Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in charleston, SC

Tuesday Top Five: Passes and Memberships to Consider

by Nicole Teed

May 26, 2009

I've just started to look at the summer ahead, trying to figure out how to enjoy all that Charleston has to offer with my children.  While there will be plenty of simple fun -- beaches, pools and parks, oh my! -- we also like to get out to the venues in town that promise fun and education wrapped into one.  While the upfront cost of some memberships seems expensive, they can really be a worthwhile investment if you use them regularly.

Recommended for consideration:

1. A South Carolina Aquarium membership gets you unlimited visits to the aquarium, access to special members-only events, discounts at the gift shop, and more.  

2. A membership to the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry will let you explore the museum year-round, with great discounts on summer camps and birthday parties too!

3. Water Park Splash Passes are great for guaranteed summer fun.  The Super Splash pass includes all three county water parks, and the basic Splash pass grants admission to Splash Zone and Splash Island only.  Groups buying passes get a discount, and you can also apply Greenbax toward the cost of passes for further savings.

4. County Park Gold Passes let you explore the eight county parks year round and give you free admission to some of the city's fun events.  All of the beach parks are included in this pass (Kiawah, IOP, Folly), so if you like the facilities offered by the parks, this pass could easily pay for itself in the summer season alone.  Gold passes are discounted when you buy a water park pass at the same time.

5. The South Carolina State Park Passport offers similar benefits for the state parks, which includes local favorites Charlestowne Landing, Givhans Ferry State Park, and Edisto Beach State Park.

Tuesday Top Five: Books for Talking to Young Children About Divorce

by Nicole Teed

May 05, 2009

The topsy-turvy process of divorce takes its toll on even the most resilient of adults, so we can only imagine that little people struggle even more to deal with the changes that the end of a marriage brings.  When you're three, it can be hard to process the emotional landscape of a playdate, so the peaks and valleys of divorce really challenge preschoolers' ability to understand and deal with uncertainty, anger, insecurity, sadness, and other big emotions. 

There are some books written specifically for preschoolers about divorce, however.  If you're trying to help a little one in your life cope, these stories just might help open up conversation and new understanding.

Dinosaurs Divorce, by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown

This book by Arthur series author provides straightforward but optimistic answers to all the questions children naturally have about divorce.  Why is this happening? Where will I live? What about Christmas? These and others are all covered with sensitivity and a positive attitude by the friendly dinosaurs. Geared towards children ages 4-8 years old.

Two Homes, by Claire Masurel

Alex is a preschooler whose parents are divorced, and he has two homes, each with a set of all the things he needs and likes.  This book, geared toward children ages 2-5 years old, addresses all of the concrete issues on which children focus.  It also makes the point that Alex is always loved by both parents, even if he is not with them at the same time.

It's Not Your Fault Koko Bear, by Vicki Lansky

Children often wonder if a divorce is somehow their fault, and this book gives the simple and reassuring answer: it's not.  Designed to be read by divorcing parents to their children, it not only tells the story of a little bear seeking reassurance, but give parents tips for addressing children's common concerns.  Aimed at children ages 3 to 7 years old.

Was It the Chocolate Pudding?, by Sandra Levins and Bryan Langdo

For kids who fall in the upper end of the preschool age range, this books simple definitions of "divorcespeak" are awesome.  For instance, " 'Adjusting-to-our-new-arrangement' is what you do when you don't have an ideal situation and it's still okay." The main characters are two brothers living with a single father, so this one might also be a little more friendly to boys if bears and dinosaurs don't seem a good fit.

Mom's House, Dad's House: Making Two Homes for Your Child and Mom's House, Dad's House for Kids: Feeling at Home in One Home or Two, both by Isolina Ricci.

This pair of books written by a family therapist is a more comprehensive self-help set for coping with divorce.  Parents looking for a guide will find expert and practical advice for putting the needs of the children at the center of a collaborative divorce. The accompanying kids' guide is over 200 pages and therefore not meant to be read cover-to-cover for little ones, but relevant sections can be reviewed and paraphrased depending on a child's needs.

