Archives for January 2013

 

Here’s the latest in South Sound Lego classes and fun for kids from our sponsors at Bricks 4 Kidz!

This Friday, February 1st, they’re doing another Kids Night Out event at the Frog n Kiwi in University Place.

There are just 4 spots left in this one, so go fast!

February 18th-20th, they’re offering special Build and Bounce camps at Jump! in Gig Harbor. This is during the Presidents’ Days break, so don’t wait long to grab one of these spots either!

There are also some upcoming camps on the Key Peninsula through Key Pen Parks.

You can check out all of them, and register through this link.

All Bricks 4 Kidz events feature tons of hands-on Lego building with their enthusiastic teachers, plus instruction in math and science concepts, and plenty of good, old-fashioned fun!

Henry did one of their camps this summer and had a blast! Really-what kid wouldn’t?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, but the opinions are mine. I love it when you let sponsors know you saw their posts on Sounds Fun Mom! I once spent four hours picking Legos up. I’m not proud…..

 

A quick note for my Puyallup friends that Cattin’s Family Dining is now offering their kids eat free deal Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays!

 

Yes, an adult meal purchase is required.

For more bargains for your junior diners, check my kids eat free or cheap list.

As always, I do recommend calling to confirm the details before you head out. I try hard to maintain this guide, but it’s a bit of a chore.

I also always welcome your tips about places with good deals for the kiddos-or even places where the food and the atmosphere are worth springing for. If you’d like to review your family’s favorite noshing spot, just drop me a line!

Need kids’ activities in Tacoma, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, or your neck of the woods?

Affordable fun for your South Sound family, or just a dry place to play?

You’ve come to the right place! Here’s my list of fun and affordable things to do with the kids in and around the South Sound this week!

Ongoing: Story time is back at  all area libraries! Every day this week, there are multiple events for all ages. Here is the link for Pierce County (change the date in the calendar on the left). Here is the link for the Tacoma Public Library (change the date in the calendar on the left). If you’re one of my Thurston County readers, here is the link to Timberland regional library. Use the calendar to the left to look for kids’ story times. Here is the link for my Kitsap readers, and here is the link to the King County Library System (You can search by individual library).

Indoor Play Options See My Lists of

•  bounce house places,
• indoor playgrounds
•  malls with soft play sections

Other Weekday Events and Fun

Monday

Play Date Skate at Rollin’ 253 in Tacoma 10.00 covers the whole family! 9:30-11:30 Be sure to check the link for info. on dollar nights and other great deals!

Play to Learn at the South Hill Library  at 1:30  collaborative program with the Children’s museum for parents and caregivers and kids 6 and under

Tuesday

Indoor Toddler Play Park in Fife  See this my indoor playground list for more options.

Weekly Car Seat Inspections at Mary Bridge  Link has info. on other dates/times

It’s 1.00 day at the Starplex in Federal Way! Tickets are just 2.00 other days. Small upcharge for 3D

Read to a Dog at the Puyallup Public Library Drop in and practice reading to a patient, canine listener  3:30

Read to a Dog at the Summit Library at 4 or the Graham  Library at  6:30-7:30 Kids can practice their reading skills with a patient, canine listener

Bedtime Storytime at the Swasey Library  7PM  Come in your jammies!

Wednesday

Play to Learn at the Parkland/Spanaway Library at 10AM or Graham at 1:30

Play Date Skate at Rollin’ 253 in Tacoma 10.00 covers the whole family! 9:30-11:30 Be sure to check the link for info. on dollar nights and other great deals!

Tot Time at Learning Sprout Toys in Tacoma  Always a good idea to confirm first

Wacky Wednesdays at the South Hill Library at 2PM  Drop in and do some Lego today

Free Circus Oz preview at the STAR Center in South Tacoma  4:30    Read more about Circus Oz here.

Read to a Dog at the Sumner or Summit Library  4-5 PM  Drop in program lets kids practice reading to a patient, canine listener.

Ukulele Jam Session at Ted Brown Music in Tacoma

Thursday

Indoor Toddler Play Park in Fife  See this my indoor playground list for more options.

Play to Learn at the Lakewood Library at 10   collaborative program with the Children’s museums for parents and caregivers and kids up to 6

Critter Club at the Pt.Defiance Zoo Animal themed crafts, stories, and special visitors for 3 and 4 year olds. 8.00 members/ 10.00 non members. Fee does not include zoo admission. Preregister to hold your spot. 11AM  y  It’s Penguin Parade this week.  Also Friday

Chess Club at the Gig Harbor Library 6PM

Sleepy Time story time in Auburn 7PM Wear your jammies!

