CRIMSON PARENTS HANDBOOK A guide for parents at HBS
CRIMSON PARENTS HANDBOOK EXCERPT
This handbook was compiled for the use of Crimson Parents, a Student Club at Harvard Business School. Its contents are based on the results of a sur- vey completed by some members of Crimson Parents in May 2017 and on content shared by members of Crimson Parents on social medial during the 2016-2017 academic year. Our hope is that this handbook will provide the most recent, up-to-date advice for HBS students and partners for the 2017- 2018 academic year.
Crimson Parents does not accept sponsorship nor has Crimson Parents been paid to share any of the enclosed advice or recommendations. Crimson Parents does not assume any responsibility or any liabilities for any negative outcomes or damages that may result from the use of any services, pro- ducts, or anything discussed in this handbook.
Written by Crimson Parents Leadership and the Media Committee 2017-2018: Brittany Boren Lorena Reyes Roberto Morfino Sarah Jane Fourness
For more information about Crimson Parents, please visit our website: https://crimsonparents.wordpress.com/
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 3 4 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook CRIMSON PARENTS HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: Getting Involved in Section Life & HBS Events page 7
Section 2: Babysitters, Pre-K Child Care, & Libraries 15
Section 3: Crimson Parents Activities and Events 21
Section 4: Schools 29
Section 5: Doctors and Healthcare 33
Section 6: Fitness & Sports Activities 43
Section 7: Well-being and Personal Care 49
Section 8: Household 55
Section 9: Technology 63
Section 10: Food 67
Section 11: Birthday Parties 73
Section 12: Activities Outside of Crimson Parents 77
For more information about Crimson Parents, please visit our website: https://crimsonparents.wordpress.com/
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 5 6 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 1: Getting Involved in Section Life & HBS Events
Section life
As a student with (a) child(ren) how did you ensure that you got the most out of your MBA experience and section life in particular?
The MBA experience has so much to offer to not only single students but also families. However, combining family life with the MBA experience requires a bit of effort, some planning ahead and occasional trade-offs on the side of the student-parent, but is definitely worth it. Section-orga- nized events are usually late at night and often involve activities that are not always family-friendly. Crimson Parents found that it helps a lot if the student makes sure that the needs of the family are taken into account when planning to attend events. Moreover, balancing academics, family life, and social activities requires some trade-offs: parents should be rea- listic about the extent they will be able to get involved in social activities with their section and carefully select what events they want to attend. If you are able to go to all the events, great! If not, it’s no big deal either, there will always be something else to do so you can catch up with sec- tion mates. Despite the challenges, fellow section members who do not have children are generally thrilled at the opportunity to interact with the children of their classmates, so don’t be shy about bringing your children to section events or to any informal gatherings of section members, if at all possible. The more you are there, the more likely section members are to remember you in theirs plans for future events!
On the other hand, family-friendly networks such as Crimson Parents offer a great opportunity to interact with people who are in a similar situation and participate in activities that will suit students, partners, and kids alike.
Ultimately, the overall experience depends a lot on the student’s ability to create her/his own inclusive network of friends and forge a subset of strong relationships with like-minded people. If you find that section events just don’t work for your family, remember this tip: host, host, host! (And do Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 7 it often!) Hosting small groups in your own home is an incredible way to really get to know the student’s section members and also other families or individuals you just want to get to know better. Host dinners or game nights after kids go to bed, organize a picnic with another family on Baker Lawn, or have your neighbors over for dessert. It doesn’t have to be fan- cy. Boxed brownies and pizza are always a hit! Invite someone you really don’t even think you have anything in common with. You really never know who you’ll hit it off with. Further, section members love coming to the homes of “established” families, and other Crimson Parents families are always looking for friends. And really, it is far easier to actually get to know someone in the comfort (and quiet) of your own home rather than a noisy bar or restaurant. Don’t hesitate. Just host!
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most and 1 the least, rate your section’s willingness to do family-friendly activities.
Tips for helping your section do family-friendly activities: become a section leader.
Taking over a section leadership role can be a great way to integrate into your section life and make a meaningful contribution. Section leadership includes roles such as the social planning committee but can also be simply making regular contact with section members. Having a parent (student or partner) involved in section leadership increased the number 8 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook of family-friendly events. But also be realistic about your expectations, students with families are a very small percentage of the overall section (generally just a few parents in each section), so not all events are going to be family-friendly.
For those who did not get involved with leadership but still felt involved, they made sure that they participated in family-friendly events, including things like helping set-up and take-down. Showing a strong willingness to engage with the section and investing the extra time (which can feel overwhelming sometimes given the extra responsibilities parents already face) to be involved and invest in the relationships proved to be worth it in the long run. Sometimes making small considerations goes a long way: asking the section to make dinners/drinks early helps. Additionally, vo- lunteering to host events at your apartment if you have a larger place will mean that you can organize the event on your own terms.
As a parent, do I need to pay the full section dues?
Not necessarily. When it comes to section dues, consider requesting a dis- count to pay for the activities but not the partying, especially if you don’t drink alcohol or don’t plan on going to parties that often.
What does it mean to be a parent partner?
It should also be acknowledged that while some partners have little trouble fitting into the MBA experience, others struggle to feel like they are part of it. Some of the most common issues faced by those who did not feel involved in the MBA experience are:
1. They lived off-campus and worked full time →Crimson Parents will make an effort to schedule more weekend activi- ties to involve partners during the 2017-18 academic year. 2. The student’s section made no effort to have family-friendly events →Parents have the opportunity to be involved in section leadership, the- reby having an impact on how family-friendly section events are. Getting Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 9 involved with section leadership means that as a partner, you help deter- mine the time, location, and whether or not alcohol is served at events. And don’t forget you can take things into your own hands by hosting more intimate events with section-mates events in your own home. 3. The high cost of hiring a babysitter →Crimson Parents has implemented a babysitting-swap which helps put parents in touch with other parents in their area so they may proactively organize baby-sitting sessions based off of a point-system.
