Book of the week: Baby Loves Quarks!

I found Baby Loves Quarks while searching for kid appropriate science materials for my four year old. This book is a board book with babies/ toddlers in mind covering basic particle physics and chemistry. These are materials I don't remember being introduced to me fully until I was in high school chemistry.

 I do believe these principles and ideas are great to introduce to kiddos so they can have thoughts in reference to what is out there in order to equip them with the accurate answers to complex questions. Also to prompt more questions in the future about the topics read.

In Maine there is not a concrete science based content curriculum at an young elementary level, so this was a great find. This book held both my 18 month old as well as my four year olds attention. Which made this my choice for book of the week. After getting this out through Minerva I decided to purchase it for my two at home.

This is not the only book that Ruth Siro and Irene Chan co- created about science. Check out the following:

Baby loves:

• Aerospace Engineering 
• Thermodynamics 
• Quantum Physics 
• Structural Engineering
• Gravity 
• Coding
• Green Energy!

Family Friendly Restaurants: Bagel Central

Here are our guidelines and how we will be rating:

1. High chairs and booster  seats
2. Have food the kiddos will eat 
3. Entertainment for said child  ( coloring books, toys, puzzles, etc.)
4. Changing tables in both restroom areas for both parents  
5. Atmosphere that is child friendly 
6. Affordability
7. Child friendly staff
8. Kids Cups
9. Breastfeeding friendly
10. Out of the way extras for kids

So I will slowly be adding places to this rating list based on these parameters and expectations. We do not count promptness of service for a number of reasons. Mostly because if they busy they are busy and you can't do much about that. Both my husband and myself have worked in food services and know a number of variables that are in the card.


  

Two our knowledge Bagel central has two wooden high chairs and no booster seats. All of the food they serve is kid friendly in my opinion. I have never met a kid who doesn't enjoy breakfast foods or at least bagels. They have a basket filled with books next to where the high chairs  and booster seats are kept. They have gender neutral bathrooms with a table that works great as a changing table in a pinch. They are super affordable and love seeing children come in. You will need to pack your own sippy if a cup with a straw will not work for your child or a bottle drink. They are so breast feeding friendly they host La Leche meetings weekly. The set up is very open and welcoming to the community making it ideal for families/ multiple families to bring their children.

             

Bagel Central is located next door to the Briar Patch book store and a great place to go for breakfast before a day at the Discovery Museum/ Story time at BPL or lunch after an activity at Maine Cloth Diaper/ open gym at Bangor Parks and Rec. Once or twice a year the co-host events for Kid Central which gives them an extra edge. I rate Bagel Central 9.5 out of 10.

        

Helping Our Communities: Making Pictures or Letters

My daughter is constantly inspiring me! She told me she wanted to make a picture to thank our mail person for bringing her the mail. I agreed and we are now on a "community helpers" appreciation kick where our daughter wants to make things for all of our "community helpers". A teacher at my school, Angie, had community helpers come in and read books to her class and I thought how about we reverse? What if we did something for our community helpers?

Our goal as parents is for our daughter to appreciate everyones role in our community and what they offer for us. I am still teaching her what many roles are. She doesn't understand what police officers do or EMT's other than "they keep us safe" and "they are safe people" who drive fancy cars with stickers on the side and flashing lights. With that said --she does know our firefighters, librarians, garbage/recycling people, wait staff , teachers, mail carriers and life guards. So she makes pictures and shows gratitude when  she gets a chance to see them. These are great building blocks for a healthy outlook on how to contribute to society and appreciating everyones roles.

I think this also ties into the expectations of "Thank You" letters in the future and understanding that expectation in life.I am lucky this comes naturally to my daughter, but I am not sure if it's something that is always at the forefront of social etiquette. As my friend, Sheena, pointed out the burden often falls on a mother in the house and I am not sure why that task has to be gendered/ age geared. A good friend of my daughters wrote her own "Thank You" notes to friends for the gifts they gave at her 4th birthday. I found this equally inspiring for this post. Thank you to the Umphrey family for reminding us the responsibility can always be put on your child despite it being easier for others.

I myself struggle with this internally at home and I am sure most of you can empathize; doing it yourself vs. letting others do it in the interest of time. This is your chance to let it go and take responsible risks we encourage our children to take every day. What is the worst thing that could happen? 

Weekly Happenings: 3/4/18-3/10/18

Sunday- 3/4/18

• University of Maine

• Collins Center for the Arts

• Erth's Dinosaur Zoo Live

• 3p.m.-5 p.m.

• $14 for Children -- if you subscribed prior $4 cheaper.

