Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in albuquerque, NM

It's Not a Stick, It's A...

by Alison

April 13, 2009

Kids love to create, and their definition of artwork can be quite different from ours.  This means that chances are your child would be excited about an art project regardless of the materials used.  So, why not take advantage of that and scout out your home or your backyard for some craft supplies that would otherwise go unnoticed or just end up in the trash?

Flowers, grass, and leaves make some great collage materials.  I like to use clear contact paper to eliminate the need for glue (which is especially good for the littlest ones).  Then I also will cover the creation with contact paper as well.  Instead of just using  these materials for a collage, use them to spell your child's name - flowers are great for dotting 'i's! 

 

 

Head inside and you'll find even more great craft supplies. Cut pictures from old magazines. Look for specific colors, shapes, or letters and help your child create his own color, shape, or alphabet book. Popsicle sticks are lots of fun, too. Glue on some yarn for hair, draw on eyes (or use google eyes) and clothes to make people.  Glue four together to create a square-shaped picture frame. Challenge your child to make other shapes. Decorate old food containers (such as cool whip tubs or juice concentrate cans) and turn them into keepsake containers, pencil jars, or banks. Leftover bits of yarn, fabric, ribbon, or wrapping paper make great collage materials.

Create a stationary set for your child using the envelopes that come with junk mail (or your bills, if you pay them online and don't use them), paper that's been printed on one side already (cut them into fun shapes to make them seem interesting), and some return address labels. Use an old shoebox to make a mailbox.

Think outside of the box and you're sure to find lots of art materials around the house.  Before you throw it out, stop and think, what could my child create with this?

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5 Windy Day Activities

by Alison

March 31, 2009

Personally, I think spring is a bit overrated here in Albuquerque. Don't get me wrong, the weather is beautiful, but the wind - yikes! Too often I use the wind as an excuse to stay inside, but there are some activities that you just can't do any other day! Yesterday I wrote about kites, and here are some other windy weather activities for you to try with your kids:

1. Choose several objects of varying shape and size, such as rocks, paper, leaves, and maybe a small toy.  Take them outside and see if the wind will carry them away, and if so, how far they will go.  Allow your child to make guesses as to which objects will "fly" and how far they will go.

2. Use a pushpin, paper, and a pencil to create a pinwheel . To involve your child a bit more, have him or her decorate the paper before you cut it and attach it to the pencil.  Show your child how he can blow it to make it move, and then take it outside so she can see the wind make it move!

3. Use bubbles to teach your child about wind direction.  Have your child guess which directions the bubbles will go before you blow them.  Show him that regardless of where you stand and what direction you are facing, if the wind is blowing hard enough the bubbles will always go in the same direction.

4. For another lesson in wind direction, make a wind sock together.

5. Show your child that the wind can make music by making a wind chime. This one uses soda cans, silverware, CDs, nails and anything that would make noise when it clangs together.  Let your child choose materials and you could make several to see which one makes the best music or which one has the highest pitch.  Read more...

Let's Go Fly a Kite

by Alison

March 30, 2009

What better activity for a windy day than kite flying?  Simple kites are relatively inexpensive (buy several though, because they seem to break easily) or you can make your own using supplies you have around the house. These won't fly as high or as far, but I imagine your child will still love his kite that he made all by himself!  The simplest of all requires just paper, string and some crepe paper or ribbon.  Just cut the paper in a diamond shape to look like a kite (don't forget to cut some "sticks" out of the paper too to glue on one side) attach some string to the middle and the crepe paper to the bottom corner.  It will "fly" if your child runs around while holding on to the string. My son has made kites like this at preschool and he has a lot of fun with them.  The internet is full of directions for making your own simple kites. Some more involved than others.  Here are a few that I found:

• This bumble bee kite is made using just string and paper.
• Here's a paper kite that calls for a dowel or other piece of wood, so it's going to be a bit more sturdy than the others.
• A plastic grocery bag or garbage bag can be used to make a kite also.  Here's some directions that include a video as well.  I've never tried it, but I've seen grocery bags flying high in the air on windy days, so I imagine you could also just tie a piece of string to each bag handle and then join them together and perhaps make a pretty efficient kite.