Crimson Parents helps families have a more fulfilling MBA experience
At around 70 families, Crimson Parents forms a strong, unique community within the Harvard Business School. For many parent-partners, Crimson Parents provides the opportunity to create deep bonds with others in their situation, and there are ways to really own your HBS experience. Each year CP strives to become stronger by providing for the unique needs of student-families and especially partners. One survey respondent even stated that it was becoming a mother that really made her feel part of the HBS experience. Experiencing HBS as a parent is a truly unique, incredible opportunity, and Crimson Parents wants to help all parents and their child- ren get the most out of the brief two years here.
Making big HBS events work for parents
Holidazzle
Did you go to Holidazzle, the RC Christmas party in Boston? If yes, how did you organize it?
The vast majority of parents went to Holidazzle (80%) hired a baby sitter. Those who did not either had family living locally who were able to watch their child(ren) or they flew in their family members from other cities to watch the child(ren). A few parents living in student housing asked friends living in a nearby apartment who did not attend the party.
10 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Newport Ball
Did you go to Newport Ball, the end of the RC year ball in Newport, RI? How did you organize childcare?
Two-thirds of parents went to the Newport Ball, one third did not go. Of the parents that went, most of them left their kids in Boston with a family member or a babysitter. The remaining parents either stayed in a local hotel or shared an AirBnb, and hired a babysitter while they were at the Newport Ball (which is possible by bringing a nanny or by hiring a local Newport sitter through a service such as Sitter City).
When extended family cannot help watch the child(ren) and the cost of child care for the weekend is too high, a great way to enjoy not only Newport Ball but also the Saturday activities is to rent an AirBNB with other families and bring along a trusted babysitter to split the cost among all pa- rents. Having an AirBNB means that the sitter can have her/his own room and parents can stay out late and are free to be with their children for some time on Saturday. Done this way, Newport also provides an opportu- nity for great bonding time with other great families!
Other events: Graduate Common Program (GCP)
If you live on campus, GCP organizes many interesting activities during the week and the weekend, including dinners, day trips, sports and movie nights. Almost all events are free or heavily discounted for Harvard Housing residents and their families. It is an excellent way to get to know the Har- vard community outside of HBS and enjoy the Harvard Housing facilities.
GCP activities are organized by areas: the “Western Area” includes OWA, SFP and 10 Akron St. and is led by Ashley Hopper. GCP also offers people leadership opportunities through Community Advisor positions, helping Ashley to organize events and foster the sense of community among the Harvard Housing residents. She can be contacted via email at [email protected] Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 11 IN CONCLUSION…Do you have any other piece of advice for student pa- rents and partners can get more out of their HBS experience?
Join the community: get involved, reach out to new people and be proactive if you see an opportunity to make HBS a better place. Try to be involved in your section and advocate for family-friendly activities. Orga- nize dinners and playdates to make connections with other families. Find a balance between academics, social life and family. You can still have a great experience even if you are not attending all the events! Leverage the resources: clubs, welcoming events, executive lunch ses- sions, Crimson Parent classes and activities, Crimson Parent Babysitter List, Crimson Parent Babysitting Swap, etc.
12 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 13 14 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 2: Babysitters, Pre-K Child Care & Libraries
For the day time, concerning your Pre-K child (0-5 y.o.) what do you do?
More than half of our parent partners who responded to our survey choose to stay at home with their kids (55%) during their HBS experience; about a quarter have their kids in daycare, while the remaining hire a nanny.
On-Campus Child Care
Soldiers Field Park Child Center More than two-thirds of day care users from our survey send their kids to the Soldiers Field Park Child Center. On the plus side, the facility is high quality and conveniently located on campus. The main drawbacks are its price, up to $3,000 per month for small children and a waiting list process that can be quite opaque and cumbersome. Waiting times, in particular, can vary substantially, with some people getting a spot right away and some others having to wait 6 months or more. It is highly recommended to apply as soon as the family receives its admittance letter to HBS.
Peabody Terrace Children’s Center None of the responding families use PTCC, yet it is another option for on-campus child care. It serves children between 3 months and 5 years of age with 8 classrooms in total: 2 Infant classrooms, 4 Toddler classrooms and 2 Preschool classrooms. It is highly recommended to apply as soon as the family receives its admittance letter to HBS.
Off-Campus Child Care
The area around HBS offers many off-campus daycare options with high-quality structures, many offering daily updates about the kid’s eating, sleep, activities and overall progress. They also organize a parent-teacher conference twice a year. Although these structures can be a better va- lue compared to SFPCC, they tend to be at least 20m walk away from Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 15 campus. Most parents who choose off-campus daycare also buy a car to take their children to school. Others take the bus, but unfortunately public transport is not reliable and busses have been known to bypass waiting passengers if they are at capacity. This is even more likely when the weather is bad. Another option is to take Lyft/Uber cars (remember to bring a car seat) or, when the weather allows for it, to cycle or jog with a jogging stroller.
Pine Village Some of the families in Crimson Parents send their children to this Spani- sh-Immersion program down the street from HBS. Its prices are a bit lower than some of the on-campus daycares. They serve children from 15 mon- ths old to 5 years old and follow a curriculum which allows for free and guided play with themes changing from month to month. Teachers are bilingual (Spanish and English), but only speak Spanish with the children. Teachers will correspond regularly with parents to update them on how their child is doing from anything like their packed lunches to daily activi- ties. Lunch is not provided, something that can be both an advantage, if you like to be in charge of what your child eats, and a disadvantage if you are short on time and are more flexible with your child’s diet. For inqui- ries, please submit a form at: http://mybilingualpreschool.com/contact- us/
Kiddie Academy of Cambridge They offer programs from 6 weeks to Pre-K (5 years old), as well as school- age programs from 5-8 years old. This is also a comparable alternative to on-campus daycare and is now offering a 5% discount, free registration and priority on waitlist to HBS student families. Additionally, the owner, Elaine Ho, will help HBS families connect so that they may arrange car pools, and those without a car can reimburse other parents who are wil- ling to drive. Ms. Ho can be reached at 617-945-0021 for any inquiries.
16 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Bright Horizon in Beacon Hill They offer programs for infants all the way to kindergarten preparation. This is a good option for families where a parent works in Downtown Bos- ton.
It is advisable to start looking for childcare solutions well in advance, as it can be quite a lengthy, frustrating and costly process.
