Snow Day? What to do?

Fort Heaven for a two year old.

Finally, a real, bona fide snow day!  We all know the basics... play in the snow, snow fort, snow angels, snow ball fight, sledding, and hot chocolate to bring back feeling in finger tips.  But what about the other 10 or so other extra kid hours you have suddenly added to your day?  Here's a start list of favorites from our house:

1. Building forts.  Materials needed: blankets and durable furniture.  Flashlights a bonus.  This will work in our house for HOURS.  

2. Labor intensive, but low parental involvement crafts: making collages from magazines, playing with stickers, stringing lots of little beads, construction paper snowflakes.

3. Marching band.  Yes, it's noisy.  Especially if your instruments strongly resemble pots and pans and other household items.  But someday you'll look back on these moments and miss the noise.  Or so I've been told.

4. Snow Math: snow + milk + vanilla extract = snow ice cream!

5. Watch old videos of the kids when they were little(r).  Extra points for popcorn.

6. Get started on those Valentines!  

7. Scavenger Hunt with clues. This is on my kids to do list for today.  Ideas welcome!

What's on your snowed-in list for today?  Whatever you do, enjoy the snow!

This Week: First Wednesday means $2 admission at the Please Touch Museum!

Target sponsors first Wednesdays at the Please Touch Museum.  This is a great deal... admission from 5-7pm is only $2... that's quite a savings from the regular $15 admission fee!  The museum is a local treasure... with incredible exhibits, shows, a gorgeous carousel, cafe and gift shop.

The Please Touch Museum is located in the historic Memorial Hall at Fairmount Park 4231 Avenue of the Republic Philadelphia, PA 19131.

Summer Reading Program!

We are consistent library-goers, visiting our closest free library at least once, sometimes more than once a week. We've moved three times in the past five years but one thing has remained constant- we find our closest library and become a regular customer. All the security guards know us. Most of the librarians know us. This definitely helps when our library fines start stacking up from our piles of overdue books. But I digress.

Our main library love in these hot months (besides the awesome air conditioning) is the summer reading program happening at every branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. We LOVE the summer reading program. Your child doesn't have to be reading to join! Even if you are reading books to them, you can sign up and start listing each book you've read every week this summer. When you fill up your folder with stickers for every book you get little prizes like animal masks and sidewalk chalk and big prizes like free tickets to Clementon Park and free doughnuts from Dunkin' Donuts(that's big for us). My preschooler and almost kindergartener are beyond delighted when they get to fill up their summer reading program sheet and I ask them to tell me and the librarian about all the books we read that week. They are learning to be proud of all the "reading" they are doing. Adults can win prizes too, just for reading books to kids! Let's support our libraries all year long!

p.s. In 100 degree weather, I'd try to keep these kids in the library playing computer games, reading books, and winning prizes all afternoon!

New Summer Poetry Classes at Big Blue Marble Bookstore!

I asked local poet Jane Cassady why her new poetry classes this summer for kids at Big Blue Marble Bookstore can't be missed. Here's what she told me:

1. You can bring your kids to poetry class and have an hour for yourself to hang out in the bookstore or co-op or Springboard Studio or High Point Cafe, etc...
2. Because it's awesome arts and crafts poetry fun!
3. It's great vocabulary building and reading help.
4. We're going to put out an anthology at the end of the class so kids will be published poets by the end of the summer!

Check out the details:

Miss Jane's Poetry Club (for children 5-7 yrs) Tuesdays, June 29-August 10. (6 sessions--no class the week of Independence Day) 1pm-2pm

Fun with words! Each week, we will get inspired by poems and songs from poets of all ages and backgrounds. Using word games, arts and crafts, skits and other activities, we will learn new and exciting ways to express our amazing gifts. Poetry Club is an excellent way for kids to increase vocabulary, practice spelling, and receive extra reading help. At the end of the class, students will be published in a chapbook along with the other Big Blue Marble Poetry Classes. We'll have a festival to celebrate! 100.00 (includes supplies and copies of the poetry/art book.) Scholarships available. Pre-register at aesthetic52@yahoo.com, 215-432-4036.


Miss Jane's Poetry Club (for children 8-12 yrs) Wednesdays, June 30-August 11. (6 sessions, no class the week of Independence Day) 1pm-2pm


Fun with words! Each week, we will get inspired by poems and songs from poets of all ages and backgrounds. Using word games, arts and crafts, skits and other activities, we will learn new and exciting ways to express our amazing gifts. Poetry Club is also an excellent way for kids to increase vocabulary, practice spelling, and receive extra reading help. At the end of the class, we will be published in a chapbook along with the other Big Blue Marble Poetry Classes. We'll have a festival to celebrate! 100.00 (includes supplies and copies of the poetry/art book.) Scholarships available. Pre-register at aesthetic52@yahoo.com, 215-432-4036.

