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!

It’s time to start thinking about your holiday shopping (or at least your Thanksgiving meal plans!!) and we’ve got some ideas to help you. SHOP LOCAL!  The metro has so many neat, one-of-a-kind, locally-owned stores brimming with interesting gifts. Why not visit a few and put together a unique gift this year?

• Reading Reptile create a Books Basket or treat a lucky kid to a Story Time at Reading Reptile followed by “select any book you’d like…and it’s yours!”—what a neat gift!  And, you have to top off your visit with a unique fairytale-themed cupcake from Le Petit Rouge, the in-house cupcakery.

• A Train-Themed gift: The Learning Tree (Leawood, KS and Prairie Village, KS) has some wonderful trains and train gifts. Thomas the Tank Engine is there of course, but so are lots of other choices. Include a certificate for a special meal at Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant at the Crown Center Shops, or head across the state line to Shawnee, KS (just west of I-435 on Shawnee Mission Parkway) . What kid wouldn’t love to have her meal delivered tableside by a train?

• Unleash your child’s inner mad scientist! HMS Beagle is a wonderful store in Parkville, MO–”The Ultimate Science Store” according to their website.  You can introduce your child to science through a number of neat gifts from the basic chemistry set to a fantastic telescope.  They even have a science club with meetings for K-8th graders!  For the little ones–an easy introduction to science can be found by taking a trip to Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City in Shawnee, KS, featuring arts and sciences exhibits for kids ages 10 and under.

• GO RETRO! Moon Marble gift shop, located in Bonner Springs’ Moon Marble Company, has some great toys and games that have withstood the test of time…remember Pick-Up Sticks, Chinese Jumpropes and the wooden paddle with the red rubber ball attached?  Find all of these and more!

• Enrollment in a class at one of the metro’s parks and recreation offices or community centers is a gift that will last weeks and even months! Your little one can try something new like a beginner’s martial arts class, a dance or ballet class or even try something exotic like fencing! What a great way to spend the winter months. Try Blue Valley Recreation or any of the parks and rec departments listed in our Classes directory!

• Don’t Forget the Music – How about guitar (or other musical instrument) lessons at the School of Rock (North Kansas City), the Toon Shop (Prairie Village, Lee’s Summit or Overland Park) or the Music House (Overland Park)?

• Stop by Laura Little’s Candies in Prairie Village or Topsy’s Popcorn(multiple locations) for sweet treats for stockings

• Shop Etsy Local for unique, handmade items created by talented Kansas Citians like Kate Williams (crayon holders and tulle totebags), three red trees (terribly cute sock dogs, with a portion of sales benefiting Humane Society of Greater KC) and Becky Kelly (very sweet original paintings and prints for a nursery or little one’s room).

• Consider gifts that support local causes and organizations – like the Zoo! A  Zoo Membership purchased now is good for unlimited FREE admission through March 2012!  And, a portion of the membership is tax deductible.

There’s another place you might want to check out– because uniquely Kansas City traditions are being resurrected with each year!  Zona Rosa is a shopping district in North Kansas City at I-29 and Barry Road.  KC’s holiday past comes to life as the 2000-lb crowns are hoisted into place–near-exact replicas of the crowns that decked the streets of downtown KC for over 20 years!  You’ll also find the “Fairy Princess”.  She first appeared in the Kline’s toy department in 1936!  You can also catch the “Ice Igloo”. Modeled from the original Kansas City Museum igloo, a new, more spacious one has been constructed so the younger generation can make holiday memories of their own.

One of the most charming and unusual gift shops you’ll ever stumble into is located at the Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner in Independence. From simple finger puppets to puppet and marionette kits, books and finished products, there is a huge range of unusual products for kids of all ages.