Nannies
From our survey, CP parents pay their nannies around $12-15 per hour, or $2000 per month. They tend to work Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Only a small proportion of nannies live on-campus with the families. Nannies can be found through agencies or friends’ recommendations. A few on- line resources include care.com and Garden Moms, a blog specifically for Boston-area parents. (www.bigtent.com/groups/gardenmoms)
Babysitters
More than three quarters of CP parents try to attend at least some social evening event with their section. They tend to rely on babysitters and local family members, use our CP Baby Sitting Swap program, or take their kids with them.
CP Parents compensate their babysitters between $10 and $20 per hour, with an average of $15. The Boston average is between $12-$15 per hour. The price might vary based on factors such as the number of kids, the time of day and the experience level of the babysitter. If you are using a website like SitterCity, it is a good idea to ask for references and call these people to make sure that you are getting someone trustworthy. Crimson Parents as an updated list on the website available to members only un- der the «Resources» tab.
Some former Crimson Parents offer this advice: section mates and their partners can be great babysitters. This is another great reason to get out Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 17 to section events and to meet section members! Section members are of- ten so excited to see your children, they will offer to babysit for free. Also, do not hesitate to inquire within your sections for availabilities!
Libraries
Parents of toddlers will find a wealth of resources through local public libraries such as children’s sing alongs and story times. As calendars change from season to season it is best to check directly with the library about their individual calendars. Libraries in the area include:
Cambridge Public Library Children’s Room 3rd Floor 449 Broadway, Cambridge MA 02138 Website to Kid’s Room: https://www.cambridgema.gov/cpl/Kids
Honan-Allston Branch-Boston Public Library 300 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134 http://www.bpl.org/branches/allston.php (for children’s events, look un- der “current programs and activities”)
18 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 19 20 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 3: Crimson Parents Activities and Events
Crimson Parents Classes
Crimson Parents organises classes for children and parents at the begin- ning of each semester. The choice of classes depends on the level of in- terest and the willingness of members to teach the classes. While the vast majority of stay at home parents have told us that they take full advan- tages of our CP classes during the week, even among working parents, more than a third try to take their kids as well. CP classes are a great way to meet other CP members and get you and your kids out of your apart- ment!
On our website under «Group Classes» you will find our calendar for the Fall 2017 semester as well as be able to sign up for these classes. Here is an example of our weekly schedule from last semester, Winter 2017:
Art A fun four week mini class exploring art! We will try out a variety of art ma- terials and get a little messy while having fun. Only for ages 4 and up.
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 21 Blankets, Crawlers & Early Walkers An informal parent and baby playgroup welcoming anyone who is pre- gnant, planning on becoming pregnant, has a newborn, crawler, or early walker to come along and get to know other new Moms and Dads.
CP Fit It can be so tough to find the time, money, and energy to get fit when you have kids, which is why we do CP Fit. Classes, which are targeted to pa- rents, will be led by a partner mom. We will begin with a Slack group that will share weekly workouts. Depending on interest we may meet on cam- pus to workout. All fitness levels will be able to participate, so come join us in getting our sweat on!
Dance Class We’ll be enjoying movement & music with some ballet, jazz & tap basics. This is a good place for your child to explore ballet fundamentals through stretching & positioning while warming up for some jazz and tap dance fun!
Fitness Fun A fun fitness class for kids with warm-up, stretching, organized game fo- cusing on skill development (such as balance, coordination, team work, etc.) and constructive free play. Funds will be used to buy equipment such as jump ropes, balls, cones, etc. This class will be structured for the gross motor skills of older children (ages 5-10).
Gymnastics 1 & 2 Knucklebones’ Gymnastics offers a unique twist for your beginning gym- nast. Using age appropriate equipment and fun techniques, your child will gain creative and rhythmic movement, flexibility, fundamental gym- nastics and gross motor skills. Exploring various apparatus including beam, high bar, rings, mats, mat shapes (cylinder, wedges, humps, etc.), spring board, and trampolines along with unique products such as Gonge ba- lance sets, polyspots, and Action, your child will progress with introductory skills while having fun! 22 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Infant Massage A beautifully relaxed class for mother and baby (new born - pre crawlers) learn how to calm and soothe baby through touch by gradually lear- ning a full body massage routine which builds up each week. A wonder- ful way to enhance bonding using the power of touch, song and gentle yoga movements. Oil is provided, please just bring yourself, baby and a small towel to work on.
Kids Book and Movie Club Kids read or listen to a book each month on their own. The last Friday of each month they get together to briefly share their favortie parts and watch the movie based on the book. A list of books and movies will be sent to parents.
Music Class Our own parent volunteer will be leading the kids and parents in a fun se- ries of songs and activities. We will cover numbers 1-10, Days of the Week, Months of the Year, parts of our body, and more! We will use shakers, scarves, bean bags and more to encourage coordination and rhythm. Most of all we will have a lot of fun!
Stroller Coasters Join this group as we power walk with our little ones in their strollers. Whether you are in it for the fresh air, the exercise, or the social aspect what better way to walk, than to walk together!
Toddler Time Each week we gather to spend quality time with our toddlers and their friends. Toddler Time is a great place to connect with other parents while sharing creative moments with your child. Please wear clothes which can get dirty as we will have activities each week which may be a bit mes- sy (this is true for parents too! :-) The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, come early or come late; we’d love to see you!
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 23 Crimson Parents Events
Crimson Parents Events offer both children and parents enriching expe- riences through organised activities such as Friday Field Trips and Interna- tional Parents Events as well as a bi-monthy Girl’s Night Out and Daddy Daycare. Check out our Fall 2017 calendar (dates subject to change, please always double-check on our website https://crimsonparents. wordpress.com/ for confirmation):
August 8th: Group Orders for CP shirts due August 26th: Crimson Parents EC Reunion, Pick up Crimson Parents T Shirts August 28th: Partner Orientation Day 1 August 29th: Partner Orientation Day 2 August 30th: Partner’s Welcome Recep- tion
24 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook September 6th: Club Fair, come visit the Crimson Parents table and sign up! September 7th: Fall Family Fling at 4:30pm in Shad Hall. Come and enjoy snacks and fun activities for the whole family! September 8th: First Friday Field Trip out to Boston Common where we will go out in Swan Boats. We leave at 10am, meeting below OWA. September 11th: Welcome Social at the SFP Playground. September 13th: First Girl’s Night Out at 8pm in the Hamilton Lounge. September 16th: Join us for our Crim- son Parents Retreat! Starting at 10am we will go apple picking at Honey Pot Hill Orchards located at 138 Sudbury Road Stow, MA 01775. Following this, we will head to the house of our faculty advisors, Anne and Rory. September 18th: Group Classes start, so sign up with our «Groups» tab online! September 19th: International Parents activity. September 26th: Student Association sponsored Partner’s Case Night from 6-9 pm (location TBD). Come enjoy dinner with fellow partners followed by a case which you get to solve! Sign up on our website under «Events». September 27th: Event TBD September 30th: First Daddy Daycare and Girl’s Day Out starts at 11am.
