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Oct. 29, 2010 at 3:40pm
Halloween Safety from Dr. Rob Nohle
A timely blog for this weekend's festivities!
It's that spooky time of year when little princesses, ghosts, and mini-superheros get to visit the neighbors and score some sweet treats. I was one of those kids who trick-or-treated all the way up through high school. By the end I was constantly getting asked, 'aren't you a little old for this?' I am pleased to say that I am back in action now that I have two children of my own. Click here for Dr. Rob Nohle's Halloween Safety Tips!
Oct. 4, 2010 at 9:11am
Fisher-Price Recall
Fisher-Price has recalled more than 10 million tricycles, toys and high chairs. Click here for complete information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission on what products and how to receive repair kits/replacement products.
Sep. 23, 2010 at 12:44pm
Very creative little white lies told to children...
From "RealSimple.com"
Oh my gosh - my husband just emailed me this article and I had to share! These are hysterical and you parents will definitely appreciate the Very creative little white lies told to children. So, when I was little I didn't like eating the bread crust, but, of course, my mom said we had to. In order to get us to eat it she said that all the nutrients were in the crust. Apparently I was VERY gullible because I believed it until I was 17 years old! She's proud of herself for that one:) Share one of your little white lies with us too!
Sep. 20, 2010 at 3:59pm
Member-Only Sneak Preview!
Shiny floors. A bigger home for Teeter and Totter (the KQCM turtles, for you novices out there). Tons of new ways to explore, play and learn with your child.
Welcome to the Member Sneak Preview!
Today we ushered in the new school year and our brand new exhibits with a member-only sneak peek of the post-SuperClean Museum. The floor was a flurry of excitement as kids hammered away in Construction Zone, a new exhibit where kids can hone their building skills and play around at our dump truck excavation table. Hard hats included!
Read more →
Sep. 8, 2010 at 9:20am
Dr. Nohle talks about head lice...
Now that school is back in session.
School is back in the session which is a blessing for many of us parents who are happy to see some structure back into the day. As the kids run and play at school, it also provide opportunity for those pesky head lice to party.
I recall all too vividly last year when within weeks of school starting, I looked down by daughters head and saw something moving around. I knew right away it was head lice. Of course my wife totally freaked out. We took care of it right away.
While head lice are annoying, they cause no medical harm. They cross all socioeconomic boundaries... Read the whole blog post here.
Aug. 25, 2010 at 4:42pm
Live concert at KidsQuest!
I always wanted to be a musician. I sang in the bathtub and while mowing the lawn. I took music lessons - guitar, piano, clarinet. I practiced my autograph. But music did not come naturally to me, and aside from records or church, I was not exposed to live music or musicians in my youth. KidsQuest Children's Museum brings live, child appropriate music and musicians to the Eastside at a sinfully reasonable price to families. Saturday, August 28 is your last chance of the summer to enjoy it, featuring The Brian Waite Band (click here for details and a sneak peek). Read more →
Aug. 25, 2010 at 8:53am
Need some school lunch ideas?
As your family prepares to embark on another school year I'm sure you will recall that it doesn't take long for kids to get tired of PB & J and turkey sandwiches! Here's an article from Red Tricycle with 25 lunch ideas that the kids won't get tired of. BONUS: they are healthy! 25 Back to School Lunch Ideas Beyond the Boring Sandwich
Aug. 23, 2010 at 4:31pm
Fanciful Fairies Camp
Monday – The class was made up of 10 very excited young girls who all wanted to enter fairyland. Each one was asked if they believe in fairies, of course the answer was yes, they were sprinkled with fairy dust and the class began!
The girls were given fairy names today and we were thrilled to meet Gossamer Moonfly, Columbine Elfweb and many others! They made a poster illustrating their fairy name and some of the special talents their fairy possesses.
Read more →
Aug. 23, 2010 at 4:17pm
Storybook Theater Camp!