All of these will classes happen at Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, Philly, in the community room.

Jane Cassady is the booking maven for the Philadelphia Poetry Slam. She has appeared in The November 3rd Club, The Comstock Review, Valley of the Contemporary Poets, and other journals. She has performed at such venues as LouderArts in New York City, Valley Contemporary Poets in Los Angeles, and The Encyclopedia Show in Chicago. She has taught poetry to all ages from pre-K to adult, and believes in coaxing out everyone's unique poet voice.

If You Give a Mouse A Cookie... guaranteed fun!

Theater Review: If you Give a Mouse a Cookie

The Arden Theatre in Old City is currently running a wonderful play based on Laura Numeroff’s beloved 1985 children’s book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.  In keeping with the original tale, the two actors in the play are up to some wild antics.  We attended a weekday performance last week with our preschool, and it was a big hit with both kids and adults alike. 

The Arden is a small, intimate theater where there’s no such thing as a bad seat. The set design for the play is a joy to behold... with larger than life replicas of Felicia Bond’s illustrations.  My children especially enjoyed the oversize fridge and its contents.  But it’s the antics between the mouse (Steve Pacek) and the boy (David Raphaely) that are destined to bring out the belly laughs.  Even the adults in our group were drawn into the slapstick.  There is a brief 10 minute intermission, but if you go during the week, bring your own snacks for the break, as the concession stand is only open on weekends.

Adapted by Jody Davidson

Directed by Whit MacLaughlin

Book copyright ©1985 Laura Numeroff

Illustration copyright ©1985 Felicia Bond

Arden Theatre

40 N. 2nd St.

Philadelphia, PA 19106

Adults: $32.00

Child: $18.00

But check out Target Half Two for One nights: Thursday 7pm performances!

http://www.ardentheatre.org/2010/mouse.html

Sing and Tumble at the Little Treehouse!

The Little Treehouse Play Cafe at Germantown Ave. and Gravers Lane in Chestnut Hill recently expanded their play areas to include several top-notch downstairs rooms. One space is a full mini-gym for the preschool set, connected to a smaller adjacent room for warm up time. The other space is a nicely equipped music room with hoards of instruments, plenty of room for dancing, and a wall mounted flat screen TV. All rooms are cheerfully painted, inviting, and built for fun.

The Music Classes are conducted by the Sally’s Music Circle program. Classes are targeted for different age groups of children from birth to age five, with a caregiver. There is a baby circle, as well as classes for three and under, 2-4 year olds and 3-5 year olds. My two and four year old children participated in the same class... 45 minutes of acoustic guitar, egg shaking, silk dancing, rhythm sticks, clanging instruments and lovely songs! Each family receives a Sally’s Music circle songbook and cd to continue their musical journey at home.

The Tumbling Space is wonderful. The instructors were all trained by the highly revered Andre’ from the Water Tower program, and some also had experience with the Little Gym. Similar to the music classes, there are different times for different age groups, with children under three being accompanied by a caregiver. Most classes have 2-3 teachers per group, depending upon enrollment. Class sessions have a warm-up time with the “Little Treehouse Song”, stretching, and bouncing the many sized and colored balls. Each week revolves around a different animal theme: crab, kangaroo, bear, etc., where children practice moves and skills related to that animal.

Once the kids are warmed up, it’s time for the circuit! There are plenty of cushiony mats, two balance beams, a tunnel, wedges, a springboard, a horizontal bar, uneven bars, and even a rock wall. Most of class time is spent practicing the animal moves around the circuit, with the group gathering at the end of class for bubbles and/or parachute fun. One of the best parts about attending classes at the Treehouse is that you are welcome to come early or stay afterwards without paying the admission fee. So on any rainy or cool class days, we hang out, each lunch, and play for an hour or two before heading home.

The current sessions are nearing their end, but the next session will start on May 24 and run through July 16. Watch for registration to open on May 5, as there will be a 25% discount for early registration on or before May 17!

MUSIC CLASSES AGE GROUPS and PRICING: $160 per child + $15 book/cd per family
Infants - 3 years (I-3); Baby Circle (BC); 2-4 years (2-4); Mixed age family class (Fam)

TUMBLING AGE GROUPS and PRICING: $128 per child
Tumbling 1: 18 - 35 months; Tumbling 2: 3-4 years; Tumbling 3: 4-5 years; Mixed age family class (Fam)

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS
25% discount for early registration summer session
10% discount for 10-visit card holders
20% discount for siblings
20% discount for multiple classes
(discounts are not cumulative... highest discount prevails)

LOCATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION

10 W. Gravers Lane

Chestnut Hill, PA 19118

(215)247-3637

Big Blue Marble Bookstore's Bunch of Events for Kids!

