Today while exploring the Please Touch Museum, my son and I had the chance to explore the newest visiting exhibit, Access Ability, exploring the ability in disability. This exhibit will be at the museum until April 24, 2011 and is included with your admission to the museum. My son at age three was a bit young to completely interact with and understand all of this exhibit, but I was able to relate some of the things we saw there to our life. I have two dear friends who are disabled and rely on their wheelchairs to get around 99% of the time. My son is familiar with power wheelchairs because of them, so he was curious about the one on display. Kids can try out a wheelchair and maneuver through an obstacle course to get a feel for what it is like to use one.
There was a hand pedaled bike that kids (and adults) can try out. When pedaled, the video display in front of the bike moves based on the speed that is pedaled so that it looks like you are traveling a bike path. My son got a kick out of it, although he thought going “backwards” was really funny! The display explained that the bike was for people who are unable to use their legs to pedal, so that they too can ride a bike. I wasn’t able to capture a photo of it, but it was a great hands on experience for even my three year old to understand.
Another display explored how inventions to adapt everyday things to make them more useful for disabled people. There were a series of mini doors with different knobs/handles on them. The traditional round knob can be very difficult to impossible for someone who has trouble using their hands, or with a prosthetic. Door handles that are levers are much easier to use. There was an example of a lever door knob and a round door know with lever attached to it to show how to alter an already existing door knob. This was easy for my son to understand, as little hands also have trouble opening door knobs, but the lever was easy.
There was a display of prosthetic legs and arms along with photos of people using those devices to improve their functioning. I loved the photo of the little girl who had a prosthetic forearm and hand and was painting. Other exhibits included sign language and braille displays. This is a great opportunity for children to be exposed to disabilities, ways things are made more accessible, and to understand differences when meeting others who have disabilities. My son is sometimes afraid of my friends’ wheelchairs, so I used this opportunity for him to explore the exhibit at his own pace to help diminish his fear. Seeing an empty wheelchair was easier to explore than when someone is in it. It is a great way to answer kids curious questions to help them understand that there are all different types of people who function in all different ways, but we are all still people. I highly recommend checking out this exhibit when at the Please Touch Museum. It is just one of many amazing exhibits that help kids learn about their world.
The Please Touch Museum is located in historic Memorial Hall at 4231 Avenue of the Republic (formerly North Concourse Drive,) Philadelphia, PA 19131. It is is beautiful Fairmount Park, not too far from the Mann Music Center. Parking is available on site for $8, free with membership. Free street parking is also available along Avenue of the Republic. Admission to the museum is $15 per person, over age 1. Family memberships are available at different levels and seem to pay for themselves if you visit the museum about three times a year. From Montgomery County, it takes about 45 minutes to get there, depending upon traffic. Mondays are the least crowded days to visit, and most weekday afternoons seem to be quieter, if your kids can get by without a nap! The Please Taste Cafe offers many choices for lunches, or bring a bagged lunch with you and sit at one of the many tables sprinkled throughout the main level. Sitting by the carousel is one of my favorite spots for lunch!
Recently my son’s preschool sent home a flyer stating that throughout the month of March they would be a collection site for donations for the organization Cradles to Crayons. I had heard of them here and there, but didn’t know too much about this non-profit, so I did a bit of research. I thought I’d share the info I learned about Cradles to Crayons with Mama’s readers so that if you would like to donate or volunteer, you can find out how.
From the website I learned:
Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia was founded in 2006. We provide, free of charge, low-income and homeless children from birth to pre-teen the basic essentials they need to be safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued. We also set a foundation for lasting change through the meaningful, tangible volunteer opportunities we provide to thousands of youth and adults each year. The essentials we collect and distribute include clothing, shoes, school supplies, and much more. In other words, we provide all the material goods that children need to be safe, protected from the elements, and ready to learn. And by supplying them with high-quality used or new goods, we make children feel valued. How does it work? We partner with social-service organizations in the Philadelphia area to connect communities that have surplus resources—new or used items in good condition—with communities that desperately need access to those resources. When you donate to Cradles to Crayons, you can be absolutely sure that your donation will go to a deserving local child, for whom the donation was specifically requested.
