The Official Blog of Morningside Nannies
Planning a party for a child’s birthday or special occasion can be a huge undertaking for a nanny or parent. Beyond preparing snacks, meals, goodie bags and games and activities, it’s crucial to provide entertainment for the party goers.
Kids’ party entertainers have gained popularity in recent years because they bring the fun with them and relieve parents and nannies from having to plan multiple activities that will keep little ones engaged and giggling.
The Houston area has a wide variety of kids’ party entertainers who can offer entertainment ranging from magic and clowning around to puppet shows and plays. Check out our list of must-have entertainment perfect for a kids party in the Houston area.
Mary Morris, featured magician and owner of All Star Entertainment can offer variety for your child’s next party. Choose from a variety of family-friendly characters such as Tinkerbell, Elmo, Spiderman and Cinderella to drop in and surprise your child.
The entertainment company also offers magic shows, clowns, face painters, balloon artists, jugglers, caricature artists, fortune tellers and DJs for your special occasion. If you are looking for rides and inflatables, All Star Entertainment delivers.
For more information, call 281-734-6974 or visit www.allstarentertainment-houston.com.
If your child is intrigued by sneaky, slimy reptiles, including Texas Snakes to the party agenda will definitely enhance the kids party. A reptile birthday party hosted by Texas Snakes & More offers a fun and educational option for any occasion. The reptile experts will educate party goers about the importance of reptiles to the environment and offer instruction on how to react when spotting a snake in its natural habitat. The program is interactive and allows your little ones to hold, handle and touch all animals at the party.
Presenters will also help parents and children tackle any fears they may have of reptiles and offer tips on how to care for reptiles. The reptiles from Texas Snakes & More are non-aggressive, non-venomous and safe. Your child will also get the opportunity to have his or her picture taken with a snake around her shoulders.
For more information, call 713-934-7668 or visit the company’s website at www.texassnakes.net.
For an incredible experience for your child’s party, consider coordinating the entertainment through Incredible Events, a full event planning company based in the Houston area. From live music, DJ parties, animal rentals and library shows, these party entertainers can offer an incredible experience for your family and party guests.
In addition to costumed characters and clowns, Incredible Events also provides ride rentals, such as inflatable bounce houses, obstacle courses, waterslides and arcade games.
For more information, call 281-412-5200 or visit the company’s website at https://www.incredibleevents.com.
If you can’t bring the party to the petting zoo, why not bring the petting zoo to the party? Sutherland Farms hosts private parties complete with pony rides and a petting zoo. The animal-friendly party entertainers offer theme parties, too, that focus on barnyards and ponies.
With more than 35 years of experience working with horses and animals, Sutherland Farms can bring one to five ponies to your area so your little ones can wrangle in a pony ride before devouring into presents and cake.
For more information, call 713-851-2215 or visit the website at https://www.ponyride-sutherlandfarms.com.
Engage your child’s guests with a little magic on a special occasion with Houston magician Curt Miller. Miller is a magician, illusionist and entertain who combines magic, family-friendly comedy routines and audience interaction to ensure each child is entertained.
As the party host, you can choose from a traditional magic show, close up walk-around magic stations or an illusion show with smoke and fire.
For more information, call 713-721-6618 or visit his website at https://www.curtmiller.com.
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As a parent or nanny, one of the most important things you can do to enhance your child’s development is to read to him or her. A bedtime story about princesses and fairies or an afternoon story session with adventures of spotted dinosaurs will help develop your child’s imagination and create a bond between the two of you.
According to the Early Moments Book Club organization, reading to a child offers many benefits that span from academic excellence and improved speech skills to better communication skills and a mastery of language. Your child’s concentration and discipline is also improved through story telling.
“Toddlers may initially squirm and become distracted during story time, but eventually they’ll learn to stay put for the duration of the book,” says the experts at Early Moments. “Along with reading comprehension comes a stronger self-discipline, longer attention span, and better memory retention, all of which will serve your child well when she enters school.”
Take your story time and your child’s development to a new level by involving him or her in one of the many free story times available in Houston. From art museums and public libraries to local bookstores and restaurants, many Houston organizations offer interactive book readings the entire family can enjoy.
It seems only natural to host a story time at Houston’s Public Library where thousands of books are available to engage your child’s mind. The Heights Neighborhood library campus at 1302 Heights Boulevard in Houston features several free story time sessions for toddlers 18 months to 3 years of age and pre-K. Baby time sessions for your little ones 6 months to 18 months is also offered throughout the week. This interactive story time features books, songs and finger plays with free play after the story telling session.