Big Blue Marble Bookstore, Northwest Philadelphia's premiere spot for free, community events for children and adults, has a packed schedule this fall with events ranging from puppets plays to pirate parties, from excellent young adult readings to seminars teaching parents how they can pay for their child's education. Come check us out!

-Maleka Fruean, events coordinator at Big Blue Marble Bookstore


FOR KIDS:

Sunday, November 15, 11:00am and 11:45am. Waldorf Puppet Play! Join our special guest puppeteers from the Waldorf School of Philadelphia for a wonderful puppet show. One show at 11am and again at 11:45am. "The Little Boy Who Wanted To Be Carried Along All The Time" is a poem written by F.Ruckert and adapted for use as a puppet play by Suse Konig. It's a sweet tale of a boy and the adventures he encounters and how nothing is quite right until he safe in his Mother's arms. For ages 12 months to 5 years old.

Saturday, November 21, 3:00pm. Robox Reading and Robot Party! with Mark Rogalski. Join Mark Rogalski and Big Blue Marble Bookstore for a robot party and book reading celebrating the new book Robox, a robot story and build-your-own-robot kit!

Sunday, November 22, 1:00pm. Archie and the Pirates Reading and Pirate Party! with Marc Rosenthal. Join us for a pirate party and reading from Marc Rosenthal's newest picture book.

Sunday, December 6, 2:00pm. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus Reading/Kids' Event with Charles Santore. Join Big Blue Marble Bookstore in our cafe for milk and cookies and a reading by Charles Santore from his new book about all the adventures of Santa Claus. We'll have some art to color too!

FOR YOUNG ADULTS (AND ADULTS!):

Thursday, October 29, 7:00pm. Liar Conversation with Justine Larbalestier. Liar is a psychological thriller set in New York City told from the point of a compulsive liar who promises that this time there will be no more lies. Justine Larbalestier is the author of the Magic or Madness trilogy and How to Ditch Your Fairy. She is married to author Scott Westerfeld and divides her time between Sydney, Australia, and New York City. Justine blogs daily at www.justinelarbalestier.com/blog.

Friday, November 6, 7:00pm. Sugarless Reading with James Magruder. “Magruder is a writer of immense gifts, with a voice —smart, playful, lyrical, subtle, unsparing —utterly unlike anyone else’s.”—Tony Kushner, playwright of Angels in America. Things look bad for Rick Lahrem, a high school sophomore in a cookie-cutter Chicago suburb in 1976. His mother’s second husband is a licensed psychologist who eats like an ape, his stepsister is a stoner slut, and his father is engaged to a Southern belle. Rick’s only solace is his growing collection of original Broadway-cast LPs, bought on the sly at Wax Trax. After he brings two girls in speech class to tears by reading a story aloud, Rick is coaxed onto the interscholastic forensics team to perform an eight-minute dramatic interpretation of The Boys in the Band, the controversial sixties play about homosexuality. Unexpectedly successful at this oddball event, Rick begins winning tournaments and making friends with his teammates.

Thursday, November 19, 7:00pm. Big Blue Young Adult Readings and Discussion with Catherine Gilbert Murdock and Delia Sherman. Catherine Gilbert Murdock is the author of the Dairy Queen trilogy, featuring the determined D.J. Schwenk, which comes to its conclusion in the brand new Front and Center. Catherine is local to the Philly area and is also the author of the fantasy Princess Ben. Delia Sherman is the author of Changeling, the story of Neef, the official mortal changeling of Central Park, and its recently released sequel The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen. She is also co-editor of the "interstitial fiction" collections Interfictions and Interfictions 2 (due out November 3).

FOR PARENTS:

Wednesday, October 28, 10:30am. Paying For Your Child's Education Financial Seminar with Edward Jones Financial Group. Parents, stop by for this free seminar from the folks at Edward Jones Financial Group that details how you can create a financial plan to pay for your children's education through the years.

Thursday, November 5, 7:00pm. Raising a Left-Brain Child in a Right-Brain World Reading with Dr. Katharine Beals. Bright, eccentric, and often socially awkward, so-called left-brain children often have talents and inclinations that lean heavily toward the logical, linear, analytical, and introverted side of the human psyche--what is commonly referred to as the "left brain"--as opposed to the "right brain" which is our emotional, holistic, intuitive, and extroverted side. Left-brain kids are often found on the margins of the classroom and the playground, the ones who tend not to fit in with their peers but have rich interior and intellectual lives. Join us for an evening with Dr. Katharine Beals whose research and interviews with parents and children, has led to a new understanding of left-brain kids and practical strategies for nurturing and supporting them, both at school and at home.