I really appreciate that Cradles to Crayons is helping the neediest in the Philadelphia area. Before I was a SAHM, I worked in the mental health field in Philadelphia with many children affected by poverty. Many of those kids did not have new clothes ever. Their shoes were worn down and they didn’t usually have the luxury to get new ones when needed. The agency I worked for was able to help provide holiday gifts to the kids that were enrolled in programs there, but I always knew there were so many kids that were not being helped. It is so nice that organizations like Cradles to Crayons exists, with the help of the public, to provide the basic needs to kids. The fact that the Philadelphia branch of Cradles to Crayons was started by a mom who wanted to help kids shows the power of what mother’s can do for kids!
Right now Cradles to Crayons is in need of jeans! Kids sizes infant through 14/16 are needed. They have a top ten list of the most needed items:
This spring, there are Spring Greening events being held to help collect needed items for Cradles to Crayons. That is what my son’s preschool is participating in and any organization, mom’s group, etc, can hold a Spring Greening event. If you are interested in hosting a drive please see the Cradles to Crayons website for detailed information. It seems fairly easy to set up and the rewards of helping so many kids is tenfold. If you would just like to donate goods or money, please see here for more information.
The Little Treehouse Play Cafe in Chestnut Hill PA is thrilled to present the new family entertainment series: Treehouse Rocks! Beginning in February 2011, Saturday nights at Treehouse will get families moving & shaking! Join us as we host a variety of children’s performers, have parties and other special events!
‘Tis the season for spring consignment sales! If you’ve never shopped at a consignment sale, you are in for quite an experience. Consignment stores, open year round, are different from consignment sales, which are typically held for only a few days or a weekend and are usually held bi-annually. Consignment sales are a fun way to purchase the next season’s clothing for your child at great prices. The clothing is gently used and priced by the original owner/seller, whereas at a consignment store the prices are set by the shop. Many people are familiar with consignment stores, which are similar to shopping at a boutique or small shop only the items are second hand. There are some fantastic consignment stores in the Bucks and Montgomery County areas and New Jersey. Consignment sales are held seasonally and are another way to shop for your child while staying on a budget.
While many shoppers go to consignment sales and shops for new kid wardrobes at a good price, they are also great places to pick up those baby items that are only used for a short time period and sold gently used, such as bouncy seats, play mats, bumbo seats, swings, co-sleepers and pack and plays. High chairs, strollers, baby gates, toddler beds, books, cloth diapers, feeding supplies, and bedding for babies and toddlers are great finds at these sales and also found for good prices. Outdoor toys are another great buy, since many times these items are only used for a season or two before being outgrown.
Consignment sales can be overwhelming if you’ve never been to one. Here are some shopping tips to help get you started to a successful shopping experience:
Know your kid’s sizes, including shoe size and bring them written down, especially if you are shopping for more than one child. Remember that you will be most likely purchasing clothing for the next season. If your child is currently on the border of a size it may help to buy the next size larger. Sometimes bringing your child’s measurements is easier, especially since sizing from different manufacturers varies. Bring a tape measure with you to compare your child’s measurements to the items you are interested in purchasing. Good measurements to have include length from back of neck to hem for dresses, pants length, inseam, waist, hip, and chest. Land’s End has a great sizing chart that may be helpful for obtaining and understanding your child’s measurements. If you are unsure of current shoe size, stop by a shoe store to have your child measured before the sale or trace your child’s foot onto cardboard and bring it with you to “try on” shoes without the child present.
To make shopping easier, leave your kids home, if possible. It really makes it much easier to shop. Consignment sales are often huge and crowded. I’ve been there when kids have been lost and that isn’t a good experience for anyone.
If you can, bring a laundry basket or large tote bag(s) to hold your items while you shop. Those blue Ikea bags or reusable grocery bags are great too. I’ve even seen people shopping with a clean large plastic trash can on wheels!
If there are particular items you are looking for, it helps to make a wish list. Sales floors are often crowded and it can be easy to be overwhelmed. A list adds a bit of order to the trip and may help you stay on budget.
Is there a special occasion coming up (Holiday, photos, wedding) that you will need dress clothes for your child? Consignment sales are wonderful places to pick up dress clothing, shoes and accessories. They are often only worn once, so can be resold for like-new at a fraction of the original cost.
Shop early, shop often! Going on the opening day will give you a better chance of finding items that are on your wish list. Many times the last day of the sale is the discount day when most items are half off the listed price.
