Ann Arbor with Kids

Grand Opening of Lamaze Family Center Ann Arbor

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:40:00 +0000

The Lamaze Family Center Ann Arbor (LFCAA) will host a Grand Opening Celebration on March 10, 2012 from 10a-4p. LFCAA welcomes members of the community into its spacious and sunny new location to sample some of its newest program offerings, meet the educators and staff, and enjoy a choice of active family time in the morning or pampering time just for mom in the afternoon. The Grand Opening Celebration features a schedule jam-packed with fun activities for the whole family.

From 10a-noon they will have family friendly activities such as creating tiles for the Lamaze Family Center Children's Wall (suggested donation of $50), parent and toddler playtime, prenatal or family photography, and more.

In the afternoon there will be pampering for mom. Ulta will be there from 1-4p offering tips, mini-makeovers and hand massages. There will also be mini-massage and relaxation treatments.

All day they will have sample classes.

In addition there will be free treats thanks to Arbor Farms, The Cupcake Station, Great Harvest Bread Company, and The Little Seedling.

The new Lamaze Family Center Ann Arbor is located at 2855 Boardwalk.

You will find more details and the complete schedule of events on their webpage.

Once Upon a Timpani Symphony Performance

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:53:00 +0000

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra will be performing Once Upon a Timpani on March 10 at 4p at the Michigan Theater. There will be pre-concert activities from 2:30-3:30p.

Once Upon a Timpani will be hosted by Composer Michael Daugherty and include his "Oh Lois! from Metropolis Symphony.

The concert will also feature Mendelssohn's "Scherzo" from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op 61, Prokofiev's "Waltz" and "Midnight" from Cinderella, Tchaikovsky's "Waltz" from The Sleeping Beauty, and Stravinsky's "Infernal Dance" and "Finale" from The Firebird. The show will also include the Harry Potter Symphonic Suite by John Williams.

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra provided my daughter and I with tickets to their November show, Magical Musical Tales. We really enjoyed the show and are interested in attending more performances in their Family Concert Series. Unfortunately, we have another commitment during the Once Upon a Timpani.

Friends in Song with Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:18:00 +0000

Are you ready for some great music? Ann Arbor's Gemini will be joining the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra for Friends in Song III. The performance will be at 3:30p on February 19 at Washtenaw Community College's Towsley Auditorium.

There will be symphonic stories, Gemini favorites, and some "smoking hot" violin playing by the Slomovits family.

The concert sounds like it will be lots of fun!

Tickets are $12/adult and $6 for children 12 & under. Seniors (65 & over) are $6. There is a family pack for 4 or more for $30. Tickets can be purchased online.

Valentine's Flowers for Less

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor Preschool Events) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Are you planning to give flowers for Valentine's Day or any other upcoming occasion? (Or maybe you want to receive flowers and should pass this deal along.)

If so you will want to check out this deal from Groupon. For just $20 you will receive a $40 credit to FTD.com. The credit will be good until April 8, 2012 so it will not work for Mother's Day flowers.
The deal is available for purchase until 11:59p on Sunday, February 12, 2012. There is a limit of two Groupon purchases per person, however you may only redeem one per order. The Groupon is only valid on FTD.com and not at an FTD florist.

Disclaimer: I am a Groupon Affiliate and am compensated for sales through Groupon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please read all terms and conditions before purchase. I have only summarized the points here.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

February 11-12 Weekend Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:10:00 +0000

There are plenty of activities going on this weekend.
NEW EVENT: Ann Arbor Parks has Family Splash Day at the Mack Indoor Pool from 1-3p on Sunday, February 12.

There are several movie choices this weekend. Rave Motion Pictures will have a KidToons showing of Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 on both Saturday and Sunday. Rave also has a Sensory Sensitive Cinema showing of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. In addition, Star Wars Episode 1: Phantom Menace opens in 3D this weekend. Other movies include Beauty and the Beast 3D which is still showing.

