Charity Day: Friday, May 28th to support SLP ECFE

Charity Days are one of our favorite events at kiddywampus -- it's a designated day we give 20% of our retail sales* to a specific charity.

This Friday we've chosen St. Louis Park ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education), a local organization that offers classes, events and support for children ages birth through five and their parents or caregivers. Parent and child enjoy play and learning activities together under the guidance of a licensed early childhood teacher. We love the impact ECFE has on our local kids, families and community and are happy to support its mission.

*retail sales only, does not include gift cards, on-line purchases, parties, OS2, kiddyplay or special events.

slumber party, kiddywampus style!

We're always on the lookout to do something different...so when WAMSO (the Minnesota Orchestra Volunteer Organization) asked us to design a table setting in true kiddywampus style, we were thrilled. Each year WAMSO hosts "Settings of Note," a beautiful event that raises funds for the Minnesota Orchestra (including Kinder Konzerts, the program that exposes young children to classical music). The event was hosted at IMS and included dozens of expertly designed tables in a wide variation of themes.



After much deliberation, we chose the theme "Girl's Birthday & Pajama Party," and created a sparkly, glittery & imaginative table complete with party favors and pajama party games. We hope the winner and her guests have as much fun with the table setting as we did in creating it!

Win a Chance to See Sesame Street Live!

There are just 3 days left to to stop in and pick up a Sesame Street Live "Color To Win Elmo" Sheet, with a chance to win a "Family Four-Pack of Tickets". Deadline for entries is 5pm December 18. All coloring sheets include a $3 off each ticket coupon.

Black Friday kiddywampus style

We think throwing paint is fun and so is giving to charity.

On Nov. 27th, kiddywampus played host to 36 kids and their families who paid $8 each to get their art groove on by throwing paint Jackson Pollock-style. And together we raised $288 for the Starlight Foundation.

When you're a retailer with a charitable mission, the biggest shopping day of the year is something to celebrate.

Starlight Foundation helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Check them out here.

a positively perfect day

Today was an amazing day at kiddywampus. Owning a toy store makes every day a fun day, but today was spectacular. We hosted Free Art Friday, and KidzArt gave sample "mini-sessions" of the weekly art classes they'll hold at kiddywampus this fall. Many parents told us how impressed they were by the quality of the curriculum and instruction. We're very happy to have KidzArt with us and look forward to seeing them in action this fall. The place was jammin' and you could tell the toys were happy.

And a very famous customer, Edwin, was in the house today. I led Edwin's 3rd birthday party some two years ago...back in our little studio in the alley with no running water. Three years can be a little on the young side for paint throwing -- and over time we've learned that the stronger the arm muscles and gross motor skills, the farther the paint flies. And I will never forget looking over at Edwin during his party and seeing him going to town splashing and splattering paint in his own little studio corner....he was full of joy, completely oblivious to everyone around him and having the time of his life....just as I imagine Jackson Pollock must have been when in the middle of his huge creations. Edwin's 5 now and probably doesn't remember his party like I do, but it makes me happy every time I think about him, virtually unstoppable, at the paint wall.

Another very active customer today also brought back a happy memory...his Dad reminded me that this little guy (who was basically a blur in the store today he was moving so quickly) took his first determined steps at kiddywampus not so long ago. Wow. Big memories.

Sometimes the best parts of having a toy store have little to do with toys.

Bake Sale this Sat!

We first met the Christopherson family two years ago, when we were lucky enough to help grant a part of Abi's wish through the Make-A-Wish organization. Abi wished to create a basement playarea to enjoy with her 2 younger sisters and parents. Abi came to kiddywampus with her sisters and friends for a giggly paint throwing afternoon and created three inspired canvases to hang in the new playarea.

We've been cheering this family on for two years and Abi's medical issues, as well of those of one of her younger sister's, have continued and expanded.

Abi's Mom, Tracie, has been keeping a journal of her family's experiences for several years. The writing, a compelling snapshot of parenting a child with serious health issues, is at times startling, funny, raw and inspiring.

Read her journal here. You will laugh and cry, you will hug your kids, and if you're like me, you'll marvel at how this family just keeps on going on.

Abi needs to go to Chicago next week to meet with a new neurologist, and this Sat (7/18) the family is hosting a bake sale from 10-2 at their home to help defray the expenses of the trip. Please stop by if you can, or help in any way if you're able. The address is: Christophrson Family, 2337 Harding St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418.

