Children's Museum fun but packed

Head over to the Children’s Museum in St. Paul to play.

While your kiddo might learn some from the exhibits, the focus at the Children’s Museum is imaginative play.

As the web site says: For more than 30 years, Minnesota Children's Museum has embedded the research on play, creativity and child development into its interactive learning environments and programs. Open-ended experiences are designed for children to explore, discover, immerse, imagine and connect.

My 5-year-old most loved the town complete with a grocery store, kitchen, doctor’s office, post office, bus, front porch and dance studio. Mostly what she loved was donning a mail carrier’s uniform and delivering letters around town. I think she could have played that game all day!

There’s a space for water and bubble play. For building with large blocks. For making paper.

Upstairs is a natural habitat (made entirely of plastic!) with an ant home - tunnels and ramps. Make it thunderstorm. Slide like an otter. Observe fish. Dress like an ant or another outdoor animal. (We loved the costumes scattered throughout the museum!)

The special exhibit through ?? features dinosaurs. I worried that it would be too scary for my 2-year-old and 5-year-old, but I just didn’t read them the information on the violent dinosaurs. They loved climbing around.

IF YOU GO
- Plan your trip for the First Tuesday of any given month in order to avoid school groups.
- Use a Chinook Book coupon to get $2 off.
- There's a parking lot kitty corner from the museum. Then use the skyway at level 3 to walk over and avoid traffic or bad weather. Parking for 3 hours is $4.

ADDRESS & PHONE & WEBSITE
10 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 225-6000
http://www.mcm.org/

ADMISSION
- $9.95 for ages 1-101
- Free for kids under 1

HOURS
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Thursday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Making math fun

I don't remember ever thinking math was fun. I'm not even sure why. It could merely be because words have always meant more to me. But I hope that my children appreciate both words and numbers.

As I study various schooling theories, I'm gathering ideas for ways to make math fun.

Recently, we've started playing with the abacus I picked up at the MHA Curriculum Sale, as well as the Think and Blink Numbers & Shapes flashcards.

The abacus is great for seeing numerical patterns, as well as counting. I've even thrown in a little subtraction! The Toddler also finds this tool fascinating.

Since summer, The Girl has loved flashcards, and these ones shift before your eyes! Surprisingly, she also likes the back side, the one that is plain with just a numeral and the corresponding number of items such as balls. Following some ideas from a Montessori activity book ("Teach Me To Do It Myself: Montessori Activities For You And Your Child" by Maja Pitamic), I've been asking her to give me the names of the number first while they are in numerical order. Then we take them out of order and we see if she can still name them correctly. (This is a little basic for her at age 5, but I wanted to make sure she had the fundamentals down.) Next it was time to give her the cards in their out-of-ordered state, and ask her to place them in order. I like how the activity is hands-on. I also appreciate how the cards include the corresponding number of images on both sides, a number spelled out, and the numeral. Perhaps most of all, I was thrilled at how much she enjoyed the game.

She thinks math is fun.

#313-326

The Joy Dare continues. Learn more here.

March Joy Dare Prompts:
3 Gifts that made you laugh
A gift salty, sweet, just right
3 Gifts found in God's word
3 Gifts found in women today

MY LIST CONTINUED

313. The Boy's smile

314. The Girl's laugh at using an umbrella in the rain.

315. The Boy's wet, wet shirt after playing in the sink while I made dinner for company
316. Sea salt
317. Sweet treats at A Cupcake Social
318. Asparagus grilled with lemon and garlic
319. Exhortation to do and not just hear (1 James)
320. Realizing the number of times the word "thanks" precedes action in the Bible
321. God's word as a lens so that the world doesn't warp
322. Nadia Boltz Weber
323. Anne Lamott: "The opposite of faith isn't doubt. It is certainty."
324. Ann Voskamp

325. Seeing The Girl's photo in the newspaper I've been reading since I was a kid

326. Watching The Girl learn to write the letter V

Bubbles, sunlight and stories

The Joy Dare continues. Learn more here.

MY  LIST CONTINUED
301. Iridescent bubbles on the windows during a car wash
302. Sunlight reflecting off water droplets
303. Josey's smile during the car wash - she just loves them!
304. Photo frames on the wall that haven't been hung up since we moved 3.5+ years ago.
305. Running into 2 people I knew while at the neighborhood library - it's starting to feel like home down here

 306. The Little Boy baking gluten-free banana bread

 307. Finger puppets for Purim

 308. Lego groggers for Purim

 309. Seeing my daughter and her grandma together

310. A tree nearby being yarn-bombed!
311. Watching AJ have fun with The Girl and The Boy
312. Listening to AJ tell stories about The Boy

My list #287-301

The Joy Dare continues. Learn more here.