All events take place at Big Blue Marble Bookstore in our cafe, 551 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119 (right near the Weavers Way Co-op). All events are free and open to everyone.

What is MALT?

Mt. Airy Learning Tree is a community-based "school" that draws on the human, geographical, and architectural resources of Germantown, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill. Students enroll for $5.oo per term and can participate in classes that range from swimming to computer basics to aromatherapy. Classes may run for 2 hours on an afternoon or for up to 8 weeks. The spring term is underway and continues through June.

Three reasons why MALT classes are a boon for GAPpers:

1. For those new to the area, courses can take them into private area gardens, local history can be learned, and other like-minded neighbors can make contact.

2. Classes are offered for children as young as three.

3. Participants can choose classes convenient to their schedules: nights, weeksdays, weekends, and registration can be done online!

I have taken several classes through MALT and will be starting another next week: Meditation for Beginners. What parent cannot benefit from a few minutes to him or herself?

Mt. Airy Learning Tree

6601 Greene Street

Philadelphia, PA 19119-3114

215-843-6333

Fax registration: 215-843-6655

This Weekend: Grand Opening of The Little Treehouse!

If you haven't been by the new location of The Little Treehouse, this weekend is the perfect chance to check it out. And it is well worth it! I was amazed at the amount of space and high ceilings. All of the toys from the previous location remain, but there are several, new fun additions as well. There is also a cafe with a great selection of food for children and adults and a nice, big seating area.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 1st-3rd are all FREE PLAY ALL DAY! So, stop by and see it for yourself for free! And enjoy all the great kid entertainment too, including a magic show, music class, concert, juggling, face painting, a stilt walker and more! Here is a full schedule.

The Little Treehouse is now located at:

10 West Gravers Lane in Chestnut Hill, right off of Germantown Avenue

(This is a one-way street, so you might need to turn on another street and double back to find a spot)

Also, outside food other than sippy cups etc. is no longer permitted.

Call The Little Treehouse at 215.247.3637 for more info. Hope to see you there!

Searching for Spring: Book-Making with Kids

Last week, during one of those gorgeous 70 degree days, we decided to head out to a favorite park and spend the afternoon there. Being a shutterbug, I grabbed my pocket camera, some snacks for the kids, and sunscreen.

We started out in the usual spot.... playing on playground equipment. But the park we chose had gorgeous scenery all around, so we decided to hike for a bit and “look for spring”. My three year old and his twenty one month old sister were up for the challenge, and when my preschooler wanted me to take a picture of his first “find”, an idea was born.

I started snapping photos of every sign of spring they discovered... from the puddles on the ground, to the gorgeous spreading tree starting to green up. Once they knew their observations were being recorded, they were really motivated to find more. It sparked great conversations about what was and what wasn’t a sign of spring (we decided the many cars in the parking lot were a sign of spring, but trash on the ground might be a bit of a stretch).

If I had planned ahead, I’d have also brought along our trusty clipboard and some drawing/writing tools... my preschooler loves to be the scientist, recording what he sees. But we relied upon our photos and memories of the day, of which there were many. We saw dogs splashing in the creek, found a worm on the sliding board, chased after some butterflies, discovered flowers and seedlings, couldn’t shake our shadows, and even tracked fish in the fast-moving stream.

Once we returned home, we put the pictures to work; my preschooler and I set about creating the photo book. Since our pictures seemed publish-wort

hy, we opted for a photo book from an online shop. Many online photo printers now have book-making options... artscow, shutterfly, picaboo, and snapfish come to mind. These companies provide software and templates (just add photos and text) that make book-making a snap. Ours took about an hour total to complete.

We went through the pictures on the computer together, sorted them into categories, and then started telling our story. My three year old was more than happy to narrate the entire book himself, but we made sure to put some quotes from our toddler in as well.... my favorite being, “yook mommy, fwowa!” (Translation: Look Mommy, a flower!). Using their words and memories really made the book come to life.

We conducted our investigations at Valley Creek Park in Malvern because it is a lovely park and we had errands to run nearby, but this is a nice portable activity you can do just about anywhere. You could even repeat for all 4 seasons... publish your own family series! The only downfall has been a certain little boy requesting photo print-outs and homemade books about virtually everything he does, at which point I promptly introduced him to the additional wonders of the homemade book.

