This awesome sledder? None other than my mother Sharon. You’d never guess from this video that she lives in a desert…or that she’s a grandma!
UPDATED FOR SNOW: Loving the snowy weather? Look for a park near you with great hills for sledding! Here is my post on parks in the area with sledding hills that my family and I have tried. You might not even need these weekend picks if you’re getting back into your snow-loving groove.
Here’s where to find more public parks near you to bring your sled:
Need a little technical help? My post here tells you how to navigate these listings easily.
WEEKEND PICKS by A Parent in Silver Spring.com
FRIDAY
10:30-11:30am
Dynamic griot Macklin educates and inspires with tales from African and African-American word-of-mouth history. While you’re there, explore the museum using the kids’ guide (download ahead of time here.)
Kidz Care Haiti
5:30-8:30pm, 14625 Bauer Drive, Bauer Community Center, Rockville, MD
A family-friendly evening of entertainment, live music, moon bounce, food, raffles and prizes. Live music provided by John Henry, Banjo Man Frank Cassel, & Jeff Bristol Music. $5 suggested donation (officially free) benefits Project HOPE medical relief in Haiti.
SATURDAY
10:30am-11:30am
$25 per family goes straight towards rebuilding the Georgetown neighborhood library. Afterwards, walk past all the places you used to go out and grab lunch.
11am-3pm, National Zoo
The first 50 kids (age 12 and under) that visit the FONZ membership table at the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat will receive a giant plush panda. All kids on Saturday receive free crayons from Fujifilm, as well as a special Tai Shan coloring sheet and a panda treat from Whole Foods Market. Make a bye-bye card for lil’ Butterstick, learn about these endangered animals from panda interpreters and more family friendly freebies and fun.
8am-5pm
Take the plunge to benefit the Special Olympics (obviously, only grownups should brave water this cold!!) and take your family to cheer you on and enjoy the live music and activities. There will be live music and beer and shenanigans, but also a special area just for the kids with games, face painting, moonbounces, etc. School of Rock performs.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
10am-6pm on Saturday, Noon-5pm Sunday
FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Get your crafty fix at this annual huge craft show, but bring the kids along too for the puppet show, cool demos and more!
And older kids are $5. Great for gearheads tall and small.
Have another great idea for the weekend? Share it in the comments!
Of course, DC babies are a natural at this sledding thing.
Andrew and Anna Ross, children of Great Kids Village masterminds and owners Andrew & Paula Ross, think Mom & Dad’s “office” is pretty darn fun.
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.
As if the indoor exhibits at the National Zoo weren’t fun enough, now there’s kids performances at the zoo too! Eve and I get a kick out of the alligator snapping turtle at the Reptile House.
SATURDAY
11am-4pm,
112 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745,
map. Celebrate and honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Kids can make a collage from a variety of materials to share and express their dreams for the future.
American Folk Songs for Families Series at Strathmore
Saturdays, January 9, 16, 23 from 2–3PM, Strathmore Mansion, Shapiro Music Room. Join acclaimed musicians and educators Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Michele Valeri and Valerie Baine in lively sessions exploring the music of Ella Jenkins, such as “You Sing a Song and I’ll Sing A Song,” “Jambo,” and “Go Miss Mary Mack”—and learn how to create your own family folk songs! For ages 4-8 and families. Tuition: $30 per person (for all 3 sessions). Children must be accompanied by at least 1 adult.
11:30am-3pm, Kogod Courtyard. Singers, puppets, readings, crafts will all be used as interactive, educational methods to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and African American history.
Writopia Writing Lab Reading for Kids Age 9-14 at the Cleveland Park Library
3-5pm, Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008. Writopia Lab is a nonprofit organization that holds creative writing workshops for kids and teens and has just opened a DC chapter. Their first reading is this Saturday at the Cleveland Park Library from 3-5. Founding young writerswill be reading excerpts from their work, and interested families are invited to come learn more about the program.
10:30-11:30am, 1140 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20036
He always cracks kids up with his “magic show” that’s way more natural, kid-centric comedy than pulling rabbits out of hats. That’s why it’s a perfect fit that he’s taking the stage at the DC Improv on Saturday morning! Tickets are $10 per person.
10am-2pm, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, VA. Take your little tractor fan to this day of wagon rides, really big tires and a toy tractor parade. Kids who bring their own toy tractor get in free and can march in the tractor parade. $5 for adults, $3 for kids without tractor. Inclement weather date Jan. 10 12-2pm.
SUNDAY
10:30-11:30am and then stay and play in the new indoor playspace, 8504 Fenton Street (across from Whole Foods), Silver Spring, MD. Proof that the new Great Kids Village in Silver Spring is the place to be?
ROCKNOCEROS is bringing the rock there on Sunday! Your kids will love dancing and singing to this fab kids’ band, and your ticket price includes staying for free play afterwards. $10 per person.