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 25 October 3rd: International Parents acti- vity. October 11th: Girl’s Night Out at 8pm. October 17th: International Parents acti- vity. October 20th: Friday Field Trip starting at 10am. October 21st: Daddy Daycare and Girl’s Day Out starts at 11am. October 28th: Come to the Crimson Pa- rents Halloween Party in your scariest (or not-so-scary) costume! October 31st: International Parents acti- vity.
November 3rd: Friday Field Trip starting at 10am November 4th: Event TBD November 8th: Girl’s Night Out at 8pm. November 14th: International Parents activity. November 18th: Daddy Daycare and Girl’s Day Out starts at 11am. November 29th: Girl’s Night Out at 8pm.
26 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook December 1st: Friday Field Trip starting at 10am, last day of Group classes! December 6th: Join us for our annual Na- tivity Scene at 5:30 pm. December 8th: Our Junior Holidazzle is always a great way to kick off the holi- days and wish our new friends a Happy New Year. Come join us at 5pm location TBD.
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 27 28 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 4: Schools
One in seven Crimson Parents respondents to our survey have a school- age child. Our parents choose a combination of public and private schools as well as homeschooling. In particular, our parents recommend Winship Elementary School (public) and St. Peter Catholic School (pri- vate).
Public School
Winship Elementary School From the parent: “The school has good teachers and we have been im- pressed with the new Principal. The Public school has turned out to work great for our family. Be careful to note the school start and end times while making your selections, because they are not all the same.”
To register for a Boston Public School, one must sign up in-person, bringing a set of documents including a proof of residency and ID, and indicate their top 5 preferred schools within a 2 mile radius of their residence. The school is then assigned to the child.
More information about the registration can be found on the school dis- trict’s website: www.bostonpublicschools.org
Private School
St. Peter Catholic School From the parent: “Our private school has been a great academic and social experience. Particularly with the MBA they have been very accom- modating of absences when school breaks do not align with HBS and when we needed to take our child out early for moving.”
Tuition is in the USD $5,000 to $10,000 per year range.
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 29 More information can be found on the school‘s website: www.saint-peter- school.org
Homeschooling
From the parent: “It allows the scheduling flexibility that our family needs and is a good fit for us.” If you have further questions about homeschoo- ling, please reach out to a CP President and we will put you in touch with a family who can advise.
30 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 31 32 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 5: Doctors and Healthcare Advice
Pregnancy & Delivery
OBGYN We have put together a list of the OBGYN doctors in the area that our moms have been using, including their rating and comments. Please note that this rating is uniquely for your personal use and represents only an opi- nion of our moms.
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 33 34 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Midwives Crimson Parent moms recommend two midwife groups:
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 35 Birth Facility in the Area Many of our moms have given birth in the Cambridge/Boston area. We are reporting a list of the facilities that they used and their comments.
36 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Advice for New and Expecting Moms
Expecting a child can be hard, but here are a few tips to help you deal with some of the inconvenience. And remember to reach out for help from your fellow HBS!
Morning sickness tips for eating and drinking - Do not cook: have someone else prepare the food for you - Prefer small but frequent meals and snacks - Never let yourself get hungry - Drink Gatorade/lemonade/juice instead of too much water - Cold iced water - Crackers - Ginger ale (with real ginger) - Ginger in chicken noodle soup - Ginger candies - Almonds and protein - Preggo Pops
Morning sickness tips for lifestyle - Avoid pungent smells - Sleep - Stay cool and avoid overeating - Go outside in fresh air - Grit your teeth and remember it will not last forever.
CP Moms advice on breast pumps - Medla freestyle (works well for travel) - Hospital grade Spectra S2 - Hospital grade Medela Symphony
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 37 On babies with day/night confusion - Good blackout curtains - A noise machine - iPhone apps with white noise such as Relax Melodies: Sleep Sounds and White Noise help to calm the baby
Additional tips when expecting a baby at HBS - Talk with other moms about their experiences - Use your network of friends here, especially if you have older children - Ask other CP members to watch your kids, take them to CP classes and playdates. Reciprocate when you can - Get out of house with other HBS people - Join all the possible classes and attend all events you can. You need friends (moms) that understand you completely - Meet each other before and form a group to get you through your first days and months as a mom - There is a wealth of knowledge from fellow parents here who understand exactly what you are feeling and going through. Don’t be afraid to ask! - Reach out to the CP New and Expecting Mom’s committee! They can answer your questions or put you in touch with others who have expe- rienced a similar situation - Don’t forget: You’re never alone here at HBS! We all get busy though, so if you’re feeling alone, don’t be afraid to reach out in person or on social media. We’re all in this together! - Get excited!! HBS is an absolutely wonderful place to welcome a new baby into your family!
Family Practitioners
Some parents recommend Dr. Priver, members of the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Harvard Square.
38 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Pediatricians
A list of the Pediatricians suggested by our parents:
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 39 Dentists
Our parents recommend Dr. Zylber at the Pleasant Street Dental in Cam- bridge. Some parents have also been to Dr. Dental in Cambridge, but do not recommend it.
The Harvard Dental School offers a free annual free dental check-up, usually in February/early March. Keep an eye for it!
40 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 41 42 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 6: Fitness & Sports Activities
About half of our CP respondents are members of the on-campus HBS Fitness center, Shad Hall, and tend to exercise 1-3 times a week. However, many parents choose not to become a Shad member for a variety of rea- sons, chiefly because the facility does not offer child care.
