Always dreamed of visiting Central Perk? Now you can build your own with the new LEGO Ideas Central Perk set.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Friends, LEGO is releasing a brand new set that allows brick builders of all ages to recreate the iconic coffee shop where Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Joey and Phoebe spent so many hours chatting over their java.
Designed to look like a TV set filming the series, the incredibly detailed cafe features the seating area with a couch, armchair and two chairs, as well as the coffee counter and Phoebe’s stage where she famously performed “Smelly Cat,” among other gems.
The set comes packed with seven new minifigures including Ross Geller, Rachel Green, Chandler Bing, Monica Geller, Joey Tribbiani, Phoebe Buffay and Central Perk manager, Gunther.
There are also tons of accessories adding to the authenticity, like Joey’s pizza box and “man bag,” Rachel’s tray and coffee cup, Monica’s muffin and Phoebe’s guitar.
The new LEGO Ideas Central Perk set is priced at $59.99 and will be available in stores and online starting Sep. 1.
Decades after its 1996 debut, Blue’s Clues is back with a new name and a new host! Forget about the nostalgia factor, Blue’s Clues and You will entertain and educate your littles in a totally new way.
So what can your preschooler expect from Nickelodeon’s new show? In a world of so-so reboots, Blue’s newest adventures stand out with new CG-animation and so much more.
Along with the new name, Blue’s Clues and You comes with a host who (according to the show’s backstory) is former faves Steve and Joe’s cousin. Josh, who is played by Broadway actor Joshua Dela Cruz, brings the world of the playful pup to an entirely new audience.
Even though the look, the host, the name and the animation are different, fans of the Nick staple may notice some similarities between the various versions of Blue’s Clues. Look for beloved characters such as Tickety Tock, Slippery Soap, Shovel, Pail, Mr. Salt, Mrs. Pepper, Cinnamon, Paprika, Magenta, Sidetable Drawer, Mailbox and the original Thinking Chair. Your preschooler will also meet an updated Handy Dandy Notebook and Josh’s new Handy Dandy Guitar.
Blue’s Clues and You debuts on Nick Jr. next November!
A is for Awesome, and A is for April. So why not read some awesome new books for kids this month? We’ve rounded up a shortlist of our favorites that are fresh off the presses.
Three New Indestructibles Titles
Babies put everything in their mouths and even the most sturdy board books can fall prey to a toddler's destruction. New this month is three titles from the popular Indestructibles series: The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Row, Row, Row Your Boatall by Amy Pixton and illustrated by Maddie Frost. All of these books are chew proof, rip proof, nontoxic, 100% washable and are super thin and light so they make for great reads to throw in your diaper bag.
Each book in this charming board book series follows a vehicle on its journey, introducing new readers to a host of words. Die-cut pages mean there's an interactive component, engaging those chubby little fingers in the story. This charming board book and its companion,Look, There's a Tractor (both out this April) are wonderfully illustrated by Dutch artist, Esther Arts.
Little Maisy mouse is back again, this time with a wonderful board book designed to boost your kiddos vocabulary. Lucy Cousins' classic illustrations are enhanced by this tabbed board book: there are tabs with images like fish, an apple, a moon that kids can use to open the book to a page all about that theme (the moon leads to bedtime words, for example). We also loved Maisy's Day Out, just released in April as well.
This picture-book prequel to the beloved Mercy Watson chapter book series by Kate DiCamillo (and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen) brings us right to the doorstep of the Watsons and tells the hilarious origins of that porcine wonder, Mercy, in full-color illustrations. The perfect introduction to the series, but even older readers will appreciate the origin tale. Available April 2.
From the wonder-twins who brought you Dragons Love Tacos and RoboSauce (and many other epic books), author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri have teamed up again for High Five. Discover the fine, lost art of high five-ing. From hand-limbering stretches to lessons on five-ing with finesse, readers are guided through a series of interactive challenges, each goofier than the next!
Dave Eggers is at it again with his newest release for kiddos ages 3-5, Tomorrow Most Likely. Publishing this month from Chronicle Books, this new read illustrated by Lane Smith reinvents the classic bedtime book. Instead of focusing on what happened that day, the little boy protagonist focuses on the future and imagines all the fun, dreamy and whimsical things that might happen tomorrow.
