What to Read

Good Read: Harry and Lulu

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A little girl named Lulu desperately wants a new dog. Her parents give her a stuffed toy dog instead.

“Lulu went lulu.”

Author Arthur Yorinks and Illustrator Martin Matje’s Harry and Lulu is a very funny, touching, and subtly moving story about a little girl who wants a dog, gets a toy dog, ramps up her imagination (or ours?), learns to believe, and in the end finds herself loving what may or may not be real.

Harry the dog comes to life over night and begins his journey to convince Lulu that he is real. He declines the offered dog biscuits but opts for Lulu’s pumpernickel bagel instead. They eventually end up in Paris where Harry claims he is from. While in Paris, Lulu tells Harry, “Now go away and do something… I don’t want people to think I’m hanging around with a stuffed animal.” The narrator poignantly fills us in with, “And though she could say and do all the mean things in the world to him [Harry], he still loved her and was loyal to her and, so as not to embarrass her, he walked around pretending not to know her but never once took his eyes off her.”

Sound familiar?

Harry ends up saving Lulu from an oncoming car, lands in the Seine, and Lulu rescues him–finally convinced that Harry is her dog. Whether or not he is real doesn’t really matter anymore.

I love, love, love the great dialogue in Harry and Lulu. The emphasis on certain words, the tempo, and the fun use of vocabulary will definitely delight your preschooler and you. The expressive illustrations are unique too. The artist Martin Matje depicts the body language of an opinionated little girl well, amplifying this perfect story.

Note, the phrase “Holy moly” is used in the beginning of the book. Feel free to substitute when reading aloud to your child… that is if you don’t already say it every day.

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Date Night

FORM 2010

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Be sure to check out The Luminary Center for the Arts‘ contemporary furniture, object, and architectural design exhibition August 13 and 14. On August 14, there will be several do it yourself design workshops as well.

FORM 2010 is a fundraiser for The Luminary Center for the Arts, a nonprofit artist resourcing organization that that seeks to provide meaningful support to emerging artists, audiences and appreciators in the St. Louis area. Proceeds from FORM will be used for a new artist equipment library at The Luminary, which will provide area artists and creative professionals with access to specialized equipment such as a woodshop, media lab, film and video equipment, and large format printers.

VIP Preview Night tickets for August 13 (7 to 10 pm) are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

General tickets for August 14 (11 am to 4 pm) are $7 in advance or $10 at the door.

Some of the featured exhibitors include:

SPACE Architecture + Design
DesignSpeak STL
Studio | Durham Architects
CONFLUENCE Design | Fabrication
Mails Woodwork
Designer Jordan Hicks
Designer Jill Nichols
Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers

Ideas for socializing your child

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The hiding behind the leg, looking down at the floor, the sudden interest in a nearby leaf… Would you say that your child is shy? Just don’t call her/him that too much or it will become a label to hide even more behind.

In case you haven’t yet explored ways to get your little one socialized or are looking for some new approaches (some of us don’t have kiddies up and down the block or loads of  nearby cousins in our backyard), here are some ideas.

1. Kindermusik classes: Look for teachers in your area who have received the “Maestro” Award from Kindermusik International. They are usually exceptional teachers. Kindermusik’s curriculum makes a lot of sense, integrating movement, rhythm, singing, dancing, patterning, socialization, and more. The only drawback is the cost. Kindermusik classes are often $18+ for a 45 minute session. It’s worth it though if you can only afford one paid class.

2. Music Together classes: I haven’t personally tried these classes before, but several of my “cool, urban” parent friends who have their kids listen to Hendrix love them.

3. Gymboree classes: If you live in a super cold/hot location, Gymboree classes can be good indoor socialization environments. The Play and Learn classes are usually excellent (although I’m sure the consistency of them differs from location to location). I have not been impressed with the Music or Art classes though. Gymboree classes are about $65/month depending on where you live. They have flexible make-up classes.

4. Storytimes at local libraries, Barnes & Noble, and Borders

5. Moms Groups: Join to meet new people, help introduce your child to group play settings, and discover new play areas of your city. Many of the local chapters offer 3+ events a week and you are free to go to as few or as many as your schedule allows. We’ve gone on tours of the fire station, Trader Joe’s, egg hunts, theater events, and more. Many of these organizations often charge a fee of around $25 for the year. Well worth it!

MOMS Club

The Mommies Network

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)

6. Parents as Teachers (PAT): Local affiliates of this national organization can be found across the country and vary in scope and funding. PAT is a good place to learn about early intervention assessments, preschools, play groups, kids classes, and more.

7. Your local mall: many have indoor play areas (often right next to a tempting Starbucks) where kids can climb, spin, run, and roam. I’ve met many interesting Moms and Dads in the play areas.

