May 25, 2011

Dinosauria Hits The Detroit Zoo

Dinosauria at The Detroit Zoo was a great way to spend the day with the family!
They're Back... And they're BIGGER than ever! Starting today through September 25, 2011 kids of all ages can enjoy the largest outdoor dinosaur exhibit of its kind at the Detroit Zoo - Dinosauria!
More than 30 life-like, animatronic dinosaurs that roar, snarl and move are providing a thrilling encounter at the Detroit Zoo’s sensational blockbuster Dinosauria exhibit. It is the most spectacular dinosaur experience this side of the Mesozoic Era. My kids especially loved the one that squirted water as you walked past!

Travel back in time as you explore a lush, three-acre DinoTrail recreating prehistoric life. The animatronic dinosaurs roar and move just like they did millions of years ago.

the kids and I, with Papa in tow, went in 2009 when the kids were ages 3 and 5 and they loved it. Some of the exhibits were a bit intimidating however they loved the hands on activities, at the end and probably would have spent all day feeling like paleontologists if we let them! The staff was helpful and seemed genuinely happy to teach the children something. Zach loved touching fossils and old teeth and both kids loved digging for "fossils" in the kids dig sites.



So grab the family and head over to the Detroit Zoo. The special exhibit is worth the extra $4 price! The exhibit is open dailey 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August).

Enjoy eExcavating a dino dig site to sift for fossils. Examine interesting biofacts including dinosaur skulls, teeth and claws and even walk through a simulated dinosaur rib cage!

Just be ready for the gift shop that you will have to walk through on your exit. There are plenty of fantastic dinosaur gifts and learning toys - Thankfully Papa joined us that day, so I left with a relatively full wallet! 

May 20, 2011

Little Growers: Free Kids Program

I love gardening. In fact growing things and teaching my children about it has been a passion of mine. That's why this little even caught my eye!
 
On Saturday from noon-2:00 p.m. at the Prospect Park Pavillion, kids can learn about seeds, plants and trees. The free event, sponsored by the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees, promises to be good clean fun - hnless dirt bothers you - for everyone. All children will even receive their own plant!
 
For information visit the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees website or call 332-9139.

Weekend: Free Events in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Chelsea for the Whole Family

You know that the seasons are changing when there are so many great family events in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and surrounding areas, that creating a list of events creates a book!
What kid wouldn't enjoy spending a day viewing butterflies at the
Butterfly Festival at University of Michigan
Exhibit Museum of Natural History? 
So get out and enjoy the many great free events happening this weekend:

Friday, May 20:

Start your weekend off right by exercising your lungs. Do you like to sing? What about singing doo-wop? In honor of Michigan week, families can perform Motown karaoke music with your singing buddies at the Ypsilanti District Library (229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti) 3:00-5:30 p.m. Two mikes will be available so everyone can participate; parents can sing with their kids, teens can sing with their friends, bring your best doo-wop buddy and we’ll entertain each other.

Saturday, May 21:

Learning to fly is in the air as families join in on International Learn-to-Fly Day at Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (801 Airport Dr., Ann Arbor) 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Find free open house events that include toys on hand for kids, planes on display, and a lunchtime cookout - with the best burgers on the field. Elsewhere at the airport will be an ice cream truck, and presentations on the history of aviation.
International Learn-To-Fly Day promises to be great
fun for the entire family, not just those
interested in aviation!
The weather is going to be perfect for butterfly viewing at the Butterfly Festival at University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History (1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor) from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This free event lets the family explore the beautiful and fascinating world of butterflies in the butterfly sanctuary enjoying their full life cycles! The kids can even use microscopes to see what butterfly and moth wings are really made of! Then head over to Tree Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor) to create a customized Winged Wonders from 1:00-3:00 p.m. all you need to do is fold a bit here, twist a bit there, and voilá, you have a gorgeous butterfly to hang around the house or in your child’s room! This free craft is best for the budding butterfly enthusiasts ages 4 and up.
Maybe you just want to cool down before the day even begins? Then I suggest you take the kidd-o’s to the Kids Jazz Jam at Chelsea District Library (221 S. Main St., Chelsea) at 10:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. to enjoy a jazz story, songs and improvisation in this lively workshop with Chelsea Center for the Arts’ music instructor Tara Vesprini. This is a free event however there is a limit of 20 children (ages 3-6)per session, so please pre-register online through the Chelsea District Library website.

Everyone wants a healthier lifestyle for the family, so bring them to the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day at Ypsilanti High School (2095 Packard Rd., Ypsilanti) from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The free event encourages kids and their parents to get active with activities such as a fun run, Zumba for kids, sports games, healthy snacks, family yoga and a soccer clinic with the University of Michigan’s Women’s Soccer Team at 11:00 a.m.
Stop by the Touch-A-Truck event at the Briarwood Mall
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - noon

Do you have a budding chef in your midst? Then by all means let them participate in the Cook Michigan Cooking Contest at Ypsilanti District Library (5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti). Your child or teen age 6 and older can drop off their drop off their dish (Made with Michigan grown or Made in Michigan ingredients) at any YDL location by 1:00 p.m. to be entered into the contest. For information and a full list of the rules, visit the Ypsilanti District Library website.

Sunday, May 22:

This free event is really for mom and dad, however they can create a fun end-of-the-school-year memory for a child at the “Make-It Take-It” event at Michael’s Crafts (3655 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor). Have a blast making a 3D customized keepsake while taking a short break from the kids 1:00-3:00 p.m.

