Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in houston, TX

Out and About in Houston weekend of 7-9 to 7-12-2009

July 09, 2009

This week it's been about bringing culture to your kids. Here are some fun weekend events for this weekend that let you do just that:

Friday, July 10th

AFA (American Festival for the Arts) presents AFA Solo Voice Recitals. Outstanding young vocalists will perform a variety of opera arias, art songs and song from the popular repertory. Check their site for more performances!

Saturday, July 11th

30th Annual ArtHouston Image gallery -- Houston Art Dealers Association

Calling all art enthusiasts to take part in the 30th Annual ArtHouston opening Saturday, July 11th. The main purpose behind ArtHouston is to exhibit emerging, mid-career and well-known artists in order to display diverse talent. 37 participating galleries will be open to showcase these local, national and International artists.

3rd Annual Frida Festival (Frida Festival©)

Come celebrate the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo at the 3rd Annual Frida Festival on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at East End Urban Market located on 716 Telephone Road.

This year’s FREE family festival from 2pm to 6pm will feature a children’s art show with students from the Flor de Canto program at Talento Billingue de Houston, Frida look-alike contest, piñata, arts & crafts activities, DJ, dance groups, and poetry. Artist Butter de la Garza aka Reverend Butter will create an ice sculpture.

Sunday, July 12th

Aurora Picture Show -- Popcorn Kids Workshop with The Story Pirates

Aurora Picture Show presents a Popcorn Kids Workshop with The Story Pirates, Sunday, July 12th 1-2pm. Location: Aurora Video Library, 1524 Sul Ross. Sunday the Striking Viking Story Pirates will present a special workshop at the Aurora office for 12 children where they will bring a story to life right before the kids’ very eyes! Snacks provided.

All weekend (and beyond)

The River Performing and Visual Arts Center

The River Performing and Viusal Arts Center Fine Arts Recitals (Fridays) June 19-August 7, 2009 iinvite you to attend our 2009 Summer Camp Recitals!

MECA's 1st Annual Storytelling from an Immigration Nation

July 3-July 31, 2009

The Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) presents MECA's 1st Annual Storytelling from an Immigration Nation. This event features a Visual art show and also spoken word performance.

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5 fun and funky spots to wow preschoolers in Houston

June 23, 2009

All moms know about the zoo, the Children's Museum, the location of every jumping place (and free jump time) (or maybe that's just me), and the rest of the great, but standard, fare to entertain and wow preschoolers.

But what about going off the beaten path every now and again? I'll tell you about 5 fun and funky spots that will wow your preschooler!

The Art Car Museum

Museum highlighting art cars of Houston, custom-decorated cars with zany themes prominently displayed in the annual Art Car Parade. Free admission.
Open Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
140 Heights Blvd.
For more information, call (713) 861-5526

Lawndale Art Center

Known for its offbeat art happenings, such as the Hair Ball and the 20th Century Modern Market, Lawndale Art Center displays contemporary works by more than 500 artists each year.
Located in a period Art Deco building at 4912 Main Street in the Museum District.
Admission is free during regular gallery hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call (713) 528-5858

Museum of Health & Medical Science

The Museum of Health & Medical Science’s Amazing Body Pavilion gives visitors an exciting tour through the human body. The exhibit contains huge sculptures of human organs, including a 10 foot brain and a 22 foot rib cage, with more than 80 interactive exhibits.
Every Thursday is Free Family Thursday from 4-7 p.m.
For more information, call (713) 521-1515

The Mad Potter - River Oaks

The Mad Potters are “paint-your-own-pottery” studios, where children and adults alike can try their hand at becoming the next modern day Picasso. Individuals and groups come in and choose a piece of pottery from over 400 shapes and sizes. They then design and paint their pieces with The Mad Potter’s instruction, brushes, tools and paint... all you need to bring is your creativity and desire to have a great time.
Hours: Mon-Thur 10-10, Fri-Sat 10-11 sun 12-6
1963-A W. Gray
Houston, TX 77019
713-807-8900
central@themadpotter.com
(Three other locations around Houston---check the Mad Potter Web Site)

