A Westchester Park Pass is available to all Westchester County residents, ages 12 and up for $75 and is valid for three years. Residents must show proof of residency and apply in person at several area locations including County offices in Mt. Kisco and White Plains, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River and Playland Park in Rye. In the summer passes are also available at pools and golf courses. Read more…

Camps: This summer, millions of children will get their first taste of independence at a summer resident camp. For many, it will also be their first experience with homesickness. But parents don’t have to feel helpless when homesickness strikes. The prescription for camper homesickness is a simple solution of preparation and patience. Read more…

Vacations: Sometimes, it’s good for kids to get a reality check, with a firsthand look of what life was like before technology, when hard work was necessary for just simple living. Fortunately, there are several living history sites throughout the northeast that welcome families with interpretive, but fun, displays and activities. Read more…

Dad Stuff: Like many dads in his community Dereck works long hours - plus a commute to his offices in New York City – and he looks forward to family ime on the weekends. He envisioned playing soccer, hosting cookouts, celebrating holidays; that all seems like a lost dream now. When did parenting become so difficult? Read more…

Camps: When I was young, there were certain books I read many times over. One was about a girl named Judy whose parents owned an ice-cream shop in Brooklyn; another was about a scary old couple who nearly brought the world to an end. But my very favorite was about a girl who attended sleep-away camp. Read more…

Tweens: Show your kids where real food comes from. A day out at the farm is the perfect way to combine fresh air, wholesome food, physical activity and respect for the food chain. Even better, Hemlock Hill Farm (HHF) is right here in Westchester. Read more…

Media: Walk down the street and you’ll probably see multiple strollers with babies holding iPhones or children playing with tablets, while parents chat or just take a much-needed break. Then there are preschoolers who are mesmerized in front of the television screen for hours while mommy cooks dinner or tends to other children. When it comes to screen time and preschoolers, it’s hard to ignore all of the devices around you. Let’s face it, some provide proper learning tools, but in some cases, they just make easy babysitters. Read more…

Tweens: From the moment your child wakes up until they go to sleep at night, their eyes are working to help them take in the world around them. We spoke with Kelly Hutcheson, M.D., MBA, and the Director of Ophthalmology at Westchester Medical Center Health Network for tips on how to keep your child’s eyes healthy from infancy and throughout the school years. Read more…

Entertainment: Two parts – an afternoon and evening OR consecutive evenings – for Potter fans it’s not an issue. For others, perhaps, a little bit of an endurance test. With that said, this is one of the most magical staging of any show ever to hit Broadway. Parents turn into children right before your eyes. Gravity is not an issue. No strings attached. Really. You won’t see how they do it – and that’s half the fun. Read more…

Tweens: Eating outdoors is one of the many pleasures of summer. Try these locations that offer much more than just a patch of grass for dining al fresco. Read more…

Miscarriage: As children, most of us sat through health class where we learned the basics of reproduction. We were taught how to avoid pregnancy, abstinence, condoms or other forms of protection, which is information we dutifully used into our 20’s or later. So, when the time comes to begin building a family, many of us find ourselves wanting for information. We spend so many years working to prevent pregnancy that some of us do not consider the ins and outs of family building until it is too late. Read more…