Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in san jose, CA

Five Things Kids Love About Farmers' Markets

by bonggamom

July 27, 2009

Farmers' markets run year round, but there's a reason why their populations swell in the summertime.  The lure of healthy produce, the thought of farm-fresh summer fruit, the chance to support local farmers, is too strong to resist.  For grownups, that is.  But what about the kids?  Don't worry, you won't need to strap your little ones to a grocery cart here.  Young children are more than welcome at farmers' markets, and there's a lot for children to love about farmers' markets as well.  Here are five to start with:

1) The Experience
Give your child a few dollars to spend on whatever fruits and vegetables they want, and watch your trip to the farmers' market turn from an errand into an adventure.  He'll have so much fun choosing from the wide, colorful array of produce, handing over the money, receiving his change, and toting his purchases around.  It's also a great way to tempt a finicky eater; children are more likely to try something new if they've had a hand in choosing and purchasing it.

2) The People
There's no better place for young children to practice their people skills than a farmers' market.  The vendors are usually friendly and willing to engage your child in a conversation, talk to them about the different products they're selling, help them weigh out some fruit or pack their purchases into a paper bag.    

3) The Music
Farmers' markets are almost like mini festivals, with local musicians and performers strutting their stuff in front of a gaggle of wide-eyed children.  I've seen balloon artists, face painters, children's musicians and more at our local farmers' market, so you won't need to worry about keeping your child entertained once you've made the rounds and need a little break to count out your change and rest your tired feet.


4) The Sweets
With all the fresh, healthy, yummy samples available, a child could go from vendor to vendor and get her fill of fresh summer fruit.  Before you know it, she could eat enough for her morning snack.

5) The Treats
Well, almost.  No matter how many bowls and trays of cut-up fruit are laid out for eager shoppers, there's always a fresh bakery stall or crepe vendor with their tantalizing aromas wafting out to tempt you, I mean your child.  The lines for these places are always long, so it looks like we're not the only ones without the willpower to resist these farmers' market treats.  But why even try?


No doubt about it, farmers' markets are one of the best things about summer.  And as long as you keep a firm hand on them, a trip to the farmers' market can be a safe, fun excursion for the whole family.  Stay tuned throughout the week for a list of some of my favorite local farmers' markets and some cool farmers' market events you won't want to miss.  Read more...

Go Green with your Kids (and win tickets to Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Green Thumb!)

by bonggamom

May 12, 2009

^{Win tickets to the San Jose showing of Elmo's Green Thumb!  Read on to find out how.}

Here at the Savvysource, we take the environment very seriously.  After all, what kind of parents would we be if we didn't want our children and grandchildren to grow up in a clean, green world?   This year alone on Being Savvy Silicon Valley we've explored eco-friendly stores, made some eco-friendly resolutions, gone green on a budget, and found some great ways to celebrate Earth Day.  

Today let's talk about how to start turning your kids green.  A great way to to get them to care about the earth is to expose them to nature. Positive and frequent experiences with nature during the early years can help children develop a lifelong sense of appreciation and responsibility for the environment.  With that said, here are some fun ways to build environmental awareness in your children:

1)  Take a hike.  Children love to run and explore!  Take the family to a local park or hiking trail Be sure to point out different insects, plants or rocks. 

2)  Keep a Nature Journal.  Give your child a notebook so she can spend time outdoors and draw pictures of all the interesting and beautiful things she sees in nature.

3)  Plant a seed.  Show your child a photo of what the seed will grow up to be, and encourage them to take care of their plant, and watch it grow!

4)  Clean up.  Make trash fun by arranging a visit to a nearby recycling facility to show your little one how trash can be made into something new.  Or play a fun sorting game at home by putting recyclable materials into the appropriate recycling bins.

5)  Watch a show.  Another way for children to become eco-aware is to learn through songs and stories and favorite characters.   Elmo's Green Thumb, a Sesame Street Live! stage show, will be playing at the San Jose Civic Auditorium on June 12, 13 and 14.  When Elmo speaks, kids listen -- so sit back and let Elmo and the Sesame Street gang teach your little ones about green, growing things!   Everyone's favorite Sesame Street Characters are going on an amazing adventure as they help Elmo find a new home for Sunny the Sunflower -- and in the process, they'll show your little ones how each creature, from dancing ladybugs and beautiful butterflies to grouchy beetles, plays an important part in our ecosystem.  

Would you like a chance to win tickets to Sesame Street Live?   One lucky Being Savvy Silicon Valley reader is going to win a family pack of 4 tickets to see Elmo's Green Thumb at the San Jose Civic Auditorium!  To enter, leave a comment on this post and share one of the ways you "Go Green" with your child.  Make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you.  This entry must be completed for any extra entries to count.

For extra entries, you can do any of the following:
1)  Follow savvySV on twitter (leave a comment here with your twitter id).
2)  Follow bonggamom on Blogger (leave a comment here with your Blogger name).
3)  Tweet about this contest (leave a comment here with a link to the tweet).  Here's a tweet you can copy and paste:

Win tickets to Sesame Street Live on @savvySV http://tinyurl.com/ry2o5l

This contest is open to U.S. residents only and will end at midnight PST on May 24, 2009.  I will draw a winner at random and announce the winner's name on May 25, 2009. 

If you can't wait to see if you're the lucky winner, don't worry.  You can buy your tickets now at any ticketmaster location or at www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets range from $15 to $30 -- so reasonable! -- and on opening night, June 12, all seats (except Gold Circle tickets) are $15!  And here's more good news -- Savvy Readers can use the promo code SESAME to save $3 off per ticket! 