Armand Bayou Pontoon Boat Cruise

Start your weekend by enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast drifting down the bayou on our "Bayou Ranger" pontoon boat. Observe wildlife searching for their breakfast on the bayou. This trip through the heart of the Nature Center presents an uncommon opportunity to watch and learn about bayou life. Enjoy rolls, juice and coffee while underway. The "Bayou Ranger" will pick you up at the Bay Area Park boat launch. Maximum: 12 people
Hours: Saturdays from 8 - 9:30 am
Ages:  5 - adults (An adult must accompany children under 18.)
Fee:    Members: $20 adults, $15 children & seniors
Non-members: $25 adults, $20 children & seniors.
Armand Bayou Nature Center
8500 Bay Area Blvd.
Pasadena, Texas 77507
281-474-2551
Web site: http://www.abnc.org/things-to-do/pontoon-boat-cruises.html

 

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Summer Survival Game Plan for Moms (who need to get things done)

June 08, 2009

Oh summer. Today I and many other moms let out a collective groan on this, the first full of summer with kids at home full-time. Many camps and activities haven't yet begun, and all of us are trying to keep up with our workload---regardless of whether it's home chores or an assignment from a boss---while managing kids who aren't used to free-range summer life at home yet, and who are probably a little testy or troublesome. At the least, there are moments when they feel more like Impediments to Getting Things Done than the usual Treasures and Joys we view them as.

So what is there to do?

Create a plan!

Here's what we do....

Early morning: Take it easy because you can.

The girls and I normally have to hop out of bed and make a run for it. So, the good thing about summer is the chance to take a minute and breathe. The mornings really offer that chance. Although the temptation might be to hop up early and get some work done, think about sleeping in a bit (for us that means 7 a.m., maybe) and having some cuddle time.

Breakfast: Consider letting a few rules slide and eat out of the kitchen.

The kids enjoy a bit of couch lolling and show watching first thing in the morning. They may get up early, but they're a little slow to the start line. In the summer I let the kids eat breakfast and watch a show.

Exercise: Load up the bike and take a ride, go for a walk, or use one of the kid-friendly exercises

Get those willies out, have a bit of fun, and freshen up your own mind. Plus it's good for you.

Important Thoughts: Work is a lengthy composition, with parenting as frequent intermezzo

The rest of the day will be a careful balance between tending to your kids and your work. If you're like me, constant interruptions get your mind off track and make it hard to keep focused and moving along at a good pace.

In a full symphony, there is sometimes an intermezzo, which is a short movement separating the major sections of a lengthy composition. It's also a bit of entertainment between two acts of a play.

So think of your work as the lengthy composition, and the kid activity as the intermezzo. You could consider it an interruption, but you can also think of it as the important mind and body stretch away from the computer and phone.

Unlike music and theater, we begin with an intermezzo and intersperse them frequently among the work acts.

Important Thoughts: Setting up your intermezzo in advance

Nothing is quite so interesting to children as the forbidden fruit. In our house, that's the bins of toys we keep up on the high shelves in the closet. I highly suggest that you pack up activities and toys into boxes, and put them away. Leave out only a few toys. This creates fresh, "new to them" toys and activities for kids---which are always more entertaining than the same old toys they can get to every day. In the summer, the big, big fun for my kids is Taking Down the Bin.

We have junky fast food meal toys, stuffed animals, games, Legos, blocks, and more. You can sort any way you want.

Right this minute my kids just got a giant box of stuffed animals they haven't seen in a month.  They are busy playing with those stuffed animals while I write this. At last glance, they were sorting the animals by type: birds here, bears there, and so forth.

Another bin has plastic animal and people figures and paper and colors. That's for kids to set a scene and draw it. It may just be scribble scrabble with the younger ones, but it's still fun, and they often choose matching colors, so it's a good color lesson.

The blue bin is filled with blocks and cars. I encourage the kids to create a city and roads for the cars when they play with that bin.

The opaque bin is filled with what the kids think of as treasure.  It includes Mardi Gras beads, action figures, whistles, toy cameras and phones, and other little assorted "toys" (aka junk). They love to dig through that and make fun finds.

Get creative with how you create activity bins. Think about burying things in a sand bin for kids to take on the porch and dig through. What about a blanket and doll bin? A wooden toy bin, such as "dress the bear," and maybe even some of those lacing games? A musical instrument bin! A dress-up for playacting bin! How about getting a big box and letting the kids color on that, and add toys to it or make a club house?

