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Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
Hawaii ideas says
Looking for advice on where to stay in Hawaii (specific resorts) with an almost 2 year old, a 5 year old, two parents, and two grandparents. My husband and I have been to Maui a couple of times and really liked it, so slight preference for there, but very open to other islands too. We want beachfront (with beach chair service) and a pool and think we’d probably like a kids’ club but tell me if that’s not worth it!
Understand that this is likely to be spendy; we’re willing to be in the $1000/night range and if you’ve got a great idea that’s pricier than that, I’m still interested in hearing it.
Thank you!
NYCer says
Not on Maui, but the Mauna Kea is my favorite hotel in Hawaii. I think they have half day kids program, but only for kids over 5.
Anonymous says
We stayed at the International Colony Club in Ka’anapali, it’s not a resort but a community of little houses with a pool. You can get a 3-bed house for less than $1000/night, and it’s right across the street from the beach at the Westin (which you can use, the beach is public).
Anon says
I’m not a Disney person in general, but Aulani is a great resort for this age range. It’s on a man-made lagoon that’s really gentle, and there’s a kids club for ages 4+.
anon says
I don’t know cost now but we stayed at the Westin in Maui, which we liked because we had the option to join a studio and a 1 bedroom suite. My parents stayed in the studio and we stayed in the 1br. We also stayed in a 2br at the Hoana Kai, which had a great pool complex.
My kids did not like kids clubs, personally (I couldn’t get the youngest to stay and the older two wouldn’t stay if the youngest wasn’t staying).
The Grand Wailea is probably too $$$, but has a fantastic pool. Overall we like the Lahaina side better.
Anonymous says
I have a recommendation for redweek.com. It is people selling their timeshare weeks. It is legit I found that it has better offerings and rates, at least from Maui, for multi bedroom suites. personally, I like multi bedroom suites and kitchens when traveling with a family. Doing it via redweek made it very affordable.
We stayed at the Marriott ocean sweep last time, but I was more partial to the Westin Nanea we stayed at previously.
CCLA says
Check out the Fairmon kea lani on Maui – might be a little over your price range though. That’s where we’re targeting next, DH was there years ago and friends of ours were there recently with a little one and loved it. I don’t think any kids club would take a 2yo so my vote is don’t focus on that too much since you can’t offload both kids.
I’ve been intrigued by the Hyatt in Kaanapali because there are condo style units but there is also the hotel, and you can supposedly use all the amenities even if staying in the condos, which I would like if bringing the grandparents. I really like being walkable to the restaurants and boat tour loading in Kaanapali, though admittedly have not been to Maui since the fires last year. We used to stay at the Kaanapali Alii but realized at this point in our lives we want poolside service so are looking elsewhere for our next trip.
Also seconding Aulani as someone noted below. We used the hotel portion but you can also access condo style units via DVC (I am not a DVC member, no idea how that works). The pools had lifeguards which was really nice for added layer of peace of mind, there was a small water park for kids 48″ and under – my 4.5yo LOVED that. The beach was super shallow and calm, so not great for like boogie boarding but super nice for playing for the kids. Dining was kind of a zoo and nothing amazing, but recommend a 5 min walk to the restaurant at the Four Seasons next door for excellent food, or MonkeyPod across the way.
Fallen says
How soon is too soon to start music and theater classes? I am trying to find activities my 5.5 year old might like, and he has always been very interested in music but I hear kids need to be older to start piano.
He hates sports etc but is very nerdy and loves school etc., if anyone has any ideas for other activities that would be great. He needs activities because he is constantly in my hair at home and can’t play independently and it’s hard with his older sister, dog, and million other life things that need to be done. He has hated soccer, tennis, basketball, swim. He loves reading and math lol and playing board games at home with us but I haven’t found a single after school activity he likes
Anon says
they have theater classes for kids that age where I live. I have 2 5.5 year olds, who’ve expressed an interest, but we haven’t found a way to fit into our schedule yet. other ideas include Chess, there are all of these lego clubs near us or one called Lego Robotics, coding, science, cooking class, art
Anonymous says
Our area has a performing arts center that starts in PK. As the kids get older the classes are more structured. Kids in 1st and under are just once a week musical theater with a performance. 2nd on up do acting, shows, etc. I think they wait until second grade because kids need to be able to read scripts for things like acting and shows.
Anonymous says
I think piano is fine at age 5.5 if he is interested and can read (words–the piano teacher will teach him to read music). There are also more general music literacy classes for kids this age that teach sight-singing, Orff instruments, etc. and can prepare kids for future piano study. Other activities that tend to appeal to kids who are less traditionally sporty include pre-ballet and martial arts.
DLC says
+1 for Orff classes. If you can find Orff music classes or some similar general music class, I think those are a great way to start a kid in music. I would do that before starting a kid in piano because you get a solid foundation in learning about rhythm and reading music.
Anonymous says
Active ideas: karate, gymja/ninja classes, gymnastics (find a boys class), climbing
Non active ideas: coding, Russian school of math, art/painting, Theatre, chess club, scouts, piano/music, put park and Rec has a couple things like a kids cooking class.