For specific story times, contact the Houston Public Library’s Heights Neighborhood campus at 832-393-1810 or visit the library’s website at
www.houstonlibrary.org.
In addition to offering your child free science-related activities, the Nature Discovery Center at 7112 Newcastle Street, in Bellaire, also features Nature Story Time and Craft for preschoolers ages 2 to 5 each week. Your little one can learn about critters, birds, shells and minerals through interactive books and story time sessions.
The center is open Tuesday – Sunday from 12-5:30 p.m. For more information about story time dates and times, call 713-667-6550 or visit the Nature Discovery Center’s website at www.naturediscoverycenter.org.
Experience the excitement of the Children’s Museum and expose your children to interactive story telling sessions at the Children’s Museum of Houston, located at 1500 Binz in Houston. The museum hosts free family nights from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays, complete with access to hands-on exhibits, a spotlight performance and story times.
For more information about hours and story time sessions, contact the Children’s Museum of Houston at 713-522-1138 or visit the museum’s website at www.cmhouston.org.
The Children’s Entertainment Specialists of Merry Makers offers several free story time events throughout the Houston Area. Sponsored by local restaurant chains, story tellers from Merry Makers, Inc. offer kids the opportunity to listen to stories, play games, complete arts and crafts, create balloon animals and receive free face painting.
The creative team hosts free story times on Saturday mornings from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. at McDonald’s, located at 5888 Richmond Avenue in Houston and from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Chick-Fil-A at 5005 Richmond Avenue in Houston.
For more information, visit the Merry Makers website at www.merrymakersinc.net.
What better place to experience story telling adventures than a local bookstore. The Barnes and Noble, located in Vanderbilt Square at 3003 W. Holcombe Boulevard features free story times on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Learn about animals, kid adventures and creative non-fiction with new titles revealed each week.
For more information, contact Barnes and Noble at 713-349-0050 or visit the Vanderbilt Square’s store website at store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2582.
If you are looking for a Sunday afternoon activity that will stimulate your child’s mind and creative spirit, head over to the Museum of Fine Arts, located in the Beck Building at 5601 Main in Houston. The museum features free story time sessions from at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday for ages 2+.
For more information, contact the Museum of Fine Arts at 713.639.7300 or visit the website at www.mfah.org.
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The phrase “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” can apply to many aspects of life. It especially rings true when parenting with the help of a nanny.
In an ideal world, parents and nannies would agree on every belief, strategy and goal of parenting and caring for children, but the reality is that diverse beliefs and strategies can actually enhance the lives of your children, as long as everyone is respectful of each other’s viewpoints.
Learning how to communicate and work together with your nanny – by resisting the temptation to sweat the small stuff – can prevent the little things from turning your nanny relationship from cooperative and caring to miserable mayhem.
Unveiling the Culprit
Many times, we react strongly to minor events without even knowing why. According to San-Francisco based Family Therapist Holly Brown, it happens to everyone, but there may be something more behind the reaction.
A potential culprit could be that you are angry or frustrated with people in your life but you don’t want to admit to it, says Brown. For example, you may be upset with your spouse for missing an important event and when you return home and realize the nanny is engaging in a messy art project with the children, you fly off the handle about the mess.
“Once you admit to yourself that you are upset with the people closest to you, there’s that whole business of having to actually do something about it,” says Brown. So, instead, the nanny’s decision to play first and clean up later gives you the opportunity to deny the culprit of your frustration and focus on a minor setback that has blown into a major issue for you.
“Denial sucks up a lot of emotional energy,” says Brown. “If you do get honest with yourself and handle the actual underlying problem, you can start doing something about it.”
At other times, the reason the little things bother you is because they are not so “little” to you. If your nanny cuddles with your son before bedtime and you would prefer to have that time with him but haven’t expressed these desires, you may develop resentment or jealousy toward the nanny instead of communicating your needs.
“Accepting what actually matters to us – regardless of how we imagine others would feel about the same things – is an important way to begin feeling better and more compassionate toward ourselves,” says Brown. “This will definitely lower stress.”
Forming a Bond With Your Nanny
Instead of letting the little things build and explode into “big” issues between you and your nanny, it’s important to set practices in place to foster a trusting, positive and caring relationship between the two of you.
