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

Fun for Families in Houston weekend August 6 - 9, 2009

August 06, 2009

The indoor where it's air conditioned and lots of neat things to see and do version. . .

Children's Museum of Houston

www.cmhouston.org
(713) 522-1138

MindFest WonderWeek challenges kids challenge to fuse technology, art and science through fun, engineering activities.

Holocaust Museum Houston

www.hmh.org
(713) 942-8000

Houston Museum-Natural Science

www.hmns.org
(713) 639-4629

All weekend continues the Terra Cotta warriors exhibit.

Menil Collection Bookstore

www.menil.org  (713) 535-3180

FREE admission: Film Screening in Memory of Merce Cunningham and Robert Rauschenberg
Friday, August 7, 2009 8 p.m.

The Menil Collection, ARTPIX, Microcinema International, and Society for the Performing Arts present an evening of filmed performances of Merce Cunningham Dance Company at a program in memory of Merce Cunningham & Robert Rauschenberg.

The Menil screenings of Split Sides (2003) and Interscape (2000) use archival footage made by Charles Atlas to document Cunningham’s work as dancer and choreographer. Just published on DVD by Houston’s ARTPIX, Split Sides has original scores by Radiohead and Sigur Rós. Robert Rauschenberg designed both sets and costumes for Interscape.

The film will be screened on the Menil's front lawn.

Museum of Printing History

www.printingmuseum.org
(713) 522-4652

Great for children, "In our galleries and working studios, we demonstrate the traditional processes of stone lithography, letterpress printing, papermaking, and bookbinding." Many interesting exhibits right now.

Museum of Fine Arts Houston: Bayou Bend Collection

www.mfah.org
(713) 639-7750

Summer Storytime Tour
Friday, August 7, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Summer Creation Station: Majestic Mountains
Friday, August 7, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Summer Storytime Tour
Friday, August 7, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Lawndale Art & Performance Center

www.lawndaleartcenter.org
(713) 528-5858

All weekend: The Big Show -- The Big Show is Lawndale Art Center’s annual open-call, juried exhibition. It has been an important venue through which emerging and under-represented Houston area artists gain exposure since the show’s conception in 1984.

Buffalo Soldier National Museum & Heritage Center

www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com
(713) 942-8920
Saturday, August 8 from 1-3 p.m. Summer Lecture Series

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

www.camh.org
(713) 284-8250

Czech Center Museum Houston

www.czechcenter.org
(713) 528-2060

Beginners Children’s Czech language class. Eight weekly sessions Saturday mornings 10:30 to 1:30 a.m. Donation $30.00.

The Health Museum

www.thehealthmuseum.org
(713) 521-1515

Friday: Planet You -- World Premiere Friday, August 7!
Journey into a world you've never seen before...at least quite like this!  Be one of the first in Houston to see Planet You 3D, the newest 3D film at the McGovern Theater, at the world premiere Friday, August 7.  Take a 3D microscopic adventure into the alien landscape of your own skin and find out all about the creepy, crawly things that live on us - dust mites, lice and ticks!

Houston Center for Photography

www.hcponline.org
(713) 529-4755

Digital Camera Basics on  Saturday Aug 8 with Kristy Peet
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
more info

The John C. Freeman Weather Museum

www.weathermuseum.org
(713) 529-3076

The Rothko Chapel

www.rothkochapel.org
(713) 524-9839

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

www.crafthouston.org
(713) 529-4848

Out and About in Houston weekend of July 16-19, 2009

July 16, 2009

The Circus is in town!

This weekend Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is in Houston at Reliant. The super cool part is that when you buy a ticket, you can also go to the pre-show where you get to tour the rings, see the animals, and meet the performers (you can even ask for autographs!). What an amazing experience!

Even better, tickets are very reasonably priced---I have a coupon code you can use. Here's the deal:

• The coupon code is MOM— four tickets for $44, any additional tickets are still priced at $11.  
• The tickets can be purchased from http://www.ticketmaster.com and by entering the MOM code in the “MC promotion” box when purchasing tickets.
• Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.
• Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity, Front Row, or VIP seating.
• Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges, facility & handling fees will apply.

