Photo courtesy of Juice Box Jams: Grammy-nominated artist, Wayna headlines Juice Box Jams.
By: Melissa Lauren
I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season! It may be challenging to get the family out and about over the weekends during Winter months but there is always family friendly fun to be had at wonderful educational events in the surrounding areas. Play makes kids smarter! Play teaches children to figure out how things work, pick up new ideas, build muscle control and strength, use their imagination, solve problems, and learn how to cooperate with others. Remember, you can always search What’s Up? Calendar at whatsupmag.com and owse under the category “Family Fun” to narrow your search while making plans for the kiddos. Introducing your children to new and varied experiences will encourage their curiosity and they will be grateful for making memories and having fun adventures with you!
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Fun Factoid – Did you know play makes kids ains grow smarter? “The most important role that play can have is to help children be active, make choices and practice actions to mastery. They should have experience with a wide variety of content including art, music, language, science, math, and social relations. Exposure to different content is important for the development of a complex and integrated ain. Play that links sensori-motor, cognitive, and social-emotional experiences provides an ideal setting from ain development.”
Source: childdevelopmentinfo.com
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“Play is the work of the child.” – Maria Montessori
Following are my top 3 picks for this weekend's family friendly events:
1. Introducing the first ever Juice Box Jams! It’s gonna be sweet! Juice Box Jams offers children’s concerts and play time with a spotlight on local musicians that perform family-friendly music. Juice Box Jams was started by Billy Zero who has enjoyed a career in the music industry in radio as well as starting his own record label, DJ Boy Records. He even votes for the Grammys! Billy and his creative friends wanted to host an event that would be as fun for parents as it is for kids. Juice Box Jams is a fun party where everyone can rock out while supporting local musicians and being introduced to unique national acts. Special performances include Kidsinger Jim, Pressing Strings, and Wayna. Kidsinger Jim has been singing positively fun songs for kids since 1992 and used to teach music in elementary schools. Pressing Strings is a local favorite, featuring a trio of musicians with a rootsy, funky, and melodic style. Wayna is a grammy-nominated soul singer whose fans include the likes of Stevie Wonder! Wayna will sing as well as performing a mix of freeform reading, rapping, and singing of children’s books. Face Painting and glitter tattoos are available courtesy of Swede Art and there is even a LEGO table! Juice Box Jams will be the first Saturday of every month beginning this Saturday, January 3rd, 11am, at the Pip Moyer Recreational Center, 273 Hilltop Lane, Annapolis, MD 21403. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $10 for admission plus face painting or glitter tattoo, kids under 1 year old are free, and parking is free. Tickets are available online at juiceboxjams.com or by calling 1-800-255-2071. Tickets are not available at the door. After dancing and playing the day away at Juice Box Jams, your kids will think you’re a rockstar!
2. Friday Night Stargazing at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore is every Friday Night 5:30pm-9pm. See the moon, planets, and stars with the historic and now computer controlled Alvan Clark & Sons 8” refracting telescope. Did you know stars are more visible and look clearer and sharper in the Winter months? Cold air holds less moisture than warm air and water vapor causes refraction of light, so dry cold air is clearer than humid warm air. Winter is the best time for stargazing! Call 410-545-2999 after 5pm on Fridays to find out if the observatory will be open that night. Observatory admission is free while access to the museum is just $9 at a discounted rate now through March 6, 2015. The Observatory is on the roof of the Maryland Science Center. On Fridays, enter through the harborside entrance on the northern side of the building facing the Inner Harbor. The Observatory is open to the outdoors, so please dress appropriately. If you have a large group of 20-plus people, please notify them at least a week ahead of time. After your amazing time at the observatory, your kids will love you to the moon and back!
3. Open Gym at 1st Class Gymnastics in Annapolis is every Friday and Saturday evening from 6:30pm to 10:30pm. Drop the kids off for Open Gym class for the perfect date night solution where kids have fun while the parents get away to play. Children must be at least 4 years old. Registration fee is $20 for the first visit and current students, guest fee is $24. Registration is limited based on availability and drop off is 15 minutes prior to the start of class. Your kids will jump for joy and be tuckered out in time for bedtime after your date!