Monday – With the all important question, "Did you bring your imagination?" the fun began! We learned each other's names through an animal game that we acted out, and then the class acted out other animals through an animal action song and chose their animal characters for the upcoming play. Each child was offered either wings, an apron or skirt depicting a number of animals including frogs and butterflies but for this class only two animals were chosen, bees and ladybugs and the whole play was developed around these two. (There was a monster thrown into the mix as well!) Read more →
Jul. 26, 2010 at 10:55am
KQ Tech U Camp!
This was an awesome week and we're so excited we got to spend it with such great campers!
Monday's theme was What is a PicoCricket?
Since it was the first day of camp, we first got to know each other and spent some time thinking of rules to follow while in camp.
Then we learned the basics of programming our PicoCrickets! We now know how to...
Make a light-bulb light up, 'flicker' or alternate colors with sound and even turn off with sound!
Make music turn on with a switch (or an outside sound as the case may be).
Then we created CATS that "MEOW’" when we "pet" them...and one special cat that crowed like a rooster!
Read more →
Jul. 25, 2010 at 1:33pm
At the Bellevue artsfair!
Twirling and whirling! Spinning and splatting! Sunny skies and joyful crowds made it a perfect weekend for Spin Art at the Bellevue Arts Museum arts fair! We used salad spinners to spin and mix paint, creating surprising patterns and crazy color combinations! Read more →
Jul. 12, 2010 at 2:09pm
Play it safe in the heat!
Okay...so maybe not the most timely post due to the recent cold front but since I'm hoping that the sun will return soon I thought we should talk about sun safety anyway! My coworker Stacy has the most adorable 3.5 year old and just got finished telling me a story that prompted this post. Last Thursday (when it was REALLY hot) the girls had a lovely day at school, playing, learning and all that fun stuff. Read more →
Jul. 9, 2010 at 4:37pm
KQCM in Your Neighborhood!
Summer is a time for neighborhood festivals, community fairs, family outings and fun in the sun! KidsQuest loves packing up our event box, throwing our table in the car, slathering on the sunscreen and joining your neighborhoods for family-friendly fun events. Check out all the places you can find us around town this summer... Read more →
Jul. 1, 2010 at 5:27pm
This week @ Dino-mite Dinos Camp
Monday's Theme: Who were the dinosaurs?After we got to know each other, we spent some time coming up with rules we all thought we should follow while in camp. Then we CREATED... Dinosaur nametags Paleo-Necklaces (decked out with dinosaur and claw beads!), and a Dinosaur Fact book (that we will continue to work on all week). We also explored books and let our imaginations run wild with imaginative play using dinosaur figurines.
Read more →
Jul. 1, 2010 at 4:48pm
Mommy discipline vs. daddy discipline; By Elaine Bowers
Thought you all might find this interesting.
It's a time-honored threat: "Just wait 'til your father comes home!" But these days, some believe that old threat has been turned on its head. Today's dads, they say, are more likely to be the permissive ones, too intent on having fun with their kids; leaving all that unpleasant discipline to mom. It's the Disneyland dad syndrome, without the divorce. Read more →
Jun. 23, 2010 at 11:46am
Brain Waves: Peeking Under The Hood
You've got to listen to a great interview Marcie Sillman did with Dr. Patricia Kuhl & Dr. Andrew Meltzoff, co-directors of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, I–LABS for short. Read more →
Jun. 22, 2010 at 11:06am
First Day of Imagination Explorer's Camp!
We had a great first day of Imagination Explorers Camp!
Today’s theme was KINGS & QUEENS
After we got to know each other, we spent the morning in circle time, story time, and at discovery stations all related to kings and queens.
We,
EXPLORED good manners (as every king and queen has them),
LEARNED how to bow and curtsey (as every king and queen knows),
CREATED our very own crowns, capes and crests, and...
BUILT & DECORATED a castle!
(as every king and queen has one or two…) Read more →
Jun. 16, 2010 at 11:13am
Nature Explorers Camp!
Yesterday's theme was...
Animals!
We spent the morning in circle time, storytime, and at discovery stations all related to animals.
We...EXPLORED animal pelts,
LEARNED about animal habitats as we created hand puppets and safari print masks,
CREATED animal creatures with Zoomorphs and playdough, and
MADE music as we sang and danced liked animals!
