New York has a lot to offer not only to adults but children as well. Sophia’s summer started with visiting multiple playgrounds in Prospect Park, trips to the beach in Coney Island, Tuesdays visits to Strawberry field in Central Park while her mom was taking her Dunham technique class with Ned Williams, and every Friday evening Sophia was at PMT dance studio near Union Square watching Hatian dance classes with live drummers through an open doors and playing with Peniel’s daughter. On top of this we did 2 hikes upstate in Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska state park and went to Jetlag festival. When the weather was not good for playing outdoors we visited Brooklyn and Rubin’s museum.
So what’s new with Sophia developmentally? The language skills really picked up and Sophia started repeating a lot of words we were saying in all 3 languages. She also combined 2 words saying “bye bye kaka” to her poop before we flushed in the toilet.
On playgrounds the most favorite activity for Sophia was grabbing other kids toys or scooters. Once she grabbed a toy, she would start running away with that toy or coming to me and say “Antoshka” which means “pick me up and hide me”.
Overall we believe her grabbing toys was a desire to socialize and interact with other kids, but she did not know yet any better way. It did piss off, not just some kids but also couple of parents at the playgrounds because we usually do not ask Sophia to share or did not force her to return toys. Usually we just waited and tried to destruct and then return the toy.
And here all this and more in photos and videos!
In the video below Sophia is experiencing “splash” in Prospect Park for the first time.
We let Sophia get wet and play in the puddles. We don’t encourage drinking water from there but sometimes that happens too.
Here is some learning experience at the water fountain.
We started going to the beach in the mornings. Sophia still did not get the courage to get wet in the ocean. She does enjoys playing with the sand.
This year New York philharmonics did a concert at Prospect Park. It was a cool experience however they could have chosen more main stream classical music to play for such a large audience and outdoor setting.
Rain or shine every Tuesday Baris takes Sophia to Central Park at 72nd street while I’m taking dance class with Ned Williams.
We organized a group hike to Mohonk Preserve. We did our favorite hike -Millbrook ridge hike. The weather cooperated and we filled the van with all our friends. My mom also joined us. Sophia was good all day, however on the way back in the van she cried for sometime before falling asleep.
After a day of fresh air we were back to concrete jungle.
The exhibition at Rubin’s museum was very interesting
We also checked out Brooklyn museum on a rainy day and learned that it is a huge playground.
For the 3rd time in a row we went upstate to Jetlag festival where we camped for 2 days. The weather was overall good except the night we arrived. As always we enjoyed the festival a lot. There was a lot of music including Leonid Fedorov. Sophia is very sociable and had a great time socializing with people, play various instruments and just be in nature.
Here is she playing drums
and here she is participating in the tea ceremony
She also wanted to be a part of the band
And in the mornings Sophia helped her father to make coffee
Sophia also tried to play ball with older boys.
On the way back to New York we decided to hike in Minnewaska state park and we were treated with Mountain Laurels in full bloom!
We hiked to lake Awosting and swim a little.
Sophia 