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Jul. 27, 2010 at 8:14am
Eats & Beats Concert with The Not-Its
Saturday, July 24th
Are you ready to rock? KidsQuest Children's Museum and The Not-Its are! Saturday night we held our Eats & Beats Concert here at KQCM. At Eats and Beats children and parents have a chance to spend the evening together grabbing a slice of pizza and enjoying a great concert right here in our own Backyard! Our summer concert series is specifically designed to provide tunes written for children ages 10 and under. 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. 21, 2010 at 12:21pm
Family Adventures in Claymation!
Check out the video we made last workshop:)
Tim Burton's stop motion feature film The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorite movies, so I was thrilled when we decided to do a Family Adventures in Claymation workshop at the Museum! This quirky animation technique uses a camera to capture still images of clay figures. In between each frame the characters are moved ever so slightly. When the frames are played together, animation is achieved! 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 →
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. 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...
May. 28, 2010 at 9:35am
Adventures in Homeschool Science...
Dissecting WORMS!
I was lucky enough to visit KidsQuest's Homeschool Science class as they tackled a very brave feat: worm dissection. Each student got their own long, thin, crawly thing (although, fortunately, they were no longer crawling), plus rubber gloves, safety goggles, plastic knives and dissection tongs. Here's how it went... 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 →
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. 23, 2010 at 11:57am
Letting Your Toddler Set the Pace
A recent article from
My mom gave me a subscription to "Real Simple" a few months back and as soon as it arrives in the mail I sit down with a cup of coffee and read it cover to cover. I love all the idea guides, articles and suggestions that really do fall under their Life Made Simple mantra. Although I'm not a parent yet, this article struck me as particularly interesting and possibly pertinent to our blog readers. It's not on the web yet - but you can find it here! 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 →
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. 11, 2010 at 12:40pm
I Love Science!
It's true – I can find the science in almost anything (just ask the rest of the KidsQuest staff). Many of the science experiments I do come from Steve Spangler's Science and I love sharing fun and fabulous science experiments. The experiment below is currently one of my favorites. AND, I'll bet you have almost all of these ingredients in your house right now! Read more →
Jan. 5, 2010 at 2:30pm
Field Trips to Go
We bring the hands-on science to your classroom!
Every time I make my way back to the museum after visiting a classroom with a Field Trips to Go program I am always in a great mood. I've usually just spent the morning or afternoon with a group of young students excited about science. And that excites me, because I love science too!
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 →
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 →
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 →
Sep. 1, 2009 at 2:04pm
Ready…Set…Go Back to School!
Back to school preparations are in full-swing and some kids have already started the school year, but preparing for a new school year often involves more than shopping for new clothes or shoes. The first bell of the year rings and the sounds of summer will be replaced by the voices of children ending their summer play and trying to sort out their new school routines. For most children (and parents), going back to school signifies a move from the lazy, hazy days of summer to a more structured routine and poses unique challenges that must be overcome. Children may not always view a new school year with excitement and enthusiasm, which is why we have listed some tips and resources to help make the transition from summer to school easier than you thought possible!
- Talk about the new school year, but don't dwell on it.
- Schedule a get-acquainted meeting with your child's teacher.
- Visit the local public library – although not a classroom, the library environment is conducive to learning and known to spark enthusiasm for reading and exploring new interests
- Begin winding down the summer schedule. Strive for a more consistent schedule, including regular bed and breakfast times.
- Be positive, let your child know that you value education. Talk about learning experiences that you enjoyed as a child.
Resources brought to you by: 
Learn more about school readiness and what you can do to encourage children’s early learning in simple ways every day and help them be ready to start school.
Child Care Aware (from the National Association of Child Care Resources & Referral Agencies):
Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten (and the World) talks about the skills most children need when they enter kindergarten, what you can do to help your child get those skills most children need when they enter kindergarten, and what to do if you think your child isn’t “ready.”
Washington State Department of Early Learning:
Print a child’s checklist for school readiness
Learn about the work the Department of Early Learning, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Thrive by Five Washington are doing around a kindergarten readiness assessment for Washington State Foundation for Early Learning:
Getting School Ready is a free guide for parents, families and caregivers. PDF versions of the guides are available English, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
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 →
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 →
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