Festival of the Arts might inspire your child’s creativity
The Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts offers a lot of art and a lot of fun for kids.
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend with your children, you’ll want to drive downtown and let your kids explore their creative sides.
The festival’s not just for children, but there are areas that are dedicated to your child.
For $2 your youngster can participate in hands-on art activities in the Children’s Art Field. And the Young-at-Art Mart is a children-only shopping area with artwork priced no more than $5.
For more information, call (405) 270-4848 or go to the Arts Council of Oklahoma City website.
–Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch
Here are a few photos of children enjoying this year’s festival, as well as some of the sights you might see when you go:
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- Comedian, contortionist and daredevil, Al Millar brings his high-energy street performance talents to the 2012 Festival of the Arts He is photographed during one of his three daily performances on Thursday, April 26, 2012. His stage name is the Human Knot. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
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- A man and woman walk through Sculpture Park on the north grounds of 2012 Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
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- Devin Smith and her daughter, Catelynn, 8, of Edmond, look an an acrylic painting in the tent of Houston artist Elaine Lanoue at the 2012 Festival of the Arts on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. This is Lanoue’s seventh year to exhibit her paintings in Oklahoma City. Her husband, Guiteau Lanoue, also displays his art at the festival. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
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- Patrice Tucker kisses her niece Jillian Tucker, 1, during the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
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- Gainsville, Florida digital artist Gregg Billman sorts and catalogs Monday, April 21, 2012 in preparation for the Festival of the Arts starting Tuesday. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman
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- Sabrina Smith, 5, and Ajax Haldane, 3, run through a fountain in the Myriad Gardens during the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
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- Joseph Dover, 4, runs through a fountain in the Myriad Gardens during the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
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![Oklahoma City Barons mascot Derrick holds a Jumbo Turkey Leg from the Brewer Entertainment, Inc., & [Artspace] at Untitled booth on International Food Row during the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman](http://blog.newsok.com/hiccups/files/2012/04/FESTIVAL-OF-THE-ARTS_003-150x150.jpg)
- Oklahoma City Barons mascot Derrick holds a Jumbo Turkey Leg from the Brewer Entertainment, Inc., & [Artspace] at Untitled booth on International Food Row during the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
![Oklahoma City Barons mascot Derrick holds a Jumbo Turkey Leg from the Brewer Entertainment, Inc., & [Artspace] at Untitled booth on International Food Row during the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman](http://blog.newsok.com/hiccups/files/2012/04/FESTIVAL-OF-THE-ARTS_003.jpg)
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- Strawberries Newport at the Strawberries Newport & Science Museum Oklahoma booth on International Food Row during the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
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- Kinetic sculpture by Andrew Carson during opening day of the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City TUesday, April 24, 2012. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman
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- Kinetic sculpture by Andrew Carson during opening day of the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City TUesday, April 24, 2012. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman
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- Paula Vallera, of Mustang, looks at the colorful shoes of artists Mark and Judy Carter from Prescott, Arizona during opening day of the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City TUesday, April 24, 2012. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman
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- Nichols Hills Varsity Choir sings during opening day of the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman
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- Mekhia Chandler, 8, a third-grader in the Nichols Hills Varsity Choir sings during opening day of the Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman
Giveaway & Twitter chat: Snacks for your little monkeys
Is your kid a Funky Monkey Snacks fan?
A Funky Monkey Snacks Twitter chat is planned at 10 a.m. (CST) Monday (May 1). You can ask questions @funkymonkeysck #funkychat.
Funky Monkey snacks are crunchy fruit snacks that are equal to three fruit servings per ounce. How is that even possible, you ask? I don’t know, but you might consider asking that question Monday.
I’m going to have to try these snacks myself!
But you can, too! As part of the Twitter chat celebration, I am partnering with Funky Monkey Snacks to provide you with a free sampler pack.
Email me at LLynn@opubco.com and place Funky Monkey in the subject line. Also, include your name and mailing address.
I need a snack now.
–Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch
Touch-a-Truck a hands-on event: May 12 at UCO
I was always pretty mystified by the flashing lights of fire trucks, police cars and ambulances.
