM careers. Research also shows that youth who have extracurricular STEM experiences before graduating from high school are more likely to explore higher education and career opportunities in STEM. To help meet the future demand for tech leaders, private companies are stepping up to help inspire kids' passion for STEM and develop the next generation of skilled professionals. HughesNet, America's No. 1 choice for satellite Internet, supports 4-H, America's largest, positive youth development organization, to give youth across the U.S. the opportunity to engage in STEM activities. Since 2014, the two organizations have worked together to increase youth access to STEM education and, this year, introduced STEM Lab, a free online resource offering exciting, hands-on activities for youth ages 4 to 16.

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With STEM Lab, parents are empowered to guide their children’s early exposure to STEM, which is proven to increase their chances of pursuing those fields. Each STEM Lab activity includes easy, step-by-step instructions, discussion questions to help guide the experiential learning process, and clear explanations of the scientific concepts at work. In addition, each activity includes a list of supplies, which are mostly basic household items, and a “Messy Meter,” ranging from “clean” to “mega mess,” to help parents plan their budding scientists’ activity. And to keep kids immersed and excited, new projects are added regularly for continual enrichment.

“HughesNet wants to ensure that all children, no matter where they live, have access to hands-on, experiential STEM learning,” said Peter Gulla, senior vice president of marketing at Hughes.

"It is a part of our company's larger commitment to bridging the technology divide. Kids who tap into their curiosity and enthusiasm for STEM now will grow into the leaders of tomorrow - ensuring our country stays competitive in the global economy and powering our connected future."

For more information about local 4-H, visit: The Cooperative Education 20 Division - https://njaes.rutgers.edu SEPTEMBER 1, Courtesy of BPT

Bridging Science and Mathematics Through Robotics and Technology n, and Gloucester

on, Camde Serving Burlingt

Counties

Robotics Home School Programs Programming Classes Programs for 1-12 Grades Young Engineers Program After School & Saturday Programs Competition Teams

ROBOTECH EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INC.

3815 Church Rd. • Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

856-424-2777

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Encourage a

of Reading During

National Family Literacy Month

F

or many parents, it’s a struggle to get kids to read outside of the classroom, but November is the perfect time to change that, because it’s National Family Literacy Month. The importance of reading goes well beyond acing a test or getting an "A" on a book report. It’s a lifelong skill that helps you to better understand the world around you and even yourself. And it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure that kids don’t become non-readers in their busy, over-connected daily lives."Reading opens up so many possibilities, from discovering a new interest to sparking untapped creativity. Best of all, it is a great way to spend time together as a family," says Emily Levitt, vice president of Education for Sylvan Learning. Here are a few suggestions to help kids to fall in love with reading, and to share fun, memorable reading experiences together as a family. *Read Aloud — The easiest way to get kids interested in reading and to build their vocabulary is for parents to read aloud to their children, no matter their ages.

Kids will often skip over words they don’t recognize when reading alone, but if they hear their parents say the word, they may ask for the definition. Putting aside just 15 minutes a week to read aloud to kids can make a difference. *Start a Book Club — Starting a book club with a group of your kid’s friends and their parents is a great way to make reading fun. Give participants a month to read the selected book, then organize a party where everyone can chat and enjoy themed snacks. *Stick with What They Like — Kids will be more inclined to read if it’s about something they’re already interested in. And if you can share that interest with them, that’s even better! And because not everyone loves the same subjects or genres, try to at least hook them with engaging books on whatever they enjoy — be it baseball, magic or anything else. *Monkey See, Monkey Do — It’s important that kids see their parents reading. If they don’t, it’s an unspoken statement to your child that it’s okay not to read.

From crossword puzzles to comic books, it’s easier than you think to build literacy as a family. Make a conscious effort to set time aside time for you and your kids to read together. *Deploy Backup — Not every child is a natural born reader and even kids who are great readers can use reading help.