Friday

Toddler and preschool story times at the Puyallup Public Library

Critter Club at the Pt.Defiance Zoo Animal themed crafts, stories, and special visitors for 3 and 4 year olds. 8.00 members/ 10.00 non members. Fee does not include zoo admission. Preregister to hold your spot. 11AM  y  It’s Penguin Parade this week.

Nature Alphabet at the Center at Norpoing  Nature themed preschool story time. Registration and fees required

Block Play at the Gig Harbor Library at 1:30  Drop in block time for kids up to 7

 Free night at the Hands-on Children’s Museum in Olympia

As always, I’ll have tons of ideas up Friday morning for your weekend, and this week I am also previewing several upcoming events. Be sure you’re following me so you don’t miss a bit of it!

You might consider subscribing to my emails, joining us on Facebook, or following me on Twitter!  You’re also always welcome to drop me a line if you know something great I missed, or just want to give me a tip.

Looking for affordable holiday fun with the kids this weekend in Tacoma, Auburn, Lakewood, Olympia, or another South Sound spot?  You’ve come to the right place for a whole list of affordable South Sound fun for kids and families this weekend.

If you’re headed north or south, you’ll want to check out the fantastic list over at ThriftyNWmom compiled by the newest member of their frugal finding team, Annaliese of Grays Harbor Deals!  She’s found some fun Seattle happenings this week! Among other things, it’s Mariner’s Fan Fest!

Indoor Play Options See My Lists of

•  bounce house places,
• indoor playgrounds
•  malls with soft play sections

Weekend Events and Fun by Area

Ongoing

Last Chance: Valentines for Vets  Through January 26th, stop in at Tacoma Public Library branches to make a valentine for a local veteran.

Where to Play in the Snow

All Weekend

Western Washington Sportsmen’s Show at the Puyallup Fairgrounds Activities of interest to kids include a fishing pond and dock dogs competitions. Link has a coupon, but admission is going to be spendy anyway. I would send your kiddos to this with the sports enthusiast in your life.

 

Saturday

All Over

Free family Valentine making at Michael’s Stores  Never a bad idea to confirm with your local store before you go. 10AM-12, while supplies last

South King County

Daddy and Daughter Dances begin in many areas this week. Check for yours if you’re interested in these

Tot Concert with the Federal Way Symphony  tickets are 7.00

Pinocchio at the Carco Theater in Renton. A Storybook theater production Two shows Saturday and Sunday; tickets are 10.00.

Phineas and Ferb! Live at the Showare Center in Kent. Sadly, there are no more discount tickets for sale, but you can still go buy regular tickets-and Best Deal Alert-if you choose the 1PM show the kids tickets are 10.00. Be sure to read my post for some insider scoop on this show if you’re going.

Water Weekends are back at the HC Mast Center at Redondo Every Saturday, check out sea creatures and enjoy the touch tanks. Free!

 Story time at the Southcenter Barnes and Noble 11AM Ongoing event, but it’s never a bad idea to call to confirm.

Tacoma/Puyallup/South Hill/ Greater Pierce County

Daddy and Daughter Dances begin in many areas this week. Check for yours if you’re interested in these

Family Nature Walk with the Tacoma Nature Center/Metro Parks  at Wapato park in Tacoma 10AM Free, but spots are limited, so you’re asked to sign up. Not for children under 3 or suitable for strollers.

Free concert with the Not-Its! at Charles Wright in Tacoma

Family story time at the Wheelock Library 10:30

Free Day for Tacoma City Residents at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Picture id and proof of city residence, such as a utility bill, are required.

Special open house and celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation at the Buffalo Soldier’s Museum in Tacoma Small museum dedicated to preserving the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. It’s always free and open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Today there will be special guided tours and spoken word performances. 12-4

Block Play at the Sumner Library at 1PM

Gig Harbor/Beyond

Daddy and Daughter Dances begin in many areas this week. Check for yours if you’re interested in these

Free kids’ concert for 3-5s with award winner, Alley Oop at Gig Harbor Academy

Preschool open house at Discovery Village  Meet the teachers; learn about the program; check out the classrooms. Yes, you can bring the kids!  10AM-1PM  Awesome sponsors! Tell ’em Sounds Fun Mom sent you!

Harbor Heights kids present a Missoula Children’s Theater Production of the Frog Prince Adults are 8.00; kids are 5.00; kids 5 and under are free

American Girl Club at the Kitsap Mall Barnes and Noble 3PM  4th Saturday of every month. Bring your doll for reading, conversation, and activities. Holiday theme this month.  It’s never a bad idea to call and confirm with national chain events.

If you’re in the Kitsap area, you will also enjoy the weekly newsletter and calendar from Kitsap Macaroni Kid.

