3 Reasons Why The Block Set by Lovevery Is the Only One You’ll Need

by Whitney C. HarrisOctober 22, 2019

Building blocks are an absolutely essential plaything in every baby’s toy box. Aside from offering hours of child-directed fun, they do wonders for building spatial awareness, motor development, language and problem-solving skills. Read on to discover why Lovevery’s Block Set is only one you’ll need.

More than 20 ways to play and learn!
Expertly crafted for infinite play potential, The Block Set is both comprehensive and flexible in its design. The system consists of 70 wood pieces in a variety of shapes and a rainbow of beautiful hues. From cubes, planks, and geometric shapes, to solid wood people, wheels, and threading blocks, The Block Set has everything your child needs to grow into a lifelong learner.

The Lovevery Block Set is simple yet sophisticated with research-driven tools for your child’s developing brain. Babies, tots, and kids can stack, sort, roll, count and categorize while connecting the dots between basic concepts. What’s more, a stage-based guide packed with 20+ developmental activities and with clear and actionable instructions provides a logical map for inspiring learning through play.

Grows with your child
The Block Set by Lovevery is intended to become your family’s favorite box of open-ended amusement. The fun begins at 18 months when baby can use its modular features to discover cause and effect, gravity, and velocity. As your child grows, so does the potential for play. You might find your little one building a city, acting out a story, or challenging their creativity and confidence by physically engaging with the blocks. Watch your little one mix and match activities as they advance. When ready, your child can follow a sequence of steps and transform the set’s compact wooden storage box into a charming pull car.

The name of the game is experimentation with this set. And it lasts well beyond the first four years of your child’s development. Learning activities range to meet every stage of your child’s growth. The blocks are all made to last and crafted using 100% child-safe materials, including FSC-certified sustainably harvested wood with water-based non-toxic finishes.

Supports early childhood development
The magic of childhood is captured in this timeless toy set. In addition to being simply fun, it’s designed under the guiding principles of the Montessori method of teaching. Moreover, the Block Set can help little kids grasp STEM concepts like math, physics and engineering. Whether your child is leading their own play or following your lead, they can unknowingly be practicing everything from higher-order planning to hand-eye coordination.

Your child might start out examining and categorizing the blocks or fitting them together spatially. Then, engage in pattern play and explore connections. Next, you might overhear the wooden friends talking about feelings. Or spy your child investigating how things balance or topple over. Your child’s development and imagination may flourish as they create and learn.

Want to learn more? The Block Set makes a great gift and is available at lovevery.com for $90. Lovevery also has a subscription program of age-based Play Kits that are delivered by developmental stages and span from newborn to 24 months. Check them out!

—Whitney Harris

photos: Lovevery

A New “Pippi Longstocking” Movie Is in the Works with the Producer of “Harry Potter”

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 6, 2019

The one and only Princess of the South Seas is making her way to the big screen in a newly announced Pippi Longstocking movie.

David Heyman, the producer behind the Harry Potter franchise and most recently, Paddington, has just revealed his latest project––a feature film based on the classic children’s book Pippi Longstocking.

“Pippi has endured and inspired families everywhere through her life-force, strength of character and her irrepressible joie de vivre. Astrid Lindgren’s books have been translated around the globe for many years – a testament to her vision, which we are determined to honor with a new film,” Heyman told Variety.

Pippi was brought to life by beloved Swedish author Astrid Lindgren in 1945 and has since been featured in multiple books, short stories and films, including the 1988 movie The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking. The story of the red-haired, freckled girl who is strong enough to lift her own horse has been translated into 77 languages and her books have sold more than 65 million copies.

“In David Heyman, with his impressive track record of bringing great literary works to the screen, together with Studiocanal, we are confident that we have found a team that can understand and appreciate the full value of Pippi Longstocking and develop films that capture both the playfulness and the gravity in my grandmother’s works,” said Nils Nyman, Lindgren’s grandson and CEO of Astrid Lindgren Film.