Because your nanny is the primary caregiver of your precious children when you are away, let her know you have complete faith in her abilities by treating her fair and with respect, by:
- Setting Clear Expectations – A positive relationship with your nanny begins with complete honesty. From day one, establish the job duties, responsibilities and expectations for discipline and overall care of your children. If you begin to add duties sporadically and make unnecessary and time-consuming demands that were not established at the onset of her position, she will begin to feel as if the family is taking advantage of her. This will not only damage the relationship you have with her but it could also leave you without a nanny.
- Give Her Space – It’s challenging to complete a project at work or write a report with someone constantly hovering over your shoulder. Your nanny will feel the same way if you don’t give her enough space to care for your children. If your expectations are clear and set from the beginning, trust her to follow through and get out of her way when she is in charge. Nit picking at the little things you think you would do differently will undermine her authority with the children and cause friction within your relationship with the nanny. If you oppose to one of her methods or strategies, have a private conversation with the nanny to rectify the problem.
- Help Her Organize – It is a challenging task to manage the schedules of children who are active in school activities, sporting events and extra-curricular lessons. Make your nannies life easier and minimize the risk of any confusion by helping her stay organized. Purchase a wall calendar or a pocket calendar for your nanny and keep her updated on any changes in the schedule. When you actively communicate with your nanny, it opens the door for a bond to form and for scheduling mishaps to disappear.
Even though the little things may continue to bug you – regardless of how much space, organization and communication you provide for your nanny – it is important to understand that the little things often seem overwhelming when you are shouldering the burden alone, says Brown. “Whether you have a partner or not, consider your support network and whether you can draw them closer,” she says. “Our feelings and reactions offer clues all the time. We’ve just got to figure out how to solve the mystery.”
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Gear up for summer break by making plans for your kids to keep their minds and bodies active. Summer camp provides children with an opportunity to meet other children with the same interests, embark on educational journeys and keep their minds active when school is not in session.
Luckily, Houston has plenty of educational and entertainment-based camps for your kids to enjoy. From computer camps to science explorations, your child can stay active close to home this summer.
For the tech-savvy child who embraces technology, the University of Houston’s computer camp is an ideal choice for summer. The camp features courses in programming, web designing, video editing, video game design and flash animation for children 7-17.
Sponsored by ID Tech, the university’s computer camp meets from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. Overnight camps are also available.
All camps are located at the University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road. Check availability and register at www.internaldrive.com, call 1-888-709-TECH or email info@internaldrive.com.
Aspiring superstars can learn the tricks and trades of the music industry with one of many music-based camps sponsored by Sam Houston State University. Your child can choose from one-week sessions that include Choir Camp, Band Camp, Bassoon Camp, Orchestra Camp and Drumline/Chamber and Piano.
If musical theater is your child’s passion, the university also offers a Broadway Artist Intensive Musical Theater Camp. The one-week camps begin in June and run through early August each summer.
All camps are located at Sam Houston State University’s main campus, 1806 Avenue J, Huntsville. For more information, e-mail camps@shsu.edu or call (936) 294-1111.
If your child loves to explore, he or she will have plenty of opportunities with adventure programs sponsored by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The Xplorations Summer Science Adventures feature week-long, hands-on science summer camps perfect for children 6-12.
Topics range from chemistry camps with booms and blast offs, space camps for space cadets, pilots and commanders to camps focused on robotics, physics, social studies and even dinosaur-themed weeks. Each camp is held Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. at the main museum, located at 555 Hermann Park Drive, and the Sugar Land location, beginning each June.
For a complete schedule, contact the Houston Museum of Natural Science at
xplorations@hmns.org or 713-639-4652.
If your little one loves to kick around the soccer ball, play catch in the yard or toss around the football, then the Velocity Sports Performance Camp will keep him or her energized during the summer.
The renowned training facility, located at 10535 Jones Road in Houston, features one-week volleyball, soccer, football, basketball, baseball and softball-themed camps for young athletes. With a focus on proper training, the Velocity Sports Performance boasts workouts and physical warm-ups that focus on training components for speed, power and agility.
For registration information, visit www.velocitysp.com/cyfair or call 281-664-6450.
A summer filled with adventure, friendship and learning opportunities is the goal for the day camps offered by the YMCA of Greater Houston. The camps, located at many of the YMCA campuses in the Houston area, feature supervised activities that focus on the YMCA’s mission to promote leadership skills and teach core values.
