Toys for Four-Year-Olds

I hesitated in getting my son Hot Wheels cars.  This week my son got his first brand new "Hong Kong Phooey" Hot Wheels car as a present.  It was a hit!  

I had a storage kit for 25+ die-cast cars in hiding as maybe I knew the day would come when he'd want to start collecting cars.  I highly recommend the combination of the hotwheels cars by Mattel as well as the Mattel "Pop-open speedway race case."  It is also perfect for summer traveling, and at this age children love to start collecting cars or other items.

Cars and Pop-Open speedway race case from www.MattelShop.com

*Since this is a new toy item for us, I'll be researching Mattel to make sure they use lead free paint, treat employees fairly, etc.

Of course, I'd rather have my son collect natural wood toys, shells (which we did in Florida), rocks, etc.  

--TC Mama

Bay Area Kidfest

This weekend marks the 23rd annual Bay Area Kidfest in downtown Concord, California.  Hours are from 10am-6pm.

There are tons of activities each day.  The Kidfest holds a Memorial Day ceremony at noon on Monday.

Some highlights:

Ballet Folklorico, 1:30pm daily

Memorial Day Ceremony, Noon Monday

Concord Police K-9 Team, Saturday and Sunday 11am, Monday 12:30pm

Resources:
Bay Area Kidfest
Location:  Mt. Diablo High School
2450 Grant
Concord, CA
Parking is $5.00
www.kidfestconcord.com

Open 10am-6pm (no admission after 5:00)

Mother's Day at Hidden Villa Farm

Hidden Villa is a non-profit organic farm located in Los Altos Hills, California.  I recently took my son to a three-session class at Hidden Villa Farm.

During our three sessions, he learned how to milk a goat, give a pig a bath, feed the animals, compost, etc.  During the third class, walking to the animals, we pretended we lived on the farm.  What a gorgeous place!

Tomorrow, there will be a Mom's Day celebration at the farm.  Bring a blanket and picnic and relax on the lawn, listening to music from The Jazz Duo.  This year the picnic is on the Duveneck House lawn.

Resources:
Hidden Villa Farm
www.hiddenvilla.org

Studio Grow

There are three Studio Grow play spaces in the East Bay:  Berkeley, Concord, and at Blackhawk Plaza in Danville. After today, I have been to all of them!

Today we are at the studio grow at Blachawk Plaza in Danville, CA. After seeing the other two Studio Grows, I was surprised how small this one was. The other two locations are at least twice as big! After one hour here, my son said, "This is not that much fun!"  Given that it cost me $12.00 for the both of us, that is expensive.  

I would not recommend this location for a child over two. My son told me a child over one wouldn't enjoy it here.

I have fond memories of the Concord location.  That's where we had my son's first birthday on February 14th, 2008. It was an excellent location for a party! The Concord location is my favorite! It was wonderful for different age groups, allowed us to bring our own food and drink, and even brought extra art supplies so the older children (and some of my adult friends after drinking champagne,) could make Valentine cards.

People still talk about how much fun his first party was. 


--TC Mama

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta - Saturday, May 5, 2012 10am-5pm

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.  Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at my son's favorite museum, the Discovery Museum in Sausalito.  At the museum, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno, established in 1967, will perform a free outdoor dance performance at 11am.  Then at 1pm there will be music by Mariachi Los Cochorros, or The Puppies.  Viva Mexico!

Resources:
Free Performances and Crafts
11am - Ballet Folklorico Mexicano
1pm - Mariachi Juvenil Los Cachorros
Studio creating Cinco de Mayo Recuerdos (Rememberances)

Bay Area Discovery Museum
www.baykidsmuseum.org
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA 94965

Special Cafe Discovery Cinco de Mayo Menu

Note:  No alcohol is served or allowed within the museum

--TC Mama

Crayola's Color Studio HD (NOT Recommended)

This week is a tough week for our family because my son and I both developed a cough on Tuesday.  In desperation, knowing it was going to be a tough week and even though it is Screen Free Week, I picked up Crayola's Color Studio HD.  The age was 3+ and it promised, "An animated world of color on your iPad."  It worked for about 20 minutes.  Then the iMarker digital stylus stopped working.  The power was on.  But, it just stopped producing color on the iPad (unless you pressed down REALLY hard, to the point where my husband thought it would hurt the screen)!  