Fans of Richard Scarry will appreciate the lively details of this Mexican-American story by award-winning illustration Raúl the Third. This bilingual book teaches kids new words in Spanish while traveling through the bustling, border-town marketplace. Inspired by the author-illustrator's own life growing up between El Paso, Texas and Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, this exciting new book is a must-read for April and beyond. On sale Apr. 2.
Linda Sue Park's new book Gondra's Treasure introduces young readers to the differences between dragons of the East and dragons of the West, but it also teaches a sweet lesson in how differences can come together to make something even greater than caverns of gold and shining pearls. Illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt.
One dad faces the ultimate challenge: convincing his daughter that the weed on his perfectly manicured lawn must go. From trying to snip the dandelion at naptime to sneaking behind his daughter's back when he thinks she's not looking, Dad does everything to try to convince his daughter, Sweetie that the dandelion (which she lovingly names Charlotte) is not fit for his perfect yard. Find out what happens in this endearing and funny tale from Ame Dyckman and illustrator Charles Santoso in this book debuting this month.
Beloved author Lemony Snicket teams up with Rilla Alexander for a brightly illustrated romp through one little boy's town as he mischievously chucks tomatoes and is followed by a swarm of bees. In spite of the funny, colorful tale it's really about feeling anger and other emotions, and figuring out where to put it.
A STEAM-based picture book that teaches kids about global warming and and environmental distress in a gentle, positive way? Yes, please! Beautifully illustrated by Soyeon Kim, Elin Kelsey's You Are Never Alone encourages questions, discussion and empathy for the beautiful, natural word around us. From the healing power of plants to the life cycles of the ocean, it's poetic learning at its best. Highly recommended. Available Apr. 15.
Kim Tomsic's Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid-Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World, illustrated by Brett Heiquist gives a detailed account of how Les Paul became the father of the modern electric guitar. Kids will appreciate the inventiveness of Paul even as a child, and parents will appreciate the historical significance of this great inventor.
Meet Georgia. She’s a budding scientist in a family of artists, and they all have an idea of how she can conduct her experiments. At first, Georgia doesn’t want their “silly imaginative ideas,” but after an afternoon spent trying to discover something new (and failing to re-create things that have already been proven as true), she realizes that sometimes, in order to be a scientist, you must think creatively. Accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by author Zoe Persico, this book is a perfect fit for any spunky kid who’s creatively curious.
Carter Higgins' Bikes for Sale tells the story of two busy bike-riders whose accidental collision sets them up for a big success. It's not just about bikes, it's about friendship. "They were new once. And then, they weren't." Brightly illustrated by Zachariah OHora.
This debut novel from fifth-grade teacher and award-winning poet Sandy Stark-McGinnis tells the story of an eleven-year-old foster girl named December who is placed in a home with a woman who cares for injured birds. The story of heartbreak, hope and an unlikely home is one parents will love reading with the kids, too. Available Apr. 30.
The second in a new series: The Falcon’s Feather follows three pre-teens: Cruz, Sailor and Emmett, as they set off on their first around-the-world adventure in hopes of discovering more about the important puzzle that 12-year-old Cruz’s mother left for him. Follow the kids as they set sail for Iceland and Norway, explore the ocean via underwater dives and yes, end up with more of a mystery!
A.M. Morgan's new novel, a sequel to The Inventors at No 8, is part steampunk adventure, part royal drama and a whole lot of invention. George (the 3rd Lord of Devonshire) might be the unluckiest boy in London, and things aren't getting any better when his new next door neighbor turns out to be a nefarious foe. But thanks to Ada Byron, the future Countess of Lovelace, George manages to stay one step ahead. Available Apr. 2.
This graphic novel is filled with vivid illustrations that follow the mischievous Hermes: messenger of the Gods. Illustrated by Caldecott Medal-winner Mordicai Gerstein, read all about how Hermes steals his brother Apollo’s cows, tricks a turtle into giving up his shell and even gives humans common sense. A delightful way to introduce kids to Greek Mythology.
Four friends from four very different ends of the world have something in common: they love computers, coding, hacking and gaming. John, Slack, Akane and Salome, all age 12, have something else in common, too: technically, they're all dead. When they discover that the Wolf's Den in Alaska isn't just a top-secret school for coders, but actually a dangerous project in disguise, the four ghostly pals must work together to save the living kids. Written by I. I Davidson. Available Apr. 16.
