I wrote a piece for The Washington Post Weekend section about some new, fab indoor play spaces you should definitely check out with your kids!

Need to entertain the kids this winter? A few Washington area indoor activities.
By Jessica McFadden
The Washington Post
Weekend
Friday, January 22, 2010
Just because the temperatures have dropped doesn’t mean that your kids’ energy levels have. On the contrary, without long periods of outdoor play and running around, your little maniacs may seem even more manic than usual. These indoor play options provide the cure, as well as treat another frequent ailment: acute restless parent syndrome. 
Full Article Here

Special thanks to Christina of Interactions Learn and Play, Gina Seebachan and staff of Be With Me – The Childrens Playseum, Carlos Alcuaz of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, Andrew and Paula Ross of Great Kids Village, Sarah Beale and Enica Thompson of the National Zoo, Erin Black of The Torpedo Factory, and fellow parents Rachel Posell, Erin Hutson and others for lending their words and time.  

Photo by Sarah Gowing and courtesy GKV. 

Is your new year’s resolution to spend more time with your kids?  Or are you searching for some interesting (and warm!) indoor educational activities for your family?  Try these fun offerings in January! (OK, the first one is partly outdoors, but all the rest are inside…promise!)

Sunday January 3rd – Three Kings Day at the GALA Hispanic Theatre (Fiesta de los tres reyes magos)
Christmas is still going strong, so keep up that tree and playing the carols on your iPod – the Wise Men haven’t yet arrived!  At the Tivoli on 14th Street NW on Sunday, experience this popular holiday event. Featuring the Magi, live animals, local performers, a parade through the neighborhood, and gifts for every child. After the outdoor procession, families will be entertained by a bilingual presentation of the Christmas story through song, dance and storytelling. Best of all, it’s free for the entire family (but the bringing of one gift per child in your family is requested.)
 
Tickets for the event will be distributed at the GALA box office at 12pm noon on Sunday on a first-come, first served basis. Parking is available at a discount in the Giant Food parking garage on Park Road,
NW (validation at the theater). A procession with the Three Kings and live animals will begin at 1:30 pm
at the corner of Park Road and 14th Street, NW and continue through the neighborhood, concluding at the theater around 2pm.  Then the performance begins, but even if you don’t get tickets to the theater show, the outdoor procession is supposed to be great.  After the show, churros and hot cocoa will be served and every child receives a gift from The Magi (which is why you’re asked to bring a gift with you.) For more information, call 202-234-7174.

Tiny Tots Puppet Shows at The Puppet Co. in Glen Echo Park
Beginning at age 9 months until, well, my son’s currently in kindergarten (and still enjoys them), my kids have been enraptured by these age-appropriate puppet shows for the very young by puppeteer Bob Brown.  At just $5 per person and a great tolerance for fidgety kids new to live performances, we always find a Tiny Tots performance a stress-free and reasonable way to spend a winter morning.  And there’s a wide variety of January shows so you can attend more than once this month if your kids dig it too! 
Saturday January 2 10am & 11:30am – Snow Show
Sunday January 3 10am & 11:30am – Winter Wonderland
Saturday January 16 10am – Magic Toyshop
Wednesday January 27 10am – Winter Wonderland
Saturday January 30 10am – Penguin’s Playground
You can either purchase tickets online or call and make a no-obligation reservation for your spot by calling 301-634-5380.

Free Demo Classes at Funfit All Next Week Monday January 4 – Saturday January 9th! 
At the Rockville Center, Funfit will be training new teachers and our kids are all invited to join them for as many classes as you would like!  And there’s even some special Winter Enrollment bonuses for stopping by:  if we sign up for a winter session class next week when we come by for a free class, we’ll get $10 off our family enrollment fee plus $10 OFF the first month of the Family Plan (with unlimited open gym playtimes) or 1 week free.

Fireside Story Times on Mondays in January at the Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda
Storytimes snuggled up by a fire, toasting marshmallows and nature-learning – has a better combination ever been devised?  Every Monday in January from 11am-12pm, for kids 3 years and up, just $5 per kid and adult, online registration required.  The Locust Grove Nature Center is located in Cabin John Regional Park at 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817.

Preschool Songs and Storytimes on Tuesdays at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn
Every Tuesday from 11am-11:45am, bring your little ones by the Arts Barn for storytelling, singalongs and creative learning.  No reservation is required, and the Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Road, the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD.

