By Bekah Wright

Childhood memories of family trips to the beach often involve long stretches of pristine, white sand where hours of sandcastle building took place and breaking for a cold drink meant merely running a few steps away to beachfront accommodations. Such idyllic daydreams still exist. One place they’re found in Southern California is the historic Hotel del Coronado (The Del).

It’s easy to imagine families from years past making return visits every year to the 122-year-old, red-roofed, Victorian hotel. The Del’s home – beautiful Coronado Island, California, just across the Coronado Bay Bridge from San Diego. Stepping things up for family convenience was a $150-million renovation in January 2008 that included the unveiling of the property’s new cottages and villas located within the private Beach Village.

Ideal for families, Beach Village accommodations graduate up from a guestroom to three-bedroom cottage and villas right on Coronado Beach. All have either terraces or balconies, many with a private day tub or fire pit. Inside larger units are gourmet kitchens decked out with a Wolf® cooktop and oven, Subzero® drawer-style refrigerator/freezer, Fisher-Paykel® dishwasher and cookware, dinnerware and silverware with which to load it.

A fireplace keeps things cozy in the great room while watching an after-dinner movie on the 42” flatscreen television. Once the tykes are tucked in bed, or cribs available from the resort, parents can slip into the decadent soaking tub for some twosome time. Afterwards, cuddling can be done in the master suite by the flicker of the bedroom fireplace. Of course, a 42” flatscreen television is here, too, for fans of late night talk shows.

The best way to start the day is with the complimentary buffet breakfast at the Windsor Club Cottage, an amenity available only to Beach Village visitors. Here’s it possible to sip fresh orange juice and observe surf conditions from the patio, warmed by a fire pit.

Afterwards, little ones, ages four to 12, can check into Hotel Del’s Kidtopia. Older siblings, ages 13 to 17, can sign up for the Vibz Teen Lounge. The year-round programs offer three-hour camps that cost $50 per child and $45 for each additional child, including meals.

On tap at Kidtopia are theme days like “Knights of the Round Table,” that include creating crowns and shields before embarking on a scavenger hunt or “Explore the Map,” during which kids tap into other cultures by painting boomerangs, making Chinese fans and playing with Native American rain sticks.

At Vibz, teens can play games like billiards, foosball and darts or show off their performance skills with karaoke or Dance Dance Revolution. The drop-by lounge is free to resort guests.

A camp that’s ubiquitous with So Cal’s beach scene is Hotel Del’s Summer Surf Camp. Open to ages eight through 16, the program offers surf instruction Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes lunch and a t-shirt. Aside from the camp, 90-minute, group lessons are available for $90 per person; 90-minute private lessons are $120 for the first person and $95 for each additional participant.

Spurring further creativity are the one-hour craft projects ($20 per child) where memory boxes are constructed, tie-dye t-shirts designed and sun catchers decorated. Grownups can get in on the action, too, during “Deck Rec” at the main pool with necklace-making, henna tattoos and Bingo.

As for date nights, kids have their own through “Kid’s Night Out” ($70 per child) with dinner coupled with “Holiday Mix-Up” and “Hawaiian Luau” parties. Summer evenings bring with them family fun through “Dive-In Movies” viewed via inner tubes in the main resort pool or s’more-making on the beach (also available nightly for guests who have their own fire pit).

While in the San Diego, there’s much to do that will appeal to all family members (see all the activities on the next page). On site at The Del are a plethora of outdoor activities to engage in as well. The boardwalk along the beach that stretches into a two-mile bike course into downtown Coronado is the place for cycling with a rental of a bike, surrey or deuce coup from PeDel’s Bike Rentals.

A course popular with golfers is the 18-hole, par 72 Coronado Municipal Golf Course. The perfect post-golf game wind-down can be had through the Fitness Center at The Del with a yoga or Pilates class.

Hitting the “high seas” can be done via vessels that range from paddleboats and kayaks to jet skis and wakeboards rented from the resort’s boathouse. This is also the spot to book a sunset sail aboard a 22’ or 36’ sailboat navigated by a seasoned captain. For beach action, equipment, like boogie boards and volleyballs can be obtained through the main pool or, during summer months, Cabana and Boardwalk Beach Rentals.

