Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in boston, MA

Wild Weekends

July 30, 2009

Baby, it's HOT outside.  Good thing there are so many *cool* events going on this weekend!!  (Get it, cool?  Hot?  J)

It's Shakespeare on the Common time, folks!!  Now in its 14^th year, this year's production is The Comedy of Errors which will undoubtedly be performed expertly by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company.  Completely free, the performances will draw over 75,000 people and runs for 4 weeks at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common.  July 31^st - August 16^st, Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm, Sundays @ 7pm.  Matinees: Sun. Aug 9^th at 1pm, Wed. Aug 12^th at 12:30pm.

The Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival continues. Take in a flick fit for the fam on the Prudential Center's South Garden - this weekend's feature is Hotel For Dogs.  Fun begins at 6pm and films start at sundown.  Saturday, August 1^st.

A Fête for Fairies.  Meet underneath the shady trees where you will sit and sip fairy tea. Listen to treasured tales of far-away lands and create a tiny fairy for at-home play.  Come early and visit The Enchanted Forest in the Family Discovery Gallery.  At the Wenham Museum, Sunday, August 2, 1:30pm.  Pre-registration: $12 members, $14 non-members.

Family Ecology Cruise Aboard The Yankee Clipper.  Join Teacher-Naturalist Lisa Hutchings and the crew of the Yankee Clipper for an exciting exploration of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem.  They'll conduct hands-on science as you collect water samples, live specimens, and plankton. You'll also look for wading birds, seals, and waterfowl on every trip.  Pre-registration required. The Mass Audubon Society: $20 Adult members, $27 Adult non-members, $16 Children members, $19 Children non-members. To register, call 978-462-9998.  Sunday, August 2^nd, 8:45am - 10:45am, Merrimack River, Newburyport.

Places to Learn about Science and Natural History

June 02, 2009

Just cuz it's (almost) summer doesn't mean we need to neglect educating our children.  Schools's out, but in order to avoid the dreaded summer brain drain, consider using wet days and/or super hot days to hit one of Boston's best science or Natural History spots.

1. If you're looking to sprinkle a little culture into your summer and visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History. A 7-10 minute walk through the historic Harvard Yard, the museum features exhibits on all kinds of life - plants, animals, and humankind. Your kids will be enraptured by the incredibly life-like animal structures, from giraffes, tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos and hippos, to bears, wolves, giant moose and buffalos. The Fossil Mammals exhibit houses skeletons of hoofed creatures, including a 15-foot long ground sloth! Adults will get a kick out of the Glass Flowers exhibit, so realistic, you won't believe they're made from glass! Afterwards, head over to the Harvard University Science Centerto cool off in the spray park, located just outside.

2. Boston's Museum of Science is a definite must-see for children and adults of any age. What makes this place so special is that they feature many different exhibits and there's always something appropriate for your child. Some of my family's favorite exhibits include The Discovery Center which is designed as a hands-on play & discovery area for kids up to age 8, the in the Park exhibit, an indoor park-like setting that allows for running, jumping and swinging with a touch of science built in, and the beautiful Butterfly exhibit.

3. The lesser know MIT Museum combines science and technology and aims to inspire people of all ages through its many exhibits. Kids will get a kick out of the Robots exhibit as well as Holography feature. The museum offers programs for families, mostly during the school year and with some throughout the summer too. Click here for more info.

4. What kid doesn't love live museums? The Ecotarium in Worcester teaches kids about the Secrets of the Forest, SmartArt: Exploring Science & Art, and animals in their natural habitats. They can play and investigate in the Discovery Room, walk the scenic Nature Trails, and learn about the stars in the Planetarium.

5. The Science Discovery Museum, located within the Discovery Museums in Acton, brings science to life for kids. Learn about what the earth was like in prehistoric times, examine fossils under a magnifying glass and see what creatures were alive and how they have evolved.

Fast Homemade Relief for Boo Boos

June 01, 2009

Summer time means lots of outdoor activity and the inevitable, bumps, bruises, boo boos and more.  I keep reading about fast fixes for boo boos and thought I'd share with you.  Of course, if these at-home remedies don't work, call your child's doctor ASAP. 

Mosquito Bites - According to June's Parenting Magazine, roll-on antiperspirant helps shrink a mosquito bite down to nothing within 20 minutes.  Buy a travel-sized bottle and see if it works!  I've also heard that applying a dab of apple cider vinegar to bites reduces them as well.

Poison Ivy - Have any white vinegar in the house?  Dab the rash with the liquid several times per day, add some cool compresses a few times a day, and have the child soak in an oatmeal bath (I added to the Aveeno stock several years ago after a nasty case of PI left me severely splotched for a week).  Alternatively, applying wet table salt to the affected area is another way to calm itching and stop the rash from spreading.

Splinters - LOVE this one: according to Parenting, try to flick it out with a credit card!  Afterward, rinse the area with soap and water.  If all else fails, don't forget to sterilize those tweezers!

 Sunburn - Sometimes no amount of SPF 50 can defend sensitive skin from the blazing rays of the sun so if you didn't get your child inside soon enough, try applying some milk to the burn.  Simply dip some gauze or paper towel in the room-temp cow juice and lay it on the skin for 20 minutes.  Repeat every two to four hours.

Bee Stings - Unless there's an allergy to the pesky insects which requires a trip to the ER, the best (and most pain-free) way to remove a stinger is by scraping a credit card along the skin.  After, rubbing an aspirin along the boo boo area can help neutralize some of the inflamed skin.  Apparently, meat tenderizer mixed with water works as well on the affected area.  For other ideas, visit here.