If you are interested in theater, Ramona Quimby will be performed at the Michigan Theater on Sunday at 1:30p as part of their Not Just for Kids series. Saturday at 4p is also the last performance of Once Upon a Mattress by the Burns Park Players. Sesame Street Live also wraps up this weekend at the Fox Theater in Detroit.

There are story times at Nicola's Books and Barnes & Noble at 11a on Saturday. The Nicola's Books story time will feature a special visit by the Mister Laurence Experience debuting their new album. The Barnes & Noble Story Time will honor Black History Month with the book Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky. There will also be Saturday stories at 10a and Spanish Storytime at 1p both at the Malletts Creek Branch of AADL. From 1-1:40p on Sunday will be a Dancing Babies event at the Pittsfield Branch of AADL.

There are several Valentine's Day celebrations this weekend. Michaels has several Valentine's Crafts. On Saturday kids can create a Valentine's Day Memory Book. On Sunday, they will have a Valentine's Day Gift Workshop. From 10-11a, kids can make a Valentine's Day Card at the Pittsfield branch of AADL for someone special or to send to a patient at CS Mott Children's Hospital or the Veterans Hospital. The Matthaei Botanical Gardens is having a Hot Chocolate Class which will include a Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt. The Leslie Science Center is having a Hoo's Your Valentine Event on Sunday, February 12 from 1-3p. Registration is $5/person in advance or $7/person in the door. There are also family rates available.

If you want to investigate science a little more, the Ann Arbor Library will have a Vital Signs: How Health Works workshop from 10-11a downtown and 2-3p at Traverwood.

Also at the Downtown Library will be a Scandinavian Family Celebration on Sunday, February 12 from 2-3:30p giving families the opportunity to learn about the Scandinavian culture through music, crafts, and traditional treats.

If you had purchased a Groupon for Chelsea Treehouse in November, the last day to redeem it is Saturday, February 11.

Finally, Ann Arbor Co-Op Preschool is holding an Open House this weekend.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

Hot Chocolate and Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:15:00 +0000

On Saturday, February 11, join Matthaei Botanical Gardens for their Hot Chocolate class from 11:30a-1:30p. The event will be held at the Conservatory and costs $5/ child.

Kids will learn why we love chocolate and how to make a chocolate treat. After that there will be a Valentine's Day themed scavenger hunt through the conservatory.

Call ahead to confirm that there is still space in the class.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

See a Barbie Movie this Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:46:00 +0000

TThis weekend Rave Motion Pictures will be showing the KidToons Film Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2.

The movie will be showing at 11a on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $5 (based on MovieTickets.com pricing).

My daughter loves the Barbie movies. Her favorite is probably Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale .

She's seen Barbie in a Mermaid Tale, but it is not one of her favorite ones. However, one of her friends loves Barbie in A Mermaid Tale, going as Merliah for Halloween one year.

If you can't make it to the showings on the weekend, Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2 will be released on DVD on March 6, 2012.

KidToon Films has coloring sheets available for your daughter to get ready for Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate affiliate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

Preschool Open House this weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:08:00 +0000

Are you looking for a preschool? Ann Arbor Co-Op Preschool will be having an Open House this Saturday, February 11, from 10a-noon.
Ann Arbor Co-Op Preschool offers a 3-yr-old and a 4-yr-old class (kids must turn 3 or 4 by Dec. 1, 2012 for the 2012-2013 school year). They are located in First Baptist Church, 517 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor and there is free parking in the church lot for families coming to the open house. Families can get more information at www.a2preschool.org or by calling 734-769-7966.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Surprise Your Sweetie with Outdoor Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:49:00 +0000

Are you looking for a gift for the outdoor enthusiast? If so, check out this amazing deal for Bivouac in Ann Arbor.

You can purchase a $50 gift certificate for just $25 from Groupon. You will have until June 1, 2012 to trade your Groupon voucher for a $50 gift card that does not expire. The gift card can be used across multiple purchases.

There is a limit of 1 Groupon per person and one redemption per visit. You have until Sunday, February 12, 2012 to purchase this deal (or while supplies last)

Disclaimer: I am a Groupon affiliate and am compensated for sales through my Groupon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please read all terms and conditions before purchasing your Groupon. I have only highlighted a few rules here.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lego Friends Event - A Success

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:33:00 +0000

Earlier this year, Lego debuted their Lego Friends line aimed towards girls. The line was not without some controversy both within the Lego community and to those who felt it was stereotyping girls.

