So it turns out, I have a birthday present to buy for my niece's second birthday next Saturday. I thought to myself..."Hey, I work at a children's museum! I should check out what we have in our store." I don't know what to buy though. I grew up with more books than toys, I only owned one Barbie as a child and I didn't play with dolls. I wanted to get the perfect toy that incorporated fun and learning. Walking through our store I see toys that I absolutely loved as a child.
Cooking set - yes, though I'm a modern and independent woman, I love to cook and it must have been because I had my own small cooking set as a girl. I also had a tea set but I always used it to drink "coffee" (actually it was grape juice.)
Train set - Okay, this was my brother's toy but I still played with it. Of course I pretended I was the damsel in distress while he was the evil villain who tied me (my Barbie) to the tracks.
My First Chemistry Set - Another toy of my brother's. I inadvertently stole it though when I wanted to do the experiment on the box cover. It was the best baking soda vinegar explosion ever!!!
Cat's cradle - I used to do the hand string puzzles with my friends at school in the play ground each day over and over. Flipping through the book I remembered all the moves instantly.
Astronaut Ice Cream - Not really a toy per se but I couldn't stop begging my parents to buy me dehydrated ice cream just like they had on the space shuttle!
After my walk down memory lane I figured 2 years old is a little young for those toys in particular. I think I'm going for the Skuut Scooter or Ladybug Rain Coat. Both are cute and practical.
Valentine's Day is coming up! February 14 is next Thursday and as parents it becomes a little difficult to find time and, quite frankly, energy for some romantic moments with your spouse.
Valentine's Day may fall in the middle of the week but who says you have to celebrate your love on the 14th? You don't need a set date to celebrate your love for each other as long as you make time to do so. Go out the following Saturday or Sunday! Here are some ideas for a romantic grown-up night out:
Get a sitter: Grandma and Grandpa are just itching for some quality time.
Make a reservation: Easier to get at the more popular restaurants then the day of February 14.
Go to a movie: Take this time to watch a film that doesn't involve cartoon animals or sing-song costumed dancers. Try San Francisco's Sundance Kabuki Theater, and have some wine and cheese on the balcony.
Dinner at home: Have a romantic night in - in an empty and quiet house.
Play tourist: Take a day trip to the nearest tourist area and walk around, take in sights and eat some fun food. A walk through Golden Gate Park, wine tasting in Napa or a walk in downtown Sausalito.
If you do find the time to have a romantic day in the following days, weeks or even months—and we suggest that you do—you may find yourself experiencing the same things as these parents. They describe their own grown-up nights out on Parenting.com in this article,
Happy New Year! Today marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year! The primary focus at this time is to ensure good luck, pay respects to ancestors, gods and spirits, and to wish good fortune for friends and family in the coming year. Have your kids wish a Happy Chinese New Year and good fortune to their friends, family and teachers.
This year marks the birthday Year of the Rat for people born in 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 & 2008. People born on the Year of the Rat are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. Read more about the Zodiac Rat here.
San Francisco has become the city with the best and biggest Chinese New Year celebration outside of Asia. The Parade that is put on each year is the one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in the country...so bundle up the kids! That weekend also hosts the Chinese New Year Street Fair on Saturday and Sunday all day around Chinatown.
For a more child-friendly celebration, come to the Bay Area Discovery Museum's Chinese New Year Festival on Monday, February 18 (President's Day). We will have a Dragon Lion Dance in Festival Plaza and fun arts and crafts in our Art Studios.
Free admission to the Museum from 1 – 5 p.m. this Saturday, February 9.
The Bay Area Discovery Museum provides a portion of our audience with free or subsidized educational services. In 2007, attendance at free community events and during monthly free hours exceeded 28,000 people. Click here for more information about our Community Partners programs.
A couple of hands-on activities to participate in with in our Art Studios on Saturday:
Tree Frog Treks (Ceramics Studio) Saturday, February 9 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Day Camps are set to go at the Museum! Enroll your kids in Discovery Days Spring Camp 2008.
Campers will participate in hands-on science and art activities. They will explore the Museum and will have supervised play at the exhibitions on site. Each thematically organized camp day will include two to three structured, age-appropriate activities and breaks for snacks and lunch.
Supporting Members can register early on Tuesday, February 5. Upgrade your membership today to get the early registration code. Email gmedley(at)badm.org or call 415-339-3932.
January's poll has shown us that you, our readers, would like to hear from parents. So this is your chance to tell us a about an experience you and your child or family had at the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Don't forget to send in a picture and a small bio paragraph of yourself.
We will pick a few and post them throughout February. Email entries to jherrera(at)badm.org.
The Pacific Sun is once again taking votes for their "Best of" issue. Vote for us for the category Best Kid's Party and Best Toy Store! http://www.pacificsun.com/best_of/voting/
Get an inside look on Hui Tama Nui! This Polynesian dance group dons beautiful costumes, plays exciting island music and performs traditional dances. Read what they have to say about themselves and the message they want to send in this interview.
What do children learn from your dancing? Having an outlet to express emotion through dance, and having another family. The children learn a lot about the different Polynesian cultures such as the music, language and costuming, where they came from and how they are similar but are also very different. They also learn discipline, and how to follow directions in another language. They also learn how to perform on stage and backstage.
The Bay Area Discovery Museum has teamed up with World Arts West to present World On Stage. We bring an ethnic performance series that will take you around the world through dance, music and folklore, featuring some of the Bay Area’s most talented youth and adult artists. To see dates and times for upcoming performances click here.
Though Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday for the working man in 1894, there is never a day off for the parent. Still, there are some fun activities to attend around the Bay Area on Monday, September 1 for Labor Day.
Take your family to any of these events being held on Labor Day:
Sausalito Art Festival - View various kinds of art and drink some wine while the children enjoy juggling and circus performances from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Labor Day BBQ - Oxbow Public Market in Napa hosts a BBQ with tons of food and music all in support of the Napa Valley Opera House from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Kings Mountain Art Festival - Artist booths, Kiddie Hollow and more can all be found in the forest in Woodside, Ca from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Art & Soul - Oakland's annual festival hosts performances for kids as well as balloon animals, face painting, carnival rides and more from Noon - 6 p.m.
