Tag Archives: Book of the Month

February 5, 2012 · 9:16 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: February 6-10

Discovering "How Things Fly" at the National Air & Space Museum

Monday – Engage in imaginative play in the various themed rooms and crafts areas at the Playseum. Admission is $6/person (siblings under 10 months are free) and is good for the whole day. Locations in Capitol Hill and Bethesda are convenient to many eateries for pre- or post-play lunch.

Tuesday – Combine story and play time at the National Building Museum. The Book of the Month program is back at the Building Zone, so guests can hear a reading of The Big Orange Splot and participate in a corresponding activity along with the usual fun in the play space. Readings are at 10:30am & 11:30am, and don’t forget that admission to the Building Zone is now $3, and entry is timed, with guests admitted every hour. Make it a bigger NBM outing and head upstairs for Lego play in the LEGO Architecture exhibit ($5/person) and/or hang out in the Great Hall, where large soft Lego blocks and arch building kits are often available.

Wednesday – It’s Kids Day at Lebanese Taverna in Arlington. Enjoy free children’s entertainment every Wednesday from 10-11am. On the schedule this week: Groovy Nate. Stay after for a tasty bite to eat!

Thursday – Let fun take flight at the National Air & Space Museum. Be sure to stop by the “How Things Fly”exhibit, which is full of hands-on displays that little ones love to demo. And check the schedules for the planetarium and IMAX theatre — both present interesting films and shows about space and flight throughout the day.

Friday – How about storytime at the largest library in the world? The Young Readers Center at the Library of Congress hosts readings every Friday at 10am and 11am. The free sessions are designed for babies and toddlers (0-3 years old), but older children are welcome, too. Each lasts about 25 minutes, with 20 minutes of play afterwards, then clean-up. The Young Readers Center is located in the Jefferson Building (Room LJ G29) at 10 First Street SE.

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Filed under Babies, DC, Educational, Free, Gradeschoolers, Library of Congress, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Virginia, Weekdays, Winter

Tagged as Book of the Month, Groovy Nate, kids in DC, Lebanese Taverna, Library of Congress, National Air & Space Museum, National Building Museum, Playseum, The Orange Splot, Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Toddler activities Washington DC, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Weekdays February 6-10, Young Readers Center

January 1, 2012 · 11:14 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 2-6

Lots of interactive fun at the National Geographic Museum's Animal Grossology exhibit

Hellooo, 2012! May this year bring lots of new adventures and good times, starting with these suggestions for activities with the kids this Monday through Friday…

Monday – You only have one more week to learn about some of the ickiest parts of the animal world at the National Geographic Museum’s Animal Grossology exhibit. Through several creative, interactive installments, kids can discover all they’ll ever need to now about animal poop and other, um, natural processes. It’s presented along with Weird But True, a collection of odd facts about the wild world. Admission to both exhibits is $8/adults, $6/ages 5-12, free for children 4 and under.

Tuesday – Enjoy storytime for little ones. The National Building Museum is hosting its Book of the Month Program with readings of Snowflake Bentley at 10:30am and 11:30am in the Building Zone ($3/person). Barnes & Noble regularly welcomes guests for free storytime programs — go here for days/times at a location near you. And check out this old post for my personal take on the activity and for links to local libraries that offer it.

Wednesday – Have a laugh on Old Man Winter’s behalf and indulge in a most unseasonal activity: Swimming! At least six public indoor pools in DC are currently open. And there’s year-round swimming in Maryland and Virgina, too — follow these county and city links to find an aquatic facility near you: Montgomery County, PG County, Arlington, Alexandria. Be sure to check open swim hours, as they vary from pool to pool.

Thursday – Join the Boogie Babes for their first show of the year at Eastern Market. Bridgette with Dawn on Conga will get the 2012 fun started at 10:30am in the North Hall. Admission is $5/child, free for siblings months and under.

Friday – It’s show time! Be among the first audiences to see one of several children’s productions opening in theatres this week or catch one that’s getting ready to end its run. See this post about live entertainment this winter to see what’s on stages now.

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Filed under All ages, DC, Educational, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Theatre, Weekdays, Winter

Tagged as Animal Grossology, Barnes & Noble Storytime, Boogie Babes, Book of the Month, Childrens theatre, DC Public Pools, kids in DC, National Building Museum, National Geographic Museum, Snowflake Bentley, Storytime, Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Washington DC, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Weekdays January 2-6, Weird But True

October 30, 2011 · 9:25 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 31-November 4

Happy Halloween!

Monday – Get little ones ready for the big night at a public library, where Halloween-themed story times and arts & crafts sessions are happening throughout the day at many locations. Find out what’s on the schedule at one near you by checking calendars at these links: DC Public Library, Alexandria Public Library, Arlington Public Library, Fairfax County Public Library, Montgomery Country Public Library, Howard County Library. And if you’re looking for an alternative to evening trick-or-treating, Tudor Place still has space left for its Historic Halloween Spooktacular.