No word yet on who will play the famous resident of Villa Villekula or when the movie will be released in theaters.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: IMDB

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Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Lunar Landing with a Dairy Queen Blizzard

by Erica LoopJune 26, 2019

Eat a DQ Blizzard in honor of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing! Dairy Queen is celebrating this major milestone with a crazy-cool colorful treat, and we’ve got the low-down on this summer sweet.

The Zero Gravity Blizzard is a space-age goody that comes with plenty of cosmic chill. Even though the official anniversary of the moon landing doesn’t happen until July, DQ has already added this magical pick to store menus.

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A post shared by Dairy Queen (@dairyqueen)

So what can you expect from the Blizzard? To start with, it defies gravity. But then again, all Blizzards do—or at least should. DQ fans may already know the upside down offer that comes with the ice cream retailer’s Blizzard treats. To prove just how much these treats defy gravity, DQ promises to serve your Blizzard upside down or the next one free (at participating locations only).

Along with its gravity-defying ways, this Blizzard comes with Oreo cookie pieces, cotton candy topping, iridescent blue and black swirls and galaxy sprinkles. And that’s all mixed in with DQ’s delish vanilla soft serve.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Dairy Queen

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10 Reasons Why Being Pregnant in San Diego Rocks

by Aimee Della BittaJanuary 11, 2017

You just found out you’re pregnant and you’re busy trying to navigate through the steady stream of emotions you feel daily. We want to make sure that exuberant joy and excitement are topping your list. Sure, you may feel slightly nauseous or a bit tired, but guess what? Being pregnant in America’s Finest City comes with tons of benefits. We’ve ten great reasons to make you feel lucky that you’re a mom-to-be living in San Diego.

Photo: Thomas Pompernigg via Flickr Creative Commons

1. Stay Healthy and Strong
Fitness-crazed San Diego certainly isn’t lacking when it comes to class exercise options, so it’s no surprise that our health conscious city offers specialized classes made specifically for pregnant women, like L.A.-based chain WundaBar Pilates. Also try one of the many maternity yoga classes offered at studios like Yoga Jai Mai and Hapa Yoga.

2. Capture the Moment
There are so many amazing photographers in San Diego to capture your pregnancy and then move right on into taking your family photos once baby arrives. Some of our favorites (and those who specialize in babies and birth photography) include Christy Wallis Photography, Captured By Carrie, and The Leo Loves.

3. Defy Gravity
If you haven’t noticed yet, growing a new life can really heat things up! You can find a slew of places to escape gravity and cool down. If the ocean isn’t your cup of tea, try one of the city’s many coves, lagoons, lakes, or pools and swim (or float!) until your heart’s content.

Photo: Beaming’s Facebook Page

4. Healthy Living Is Fully Embraced
Your maternal instinct kicks in as soon as you see that plus sign. Instantly you become acutely aware of what you’re putting into your body and you know that you want it to be healthy and fresh. From specialty places like Beaming with locations in Del Mar and La Jolla to weekly farmer’s markets throughout the county, you’ll have no problem finding healthy options for you and your growing baby.

5. Massage
Sharing your body with another human means that your body may need a little extra TLC every so often. Luckily there are plenty of places that specialize in pre-natal relaxation. Our favorites include Equilibrio Massage, Healing Kai and Holistic Zen.

6. It’s Almost Always 72 Degrees and Sunny
The pure fact that getting outdoors at any time of year is easy is a special treat we can’t take for granted. While many fellow Americans are faced with blustering cold weather in the winter months and humid sticky temps in the summer, San Diego offers moderate temps for the majority of the year.

Photo: Baby Mable’s

7. Dress Your Bump
Style that bump! Your body is changing and that means your old wardrobe will need a face-lift. Don’t panic! San Diego has plenty of shops that cater to moms-to-be, and the clothes are cute enough that you’ll want to keep wearing them post pregnancy. Baby Mablel’s in Solana Beach and Modish Maternity in La Jolla are just a few of the amazing maternity shops in San Diego county.

