| | Got Plans? With Kids
With the Entertainment Guide Staff
washingtonpost.com
Wednesday, June 11, 2003; Noon ET Every other Wednesday at noon, local experts from washingtonpost.com share their best bets for arts and entertainment options for kids and their families. Our group specializes in local dining, museum, sports and recreations, day trips, children's theaters and the special events that keep life in metropolitan Washington interesting. We're happy to answer questions, but we need to hear from you too. Tell us about your favorite public swimming pool, a movie that wowed your family, a toy shop with a "do touch" policy, or a restaurant where pizza is as welcome on the floor as it is on the plate. This is an hour for kids of all ages: So if you have teenagers who need a night out without you -- or vice versa -- ask away. Together we can fill our calendars with memorable activities. Our "With Kids" editor hosts each discussion, but the entire group will be sitting at the kids' table. If you need more ideas, see KidsPost and the Entertainment Guide. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
| The Kids' Table: Hello, fellow diners at the Kids’ Table. Make yourself comfortable next to our well-mannered Matt, Anne, Kate, Maura, Alexa and Lynette. There are lots of topics to munch on today. Let’s see, we have tomorrow night’s NSO concert at Wolf Trap -- a picnic opportunity to introduce little ears to classical music and a classic musician: Itzhak Perlman. In fact, the NSO is at Wolf Trap Friday and Saturday, too, filling the night air with a little Mozart, Beethoven and Gershwin. Flag Day is June 14, the day before Dad’s. And, for dessert, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (toast the occasion with Butter Beer at a Politics & Prose pajama party). Other than the liver and beets casserole, did I (Vicki) miss a dish you’d like to sample? Pass it this way. But first a leftover . . . Because hope for sun springs eternal this season, I’d like to start our lunch with a question that came in too late to answer two weeks ago -- not to worry, it’s still fresh: ________________________________________________ Montgomery Village Mom: This may be an off-topic question, but I am
taking my toddler son and daughter(ages 1 and 3) to Rehoboth for a week.
Any suggestions for the car trip to the beach and suggestions for
toddler-friendly activities at the beach?
The Kids' Table: Hi, Montgomery Village Mom, Way to plan ahead (and don't worry, your question is absolutely on target. Figuring out how to have fun with your young'uns is precisely what we're here for). This Web site has some good ideas for road trip fun. It even offers a tip on how kids can answer that age-old question (are we there yet?) for themselves. They also recommend things like handing out surprise bags every so many miles. These would be paper bags with a toy or snack inside, or something like pipe cleaners that the kids can use to make things. Then of course you can play "I Spy" with animals or buildings along the way or make up stories about what the clouds look like. Take along some story tapes and some music tapes (to sing along with). And once you're at the beach? Be sure to bring your bucket and plastic shovel for digging and creating sand sculptures. A soft, rubber ball or two is great for throwing and chasing in the water. And my (Lynette) all-time favorite -- the inner tube so your young'uns can ride the waves (with Mom keeping hold of the inner tube, of course). Just be sure to remember your sun block. Collect some shells and draw a checkerboard in the sand or make up your own game. You can also check with your local toy store, like Child's Play, where a knowledgeable staff can share some of their ideas. Once everyone's tired of the beach or if it rains, there are the obvious standbys: Have on hand lots of paper and crayons for drawing, storybooks and tapes and a few of their favorite toys. If you don't mind carting along some extra stuff, bring along those old, no-longer-good-for-cooking pots and pans for the kids to play with -- indoors or at the beach. Another favorite is old costume jewelry -- the cheap, brightly colored necklaces with big dangling bangles that were once so popular and are now available for a few cents each at your local thrift store. Your kids can play dress up or treasure hunt or whatever works for you. Hope this helps. Lynette ________________________________________________ College Park: Many years ago, my mom and dad took my brother and me to a Montgomery Co. sponsored painting class, probably through the Dept. of Recreation. It was fabulous and a great way to spend 2 nights a week for a couple of months at the local community center on Bauer Dr. Do they still do this? And while we're on the topic does Montgomery and PG (I live in PG now) have photography courses for adults? The Kids' Table: Hi College Park, These kinds of classes are available almost anywhere in the area. Follow this link to Montgomery County's list of classes for kids and adults. They have all sorts of arts and exercise classes for all ages, including photography for adults. Prince George's County also offers a variety of art and other summer classes for adults and kids (see this link but apparently not any photography classes. The District has similar classes available, including photography. And so do Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia. Lynette ________________________________________________ Alexandria Va.: With all of this rain it is getting harder to find something fun for our 2 1/2 year old children to do indoors. Can you suggest something? We have already been to the Capital Children's Museum (great!!), the Explore & Moore, and the Fun Company for Kids at Skyline Mall. And we have been to every shopping mall and library. The Kids' Table: As Alexa has found, little ones love planes and trains. Union Station and National Airport are Metro-accessible places to see these, with grand indoor spaces for toddlers to get some exercise and many food options to boot. ________________________________________________ Rockville, Md.: Okay, chances are good our vacation plans are scrapped, but I'm still taking off the week to spend with my 11-year-old son locally. I've gone through the site searching for things to do with him the week of 6-22 and have found some good ideas, but would like to hear other suggestions from you and the group. Neither of us does amusement parks, unfortunately and it looks like a lot of stuff out there is for a younger set. Any suggestions for a mom and her son? The Kids' Table: Well Rockville, I'd say one can't-miss is the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Crafts, music and foods from Appalachia, Mali and Scotland will all be on the Mall beginning that Wednesday, June 25. There's tons to see -- you both should love it. Otherwise, if you can't take a full blown vacation, why not a day trip? A good project for that week or the rest of your summer, might be to prove yourself a true local and tackle this list. -- Maura ________________________________________________ Arlington, Va.: So, I'm one and half months shy of being 21. I wanna experience the DC nightlife(bars, lounges, etc.), especially go to places where people meet people. Not so much for romance, but rather meeting new people/friends and having fun are my number one priority. Ideas? The Kids' Table: Arlington, the first thing you should explore is my list of Where to Go if You're Under 21. For the next six or seven weeks, most of Washington's nightlife will be off limits to you, but in the meantime, try Georgetown Billiards, a cool pool hall that draws crowds for darts, billiards, ping pong, foosball and all sorts of other games, whether school is in session or not. Nothing like a few games of foosball for an ice-breaker. -- Fritz (washingtonpost.com Bars and Clubs editor) ________________________________________________ Alexandria, Va.: Everyone: The Red Cross Waterfront Festival is this weekend. Fri night through Sun. I know there will be bands, crafts, food, and activities for the kids. If the weather's nice, we'll be there. The Kids' Table: Hi Alexandria, thanks for the reminder and for sending us the link. Here's the link to the festival themed Return of the Pirates, where the whole family can visit tall ships, do arts and crafts, enjoy music, food and a variety of activities and exhibits. Here's our information on the festival as well. Enjoy, everyone, and let's hope for a break in the weather! ________________________________________________ Sterling, Va.: I hope you can answer this question this week...I've got two 6-year olds who are dying to go to a "midnight Harry Potter Party" on Friday night, June 20th, and they are hoping to dress up! Any suggestions of bookstores that might be doing something like this in or around the Reston/Sterling/Ashburn area? All suggestions on this are much appreciated! The Kids' Table: Here are some Harry Potter parties we like, but any bookstore worth its shelves will probably doing something special for the Rowling release. And why not? Customers will pour in like magic. No need to send for Hedwig: Just call your favorite local store and see what they're up to. And after the party (we'll be back on June 25) write in to tell us about the scene. ________________________________________________ Fairfax, Va.: Good places to visit with my 2 and 4 year old boys in Virginia Beach? The Kids' Table: Well, after the beach, the number one absolute must-do at Virginia Beach is the Virginia Marine Science Museum , which is designed to be hands-on, touchy-feely for all ages. Definitely check out the shark exhibit (especially with kids that age) and the petting area for manta rays. They are absolutely cool. It's like petting puppies that swim. You didn't say when you were going, but here's a link to the city's events calendar for a general idea of what's going on overall. There are art shows and concerts on the beach that may or may not work for you. Definitely take some bread along to feed the gulls at the beach. (But throw the pieces on the ground to keep from getting overwhelmed by an aerial mob!) See the answer to our first question of the day for other fun things to do at the beach. This is a popular question. ________________________________________________ The Kids' Table: Wait, wait, Alexandria, here's one more link with helpful information before Vicki ends the chat for the day! Go here for a list of museums and other attractions you may enjoy at Virginia Beach. Thanks, Lynette. ________________________________________________ The Kids' Table: What a nice way to begin and end a lunch -- at a beach! Thanks for visiting with us. We hope you will be back with questions and ideas June 25 at noon (of course, you may be excused from the Kids' Table if it's sunny out -- get that vitamin D all those fleeting moments when you can). Don't forget that you can submit questions early and check the archive later. One more tip to munch on . . . for a rainy-day activity -- especially if it rains Wednesday, June 18 -- and/or you need a lamp or an entire room of furniture, keep in mind Ikea - College Park's grand opening. ________________________________________________ Automatically Update Page | Get New Responses | Submit Question
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