Neapolitan Family Birthday Guide 2019 by Neapolitan Family

Paragon Pavilion 833 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples 239-596-0008 ParagonTheaters.com Movies, games, and concession packages.

InPlay Family Fun 4035 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples 239-963-9716 InPlayFamilyFun.com Variety of party packages.

Neapolitan Family’s Birthday Directory Find everything you need at these local businesses to make this birthday the best one yet!

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The Art Express theartexpressonline@ gmail.com TheArtExpress.net Fun art projects at your party.

Coral Cay Adventure Golf 2205 E. Tamiami Tr., Naples 239-793-4999 CoralCayGolf.com Round of miniature golf, cake.

Castle Creek Fiber Studio 4270 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples 239-793-8141 CastleCreekStudio.com Create a fun fiber project! Pizza, drinks, and decor available.

Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples 239-514-0084 Cmon.org Variety of party packages available.

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Logiscool 1715 Heritage Tr., Naples 239-776-8475 www.logiscool.com Complete a coding activity, then enjoy a pizza party. Masquerade & Balloons Galore 2100 Trade Center Way, Naples 239-643-3330 MasqueradeSWFL.com Costumes, decor, and balloons for every occasion. MerQuatics 239-404-1034 merquaticsfit@gmail.com TriToneFit.com Mermaid birthday parties. Naples Zoo 1590 Goodlette Rd., Naples 239-262-5409 NaplesZoo.org Enjoy the zoo and a party in the food court.

Providence Equestrian Center 13731 E. Terry St., Bonita Springs 239-948-7669 ProvidenceEquestrianCenter .com Games on horseback, farm animals, and more. Rookery Bay 1300 Tower Rd., Naples 239-280-7457 events@rookerybay.org Nature-themed birthday parties. Sign Gypsies 239-249-5095 facebook.com/ SignGypsiesNaples Custom celebration yard signs for every occasion. Sunshine Bounce Houses 239-784-2653 SunshineBounceHouses. com Offering bounce houses, water slides, and combos.

Bounce Houses, Waterslides & Combos 239-784-2653 Online booking • Licensed & Insured

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Coding Birthday Parties Summer Camps After-school Programs

(239) 776-8475 1715 Heritage Tr., Ste. 203, Naples

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TriTone Triple Barre 1820 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples 239-404-1034 TriToneFit.com Tutus & Tiaras parties.

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Win One of Birthday Parties!

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Up to 12 guests have 2.5 hours for games on and off horseback. Meet & greet with farm animals. Evening parties include a campfire and marshmallow roasting.

Our mermaid instructors lead a MerQuatics swim class that teaches kids how to transform into a mermaid for a magical swim. Up to 10 mermaid tail & MonoFin rentals included and a live mermaid appearance. For proficient swimmers ages 7+.

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Includes party room rental and 15 admission passes (good for all day). C’mon members do not need an admission pass. Party room max occupancy is 30 guests.

Weekend party for up to 12 guests. Learn to use looms to make wall hangings, purses, etc. Balloons, hats, paper goods, goody bags, pizza, ice cream, and drinks provided.

Twirling Tutus & Tiaras dance party with a free upgraded mermaid theme & mermaid appearance. Up to 10 girls, designer tutus & tiaras, designer under-the-sea decor and a live mermaid with grotto.

Touch tank encounter, naturethemed presentation, and guided exploration. Up to 20 children ages 8-12 and six adults on a Saturday.

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Full day zoo admission for 12 kids and 8 adults plus two-hour space rental.

Create. Code. Enjoy. Create your first video game with us! A twohour program with one instructor and one animator. Up to 20 guests. Pizza and water included.

To enter, go to neafamily.com and click on contests. 2

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neafamily.com 3 NEAPOLITANfamily • 2019 SPECIAL BIRTHDAY SECTION Random drawing for each prize will be July 26. No purchase necessary to enter. One entry per person,

per day, per prize. See neafamily.com for full description of each prize and rules & restrictions.

