23 Jun-7 Jul: Burning the parenting playbook (#16)

Happy summer, y’all ☀️

Straight to it: APP is a community initiative, and we need your help! We’re looking for a volunteer or two to help with the newsletter:

• Help us source events: Find baby- and toddler-friendly events for the newsletter highlight list and public Google calendar

We keep hearing that you want more curated under-4 events in Amsterdam — and you’re not finding them in one place elsewhere. Can you help? If you are on Instagram or in events WhatsApp groups, you’re already qualified. Please get in touch so we can continue providing this resource for local parents, together 🙏 

👩‍👧 Community Spotlight: Selina Haria

“Mama, thank you for a lovely day today.” This is what Selina’s 3-year-old daughter says to her every night before bed 🥹 When I interviewed Selina, I was expecting sage advice on how to get your child to be so sweet. What I received in return instead was a poignant reminder that we carve our own path as parents — however steep and winding — and forge incredible bonds with our children along the way.

Postpartum depression is one of those things you hear about a lot in pregnancy: “Scary, but that won’t happen to me.” In fact, it happens to 8% of mothers in the Netherlands — and the risk factor of “foreign language spoken at home” indicates that expat parents like us are especially vulnerable. Also worth a mention: it happens to dads, too.

I’m grateful to Selina for opening up about how she found resilience and confidence in motherhood after postpartum depression. Selina is a dear friend of APP (you may have seen her at the €2 Sale!), and she just created Saaru Life, a market for sustainable children’s goods steeped in the values of her postpartum journey. This interview gets into the hard, beautiful lessons she learned in early parenthood that guide her today 👇🏻

Is there someone in our community we should spotlight — maybe even you? Send me a message at [email protected].

🗓️ What’s happening around town

Looking for something fun to do with your little one? Here's a selection of upcoming activities and events for babies, toddlers, and their parents. See them and many more on your own Google calendar here.

West

• Preparing for Fatherhood: Equal Parenting & Postpartum Relationships

  Fri 27 Jun @ 18:00-21:00 — Oud West

  If you’re a new dad in the last 6 months, this workshop gets into the big, difficult topics postpartum: work/life balance, equal parenting, sex and intimacy, and communication challenges. Dinner is included; message Zyanya to sign up.

• Pleinfeest at Delflandplein

  Sat 28 Jun @ 12:00-16:00 — Westlandgracht

  The city of Amsterdam is hosting a party at Delflandplein! Bouncy castles, kids workshops, and ice cream, all free.

• Babywearing Dance Class

  Sun 29 Jun @ 15:00-17:00 — Oud West

  Dance with your baby in a carrier or in your arms. This class is meant to get parents moving, not just passively swaying. A/C included ✅ I’ll be going with my toddler, hope to see you there!

• Baby Chamber Music Concert + music classes signup

  Sun 29 Jun @ 10:30 or 11:30 — Zaandam/Oud West

  Luistergoed is hosting a baby chamber music concert for babies up to 2 years old in Zaandam. Too far? Their location in Oud West still has a few spots left for their music course for 5-18 month-olds in September/October!

• Mukha Kids Yoga and more at Lalaland Festival

  5-6 Jul — Westpoort

  An Indian festival featuring performances and activities for kids like bollywood dance, classical music, painting workshops, colorful Holi fun, and parent & child yoga by Mukha Kids.

South

• Baby Sensory in the Park

  Fri 27 Jun @ 10:00-11:00 — De Pijp

  This outdoor session by the Labour Dept and WOW Family Center includes music and movement to textures, lights, and play. For babies under 13 months.

• Holland Beker Regatta

  28-29 Jun @ 11:00-18:00 — Amsterdamse Bos

  First held in 1886, the Holland Beker has a long and prestigious history in international rowing; you may spot some Olympians there! It takes place all weekend at the Bosbaan.

• Summer Minis with Sim Sawyers

  Sun 6 & 13 Jul — Vondelpark

  Sim is an experienced newborn and family photographer — you may have met her at MamaSocial! — and she’s offering mini sessions at the Rose Garden in Vondelpark. Reach out to her on Instagram or email her to reserve; just a few spots left.

Center

• Elephant Parade: Amsterdam 750th Anniversary Edition

  Until 29 Jun— Damrak

  It’s the last week of the Elephant Parade! Check out the 14 giant hand-painted elephants and 1 duck (🥹) exhibited along the Damrak and other places in the center.

Noord

• Latin Food Experience

  28-29 Jun @ 13:00-22:00 — NDSM

  All kids under 12 enter free and can enjoy music performance, family-friendly activities, and flavors from across Latin America.

• Keti Koti Kids Program

  Tue 1 Jul @ 14:00-19:00 — Noorderpark

  Celebrate Keti Koti with a drumming workshop, balloon figures, and bouncy castle, plus a Caribbean food market.

East

• Keti Koti Breakfast at the National Maritime Museum

  Sun 29 Jun @ 10.00 - 12.00 — Kattenburg

  There are a few activities open to all ages at the Scheepvaart Museum’s Keti Koti celebration, such as a visitor breakfast where you can try Surinamese bojo, eksie koekoe, gomma cookies, empanadas, alfajores, and more.

Until next time,

Alex from the Amsterdam Parent Project (APP)