Speaking of swimming pools, Beach Village has it’s own private pool surrounded by cabanas from which adults can watch kids frolic with provided kickboards and water toys. The main pool is open as well to Beach Village guests looking for a cool spot to relax.

The ultimate in relaxation awaits in Spa at The Del with treatments like the signature Shell Coronado Massage using a heated tiger clamshell to release knotted muscles. The spa isn’t restricted to adults-only. Ages 13 and up can partake in treatments created with them in mind like the Teen Spa Sampler and Teen Salon Sampler. Those looking to get a makeover should book time at Yamaguchi Salon for a famed Feng Shui consultation with celebrity hair stylist Billy Yamaguchi.

Glammed up for the evening, there are myriad on site dining venues that call for celebrating. Just right for families is Sheerwater restaurant with its California cuisine (kids 12 and under eat free) or Southland Coastal Cuisine in the elegant 1500 OCEAN. Over dinner is a good time to plan the days ahead with time allotted for visiting the The Del’s shops, strolling through downtown Coronado and indulging in Sunday brunch in the resort’s Crown Room.

Of course, topping the list of “must dos” while visiting The Hotel Del is hitting the 28 acres of seashore and completing the most important of tasks — building sandcastles on the beach.”

NEXT: Things to do in San Diego:

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We all know that young babies and children are like sponges. After all, how else could they remember all those “adult” words we wish they wouldn’t repeat!

Because of this, most experts agree that the earlier a child is introduced to a second language, the better their chances of becoming fluent in it. Children who know a second language are also more likely to score higher grades in school and on standardized tests. Fluent knowledge of a second language will also help them down the road when they enter the job market. So the real question becomes: Why WOULDN’T you teach your child a second language?

We spoke with Michael Fee, managing director of Lango, a foreign language center for kids. With locations from California to New York, Lango teaches children ages 18 months to eight years new languages in full immersion classes through Adventure Learning©, an innovative approach that combines stories, music and movement, playacting and game-playing in an engaging, format that kids love. Read our Q&A with him below:

Do children learn languages easier at an earlier age?

Absolutely. Research has consistently shown that an “acquisition window” is open until about age eight. During this time kids are able to learn a language naturally, absorbing it without having to translate or otherwise work from the reference point of their first language. Their minds and their mouths haven’t been fully “biased” to the sounds of their first language.

What’s the best age to start them?

As early as possible! Ideally a child should start learning a second language while learning his or her first.

If English is going to be a child’s first language, could learning another one at the same time confuse them?

Research shows that while there may be a brief initial period of slower acquisition of the primary language, this soon disappears; later, it has been demonstrated, having learned that second language actually improves understanding and usage of the first.

What do you think are the most effective methods of teaching a young child a second language?

Exposure of any kind is great, but at Lango we’re firm believers that direct, interactive exposure to a native speaker in a positive, dynamic environment is by far the best way to learn

What tips do you have for parents who would like to try to teach their children a second language at home?

First, stick with it! Learning a second language is a lifelong endeavor that takes perseverance and patience. Second, try to expose your child to a native speaker in a positive, interactive environment as frequently as possible. Finally, supplement that experience with any and all exposure to credible resources. When it comes to learning a language, the more the better – as long as the resources used are of high quality.

To learn more about Lango and their classes, as well as their locations, please visit their website, www.langokids.com

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Read which toys are best for encouraging motor skills at the end of this article!
Plus, Gross Motor Skills: Milestones. Where should your toddler be and when? Find out below.

By Stacy Whitman

I’ll never forget my son Whit’s first triumphant steps. For months, he’d been walking while clutching onto something, usually my hand. But shortly after his first birthday, he fi nally got the courage to let go. Holding out his hands to brace for a fall, he tentatively put one foot in front of the other, into my waiting arms. As I cheered, he broke into an enormous smile and an excited giggle. He couldn’t have been more proud—and I couldn’t wait to call his dad.

From walking and running to climbing and jumping, the toddler years are a time of major development of gross motor skills. While watching your little one meet each milestone can be fun, it also signals that he’s on track developmentally. But to master these movement skills, kids need lots of practice, notes pediatrician Tanya Remer Altmann, author of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) book The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones (Bantam Dell, 2006). And she and other experts say that toddlers can be helped along with the right activities and environment.

