ML Interest Tag: lay

Funny Ha Ha: Great Places for Kids to Learn Improv

by rttriciamirchandani

Whether or not you think you might be raising the next Saturday Night Live star, there are big benefits for your babe in learning the art of improv. They’ll build up basics like active listening, verbal communication, collaboration, idea generation, and techniques to thinking on the fly. These three local classes—from one on one instruction to birthday parties—work on laying the foundation for some standing ovation-worthy performances.

photo: Now This! Improv

Now This! Improv
Offering single workshops (for both kids and adults) Now This! introduces students to the skills of improve on Saturday afternoons at the Riot Act Comedy Theater (801 E. St., NW).  If you’re thinking bigger than just a couple of hours for your child, the group also does birthday parties and workshops for schools, community groups and camps. Finally, if your little one isn’t quite ready to take on a class, Now This! is one of the few improv groups in the area that puts on shows and interactive storytelling productions designed for kids. Check their site for upcoming performances.

Online: nowthisimprov.com

Baltimore Improv Group
Though a bit of a drive north, the Baltimore Improv Group (BIG) imparts the basics of improv—scene work, characters, formats, structures, and games—to both kids and teens. Starting at age 7, the kids’ week-long class concludes with a performance for family and friends while the one-day teen workshops (beginning at age 13) focus on building skills and helping teens find their voice. The group also does school programs, camps, and birthday parties. And, BIG puts on a family-friendly show on the second Saturday of every month at the Mercury Theater in Baltimore.

Online: bigimprov.org

Improv 4 Kids
Based in New York City, Improv 4 Kids takes its act on the road to more than a dozen states across the country (including DC, MD, and VA!). Like the local groups, Improv 4 Kids also does school programs and birthday parties in addition to its traveling shows. Contact them for booking info.

Online: improv4kids.com

Have you or your kids taken an improv class in the area? Tell us about it in the comments!

— Tricia Mirchandani

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Flora and Fauna: Clever Ideas for a Nature-Themed Afternoon

by Gabby Cullen

It never fails. That first glimpse of spring wildflowers makes you feel like a kid again—because once those colors start popping, you know summer isn’t far behind!  Get your littles excited about the natural and whimsical ways of the world by using wildflowers in your next project. Whether it’s a DIY gift or just a fun afternoon of art, there are a ton of ways to feel like a flower child all over again. Scroll down for the best ideas to celebrate National Wildflower Week.

Pressed Flower Project
Start at the beginning. Simple enough for the tiniest hands, this project could be ground zero for all the cool ideas we’ve found. An old book works best for those who don’t have a flower press laying around (does anyone?). Find out how long you’ll need to wait before using the flowers by visiting Gardenista.

Photo: Erin Boyle via Gardenista

Flower Crown
Your fairy queen or king of the elves will dig donning a flower crown. Especially if it’s easy, like this one from The House that Lars Built designer Brittany Jepson. The simple requirements of clippers and your kiddo’s favorite floral makes for an easy and fun way to add a magical touch to the afternoon. Find out the secret to weaving the flowers just right over at The House that Lars Built.

Photo: Amanda Thomsen via The House that Lars Built

DIY Flower Bombs
We are in L-O-V-E with this DIY flower bomb tutorial. Make your yard a thing of beauty—or have really cool gifts for giving. Crafted into adorable shapes using recycled materials, this is one project that will make it so it’s not just your busy bee who’s happy. Psst! Honeybees adore wildflowers! Find out how to get the exact shape by taking a peek at the tutorial over at Premeditated Leftovers.

Photo: Alea Milham via Premeditated Leftovers

Scavenger Hunt & Wildflower Art
An awesome idea if we don’t say so ourselves. Combine a nature-themed scavenger hunt with wildflower art. We love how Becky of Fakin’ It created a floral hunt for her kiddos and ended the day with petal painting that included their finds while out and about.

Photo: Becky Bowers Schapel via Fakin’ It

Wildflower Picture Frame
If you’ve old frames laying around (the ones you plan on updating with photos that aren’t 10 years old) this is the project for you! Let the kids get a chance to play interior designer by collecting flowers and displaying around the edges. Want to know how to get the flowers to stick exactly where you want em’? Get the answers over at Crystal and Comp.