• Emera Plantearium and Space Center

• Sesame Street: One World, One Sky

• 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

• $6 for Non-student Adults

• $4 for children under 12

• Check your local library to see if you have a free pass!
• Camden Snow Bowl

• WinterKids Family Day 
• 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• $15 per child: Sibling cost $15 (See about a funpass ( pre-k-12 year olds or passport (5th,6th and 7th graders) 

• If you get a passport or funpass for your kids they can participate for $15 the following year at this point they had to be purchased by Feb. 26. They would still fun to get for other locations( all locations except sugarloaf and Sunday River included)!

• Hermon Mountain children 4 and Under can ski/ snowboard for free :)

• Cross Insurance Center

• Maine State Cheering Competitions

• 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

• No pricing listed

• Brewer Preforming Arts Center

• Top Hat Competition Dress Rehersal 

• 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. 

• $5 admission

• Suzanne M. Smith Elementary School, Levant
• SES First Annual Book Swap
• 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

• Brewer Loyal Biscuit Co.

• Puppy Play Day

• 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

• Discovery Museum

• Cat in The Hat Craft

• 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Hermon Mountain 

• Tubing ( 3 hour sessions)

• $15 per person

• Ages 3 and up

• Times

• 9 a.m.- Noon

• Noon- 3 p.m.

• Ski/ Snowboarding Lessons available for all ages

• Check for prices

Monday-3/5/18

• Orrington Public Library

• Story Hour

• 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

• Old Town Public Library

• Toddler Time

• 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

• Laura E. Hoit Memorial Pool

• Free Swim

•  12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

• Family Swim

• 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Old Town Y

• Mommy & Me Gymnastics 

• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

• 2 -4 year olds

• $15 for Members/ $25 for non-members

• Eydthe L. Dyer Community Library

• Learn and Play 

• 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

• 3 months - 6 years

• University of Maine Orono

• Merrill Hall Toddler Time

• 9:30 a.m.  - 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday-3/6/18

• Discovery Museum

• Science Detectives for Preschoolers

• 11:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

• Bangor Public Library

• Tuesday tales ( ages 4-8)

• 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

• Chapter Chums ( 4th-5th graders)

• 4p.m.- 5 p.m. 

• Briar Patch 

• Story Time

• 10:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

• Brewer Public Library 

• Story hour + Craft

• 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

• Eydthe L. Dyer Community Library

• Pre-school storytime

• 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

• Ages 3-5

• University of Maine Orono

• Merrill Hall Toddler Time 

• 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

• Alfond Arena Public Skate

• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

• Chick-Fil-A,Bangor 

• Free Breakfast (breakfast sandwich or breakfast bowl for FREE)

• 6:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

• Laura E. Hoit Memorial Pool

• Free Swim

•  12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

• Family Swim

• 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Hilltop School Open House

• 5:30 p.m.

• Old Town Y

• Open Play Gymnastics

• 9:00 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.

• Mommy & Me Gymnastics

• 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

• Parent/Child Swim Lessons

• 3:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday-3/7/18

• Discovery Museum

• Messy Art: Rainbow Art

• 10:30 a.m.- 11:30

• Laura E. Hoit Memorial Pool

• Free Swim

•  12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

• Family Swim

• 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

• Eydthe L. Dyer Community Library

• Japanese Story Time

• 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

• University of Maine Orono

• Merrill Hall Toddler Time

• 9:30 a.m.  - 10:30 a.m.

• Bangor Public Library

• Tiny Tots

• 10:15 a.m. -10:35 a.m.

• Mother Goose

• 11:00 a.m.- 11:45 a.m.

• Brewer Public Library 

• Story hour + Craft

• 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

• Robbinson Ballet

• Pre-Ballet

• $10 per class ( drop-ins welcome)

• 4 & 5 Year olds

Thursday- 3/8/18

• Discovery Museum

• Nature Time

• 11:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

• Eydthe L. Dyer Community Library

• Pre-school Story Time

• 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

• Ages 2-5

• Orono Public Library

• Tiny Toes ( 3 months to 2)

• 10:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m.

• Toddler Time ( 2 years and up)

• 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

• University of Maine Orono

• Merrill Hall Toddler Time 

• 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

• Alfond Arena Public Skate

• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

• MaineBound Adventure Center

• 3:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.

• $2 rock climbing

• Old Town Public Library

• Toddler Time

• 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 

• Laura E. Hoit Memorial Pool

• Free Swim

•  12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

• Family Swim

• 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Etna/ Dixmont School 

• Yoga for Every Body

• 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

• Old Town Y

• Open Play Gymnastics

• 9:00 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.

• Mommy & Me Gymnastics

• 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

• Pike with Parents Swim Lessons

• 3:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Friday-3/9/18

• Discovery Museum

• Ready Readers

• 10:15 a.m.