What is so different about the Lego Friends? The Lego Friends are a group of 5 girls that are more doll like than traditional mini-figures. The sets include an Invention Studio, a hair salon, a vet office, a fashion design studio, and a rock star stage. While a hair salon or a fashion design studio aren't my top choices of sets to buy my daughter, I love the Invention Studio and that Olivia wants to be a scientist or an engineer.

In our experiences at Lego stores and at Lego events, the audience is primarily male, especially after the age of 7 or 8. This holds true for the AADL Lego building contest over the summer, Toys R Us building events, and shopping in the stores.

This weekend we attended the Alex's Lemonade stand event at Toys R Us. The event was predominately girls, with only one boy there (an older brother). This was the opposite of what we usually see at Toys R Us building events where my daughter is one of the few girls (and often the only one without a brother).

Legos help to build design, engineering, and spatial relation skills which can be excellent skills in fields like architecture, engineering, and science. These fields are traditionally male dominated, so encouraging these skills in girls at a young age can help break stereotypes and gender barriers. If Legos had a gender balanced fan-base to begin with and then broke into a girls set, I could understand some of the complaints. But, if making things pretty will encourage girls to play with Legos and get into the Lego culture, I don't really have a problem with it.

My daughter has loved Legos since before she was 1 with Duplo blocks. They were always her favorite toy when we frequented the AADL baby playgroups, she would find places that had a set and lead us over. She received multiple sets of Duplos and MegaBlocks for Christmas and her first birthday (only weeks apart). As she has gotten older, she has developed an interest in building the sets and it is something she does with her dad. We have all types of Lego Sets: City, Creator, Pharaoh's Return, Dinos, Harry Potter, holiday, and yes, Lego Friends sets.

PS Is anyone saying that the Star Wars, Batman, or Spiderman Lego sets are stereotyping boys?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Join a Gym for Less

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:39:00 +0000

Are you still committed to your New Years Resolution? Or are you looking to make a new fitness goal with summer approaching?

Today Groupon is offering two great deals on membership at One on One Athletic Club. For just $9 you can purchase a fitness only membership (a $59 value). The fitness only membership includes 24 hour access to the gym equipment, locker rooms, and saunas. For just $39 (a $208 value) you can purchase a full club membership for one month including the benefits of the fitness only membership plus access to unlimited group exercise classes, access to the gymnasium, and access to the racquet courts.
One on One Athletic Club is located on Boardwalk St. They offer around the clock hours which can be very convenient for parents juggling child care.
The deal is available for purchase through 11:59p February 9, 2012 or while supplies last. Your membership will be valid until June 13, 2012. There is a limit of one per person and two additional as gifts. The deal is only valid for new clients of One on One Athletic Club.
Disclaimer: I am a Groupon Affiliate and am compensated for sales through Groupon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please read all terms and conditions before purchasing your deal. They are only summarized here for your preliminary information.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wow! Get a 4G Android Phone for FREE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:03:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I absolutely love having a smart phone and cannot imagine not having one. I can take pictures when we are out and send them right to Facebook or Twitter. I can surf the web for any information that I need, get directions, read ebooks, manage my calendar, read my email, and much more. My daughter also loves playing games (especially Angry Birds) on my smart phone.

Sprint is running a 4 day sale online from February 5-8, 2012. They are offering a waived activation fee for new lines of service. You will also receive free shipping on sprint.com.

You can get a Nexus S™ 4G for FREE when you open a new line of service or add to your account. The deal is available online with a`$50 MIR converts to an instant rebate and there is an additional $99.99 web only savings.

You can get a HTC EVO™ 3D for just $49.99 when you open a new line of service or add to your account. The $50 mail in rebate will covert to an instant rebate when purchased on sprint.com instead of at a Sprint store. There is also $50 in web only savings.

What are you waiting for? Upgrade to a smart phone today.

