By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 9/28/12 1:38pm

School Talk

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg talks with fifth graders during a tour of PS 262 with Cathleen Black. (GETTY)

Real Estate and Brooklyn Education Unite

Brooklyn is pretty much officially the borough of choice for bohemian families and competitive public (and private) schools. Combine that with fantastic realty options for nearly any lifestyle; the demand sizzles.

Noticing a need for more knowledge on how to navigate the daunting and complex process of selecting (or getting your kids into) the right Brooklyn school,  Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate is hosting a special seminar with New York City school search expert and founder of NYC School Help, Joyce Szuflita. At “Helping Families Understand the Brooklyn Elementary School System,” Ms. Szuflita will dish her expertise on better understanding Brooklyn Elementary Schools.

The event will take place at the Montauk Club on 8th Avenue in Brooklyn from 6p.m. to 9p.m., free of charge, but with limited seating. Refreshments will be provided by DE Capital Mortgage. Interested parents can contact Catherine Witherwax for more information. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 8/29/12 5:39pm

Scooter Pick

Sleep-Group-Floating

Magic Potion Of Your Dreams

Crying, angst, nightmares, restless nights. Parents are constantly dealing with a variety of reasons for rowdy behavior or an ostensible lack of fatigue in their children during bedtime. While some young ones may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, other children and adolescents are plagued with crowded agendas, noisy environments, technology distractions such as T.V., or sickness, which prevents them from getting a good night’s rest.

According to a WebMD report by Stacy Lu, reviewed by Charlene H. Beard, MD, the National Sleep Foundation recommends between nine and 14 hours of sleep per day for children ages 3 months to 18 years old. Most kids (and parents) get significantly less.

One product that claims it can aid in the bedtime ritual and help young ones drift asleep is Sleep Blend from Essence of Vali. According to owner Valerie Bennis, the potion’s unique blend of lavender, marjoram, cedar wood and ylang-ylang relaxes you, acting as an anti-anxiety solution with its potent bouquet and works to lull you into a recuperative sleep. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 7/27/12 12:38pm

Parent Profile

Catherine London with her son Oliver.

Catherine London On Combating Pediatric Cancer And The Joys Of Growing Up In New York City

Solving Kids’ Cancer (SKC) champion Catherine London has worked tirelessly with her husband to build awareness of pediatric cancers and support for cancer research. A former prosecutor at the Manhattan D.A.’s office, Ms. London committed herself to the cause after her daughter Penelope, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 16 months, lost her battle with cancer. Ms. London spoke with Scooter about SKC and her experiences as a mom. Read More

By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 7/10/12 2:13pm

Designer Profile

Bonnie Young flanked by her son and daughter, Brando and Celia Babini, at her Fall 2011 fashion show.

Children’s Lifestyle Designer Bonnie Young Weighs In On Kids’ Fashion and Parenting

Scooter recently tracked down New York City-based mom and children’s luxury lifestyle designer Bonnie Young for a little Q&A on her the story of her brand and how she raises her two kids (Celia and Brando). Founded in September 2006 while Ms. Young worked as Senior Creative Director for Donna Karan Collection, her namesake label offers fanciful fashion and lifestyle products for children ages 0-16.

Now, with a freestanding boutique in Aspen and a retail presence at Harvey Nichols, Bon Marché and boutiques around the globe in posh cities like Milan, London, Paris, and Dubai, the Bonnie Young label has attracted an A-list clientele including Julianne Moore Kate Hudson, Dakota Fanning, Rachel Weisz, Angie Harmon, Courtney Cox, and Goldie Hawn.

Here’s what we found out. Read More

By Chloe Wallace 6/19/12 5:26pm

Digital Get Down

way-to-go-Dad

Funny Fathers And Their Facebook Faux Pas

With Fathers Day over, Scooter decided to take a minute to recognize the (sometimes) funny fathers of Facebook.

No, these are not mommy-jackers out to remind us of the labors of parenting. These are parent posters of a different breed, often aiming for the shock-and-laugh effect. Read More