8. You Can Always Stop and Smell the Roses
Nine months of being pregnant helps prepare us for the reality that having a baby forces us to slow down. Luckily, there are plenty of beautiful places throughout San Diego county to stop and smell the roses. When days get stressful and you to clear your mind, check out The San Diego Botanical Garden, Balboa Park or The Waterfront Park Downtown.

Photo: Blush Desserts

9. Cravings? No Problem!
Pregnancy cravings are only a problem if they can’t be fulfilled and you won’t have any issues getting a sweet (or salty) fix in sunny San Diego. At some point you and baby may even want a cupcake for breakfast, so just head over to newly opened Blush Desserts on Convoy Street and indulge in a blueberry pancake cupcake with maple frosting and candied bacon! Can we say #beingpregnantinSanDeigoRocks?

10. San Diego’s Amazingly Supportive Community
The moms in San Diego are amazing. From the many online communities to the numerous opportunities to meet moms in person through classes, seminars, organized nights out and more; the parents here are incredible and just waiting to welcome you into the club of motherhood.

Do you have a San Diego “secret” that every pregnant mom should know? Tell us in the comments!

— Aimee Della Bitta

Prepare Yourself: Hulu Makes Largest Kids Programming Deal Ever!

by Red TricycleApril 16, 2016

Hulu announced an expansive new content licensing agreement with The Disney-ABC Television Group that will make full prior seasons of top rated kids titles from Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney X D available to stream on Hulu. The deal, which will bring over 500 episodes and more than 20 original movies from The Disney-ABC Television Group’s suite of networks to the Hulu Kids library, is the largest kids programming deal made between the two companies to date.

Through the agreement, Hulu will become the exclusive subscription video-on-demand home to a total of seven programs, including all past season episodes of the Disney Channel’s hit spy comedy K.C. Undercover starring Zendaya, as well as Disney XD’s highly-rated animated series Gravity Falls and Star vs. The Forces of Evil. Hulu also acquires the exclusive SVOD rights to all episodes of former Disney Channel series Dog With A Blog and Austin & Ally.

Which show are you excited to watch? Tell us in the comments below!

Just Opened! NYC’s Oldest Bridge Is Now Its Newest Park

by Cheryl de Jong-LambertJuly 6, 2015

“New” is a big buzz word in this town. We’re always hearing about new restaurants, new shows, new buildings — even the hot neighborhood on the rise. New parks, however, are few and far between. But in early June, the city opened a brand new park—the Highbridge. Stretching more than a quarter-mile across the Harlem River and Harlem River Drive, the structure from which the park gets its name connects more than just two boroughs, it also links visitors to New York City’s past. We headed uptown to give you the scoop on the new and improved spot.

photo: The All-Nite Images via Flickr

A Century-old Stroll

The oldest span still standing in New York City, the Highbridge was originally constructed from 1837 to 1848, and served as a Romanesque aqueduct carrying fresh water from the Croton Dam 41 miles north, to two reservoirs in Manhattan. Resting on a series of elegant stone archways, the 140 foot-high pipeline was an engineering marvel at the time, using gravity to pull water into the city.

Between 1861 and 1864, the bridge’s pipe system was expanded and a brick walkway was added to the top of the bridge, beckoning visitors from around the region to come and enjoy a scenic stroll; day trippers came by steamboat and streetcar to do just that. (A plaque on site depicts well-heeled pedestrians sporting top hats and parasols and a wooded countryside in the background.) In 1928, the narrow stone arches were replaced with a wide steel arc that was better-suited for the big barge traffic of the time.

By the 1960s, fashionable walks over the river were no longer in vogue, and the surrounding neighborhoods, like most throughout the city, were falling into decline. The pedestrian walkway was closed by 1970 — it was illegal to cross it — but revivalist talks began as early as the 1990s. By 2006, plans and funding were well underway to restore the Highbridge to its previous grandeur.

photo: Cheryl and William de Jong-Lambert

You Can See For Miles and Miles

Nine years of restoration and construction has resulted in an awesome experience that rivals a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge, The High Line or Walkway Over The Hudson. (You can learn about the improvements to the Highbridge here.) From the center of the span looking south, you can easily see the Freedom Tower, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and the New York Times building; looking north, you get a unique perspective on the incredible cloverleaf system that routes drivers around the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. From the uncommon vantage point, visitors can also observe that northern Manhattan is still a thickly-wooded and very steep escarpment, probably not too dissimilar from the landscape the area native Lenape Indians would have known.

