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FREE November 2019
DINNER IS DONE, NOW WHAT? Fun Post Thanksgiving Ideas
MIND YOUR MANNERS
How Parents Can Make Good Manners Cool Again
FINDING GRATITUDE THIS THANKSGIVING
Holiday Gift Ideas
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
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November 2019 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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CONTENTS volume 35 • number11
DINNER IS DONE, NOW WHAT?
13 POST FUN THANKSGIVING IDEAS
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MIND YOUR MANNERS
HOW PARENTS CAN MAKE GOOD MANNERS COOL AGAIN
WHY GIVING BIRTH IS NOTHING LIKE A MARATHON BE GRATEFUL
FINDING GRATITUDE WHEN YOUR KIDS TEST YOUR SANITY THIS THANKSGIVING Magazine
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
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CALENDAR
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PUBLISHER Rudy Riojas 210-526-0312
agazine
DISTRIBUTION Taspas Delivery
P.O. Box 1809 Castroville, TX 78009 210-305-4181
On the Cover
Photo by: SERGIY BYKHUNENKO
ADVERTISING: Pat Ramotowski 210-209-8673 Magazine
Amy Sugarman 210-987-2202
OUR KIDS MAGAZINE LLC is a locally owned magazine published monthly. Advertisements in this magazine are paid for by the advertisers, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer. Limit of one free copy per reader. Unless specifically noted, no advertisers, products or services are endorsed by the publisher. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertising are available on an equal opportunity basis. OUR KIDS MAGAZINE LLC copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
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Dinner is Done, Now What? 13 Ideas for Post Thanksgiving Dinner Fun By Christa Melnyk Hines
After all of the hours of prep work that goes into Thanksgiving dinner, it seems as if it’s gobbled up in no time flat. Now what? Here’s a bounty of activity ideas, big and small, for the entire family to enjoy after the big feast. Sign a pumpkin. According to positive psychology research, simply expressing gratitude can actually enhance our overall happiness. Invite your family to consider their individual blessings. Purchase a large artificial pumpkin that you can bring out each year for your family to sign. Ask each person to write a note on it about what they’re most grateful for this year. Perhaps a new baby arrived into the family, wedding bells will soon be ringing, your child got an A in a difficult class, or a loved one overcame a health issue. Be sure and have everyone sign and date it. Create a Thanksgiving tablecloth. Similar to the pumpkin idea, lay the Thanksgiving table with a memory tablecloth. After the table is cleared, each person can write a note to the host or a note of gratitude using fabric markers. Protect your table by placing a matte like cardboard under the tablecloth in case ink bleeds through it. Go for a nature walk. According to the Calorie Control Council, the traditional Thanksgiving meal serves up 4500 calories and 229 grams of fat for the the average American. Start burning some of those calories by taking a stroll after the big meal. Angela Holmes and her sons Ezekiel, Xavier and Drake, traditionally make the outing extra fun by searching for fossils and bones. If there’s snow on the ground, they go sledding. Get out the board games. Get your kids off of their phones and video games and engaging in lighthearted family fun and conversation with a board game. In a world where more and more people say they have zero confidants, playing games together can build camaraderie and provides a low-key, entertaining opportunity for face-to-face togetherness. Some family favorites include Catan, Pandemic, Telestrations and Clue. 6
Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
Play touch football. Football is as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey and pumpkin pie. Angie Worth and her family play one-touch football. They select team captains based on the strongest players in the family and the captains pick their teammates. “The rules are very loosey-goosey. The captain explains the route for offense or assigns coverage for defense. Then, it’s all about the touchdowns and points,” Worth explains. “It’s very casual, but fun--a good way to burn off some Thanksgiving dinner calories before pie!” Share family stories. While your kids are anticipating the mouthwatering dinner that’s about to grace the table, have them write questions to ask the family. They can slip a question under the glass or plate of each table setting. After dinner is over, go around the table and each person can pull their question and share. Questions like “what was Thanksgiving like when you were growing up?”and “What was your best Thanksgiving ever and why?” are sure to rekindle fond memories. Plan a scavenger hunt. If the weather is agreeable, send everyone outside for a scavenger hunt. Give each team a small bag to collect their items or have them use their cameras to take photos of the items on the list. Keep the hunt simple for youngsters and a little more complicated for older kids. Items on your list might include: something red, a heart shaped leaf, a stick shaped like a Y, a black rock, a feather, etc. Team adults with kids and turn the hunt into a fun race to the finish. The winning team receives the first slice of pie or a silly prize like pilgrim’s hats to wear on their heads. Puzzle fun. Lauri Duncan, a mom of two boys ages 8 and 11, says that she and her family traditionally put a puzzle together after the big dinner. “We do one big puzzle every year that every age can work on. The kids, parents, cousins, grandparents all chip in and work on it in rotations throughout the afternoon between naps and football and snacking on leftovers,” she says.