Olympia/Lacey/Dupont Area

Daddy and Daughter Dances begin in many areas this week. Check for yours if you’re interested in these

Free Recess Monkey Concert at South Puget Sound Community College 10AM Part of the school’s parenting tools program  Center for the Arts at SPSCC 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia, Wa 98512

Story time  at the Olympia Barnes and Noble  1PM  On the stage in the children’s area. Ongoing event, but it never hurts to call and check first.

 Drops and Watts at The LOTT Wet Center in Olympia PDF of winter offerings . Free program at 2PM on the connection between water and energy. PSE staff on hand. The center is open every weekend for free, drop in visits. This particular presentation sounds best for older, interested children to me.

Olympia/Timberland Library used book sale  Also Sunday

Olympia/Timberland Library presents He Can, She Can! Multicultural stories of adventure.with professional storyteller, Naomi Buck. Recommended for school age children. 3PM

Mother/Son Adventure Night at the Hands on Children’s Museum in Olympia  Registration and Fees required

Sunday

Northwest Native Community Celebration at the Tacoma Art Museum. Free admission and events

Olympia/Timberland Library used book sale  continues

Peninsula Youth Orchestra Concert at Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor  3PM  I think this would be a nice idea if you have a tween considering orchestra and thinking about instruments.

I’ll try to round up a few more ideas for Sunday, and as always, I’ll have weekday highlights for you Sunday evening.

As always, if you know something great I missed, just let me know!

If you’re new here, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to my emails, joining us on Facebook, or following me on Twitter!  I write just for South Sound families, and I have new ideas every day!  You’re also always welcome to drop me a line if you know something great I missed, or just want to give me a tip!

Fort Nisqually Living History Museum  is offering discounted admission through February.

If you haven’t been in a while, this would be a great time to explore the historic buildings and check out the actors who dress in period costumes and recreate fort life in the 1800s.

My boys always enjoy a trip here, and it’s an especially nice outing if yours are studying pioneer life, or a similar topic. I’m also excited about this deal because Fort Nisqually doesn’t participate in the free museum pass program at local libraries, and you just don’t see a lot of offers to this spot.

Now, you do have to walk outside to go between buildings, and none of them are heated that I can remember. If you’d prefer to experience the olden days without the cold and damp part, you may want to wait until summer. If you like the idea of getting the whole, ” Roughing it,”  feel, this is the perfect time to go!

Fort Nisqually is open from 11AM-4PM Wednesday through Sunday, and the special admission rate is 5.00 for adults and 4.00 for kids 4-17,  or 20.00 for the whole family (Kids under 4 are free).

 

Updated 10/6/2014  Classes are full for fall, but call now about securing a spot for winter or spring! 

Looking to beat the winter blahs with your little one, and maybe meet some new friends for yourself, too? If you’ve been reading for a while, you know that I’m a huge fan of the parent and child programs at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, and they still have spots in their -winter classes for little ones 18 to 36 months! I did a similar program with each of the boys, and I really think it was the best thing we did when they were little. I learned so much, got a ton of support, and met other moms who remain some of my closest friends.

In this unique program, parents attend class with their children, exploring a wide range of topics, including nutrition, guidance, and child development. This approach allows parents to learn firsthand how best to teach and care for their child, build relationships with other parents, and earn two college credits.

The parent education instructor and other parents in the class provide parents a network of resources and support. At the same time, children are working in a developmentally appropriate preschool, exploring their world and developing physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Each environment is designed to capture the child’s interest and help their development in each area.

Starting in winter quarter on January 14th and again in spring quarter on April 8th, the Parent and Child preschool class (Early Childhood Education 141) meets from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom. A snack is provided and children participate in a structured music time during each session. Cost is $66.50 (includes tuition and lab fee) and $28 for registration. Enrollment is capped at 12 students, so interested parents are encouraged to reserve their child’s spot immediately.

Pierce College’s parent co-op preschool has been operating for more than 35 years, providing critical support and care to thousands of families in Pierce County. For more information or to reserve a spot, call (253) 964-6691. SFM Note: Yes, classes Just started, but there are still spots.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with a combination of provided text and my own opinions. I love this program for little ones, and I love the sponsors we support this site. Thanks for considering them with your business!

Readers Brooke and Melissa wrote  in to let me know about an upcoming Free concert with popular kindie rockers, The Not-Its!, hosted by Charles Wright in Tacoma.

 

If you haven’t listened to the Not-Its! yet, do yourself a favor and give them a try. Their music is high energy and totally danceable, but also cool enough for grown ups to listen to without going bonkers.