Informational plaques along both sides of the bridge help give historical context to the bridge and the views, with events unfolding chronically when you walk from the Bronx toward Manhattan—the direction in which water once flowed.

photo: Cheryl and William de Jong-Lambert

How to Get There & What You’ll Find

Take the 1 train to the 168th Street/Washington Heights stop. If you have a stroller or toddler, you probably want to head southeast to 167th Street and Edgecombe Avenue where a ramp brings you through a series of basketball courts to a paved pathway along the Highbridge Park escarpment.

From the subway you can also head northeast to the park’s entrance at Amsterdam Avenue and 174th Street. Along the way, John B. Jervis’ 1872 Highbridge Water Tower will come into view on the horizon. Enter Highbridge Park near the park’s recreation center, where you’ll see a playground and massive pool complex on your left. Nearby you’ll find Water Tower Terrace, a shady, bench-lined promenade currently featuring an ingenious public art installation entitled Oh Sit!:15 Sculptors Consider the Chair. The Terrace leads to a very steep staircase that ends at a paved path that leads to the bridge. Breathtaking views await you!

The park surrounding the bridge itself is home to the aforementioned pools, playground and rec center, as well as popular biking trails, spots for barbecuing, basketball courts and athletic fields and a skate park.

Oh Sit! photo: The All-Nite Images via Flickr

Come Celebrate the Highbridge on July 25

The High Bridge will be hopping on July 25 from noon to 4 p.m. with the free High Bridge Festival. The celebratory festival will commemorate the re-opening of the iconic Highbridge with fun events including historical walking tours, outdoor fitness, public art, a scavenger hunt and more. That evening, a SummerStage concert featuring Jose Peña Suazo y La Banda Gorda will take place at 7:00 p.m.

photo: Cheryl and William de Jong-Lambert

High Bridge Park
W. 155 St. and Dyckman St., Edgecombe Ave. & Amsterdam Ave.
Daily, 7 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Online: nycgovparks.org

Have you visited Highbridge Park? Let us know what you thought in the comments!

—Cheryl de Jong-Lambert

Science & Math Meet Fun at Umbrella Tree’s Newest Classes

by Chelsea LinMarch 10, 2015

Bill Nye is clearly a smart man. But the Science Guy isn’t the only one who believes in educating our kids in the ways the world works—Umbrella Tree’s newest Little Engineers class aims to do just that. With different themes each week (think force, sound, measurement, gravity and light), budding engineers can experience the fun of science and math through hands-on games and experiments. Throw in a few take-home projects and your tykes will be making their own hypotheses before you can say inertia.

photo: Chelsea Lin

Class Act
Since the play space’s opening in December, Umbrella Tree has been experimenting with class offerings and special events: yoga, art, dance, and cooking, plus story time, mama nights, and more. The Little Engineers class came about organically, since co-owner Arlene Sargeant has a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering and worked in medical devices and healthcare technology before founding Umbrella Tree with Louise Books. She’s now a proud mama to three kiddos—three smart, curious kiddos who have their mom’s knack for math and science.

photo: Chelsea Lin

Finding Inspiration
Sargeant teaches the Little Engineers class for 2- and 3-year-olds, while Eric Ford—a University of Washington faculty with degrees from MIT and Columbia, and dad to twin boys—launched the class for 4- and 5-year-olds. “Our own kids are really the inspiration for doing the class,” Sargeant says. “We want to expose young kids as early as possible to science, and that has really been a lot of fun. While it’s great for kids to learn the basic science concepts covered in class, our goal is to show that science is fun and engaging, and it doesn’t require any fancy or special equipment. We try to use things we encounter in our daily, normal lives.”