Friday Afternoon Aviator Club at the College Park Aviation Museum
Every Friday afternoon from 2pm-4:30pm, kids in prekindergarten on up can join in the fun, hands-on aviation themed activities. Free with museum admission which is $4/adults, $3/seniors, $2/ages 18 & under (and every kid goes home with a goody bag full of penny toys, always a hit!)

and mark your calendars for 

LEGO Aircraft Building Day on Saturday January 23 at the College Park Aviation Museum
Kids design their own aircrafts out of LEGOS provided by the museum and take home a picture of their creation, and top designs will be displayed through out the museum!  From 11am-4pm on 1/23.

WINNERS ARE Debbie, Ginger, Patti, Kenann of My Grandma Was Green and Muriel.   This announcement is triple-awesome.  First, now we families have a kid-friendly party to attend on New Year’s Eve – no tux rental or babysitter booking required.  And I have FIVE family four packs of free tickets to giveaway to you guys to this party!  And in 2010, there’s a great open gym and playspace (and birthday party locale) opening in Silver Spring we can all enjoy: Great Kids Village Silver Spring. 

Featuring The Great Zucchini (woot woot!)
DATE: December 31, 2009
TIME: 2 Separate Shows 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 3- 5 p.m.
LOCATION: 8504 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910
COST: Admission $10 per person over 2 years old
Buy tickets here 
THE FUN: Sparkling Cider Toast, Facepainting, Crafts and Open Play on the Brand-New Equipment

TO WIN TICKETS – NEW GIVEAWAY PROCEDURE
Please email me at apissgiveaways@gmail.com to be entered to win one of the five family 4-packs of tickets to the New Year’s Eve party, courtesy of the party hosts.  Please put Great Kids Village in the email title, thanks!

I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard from Andy himself that this brand new playspace has 5 distinct exhibits for kids’ imaginations and bodies to play, including a make-believe stage and mini grocery store, a special area for toddlers and a birthday party room too.

I’m excited to check it out with my kids, and of course crack up to our favorite kids’ comic, The Great Zucchini .  And guess what kids’ band will be playing a show at the site on January 10th?  None other than Rocknoceros! (When I get more details on times for this concert I’ll post…but if you’re a rabid fan like Tech Savvy Mama, you can pick up tickets now to ensure your spot.)

After the New Year’s Day blowouts, the times and prices for open play at the site will be:

HOURS
Monday 11:30am – 5:30pm
Tuesday through Friday, 10:00am – 5:30pm
Extended hours for Neighbors (members)-only Thursdays until 7pm.Saturdays 9:30am – 7:00pm
Sundays 11:30am-6:00pm.


PRICES
One Day Passes
$9.95 per child ages 2-10
$6.95 for toddlers ages 13-24 months
Adults 10 and up and babies 12 months and younger are free through February 28, 2010.

Best of luck in winning tickets to the New Year’s Eve party!  Again, remember to email me at apissgiveaways@gmail.com to be entered!

Tomorrow, Wednesday December 9th is FunFit in Rockville’s Holiday Safe Winter Open House.  Starting at 9:30am and continuing on well into the evening,  this fun fitness and play center for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kids is open all day FREE!  And there’s going to be firefighters and firetrucks too, as well as big discounts on signing up for winter classes, winter and summer camps, and birthday parties (we’ve had one here – way before I started this blog – and it was faboo for my son and his pals.)  There’s even an adult exercise class offered at 7:30pm and Family Yoga in the evening too! 

FunFit also has a rocking indoor open gym every Monday from 2-3:30pm, Wednesday 10am-2pm (perfect for little ones and playgroups that like to get out before naptime), and Fridays 1:30pm-5:30pm (except on the 4th Friday of the month, when it’s extended to 7:30pm.) Rates for open gym are listed here, and if you sign up for a FunFit class you get FREE unlimited open gym all winter long!  

So here’s the schedule of activities and class demonstrations at the Winter Open House – no registration is necessary to participate in the fun tomorrow and special needs kids are always welcome to participate in all activities: 

So if you were racking your brain on where to play tomorrow, now you know to head to FunFit for free, fabulous fun.

FunFit 

17511 Redland Road
Rockville, Maryland 20855