KCKidsFun

Happy New Year!  Hope 2012 is off to a good start for one and all.  We figured everyone was feeling somewhat lazy today…maybe even bumping around on our website looking for activities for kids in Kansas City for the coming weeks. Our various directories are jam-packed with info on local indoor pools, libraries, museums and open gyms!  Click around– you’ll be sure to find something to keep your kiddos busy and moving this winter.

New Year’s Day seems like the right time for a giveaway!  Thanks to our friends at Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, we have 4 ticket vouchers to give to a lucky winner!  The tickets are to an upcoming Sesame Street Live performance of “Elmo Makes Music”– scheduled to run Friday, January 27, 2012 through Sunday, January 29, 2012. Each voucher is redeemable for one ticket to the performance of your choice (as long as tickets remain available – so, you’ll want to redeem your vouchers quickly!).

If you’re not our lucky winner, you can still take advantage of our special discount on tickets- click here for more info.   You can save $3 per ticket (regular price is $11 – $21/ticket).

So, how to enter? It’s simple.  Just leave us a comment, on this post, and tell us one KC-area activity you are MOST looking forward to seeing/doing in 2012!  Maybe you’ll give us some good ideas for future posts!  Please leave your comment by 12pm (Central Time) Friday, January 6, 2012.  One lucky winner will be randomly selected and notified via email and this site. Good Luck!

——————————————–
Voucher may be redeemed at the venue box office. Additional tickets may be purchased at the time of redemption. A maximum of 10 vouchers may be redeemed at one time. For best seats, redeem this voucher as soon as possible. Voucher has no cash value, cannot be sold. One complimentary ticket per voucher. Not valid on Sunny Seats, Gold Circle or premium seating. Offer subject to ticket availability.

Must be 18 years of age to enter and win. Only one entry per household will be considered. No substitutions or transfers. Giveaway prize is not redeemable for cash. By entering, winner consents to allow the use of his/her name for promotional purposes without further compensation. Winner releases all sponsors of liability regarding use and enjoyment of the prize. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Well…it looks like we’re in for a day of rain followed by snow.  Seriously!??!?  Will spring  just get here already?  Here’s a rundown of this weekend’s activities. Of note:  Saturday’s “Skate With Clifford” at Crown Center Ice Terrace seems like a great time!  From 10am until 1pm, admission and fees will be donated to KCPT. And…don’t forget that we have extensive directories for all of your indoor activity needs (and outdoor, too!)  Have a GREAT weekend!

• General Indoor Activities
• Museums
• Playzones
• Indoor Pools
• …and more!

Friday, February 25, 2011

• Tots Open Swim at Blue Valley Rec – for ages newborn-6 years. Fridays from 10:30am-noon, 1/14-5/13 (not held on 3/18, 4/22 & 4/29). Children under five must be within arm’s reach of adult swimmer at all times. Blue Valley Recreation Activity Center, 6545 W. 151st St., Overland Park. For more information, call 913.685.6000 or visitwww.bluevalleyrec.org.
• Grandma & Me Tea at Blue Valley Rec – Treats are served and guests enjoy crafts, games and etiquette instruction. For ages 3-6, with grandma. 10-11:30am at the Blue Valley Recreation Activity Center, 6545 W. 151 St., Overland Park. For more information, call 685.6000 or go to www.bluevalleyrec.org.
• Friday Night Family Fun at the Plaza Branch, KC Public Library – 7pm – this week: Brother John Anderson presents his one-man show, John Henry

Saturday, February 26, 2011

• Saturday Art at Blue Valley Rec – Kids ages 3-6 and 7-12 will create colorful original art by painting, sculpting, and making a collage. Sessions are 1/15-2/5, 2/19-3/12, 3/26-4/16, and 4/30-5/21. Held at Blue Valley Recreation Activity Center, 6545 W. 151 St., Overland Park.
• KCPT Skate with Clifford at Crown Center Ice Terrace. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission and skate rental fees during that time are donated to KCPT. Regular admission is $6, or complimentary for people over age 60 and children age four and under. Skate rental is $3, or skaters may bring their own.
• Weekend “Sea” Movies at Screenland Crown Center , Level 3. Each weekend in February, Screenland Crown Center will show popular movies for young sea-loving fans, in conjunction with the “Under the Sea Adventure” exhibit. The lineup: “Shark Tale” (Feb 5-6), “The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie” (Feb 12-13), “Flipper” (Feb 19-20), “Surf’s Up” (Feb 26-27). Showtimes at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Admission is $3. 816-545-8034.
• Winter on the Farm – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join Mahaffie staff for activities such as soap making, sausage making and see what is cooking on the cookstove. Admission: $6/adults, $4/children ages 5-11 (Olathe residents receive $1/off admission). Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, 1200 Kansas City Rd., Olathe; (913) 971-5111; www.mahaffie.org
• “Little Red Riding Hood” at the Puppetry Arts Institute(Independence, MO) – Puppeteers Michelle O’Donnell and Stan Gulick use hand puppets to tell a humorous and updated version of the traditional fairy tale. Performances at 11:00am and 2:00pm. All ages $5 per person. Please call 816-833-9777 for reservations.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

• Weekend “Sea” Movies at Screenland Crown Center , Level 3. Each weekend in February, Screenland Crown Center will show popular movies for young sea-loving fans, in conjunction with the “Under the Sea Adventure” exhibit. The lineup: “Shark Tale” (Feb 5-6), “The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie” (Feb 12-13), “Flipper” (Feb 19-20), “Surf’s Up” (Feb 26-27). Showtimes at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Admission is $3. 816-545-8034.
• Sunday Family Nature Series at Ernie Miller Nature Center (Olathe, KS) ~ 2 pm ~ $2.75 per person – This week join us for Birds of Prey. By day or night, out of the sky flies a rodent’s nightmare, the birds of prey. Join our interpretive staff as they show why rodents fear these great birds. Using live birds, participants will see up close examples of these magnificent raptors and their special adaptations. Presentations begin at 2 pm and are approximately 45 minutes in length. For more information call (913) 764-7759.

WINTER BREAK. It’s cold outside (actually, warming up the next few days, then cold AGAIN after a lovely Thursday).  What’s a family to do?  Is there anything that doesn’t involve a video game?!?!?   And that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?  We’re financially spent after a lean 2010 and school doesn’t start for another week.

Here are few free, cheap or relatively inexpensive ideas for things to do with the kids:

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” admission coupons to many of the city’s greatest attractions!  Attractions include Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial and Toy & Miniature Museum.

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 pretty extensive list of indoor pools to check out.  Or you can check out your local YMCA for indoor pools 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!  One of our advertising partners, Paradise Park, is offering a Winter Break deal where you can buy $20/get $5 worth of game room tokens.  They have lots to do– Foam Factory is a favorite of our kids!!

6. We’ve written about ice skating in Kansas City–the next few days 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!