photo: Chelsea Lin

Collecting Data
The class just finished its first four-week session, which covered lessons in force/pressure, sound, light, touch, body measurement, and gravity. Junior scientists who sign up for the second session, focusing on architecture, can expect hands-on activities—past experiments have utilized bottle rockets, body tracing, paper helicopters and race cars—that make more complicated principles easily digestible for inquisitive kids. The younger class is more play-based, while the older kids make their own hypotheses, and get some more advanced lessons from a certain wisecracking, super-engineering beaver puppet.

photo: Chelsea Lin

How to Get Started
If you’re interested in signing up, head on over to Umbrella Tree’s website, where you can register your curious kiddo for the next five-class series or individual drop-in dates. The classes will run on Saturdays and Wednesdays starting April 1; the class for 2- and 3-year-olds is 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. on Wednesdays, the class for 3- and 4-year-olds is 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. on Saturdays, and the class for 5- and 6-year-olds is 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m. on Saturdays. Due to a busy quarter at UW, Ford won’t be teaching Little Engineers this time around, though he will help develop the curriculum. Instead Architect Manika Bhagra, from the ARKKI – School of Architecture for Children & Youth in Finland, will be teaching this series.

Bonus
If you and your budding engineer would like to give this class a try, take advantage of the pre-series drop-in: March 21 & March 25 at the same times as the classes will be running.

Umbrella Tree
2111 Queen Anne Ave. N.
Seattle, Wa 98109
206-283-4552
Online: umbrella-tree.com
Facebook: facebook.com/UmbrellaTree

Hours: Mon., 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (open until 7 p.m. for Happy Hour Wed.); Sat., 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sun., closed for parties 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Cost: $22/drop-in class; $105 for 5-week series

Has your little one taken a class at Umbrella Tree? What other classes would you like to see offered? Let us know in the Comments below.

— Chelsea Lin

10 Addictive Alternatives to Minecraft

by Christal Y.October 21, 2014

Is your Minecraft genius looking for new maps to explore? Maybe they’re ready to take on virtual challenges that make them apply real-world concepts, like exploring gravity by tilting their iPad. Whether your players are looking for strategy-building games or problem-solving brainteasers, we’ve done the tech research for you. Scroll on to see which 10 creativity boosting games made our list.

photo: Adventure with Companions

Adventure with Companions
This simple app game takes place in an online world, where you place to build anything you want, from a cottage to a spaceship. Builders ages 4 and up will enjoy the ease of stacking with block-shaped cobblestones, trees, stones, glass and other materials. Need inspiration? Travel ’round to see what others have created, and even collaborate with them to make something new!

Recommended age: 6+
Download: $0.99 on iTunes, Google play, Amazon apps
Online: awcgame.com

photo: Monument Valley

Monument Valley
If you’ve seen any of M.C. Escher’s illusionist drawings, then the mind-bending puzzles of Monument Valley will look familiar to you. Go on a beautiful adventure, guiding a lost princess through architectural levels of rotating stairs, topsy-turvy buildings and 3D roads that challenge your perspective. The trial-and-error method of play makes Monument Valley skewed towards older kids, but with its soothing music and scary-free creatures, it can also be a story time opportunity for tots under five. Eventually they’ll even be able to play after watching you.

Recommended age: 7+; suitable for 5+ with parents’ help
Download: $3.99 on iTunes, Google play; $0.99 on Amazon apps
Online: monumentvalleygame.com

photo: Blek

Blek
Soothing music and minimalistic art makes Blek a calming gaming experience, no matter how challenging the level gets. Take your time to create lines that form moving patterns. The open-ended experience is similar to Minecraft in that doodlers are allowed to draw without restrictions, but still need to aim for the end goal (collect all the colored dots and avoid the black). Doodlers under five will be able to play the first 12 levels on their own before they’ll start asking for help.