• Clay Play

• 11:00 a.m.

• Laura E. Hoit Memorial Pool

• Free Swim

•  12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

• Family Swim

• 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

• Eydthe L. Dyer Community Library

• Pre-school Story Time

• 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

• Ages 2-5

• Bangor Public Library 

• Lego Club

• 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

• Grades 1-5

• Bangor Arts Exchange

• Wizard of Oz Screening + Dress-up

• 7:00-9:30

• All Ages Welcome

• $5 donations

• Hampden Winter Farmers Market

• 2:00 p.m.-  5:30 p.m.

Saturday-3/10/18

• Hermon Mountain 

• Tubing ( 3 hour sessions)

• $15 per person

• Ages 3 and up

• Times

• 3 p.m.- 6 p.m.

• 6 p.m.- 9p.m.

• Ski/ Snowboarding Lessons available for all ages

• Fields Pond Nature Center - Holden

• Family Discovery Adventures 

• 1 p.m.

• Members family:$15

• Non-member family: $20

• Discovery Museum

• Happy World Book Day!

• 2:00 p.m. 

• Robbinson Ballet

• Creative Movement Dance

• $10 a class ( drop-ins welcome)

• 3 & 4 year olds

• The Play Factory - Waterville

• No mess rainbow art

• Keith Anderson Community Center- Orono

• Contra Dance

• 7:30 p.m. -8:30 p.m. (beginner session)

• $8 admission for adults

• free for Umaine students 

• Bangor Public Library

• Play your cards right

• All skill levels welcome

• 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

• Colby College Museum 

• Art+Storytelling: Girls in Art

• For toddlers, preschoolers and Parents

• Open and Free to public

• 30 participants allowed -- No RSVP simply first come first serve

• Hermon Mountain 

• Tubing ( 3 hour sessions)

• $15 per person

• Ages 3 and up

• Times

• 9 a.m.- Noon

• Noon- 3 p.m.

• 3 p.m.- 6 p.m.

• 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.

• Ski/ Snowboarding Lessons available for all ages
• Bangor Mall
• Mommy and Me Zumba
• 11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m.
• $7 for Mommy 
• $3 for Baby

Billy's Pick of the Week: Hirundo Wildlife Refuge

As nature lovers and folks who love to hike we are big fans of Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. Every year they have a great winter fun day with dog sledding , scavenger hunts, ice sculptures and more. While the planned activities are swell he love to simply hike/ snowshoe on the paths and explore with our kiddos. The trails are marked well and there is a great feeling watching your children enjoy nature. They have terrific maps that rate the difficult and length of trails to make sure they would be a good fit for those who choose to venture on them. There are restrooms available at certain gates with maps and sign-in sheets. 

One down side is that pets are not allowed, I think this is understandable since it is a refuge.On the other hand there have been sightings of moose, deer, red fox, muskrat, beaver, mink, otter, black bear, bobcat, fisher, and ermine according to the Hirundo webpage.

Here are the directions to the refuge here in Penobscot county!  http://www.hirundomaine.org/visit/directions

Homebound Activities: Collages

One thing my four year old could do for hours is take a piece of card stock, glue and odds and ends around the house and make them into a work of art. I got this idea from a station we used to do in a classroom I worked in when I was in college. My daughter now goes to that school and they have continued the same activity.

This activity works for ages 2.5 & up. All I do us put out magazines, buttons, scrap paper, beads, ribbon, lace, jewels, stickers, confetti, glitter and natural materials ( leaves, sticks, flowers, etc.) then let them choose what they want to include. I try to separate myself from the process as much as possible. While she is doing her projects I have to exercise a lot of impulse control to let every result be her accomplishment and hers alone. I have come to terms this is her time and why would I want my own work reflected in her work? I see these times as an awesome opportunity to work on independent work and let their creativity flow.

In my daughters room I have made a wall filled with squares she made that she was proud of over the last two years. She is always proud of the work she does at one point I'd like to bring them to a frame shop to get them framed. Children make what they consider beautiful and if you surround them with their work they will continue to have that sense of accomplishment.

Introducing a Book of the Week

One of my very good friends, Alexis, works at the circulation desk at my local library and is always commenting on what neat books I find. I will be the first to admit I have a bit of an Minerva addiction. I started using Minerva a lot when daughter had a very difficult time transitioning -- this way I could get the books I wanted and all I had to do was go to the circulation desk. However, as time has gone by I have got to the point I stop by the library almost every day to pick-up different books that are available from different libraries. Alexis told me if I started a book of the week she would follow my book selections. I am on board with this idea since books are so important to me.