Items tagged with 'kids'
Martial arts classes for kids?
Charley emails:
I'm interested in taking my girls, at least the 4 year old, to start learning a martial art. I'd heard about daddy-daughter martial arts in other towns, and am wondering if there's anything like that around here.
Some stuff I'm eager to drop kids off and let the teachers do their thing, but it seems like it would be really fun to do this and I can't believe I'm the only dad who wants to help his daughter become a blackbelt. Love your input.
Anyone have suggestions for Charley and his daughter? Please share!
photo: Kai Schreiber (Flickr user Genista)
Driving schools?
Carl asks:
I wonder if anyone has any good experiences to share with Albany / Troy area driving schools. Because the do-it-yourself model is not working with my daughter.
We've always thought having your parent teach you how to drive is maybe not the best idea. There's just so much... baggage. (Red light! You don't have to use that tone with me. Brake! I am braking!!)
So, a suggestion here could really smooth the road. Please share!
photo: Naimi Grondin (Flickr user Naimi&virg)
Capital District Soap Box Derby
Might be fun to check out: the Capital District Soap Box Derby is this weekend on Madison Ave outside the New York State Museum. Kids will "gravity race" in three divisions for a chance to compete at the "world" championship in Akron, Ohio later this summer.
When we think of "soap box derby," all the pictures that flash in our head are in black and white. The whole thing seems so retro. As it happens, the wheels almost fell off the sport last year, but it got something very modern: a bailout.
Also, another modern (and cool) thing about it: girls were the winners of four of the six divisions at the championship last year.
The races here in Albany start at 9 am on Saturday.
photo: Capital District Soap Box Derby
Colortoons
It's like a coloring book for the iPhone.
Check it out: a local software company in Clifton Park has built a coloring book app for the iPhone. Colortoons includes 20 animal cartoons that kids (or, you know, the young at heart) can "color" by tapping or painting with a finger.
We downloaded the app this afternoon and tried it out. The cartoons are very cute -- they include collections of dinosaurs, farm animals, woodland creatures and savannah animals. (There's also a blank canvas.) The finger coloring is a little like using a blunt crayon. You can save the works after they're finished (alas, there's no virtual refrigerator).
Most popular baby names in New York 2009
As it does every year, the Social Security Administration recently released a list of the most popular baby names in 2009. You can break the list out by state, which is exactly what we did.
The list of the most 100 popular names for boys and girls born in New York last year is after the jump.
Good daycare or preschool?
Via Twitter, Bliss writes:
Jax's daycare closing in 3 weeks. Need to find a fulltime placement asap!
Looking for full time, state licensed care beginning May 31.
is for a 3 year old, so somewhere with a preschool program would be particularly good. Ballston Spa/Saratoga.
Anyone have ideas for Bliss? Let's open to this good daycare/preschool programs in the wider Capital Region, too. Share, please!
photo: D Sharon Pruitt
Hikes for tykes
Danger- cuteness ahead!
Way back in 1997, Elizabeth Meer was looking for a way to continue her weekly wildflower walks, but with her kids. So she, and a group of about five other families, started a weekly group focused on finding kid friendly nature walks in the area.
Skip ahead 13 years later and these hikes are still going strong.
While the faces of the families have changed as children have gotten older, the group is still scheduling walks and introducing preschoolers to the beauty of the great outdoors.
Baby animals at Hancock Shaker Village
This way to the cuteness...
Growing up in Pennsylvania, every couple of years we took a compulsory school field trip to Amish Country, where we were transported back in time to find out how these traditional, religious communities lived. I get the sense the equivalent of that trip in this neck of the woods is a visit to the Hancock Shaker Village in Western Massachusetts.
Unfortunately, I didn't get chance to delve into too much of the history on my most recent visit because the real reason we were at the village was the baby animals.
And what's cuter than baby animals, you ask? Nothing, I say. And I have children.
(Yes, there are baby animals after the jump.)
The Balloon Room
How could you not smile in a room full of balloons?
When Burnt Hills' Cindy Gotobed wants a party, she doesn't mess around.