The concert is at Charles Wright in Tacoma this Saturday, and it’s open to the public. The start time is 11AM. I’ll include this in my weekend guide, but if you’re a fan, I’d mark your calendar now.This would be a fun playdate, too!

If you’ve got a great tip, let me know!

 

Hey, Tacoma! Shay with Kindermusik by Shay has openings in her popular young children’s music classes for Spring.  If you’ve been looking for something special for you and your little one, I think you’ll love Shay’s classes at her North Slope Tacoma studio.

Sessions are 15 weeks, and the Spring term starts up February 6 and runs through the end of May.  Registration is going on now, and Shay tells me she has spots for little musicians ages 1 1/2 to 3 in her Wednesday morning and Thursday evening classes, and just two spots left in her Friday morning class for infants!  You can check out the full schedule here, just don’t wait long if you’re interested. She intentionally keeps classes small, and readers have raved about them in the past. Your tuition includes everything you need from music to instruments, and day and evening programs are available for children of all ages, musical abilities, and developmental levels. Your kids will be learning and developing all kinds of skills while they enjoy singing, dancing, and play. My guess? They’ll just think it’s fun!

Email kmwithshay@gmail.com with any questions. Plus, Special Deal Alert! Use code SFM and get a free preview class or 10.00 off your first month’s tuition. Woot!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The opinions are my own. I So appreciate you considering the sponsors who help me keep this site up and running!

I had a great time talking to Phineas of Phineas and Ferb this morning. O.k.-technically I was talking to his human counterpart, Adrian Baez, who plays him in Phineas and Ferb Live, but Adrian acknowledges that he and Phineas have a lot in common. He says he’s the production’s resident expert, often answering questions about the show for others. He added that he even gets told he walks and Zumbas like Phineas. Now that’s getting into character!

I took advantage of the chance to ask Adrian for a little insider scoop on the show, and here is what he had to say.

What would you like to make sure my readers know if they’re thinking of going to the show?

It’s non-stop excitement and full of energy. Come early because a host will be out 15 minutes before the start time to ask the audience Phineas and Ferb trivia questions and teach everyone a platypus dance. The production is super interactive. There will be oversize golf balls coming into the audience, 14 different songs, and all kinds of opportunities for kids to get up and dance, shout directions to the cast, and maybe even come up by the stage.

Be honest-how are the grown-ups going to like the show?

We see kids of all ages and adults laughing and enjoying themselves. Just like the TV show, there is so much humor-there are some parts we notice adults will laugh at first, and then the kids will join in.

I know you’ve been told you were born to play Phineas, but how did you get your start in the business? Any advice to parents of aspiring entertainers?

I decided I wanted to go into entertainment when I was 10. I did chorus in elementary school, and then band in junior high and all kinds of musical theater in high school. Before Phineas and Ferb, I was a performer at Walt Disney World. I’d encourage kids to take advantage of all the opportunities they can to express themselves, whether at school or in the community.

And, finally-if you could create a Phineas and Ferb style invention, what would it be?

I would love a portal that could take me anywhere. There was an episode where Phineas and Ferb invented a phone that transported Candice to the places she talked about. I think that would be awesome if I could talk into a phone and just be on a tropical island!

And……with that, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer! If you didn’t win, don’t forget you can still  buy discounted tickets to this show now. They start at 11.00, plus fees, which isn’t bad for live family entertainment. There are two show times Saturday in Kent at the Showare Center.  Drumroll…..

The Winner of the family 4 pack is…… Heather J! The random number generator selected her comment

My husband got laid off before Christmas and our budget has been extremely tight. The stress is wearing on us as well as our little ones. Phineas and Ferb is a show we watch as a family. We would be more than blessed to win these tickets to share in some family fun and take our mind of the financial stress. Our six year old daughter and three year old son do not understand why we cannot afford to do the extra things! We love your website and emails and take advantage of all of the budget friendly events. Thank you for considering us to win!

Heather, I’ll be in touch with you about how to claim your prize. I hope this is a fun outing for you and your kiddos, and that things look brighter for your family soon. Thanks soooooo much to everyone who entered. I wish I had tickets for you all. I promise to bring you more fun giveaways in the future, and your readership and enthusiasm for them really does make it loads easier for me to score great ones!

Don’t forget to check out Goldstar  for discounted tickets to the show.

I really do think it’s going to be so much fun!

Disclosure: The questions and answers in my interview are paraphrased but accurate reflections of our conversation. Feld Entertainment provided the tickets for this contest and tickets for my family. I was not compensated in any other way, and the opinions are my own. The Goldstar link is my affiliate. Henry is a Phineas and Ferb superfan, and yes, he watches way too much TV. We’re working on it. I think that’s about all……I would also like a portal phone.