Boulder Family Events: August 10 to August 16, 2012

August 10 to August 16, 2012

Listed here are some great family events. Most are free. They are all opportunities to be together as a family and engage your kids of all ages. HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK!

Special Events: Aladdin performed at Rocky Mtn Theater for Kids, Asian Aloha Festival, Dr. Noize in Concert, Fairy Tale Festival, & FREE Day at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Friday, August 10

Saturday, August 11

Sunday, August 12

Monday, August 13

  • Rise and Shine Storytime @ Barnes & Noble. 9:30am. Don’t forget the fun train table!
  • Children’s Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. 10:15 to 11:00am.
  • International Summer Celebration at the Main Boulder Library. This is an international celebration with storytelling, dance performances, and music from a variety of countries. 11:00am.
  • Meadow Music. This is a treat for families and includes live music and nature education. Consider bringing a picnic and enjoy the show. Ages 2 to 8 [but all ages are welcome!]. 5:30 to 6:45pm at Chautauqua

Tuesday, August 14

  • Children’s Storytime at George Reynolds Branch Library. 10:15 to 11:00am. Ongoing event.
  • Read to the Dog at Meadows Branch Library. Please call ahead to reserve a time to read to this gentle dog [15 minute blocks]. Kids love it! 3:30 to 5:30pm.
  • Dance for Children [and the Whole Family]! Participatory dance program for children of all ages and their parents! A fun way to learn dances from around the world, find out what young folks like in other countries. Outside on the Plaza beside the Dushanbe Teahouse, 1770 13th (between Arapahoe & Canyon) in Boulder. Free. All ages. 6:15 to 7:00pm. Ongoing activity.
  • Walker Ranch Family-Friendly Sunset Hike. Join Boulder County Parks & Open Space for a beautiful  hike. Volunteer naturalists will interpret each park’s history, geology, ecosystems, wildlife, and plants. Bring your family and friends to enjoy an evening exploring your local parks. 6:30 to 8:30pm. Free. All ages.

Wednesday, August 15

  • Wednesday Storytime @ Main Boulder Library. 10:15 to 11:30am. Free. Ongoing.
  • Storytime and Kids Hike. Join OSMP to hear stories and take a kid-friendly hike at Chautauqua. 9:30 to 10:30am. Free. 3 to 6 year olds and their caregivers.
  • Family Garden Story and Song Time with Kristin at Barnes and Nobles. Free. All ages. 1:00pm.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. 4:00 to 8:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Valmont Bike Park Family Rides. Bring the bikes and the family for fun rides on the amazing terrain at Boulder’s coolest bike park. All ages. 4:00 to 6:00pm. Free.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 4:00 to 8:00pm. All ages
  • Band on the Bricks on Pearl: A different band each week will rock Pearl Street! This is an ongoing event each Weds night throughout the summer. All ages. 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Thursday, August 16

Upcoming Events:
  • Kids Races in Boulder: August 30. Lengths vary, but these are just pure fun for families! Click the link to find out how to register and more information.

Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.

#families, #free, #boulder, #events, #boulderfamilies #August

Taming The Stuff: Storage of Kids’ Art, School Projects, Etc…

Kids’ art work organized on the wall in frames.

Every year I promise I will get better at organizing my kids’ art projects, school projects, etc.. To be honest I still have the bags of items that came home from school and need to be sorted through in my office closet. This used to be the bane of my existence because I loved everything they created, beat myself up over needing to keep it for them [and us], and at the same time was overwhelmed by the sheer quantity. Here are a few suggestions of how to tame the stuff:

1. Buy Frames for Special Art. The pieces we love go on the wall in our dining room. Nicely displayed in matching frames I purchased at Michael’s. They come in different sizes and you can open them easily so I can slip in new pieces and remove the old ones when the time comes. These types of frames are often on sale. Just buy lots of them if you care about them matching.