March Joy Dare Prompts:
3 hard eucharisteos
A gift turned, folded, hung
3 gifts red
3 Gifts Eaten

MY LIST CONTINUED
287. A new bathroom sink
288. Shopping
289. Spring - oh so lovely and oh so allergy-inducing!
290. Fancy Nancy books
291. Cloth diapers
292. The amazingly gorgeous, handmade window decoration The Girl got from Auntie C for her birthday
293. Red jewels on the earrings C gave me during The Boy's Baby Blessing
294. Red Crocs that The Boy wears around the house every day
295. Red on the inside of our Target bowls
296. Homemade granola
297. A's chickpea salad

298. My boy, the banana bread baker
299. A handwritten note in a package of hats from Alabama
300. Reliving the highlights of this year's Olympics by reading online articles and printing them out for The Girl's notebook
301. The aroma of baked chicken filling the house, a chicken cooked by the Hubs

THE GIRL'S LIST
Owls
Birds
Spring

Indoor play at Edinborough Park

Winters in Minnesota can get long, and then it sure is nice to have an indoor play place like Edinborough Park in Edina to let the kids run wild.

The problem is when they get too wild, which does happen at Edinborough Park. Because it is so close to our house, however, Edinborough Park has been our Go-To place for an indoor playground. We like it, but there are some definite minuses (such as unruly kids).

The Edinborough Park Playpark is almost one acre of indoor fun, highlighted by Adventure Peak, one of the largest indoor play structures in the country, The "Peak" is a 44-by-44-by-37 foot high climbing, low crawling, slip sliding Northwoods adventure. Climb into the 30-foot tall oak tree, slide down one of the four giant tube slides or wash down the triple wave slide. Climb across a canyon, scale the climbing wall and venture to the 30-foot lookout to spy around the Park. From the lookout, slide down the very popular and very fast new super slide.

MINUS:  While the playpark is tons for fun for the kiddos, it's tough for parents to follow along in they myriad of tunnels. And when a kiddo is hurt or sad, it can be rough to navigate a way down.

Adventure Peak also features a small Tot Area that includes climbing, crawling, and sliding. The entire padded, netted and enclosed structure has over 45 events to keep kids challenged and entertained for hours.


MINUS: The area is small so kiddos can get bored after awhile (and the rest of the park looks like so much fun!) (If you're looking for more for the tots to do, head over to Eagle's Nest in New Brighton.)

One of the things we like best about Edinborough Park is the Great Hall, a 60-by-90 foot multipurpose space for kids to play with balls and other park-provided gym activities. There's a huge bounce house there. And great peddle-bikes, as well as a basketball net and tons of balls. With a 21-month-old and a 5-year-old, the Great Hall was the easiest place for me to keep track of both kiddos at the same time.

I also really appreciate the skylights and 6,000 plants inside.

IF YOU GO
- Don't forget your socks! Adventure Peak is a shoeless environment and socks are required.
- Admission is $7 for each kid, which is on the high side of indoor play areas.
- There is a cafe with some basic snacks upstairs. But if you want healthy food, you'll want to pack it yourself.
- If you're lucky, there will be a concert in the nearby amphitheater you can enjoy while dining.

LOCATION

7700 York Ave. S.

7700 York Ave. S.

7700 York Ave. S., Edina MN
 952-833-9540
 http://edinamn.gov//index.php?section=edinborough-park-adventure-peak#sthash.59IlYM0B.dpuf

Adventure Peak

The Edinborough Park Playpark is almost one acre of indoor fun, highlighted by Adventure Peak, one of the largest indoor play structures in the country.

Adventure Peak

   

The "Peak" is a 44-by-44-by-37 foot high climbing, low crawling, slip sliding Northwoods adventure. Climb into the 30-foot tall oak tree, slide down one of the four giant tube slides or wash down the triple wave slide. Climb across a canyon, scale the climbing wall and venture to the 30 foot lookout to spy around the Park. From the lookout, slide down the very popular and very fast new super slide. Adventure Peak also features great areas for toddlers to explore. The Tot Area includes climbing, crawling, sliding and even bouncing in an inflatable air bounce geared just for them! The entire padded, netted and enclosed structure has over 45 events to keep kids challenged and entertained for hours.
The Playpark also contains the Great Hall, a 60-by-90 foot multipurpose space for kids to play with balls and other park-provided gym activities. Open public hours for the Great Hall will vary depending on scheduled activities. Please check with the Park Office for Great Hall open hours.
Don't forget your socks! Adventure Peak is a shoeless environment. Socks must be worn on the equipment. Shoes must be worn in all other areas of the Playpark.
Admission wristbands are required for the Playpark. Ten-punch passes and season passes are also available online.
And, it's a great place for a birthday party or group outing.
For more information, call 952-833-9540. 