The mind-body connection

Gross motor skills refer to large movements of the limbs and torso that require a complex interaction between the brain, nervous system and muscles. When babies are born, the parts of their brain that control and coordinate movement are immature, Altmann explains. Plus, they don’t have the physical strength to lift their head, much less stand up and walk. But over time, “nerve pathways are laid down and corresponding muscles strengthened so that they can respond to the nerve impulses and produce the required action,” says Altmann.

Most children acquire movement skills in the same predictable pattern, with the achievement of one milestone serving as a building block for the next, Altmann adds. For example, they crawl before they walk, and walk before they run, skip or hop. In turn, gross motor skills set the groundwork for fi ne motor skills, or small, precise movements of the hands, fingers, feet and toes.

“If a child has good head and neck control and a strong trunk from an activity like crawling, he’ll have an easier time sitting and practicing fi ne motor movements like eating with a spoon and coloring,” explains Gay Girolami, P.T., executive director of Pathways Center in Glenview, Ill., a pediatric therapy clinic for kids with early motor delays.

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By Lindsay Goldenberg

Just because it’s snowing, sleeting, or just plain cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t plan fun, new activites with your toddler. Whether you want to stay inside or are dying to escape the house, we’ve got some bright ways to make your play schedule weather-proof.

1. Go to the library
3-6-years old is a great time to introduce your toddler to the wonders of a public library. Take him through all the various sections, explain how the process of checking books in/out works, and have him pick out his very first “library” book. You can even plan your visit around a Toddler Storytime or other scheduled children’s activity that the library offers.

2. Check out a children’s museum
Children’s museums are a great place for little ones to explore different sights, sounds, and textures. They’re also a great place for visiting grandparents to take the kids, too (and give you a breather!) Bring a camera and a brown bag lunch/snack, and enjoy the fun bonding experience a children’s museum can offer.

Locate a children’s museum in your area by clicking HERE

3. Put on a puppet show
Every house has a drawer of lonely socks…you know, those left behind after their mate mysterously disappears in the laundry. Put them to good use with a homemade puppet show in your living room. Invite other toddlers and moms over, and make it a great play-date.

For instructions on how to decorate a sock puppet, click HERE

For funny scripts, click HERE

For instructions on how to build a puppet theater out of a box, click HERE

4. Photo Shoot!
Do your in-laws constantly ask for more photos of their grandkids? Play professional photographer and set up your own photo shoot. Grab a camera (it doesn’t have to be fancy…a disposable one with a flash will work just as well!), and have your tot dress up in their favorite outfit or costume. Attach a plain sheet to the wall using thumbtacks or straight pins on the top and sides, and let the bottom drape over the floor. Then, ask your toddler to do fun poses. You’ll love the results (and so will grandma!)

5. Start a playgroup
It’s crucial for toddlers to interact with other children, especially in a play environment. This allows them to explore and imitate other’s children’s play habits, which are all part of healthy development. It also teachs your toddler to share and communicate properly with others (especially if they’re an only child.)

Looking for other moms in your area? Start a group for your city in our community and set up a play date with other members! Click HERE to join.

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By Nancy Gottesman

Now that you have children, you probably give more consideration to the food you bring into your home. Is it nutritious? Is it kid-friendly? Is it safe? Many moms and dads in the U.S. are thinking along these same lines. Six years ago, only 29 percent of Americans purchased organic foods and drinks in natural food stores. Today, 49 percent do so. According to a prominent 2006 consumer-behavior study, one reason for the boom in the organics market is an increasing number of people like you: parents who are concerned about the effect of pesticides and other toxins on their children’s health.

What’s the difference?

Organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetics or sewage sludge, bioengineering or irradiation. Organic meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products must come from antibiotic- and hormone-free animals. A product can be labeled “organic” only after the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects the farm where food is grown to certify that it meets these organic standards. In addition to the lack of toxins, organic foods are produced by farmers who practice soil and water conservation. “From an environmental standpoint, sustainable [organic] farming is better for the earth and improves animal welfare, which will ultimately benefi t all of us in the long term,” says Linda Somers, R.D., pediatric nutritionist at Children’s Mem

Children and pesticides

Although eating organic foods does indeed promote environmental health, perhaps the best argument for going organic is your child’s age and size. Toddlers take in two to four times more food per pound of body weight than the average adult; thus, they have the potential to ingest more pesticides per pound of body weight as well. “When a 20-pound toddler eats an apple, he gets six times the relative pesticide dose of a 120-pound adult,” explains Alan Greene, M.D., a pediatrician and assistant clinical professor, Division of General Pediatrics, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University School of Medicine. Research has shown that eating organic foods can limit that exposure. In one study, children in Seattle, age 2–4 years, were monitored as they ate different types of diets.