Jun. 7, 2010 at 1:14pm
Outdoor Bacteria Can Make You Smarter, and Happier
by Jeff Kart, Bay City, Michigan
Getting some outdoor time is not only good for the soul, it's probably good for the mind. Research from The Sage Colleges in Troy, New York, suggests that exposure to a natural soil bacterium called Mycobacterium vaccae can increase learning behavior. Another reason to enjoy, and protect, the great outdoors. And a potential reason to eat a little dirt here and there. Read more...
Apr. 22, 2010 at 2:53pm
Recycled Paper Making
Earth Day at KidsQuest!
Recycled Paper Making is so much fun for the kids - plus it's easy to do and helps teach kids that not everything is trash! Lots of things can be used to make recycled paper: newspaper, magazines, old printer paper, lint from the dryer and more! Cut or tear these fibrous materials into small pieces and completely soak them in water, then you can "pulverize them", meaning you break them down even more. A blender or hand-held blender are excellent aids for this endeavor. Click here for complete instructions on making recycled paper at home. Read more →
Apr. 19, 2010 at 3:47pm
Parent Workshop: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
Something we thought you'd be interested in.
The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain Tonight, April 19, 2010Mercer Island High School PAC 7:00 PM. John Ratey, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School provides a ground-breaking exploration of the connection between exercise and brain performance. Even moderate exercise can super-charge mental circuits to beat stress, sharpen thinking, amplify memory, and enhance all aspects of learning and mood. Come hear the startling new research and learn how to optimize physical activity to SPARK your brain to function at its peak. www.Johnratey.com
Mar. 29, 2010 at 1:57pm
Egg-straordinary Egg Hunt!
Pictures....
Mar. 25, 2010 at 1:22pm
Kid Kit: Tree Blocks
Tree Block Building Kid Kit...going on now in the Treehouse!
Look at the monstrosity Annika made, it's more than 2 feet tall! Read more →
Mar. 17, 2010 at 2:39pm
Summer Camps!
What do you want to do this summer?
I was sitting in a meeting this morning and one of our Board Members pulled out her "Summer Folder" and I was thoroughly amazed! She had camp brochures, theater calendars, camp listings from local organizations, local calendars, etc. She looked at my questioning eyes and said, "You have to start early!" Read more →
Mar. 9, 2010 at 3:28pm
Wearable Art Week!
What are we up to?
Kids LOVE creating art...but they love it even more when they get to wear it! This week is Wearable Art Week at KidsQuest and we're working with beads, felt and our imagination. We've received lots of calls from you guys about this program so here's the skinny:
- Ongoing today through Sunday
- We are beading, creating felt and making beautiful butterfly rings
- No registration necessary
Beading... Necklaces, bracelets and rings...what will YOU create with all the beads? In this picture, Lauren is stringing beads on her new bracelet. You can't see it but she has a matching necklace with a beautiful pattern! Read more →
Feb. 15, 2010 at 5:43pm
Save the Date for KidsQuest Carnival!
May 1, 2010
We pull out all the stops for our biggest fundraiser of the year. Saturday, May 1 Carnival comes to KidsQuest Children's Museum with games, prizes, eats and treats just for adults.
- Play the Amazing Prize Wheel, Wine Toss, Basketball Shoot-Out and more!
- Win a $1,000 Neiman Marcus shopping spree, parking downtown Bellevue for a year or a chance to dive for dollars in the Money Booth!
- Enjoy hors d'ouevres, beer, wine and our special carny cocktail!
Read more →
Jan. 27, 2010 at 3:48pm
Kids Design Glass
At the Museum of Glass in Tacoma
Since kids' art and creativity is one of our passions at KidsQuest Children's Museum, we thought you would enjoy knowing about the fun Kids Design Glass exhibit at the Museum of Glass (MOG) in Tacoma. Read more →
Jan. 25, 2010 at 1:45pm
A visit from Flat Stanley!
Flat Stanley came all the way from Virginia to visit us at KidsQuest Children's Museum and he wrote a blog so we could share all about his trip! Check it out... Read more →
Jan. 13, 2010 at 11:20am
Have you visited the Marketplace @ Factoria lately?
