Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in detroit, MI

Survival Tips for a Wintry Spring Break

April 06, 2009

So it's spring break, and not only is it  not springy, it appears winter has returned. Gently falling snow is a blast in December --in April? It's a little much.

The weather is not to supposed to warm up much this whole week, so here are some ideas to get you and your kids though this week without too much cabin fever.

Movie day: Either take your kids to a movie at a real theater for a special treat (matinee shows are usually really cheap) or make a nice snuggly nest of blankets on the couch and settle in for a double DVD feature. Pop popcorn, get movie snacks like Rasinets or JuJuBees, and enjoy some family entertainment.

Picnic lunch: My daughter likes this and it's so simple! We spread out blankets on the floor, invite all her stuffed animals and eat our regular lunch picnic style.

Museums: The Detroit Science Center has its awesome new Kids Town area for little ones with all kinds of cool hands on things, and while most of the exhibits are aimed at older kids, young ones enjoy them too.The Children's Museum also is fun for young children, and some lovely children even enjoy the Detroit Institute of Arts (mine don't, sigh). The Glancy Trains exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum is very popular with kids as well.

Hope these ideas help you all stay sane until the weather warms up or the kids get back into school!  Read more...

Tuesday Top Five: Indoor Play Spots

by Amy Kuras

January 20, 2009

Cold enough for ya? You know it's been chilly when the temps nudging up into the 20s feels like a thaw. And it seems like everybody has been complaining of cabin fever. So here's a list of some of my favorite indoor play spots to let our little ones run off some energy and get a much-needed change of scenery. Jungle Java : My daughter wants to live here. A huge, safe, super fun play  Read more...

Tuesday Top Five: Membership Gifts

by Amy Kuras

December 16, 2008

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that keep on giving all year. I know memberships and such are some of my favorite gifts to give -- and get! We all have so much stuff cluttering up our houses, and a chance to do something fun for free is a lot more valueable to me than yet another thing I have to care for, get batteries for, wash or trip over. Here are some of the better ones:  Read more...

Tuesday Reviews-day, V.2!

by Amy Kuras

December 02, 2008

As the Christmas shopping frenzy dawns, we'll be presenting toy reviews and book reviews for the next few weeks. Here are some toys reviewed elsewhere on Savvy I thought you'd like! Let's Play Measure and Cook : I'll admit we don't own these yet, but they are going on the Christmas list. My daughter loves to cook and it looks like the kind of thing my son will love soon too. Cooking is a fun  Read more...

Some Fun Playgroup Options

by Amy Kuras

October 29, 2008

Are you and your kids part of a playgroup? Our playgroup days are behind us (and probably ahead of us, for the baby) but I know when we were in our baby group through our hospital it could be a problem finding things to do that were reasonably priced, fun for them and us, and not the same old thing. So I thought this offering from the Franklin Athletic Club was  Read more...

It's That Wonderful Time of Year Again!

by Amy Kuras

October 01, 2008

Happy October!! I love fall, love it love it love it. As far as I am concerned, this is the most wonderful time of the year, forget about the holidays. The crisp air, the cool nights, warm fuzzy PJs, cider mills, doughnuts, pumpkins, boots and sweaters for you and tights and vests for your little ones -- AND we get Halloween and Thanksgiving? What more could you want from a season? Let  Read more...

Tuesday Top Five: It Takes Two (or More)

by Amy Kuras

September 23, 2008

As much fun as hanging out with just your preschooler is, somethings are just more fun with a pal. Here's my highly subjective list of things that are much more fun to do with a friend or two: Jungle Java : Okay, this one is more a parental sanity-saver. Bring a friend or two for your preschooler and you can kick back and relax, free of constant cries of Watch me, Mommy! Watch me! Bike and  Read more...

Hey, Hey Hockeytown!

by Amy Kuras

September 11, 2008

So hockey moms and their lipstick -- have been in the news a lot lately. And no matter where you stand politically, you can't deny that we are, here in Hockeytown, big hockey fans. And that goes for all levels of hockey, from the mightiest little Mites to big kids, right up to the Wings. To me, as a city person, it seems like hockey is more or less a suburban phenomenon; there aren't a lot of  Read more...

Arrrr, Matey! Pirates at the Science Center

by Amy Kuras

August 07, 2008

Pirates are hot and nowhere more so than the Detroit Science Center, where the exhibit " Shipwreck: Pirates and Treasure " is packing them in. While it's recommended for grades three and up, there are things that are friendly to younger kiddos. And with Wacky Pirate Wednesdays , you can get free admission to the exhibition (with paid admission to the museum) if you or OK, your kids, most likely  Read more...

Grandparent Outings: Talking History

by Amy Kuras

June 16, 2008

If you're lucky enough to have parents who live nearby or who visit frequently enough it sometimes seems that they do you get to witness the wonder of that special, besotted sort of love grandparent feel for their grandkids. We're lucky enough to live a few miles away from my parents, and the relationship between them and my children is one of the joys of my life (added perk free babysitting!).  Read more...

Budding Art Critic

by Amy Kuras

June 02, 2008

Probably my favorite place in the whole city, nay, the whole metro area, is right at the corner of Woodward and Farnsworth. On one side, the gorgeously-renovated Detroit Institute of Arts , and on the other, the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. The two huge white marble sturcutures sit impressively back from the street facing each other, like two lions of knowledge and culture. Before  Read more...

Five Things to Do On a Rainy Day

by Amy Kuras

May 27, 2008

We're not in one of the rainier parts of the world, but there's always that week in the summer where it seems like it rains every single day. Sure, there's curling up and watching Noggin, arts and crafts, and floor picnics, but after awhile even the most creative parents feels like we're climbing the walls after being trapped cooped up with small kids raging maniacs all day. So here's our top  Read more...