Learn About Natural Disasters

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:14:00 +0000

On Wednesday, February 8, Hands On Museum Members can learn about Natural Disasters during Member's Night. The museum is open from 6-8p just for members.

We have been members of the museum on and off for a number of years. Member nights are one of our favorite perks of membership (reciprocal admissions are another).

During member nights they have interacyive displays setup around a certain topic and typically have a few make it take it's. There are usually door prizes and snacks.

I know my daughter would be very interested in the topic especially. Since reading the Magic Treehouse series of books she has learned about volcanoes (Pompeii), earthquakes (1906 San Francisco), tornadoes, and tsunamis. I am not sure if we will be attending this one since we are all battling colds.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hands On Science Tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor Preschool Events) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:01:00 +0000

Tonight the Downtown Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library will be hosting a fun-filled hands on science workshop. The workshop is presented by the University of Michigan Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and Proyecto Avance: Latino Mentoring Association(PALMA) from 6:30-7:30p in the Multi-Purpose Room. They will have hands-on science and engineering experiments and cool interactive demonstrations. If you want more hands on science, check out member night at the Hands On Museum on Wednesday, February 8. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Super Bowl Kids Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:41:00 +0000

It's Super Bowl Sunday. Whether you are watching for the game or for the commercials, it is an annual tradition and can be important to keep the kids entertained. For me this is especially critical this year as my team - the New York Giants are playing.

As she gets older, I am trying to involve her more in the game. I'm sure it will be a fight since it isn't a dress, but she will be wearing her new Super Bowl t-shirt that we got this week when we visited Indianapolis for the Super Bowl activities.

Every year, we do a 10x10 grid of football square. Each person selects an equal number of squares and then we randomly draw the numbers 0-9 for the rows and then the columns. Whoever has the square that corresponds to the last digits of the score at the end of each quarter wins. You can have small prizes for each quarter and a larger prize for the final score. For adults, you can turn it into a bet by having a buy-in either per square or for an equal percentage. This ensures everyone's interest in the game (and works best when people are not as committed to a particular game outcome).

For the Super Bowl, I like to find activities for my daughter which tie into the football game. By doing an online search, I found several sites with printable materials. MakeLearningFun.com which has printables for each team. I am really liking the Paper Plate Stencil as I can have my daughter design her own helmet. Kaboose.com has some good football printables for older kids such as word searches and crosswords. PrintActivities.com has football themed coloring sheets, word searches, crosswords and more.

Small footballs can also be used in games such as catch, tossing in a bowl, hot potato, and more. In the past, I've resorted to a portable DVD player (or more recently an iPad).

Kids (and adults) love games like on the show Minute to Win It. They have a few games that are football themed on their website. One that seems easy to play is Split the Uprights. Hut Hut Hike seems like fun, but requires much more space to play.

I do wish the game started at 5 instead of 6:30. As it is, I think my daughter will probably be sent to bed at halftime since she has to get up early for school.

How do you keep your kids occupied while you watch the big game?

A "Super" Weekend of Events

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

There are a ton of events this weekend, culminating with the Super Bowl Sunday night at 6:30. I love football, especially the Super Bowl. Even better, my team is playing - Go Giants! Unfortunately my 50" TV in the basement decided to go kaput last night, so I'll be spending the next two days exploring my options and hopefully getting a new TV setup before our Super Bowl Party on Sunday.

The Ann Arbor District Library has several events this weekend. They are having their regular Saturday Stories and Spanish Story Time at the Malletts Creek Branch. The Saturday Stories are 10-10:30a and Spanish Story Time is 1-1:30p. They also have a Black History Month event for kids in grades K-8 and a craft for Chinese New Year.

Barnes & Noble will be featuring Sandra Boynton's Snuggle Puppy during their 11a story time on Saturday, February 4.

Toys R Us will be hosting a benefit event for Alex's Lemonade Stand to fight childhood cancer. From noon-2p (or while supplies last), you can build a free Lego Friends Lemonade Stand to take home and Lego Group will donate $1 to Alex's Lemonade Stands (up to a $10,000 donation).