The camps feature opportunities to create arts and crafts, participate in field trips, swim, take nature walks, explore science and technology and learn about diverse cultures. In addition to day camps, the YMCA also hosts family, teen and sports camps.
For more information, visit www.ymcahouston.org, or call 713-659-5566. The YMCA of Greater Houston is located in Houston, TX 77253. There are nearly 20 YMCAs in Houston; to find directions and contact information for each Houston location, go to https://www.ymcahouston.org/location-directory/.
And don’t forget, if you’re looking for a summer nanny to provide full or part-time care, or care to supplement your children’s summer camp schedule, give us a call. We’re gearing up for the summer season and welcome the opportunity to assist you with your summer childcare needs.
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Houston is home to a plethora of entertainment venues and night life – perfect for moms, dads and nannies to enjoy some time out on the town. However, when you want to expose your children to concerts and performances, Houston does not disappoint.
There are many kid and family-friendly concert halls and performing arts centers that feature musical amusement for all ages.
If you want to entertain your kids with action, adventure and music attractions, Reliant Park offers all of the above and then some. As one of North America’s largest event complexes, Reliant Park features a stadium, concert center, arena and astrodome.
The event complex features ever-changing performances, competitions and musical concerts perfect for kids. Take your teenagers to see one of the latest pop stars perform, such as One Direction or entertain your little ones with a performance of Disney on Ice.
Boasting more than 26,000 parking spaces, Reliant Park, located within the Inner Loop of the southern portion of Interstate Loop 610 between Kirby Street and Fannin Street, is well-equipped for large crowds.
For a complete schedule of events or directions, visit Reliant Park’s website.
Allow your little ones to experience history and classics with a trip to the Houston Grand Opera, located at 510 Preston Street. With classic performances of Mozart, Puccini, Verdi and Sondheim, each year, this renowned opera house premieres new works.
In addition to producing and performing world-class opera, the Houston Grand Opera also hosts cultural enrichment programs for kids, community events and education projects.
For a complete schedule of events or directions, visit the Houston Grand Opera’s website.
From Footloose and Dirty Dancing to Mama Mia and a Christmas Spectacular, the Broadway scene at the Hobby Center will surely entertain your kids during any season.
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, located 800 Bagby Street, is one of the premiere entertainment complexes in the Houston Theater District. Formerly known as the Houston Music Hall Foundation, the center hosts two theaters and a first-class setting for family-friendly entertainment.
For more information about the performance schedule, visit the theater’s website.
Improve and comedy shows are not just for adults anymore. The Improv Houston hosts a weekly family comedy and magic show, perfect for a family night of entertainment. Located at 7620 Katy Freeway Space, the venue also hosts open mic nights and comedy shows regularly.
For more information about upcoming events, visit the venue’s website.
Light up your kids’ minds with a wired dance show at the FrenetiCore Fearless Dance Theater, located at 5102 Navigation Blvd. Combining technology with modern dance, the theater company offers young and old viewers choreographic surprises and projection mapping.
The digital campfire performance is just one of the performances at FrenetiCore throughout the year. Take the kids to view a ballet performance, tap dance or modern dance recital.
For more information about events, performances and pricing, visit the FrenetiCore website.
As one of the most popular venues for free outdoor performances, the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, features an eight month season of performances and a variety of concerts and programs designed for children and families.
From play productions of “The Three Little Pigs” and “Rapunzel” to Swing Jive and Pop Dance performances and Houston’s Young Artist Concert, there is something for toddlers and teenagers throughout the year.
For more information on the event schedules at Miller Outdoor Theatre, visit the theatre’s website.
Miller Outdoor Theatre is located at 6000 Hermann Park Drive in Hermann Park, just south of the Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Garden Center.
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When the school year ends and summer clothing comes out of winter storage, the long days and warm nights make staying inside feel almost like a crime. For residents of the Houston area or lucky vacationers, the possibilities for outdoor summer entertainment are almost endless. These ten seasonal events are among the most exciting in the area, and are sure to rank high on your “can’t-miss” list of summer 2013!
Commemorating the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation is an important part of African American culture, and the celebration held by the Texas Black Expo is one of their most popular each year. With more than 20,000 attendees expected, Juneteenth Summer Celebration is a way to celebrate the seasonal delights of summer while remembering the struggles and triumphs of African American culture.