Consider volunteering to work at your favorite consignment sale. Typically, volunteers get to shop first on a special night before the sale opens to the public. It’s a great way to get the first pass at the goods for sale. If you cannot volunteer, but are considering consigning some of your things for the sale, there is usually a sales time set aside for consignors to shop after the volunteers, but before the sale opens to the public.
Make sure you have money! Check the rules of the sale you are attending ahead of time to learn what forms of payment they take so that you do not have problems making your purchases. Many sales are cash only, so if you are like me and use a debit card for everything, be sure to hit the ATM on your way to the sale. Using cash also makes it easier to stick to a budget!
Be aware of brands and pricing of items. You do not want to overpay for an item that you could get brand new on sale or at Marshall’s. I’ve often found what I thought were great buys only to be disappointed to find out I could have purchased an item new at Kohl’s on sale. Typically, if an item is in like-new to good condition, expect to pay about 25 to 33% of the original price. Many times there are items for sale that are new with tags. Expect to pay a bit more for brand new items.
Once you have picked out the items you are interested in buying, really check them out in good light, if possible, or even with a flashlight. Check seams and underarms for holes; look for stains that are unacceptable, zippers and snaps that work, or worn out knees/elbows. Usually the consignment sale’s rules restrict torn or stained clothing from being sold, but sometimes they slip in, so it helps to carefully inspect before you buy, since there is usually a no return policy. For purchasing toys, be sure all parts are included and in working order. I’ve had the experience of not carefully inspecting toys only to get home and find parts broken that were not obvious. If an item is taped shut, ask a salesperson/volunteer to open the item to let you inspect it. Be courteous and do not take apart taped up boxes or packages!
If you are looking to purchase a car seat, check the expiration date on the bottom of the seat. When buying, you are taking a slight risk that the seller is honest and that the seat was never involved in an accident.
Are you interested in consigning items at a local sale? Being a consignor has some great advantages. Besides getting rid of kid-related clutter in your house, saving items from a landfill by recycling them and making some money off of them, you can shop at the sale early, before the public, to get some great deals. Here are some tips for being a consignor at a local sale:
Check out the consignor agreement or rules for the sale you are interested in participating. Sign up early for the sale, since many sales limit the number of consignors due to space constraints. Each sale has its own rules regarding what can be sold, how it should be tagged, how it should be hung on a hanger and so on. Read the Rules!! Not following them means your items will not sell. The rules will also cover what percentage of the sales you will make and what the consignor fees are, if any.
Consignors are usually assigned a number for selling. It helps to keep the same consignor number from sale to sale. When signing up to consign at a sale again, check to see if you can keep your number. That way, if you pick up and keep your unsold items at the end of the sale, you can easily relist them at the next sale without having to re-ticket them.
At the end of each season when you are sorting through your child’s clothing, sort the items into piles…one to keep, one to donate, one to sell. Be picky about the ones that you sell. Make sure they are in good condition, not torn or stained. Think, would you buy the item used?
Found some great items but they have stains? Try treating the stain and washing the items again. Many times this works. Also, iron or steam out the wrinkles of your clothes. Button the buttons, zipper the zippers. A nicer presentation will sell more easily. Clean up shoes and tie the laces. Selling used toys or baby goods? Wash them too. No one wants to buy a toy covered in juice or crayon. Often toys are easily cleaned up with a magic eraser sponge or soap and water. Keep in mind the condition of the items that you are willing to buy and be sure that your sale items are in just as good condition.
If selling a two piece outfit, it helps to make sure both pieces are attached well so they will not separate during the sale. Safety pin the pieces together and wrap a rubber band or twist tie around the two hangers to keep them attached. When selling toys with many parts, place the parts in a sealed plastic bag and tape it shut. Clear packing tape works great to keep toy parts together that do not fit in bags. Use plastic bags (such as Ziploc) to contain onesies, socks, underwear, shoes, or other small items. Tape the bags shut so that buyers are not tempted to take the contents apart, resulting in loss sometimes.
Price your items to sell. Set aside your emotions for a cute outfit, as the buyer will not know that the sweater your little one wore in his first photo was special to you. If an item is priced too high, it will not sell. Also, consider the brand. A Circo brand tee shirt that was $4 new will not sell for more than $1 usually. On the other hand, a higher end sweater that cost $25 will not sell for $20. A general guideline for pricing is 25-33% of the original selling price, depending upon brand and condition. Selling a new item with tags could fetch 50% or more of the original price. Always keep in mind when pricing, “would I pay that for this item?”