Anonymous says
My kids loves Russian School of Math. She also started piano in 1st grade (at 6) and she could have started in K.
Fallen says
He is in RSM and he says its his favorite activity haha. I am just trying to add stuff that may expand his interests outside of academics.
Mary Moo Cow says
My area has after school music classes in ukulele, music sampler, guitar: maybe yours does, too! You do have to look for it/by word of mouth. Something like martial arts (that is often recommended in my area for kids who like independence and structure or don’t love group sports)? Scouting? My kids love it because it’s practical with an emphasis on skills and being outdoors.
anon says
What about a tutor/babysitter who plays games with him 1 on 1? They could read together, play math games, board games etc. This is probably easier if you have a playroom/extra space at the house. I’m thinking like a mother’s helper/neighborhood teen looking for extra cash. Bonus points if they could walk him to a park or library.
Spirograph says
Kids do not need to be older to start piano, it just depends on which curriculum the teacher is following. Some teachers prefer to start kids at 7+ when they can read and have a bit longer attention span. Suzuki teachers often work with kids younger than 5. I’d give it a try! Suzuki has a parental involvement component, so maybe read up on it a bit before you jump in. You *will* see detractors if you wade into the piano pedagogy internet, but it’s fine, I promise.
(Source, I started piano at 5 and was not my Suzuki teacher’s youngest student. In elementary school I did primarily Suzuki method with supplemental music theory and other repertoire sprinkled in, then branched out and have been playing piano ever since. My current piano teacher won’t work with kids younger than 7)
Anon says
I have a very similar son who loves violin and chess, both of which give him something to “do” when he used to struggle to amuse himself independently.
He started Suzuki violin at age 4, and it’s been a huge source of joy for him. He was determined to play — he asked for a full year before I caved and started lessons for him. Agreed that there is a shocking number of people who hate the method, but for a child who (1) couldn’t read but (2) was dying to play, it was an awesome program. We never drilled down on practice (so we did intentionally avoid the Very Formal Music School, but worked fine with a local, kind teacher), and just always focused on “we love hearing you play!” and he’s played joyfully for years. He transitioned away from the method around age 9, but that was mostly because he wanted to play more contemporary music. Often when he, ahem, driving me nuts, I’ll ask him to bring out his violin and play for me. He usually plays a song or two for me, then kind of ends up in his own world of playing.
Another activity to look into for your son is chess club — our local rec center offers classes, and my kids have always loved it. There are tons of tournaments if that ends up being his thing, and you can set him up with an online chess account or an electronic chess set to keep him occupied.
Anon says
And to clarify, both my kids started chess at age 5 (now 11 and 9). My husband taught them how to move the pieces first, then they started at the local chess club. Neither enjoyed tournaments, so we mostly avoided those, but they regularly play each other or my husband now.
Cb says
My son started ukulele last year, and several of the kids in his class do theatre classes, camps etc and enjoy them.
Anon says
My K-er has two friends who do ukulele. I tried to get her interested in it but she wasn’t having it.
anon says
Have you looked at Odyssey of the Mind? It’s a fabulous program for creative kids who like art, music, building and performing. The season runs starting in the fall, so he’d start next fall at the earliest.
Anonymous says
No first hand experience, but my (very artsy and creative) sister did Odyssey of the Mind through school and she loved it. I remember going to some of their showcases, and it seemed like a blast.
Anonymous says
Oooh I did it and one year my placed second in the world finals!! My kids are now that age and I’ve considered coaching…man, what a time suck. Still, I’m not talked out of it yet.
anon says
Music Together has teachers spread all over, I’ll add the class locator below. At 5 he might be one of the oldest kids in the class, but he’s definitely not too old, and you could bring little sister too. I don’t hate Suzuki method (I started at 6 yo myself) but I think Music Together is a better curriculum.
anon says
https://www.musictogether.com/class-locator
Anon says
Music Together is a family activity, so I don’t think it would solve the OP’s issue of wanting him out of her hair.
I did Music Together when my daughter was 1 and although she enjoyed it and it was a nice way to meet other new moms, it didn’t seem to be actually teaching anything substantive about music (which makes sense because the average age of the kid in the class was probably 15 months). I think a 5.5 year old would be way older than almost all the other kids (the oldest kid in all our sessions was maybe 3-3.5?) and it makes more sense to start a 5 year old in something like piano where they’re actually going to learn music.
Anon says
My siblings and I all started piano lessons at 5, not in a Suzuki program. Not sure about my siblings, but I was not reading until a few months after I was playing piano – i.e., learned to read sheet music before words. I am likely to start my kids with music lessons around the same age if it’s feasible and makes sense for our family!
Anon says
Is there chess club at your school? I bet he’d really enjoy that.
No experience on music but I don’t think 5 is too young for theatre if you can find a class. Our local community theater used to have classes for 4-7 year olds but now it’s only 8+ which is a bummer because I think my 5 year old would enjoy that.
