The warm sunshine is finally here and it is starting to feel like spring time, so it’s great to get out and about to the parks, take a stroll round the farmers markets and go on family hikes through the Californian poppy flowers!
This week I review the “Museum Mondays for Little Ones’ at the Snoopy Museum in Santa Rosa which takes place once a month and is a fun day out!
Weekend Events
Saturday April 2nd
‘Kelly Baker Portrait Special’ from 10.00 – 2.00 pm, at Marin Kids & Maternity Consignment, 814 Francisco Blvd West, San Rafael.
A portrait of your little one makes a wonderful gift for a member of your family, photographer Kelly Baker will be doing a special 20 minutes portrait “mini-shoot” in the store and digital images will be available in time for Easter or Mother’s Day. Session fee: $60 for one child & $75 for siblings or parents/family.
Email for an appointment at; kelly@kellybakerphotography.com. See all the details on their website; http://marinkidsconsignment.blogspot.com
‘Performance by Todd Wees’ from 11.00 – 12.00 pm, at Bay Area Discovery Museum, address; members $5, general child $10 7 general adult $12;
A performance by Todd Wees is a quirky mix of indie pop and folk, which will be interactive with original songs like “The Ketchup Song”;
Sunday April 3rd
‘SFMOMA Family Sunday’ from 11.00 – 3.00 pm, Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street (between Mission & Howard), San Francisco; www.sfmoma.org/families
SFMOMA Family Sundays take place on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month, this week the theme is to explore the museum ‘Frame by Frame’.
Play Date of the Week
‘Museum Mondays for Little Ones’, from 10.00 – 12.00 pm, Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa; http://www.schulzmuseum.org/
Cost: $5 per child &up to two parents/caregivers admitted free before 11 am. After 11 am regular museum admission applies.
On the fourth Monday of every month (through to September) the Charles M. Schultz Museum offers arts and crafts activities, stories and games for children ages 1 – 5 years old. We headed up to Santa Rosa to check it out last Monday, and had a great time!
From 10.00 am all the children and parents met in the downstairs gallery’s area and then were lead out to the sculpture garden where the group leader introduced the theme of the day, which was; “Spring is Here”. The children were asked to follow the Charlie Brown inspired zigzag path while looking at the colorful flowers and playing movement games like pretending to be flowers and trees in the breeze. The garden has great sculptures of the Peanuts characters which carry throughout the inside of the museum. 
There were various arts and crafts stations set up throughout museum for the children to explore at their leisure. We started off at the potting table in the great hall, where the children could fill a lined box with soil, scratch the child’s first initial into the soil using a stick, and sprinkle grass seed into the scratched letter. If the child watered the letter every third day, soon we will be able to see the first letter of his or her name grow, and this can be transplanted into your garden at home! Next, there was a table set up to create a “Paper Plate Daisy Mask”; the children were given paper plates with a hole cut out of the middle. The parents were asked to help the children cut petals from yellow and white paper and glue them to the perimeter of the plate to create a colored pattern. Buttons, foam and cotton could also be glued on to make different textures, and a yarn tied on to make a mask, so the child could put their face through the hole with the daisy petals surrounding their face, cute!
Next we headed upstairs to the Education Room where two arts and crafts activities were underway with a couple of tables of toys set up in the middle. “Create a Blooming Japanese Cherry Tree” table offered pieces of white paper with the outline of a tree printed on them. The children could use Dot–a-Dot paint markers to paint the trunk and branches of the tree, and then glue on scrunched up pieces of pink tissue paper to create the cherry blossom. The “Make Flowers Pop!” table encouraged children to take cardboard flowers which could be decorated with paint, markers or crayon and then glued onto colored card, and pipe cleaners created the flower’s stems.
Creating art with different textures and media provides a fun experience while improving fine motor practice for the little ones, they also make great pieces of art work to take home with you!
The Snoopy Ice Rink is located next door where you can enjoy a lunch inside the ‘Warm Puppy Café’ overlooking the ice rink. If it is a chilly day you can warm up to a Peppermint Patty hot chocolate by the fireplace. Also if you head over to the rink for 11.45 am on a week day you will be able to catch the Snoopy themed Zamboni machine circling the ice before the public skating starts at noon! Alternatively, if it is a sunny day you can enjoy lunch outside in the picnic area surrounded by sculptures of the Peanut characters.
‘Museum Mondays for Little ones’ offered a variety of fun activities for toddlers in addition to seeing the museum’s permanent and changing exhibits in an impressive, modern environment. Also having the ice rink and café just next door makes it a fun filled day out and worth the journey! The next one will be taking place Monday April 25th.
Mommy's Treats
At the Movies:
One of the best mind altering movies I have seen since the release of “Inception” is “Limitless” starring Bradley Cooper who takes a mind altering pill that allows him to use all areas of his brain (rather than the usual 20%). It turns his life around and he decides to take on Wall Street which catches the eye of a mega-mogul played by Robert De Niro. Highly recommended!
Out on DVD:
“Black Swan”; Natalie Portman gives a great Oscar winning performance in this drama about the psyche of a ballerina proving that she can be perfection while taking on the role of the Black Swan with harrowing results involving her rival played by Mila Kunis.
