Crafting with Nickelodeon: PAW Patrol Letters

by kelseycoffrinFebruary 22, 2019

Using colors inspired by your little ones favorite PAW Patrol character on Nickelodeon, and a few other materials, you can work together to craft a PAW Patrol inspired letter! Tune in Weekdays on Nickelodeon for more PAW Patrol.

Required Supplies

Wood Letter (We chose “T” for Tracker!)
Acrylic Paints and Paint Tray
Foam Sheets (various colors)
Paint or Foam Brush
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
Hot Glue Gun

Steps

Gather the required supplies to have handy.
Start by using your pencil and ruler to divide the letter into three sections.
Choose three paint colors and paint each section one color.
While the paint is drying, cut out a PAW Patrol inspired badge from the foam.
Glue the badge pieces together and once the paint is dry, hot glue into place.
Last but not least, cut out a few puppy patterns from the foam and hot glue onto the letter.

Image courtesy of Spin Master Entertainment

Three Minutes in the NICU

By Keiko Zoll

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

January 25, 2019

Photo: Keiko Zoll

It’s quiet here in the NICU at night.

Judah was born this weekend coming in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces and 19 inches long. He’s perfect in every single way.

…He’s just five weeks early.

No parent ever expects this. We all read What to Expect and we glaze over the worst-case scenarios. We don’t even bother to crack open the pages about premature babies or labor because “it will never happen to us.” And yet, here we are.

For a 34-week old baby, he’s doing remarkably well. In just the 72 hours since he came into this world, we’ve received a crash course in neo-natal care, from intakes and residuals to Bradys and pre- and post-weights. We’ve changed his first diapers within an acrylic isolette. We’ve put him in a t-shirt and hat of his own. There’s been a parade of visitors.

Every single part of this experience has been surreal.

(And I haven’t even gotten to Judah’s birth story, which involves everything from his out-of-state birth, Japanese flight attendants, olive oil and the most enthusiastic endorsement of FaceTime you’ll ever read.)

There has been little time to just come to a full stop and simply be with the notion that our son is really here, no matter how early. It’s in this quiet time tonight that the realization sinks in, that we see the long road that stretches ahead of us in three-hour increments, each feeding and vitals check bringing our son closer to coming home.

. . .

Before you can enter the NICU, you’ve gotta scrub up.

For three minutes, you must wash your hands with the soap-soaked sponge and brush, being sure to clean under each nail with the provided plastic pick. Just as we lay in bed, Larry and I have our sides at the two sinks, side-by-side at the entrance to the NICU. I stand to the right, Larry to the left. Sometimes we crack jokes. Most times, it’s just silence as the clock ticks each second of our three-minute ritual away.

In my head, I’m running through to-do list items: call George about the cats. Call the bank. Call the lactation consultant. Call the insurance company. Call the pediatrician. Respond to so-and-so’s email. Check Facebook. Schedule that blog post.

As I scrub the rough yellow soapy sponge on my horribly bruised arms from multiple failed IV sites from labor and delivery, I think to myself: “Pick up another tube of Aveeno hand lotion.” I look at my ragged, short-bitten nails and realize they’ve never been so clean in my entire life.

When you come out of the elevator onto the fourth floor, you can smell the soap from the scrub station as soon as you exit. Other patients probably don’t, but I bet you dollars to donuts that any parent with a child in the NICU could identify that smell blind-folded.

I jingle now. Watches, bracelets and rings all have to come off before scrubbing, so I wear my wedding band and engagement ring on the necklace Larry bought for me for my 30th birthday last year. As I instinctively touch these tokens of love around my neck before turning on the water, I realize my 30th birthday wish did in fact, come true: to be a mom in my 30th year.

We glance up at the clock and are almost always disappointed to see that there’s usually another full minute of scrubbing to go. I use the time as efficiently as I can, running through more mental checklists: get a pumping bustier, check to see what we still have left to get on the registry, what essentials do we need right now that we’ll have to return the duplicates of that are still in Massachusetts? The listing is endless in those three minutes.

We wave our wet hands in front of the touch-less towel dispensers, each machine playing an electronic tone that puts the two machines in a minor third harmony if we time our drying session just right. With damp elbows, we press the button on the wall to page the nurses’ desk.