My kids love the arts and crafts bin, and sometimes I let them do watercolor body art outside---easy to hose off, afterward.

The idea is simply to create activity bins that are easy to pull out, start the play, walk away, get work done, and clean up easily.

Plan your bins to match the length of time you need for that portion of your work. For example, a bin that might require some assistance should be left to a time when you don't plan on being on the phone. Most activity bins should last anywhere from 30 mins to an hour.

Intermezzo: Activity bin 1

Tip: Turn on some music. Sometimes I pop in a classical CD, and sometimes I turn on Radio Disney.

Work: 30 mins

Intermezzo: Check in, is it time for bin 2?

Always make sure to have the children pack up one bin before diving into another. This way, kids learn to be responsible for cleaning up, and for putting away one thing before moving on to the next. Also, you don't end up with a colossal disaster to clean up in the evening!

Work: 30 mins

Lunch time!

Let lunch be an activity. One of our favorite fun lunches is build-a-cracker. I use the divided lunch plates and the kids choose four toppings for crackers. Favorites here are peanut butter, cheese, jelly, and ham. On the side I add a vegetable and a fruit. They have fun creating their lunch, and then fun eating it.

Let little hands help clean, too.

Think about taking a quick walk, blowing bubbles outside, set up a sprinkler for the kids to run through, or another active activity that lets everyone get fresh air.

Intermezzo: Bin 2 or Bin 3.

Clean up last bin before getting next!

Work: 1 hour.

Intermezzo: Give the kids what I call a "creative play" bin.

I like to give them dress up, some props, a few books, and ask them to get inspired and create a performance to show me. I tell them they have until I call them to get ready.

Work 30 mins.

Intermezzo: Take an activity break.

Clean up last bin before getting next! 

Let the kids do their performance It may only last a few minutes, and you can decide if that's long enough before the next kid activity, or if you should take a longer break and run an errand, bake bread, do a chore, or something else.

Repeat.

Hold up a promise of fun---is everyone cooperating and helping out? Offer a swim in the late afternoon or evening as a reward.

Will this always work as perfectly as it sounds here on paper? No, and never expect it to. Or count anything as a failure when it doesn't work. Just try the next idea. If there is fighting or bickering, try separating the kids into different rooms with their own play bins. What "play on my own" things would interest each of your children?

Keep it creative and workable for you. Take this game plan and customize it day to day and for you and your kids. Different ages have different abilities, different jobs have different requirements (regardless of whether you are meeting an employer's demands or doing a load of laundry), and different kids have different interests.

And don't try to shoulder too much on yourself. I find that mother's helpers now and again are wonderful. A 12 to 14 year old who loves kids and is responsible is a useful helper for a couple of hours, and in my neighborhood that shouldn't cost more than $5 an hour. I'll gladly sacrifice something in my budget to buy a few hours of sanity, whether I use it to go de-stress in a coffee shop or to put my nose to the work grindstone.

Always remember the value of the playdate and trading off of kids.  If you keep some kids for the morning, trade off for the afternoon. Another fun outing is to schedule a fieldtrip.

It doesn't matter what work you do, if you're a mom at home, it helps to create some structure and schedule to get things done. With a good game plan, you can lower your stress, and before you know it, it's been a fun summer that's already coming to an end.

Tomorrow check back for a list of kid-friendly local places with wi-fi---places moms can work and kids can have fun!

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top 6 lessons in your garden: how does your garden grow? With food and education all in a row!

April 14, 2009

Even more frugal than buying in season is growing your own garden. Houston has a nice, long growing season and can provide good conditions for a great crop of basic vegetables and fruits.

Houstonvegetablegarden.com is a good resource site. It has great information and frequent updates. The Houston Chronicle has a Gardening section that is comprehensive, offering a plethora of easy-to-follow gardening information.

You can start small or big, combine with trips to a farmer's market (and farmers are usually great for sharing tips!), and figure out what works for you.

Growing a garden for food is practical, but is also a wonderful activity with your preschooler.

Sharon Wilson, an inspirational friend who is living the rural life and dedicating herself to helping the environment, shared that she used her garden to teach her son well-rounded lessons in all disciplines, "I think one of the best green things you can do with a preschool kid is to grow a garden. You can teach children everything they need to know with a garden."