• Be sure to get to the arena early to check out the Animal Open House and the All Access Preshow.  At the Animal Open House, which begins at 6:00pm, you can see the furry stars up close before their big performances.  The Preshow begins at 6:30pm and will give you a chance to head down to the circus floor to meet the performers, get autographs, try on costumes, and clown around! These two extras are free for all ticket holders, so feel free to mention them in your outreach. 

Enjoy!!

6 Best Not-Too-Spooky Tales for Ages 0-12

July 14, 2009

Whether it's around a campfire on a family camping trip, snuggled in the living room for a sleepover, in the middle of a power outage, or on special days and holidays, every now and again it's just right for a not-too-spooky story. These are the six fantastic books to either get inspiration from or read to your kids for those spooky-but-not-too-spooky times. From a friendly and fun spooky board book to a creepy Roald Dahl collection of stories, this list of book should satisfy a family even with a broad mix of age.

Ages: Baby to 5

Bright Baby Touch & Feel Spooky
Roger Priddy
Interactive board book for babies and toddlers, featuring images and simple text on a spooky theme. Touch and feel patches on every spread encourages child to interact with the book. Aids in the development of early vocabulary.

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (Bright & Early Book)
by Stan Berenstain
Children's 4-8
Three terrified little bears explore the inside of a mysterious old tree and go "into, up, through, over, down, and "out." Described as humorous, fun, and including favorite characters.

Ages: 5 to 8 and up

Seriously Spooky Stories
Super Shorts
Grade Range: k to 3, Age Range: 5 to 8
There are thrills and chills galore in this spine-tingling collection of stories about ghosts, ghouls, and haunted happenings. Young readers will shiver with delight at stories by favorite writers such as Ruskin Bond, Adle Geras, and Tony Ross. With a winning combination of contemporary original stories and retellings of traditional ghost tales, this is an irrestible blend of scary and fun.

The Kingfisher Treasury of Ghost Stories
Kenneth Ireland; Editors of Kingfisher
Grade Range: k to 3, Age Range: 5 to 8
This spooky anthology provides a shivery thrill on every page. Frightening and friendly, menacing and mischievous, here are tales about ghosts and ghouls for any occasion. Atmospheric black line illustrations on every spread add to the eerie mood. Featuring stories by high-profile contributors such as Dick King-Smith, Joan Aiken, Robert Swindells, and Catherine Storr, this collection is perfect for children who enjoy having their spine tingled. From folktales to original stories, there are ghost stories for everyone...Black-and-white illustrations complete these ghostly grim tales that will haunt and delight children of all ages.

The Kingfisher Book of Scary Stories
Chris Powling; Peter Bailey
Grade Range: 2 to 5, Age Range: 7 to 10
Here are ghouls, goblins, and ghosts galore! With its chilling mix of contemporary stories and retellings of old favorites, this anthology is illustrated with haunting detail and offers a satisfying, spooky read. The tales from top-notch writers make this an ideal read-aloud for Halloween, and a must-have gift book for all young fright fans.

Ages: 10 and up

Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories
Roald Dahl
Grade Range: 6 to 12, Age Range: 12 and up
Who better to investigate the literary spirit world than that supreme connoisseur of the unexpected, Roald Dahl? Of the many permutations of the macabre or bizarre, Dahl was always especially fascinated by the classic ghost story. As he realtes in the erudite introduction to this volume, he read some 749 supernatural tales at the British Museum Library before selecting the 14 that comprise this anthology. "Spookiness is, after all, the real purpose of the ghost story," Dahl writes. "It should give you the creeps and disturb your thoughts." For this superbly disquieting collection, Dahl offers favorite tales by such masterful storytellers as E. F. Benson, J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Rosemary Timperley, and Edith Wharton. Roald Dahl has selected fourteen of his favorite ghost stories that will deliver chills and goose bumps.