“Mom and Dad here to see Judah,” we say, the same words every time.

The NICU doors swing toward us in grandiose fashion, like the entrance to the Emerald City, a yellow-brick road of babies born too soon. We pass beds and bays and ultraviolet bilirubin lamp-bathed isolettes. We say “hi” to the nurse on duty. I do a mental rerun of everything I just thought about during our three-minute scrubbing session: don’t forget to call the bank. Don’t forget to call the bank. Don’t forget to call the bank.

We arrive at the corner room, sun-drenched and warm and there, this tiny little acrylic box that our son calls home.

My memory is washed clean of anything else except his beautiful, perfect face, scrubbed bare of anything else but him.

This post originally appeared on The Infertility Voice.

Keiko Zoll

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Keiko is a mom and Red Tricycle editor. Fueled almost exclusively by Coke Zero and Nespresso, she is a textbook Gemini and her spirit animal is the octopus. Bylines include HuffPost, Romper, Disney Baby, Babble, Metro News International and others. Her favorite dinosaur is the parasaurolophus.

10 Fabulous Hostess Gifts Under $20 on Amazon Right Now

by Karly WoodNovember 7, 2018

The holidays are approaching and you’ll probably be attending more than a few soirees. Who wants to show up empty handed? Not us, and that’s why we’ve rounded up some gorgeous and inexpensive hostess gifts that will be sure to wow your friends. Shop this list and have your gifts in hand in two days, thanks to Amazon Prime!

Wood & Copper Salad Spoons

They say the best gifts are the ones you would never buy for yourself, even if it's as simple as something like wood and copper salad spoons ($20). This gorgeous set is made in India and is such a beautiful way to say thank you, especially if paired with a matching bowel or new cookbook.

Iceless Wine Cooler

Your hostess probably has tons of things going on, and that's why a gadget like the Prodyne Acrylic Iceless Wine Cooler ($17) will make their life easier. Whether they end up using it for the party you're attending or to keep their wine chilled throughout the week, this cooler works with a double-walled technology and without ice. No mess!

100% Pure Beeswax Taper Candles

Can you ever go wrong with a pair of candle sticks? No, especially when it comes to these beautiful hand-rolled 100% beeswax taper candles ($10). The honeycomb pattern means a dripless burn, and they are also non-toxic, lead free and are smokeless. Pair with a decent priced bottle of wine for the ultimate hostess gift.

Elegant Place Cards

Help your hostess have the mostess with a 50 pack of elegant place cards ($16) for the perfect table setting. Whether they use them for your party or for plenty of upcoming holiday get togethers, this holiday gift will definitely be useful this season.

Modern Pot & Planter

Perfect for herbs or succulents, this ceramic pot held in a geometric gold frame ($17) would look great on any hostesses desk or end table. Give the gift of greenery!

Marble Cheese Slicer

Hosting a party and cheese go hand in hand, so the next party you hit up, make sure you bring along these gorgeous marble cheese slicer ($16) for your hostess. The 5x8 marble slab is all natural and comes with two replacement wires for years of elegant slicing to come.

Luxurious Soaps

Help your hostess keep her bathroom stocked by giving the gift of luxurious hand soaps! This pack from Bali Soap is just $9 and not only gets the job done when it comes to hand washing, but looks gorgeous and smells amazing at the same time.

Family Time After-Dinner Conversation Starters

Help your hostess get the party started with a Family Time set ($8.95), that provides family-appropriate ice-breaker questions to get everyone talking. With 50 thoughtful questions about the past, present and future, everyone will get acquainted and have a good time, in no time.

Pretty Tea Towels

Every hostess can use a fresh set of tea towels and we can barely choose our favorite from Floursack ($13), which include plenty of neutrals and farmhouse-chic styles, but we think these flower ones are divine! They are made from 100% imported cotton and manufactured like the old vintage grain bags which also served as kitchen towels.

