Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Kansas City, KS

Best Birthday Party Venues

by Rita Arens

My daughter and her posse all have birthdays around the same time, since they were in the same class at daycare for a long time. As a result, starting in January of each year, we get to see the sights of kid-birthday venues around town. My favorites thus far are as follows: Reading Reptile -- They will do a birthday party, plan an activity, read stories to the kids, serve cupcakes and make ... Read more >

Continue reading "Best Birthday Party Venues"

Mommy? I'm Bored. Already.

by Rita Arens

The words we all dread. "I'm bored." Funny how early they master that, eh? Never fear. Get someone else to do what you've been doing all winter. For some reason, a new adult reading a book is so much more interesting than a parent reading a book. Maybe it's in the way they hold it up for everyone to see? For story times, check out Tales for Tiny Tykes at the Plaza branch of the Kansas City ... Read more >

Continue reading "Mommy? I'm Bored. Already."

Local Children's Book Authors

by Rita Arens

I love going to Reading Reptile in Brookside when national authors come in to do readings and signings, but I didn't realize how many children's authors and illustrators live right here in the Kansas City metro. Check it out! I bet they would sign your book if you asked nicely... Claudia Chandler from Olathe Barbara Higgins-Dover from Lawrence Richard Jennings from Overland Park Daniel ... Read more >

Continue reading "Local Children's Book Authors"

Great Summer Read Alouds

by Rita Arens

This one is hard for me, because I think ANY book is best read aloud. My husband has a way of pretending to be in the book and making the pictures talk. I'm really no good at that, because I'm always too fascinated with the words and the rhythm they make. Really rhyming books sound so nice read aloud, and I like: Wynken, Blynken and Nod Mother Goose Other books aren't rhyming, but have ... Read more >

Continue reading "Great Summer Read Alouds"

Books that Take You Far, Far Away

by Rita Arens

I LOVE children's books, and I've been reviewing a ton of them this year for Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews and Cool Mom Picks . Here are some of my favorite far-away books that I've read in the past year: Stories from the Silk Road -- Seven folk tales for older kids (though my four-year-old can pay attention, thanks to the lovely illustrations) from Asia Catch that Goat -- Fun pictures and an ... Read more >

Continue reading "Books that Take You Far, Far Away"

The Seven Seas

by Rita Arens

One of my favorite subjects! Oh, no! We don't live anywhere near an ocean! What to do, what to do. Immerse yourself in Pippi Longstocking, the daughter of Captain Longstocking, oh yes, she was. Remember her? I'll bet your kids have no idea who she is, and she is awesome. Here's a book . Here are the shows we remember. And here's the updated version . ... Read more >

Continue reading "The Seven Seas"

You Can Read! Yay!

by Rita Arens

Today is International Literacy Day, and September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. I know since you're reading this that you can, in fact, read, so here are some ways to make sure our kids and our neighbors can, too. Reach Out and Read is a program that partners with pediatricians to make sure kids have books to read at their visits. Literacy Kansas City provides help to adults and ... Read more >

Continue reading "You Can Read! Yay!"

Book Forts

by Rita Arens

I often beg my daughter to go read her books for a while so I can grab a minute to apply make-up or iron clothes or conduct some other essential beauty routine without her reorganizing my shoe collection. Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't, but recently I've discovered if she's in her magic book-reading fort, she will stay in there WAY LONGER. The little angel's book-reading fort is ... Read more >

Continue reading "Book Forts"

Aaand...We're back.

by Jenny Meade

Hi folks! I'm Jenny, and Rita has graciously handed over the Kansas City Savvy Source blog to me. Since this is my first post, let me tell you a little about myself. Ahhhhemmmm. I was born in Southern California. My early days were spent wandering around the beaches of Coronado, chasing the seagulls until they turned and began divebombing me, at which point I ran for my dad, whom pictures ... Read more >

Continue reading "Aaand...We're back."

Reading is where it all begins.

by Jenny Meade

I started reading to my kids at night before bedtime when they were barely able to sit up long enough to listen. I did this less out of an attempt to get them to love books, but more just to set up a bedtime ritual that would make it easier to get quieted down and ready to go night-night. It worked, with the added bonus of both children loving books, of ... Read more >

Continue reading "Reading is where it all begins."

