Here are some upcoming events at the zoo:

Nov. 25 – Free day.  No admission fee!  Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 27 – Feast for the Beasts. Some animals will be feasting on traditional Thanksgiving dishes from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

December through February – Free zoo admission every Monday!

Dec. 1 – 24 – Deck the Zoo. Bring and edible wildlife ornament and get admission to the zoo for only $1!

Dec. 5, 12 and 19 – Cupcakes with Santa. Kids can decorate their own holiday cupcake.  They’ll create some unique holiday crafts and end the day with a visit from Santa himself.  Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Cost for children age 3 and older is $20 for ZooFriends members, $22 for nonmembers. Adults are free with a paid child. Pre-registration is required and must be made one week prior to the event. Register online at http://okczoo.recware.com or call 425-0218.

Dec. 5 – Wreath making class. Everything to make a holiday wreath will be provided. Cost is $20 for ZooFriends members, $25 for nonmembers and the class is for age 16 and older.  Register at the same site or phone number listed above.

Dec. 7 – Coffee Connections. This is a new, FREE program for ages 16 and older from 9 to 10 a.m. Meet at the Rosser Conservation Education Center to learn about the zoo and its happenings while sipping a cup of joe.

Dec. 14 – Santa is stopping by the zoo to delivery goodies to the animals from 10 to 11 a.m. Guests in the Canopy Restaurant can enjoy free hot chocolate and doughnuts and get pictures with Santa.  Activity is free, no reservations are required.  

Dec. 29, 30 – Winter day camps are available for ages 4-11.  They are from 9 a.m. to noon and cost $20 for ZooFriends members, $25 for nonmembers.  Snacks will be provided, but bring a lunch. Advance registration and payment are required.  Enroll at http://okczoo.recware.com or call 425-0218.

For more information about upcoming zoo events, go to www.okczoo.com.

~Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Saturday morning, my son had a toddler class at the zoo and even though temps were in the 30s, we still made the trek down to see the dinos after his class.  He hesitated to go in at first, hearing the growling of these massive beasts from outside the exhibit tent.  But after a little coaxing, he walked in, astonished at what greeted him. 

The exhibit has huge, seemingly life-size dinos, skeletons, bones and even a sand pit for the kids to play in, to find dino footprints.  All the favorites were featured – the triceratops, stegosaurus and of course, the T-Rex.  They were animatronic models (think Jurassic Park) and some could even be controlled by the kids.

If I had to sum up this exhibit in one word, it would be AMAZING.  I highly recommend a visit to the zoo to see these dinos. The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily and runs through June 30. It is free with paid zoo admission.  I’m sure we’ll be spending many weekends among the dinosaurs between now and the end of the June.

For more information about the exhibit and other events at the zoo, go to www.okczoo.com.

Here’s just a taste of what you can see at the exhibit:

~Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com

 

First up – picking a venue. I’ve been doing a bit of research on some neat places in the metro-area that parents can have great birthday parties for young kids.  Here are a few:

1.  The zoo.  The Oklahoma City Zoo has indoor and outdoor facilities that can be reserved for parties and other functions.  There are classrooms in the Education Center, an area in the Canopy Restaurant and outdoor picnic tables.  If your child has a birthday in a warmer weather month, this is a great place to go.  Kids can see the animals as a group and take rides on the train and tram. For more information go to www.okczoo.com and click on “Facility Rental.”

2. Indoor play gyms. We picked Gymboree last year and it was a blast. The staff basically does all the entertaining and toddlers have a great time participating in games and indoor gym equipment.  And the best part? No cleanup.  The kids get to eat their cake on the floor while sitting on a big parachute.  Another place that offers indoor climbing fun is The Little Gym and for inflatable fun, try Pump it Up or Bouncin’ Craze.

3.  The classic pizza-and-game spots.  Who could forget Chuck E. Cheese? I remember spending a few great birthday parties there.  And there are a few in the metro-area offering food, games and more.  Although I think these may be more suitable for kids age 5 and older, anyone can have fun here.  Another is Incredible Pizza on Northwest Expressway. They have a big buffet and different-themed eating rooms.  They also have bowling, miniature golf and go-karts in addition to the many arcade games.  Celebration Station  and Andy Alligator’s also have indoor/outdoor fun and games, for older toddlers/kids.