An annual celebration of American independence, the Southwest Airlines Freedom Over Texas event is the official Fourth of July festival of the city of Houston. With an eye-popping fireworks display after dark and plenty of fun to be had during the light of day, this is one festival that your family certainly won’t want to skip.
If you’re not wild about the idea of fighting the crowds in Houston for the Southwest Airlines Freedom Over Texas festival, Pasadena 4th Fest might be right up your family’s alley. While it’s a bit smaller and more intimate than the Houston event with more manageable crowds, it’s still the biggest city-sponsored event in the suburb of Pasadena. Games, toys, a kidzone and the water balloon war zone make it a great stop for the kids in your family, while adults will enjoy the BBQ cook-off, live music and car show. The big event culminates in a twenty minute fireworks show, sure to please adults and kids alike.
Want to celebrate Juneteenth in the place where it all began? Juneteeth was established as a holiday in Galveston, which is heavily celebrated in the form of a festival that stretches from June eighth through the nineteenth in this island town just a short drive from the Houston city limits.
Slip outside of Houston to celebrate Independence day with this Pearland festival, which features vendors, the Texas Unlimited band, a VFW military salute and a breathtaking fireworks show after dark.
On July 13th, the Houston Symphony will present a free, all-day festival celebrating the sounds of Texas music with five stages housing thirty performances over twelve full hours. The Instrument Petting Zoo allows kids and adults to get up close and personal with a musical insturment, while instrument-making craft activities help you create your own musical devices.
When Moody Gardens hosts a festival celebrating all things dinosaur, they do it right! From May through August, Moody Gardens will be taken over by prehistoric wonders of all shapes and sizes. Sure to please the dino-crazy kids in your family, Dinos Alive! puts visitors in the thick of the excitement with mock search-and-rescue activities along the way.
Live music and fireworks over Galveston Bay make Kemah boardwalk another exciting Independence Day festival celebration option for visitors and Houston residents alike. If one night of fireworks isn’t enough to satisfy, Kemah Boardwalk will continue to host Fireworks Fridays throughout the month of July.
If your youngsters are wild for all things creepy and crawly, Pasadena Convention Center and Fairgrounds is the place to be on July sixth and seventh. Reptiles descend upon Pasadena for the weekend, along with their amphibian pals.
On June twentieth, the 43rd Round Top Music Festival: Chamber Music with Young Artists Concert will be held at Round Top Festival Institute. Celebrating the best and the brightest young players in the Houston area, the festival boasts free admission and a children’s concert to get kids interested in music.
Houston is a world-class city with much to offer in the way of cultural pursuits, so keep your eyes peeled for smaller festivals and celebrations in the area that often cater to more specialized tastes.
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If you are a cycling enthusiast, then Houston is the place to be. With more than 300 miles of interconnected bikeway trails and more than 80 miles of hike and bike nature trails, the City of Houston offers lush scenery and bike-friendly routes for all ages, according to the Houston Bikeway Program.
However, when cycling in Houston, it’s important to remember that bike safety is a priority. When taking your little ones on a neighborhood jaunt or cycling across the city, keep these 10 safety tips in mind.
#1: Wear a Helmet
Whether you are riding on a neighborhood street or cruising through the city, make sure you are protected with a tightly-fitting helmet. In fact, in Houston, by law, every bike rider 17 and under must wear a helmet when cycling. According to the City of Houston’s bike handbook, a good helmet can prevent an injury to your brain and reduce a bike rider’s risk of major injury or death by 88 percent.
#2: Ride to the Right
Knowing the rules of the road is not exclusive to only motorists in Houston. Always stay to the right and use designated bikeways when possible. In addition, avoid the “car door zone” to prevent unexpected injury.
#3: Stay off the Sidewalks
Although it may appear to be safer to ride on the sidewalk versus the street when a bikeway is not present, bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks in Houston unless there are hazardous conditions on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the road is safer than the sidewalk because of visibility. “Cyclists move much faster than pedestrians, which means that you can enter a driver’s field of vision faster,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “This makes it much harder for them to see you if you are on the sidewalk. In the road, you’re right in their face.”
#4: Know Your Direction
When cycling in Houston, always ride in the same direction as traffic to increase a motorist’s ability to see you. Just as motorists do, cyclists should obey traffic signs and signals and ride only one cyclist per seat.