- See more at: http://edinamn.gov//index.php?section=edinborough-park-adventure-peak#sthash.59IlYM0B.dpuf

Adventure Peak

The Edinborough Park Playpark is almost one acre of indoor fun, highlighted by Adventure Peak, one of the largest indoor play structures in the country.

Adventure Peak

   

The "Peak" is a 44-by-44-by-37 foot high climbing, low crawling, slip sliding Northwoods adventure. Climb into the 30-foot tall oak tree, slide down one of the four giant tube slides or wash down the triple wave slide. Climb across a canyon, scale the climbing wall and venture to the 30 foot lookout to spy around the Park. From the lookout, slide down the very popular and very fast new super slide. Adventure Peak also features great areas for toddlers to explore. The Tot Area includes climbing, crawling, sliding and even bouncing in an inflatable air bounce geared just for them! The entire padded, netted and enclosed structure has over 45 events to keep kids challenged and entertained for hours.
The Playpark also contains the Great Hall, a 60-by-90 foot multipurpose space for kids to play with balls and other park-provided gym activities. Open public hours for the Great Hall will vary depending on scheduled activities. Please check with the Park Office for Great Hall open hours.
Don't forget your socks! Adventure Peak is a shoeless environment. Socks must be worn on the equipment. Shoes must be worn in all other areas of the Playpark.
Admission wristbands are required for the Playpark. Ten-punch passes and season passes are also available online.
And, it's a great place for a birthday party or group outing.
For more information, call 952-833-9540. 

- See more at: http://edinamn.gov//index.php?section=edinborough-park-adventure-peak#sthash.59IlYM0B.dpuf

The feeling of lightness in gifts given away

The Joy Dare continues. Learn more here.

March Joy Dare Prompts:
3 gifts found in silence
3 gifts given away

MY LIST CONTINUED
267. Quiet mornings when I have space to think my own thoughts
268. Nap time when I have time to work in the silence
269. The rare evenings when the house is quiet and I can read

 270. A hat for Team Yarn

271. A hat for the new baby of a dear girl I've known since she was a toddler

272. Another hat for Team Yarn - Head Huggers
273. The feeling of lightness I have at Team Yarn meetings, in gathering together for a great cause, in giving of ourselves, in learning over and over how valuable it is to volunteer and give to others
274. The fun of seeing how creative our Team Yarn members are
275. Chai cold press at Silverwood Cafe in St. Anthony
276. Knowing I encouraged someone and inspired them to make their own handmade hats
277. Turning sorrow into gifts
278. Watching The Girl begin to draw letters
279. Telling The Girl how to spell the words she asks about
280. Chocolate pudding made with dates in place of sugar, shared with close friends
281. Shrinking snowdrifts
282. The sound of late spring snow pellets when we walk on them
283. The Girl's joy when she comes out of her gymnastic class
284. Books from A Little Free Library

285. The Girl's glittery fairy masterpiece
286. The Boy's love of m&ms, received after he uses the potty

THE GIRL'S LIST
- Bubbles
- Tinkerbell
- Chocolate pudding

The Works Museum: where kids explore how things work

The Works is an interactive museum in Bloomington, Minn. that makes learning about science and engineering interesting, understandable and fun. We had a blast there with our preschoolers!

My hubby is an engineer, and I couldn't help thinking the entire time we were at The Works just how much fun he would have there with the kids.

I didn't know a place like this existed before we went.

K'NEX BALL MACHINE
When you first walk in, kids (and adults) can't help but be drawn to the 2-story K'Nex ball machine. This enormous kinetic sculpture was built by University of Minnesota Student and K’Nex-structure expert, Austin Granger. Unofficially it's the largest K’Nex Ball Machine in the world, at 23′ tall with more than 100,000 K’Nex pieces.

According to The Works web site:

Austin started building with K’Nex when he was four years old. In middle school he was inspired when he saw another K’Nex builder’s complex, kinetic machine. He experimented with his own structures, trying to build something similar to, or even better than, the structure that inspired him. Today, he’s still building giant kinetic sculptures while pursuing a degree in computer science and product design.

We asked Austin what advice he’d share with young visitors who want to build machines like this one. He said to start by challenging yourself to build the strongest towers, bridges and other structures you can. The frame of your machine needs to be strong in order to withstand moving parts. Once your structures are strong, work on building even higher and longer structures – bridges that span longer distances and towers that reach the ceiling. The next step – add in the kinetic pieces. It involves a lot of trial and error to learn the skills and understand how to engineer with K’Nex at this scale.

THE DESIGN LAB
We spent a lot of time upstairs in the Design Lab because of the school groups filling the lower level. We made pom-pom launchers, explored how circuits work, designed marble runs, and played with the magnetic toys.

MAIN LEVEL
There was plenty to do on the main level. Kids could change a sound board to light things up or make music - my toddler loved plugging things in and out. In the Sensor Zone, they explored how things changed when a sensor was set off or covered up.