Burns Park Players will be presenting Once Upon a Mattress on Friday and Saturday at 7:30p with more shows next week. The Fox Theater in Detroit is hosting Sesame Street Live through February 12. My daughter was never a big Sesame Street fan, so we have only attended Sesame Street Live once.

If you are a Bank of America Customer, it is a Museums on Us weekend. Bank of America customers will receive free admission into a number of local museums including The Henry Ford Museum. The Henry Ford reopened their renovated Driving in America exhibit this weekend. Free admission would make a great excuse to get out there to see the new exhibit.

Friday:

7:30p Once Upon a Mattress by Burns Park Players at Tappan Middle School

Saturday:

9a-noon Home Depot Kids Workshop - Valentine's Day Keepsake Box
10-10:30a Saturday Stories at Malletts Creek Branch of AADL
10a-noon Stone School Cooperative Nursery Open House - My daughter attended this wonderful preschool, we definitely recommend it
10a-3:30p Summer Camp Expo at Briarwood
11a Barnes & Noble Story time featuring Sandra Boynton's Snuggle Puppy
11a Nicola's Books Story Time
12-2p Lego Friends Launch & Build at Toys R Us
1-1:30p Spanish Story Time at Malletts Creek Branch of AADL
2-3p Black History Month Event iwth Carole Boston Weatherford
7:30p Once Upon a Mattress by Burns Park Players at Tappan Middle School

Sunday

1-2p Valentine's Day Foam Mailbox craft at Michaels
1:30p Family Friendly Film Series at Michigan Theater - Curious George
2-3p Valentine's Day Card craft at Michaels
2-3p Make a Lion Mask for Chinese New Year at Traverwood Branch of AADL

Summer Camp at Briarwood Mall Today

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor Preschool Events) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:08:00 +0000

Briarwood Mall is hosting a Spring Into Summer Camp Expo from 10a-3:30p today in the Center Court.

Colors the Clown will be there providing entertainment for the kids while you browse the camp options.

Personally, I hate that camp sign ups are so early. We have not yet set our travel schedule and by the time I do, many good camps will be filled.

Last year my daughter did camp at:

Safety Town - I highly recommend this for kids entering kindergarten
GymAmerica - 1/2 day camp after I purchased a Groupon
Vacation Bible School at our church
Half-Day Jump & Art Camp at Pump It Up (also after a Groupon)

She really enjoyed all of her camps. Last year she only did half day camps. Since she will be transitioning from half-day kindergarten to full day first grade this year, I would like to enroll her in at least one week of full-day camp to get used to the full day schedule.

I am hoping to enroll her in a Leslie Science Center Camp.

New PediaCare® Acetaminophen Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:25:00 +0000

PediaCare® is leading the way with single-concentration of their Infant and Children's Liquid Acetaminophen. This means that both bottles will contain the same concentration of medicine decreasing the chance of dosing errors especially in houses that have both infants and children.

PediaCare provided me with a sample of both the Infant and Children's Liquid Acetaminophen. Both medicines were provided in cherry flavor. The infant bottle comes with a dosing syringe and the children's with a dosing cup. The syringe for the infants seems to be a great improvement over the dropper. I always had trouble getting the dropper to the right dosage. Honestly, even for my 6 year old I prefer a syringe. Last year after having her tonsils out, she had a hard time tipping her head back to drink from dosing cups.

My first concern when sent the product to review, was when I would give it to my daughter. I didn't want to give it to her if she did not need it. At this time of year, I shouldn't have worried. Last weekend, she was running a fever so we were able to test out the PediaCare Children's Liquid Acetaminophen.

Lately, my daughter has been complaining about the taste of medicine (as evidenced by the wide assortment I have in my house - cherry, grape, bubble gum in different brands in both acetaminophen and ibuprofen). She had no complaints with the taste of the Cherry PediaCare Liquid Acetaminophin, so that makes it a definite winner in our book. The children's bottles now include a flow restrictor. I really liked this since it made it easier to give the proper dosage. They list the dosage by weight and age, which I appreciate since my daughter's weight falls an age category below her actual age.

