Kids Activity at Silver Spring Whole Foods

I saw a sign about this at the Silver Spring Whole Foods yesterday. It sounds like fun for the kids (and free).

Half Pints Club: No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls

Thursday, August 31st

3:00–4:00 p.m. Free
Opposite register 10 (by our Catering desk)
This healthy no-bake snack is easy to make with ingredients like peanut butter and honey. Things might get a little messy, so please bring an old shirt. Drinks will be provided. If interested, you must register in person at our customer service desk. No age limit. Space is limited.

Web sites for kids

For the past months, my parents have been sending an email to my son nearly every day, usually containing a short message and a link to a game or other web site to visit. I have put together a list of many of the ones they have collected. While I think most come from reputable sources, I would advise making sure you are current with your Windows security updates (or have a mac) before turning your children loose. Enjoy!

Boowa and Kwala – My son’s favorite site
http://www.uptoten.com/kids/uptoten-home.html
Scholastic Kids
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/
“Your Big Backyard” Magazine
http://www.nwf.org/kids/kzPage.cfm?siteId=2
Mary Engelbreit Activities
http://www.maryengelbreit.com/mekids/playwithme.shtml
PBS Kids
http://pbskids.org/
BBC Learning Resources for Home and School
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/index.shtml
Bernstein Bears
http://www.berenstainbears.com/
Garfield’s comic creator
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/starslp/missionz/comic.htm
Nick
http://www.nick.com/
Discovery Kids
http://kids.discovery.com/
Time for Kids
http://www.timeforkids.com
Sports Illustrated Kids
http://www.sikids.com/
Indian Child
http://www.indianchild.com/
“Nurture the Genius in your Preschooler”
http://www.ednoland.com/ednolandweb/ednoland_experien.cfm
Animal Sounds
http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/ballc/animals/animals.html
Paper Airplanes
http://phoenix.gov/AVIATION/kids/airplanes.html
On-line Etch-a-Sketch
http://www.etch-a-sketch.com/html/onlineetch.htm
Hirshorn Create a Sculpture
http://hirshhorn.si.edu/education/interactive.html
US Mint learn about money
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/flashIndex.cfm
NSA’s Cryptokids
http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home.cfm