Select Sundays January-March, award-winning musicians, dancers, storytellers, and puppeteers from around the country are taking the Wild Side Stage at the Smithsonian National Zoo, and this Sunday’s the first show. Head to the Visitor Center Auditorium on Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. You can visit the accompanying animal exhibit before or after the performance, as early as 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Details and ticket purchase info here. 1pm, The Verizon Center. Every Wizards home game Sunday at the Verizon Center is Kids Day! Each full paying adult in the VW PENTHAUS can purchase up to 8 Kids Day tickets at $5 per ticket (children 17 and under). This Sunday the Wizards play the New Orleans Hornets.
Buy TicketsHere Charlie tries to protect the gorilla’s modesty, to no avail, in the Great Ape House at the National Zoo.
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.
December 23, 2009 | in:
winter
Winter Break Cooking Camp for Kids
Monica Corrado, whole food chef and holistic nutrition educator teams up again with award-winning musician and visual artist Rachel Cross for a winter break cooking camp for children. The children will learn all about real food and healthy eating through the food they cook, the art they create and the songs they write, sing, record and perform. Check out this article on their summer cooking camp.
WHEN: Monday through Thursday, December 28-31, 9am-3pm
WHERE: The Ritchie Avenue Cultural Center, Takoma Park, MD
WHO: Kids ages 9-12 (and mature 8s and just-turned 13s)
COST PER CHILD: $265 registration plus $25 materials fee. Group and sibling discounts available, bring a friend discount (take $25 off your registration fee and your friend gets $25 off too.) Register Here
CONTACT: Rachel Cross: 240.601.4722 or rachelcrossmusic@gmail.com and Monica Corrado: 240.988.9312 or simplybeingwell@aol.com
Dynamite Gymnastics Center Winter Break Camp
During morning sessions, the groups will learn gymnastics and take part in other age-appropriate activities. The pre-school gymnasts spend the morning rotating between gymnastics, dance, and arts & crafts, followed by snack and story time; school-aged campers spend the entire morning in the gym rotating between the apparatus. The noon break (noon – 1:00PM) includes lunch, games and independent time (i.e., reading and relaxing). Afternoon activities are divided into rotations of trampoline, arts & crafts, games, and gymnastics. During extended care, gymnasts will take part in activities including free play in the gym, relaxing, games, and snack time. Campers who stay full day during weekly summer camp spend part of the afternoon practicing the end-of-the-week dance which they will perform for their parents at the Friday afternoon show.
WHEN: December 28 – December 31, 2009
WHERE: 4956 Boiling Brook Parkway (at the top of Wyaconda Road), Rockville, MD 20852
COST & TIMES:
Half day (9:00 – 12:00 PM) $40/day
Full day (8:30 – 4:30 PM) $50/day
Early Drop-off (8:00 – 8:30 AM) $ 5/day
Late Pick-up (4:30 – 6:00 PM) $10/day
Winter Camp Registration
WHO: Kids 3½ and up, divided into pre-school group and groups by grade
CONTACT: 301.770.2700 info@DynamiteGC.com
FunFit Winter Adventure Camp
It’s not just camp, IT’S AN ADVENTURE!
Campers will explore the theme of the day through a variey of fun, creative and active venues. Games, crafts, art, science and more will providing campers creative, cooperative, non-competitive ways of keeping thier bodies fit and their minds intrigued. Hands on learning, exploring and themed play will make each day an active adventure! Games like tag, soccer, stick hockey, dodge ball, games with hoops, balls, obstacle courses and parachutes will be played by all, while older campers will also enjoy a total body workout in our Strength & Cardio Circuit.
WHEN: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday DECEMBER 28, 29 & 30th, 9:30am – 12:30pm or 9:30am – 3:30pm.
WHERE: 17511 Redland Road, Rockville/Derwood, MD 20855
THEMES FOR EACH DAY: Monday-Winter Olympics, Tuesday – Pirate Adventure Day,Wednesday- Carnival Day
WHO: Preschooler – elementary school, all children must bring a healthy lunch and be potty-trained, limit of 20 kids.
COST:
HALF-DAY (9:30am-12:30pm OR 12:30-3:30pm): $75.00/child for all 3 days, 10% sibling discounts
FULL-DAY (9:30am-3:30pm): $150.00/child for all 3 days, 10% sibling discounts
$60/non-refundable deposit required for each full-day camper or for half-day campers please pay in full
DAILY registration is $30/child/half-day; $60/child/full-day
Early Drop Off 8:00-9:30am… $15/day/child, Extended Day 3:30-6:00pm…. $25/day/child
Stay early and late for just $35/day/child
CONTACT: Register online or call 301-975-0099
Adventure Theatre Winter Break Workshops
These four days of camp provide kids with a full day of theatrical activities, a snack and an included 11am performance on of the main stage show (when available.)
WHEN:
Monday, Dec 28th
Tuesday, Dec 29
Wednesday, Dec 30
Thursday, Dec 31
9 am – 4 pm daily
WHO: Kids age 5-12
COST: $60 per day or $215 for all four days plus a non-refundable $5 registration fee per child. Enroll siblings and receive 5% off your total order!
WHERE: Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812
CONTACT: Call 301-634-2268 to inquire.
You know who knows about even more wonderful winter camps? Amy of Our-Kids – check out her listings!