2. Create a Designated Place for All School Work/Art.I put two [I have 2 kids] file folders [the accordion type] in a file drawer with each of my kid’s names & school year on the front. When items come home I look them over to see if anything still needs to be done with them, then I put it all in the folder. This includes report cards, art, work, etc… I can cull through that pile any time. Don’t forget to put a name and date on each piece.

Accordion file with my kids’ school/art for the year

3. Buy a Large Tupperware for Each Child. After I have culled through the yearly accordion file I move them to a tupperware I created for each of my kids. I keep the accordion files by year in the tupperware. Larger art pieces go in the tupperware along the edge. Don’t forget to date these items.

A few reminders:

  • Take the first pass at their art/school work file without kids. Then you can include them to see what is important to them.
  • Write your child’s name and grade/age on items as you file them. Especially if you have more than one child.
  • It’s not too early to create a storage system–even if you have a very young child. The amount of work created will only increase as they get older.
  • Whatever you do, make it easy for yourself. If it’s not easy you won’t do it.

How do you store your kids’ stuff? What works best?

Boulder Family Events: August 3 to August 9, 2012

This Weeks Special Events: Free Days at Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Art Museum, Boulder History Museum, & Children’s Museum of Denver; Boulder Historic Train Unveiling; Boulder County Fair; Boulder Outdoor Cinema–The Muppets; Pearl Street Mile Race; & The Gustafer Yellowgold Show

Friday, August 3

Saturday, August 4

  • City of Boulder’s Historic Train Unveiling at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Come see Boulder’s restored locomotive, coach & caboose. FREE admission to the museum for Boulder residents. 10:00 to Noon. All ages.
  • FREE Day at the Denver Art Museum. Free. All ages. All day.
  • Bears, Bears, Bears! It’s black bear season! Join OSMP for a moderate hike to learn what bears are up to this time of year? Are they dangerous? How do I know if one is close by? Learn all about these fascinating animals, including what motivates them, what we can learn from them, and how to behave around them.  Meet at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. Free. All ages. 8:00 to 10:30am.
  • French/English Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free.
  • Home Depot Kids Club. Kids can stop by the stores to build something of their own. The themes change every week. 1st/3rd Saturday each month. Free. All ages. 9 to Noon.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. 8:00 to 2:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 8:00am to 2:00pm. All ages
  • Twenty Ninth Street Live! Opening band at 6:15pm. Main band at 7:30pm. This is a fun family-friendly event!
  • Boulder County Fair runs through Sunday, August 4. There are many free events for families. More information here.
  • Boulder Outdoor Cinema bring The Muppets to Boulder tonight.

Sunday, August 5

  • Go Club for Kids & Teens at the Main Boulder Library. 2:00 to 5:30pm. Ages 5 and up. Free. “Learn to play the ancient and mysterious game of Go.”
  • Boulder County Fair‘s final day. There are many free events for families. More information here.
  • FREE Day at Boulder History Museum. All ages.
  • The Gustafer Yellowgold Show at the Main Boulder Library. International phenomenon and acclaimed by The New York Times, which described Gustafer as “A cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss.” Gustafer Yellowgold’s Show is a multi-media performance of live music, animated illustrations,and storytelling. Free. All ages. 1:00pm & 3:00pm shows.

Monday, August 6

Tuesday, August 7

  • FREE Day at the Children’s Museum of Denver. Free. All ages. 4:00 to 8:00pm.
  • Children’s Storytime at George Reynolds Branch Library. 10:15 to 11:00am. Ongoing event.
  • Dance for Children [and the Whole Family]! Participatory dance program for children of all ages and their parents! A fun way to learn dances from around the world, find out what young folks like in other countries. Outside on the Plaza beside the Dushanbe Teahouse, 1770 13th (between Arapahoe & Canyon) in Boulder. Free. All ages. 6:15 to 7:00pm. Ongoing activity.