Chateau Spill Red Wine Remover

Hosting a get together almost always results in a mess somehow. Make cleanup for your hostess a breeze with the Chateau Spill Red Wine Remover ($7.95) that breaks down stains at the cellular level. It removes spills without peroxide, chlorine bleach, or phosphates and even works on set-in stains, like berry juice and makeup. It's also non-toxic and safe for washable items because it's colorfast

––Karly Wood

All Photos: Courtesy of Amazon

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These Wine Glasses Float in the Water & Stand in the Sand

by Shahrzad WarkentinJuly 17, 2017

photo: Odditymall

When you’re chasing kids around the beach or splashing with your family in the pool, you need your hands free, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on enjoying a tasty beverage. These awesome wine glasses can float and stake in the grass or sand, so you always have a place to put your drink when mom duty calls.

photo: Odditymall

The Beach Glass is an acrylic, shatter-proof glass meant for use outdoors. It features a spiked stem that allows it both to float in the water and easily be placed upright in the sand, grass or even snow, without worrying that it will topple over or spill. Instead of leaving your glass behind on a table and forgetting about it, you can easily enjoy your drink while you play with the kids on the beach or in your backyard.

photo: Odditymall

The Beach Glass comes in a variety of colors including, clear, teal, orange and sea green. It is BPA-free and dishwasher safe, because who has time to hand wash glasses. It’s available on Amazon starting at $9.99. Beach Glass also comes in a Caribbean-style, which looks more like a regular glass for cocktails or any beverage.

photo: Amazon.com

Could you use these glasses? Tell us in the comments below.

6 Phone to Frame Photo Apps Perfect for Busy Families

by Melissa HeckscherMay 1, 2017

If your household looks anything like ours, the best family photos are probably stuck on a device or floating around in the Cloud somewhere. It’s time to get those pictures off your phone and onto your walls. Nix pricey professional photo framing services and do it yourself with one of these user-friendly apps. Read on for the scoop.

photo: Keepsake

1. Keepsake
It will probably take you longer to get the kids to sit still for a family photo than it will to pick the perfect frame and click “order” on this easy-to-use photo framing app. Keepsake only offers photo framing and photo-to-canvas printing, which means you won’t have to worry about too many options confusing your agenda. Just choose your photo, adjust the filters and cropping dimensions, then preview it in a variety of tasteful frames (or canvases) to see what look best suits your image.

Cost: Frames are $25 and up, and shipping is free (within the U.S.).

Available from Google Play or iTunes, free.

photo: Brushstroke

2. Brushstroke
Do you want your latest, greatest shot to look more like a painting than a photo? With Brushstroke, you can turn photos into art on canvas with just a few clicks. Pick an art filter—styles aren’t attributed to specific artists, though most of the filters have a Monet or Van Gogh-style slant—then swipe left or right to change the saturation, density, and color of the image. Finally, sign your print, choose a product (poster, framed print, or canvas print), and click “Ship.”

Hint: If you’re not ready to put your work on the walls, you can still upload your creations to social media, e-mail, or instant message with the click of a button.

Cost: Products start at $26, and are printed via a partnership with CanvasPop.

Available from iTunes, $3.99.

photo: Mixtiles via Facebook

3. Mixtiles
Mixtiles is like the real-life equivalent of Instagram. This app takes your photos and turns them into adorable, stylish little squares you can stick to the walls as easy as you can slap a magnet on the refrigerator. The tiles adhere via four double-sided tape squares designed to come on and off your walls without damage, which allows you to easily move them around to suit your whims. Click on a whole slew of pictures, and you’ll have a ready-made tableau to dress up your walls in no time.

Cost: $49 for 3 tiles, $9 for each additional tile. Shipping is free.

Available from iTunes, free.

photo: Art.com via Facebook

4. Photos to Art
The coolest thing about the Photos to Art app is that it lets you superimpose your selected image onto your wall to get a sense of whether or not it’s worth printing in the first place. Upload photos directly from Instagram and Facebook, as well as from your phone’s camera roll. Then, choose from a slew of options for your finished product, including photos on metal, wood mounts, acrylic prints, canvas or framed prints.

Cost: Products start at $2 for small poster prints, $50.99 for framed prints.

