New Places, New Programs for Kids in Manhattan – March 2010

Check out some new additions to the Manhattan area that offer programs for children and families. This month, learn about new parenting classes, fitness programs, language classes, and sports training programs in your area.

 

Chyten Educational ServicesA Peek into Parenting

Chyten Educational Services, a private tutoring and test prep center on the Upper East Side, is now offering free parent education classes.

The program P.E.A.K. Hour (Parents Eager to Assist their Kids) was cofounded by Chyten’s director, Beth Jurewicz, in October. It consists of monthly educational seminars and discussions on topics concerning parents with grade school-aged children (nursery school through 12th grade). “[It’s a] support group formed by parents for parents who want to gain knowledge on ways to best assist our children through [the] challenges of growing up in today’s world,” Jurewicz says. Seminars are led by psychologists, therapists, and various experts focused on helping parents build resilience and self-confidence in their children.

Topics covered in the program have included how to help your child develop a healthy physical image, build healthy social relationships, and cope with loss. Upcoming seminars will be held March 12, April 16, and May 8; visit www.peakhournyc.com for more information.

Chyten Educational Services, one of 26 franchise locations nationwide, opened last April and offers private, subject based tutoring and test prep for students in grades K-12, in both the private and public school systems. Located at 1461 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor. 212-288-5595. www.chyten.com.

 

Joshua Margolis, Mind Over Matter Health & FitnessBride-to-Be Boot Camp

In addition to its in-home fitness programs, which include personal training, yoga, and Pilates, Mind Over Matter Health & Fitness (MOM) offers boot camps for new moms and now for brides-to-be.

Beginning this spring, MOM will offer a Bridal Package that includes one-on-one training during the week, plus a weekend boot camp. “We spot train certain areas according to your dress style,” says Joshua Margolis (pictured at right), the certified professional trainer who founded the business in 2004.

Bridal Boot Camp joins MILF (Mothers Interested in Living Fit) Boot Camp and Stroller Boot Camp, both of which focus on getting new moms back on the road to their prepregnancy figures, Margolis says.

All programs require minimal or no equipment-rather, they use the person’s body as natural resistance, along with the trainer’s creativity. For example, during Stroller Boot Camp, strollers act as aids for lunges and squats, and little ones provide resistance in chest and shoulder exercises. “We incorporate everything a mom would do during her normal day and try to make an exercise out of that,” Margolis says.

During winter months, MOM holds a Saturday morning open boot camp class at 248 West 60th Street. Starting in April, boot camps will be held in Central Park. 212-865-9290. www.mindovermatternyc.com. 

 

Ecole Internationale de New York; EINYInternational Ed.

Opened in September, Ecole Internationale de New York (EINY) is an academic bilingual day school for children in nursery school through 5th grade. The school offers a French immersion program, taught 60 percent in French and 40 percent in English, with the option to add a third language in the higher grade levels, says Yves Rivaud, principal and cofounder of the school.

The 13,000-square-foot school mainly serves the southern Manhattan population. “We wanted to create a family sized school,” Rivaud says, adding that EINY’s small size allows teachers to work more closely with individual students and communicate more easily with parents.

Rivaud says he believes it’s important for a child to become bilingual at an early age, especially in an international city like New York. “By learning one or two languages very young, you open the mind to the learning of other languages later on,” he says.

In addition to its regular classes, EINY offers an early morning drop-off program and an after school program. A summer camp program and middle school program will be added in the future, Rivaud says.

EINY is located at 111 East 22nd Street. 646-410-2238. www.einy.org.

 

On Deck baseball training program for kidsNew for Little Sluggers

A new baseball training program for kids debuted in January. On Deck offers classes for children ages 2-14 at two locations: St. Jean’s Community Center, 184 East 76th Street, and New York Sports Club, 1637 Third Avenue.

On Deck offers a variety of programs, including toddler classes, indoor winter leagues, clinics, travel teams, and after school classes. In June and July, On Deck will offer weeklong baseball camps, including a full day program for ages 5-14 and a half-day program for 4-year-olds.

“This [program] was created as an attempt to bring that fun aspect back to baseball,” says Head Coach Raymond De La Cruz, director of baseball operations and cofounder. “Kids are learning and training, but they’re still having fun doing it. We don’t believe you have to sacrifice one for the other.” What further sets the program apart from others, Coach Ray says, is its creative curriculum and the personal attention given to each child.

On Deck also hosts children’s birthday parties, which include invitations, party decorations, balloons, food, cake, party bags, and a host of baseball activities to choose from.

Offices are located in St. Jean’s Community Center at 184 East 76th Street. 212-717-0703 or 646-808-4926; [email protected]. www.ondeckny.com.