Kids and Family Easter Store

Happy Easter! This year we help you find everything for the holiday in the Kids and Family Easter Store






Kids’ Easter Apparel: From Easter dresses to suits & sport coats, help your kids dress their best with adorable clothing from Amazon Apparel. Save up to 30% on select Kids’ clothes

Easter Treats: Get ready for Easter with chocolate bunnies, candies, and Easter baskets filled with yummy treats. Plus save $10 on select Easter baskets or save 15% or more on gourmet gifts this Easter, all at Amazon Gourmet.
Easter Books: From Horton Hatches the Egg to Peter Rabbit, find new and classic stories that the whole family can enjoy.

Easter Toys: Fill your kids’ baskets with Easter toys starting at less than $10. Also explore games, plush, kites, traditional Easter goodies, and other spring favorites:

Clouded Leopard Birth at National Zoo

Two clouded leopard babies were born at the National zoo's Conservation and Research Center.

The cubs are the first of their kind to be born at the zoo in 16 years, and hand-raising is crucial to ensure their survival. Parents Hannibal and Jao Chu were imported from Thailand last year.

The gestation period for clouded leopards is about 86 to 93 days. The average litter size for clouded leopards is two to five cubs. Clouded leopard cubs weigh about half a pound when born.

These cats are native to Southeast Asia and parts of China in a habitat that ranges from dense tropical evergreen forests to drier forests if there is suitable prey.

They are the smallest of the big cats, weighing 30 to 50 pounds and measuring about five feet long. Their short legs, large paws, and long tail, which accounts for half their length, help them balance on small branches, and their flexible ankles allow them to run down trees headfirst.

Related Links:
Video and Photos of the cubs

Checkout ZooBorns for more baby animal births at zoos and aquariums around the world

Here Comes Peter Cottontail - Hoppin’ Down the Strasburg Rails

Strasburg, Pa. – Hop into the season with an Easter tradition at the Strasburg Rail Road.
Travel with Peter Cottontail as an authentic steam train takes you on a 45-minute journey from the East Strasburg Station to Paradise, Pa. and back.
Also enjoy a ride on our miniature steam train, or steer the Cranky Cars around a track.
For a look behind-the-scenes take a tour of the Mechanical Shop where trains are built and refurbished.
For a special treat, tempt your taste buds in our Dining Car, our Trackside Restaurant or pack your own lunch for an Easter picnic at Groff’s Grove.
The Easter Bunny Train pulls into the station April 10 - 12, 2009.

Trains depart hourly from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Friday and Sunday.
On Saturday, trains depart on the hour between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Adult coach fares (age 12+) are $15,
child coach fares (ages 3-11) are $9
and infant coach fares (under 3) are $2.
Tickets can be pre-purchased at: http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/
or by calling 717-687-7522.
Tickets can also be purchased at the ticket window.
As one of Pennsylvania’s leading family attractions, Strasburg Rail Road is known for its picturesque ride through Lancaster County’s farmland. Traveling past more than 1,000 acres of farmland, the ride provides one of the best views the county has to offer.

National Reading Month

March is National Reading Month
National Reading Month is an effort that commences in early March with Read Across America day, celebrating the birthday, life and literature of Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) and promoting the importance of reading to millions across the United States.

Reading to Your Child Every Day
Long before your child can read for himself, you can give him an ear for language, a thirst for learning and a love of books. Researchers now know that a child’s early experiences with books greatly influence his ability to learn to read. Entering kindergarten with these early literacy skills increases a child’s chances for academic success.
Pre-reading Opens to the Door to Reading
Reading aloud and sharing stories with your child provides a foundation for reading and helps your child build the prereading concepts he needs before he can learn to read:
Print Motivation: An interest in books and reading.
Narrative Skills: The ability to describe things and events and tell stories.
Letter Awareness: The understanding that letters are different from each other, and the eventual recognition of their names and sounds.
Book and Print Awareness: The consciousness of letters and words on a page, and knowing how to handle a book.
Vocabulary: The ability to understand and use the correct names for things.
Phonological Awareness: The ability to identify the smaller sounds in words.