8. Local museums and zoos (even better–a children’s museum if you are lucky to live near one): Many museums, botanical gardens, and zoos have extensive education programs for toddlers, preschoolers, and school age kids.

9. Whole Foods: Many Whole Foods locations have Kids Club Coordinators and offer storytimes, crafts, and even yoga classes. For some events, advance registration is required. After you find your local Whole Foods store, go to their events calendar for details.

10. Universities: Many universities offer continuing education courses that feature cooking, dance, yoga, art, music, gardening, and more for toddlers, preschoolers, and school age children. These classes are usually reasonably priced and frequently taught by incredibly over qualified people.

11. Water spray parks: When it is HOT outside, these water spray parks (usually city or county parks) are fun opportunities for your quiet child to see kids going crazy. These parks are generally free and don’t take as much planning or preparation as a trip to the pool.

Date Night, Kid Friendly Restaurants

Katie’s Pizzeria

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Katie’s Pizzeria in Clayton is a little gem of a restaurant. Perfect for those post-Zoo trips, when you’re out and about by yourself (what?!), or for date nights. The food is excellent. On our two visits, favorites were the prosciutto spring rolls (prosciutto wrapped around roasted vegetables and cheese), insalata mista (triple check with your waiter if you’re allergic to pine nuts–they seem to make their way into all of the salads), Katie’s caprese, the Margherita pizza, fennel sausage and leek pizza, and the wild mushroom pizza. The crust here is heavenly. It’s very Northern Italian with a bit more grease and crunch.

Only odd thing about the menu is that they don’t serve sparkling water which is such an Italian pizza/salad combo staple.

Seating inside is funky/elegant/eclectic (think a more pared down and less OCD Anthropologie) and the service is friendly. Outdoor seating when it isn’t too hot is nice even though it’s on a busy street. We saw several other families with small children there during lunch and early dinner.

The restrooms don’t seem to be air conditioned though and are a little on the messy side. You may want to have those wipes handy!

Oh, and an odd note of warning: check your chairs when your little ones sit in them. We found one that had a sharp metal piece sticking out where the arm rest pad should have been. I guess that styling element was more Goodwill than “vintage.”

Katie’s Pizzeria reviews on yelp.

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Date Night

Things to Do | July 9-11

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Looking for something FREE to do this weekend? Here are a few of my favorites.

Ann Hamilton’s Stylus piece at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts |  Opening reception Friday, July 9 at 5 pm OR Saturday, July 10, 10 am to 5 pm*

I have yet to read anything that makes much cohesive sense as to what this work is really about so just go and experience it in person. Ann Hamilton is an internationally known artist whose multi-media installations have addressed ideas of process, time, place, and voice among other themes. There is always something startlingly evocative, beautiful, and memorable about all of her work. The opening reception is the evening of July 16 but the exhibition runs through January 22, 2011. Read more about Stylus at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts blog (shared with the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis).

The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts hours and location information

*The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts is only open Wednesdays and Saturdays to the public.

Citygarden Fabulous Flamingo Festival | Saturday, July 10, 2 to 4 pm (not good for those with afternoon nappers unfortunately!)

If you want somewhere to cool off, St. Louis’s Citygarden is the perfect place. Clean designs, beautiful and playful fountains, sculptures, and fun people watching, this park area/sculpture garden is great for kids and adults. In celebration of its first birthday, Citygarden presents its very own “Flamingo Festival,” filled with a costume parade and contest (come dressed as a flamingo), prizes, refreshments, story tellers, live music, and a stilt walker. Note: the nearby cafe, The Terrace View, is super convenient, has great service, and is reasonably priced. Too bad the food is so blah.

Read about Tom Otterness’s sculpture and other works in the garden.

Citygarden hours and location information

Tilles Park Children’s Playground |  10 am to 8 pm daily

Tilles Park has a wonderful children’s playground and a water spray park. There are two separate age appropriate playground structures, a swing set, lots of objects to climb on, pretty clean bathrooms, outdoor musical instruments, a sand box, and some seating areas. The water spray park area is excellent for hot days. Just don’t forget towels and lots of sunscreen. There are limited shady areas in the children’s park. Ample parking is a plus.

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, What to Read

Read it again!

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There are an enormous number of free story times (or story based events that also incorporate songs, movement, and/or crafts) in the St. Louis region, specially tailored for toddlers and preschoolers. These events are a great way to meet new people, socialize your child, learn about new books, and well, get out of the house. Here are a few resources for this summer and beyond.

