Special Event this weekend! The Arlington County Fair is operational August 6-10. Click on the link for more details. We have not been previously but we are hoping to take advantage of the nice weather predicted for the weekend and head out to see the Little Piggie Races at 11:30 on Saturday (other times available).
There is also going to be a petting zoo, pony rides, and carnival rides. Our daughter is too young to partake in most of these activities but she will have fun watching and maybe there will be a carousel for her.
Location:
Thomas Jefferson Community Center
3501 2nd Street South
Arlington, VA
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Arlington County Classes
Arlington County Department of Recreation has released the schedule for Fall Classes. There are many different classes for all ages (starting at birth). All classes are Mommy and Me until the child is 3 at which point it varies. Registration begins on 08/21/08. You can register online, by mail, fax, phone, or in person.
Classes we have previously taken include:
Waterbabies ~
Swimming with the little ones. My husband did this class with my daughter when she was about 10 months old and it was nice time for them to bond together. He actually learned a lot of techniques for playing with her in a swimming pool and getting her comfortable in the water.
Cost: $90 for 11 sessions
Location: Various locations and times available.
Tiny Time ~
Gymnastics and movement class. I signed up to take this class with my daughter when she was 13 months old. We only were able to attend 3 classes due to illness and planned vacations. Those three classes were quite the workout for me! Since the classes meet in the normal gymnastics center at Barcroft, all the equipment is there for your little one to explore (i.e get hurt on). It is hard to keep a 13 month old from wandering off to various locations. The activities were a little advanced but she had fun just playing with the items that were appropriate for her. I think that now she would enjoy it more since she is comfortable walking and likes to balance, climb, and jump. At 13 months just walking around was enough for her.
Cost: $127 for 13 sessions
Location: Barcroft, multiple days/times available
Signing Smart Beginner Play Class ~
Signing was something that I really wanted to do with my daughter. I was dedicated enough to sign to her for 6 months with no signs from her. Now she has about 100 signs and regularly uses them to communicate. The signs help her to clarify her speech or say things that she doesn't have the words for yet. I highly recommend signing with your child.
That said, we didn't learn a lot of the signs from this class. I liked the instructor and I thought that she was wonderful with the kids. She had lots for them to play with and really made age appropriate choices. The materials we had to purchase for the class were good and bad. The video was terrible (there are much better videos available) but the 'manual' for the parents was very helpful. The parent guide had all the information that that class taught, which was very valuable because I could rarely learn anything from the 'lecture' section of the class due to noise and since I was also trying to entertain my daughter. Overall, it was a great place to meet other parents who shared your interest in signing and it was a nice playgroup for my daughter.
Cost: $147 for 10 sessions PLUS a $47 materials fee
Locations: Various locations and times
Classes that we are considering for this fall:
Water Tots
Tumbling for Toddlers
Abrakadoodle
Classes we have previously taken include:
Waterbabies ~
Swimming with the little ones. My husband did this class with my daughter when she was about 10 months old and it was nice time for them to bond together. He actually learned a lot of techniques for playing with her in a swimming pool and getting her comfortable in the water.
Cost: $90 for 11 sessions
Location: Various locations and times available.
Tiny Time ~
Gymnastics and movement class. I signed up to take this class with my daughter when she was 13 months old. We only were able to attend 3 classes due to illness and planned vacations. Those three classes were quite the workout for me! Since the classes meet in the normal gymnastics center at Barcroft, all the equipment is there for your little one to explore (i.e get hurt on). It is hard to keep a 13 month old from wandering off to various locations. The activities were a little advanced but she had fun just playing with the items that were appropriate for her. I think that now she would enjoy it more since she is comfortable walking and likes to balance, climb, and jump. At 13 months just walking around was enough for her.
Cost: $127 for 13 sessions
Location: Barcroft, multiple days/times available
Signing Smart Beginner Play Class ~
Signing was something that I really wanted to do with my daughter. I was dedicated enough to sign to her for 6 months with no signs from her. Now she has about 100 signs and regularly uses them to communicate. The signs help her to clarify her speech or say things that she doesn't have the words for yet. I highly recommend signing with your child.
That said, we didn't learn a lot of the signs from this class. I liked the instructor and I thought that she was wonderful with the kids. She had lots for them to play with and really made age appropriate choices. The materials we had to purchase for the class were good and bad. The video was terrible (there are much better videos available) but the 'manual' for the parents was very helpful. The parent guide had all the information that that class taught, which was very valuable because I could rarely learn anything from the 'lecture' section of the class due to noise and since I was also trying to entertain my daughter. Overall, it was a great place to meet other parents who shared your interest in signing and it was a nice playgroup for my daughter.
Cost: $147 for 10 sessions PLUS a $47 materials fee
Locations: Various locations and times
Classes that we are considering for this fall:
Water Tots
Tumbling for Toddlers
Abrakadoodle
Friday, August 1, 2008
Music: Mr. Skip at Stacy's Coffee
Stacy's Coffee Shop
Thursday mornings at 10:30am this cute little coffee shop becomes a rockin' spot for the little ones. Mr. Skip (pictured) performs weekly for about 45 minutes. He appeals to the kids sense of humor and engages them in movement while he strums out favorites and original songs. My daughter enjoys her cinnamon raisin bagel served by the ever smiling Jeff and the lattes are pretty good for the mommies. It varies in how crowded it is so to secure a seat I do recommend showing up a little early.