Going green on a budget: less is more (less stuff and more money!)

by bonggamom

April 27, 2009

We celebrated Earth Day last Wednesday, but there's no reason every day can't be Earth Day.  There are a myriad of ways to reduce your carbon footprint, and many of them don't have to cost much money; in fact, some will even save you money.   Today Rachael Brownell, editor of the green website SuperEco.com, shares some of her and SuperEco's favorite ideas for how eco-friendly can be budget-friendly.

Rachael says the simplest way to go green and save is to focus on reducing:  "Living frugally and simply is naturally living a more environmentally friendly life."  Here she shares two ideas for incorporating reduction into your life:

1. Try a shopping fast (30 days with no purchase - can you do it?).

2. Buy nothing day -- make 2 days each week dedicated to not buying
anything. Not one single thing.

When she said, "not one thing" she meant literally, "nothing," not
even eco-friendly products. The idea is to consume less.

"We love dishing on luscious eco-goodness, from green blue jeans to
motorcycles to kid stuff and gizmos. We like cool stuff, too. But
there's a time and place for not adding to the pile," wrote Lisa
Poisso in her article "Greener wallet equals greener Earth."

Most green initiatives seem to focus on recycling, even though the
slogan is "reduce*reuse*recycle." I think the order is important,
because reducing is the key.

Think beyond consuming as just buying things, and also consider how
you consume resources, such as water and energy. There are many things
you and your family can do that are easy and will save. It just takes
a few minutes each day of thinking about what you are consuming
(buying and using) and whether you can use it less (less each use, or
less frequently) or even cut it out completely.

To start you off, here are a few ideas:

1. April 20 was National Hanging Out Day. This means hang your wet clothes
out to line dry---yes, no using the dryer! Give it a try!

Idea: Include your children in this by letting them drape their
clothes on the low rungs of the drying rack, or help them hang their
clothes.

2. Use less water. How can you reduce the amount of water you use
daily? How do you use water? Do you water your lawn, for example?
Leave the water on while washing your hands or brushing your teeth?

Idea: Let your kids set out a watering can to collect rain water, and
use that to water your flower beds or garden. Watering cans use water
more efficiently and provide just the right amount of water to
gardens. Little cans are just the right size for preschoolers to help
you. If there is no rain in the forecast, go ahead and use the hose to
fill the watering can instead of using a sprinkler. It's still better!

Idea: Make it a family project to turn off the water while washing
hands and brushing teeth. In my family, we like rewards best, so I use
what I call the Tip Jar when we're trying to change a behavior for the
better. In one jar, labeled "Sending Out the Old," I put beads or
pennies. Each time we use the new behavior, we move one bead/penny
from the "Old" jar to the "Bringing in the New" jar. Once all the
beads/pennies have moved to the new jar or we achieve a certain level
(such as a line halfway up the jar) then we all get something special,
such as dinner outside instead of the usual at the kitchen table or a
movie or a kid-chosen activity. P.S. There are quite a few products
you can buy for this type of reward system, but I reduce by reusing! I
use recycled jars from jams and peanut butter. For more ideas about
how to reuse those jars, read this great article.

Do you have any suggestions about how to reduce? Make sure to share
them in the comments!

Weekend Outlook, March 13th - 15th : Going Green

by bonggamom

March 12, 2009

It's your lucky weekend!  The stores are full of plastic four-leaf clovers,a nd the weekend is packed with activities leading up to St. Patrick's Day next Tuesday.  With all the green goings on in the next several days, from leprechaun crafts to tree walks,  Kermit the Frog will have to find some other time to sing It's Not Easy Being Green.

1) It's not Boston or New York, but San Francisco's St. Patrick's Day Parade is a longstanding tradition -- it's on its 158th year -- and draws over 5,000 parade participants from all over the country.  The parade begins at Second and Market at 11:30 AM, and the festivities continue throughout the day at the Civic Center Plaza.  

2) Watch energetic Irish Dancers, snacks and crafts at the Palo Alto Family YMCA's Irish Dance Social. March 3/13, 3:30-5PM. 

3) Mountain View celebrates Arbor Day with live music, children's activities and crafts, information and education booths, a tree climbing demonstration and a ceremonial tree planting.  It's all happening this Saturday at Pioneer Park.

4) Treat yourself to some fresh air, a healthy walk and a new perspective. Go on a free guided Canopy Tree Walk around Palo Alto to learn more about the trees that create a healthy urban environment. Meet at the Junior Museum and Zoo on Saturday, Mar. 14, 10am-noon. 

5)  Make free sparkly Leprechaun Wands at San Jose's Lakeshore Learning tomorrow morning starting at 11:00 am -- it's a free kids' craft for ages 3 and up. 

Before Kindergarten....

by Shawn Burns

January 27, 2009

I have three and a half years. Three and a half years until my daughter starts kindergarten. In days that's over 1300. Minus the weekends that leaves about 950. 950 weekdays until there are no more weekdays. Until all of what used to be our days become school days, days apart. So. Time to start planning. What shall we do with our precious time? What ought we do? What can we not  Read more...

Weekend Outlook: December 19th-21st

by Shawn Burns

December 17, 2008

'Twas the weekend before Christmas, and all through the Peninsula Not a creature was stirring, not even a min...su....la? Sorry kids, your uncle Shawn is seriously lacking in the Holiday Poetry department. But, I do have some things lined up for you to do out of the house this weekend that don't involve going to the mall in any way. Because the mall is going to suck this weekend.  Read more...