For the past five years she and her family have hosted a Balloon Room party in their living room for her kids and their friends. What's a balloon room party, you ask? Only 1000 inflated balloons packed into your living room.
Why? It's 1000 inflated balloons packed into your living room.
Open skate at the TU Center
You know, so you can work on your triple lutzes.
This could be fun: the TU Center is holding open ice skating sessions February 16-18 (that's next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). There will be three sessions a day:
- 12 pm - 2 pm
- 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- 5 pm - 7pm
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under. (The tickets will only be sold day of.) Skate rental is $5. If you print out this flyer, you can park in the TUC garage for $3.
More info: 487-2000.
Holiday gift guide: children's museum memberships
Nothing says happy holidays like exploring earthworms.
Maybe you know some kids that seem to have more stuff than they know what to do with. You want to get them a gift but you don't know what they have, you don't know what they need, and you don't know what the hot new toy is.
Today's holiday gift guide suggestion is something kids can appreciate in December, or in June (and that parents won't have to clean up).
More H1N1 flu shot clinics
Jab.
Update: The Albany County clinic is now full.
Both Albany County and Schenectady County have free H1N1 flu shot clinics coming up. Both counties' clinics are only open to county residents.
Albany County
Nov 22 | 10 am - 4:30 pm | TU Center
Nov 24 | 3:30 pm - 7 pm | Berne Knox Westerlo Elementary School
The clinic is open to people in the following priority groups: pregnant women,
people over age 4 who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical personnel, people aged 4-24 years and people aged 25 to 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
The county says it doesn't have pediatric vaccine available for kids 6 months to 47 months.
Registration is required.
Schenectady County
Nov 20 and 23 - Schenectady County offices at 107 Nott Terrace in Schenectady.
The clinics will be open to the same priority groups as Albany County, plus children 6 months to pre-k.
You'll need an appointment -- call 386-2824.
Also: If you can't make it to one of the clinics -- or you live in Saratoga County or Rensselaer County -- give your doctor's office a call. New vaccine shipments have apparently been gradually arriving.
Rensselaer County's web site says it does not plan to hold H1N1 flu shot clinics.
photo: James Gathany / CDC
H1N1 shot clinic Sunday at TU Center
An electron micrograph of H1N1 virions. The image has been colorized.
The Albany County Department of Health is holding a free H1N1 flu shot clinic at the TU Center this Sunday. Apparently there will be about 4,500 doses available.
The health department's web site stresses that you must register in advance -- and it's currently registering Albany County residents in the following priority groups:
- Pregnant women
- Persons who live with or provide care for infants under 6 months old
- Children 6 months - 4 years old
- Health-care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious materials
- Children and adolescents 5-18 years old who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
You can register online (be sure to follow the link for the appropriate priority group) -- or by calling 447-4505 from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (Arielle says she registered her toddler this way this morning).
Turnout at other H1N1 vaccine clinics around the Capital Region has been strong, so it's probably a good idea to register sooner rather than later.
Saratoga County: Saratoga County Public Health has an H1N1 flu shot clinic for priority scheduled for tomorrow in Saratoga Springs. It's by appointment only, though. And when we checked this morning (after a three dials to get through), it was full. The person handling the calls said the county is hoping it will receive more doses next week.
image: Cynthia Goldsmith / CDC
The Herkimer Diamond Mines
There's double-terminated quartz in them thar hills.
About an hour and a half from here, there's a resort and campground that charges you to play in the dirt. Crazy, right?
But, what if I told you that the very dirt I speak of held the glittering promise of diamonds (er, "diamonds").
Well, then... you might just be willing to dig a little deeper.
I Love Books in Delmar
So, it's... books?
When a shop has a name like "I Love Books" it's not hard to guess what's inside. Books... bookstore... got it.
But what if it was called something like "I Love Books, funky gifts, and toys I haven't seen since I was a kid?"
Well then, you might just want to take a closer look.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
The place is crawling with very hungry caterpillars. In a good way.
The Cat in the Hat. Goodnight Moon. Where the Wild Things Are.