The next time the wind is howling, no need to stay inside.  Just find an empty field (though your backyard will work well for these smaller ones) and fly a kite!  Come back tomorrow for more windy weather activities.  Read more...

5 Ways to Celebrate Spring in Albuquerque

by Alison

March 24, 2009

The temperatures are higher, the trees are blooming, and the wind is blowing - it must be Springtime in Albuquerque!  Celebrate the arrival of a new season with some of these activities.

1. Head to a good tree observing spot (your local park should do, or maybe even your front yard), gather some art supplies, and draw pictures of the beautiful blooms.  Talk about how the blooms one the different trees are the same or different.  Some trees may be done blooming, while some are just barely opening.

2. Visit the new animal babies at the Rio Grande Zoo.   There's a baby howler monkey,  a new kangaroo, a baby orangutan, a baby Bactrian camel, and more. Signs will point you to the new additions and in the meantime, check out some photos of the new arrivals.

3. Stop by your local home improvement store or nursery and pick up some flowers to plant.  You can plant them in your yard, a small planter, or even in a paper cup in your kitchen!

4. Enjoy a baseball game.  The UNM Lobos are in full swing.  Adult tickets are $5 and children's tickets are just $3, so it's an affordable family activity.  The April 17th game is 'Pack the Park' night and all tickets are just $2.  Softball tickets are just as inexpensive, and this weekend is 'Pack the Park' weekend and tickets are only a dollar.  The Isotopes kick off their season on April 9.  You can also try and catch a little league game.  Many of the local leagues have websites with schedules.  Do an internet search for "albuquerque little league".

5. Visit your local library and pick up some books all about Spring.  Better yet, look through this list, reserve a few and have them ready for you when you arrive! 
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UNM Duck Pond

by Alison

March 23, 2009

We crossed another thing off of our list! Last week, our family took a trip to the Duck Pond on the University of New Mexico campus to feed the ducks (#36 on the 99 things to do in Albuquerque before your kids grow up list). It was a beautiful spot, and fairly secluded considering it's located on the campus of a major university!  We visited during UNM's spring break, so there weren't many students around and, in fact, there were actually quite a few families and kids. 

The UNM Duck pond is a great place for preschoolers. For the active child, there's rocks to climb, grass to run on, steps to climb, and a bridge to cross.  For the observant or artistic child, there is plenty of opportunities for animal watching (lots of turtles) and nature sketching.  And you can't forget about feeding the ducks!  Though the ducks seem to be pretty well fed, as they weren't too crazy about the bread we had to offer.  Also, there are plenty of trees, so the area is shady and perfect for a picnic and there's also a nice clock tower, so it's a good place to teach your kids about telling time.

There is parking very close to the duck pond. From University, turn east on Las Lomas, turn south on Yale and follow it around the corner to Roma. You'll find several spaces with parking meters. These spots are free on the weekends, and $1.75/hour during the week. The pond will be directly south of you. If you visit on the weekend, many of the reserved lots are free and do not require special parking passes. You can view a campus map here
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Kids Will Eat (or At Least Try) What They Grow

by Alison

March 16, 2009

My four year old loves eggplant.  Yeah, you read that right.  And I don't have to hide it between layers of sauce and cheese in eggplant parmesan.  He eats it just lightly breaded and baked in the oven.

This love came about last summer when we planted some eggplant in our garden.  For some reason he took a liking to this plant in particular, especially once the purple fruit was visible.  So, needless to say, he was excited to try the eggplant after we harvested it. He's the same way with the peas in our garden, those are easy for him to pick and he likes to just eat some right away as a snack. We aren't always this lucky when it comes to him eating the produce from our garden, though if he's taken some responsibility when it comes to planting and watering, we don't usually have a problem getting him to at least try it. 

