Jammin' Baby

What it is: Jammin' Baby is a music class utilizing the Music Together curriculum for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten children with their parents and other caregivers. It's offered at various locations throughout the Triangle, for 8-10 week sessions each semester. Participants receive two CDs, a songbook and guidebook each semester.

What we like: It's a great introduction to music, with a wide mix of songs from around the world, rhythms, musical instruments and a lots of room for dancing. This is also a mixed-age class which is different from many other toddler music classes, so parents can bring all of their kids up to age 5 to one class.

What we would change: Some teachers are more energetic than others, so it is worthwhile to try out a trial class. While it can also be a bit pricey, these prices are fairly comparable to other activity classes for toddlers in the area.

Website and Contact info:

Website: http://www.jamminbaby.com/home.asp

Phone Number: 919-338-2978 (office)

(Photo courtesy of Jammin' Baby website)

Chewy Granola Bars

This recipe is courtesy of allrecipes.com

These granola bars are great for kids and adults! The best thing about this recipe is that you can easily replace certain ingredients to change it up. For example, to make them more healthy the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and corn syrup can be replaced with dried cherries, almond butter, and honey. Either way, my husband and toddler love them!

Ingredients:
*1/2 C packed brown sugar
*2/3 C peanut butter
5 TBSP corn syrup
1/2 C applesauce
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 C rolled oats
1 C chocolate chips
1/2 C miniature marshmallows
1/2 C toasted oat cereal rings (Cheerios)
2/3 C wheat germ

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 35o degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the brown sugar, peanut butter, corn syrup, applesauce, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together the oats, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, cereal rings, and wheat germ. Stir the dry ingredients into the peanut butter mixture until evenly coated. Press lightly into the prepared pan.

3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until slightly golden. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Enjoy!

Raleigh-Durham Airport Observation Park

What it is: This is one of the most fun places to go with toddlers in the area when the weather is nice. It is a park in the airport where you can watch the planes take off and land. It includes a raised, covered platform where you can watch the runway complete with speakers broadcasting the voices of the air traffic controllers. Next to the observation platform is a large grassy area with a sandbox and small climbing structure at one end perfect for toddler play. There are some picnic tables and benches perfect for enjoying a snack or picnic meal. Apparently, there's also a nearby cafe at the General Aviation terminal with some indoor space for viewing the planes, but I have never investigated this. Please let me know and post a comment if you have.

What we like: We love basically everything about this park. It's great to have the grassy area and play area in addition to the observation deck so that toddlers can take a break and play when they have lost interest in the observation deck. The park is also nicely removed from traffic and nearby roads so I feel safe letting my toddler run.

What we would change: The one thing that is a bit tricky is the staircase at one end of the observation deck. While I feel safe letting him run in the grassy area, I feel like I have to stay close to him when on the deck so that he doesn't run over to the stairs which are fairly steep. It can also be pretty sunny in the summer. There's not much shade except for on the observation deck.

Website and Directions: To get to the observation park, head to the airport right off of I-40 between Raleigh and Durham and follow directions given on their website. It's a little tricky to find, near some of the park and ride locations, lesser terminals, the air traffic control tower, and business buildings.

Website: http://www.rdu.com/whileatairport/obpark.htm

Photo:



1. This photo is of the observation deck at the park. (Photo courtesy of airport website.)

Marbles Kids Museum

What it is: Marbles is one of the largest indoor kids museum in the triangle. The first floor has many exhibits that are there year round including 'Around Town Gallery', 'Splash' 'IdeaWorks' and 'Art Loft.' On the second floor many of the exhibits rotate and change throughout the year.

'Around Town' is a kid-size version of our community that takes up most of the first floor. Here are a few of the highlights from this large exhibit: a real CAT bus; a red convertible; area for blocks; a stage and costumes to put on a play; 2 large train tables; a firetruck and fireman costumes; a mini-ambulance with scrubs, baby dolls and real x-ray machines; a grocery store and kitchen area; and a mail truck with conveyor belt and boxes.

