Roswell Cultural Arts Center Puppet Shows - Summer 2009

Roswell's summer tradition of puppet shows begins June 8! Every week through July 25, you and your children can see a different puppet show at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. Show times are 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday, Fridays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday.

After the show, stick around for puppet-making workshops Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. only. The cost for children ages 2-12 is $4, $5 for adults and $3 for the workshop, ages 5 and over only.

Here's the list of shows:

The Wizard of Oz presented by Frisch Marionette Company June 8-13
Randel McGee and Groark presented by McGee Productions June 15-20
Pinocchio presented by Lee Bryan “That Puppet Guy” June 22-27
The Frog Prince presented by Bob Brown Puppets June 29-July 4
The Box? A Show of Feelings presented by Coad Canada Puppets July 6-11
The Legend of the Banana Kid presented by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers July 13-18
Everybody Loves Pirates presented by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers July 20-25

The puppet shows are very creative, with unusually constructed puppets and twists on familiar stories. Often, the puppeteers will pull the curtain at the end of the show to show the children how the puppet show works. Seating is general admission , so arrive early to sit up front. I've never had a problem buying tickets at the door.

Good to know: Just like any children's theater experience, these shows are loud! Children are talking, laughing, and sometimes crying. Older children may be frustrated trying to hear. All in all, though, it's a good way for children to be introduced to the theater without spending $25 on a show at the Fox that may be wasted on them.

Free Admission to Imagine It! - Tuesday, June 9, 2009

On the second Tuesday of each month this summer (June, July, and August), Target sponsors free admission at the museum from 1:00-8:00 p.m. This is a great savings, because the usual admission price is $11 each! The museum is for ages 8 and under.

Imagine It! is easy to get to - it's in the Centennial Olympic Park section of Atlanta, not far from World of Coke and the Georgia Aquarium.The museum has shows and storytimes throughout the day. The storyteller at Imagine It! is great; he gets the kids involved in the story and they are mesmerized.

Other learning zones are a water table, puppets in a tree house, a complicated plastic ball rollercoaster that kids can manipulate, a food section, a garden exhibit, painting and Moon Sand, and several other exhibits/play areas. My kids have a good time when we go, but the museum is a bit small. If you've been to children's museum in other cities, you may be surprised. However, the good thing about the small, open set-up is that it's easy to watch your children, even if they are at two separate exhibits!

Good to know: There aren't any restaurants within easy walking distance of the museum, unless you want to walk a few blocks to the CNN center, which has a huge food court. You are welcome to bring food into the museum; they have a large lunch area. There are vending machines and a limited-service Chick-fil-A as well.You can park in any one of a number of lots or parking garages around the museum. Prices vary, but I've usually paid $10 or under. You can also take Marta.

What's Happening: June 6-7, 2009

Summer weekends don't usually lack for things to do: trips to the pool, boat rides on the lake, birthday parties and cookout abound. But if you are looking for some family fun, check out these ideas!

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is highlighting its temporary (and very cool) dinosaur exhibit with 90 Days of Dinosaurs, which began in late May. Every day will have a dinosaur activity. Kids can collect dinosaur coins for participating in activities to keep or bring back to the Dinosaur Birthday Bash on August 22; the coins will enter them into drawings for prizes.

Saturday's activity is a dinosaur lab, and Sunday's is a "Bag of Bones" counting contest. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for kids 3-12, and free for those 2 and under.

Georgia Aquarium is celebrating World Ocean Day with storytelling, arts and crafts, and activities throughout the aquarium. The events will continue through Monday (from June 6-8), which is actually World Ocean Day.

Admission is $26 for adults, $19.50 for kids 3-12, and free for kids under 2.

Bass Pro Shops has their Family Summer Camp from 12-6 on Saturday and Sunday. It's free!

If you'd rather be outside, check out Virginia-Highland Summerfest, which is supposed to be lots of fun. There's a music stage, artist fair, food, and Kidsfest. The festival runs from 10:00-6:30 on Saturday and 11:00-6:00 on Sunday.