For many parents, particularly stay-at-home parents, carving out a consistent, regular time during the week to exercise is challenging. Fin- ding a gym that offers child care can help a great deal with getting into an exercise regimen. (You will be so grateful for your exercise regimen, whatever it may be, when the winter arrives!)
Gyms in the Area Offering Child Care (you will need a car to get here)
- The YMCA in Oak Square $77/month for family membership that includes child care - The Boston Sports Clubs $50 per month with childcare at certain locations - The Salvation Army’s Kroc Corps Community Center on Dudley Street daily pass $7-13 including child care - Evolve Fitness in Cambridge at Fresh Pond plans start from $60 per month
The parents who manage to carve out some time to exercise do so in a variety of ways:
- Swapping child care with other parent - Work out after kid’s bed time with other parent at home - Wake up before everyone else does and go to the gym - Going for long walks/jog with the stroller: there are so many great destinations near and around campus. For instance, you can follow the walking path along Charles River for miles! - Using work out dvds/Youtube videos at home - Biking/walking around with the kids during the day Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 43 Crimson Parents offers a useful fitness class, CP Fit
Parents have said it is a great way to achieve their fitness goals and keep them motivated to exercise within a welcoming community. Children are always welcome.
Jogging Stroller Recommendations
More than half our parents enjoy jogging. They all agree that a good jog- ging stroller is of paramount importance to really enjoy your experience.
Some good features of a jogging stroller include: - A handbrake which is good for hills and for stopping immediately (useful with crazy drivers when on the sidewalk and doing interval workouts) - Suspension for bumps in the road - A lever to block the front wheel near the handle bar, meaning that you can go from running to walking quickly - A safety strap to go around your wrist while jogging - Something relatively lightweight that folds up and dismounts easily
Crimson Parents recommend the following jogging strollers based on the above features: - Bob Baby Stroller (~$400) - Graco (~$150) - Baby Jogger City ($250-$650) - Baby Jogger Summit X3 ($650 for the basic frame, consider buying it second-hand also) - Target also offers an inexpensive jogging stroller for around $120
Playgrounds
- Soldier’s Field Park Playground - Kemp Playground in Cambridge Common, near Harvard Square - Smith Playground, behind Continuum at N. Harvard Street and Western 44 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Ave Harvard Track - Riverside City Park across the bridge from OWA on Western Ave. has a small splashpad and spaces for bbq
Indoor Playgrounds
- Inside Playground (100 Parker Street) - Jump On In (100 Holton Street)
Hiking
When the weather is nice, the Boston area offers many opportunities for nice hikes. Our parents recommend the Walden Pond (also good for swimming), the Blue Hills Reservation, and Middlesex Fells Reservation. All these destinations require a car.
Swimming and Wading Pools
The Harvard Campus offers two swimming pools: the Blodget Center as well as the Malkin Athletic Center. Both centers allow children, but the wa- ter is rather cold and there are no specific amenities for kids.
Kroc Community Center in Dudley Street is a great option, with warm wa- ter, a beautiful splash pad and a dedicated area for swimming laps. The daily pass goes for USD 7-13. The center also offers childcare.
MIT’s Zesiger Center is another option. Although open to children, it is func- tional and not specifically catered to families.
Finally, Artesani Park and Wading Pool, open from June to September, is an excellent option for kids and parents to find some refreshment during the hot summer days in Boston. It is located at 1255 Soldiers Field Rd, Bos- ton, a 5 minute bike ride from campus.
The city of Cambridge has a “water play map” that shows all the splash Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 45 pads in Cambridge. There are several within walking distance of campus which you can find on the City of Cambridge’s website, or with the fol- lowing link under «Cambridge Water Play Map» : https://crimsonparents. wordpress.com/resources/
Classes Outside Crimson Parents
Gymnastics Classes Some respondents take their child(ren) to gymnastics classes at the Mas- sachusetts Gymnastic Center in Waltham.
Ballet Classes 20% of respondents said that they took their child(ren) to the CP Ballet Dance Class, an excellent on-campus option organized by our club.
Other good fitness activities for the family…
In Warm Weather - Biking: there are a lot of great parks in the area - Community Boating in Cambridge for sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding - Beaches: - Walden Pond: beautiful, historic pond, and fun for toddlers - Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, MA has large shallow area so it is warmer than other beaches - Boston has TONS of beaches nearby. (You’ll find them with a quick Google search.) Many are also accessible via public transportation.
In Cold Weather: - Cross-country skiing/snow shoeing around the river in the winter: many people do it the morning immediately following the first snow, so typically the tracks are already prepared by mid-day. - Cross-country skiing at Great Brook Farms in Carlisle, MA
46 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 47 48 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 7: Well-being and Personal care
Places for women to get their hair done in Boston/Cambridge: On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best and 1 the worst, what would you rate your expe- rience there?
Salon Luna (CP Rating:10) 1878 Massachusetts avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140 (Porter Square) Phone: (617) 492-7792
Japanese Hair Salon Defi (CP Rating: 9) 132 Newbury St, Fl 4, Boston, MA 02116 (Backbay) (617) 262-8100
Quinn Hair Studios (CP Rating: 9) 5 Arrow St, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 354-5354
Corbu at the Charles Hotel (CP Rating: 8) 5 Bennett St, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 661-5772 Comment: good for hair color and highlights
Essentials Salon (CP Rating: 8) 79 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA 02478 Phone (617) 484-1163 Comment: good for hair color and highlights
Pyara Salon (CP Rating: 8) 1050 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 Phone: (781) 270-9200
Beautiful Cut (CP Rating: 5) 52 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134 (617) 787-8756 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 49 Snip Plus (CP Rating: 5) 485 Arsenal St Ste 28, Watertown, MA 02472 (in the Arsenal Project) Phone: (617) 926-4345
Places for men to get their hair done in Boston/Cambridge: On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best and 1 the worst, what would you rate your expe- rience there?