'Splash' like the name implies, allows your kids to have fun in the water. There is a water table, a science submarine, a pirate ship and an outdoor kids garden.

'Idea Works' lets kids design, create and build structures from giant blocks, vehicles, simple machines and everyday products. You can build and race your own car, use real tools at the work bench to build things from recycled household materials or select a pattern to make clothes or accessories.

'Art Loft' like the name implies, allows kids to paint, draw, sculpt and explore various types of artwork.

Marbles also has their own story time on Wednesday and Fridays from 10:00-10:30am. I have not been to it yet so I can't really comment on it.

What we like:

There is so much to do in this museum, that it's really hard to see everything during one visit. Most of the exhibits are appropriate for toddlers with a few exceptions such as the workbench station. The 'Around Town' exhibit is one of my favorites as there are so many things to do within a large contained area.

Currently one of the rotating exhibits 'Moneypalooza' is one of my favorite exhibits. It is both educational teaching kids how to save, spend wisely and budget and also a lot of fun. Kids can carry a bucket of balls with them up a giant play structure and then decide what they want to do with the money. If they decide to save the balls get deposited into a giant piggy bank. When the piggy bank is full it spills out into a giant ball pit that kids can play in. They can then slide down the large green slide. Kids can also to try to shoot the balls into a giant basket to save their money. They can visit a teller to take out a loan, work at a pizzeria or lemonade stand and make their own budget out of large blocks.

What we would change:

Marbles can get really crowded especially on the weekends after 10:30am. So it is better to go either really early or during the week. It is best to call ahead during the week to make sure there is not a field trip scheduled that day as this usually implies a lot of big kids running around. But the museum is large enough that you could still enjoy other parts of the museum even if a field trip is scheduled for that day.

Website and other important information:

http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/

Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
Wednesday Members Play Early at 8:30am
Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm
Monday closed (with some exceptions)

Admission:
$5 per person
Children 1 and under are free

201 East Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 834-4040

Fire truck at 'Around Town'


Train tables at 'Around Town'



Giant blocks at 'Idea Works' exhibit


Giant ball pit at "Moneypalooza' exhibit



Giant slide at "Moneypalooza' exhibit

Sea of Learning

**Update: Sea of Learning at Southpoint is closed.  You can visit them at their location at Northgate Mall.

What it is: Sea of Learning is a toy store located across the street from Southpoint Mall in Durham. It devotes half of the store to a variety of toddler, baby, and kids toys. The other half of the store has teacher resources such as posters, charts, books, and manipulatives. This store offers a weekly story time as well as special weekend events where they bring in special guests such as Elmo and The Cat in the Hat.

What we like: As a store, it seems to offer products that are unique when compared with other toy stores. The toys also are, for the most part, educational in nature. My toddler loves to come in to the store and just browse around looking at all of the toys. In addition, there's a train set table set up in the front of the store to keep little ones somewhat occupied while their parents shop. It can be a good place to visit when you need to get out of the house on a rainy day. We also had a really good time at their special event this weekend when Elmo came to visit. They festively decorated the store with balloons and created a fun atmosphere for the kids and parents to enjoy. There was a special presentation where Elmo sang some songs and had some fun. Then each child was given the opportunity to meet the "celebrity".

What we would change: We have only been to their regular weekly story time once, but when we did go, we found that it wasn't very well-suited to my child. He wanted to be up and moving around, and the story time was geared more towards kids that were a little older and could sit still and listen to the story. While my son didn't get much out of the story time, he did like the craft they did afterward. In addition, as a result of all of the toys, the space for special events and story time can be a bit crowded, so it's good to get their early for either one.

Website and other important information: A Sea of Learning is located across Fayetteville Rd. from Southpoint Mall in the Renaissance Shopping Center.

Website: http://www.aseaoflearning.com/

Address and phone number:

7001 Fayetteville Rd Ste 136
Renaissance Shopping Center
Durham, NC 27713
919-361-2525

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-8, Sunday 11-6 (Story time is offered every Tuesday at 10:30 am.)