Other ideas that I’ve seen work for kids who aren’t into ball sports: dance, gymnastics, ninja, tae kwan do, foreign language classes, rock climbing, art classes, swimming
Anonymous says
He can totally start theater. Were in DC burbs and imagination stage has classes for all ages. We started piano at 6 which I think was good. I second that it gives them something to fiddle around with at home.
anon says
My kids did a group intro to piano class starting at age 3, and then switched to formal lessons with a “fun” teacher at age 5 (very engaging, not very technical). One kid was very good and switched to a Very Formal Piano School (think Russian school of piano) at age 6 (1st grade).
FWIW, music is different than theater. Piano kid hates theater. Theater kid hates piano (but is still learning because it’s good for her theater career). I’d try intro classes for both. Maybe look at your community center?
Anonymous says
At that age, my child was not ready for piano (we tried, it was a huge bust). His hands were not yet dexterous enough and practicing / playing between lessons caused huge meltdowns every single time. A couple years later it’s a different story altogether.
Anon says
whats on the menu at your house tonight? DH is traveling this week for work and i’m lacking inspiration.
Lily says
either tofu with broccoli and spicy peanut sauce, or crunchy-cheesy bean bake.
my kids probably won’t eat either of those things so we’ll make something separate for them, like pasta or veggie burgers.
Anonymous says
Trader Joe’s orange chicken! Served with rice, cut up veggies and fruit for the kids, and salads for the grownups.
SC says
Pork loin chops, probably served with leftover veggies. We have potatoes, carrots, artichoke, broccoli, and green peas leftover from the past few nights. That’s probably not very inspiring.
Abby says
Trying the spicy peanut soup with sweet potato from pinch of yum!
anonM says
breakfast for dinner. French toast and sausage.
Anonymous says
Plated’s recipe for “Ginger Miso Quinoa Bowls with Sesame Sweet Potato, Edamame, and Cucumber Salad.” It is soooooo tasty. one of my kids is a picky eater who refuses things with flavor, so I just make a piece of toast for her fried egg on and slice up the other half of the cucumber for her to eat plain.
Nanny/Share Question says
(1) How do nanny share payments typically work? Nannies caring for 2 kids from one family in my area pays roughly $26/hr. In a share with two families each with one kid, so two kids total, does each family pay $13/hr, aka half? Slightly more than half? Assume that the nanny share happens in the same house each day so no added burden of travel, schedule shifting, etc, for the nanny generated by the share.
(2) If you have a nanny coming to your home (not a share) but she brings her granddaughter 4x/week, would you expect to pay “full freight”? Assume that there are no other complicating factors of the granddaughter (ie: ignore concerns about logistics, granddaughter’s age relative to my own kids, concerns about would nanny pay equal attention to my kid vs her family/blood relative, etc).
SC says
For (1), I would expect each family to pay half. There are pros and cons to the nanny being in your home vs dropping the kid off at the other person’s home, and I don’t know that either side of that is so advantageous that one family pays more than half. If the nanny is currently making $26, that seems to be the rate for 2 kids, though the age of the kids impacts rate as well. (Two 1 year olds is harder than a 1 year old and a 4 year old.)
For (2), if a nanny were coming to my home with her granddaughter 4x per week, I would expect to pay “full freight” if the granddaughter were old enough to be reasonably independent or even helpful but just not old enough to be home alone all day (like 10-12). If the granddaughter were young, I’d expect to pay more than half but less than full freight, maybe $18 instead of $26.
anon says
Granddaughter is pre-school age but not a baby.
NYCer says
I don’t know re (1), but for (2), I would assume you pay the same regardless of whether the nanny brings her granddaughter or not.
Anon says
Can’t help on #2. On #1, we did not use one but friends have and they have always split 50-50. The only cases we’re familiar with that had unequal split of payment was when one family had longer hours than the other. For fully shared nanny, the logistical benefits of hosting are typically assumed to be balanced out by any incremental cost (eg cleaning) as a result of having the kids and nanny in the apartment. Non-hosting family packs daily meals and snacks for their own kid to avoid draw on hosts’ pantry as well. The nanny usually still gets full pay even if one kid is away/on vacation, paid by both families, so there’s sometimes more coordination to line up nanny’s requested time off plus two separate families time off to avoid having many gaps without childcare. Not going to lie, we don’t know anyone who has made it more than a year with a nanny share arrangement, it’s inherently challenging. Need to be on same page as other family about hours, discipline, how to handle illness; want to be as close as possible (like same street not just same neighborhood); once one family has another kid or gets a dog or moves they often fall apart.
Anon says
for #2, i i dont see how one would ignore other complicating factors. i will say that our nanny sometimes brings her daughter with her. more regularly when her daughter was younger (now she is 13), but our nanny has been with us for 5+ years, but even when she’d only been with us for about a year, we love her so much, we were ok with her bringing her daughter. idk how i’d feel about this as a regular arrangement, but i also have twins, so it’s already two kids
Chl says
We had a great nanny share experience for baby up to 18 months and recommend it. Another thing to pay attention to is that if you pay on the books, you need to coordinate make sure each of your halves (if you pay separately) meets minimum wage requirements. Care.com has a good article on this.
Anonymous says
Your region/city might be different. In Charlotte, each family pays 2/3 of the Nanny’s hourly wage ($17.33 in your example). I don’t know why this is the case, but that the market here.