Sly’s Barber Shop (CP Rating: 10) 321 Western Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 491-3940
333 Salon (CP Rating: 9) 333 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (617) 424-0333
John’s Barber Shop (CP Rating: 9) 16 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (Central Square) (617) 492-2962
Japanese Hair Salon Defi (CP Rating: 8) 132 Newbury St, Fl 4, Boston, MA 02116 (Backbay) (617) 262-8100
Custom Barber Shop (CP Rating: 7) 49 Brattle St # A, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 876-7986
Places to get your child’s hair done in Boston/Cambridge: from our survey Crimson Parents have not taken their kids to get their hair cut in Boston/ Cambridge. If you read this and have a place you like in the area, feel free to comment!
50 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Places to get nails done in Boston/Cambridge:
PS Nails and Spa (Gloucester/Newbury) (CP Rating: 10) 34 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115 (617) 396-3277
Soliel - Central Square (9) 21 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 491-8100
Golden Nails (CP Rating: 8) 550 Arsenal St # 34, Watertown, MA 02472 located in Watertown Mall (617) 926-1419
Couture Nails in Harvard Square (CP Rating: 7) 99 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 714-3616
Places to get spa treatments, including massages, done in Boston/Cam- bridge:
Sasha Salon Recommended by several parents for both massages and facials 23 Arrow St, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 497-4144
Skoah Recommended for facials 641A Tremont St Boston, MA (857) 350-4930
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 51 Harvard Center for Wellness Recommended for its $60 massages, no tip! 114 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 495-9629
Skin and BodyWorks Recommended for professional and inexpensive waxing 77 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144 located at Davis Square (617) 623-9100
52 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 53 54 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 8: Household
For tips on furniture purchases, please see “Moving”.
Housecleaning
Nearly half of our respondents have someone clean their house on a re- gular basis. If you are looking to contact someone, please check the CP website or with a CP Co-President.
Mechanics
4 in 5 Crimson Parent respondents to the survey have a car in Boston. They recommend the below mechanics:
J+P Garage Inc 9 Eatonia St, Allston, MA 02134 (617) 254-8993
128 Volvo Cars 614 North Ave, Wakefield, MA 01880 (781) 224-3700
Parking Tips
For campus, the resounding advice is to get a parking pass through Har- vard University in the OWA Parking Garage and leave your car on levels P2 & P3. You will pay for the entire year upfront, but at the end of the school year, your parking pass can be forfeited, and you can be refun- ded for the time remaining on your pass. Keep in mind that they round to the nearest half month (15th or the end of the month), so when you leave HBS, it might be worth the money to finish your contract early and pay the daily cost of parking for a few days instead of the entire month at $300.
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 55 For those living off-campus who want to come by car for events, Crimson Parents share their thoughts:
- Supposedly you can park by the gate in the unmarked spaces in front of the Klarman building construction, but there are no signs either way on some of the spots, so park at your own risk! - Meters next to the I-lab. These will fill up quickly though. - As campus parking is limited, you can park further away then walk or take a bike. There are several metered spaces around Continuum, which is an apartment building just to the west of HBS campus Please be aware that you park at your own risk!
For parking around Cambridge and Boston, if you don’t have quarters with you, there is a parking app called Park Boston which will allow you to pay through your iPhone. It can be found at http://park.boston.gov/. Not all meters have this option though, so CP highly recommends that you keep a roll of quarters in your car at all times.
For traveling to the North End of Boston without taking public transporta- tion, parking above the Boston Public Market (Parcel #7 Garage) can be validated by the stores in the market and only costs $1 per hour, up to 3 hours.
Cleaners
A quarter of our CP respondents use the on-campus cleaners located in SFP Building 1 near the playground. The man who works in the dry clea- ners is very kind and loves meeting kids! Sometimes he even has fancy chocolate for the « really nice » customers. Others use:
Flint Cleaners 170 Western Ave, Allston, MA 02134 (617) 782-7100 About quarter of our respondents use them, but feedback is that while they’re fast, they’re a bit pricey. 56 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Golden Touch 987 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 576-6840
Royal Cleaners 1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 (857) 259-6242
Shoe Repair
Jimmy’s Shoe Repair 42 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 868-8838
Cambridge Shoe Repair 1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 498-3200
Moving (leaving permanently)
The below moving companies are used and recommended by Crimson Parents :
Zippy Shell https://zippyshell.com/ Be sure to confirm and double-confirm your moving and delivery dates
RVS Moving and Delivery Service http://www.rvsmovinganddeliveryservice.com/
A+ Moving and Storage http://www.aplusmovingandstorage.com/
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 57 Crown Relocations (also does international moves) https://www.crownrelo.com/
Moving (leaving for summer internships)
If you live on campus you have to go through Harvard Housing to sublet your apartment. If you wish to sublet, start as early as possible and post the maximum allowed pictures (3). To maximize the value of your sublet, we recommend the following:
1. Store your kid’s furniture in an external storage unit, and rent out the ad- ditional room. If needed, buy cheap furniture, either second hand or from Ikea.
2. Use convertible furniture when you move in (e.g. a fold-out couch which becomes a bed). You will be able to convert the kid‘s room into an adult‘s bedroom with minimal effort.
3. Checkout the « Harvard Grad Market » on Facebook. Incoming and outgoing Harvard students are constantly posting furniture for sale or gi- veaway, usually in great shape or at a great price. It is a closed group, so you will need to request (and wait) for access before joining, but it usually does not take long. This is a great place to find a cheap, spare bed if you need one for a bedroom just for the summer. The market is usually very ac- tive in May and June, when people graduate and move out. Prices then tend to rise towards August and September, when people start move in.
4. A few parents recommend not renting to undergrads no matter how responsible they look when you meet them, as there have been some bad experiences in the past. Also, it is a good idea to charge a security deposit and use some kind of signed agreement to ensure you are cove- red for the rent and for any potential damage or liabilities.
58 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Furniture examples to consider when furnishing your apartment to get the maximum value out of your sublet:
Small story time couch —> Adult bed
Ikea Lycksele Lövås http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49840091/
Changing table —> Desk
Ikea Stuva http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29047163/ Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 59 To gain storage space in small bathrooms, consider dismounting the towel hanger and the toilet roll by unscrewing the small screws with a screwdri- ver used for glasses. In doing this, you can not only gain space for things like a potty-training toilet but also storage for towels (any storage unit works as long as it fits). Remember to keep them in a safe place so you can re-mount them when you move out!
