Weekend Guide

Whatever you do...have fun, be in the moment and give a few extra hugs this weekend!

FREE Stuff:
Sat: Outdoor Movie at Swift-Cantrell Park in Kennesaw: Bring a picnic, blanket or low backed chair to watch this week's movie: "How to Train Your Dragon" (PG) Food available for purchase, inflatables, games, giveaways! Festivities begin at 6pm., movie begin at dark, weather permitting; Kennesaw Parks & Recreation

Sat: Crafts at Lakeshore Learning: This week’s craft - ”It's a Jungle” Collage from 11-3; 4287 Roswell Road, Marietta Lakeshore Learning

Sat: FREE Storytime at Barnes & Noble Town Center Prado at 11am

Sat: “Super Duper Mini Chefs” at Town Center Mall, give your kids a chance to play with their food, discover the fun side of food through a menu of exciting hands-on activities from 1-3. Click here for more info!

CHEAP:

Fri-Sunday:  Marietta Greek Festival : $3 admission plus any food you purchase – which IS the point of going to the Greek Festival! Music, Dancing, Marketplace, OPA!  Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church , - Leave Rover at home: only animals assiting the disabled are permitted. 3431 Trickum Road. Marietta, 

Sat: Marietta Square Farmer's Market : It’s free to roam around but bring your wallet because it will be hard to resist all that farm fresh produce like the strawberries from Harry Stacy Farms ! Opens by 9am until noon but if you are interested in getting the best “picks” get there early! 

Fri-Sat: Kid Movies at the Picture Show @ Merchant’s Exchange: Since there is a slight chance of rain over the weekend you might want a back-up plan! Gnomeo & Juliet 3D & Diary of a wimpy kid are playing this weekend. Tickets are 1.75 - 3D movies are an extra 2 bucks but that is still CHEAP! http://www.movies.com/

Sat-Sun: Through the Ages: A Living History at the Southern Museum Journey back in time to relive some exciting moments throughout history;  2829 Cherokee St., Kennesaw. Adults, $5; children ages 4-12, $3; 3 and younger, free. The Southern Museum 

Beyond Cobb:

Sat: Atlanta Baby and Child Expo in the Egyptian Ballroom at the Fox Theatre 11 a.m.-3 p.m. New moms and moms-to-be can meet professionals in the baby industry (like pediatricians, OB/GYNs and doulas), discover design ideas for the nursery, shop for clothing and gear and win door prizes like strollers and nursery furniture, Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets include a swag bag; http://www.atlantababyandchildexpo.com/

Sat-Sun: Did you know that High Museum has special tours just for families?  Guided tours leave from the Greene Family Learning Gallery at 2 p.m every Saturday & Sunday. They also offer family audio tours, self-guided tours with special brochures & Discovery backpacks - this do-it-yourself gallery adventure takes 30 to 45 minutes and can be borrowed for free with admission! The backpack is filled with art projects, puzzles, books, games, and easy to follow instructions that take you on a journey through the High Museum.

Sat: Pirate & Princess Day with Radio Disney at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Family Fun beginning at noon until 2: Recycled Crafts, Storytime with resident storyteller Rob Cleveland, Radio Disney giveaways, contests, music and more. Enjoy the rest of the museum including the children’s area "Nature Quest"! Event is free with admission.  767 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, Adults, $17.50; children 3-12, $15.50; 2 and younger, free,

Sat: Eric Litwin's Tall Tales at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens  in the Children's Garden Amphitheater,  10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Eric Litwin's tall tales and songs are so tall it takes a hot air balloon to get to the very top of them and a parachute to get back down.; Included with Garden admission. No registration is required.

Sat: Imagine It! Enjoy the new exhibit: From Here to Timbuktu: A Journey Through West Africa. In addition to their regular programs throughout the day, catch a special string ensemble performance by young musicians from Morningside and Springdale Park Elementary schools at 11am.

Sat: Stone Mountain’s Laser Show returned this month – bigger and better! The Lasershow is FREE with your $10.00 vehicle entrance to Stone Mountain Park, price does not include any other attractions. You may bring your own blankets, food and lawn chairs. Show begins at 9:30pm

Sun: ASO Family Concert: “Lemony Snicket’s The Composer is Dead” Shows at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Persnickety Lemony Snicket introduces children to the instruments of the orchestra in this family concert geared toward kids. Similar to Peter and the Wolf, kids will laugh and actually be able to sit through this entertaining show! Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, Tickets, $15-$20 online:  DEAL ALERT: use promo code (SNICKET) for 20% off tickets!

