Best Of The Web: February 15-21

Contributors: Sharon
Beesley, Elizabeth Raymond

Here’s a weekly roundup of parenting articles that piqued
our interest. Enjoy! —

Laura Mayes, a traditional mom by most measures, doesn’t
appreciate being lumped in with the Millions Moms who have registered outrage
at JCPenney’s choice of Ellen as a spokesperson. Go
Laura! (Babble)

Affluent, born-abroad parents prefer to send their kids to NYC
public schools, more so than local parents. Why are they less comfortable with the idea of our private
schools? (NY Times)

Just for fun. Don’t you wish you could take a pic of your
kid that looked just
like this? We do. (Dooce)

Puppet justice is served. Supreme Court Justice Sonia
Sotomayor makes a visit to Sesame Street
to settle the infamous Baby
Bear vs. Goldilocks case. (TIME)

The YouTube video of a dad shooting his daughter’s laptop
has gone viral with almost 23 million views! But did this father
go too far? Many disagree with his actions; some applaud him. (Forbes)

Kids with disabilities find it hard
to make friends. Read about one mother’s heartbreaking experience. (The Huffington Post)

Following fashion week? Check out Mara
Hoffman’s “hypnotic” prints for fall. (Lady and the Blog)

As we all get used to the idea of a world without Whitney
Houston, co-stars describe her on the set of her new movie Sparkle as being “mother-like.” (NY Post)

A Chicago
charter school actually fines students (five bucks!) for infractions. Judy
Browne-Dianis, Advancement Project co-director, explains why she is protesting
the school’s policies. Check out this video and see what you think. (CNN)

Check out this heart-warming story of a mother who had labor
induced so her dying husband could meet his new baby. See him hold
his new daughter. (CBS News)

CK Kids

CK Kids offers various classes and programs, including Afterschool Program, Lil Chefs, Boys Hip-Hop, Ninja Starz, Lil Artists, CK Kids Athletic Programs, Acrobatics, Dance and Drama, and Karate.&nbsp;

Collina Italiana - Italian Language and Cultural Center

Italian Fun for Kids and Teens! Learning a new language isn&rsquo;t just fun&mdash;it&rsquo;s also great for the brain! Did you know that it can help develop essential skills for life? Studies show that learning a second language at a young age can improve problem-solving, critical thinking, and listening abilities, while boosting memory, focus, and multitasking skills. Children who are fluent in multiple languages also demonstrate increased creativity and mental flexibility. At Collina Italiana, we make learning fun with stories, games, activities, and conversation. Each class blends art, storytelling, singing, and dancing to keep kids engaged. For older children, our classes focus on grammar and vocabulary, providing the tools they need to learn and practice Italian in a small group setting, all while having fun with a variety of resources. Kids love exploring the stories behind our cultural traditions, adding a rich, hands-on experience to their language learning journey. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Monster Mini Golf

Upon entering Monster Mini Golf, all perceptions of traditional mini golf will be spirited away by the indoor, 18-hole, monster-theme, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course! The locations in <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Deer Park</a>, and <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/gardencity/">Garden City, NY</a> invite guests to experience a host of family-oriented fun activities. Whether visiting for the first time or the one hundredth, mini golfers feel the excitement and adventure of playing mini golf amidst spooktacular monsters and custom, glow-in-the-dark, hand-painted artwork. While testing their skill on the fairways, lively music flows over the course from the unique &ldquo;WEIRD Radio&rdquo; station&rdquo; and an interactive DJ entertains golfers with contests, awarding cool prizes for the wackiest reasons. While the course is challenging enough for adults, it is also quite playable for children. Monster Mini Golf is open year-round and frightfully fun for the entire family. In addition to miniature golf and thrilling arcade and redemption games, the locations offer additional attractions. <a href="https://monsterminigolf.com/deerpark/">Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park, NY</a> offers a Laser Maze and a Virtual Reality experience. The Garden City location offers a Laser Maze, Bowling, and a Virtual Reality Experience. Two very posh, private party rooms are also available and are perfect for any event. Monster Mini Golf looks forward to making it a monstrous success. Monster Mini Golf is indoors, ensuring that the event will always take place, regardless of the weather. It is a climate-controlled, affordable source of family entertainment. For more details please visit <a href="http://monsterminigolf.com">monsterminigolf.com</a> or find them on Facebook.