4. Trains.  Kids love trains.  Just ask my son.  There are a couple of really neat venues that offer real train rides as part of the party fun.  The Oklahoma Railway Museum is open for parties from April to October.  They have two packages – one with and one without a train ride (but really, what’s the fun without a ride?)  And for the party, they can either seat kids in the waiting room at the depot or in a 1921 caboose.  Also, just east of the metro-area, is  L.O.C.O.  which is a Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma. They operate miniature trains that kids can ride on at their park.  They also give free rides the first Sunday of every month from 1-4 p.m. if you want to check them out.

5. Parks. There are a number of metro-area parks that have picnic facilities and playground equipment. Some in the summer have splash pads so kids can wear their swimsuits and stay cool.  It’s an inexpensive fun alternative to other venues, and it keeps the mess out of your house.  For a list of city parks and their amenities, go to http://www.okc.gov/Parks/.  You’ll also find out about programs and other opportunities for fun they offer.

These are just a few suggestions to get you started.  As I come across more between now and April, I’ll be posting them on this blog.  And if you have any birthday party suggestions, please let me know!  I’d love to list them so other parents can have it as a resource.  Comment below or email me.

~Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com

Those of us celebrating this fun holiday with a toddler, may be thinking “My child is too young for trick-or-treating, but I can’t let the day go by without some festivities to create that picture perfect moment of my little one in full costume.”

Here are some ideas that might be a bit more toddler-friendly than trick-or-treating.

Have a get together at your house.  This works especially if you have other friends with toddlers.  They can have food and games just for them.

Go to the zoo.  The Oklahoma City Zoo sponsors “Haunt the Zoo” every year, and we go … every year.  You won’t see the exhibits, but you’ll meet alot of friendly zoo employees who will be giving out all kinds of goodies.  They also provide plenty of picture opportunities.  Go to www.okczoo.com for more information.

Festivals.  There are plenty around the metro. It seems that every church, YMCA and other community center is hosting a fall festival or carnival.  Take advantage of these, as many are free and they’re a fun, safe alternative to trick-or-treating.

Hand out candy. Dress your toddler up in their costume and let them pass out candy to visiting trick-or-treaters.  Chances are, they’ll just love the opportunity to show off their costume to neighbors.  And you’ll get to watch Halloween specials on TV.

And if you do decide to brave the neighborhood for goodies, just be sure to follow the basic rules of trick-or-treating:

-Wear light-colored clothing and/or reflective tape on costumes.  Don’t cross streets between parked cars.

-Go in a group, and while it is still light out.  Use flashlights if it’s dark. Don’t go to any house that has the lights turned off.

-Inspect all candy carefully and discard anything that has a torn or missing wrapper or could have been tampered with in any way. 

If you have any more good safety tips or suggestions for Halloween, post them here or email esmith@opubco.com and I’ll post them for you.

~Erica Smith

If you’ve read my blogs, you already know I’m a big fan of the Oklahoma City Zoo. 

Last night, my son and I attended the ConZOOvation event at the zoo, and it was a blast.  For $6 (the price for each adult, kids went free), we had an evening of dinner , crafts and a puppet show. They had the characters from OETA’s show Between the Lions and Chick-fil-A supplied dinner to the kids and adults.  Kids also got to make their own lion puppets and had a goody bag complete with animal book to take home with them.   

Also, once a month, we attend a class with other 2-year-olds and they do all kinds of fun things.  There’s story time, craft-making, and the zoo staff bring in a “friend” … usually something alive that the kids can touch and come face to face with.  It runs about an hour on a Saturday morning, once a month and they have a different theme each class.  For Zoo Friends, each class is $10.00 and for others it is $12.00 per child.  Well worth it!

Visit the zoo’s Web site, okczoo.com, click on education, then events, then toddler programs to see the programs offered for kids 5 and younger and special events.  There’s some fun things coming up like Family Fun Night for Zoo Friends members and Cupcakes with Santa in a few months.  For a monthly schedule of events, look under “Zoo News” on the homepage or go to http://www.okczoo.com/wimgo/.

Have fun planning your next trip to one of Oklahoma City’s best attractions!

~Erica Smith

esmith@oklahoman.com