Recommended age: 7+; suitable for 5+ with parents’ help
Download: $2.99 on iTunes, Google play, Amazon apps
Online: blekgame.com

photo: Windosill

Windosill
Made for your digi-tots aged 6-8, Windosill is a surreal 3D game engages your clicker’s penchant for tapping on everything. Explore 11 dream worlds by clicking and dragging the pictures to obtain objects and find the tiny box that acts as the door key. Windosill’s visual style looks picture-book easy, but the game explores physics concepts like motion and gravity (tilt your iPad to manipulate objects). In fact, when you visit the website, you’ll be jumping right into the game! Here’s our hint for the first level: Click on the light bulb and move the box above the door to open it and move through.

Recommended age: 5+
Download: First 4 level are free online; $2.99 for the full game.
Online: windosill.com

photo: Block Story

Block Story
If your gamer thrives off completing quests, living a story and playing with dragons, then Block Story is just right for them. Like Minecraft, Block Story players will collect resources, use blocks to build strongholds, and explore worlds. There’s no multiplayer aspect, but the medieval setting brings a lot of interesting characters for them to interact with.

Recommended age: 7+
Download: $2.99 on iTunes; $1.99 on Google play; $9.99 for PC
Online: blockstory.net

photo: Terraria

Terraria
Known as the 2D version of Minecraft, Terraria also has no storyline or ultimate objectives, leaving players to roam the world as they please. Kids need a real-world understanding of how objects are made, like how wood becomes shelter, or metal makes swords, in order to successfully create new inventory. There are also different enemies — from slime to zombies — to battle, but the game mostly focuses on exploration and creation.

Recommended age: 7+
Download: $4.99-$14.99 on iTunes, Google play, PC, Xbox
Online: terraria.org

photo: LEGO

LEGO Creator Islands
Bring your LEGO obsession into a virtual reality with LEGO Creator Islands. Assemble digital helicopters, homes and docks to help your Minifigures defend, rebuild and live on your island. Earn yellow bricks to unlock special models, build on more islands and strategize to keep your island protected. It’s the digital combination of our kiddos’ favorite toys, LEGO and Minecraft — what’s not to love?

Recommended age: 6+
Download: Free on iTunes, Google play
Online: lego.com

photo: Roblox

Roblox
With Roblox, your imagineer can create their own game and publish that world so that their friends can join in and play. Or jump into other user-created worlds where you can pretend to sell pies or battle each other in an arena. Complete activities to earn tickets as Roblox currency, or make in-game purchases for more advance builds. There are also plenty of regulations, such as a chat section for those under 13, that make it safe for children.

Recommended age: 8+
Download: Free on iTunes, Google play and online
Online: roblox.com

photo: My Dream

My Dream
For parents who aren’t keen on the spooky sounds and creepy monsters in Minecraft, give My Dream a trial run. Created by a mom who wanted to give her players a less intense experience, this game maintains all the creativity, collaboration and strategy aspects that Minecraft has, but in a more peaceful way. Fighting is designated to specific areas, so players can avoid violence by opting not to enter the arena. It’s currently in Beta mode, but you can test-drive the game before it’s released in 2015.

Recommended age: 6+
Download: Free Beta download for PC and MAC; $10 pre-order for beta and full game
Online: mydream.com

photo: Eufloria

Eufloria
Get sent into space to discover new environmental habitats, ancient artifacts and asteroids in a world that looks like it popped out of classic fairytale “The Little Prince.” Instead of using people, Eufloria features plants and seedlings as your characters. Engage in plant-on-plant battles to claim new asteroids. Gameplay is in real time, and can range from difficult to casual (you may need to help your kiddos out in the beginning as the instructions must be read), but that all depends on how your explorer wants to play.

Recommended age: 7+; suitable for 5+ with parents’ help
Download:$2.99 on Blackberry; $4.99 on iTunes, Google play; $14.99 for PC, Mac and Linux
Online: eufloria-game.com

What other games do your kids like to play? Let us know in the Comments below!