#5: Learn the Terminology
As a biker, it’s important to know the terminology to help you obey the rules of the road. The City of Houston’s Bike Safety Handbook designates the following terms as need-to-know bike talk:
- Cyclists: A person who rides a bicycle
- Designated: Marked for a special purpose
- Hydrated: when you drink enough water to keep your body working well
- Motorist: Someone who drives a car, van or truck
- Pedestrian: A person who walks
- Yield: Come to a complete stop and let a person or vehicle cross in front of you
#6: Send the Right Signals
It’s important to be aware of your surroundings when cycling across Houston. Always look ahead, behind and to the sides before making a turn or proceeding on your route. Use hand signals, too, to alert pedestrians, motorists and other cyclists. Common turn signals include:
- To turn left, put your left arm out and return hand to handlebars
- To turn right, put your right arm out and return hand to handlebars
- To stop, put your left or right arm straight out and let it hang down from the elbow. Return hand to handlebars.
#7: Slow Down
Remember that safety trumps winning a race to the finish when cycling through the city. Slow down and dismount your bike versus attempting to ride over big holes in the road, uneven pavements and grating over sewer drains.
#8: Dress to Ride
Unfortunately, loose clothing, dangling shoelaces and jewelry can impair your ability to cycle safely in Houston. Be dressed to ride by securing all ties and laces. Make sure you are visible, too, by wearing reflective strips and white or bright-colored clothing so motorists can see you easily.
#9: Register Your Bike
It’s the law. The City of Houston requires that all bicycles should be registered at your nearest Houston fire station. For just $1 you can register your bike and allow the Houston Police Department easy access to locate your bicycle if it is lost or stolen. For more information on registration, visit HoustonFire.org.
#10: Complete a BikeSmart Checklist
Before pedaling your way through the streets of Houston, conduct a routine check of your bike to ensure your safety.
A routine check includes inspecting the following:
- Check your tire pressure
- Inspect your brakes
- Make sure the lubricated chain is snug
- Secure the seat and handlebars so they are tight
- Tighten any loose spokes
- Check reflectors and lights
- Test the bell or horn
- Make sure the gears are shifting correctly
It’s always a good idea to also get your bike tuned up at least once a year at your local bike shop.
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When the weather is sunny and your kids are itching to play outdoors, Houston can provide just the place to keep your children entertained. With more than 366 parks in the city of Houston, you have more than enough jungle gyms to choose from. Try venturing out to one of these 10 parks your kids will love.
Donovan Park, seated at the intersection of Heights Boulevard and the MKT Trail, is perched right between two of Houston’s bicycle routes. This private park is maintained by private citizens and features a slide, swings, a zipline, tunnels and tree-house attractions for the little tikes. Take a bike ride to this featured playground and enjoy the safety of a fenced in area for your little ones to play.
Located at 201 Hermann Park Drive, Hermann Park sits between Rice University, the Texas Medical Center and the Museum District. Acknowledged as one of the premiere parks in the city of Houston, Hermann Park is home to the Houston Zoo, the Miller Outdoor Theatre, the Museum of Natural Science, the Japanese Garden and McGovern Lake, complete with paddle boats. Your little ones can hop on board the Hermann Park Mini-Train and cool off in the Buddy Carruth Playground, which features interactive water features and playground equipment.
Let your kids run off some energy with the 2.88 mile walking trail or six mile bike trail featured at Houston’s memorial park. Memorial park, located at 6501 Memorial Drive, offers a little bit of everything for the athletic child, including tennis courts, playing fields, a swimming pool and a fitness center in addition to the miles of trails with distance markers. This premiere park is also home to the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center.
Located at 1500 McKinney Street, the Discovery Green Conservancy is an urban green space in the Heart of Houston, offering a wealth of opportunity for fun, play and learning. Home to the John P. McGovern Playground, the Wortham Foundation Gardens, Kinder Lake and the Lindsey Waterside Landing and Garden, your family can spend days roaming the greenscapes of this downtown park.
Want to take your kids for a stroll around a lake and feed the ducks basking in the water? Then Arthur Storey Park is the place for you. Located at 7400 W. Sam Houston Parkway South, this adventure station features a playground and pond for the little ones, a kid fit exercise station, walking trail and picnic areas. Spend the day without worry since restrooms are located on site. You can even bring your pets as long as they are on a leash.
Located at 1100 Bagby, Sam Houston Park sits on the edge of downtown. This park offers a history lesson in architecture and design for your little ones. As one of the oldest parks in the city, the Sam Houston Park is home to the Heritage Society’s museum and restored homes of early settlers of the City, including the Jack Yates house, an 1823 cabin, the Nichols-Rice-Cherry House and the San Felipe Cottage, all with unique historical significance your children will love.