Fine motor skills are skills that involve the fingers and hands. Because we use our hands for most activities, well-developed fine motor skills are very important. Kids with good fine motor skills will have an easier time being independent in self-care activities, such as getting dressed and eating. They are more likely to be successful in educational activities such as puzzles and writing. Additionally, better fine motor skills lead to more play opportunities as fine motor skills are required for building and playing catch.
Whether you feel your child needs some extra assistance to build up his fine motor skills or you just want to give your child some extra fine motor practice, you may want to sign them up for activities and classes that will work on these skills. Classes provide fun opportunities for your child to improve his skills in a way that he does not feel like he is doing work.
Here are the top class types to help your kiddo refine their fine motor skills.
Art Classes
Arts and crafts always require fine motor skills, whether your child is painting, drawing, cutting or sculpting. These activities work on a variety of fine motor skills, including hand strengthening, finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
When your child is engaged in an art project he is practicing gripping different tools and manipulating objects, all while having so much fun he doesn’t even notice the hard work he’s putting in!
Music Classes
Music classes are another great way to work on these skills. Instruments are all controlled by hands and many instruments require very advanced fine motor skills. Music classes involving shakers, drums and bells are wonderful opportunities for infants and young toddlers to practice grasping, banging and moving in a coordinated manner to a rhythm.
Learning to play instruments such as the piano and guitar provide older children with opportunities to strengthen the intrinsic muscles of their hand and practice finger isolation or using each of their fingers separately.
Gym Classes
While gym classes that include activities such as crawling, climbing and throwing may not seem related to fine motor skills, all of those activities are beneficial for their development. Crawling and climbing are important for strengthening all upper body muscles, which each play a part in fine motor activities. Throwing requires advanced motor planning and hand-eye coordination which are also essential for fine motor activities.
Gym classes provide a good opportunity to work on fine motor skills for children who do not enjoy tabletop activities like arts and crafts, which is important because these children are often the ones who benefit the most from fine motor skill development.
GoBambino helps parents book discover and book kids activities, lessons, classes, camps and workshops. Stress-free and commitment-free iWe built GoBambino to simplify (ever-so-slightly) the chaotic lives of today’s moms and dads.
Everyone’s favorite time-traveling dudes are officially coming back! A Bill & Ted 3 movie is in the works and this news is most excellent.
Give your air guitar skills a workout because Bill and Ted are headed back to the big screen for more historical hijinks. Of course, after this many years, actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter aren’t exactly teens anymore—which means the plot will be a little but different. Bill and Ted are all grown up, but their friendship remains the same.
According to a press release, Bill & Ted 3 Face the Music will pick up years later when the now middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure. Their new journey begins “when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it and bring harmony to the universe.”
You can be sure there will be some familiar faces along the way as the release promises that they’ll be joined by a few music legends.
Bill & Ted 3 Face the Music hits theaters next summer on Aug. 21, 2020.
Music was the first way we actually communicated with our children. While pregnant, I could feel them moving differently based on whether I was playing guitar or my husband was playing piano. When we sang, that changed things, too. I found that they tended to slow down their movements in the womb if I began to sing and often moved around even more as my husband sang, almost like they were looking for him. Unless it was night time…when I got into bed each night, my husband would sing a lullaby right next to my belly and all movement settled.
During my first pregnancy, I fell. I was about 24 weeks along, so the lack of movement after my fall was disconcerting, to say the least. After doctor phone calls and several hours with nothing, I was getting ready to call the doctor back when I decided to pull out my guitar. Gently strumming, clear vibrations at my belly, I began to sing one of our family favorites and soon enough he was dancing along.
My first delivery was via unexpected c-section, so my husband was the first one to hold our son. The moment he began to sing, Zeke stopped crying and just stared at his dad. It was incredibly powerful. I’m certain he recognized the voice and the song.
They loved music and it was an avenue for them to learn so much—balance, sharing and turn taking, emotional expression, language (spoken and signed)—at 10 months when Zeke’s mobile stopped playing, he signed “More music.”
There was such awe and beauty and intense love being a new mom. But we all know it’s also a constant challenge to be a parent. I had to keep them healthy and safe and dressed and eventually have them ready for college… (Okay, baby steps…!)