BIRTHDAYS

By Janeen Lewis

Modern Day Manners:

Party Tips for Hosts & Guests

hen your children use good manners, other people want to be around them. That’s why birthday parties are opportune events to teach children not only party etiquette, but a graciousness that goes beyond rules. Whether your child is the host or the guest, make teaching children party etiquette fun. Stage a mock birthday party so that your child can role play some of these helpful hints. Be discreet For hosts: If possible, you might consider inviting the entire team or class. However, that doesn’t always work out, so in that case, snail mail or e-mail invites, and teach your child not to talk about his party in front of children who aren’t invited. However, be realistic. It’s hard to keep a preschooler or kindergartner from talking about her party. If you start having discussions about being discreet when children are young, they will handle the situation appropriately when they are older. For guests: It is disappointing when your child is not invited to a party, but disappointment provides an opportunity to coach your child through early letdowns in life. Explain that he may be invited to the next party when someone else is not. If your child does receive an invitation, teach her to treat the matter with the same delicacy she did as the host. Be clear with boundaries For hosts: Human beings need boundaries. When we have them we feel more comfortable about the setting that we are in, so be clear about party guidelines in the invitation. Give a time, date, and place, and let parents know if the party is a drop-off party or if they should stay. Let them know if adults will be eating too. Sometimes parents are invited to have the main course (for

example pizza) and the sweet treat. Sometimes they are just invited to have cake. You also may want to add a note about whether siblings may attend. Be clear about what events are happening when so the party unfolds in an orderly manner. If gifts are opened at the party, usher them away quickly so that toys and projects that were given as gifts don’t interrupt party activities. For guests: If it is an at-home party, stay in the areas the host is in. Don’t go into other rooms without permission, and if a restroom is needed, ask which one is for guests. If the party is at an off-site venue, have your child follow all of the rules of the establishment. If the host doesn’t specify guidelines about the party in the invitation, never assume. For instance, don’t eat the food or cake, or bring your entire family (or even extra siblings) if you haven’t asked the host. Be social For hosts: Meet and greet each child as they arrive. Have the birthday host play with everyone so no one feels left out. Make an effort to include everyone and give everyone a chance at each game. Say goodbye and thank guests for coming when the party is over. For guests: Let the host know that you are there. Make an effort to play with the host and other guests and not form cliques that exclude other party guests. When you are ready to leave, be sure to tell the host goodbye.

is something he doesn’t like. If you have decided to forgo gifts, write “No gifts, please” on the invitation or “Only the favor of your company is requested.” Favor bags aren’t necessary, and some parents may prefer that their children not receive sugary candy and small plastic items. Instead, your child could pick out a memorable item to pass out to each guest who attends. For example, if it is close to Christmas, your child could give everyone an inexpensive ornament, or if it is a spring party, give packets of flower seeds. A special memento is nice – my daughter’s favorite favor was a peacock feather she received at a kindergarten party. For guests: Unless the invitation includes the message “No gifts please,” bring a gift. It doesn’t have to be expensive and can be handmade. Giving of your time is thoughtful and many parents will be grateful for this in place of another toy that has to be picked up. Consider making a card to add to the gift with a heartfelt message written by your child. Be courteous For hosts: Thank each and every guest for coming and for bringing a gift, no matter how big or small. The guest (and sometimes a parent!) has taken time out of an evening or weekend to attend a birthday party. Have your child write a thank you note to send to the guest after the party. Use the same discretion when passing out thank you notes as you did with invitations. For guests: Remember to RSVP. Be on time, but if you find

Fun Manners Books for Kids No Slurping, No Burping: A Tale of Table Manners by Kara LaReau Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners by Stan and Jan Berenstain How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday? by Jan Yolen Emily’s Everyday Manners by Peggy Post and Cindy P. Senning How Rude! The Teenagers’ Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out by Alex J. Packer are going to be late, call and let the host know. If you have to cancel, let the host know as soon as possible, so that she can plan for enough food and favors. Birthday party manners are a gateway for graciousness as your child grows into a teen and adult. Embrace the opportunity they present to teach your child ways to socialize, and hopefully they will be invited to more special occasions to celebrate with friends as they grow older.