Available from iTunes, free.

photo: Framebridge

5. Framebridge
Framebridge has one mission: To get your treasured things and favorite photos up on your walls. That means you won’t find any coasters, photo books, or tote bags here—only frames. Upload photos from your phone or Instagram account, choose from a selection of 40 styles and then let the team custom frame your piece. Not sure what frame style will look best with your piece? Framebridge’s design team will mock up some options for free. You can also do it yourself by choosing the size, matte, and frame style, with previews of your finished product every step of the way.

Good to know: Want to frame something other than photos? The Framebridge folks say they’ll frame anything, from your child’s artwork or kindergarten diploma to your baby’s baptism dress or first blanket.

Cost: Prices start at $39, and shipping is free.

Available from iTunes, free.

photo: Snapfish via Facebook

6. Snapfish
The advantage of choosing a heavy-hitter like Snapfish is the sheer number of options available, as well as a consistency that has garnered the site more than 40 million members over more than 15 years. Along with an assortment of gift-minded photo products (mugs, pillows, iPhone cases, etc.), you can put your prints onto several different sizes of canvas, including panoramic-sized canvases and wooden-framed canvases, and even metal wall panels. The app also offers four different styles of frames for various photo sizes.

Hint: Check the site regularly for a revolving door of discounts and seasonal specials; some offer as much as 60 percent off your order!

Available from iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Store, free.

Have you ever used a phone-to-frame app? Tell us about your experience in a Comment below.

— Melissa Heckscher

This DIY Mailbox Wins Our Stamp of Approval

by Melissa HeckscherJanuary 1, 2017

Is there anything more exciting to kids than a cardboard box? Yes: a cardboard box that’s been painted and lettered to look like their own personal mailbox! Read on for the super-easy instructions that’ll get your kids going totally postal… all in good fun, of course.

What you’ll need:

Cardboard Box

Pencil

Box cutter

Acrylic paint (we used blue) and paintbrush

Packing tape

Large letter stickers

Felt, velcro stickers, glue, and scissors (optional, for making “envelopes”)

Step 1: Tape up your box on all sides
Use packing tape to tape up your empty box so that all sides are solid and sturdy. Go ahead and give your little helpers some tape, too. They may not tape it on the right place, but they’ll have fun trying (and you’re going to paint over the whole thing anyway).

Step 2: Make some cuts
Use a pencil to make lines on your box where you’d like the mail slot, package slot, and mail retrieval slot (on the back end) to be. Then, use a box cutter (way easier than scissors — we tried!) to cut your box along the lines.

Step 3: Bring on the color!
Paint your mailbox. Several coats will probably be needed to cover the cardboard as well as hide any stickers, patterns, or writing. We wanted our mailbox to look just like the one on the street corner, so we opted for a few coats of royal blue; however, there are no rules! Want to go rainbows and polka dots? Go for it! You can even sprinkle glitter on the paint while it’s still drying if you want to make a “magical” sort of box (this might be a great way for the Tooth Fairy or any other, otherworldly friends to deliver gifts and trinkets to wishful kiddos).

Step 4: Add some stickers
When the paint is completely dry, use the letter stickers to label the “Letters” and “Packages” slots on the front of your mailbox. We also spelled out “MAIL” on both sides of our mailbox. If you want to get really formal, you could instead slap on a real U.S. Postal Service logo on the sides of your mailbox. You can find a large one to print here.

Note: It helps to use a ruler when you apply the letters, just so you get them all on a straight line.

Step 5: (Optional) Make some play “mail”
After my overeager little mail-sender crushed a few too many paper envelopes trying to squish letters into the mail slot, I realized it would be better to make a pliable envelope that she could easily stuff into the slots. To do this, take a piece of felt and fold it in half with one side extending longer than the other so it can be folded over to make an envelope shape. Use a hot glue gun (if you have one) to seal the sides of the envelope together; then, cut the overhanging “lip” to make a triangle(-ish) shape. Use Velcro stickers to fasten the letters shut.

Do your kids like to send letters? Share your mail-worthy ideas with us in the comments section below!

— All copy and photos by Melissa Heckscher

*This post was inspired by a similar mailbox craft project at Thisheartofmineblog.com.