Having an active toddler while pregnant was exhausting at times, but Zeke took after his dad and often sang to Ossian in utero—I wish I had video of that, but I can still hear his sweet voice! Bedtime wasn’t ever easy—both my boys nursed to sleep and then still often needed to be held in order for successful separation—gradual separation—sound asleep separation…
And they didn’t always want our songs. We thought Zeke was enthusiastically applauding us one night—or asking for more—before we realized it was actually his emphatic sign for ‘stop!’
Our boys are both musicians—just for fun; one plays guitar and one plays drums. We jam as a family now and then, but mostly they play on their own or with friends. Our focus has shifted from diapers to boxers, from toddlers to teens and from home life to college. Spoiler alert—it gets harder as they get older. Yet it’s also exciting and rewarding, even when you wonder how your adorable, affectionate, soft little angel has become hairy and muscular and rude.
But when I can’t think of anything else they’d want to talk about (I’m not always up to date with sports statistics and such), we can always talk about music. It was, after all, our first means of communicating and will somehow remain essential to each of us in our journey together and apart.
Lora Heller is a music therapist, Deaf educator, and author of several sign language books for kids. She has also written for music therapy professional publications and national parenting magazines and is the on-line expert for various parenting programs including ParentsTV.com baby sign language videoseries. Lora founded Baby Fingers in 2000. www.mybabyfingers.com
Getting your littles to go to sleep is never fun. That is, unless you’re celeb mama Pink. Ever wondered how Pink puts her kids to bed? The mom of two recently shared her own (totally rad) bedtime ritual on Instagram.
When it comes to bedtime routines, some parents are all about lullabies. Others prefer quiet-time. Pink doesn’t seem to subscribe to either of those ideas. Nope—not in the least!
In a recent IG video, Pink accompanies daughter Willow, 7, and son Jameson, 2, on the drum. As the musical mama pounds a hearty beat, her tot accompanies lead singer and big sis Willow on guitar.
And what is Willow’s musical choice du jour? If your first guess is a Pink pop song, think again. The seven-year-old karaokes her bedtime away to none other than Katy Perry—well, sort of . Instead of the sweet pop tune, super-creative Willow gives her own take on one of Perry’s hits—adding a surprisingly adorable death metal-ish style that’s all her own.
Along with the simple caption “bedtime.” Pink also adds the hashtags #deathmetalisadyingart and #katyperrydeathmetalroar to her Instagram video clip post. Yep, that pretty much sums it all up!
If you’re struggling to finish off that Christmas list, why not pick up some last-minute gifts at Whole Foods? PBS Kids has partnered with Whole Foods Market to offer an exclusive line of toys that foster imaginative and active play by exploring concepts like sorting, shapes and colors––and they can only be found at your local Whole Foods!
The new line features over a dozen toys, ranging from wooden toys, fun matching games and the debut of new plush animals. Even more importantly, 100 percent of the net proceeds from all toys purchased will support PBS KIDS’ mission to empower children to succeed in school and in life. Check out our top ten picks!
100 Piece Wood Blocks Set
Let their imagination run free with this simple 100 piece wooden block set. It includes eight different shapes and is great for kiddos ages one and up. This classic toy never goes out of style.
Train Set with Camp Site
This adorable train set includes 14 track pieces, three magnetic train pieces, and five campsite objects for pretend play. It's great for ages three and older, and is compatible with similar style and sized train sets.
Alphabet Blocks
Great for kids as young as one, or for older littles learning their alphabet, this 26-cube block set with letters and bright graphics for A to Z is a great option for a gift this year.
City Puzzle
Young puzzlers will adore this six-piece puzzle set! Not only does it make for great fine motor skill enhancement, but the pieces also stand up on their own for pretend play.
Watermelon Drum
Making music never looked so sweet! This adorable watermelon drum comes with drumsticks and is perfectly sized for your young musicians.
Avocado Castanets
Kiddos can make some merry music with this adorable set of avocado castanets! For ages two and older, simple hold them in your hands and click together for some fun tunes.
Guitar
Strum some sweet tunes on this mini guitar this holiday. The whimsical coloring makes this instrument fun for any age.
Robot Wrangler Matching Game
Corraling robots is the game! Group by color or type and the first player to empty their hand wins! This game is great for kids three and older and for two to four players.