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Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe. Choose five small white gourds and five small orange gourds. Make a grid on a card table using craft or painter’s tape. Or use larger gourds and set up the game in your yard using sticks to make nine squares. Ready, aim.... If you’ve got a Nerf gun loving crew, turn 10 plastic drinking cups into turkeys that they can stack and try to shoot down. Paste google eyes on the cup. Underneath the eyes, place an upside down triangle to form the beak. Pick up a bag of colored feathers from a craft store and hot glue a few red, orange or yellow feathers on the back of each cup. Not into Nerf guns? Use a tennis ball and play turkey bowling with the cups instead. Get into the holiday spirit. If you’ve got a large extended family together for Thanksgiving dinner, this is a good time to pull names for holiday gift exchanges like Secret Santas, a Pollyanna Gift Exchange (popular in southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey), or White Elephant Exchange. Everyone draws names, keeps the name they pulled secret, and purchases a light-hearted or wacky gift to exchange around the holidays. In memoriam. The holidays can be especially difficult for those grieving loved ones. Look through family photographs together, watch old home videos or take time to tell stories about your special someone. Once Thanksgiving dinner is packed away, Mindy Foral, mom of two, says one of her favorite traditions each year on Thanksgiving night is for her and her children to listen to a recording her mother made before she died of The Night Before Christmas in a Hallmark recordable book. “It’s such an incredible treasure. There is something about hearing the voice of your loved one...especially someone who loved spending the holidays with her grandkids,” Foral says. Remember those on deployment. If your spouse is deployed for military duty over the Thanksgiving holiday, he or she will definitely be on top of you and your family’s mind. After dinner, invite your family and friends to circle around the table to make cards and write letters to your absent loved one. Mail everything in a package. Even though your honey will receive it after the holiday, they’ll know that they were still an important part of your day. Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two sons, ages 14 and 12. Every year after the big feast, they take their dog and anyone else who wants to tag along for a walk through the crunchy autumn leaves. November 2019 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Feature
Mind Your Manners! How Parents Can Make Good Manners Cool Again By Sandi Schwartz
Have you noticed that kids these days do not have the best manners? When I volunteer at my daughter’s school at lunch time, I rarely hear the children saying please and thank you, although they are certainly not shy about requesting more ketchup or cheese for their plate. Sometimes I like to give them a manners nudge by serenading them with the phrase “more cheese please?”. My husband and I have always made teaching manners to our children a priority in our house. While we do not expect to flash back to the 1950’s and have our children address every adult they meet as Mrs. or Sir, we do ask that they say please, thank you, and excuse me. Sure, it takes quite a bit of training (and sometimes nagging as well) from the time they speak their first word, but we know that having good manners will help them be kinder, nicer, more successful people throughout their lives.
Reason For This Trend A 2016 survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs found that 74 percent of Americans think manners and behavior have deteriorated in the United States over the past several decades. Interestingly, clear differences between what older Americans and younger Americans consider 8
Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
to be rude behavior were revealed in the study. For example, almost half of Americans age 18 to 29 think it is perfectly acceptable to use cell phones in restaurants, while only 22 percent of those over age 60 agree. This discrepancy indicates a clear trend in how manners and rudeness have changed over generations. What is the reason for this change? Experts blame technology and busy parents for this trend. When both parents work long hours and children are raised by other caregivers like nannies and daycare or afterschool staff, they do not receive the same guidance and skills to help them form good manners. It also seems to be widely accepted that teachers do not need to be responsible for giving lessons about manners. That means it’s up to parents to instill these values with the limited time we have with their children. Also, many parents feel guilty about all the time they spend at work, so they try to act like their children’s best friend instead of their disciplinarian. Second, technology gets blamed a lot for kids’ lack of politeness. According to Alex J. Packer, Ph.D., author of the book How Rude! The Teen Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out, today’s electronic devices and social media lead to a culture of rudeness. Communicating in brief snippets with texts and tweets encourages distorts the intended LIKE US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
meaning of words and can cause bad manners. Spending so much time on devices also pulls kids away from personal interaction with their peers and adults. This means they are not practicing how to speak to others kindly. Finally, when kids communicate through electronics, they have more freedom to be rude since they can be anonymous and removed from the situation.