Need a “Date Night” babysitter?

Saturday: Kid’s Night Out at Play Activity Center:  care available from 6pm-11:30, ages 4 and up, $25 for 1^st child, $15 for each sibling, Under 4’s care available too! Pizza dinner included. 

Arts & Nature

Events at the Chattahoochee Nature Center  -            

Sat: Family Canoe Day: 12:30-2pm, Learn the basics of canoeing including boat basics and paddling techniques and have a friendly battle with squirt guns. Ages 5 –Adult, $10 for members, $15 for non-members includes 2 people, book a 3^rd seat in canoe for ½ off. All equipment provided. Pre-registration required on-line or by phone at 770-992-2055 ext. 237.

Sat-Sun: Family Backyard Campout : Bring your tent, they provide the spot, Sleep under the stars, take a night hike, play games in the meadow, visit nocturnal animals and roast marshmallows on the campfire. 5 p.m. Saturday to -10 a.m. Sunday,  770-992-2055 ext. 237 to pre-register. $45/family.            

Sat: Camp Kingfisher Open House  from 1-4 ; Attend the open house to learn more about Camp Kingfisher & then enjoy the nature center for FREE; Camp Tours at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30

Sun: Kid Canvas at Canvas by U!  Kids paint class for ages 5-12; Kids will paint “Swirls Gone Wild” this weekend from 2:30-4:30; Cost: $25. Drop off your child or parents can stay!

3000 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta; Register online.

Summer "Brain Drain"

Summer break is 13 days away...that's right, 13 days! Do you have a plan? I am always in a panic by now but the summer flies by and before I know it there are things I wanted to do with the kids I never got to! I have to admit, this year I am calmer about the summer break...or maybe it just hasn't sunk it yet!
Camps, swimming at the pool, and playdates keep the kids entertained but what about keeping that brain sharp?
Mom blogger and former teacher at www.StudentsFirstResources.blogspot.com  has great suggestions in her post "How to Keep Their Brains from Melting in the Hot Summer Sun". Here are a few suggestions from her blog as well as a few more I came across! 

• Visit museums! She mentions one of Cobb Tots & Kids favorite places: Tellus Science Museum. This is about a 30-45 min easy drive north on I-75 in Cartersville. This place is truly a hidden "gem" - check it out this summer.
• Visit the Library! Cobb Tots & Kids got a sneak peek at their summer programs and all we can say is WOW, it's going to be one fun summer. But even when there isn't anything special going on, it's just a "cool" place to hang out. Most children's areas have puzzles or blocks and let your kids "roam" the stacks to make their selections.
• Get creative! Student's First Resources offers up ideas on reusing fast food paper bags and milk cartons. There are tons of kid craft websites now or you can check out “Let’s Get Crafty” on our website for ideas. At my own house, I have a tote with typical craft supplies and I throw in toilet paper tubes, empty yogurt containers, milk cartons, yarn, etc. I let my kids have at it (I keep the paint and glitter out of reach for supervised projects!!) Not only do they come up with some very interesting creations, it keeps them busy on their own!
• Talk to your kids! Use those everyday activities to talk and teach. Cook with your kids, talk about different foods in the grocery store, help them count the money in their piggy banks, discuss interesting or funny things that happen in TV shows or movies they watch, talk about the plants and flowers in your yard or at the local park.  Play rhyming games, make up funny poems about your day. Going on a trip? Let your kids help you research the area...online or check out travel books, use google earth or a map website.
• Keep Writing! Encourage kids of all ages to keep a  “journal” or “summer diary” throughout the summer. Even preschoolers can draw pictures of what they did with one or two words about the picture. Or you can write a simple sentence for them and then have them trace the letters. Write a funny poem about what your family did that day or over the weekend. Write "snail-mail" letters to classmates  - who doesn't love to get mail?
•  In doing research for this post I came across Sylvan Learning Centers website. Under "Parent Resources" found free worksheets for each grade level and a downloadable free Math Activity Booklet. I can still get away with playing "school" with my 5 and 6 yr old so I sneak in those worksheets! Sylvan is having a summer "Just a Page-a-Day" Contest so be sure check that out on their website. Student's First Resources does warn not to overdo it with the worksheets...you don't want your child to get burned out on paper/pencil activities - good point! Go easy on them.

So this summer...keep it fun but keep them smart!

**Please visit www.studentsfirstresources.blogspot.com for more great ideas on teaching kids, homework helpers, & resources! (check out her March 17th post about paper bag puppet story starters...LOVE IT)