Third Anniversary Party

It’s so good to see you again. There have been many changes since we last spoke. The seasons have changed, but so has our open studio, class offerings, we turned 3 years old and of course a new smattering of fabulous and quirky toys at kiddywampus.  What has stayed the same is kiddywampus’ dedication to being an inspired and fun place for kids to play and create.

Recent news at kiddywampus was our third anniversary party last week. We had a jammin’ concert and mini session by the Okee Dokee brothers band, face painting by Miss Sarah, art projects by Kids Art, an ice cream truck, as well as new additions to our town instillation in open studio that we’d been working on for the two weeks prior.  It was so much fun!

We are also excited to welcome Mannerly Manners to kiddywampus. Offering the fanciest tea parties in town the 3-6 year olds who attended in June learned etiquette and respectful behavior and came out as ladies and gentleman. It will be fun to see the 7-12 year old tea party in July.

Kiddywampus has also been pleased to house a slew of abrakadoodle summer camps. Thus far we’ve had weeks of female artists, pirates, my museum artists and so many more to come.  We have seen so many masterpieces!

As the summer is approaching its half way point it is so good to continue to see new and old friends in and out of our store, open studio, kiddyplay, camps and classes. The rest of the summer is sure to be just as fun and creative in kiddywampus.  Hope to see you soon!  

Picnic of Hope

kiddywampus was on the go last Saturday at the 14th Annual Picnic of Hope in New Brighton.

The Picnic of Hope is an annual tradition that honors and celebrates Pediatric Oncology and Pediatric BMT patients and families from the Unviersity of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview. We were honored to be a part of it for the 2nd year.

kiddywampus provided some art projects for the kids and helped them make some fun works of art. We enjoyed meeting the families that attended as well as the medical staff that takes such good care of them.

Thanks, Care Partners, for inviting us to your party. We'll be back next year...with action painting!

Care Partners is a Children's Cancer Research Fund Program. For more info about CCRF, including ways to support this incredible organization, click here.

Mother Goose at kiddywampus next Tuesday!

Fresh from the Zenon Dance Company...join us for your chance to hobnob with Mother Goose!

Tuesday, Dec. 16th from 3-4 pm

This interactive storytime will delight as Mother Goose shares her classic nursery rhymes and tales with added fun and fantasy. It will also give you the chance to meet her (and even get her autograph) before seeing her onstage with Zenon Dance Company at The Southern Theater in THE NUTCRACKER ACCORDING TO MOTHER GOOSE December 13-21.

Please rsvp by commenting to this blog.

free storytime this Friday with illustrator Holly Welch!

Please join us for a free storytime this Friay morning at 10:30 am featuring illustrator Holly Welch as she reads her new work, Inside All.

We at kiddywampus have been a fan of Holly's work since we first met shortly after kiddywampus opened, and are thrilled to share her work with others.

Holly will also be available for book signings after the reading.

Space is limited to 25 kids (ages 2-6 for the reading, sibs always welcome); to rsvp, please reply to this blog with the # of kids you're bringing.

thank you

An enormous and heartfelt "thank you" to all the customers, colleagues and friends who've expressed sympathy at the passing of my mother last Thursday from cancer. A private service will be held for her tomorrow, on what would have been her 67th birthday. I don't know how she did it, but she gave me more than she had to give. I miss her terribly.

Thanks, all.

join Mom Culture and kiddywampus at the Walker

Here's an organization we love...Mom Culture offers moms and dads a variety of parent-oriented daytime arts + entertainment events that are intended to be shared with children .

On Nov. 18 join Mom Culture's private tour of the Walker Art Center's "Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future" -- you'll gain insight about this iconic figure and his impact through design.

And kiddywampus is proud to partner with Mom Culture and Abrakadoodle to create a Kid Culture Art Class for kids age 2-5 that will take place while parents tour the Saarinen show. The class will be held in the Walker's art lab. Parents who opt to sign their kids up for this class will drop them off prior to taking the Saarinen tour and pick the kids up immediately after the tour (appx. 45 minutes), before heading up to Gallery 8 Cafe for lunch.

