Being Savvy: Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers and kids in Detroit, MI

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Tuesday Top Five: April Fool's Day Fun!

March 31, 2009

Yay! It's April!
Okay, if you have low tolerance for pranks or silliness, tomorrow is not so much of a fun day. If you love them, like me, you've been looking forward to April Fool's Day with great glee.

Now, of course, with little kids there's a fine line between "prank" and "just being mean to a little kid for no reason." So here are some fun ways to celebrate his day of foolishness with your little ones -- they are, after all, delightfully goofy and love to make us laugh!

Funny clothes: At my daughter's school, they are letting the kids wear PJs on April Fool's Day and bring a favorite stuffed animal to cuddle during story time. Just make sure to coordinate with the teachers and other parents so your kid isn't the only one coming to school dressed strangley tomorrow!

Backwards Day: Have, say, chicken and vegetables for breakfast, something strange for lunch and pancakes or scrambled eggs for dinner.

Poisson D'Avril: In France and French-speaking Canada, children go around trying to stick paper fish to people's backs without their noticing on April 1, hence le poisson d'Avril (April Fish). Cut out the fish today, and have them ready to tape tomorrow. This is a fun, kind-spirited prank that shouldn't result in scared or hurt feelings!

Other Pranks: Family Fun magazine has a whole host of things to do on April Fool's Day. Quite frankly I think some of them are gross (messages in the toilet? Ew), but some are cute (I like the balloon swarm thing).

Jokes: If none of these other things work out for your family, there's always joke-telling. My daughter loves knock-knock jokes. Enjoy (and forgive me).





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Weekend Roundup: Paczki, Music, Mardi Gras and More!

February 20, 2009

I just heard it's supposed to snow, a lot, this weekend. Bye-bye thaw! Nice knowing you!
But assuming we can get out a little bit, there are some things this weekend to tempt you out from underneath your Snuggie:
Elmo's Birthday ! Okay, I always thought Elmo's birthday was Feb. 3, and yes I am deeply embarrassed I know that. Fans of the eternally three-year-old, fuzzy red monster can celebrate at Borders stores this weekend with an Elmo birthday party. There will be stories, games and giveaways, all celebrating the little red guy kids love to love and grownups love to grumble over.

Mardi Gras: If an independent bookstore is more your thing, the fabulous folks at Ladels in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit are helping kids create Mardi Gras masks and flags for a Mardi Gras parade.

Mardi Gras, Detroit Style: In other parts of the world, the last Tuesday before Lent is all about festivity and food and color and letting loose. In Detroit, we go crazy for what's essentially a jelly doughnut --although  being Polish myself, I can tell you exactly why the paczki is different than your standard issue Dunkin's fare. Just for starters, there is more egg and fat in the dough and it's generally more rich. And a real packzi has things like prune or custard, none of this happy fruity filling!
If you haven't introduced your kids to this goofy Detroit tradition yet, you can avoid the crowd on P-Day itself with the Countdown to Paczki Day event in Hamtramck on Saturday. Sample free paczki, see tradtional Polish dancers, play the paczki toss, and enjoy polka music. Buses will take revelers around to the different bakeries later in the day. It's in the Hamtramck Town Center parking lot at Holbrook and Jos Campau.
Perhaps a little music is more your thing. the Jewish Community Center hosts its annual Stephen Gottleib Music Festival. Sunday is Family Day, and a highlight for families of young children would be the Kids and Strings Concert Sunday at 2 at the Jimmy Prentis Morris Center in Oak Park. The concert features the Ambassador Quintet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and tickets are only $7 for adults and $4 for children over 3, or $18 for a while family.
So dig out and have fun!
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Growing a Sweet 'Stache for a Good Cause

December 01, 2008

Maybe you've noticed a sudden increase in facial hair among the young guys you encounter, and you've wondered why. Maybe you're just looking for a good cause that raises money in a creative and funny way. In either case, you'll want to know about Mustaches for Kids . Yep. Mustaches. For kids. It works like this: guys (and, heck, girls too if they are so inclined) commenced growing  Read more...

Check Out Our Book Reviews

November 24, 2008

Did you know that not only do we provide you with the incisive and brilliant content here on Being Savvy Detroit (snort) but we also have tons of reviews of books, toys and more? We do -- and my Christmas/Birthdays list is getting longer by the click. Here's my comments on a few of the posts; look for more in the next few weeks. The Snowy Day : We have the protagonist's name wrong on the main  Read more...

Tuesday Top Five: Funny Books

November 18, 2008

I am a big fan of funny books, especially for little kids. Anything that can get them giggling can make that connection with a love of reading. And let's face it, when you have to read the same book over, and over, and over again, its being funny can save your sanity. And with pretty much every news headline around here blaring doom, a good laugh is something we all need. Here are  Read more...

Talk to the Hand: Teaching Geography Via the Great Lakes

August 25, 2008

Our lovely national Being Savvy writers are writing about teaching geography via the waterways. I wasn't sure if I was going to jump in on that. Then, it occurred to me that, hello, we live in the only state where you can hold up your hand to show people where you live which people from other states tend to find kind of goofy but all Michganders love and smile at each other for doing. If nothing  Read more...

Escaping the Dream Cruise III: A Stroll (And Some Silly Fun) in the Park

August 15, 2008

Why breathe exhaust fumes while staring at traffic and crowds at the Dream Cruise, when you can enjoy some nice fresh air and non-polluting fun? Wayne County Parks are hosting their annual "Kids Day" event Saturday afternoon from 1-3 pm. There will be water balloon races, silly Olympic-style events, bounce houses, and entertainment. It's at the Hines Park Nankin Mills Picnic Area in Westland.  Read more...

Good, Dirty Fun!

July 07, 2008

How much fun is this? Wayne County Parks annual Mud Day is Tuesday! Which is exactly what it sounds like according to the parks people it's 2,000 feet of topsoil, 20,000 gallons of water, and lots and lots of kids running around in the mud. Organizers request that kids wear bathing suits or old clothes, and there's a changing area for kids to get hosed off and put on fresh clothing, so bring a  Read more...

More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in detroit

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Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle

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Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune

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Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues

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Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors

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Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun

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A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories

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Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites

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Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet

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The Most Fun in Life Is Free!

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The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots

The Voice of Being Savvy detroit:
Amy Kuras

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