Wednesday, August 8

  • Wednesday Storytime @ Main Boulder Library. 10:15 to 11:30am. Free. Ongoing.
  • Family Garden Story and Song Time with Kristin at Barnes and Nobles. Free. All ages. 1:00pm.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. 4:00 to 8:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Valmont Bike Park Family Rides. Bring the bikes and the family for fun rides on the amazing terrain at Boulder’s coolest bike park. All ages. 4:00 to 6:00pm. Free.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 4:00 to 8:00pm. All ages
  • Band on the Bricks on Pearl: A different band each week will rock Pearl Street! This is an ongoing event each Weds night throughout the summer. All ages. 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Thursday, August 9

Upcoming Events:
  • Kids Race August 30. Lengths vary, but these are just pure fun for families! Click the link to find out how to register and more information.
  • Fairy Tale Festival at Kids Row August 11. Fairy parade, face painting, & other fun for the kids.

Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.

#families, #free, #boulder, #events, #boulderfamilies #August

August 1st is Colorado Day!

Colorado Day is August 1, 2012. Happy 136th birthday to Colorado!

  • Admission to the History Colorado Center [new history center in Denver] is FREE on Colorado Day [regularly $10/adults & Children $6]! There are special events going on all day including a magician at the newly opened History Colorado Center. They are sure to make it fun for kids and adults alike. Also see the cool LEGO-rado display which will be gone soon. Free. All ages. 10:00 to 5:00pm.
  • Information on Colorado History for adults and older kids. Do you know your colorado history?
  • Colorado History for Kids from Colorado.gov. Kids can learn the basics of Colorado history here.

Happy Wednesday!!!!!

Boulder Family Events: July 27 to August 2, 2012

Summer Feet!

July 27 to August 2, 2012

Listed here are some great family events. Most are free. They are all opportunities to be together as a family and engage your kids of all ages. HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK!

This Weeks Special Events: Walker Ranch Summer Heritage Day, Noon Tunes Puppet Show, Sketch & Stroll with OSMP, & The Boulder County Fair Opens

Friday, July 27

Saturday, July 28

  • Children’s Saturday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. Ongoing activity.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. 8:00 to 2:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 8:00am to 2:00pm. All ages
  • Twenty Ninth Street Live! presents Chris Daniels & The Kings at 29th Street Mall. Opening band at 6:15pm. Main band at 7:30pm. This is a fun family-friendly event!

Sunday, July 29

  • Walker Ranch Summer Heritage Day. See costumed volunteers demonstrating chores and activities of ranch life. Your family can participate in many old fashioned chores and activities. Free. 10:00 to 4:00pm.
  • Go Club for Kids & Teens at the Main Boulder Library. 2:00 to 5:30pm. Ages 5 and up. Free. “Learn to play the ancient and mysterious game of Go.”
  • The Taming of the Shrew is brought into the modern day by the Longmont Theater and presented at the Community Park in Louisville, so bring a picnic and pull up some grass for the whole family to watch a fun performance. Free. All ages. 4:00pm.

Monday, July 30

  • Rise and Shine Storytime @ Barnes & Noble. 9:30am. Don’t forget the fun train table!
  • Children’s Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. 10:15 to 11:00am.
  • No Meadow Music this week. This is a treat for families and includes live music and nature education. Consider bringing a picnic and enjoy the show. Ages 2 to 8 [but all ages are welcome!]. 5:30 to 6:45pm at Chautauqua

Tuesday, July 31

  • Children’s Storytime at George Reynolds Branch Library. 10:15 to 11:00am. Ongoing event.
  • Sketch and Stroll with OSMP. Take a stroll and sketch nature on this easy hike, suitable for families. Free. Ages 7+.
  • Dance for Children [and the Whole Family]! Participatory dance program for children of all ages and their parents! A fun way to learn dances from around the world, find out what young folks like in other countries. Outside on the Plaza beside the Dushanbe Teahouse, 1770 13th (between Arapahoe & Canyon) in Boulder. Free. All ages. 6:15 to 7:00pm. Ongoing activity.

