Free Weekend Fun!

Celebrate "Earth Day" All Week at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Party for the Planet presented by Xcel Energy-4/25-4/27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22 is Earth Day, a conservation celebration so big we can't pack it into a single day. In fact, our annual Xcel Energy Party for the Planet is a three-day celebration that invites families to consider how choices we makes at home can improve animal and plant habitat everywhere. Thanks to our friends at Xcel Energy, you can snap a selfie with a wind turbine, challenge yourself with a fun game of "Connect with Efficiency" and try out a new interactive kiosk Xcel Energy will unveil for the first time at Como.

 Throughout the Visitor Center all weekend you'll also find family-friendly craft projects and education programs that explore the animals, plants and people that depend on this big blue ball.

 

Free YMCA Day

 

Saturday April 26 is Free YMCA day, 2-5 pm! Shoreview has swimming, Andover has a bounce house. Many other activities as well. For more information check out there website:
http://www.ymcatwincities.org/youth_programs/child_and_youth_development/healthy_kids_day/branch_schedules/

 

The Great Cloth Diaper Change (thanks for the tip Mary!)

Join us on Saturday, April 26th at the Event Center, Mounds View Community Center, where we will attempt to beat the existing Guinness Book World Record for the most babies changed into a cloth diaper at one time around the world! The Great Cloth Diaper Change is a great way to start your Earth Day Weekend celebrations! There will be goodie bags, door prizes, great vendors at the expo, a diaper derby and much much more. I will be there with delicious Wildtree snacks - stop on by and say hello! Please plan on staying for awhile and having some fun, make some friends, and go home with some goodies, all while helping to break the Guinness World Record! Don’t have a baby to change during the Great Cloth Diaper Change? Not a problem! You can still attend the Expo and visit all the different vendor tables. Expecting a baby? This is a great event to attend and learn more about cloth diapering, get to know about a lot of baby friendly companies, and meet a bunch a great local parents! Mounds View Community Center Sand Courts 5394 Edgewood Dr, Mounds View, MN Mounds View Community Center Sand Courts https://www.google.com/maps/place/5394+Edgewood+Dr/@45.103731,-93.202918,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x52b32f57c6b99cfd:0x460052b70fb6c19d?hl=en

Summer Fun!

Tuesday’s class had plenty of great ideas for summer, click here for a list of some of the activities, locations and websites.

To find a calendar of fun, kid friendly activities in the Twin Cities click here. The free events are highlighted in red!

Mary recommended Zulily, an online discount website that offers children's clothing and stem/learning toys, to find out more click here.

Ann recommended a great monthly calendar link for Minneapolis Park and Rec .

Let's Talk Kids is a parent blog: www.letstalkkids.net.

Laurie recommended Roseville ECFE Kids Stuff Sale on April 26.  Check out their website: http://www.isd623.org/commed/ecfe/. Other Consignment Sale in MN: http://mnkidsconsignmentsales.webs.com/salesbylocation.htm .

Someone mentioned Doodle bugs http://www.threeriversparks.org/events/P/preschool-drop-off--doodlebugs-am_-_1.aspx

Below are some great parks with activities, pools, lakes and classes for kids!

 

Three Rivers http://www.threeriversparks.org/

 

Shoreview http://38.106.5.113/programs

Roseville http://www.ci.roseville.mn.us/index.aspx?nid=25

 

I will continue to update the summer fun activities, so if you have any other great ideas send me an email!

 

 

 

 

Get Happy!

We talked about happy kids in one of the classes.  Happiness is one of my favorite subjects, so I am adding some happy links. Enjoy!

 

The science of raising happy kids:
http://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-of-raising-happy-kids/

 

Happy Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

How to increase your happiness:
http://t.living.msn.com/life-inspired/the-science-of-happiness-2#image=8

 

Parent Ideas

Mary recommended the construction at 39th and Stinson...it is awesome for kids to watch if parents are looking for cherry pickers, dump trucks, cranes, skid loaders, mixers, flat bed trailers, excavators, and concrete saws. Mary also recommended this link about girls and engineering: http://www.roominatetoy.com/

April Events in Minneapolis Parks

Ann recommended this site:

Popular events and activities sponsored or co-sponsored by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Call the specified park or visit www.minneapolisparks.org/register for event registration. Monthly event listings are updated regularly, so be sure to keep checking online.
April 1 Field Trip: Shoreview Pool, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Waite. Tropical themed waterpark with activities designed for all ages. $16 fee. Ages 6 - 12.

Use Your Voice And Be An Advocate For ECFE!

If you value ECFE, please talk to your local legislator about increasing funds to ECFE, and share your story about what it means to you! The state ECFE formula for funding is the same now as it was in 2004—that is just wrong!