Packing and Moving Boxes
For the many parents who wish to pack the boxes themselves, there are a few places to look for inexpensive packing supplies : Home Depot, Craigslist, the lobby of SFP2 during the moving season, and near the recy- cling bins by the parking garage.
Storage space
Some families might need some storage space to store their belongings during the summer period. The easiest options is to ask a friend who is not subletting for the summer to hold some items in her/his flat.
If you need an outside storage space, we recommend:
Value Store Allston 1360 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston MA 02134 A storage unit 10x10ft costs around USD 80/month. Requires a car.
Other options are available around campus. It is worth noting that HBS does not offer any storage facility.
60 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 61 62 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 9: Technology
Some Crimson Parents recommended iPhone/Android/Tablet apps/de- vices to track child development:
Tiny Beans Being away from close friends and family means that it’s harder for eve- ryone to share each other’s memories. Tiny Beans is used by several pa- rents as an easy way for extended family to stay involved with the child through uploading daily photos. Users keep a close circle of friends, so it is more private than Facebook. It is possible to order albums which the app compiles from all the photos.
Baby Sparks This app provides the parent with activities catered to the baby’s (0-24 months) changing developmental needs. Activities are also catered to the different seasonal constraints that parents are faced with: whether you are on the beach or trapped indoors there is always an activity sug- gestion. It also features different developmental milestones, giving you a preview of what is to come.
The Wonder Weeks This app allows you to keep track of mental and physical leaps that newborns through toddlers of 84 weeks old will experience. It not only ex- plains what each developmental leap is but also the challenges you may face during this time and how to help the child adjust to the new aware- ness and abilities. Reminders are sent prior to each leap, and the parent who used it found it to be quite helpful in explaining their child’s fussier- than-usual behavior at different times. This was recommended to a parent by her friend who is a child psychologist.
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 63 An example of how to track your child’s development with «The Wonder Weeks»
Screen Time
While reading a book is one of the best ways to educate your child (for library information please see the section “Babysitters, Pre-K Child Care & Activities”), 3/4 of our responding Crimson Parents allow their children screen time because they feel that technology not only functions as an educational tool but can help children cope with difficult situations such as a long car ride. Programming consists of anything ranging from a child- ren’s movie to educational videos (sometimes to give exposure to a forei- gn language), puzzles and games. Below are some of their preferred apps and programs:
64 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook - Starfall - Teach Me Kindergarten - Letter School - Disney Junior, Disney alphabet and numbers - Youtube Kids (great parental control settings) - Youtube compilation: Petit Ours Brun (for French) - PBS Kids - Sesame Street - ABC mouse - Daniel Tiger - Any of the Toca Apps (Toca Kitchen) - Stop and Go Potty - Elmo abcs and 123s - Netflix - Amazon Video - Dave and Ava
Tablets: Crimson Parents recommend using an iPad, a Kindle Fire or a Sam- sung tablet. Childproof covers are great for making sure these devices survive the intense usage.
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 65 66 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 10: Food
Grocery Stores
This list was based on our CP survey where respondents were allowed to indicate more than one store that they shop at.
Trader Joe’s (20% of respondents shop here) Great prices, limited but sufficient selection of products 748 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02139 There is also a Trader Joe’s opening at Continuum in 2017 (219 Western Ave, Allston, MA 02134). Both are easily walkable from HBS campus.
Whole Foods (20% of respondents shop here) Somewhat expensive option, but with a great selection of quality produce and products 340 River St, Cambridge, MA 02139 Walkable from HBS campus
Star Market (20% of respondents shop here) A bit less expensive than Whole Foods, but still on the higher end. It has a good selection, particularly with international foods 370 Western Ave, Brighton, MA 02135 A bit of a hike, but still walkable from campus
Stop n Shop (20% of respondents shop here) This store combines close proximity and low prices, the best according to Crimson Parents. 60 Everett St, Allston, MA 02134 Requires a car.
Costco (25% of respondents shop here) It is a membership-only warehouse store, meaning that you have to pay a membership fee to make purchases. As some CP members are already Costco members it may be worth reaching out and doing a shopping trip Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 67 together if you don’t plan on shopping here often to avoid fees. Costco has a great selection of pretty much anything you could possibly want, even food, at bulk pricing. 2 Mystic View Rd, Everett, MA 02149
Other individuals shop at the below stores:
H-Mart A great grocery store which also caries a wide variety of Korean products. 581 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139
Wegman’s in Chestnut Hill Offers a wide selection of high-quality products 200 Boylston Street Newton, MA 02467
Market Basket 400 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
Target Offers all things for the home and well-being and even includes a phar- macy. Groceries are available here but the selection is limited. located in the Watertown Mall 550 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472
Target (Smaller, convenience-store style Target in Central Square) 564 Massachusetts Ave Boston, MA 02139 Right off the Central Square T Stop or a 20 minute walk from HBS campus
68 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Online Grocery Shopping
Two in five respondents shop for groceries online, most of them using Ins- tacart while others choose Peapod, GoogleExpress, or Amazon Fresh. Some parents also use FoodEasyGo, which offers Korean, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Malaysian, Dim Sum and Vietnamese grocery shopping online for delivery. While online shopping works for some families, Crimson Parents advise that, although practical, delivery food is quite expensive for larger families.
International Food Grocery Shopping
H-Mart Wide variety of Korean products. 581 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139
The Butcherie Kosher 428 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
Wegman’s in Chestnut Hill UK brands 200 Boylston Street Newton, MA 02467
Chinese supermarket in Chinatown (there are several)
FoodEasyGo Korean, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Malaysian, Dim Sum and Vietnamese grocery shopping https://www.foodeasygo.com/
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 69 Recommended takeout restaurants
- Dok bua: Thai food - Harvest of India - Noodlestix: Chinese Restaurant - Coast Cafe: Soul-food (fried chicken, etc.) - Reginas Pizza - Zaftigs Delicatessen - Tasty Burger - FoodEasyGo (please see above International Food Grocery Shopping) - Dumpling House - Olecito: Mexican Grill - Basta Pasta: Trattoria with homemade pasta, pizza & Italian entrees
Takeout apps to order food
- Eat 24 - Foodler - GrubHub - GoPuff - DoorDash - FoodEasyGo
Spangler Cafeteria (Ground floor of Spangler) andThe Grill (basement of Spangler) are also great options for meals and snacks. You can check the menu using the Thrive@HBS app.