That's right...Factoria Mall has a new name!
Have you been to Marketplace @ Factoria, formerly Factoria Mall, and seen the interior spruce up? The north-end of the Mall is complete and looks great! One of our Board members walked into Center Court and said, "OMG, am I in Bellevue Square?" The wood panels on the ceiling, calming earth tone carpet and seating, and the organic flooring warm up everything and give it a clean, Northwest contemporary look and feel. We look forward to the completion of the Mall interior as it makes its way down to KidsQuest in 2010! Read more →
Dec. 21, 2009 at 9:27am
No snow yet this year-make some of your own!
Let it Snow!
Make your very own Winter Wonderland with this recipe for snow...
Read more →
Dec. 9, 2009 at 11:20am
The Benefits of Board Games
Why playing games with your kids is the perfect way to spend time together!
KidsQuest's New Year's Resolution is to Make 2010 Your Family's Year to Play! We've decided to do all that we can to facilitate family learning at the Museum and in your home. One way we're working to accomplish this is by increasing our family friendly programming. In case you haven't heard, we're open until 8pm every Thursday night and we've designated the second Thursday of each month, Family Game Night with board games, relays, team challenges and more! So, imagine our delight when we found this article all about the benefits of playing games as a family. Read more →
Nov. 30, 2009 at 8:55am
It's time for family fun!
 We want 2010 to be your family’s year to play so we’re starting a little early with family fun workshops this December. Studies show that families who eat, play and collaborate together have stronger bonds and children grow up with more self-confidence. Kick-off the holiday season and 2010 with some family fun activities at KidsQuest! Read more →
Nov. 24, 2009 at 10:27am
A Season of Gratitude
What are you thankful for?
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is heating up for many of us this week as we rush to get things done ahead of Thanksgiving travel or hosting. Still, it's a good time for a little quiet contemplation of what's behind those thanks we'll be giving - the things for which we're grateful. Read more →
Nov. 13, 2009 at 10:41am
Paper or no paper-that is the question!
In an effort to help our environment and save costs, KidsQuest will soon be offering the KQ Quarterly Newsletter in an online format. What do you think about that? Read more →
Nov. 6, 2009 at 12:47pm
KidsQuest receives $25K from Boeing
to support our early education programs and a new museum collaboration!
Boeing is committed to supporting early education programs in our community and KidsQuest Children’s Museum received $25K from The Boeing Company Charitable Trust to do just that. This grant supports KidsQuest’s early education programs Discovery Tots Ready, Set Learn, First Experiences and Open Discovery Time, which provide essential early learning education and school-readiness preparation for children age birth to five years. Read more →
Oct. 16, 2009 at 12:58pm
Stay safe this Halloween!
Halloween is one of KidsQuest's favorite times of year! We love our Halloween Spooktacular where you can expect kids and adults in costume, our Spooky Cake Walk, Dr. Jekyll's Laboratory and our Mad Scientists each year! We also look forward to Factoria Mall's Halloween Event with Radio Disney offering activities and prizes, merchants handing out treats and special deals, and children trick-or-treating throughout the Mall! Although Halloween can be fun and exciting, it is also important to keep safety in mind when heading out in the crowds to trick-or-treat. Read more →
Oct. 2, 2009 at 10:25am
Are you really free on Friday nights?
The phones at the KidsQuest office usually start ringing on Thursday afternoon with the same question. Yes, KidsQuest is really free on Friday Nights from 5-8pm! As a non-profit, KidsQuest is committed to serving the needs of our community and part of that need is accessibility. It's important to both our staff and the Board of Directors that all children have an equal opportunity to enrich their education and development by exploring, playing and learning at KidsQuest! Read more →
Sep. 28, 2009 at 3:02pm
Field Trip to NWAYM continued!