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Success In Math Is Just The Beginning

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Tutoring and Enrichment

SAT/ACT Prep

Homework Help

Kids don’t hate math, they hate feeling frustrated. The Mathnasium Method™ teaches kids to truly understand math, eliminating frustration and giving them the skills and confidence they need.

Teaching math is not just what we do, it’s all we do. We’re the authority in math education, with over 900 learning centers worldwide. Start your child’s transformation. Schedule a comprehensive free assessment today.

ENROLL NOW. Visit one of your South Jersey locations today.

Changing Lives Through Math™

www.Mathnasium.com Cherry Hill | Haddonfield Medford | Mount Laurel Washington Township

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Dine on a Dime EVERY DAY Recovery Sports Grill 109 Hancock Lane, Westampton, NJ (609) 702-3901 Kids Meals Priced at $2.99(and up) includes Drink, a Side, and a Treat SUNDAY Jasmine Oriental Cuisine 175 NJ-70, Medford, NJ (609) 654-8818 Summer Sunday Nights, after 4pm: July, August, September Kids Eat Free at the Hibachi Only Landmark America 1 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ (856) 863-6600 Kids Eat Free all day w/ purchase of an adult entrée Sunday & Wednesday Moe’s Southwest Grill 1055 Nixon Drive, Mount Laurel, NJ (856) 439-6026 Cross Key’s Commons, 611 Berlin Cross Keys Road, Sicklerville, NJ (856) 728-6600 1692 Clements Bridge Road, Deptford, NJ, (856) 845-4200 $0.99 Kids Meal all day w/ purchase of an adult entrée MONDAY Don Pablos 1860 Deptford Center Road, Deptford, NJ, (856) 374-3841 1361 Nixon Drive, Moorestown, NJ (856) 642-6160 $1.99 Kids Meal w/ purchase of an adult entrée Friendly’s 3047 NJ-38, Mount Laurel, NJ, (856) 722-7557 Route 70 West, Marlton, NJ (856) 596-8286 $2.99 Kids Meal after 4pm, includes Drink and Dessert (Mount Laurel) $1.99 Kids Meal after 4pm, includes Drink and Dessert (Moorestown) 8

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IHOP 285 Route 73 North, West Berlin, NJ (856) 753-8404 1602 Church Road, Cherry Hill, NJ (856) 667-3454 Kids Eat Free 4pm-10pm w/ purchase of an adult entrée Monday & Friday Speranza’s Wood-Fired Italian Kitchen 158 Broadway, Westville, NJ (856)349-7660 Kids Eat Free after 5pm w/ purchase of an adult entrée Throwbacks Bar and Grill 2929 Route 130, Riverside, NJ (856)461-2419 Kids Eat Free with the purchase of an adult entrée Tortilla Press 703 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ (856) 869-3345 Kids Eat Free with an adult entrée Tortilla Press Cantina 7716 Maple Avenue, Merchantville, NJ (856) 356-2050 Kids Eat Free with an adult entrée TUESDAY

B. Good 26 Centerton Road, Mount Laurel, NJ (856) 242-3717 Kids Eat Free after 2pm w/ purchase of an adult entrée Bob Evans 601 Fellowship Road, Mount Laurel, NJ (856) 231-9125 Kids Eat Free 4pm w/ purchase of an adult entrée Chick-fil-A 58 Centerton Square, Mount Laurel, NJ (856) 439-2696

