The wonderful Grand Cinema, our local non-profit “art-house” cinema at 6th & Fawcett downtown, is partnering with Click Cable to offer FREE family movies every 3rd Saturday from March 21, 2009 to August 15, 2009, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM.
How’s that for great local support in the current economy?!!
They start March 21st with the Princess Bride. Here’s what’s showing subsequent months.
And if you missed Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, it’s playing there now. Support the grand!
Northwest Trek Animal Park is running a special deal Valentine’s/President’s Day weekend, February 14-16 2009. They are offering FREE admission for up to four children (regularly $10.50 each) with one adult or senior paying full admission.
It’s part of their “Kids n Critters” annual wintertime celebration. We have never actually been to Northwest Trek, but have always wanted to go, and I think this will be the time we check it out! More info available on their website: www.nwtrek.org.
We are currently (FINALLY!!! Don’t ask — long story) going through the joys of potty training with Reilly. We also just got a puppy. So I recently realized I absolutely cannot live without this product — BAC-OUT Stain and Odor Eliminator from BioKleen.
If you’ve got pee happening where it’s not supposed to, and you’ve got carpets, this is the stuff for you. (more…)
We came across a really lovely memory game made by this company, eeBoo, a company that says they are “about producing beautiful, useful and well-made products for children.”
I think they live up to their intent. Their games are made of nice heavy cardboard, and the illustrations have a wonderful vintage feel that make you think of treasured old childhood books passed from generation to generation. The subjects are fanciful (old fashioned robots, fairy bowers, animal circuses …) and the illustrations are whimsical and marvelous. They have everything from simple games (Bingo, Memory, Dominoes) to sketchbooks and journals. (more…)
Mike just came across what appears to me to be a very savvy parenting blog called the “Momversation.” Mike liked the “Sex after Baby” blog, and I laughed all the way through “Disagreeing With Your Partner’s Parenting Decisions.” The women in this blog really affirm what we are going through! Check it out — but be forewarned there is some colorful (read: rated-R) language.
The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA), which is based in Seattle, is now offering classes in the Tacoma area — this sounds like real fun!
In class students will learn to walk on a tight wire, balance on a rolling globe, juggle, and tumble. We have not actually tried this, but have a friend who has been wanting to get her daughter into this for the longest time. Hopefully this will take off and they will expand their schedule in the future. Definitely something different!
Classes take place on Wednesdays in the Safety First Protective Personal Strategies space at 8307 27th Street W, University Place, WA 98466. (more…)
I love the website Parentcenter.com. (Also found as Babycenter.com) I got it from a friend when I was pregnant and have been getting regular once-a-month updates e-mailed to me ever since. This is the site I go to first when I have questions about development or need some ideas about how to handle different behaviors.
This month’s article was one I particulalry wanted to share, as the taboo subject of child abuse does not come up often. Thankfully, this is not a subject we have any first-hand knowledge about! I do have a friend (far, far away from Tacoma) who pulled her child out of daycare after noticing repeated bruising on her son’s arms. The following article on Child Abuse has some good info on how to recognize signs of child abuse, and also how to get a dialogue started with your child so they can talk to you about it if something does happen. (more…)
Garfield Book Company at Pacific Lutheran University has story times every Saturday at 11 a.m. If you have not ever been to this bookstore, it has a small but complete children’s section with a small slide/play structure in the middle and a neat store attached that sells cool goods from all over the world.
The following titles will be featured at upcoming Story times: (more…)
I found a neat blog recently: Tacoma Green Families. It’s run by Melissa, who runs Kindermusik classes at the Minuet Studio, and it’s worth checking out.
I signed up for the mailing list and just got an e-vite to an event they are hosting at Jefferson Park next week to make your own home cleaner. Bring a bottle for some home cleaner and bring any other natural home cleaning ideas and recipes you have to share. It’s Thursday, June 26 4:30 at Jefferson Park, 3920 N 9th, Tacoma WA 98406.
The organizers suggested bringing suits for the kids to play at the Sprayground, and bringing a picnic dinner and having working parents join later. We are planning to attend and look forward to meeting other members of this group!
As part of their “Dinner Under the Stars” fundraising event, the Tacoma Children’s museum will host a “play lane tour” this Saturday, June 21, from 2:00 – 4:00pm, FREE, at Pierce Transit Park, across from the Children’s Museum of Tacoma at 936 Broadway.
This event includes tours of the whimsical playhouse and structures, a hands-on make-and-take activity and refreshments. Come check out the Fire House, Dog House, Fort with slide and more!
A contractor at the museum who has attended the dinner event in the past tells me that the playhouses are spectacular. Kids will be able to play in them during the tour, but they need to be supervised: the houses will be auctioned that night so they need to limit wear and tear.
Reservations are requested: www.ChildrensMuseumofTacoma.org
Playhouses will be auctioned off that night at the Playing Under the Stars event. Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org or by phone at 253.627.6031 ext. 223.