Sweet Samba! How to Make a Brazilian Headdress

by Gabby CullenJuly 27, 2016

This summer, make the Olympics a cultural celebration; spend an afternoon working on a colorful and fun craft that puts the spotlight on one of Brazil’s most iconic events—Carnival. We’ve gathered the supplies to make a Brazilian headdress, which your budding Samba school tykes can wear during the opening ceremonies on August 5. Scroll down for the entire tutorial and remember—bigger and brighter is always better!

What You’ll Need

Costume Masks – we used these

Feathers – we used these

Gemstones – we used these

Paint – any tempera or acrylic with work

Glitter Glue – we used this in red

Hot Glue Gun or Elmer’s Glue

Spray Glitter (optional)

Paint the Mask

Get your kids set up with the materials and let them paint away. If they want to add designs with paint, be sure to wait until each coat is dry before beginning another

Decorate the Mask

Step One
Using either a hot glue gun (parental supervision is required) or Elmer’s glue, let your crafters embellish their headdresses with colorful jewels. During Carnival, Samba schools try to outshine each other with dazzling displays, so encourage your kids to add as much as they want!

Step Two
If you have glitter glue, this is the time to use it, either around the gemstones or as the glue for the gemstones—it’s up to your kids and their imaginations!

Step Three
Adding feathers can be tricky. Parents should help (or supervise older kids) with the hot glue gun. If you don’t have one, use tape to fasten the feathers to the back of the mask. Go with one color or make a colorful display with as many different feathers as possible. Afterwards, spray the feathers with spray glitter if you have it on hand.

Wear the Mask

After everything dries, it’s time to shake a tail feather.

Try it as a mask.

Then, try it as a headdress!

Have you ever made a Carnival-inspired craft? Share with us in a Comment below.

Images and copy by Gabby Cullen

Project inspired by Globescouts

Just Opened! Private Picassos Walk-In Art Studio

by Hanna NeierOctober 30, 2015

Like the idea of crafting with your child but hate the thought of paint and glitter all over your living room? Looking for a spot to send the kids on a school holiday? Thinking about an arty birthday party or enrolling your little creative dynamo in an art class? The new drop-in art studio Private Picassos is the place to do all of that and more. Read on for the scoop on this fresh maker space!

A Colorful Background

Private Picassos is the brain child of self-proclaimed “die-hard Brooklynite” Valeen Bhat, who believes, as Picasso himself once said, that “every child is an artist.” Ten years ago, Bhat started Private Picassos as a “mobile art studio” to bring fine art instruction to the public. She took it from a one-woman show to a company with over 20 instructors working throughout the tri-state area. Now, she is setting up shop in Brooklyn with her first permanent walk-in art studio where kids ages 18 months and up can explore and create art with everything from acrylic on canvas to felt, clay and string.

From artists to art educators, everyone on staff at Private Picassos has experience working with kids. Bhat, the daughter of a painter/muralist and a blacksmith, got her start with a BFA/MS in Art and Design Education at Brooklyn’s own Pratt Institute. A resident of the borough for the last 15 years, Bhat says opening up the Art Studio in Brooklyn feels like home.

photo: Private Picassos

Space to Create

Private Picassos has a relaxed, airy feel to it, with white walls and plenty of cool artsy goodies to check out. The space includes a large communal table for older kids, as well as a tots table for the very little ones. In addition, the studio is home to a popular large scale painting palette and an enormous chalkboard wall, as well as an assortment of fun kid books for little ones to peruse. (This place is serious about being family-friendly: you’ll even find stroller parking inside the studio.)

The shop is also stocked with a pretty sweet retail section that features the work of local artists and authors, Etsy vendors and other small businesses.

Make Art Together
You don’t need to be a member here, or even make a reservation to start creating. Just walk-in, choose a project and get started.

Although the sweet spot for drop-in artistry here seems to be the three- to six-year-old set, Private Picassos has something for the very youngest of tots — starting at 18 months — as well as older children, and even for you. (In fact, Picassos was developed with parents in mind; Bhat says that her idea was to make a space that was at once whimsical and sophisticated so that adults would be just as excited about making art with the kids as the kids themselves.)