The Tough Stuff

by Nicole Teed

May 04, 2009

While my hope is that everyone reading this website has a home that is secure and safe, a network of supportive friends and family, plenty to eat and enough money to pay bills, I know that tough times come for many. If you are struggling with some of the "tough stuff" -- stuff that kids shouldn't have to know about but can't always avoid -- here is a list of local and national resources.  There is help out there. Get it if you need it.

Legal Assistance:

South Carolina Legal Services - provides free legal services in a wide variety of civil (non-criminal) legal matters to eligible low income residents of  South Carolina

Domestic Violence/Child Abuse:

Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center - an organization whose mission is to keep children safe from abuse, and when abuse occurs, to work with the community to bring healing to children and their families. 24-hour hotline: (843) 723-3600.

My Sister's House - provides services, programs and resources to empower victims of domestic violence and their children to live free from abuse. 24-hour crisis hotline: (843) 744-3242

Health Services:

MUSC Children's Hospital

South Carolina Medicaid

Charleston County Public Health Department

Social Services and Financial Assistance:

South Carolina Department of Social Services - resources for adoption, child care, foster care, financial and food assistance, child support enforcement, and domestic violence.

Foodbanks:

Lowcountry Foodbank

Fields to Families

Housing:

Charleston County Housing Authority - low-income/subsidized housing

Tricounty Family Ministries - mortgage payment assistance

Referral Hotlines: if the resources listed here don't cover your needs, please search at one of these resource clearinghouses.

211 Hotline - Trident United Way (800) 922-2283

East Cooper Community Outreach (843) 849-9220

My most favorite parenting books

by Nicole

January 08, 2009

There are books to address just about every parenting dilemma, but sometimes it can be hard to sift through the shelves (real or virtual) in order to find experience, advice and expertise that really makes doing the job of raising little people easier. These are a few of the books I've found helpful on my journey as a parent. Maybe one or more of them will speak to you as well! Baby 411 by  Read more...

Do's and don'ts of borrowing library books

by Nicole

November 24, 2008

Great books are meant to be shared, and there's no better place to find books to borrow than the public library! However, it is important to treat the library and the books that we borrow with respect. Guest author Jana Jones is children's librarian at the Johns Island Regional Library, and she's here to share wise words about library etiquette! Do... Get a library card as soon as you are born  Read more...

Ways to give thanks

by Nicole

November 12, 2008

As a preamble to Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks -- the holiday that is all about gratitude (well, gratitude and food, if we're being honest) -- why not share some simple ways of giving back with your children? Donate used toys and clothes to charity. You might have a donation pile collecting in your garage, but the key here is to get your child involved in the decisions about what they keep  Read more...

Be a tourist in town

by Nicole

November 06, 2008

If you've always wanted to visit or return to some of your favorite Charleston attractions but didn't want to break the budget, then January is going to be your month! Passes are on sale now to encourage local residents of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties to "Be a Tourist" for the first month of the new year. Passes offer free admission to 37 Charleston destinations and discounts at  Read more...

Early intervention services in south carolina

by Nicole

September 10, 2008

Are you worried that your child is lagging behind in development? Are there specific areas in which you think she could benefit from some extra support? There is help available! BabyNet is South Carolina's early intervention program designed and funded to provide services for children ages birth to three years with developmental delays or conditions associated with delays. While you may want to  Read more...

Hurricane preparation for your family

by Nicole

September 03, 2008

Earlier this week, all eyes were on the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Gustav made landfall. Now our attention turns to Hurricane Hannah, which is predicted to hit the coast somewhere between Georgia and South Carolina. In other words, HERE. While this particular storm might not be too bad, the fact is that it's hurricane season and we're vulnerable. Now is the time to get prepared. The National  Read more...

Ways to keep track, part deux: strategies for recording moments and years

by Nicole

January 15, 2008

My son just celebrated his first birthday, and in true second-child fashion, he has had fewer photographs taken of him than his sister. (I also decided now would be a good time to order his birth certificate. What? I never claimed to be on top of things!) And while we may all joke about neglected baby books and disorganized photos, the truth is that some kind of record of your children's early  Read more...