Why Good Manners Are Important If it’s becoming widely accepted that manners no longer matter, then why should we care whether our kids have good manners at all? Just because everyone’s doing it, doesn’t mean we should follow the downward trend. Good manners are still critical to a child’s successful growth and their ability to build positive relationships throughout their lives. At the core, good manners reflect respect for our self and others. When we say please and thank you, we are taking the time to make someone else feel appreciated. Additionally, Dr. Pier Massimo Forni, professor and co-founder of the Civility Project at Johns Hopkins and author of Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct, explains that it is crucial for children to learn to connect civility with strength and determination. This is achieved through character development in the home, and these positive traits can be applied to other situations in their lives. Our children depend on us to show them how to be trustworthy, considerate, and kind to others so that they can take these skills with them throughout school, the workplace, and in their relationships. How To Teach Children Good Manners It’s never too early to teach your children good manners, but you may reach a point that it becomes a major struggle if you wait too long. One etiquette expert suggests teaching kids the basics of good manners by the time they reach eight or nine years old when they completely understand what respect means. Some of the main concepts to teach your children include: Using nice words. Teach them how to say magic words like please when they ask for something and thank you when they receive something. It is also important that they learn to say they are sorry and excuse me when appropriate. Bottom line—they should try to be as kind as possible to others and treat them as they would want to be treated. Meal time etiquette. Work with your children to develop appropriate behavior during meals and special occasions, such as: ■■ Put away electronics. ■■ Wait until everyone is seated and served before eating. ■■ Use your utensils and your napkin.
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■■ Take small bites. ■■ Chew with your mouth closed. ■■ Don’t talk with your mouth full. ■■ Keep your elbows off the table. ■■ Don’t pick food out of your teeth in public.
Interpersonal connection. Give them the skills to be able to communicate and connect with others. Some guidelines include:
■■ Not interrupting others while they are talking. ■■ Speaking in complete sentences instead of one-word answers. ■■ Give full attention to someone talking to them, which includes looking them in the eye. ■■ Be sure to smile to appear inviting and interested in what others have to say. ■■ If comfortable, shake hands or hug the person.
Good sportsmanship. Teach your children to lose gracefully and to always thank their opponent at the end of a game. By focusing on the positive aspects of sports and games like taking turns, learning new skills, playing as a team, and reaching their goals, there will be fewer bad manners when they lose. You don’t need to invest hundreds of dollars in an etiquette class for your little one like some parents are
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
doing; you really can do this yourself. It’s all about being consistent and modeling the positive behavior. Be mindful of using kind words when you speak to your children and other people like servers in restaurants. If you repeatedly say please and thank you to them, they will start mimicking your language. You can also use some fun, creative ways to instill good manners in your children. ■■ Ask them to write real thank you notes after they receive gifts. ■■ Create a charades-like game by teaching them signals when they need to use better manners, such as tapping the corner of your mouth when they should to use a napkin or putting your pointer finger up to your lips when they need to stop talking and give someone else a turn. ■■ Make a good manners collage by cutting out words and images that can be hung up as a reminder. ■■ Read books about manners like: Manners, May I Please Have a Cookie?, My Mouth Is a Volcano!, The Thank You Book (An Elephant and Piggie Book), Penguin Says “Please”, Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book, Excuse Me: A Little Book of Manners, Manners Time Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at www.happysciencemom. com and www.sandischwartz.com
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Baby
Why Giving Birth is Nothing Like a Marathon By Pam Moore
People often say giving birth is like running a marathon. Those people either don’t run, never had a baby, or they enjoy messing with pregnant women. I’ve run six marathons, completed two Ironman triathlons, and I’ve given birth to two babies minus pain meds. I think it’s fair to say I’m an expert when it comes to the running/birthing comparison. Trust me, they have nothing in common.