Thinking Outside the Pot

While painting prefab figurines can be fun, you will not find any ceramic princesses to paint at Picassos. Instead, you and your kid can choose from a list of over 12 different art activities to create something truly unique and imaginative.

The genius of Private Picassos is that most of the activities offered are actually packaged DIY art kits that you can either purchase and use in the studio or take home to do at your leisure. (They also make really great gifts.) Each kit comes with all the materials you need, as well as a set of pointers such as, “how to mix your colors” or “how to plan out your composition.”

Staff members are there to help you tailor the activity of your choice to your kid’s age and ability level, so everyone can have a good time as well as learn a little bit about art. One popular activity kit, “Model Magic Sculptures”, utilizes a fun, playdough-like medium that eventually hardens like clay. Older kids can create very detailed sculptures, while younger ones can just enjoy exploring the new medium, while also working on their fine motor skills.

“Recycled Robots” is one of Picassos’ more popular art kits: kids can construct and decorate their very own robot pal from (you guessed it) recycled materials. Other kits include make your own stuffed animal, faux stained glass, acrylic on canvas and weaving.

photo: Private Picassos

Good to Know
All the materials used at Private Picassos (except for the acrylic on canvas) are washable, and long sleeve smocks are provided for messier projects. All activities are available and tailored to all age ranges with the exception of the acrylic on canvas which is recommended for ages three and up. The majority of the projects offered are priced at $20 or less, and no project is more than $40.

Arty Parties
Birthday parties, one of Private Picassos’ specialties, will be available in the new studio as well, with prices starting at $55 per child. Parties include a two-hour use of the studio, about half of which is a guided art activity for the birthday kid and 11 of his or her closest friends. Private Picassos teams up with local eateries and bakeshops to get you a discount on birthday party noshables, too.

On the Horizon

The studio will feature a new, special project each week; pumpkin painting is coming soon in honor of Halloween.

Starting in January, Private Picassos will be offering more structured classes, available as drop-in sessions or a 10-week semester. Classes currently listed cover everything from shapes and colors to contemporary artists of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. On the third Wednesday of every month, Private Picassos will also be hosting evening workshops for grown-ups. Make sure to keep tabs on their events calendar if you’re up for a more creative mom’s night out!

Private Picassos Art Studio
Open 7 days a week; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
237 5^th Ave.
Park Slope
718-215-0589
Online: privatepicassos.com

Know a great new space to get your art on? Let us know in the comments below!

— Hanna R. Neier

A Cowboy Hat You Can Easily Make at Home

by Gabby CullenSeptember 9, 2015

Your kids can’t get enough of cowboy boots, hobby horses, and Woody from Toy Story. After all, there’s just something about the Wild West that appeals to kids (no rules, perhaps?). Scroll down to find out how to make a cool cowboy hat that’s so simple, there’ll still be time to stop a showdown at the OK Corral before the afternoon is over.

What You’ll Need

1. 1 cereal box

2. 1 sheet aluminum foil

3. Black or brown paint (acrylic or tempera)

4. Twine or rope

5. Elmer’s Glue

6. Scissors

7. Sharpie Pen

8. Jewels (optional)

9. Paintbrush

Step 1: Create the Headwear

Using the cereal box, cut one long straight strip, one shorter strip that curves up at the end (for the perfect hat brim!) and one rectangle piece with a half-circle cut in the middle that will serve as the front of the hat.

Step 2. Give the Hat Color

Using a paint color of your choice, cover all three pieces. Adding an additional layer is fine, but one should do the trick.

Step 3: Create a Sheriff’s Star

Fold the sheet of aluminum foil in half (the double layer helps to prevent tearing), then cut out a star shape. Write the words “Sheriff” and if your kid loves a little sparkle, here’s where those jewels will come in handy. Place glue along the inside of the layers to increase the star’s strength!

Step 4: Assemble the Headgear

First glue the front of the hat to the long straight piece, then follow with the shorter, curved piece on top. Make sure the shorter strip is glued above the long straight piece, so if really looks like it is the brim of the hat.

Step 5: Add On All the Fixin’s

Glue a piece of twine to the edge of the hat brim and then glue on the Sheriff’s star.