70 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 71 72 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 11: Birthday Parties
About half of Crimson Parents who responded to our survey have orga- nized a birthday party for their children while at HBS.
On-Campus Parties
Less than 1 in 5 parents organized the party on campus, usually for a total cost between $150 - $400.
In terms of venue, if you live in SFP or OWA, you can rent the Common Rooms for $25, a very affordable option. If you chose to go this route, be sure to reserve the room well enough in advance to get the date that you want. Make sure you arrange in advance (a day or two before the party) with Ashley Hopper to get the key to the room.
If you are doing it over the weekend, be aware that there may be a par- ty held in the same room the night before. In this case, you can request the cleaning to be done the morning before your kid’s party, just talk with Ashley Hopper.
Off-Campus Parties
Jump-on-in has the option to split the cost for a joint party. Parents have paid between $100-$200
Continuum Living Room room rental costs $40
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 73 Party Supplies
Target Watertown Mall 550 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472 https://www.target.com
Amazon www.amazon.com
Etsy https://www.etsy.com
Party City 1660 Soldiers Field Rd, Brighton, MA 02135 http://www.partycity.com/
Michaels 37 White St, Cambridge, MA 02140 http://www.michaels.com/
Costco 2 Mystic View Rd, Everett, MA 02149 https://www.costco.com/
Oriental Trading http://www.orientaltrading.com
74 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Birthday Cake
Roughly half the parents who organized a party baked their child’s cake. The other half purchased it from:
- Whole Foods - JP Licks - Star Market - Wegmans
Balloons
- Star Market - Party City - Target - Dollar Tree - Amazon (you can fill it with helium up at Star Market or order a helium tank from Amazon as well) - Central Florist
Gifts for Other Children’s Birthday Parties
- Amazon - Curious George Store in Harvard Square - Gap in Harvard Square - Carter’s in the Watertown Mall - Target in the Watertown Mall - Henry Bear’s Park in Porter Square
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 75 76 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Section 12: Activities Outside of Crimson Parents
Good Weather Activities / Summer
- Beaches (see Fitness chapter: Summer Activities) - Pools (see Fitness chapter: Swimming) - Playgrounds (see Fitness chapter: Playgrounds) - Cambridge Public Library to beat the heat - Edaville Family Theme Park Home of Thomas Land - Kimball Farm - Ice Cream! Harvard Square: J.P. Licks - Harvard undergraduate sporting events- watch a team during prac- tice or a scheduled game, most of the facilities are just across from HBS, and you can wander through anytime. Many of the events are also free. Check www.gocrimson.com for schedules and information. - GCP (Graduate Commons Program) events for anyone living on campus
Good Weather Activities / Get to know Boston
- Boston Harbor Cruises by boat, especially the Spectacle Island tour - Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden for spaciousness, beauti- ful flowers, and Boston history - Duck tour, especially when you host guests in Boston. It’s a nice way to introduce family and friends to the city. - The Freedom Trail: Boston is absolutely bursting with interesting history!
Good Weather Activities / Fall Leaf Destinations
- Harvard Arnold Arboretum - Mount Auburn Cemetery
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 77 Good Weather Vacation Destinations
- Portland, Maine - Acadia, Maine - Stowe, Vermont, - Cape Cod, Massachusetts - Westport, Massachusetts - Rockport, Massachusetts - Plymouth, Massachusetts - Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts: history of the Revolutionary War at the Minute Man - Rhode Island Beaches - Mystic, Connecticut - New York City, New York - Block Island, Rhode Island - Newport, Rhode Island - Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Bad Weather Activities
- Inside Playgrounds (See Fitness & Activities) - Indoor Pools (See Fitness & Activities) - Family movies at home - Invite friends for a picnic lunch on your living room floor - Build a blanket fort in your living room http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-build-an-indoor-fort-109414 http://www.thekitchn.com/an-interior-designers-tips-for-building-an-awe- some-indoor-fort-240506 - Bake cookies for your friends and neighbors - Harvard Museums (free admission for you and a guest with your Harvard ID); the Natural History, Science, and Art Museums are especially wor- thwhile - Build a snowman or just play in the snow on campus (it probably won’t last long!) 78 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook - Hot chocolate in Harvard Square (Crema Café, Flour Bakery, Tatte, Star- bucks) or Swissbakers on Western Ave - Museum of Science: Membership is reasonable and has cheap and easy parking for Boston. It’s also large so they never get bored there. - Children’s Museum: on Friday 5-9pm admission is $1 - Legoland Discovery Center - lots of room to play and run, has a large indoor play structure. - Natick mall play room. It’s great! - Boston Public Library (Allston branch) because it has parking. - JFK Presidential Museum- admission is discounted on President’s Day
Winter vacation destinations
- Crested Butte, CO: It is a long journey, but slopeside lodging is inexpen- sive and the heated pool is great. - Woodtock VT - Killington, VT - White Mountain, VT - New York City, NY
Date night/day without kids recommendations
Restaurants - Beehive: Spot for New American cuisine, cocktails, daily live music, jazz brunch & patio dining - Posto (Somerville) - Saccos (bowling and flatbread) - Park in Harvard Square - Orinoco in Harvard Square - The Red House :Cambridge - Eataly in the Prudential Center - Sweet Cheeks restaurant: Casual and creative bbq - Mistral: Southern French Cuisine - Waypoint in Harvard Square - Toro in the South End Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 79 - The Paramount on Beacon Hill - Tatte in Harvard Square
Other activities for parents - Boston Ballet ($25 student subscriptions!) - Art Museums - Boston Symphony Orchestra - Assembly Row is nice, large movie theater, restaurants, and shopping, plus free parking - Red Sox game - Bruins game - College team events - North End - Walk along the Charles River
80 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 81 82 Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook For further questions, please visit our website: https://crimsonparents.wordpress.com/ or contact Crimson Parent leadership directly at: [email protected]
Crimson Parents, A Student Club at Harvard Business School, Handbook 83