You can train for a race. You can’t train to give birth. No matter what anyone has told you, nothing feels like having a baby except actually having a baby. During my first pregnancy, I kicked my swollen feet up and pored over stacks of birth-related books. I interrogated every mother I knew about her labor. I bought special perineal massage oil so my husband could stretch me out, um, down there, to get my body ready for the real thing. I’d like to punch whoever came up with that idea. Just, no. This makes as much sense as giving a pie-eating contestant a few petit fours as a training exercise. The race course is marked. The course of your labor is not. Every race—whether it’s a marathon or a 5k, has a beginning, a middle and an end. You know roughly how long it will take to reach each mile marker. The course of labor, on the other hand, is about as straightforward as a game of Candyland. You could be having contractions for days and be only a couple centimeters dilated. Or you could have a few painful contractions and squeeze a baby out an hour later. Seriously. My neighbor woke up in the middle of the night with a cramp and she was barely out of her pants before she gave birth in an ambulance.
You can quit a marathon. You can’t quit childbirth. While you’re running a race, you might see spectators holding signs that say things like “Quitting is Not an Option.” They are wrong. Quitting is totally an option. All you have to do is step off the course and get an Uber. Childbirth, as the name suggests, is not over until a child is born. Whether drugs, forceps, incense, scalpels, or prayer beads help you get that baby out, you’re not done until a baby emerges. Crowds are awesome at a marathon. They are not awesome at a birth. I don’t know about you but I can hardly relax enough to poop in a public bathroom. “I really think I could get this thing done on the next push, if only there were a few more medical-type people in here, staring at my crotch, waiting for me to have a baby!” said no one, ever. And if the thrill of have an audience wasn’t enough, you also have the pleasure of rocking a one-size-fits-no-one hospital gown. Yes, running and having babies both cause you to wish you were dead. Both have the potential to make you puke. Being able to persevere through either one is certainly something you will be proud of forever. I get why people are quick to compare the two. But after a race, you can kick your feet up and rest. Once you have a baby, you realize the hard work has only just begun. Pam Moore helps women push through fear to become their best selves. To get her free guide to crushing Impostor Syndrome visit pam-moore.com November 2019 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Baby
Klepto Kid By Sandi Haustein
My digital camera had been missing for a week, and my two-year-old son was growing up right before my eyes. I needed my camera to take pictures of him so I wouldn’t forget this fun, active stage. After looking and looking in every logical place, I remembered seeing my son stick a couple of Fisher Price Noah’s Ark animals down the cushions of the couch. Several things had gone missing recently. I had heard that toddlers liked to hide things, but I had a hard time believing that my sweet little two-year-old had sticky fingers. Still, it couldn’t hurt to take a look inside the couch. What could be down there besides a couple of toy zebras and some stray pieces of popcorn? I took the cushions off, shined a flashlight inside, and carefully reached my hand down the metal framework of the couch.I had found the mother lode of toddler hiding places. In addition to the few pieces of stray popcorn I expected, I pulled out $8 in bills, a cupful of coins, an overdue library book, more Noah’s Ark animals than we had ever owned, three puzzle pieces, a half-eaten cereal bar, a measuring cup, a Christmas picture of one of my friend’s kids, a pair of sandals, Noah, a wrench, a screwdriver, the digital camera we were looking for (lost for one week), a cordless phone (lost for six weeks), and a remote control (lost for a year and a half). Obviously, my son’s klepto tendencies were more serious than I thought. I know I’m not the only one with a toddler who likes to hide important things. Since that day that I found my son’s treasure trove in the depths of my couch, I’ve learned a few tips that might help you out the next time you suspect your little one has hidden your car keys, your flash drive, or your IPhone.