— Christal Yuen

How to Make Water Float with Just Three Supplies

by Christal Y.May 21, 2014

Can you make water float? We bet you can. No, you don’t need to be a wizard or a witch. You don’t need to cast a spell. There’s nothing magic about it at all, in fact. You can make water float using good, ol’ fashioned, awesome science. The “trick” to this experiment is air pressure.

In this experiment, you’re basically going to pour water in a glass, put a slip of paper over the glass, turn the glass upside down, and watch as air pressure keeps the paper in place—and the water “floating” in the glass.

If you want to get really deep into this experiment, you can try to increase the amount of water each time. Or keep the same amount of water and decrease the size of your paper. Or go ahead and get a bucket and some cardboard and see if that will work. Fun times on a summer day for sure.

Here’s Why It Works
Air abounds. It’s everywhere. We breathe it, walk through it, jump against it. But air is almost constantly at war with, well, everything—even itself. We experience weather and wind because different stacks of air press against each other, pushing the layers in different directions.

That gentle breeze? That hurricane gust? That’s air at war with itself.

Where there’s air, there’s air pressure. It’s what makes airplanes fly and keeps your car tires rolling nimbly down the road. Or, in this case, it’s what makes water float.

In the first part of the experiment your lab partner will simply pour water out of a glass and watch gravity pull the water down and into the sink. The water fell. Surprise, surprise. You knew that was going to happen.

Ahh, but enter air pressure—the force that bests gravity in this experiment.

In the next part of the experiment—when you’ll add a card to the top of the glass and then turn the glass upside down—the air pressure under the glass presses up against the card, creating a force strong enough to cancel out the effects of gravity and keep the water in the glass. Like I said, air pressure is everywhere.

Here’s What You Need

A small glass of water
A sink or bathtub over which to do this experiment. Or just go outside. Or do it over the kitchen floor if you’re really daring (and willing to clean). Up to you.
An index card or piece of construction paper large enough to cover the opening of the glass

Here’s What You Do
1. Fill the glass with as much water as you’d like. No need to be precise. Now have your lab partner turn the glass upside down, or maybe over her head on a hot day. That’s right. Go for it. See what happens. The water pours out, right?

2. Now let your junior mad scientist fill the glass again. No need to measure, although for this part, the more you add, the more difficult the experiment becomes. Maybe start half full and go from there.

3. Now that you have a half-filled glass of water, have your lab partner put a card or paper on top of it and press down firmly, while rotating the cup until it’s upside down. Now, have your lab partner remove her hand, leaving the piece of paper in place. Did it work? Did the water remain in the glass? If this doesn’t work for you right away, try a larger piece of paper, or less water and watch as the water stays in place.

Want More?
The faster an air particle is moving, the lower its pressure. It basically doesn’t have time to exert force. Here’s a fun party trick to test it out: The next time you have some helium balloons on hand, hold two of them by the strings until both are at eye level and about 6 inches apart from each other. Now blow hard in the space between them. Notice how the balloons touch? By blowing, you just decreased the air pressure between them so that the air pressure around the balloons forces them together. Air. At. War.

Did you make water float? Tell us in the comment section below!

Mike Adamick is a stay at home dad and author of Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects (Adams Media, 2013). He also writes for the Adventures in Learning science blog at PBS.org, and many other sites. You can find a copy of his book for $13.59 on Amazon.com.

SkyView: What You Need to Know About Atlanta’s Ferris Wheel

by Phebe WahlJuly 30, 2013

The largest portable ferris wheel in the United States (it’s nearly 20 stories high), SkyView provides riders with magical city views coupled with a birds-eye view of whatever is going on at Centennial Olympic Park—which during the holidays means lots and lots and lots of twinkling lights. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Photo: SkyView Atlanta via Facebook