Tuesday – The National Building Museum is hosting its Book of the Month program at 10:30am & 11:30am with readings of Urban Animals by Isabel Hill along with a hands-on activity. Get there early for play time in the Building Zone, as they now have timed entries that start on the hour. And don’t forget that admission is $3/person.

Wednesday – Explore imagiNATIONS, the American Indian Museum’s new family activity center. Weave a giant basket, build an igloo, check out models of native dwellings, read children’s books about American Indian culture, and more. This post from a couple of days ago has more details and photos of the new space.

Thursday – Take the kids to play at Clemyjontri, the brilliant, sprawling playground in McLean that accommodates kids of all abilities. Pack food for lunch in the picnic pavilion (the few vending machines only serve juice and water). Admission is free, hours are 7am to dusk.

Friday – Engage in imaginative play in the various themed rooms and crafts areas at the Playseum. Admission is $6/person (siblings under 10 months are free) and is good for the whole day. Locations in Capitol Hill and Bethesda are convenient to many eateries for lunch before or after, depending on when you go.

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Filed under Babies, DC, Educational, Free, Halloween, Indoor Play, Maryland, Museums, Outdoor, Park, Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Virginia, Weekdays

Tagged as Alexandria Public Library, American Indian Museum, Arlington Public Library, Book of the Month, Clemyjontri Park, DC Public Library, fairfax County Public Library, Howard County Library, imagiNATIONS, Montgomery County Public Library, National Building Museum, Playseum, Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Tudor Place, Urban Animals, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Weekdays October 31-November 4, What to do with Kids in Washington DC

October 2, 2011 · 10:44 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 3-7

The Book of the Month Literacy Progam at the National Building Museum

Monday – Evade the expected rain and let the kids burn some energy at an indoor gym or bounce house. This post about places to play indoors is a good starting point for finding a venue near you with open play time.

Tuesday – Enjoy story time at the National Building Museum. The Book of the Month Literacy Program is held the first Tuesday of every month in the Building Zone at 10:30am and 11:30am. Hear a reading of Three Little Pigs, then participate in a corresponding hands-on activity.

Wednesday – Visit the Children’s Garden at the American Horticultural Society’s George Washington River Farm. The garden is comprised of a dozen small, themed gardens where kids can play and learn about the flora around them. The River Farm is open from 9am -5pm Monday through Friday (Saturdays 9am – 1pm).

Thursday – See Alladin’s Luck at Imagination Stage. As this post goes live, tickets are still available for the 10:30am show (if they sell out, go ahead and reserve for a performance at a later date). Tickets are $10-22, but you may be able to get a discount through Goldstar.

Friday – Pick out pumpkins and have more seasonal fun at Burke Nursery & Garden Center. Their Fall Festival & Pumpkin Playground just opened this past weekend and runs through October 31. Tons of activities will keep kids entertained for hours. Admission is $9 on weekdays ($12 on weekends).

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Filed under All ages, DC, Fall, Farm, Festival, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Outdoor, Play, Seasonal, Weekdays

Tagged as Alladin’s Luck, American Horticultural Society, Book of the Month, Burke Nursery & Garden Center, Fall Festival & Pumpkin Playground, George Washington River Farm, Imagination Stage, National Building Museum, Place to place indoors, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Weekedays October 3-7, What to do with kids in DC

September 5, 2011 · 7:41 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: September 6-9

Play time in the Building Zone

With a holiday falling on Monday, these recommendations cover Tuesday through Friday. And with the big kids back in the classroom, most of them are geared toward the sippy cup set. Here’s where tots can stay entertained this week, September 6-9:

Tuesday – Enjoy the National Building Museum’s Book of the Month program at 10:30am and 11:30am in the Building Zone. “Tip Tip Dig Dig” by Emma Garcia is this month’s featured read. Stick around after for play time — giant Legos, the mini house, and construction dress-up are just a few of many activities that keep kids busy. Remember that entrance to the Building Zone is now $3/person with timed admissions every hour.

Wednesday – See the Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly exhibit at Brookside Gardens before it closes on September 18. Admission is $6/adults, $4/kids 3-12, free for children 2 and under. Be aware that strollers are not permitted in the exhibit. Open from 10am – 4pm, peak hours are between 10am and 1pm.

Thursday – If you’re up for a field trip, chug on down to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore for Toddler Time, where children can listen to a classic railroad story, create a craft, and take a kiddie train ride through the fictional town of Choo Choo Blueville. Of course, you can explore the rest of the museum while you’re there. Admission is $14/adults, $8/children.

Friday – Listen to the folk and bluegrass-inspired tunes of The Banjo Man at Jammin’ Java. Admission is $5/ages 1 and older. Tickets are available at the door only.