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

Spotlight on San Antonio Botanical Gardens

May 07, 2009

Having just been to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens (on a less humid day) I can attest to how beautiful it is this time of year.  We always take a picnic lunch and spend a few hours wandering the grounds.  My son feels a little more free, no stroller, just enjoying nature.  My daughter takes in all the sights, especially loving anything to do with water.  There is always a Science lesson to be learned upon visiting the Gardens.  Conversations about how plants grow, where bugs live, and the like will happen at some point.  Botanical Gardens have some great events and offers to look forward to this summer.  Here are some happenings to take note of!

More Tips for Being Green! And a Gues Post...

April 27, 2009

Earth Day was just last week, but it doesn't mean we have to stop talking about it. Today, Rachael
Brownell shares some of her and SuperEco's favorite ideas for how eco-
friendly can be budget-friendly.

If you're like me, you probably wish you had less stuff (where did all
this stuff come from? and why is it always all over my house making a
huge mess?) and more money. Did you know that fulfilling this wish can
be eco-friendly?

Rachael said the simplest way to go green and save is to focus on
reduce, "Living frugally and simply is naturally living a more
environmentally friendly life."

Rachael shared two ideas for incorporating reduction into your life:
 Read more...

In Honor of Earth Day: Green Books

April 21, 2009

Gearing up for Earth Day tomorrow.  I showed you the links I used to get my son excited about recycling items and turning them into crafts.  I want to drive all of my harping ("Did you put it in the recycle bin?!  Turn off the water while we brush your teeth.  Let's open the blinds and use natural light instead of your light.  Now that you finished your drawing, flip it over and use the other side.) home with a few good Earth Day books.   

Plant a Garden and Introduce Some Science Concepts

March 30, 2009

I am a former 5th grade school teacher who still gets the shivers when she hears the word, "TAKS".  Although we would fear it, get anxious just thinking about it, I would have to say it has actually been a positive influence in the classroom.   Before the TAKS, kids Science knowledge was minimal and it showed.  They didn't test well with it, and even worse they couldn't comprehend it (reading a non-fiction story about the life cycle- forget about it!) so at first it was a challenge to make it fun and interesting for them.  Through the use of constant hands-on experiments, science journals, and instilling in the kids a love and curiosity for Science, they slowly started showing an interest in it.  I saw how some of the students in my class that were never exposed or introduced to Science in their home and saw the struggle they had learning.  I decided that I would make Science fun for my child fun so that he would never look at it as a lesson, just another fun activity.  We just planted our garden two weekends ago.  With Science lurking in my planning, I got all the supplies ready before we I had him come out to help.  Things to make planting a garden more "Science-ey": a kid friendly ruler (we used a Thomas the Tank one), piece of paper, crayons, and a shovel. 

We want the thump. The Luling Watermelon Thump.

by Colleen Pence

June 23, 2008

Did your mama ever tell you it's not polite to thump your fruit? Well it's time to ditch the manners. As you're planning ahead for your busy week of summer activities, be sure to add a visit to Luling (about 50 miles east of San Antonio off of IH-10) this June 26, 27, 28 or 29 for their annual Watermelon Thump . And yes, the experience is as much fun as its name is funny. Celebrating local  Read more...

How to Cultivate the Tiniest Green Thumb

by Colleen Pence

May 21, 2008

Little Sprout Mondays at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens I find it difficult to interest my three-year-old daughter in anything involving dirt. It's probably because I've lectured her one too many times on the many benefits of hand washing. She's now a bit of a clean freak (Good going, germaphobe mom!) who can't stand to have dirty hands. Thank goodness the San Antonio Botanical Garden hosts  Read more...

The five best day trips within an hour (or so!) of San Antonio

by Colleen Pence

May 14, 2008

Living in San Antonio is great but sometimes you just gotta get away. Check out the five best day trips to make with your child that are within an hour (or so!) of SA: 1. McKenna Children's Museum, New Braunfels, TX (about 20 minutes from SA) A child's dream-come-true, the McKenna Children's Museum offers hands-on exhibits (ranch, grocery store, train station, hospital, to name a few), story  Read more...