"This is the best book of its kind in years."-The Washington Post Book World

Out and About in Houston weekend of June 18 - 21, 2009

June 18, 2009

It's Father's Day this Sunday, so what kind of fun can your family have this weekend? Plenty!

Kids are FREE! all summer at Astros games starting June 23. Why not present Dad with a gift of tickets to a game? Hint: if you get tickets for Thursday, June 25, the first 10,000 fans get free retro t-shirts!

On Father's Day at Bayou Bend, all dads are free! Everyone else is just $5 per person. As an MFA bonus, this summer AGES 18 and under admitted FREE on Saturday & Sunday with a Houston Public Library PowerCard or any public library card (see number 5 for details).

On Friday, the Children's Museum of Houston is celebrating Juneteenth, and on Saturday kids can make a fun gift for dad, such as a tie or photo frame. Sunday includes more craft-making and a super fun Father's Day celebration. They've got special events this weekend:

• Spotlight Performance:  Kunama Mtendaji.  This exciting storyteller and musician will perform tales related to African and African American History.
  Saturday, June 20:  2 p.m.
• Target 2 Sunday Performance: Mariachi Houston.  Enjoy the traditional sounds of Mexico with this group of young and talented performers.
  Sunday, June 21:  2 p.m.

Discovery Green has a full lineup of good times for families, with special Dad events, including, on Saturday, a 7 pm live music by POP STARS: Dads Who Rock followed by 8:30pm film screening of "The Best of Children's Film Festival Seattle 2009."

On Friday:

• Fireworks Friday on the Kemah Boardwalk at 9:30pm    
• Gulf Coast Juneteenth at the Miller Outdoor Theatre at 7:30pm    

On Saturday:

• Summer Symphony Nights at the Miller Outdoor Theatre at 8:30pm  
• Come, Blow Your Horn at the Houston Family Arts Center at 8:00pm  
• World Beat Music Festival at Hermann Square at 12:00pm  
• Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake at Robertson Stadium at 7:30pm

5 great (and economical!) ways to exercise with kids

June 02, 2009

When school ended, so did my easy routine of dropping off my four year old at the preschool and hitting the track adjacent to her school's playground. As energetic and run-happy as my kids are, they aren't terribly conducive to an easy fitness routine. I prefer working out outdoors, and also try to forgo a gym membership to save money.

So how can a parent balance work, parenting and working out? On a budget?

Here are my favorite ways to keep fit during the summer with kids:

1. Morning bike rides

I put my little one in the bike trailer and my older one is pretty bike proficient. We ride around the neighborhood for a good 20-30 minutes. I have a route that I know we can do. By the time we get home, the kids have enjoyed a nice adventure, and they are both ready for some quiet play.

Note: How many calories you burn in any activity depends on your size, how you do the activity, and other factors. So keep in mind that all of these calculations are for me and how I exercise. I've linked you to the calculator so you can figure it out for yourself---the calculator has tons of different activities, so feel free to deviate off my list and find your own!

Since I'm usually with kids, I'm not that speedy. So I used the Calorie Burn Calculator and found this:

Bicycling, slow (10-12 mph) for 30 minutes: 202 calories

2. The swimming pool

Afternoons in Houston are too hot for much more than swimming in a pool. If I get in the pool with the kids and swim around like they do, it's a pretty good workout. I'll hang on the side and do some kicks and stretches, too, for good measure.

Using that same Calorie Burn Calculator, I found out that swimming isn't too bad, even if leisurely!

Swimming, leisure for 30 minutes: 202 calories

3. Yoga

I record---for free---yoga programs off the television. I try to do yoga every day. The kids and I all gather in the living room and do our level best at yoga poses.  We all enjoy it and cheer each other on. Plus it really builds strength and flexibility and I swear it turns every frown upside down (at least in our family).

The Calorie Burn Calculator tells me: Yoga for 30 minutes: 135 calories

4. Take a walk

Walking and biking have always been easiest with my kids when they were little. I could strap them in with a couple of toys and snacks and easily get my 30 minutes of exercise. As they got to preschool age, I'd extend a carrot: after Mom's walk, we'll play at the park. Our local park has a nice path that winds around the playground.if I chased kids on the playground, I figured that just added to the exercise.