She and I both put down our favorite ideas of how to use a garden to teach many lessons:

Science: Study and research bugs, pollination, photosynthesis, sprout seeds, and each element of interest in the garden. See if the garden and its plants differs from day time to nighttime. Are there different insects? Are plants open or closed? Talk about the different elements (land, air, water, sun).

Math: Gardening offers many opportunities for math lessons. Word problems with real action can teach a preschooler basic numbers, counting, and pre-addition and subtraction. For example: let's count out five seeds to plant in this spot, or hold in one hand three seeds and five seeds in the other, then help your child figure out how many plants total will grow from those seeds. You can also study shapes (let's plant these seeds in a circle, let's plant these in a square. And you can learn units of measurement by measuring the plants as they grow and charting the growth. You can teaching sorting and grouping of similar seeds and plants, for example: these are all flowers and these are all vegetables.

History: Old World foods were foods in Europe before the Americas were discovered: carrots (carrots were used for stomach upsets), onions (onions were used to get across the desert because they are juicy), and so forth. New World foods were here in the Americas: corn, tomatoes, okra, and so forth. Kids also love stories, such as Johnny Appleseed.

Reading: Read books about gardens (find some ideas here), seasons, seeds, bugs, and all those interesting things you and your child see and wonder about.

Civics: by growing a garden, children learn where their food comes from and you can teach them about transportation--my son had a tricycle that pulled a wagon so he would pick up the vegetables from the farmer and "haul" them to the "grocery store," our kitchen.

Art: We made garden markets and stepping stones and rain gauges. Gardens are also great places to learn about colors and blending colors, too.

Let your creativity and interest guide you. The lessons are just a starting point---there are so many more places you and your child can explore and learn from in a garden. Have fun growing with your child---and remember to look up as well as down at your garden. Above you are birds, trees, and other interesting parts of our world.  Read more...

Bayou City Art Festival: Interview with Susan Farb Morris

March 27, 2009

Yesterday I promoted all the fun events this weekend for families, with the Bayou City Art Festival at the top of the list:

This weekend is the famous Bayou City Art Festival in Memorial Park!

Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park
March 27-29, 2009 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days
Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under.
City ordinance prohibits bringing pets.

The annual, juried, fine art event boasts a stress-free outdoor gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. Adding to the festive outdoor gallery are wine cafés, an interactive Creative Zone for children, restaurants, Broadway in Houston’s Broadway Café, and a performing arts stage with on-going multicultural musical and dance entertainment presented by The Houston Arts Alliance.

For more information about the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, please visit the Web site.

It sounds great---but sometimes a brief blurb about an event doesn't do it justice. So I sat down with Susan Farb Morris, who is promoting the Bayou City Art Festival at Memorial Park, and asked her to answer a few questions that parents might have about how this event is good for families with preschoolers, and to elaborate a bit more about this exciting festival:

Me: What do you think preschoolers will get out of the Bayou City Art Festival?  

Susan: Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park is a wonderful sensory experience for preschoolers -- the sights of colorful visual and performing arts, musical performances and tasty treats such as Marble Slab ice cream and chocolate-dipped fruits from Fruitful Endeavors.  

Me: I know you have an area set up for kids---the Creative Zone. What can kids do there?

Susan: The Capital One Bank Creative Zone is an interactive children's area where children can explore the fun of art. Activities are sponsored by the Festival's Nonprofit Partners and Capital One Bank will make a donation to the Nonprofit Partners in appreciation of their participation. Art projects include Mini Art Car Building, Ornamental Rocks, Sun Photos, Spangles that Dangle, Felt Garden,Museum of Fine Arts Mascot Crowns, Springy Bonnets and Bowlers, Flutterby Butterflies, Assemblage Animals and Wax Hand Sculptures.

Me: Historically, do many children accompany parents to this event?  

Susan: The Capital One Bank Creative Zone is extremely popular -- 7,000 children participated in the Capital One Bank Creative Zone last fall.

Me: Many parents worry about taking little ones who might dash off to crowded, open spaces or to spaces with important and valuable things (such as art). Is this space a good one for preschoolers? How?   

Susan: Children participating in the Capital One Bank Creative Zone must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The art projects are very interactive and provide a great entertainment element at the Festival as well as a take-home souvenir.  

Me: Are there areas for tots to take a break and have a snack?