One of the most popular things for both the toddler and the preschoolers were the foam blocks which they used to build structures. Some of the world's most amazing buildings are hung up on the walls in this area to inspire would-be builders.

Yep, The Works Museum is a place we'll be sure to return to again and again.

IF YOU GO
- Check the web site for scheduled groups before you go so you know whether the place will be packed or not.
- If there is a big group there, head upstairs to the Design Lab for some quieter time.
- Admission is $8 per person for adults and children. Children two and under are free, as are members.

LOCATION
9740 Grand Avenue
Bloomington, MN 55420
(952) 888-4262
http://www.theworks.org/

HOURS

• Monday - 10 am - 2 pm
• Tuesday - closed
• Wednesday - closed
• Thursday - 10 am - 2 pm
• Friday - 10 am - 5 pm
• Saturday - 10 am - 5 pm
• Sunday - 12 pm - 5 pm

Go to the movies and support Northrup school

Northrop Urban Environmental School (4315 31st Ave.) is partnering with the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis to host a day at the movies on Saturday, March 22 to support the fifth grade camping trip to Grand Marais.

It will be the first camping experience for many of these city kids.

To participate in the fundraiser, purchase a $5 ticket online that can be used for any film at the Riverview Theater on Saturday, March 22.

Be sure to print out the auto-receipt you receive via e-mail and bring it to the theater as your ticket. Tickets for the fundraiser must be purchased in advance to make a donation.

To purchase tickets, go to: https://support.achievempls.org/events/northrop-riverview.

Can’t make the event? Consider purchasing a symbolic ticket in support of the campers – your $5 donation will go directly to help fund the trip.

ABOUT NORTHRUP

Northrop’s vision is to ensure that each student receives a balanced, individual and rigorous education that embraces all academic discipline with environmental education at its core. Just minutes from Lake Nokomis, Lake Hiawatha, and Minnehaha Creek, Northrop offers opportunities to explore the natural world in a city. For more information, visit northrop.mpls.k12.mn.us.

* This is cross-posted from http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2014/03/16/go-movies-and-support-northrup-school

Plan a tea party at A Cupcake Social

The corner at 28th Ave. and 38th St. is a popular destination these days. Last fall, Keen Coffee opened on the southwest corner, filling the space vacated by Tillie’s Bean. And in late December, A Cupcake Social, a gourmet cupcake boutique, opened across from Northbound Smokehouse and Brewpub.

With its fancy lighting and unique chairs, A Cupcake Social sets the perfect mood for a tea party. Or shower. Or birthday party. Or meeting. Set up a time for diminutive would-be pastry chefs to decorate their own cupcakes and enjoy a cupcake to eat at the party.

One table is perfect for those pint-sized ones in your life. And there’s a play kitchen right next to it to keep the little ones occupied while you enjoy a cup of tea and a decadent cupcake.

With flavors like Red Velvet, Death by Chocolate, Hawaiian Dream, Samoa, Dreamsicle, Oh Joy! and Pistachio Chocolate, you might be standing at the counter awhile. They also offer several gluten-free options. Over 50 flavors rotate weekly. Sweet treats start at $2.79 for a cupcake and $3.49 for a chocolate croissant. They also offer homemade ice cream.

A Cupcake Social stocks teas from TeaSource. Cups are $3.49, or opt for chai at $3.89.

Owners Jess Stone and Suzette Herr have been selling cupcakes from a food truck for the past three years, and will continue to operate the truck during the summer months. Why did they open a brick and mortar location? The number one question they got from customers was “Where is your store?” Realizing there was a demand for their products beyond the food truck, they decided to give their customers what they wanted, when they want it.

The shop offers a series of workshops such as Pintrest crafts, jewelry making, painting and other variety of arts. All classes include supplies (unless otherwise specified), coffee/tea and a gourmet cupcake. No stuffy classrooms, just an intimate, relaxing space to work. Classes are limited to 10 participants.

On Tuesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. place a dip pen to paper and learn to craft your own distictive lettering style under the guidance of lettering artist Crystal Kluge. This 3-part class will cover the basics to help release your inner calligrapher. It will focus on expressive pointed pen lettering using a variety of inks. Supplies will be provided; however, students are welcome to bring their own pens and inks or paper materials if they wish. To provide ample attention to each student in an intimate studio setting, this class is limited to 10 students. Register on the web site.

Get cupcakes regularly by signing up for the cupcake membership packages.

A Cupcake Social delivers to the Minneapolis and St.Paul areas. The delivery fee is $9.95, and the minimum order for delivery is one dozen cupcakes (of the same flavor).

Address: 3800 28th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: (651) 243-1114
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm, Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-8pm, Sunday Closed

* This is cross-posted from http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2014/03/06/plan-tea-party-cupcake-social