May 11, 2011

Discount Movie Theatre Tickets for the Family & Students

Typically May should be full of sunshine and flowers, however this year instead there have been mud puddles and rain. So what is a family to do when they get rained out? What about heading to the movies?

Get your family 30% off discount movie tickets!
Last Saturday, my husband and I took the kids to the Rave Ann Arbor 20 (4100 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti) for a family date night at the movies. While I've been to the theatre several times, it is always nice to notice that the staff and management  are always friendly and helpful, while the premises is clean (including restrooms). I like to see too that there are always a variety of family friendly movies and movie showtimes to accommodate almost everyone! This May, to help families out, Rave Motion Pictures is offering a special family bundle for discount tickets and snacks.

Through May 31, at the Rave Ann Arbor 20, families can receive 2 adult tickets and 2 child tickets with 2 medium popcorn bags, 2 medium candy choices and 2 medium and 2 small drinks for only $50.50. That’s a great discounted savings - 30% off - of the original $71.50 price. Currently the movie theatre is running the family-friendly blockbuster movies: African Cats, Rio and Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil is playing with new movies including Kung Fu Panda 2 opening later this month.

For a parents perspective, it is good to note though that the family deal does NOT include 3-D movies. Moms and dads might also want to prep the kids that the medium candy choices are the ones on the top shelf too. There was some major disappointment by my children to be "limited" by candy choices however they could have had good old standards like M&M candies, Skittles or Starburst.

Make sure go get your movie theatre discount before May 31 - Ann Arbor has rain predicted for the weekend, so how about taking the family to the show?

Rave Ann Arbor 20 
(734) 973-8424
4100 Carpenter Road
Ypsilanti, MI

Pssst, hey EMU and U of M students? The Rave Ann Arbor 20 ALSO has a great college bundle for a 35% movie ticket discount!


This is a sponsor post for the Rave Ann Arbor 20.

May 6, 2011

Free Kids Drivers License


Radio Flyer is giving kids their own drivers license. To get your child their own Radio Flyer drivers license, visit the website, upload a photo and away you go!

Hot Deal: Ann Arbor 50% Movie Ticket Discount!

Hey Parents this just in...

It's Date Night for mom and dad -  Or think Mother's Day or Father's Day presents!

The Ann Arbor 20 (Rave Motion Pictures) has discout movie tickets today. That's two adult tickets, two medium drinks, and a large popcorn for only $18 (regularly $36).

Rave - Ann Arbor 20 Movie Ticket Deal
4100 Carpenter Road
Ypsilanti, MI, 48197

May 5, 2011

Mathnasium Ann Arbor Opens Today - Fun, Tailor Made Math Tutoring

This school year I'll have to say that I am really proud of my son's advancement in math. He grasps the concept easily and quickly and has scored well in testing throughout the year. Reading has been a different story though. He's been slow to grasp concepts, which motivated me to get him additional one-on-one guidance in the way of a private tutor. The extra out-of-school help has improved his self-esteem, propelled him beyond expected levels for his grade and has helped him to cope when he is just not getting it.

These observed changes have made me a supporter of non-school learning. Our children don't always respond well to our guidance and sometimes do better with someone outside of the house-hold who is creating a customized learning program for the child.

Today, May 5, 2011 in Ann Arbor, Mathnasium is opening for business where kids in grades Pre–K through high school can focus on math skills with an enriched, comprehensive, and balanced mathematics curriculum helping them to catch up, keep up, or to find a greater challenge to get further ahead.

The Mathnasium learning center curriculum and teaching method were developed over 30 years ago from first-hand and highly successful math teaching experience by Larry Martinek, a math teacher, teacher-trainer and consultant in public as well as top private schools, and a famed “math guy”. Based on a deep understanding of how children learn naturally, the Mathnasium Method makes math make sense to kids.

Today, the biggest area of concern for many parents is that "Everyday Math" does not promote the systematic learning of basic math facts (addition, subtraction, times tables, division) and standard computational
procedures. Instead, it is a process of “algorithm invention” that is extremely confusing to many students and parents - Personally there are many days when I look at my son's first-grade homework and feel stumped - Which is why many students may have their learning process inhibited.

At Mathnasium, the highly-trained math tutors create a tailor-made learning plan based on comprehensive testing initially and throughout the course of your child's stay that teaches them the underlying meaning of each of the operations, and effective techniques for mastering number facts and procedures. This combination is ideal for students learning Everyday Math program - whether they are struggling, advanced, or anywhere in between - Which will strengthen a child's learning and development preparing them to succeed in math in their class and in the future.

For more information on giving your child math tutoring in a fun and engaging learning center environment, call Mathnasium of Ann Arbor at 734-355-8718 or visit the Ann Arbor Mathnasium website. Parents can also find information at the Mathnasium Ann Arbor blog.

Mathnasium of Ann Arbor will create a customize math learning plan to help your child to catch up, keep up, and find a greater challenge getting them further ahead in their math skills for life!

Mathnasium of Ann Arbor | 2111 Packard Rd, Suite C | Ann Arbor, MI 48104 | 734-355-8718



This is a paid post for Mathnasium of Ann Arbor.

May 4, 2011

Free KinderConcert

Get your toes tapping at the free kids
concert at the Ypsilanti District Library
May 9 at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.
On May 9 at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. preschool aged children can experience a KinderConcert featuring the "oboe" at the Ypsilanti District Library. The interactive kids program, at theYDL-Whittaker library branch (5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti), will feature musicians from the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and will help your child’s imagination comes alive through dance and movement.