Photo: Kelley Grant via Crystal and Comp

Make Flower Figures
Flower petals make the perfect materials for creating a few fairies, or a butterfly….or, a stegosaurus? Yup, this simple art project from Childhood 101 allows imaginations to run wild with just a few handful of the floral stuff. Mum and project creator Christie suggests only collecting flowers that have recently fallen, or only taking a few petals from growing blooms. For more ideas on this charming art and more ideas, check out Childhood 101.

Photo: Christie Burnett via Childhood 101

Flower Loom Weaving
Preschoolers can tackle this Reggio-inspired nature project with big brother or sister. The hardest part about this amazing idea is creating the actual loom—and even that is do-able for the non-crafty folks out there. Let the loom laying around for a few days and watch the littles add to it here and there. Not only do they get to learn about weaving, they’ll spend plenty of time in the great outdoors. Find out how to DIY a nature look of your very own over at My Mommy Makes It.

Photo: via My Mommy Makes It

Pressed Flower Mobile
The kids will be saying, “look what we did,” and you’ll be able to enjoy spring wildflowers long into summer if you get to work and make one of these pressed flower mobiles (really, do it now!). Choose the brightest petals, blooms, and even leafs. We love how awesome each pick looks against the homemade clay circles. Find out how to to get those circles to shine and how to make the hanging frame by paying a visit to Twig and Toadstool.

Photo: Maureen MacMillan via Twig and Toadstool

Which one of these wildflower projects is your favorite? Share with us in a Comment.

—Gabby Cullen

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Playroom Supplies You Didn’t Know You Needed

by Gabby Cullen

Crayons. Paper. Glitter. Glue. You’ve got the basic supply list down pat. In fact, you probably have it on auto-order from Amazon. When it comes to the I-never-knew-I-needed-this list, however, we’re betting you might already have it somewhere else in the house—if not, we’ll show you where to grab everything on the list. From essential playdoh ingredients to hair conditioner (who knew?!) and even golf tees, flip through the slideshow below for everyday items we’ve caught moonlighting as must-have playtime supplies.

Spray Bottles

When you look at a spray bottle could be the only thing you see is piles of wrinkled button-downs and dusty windows. Look again and you’ll see---in the hands of your littles---it’s an art supply, (makes great watercolor patterns!) it’s a keep-me-cool-on-sunny-days, it's even be an insta-wash for any toy cars laying around needing a good soak.

Available on amazon.com$12.11 for a pack of 6.

Photo: Julie Jordan Scott via flickr creative commons

What is your go-to (but unusual) playtime supply? Share with us in the Comments!

—Gabby Cullen

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Cuckoo for Cocoa: The Chocolate Factory Tour Kids Go Nuts Over

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

There’s nothing like the mention of a chocolate factory to bring the kid out of you. (Maybe it’s that Willy Wonka Effect). And lucky for D.C. natives and their broods, you don’t have to travel far to feel like Charlie…or Veruca Salt or an Oompa Loompa. Every weekend, Spagnvola Chocolatier in Gaithersburg, Md doles out free factory tours to visitors, highlighting the entire manufacturing process—from start to finish—in kid-friendly lingo. There may not be a goose laying golden eggs, but there are plenty of free tastings along the way.

Get Up Close and Personal with Your Cacao
The tour takes place right on the 1,000 square foot factory floor (p.s. online reservations are recommended). That’s where a guide breaks down everything from  the origin of cacao and the importance of proper farming techniques to the development of fine flavor luxury chocolate and the roasting process. Kids love to see the custom machines in action and trying to figure out how they work. Don’t worry about kiddo getting cacao-ed out—the tour is a quick 25 minutes long (and that’s if there are questions at the end. Hint: the tour guides love questions.

Time to Shop!
After the tour, visitors are lead back to the boutique where there is a full café of offerings, including all chocolate assortments, along with coffee, lattes and gelato. There’s plenty of seating available if you come with a large group, and if kiddo wants to learn more about chocolate making, there’s often a looped documentary playing on the shops TV. Word to the wise: You’ll regret not buying something sweet before hitting the road. Spagnvola’s Bon Bon’s have unique shapes and colors to the outside, which makes them a fave for the little ones. And coming in at a close second for the under-10 set are the chocolate-dipped marshmallows.