While eating the organic foods, the children’s urine samples showed nondetectable levels of pesticides commonly used in U.S. agricultural production. Once the children ate conventional foods (i.e., nonorganic) again, the concentration of pesticides increased substantially in their urine. Yet to be answered by the scientifi c community, however, is how serious a health risk ingesting pesticides or antibioticand hormone-laden meat and dairy products really is.

In the absence of solid evidence, experts recommend that you err on the side of caution, especially since we don’t know how pesticides affect developing brains and bodies. “If you have a choice between ingesting toxins or not, it makes sense to choose not to,” maintains Somers.

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As a parent, you want to capture every smile, giggle, step, and birthday your child has. But, just like we can’t all cook like Martha Stewart without a recipe, we don’t always know how to take a great photo!

We talked to professional baby/toddler photographer Raye Law and asked her to give us 10 easy, quick tips for taking photos just like the pros. It tuns out you don’t need a fancy schmancy camera or a professional backdrop to take a great photo…you just need to follow these simple rules.

Go to the next page to read Raye’s 10 Tips for Great Toddler Photos.

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Teaching your child about an animal’s need for food, water and exercise is critical, but don’t expect a toddler to take responsibility for the pet’s care. “It’s not in their capability,” says Michele Borba. But your child can help, and when he does, remember to thank him so that he gets to experience the pride and confidence of being a good pet owner.

What a toddler can’t do:

» Take the dog for a walk
» Remember to feed the pet every day
» Make the final decision about the best pet to get (only you should do this with help from a vet)
» Keep a pet groomed
» Train a pet

What a toddler can do:

» Get the leash; walk along with you and the pet
» Help fill the pet dish with food/water
» Name the pet
» Get the brush and groom with you
» Repeat one or two simple commands to a dog, such as “sit”

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For Ages: 18 months to 4 years,
Time: 30 minutes

What You’ll Need

* heavy colored card stock
* white or colored paper
* scissors (the type that cut decorative edges can be fun)
* sponges, Styrofoam, rubber stamps or homemade potato stamps
* stick glue
* various colors of kid-safe liquid paint
* ribbon
* flat containers for paint (from which each color can be applied to stamps)

What to Do

1. Cut card stock into the size and number of playing cards desired. Cut paper slightly smaller, using decorative-edge scissors if desired.

2. Set out sponges or stamps and various containers of paint. Have your child stamp two of each shape onto playing-card-size pieces of paper. Let dry.

3. Mount paintings on uniform-size cards using stick glue. Decorate as desired. If you decorate the backs of the cards, make all of them uniform.

4. When the cards are finished, mix them up and turn them all face down in rows on a table. Play with your toddler, taking turns turning over two cards at a time to find two matching cards.

5. Tie cards together with a ribbon for storage.

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By Nancy Gottesman

Head lice aren’t an infectious disease, but they are one of the most common childhood complaints. Although the Centers for Disease Control has no reliable data quantifying the number of people who get head lice annually, experts do know that children ages 3 to 11—and their families—are infested most often (girls more so than boys).

High in the “eeew” factor, head lice can affect anyone—regardless of socioeconomics or hygiene practices. Specially formulated over-the counter shampoos usually get rid of lice. If not, your pediatrician can prescribe a more potent shampoo. But your best bet is to avoid getting the little buggers in the first place by taking these precautions:

» Teach your child to avoid head-to-head contact.

» Do not share combs, brushes, hats, scarves, hair bands or bike helmets with anyone, whether they have lice or not.

» Do not allow your child to use linens or towels or lie on rugs recently used by someone with lice.

» If any family member has had contact with someone who has had lice, examine their scalps. If you find lice or nits (eggs) on the scalp, apply over-the-counter lice shampoo and follow the label instructions. You’ll also need to wash the clothing and linens used by this family member in the two-day period before treatment started.