COST: $5.00/child (adults are free)
Inside Fun: Libraries!
Libraries
Arlington County has great libraries. We frequent the Central Library on Quincy. The children's section is large with room to read, puzzles, and computers. There is a weekly all ages story hour, which if my daughter could sit through it, would be very fun. Children as young as 2 years old can have a library card.
Arlington County has great libraries. We frequent the Central Library on Quincy. The children's section is large with room to read, puzzles, and computers. There is a weekly all ages story hour, which if my daughter could sit through it, would be very fun. Children as young as 2 years old can have a library card.
Kid Friendly Stores!
With the oppressive heat bearing down on us, sometimes you just need a new venue to play in. Some stores offer a quick escape for you and your little one. Cost to go is free if you can resist the urge to purchase something :).
Tree Top Kids
We are lucky enough to live about 5 minutes from a Tree Top Kids store. WE LOVE IT! My daughter will play here for about an hour. There are so many toys out for the kids to explore, which I really appreciate because I don't like having to select a toy without touching it. This allows me to see which toys my daughter really likes - if it can hold her attention in a store full of toys, it ought to do well at home. The stuffed animal selection here is fantastic. Some of the toys that they have out include: push toys, a train table, a play kitchen.
Kinder Haus Toys
Similar to Tree Top Kids, but smaller. It does have a nice area with a train table and another table for the kids to play at. Again, there is a good stuffed animal selection. Kinder Haus also sells ballet shoes and accessories.
Borders Bookstore - in Bailey's Crossroads
Bookstores are always fun. This Borders happens to have a very large children's section on the first floor. Tons of books, stuffed animals, and other fun things.
Barnes and Noble Bookstore - in Clarendon
Located upstairs, the children's section is a large portion of this bookstore. There is a train table, a stage area, and reading spaces. Perhaps a smaller selection of toddler books than Borders, but still a lot to see. If you are looking for a large selection, try the Tysons Corner location - every board book you can imagine!
Tree Top Kids
We are lucky enough to live about 5 minutes from a Tree Top Kids store. WE LOVE IT! My daughter will play here for about an hour. There are so many toys out for the kids to explore, which I really appreciate because I don't like having to select a toy without touching it. This allows me to see which toys my daughter really likes - if it can hold her attention in a store full of toys, it ought to do well at home. The stuffed animal selection here is fantastic. Some of the toys that they have out include: push toys, a train table, a play kitchen.
Kinder Haus Toys
Similar to Tree Top Kids, but smaller. It does have a nice area with a train table and another table for the kids to play at. Again, there is a good stuffed animal selection. Kinder Haus also sells ballet shoes and accessories.
Borders Bookstore - in Bailey's Crossroads
Bookstores are always fun. This Borders happens to have a very large children's section on the first floor. Tons of books, stuffed animals, and other fun things.
Barnes and Noble Bookstore - in Clarendon
Located upstairs, the children's section is a large portion of this bookstore. There is a train table, a stage area, and reading spaces. Perhaps a smaller selection of toddler books than Borders, but still a lot to see. If you are looking for a large selection, try the Tysons Corner location - every board book you can imagine!
Inside Fun: DC National Aquarium
Ugh, welcome to late summer in the DC area. It is just too hot to go outside. No matter how wonderful the playground, my daughter is melting after 15 minutes. Time to check out some indoor options.
National Aquarium
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that DC had an aquarium. Though sma
ll, it is the perfect hot day activity. It is located at the Department of Commerce Building and is a fairly easy metro ride from Arlington. Most of the viewing tanks are high off the ground but the first one you see has turtles and alligators and that is on a toddler level. We spent a lot of time watching the turtles.
No restaurant but a nice store.
COST: $7.00/adult, $3.00/ages 2-10, FREE/under 2 years
National Aquarium
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that DC had an aquarium. Though sma
ll, it is the perfect hot day activity. It is located at the Department of Commerce Building and is a fairly easy metro ride from Arlington. Most of the viewing tanks are high off the ground but the first one you see has turtles and alligators and that is on a toddler level. We spent a lot of time watching the turtles.No restaurant but a nice store.
COST: $7.00/adult, $3.00/ages 2-10, FREE/under 2 years
Inside Fun: National Building Museum
Building Zone
A 25 minute metro ride from
The Building Zone is intended for children ages 2-6 but really it is appropriate for any child who can walk and I know a few 9 year olds who would love it. It is a wide open space with every type of block you can imagine, dress up construction clothes, trucks and cars, bean bags (to load up in the trucks), a book corner, a tool center, and even a small model house. I cannot tell you who had more fun my daughter or me but we played for an hour.
In addition to the building zone, your little one can blow off steam by running laps in the HUGE lobby area. Complete with a large fountain that has benches by it for a quick snack this area is a toddler's delight.
There is a Firehook Bakery on sight and an extensive store where you might find time to snag a cute gift for someone.
COST: Donation of $5.00
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