Think holes. What do a couch, a trash can, a kitchen utensil drawer, a DVD player, and your toilet all have in common? They’re all holes. Classic holes that your toddler might consider when looking for the perfect hiding place. Once, a friend of mine found her engagement ring inside a soda can that she was about to throw away. She had taken it off to put on lotion the night before, and her toddler had found it on her bedside table. “Fabulous,” she complained on Facebook, “That. Almost. Happened.” 12
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Get on your child’s eye level. Once you’re on your knees, you’ll notice all kinds of two-feet-from-the-ground hiding places that your five-feetsomething self would never notice. End tables, book shelves, purses, and drawers near the ground are all possible places for your toddler to find – or hide – a “treasure.” Ask probing questions without seeming too desperate. Don’t forget your fake smile and your best syrupy sweet forced-calm voice. Try something like, “Hey, little buddy, what did you do with that black plastic card with the letters V-I-S-A that Mommy uses to get her special coffees?” Whatever you do, don’t beg and don’t whine. Toddlers love to see Mommy stressed out. Play Hide and Seek –object-style. When you’re missing something important, show your child another desirable item, preferably something sparkly or expensive. Tell her to hide it somewhere really special. She may just fall for it and lead you right to her secret hiding spot, or she may outsmart you and take you to a totally different place to throw you off her scent. When nothing else works, bribe. This is not the time to worry that you’re spoiling your child. Promise your little one some ice cream or to go on his favorite outing if he’ll help you find what you’re looking for. It’s a small price to pay when times are desperate. With these tips, you’ll be finding all those missing SD cards and cell phones in no time. And don’t be surprised if you end up finding more. You’re bound to stumble upon your toddler’s ultimate hiding place filled with all kinds of treasures like remote controls, half-eaten cereal bars, and sippy cups of curdled milk. When you do, just laugh and know you’re not alone. Sandi Haustein is a mom of four who now owns a couch with no secret hiding places. She blogs at www.thewelcomingtable.com LIKE US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
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Feature
3 Ways To Find Gratitude When Your Kids Threaten Your Sanity This Thanksgiving By Pam Moore
When parents think of the things we’re grateful for, our kids generally make the top of the list. That said, when your kids are begging you to make the snack that you are in the middle of making, or when you notice the “creative” way in which they’ve taken a ballpoint pen to the couch cushions… that river of gratitude suddenly dries right up. We’ve all been there. With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought it might be helpful to “reframe” the way we view our kids’ shenanigans (e.g. tendency to act like kids who, by nature, possess underdeveloped brains). There’s still much to be grateful for, even when your kid is a millimeter away from destroying your last nerve. You ask your kid to find her shoes. She stares at her coloring book, as if in a trance. You stand two inches from her face and say, “I’m talking to you. It’s time to find your shoes. We are leaving in five minutes.” She ignores you. Using your flight-attendant voice, you ask “Can you hear me?” She nods, almost imperceptibly. Two minutes later, you tell her to put down her coloring book and get her shoes on. She says okay but remains glued to said coloring book. When she looks up again, you’re putting your coat on and saying through gritted teeth. “I’m not going to tell you again. Get your shoes on. It’s time to go.” 14
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Through sobs, she proclaims, “I’m in the middle of something.” Be grateful for: Your child’s capacity to focus. Bonus: She might put her superior power of concentration to use when selecting your nursing home. Your kid is asking you for a snack. You tell her she’s going to have to wait a minute; You’re in the middle of something. She responds by telling you exactly what kind of snack she’d like. “I need Goldfish,” she informs you. She continues. “The cheddar kind. And they need to be in the purple ramekin.” You thought you had a five-year-old, not a rock star with a mile-long event rider. Visions of bedtime dance in your mind. Instead, you look at her and say, “What would be a nicer way to ask?” with Aunt Jemima syrup in your voice. Matching your saccharine request, she complies, asking, “Can I please have cheddar Goldfish in the purple ramekin? And also I want more than my sister. Please.” Be grateful for: Your child’s ability to know what she wants. This child will not need you to call her professor or landlord on her behalf twenty years from now. You’re ready to leave the park. Your child is not. She’s creating a castle out of gravel using her hands and the LIKE US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
shoe you specifically told her not to take off her foot. Your stomach is rumbling. Lunchtime is rapidly closing in. Why isn’t your child hungry, you wonder? As you approach her though, you notice the wild look in her eye. She is hungry indeed. The smell of a meltdown is in the air. “Let’s go!” you say. “NOOOOO!” she says. You offer macaroni and cheese for lunch. She glances up for a fraction of a second then goes back to her task. In about seven minutes you will be carry-dragging her to the car with her shoe tucked awkwardly under your arm and strapping her into her car seat like it’s a straightjacket. Once she’s seated at the table with a pile of neon orange noodles in front of her, though, she will eat like it’s her last supper.