Cost for a 20 page 8 X 8 hardback book from artscow.com = $9.99

(These make great gifts for friends too!)

Sendak on Sendak: Fun for All at the Rosenbach Museum

If you find yourself lamenting that the Please Touch Museum did away with their Sendak exhibit in their new digs, there’s another local spot to get your Sendak fix. Nestled in between the rowhomes and brownstones of Rittenhouse Square, the Rosenbach Museum is home to the largest collection of Maurice Sendak’s work.

Sendak, of course, is most famous for his monstrously illustrated picture book, Where the Wild Things Are. The Sendak exhibit at the Rosenbach (on display in this form through May 3rd) takes visitors well beyond that famous story. Our family attended with one adult and three children (ages 3, 5, and 9). And while it wasn’t necessarily geared towards the preschool crowd, the museum offered something for each of us.

There was a wonderful seek-and-find guide for families to follow. Kids can grab their very own Chicken Soup with Rice folders to house the cards they collect in each of the four Sendak galleries. The cards have wonderful information about the exhibits, interactive ideas and discussion points for caregivers and children, and beautiful cut-outs of some of Sendak’s most treasured characters (Really Rosie, Max, Bundibar, to name a few). Once home, the folder unfolds to create a set, and the cut-out characters have their very own stage! That was a nice take-home that my kids all really enjoyed.

During the self-guided tour/treasure hunt, questions and ideas help guide visitors. Parents and children are prompted through questions to connect with the illustrations. Topics included fears, friends, bullying, tantrums, dressing up, and everything in between. Our favorite explorations included looking for Jenny and the dog throughout the exhibits, counting monsters, and finding pictures “bathed in moonlight”. The guide provided information, as well as ways to keep busy children focused on the images. But all three of my children especially loved gathering the cards for their folder, and really used the cards as a way to relate to the displays.

The images themselves are stunning for any Sendak fan to see... from small sketches showing the drawing process, to original drawings of favorite pages, to wall-sized murals that made us feel truly a part of the stories. The exhibit is definitely multi-layered. It is very kid-friendly, but also highlights Sendaks’ struggle with life’s darker side. It pays an apt tribute to this author/illustrator/producer/set designer who refuses to believe that children are one-dimensional.

Before you leave, be sure to visit the wonderful gift shop. In addition to many Sendak books, dolls, cds, and prints, there are also signed copies of posters and books available for collectors and dabblers alike.

The museum is closed on Mondays. Tuesdays-Saturdays open from 10-5, with later hours Wednesday nights until 8pm.

Adult admission is $10, students and children are $5, and children under 5 are free.

Let's Read (in our pajamas): PJ Storytime at Falls of Schuylkill Library

Wearing your pajamas while reading a book?  What could be more natural?
When I told my 3 year old that we were going to a pajama party at the library, she shrieked with glee.  Wearing pajamas outside of the house feels like one is breaking a taboo.  It also feels relaxing and comfortable!  This particular party took place on a Wednesday evening at the Falls of Schuylkill branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, in the East Falls section of the city.

Thanks to a calendar mailed to us by the children’s librarian, Liz, we were able to plan for this activity.  And as a parent who works outside the home, I appreciate the evening opportunity to participate in child-centered activities.  The children’s basement-level story room at the Falls’ library is very welcoming, with a colorful floor rug and engaging animal paintings on the wall.  3-D vines hang down from the ceiling, adding to the jungle-like atmosphere.

Liz is engaging and endearing, and she started out by reading Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day about Peter, the child who learns about the temporal nature of snowballs.  After Liz read a few more beautifully illustrated books about snow, winter, and bundling up, she invited us to do a little stretching/yoga, and I commented to my friend how wonderful it felt to stretch.  Afterwards, we had some time upstairs to choose our own books and play on the computers.

My only regret was neglecting to wear my own pjs!

The Falls of Schuylkill Branch of the Free Library is at 3501 Midvale Avenue (Warden Dr. & Midvale Ave.)
Other activities for parents/caregivers and children this month are Toddler Storytimes on February 5th and 19th at 10:15 a.m. for toddlers ages 15 months – 2 years, a Preschool Storytime on February 10th at 10:15 a.m. for ages 3-5, and Mother Goose Storytime on February 24th at 10:15 for ages 6-15 months.  This month’s pj storytime takes place on February 18th at 7:00 p.m. for ages 2-6.  Please call to confirm activities before going because of the uncertainties of staffing that the library now faces.

Summer Camp, Here We Come: Camp Fair This Weekend

This post is also published in this week's issue of The Chestnut Hill Local, in the column, "Take the Kids."