TV Show of the Week:
“Tori & Dean: sTORIbook Weddings” premieres on Oxygen on Wednesday April 6th at 10.00 pm
Our favorite couple, Mr. & Mrs. Tori Spelling are taking their event planning to a whole new level by giving couples a once in a lifetime experience for their special day.
Weekly Calendar of Ongoing
Toddler Activities in Marin
New Class!
“Jamaroo Kids Music & Movement” for ages 2 – 3 years old will take place on Tuesdays (March 29th – May 17th) at Terra Linda Community Center, 670 Del Ganado Road, San Rafael. Children will have the opportunity to play with a large variety of simple instruments, interact with puppets, use rhythm sticks, bean bags and streamers. The class is designed to promote cognitive development through the use of numbers, colors, shapes and letters. Visit their website; www.jamarookids.com
Monday
10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Novato
10.00 - 10.30 am - Kid's Story Time Club, Pharmaca, 7514 Redwood Blvd, Novato
10.00 – 10.30 am – Book Babies, San Anselmo Library, 110 Tunstead Ave Town Council chamber
10.30 – 11.15 am – ‘Music Together of Marin’, The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael
3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, 47 Tamal Vista Blvd
9.00 - 1.00 pm - 'Jack and Jill' indoor play space, 217 Western Avenue, Petaluma (every day)
10.30 – 11.15 am – ‘Music Together of Marin’, The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael
3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, 47 Tamal Vista Blvd
9.00 - 1.00 pm - 'Jack and Jill' indoor play space, 217 Western Avenue, Petaluma (every day)
10.00 - 6.00 pm - 'Jump n Bounce’, 718 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo (every day)
Tuesday
9.30 – 10.45 am – Baby Bounce Story time – Larkspur Library, 400 Magnolia Ave, 1st Floor
10.00 – 10.30 am - ‘Baby Bounce’ Story time at Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd
9.30 – 10.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (up to 24 months) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
9.30 – 10.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (up to 24 months) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
10.00 – 11.30 am - ‘Play date for 2 and under’ at The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael
10. 00 – 11.00 am – ‘Little Soccer Club’ (3 – 5yrs) until Apr 5th, MLK Gym, 610 Colma Street, Sausalito
10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle' (walkers up to 3 1/2), at The Parents Center, Heller's Store, 514 4th Street, San Rafael
11.00 - 11.30 am – ‘Book Club Story Time’ at ‘Pottery Barns Kids’ store, Corte Madera Village
11.30 – 12.00 pm – ‘Jamaroo Kids’, Terra Linda Community Center, 670 Del Ganado Road, San Rafael
3.30 – 4.15 pm – ‘Doodler’s Craft Time, Terra Linda Clubroom, 670 Del Ganado Road, San Rafael
Wednesday
10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Suite 3, Novato
10.00 -10.30 am – Music Together, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
9.30 – 12.30 pm – Playgroup Drop in (until June 11th) Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax
10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (walkers up to 3 1/2), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael
11.30 - 11.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (infant to walkers), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael
10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (walkers up to 3 1/2), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael
11.30 - 11.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (infant to walkers), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael
10.00 - 10.45 am - Fun & Funky (age 2 - 4), Fairfax Community Center,
10.30 - 11.30 am – Adventure Club Drop in Play, MLK Gym, 610 Colma Street, Sausalito
11.00 - 11.30 am – Story Time at Giggle Store, Corte Madera Village
11.00 -11.30 am – Preschool Story Time, Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd
3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, 47 Tamal Vista, Corte Madera
Thursday
9.30 – 12.30 pm – Playgroup Drop in (until June 11th) Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax
9.30 – 12.30 pm – Playgroup Drop in (until June 11th) Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax
11.00 am & 12.00 pm – Bookmobile presents Story Time at the Farmers Market, The Civic Center, 3501 Civic center Drive, San Rafael
10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Novato
9.30 – 10.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks' (up to 24 months) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks' (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
10.15 -10.45 am – Toddler Story time (2-3 yrs), Mill Valley Library, 375 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley
10.30 – 11.00 am – Story Time at San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael
11. 00 – 12.00pm – ‘Mommy & Me- In the Garden’ (1 – 4 yrs until June 9th), Landmarks Art & Garden center, 841 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon
11.00 - 11.30 am - Story Time at Barnes & Noble, 313 Corte Madera Center
3.30 - 4.00 pm - 'Stories with Phil Sheridan', Sausalito Library, 420 Litho Street, Sausalito
Friday
11.00 - 11.30 am - Story Time at Barnes & Noble, 313 Corte Madera Center
3.30 - 4.00 pm - 'Stories with Phil Sheridan', Sausalito Library, 420 Litho Street, Sausalito
Friday
9.30 - 11.00 am - Art for You and Me, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
9.30 – 12.30 pm – Playgroup Drop in (until June 11th) Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax
9.30 – 10.15 am – Doodlers Craft Time, Terra Linda Club Room, 670 Del Ganado Road, Terra Linda
10.00 – 10.30 am – Intro to Ballet, Women’s Club, 46 Park Road, Fairfax (until July 6th)
10.30 - 11.30 am - Story Time with Sara Sonnet, San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael
10.30 – 12.00 pm – Jumping Jacks, Strawberry Recreation District, 118 Strawberry Drive, 2nd floor gym
10.30 – 12.00 pm – Free Playgroup (Under 5), Marin Head Start, 610 Drake Ave, Marin City