Home to 104 acres of tree-lined leisure space, Mason Park is the perfect place to let your kids run off some energy and play a game of tag. Located on Houston’s east side, at 541 South 75th Street, the park boasts six lighted tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a 1.4 mile long trail and a ten-station exercise circuit along the trail. The community center within Mason Park features a clubroom, stage and summer and after-school activities for the kids.
For a fun-filled afternoon with the kids and your four-legged friends, visit Bay Area Park, home to a dog park and play areas for children. Located between Space Center Boulevard and Red Bluff Road, Bay Area Park is a vibrant greenspace complete with playground structures, hiking trails, a botanical garden and picnic areas. Get active, too, by taking advantage of the canoe ramps along the shores of Armand Bayou, or try your hand at tennis on the courts or a game of baseball or softball on the fields within the park.
Home to recreational facilities that will keep your children entertained for hours, Ingrando Park, located at 7302 Keller, may be the perfect choice for a day in the sun. Ingrando Park features a multi-use pavilion, three ball diamonds, a .59-mile walking trail and basketball courts. One of the highlights of the tree-lined park is the newly renovated playground surface for all ages.
For 124 acres of skyline views and green, lush scenery, take the family to Buffalo Bayou Park. Located along the 1800-3600 blocks of Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive, this premiere Houston park boasts the Gus S. Wortham fountain, a nationally recognized skate park and a biking and jogging trail. For a night cap to a day exploring this park, consider sticking around at dusk in the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony, where you can view bats drop out of their home below the Waugh Drive Bridge.
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The kids are restless, you could use some time conversing with adults and the schedule is free for the day. Why not organize a play date?
Organizing a play date takes some planning, but with these tips, you can provide your children with opportunities that will help them academically, socially and emotionally.
Why Plan a Play Date?
Providing the children you care for with opportunities to socialize and play with others is an important step in their social development. Your children also benefit from learning how to share and communicate with others.
Preschoolers, especially, have a lot of energy, and need ways to exert this energy in positive ways. According to the experts at Nemours KidsHealth, preschoolers are also discovering what it means to play with a friend instead of just alongside another child.
“By being around other kids, a preschooler gains important social skills, such as sharing and taking turns,” said the childcare experts at KidsHealth. “Despite occasional conflicts, preschoolers learn to cooperate and interact during play.”
Getting Started
The best place to begin is by assessing your invite list. Gather names of parents or nannies in the neighborhood or talk with adults at your child’s preschool to gather interest in a play date.
Once you have a guest list prepared, inquire about times and dates that will be convenient for the children and their nannies or parents. It is also important to work around your family’s schedule since you don’t want to host a play date when your employers have engagements in the home. Assess your own schedule, too, to make sure that you schedule the play date during a time when the children will not be napping, hungry or cranky.
Prepare for the Play Date
Preparation is key when it comes to hosting a play date. Michelle LaRowe, executive director of Morningside Nannies and author of “A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists,” recommends putting away any special toys your child is unwilling to share. “Putting these prized possessions away during playdates can head off potential sharing problems,” she says.
Prepare for snack time, too, by setting up healthy options, such as fruits, veggies and snack crackers. Juice boxes or cups with lids will help prevent spills. Snack time is a great way to break up the play date when children are getting restless.
When scheduling a play date, make sure, too, that you set a time limit. Instead of leaving the play date open ended, let your guests know that it will begin at a certain time and end on time. Two hours is typically the norm for play dates – this also works well for a late morning or late afternoon gathering so children can keep their daily routines and nap times.
Prepare for Play
A structured setting works best for a play date. LaRowe recommends setting up different stations with activities. For example, one station could focus on kitchen play, one for blocks and one for animated games or art projects. Ask your fellow nannies or parents to help facilitate each station to ensure the activities go as planned.
Interactive games also work well to provide a structured setting. The experts at KidsHealth recommend the following activities:
- Play bounce catch
- Use paper airplanes to practice throwing
- Balance a beanbag while walking
- Play freeze dance
- Play wheelbarrow by holding your child’s legs while he or she walks forward on hands
Creating a theme for your play date will keep the children engaged, too.