Admission is free, but they take donations.

Bass Family Summer Camp

Here's something fun - and free! - to do on summer weekends! Bass Pro Shops has free family summer camps from May 30 - July 5 on Saturdays and Sundays from noon-6:00 p.m. The closest one to Atlanta is in Lawrenceville on Sugarloaf Parkway.
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Here's what the website says:

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"Every Saturday and Sunday stores will be offering FREE craft activities for the kids including decorating a fishing bobber, making key chains, designing their own birdhouse, creating plaster animal tracks and painting a souvenir wooden lure for Dad.

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The whole family will enjoy FREE outdoor workshops about hiking, camping and fishing basics. Other workshops include bird watching, archery, animal identification, plants & insects, and even how to make campfire S’mores. Kids will earn a FREE collectable pin for every workshop completed."

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Check out the summer camp link to find Bass Pro Shops' kids' website, which has games, puzzles, animal facts, and other fun stuff.

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Thanks, Debbie!

Summer Reading Programs for Kids

Reading is its own reward - but many companies offer an incentive to make summer reading all the more fun for your children. Educators say regular reading is the most important thing you can encourage to keep your kids' minds sharp. Even better, you can instill a life-long love of reading - and what's better than reading on the beach, in a hammock, or by the pool?

 
If you are interested in wonky, research side of children's reading, here's a great overview. Basically, study after study shows children from all backgrounds score higher on tests and show comprehension and vocabulary gains if they read 5-6 books during the summer. And you don't need to fill up your Amazon cart to reap the benefits: use of public libraries strongly correlates to school success and reading proficiency.

 

Libraries

  Most libraries have reading programs in the summer. Kids set a goal, track the number of books they read, and sometimes get a prize at the end. Libraries often have fun events for kids to supplement the reading programs. For example, Forsyth County's theme is "Be Creative @ Your Library." They have storytellers, puppeteers, and musicians scheduled to come, as well as special events for middle-schoolers and teens. 

  Click here to find links to Atlanta -area libraries.  

  Online Programs

Scholastic has an online program for kids ages 7-12 with quizzes, games, prizes, and competitions. Children are on teams, and the winning team at the end of the summer will get to choose which charity will recieve a donation from scholastic. Kids can earn extra points by taking quizzes and playing games, and they can enter to win books weekly.  

  There's a separate tracking program for families with children ages 0-7. 

  Don't miss the links for parents - they have great ideas about raising a reader, books kids love, parent/child book clubs, and more. 

  Sylvan's online program is a free motivational tool for kids in grades K-8. They can track their reading, take quizzes, and earn points and prizes. 

  Reading is Fundamental has a challenge that runs from April 1 -June 30. Kids log reading minutes and have the opportunity to win a trip to Disney World and other prizes. 

  Bookstore-based Programs

Barnes and Noble gives kids a free book once they have read eight books (they don't have to be purchased at B&N) and written about them in a reading journal. You can download the paperwork at the link, or you can go to Barnes and Noble to pick up a packet. The program runs from May 26 - September 7, 2009.  

  Borders/Waldenbooks has a program called Kids Reading Challenge! at their stores. Download the worksheet, track at least eight books, and bring the worksheet to Borders for a 50% off coupon. Dates for the program are May 26 - August 31, 2009. 

  Half Price Books isn't in Georgia, but I wish it were! With their Feed Your Brain promotion, kids age 12 and under can earn $3 gift cards for each week they read for 15 minutes per day. Dates are June 1 - July 31, 2007. 

  Other Incentives

Chuck E. Cheese has incentive calendars on their website, and one of them is a reading tracker. Once kids fill up the two-week calendar, they can bring it to Chuck E. Cheese for 10 free tokens. Incidentally, there are lots of other tracker calendars, including ones to help with thumb-sucking, pottytraining, manners, and homework! 