Camp Fair at Chestnut Hill Academy

Yes, we are still in the midst of winter. More snow is in the forecast and warmer days seem a distant memory. But, summer will creep up on us once again and I don't know about you, but I want to make certain that I do not get stuck with my toddler every minute of every stifling day. Of course I love him, but I also know that he will need to be outside every day, using that boy energy up, and my mommy energy is no match for his. Last year, I decided to try summer camp at the last minute and almost missed my chance. It was the best decision I have made in a while. So, even if you think your child is too young and doesn't need summer activities, you may want to give it a chance. My little one loved it and was better prepared for the start of preschool in the fall.

So if you are considering summer camps, you've probably seen the banner on the avenue and read ads in the paper about this weekend's camp fair at Chestnut Hill Academy. Take note: this is the only camp fair in the area and there will be a startling near 75 camps represented. Even if you think you have chosen which camp is right for your child already, it will be worth checking out and will be a fun-filled day for all, with magic science shows, snacks and lunch at the cafe, animals visiting from The Schuylkill Center, and much more. And it's a great opportunity to get a glimpse of the school if you're considering Chestnut Hill Academy for you child.

Every camp you can imagine will be in attendance, something for every age and from all over the region and country. There will be day camps, overnight programs, and travel and adventure camps as well. The camps offer programs in nature, academics, science, sports, international travel, adventure, fine arts and more. And don't expect to simply pick up brochures and be on your way. If you want, sit down to view informational videos about camps and meet directors face to face. The camp fair will take place in the school's gymnasium complex, located near the intersection of Willow Grove Avenue and Cherokee Street. Stop by and ensure you will have happy campers this summer.

Details:

500 West Willow Grove Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19118

Saturday, January 31^st

11am-3pm

215.247.4700

FREE admission and parking

The Play is the Thing: Children's Theatre

If you're like me and are desperately searching for more indoor activities to take the kids to, why not try a play? At least when you go to a show put on for kids, you don't have to worry so much about shushing your little one when the whole audience is full of children. And, hopefully, you won't need to do anything of the sort since these productions are created to please the little guys. I was pleasantly surprised to find there are several options in the area as far as children's theatre goes:

James and the Giant Peach
Arden Theatre Company
40 North Second Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
Daily (except Mondays) until Feb. 8th
Ages: 3-12
Times: Wed-Thu 10am; Fri 10am & 7pm; Sat 12n; Sun 12n & 4pm
Cost: Adults $26-$30; Children (13-17) $18-$22, (12 and under) $14-$16
215.922.1122

"Author Roald Dahl's beloved book comes to life on stage. The show tells the tale of James, a young orphan sent to live with his horrible Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. Life is hard until a mysterious stranger arrives. Suddenly, magic abounds and James finds an enormous peach growing in his yard containing six talking insects - including a violin playing grasshopper - and his remarkable adventure begins." Advance ticket purchase is available by phone and online.

Upcoming Show at the Arden Theatre Company:
A Year with Frog and Toad
Based on the books by Arnold Lobel
March 4 - April 19, 2009
"Jeffrey Coon (Frog) and Ben Dibble (Toad) return for a revival of one of the Arden's most celebrated productions in its history! Nominated for six Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre and a Tony Award for Best Musical, this whimsical story features an unlikely friendship between a cheerful Frog and a rather grumpy Toad and the life lessons they learn during the four seasons of one year."

The Secret Garden
Robert C. Gauntlett Community Center
West Chester Pike (Route 3) at Media Line Road Newtown Square, PA 19073
Each Fri, Sat, Sun until Jan. 31st (That is this weekend!)
Ages: 6-19
Time: Fri-Sat 7pm; Sun 2pm; 1/31 2pm & 7:30pm
Cost: $7 in advance; $8 at the door
610.353.9181

"The Marple Newtown Players present The Secret Garden, a stage adaptation based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett book about an orphaned girl who finds wonder, friendship, and redemption in an abandoned garden on her reclusive uncle's Yorkshire estate. The show takes place in the auditorium of the Gauntlett Community Center; snacks are available for purchase after the performance." Guests should enter via Radnor Drive off of West Chester Pike; ample off-street parking is available. Advance ticket purchase is available online.

*Or, if you miss the Secret Garden, catch the upcoming play here:
Oz! Theater for Children
Mar. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 2009
Fridays 7:00 PM, Saturdays & Sundays 2:00 PM
All Seats $8.00 at the door, $7.00 advance


The Snow Queen
Hedgerow Theatre
64 Rose Valley Road Media, PA 19063
Each Sat. until March 7th
Ages: 4-12
Time: 11am
Cost: Adults $11; Children $9
610.565.4211

"A musical stage adaptation of The Snow Queen tells the story of Gerda, who must rescue her best friend, Kai, from the Snow Queen, and features lots of audience participation. After the performance, guests can mingle with characters from the show and enjoy juice and cookies in the lobby." Advance ticket purchase is available online.