If you don't have any room for a garden, that doesn't mean you can't grow some food of your own.  Many vegetables can be grown in small containers that you can place on your front or back porch.  We've had success growing tomatoes in containers and currently we're trying lettuce and spinach (because they don't grow well in our backyard!).  For more on container gardening, check out this link.

Watching a vegetable go from seed (or small plant) to your dinner table is a fascinating process, especially for a preschooler. To fully involve your child in your gardening experience, let her choose a vegetable to grow.  Be sure to do your research first and make sure it will grow well where you are.  The Albuquerque Master Gardeners website is a good resource, as is your local nursery.  Now, let your child get messy and plant the seeds.  Put him on water duty and maybe even purchase a small watering can that would be easy for him to carry. Take pictures every now and then, so when it does grow into a mature plant, you can look back on all the stages it has gone through. And don't forget to get your child excited about eating what she's growing!
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Weekly Round-up: The New (To Us) Park Edition

by Alison

March 12, 2009

I recently updated the post, 99 Things to Do in Albuquerque Before Your Child Grows Up , to actually include 99 things! I received a lot of help and ideas from others and while compiling them all, I got so excited to actually do some of them! It's my hope that at least twice a month, I'll venture out with the kids and cross off one of the things on the list. This week, we explored a new playground (#43). We went to Columbus Park , which is located near Griegos and 12th St. The boys both had a great time. It's a large park with lots of grass, tennis courts, covered picnic tables, basketball courts, and of course play equipment! It was perfect for the preschool crowd and grade schoolers would enjoy it too. My 20-month-old had fun running around on all the ramps and there weren't too many places where I was afraid he might try and jump off!

 

 

If you're looking for an activity for this weekend, check the list, otherwise here are some events that might interest you:

This Weekend:

Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival at Expo New Mexico - Children can create their own works of art the Creation Station and watch a magic show. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (March 13, 14, 15) from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm each day.

Horno Oven Bread Baking Demonstration at Petroglyph National Monument Visitor's Center - Watch how traditional Indian Bread is made. Saturday, March 14 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Free Fishing Derby at Tingley Beach - Catch a golden trout and win a prize! The lake will be stocked with 5000 rainbow trout just for this event. Saturday, March 14 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Start! Heart Walk at the Bosque School - A great way to exercise as a family and help out a good cause. Radio Disney will be there beginning at 9:00 am, the race begins at 10:00 am. Saturday, March 14 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

St. Patrick's Day Balloon Rallye in Los Lunas -  Enjoy arts and crafts, music, food, and of course balloons!  Saturday and Sunday (March 14, 15) 7:00 am both days.

Book Signing at Borders (Westside Location) - Kersten Hamilton will be signing copies of the children's book Red Truck. Sunday, March 15 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Camp BioPark Registration Begins - Sign your child up for a fun summer camp at the BioPark. Monday, March 16

Coming Soon:

Dinosaur Crafts at Lomas Tramway Library - Children ages 2 and up can choose from two crafts to make and take home. Friday, March 20 3:00 - 5:00 pm (drop in at your convenience)

"Dinosaurs and Other Monsters of New Mexico" at Lomas Tramway Library - Touch real dinosaur fossils. Saturday, March 21 2:00 pm

Book Signing at Borders (Westside Location) - Jill Lane will be signing copies of her activity book New Mexico A-Z and Kathy Barco will be signing copies of her book, READiscover New Mexico. Saturday, March 21 1:00 pm -3:00 pm

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Special Storytime at Borders - Celebrate the anniversary of this book by Eric Carle. Saturday, March 21 2:00 pm

Every Child Ready to Read Workshop for Parents at Erna Fergusson Library - Learn how to prepare your child for reading. Call 768-5103 to register. Monday, March 23 10:30 am - 11:30 am.

Albuquerque Gem and Mineral Club's 40th Annual Show at Expo New Mexico - If your child is into rocks, he or she is sure to enjoy browsing the collection at this show. There will also be visits from a wolf and grab bags for the kids. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (March 20, 21, 22) 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday.