  Hebuddy is offering a free t-shirt when kids read 10 books this summer. Just track the books on the downloadable list, and mail it by August 9, 2009. In 2-3 weeks, your child receives a free t-shirt! 

  Many banks offer reading incentives; check with your local branch! 

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  Did I miss any programs that you know about? Please let me know in the comments!

Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free or Cheap

My friend Beth passed this list on to me - it's great! I love that it's organized by day of the week. I'll add to it as I get more locations; new additions will be bolded. You may want to call to check first to make sure the policies haven't changed.

Update (10/7/09): I've added a few more restaurants that I've heard about through word of mouth. Keep them coming!

Update (6/14/09): This list is concentrated in Cumming, Alpharetta, and Suwanee. To search other zip codes nationwide, click here!

Please let me know in the comments if you have any restaurants to add to this list!

Sunday
Zaxby’s (all locations) gives a 10% discount when you bring in your church bulletin
El Rey Mexican Restaurant (Suwanee) – kids each free one per adult
Mama Fu’s Noodle House (Suwanee) - kids eat free

Monday
Firkin and Crown - 10 and under kids eat free with purchase of adult entree

Tuesday
Beef O' Brady's (all locations) - Kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée 4-8 pm
Chick-Fil-A (exit 13) - Kids eat free with a purchased combo meal from 4-8
Chick-Fil-A (the Avenues) Kids eat free
Roadhouse (Alpharetta) - kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée
US Border (Alpharetta) - kids eat free
Tony’s Sports Bar and Grill (Suwanee) – free kids buffet (other nights kids are just 99 cents)
Texas Roadhouse (Gainesville) - 99 cent kids meals

Wednesday
Zaxbys (All locations) – Kids meals are 99 cents with the purchase of an adult entrée after 5 pm
Moe’s (Exit 13 Bethelview and also exit 17)– 2 free kids meals with the purchase of an adult meal
Fajita's (2595 Freedom Pkwy) – kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée

Thursday
Cedar Creek Grill (Suwanee) – free kids meal
Tony’s Sports Bar and Grill (Suwanee) – free kids buffet (other nights kids are just 99 cents)

Every Day
Atlanta Bread Co (all locations) one child eats free per one adult from 4 - 9 p.m. from the kid's menu
IHOP (All locations) - Kids eat free off the kid’s menu with the purchase of an adult entree over $5 from 4-9 pm
Mad Italian Restaurant (Alpharetta) kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal
Ryans (Dawsonviile) Mon-Sat – Kids meal is $1.99 with the purchase of an adult meal. Also, go here to print a coupon for buy one, get one free buffet: a family of four will eat for about $14!

Weekends
Steak and Shake – Free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entrée over $8.

Farmhouse in the City

Update: Farmhouse in the City has tons of activities during the summer, too! On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, they have playgroups for preschoolers at 10:30 for $8. Your child can experience dress-up, crafts, storytime, and pottery. On Wednesday afternoons, school-age children can take a creative canvas class. Click here for the calendar.

I don't know how many people remember Holy Cow Farm, a funky little farm/art location in Alpharetta. It wasn't open that long, and the last time we went the owner said they might have to move locations, but it was very sweet and fun for kids. Well, apparently it's been reinvented as "Farmhouse in the City." It's still in Alpharetta, and they still have animals and art events, but they are located in a cottage downtown now instead of a farm.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, they have Mommy and Me classes for preschoolers called "Little Pig-Casso." The children can do an art project, meet an animal, and hear an animal story. If the weather is nice, you can play outside in the garden afterwards. The classes are 10:30-12:00 and cost $10 for the first child and $5 for siblings. No reservations are required.

They also offer after-school classes for school-aged children, birthday parties, art camps, and "Girls' Night Out" painting parties for adults.

Good to know: Their website is a bit confusing to navigate, but you can email specific questions to Robin at robin@holycowfarm.com. She's very good about returning emails. It looks like this week (May 26-29) may be the last Mommy and Me class for the summer, but it would be a good week to go since the weather looks bad!