Wednesday, August 1

  • Boulder County Fair opens today and runs through Sunday, August 4. There are many free events for families. More information here.
  • Wednesday Storytime @ Main Boulder Library. 10:15 to 11:30am. Free. Ongoing.
  • Family Garden Story and Song Time with Kristin at Barnes and Nobles. Free. All ages. 1:00pm.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. 4:00 to 8:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Valmont Bike Park Family Rides. Bring the bikes and the family for fun rides on the amazing terrain at Boulder’s coolest bike park. All ages. 4:00 to 6:00pm. Free.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 4:00 to 8:00pm. All ages
  • Band on the Bricks on Pearl: A different band each week will rock Pearl Street! This is an ongoing event each Weds night throughout the summer. All ages. 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Thursday, August 2

  • Children’s Storytime at Boulder Public Library. 10:15 to 11:00. Free. Ongoing activity.
  • Grand Rabbits Playdate. Ages 2 to 6 join with their peers for a playdate replete with a different theme each week. Free. 10:30 to 11:15am. Caregivers required to stay.
  • Boulder County Fair’s Young Guns Kids’ Rodeo. Kids enjoy the fun atmosphere of this kid oriented rodeo. They can enter the stick pony pull or the goat tail pull for a small entry fee. Kids under 5 are free, the rest need tickets [$5 to $15]. 6:00pm.
Upcoming Events:
  • Kids Races in Boulder: August 9, August 30. Lengths vary, but these are just pure fun for families! Click the link to find out how to register and more information.

Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.

#families, #free, #boulder, #events, #boulderfamilies #July #August

Boulder Families Event Review: Treasure Island by Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Exciting. Intriguing. Pirate-like. Captivating. Adventurous. These are the words 8 and 10 year olds used to describe the performance of Treasure Island by the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Earlier this week we had the opportunity to head to campus and watch this great play under the stars in an intimate outdoor setting. There was not a bad seat in the house! They did not know the story going in [I had meant to read the book to them before hand, but vacations got in the way!], but they were captivated by the experience and the story right away. Kids who love pirates, adventure and/or just a well acted story will love this show! 

We started over evening by parking on The Hill and walking over to campus. As we walked up we found people picnicking on the grass in front with characters singing to set the mood. We immediately found the food cart and purchased a cookie and we knew we were in for something special–the tone was set. We entered the building and handed in our tickets to find a mom and child ushering–it felt family-friendly right away. A quick read over all the information in the program offered the kids a brief synopsis of what was going to unfold. They were so serious the whole time which is a bit unlike two boys sitting together at 6:30pm when they generally find a way to wind each other up. The play started and immediately we were all swept in and an hour had passed when intermission was upon us. I was excited to see that there were snacks as well as kid-friendly and adult-friendly drinks available. We got a little something because who can resist during intermission at a play?

Swash buckling, gun fights, suspense and intrigue were peppered throughout the evening. There were kids of all ages that night. The house was silent, besides my kids asking a few questions, or so it seemed. I took that to indicate that Treasure Island was as exciting to the rest of the families there as it was to us. I personally felt carried away right in to the story. It felt professional, very intimate, engaging, and I highly, highly recommend it to all Boulder Families [and beyond]! But you don’t need to bring the kids because it would also make a great date night.

Kids’ Review

Favorite Character[s]: Long John Silver & Benn Gunn Why? Because I love pirates and I think Benn Gunn is funny!

Would you recommend this show to a friend? Yes. Why? Because it was fun to go and I like the story. There is a lot of sword fighting too.

What was your favorite thing about the play? It was well performed and exciting. Also, I like the stunt where people fell of the boat.

What would you recommend to make it better? Actually act out everything, instead of explaining some parts. It interrupted the play. But I still really liked it, it could just be a bit better.

Overall Kid Ratings [scale of 1 to 10]:

8 year old–9

10 year old–8

Details

Ages: 6+, but family-friendly setting at most ages

Date/Times: 6:30 & 8:00pm on various dates through August 9, 2012 [2 1/2 hours long with an intermission]

Recommended for families: Yes, without reservation

Reservations: Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. Kids tickets are only $10! 

It was a magical night for our family. I highly recommend Treasure Island. If your kids are elementary school aged or above they will fall in love with this production!