Susan: There is an international cafe area with foods ranging from barbecue to Chinese, Mexican, Indian and Greek foods.  Picnic tables abound in Memorial Park.  

Me: Please share your favorite things about the festival and why families should go.

Susan: Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park presents an incomparable value for the entertainment dollar.  Tickets are $10 for adults and children ages 12 and under are admitted free. The Festival helps introduce children to the visual and performing arts in a very welcoming environment -- the park. They get to see the art up close and even meet the grown-ups who create it!  They also enjoy the sights and sounds of diverse, multi-cultural musicians and dancers. This year, for the first time, families are encouraged to ride their bicycles to the festival. There will be the KPFT 90.1 Bike Depot, where for a $2 donation, your bikes will be tended for safe-keeping. 

Thanks so much, Susan, for telling us more about the Bayou City Arts Festival at Memorial Park!
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out and about in Houston weekend of 3/27-3/29/2009

March 26, 2009

This weekend is the famous Bayou City Art festival in Memorial Park!

Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park
March 27-29, 2009 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days
Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under.
City ordinance prohibits bringing pets.

The annual, juried, fine art event boasts a stress-free outdoor gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. Adding to the festive outdoor gallery are wine cafés, an interactive Creative Zone for children, restaurants, Broadway in Houston’s Broadway Café, and a performing arts stage with on-going multicultural musical and dance entertainment presented by The Houston Arts Alliance.

For more information about the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, please visit the Web site.

Fun all weekend...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Jones Hall - 615 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002

One of our all-time favorite dance troupes comes to Houston this weekend (Fri-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm), with performances by Grammy Award-winning female a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock. The performance is suitable for ages 5 and up, and tickets range from $22-$58. For more informaiton: 713.632.8113. www.spahouston.org/grouplounge

Tomball German Heritage Festival
Old Downtown Tomball - W Main Street & N Cherry Street, Tomball, TX 77375

Catch the spirit of Germany (for free!) at Tomball's 9th Annual German Heritage Festival. Fri 6pm-10pm; Sat 10am-10pm; Sun 10am-6pm all ages can enjoy the live music, ethnic food, street vendors, arts and crafts, fireworks, a carnival, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. For more information:  www.tomballsistercity.org/festival.htm

Friday and Saturday only...

Cry Baby Matinee
Angelika Film Center - 510 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002

First-run, grown-up films are featured for parents with their little ones. Lights are kept dimmed, the sound is turned down, and baby changing tables are available. Matinees are run at 11:45, and adult tickets are $6.25. Children under 5 are free.  For more information: 713.225.1470. www.angelikafilmcenter.com/houston/events.asp.

Saturday only...

The Reluctant Dragon
Main Street Theater at Chelsea Market - 4617 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006

This sweet play is good for children 3 and up. Shows are at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Tickets cost $10 for children and students; $12 for adults; group rates (10 or more) available.For more information: www.mainstreettheater.com

Play synopsis: Once upon a time there lived a boy who befriended a lonely dragon who hated such dragonly things as fighting knights and breathing fire. Nonetheless, the simple-minded villagers in the local town beg a fierce knight - St. George himself -- to slay the dragon, even though he was doing them no harm. Just when it seems hopeless, the resourceful boy finds a solution that changes the hearts and minds of the entire village in this touching adventure by renowned author Kenneth Grahame (The Wind in the Willows). 

Kid's Market Day - Bayou City Farmers' Market
Bayou City Farmers' Market, 3000 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77098

Note: Bring cash for purchases.

From 8-noon all ages can enjoy the Urban Harvest's Bayou City Farmers Market Fourth Annual Kid's Market Day. Kid's Market Day offers children of all ages the opportunity to see where their food really comes from. Students who have participated in Urban Harvest's School and Youth gardening programs will bring their produce to sell at the farmers market. Vendors will bring animals and equipment from their farms to show kids what farming is really like. Kid-friendly activities will include seed planting, face painting, scavenger hunt, raw vegetable tasting and egg dyeing using natural colors. Live music and a cooking demonstration will also be featured. For more information:  www.urbanharvest.org.