Wheels and Squeals Matching Game
Oink, oink! Watch out for pigs as you build a road by matching the vehicles on the cards in this game. Great for two to four players and ages four and up.
100 Piece Farm Search & Find Puzzle
After kids put together this 100-piece puzzle that measures 11 x 15 inches, they can start searching for 24 sets of different farm animals and objects!
Your wanna-be B.B. King keeps creating riffs while your little Quest Love is keeping the beat. Good news! Your kids love music as much as you do, and they aren’t the only ones tuning in. From a musical prodigy to a second grader whose lyrics really flow, flip through our album below to check out a group of incredible (and musical) kids that move to the beat of their own drum.
Malachi Samedy
When Malachi Samedy was 18 months old, his father gave him a set of drumsticks and a drum pad. At age two, Malachi got his first “real” drum set and at age four, when it was clear that he had a real talent, Malachi was accepted into Mark Murphy’s School of Music in New Jersey. Considered to be a musical child prodigy—having learned and mastered music three times faster than kids twice his age at Mark Murphy’s—he also studies composition, Classical Piano and Big Band at The Thurnauer School of music while using his gift to make the world a better place. As his father Nasser Samedy says “He’s a giving soul. He has a huge heart.”
At age six, Malachi performed with grammy-award winning musician Roy Wooten in the Sending Our Love to Haiti benefit concert. At the age of seven, he was selected by CNBC to be a featured artist at the Night of Hope benefit. In 2016 he was selected to be one of over two thousand kids from around the world to perform at the World Children’s Festival on the White House lawn—he sang the Star Spangled Banner and rocked out on the drums. Last year, Malachi was also a featured performer in Season One of Little Big Shots with Steve Harvey.
Malachi was one of the original members of the smash-hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, School of Rock. He was able to work with Webber one-on-one, and attend the workshop held prior to the musical's Broadway opening. Nowadays he writes songs and practices piano, drums, and guitar for a few hours every day. He still takes lessons, and has had the good fortune to call master-drummer Billy Cobham a mentor. His father says “It’s been an amazing ride, but kids are only ‘kids’ for a little while. We want him to be able to enjoy that time.”
When Malachi isn’t playing or working with musicians or producers, he goes to school, spends time with family, rides bikes, plays Little Big Planet, and does other normal kids stuff. We’ve got a feeling you’ll be seeing a lot more from Malachi Samedy. He hopes to attend Juilliard School in New York City, and after meeting with Billy Drummond—Professor of Jazz Drums at Juilliard—early this year, there’s a chance he’ll begin college prep courses later in 2017.
My son wants a guitar. Just the thought of that brings both excitement and concern to my wife and me. Images of a young guitar hero fill my brain, while the fear of a noisy house brings a little worry to my wife. Without a doubt, our family….dynamics….are sure to change with a guitar player under our roof.
As you can imagine, it was rather important to my son, and to the sanity of our family, that we find just the right guitar for the young musician. Our aspiring rock star had an image in his mind of what he wanted. What I needed to determine was if his dream guitar would be a good fit for the rest of the family.
I had a lot of factors to consider when choosing just the right guitar for a beginning guitar player. Are there different sizes of guitars? What size do I get him? Is an acoustic guitar the best fit, or do we go with an electric guitar? Perhaps most importantly, was he ready for a guitar? Of course, I already knew his answer for that question. Perhaps the real question really is if our family was ready for a guitar player rocking our our household.
Yet, what my son was more concerned about was the appearance of his musical dream maker. The string height, type of strings used, the neck, the truss rod. These were all issues I had never considered simply because I knew nothing about these issues to begin with. Clearly, I had my research cut out for me before purchasing our family’s very first guitar. Yes, our family’s guitar. Even though my son would be the one playing it, the rest of the family would be afforded the opportunity to hear him play!
I am excited for him. I am excited that he is about to venture into the wonderful world that is music. Music opens up so many doors for a person, and is a gift that can stay with him far longer than any athletic opportunity. Far after his body is unable to play sports at a competitive level, music is something that can stay with someone a life time.
For right now, though, we have to find the perfect life time gift for him. We have to find the perfect guitar for our potential rock star.
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Dr. John DeGarmo has been a foster parent for 14 years, and he and his wife have had over 50 children come through their home. He is a consultant, speaker and trainer on many topics about the foster care system.