The PediaCare Acetaminophen worked well in bringing her fever down. However, I would still prefer to have a syringe for dosing at the older ages. I feel that the syringe works well when my daughter is on antibiotics and I find it easier to manage than the dosing cup. Now that the bottle has a flow restrictor similar to the infant bottles, I may switch to using a syringe.

I love that both the infant and children's versions have the same concentration. This represents a change from the past where infant versions were more concentrated allowing for a smaller dose. Be sure to verify the dose each time you give your child medicine as different products will have different doses based on the concentration of the bottle. With a single concentration, I foresee the consolidation of these into a single product in the future. This sounds like it will be an improvement for parents of children in multiple age ranges. See the video below for some information on some of the changes, as well as some helpful advice from Dr Jim Sears.

The PediaCare Infants Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever is designed for kids ages 0-36 months It comes with a special dosing syringe and is available in cherry, grape, bubble gum, and dye free cherry flavors. The product is sold in a 2 oz bottle with a suggested price of $6.99.

The PediaCare Childrens' Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever is for children ages 2-11 and comes with a dosing cup. It is available in cherry, grape, and dye-free cherry. It's suggested retail price is $7.59 for a 4 oz bottle.

PediaCare is providing me with an extra set of Infants and Children's Liquid Acetaminophen to give away to one of my lucky readers. If you would like to enter, just enter using the Rafflecopter entry form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of PediaCare Liquid Infant Children's Acetaminophen to review through the Family Review Network. This post contains factual information provided by PediaCare. All opinions are my own.

Home Depot Kids Workshops for February & March

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:42:00 +0000

Home Depot holds Kids Workshops each month. They are held on the first Saturday of the month from 9a-noon. Participating kids will receive the craft, a Home Depot apron, a commemorative pin, and a certificate of achievement.

On Saturday, February 4, Home Depot's Kids Workshop will feature a Keepsake Box.

The March workshop will be on March 4 and will feature a #20 race car.

There is no need to register for these sessions. They are first come, first served. We have never done a Kids Workshop. If I wasn't so busy, I would consider the Valentine's Day Keepsake Box. I think my daughter would really enjoy that craft.

Craft for Chinese New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:49:00 +0000

It's Chinese New Year time.

On Sunday, February 5 from 2-3p, kids can create their own mask for new year at the Traverwood Branch of the AADL.

Kids will make lion masks out of paper plates, ribbons, and more.

I'd say it is a shame the Lions aren't in the Super Bowl to get double duty out of the masks, but I'm a Giants fan.

Black History Month Event at AADL

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:39:00 +0000

On Saturday, February 4 from 2-3p the Downtown Branch of AADL will be hosting a special Black History Month Event for kids in grades K-8.

from aadl.org

Award Winning Author Carole Boston Weatherford will be making a special appearance combining storytelling, poetry, and prose.

She began writing in first grade with a poem dictated to her mother, and her first book with colored pencils at age 8. She has since published 32 books of poetry, nonfiction, and children's literature. Her book Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom" won the Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration and an NAACP Image Award. She has also won another of other awards. Her books have been featured on numerous reading lists.

The event will include books for sale and a book signing.

New Lego Friends for Girls - Get One Free this Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:26:00 +0000

Image from Alex's Lemonade Stand

Have you seen the new Lego Friends sets which are geared more towards girls. My daughter got two sets for her birthday, and really likes them (along with all of her other Legos).

Toys R Us is having a Lego Friends Launch n Build event on Saturday, February 4 from noon-2p to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand. Kids will be able to build a lemonade stand to take home. For each Lemonade Stand built, Lego Group will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to Alex's Lemonade Stand. Alex's Lemonade Stand raises money to fight childhood cancer.

If you are at Toys R Us, you may want to take advantage of their deals. If you spend $20 on Lego Friends sets you will receive a free Stephanie Mini Doll. If you spend $20 on Star Wars sets you will receive Anakin's Pod for free (from the Phantom Menace pod race). They also have a Great Trade In event going on. By trading in an old baby item, you will receive 25% off of a new item. This might be a good deal if you are ready to transition car seats.