*Upcoming shows at Hedgerow Theatre:
Snow White & the Little People
Saturdays, Feb. 14-March 7 at 1:30 p.m.
"Little people from the audience will help free Snow White from the Evil Queen's spell." This show is available to tour; call for details.

Charlotte's Web
Saturdays, March 14-May 23 at 11 a.m.
"The classic tale of the friendship between Wilbur the Pig and Charlotte the Spider." Please note - there is no show May 2.

Nate the Great
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Ages: 5-12
Time: 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm
Cost: $10-$14
215.574.3550

"Nate must solve the baffling case of a missing painting when Theatreworks/USA presents Nate the Great, a musical stage production based on books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat." Advance ticket purchase is available online.

Upcoming shows at this Walnut Street Theatre:

The Berenstain Bears' Family Matters
Saturday, March 21 and April 4
Weekday performances on March 20, 27 and April 2, 2009
"Can you BEAR it? Someone has a hand in the cookie jar! Grrrrr. The Berenstain Bears' Family Matters is a delightful new musical that weaves classic Berenstain Bear books into one big bear of an adventure. Brother Bear has trouble with a school quiz, so he hides it in the cookie jar. Sister Bear makes friends with a frog and hides it in the cookie jar. Papa has been eating candy when he's supposed to be on a diet, and the wrapper ends up in the cookie jar! It doesn't take a detective to know that someone's going to find out! Let's follow the cookie trail… it's up to Mama to sort things out, with the help of Grizzly Gran and Grizzly Gramps of course. We learn that no matter how crazy family life may be—in the end, Family Matters!"

Stimulating your child’s senses: A Visit to the Reading Terminal Market

Winter can present parents with the following challenging question: What are we going to do today? Outdoor playgrounds are icy and movies are expensive. Last week, I was faced with the choice of practicing paper-cutting skills with my daughter or having all of our senses stirred by taking her to the Reading Terminal Market at 12^th and Market Streets in downtown Philadelphia. Guess what I chose?

This was our third visit together to the old market. In my BK (before kids) days, I might have shopped here for lobster-stuffed ravioli and Thai food, but children open up novel perspectives on this Philadelphia treasure. To begin with, we took the #9 bus from Roxborough. Children under 42 inches ride free and mine enjoys the great view, people-watching, and getting to ride without a booster seat! I enjoy the same two things, plus not having to drive!

Once we arrived inside the market, the first spectacle we visited was the seated brass pig, which accepts all forms of currency by mouth and then excretes them out the other end into the collection bin – fun to watch for scatologically-minded kids! Other treats for the eyes can be found at Chocolate by Mueller, who sells chocolate noses, liberty bells, and handcuffs in addition to more mundane truffles. You can also watch the experts making their chocolate novelties. For my child, it was thrilling to look at the whole red snappers on ice at the fish stand and the roasted whole ducks hanging at the Chinese stand. She was fascinated that the animals were not alive – although the fish looked that way!

We capped off our visit with my child’s new favorite activity: sitting on the spinning stools at Bassett’s while practicing her ice-cream-cone-licking skills. Request a cup for the point at which your child has finished licking and is ready to use a spoon. My new favorite activity is sitting next to her while I enjoy my falafel sandwich or Pakistani meal from Nanee’s Kitchen (Bassett’s doesn’t seem to mind.).

Details: The brass pig is located just outside of the Spice Terminal store. As an alternative to a Septa bus or train, driving is also an option, with $3 parking available in exchange for a stamped ticket, which you get with a purchase at the market. I recommend going on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, in order to visit the Amish stands, where you can watch pretzels being hand-twisted and pick up a whoopee pie!

The Best Support a Mom Can Find: The Maternal Wellness Center

Visit Dancing Meatball's new blog today to see my first post over there.  Today's entry is about Mt. Airy's Maternal Wellness Center, a great resource for parents in the area!

Treat Yourself: A Taste of Philly

I found myself walking on Germantown Avenue today with my two kids and we just happened to be close to A Taste of Philly, so we had to stop in for a pretzel.  Although, as I keep forgetting, they have a $10 minimum for credit/debit card sales and I NEVER have cash these days, so we ended up getting a lot more than a pretzel.  