The Calorie Burn Calculator says (for me):

Walking with a stroller for 30 minutes: 84 calories

Walking, slow (2 mph) for 30 minutes: 84 calories

Walking, moderate (3 mph) for 30 minutes: 118 calories

Walking, fast (4 mph) for 30 minutes: 135 calories

Walking with a baby or load for 30 minutes: 118 calories

5. Tennis

If I swat balls and run back and forth, the kids have a great time chasing balls, we've had some fun, and I've gotten a good workout. Our local park has free tennis courts, and it's not too hard to find a time they are open that works with my schedule.

The calculator says tennis is a great activity for me: Tennis (singles) for 30 minutes: 236 calories

The best thing about any of these activities is that it's good for you and the kids, and you can work it around your schedule---which we all know can vary day to day. We all know we need exercise and activity every day, and I know how easy it is to say there's just no time, money or way to do it with kids. But if you open your mind and eyes, I bet you find a lot of great ways to get a workout.

Bonus idea: Do you have stairs in your house? Sometimes on those "trapped inside due to summer storms or summer heat" days, we need something to get the "willies" out! I have a little "jumpoline" that is invaluabl, but we also have the Ball Stair game that is fun and gets in some exercis. It's sort of based on Bocce Ball. We try to roll our balls furthest down the stairs without hitting the bottom. Then we run up and down the stairs retrieving the balls for another round.The calculator claims I might burn as much as 202 calories on this. Mor eimportantly, the kids get their "crazies" out.

Super bonus: Don't forget housecleaning burns calories too. And so does each step you take. If you're ever curious how much you are on the move, you can usually find pedometers pretty inexpensively. You will probably be surprised how active you are! I was!

Cultural Experiences at Miller Outdoor

by Rachel Mosteller

October 05, 2008

Sometimes I get jealous of people with really deep cultural roots. You can say "my family is Vietnamese/Jewish/Namibian" and have all sorts of rituals, holidays and celebrations together. I'm half Cajun (French and Spanish) and the rest is Irish, English and Czech. My husband has more German but has some other different backgrounds including a bit of Native American (He's from Oklahoma). So  Read more...

Go Cajun!

by Rachel Mosteller

October 01, 2008

Most people couldn't tell by looking at me, but I come from a long line of Cajuns. Sure, I don't like seafood and red beans and rice give me the shivers, but I still feel a little proud of the fact that my grandparents spoke French. Even if you don't have Cajun heritage in your blood, you can still enjoy a bit of the Cajun life at the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival on October 10, 11 and 12.  Read more...

Looking Back at...September

by Rachel Mosteller

September 30, 2008

I've always disliked the month of September (well, not as much as I absolutely hate August) because of the fact that we in Houston are THIS CLOSE to fall but are still in total summer temps. This September has brought us very unusual nice cooler weather and also a hurricane. Can I get an "AMEN" if you're ready for October to come? AMEN! Bring. It. On. Looking back, September wasn't a total  Read more...

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...

Water Wall Wonder

by Rachel Mosteller

August 27, 2008

Kids love water, that's for sure. It's wet, it splashes and is fun to play (or swim) in. But it is also really fun to look at. Next time you're in the Galleria area, check out the water wall over by the Williams Tower. The water wall is a curved piece of aquatic architecture that's known as one of the most romantic spots in town. It's also pretty cool, literally. If you go in the day, the kids  Read more...

Cool Off in Local Pools

by Rachel Mosteller

August 05, 2008

I swear, I've spent about 90 percent of my time this summer in a pool. No wonder my bathing suit has started to fade! It is just so hot right now that there's no way you're getting me to do much else outside. One thing I've noticed about Houston: There's pools everywhere! Backyards, end of neighborhoods, YMCAs...you name it. I'm here to highlight a couple places to cool off for the afternoon.  Read more...