If you are unsure of how to price used toys, baby equipment, outdoor equipment, and so on, check out prices on Craig’s List or Ebay to see what used items are going for currently and use them as a guideline.
When packing up your items to take to the sale, it helps to have a hand truck and those stretchy jump cords. Use plastic totes or boxes and stack them. It makes it much easier on your back to bring in your items. Many sales also require that you distribute your items on the sales floor. Having your items sorted by size and sex ahead of time makes the distribution process much faster.
This list of tips is certainly not inclusive. Please feel free to leave your own tips for buying and selling at consignment sales in the comments section to help others out. Happy Shopping!
Local mom, Sherry Aikens, is the genius behind BabyPop Designs. She has been dressing little (and big) superheroes in capes, masks, gloves, and tees for the past six years. Her kids capes have been hits on the playgrounds, backyards and birthday parties all over. She graduated from Philadelphia University with a degree in Fashion Design and worked in the apparel industry for 16 years before deciding to stay home with her kids. BabyPop Designs was born when she was looking for a creative outlet that would allow her to use her design skills, be a stay at home mom, and tap into items her kids could enjoy.
Does your kid want to have a superhero costume for playtime or dress up? Do you have a few kids you need to purchase inexpensive yet well made gifts for the holidays? Check out BabyPop Designs’ cool kids capes and masks. Capes can be ordered in an array of colors with different shields and then personalized with the kid’s initial. If you have a princess instead of a superhero, you can also order beautiful princess capes sets, complete with crowns.
I have ordered several capes and masks from BabyPop Designs over the years and have loved the response I’ve received from the recipients. These superhero costumes make perfect gifts for kids ages two and older. Starting at just $16, the BabyPop Super Cape is 22” long from center back neck to bottom and is made of premium satin and eco-friendly felt letters. The felt that is used for the shields and letters is made from recycled soda bottles! For safety, the neck closure uses Velcro, so the cape is easy to put on and take off.
Adult superhero costumes can also be ordered, for your favorite Super Mom or Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Grandparent, or teacher. Wouldn’t that be a fun teacher gift?!
If ordering for this holiday season, please check the website for details of order deadlines to insure that you receive your capes in time. Currently the last day for Christmas orders is December 10. Orders placed after that will be shipped in January.
Sherry of BabyPop Designs has generously offered one Mama’s Little Helper reader a personalized superhero cape and mask. The winner will be able to choose the cape and mask color, the shield design and the letter. To enter this giveaway, please visit BabyPop Designs website and leave a comment of what shield design you like best. For additional entries, follow BabyPop on Twitter and “like” BabyPop on Facebook. Please leave a comment for each action. This contest will end on December 9, 2010 at 11:00pm EST. The winner will be contacted via email. The delivery of this prize is the responsibility of BabyPop Designs. Good Luck!
Personalized superhero capes
CONGRATULATIONS to Kerri! Your comment was selected as the winner by Random.org. Look out for an email!!
My son adores reading stories and being read to by anyone willing. We read to him at least twice a day, before nap and before bedtime. He has amassed quite a library of books, mostly because I am a big fan of books, particularly picture books. (I’ve been buying them since we got married whenever we went anywhere special, so he already had a collection before he was born.) He now recognizes logos of brands and can “read” them to us, as well as recognize the alphabet, but he isn’t reading books on his own yet. He does enjoy looking through books and pretends to read them, especially ones he has memorized.
Recently we started using the Anybook device in addition to his story times. This is a small electronic gadget that is shaped like a bulky pen or marker. The Anybook is a new gadget by Franklin Discover and is used by a reader, such as mom or dad, to record a book in your own voice. The child can then use the device like a speaker to listen to the story, even when playing alone. The Anybook uses stickers on each page that activate the recording on that page. The Anybook works with every book in your personal library! The gadget we are using is the Anybook DRP-4000, which holds up to 60 hours of recordings. It can also delete books as needed, once the 60 hour threshold is met, so it can be enjoyed for years. It runs on two AAA batteries and does not require software or a computer to use. Unlike some of the other reading gadgets on the market for kids that I’ve investigated, the Anybook does not need special books to go with it. As its name implies, it can be used with anybook in your personal library!