Nine Tips for Reading with Your Child
Read aloud. Plan time each day to read aloud to your child. As you read, make sure your child can see the illustrations. Explain words that your child does not understand, using the illustrations to help. After reading a story, discuss it with your child. Reread the same book several times.
Follow me. Point to each word as you say it, letting your child watch as you point to the words in order, move down line by line and go from one page to the next. This activity will help your child learn that reading goes from left to right and from the top of the page to the bottom.
Cover to cover. Before you begin a story, explore the parts of the book with your child. Talk about the front cover, back cover, first page and last page. Read the names of the author and illustrator and look at their pictures and biographies. Help your child learn to name the parts of a book.
Think about it. As you read to your child, pose questions about the story. For example, ask: How do you think the pig feels? Why do you think she feels happy? What was your favorite part of the story?
Say it again. When you read a story that repeats the same word or phrase many times, let your child say it each time it appears. Read until it becomes clear that a particular word or phrase is repeated. Then tell your child that the next time you come to the word or phrase, you will stop and give the signal for him to say it.
Everyday reading. Books are not the only print material you can read aloud with your child. You can also read mail, package labels, menus, signs or instructions. Read the print aloud and talk about why what you are reading is important or helpful.
Bringing it home. When you read with your child, help him make connections between stories and real life. Ask: Do you know anybody who is like that? Have you ever felt that way? What would you do if that happened to you?
Read me a story. Let your child “pretend read” a story he knows well. Have him hold the book, turn the pages and “read” the book to you. He will use memory and illustrations to tell the story in his own words.
Find the word. Before or after you read a story, point out a word that is repeated many times in the story, such as bear or pig. Ask him to find the word on other pages.

---

Savings:
Save up to $10 with Leapfrog when you pledge to read with a child
Free Download of four Dr Suess Books

St. Patricks Day Scavenger Hunt

Pot of Gold scavenger hunt.
Send the kids on a treasure hunt for that elusive pot 'o gold.
Tell them you found the Leprechaun's secret map to his treasure chest. Then have fun as they look for clues leading to their prize.
You can also get the kids involved in making the chest before hiding it.


Time involved:
One to two hours, plus hunting time

Materials:

• Newspaper


• Unfinished wooden or cardboard treasure chest (You can buy a wooden treasure chest or use a wooden or cardboard box.)


• Green craft paint


• Paintbrushes


• White glue


• Water


• Disposable cup


• Gold glitter


• Acrylic gemstones


• Glue gun


• Candy coins wrapped in gold foil


• Pieces of copy paper


• Scissors


• Glitter pen

---

Directions:
Cover your work area with newspapers to protect it.
Paint the treasure chest with green craft paint and allow it to dry.
Make a mixture of 1/3 cup glue and 2 tablespoons water in the disposable cup and mix together. Paint the glue mixture onto the painted chest.
Sprinkle the glitter onto the chest and allow it to dry. Glue the acrylic gemstones around the chest.
Place the candies inside the chest.

Game Play
Cut three pieces of copy paper in half.
Using the glitter pen, write clues to locations inside or outside your home that the kids can figure out.
For example, you could write Where you sleep to lead them to their bed.
The next clue will be placed somewhere around their bed, and so on, until the treasure chest is found. For younger children who can not read yet you can draw or paste pictures of the clues.

Tip
Here's how to avoid making a mess and wasting glitter: Fold a piece of copy paper in half and then open it up. Set the object on the paper and sprinkle the glitter onto it. When dry, remove the object from the paper and bump the glitter to the fold in the center. Pour the unused glitter back into the container.

Stuff to do with kids in New Jersey - March 2009

Charlotte's Web
MARCH 1 - Sunday, 1 & 3 pmAll the enchanting charactersare here: Wilbur, Fern, Templetonand of course, Charlotte.This beautiful musical about friendship will leave you spellbound. All ages.
Address: Saddle River Valley Cultural Center
305 West Saddle River Road
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

Tenafly Nature Center
Seasonal Scavenger Hunt Saturday, February 28
arrive anytime between 2-4 pm Using a set of clues, journey along a trail here at the Tenafly Nature Center to search for answers to a set of natural riddles. You will need to help each other to find the solutions while you have a great time enjoying the outdoors. In case of inclement weather, program is cancelled. Program intended for adults and families. Everyone gets a prize at the end! All ages welcome. Pre-registration requested.Members $5 / Family maximum $20 Non-members $10 / Family maximum $30

