Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in philadelphia, PA

This Weekend's Events

by Cecily Kellogg

April 23, 2009

It is going to be gloriously summer like this weekend, with temperatures hitting the mid 80's on Sunday. I'll be enjoying it as I celebrate my 41st birthday (sigh). I'm going to focus today on one particular great event that is happening this weekend since I already discussed the Earth Day events in the region earlier this week.

If you live in Philadelphia, you know that the suburbs have a lot of great local community art centers. There's Abington Art Center, the Cheltenham Art Center, the Main Line Art Center, the Wayne Art Center -- just to mention a few. The South Philly folks, of course, have the amazing Fleisher Art Memorial.

Until recently, the other half of the city was missing out -- but five years ago, The Fairmount Art Center came into being, and has since been offering a full range of programs for children and adults, right in the northwestern section of the city. As a former Fairmount resident, I am jealous that you folks are that lucky.

This Sunday, from 2pm to 6pm, the Fairmount Art Center is having a big ol' bash to celebrate their fifth anniversary. Here are the details:

"Open to the public, a free indoor/outdoor celebration will feature make-and-take crafts at sidewalk stations, interactive music, art demonstrations and a special student art exhibition.  At 4:00 p.m., FAC students, teachers and friends will blow out birthday candles atop an elaborate sculptural cake designed by Meredith Frantz, Owner of Tiny Little Oven Cakes.  Birthday Bash celebrants of all ages will learn traditional linen papermaking techniques by Master Crafter Richard Aldorasi and enjoy face painting by Liberty Faces."

It sounds like a wonderful time, and if I wasn't having a party myself I would be there. Enjoy! And Happy Birthday, Fairmount Art Center!

To read more about the Fairmount Art Center, be sure to check out this great article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.  

Protecting Creativity

by Cecily Kellogg

March 09, 2009

This week's Savvy Expert article highlights a subject I spend a great deal of time thinking about: how do I nurture and protect my daughter's natural creativity? For instance, just in the last week my husband picked up a coloring book that prominently features the Little Mermaid. Suddenly, my daughter, the kid that explores every inch of the page when she draws and paints, is trying to color within the lines.

Gulp.

I don't know why that makes me panic; it's perfectly fine to honor my daughter's current mermaid obsession (sigh). I restrict her access to the Disney; she's seen clips of the songs but not the actual original movie (I am so not down with the whole "give everything up for your man" philosophy of the movie) but she still insists that I not refer to her as "Tori" but instead as "Mermaid." 

I like the suggestions that the Savvy Expert articles makes, but I have certain dilemmas. For instance, my house is pretty small. I don't have a "create and get dirty" spot that is available all the time; I couldn't possibly. It would take over a quarter of our living space (and trust me, my kid takes up PLENTY of our living space already). So I have to be sure to set aside time for things like Play-Doh and paintings and drawing. She of course has access to blank paper for painting and drawing so that she can't always draw within the lines; but I still want to encourage her to create her own stuff, not follow someone else's rules.

This summer she'll finally be old enough to start attending some local art, dance, and sporting classes (she'll be three in June). Will regimented activity like that help her creative pursuits or simply channel them into a specific course? I really don't know. But I know how much she loves creating, so I will do whatever I can to foster growth in that area and keep her from people that tell her she's doing it "wrong." She's such a bright little bugger, I do not want her inner light dimmed.

What do you do to keep your children's creative juices flowing?

Best Places To View Outdoor Art

by Cecily Kellogg

March 03, 2009

It's going to warm up soon. No, really, it will. Once the spring days start (or even now if you are brave enough to face the chill), you'll want to get out and do some exploring with your kids. Philadelphia is famous for its outdoor art, from the classical to the bizarre and fanciful, so there are plenty of great spots to see art with your little ones. Here are my favorite spots to see art outside.

1. The Abington Art Center. This amazing community art center, housed in a gorgeous Art Deco mansion, also is host to one of the best local contempary sculpture gardens around. With no admission fee and a fairly extensive set of grounds, your kids can learn all about contemporary art and run off some energy at the same time. (Full disclosure: I worked for AAC for several years. That doesn't make it less awesome, I swear.)

2. Center City. Start right at City Hall with the sculptures on the grounds, and then cross over to Center Square (at Broad and Market) to see the massive clothes pin sculpture. This is sure to get the kids talking! Then wander over to 16th & JFK to see Love Park and the famous Love Sculpture, and then head up the parkway to Logan Circle to view the most beautiful fountain you'll ever see (in my opinion). In winter, kids can climb in the bowl of the fountain and see the sculptures up close; in summer, take off your shoes and chill your heels!

3. Fairmount Park. Truth is, Fairmount Park is huge and covers vast swaths of land throughout the city. Best plan is to pick a group of sculptures to see and then head on out. My favorites? The great pieces you can see along Kelly Drive just past Boathouse Row, and of course Chief Ted hidden away in the Wissahickon.

4. University of Pennsylvania. This campus is West Philly is full of famous sculptures like the crazy buttons and the life-size bronze of Ben Franklin. Fun for all.

5. The Calder Foundation. While there is no physical museum yet, you can enjoy several of Charles Calder's fantastical outdoor sculptures. A great addition to an excursion at either the Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Rodin Museum.

Budding Art Critic

by Cecily Kellogg

September 15, 2008

Philadelphia is an artist's city. Between the affordable housing, huge amounts of gallery space, and center-of-the-east-coast location, your budding art critic can find plenty to talk about. While you can certainly tackle "museum row" as it's trying to be known and hit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum, and the galleries at PAFA--and sure, at some point, you should--there are much  Read more...