Libraries

St. Louis County Libraries

St. Louis Public Libraries

Kirkwood Public Library (Note: They will open at their renovated location on July 17)

Webster Groves Public Library

Rock Hill Public Library

University City Public Library

Museums

Missouri History Museum’s Summer Family Fun Series

Missouri Botanical Garden’s Little Sprouts Classes (class session, not drop-in)

Stores

Borders: Sunset Hills

Borders: Brentwood

Borders: Creve Coeur

Borders: St. Louis South County

Barnes & Noble: West County Mall

Barnes & Noble: Crestwood

Subterranean Books

Discounts & Promotions

Tea Collection Sale

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Typically way overpriced, I am still in love with these kiddie clothes. Asian inspired, smartly designed, and holding a mighty power to endure way too many washings, Tea Collection clothes are very much worth the cost when their items are on sale. Plus resale stores often pay a premium for used Tea Collection clothes.

PROMOTION: Through July 1, 2010, take an additional 25% off sale items (use code: SALE25) + free shipping on all orders (no minimums). Offer ends Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 11:59 pm PST. No price adjustments on prior purchases.

Also, be sure to join Tea Collection on Facebook. They often have promotions only featured to Facebook fans (or “likes”).

Order quickly as popular preschooler sizes often sell out fast.

Visual Art at Home

Art Supplies For Your Mini Franz Kline

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Are you a fan of Reggio Emilia and Montessori views of art and learning? Do you love their process method and the respect they bring to tools and materials? Are you tired of paying $3 for a small, blah tube of Crayola paint from Target? (And why is black never in stock?)

If you have a budding visual artist at home, waiting with a smile, standing in a smock, and hand ready for a paint brush, visit Dick Blick Art Materials. I used to buy random paints and supplies at Target, local art supply stores, and Michaels, but this online store is enormous, well priced, and organized. You can find high quality materials to more budget, student priced art supplies. They often have free shipping deals and special sales.

Montessori Services is another excellent online store to find additional art materials, more specific to the Montessori method.

Not sure what to purchase? The Language of Art: Reggio-Inspired Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings is a great book to learn about setting up an informal art studio at home, projects to do, questions to ask your child, and reasons to get excited about this way of seeing the world. Be sure to check your local library for a copy before buying.
Little ways to make life easier, Toys, Travel

Traveling with your bundle of joy?

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Okay, so your little bundle of joy isn’t really all that little anymore and sometimes isn’t exactly joyful while traveling. We’ve taken our toddler/preschooler on a few airplane trips and these items have definitely come in handy.

1. Go-Go Kidz Travelmate

If you plan to bring your child’s car seat onto the airplane and have purchased a separate airplane seat for them, the Go-Go Kidz Travelmate is quite handy. This wheeled plate easily attaches to most car seats (we have the Britax Diplomat) and makes moving around at the airport a little easier. Read more about FAA travel guidelines and regulations for traveling with small children. Most kids find being wheeled around in their familiar car seat in the airport kind of fun and falling asleep is definitely easier in a well padded car seat than the regular airplane seat/Moms lap/balled up sweater combination. Note, you need to detach the Travelmate from the car seat before putting them both through the X-ray conveyor belt. So try to time the possible nap in the wheeled car seat appropriately. Full dimensions, product video, and features can be found on the Go-Go Kidz Travelmate web page (but buy through Amazon to save some money).

2. Hefty One Zip Storage Plastic Bags (gallon and quart size)

Dependable and easy to use (even your child can open and close them), the Hefty One Zip bags are great for wet clothes (potty training anyone?), snacks, holding crayons and other toy pieces you bring on board, wipes, and tissues. Make sure you bring extra gallon sized ones in your ever bulging carry on bag ready for the unexpected.

3. Photos on your laptop

Many kids like to look at pictures of themselves. We often load several hundred photos of our daughter onto a laptop and let it play in slideshow mode while on the plane. It is great for keeping your child occupied and offers some fun conversation starters. Sometimes including older photos of when your child as an infant is particularly fascinating to your little one.

4. What to do about ear popping (or lack thereof)

In order to help alleviate ear pain, always remember to have some juice or water in a sippy cup or cup with a straw available for take offs and landings. We also found offering favorite snacks (be sure to pace the snacks before take offs and landings so your child will actually be hungry) a good way to encourage swallowing and ear popping. Any of Dr. Sears’s fruit chew supplements also work well (the pineapple/mango ones are a bit sour though) to aid swallowing and of course have the added benefit of being nutritious.

5. Doodle Pro

Not really sure why, but the Doodle Pro (the smaller sized version is easier for travel) can keep your toddler/preschooler occupied for more than 15 minutes! No mess and no crayons to drop, Fisher-Price has several different versions of this toy that can be used for alphabet, number, and vocabulary building in addition to drawing goofy portraits of Mommy and Daddy. Good prices on the Doodle Pro can be found at Target and sometimes Amazon.

The Arts, Culture, & More for the St. Louis Parent & Beyond