Kids Eat Free 5pm-8pm w/ purchase of an adult entrée

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Ruby Tuesday Deptford Mall, Clements Bridge Road, Deptford, NJ, (856) 845-3330 Kids Eat Free after 4pm with the purchase of an adult entrée Uno’ s Pizzeria & Grill 2803 NJ-73, Maple Shade Township, NJ (856) 722-5577 1162 Hurffville Road, Deptford Township, NJ, (856) 853-7003 Kids Eat Free with the purchase of an adult entrée. Bonus: Craft Table 5:30pm-8pm WEDNESDAY Bertucci’s 515 NJ-73, Marlton, NJ (856) 988-8070 Kids Eat Free all day with the purchase of an adult entrée($10.99+) Chick-fil-A 1418 Nixon Drive, Mount Laurel, NJ (856) 778-1900 Kids Eat Free 5pm-8pm w/ purchase of an adult entrée Qdoba Mexican Eats 1630 Kings Hwy North, Cherry Hill , NJ (856) 433-8194 Kids Eat Free all day with the purchase of an adult entrée Wayback Burgers 1521 NJ-73, Voorhees Township, NJ (856) 210-6021 Kids Eat Free all day with the purchase of an adult entrée. Kids must be present.

FRIDAY IHOP 2703 Mount Holly Road (Route 541), Burlington, NJ, (609) 386-1880 285 Route 73 North, West Berlin, NJ (856) 753-8404 1602 Church Road, Cherry Hill, NJ (856) 667-3454 Kids Eat Free 4pm-10pm with the purchase of an adult entrée PROMOTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please say, “I found it in the Southwest New Jersey Kids’ Directory.” Thanks!

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Moms, Grab Some “Me Time” With These Tips M

oms are the true jacks-of-alltrades. They are the chefs who get meals on the table and lunches packed; the chauffeurs who get kids where they need to be; the doctors who bandage up scrapes; the listeners to problems big and small; the social directors of playdates and parties; and so much more.

With all that they do, moms rarely get a moment to take a break and enjoy a bit of time for themselves.

Dr. Wendy Walsh, busy single mom, TV personality and college professor, understands what it’s like to be busy. Here are her tips for helping other moms sneak a little “me time.”

• All moms should take a guilt-free break during their busy day. Try arriving at school carpool early. Turn off the car engine, tune into a favorite radio station and reach into your bag for a favorite snack.

• Watching kids read can remind moms how relaxing it is to escape in the pages of a riveting novel. Get mom-friends together and form a book club, so there’s always an excuse to take a break. Tell kids you’re doing Mommyhomework, because the book club is meeting soon.

• As the sun sets, parents want to wind down, but sometimes kids, especially colicky babies, wind up. A nice walk is a great way to calm a child down. When the kids get older, keep walking at sunset. It’s a great way to take a break from the chaos of the house and soothe yourself.

From taking a peaceful break to enjoying a favorite snack, the importance of a little break in a very hectic day is key for moms.

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Surprising Benefits of Doing Jigsaw Puzzles

There's a quiet movement going on in this country, and it doesn't involve

apps, data or the latest fad. Following the lead of vinyl record albums, coloring books and traditional board games, jigsaw puzzles are seeing a resurgence in popularity. Perhaps, because it's an opportunity to unplug and give yourself and family an escape from the information overload that is buzzing through the very fabric of our lives 24/7.

Wrestling the kids (or yourself) away from screens, devices, even the television can be a nearly impossible task, but it's vital to our mental and even physical health. A jigsaw puzzle requires your full attention and therein lies the magic.

Everyone from tweens and teens to millennials and over-worked parents to seniors are returning to this quiet pastime of childhood. Call it a retro revolution.

Ravensburger, a company that has been making high-quality, premium jigsaw puzzles for 134 years, recently partnered with Target to offer a new line of 500- and 1,000-piece puzzles because anyone and everyone can benefit from puzzling. (HINT: Start with the 500-piece puzzle. They're designed to strike the perfect balance of challenge and solvability.)

Here are some benefits of puzzling that might surprise you.

Jigsaw puzzles exercise the left and right sides of your brain at once Your left brain is logical and works in a linear fashion, while your right brain is creative and intuitive. When you're doing a jigsaw puzzle, both sides are engaged, according to Sanesco Health, an industry leader in neurotransmitter testing. Think of it as a mental workout that improves your problem-solving skills and attention span. It's no surprise that Bill Gates admits to being an avid puzzler.

Jigsaw puzzles improve your short-term memory Can't remember what you had for lunch yesterday? Jigsaw puzzles can help with that. Doing a puzzle reinforces connections between brain cells, improves mental speed and is an especially effective way to improve short-term memory.