Potential play date themes can include:
- ABC’s – Ask each child to bring a memento or toy that begins with a pre-assigned letter
- Space Exhibition – Offer activities and games that revolve around the planets, including art projects or impromptu plays
- Birthday Fun – Throw a birthday party for all of the children, complete with party hats, cake and games
- Farm Fun – Ask each child to bring a drawing, picture or toy that represents his or her favorite animal and have sharing time during the play date
When creating a theme for your play date, pull out toys that represent the theme or print off coloring pages from the Internet so they can leave with a piece of art that will leave a lasting impression of their time together.
Most importantly, allow the children to socialize naturally, sit back and converse with the other nannies and parents and resist the urge to mediate any disagreements at first. Allowing children to work out their differences in a play setting is a valuable learning experience.
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Whether you seek to find a fun field trip for the day or an educational journey for your children, Houston is the place to be. The city boasts some of the most fascinating museums that will add some culture, creativity and knowledge to your child’s day.
Pack up a picnic lunch and prepare for a jaunt to one of these museums within Houston’s city limits.
This 5-star museum is housed in a building designed just for the whimsical child. Designed by acclaimed architect Robert Venturi, the Children’s Museum of Houston offers a variety of exhibits, themed workshops and action-packed activities to keep the entire family entertained for hours. Before heading out to this popular attraction, check the website for available programs and workshops focused on social studies, culture, science, math, health, literacy, engineering and civic engagement.
Don’t forget to take advantage of the 39,000 square foot exhibition space boasting permanent exhibits based on your child’s favorite animated series.
The Children’s Museum of Houston is located at 1500 Binz, Houston, Texas 77004. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m. on Sundays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays with a free admission from 5-8 p.m. for Free Family Night. Hours will vary on holiday weekends. Adult and children admission during regular hours is $9.00, seniors (age 65+) $8.00 and active duty military and their families $8.00. Children under 1 and museum members can enter free of charge. For more information, contact the museum directly at 713-522-1138.
Offer your children a fun, learning experience with a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science for the day. This popular Houston attraction houses a variety of permanent exhibits that allow your child to explore energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, space science, astronomy, seashells and Texas Wildlife. Take in a documentary in the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre or admire nature in the Cockrell Butterfly Center at this museum. A walk through the Burke Baker Planetarium is also a must.
Offering two satellite campuses, the Houston Museum of Natural Science supports the George Observatory in Fort Bend County, boasting one of the largest telescopes and the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, featuring exhibits on dinosaurs, mineralogy, exotic live frogs and more.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston Texas 77030. Hours of operation are from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Sundays with a free Thursday option from 2-5 p.m. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $15 for children, seniors, college students and military with ID. Groups of $20 are more can obtain a $7 rate and school groups pay only $3.50 per person. For more information, contact the museum directly at 713-639-4629.
If your child is a history buff, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum will inspire her heart and expand her mind. This historic museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy and honor of the African-American soldier – the only one of its kind in the United States. The museum is home to educational exhibits, including the “Forgotten Faces of Ft. Craig,” displaying replicated skulls of Civil War and Buffalo soldiers. Many of the exhibits feature theatre presentations, artifacts and interactive activities.
The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is located at 3816 Caroline, Houston Texas 77004. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. Enjoy free admission on Thursdays from 1-5 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students with a college ID, seniors 60+ and military personnel. Children 5 and under are free. For more information, contact the museum directly at 713-942-8920.
Come rain or shine, the John C. Freeman Weather Museum, will offer your child a look into the world of meteorology. Your child can practice his skills as a weathercaster, learn about weather heroes, experience hurricane force winds in the Hurricane Simulator or find out facts about climate, tornadoes and weather trends. The museum offers the entire family a unique view of math, meteorology and earth sciences.
The John C. Freeman Weather Museum is located at 104 Caroline Street, Houston Texas 77004. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Guided tours are available for $8 for adults, $5 for students, teachers and seniors. For more information, contact the museum directly at 713-529-3076.
If your child is a master at water colors, photography or illustrations, the Museum of Fine Arts may provide the inspiration he needs. This famous Houston museum boasts exhibits that include collections of art and photography as well as special workshops and programs, documentaries and gallery talks with professional artists.
The Museum of Fine Arts is located at 1001 Bissonnet, Houston Texas 77004. Located in the heart of Houston’s Museum District, the cultural complex is comprised of two gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, visitors center, library, café, movie theater, two art schools, two house museums, and two gift shops. Hours and admission fees for each complex vary. Log on to the museum website or call 713-639-7300 for more information.
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