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Snow in September

by Rachel Mosteller

September 08, 2008

My children have lived in Houston all their lives and, sadly, have never seen snow. (Try explaining to my daughter, who read one too many "winter equals snow" books last year that we don't have the white stuff.) But now, there's an awesome new event going on at the Museum of Contemporary Art involving snow. Check out Perspectives 162: Snow by Allie Bogel and Libbie Masterson. From what I  Read more...

Party With The Pigs...

by Rachel Mosteller

September 04, 2008

As a parent, it is easy to feel as if the only "entertainment" our kids get these days comes from television and movies. It's not like you can bring your 4-year-old to a Broadway show and expect for her to stay still the entire time, not dance in the aisle and beg for snacks. If you're wanting to show your little one a live play, I have one for you. The Main Street Theater is presenting If You  Read more...

Fun for When the Weather is Bad

by Rachel Mosteller

August 04, 2008

While people in other parts of the country may not realize it, hurricanes (and hurricane season) are just another part of life for people who live in places like Texas. Even if there's not a hurricane brewing in the Gulf, we still have horribly hot (and long) summers that leave us indoors while the rest of the country is out frolicking. Well, that's what I'm imagining they're doing when I'm  Read more...

Indoor Fun: Glued Quilts

by Rachel Mosteller

July 03, 2008

From time to time, I pull out the old sewing machine to make a quilt for a friend's new baby. When this happens, my daughter tends to get all excited about seeing the variety of fabrics I have out. I always feel a bit sad when I tell her that we're not to the point that she can make her own quilt yet. Or maybe she can. According to one post at the very most awesome Kids Craft Weekly, there's a  Read more...

Go Green With the Beer Can House

by Rachel Mosteller

June 26, 2008

If you're like me, you might possibly live in a suburb. A suburb full of McHouses that all look the same, save for the color of the shutters. Want to show your children a really cool house that looks nothing like the neighbors? Bring them on down to the Beer Can House in Houston . The owner, who is no longer living, originally started decorating the house with beer  Read more...

The Budding Art Critic: Byzantine Frescos

by Rachel Mosteller

June 23, 2008

It is easy to go to a museum, see the pretty pictures and think nothing of their history. That isn't the case with the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum in Houston. The history behind the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum is as interesting as the paintings themselves. The paintings were stolen from a chapel in Cyprus in the 1980s, cut into pieces and smuggled out of the country with the intention of  Read more...

Rainy Day Fun: Art Mix

by Rachel Mosteller

June 16, 2008

I love letting my kids do arts and crafts, but sometimes, our art life becomes a bit stagnant. There's the whole issue of finding materials they want to use that aren't so messy I'll be cleaning for months to think about. Usually, we just end up doing markers and crayons. Next time you're looking for a way to get your budding artist her fix, try Art Mix in Houston  Read more...

The Budding Art Critic: Cullen Sculpture Garden

by Rachel Mosteller

June 13, 2008

Just the other day, I had a child tell my daughter that she wasn't drawing a certain animal correctly. That got me to thinking how we really need to teach our kids about the fact that there's all different types of art out there and how it can all be right. Kids are used to seeing art in the form of paintings or pictures. Perhaps you should show them art in the form of sculpture?  Read more...

Mini Picasso: Self Portraits

by Rachel Mosteller

June 13, 2008

My daughter turns four next month and I love watching her draw pictures. Just this year, she finally started doing shapes we can recognize as animals, such as a circle with legs for a horse. It is so much fun to see their little minds in action when doing art. Ever want to know what your child thinks when she sees herself in the mirror? Do a self portrait. Take out a variety of construction  Read more...

You Won't See Red at The Orange Show!

by Rachel Mosteller

June 06, 2008

Just off the Gulf Freeway (I-45 South to some of you), there's a little place that sticks out from its surroundings. It is The Orange Show and is an easy (and cheap) way to entertain your little ones for a bit. While the theme seems to be oranges, it really is just more, how do we say it, random. Personally, I don't find anything super unique about the museum except for the fact  Read more...

MFA Houston Sundays

by Rachel Mosteller

June 02, 2008

Art. It isn't just in a coloring book. In my house, it is on the walls, literally. (Also, on the floor and on the brick fireplace.) Perhaps you'd like to show your kids how to properly display art on the walls. If so, I'd suggest bringing them down to The Museum of Fine Arts to give them a bit of exposure to a wide variety of artists. I f you're worried your preschooler might make  Read more...