I still am.
And when my dad brought his Allis Chalmers tractor in from the fields, it was always a treat to climb up into the cab and tower above the ground.
In the 1970s and ’80s my family would camp at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Arkansas. One of the fantastic attractions there was a huge, black train engine. My sister and I would climb all over it! I’m not sure if it’s still accessible, but my point is that I was able to imagine myself as an engineer, riding the rails.
To a child, getting to explore these massive modes of transportation is like playing with a new toy.
On May 12, children can attend a Touch-a-Truck event in Edmond. Police cars, ambulances, a garbage truck, a fire truck, a school bus and more will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m in the University of Central Oklahoma parking lot just off Second Street.
For more information, go to the event website or read The Oklahoman’s story.
Here’s a photo gallery of the 2011 Touch-a-Truck event:
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- Touch-a-Truck / Photos by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
–Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch
Juggling: Entertainment or necessity?
When the kids were younger, I ended up driving them to gymnastics, piano lessons, dance class, Y basketball games …
Although not as busy as some families, we had our share of drive-through meals on our way to or returning from classes and events.
My husband and I spent a lot of time juggling our schedules around our children’s activities.
But, guess what? Now that our children have gotten a little older, we’re still juggling schedules. With both of us working and all three kids in school and involved in social activities with friends, we definitely need a plan for our week.
How do you juggle? Have you found a great way to organize and plan?
Share here!
–Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch
Free book! Enter to win one of these newly published books that you can enjoy reading to your child
I was lamenting to my daughter that I had not been regularly reading books with our youngest son.
Then, after emptying out his backpack that night, he sat down with me with a book “The Berenstain Bears: New Kitten.” I was thrilled! And, before the evening had ended we had read four more books!
With my oldest daughter, she was the only child in the house, and my husband and I read to her constantly. By the time Kaci came along, we squeezed in a book here and there and made sure to meet school reading requirements.
With Cade, reading only happens when he wants to read. Sometimes he will sit by his bookcase and read on his own, and, sometimes, I’m actually sitting on the couch, he’s on the couch, and voila! a book is there, too. Yea, reading time!
We have many children’s books in our home, and sometimes I cycle them in and out from boxes in the garage since we don’t have a lot of bookshelves. And, though, we have a lot of books, there’s always an excitement when we bring a new book into the house.
I recently was sent a few new books that might find their way to your home.
All are colorful and somewhat whimsical, filled with lovely illustrations. They might be children’s books, but I enjoy them as an adult, too.
”The Word Collector” by Sonja Wimmer is somewhat unconventional with the words winding around the page and through the book. As the little girl in the book collects words, there is the sense of a journey and realization of the magic of language.
”Witches Handbook” by Monica Carretero is what all little witches need to know about being a carrier of the broom. A fun book with delightful characters and that spurs the imagination.
”Drops of Life” by Esko-Pekka Tiitinen and illustrated by Nikolai Tiitinen inspires environmental responsibility. The story explores the world in which endangered species must come together to save the Earth. You will enjoy the artistry as you read.
”Zaira and the Dolphins” by Mar Pavon and illustrated by Cha Coco is a tale of a little girl and … dolphins, but not in the usual setting. Her imagination plays a big part in this book.
”Story of a Cockroach” by Carmen Gil and Sonja Wimmer and Anastasia. I’m not usually a fan of cockroaches, but this character is more heartwarming than the usual bug. She dreams of being famous but discovers she is very important just being who she is.
Send me an email with your name and mailing address, and you will have a chance to enjoy one of these beautiful books! The deadline to enter is April 30.
–Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter: @OKNewsResearch
Check out this website, too: The Children’s Book Review http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/
Baby products = Helping children
Hilary Duff - AP PHOTO
You can help support the Johnson’s Baby Cares charity program just by using a 50-cent coupon when you buy Johnson’s Baby products between April 15 and June 1. 
Johnson’s Baby is partnering with Save the Children to help address the needs of families and their babies.