Tinkering and the Value of Engaging Our Kids in Building

What Tinking looks like for 10 year olds.

Kids are natural tinkerers. We all are really. But give them some wood, pvc, tape, glue, paper, markers, and when they are older power tools, and watch those kids who just moments ago said they are “bored” become engaged. Consider creating a Tinkering Kit or a place where kids know they can go to pick up scraps and create things. Encourage kids to follow their imagination! They can draw out a picture before hand or just go for it and create what they imagine along the way. I am always amazed at what my kids create!

Tinkering Kit:

  • Papertowel rolls [used]
  • Screwdriver & different size screws
  • Wood and/or balsa wood for younger kids [various sizes]
  • PVC [various sizes]
  • Hammer & different nail sizes
  • Tape [electrical & duct tape are great!]
  • Glue [non-toxic craft glue] and/or a glue gun [adult use only]
  • Recycled objects [plastic containers, corks, any item you are throwing away could be considered]
  • Art supplies [to decorate the creations]

Tinkering is messy. It is creative. It is fun. It is frustrating. But if we leave the tinkering open ended our kids come out with something they are proud of creating. Consider making a project with your child or making one of your own while they are making one. Remember as parenting we need to step back and let them make mistakes and learn from the process. If they nail something in and it cracks the wood, what can they learn from this process? If it doesn’t come out the way they want, should they have drawn out a picture first? Or could they simply change what they expected? Just help them through the process of considering how to improve next time.

For more on tinkering, watch this video on The Tinkering School and take a look at the post from OutdoorMom.com, Kids Love Plumbing.

Boulder Family Events: July 20 to 26, 2012

july 20 to 26, 2012

Listed here are some great family events. Most are free. They are all opportunities to be together as a family and engage your kids of all ages. HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK!

This Weeks Special Events: Open Arts Fest, Classic Car Show, FREE day at Denver Botanical Gardens, Teddy Bear Tea, FamilyDance Planet, & Author/Illustrator Kadir Nelson 

Friday, July 20

Saturday, July 21

  • Teddy Bear Tea at Grandrabbits Toy Store. Kids bring their special stuffed friends and join the folks at Grandrabbits for games, activities, face painting and fun. Bring a lunch. Free. Ages 1 to 9. 10:30 to noon.
  • FamilyDance Planet. Come on out to a fun dance party organized just for families. The music is kid-friendly, but parents will love it too. Avalon Ballroom. 9:30 to noon. Families with kids up to 12.
  • French/English Storytime. Join Marie at the Boulder Public Library for a great bilingual storytime for kids. Every 1st/3rd Saturday. 10:15 to 11:00am.
  • Kids Gone Fishing with Boulder County Open Space. Kids learn lots about how to fish. They go through stations learning techniques and practice skills. Please register at 303.678.6219 or mbowie@bouldercounty.org. Free. Ages 5 to 15.
  • Home Depot Building Project. Kids can build something new each time they participate. Drop in. Free. All ages. 9:00 to Noon.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. 8:00 to 2:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 8:00am to 2:00pm. All ages
  • Boulder Outdoor Cinema: Back to the Future. This is such a fun event and I love it when they show kid friendly flicks! Gates open at 7. Live band starts at 7:30. Movie starts at dusk.
  • Classic Car Show at 29th Street Mall. Restored cars, food & drink. Fun to look at for those car fanatic families. Free. 2:00 to 6:00pm.
  • Open Arts Fest. Lots of artists, demonstrations, children’s activities. Free. 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Sunday, July 22

  • Go Club for Kids & Teens at the Main Boulder Library. 2:00 to 5:30pm. Ages 5 and up. Free. “Learn to play the ancient and mysterious game of Go.”
  • Open Arts Fest. Lots of artists, demonstrations, children’s activities. Free. 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Monday, July 23

Tuesday, July 24

  • Children’s Storytime at George Reynolds Branch Library. 10:15 to 11:00am. Ongoing event.
  • Dance for Children [and the Whole Family]! Participatory dance program for children of all ages and their parents! A fun way to learn dances from around the world, find out what young folks like in other countries. Outside on the Plaza beside the Dushanbe Teahouse, 1770 13th (between Arapahoe & Canyon) in Boulder. Free. All ages. 6:15 to 7:00pm. Ongoing activity.
  • Children’s Author/Illustrator: Kadir Nelson at the Boulder Public Library. This very special event brings award winning author and artist to Boulder. Kadir has been awarded the Caldecott Honor and many others. 7:00 to 8:00pm.