I know there has been some controversy about these new Legos, but I personally have no problem with them. I don't see girl centric Legos as any less imaginative than the super hero sets that are geared towards boys. While my daughter has these sets, she equally enjoys her city, Pharaoh's Quest, and Harry Potter sets. She does enjoy that the characters are more like dolls. Personally, I think Legos are a fun, educational toy and that if making more "girl-centered" sets encourages more girls to play with Legos, I see that as a positive. I have also heard criticism that one girl is an aspiring rock star and another wants to be a fashion designer. True, but there is also a girl that is an aspiring scientist/inventor and one that wants to be a veterinarian. Legos are not what they were when I was a kid. When I was a kid, the focus was on the bricks and maybe special sets to have There are Star Wars sets, Cars sets, Batman sets, etc. that appeal more to boys. Why is it an issue to have some sets that are geared towards girls?

The event will run while supplies last. I have been at some events where the Arborland Toys R Us ran out of materials within 15 minutes of opening. We are planning to be there early.

Changes at My Urban Toddler

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:53:00 +0000

I just saw a Twitter post from My Urban Toddler that they are going to be making some changes to the operating hours for their play area effective March 1.

They will only be open for drop-in play on Mondays and Tuesdays. Wednesday-Friday they will only be open for classes, registered play group sessions, and reserved play space time. Saturdays and Sundays they will only be open for private parties.

I am glad that they were able to leave some drop-in times on the schedule. However, they are also introducing a new pricing structure - $10/child for open drop-in on Monday and Tuesday. By reservation, the cost is $75/hour for a group of up to 10 children.

Read their full announcement of the changes

I am shocked at their new prices. I find the $10/child for open drop-in to be quite high, especially when compared to the indoor play grounds (Jungle Java, Chelsea Treehouse) or bounce places (Xtreme Bounce, Jump City). I understand that they are struggling to keep the play area profitable, but I worry that the new price structure will keep people away.

With the changes, they will be adding several scheduled playgroups, so there may be one that fits your schedule.

We did drop in play time a few times a year when my daughter was younger. We were last at My Urban Toddler last spring. At 5, she had mostly outgrown it. Now we have switched to the indoor playgrounds and inflatables.

I wish My Urban Toddler the best of luck and hope that they are able to continue to offer their play area for toddlers and their families. We definitely enjoyed our times there.

Valentine's Day Crafts at Michaels

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:04:00 +0000

Michaels Stores will be having several Valentine's themed crafts for kids over the next few weekends.

On Sunday, February 5, kids ages 3 and up can create a Valentine's Day Foam Mailbox from 1-2p with the purchase of a foam or white craft mailbox.

Also on Sunday, February 5, kids can create a Valentine's Day Card for FREE from 2-3p.

On Saturday, February 11, from 10a-noon kids ages 3 and up can create a Valentine's Day Memory Book with the purchase of a paper sack.

From 1-3p on Sunday, February 12 from 1-3p they will have a Valentine's Day Gift Workshop with the purchase of a Wood Curly-Q letter or frame. All activities are while supplies last.

Valentine's Card for FREE!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann Arbor With Kids) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:49:00 +0000

Cardstore.com is offering FREE Valentine's Day Card through February 5. The offer is limited to the first 10,000 cards per day. The daily count will reset at 9a, so if you miss out today, save your card in the cart for tomorrow's deal.

Get your Free Card - Limited to the first 10,000.

If you miss out on the free card, or want to order more than one, they are offering 20% Off Valentine’s Day Cards plus Free Shipping. Code SHOPHOME20

I ordered my Christmas Cards from CardStore and was pleased with the quality of the cards. My only issue was that I had the envelopes pre-printed with my address and they arrived with roller marks on the envelopes. I called CardStore and they sent me a new set of pre-printed envelopes. I was very satisfied with the service and will definitely use them again.

Disclaimer: I am a CardStore affiliate and am compensated for sales through CardStore links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please read all terms and conditions of the deal before purchase, they are only summarized here.