Photos:



1. Elmo visits the story time area at Sea of Learning.

Rhymetime

What it is: This is a story and rhyme time every Monday at South Regional library. The story teller leads babies and toddlers through a quick series of rhymes, songs, and stories for 20-30 minutes. Kids sit with their parents and sing and dance along as they are able. Rhymetime finishes each session with a round of bubbles that all of the kids love and the opportunity to get a stamp on their hand.

What we like: The fast paced nature of the rhymes and songs keep my toddler interested and engaged. He really likes the presentation style of the storyteller. She's enthusiastic and always cheery towards the kids. The bubbles at the end are a nice touch that all of the kids look forward to. Another nice factor that makes Rhymetime convenient is that you don't have to register to attend as is the case for many other library functions.

What we would change: In the past, Rhymetime has gotten very crowded.  However, since they've just moved to a new library, it's not quite as crowded as it used to be.  While my toddler doesn't mind the crowds, some children might be a bit intimidated by the group size.

Website and other important information: South Regional Library is located at the intersection of Alston Ave. and Hwy. 54.

Website: http://host4.evanced.info/durhamcounty/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?EventType=ALL&Lib=13

Time and Place: Every Monday at 10:30 at South Regional Library

Photos:



1. A sheet given out each week at Rhymetime listing the rhymes, songs, and stories to be done that day.

Little Gym

What it is: Little Gym is a gym and activity center offering classes and camps for babies, toddlers, and kids located in Durham. It's got classes for toddlers and babies that involve movement, music, and teaching physical skills. The Little Gym also teaches gymnastics, dance, and karate for older children. They have a ton of equipment including mats, bars, beams, balls, parachutes, bouncy mats, and more. They also host parties and other events for kids.

What we like: The classes are a great way for kids to be introduced to physical skills. At the classes my toddler is getting the opportunity to work on running, hanging, jumping, and rolling. The skills taught vary with the ages of the kids. The classes all have a large component of free play time so the kids can explore all the equipment at their own pace and not feel pressured to do anything. It's a great place for kids with lots of energy that like to move.

What we would change: In comparison to some of the other classes offered in the area for kids this age, Little Gym can be a big pricey. It's a long semester and a bit commitment monetarily. In addition, some of the kids can feel a bit overwhelmed because of the number of kids in each class. Although they limit the number of kids in each class, visitors and kids from other sessions can quicky swell the numbers in a class and make it feel fairly crowded. I would also love to have some free-gym times when my child could just come in and run around, but they do not offer those.

Directions and Website: Little Gym is located at the intersection of University Drive and 15-501 in Durham.

Website: http://www.thelittlegym.com/durhamchapelhillnc/pages/default.aspx

Address and Phone Number:

The Little Gym of Durham/Chapel Hill
2501 University Dr
Suite 8
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 403-5437

Local Yogurt

What it is: Local Yogurt is just as the name describes, a delicious local frozen yogurt shop. It has just a few flavors of yogurt, but a ton of delicious toppings ranging from fresh fruit to Captain Crunch to potato chips. There are tables to sit and enjoy your treat after you order.

What we like: One of our favorite things about Local Yogurt is the portion size. A small is definitely enough to share with your toddler, and we have even been fine with their kiddie size. A large could certainly feed several people. It's also in a great location near Q-Shack, Little Gym, and Rockwood Park. So kids can enjoy Local Yogurt after a great lunch or some exercise.

What we would change: Although it's delicious it seems a bit expensive. Each topping is additional money and, of course, you always want to get several toppings. It's definitely worth every penny though, and the bigger portions can make up for the cost!

Website and Important Information: Local Yogurt is located in a shopping center at the intersection of University Drive and 15-501 in Durham.

http://www.localyogurt.com/index.html

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 12pm-9pm

Address: 2501 University Drive #8, Durham, NC 27707