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Jigsaw puzzles improve your visual-spatial reasoning When you do a jigsaw puzzle, you need to look at individual pieces and figure out where they'll fit into the big picture. If you do it regularly, you'll improve visual-spatial reasoning, which helps with driving a car, packing, using a map, learning and following dance moves, and a whole host of other things.

Jigsaw puzzles are a great meditation tool and stress reliever Focusing on one image for a long period of time, without extraneous thoughts entering your mind, is in itself meditation. By doing a jigsaw puzzle, you're getting the same benefits as if you meditated. The stress of everyday life evaporates and is replaced by a sense of peace and tranquility that lowers your blood pressure and heart rate.

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to connect with family Starting a jigsaw puzzle and keeping it on a table in your living room or kitchen is an invitation for the whole family to participate, whenever they have a few minutes to sit down and focus. It's a tactic that parents of teens can use for starting a conversation while working toward a shared goal.

Conversely, jigsaw puzzles are great for some needed alone time Puzzling is perfect for people who want a quiet, solo break from the bustle and unrelenting stimulus of today's digital lifestyle.

You'll live longer, better if you puzzle regularly Studies show that people who do jigsaw and crossword puzzles have longer life spans with less chances of developing Alzheimer's disease, memory loss or dementia. Puzzling stimulates the brain and actually wards off the plaque that is the marker of Alzheimer's, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Neurology. The study compared brain scans of 75-year-olds to 25-year-olds. The elderly people who did puzzles regularly had brain scans comparable to the 25-year-olds.

Doing jigsaw puzzles is good for your mind, body, and spirit. So, on your next lazy Sunday (or better yet - crazed Monday), unplug, put your phone on "Do Not Disturb," and get swept away by a puzzle.

Courtesy of BPT

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10/18/2018 1:17:50 AM

Libraries Are Not Just About Books Anymore

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Parenting is one of the most important jobs a person can undertake.

Although it is often said to be the most rewarding, it can also be difficult, lonely and, at times, overwhelming.

Adding to the struggle is the need to find activities that are engaging, fun and educational for both child and parent.

Many families are discovering that their local library meets many of these needs. This is especially true if it happens to be part of the 450 libraries nationwide that comprise the Family Place Libraries network, a place that boasts welcoming, age-appropriate, interactive play areas and programs, parent groups, resources, and, of course, books.

Family Place Libraries are a network of children’s librarians nationwide who believe that literacy begins at birth, and that libraries can help build healthy communities by nourishing healthy families.

“The Family Place Libraries initiative is transforming how libraries work with young children and their families — from the librarians themselves, to the parents, to early childhood specialists,” says Kathy Deerr, National Coordinator Family Place Libraries. “And it is transforming entire libraries.”

In late 2012, Middle Country Public Library in Centerach, NY, the facility that created Family Place Libraries, was awarded a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant’s goal was to look at this model as a vehicle to effect institutional change as it relates to early childhood and family support in public libraries.

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A three-year evaluation of this grant by Nagle & Associates, a full-service national consulting firm, supports Deerr’s statement.

This study follows 28 libraries implementing the Family Place Libraries model.

The evaluation found positive changes in children’s librarians’ knowledge, attitudes and practices; children’s services; and attitudes toward children’s services. The evaluation also found positive changes in parents’ perceptions of libraries.

“Parents who made connections to their local libraries came to deeply appreciate and use the library as part of their support network,” according to the evaluation.

“The Family Place Libraries changed how librarians view their role,” Deerr says. “They are really early childhood and parent supporters. These libraries are more interactive and meet family needs of playful early learning, parent engagement and connecting to resources.”

For more information, visit www.familyplacelibraries. org.

Explore Your Local Libraries Burlington County Library System www.bcls.lib.nj.us

Camden County Library System www.camdencountylibrary.org

Gloucester County Library System www.gcls.org

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