Wednesday, July 25

  • Story Hour and Five Senses Children Hike. It’s story time at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage!  Join OSMP for interactive, nature-themed books. Children participate with animal noises, sound effects, and more. If the weather is too hot, there will hands-on nature activity in the cottage. Free. Ages 3 to 6. 9:30 to 10:30am.
  • Wednesday Storytime @ Main Boulder Library. 10:15 to 11:30am. Free. Ongoing.
  • Family Garden Story and Song Time with Kristin at Barnes and Nobles. Free. All ages. 1:00pm.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. 4:00 to 8:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Valmont Bike Park Family Rides. Bring the bikes and the family for fun rides on the amazing terrain at Boulder’s coolest bike park. All ages. 4:00 to 6:00pm. Free.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 4:00 to 8:00pm. All ages
  • Band on the Bricks on Pearl: A different band each week will rock Pearl Street! This is an ongoing event each Weds night throughout the summer. All ages. 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Thursday, July 26

Upcoming Events:
  • Kids Races in Boulder: August 9, August 30. Lengths vary, but these are just pure fun for families! Click the link to find out how to register and more information.
  • Summer Heritage Days at Walker Ranch on July 29

Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.

#families, #free, #boulder, #events, #boulderfamilies #July

Kids, Museums, and Trying Something New

Exploring all around the Smithsonian Museums

Okay, I am not a big museum fan. Usually I head in, spend the requisite hour or so and then I am out again. Not these past few days! My kids and I have been in Washington, DC and we have hit the Smithsonian Museums hard. I am impressed with how much resilience they have [they are 8 & 10]. We have hit the Air and Space Museum, American Indian Museum [lunch], Natural History Museum, and the American History Museum all in ONE day. Then today we went to the museum where they have the Discovery space shuttle and so much about aviation history including every type of plane imaginable and flight simulators [my kids did them twice and would have stayed on forever!] It was magical! I cannot believe how amped up we ALL feel planning for, during, and after exploring something new!So in Boulder we don’t have the Smithsonian, but here are some ideas of a few places to go to stretch your kiddo’s [and our] minds:

Don’t forget to watch for FREE DAYS at the Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Denver Children’s Museum. I list them each week as they arise. Also, a great hint for keeping the kids engaged during  a visit to an art museum is to stop by the gift shop FIRST & let your kids each pick out a postcard of a piece of art that they like. Then engage them in finding that piece of art. Could work for other types of museums too. Go. Explore. Don’t worry how far you have to drive. Get out there. Have fun!

Boulder Family Deals: July 12

Here is a list of some of the deals I have noticed around town or online. This week there are two local Boulder organizations to support: Rocky Mountain Kids & Kutandara.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science Deal: Museum Entry, Planetarium, and and IMAX Film. $12/adult and $9/kids from Livingsocial.

Universal Orlando: 4 day/2 park pass for $144. Travelzoo says it’s 70% off. I’ve noticed cheap tickets to Florida online as well. Check Travelocity or Kayak.

Rocky Mountain Kids’ Big Sale: 25% off the ENTIRE STORE. July 13, 14, & 15. This is a great local store and they always sales worth checking out.

Kutandara Intro to Marimbas Class: Children’s 90 Minute Intro to Marimbas for $12. Again, a great local resource to support.

2 Slap Watches for $12. This deal is from Plumdistrict. Kids love them. They are great for learning to tell time. And this seems like a good deal with free shipping. Worth looking.