Story Time Around Kansas City

by Jenny Meade

Reading with your kids when snuggled up in clean jammies and a warm bed is indeed a magical experience. Sometimes, it's even more fun to seek out a local reading time at your favorite library or bookstore. Here in Kansas City, we have several to choose from, probably one right in your neighborhood. The Kansas City, MO Library system has story times on Friday mornings. Various ... Read more >

Continue reading "Story Time Around Kansas City"

"Mom? What does p-a-r-k spell?"

by Jenny Meade

My kindergartner has been dying to read by himself for some time now, especially since his older brother can. Every night after we read together, I leave him in his bed with a book or 12 spread all around him, and he always ends up calling to me from his bed with a word he can't get past. He also tends to fall asleep on top of his pile of books, more beloved than his stuffed animals, and I go ... Read more >

Continue reading ""Mom? What does p-a-r-k spell?""

Bedtime Stories

by Jenny Meade

When my oldest son was born, someone gave us a copy of a book called Love You Forever . It's supposed to be a sweet story about a mom who loves her little boy so much and she sings this special lullaby to him every night when putting him to bed. She sings this song to him even as he becomes too old for rocking and lullabies, sneaking into his bedroom after he's sleeping and whispering it ... Read more >

Continue reading "Bedtime Stories"

Kansas City Octopus is looking good tonight!

by Jenny Meade

On one of his many business trips to New York City several years ago, my husband came across a book called Polka Bats and Octopus Slacks by Calef Brown. It is a book of silly poems and drawings, and my kids were fascinated with it instantly. Who am I kidding - we all were. It's genius. The very first poem of the book, which we still giggle at, is called "Kansas City Octopus": "Kansas City ... Read more >

Continue reading "Kansas City Octopus is looking good tonight!"

A book is a good way to talk through tough subjects.

by Jenny Meade

One of the things that happens soon after your little one heads off to preschool is the coming home of the dreaded incident note. The "your child bit someone today" or "Your child hit someone today" or "Your child pulled out his junk and peed down the slide in front of all his friends today". It hurts, as a parent, to know that your baby is acting inappropriately, probably out of an inability ... Read more >

Continue reading "A book is a good way to talk through tough subjects."

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

by Jenny Meade

Will Rogers had a lot of great quotes. That one happens to be my current favorite, mostly because it was the line my oldest son uttered recently in his third grade musical program. All dressed up in his plaid shirt and jeans, cowboy hat and boots with a read hankerchef around his neck, he looked the part of the great cowboy and orator Will Rogers. Other favorite Will Roger's quotes: "We are all ... Read more >

Continue reading ""Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.""

A great book is one you can borrow - and listen to.

by Jenny Meade

Ever been driving down the road running from one activity to another, listening to your children scream and fuss and poke each other and take toys from one another, and making you feel like you're going to lose your mind right that minute? No, it's just me? Yeah right. Anyway, I have discovered a cure for it. But since it never happens to you maybe you don't want to hear it... Uh huh. ... Read more >

Continue reading "A great book is one you can borrow - and listen to."

Holiday shopping ideas - right here at Savvy Source.

by Jenny Meade

The closer we get to the holidays, the more I start to panic about getting my holiday shopping done. While I am aware that my children's have listed a Nintendo DS Lite on their Christmas lists for Santa, unfortunately they are going to be disappointed on that one. Anyway, what I do know about getting my shopping done is books are the best gifts to give, especially classics that speak to ... Read more >

Continue reading "Holiday shopping ideas - right here at Savvy Source."

Magic Tree House comes to Kansas City!

by Jenny Meade

This Friday, December 5th, Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series comes to the live stage, with music! Magic Tree House, The Musical is playing Friday evening at 7pm at Johnson County Community College's Yardley Hall. Tickets are $8 for kids and youth, and $12 for adults. There are also showings at 9:45 am and 12noon for school groups, but you may be able to call the ticket window and ask ... Read more >

Continue reading "Magic Tree House comes to Kansas City!"

Favorite Christmas stories.

by Jenny Meade

Over the years, we've received numerous books about Christmas and the holidays as gifts. Everything from Disney characters like Bear in the Big Blue House to really smart, sophisticated stories that become heirloom books. One of my favorites is Auntie Claus and The Key to Christmas. Auntie Claus is a story about Santa Claus' older sister, who lives in a Penthouse of a fancy hotel in New York ... Read more >

Continue reading "Favorite Christmas stories."

Your beginning reader. Feed the Hunger.

by Jenny Meade

Children sometimes have a hard time with change, new environments, new things, new places. Of my two boys, my oldest has never met a new situation he didn't like. He walked into his first day of kindergarten and never even looked back to see if I was still standing there. But my youngest would always wrap around my legs walking into a new classroom, store, or play area. (Classic first and second ... Read more >

Continue reading "Your beginning reader. Feed the Hunger."