Wow, talk about a grumpy child, as he coughed nothing I did calmed him down.  I do NOT recommend this gadget and am returning it tonight!  In this case, the glittery box was not really golden.  For $29.99, this was truly a ripoff in my opinion.

Yesterday turned out to be a horrible day, but today I was determined to do better!  I went to whole foods to pick up some supplies to make chicken soup, and I picked up some disposable placemats by green sprouts.  I thought they would be perfect for upcoming travel.   They are waterproof and are tree free, they are made from limestone.  They include 8 placemats and even include 3 soy free crayons.  Also, I picked up a package of 10 recycled crayons shaped like earth worms.  When I read the Crazycrayons box it said, "The purchase of this product supports 'recycling' education and employs people with developmental disabilities.  The Crazycrayons were $10.00 and the Greensprouts disposable placemats were $6.99.  So, both were $16.99, which seemed like so much in the store, even though they are environmentally friendly, etc.  When I got home my son spent 30 minutes coloring his placemat with his earth worm crayons happy as a clam!!!!  Plus, I have 7 left!  They each have a different picture, and my son was actually coloring and promoting small motor coordination.  

I was so easily fooled into getting the fancy program, yet good old fashioned crayons worked the best!   

--TC Mama

Campaign for a commercial free childhood (www.commercialfreechildhood.org)  

Crayola Color Studio HD  (imarker digital stylus + Crayola ColorStudio HD app)  by Griffin.  Questions? Comments?  Call 1-800-208-5996, Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5 PM.  I do not recommend this product.

Green Sprouts Disposable Placemats, waterproof barrier, adhesive strips, and includes 3 soy crayons

www.greensproutsbaby.com

iplay., inc., 2000 Riverside Drive, Suite 9, Asheville, NC 28804

1-800-876-1574

( I highly recommend this product!)

Crazycrayons, 10 recycled crayons shaped like earthworms, the crayons are 100% recycled, handcrafted in the USA,  The firm employs people with developmental disabilities.  CRAZYCRAYONS.COM, Made in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Screen Free Week -- April 30 Through May 6th

Did you know that this is Screen Free Week?  This is not to be confused with TV-turnoff week (which is Sept. 27th and April 19th).  The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has an excellent website, with ideas for activities for children to do when they are not watching TV, playing video games, etc.  See  http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/.

--TC Mama

May Day 2012

There are many different interpretations of how to celebrate May Day.  The International Worker's Day (also known as May Day) is a celebration of the international labour movement.  May 1st is a national holiday in more than 80 countries.  May Day is related to the Celtic festival of Beltane and the Germanic festival of Walpurgis Night.  See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May-Day for more information on international May 1st holidays.

I found some May Day  crafts for kids on DLTK's website, www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/may/mayday.html

This year, May 2012, there are protests in major cities all over the United States.  As an educator, I warn parents who want to take young children on marches, protests, etc., because children can get lost in crowds or injured.  Also, the loud noises and crowds can be scary.  Personal beliefs can be expressed in the safety of a child's home.

My favorite May Day celebration for my son was at the East Bay Waldorf School in El Sobrante, California.   The East Bay Waldorf School May Day festival this year is this Saturday, May 6th.   They have a May Pole, and other traditional activities.  Also, the Summerfield Farm Waldorf school has a May Day festival this Friday, May 5th at their campus in Santa Rosa, and this festival is open to the public. 

--TC Mama

Livermore - Education at a Winery!

Though I've never camped at Del Valle, I have taken my son to the Occasio winery in Livermore.  Since we know the owners we got a tour of the winery and for months afterwards, my son said he wanted to have a winery someday!  John and Diane even gave us the book, What A Grape Can Be, by John and Diane Tuzee.  I would highly recommend the book as well as the winery!

While taking the drive to the camping/winetasting adventure, I'll play the "Wee Sing in the Car Series."  There is a song on the CD called "Goin Campin" that my son loves, and it inspired me to both go camping as well as write this blog post.