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.

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.

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.

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).

action paint at Stone Arch with kiddywampus this weekend!

We're thrilled to be back at Stone Arch Festival of the Arts again this year -- and are hoping for good weather! Stop by to say hi and try your hand at some outdoor action painting that would make Jackson Pollock proud.

We'll be located in the Youth Arts Quarter in Father Hennepin Park at the foot of the Stone Arch Bridge.

For more info about Stone Arch Festival, check out: http://stonearchfestival.com/

a snack fit for a fairy (or picky eater!)

We at kiddywampus love to use our right brains (where the imagination+risk taking happens)–even when it comes to feeding the little ones. What would fairies eat at a tea party? Why, pearls of course! Mozzarella pearls in a shot glass make for an inventive snack, and a healthy one at that!

rainy day idea: mesmerizing colors

Sky blue, lavender, fuschia...click through for new colors and help your little one decide what to name them.

rainy day idea: a to-do list

(to-do note from russell+hazel)
Yet another rainy day in the Twin Cities leaves us scratching our head for ideas. Take a cue from Maya Waldman and create a to-do list with your little ones–the zanier the better (but don't forget to buy milk!)

Here are some of our ideas: puddle stomp•top smile competition•kumquat shop•stand on head•toes are hands•sunny song search...

catch that show! dan zanes pulls up in st. paul

We at kiddywampus absolutely love dan zanes' "catch that train!" album. It's as much adult music as it is pure fun for kids. We've heard he's awesome in concert, and his youtube videos certainly attest to that. He'll be in St. Paul on Sunday, May 4 for a show at the Fitzgerald Theater. If you go, let us know how it went!
Here's a video from his recent show in Portland. What a cute idea to say goodbye to all his fans!