Actress Hilary Duff is also partnering with Johnson’s Baby to support one of the group’s first initiatives, which will be to assemble, donate and distribute “Johnson’s Baby” care kits immediately during and after disasters.
“As a new mom, I am inspired by this worthy cause, which aims to give all moms a chance to not only experience the joy of a healthy baby, but also an opportunity to be together and have moments of normalcy during crisis situations,” said Duff in a news release today.
For every 50-cent coupon used, Johnson’s Baby will contribute 25 cents to Save the Children.
–Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter: @OKNewsResearch
April – What will you observe this month?
If you want to get involved in a cause, celebrate something or just offer recognition, there are several topics you can observe this month.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is an effort to increase public awareness about protecting children from abuse and neglect. To learn more, go to http://www.preventchildabuse.org/publications/cap/index.shtml
April is National Volunteer Month. What a wonderful opportunity to teach your children the value of volunteering in their community.
April is National Poetry Month. It’s a good time to exercise the creative part of your mind. When I was in middle school, a visiting writer encouraged our class to go outside and explore the world around us, from a blade of grass to the clouds in the sky … and to write about what we saw, smelled and felt.
Did you know there are days within April that also commemorate food?
April 12 is National Licorice Day, as well as National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. But, I think I’ll hold out for Friday, April 13: National Peach Cobbler Day!
Your pets won’t be left out, either. April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month and National Heartworm Awareness Month.
And, though Earth Day falls on April 22, we can spend the whole month exploring the value of protecting the world where we live. Something as simple as planting a tree or flowers can be a learning experience for our children.
I hope you enjoy this month of awareness and observance.
–Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter: @OKNewsResearch
Easter bunny slacks off: No hunt here
Where is the magic? None of my children participated in an egg hunt this year. Nor did they color any eggs … although I did buy the eggs and the egg dye.
Let’s clarify. The oldest is 17. The middle child is 13, but she still loves egg hunts.
My 6-year-old didn’t seem to mind. He just enjoyed his basket of goodies the Easter bunny left him. (Bubbles, a book, a few eggs with quarters … )
Last night I told my husband I felt guilty about not making sure the kids attended all the usual Easter events. I was just tired, and our usual family get-together didn’t work out.
But, you know what? They were fine.
I think there is this imaginary bar that I set for myself, and if I don’t always meet it or go over the top, then I think I failed.
I need to stop that thinking and realize any effort is at least an effort.
When I was little, I loved the chocolate rabbit I would get for Easter. I’d nibble on the ears first, and then the nose, until the poor bunny was hardly recognizable.
There were chocolate rabbits in our house this year, so I guess that was partial success.
– Linda Lynn
The Great Cloth Diaper Change: Changing the way we think, but not one baby at a time
My sister Betty used cloth diapers with all her children. I admire that she did this.
Each of her little babies was neatly wrapped with a soft, cloth diaper that was pinned on each side.
I didn’t know it at the time, but she was being earth-friendly. She was “green.”
On April 21, the day before Earth Day, you can experience “The Great Cloth Diaper Change” beginning at 10 a.m. at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52 St.
There are hopes this event will be part of an even larger effort to break last year’s Guinness World Record for simultaneous diaper changing.
And, at the same time, Cloth Diaper Oklahoma and the Real Diaper Association will be bringing attention to the benefits of using cloth diapers, instead of disposable diapers that can take hundreds of years to decompose.
At the moment, more than 232 locations in 13 countries will be the sites of thousands of parents and caregivers changing their babies all at the same time, all using cloth diapers.
"The Great Cloth Diaper Change" event in 2011 -- Photo by Trevor Aagard
The April 21 event begins at 10 a.m. with the actual Great Cloth Diaper Change occurring between 11 a.m. and noon. Cloth diapers will be provided to those who need one.
The first 100 participating families will receive a goody bag. Activities during the event will include a baby-crawling contest, a toddler trot, cloth diaper mini classes, prizes and more.
If you’ve never changed a cloth diaper, click here for step-by-step instructions from babycenter.com.
–Linda Lynn