Check out the Just Taffy Shop on the historic Independence Square. They have a fantastic selection of many flavors of homemade fudge, taffy and cotton candy and make it right there behind the counter. Owner Michael usually makes taffy Sunday afternoons about 12:30 or 1 p.m. and will use the big taffy pulling machine – he actually does free demonstrations for scouts, home schoolers, preschool groups (by appt.)  You might also visit Chip’s Chocolate Factory on Level 2 of Crown Center Shops.  Over 200 delicious
chocolate confections are made by hand using premium imported Swiss Chocolate and traditional confectioner’s techniques.

Let us know if you discover something fun and different to do with your family–we’d love to spread the word!  Believe me, this site will be buzzing over Christmas vacation with parents looking for things to do with their kiddos!!!

With my family’s purse strings pulled tighter than ever, the tendency will be to do it all at a big-box retailer this holiday season.  But, Kansas City has so many unique merchants and I think it’s important now, more than ever, to support them.   SHOP LOCAL, if at all possible, I say!  The metro has so many neat, one-of-a-kind, locally-owned stores brimming with interesting gifts. Why not visit a few and put together a unique gift this year? We’ve got some suggestions to make it easy on you.

• Reading Reptile create a Books Basket or treat a lucky kid to a Thursday Story Time at Reading Reptile followed by “select any book you’d like…and it’s yours!”—what a neat gift!

• A Train-Themed gift: The Learning Tree (Leawood, KS and Prairie Village, KS) has some wonderful trains and train gifts. Thomas the Tank Engine is there of course, but so are lots of other choices. Include a certificate for a special meal at Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant at the Crown Center Shops, or head to the new location across the state line in Shawnee, KS (just west of I-435 on Shawnee Mission Parkway) . What kid wouldn’t love to have her meal delivered tableside by a train?

• Unleash your child’s inner mad scientist! HMS Beagle is a wonderful store in Parkville, MO–”The Ultimate Science Store” according to their website.  You can introduce your child to science through a number of neat gifts from the basic chemistry set to a fantastic telescope.  They even have a science club with meetings for K-8th graders!  For the little ones–an easy introduction to science can be found by taking a trip toWonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City in Shawnee, KS, featuring arts and sciences exhibits for kids ages 10 and under.

• GO RETRO! Moon Marble gift shop, located in Bonner Springs’ Moon Marble Company, has some great toys and games that have withstood the test of time…remember Pick-Up Sticks, Chinese Jumpropes and the wooden paddle with the red rubber ball attached?  Find all of these and more!

• Enrollment in a class at one of the metro’s parks and recreation offices or community centers is a gift that will last weeks and even months! Your little one can try something new like a beginner’s martial arts class, a dance or ballet class or even try something exotic like fencing! What a great way to spend the winter months. Try Blue Valley Recreation or any of the parks and rec departments listed in our Classes directory!

• Don’t Forget the Music – How about guitar (or other musical instrument) lessons at the School of Rock (North Kansas City), the Toon Shop (Prairie Village, Lee’s Summit or Overland Park) or the Music House (Overland Park)?

• Stop by Laura Little’s Candies in Prairie Village or Topsy’s Popcorn(multiple locations) for sweet treats for stockings

• Shop Etsy Local for unique, handmade items created by talented Kansas Citians like Kate Williams (crayon holders and pinafores), three red trees (terribly cute sock dogs) and Becky Kelly (very sweet paintings and prints for a nursery or little one’s room).

There’s another place you might want to check out– because uniquely Kansas City traditions are being resurrected with each year!  Zona Rosa is a shopping district in North Kansas City at I-29 and Barry Road.  KC’s holiday past comes to life as the 2000-lb crowns are hoisted into place–near-exact replicas of the crowns that decked the streets of downtown KC for over 20 years!  You’ll also find the “Fairy Princess”.  She first appeared in the Kline’s toy department in 1936!  New this year is the return of the “Ice Igloo”.  Modeled from the original Kansas City Museum igloo, a new, more spacious one has been constructed so the younger generation can make holiday memories of their own.

Let us know if you discover something fun and different to do with your family–we’d love to spread the word!  Believe me, this site will be buzzing over Christmas vacation with parents looking for things to do with their kiddos!!!