Be giving For hosts: Teach your child not to expect to receive gifts, but if she does, compliment each guest and stay positive about every item, even if it is something that your child already has or

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BIRTHDAYS

By Christina Katz

Teach Lifelong Graciousness By Encouraging Thank You Notes

eaching kids to express gratitude doesn’t have to end in tears or tantrums, if you approach the task with an upbeat, playful attitude yourself. Teach your kids to think of gratitude as “thank you time,” instead of attaching too much anxiety to the task of writing a note. Using a simple, relaxed approach, you can teach your kids valuable lessons about appreciation that will last a lifetime. Somebody loves you. Start by reminding your child that needing to write a thank you note is wonderful in the first place because it means someone loves you enough to give you a gift. Who wouldn’t want to say thank you when you put it like that? Let preschoolers scribble. Use blank cards and envelopes to get very young children involved in the thank you note process. Explain what you are creating in a cheery tone, and you will set a great precedent for fun, colorful thank you notes down the road. Forget time pressure. Chillax. Writing thank you notes is not a race or a competition. The more pressure you apply to grateful actions, the more angst you instill in the task. Just because your mother insisted you write your notes within 24 hours doesn’t mean that’s the only way. Let the kids write the thank you notes when you can find some thoughtful down time to do the job well, rather than feeling rushed. Keep a gift list. This is key at a busy party or event. Keep a clipboard handy where you mark down whom to thank and why. If someone gives a gift, describe the gift with a few details. But don’t stop there. If someone does a good deed, jot down a few words about the person and the deed. This clipboard becomes your go-to source for a regular thank you note practice. Keep cards at the ready. Purchase a greeting-card sorter so you can keep track 8

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of all types of cards, including blank cards and homemade cards. Let kids choose the card design they prefer or let them create their own. Have special thank you tools. Create a thank you note kit with special supplies just for thank you note writing to make the process more fun. Here’s what to put in yours: • Pens or markers – think glitter or calligraphy, • Stickers or even envelope sealing wax, • Special thank you note stamps. Provide writing templates. Neatly handwrite or type age-appropriate templates for your child to follow when writing thank you notes until your child learns what is typically is included by heart. Be sure to include: • A greeting • A thank you for the gift or gesture • What the recipient likes most • Hopes of seeing the giver soon • “Thanks again” • An upbeat closing.

Also provide address templates. Very young children will need to have their thank you notes addressed for them. Once kids are old enough to write, create an address template for them to follow, including the return address, address, and where the stamp goes. Teach them to write “Please do not bend” on the envelope and to use extra postage when sending photos. Encourage self-expression. Teach your children that thank you notes are a form of self-expression. Add drawings of the gift or gifts, photos of the opening of the gift, photos of the gift in action, photos of your child with the gift-giver, or a drawing of the child with the gift-giver. See what ideas your children can come up with and let them use their unique talents and work with what you have on hand. 2-4-6-8, look for folks to appreciate! Don’t merely write thank you notes for gifts. If someone’s good deed impacts your child, ask if that person should go on the gratitude list. In this way, note writing becomes a celebratory habit, not merely a task to dread after receiving gifts.

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By Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

Save on Birthday Party Gifts by Creating a Birthday Box

hen you have young children, attending birthday parties can become a weekly event. In the preschool and elementary age set, kids tend to invite their whole class to their parties, which can mean more presents to buy. This can quickly add up, so what’s a thrifty parent to do? My solution is to create a “birthday box.” A birthday box is a stash of age-appropriate gifts stored in the house for just these occasions. When it’s time for the next party, your child goes “shopping” in the box. This will save you money, because you will stock up on items found on sale. Having a gift stash also will save you time and stress because you won’t have to stand in the aisle of the toy store trying in vain to explain to your child why you can’t afford the $100 LEGO set or latest skateboard for his preschool buddy! The key to stocking your gift box is not only to choose items that are on deep discount but also to stay away from fads, current trends, and time-sensitive items like calendars. Choose timeless gifts such as craft kits, art supplies, games, puzzles, and educational toys. That way, whether you have an opportunity to give the present tomorrow or six months from now, the gift will be appreciated. Now that you have a general idea, here are suggestions for where and when to find those bargains. Let’s go shopping! Where to shop Warehouse stores. I’ve found great gifts at Costco, such as mega-packs of colored markers, Play-Doh, and multi packs of books. Sometimes I even break up sets and mix and match items to make gift sets. Craft stores. Craft stores such as Hobby Lobby, JOANN, and Michaels often stock a selection of craft kits at slashed prices. Drug stores. Most drug stores have a toy aisle, and sometimes you will find smaller gifts at discounted prices. Even if it is a smaller item than you would feel comfortable giving, if the price is low, pick up a few because you can later package several smaller gifts together as one present. These also are great items to tie onto a package along with a ribbon to elevate the gift. I once found these super-cute clear bath soaps with a goldfish toy embedded inside the soap. I bought several and tied them onto wrapped birthday packages. They were a huge hit, and cost me less than $1 each. Big box and discount stores. Walmart and Target often have items on clearance prices. Always check the clearance and sales aisles to find a potential gift. And your local dollar store can be a treasure trove for a bargain seeker! If you like using gift bags, purchasing these at the dollar store will cut way down on your wrapping costs. Online. When stocking up, check online stores, such as Mindware (Mindware.com) and Learning Resources (learningresources.