Check out Mom Culture's complete fall lineup, event details, pricing and sign up here.

the secret parent handshake

The other day a toddler at kiddywampus threw a tantrum – the kind of awe-inspiring, full-body kicking on the floor followed by a quick boneless move accompanied by an ear-piercing banshee scream only a toddler body could produce. The toddler experts would have given her a perfect score with bonus points for endurance. The Mom went from embarrassed to irritated to overwhelmed to mortified. She had Had It, and the day was young.

And this is where we parents need the Secret Handshake.

I looked at that Mom and there were a million things I wanted to tell her. I wanted to give her a big hug, a cup of coffee, magically soothe her darling and then whisper, “Honey, I have 3 kids and could tell you stories of tantrums no new Mom should ever hear. Of trips to Target – where the aisles and checkouts are virtually empty until I say No to the princess boo boo patches and suddenly the sky starts raining customers, all of whom are looking at me like I’m the Worst Mom On The Planet and I wish I could melt into the floor but I’m not giving in because now my back is up too and I will never buy a princess boo boo patch in my life. Ever.”

I want to tell her, “I have been where you are right now, and you’re doing a great job, so you hang in there because in 14 years when our dearests ask for the car keys we’ll wish to be back here in this moment where we can keep them safe right beside us.” I want to say, “Don’t apologize for her wailing on the floor because we’re all in this together. And the next time you are out shopping and hear a wail look over because it will probably be me with my darlings, in the princess boo boo patch aisle.” But I really can’t talk over the screaming – so I grin, give her my best “we’ve all been there” shrug, and hope somehow she can read my mind.

We really need the Handshake.

disco fever!

Here's a shout out to the best kids' party in the Twin Cities taking place this Sat. If you've never gone, give it a try...I took my 3 year old last fall and couldn't get him to leave after almost two hours of hurling himself across the dance floor. I'm not sure what was more fun...watching him groove it out or sharing music I love with him. He collapsed in the car on the way home and barely woke up until the next morning. If he sees a sign for another party, he immediately breaks out his best moves. I've created a dancin' machine.

In keeping with the disco theme, imagine my personal nirvana when I came across this little delight -- a solar powered disco ball that adheres to a window with a suction cup that can be easily moved (as the sun moves, perhaps?). We've been testing this out in our store for about two weeks now and it makes me happy every time I see it. And in direct sunlight, it turns our retail space into a disco inferno. Now we just need the music.

help for lunchboxes everywhere

I want to believe that since my kids pack lunches they're eating good food at school. And here it is, only October and the pressure of packing healthy food that looks and tastes great is already getting to me. I'm convinced this book will be the answer to my prayers...or at least, will give me some new ideas for the long school year and hundreds of lunches ahead.

Any tips for great lunch box meals your kids adore...or, rather, will eat on a regular basis?

a cool site for parents

Yeah! We've just been reviewed by Amelia McClain, a cyber reporter for The Savvy Source for Parents. This is a fun site with loads of preschool information (think toddler social skills to separation anxiety) and tons of other cool parenting perspective and insight. Check it out here.

JWRC event a big success!

A huge thanks to everyone who came out for the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center fundraising and community building event. There was paint flying in the studio as guests action painted to raise money -- and the lemonade stand was a perfect touch to the indian summer day. Kids enjoyed the book reading and signing by author Alison Feigh and in the end, we raised $327.92 for JWRC. Thanks everyone!

For more press details about the event click here.

new storytime this Friday!

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if the ocean was orange and shoes sang? For an artist, this colorful world can become a reality. This storytime will will inspire creativity amongst the youngest of budding artists and an activity will follow the stories.

Back by popular demand...a new free storytime this Friday (9/5) from 10:30 - 11:15. Open to 20 kids aged 2-6 (younger sibs welcome)...please rsvp to this blog with the number of kids you are bringing.

i get around storytime fun

We were thrilled to host the i-get-around crew on Friday to our first-ever free storytime...and the kids had a great time! For more pictures from the event, click here.

We're now planning some more free storytimes...stay tuned!

win a free interactive storytime this Friday!

Looking for a free fun fabulous event for the kids this Friday? We're delighted to have the folks from "i get around," our favorite toddler travel people, present

i get around in my imagination

What: story time with activity

When: 10:30-11:00 Friday, Aug. 8

Where: the large studio at kiddywampus

Who: kids ages 2-5

RSVP: this storytime is open to the first 15 kids (parents) who comment on this post. Please include in your comment the number of kids you're bringing and their ages (between ages 2-5 please, older and younger siblings are welcome to attend).