Kid Baltimore | Family Activities with Children in Baltimore, Maryland

Gunpowder River Artfest

WHAT: Art and Crafts Festival + Wine

WHERE: Boordy Vineyards

WHEN: June 1, 2013

This is our 4th year with the Gunpowder River Artfest and we couldn't be more excited to spend the day at this event. In addition to over 60 fine art and craft vendors, there will be live music by Nelly's Echo (featured on Season 3 of The Voice) and Midlife Crisis. Wine tastings are included in the adult admission fee. I personally am a little too excited about some of the new food vendors: Flavor Cupcakery (winner of Season 4 Cupcake Wars) and Prigel Creamery.

This is also a kid-friendly event, with children's activities and hula hooping lessons. For more details visit nbcaf.com. Hope to see you there!

Patapsco State Park

We want Spring. We want it now. So today we headed out to Patapsco State Park on a mission. We wanted to find a place to go camping later in the season (they have tent sites and cabins), but more importantly, we wanted Spring. Admittedly, we are pushing things a bit. There is barely any green to be found. But still, it's in the air. 

As we started to explore the trails, we discovered some amazingly steep hills. This trip is not for the stroller set, but my kids are officially big kids now. The twins (age 8 now) are totally up for the challenge. We slowly edged down to the river.

Brilliant move, if I do say so myself. We stopped on the way there for some fried chicken and corn on the cob. 

When did she get so tall?

After much playing, and exploring the railroad tracks, and maybe a little more playing it was back up again. 

 Of course we had to vere off the trail a bit to see a tiny waterfall.

And one more shot, just to prove I was there too. Me and my gorgeous kids.

Patapsco Valley State Park
8020 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City MD 21043

[Map it]

Main Office: 410-461-5005
Reservations: 1-888-432-2267

Just Released – New Version of PrestoBingo Shapes!

We've just released a brand new version of PrestoBingo Shapes, our iPhone and iPad app that teaches basic shapes and counting to kids. I'm particularly excited about this version, because it includes 4 new animated and illustrated shape puzzles. It also has a new swipe feature so you can move between puzzles more easily.

Making this app has been a great project to work on, but it's a big app store, and small developers like us have to work hard to get found. We greatly appreciate tweets, ratings or reviews on the app store. And good old-fashioned word of mouth? Best. Ever.

 

How TV Advertising Targets Our Kids

I recently illustrated a story about TV advertising and children. The top four categories that are marketed to kids? Fast foods, sugared cereals, sugary drinks, and candy. In other words: fat, sugar, sugar, and sugar. Oh, no! You can read the full article, by Dr. Perri Klass, here.

Free Family Art Drop-in at Creative Alliance

WHAT: Family Art Drop-in

WHERE: 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, MD 21224

WHEN: Saturdays, Jan 19-Mar 23, 12-3pm

COST: FREE

Cabin fever anyone? About this time of year I think we all need to find excuses to unburrow from our hiding places and go play. Creative Alliance is hosting a free family drop-in art class, Kerplunk! It begins this weekend and continues every Saturday through March 23. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. No registration is needed. All materials are provided so stop by and create your masterpiece!

Here are some of the upcoming activities:

1/19   Story Boxes- Transform a box into a story about you!        

1/26   Old CDs make shining jewelry. Bling Bling!

2/2     Paintings by Tom Horjus  inspire a cityscape out of straws

2/9     Build a tiny triangular tower from toothpicks and straws

2/16  Design a glowing  poster from fluorescent paper

 

 

Children's Book Illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky

Paul Zelinsky just sent me a copy of one of his children's books. Actually, it was his first-ever picture book, and was published in 1981. He has since gone on to have an amazing children's book career, and I'm thrilled to take a look back to where it started. The inscription reads in my book reads "To Joyce, for the oddest reason — happily, Paul O. Zelinsky. Isn't your curiosity piqued? 

 

The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-shaped House, was adapted from an old rhyming story that Dorothy Brooks found in her mother, Henriette Holzer's notebook. Henriette Holzer was a schoolteacher, and as this story was told, each child would go up to the chalkboard and complete a different part of a picture. I won't tell you anymore, so you can enjoy the surprise.

Zelinsky's illustrations have a wonderful vintage feel, and although the story is an old one, dating back to before 1897, the concept is still so current.

Paul O. Zelinsky was awarded the Caldecott medal in 1998 for Rapunzel. Some of his other more well-known books include:  The Wheels on the Bus, Rumpelstiltskin, Swamp Angel and his latest Z Is for Moose.

For updates on Paul's latest projects, follow him on twitter @paulozelinsky.

Thank you for the lovely book, Paul!