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com). Both carry educational and unusual toys and games. Because these items are less common, you have less chance of giving a duplicate gift. Once on the sites above, check the “Sale” or “Clearance” section. The toy company Melissa and Doug offer quality products that are usually completely out of my price range, but I’ve found some gems in the clearance section at www.melissaanddoug.com. Book fairs. If you have an elementary school-age child, you probably will go to at least one book fair per year. The Scholastic company offers fun kits and books paired with toys at these fairs, often for reasonable prices. At many schools, if you volunteer at the book fair, you can get an additional discount. In addition, librarians, school employees, volunteers, and home school teachers also may shop at Scholastic’s warehouse sales. End-of season sales. Don’t forget to check the clearance aisles at your favorite stores at the end of each season. For example, at the end of summer, stock up on water toys, sand toys, and bubble mix. The key to saving money is to keep your eyes open for deals every time you are out shopping. Keeping your gift box stocked will save you both money and stress over time. However, make sure you hide the box from your own kiddos, or they might go shopping for themselves! TIFFANY DOERR GUERZON is a freelance writer and thrifty mother of three children. Read more of her writing at www.TDGuerzon.com. neafamily.com

BIRTHDAYS

By Sarah Lyons

Have a Happy Birthday (Without the Party)

Budget friendly birthday ideas that make your child feel special

he day your children were born is a day to celebrate and make them feel special. Birthday parties are fun, but they can be a lot of work, and the costs can add up quickly. If you decide to skip the party, you can still celebrate big. Here are some ideas to make sure your child’s birthday is special. Create anticipation As the birthday approaches, build anticipation by talking about it and planning what the day will hold. You can create a special countdown by making a paper chain and tearing off one chain per day or even just counting down the number of days on a chalkboard in your home. Explain that although there will not be a big birthday party this year, there still will be a lot of fun things planned. Make the cake A great way to save money on a birthday celebration is to make the cake yourself. Choose flavors and colors or themes your child loves and get siblings involved in the preparation. Kids typically don’t care about whether the cake is perfectly decorated – they are happy with a cake that is made just for them.

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Tell their story Kids love to hear stories about the day they were born, the cute things they did as a baby, or how you prepared for their arrival. Spend part of the day telling favorite stories about your child – she is sure to love it. Have others reach out Ask friends and family to wish your child a happy birthday with calls, texts, messages, or cards. Consider talking to family members via FaceTime or Skype. This will help your child know that others are

celebrating him even if you aren’t hosting a big birthday party this year. As parents, we often feel like we have to spend a lot to make our child’s birthday special when this is truly not the case. With a little extra planning, your child’s day can be just as special as any expensive party. SARAH LYONS is a stay-at-home mom to six children. Some years her kids celebrate their birthday with a party and other years they choose to celebrate in other ways.

Create a balloon avalanche When your child goes to sleep the night before their birthday, decorate the house with balloons or birthday decor. Try taping a disposable tablecloth to the outside of the door jam and fill the space between with balloons. When your child opens the door, she will be greeted with a balloon avalanche that is sure to put a big smile on her face. Make it kid’s choice When you are planning the day, consider your child’s favorites. Plan the day’s meals around your child’s favorite foods. Choose things that you typically do not serve to make the day more special. If you will go on an outing or if you will be dining out, let the child choose the location. Document the day Create a list of questions to ask your child on his birthday, such as “Who is your best friend?” or list TV shows, songs, foods, etc. Record the answers in a safe place and repeat each year. It’s fun to look back and see how your child has changed and matured over the years.

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