Burn Off the Sugar Rush
Spagnvola is located within the kid-complementing Kentlands community of Gaithersburg. There are no less than four parks within walking distance of the chocolate factory, and you’re just a quick car ride away from the Rio, a fam-friendly lakefront destination with walking paths, a large playground, a carousel, train and paddle boats. If kiddo had one too many tour samples, let them run wild at one of these spots before heading home.

Spagnvola Chocolatier
360 Main St. (Gaithersburg, Md)
240-654-6972
Online: spagnvola.com

Have you and your kids been on this chocolate factory tour yet? Tell us about your experience in the Comments section below. 

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

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8 Ways to Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend

by Natasha Davis

Let’s remember the people that do our country proud … and have fun, while we’re at it! Whether you’re looking for something patriotic, artistic or downright bouncy to do this Memorial Day weekend, you’ll find it. Get ready for a parade, outdoor festivals, a campfire cookout and more. Click through our album for the scoop on our nine favorite events.

Salute America’s Heroes: Chicago Memorial Day Parade

Kids love Memorial Day because it means a day off from school! But it’s important to remind them what the holiday is all about. This colorful procession does just that. Remember all the brave men and women who fought in the U.S. military while watching the wreath laying ceremony and parade. The parade also includes musical stylings from local high schools' drum and bugle corps and veterans groups.

Held on May 24. Admission is free. The wreath ceremony begins at 11 a.m. The parade begins at noon and will head south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street, Downtown. For more info, go to cityofchicago.org.

What are you up to this Memorial Day? Let us know in the Comments!

— Natasha Davis

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10 Fun Indoor Activities to Get You Through the Rest of Winter

by Beth Shea

Phew! Who knew we’d ever be caught up in something called a polar vortex? We made it through this time and if it should happen again (or, if you loved laying around in your PJs so much you want more indoor-only days), here are 10 great indoor activities that’ll keep you warm and busy. Click through the slideshow to take a peek.

Shop ‘til You Drop Grocery Store
Tots are obsessed with those kid-sized grocery carts at the store, and you can bring the fun home by setting up your very own grocery store for them to shop til they drop. Open your cupboards and grab a few cereal boxes, get empty egg and milk cartons from your recycling bin, and rummage through your kid’s play food collection to stock the ‘shelves’ of your store. You can design your makeshift store as simply or as elaborately as you’d like. After you set up shop, let your child “drive” to the store on a play vehicle, and have her put her baby doll in the front of the shopping cart. Let her wheel the cart through the aisles or stations of items to make her selections, then use a play cash register to ring up her sale and let her bag up her purchases in a reusable bag. Next, let her be the grocery clerk and you be the shopper! Learn more about setting up an indoor grocery store here.

How do you beat cabin fever with your kids? Let us know your creative ways to keep your kiddos occupied when you’re all stuck inside.  

Written by: Beth Shea

All images of copyright Beth Shea unless otherwise noted

For more fun indoor activities like these, click HERE

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From Bloggers to CEO’s: Power Moms Who Totally Rock

by Erin Lem

In one way or another we’re all power moms, right? Whether we spend the day in an office, a classroom or on the playground, the fact that we’re able to juggle so many schedules and responsibilities, while still managing to bandage scraped knees and cure sore throats is awesome.

We’ve all come across moms from different walks of life who we totally admire. These women are leaders in their community, working to engender change, all while wearing the mom hat in style. From best selling authors and CEO’s to radio DJ’s and baby sign language teachers, these moms downright impress us. Read on to discover our power mom picks in each of our local markets and then let us know who else we should add to our list.

Chicago

There are many reasons we love Chicago, but the city’s wealth of awesome moms and their equally awesome pint-sized fans is one of its greatest features. From an event planner adored by Oprah to a pastry chef that competed on Top Chef: Just Desserts, they inspire us both personally and professionally. Check out the full list by clicking here.