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From the featured blog, Parenting BY Dummies

When #1 was my only child I considered myself something of a child development and behavioral expert.

My kid was good so obviously I was doing everything right.

Now, three kids later, not so much.

While I still like to think I’m something of a kid raising expert*, I realize that being a successful parental disciplinarian is more than just luck of the mild-mannered-by-nature-child draw.

It requires forethought (from what I hear) and deliberation.

You can’t just accidentally discipline your kids into being good citizens (actually I think you sorta can, it’s just not as sure fire as some of the other more widely suggested strategies).

But with preparation and planning you can certainly brainwash guide your child into being a responsible, productive member of society with character and manners to boot (at least that’s what I hear).

Here are a few tips anyone can employ for dealing with day-to-day childhood transgressions.

For the serious (aka crazy in an unsettling and/or frightening way) behavior issues, seek out a professional. 

A real one.

‘Cause I don’t do crazy.

Dumb Mom’s Guide to Disciplining You Kids Like You Mean It

1.  Learn these four words.  Because.  I.  Said.  So.  They are the end all and be all at Casa de Dummies.  Some people think you need to give kids logical explanations and involve them in the decision making process by giving them preapproved choices.  Something about how it helps them learn responsibility and feel empowered and stuff like that.  I say no thank you.  I don’t require empowered children.  I require obedient children who do exactly as I say (not as I do).  Besides, at least 75% of the time, no logical reason for my requests exists.  I’m pretty much just making stuff up as I go.  For example, is there a reason why I want them to go play in the play room?  Um yeah, so I can be alone.  To eat my Oreos in peace.  But, instead of saying, “Mommy wants you to go away so I can stuff my face with sweet goodness and not have to share with you,”  which would lead to time wasted on crying, complaining, begging for inclusion and the like, I like to say, “Because I said so.”  Gets the mommy-quest-to-gain-20lbs-by-summer show on the road!

2.  Be creative.  They are after all.  The Dudes come up with the most inventive, surprising ways to get into mischief.  So, I say, “Hey Kid, I’ll see your decoupaging of your brother, and raise you a decoupage in your toothpaste tube.”  I didn’t expect to have my toddler covered in craft glue, and I bet he will be pretty surprised to have his lips glued to his teeth!  I know the “experts” go on and on about being a role model for your children, and being consistent in selecting a punishment that fits the crime, but again, I advise people to do things that work for their family, and if your child responds best to this sort of “creative” punishment then so be it.  Some kids need to have their mouths glued shut a couple of times before they realize that you are a force to be reckoned with.

3.  Bribery.  It works.  In pretty much every scenario you come up with, bribery will have moderate to extreme success and should therefore always be considered a viable option for getting results.  I use it daily.

4.  Consistency.  In all seriousness (I hope you realize that the first 3 responses were pretty much for fun, mostly), the most important advice (next to don’t laugh, I don’t care how funny your toddler’s cursing is, you can NOT laugh) I can give parents when it comes to disciplining their children is consistency.**   Children (and adults really) need to know what to expect when it comes to discipline.  They need to know what the consequences for their actions are going to be beforehand, and when they commit a behavioral offense their expectations need to be met pretty much every time.  If this does not occur children get confused about what’s expected of them and this confusion leads them to test the limits.  Limit testing, for the record, is BAD.

5.  Positivity, negotiation, and responsibility.  Big words for such a dumb mom, eh?  Once you’ve mastered consistency and everyone is on the same how-to-behave-or-else page you can move along to the fun stuff!  Focusing on the positive (you know, catching your kid doing something good and calling him out on it); negotiating your way through slip ups (because they are bound to happen; kids are human after all); and teaching your little people how to own up to transgressions (naturally their first inclination will be to deny, deny, deny; it’s your job to teach them that it’s wrong, even though it really does feel kind of right).  Personally, I have a hard time remembering to catch my dudes being good.  I think it’s that my kids are so darn bad I am so busy trying to prevent the naughty that I forget one of the best ways to do that is by consistently (there’s that word again!) praising the positive. 

There you have it, the so-easy-a-dummy-can-do-it guide to making your kids easy to be around.

Seriously, if I can do this stuff, you can too!

*Dumb Mom holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.  No one said she was uneducated!

*For real.  Consistency is the key. 

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