I started first with a short board book, one of my favorites, Chicka Chicka abc. After putting a small circle sticker on each page, I then used the Anybook’s record mode to record my voice reading the words on each page, while touching the sticker on that page with the device. I recorded each page of the book and then was able to play back each page by touching each sticker. It was that simple! I was surprised by several things: how I sound during playback, how important enunciation is, and how amazing this gadget is! I did have to re-record two of the pages because I thought they sounded a bit muffled, but once I figured out how far away to hold the device from my mouth, it turned out great! (Speaking directly into it seemed to be too close, so holding it down a few inches from my mouth, similar to how one holds a microphone, seemed to do the trick in improving my recording quality.)
The stickers that come with the Anybook are the key to making it work. They use a unique code, which seems like magic to me, to recognize the assigned recording for each page of the book. They are about a half inch sized circle and the ones that came with my Anybook are white. The Anybook sticker pack has approximately 400 recordable stickers and also includes four sheets of stickers that are pre-recorded with sounds, such as a train, a child laughing, clapping hands, a phone ringing, as well as some animal sounds. There are also two sheets of faces stickers representing moms and dads, grandparents, and brothers and sisters. These stickers can be recorded, so for the mom one I recorded my voice saying “Mommy.” I will place this mommy sticker on the front of the books I read, and my husband or parents can use the other stickers for when they record their books. The stickers can be removed from a book and re-used. I was able to peel the sticker and move it quite easily when I realized I wanted to move a sticker to another spot on the page. If the stickers can be used in other books and re-recorded over, so to speak, so until the sticky part stops sticking, they are reusable. Additional sticker packs are available for purchase from the manufacturer.
To say that my son liked “reading” his book with Anybook is an understatement. He kept asking me if the voice was me and went through the book several times in a row. It was very exciting to him to hear his mom read to him through this gadget. I later recorded a second book; A is for Angry, by Sandra Boynton, a favorite author of ours. He enjoyed reading and using the Anybook reader gadget just as much. With this book, I even added a few things to the recordings, the way I add extras when I read, such as asking him to recite the alphabet at the end of the story. I also used the Mommy sticker on the front and included a personalized greeting with the title of the book.
The Anybook by Franklin Discover is sure to be a hit this holiday season. I am going to recommend it to a friend of mine whose daughter adores reading so much she would be happy to be read to all day. This is the perfect gadget for a family with a parent that travels or is in the military. What a great way to be there for a child by being able to read a story to them even when you can’t be there in person. I am planning to have my husband record a few books for my son so that when he is away on his next business trip or even just at work during the day, my son can listen to daddy read to him. I also am hoping to have my son’s grandparent’s record a book so that we have their voices recorded for him. With it being so easy to use, a book can be recorded in just a few minutes more than it takes to read it.
Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary Anybook gadget and stickers set for the purpose of this review. The opinions and experience expressed here are honest and my own!
Just in time for the holidays, Santa’s Paradise Express is pulling in to Strasburg Rail Road Thanksgiving weekend, starting November 26, 2010. Join Santa on his journey to spread the magic of the season to thousands of families who believe. This year, Santa’s Paradise Express will chug along the tracks mid-morning through late afternoon on November 26-28, December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2010.
Enjoying a festive winter train ride. Photo courtesy of Strasburg Rail Road.
The Christmas celebration begins on the platform of the East Strasburg Station as the sounds of the season fill the air. Relax as an authentic vintage steam train, warmed by a potbelly stove, takes its passengers on a 45-minute ride, traveling past more than 1,000 acres of picturesque farmland on its way to Paradise, PA. Santa, carolers and musicians will stroll from car-to-car, greeting and entertaining families.
After the train ride, children are treated to storybook readings of holiday classics at the station. Families can also enjoy the Tinsel Trolley ride, which will operate throughout the event and is included in the ticket price. The Tinsel Trolley is Strasburg’s L.O. & S. self-propelled motor car. The restored 1915 Lancaster, Oxford & Southern Railcar was originally used on a three-foot gauge track in Southern Lancaster County. Finally, as a special treat, children ages 3 to 11 will receive a gift from Santa and his helper.
Santa’s Paradise Express will be at Strasburg Rail Road, Route 741, Strasburg, PA, starting Thanksgiving weekend, November 26, 27 and 28, 2010. Also, see Santa December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2010. Trains start running at 11:00 am each weekend. Tickets are priced at $17 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-11, and $3 for kids 3 and under. For a complete listing of dates and times, or to purchase tickets go to www.StrasburgRailRoad.com or call (717) 687-7522.
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