Annapolis/Anne Arundel County:
Ballocity Indoor Playground & Rock Climbing Wall at Pip Moyer Recreational Center, 273 Hilltop Lane, Annapolis, MD 21403, Saturdays, Times Vary, Tickets $6-$10
Ballocity is every Saturday 10am-2pm, an indoor playground with slides, tunnels, and you guessed it, balls! The Rock Climbing Wall is open every Saturday 9am-12:30pm. Rock climbing kids must be at least 5 years old.
Home Depot Kids Workshop: Learn How to Build a Mini Sled, All Home Depot Locations from Annapolis to Bowie and beyond, Saturday, January 3rd 9am-12pm, Free!
Learn how to build a mini sled during this free hands-on workshop designed for children ages 5-12 years old. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a commemorative pin. Kids workshop activities are scheduled on a first come first serve basis. Online registration is available although not necessary. To register visit workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops
The Clay Bakers Annapolis, 151 Main Street, Annapolis, MD 21401, every Saturday 10am-9pm, every Sunday 11am-7pm, Prices vary.
The Clay Bakers is a paint-your-own-pottery studio. It is the perfect place to create one-of-a-kind works of art and spend quality time with your family. Their staff will walk you through the process of creating your very own masterpiece. Prices vary depending on size of pottery but the average cost ranges from $15-$25. No reservations necessary, imagination required.
Eastern Shore:
First Saturday Gallery Walk, South Harrison Street, Easton, MD 21601, Saturday, January 4th 5pm-8pm, Free!
Every first Saturday of the month the art galleries of Downtown Easton offer new shows and have many of their artists present through the evening. Let your budding artist be inspired by introducing them to local artists of The Chesapeake region! For more information visit discovereaston.com.
Home Depot Kids Workshop: Learn How to Build a Mini Sled, Home Depot 115 E. North Pointe Drive, Salisbury, MD 21804, Saturday, January 3rd 9am-12pm, Free!
Learn how to build a mini sled during this free hands-on workshop designed for children ages 5-12 years old. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a commemorative pin. Kids workshop activities are scheduled on a first come first serve basis. Online registration is available although not necessary. To register visit workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops
The Clay Bakers Easton, 1 S. Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601, every Saturday 10am-9pm, every Sunday 12pm-6pm, Prices Vary.
The Clay Bakers is a paint-your-own-pottery studio. It is the perfect place to create one-of-a-kind works of art and spend quality time with your family. Their staff will walk you through the process of creating your very own masterpiece. Prices vary depending on size of pottery but the average cost ranges from $15-$25. No reservations necessary, imagination required.
Regional:
Great Scale Model Train Show, B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21223, Saturday 9am-5pm, January 3rd and Sunday 10am-4pm, January 4th, $10.
See the most extensive selection of model railroad items and accessories in the country. Model railroad items and accessories are available for sale. Appearances by Choo Choo Blue, train rides, indoor carousel rides and more. For ages 2 and older.
imagiNATIONS Activity Center at The National Museum of The American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20560, Saturdays & Sundays 10am-5pm, Free!
Visitors of all ages enjoy a multitude of learning experiences about Native peoples and their culture through hands-on activities including: giant basket weaving, snowshoe and skateboard transportation, tipi, Pueblo adobe house, and buffalo exhibits. Visitors receive a passport with real tribal seals on their journey through the center. Stories from Native authors are available for reading in the story room. The Native Beats Music Room lets kids explore music with Native percussion instruments and kids can create tribal art to take home in the crafts room.
To view more events taking place this weekend, please owse our Online Calendar. Be sure to Follow What’s Up? on Twitter and Like Us on Facebook For coverage of your community event, please send press releases to mlauren@whatsupmag.com