What to Expect Since SkyView is still so new, you might expect to wait a little while (generally no more than 20 minutes after you’ve bought your tickets) before boarding your gondola. Although outdoors, the waiting area is covered and has several fans aimed at the line. A photographer is on hand to capture your “before” image as you wait in line, which you can purchase with it’s digitally re-mastered background after you exit the ride. Each air-conditioned gondola is filled with only people in your party (unless someone is riding alone, in which case individuals are put into a gondola with another party), and can accommodate up to six people. Inside the gondola are two benches that face each other, and the view on the way up is to the West, while your view on the way down faces East. During your initial rotation you will likely stop several times as they continue to load the wheel, but then on your second, third, and fourth rotations you’ll be rolling with few interruptions. The entire trip once your securely tucked into your gondola takes about 15 minutes. Where to Go Located near the intersection of Luckie Street and Centennial Olympic Park, SkyView is easily accessible from either the Interstate or any major in-town artery. You can find it just South of Centennial Olympic Park (near the water fountains), and there is parking in an unattended lot immediately next to the ferris wheel (plan on paying $10 to park in the lot closest to the wheel, or $5 to park a few blocks away). Making a day of downtown? Park at the deck for the Aquarium and the World of Coke, and leave your car there all day until you and your crew of exhausted littles scream “Uncle!” and head towards home. TIP: In the event that you do decide to hit one of the other attractions downtown (see our article on the Coolest Month Ever to decide among the Children’s Museum, the World of Coke, and the Aquarium), be sure to head to SkyView first. A moderately long walk from the Aquarium/ World of Coke parking lot will be much better tolerated on the front end of your day than on the back end. When to Go SkyView is open 7 days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and from 10:00 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, SkyView opens at noon and closes at 10:00 p.m. TIP: Since it’s summer and absolutely none of our kids are staying up until dark since that would be waaaay after bedtime (wink, wink), a daytime trip to SkyView is best made any time from 10:00 a.m. until about 5:00 p.m. The crowds are thinner, the lines are shorter, and if you go in the morning, the heat is less stifling. Be aware, however, that they’ll shut the whole thing down if it’s lightning (as those are some fireworks nobody wants to see up close). What to Take Since we’re parents, the idea of specifying what to take to an attraction like this is a little redundant. We’ve got our emergency kits filled with changes of clothes, diapers, drinks, and snacks pretty well figured out. However, since SkyView currently has no restroom options beyond the port-a-potty at the back of the lot, be sure to empty bladders before you go and bring your hand sanitizer in case you must go where no mother wants to go with kids. The nearest concessions are in Centennial Park, so certainly bring water. And, since the ride will rock their world (bring your camera!) and they will not want to leave, it might not be a bad idea to sneak a few dum-dums into the side pocket of your bag. We’re just keeping it real. What Not to Take Basically, don’t take anything you wouldn’t take to the airport, and also be sure to leave Fido at home (as if any sane mom would tote all her kids downtown plus the pooch). If you’re doing a strategic strike on the ferris wheel alone and don’t plan to hit any of the other downtown attractions, you may not need a stroller, depending on the number of kids you have in tow (strollers aren’t allowed in the gondola, but there is a stroller parking area located near the base of the wheel).

What Else Being one of the first to experience Atlanta’s newest attractions is pretty cool, but if your pack is super posh, you can purchase tickets to the VIP gondola, replete with leather seats, tinted windows, a glass floor, and no waiting in line. For the birthday planners out there, email SkyView’s dedicated event coordinator to begin brainstorming together on the best birthday party ever. Why to Go While a trip into the heart of downtown can sometimes present a challenge (one way streets, construction, or events that we’ve never even heard about that attract thousands of people to a six square block area and catch us by surprise), SkyView is worth the effort. Does Superman fly? Yes. Does Spiderman defy gravity? Yes. Can your kid (and you) feel like a Superhero as you slice through the sky on a giant ferris wheel? Absolutely. Go. Be a Superhero. Details: SkyView Atlanta, 168 Luckie Street NW, Atlanta, Ga 30303, Adults $14.45, Seniors and Military $13.00, Children 3 and older $9.10, Children 2 and younger free What do you think of Atlanta’s new ferris wheel? Tell us below! –Shelley Massey All photos courtesy of the author

ML Interest Tag: gravity

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