You know...the stories from your childhood. And while you might not remember exactly what the stories were about, you'd be able to pick those images out in a storybook line up, no problem.
The beauty of children's books is often in the artwork. And the beauty of the artwork is that you don't have to be a child to enjoy it.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has all kinds of art that can be enjoyed by kids, parents, and kids at heart. And it's just a quick drive from Albany.
Adirondack Animal Land: It's a zoo
Ain't I pretty?
When the Catskill Game Farm closed its doors for good in 2006, many of us were left wondering what would fill the zoo void.
Looks to me like Adirondack Animal Land in Gloversville may be the leading contender.
Hammering away at Home Depot
What better way to bond (hopefully not literally) with your kids on a Saturday morning than with a hammer, some nails and wood glue?
On the first Saturday of every month Home Depot offers free "Kids Workshops" where you can channel your inner carpenter and relive your shop class glory days.
Your kids will probably have fun, too.
Consignment shops for kids
Consignment for kids, Fifi's and Polkadots
Parents are always looking for a bargain. Especially on clothes. I mean, no sooner do you get them into a new pair of jeans or shoes then it's time to go shopping again.
Sure it's great to pass clothes and shoes back and forth between family and friends, but that's never enough. So I thought I'd check out a couple of the kids consignment shops in the area.
Umm... and the kids aren't the only ones I found things for.
Jennifer Maher's toy portraits
DJ Jennifer Haley and her toy portraits
So it's no secret by now that AOA spends a fair amount of time at Uncommon Grounds.
And lately we can't help but smile at the art on the walls. The current show includes a group of portraits of quirky, well loved, interesting toys -- bunnies, lambs, squeezy bath toys and Japanese cartoon favs.
They're the work of Jennifer Maher -- known in local rave circles as D.J Jen Haley.
Jen's on hiatus from the rave scene (or what's left of it) until her new daughter gets a little older. These days she's writing a little and painting a lot --specifically custom portraits of favorite toys.
She talked with AOA recently about her art, the allure of toys, and the common ground between cuddly animal paintings and rave culture.
Hoffman's Playland
WARNING: Seeing this sign makes kids go a little nuts.
Remember the little amusement parks you went to as a kid? Not the giant, spend the whole day, super roller coaster, Great Escape variety. The little places with the kind of strange carney-like atmosphere where you could drop into for an hour or two, buy a roll of tickets and ride the Ferris wheel, or the choo-choo.
Well -- welcome to Hoffman's Playland.
Where the clowns are slightly creepy, the rides a little dated, but the kids are happy.
Camping at Thompson's Lake State Park
It's a little like camping in the backyard. But cooler.
In my experience, camping with young children can go one of two ways: relatively well -- or really, really badly.
Thankfully, Thompson's Lake State Park, only about 20 minutes away from Albany, is a great place to take the kids camping. And if the kids (or you, for that matter) decide they've had enough of camping, you can all be back home and in time for bed.
So, Thompson's Lake has location going for it -- but there are plenty of others reasons to check it out.
The carousel at the NYS Museum
Say hi to Ann when you visit.
What's the most fascinating exhibit at the New York State Museum?
The giant woolly mastodon? The Iroquois longhouse? The set of Sesame Street?
Ask my kids and they'll tell you it's the merry-go-round on the fourth floor. Ask me-- or other adults that have seen it-- and you might actually get the same answer.
Michael and Isabella are so popular
The most popular names for babies born in New York State last year were Michael (for boys) and Isabella (for girls), according to data from the Social Security Administration. Those names also topped last year's list.
The 10 ten names in 2008 for each gender are after the jump.
Baby gifts at Clearly Yours
Baby blankets from Clearly Yours.
I don't think I've ever been to a baby shower where I haven't given the same gift someone else is giving.
Which is why I was immediately ready to stock up for the half-dozen moms-to-be I know when I saw these adorable ribbon-adorned baby bodysuits, blankets, and burp cloths at Clearly Yours in Latham.
... said LB about For sale: one purple bookmobile