We also got a pretzel dog with cheese and I remembered to put the mustard on top and not inside since my friend always tells of the sad, sad day her hot dog flew out of the pretzel on the sidewalk due to slippery mustard.  I also ordered one of their pretzel breakfast sandwiches, the sausage, egg, and cheese one.  This is one of the fastest and cheapest breakfasts you can buy in Chestnut Hill, in case you're ever in need.

As the girl behind the counter informed me that I was not up to my minimum amount yet, I looked up forlornly at the board that was used in the summer for water ice flavors and found, to my delight, hot chocolate flavors:  raspberry, vanilla, caramel, white chocolate, dark chocolate, etc.  So, we got two hot chocolates since my son now loves it and I just can't always avoid him having some.  It was a cold day after all!  And, just to get it finally up to $10, I grabbed a bag of chocolate coated pretzel pieces (I had no choice, right?)

After paying, we walked over to one of their small tables with our load of food.  The kids munched on the pretzels happily (one of the ONLY foods my whole family will eat).  It was a nice, calm little outing.  Very hard to find these days!  If it weren't for my toddler's obsession with walking up and down stairs without stopping, we would have gone upstairs as my son wanted to.  He remembers that there is a great space up there, that they at least used to have a train track with trains.  We had a few playgroups meet up there in the past.

They weren't making pretzels this time, but sometimes you can catch them at the right time and take the kids to the back of the store to watch the dough ooze out of the machine as the man then whips it around effortlessly in the air and lays it down in a perfect, pretzel shape before moving on to the next one.

So, the next time you're in the neighborhood, and are hungry, cold, or both, head to A Taste of Philly for a pretzel and hot chocolate.  It's a nice treat for anyone.

A Taste of Philly is located at:  8513 Germantown Ave.  They are open 9am-5:30pm M-Sat., and 9am-4pm on Sundays.  Call 215.247.2217 for more info.

Dare I take my toddler to see the orchestra?

Would she sit still? Would she have to go potty in the middle of a piece? These were some of the concerns I had about taking my daughter, 3 1/2, to a concert of the Philadelphia Orchestra - an institution that commands respect around the world. One might think it a waste of money and a seat to allow one's toddler to be in such an audience. But this was a free Community Holiday Concert at Martin Luther King high school!

My own teenage years were rendered melodious by my activity with the high school orchestra, and the lasting gift is my enjoyment of orchestral music: being able to hear the melody; distinguishing the sound of, for example, the oboe from the clarinet; having insights into the cultural and historical contexts in which the pieces were written. I'll never forget the first time I sat in the audience, at the age of 16, to hear Beethoven's 6th symphony. My daughter should also have this in her life,I believe.

The etiquette at orchestral concerts is much the same as it is at the theater, opera, and ballet; it is not very welcoming to toddlers, who by their neurological makeup have trouble controlling their impulses and urges. In fact, orchestral concerts require more restraint from their audience than those other arts. For instance, a high-reaching aria at the opera or skillfully executed move at the ballet elicits spontaneous cheers and applause from the audience. On the other hand, when one is seated with a view of the conductor's tuxedo tails, one dare not show one's approval or enthusiasm while the conductor's baton is raised. The moments between movements are to be silent.

The concert at Martin Luther King High School is part of the Orchestra's way of getting heard and seen by people who normally do not make it down to the Kimmel Center. The musicians' services were donated for this evening! And they were friendly and warm, with the conductor talking to the audience; in some instances, the audience talked right back to show their appreciation. From the baby sitting behind us in her grandmother's lap to the older women cheering on the soloist, the atmosphere was a very positive one for my daughter's first exposure to what is more often a stiff, cordial affair.

I do not recommend bringing young children to see the Philadelphia Orchestra during their regular season at the Kimmel Center. However, the Orchestra offers great opportunities to share this treasure with our young children. The first of these comes in the form of Free Neighborhood Concerts, which have taken place in Chestnut Hill, Upper Darby, North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, Radnor, South Philadelphia, Camden, Montgomery County, and City Hall in Center City Philadelphia.  

The 2009 Free Neighborhood Concert Series will be announced this spring. But if you would like to share this sooner, there will be another free concert, a Martin Luther King, Jr., Tribute Concert, o

n Monday, January 19, 2009, at 7 pm at the high school that shares his name. Tickets are free and will be available online at the Orchestra's website or through State Rep. Dwight Evans' office starting January 5.

A second opportunity is the Orchestra's Sound All Around concerts for ages 3-5. These take place in smaller rooms at the Kimmel and also at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, and children and their caregivers sit on the floor. The standards of etiquette are ones that toddlers and preschoolers can aspire to. There will be two of these concerts offered in January and three in March as well as others in April and May, and the general admission tickets cost $8.50 - same as a movie!

Here's to a musical year for you and your children!