I always look forward to the opportunity to gather ideas from my peers, find out how other museums are reaching their clients and receive guidance from the professional consultants who present. The annual NWAYM Conference is especially useful because we're all local and many of us share visitors and resources. Read more →
Sep. 3, 2009 at 11:11am
Let the Children Play (Some More)
With back to school in mind here is an interesting article we thought you might like! Happy Days: Let the Children Play (Some More)
Here on the balmy central coast of California and all across the country, kids are heading back to school. The classes are larger, the No Child Left Behind mandates remain in place and, despite advice from the nation's secretary of health and human services and others, recess and physical education (not to mention art and music instruction) have in many schools been cut back or eliminated. While most of our backpack-laden kids are eager to catch up with friends they haven't seen over the summer, the general feeling is that "playtime is over." Read more →
Aug. 20, 2009 at 11:15am
From the Desk of Rob Nohle, M.D.
Group Health Cooperative Chief of Pediatrics and KQ Board Member
As we head into a new school year we wanted to touch on germs, cleanliness and what we do to keep KidsQuest clean for our visitors. Here is an excerpt, written by Dr. Rob Nohle, from our Winter 2008 newsletter: Read more →
Aug. 17, 2009 at 11:45am
Play IS the work of children!
Just a little article about how important unstructured play is to a child's development. Check it out!
Aug. 11, 2009 at 8:55am
Exhibits 101: All Things Water FAQ's
With all the water finally here to give our lawns some much needed attention we thought we'd continue the conversation on our Waterways exhibits with some FAQ's. We love getting and answering questions about how the exhibits at KidsQuest work, so here are just a few that we frequently receive about Waterways. Read more →
Aug. 10, 2009 at 11:28am
Exhibits 101: All Things Water
The best children's museums reflect their environment so when KidsQuest was being designed it was very important to have a strong water component. Not only is water an important part of living in the Pacific Northwest, but water play is an important part of a child's development. Read more →
Aug. 6, 2009 at 4:26pm
Stories from camp!
Two girls, two camps, one memorable summer! Five year old twin sisters, Taya and Atty attended two of our QuestCamps this summer and walked away with knowledge, confidence and pride in their accomplishments. Read more →
Jul. 30, 2009 at 10:01am
Beat the heat!
It's the hot topic these days (pun intended)!
With temperatures in the high 90's and low 100's make sure you're prepared to stay safe! Heat exhaustion, dehydration and severe sunburn are all risk factors facing Pacific Northwesterners so here are some articles with cool tips to help you and your family stay safe! Read more →
Jul. 28, 2009 at 12:36pm
Why do children steal?
We understand that children steal for a myriad of reasons and learning that it is wrong to take something that doesn't belong to you is a part of growing up. Articles on the subject point out that in order to stop a child from stealing parents should ask themselves why their child is stealing-but the answer isn't always what they expect to find. Read more →
Jul. 22, 2009 at 9:14am
Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair is this weekend!
Here are some things to know before you go.
KidsQuest, along with over 325 organizations and vendors and more than 350,000 community members, will be attending the Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair this weekend. The artsfair has been a summer staple for 63 years-longer than the Bellevue Arts Museum that we all know so well! So, if the Bellevue Arts Museum didn't start the artsfair then how did it come to be? Read more →
Jul. 15, 2009 at 4:08pm
Collaborating for art!
Collaborations and partnerships with area organizations and businesses are an integral part of bringing new and exciting programs and events to KidsQuest. Our partners bring their expertise and experience to help us offer more specialized programming to our members and visitors. KidsQuest is always creating new relationships with local organizations and we're excited about our recent partnership with Bellevue Arts Museum. Read more →
Jun. 29, 2009 at 9:11am
Busy summer days!
School is out for the summer! Camps, swimming and family trips are sure to be on your list, but don't forget about all the community events happening this summer. As an organization built by the community for the community we feel it's important to get out and support the festivities happening around our area so look out for KidsQuest this summer. Read more →
Jun. 26, 2009 at 1:14pm
Why we do what we do.
A few days ago we received a thank you note from a local elementary school Head Start class that received scholarship funds to visit KidsQuest for a field trip. The students in the class drew us pictures and told us what they liked about KidsQuest-the truck and face painting were the big winners for this class! The card also thanked us for providing them with the opportunity to explore a place they wouldn't have been able to otherwise. This prompted some thoughts about why we do what we do. Read more →
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