Number Games
http://www.abc.net.au/countusin/default.htm

http://www.coolmath4kids.com/

http://www.geocities.com/enchantedforest/tower/1217/math1.html

Music Games
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/childrens/

http://www.creatingmusic.com/

Songs, stories, coloring pages about teddy bears
http://www.beartime.com

General sites with games, crafts, activities, reviews & more

http://www.surfnetkids.com/

http://www.playkidsgames.com/

http://www.funbrain.com/

http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/

http://www.kidscomjr.com/home_flash.html

http://www.azkidsnet.com/

http://funschool.kaboose.com/

http://aolsvc.kol.aol.com/kol-jr_mn.adp

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/games/index.htm

http://www.crayola.com/kids/index.cfm?mt=Tab_kids

http://www.thekidzpage.com/

http://www.prongo.com/

http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/index.html

http://www.gizdic.com/freegames/

http://www.inklesstales.com/games/

http://www.theplanetw.com/WGames.htm

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/

http://www.abctooncenter.com/

http://www.applejuice.org/fungames.html

http://www.kidzone.ws/

http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/

http://www.funranch.com/

http://www.pitara.com/

http://www.iknowthat.com

http://blackdog.net/

http://www.puzzlechoice.com/pc/Kids_Choicex.html

Snake Game

http://www.coolbuddy.com/games/CaraySnake/CaraySnake.htm

Play free trial versions of games

http://www.littlefingers.com/

Jigsaw Puzzles

http://justjigsawpuzzles.com

Dot to Dots

http://phoenix.gov/AVIATION/kids/dot2dot/index.html#

Printable games, awards, & activities

http://www.preschoolprintables.com/

Magic

http://www.magicalkingdom.co.uk/magic.htm

http://kids.mysterynet.com/magic/

Illusions

http://www.patmedia.net/marklevinson/cool/cool_illusion.html

Illusions, puzzles & games

http://www.brainbashers.com/

Crafts & Activites

http://www.dltk-kids.com/

http://www.flaxart.com/Fancy-Crown

http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/

http://www.creativekidsathome.com/

Color by number pictures

http://www.segmation.com/SegPlayChoose.asp?ord=difficult&cat=abs#images

On-line Stories

http://www.magickeys.com/books/

http://www.storyplace.org/

http://www.goodnightstories.com/

http://www.bookpop.com/

http://www.antbee.com/

http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/108b.html

http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm

http://www.geocities.com/mystorytime/index.htm

http://www.james.co.nr/games

http://www.nps.gov/moja/mojakwp.htm

http://www.lil-fingers.com/

http://www.sundhagen.com/babbooks/

Borders Coupon

If you receive Borders emails, you will often find a coupon for 20-30% off of one item each week.  This week, the coupon is for 10% a total purchase.  Here’s the link: http://f.chtah.com/i/9/276579820/coupon0824.htm

Reminder: WB50 Free Outdoor Film Festival Begins Tomorrow in Silver Spring

WB50 free outdoor family-friendly movies in Silver Spring at the corner of Ellsworth and Fenton – (August 24-26, 2006) Shows begin at 8:30pm

August 24-Hitch
August 25-Shark Tale
August 26-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Reminder: MD Tax Holiday Begins Tomorrow

Maryland’s back-to-school tax holiday runs from August 23-27, 2006. Quailified clothing sold in Maryland priced at $100 or less will be exempt from the 5% state sales tax through the weekend. See the Maryland Comptroller site for all the details.

Plant Some Trees

Do you have a yard crying out for some shade? Someone on another list I read pointed out a good deal if you are looking for some trees to plant. If you join the Arbor Day Foundation for a $10 membership fee, they will send you 10 free trees (including free shipping) that are guaranteed to grow, or the Foundation will replace them free of charge. The trees come small, six to twelve inches, so time and patience are necessary, but there are a variety of choices based on hardiness zone. If you don’t have room for all ten trees, pass some on to your neighbors.

The Dollar Stretcher

I’ve had the Dollar Stretcher on my list of links list for a while, but I thought it was worth specifically pointing out. This site isn’t fancy, but it is a great on-line resource for ideas for frugal living. Don’t neglect to scroll to the bottom of the home page where there is an index of topics for hundreds of articles covering everything from cleaning and home organization to vacations and family activities. Each article usually has a list of tips, some you may have heard before, but others are original and get you thinking about what you can incorporate in your own life.

Regal Free Family Flicks

Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 16, Regal Entertainment Theaters are offering free kids movies such as Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Madagascar, Fat Albert, Curious George, and/or Robots. The movie selection varies by theater and offerings are different in MD and VA. All start at 10am, seats are limited and they are first come, first serve. Check out your local theater schedule on the Regal web site.

Source for Books

For our family, the fall leading into winter is jam packed with birthdays followed by the holidays. I am trying to get a head start on gift buying this year. One internet source I have found particularly great for kids books is Bookcloseouts.com. I just bought a stash of great kids book for some of the upcoming birthdays. For instance, my son loves the book, “Little Quack’s Hide and Seek”. A nice hardcover version is $5.99 marked down from a list price of $14.95 (and $10.17 at Amazon). They also have a good selection of softcover books, board books, and coloring/activity books for even less. I bought a box of various books for gifts and got 17 great kids books for $74.83 plus $6.95 shipping. You can also pick up inexpensive books or coloring books here to use in lieu of goody bags at kids parties.

Any other great gift resources in the local area or on-line? I could really use some new suggestions!

Children’s Day at the Montgomery Co. Agricultural Fair

Tomorrow, Monday, August 14, children ages 18 and under get into the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair for free (adults are $7). All exhibits will be open, the carnival opens at 11am, the 4H Flying Tigers rocket launch is from 11am-1pm, and if you can last that long, a tractor pull is on schedule for 7:30pm (for an additional fee of $10 per person). Check out the schedule and more info about the fair.