KCKidsFun

WINTER BREAK. It’s coming like a freight train (and for some, it’s already here!)  It always seems to start out great, then the boredom sets in.  And the inevitable fighting begins.  What’s a family to do?  Is there anything to do that doesn’t involve a video game?!?!?   And that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?

Here are some free, cheap or relatively inexpensive ideas for things to do with the kids that you might want to consider:

You’ll want to begin your search by heading over to www.visitkc.com.  This site is chock-full of great DEALS–especially the 2-for-1 “Season of Magic” printable coupons to many of the city’s greatest attractions!  Attractions include Paradise Park, CoCo Key Water Resort and Powell Gardens.

1. Swimming at indoor pools - lots of community centers have open swim during break for a daily fee of $3 to $7 – some of these pools are really neat with a water park feel – some of the less expensive ones include Park Hill Aquatic Center, Blue Springs and the KCMO Community Centers. We’ve got a fairly extensive list of indoor pools to check out.  Or you can check out your local YMCA for indoor pools, workout facilities and more!

2. Check out some of Kansas City’s museums with cheap or free admission – the Puppetry Arts Institute, the Johnson County Museum of History (with the new Kidscape exhibit), the National World War I Museum, the Toy & Miniature Museum, The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve (for older kids) and the art museums (Kemper, Nelson & Nerman). Some of these have free admission – others will cost you a few bucks a person (with lower admission prices for the little ones).

3. Kaleidoscope at Crown Center – FREE Family Art Sessions almost every day of winter break

4. Visit Moon Marble Company in Bonner Springs for free glass marble making demonstrations

5. Open Gyms - most are for the preschool crowd but there will certainly be some open to the school-aged kids over break – check our list of Open Gyms – prices range from $1 to $10 for several hours of fabulous, exhausting play!

6. We’ve written about ice skating in Kansas City–outdoor rinks can be found in Leawood at Park Place as well as at Crown Center in downtown KC.  The next few weeks will be perfect for enjoying KC’s outdoor rinks!

7. And don’t forget your local library! Many have fun holiday programming – there are regularly scheduled storytimes, craft sessions and holiday performances – or just hang out there for an afternoon for a change of scenery! Many library activities are listed in the KC Kids Fun Events Calendar.

8. Some of the local parks and recreation departments are also offering winter break camps and activities. For example, Blue Valley Rec is offering basketball camps, open gyms and art classes. I’m sure others are doing the same.

So, if Christmas has broken the bank – don’t despair. There are still great things to do with the kids that won’t involve the television, the computer or video games! Have a fantastic break!

Trunk or Treat time is upon us…there are so many schools, churches and organizations that host these popular events, we need to rely on YOU to be our eyes and ears!  We’ve received word about a few of these events, but are asking that if you know of a Trunk or Treat that is open to the public, you add the info below as a comment.  Thanks for your help!

• Join us for a FREE Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 29 from 2-4pm. We will have, candy, games, prizes, and of course more candy! At 3:00 there will be a costume contest, please keep costumes kid appropriate. Antioch Community Church is located at 4805 NE Antioch Rd, KC MO 64119. Visit www.acckc.org for more info.
• Friday – October 28th 4-6pm:  M&I in Shawnee is hosting a Trunk–or–Treat event — providing children in the community a safe and fun trick-or-treating alternative. The event will be held in the parking lot of the bank.  Children simply walk up to each vehicle in the parking lot and trick-or-treat. The vehicles are sponsored by more than 35 Shawnee businesses and restaurants. The Police and Fire Departments will be there promoting lessons on safety.  They will also be collecting canned goods to benefit the Harvesters Community Food Network.
• Monday, October 31st, 10-11am– Halloween Snack and a Story Event.  $5.  You are invited to bring your small toddler/preschool age children to hear a “spooky” Halloween story and enjoy healthy Halloween snacks.  This event will be located in the upstairs conference room.  Costumes are optional!  Where: Englewood Hy-Vee   207 NE Englewood Road, KC, MO  64118.   Children ages 5 and younger with parent or guardian.  Please sign up in advance.  Contact Keli Hurst at khurst@hy-vee.com.
• What: FREE Kids Club Halloween Party. Where: Whole Foods Market on Metcalf, Sunday, October 23^rd from 1-4pm.  7401 W. 91^st Street  Overland Park, KS 66212. (913) 652-9633.  Description: Join us for a Free Halloween Event at Whole Foods Market on Metcalf in Overland Park, KS on Sunday, October 23rd from 1-4pm.  We’ll have music, face painting, crafts, and lots of FUN! The event begins with a Dino O’Dell live music concert from 1-2pm. Kids, come in your cutest costumes and parade around the store visiting each department for a FREE special treat!  The first 250 kids get a goodie bag too.  Parents, while you’re here find great tasting snacks for Halloween.  All of our food is free from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats.  Come taste the difference!
• Russell Stover Candies announced today the 13th annual Halloween Candy Giveaway will be Monday, October 31^st. The event will be held at the Russell Stover Candies Store at 2814 Shawnee Mission Parkway in Fairway, KS 66205in The Shops of Fairway, across from Houlihan’s.  Free Halloween candy will be given away to all ages from 10 am to 4 pm on Monday, October 31^st 2011.
• Additionally, Russell Stover Candies Retail Store will host the 3^rd annual children’s Halloween party from 2 pm to 4 pm on Sunday, October 30^th 2011.  Festivities include face painting, caramel apple walk, games, and a costume parade followed by a costume contest.  For both events the Russell Stover Candies Retail Store will be decked inside and out with fun, spooky decorations including an orange light in the cupola, lots of pumpkins, hay bales, a graveyard with ghosts, and costumed employees.

In celebration of annual National Museum Day, scheduled this year for Saturday, Sept 24, 2011, the city of Independence, MO (and many others, including KCMO)  has attractions that are joining with hundreds of other museums across the nation to offer free admission to seven of the city’s popular tourism sites. The promotion, spearheaded by the famous Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. is held to encourage awareness of museums and increase visitation by those who might not usually tour museums around the country.

Residents and visitors are invited to take advantage of free admission to the city’s top attractions on that day. In order to gain admission, go to the Museum Day website at microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/ and print off the special ticket pass, which is good for free admission to one museum for the ticket holder and one guest. There is a limit of one ticket per household. The following Independence museums are participating in the September 24 event.

• The 1859 Jail & Marshal’s Home and Museum, 217 N. Main
• Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 313 W. Pacific
• Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, 500 W. U.S. 24 Highway
• Leila’s Hair Museum, 1333 S. Noland Road
• National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific
• Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner Road
• Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty

The Harry S. Truman Home National Historic Site at 201 N. Delaware will be free all day in honor of National Lands Day, although complimentary tickets must be obtained for specific tour times at the Truman Home Ticket Center, 223 N. Main. As always, the Community of Christ Temple, 201 S. River and Auditorium, 1001 W. Walnut, Mormon Visitors Center, 937 W. Walnut, and Chicago & Alton Depot, 318 W. Pacific, are free. Make life easier and catch the Truman Trolley, offering rides all day for only a buck a person, as you and your family travel from the Square past many of the city’s tourism attractions. For trolley details, click here.

You can also call Independence Tourism at (816) 325-7111, toll free (800) 748-7323 or go to www.visitindependence.com.