Seasonal Family Campfires SpringSaturday, March 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30-8:00pm Learn about seasonal changes, listen to stories, make S’mores. If the weather is inclement we’ll use the fireplace in the pavilion or have an indoor program. Program intended for adults & families with children 5 years and older. Space is limited. Pre-Registration required.Members $5 each / Non-members $10 each


Newark Museum - American Girl Fashion Show
Saturday, March 28 & Sunday, March 29
10:30 am & 3:30 pm (each day)

Circus Science
Saturday & Sunday, February 28 & March 110:30 am–4:30
Call 973-596-5150 for information or advance ticket purchases.
Admission to all performances and activities in on a first-come basis.
Join the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for incredible activities, and discover the circus science that circus performance is famous for, including techniques for balance and theories of gravity. All-day activities include trapeze, balloon artistry, magic and more.

Home Depot Kids Workshop March 7th
The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.
Find Your Local Store



A Dolphin Up a Tree! at the Bergen PAC
Sat., Mar. 7 - 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM Tickets $17
"The children feel as if they have shared in some magic, which of course they have: the spell of the theater." --The New York Times

DORA THE EXPLORER LIVE! At the State Theatre in New Jersey
Tue, Mar 10 to Wed, Mar 11
Everyone's favorite Latina heroine stars in her own live adventure in "Search for the City of Lost Toys." Dora, along with Boots, Swiper and all her friends, needs the help of the audience to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles to find her lost teddy bear. Come sing along and learn a little Spanish too! It's an exciting musical for the whole family!

BALL IN THE HOUSE at The Paper Mill Playhouse
Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 10:00 am
Ages 5 to 14 (grades K to 8)
The “wow” factor is on full display with this exceptional quintet of singers. Also known as “The Cool Whip Guys,” (since they do the Cool Whip© commercials!) Ball in the House is one of the most popular a cappella groups ever! The sounds these guys make (using just their voices!) are so rich and layered, audience members wonder where the instruments are hidden! A cappella has never sounded better, nor been so educational.

The Peking Acrobats at the Berrie Center Ramapo State College
Saturday, March 14 3 and 7:30 p.m.
The Chinese acrobats at back for their annual performance at the Berrie Center, where they sell out year after year. Bring the entire family to experience their thrilling feats of physical impossibility!

Shapes in the Sky 26 at The Planetarium at County College of Morris
Register now for Saturday, April 18, 2008 -- 11:00, 1:00, 3:00 This is part of our series of programs dedicated especially for children ages 3 to 7, with fun for every age! For thousands of years, all over the world, people have imagined shapes among the stars, we’ll learn about many of these shapes and hear the stories behind them.

Spread the Love with Savings in February

Leapster Discounts for Girls Save 20% and Leapster Discount for Boys Save 20%

Get Ready for your Super Bowl or Valentines Day Party and save at:
Party City $10 Coupon

CVS: Buy $20 of PepsiCo products get $10 extra bucks

Old Navy is having a Sale with items as low as 1.99 and complete toddler outfits for Valentines Day starting at 9.95

1-800 Flowers save 15% Promo Code: CPMTN15

Wal-mart photo gifts for under $20

American Girl: $10 off a $30 purchase expires Feb 2009
Code: 153302

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

ALL TICKETS $10* for weekday performances!
SAVE 20%* on weekend performances!
when you order by Fri. FEB. 13!
Use Customer Code Z3986

Staples: Get a $229 computer desk for $159 Special Deal now $50 off plus another $20 of when you use Promo Code: 88280 (Free Delivery included)

Love out Loud

The other day I was driving past a Hallmark store where I saw a poster in the window for Valentine's Day that read "Love out Loud". When I got home after another "long" day at work and a 45 minute drive I was greeted by my daughter voice excitedly yelling Daddy-Daddy-Daddy she then ran down the stairs and jumped into my arms to give me a big hug. It immediately struck me that this is Loving out Loud. No reserve just pure emotion. The cares and worries that I had accumulated that day were erased in that moment. My daughter has taught me a great deal about and for that I will always be grateful. Hopefully these lessons will help me to be a better parent able to treat her, even during trying times with love, patience, and kindness.