Los Angeles

Any mom who battles the perpetual congestion with kiddos in the back seat is a power mom on our list. We’ve rounded up a colorful list of our favorite L.A. power moms: a go-to mom specializing in family issues, artists, a celebrity, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.  The best of the best of power moms that make L.A. a fabulous place for women and their families. Click here to discover our fave 16 power moms in L.A.

New York

New York has always been known as a city of movers and shakers, but many of Manhattan’s most influential leaders are moms. From a Creative Director to design and style-savvy mamas, New York City is full of amazing power moms. Check out our list for the full run down of who we admire.

Portland

Portland may be known for its rainy season, but the city is chock full of down to earth women who are taking the city by storm.  Join us in throwing up the confetti in honor of these mamas who are pushing the envelope, bringing their brainstorms to life in one hand and raising families in the other. Check out our full list of cool Portland power moms by clicking here. 

San Francisco

We don’t have to tell you about the Bay Area’s wealth of tech companies, start ups, and venture capitalist firms (many of which are dominated by men). However, what may surprise you is the abundance of women leaders in the community from entrepreneurs to editors, and everything in between. We love that these power moms are giving their male counterparts a run for their money. Take a look at our full list of the Bay Area’s most influential power mamas.

Seattle

As parents, we look to our peers for ideas and motivation, and Seattle couldn’t have a better set of mama leaders to look to for inspiration. Every day rain or shine moms are leading the way in business, media, non-profits and more. Read on for our list of Seattle Power Moms and be ready to get inspired.

SoCal

If your idea of SoCal moms is women laying on the beach soaking up the California sun then think again. SoCal is brimming with moms who seem to have a enviable superpower to get it done at work and at home, while continuing to remain trailblazers in their community. Give up for the SoCal moms and check out our list of the 9 coolest power moms in the San Diego/Orange County region.

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Kochavim Hebrew Immersion Program at Neveh Shalom

by Tina Ly

Kochavim (Stars) is a fun and dynamic immersion-style Hebrew program for your 3-8 year old in an after-school setting. Youth play and learn in a Hebrew-speaking environment, using music, art, active games, stories, yoga, dance, computers, and drama. Kochavim is an amazingly positive way for children to gain second language skills while having fun with peers, laying a foundation of comfort and delight in Hebrew language and Jewish culture that will last a lifetime. Nationally recognized for our innovative curriculum and excellent pedagogy, we also offer a parent-tot program called Notz’tzim (Sparkles) for children ages 0-3 and their caregivers.

Neveh Shalom
Contact: Mel Berwin | mberwin@nevehshalom.org | (503) 246-8831
www.nevehshalom.org 

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Arts & Crafts with Kids: Wax Paper Stained Glass

by Erin Lem

This easy kids craft project is for those moms and dads with oodles of broken bits of crayons laying around the house (sound familiar?). Instead of letting the broken crayons decay and mark up your drawers, we suggest using them to your creative advantage by making this super fun stained glass craft, which only requires four items. Your kids will beam with pride at their handmade craft and the activity is likely to keep them focused and not jumping off the walls on these long winter days.

What you’ll need:

broken bits, pieces or shavings from crayons

wax paper

a dish towel

an iron

Directions:

1. Cut out two large pieces of wax paper each about 12″ long (or however big you prefer). Take all of your leftover crayons and make a pile of colorful shaving.

2. Lay one piece of wax paper down and place the colorful pieces of shaved crayon onto the wax paper shaped to your kid’s liking. Suggestions: a heart, a butterfly, a bird or anything you or your little one can imagine.

2. Cover the pile with the second piece of wax paper.

3. Plug in the iron to low and let it get toasty (careful for little ones pulling iron cords or touching the iron at all for that matter). Cover the wax paper with a dish towel (if you put the iron directly onto the wax paper itself it will burn). Iron over the shape until it feels melted.

5. Let cool and then take off the protective dish towel and ta-da, your wax paper stained glass creation is made!

6. You can cut your stained glass creation into various shapes (hearts for Valentines Day or shamrocks for St. Patty’s Day) and punch a hole in the top, string some twine through, and hang your stained glass creation from any windowsill.

Photo credit “Year in Blue” Blog

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