Healthy Family Day at Expo New Mexico - There will be health screenings, demonstrations, music, dancing, and games. Saturday, March 28 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Horno Oven Bread Baking Demonstration at Petroglyph National Monument Visitor's Center - Watch how traditional Indian Bread is made. Saturday, March 28 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

 Read more...

Gardening Without a Garden

by Alison

March 10, 2009

Spring is just around the corner, which means many people are deciding what to plan in their gardens. From learning how plants grow to learning about life cycles and appreciating nature, gardening offers a multitude of learning opportunities for preschoolers.  Just because you don't have the space for a formal garden doesn't mean your child has to be left out, though.  Here are some ways your family can take advantage of a garden without having a full-fledged garden of your own.

Container Gardening
Do you have a patio or porch?  Then you can have a garden!  Many vegetables can be grown very successfully in small containers.  Let your preschooler have one container of his own to plant and take care of.  Want more information? Try this guide to container gardening or just do a google search for "container gardening"

Community Gardens
Simply put, a community garden is a piece of land gardened by a group of people. Individuals, families, or groups have their own plot in the garden to plant, tend to, and harvest (or donate!). The Rio Grande Community Farm offers a community garden. Call 345-4580 or send an email

Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) allows your family to take advantage of fresh garden produce without any planting or growing!  This is a great way to introduce your children to new vegetables that they may not otherwise be exposed to.  You simply pay for a "share" of a farm and then each week your family can enjoy a box of locally grown fruits and vegetables.  Los Poblanos Organics offers year-round service, while Erda Gardens offers produce from May through October.  Each garden has slightly different policies and procedures, so read carefully to see which one works best for your family. Visit this link for a full list of CSAs around the state.  Read more...

Five Free Albuquerque Activities

by Alison

March 03, 2009

Some days you feel like you must get out of the house, but it would get expensive if each outing meant spending a lot of money!  Here are five free (or nearly free) activities for days like that.

Visit the Kidgets play area at Cottonwood mall.  Meet up with a friend and the kids can play and run around while you get in some adult time. Obviously this one's only free if you limit your shopping to the window variety!

Take advantage of a museum's free day. Several local museums have free admission days during any given month. This posts lists some and I've heard rumors that the Natural History museum is free everyday after 4:00 pm. They also have a handful of free days each year. Don't forget about the new storytime at the balloon museum, museum admission is free to those attending the storytime.

Explore at the Nature Center. Let your kids run around and explore nature. This even works if the day is a bit cold or gray because there's lots of fun stuff in the visitor's center also. If you park on-site, you'll pay a small fee, otherwise, it's a freebie.

Learn a new sport. Head over to a local tennis court and see how good your child is at hitting the balls, if nothing else, he'd probably enjoy chasing down the ones you hit!  Or you could try some frisbee golf, there's a course at Roosevelt park , or you could visit any park with a large open space and create your own.

Play with trains at Barnes and Noble. Each Barnes and Noble has a train table in their children's areas.  This is another one of those nearly free ones because it might be hard to escape with out a new book!  Just be sure and keep Barnes and Noble in mind when you are in the market for some new books.  Read more...

5 Places to Practice Counting

by Alison

February 03, 2009

This month the national Being Savvy blog is focusing on pre-math skills. Counting, of course, falls into that category. So here are five places that you'll find some unique counting opportunities. Dion's Pizza: Dion's Restaurants are equipped with a pizza viewing stations that let your child easily view the pizza making action. Count the pizzas you see, how many pizza ovens there are  Read more...

99 Things To Do In Albuquerque Before Your Child Grows Up

by Alison

October 14, 2008

Whether you plan to live in Albuquerque forever or for a month, here is a list of can't miss activities for you and your family to enjoy.  Many of these activities are free or just require a small parking fee.  Some will require a day trip, or even a weekend getaway.  Don't let your child grow up without experiencing as many as you can!

1. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.  Clearly an obvious one because it's such a unique experience.  Go early in the morning and walk around balloons as they prepare to fly the skies. Chances are, it's a experience your child will never have again.

2. See the sharks at the Aquarium.

3. Expore the ancient houses at Bandelier National Monument.   No, it's not in Albuquerque, but a two hour drive away. Your preschooler will love this because she can climb inside many of them and imagine what it might have been like to live in such a structure.

4. Get apples from Dixon Apple Orchard

5. Watch UNM battle it out on the gridiron, or any other sport you desire! 

6. See some neat looking rock formations at Tent Rocks National Monument.

7. Go to the Zoo. 

8. Ride the Sandia Peak Tramway.  It's the world's longest aerial tramway and it's in your backyard! 

9. Visit the Rio Grande Nature Center .  A perfect way to introduce your children to the river and the nature surrounding it.  You're sure to see a variety of wildlife and there's plenty of room for the kids to run crazy.

10. Go Fishing at Tingley Beach. There's a special pond just for kids
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Room to Run

by Alison

October 13, 2008

We all have days where, try as you might, you can't keep the kids at home because they want to run! And what about those days when you want to tire your child out in hopes that they'll take a fabulous nap? Where should you go? Here are some places to take your kids when you want to run them ragged. With 11 acres, Roosevelt Park (located at Coal and Spruce SW) is a great place to let your  Read more...

History Lesson: Petroglyph National Monument

by Alison

October 07, 2008

It's estimated that Petroglyph National Monument may be home to over 25,000 petroglyph images. These old rock drawings are sure to be of interest to your preschooler. Start your day of exploration at the Riconada Canyon Trailhead (it's off of St. Joseph Ave.). The trail is a two and a half mile loop, but since you'll start to see some petroglyphs about 100 yards in, there's no need to do  Read more...

Day Trippin': Hiking with Your Preschooler

by Alison

October 06, 2008

When I lived on the East coast, it seemed we could choose a direction, drive for an hour, and be in a whole new place to explore. Albuquerque doesn't quite have that luxury. Here, you drive for an hour and you end up in the middle of nowhere. But Albuquerque has mountains, and a visit to the mountains will definitely give you the feeling that you are far, far away from the hustle and bustle  Read more...

5 Things to Do Outside When the Weather is Perfect

by Alison

September 30, 2008

I can't even believe how close to ideal the weather is here in Albuquerque! I could definitely do without the windy Spring days, however. So when the weather is just so beautiful that you feel it's a crime to stay inside here's some fun outdoor ideas for you. Feed the Ducks. You can usually find some hungry ducks at Tingley Beach Park. The Duck Pond at UNM is a good bet also. Another  Read more...

Exploring the Urban Jungle at the Rio Grande Nature Center

by Alison

September 25, 2008

Is your child way into nature and all things outdoors? Then you'd best head over to the Rio Grande Nature Center (located on Candelaria right by the river). The Rio Grande Nature Center is the perfect place to observe wildlife and enjoy a beautiful Albuquerque day. There are some walking walking trails including a one mile loop that goes through the bosque and near the river. Some of  Read more...

How To Cultivate a Green (and Very Tiny) Thumb: Fall Garden Fun

by Alison

September 18, 2008

Does your preschooler know where the vegetables and fruits that you try and make him eat really come from? Fall in Albuquerque is a great time to show them. Planting seeds and watching them grow is an exciting activity for young children. If you have your own garden, be sure to involve your children. If you don't, all you really need is a paper cup, some soil, and a seed packet to  Read more...

5 Best Ways to Enjoy the Bosque

by Alison

September 16, 2008

The bosque is the beautiful open space surrounding the Rio Grande River. It's home to a variety of trees which create a shady forest habitat for beavers, birds, turtles and snakes. It's one of my four year old's favorite places to go, he loves exploring there. Here are five ways you can enjoy the bosque with your children. Take a walk. The Paseo Del Bosque trail extends for 16 miles from  Read more...