Step 5: Bring on the Cowpokes

Have your little sheriff hold the long straight piece around her head, then staple together. Then grab your horses and lassos for hours of fun!

Why do you love the Wild West? Share with us in the comments below!

— Copy and photos by Gabby Cullen

Engage Your Senses at Seattle’s Newest Playground

by Natalia DottoMay 26, 2015

After nearly two years of planning and development, Seattle has a new playground that gives a whole new meaning to adventure time. Artists at Play, located in the Next 50 Plaza next to EMP, is an imaginative, artists-created outdoor playground designed for kids of all ages. With a 35-foot high climbing tower and kid-inspired musical instruments, listening stations and sound swings, kids (and grownups) can engage their senses through play.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

The Play Equipment
With the Experience Music Project as a backdrop and the Space Needle looming overhead, this new playground is nothing shy of eye-catching. But the first thing that sticks out is the huge climbing structure. At 35-feet high, we’re told it’s the tallest of its kind in North America. And while the climbing tower is sure to raise some parent’s blood pressure, there is netting around the outside of the tower and the suspended bridges. Parents, you know your kids best and if they’re afraid of heights you might want to head over to the music and art elements that are at ground level.

Two huge tube slides are bound to capture a few little dare devils’ attention. The long straight slide is 52-feet long; the curly slide is about 38-feet long, and neither are for the faint of heart. (Psst… Rumor has it that the curly slide is a little scary!). But to slide down, first kiddos have to climb up, either through a spider web of ropes or up that tall climbing tower. And then it’s a matter of crossing swaying bridges high above the ground. After that, it’s a hair-raising ride back down to terra firma. Or for those kiddos who aren’t afraid of heights, think of the view they get of EMP and the surrounding Seattle Center.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Engage Your Senses
Kids are sure to get a good workout clambering up and down the ropes and tower, but there is more to this playground. Two artists, Trimpin and Judith Caldwell, collaborated with Site Workshop and Highwire to design a playground built for the senses—think art and music as well as movement. The playful, interactive sculptures designed by Trimpin bring a kinetic and musical presence to the playground and the numerous bronze inlays created by Caldwell, a Pacific Northwest artist and Seattle native, interact with the sculptures, adding whimsical and functional elements to the pieces.

Art Elements
At the Letter Tree, seven letters correspond to seven musical notes. Music lovers of all ages can crank a wheel and hear the note.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

The Rain Stick is a tall yellow column. A crank moves a bar and an a playful acrylic form slides along, accompanied by the sound of rain.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Listening Stations are placed strategically around the park, so that parkgoers can stand between giant yellow earphones and listen to friends, or is that the Rain Stick?

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Tall yellow pipes containing billiard balls make up the Sound Fence. Pull on the billiard balls, or give them a swat and hear the different sounds.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

The Sound Swings allow little ones to swing on the sculpture. Get enough momentum going and the artwork on top creates movement and sounds. And with an ADA accessible swing, all children can take part in this musical ride.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

If your tots like to go around (and around!), you will find an ADA accessible merry-go-round, one of only a handful around the country, at this awe-inspiring playground.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Your little wanderer can also follow Story Lines throughout the park. The lines are painted on the ground with the words of children who were interviewed and asked their thoughts about sound and art. Follow each of the wavy Story Lines to discover a unique story of sound, motion and adventure, as imagined by children.

photo: Natalia Dotto Photography

Good to Know
There is a smaller play structure for the younger set. And while the bigger climbing tower and slides are recommended for children ages 5 and up, parents should use their own judgment as to how much of the playground their child can handle.

Seattle Center took advantage of the playground construction to upgrade the Next 50 Plaza with new landscaping, patios and terracing. A large saddle span tent provides plenty of shade for viewing and picnicking and new signage shares the story of the playground with visitors and provides information and instruction on interacting with the play elements.

Artists at Play Playground
Seattle Center – Next 50 Plaza
305 Harrison St.
Seattle, Wa 98109
Online: seattlecenter.com/news/detail.aspx?id=1932

What do you think of this new playground? Will your child be heading down those slides? How about you? Let us know in the Comments below.

— Natalia Dotto

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