• Holiday Attractions

    Oceaneer Club: appropriate for special needs kids?

    Another reader wanted to know if her 9-year-old developmentally delayed daughter would be OK in the ship’s Oceaneer Club, a child-friendly oasis supervised by youth counselors and open to children between the ages of 3-10. I can virtually guarantee your child will have a blast here. The counselors I talked to said they’ve had a child with no verbal skills and confined to a wheelchair partake in the activities, making cupcakes, etc. They’ve had children with autism in the club, too. While they can’t promise one-on-one attention, the counselors (many of whom have training with special needs kids) clearly target their attention to the kids who look like they need…

  • Holiday Tips

    Should I be concerned about bringing my kids to London this winter?

    Over a year ago my father made a big announcement at a family dinner: “I’m taking you all to London for Christmas!” He shared that spending a Dickensesque holiday with his kids and grandchildren was a longtime dream and he ordered us all to start shopping for flights. Who can argue with that? We were all elated. And so my husband and I and our two kids are flying into Heathrow mid-December and then we’ll meet my brother and parents at a house that we’ve rented. I’ve been nothing but excited but when earlier this month the U.S Department issues a Travel Alert warning U.S. citizens of “the potential for…

  • Holiday Attractions

    Cheap Ways To Keep Your Kids Busy in Toronto

    Toronto, Canada – Whether you are living in Toronto or just travelling through with kids, here are some ways to entertain them on the cheap. † Toronto Public Library – If you are in Toronto, the more than 100 branches of the Toronto Public Library can be the best thing that happens to your family. It has never been this good at the library: membership is free for Torontonians; the computerized reservation system is super efficient; desktop computers with internet are available for members to use for free; children’s reading programs are available and free; and most importantly, wi-fi is free for all members and non-members (just bring your laptop)! It’s…