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Be grateful for: Your kid’s ability to be fully present in each moment. She’s not checking her texts or her social media notifications. She’s really living, man. “You should be ready for school in five minutes,” you announce. Your child says she is ready. Yesterday’s French braid is hanging on by a few tenacious wisps. She’s in a floral tank top, a tutu, and leopard print leggings. It is snowing. She has on non-matching socks and her sparkly velcro sneakers. “But…” you stop before you complete the sentence because you don’t know how to say “You look homeless” nicely. “Sweetheart, it’s November. How about a long sleeve on top of that tank top?” is the best thing you can come up with. After all, she is fully dressed. She’s wearing sneakers on P.E. day. Her teeth are brushed. The bus is coming in ten minutes. There’s no time for a visit from the fashion police. “Do you feel good in that outfit?” you ask. She nods, beaming. Be grateful for: The fact that your kid thinks for herself. If she knows what the other kids are wearing, she clearly does not care. With any luck, ten years from now she won’t be blowing her allowance on the latest trend and insisting on shoes that’ll blow out a tendon if she so much as slips on a rogue acorn. There is always something to be grateful for if you look hard enough. As parents, it’s important to remember, how you view a situation depends on where you stand (and of course how loudly your kid is whining). Pam Moore helps women push through fear to become their best selves. To get her free guide to crushing Impostor Syndrome visit pam-moore.com
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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Holiday Gift Ideas Toys My Little Farm by SmartFelt Toys
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Build & Play Treehouse by Lakeshore Learning $49.99, From bridges and leafy canopies to a crow’s nest and “rope” ladders, our imagination-inspiring set includes everything kids need to build their own miniature treehouse—any way they like! Each charming piece is molded with realistic textures and vibrant details… and they all snap together with ease for frustration-free building. Set includes 40 durable plastic builders; largest measures 8 1/8” in diameter.
SLIMYGLOOP ® SLIMYSAND™ by Horizon Group USA
$14.99, SLIMYGLOOP ® SLIMYSAND™ is fun to stretch, mold and play. Watch it stretch and expand right before your eyes. This less mess SLIMYGLOOP ® SLIMYSAND™ molds like sand and provides easy cleanup! Pair with any kind of molds, rollers or impression plates for more ways to play. The resealable bag feature is great for cleanup, storage, groups and independent play. This featured item contains 3lbs of SLIMYGLOOP ® SLIMYSAND™. Available in fun colors including: Blue, Purple, White, Pink. Availabile on Amazon
LeapBuilders® Food Fun Family Farm™ by LeapFrog $34.99, It’s farming fun with the LeapBuilders® Food Fun Family Farm™! Build, create and learn with this interactive 50-piece farm-themed block set. Kids can use the easy-to-hold blocks to build a farm and learn about animals, fruits and vegetables as they build with the electronic Smart Star™ cube. Insert the 15 double-sided learning blocks into the interactive Smart Star and it will respond with fun sounds, educational songs and cool phrases that enhance building play with learning content. For even more fun, try using learning blocks from other LeapBuilders sets in the interactive cube to unlock additional content responses. Get building with smart blocks for smart kids. Available at Target, Walmart and Amazon. 16
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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Toys & Games
Heads Talk Tails Walk™ by Thinkfun
$14.99, Can you hop like a frog while clucking like a chicken? Have a blast trying with this delightfully silly game for ages 3+. Players try to match hidden head tiles to the correct body tiles. If the head and body don’t match, the real fun begins! Players walk and talk like the mismatched tiles—with hilarious results.
Made By Me Quilt Making
by Horizon Group USA $9.99, The Made By Me Quilt-Making Kit is great for strengthening fine motor skills through tying and knotting. Each fleece square is pre-cut and fringed so no sewing or cutting is necessary to create a cozy quilt. Add a personal touch using the felt embellishments and give your child a huge sense of accomplishment with this kit! Ideal for ages 6+. Available Amazon and Walmart.
Mix & Match-a-Saurus by VTech
$34.99, Roar, dance and laugh with the innovative Mix & Match-a-Saurus™! This Dino comes with three emotion tiles (happy, angry, sleepy), three music tiles (hip-hop, marching, ballet) and three character tiles (dinosaur, robot, monster). Children can create 27 different combinations of emotions, music styles and characters such as happy hip-hop dino or angry marching monster. Experimenting with the emotion tiles helps kids build social and emotional skills. Available now at all major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart and Target.
Baby Shark Bath Art Creations
by Horizon Group USA $16.99, Make bath time fun and artistic with Baby Shark Art Creations! Allow little ones to express themselves with custom bath art using 8 special washable in an array of bright colors and Baby Shark details. Encourage creativity as little ones design art work with bath paints and stickers that dissolve in a flash. Little ones will get excited to decorate each bath session with personalized designs all their own. This relaxing yet stimulating activity will encourage seeing opportunities for art in the unexpected. This set is safe, ecofriendly, and easily washes away. Available Learning Express and Family Dollar
Invasion of the Cow Snatchers™ by Think-
fun. $29.99, Roar, dance and laugh Take control of your very own UFO to solve magnetic challenges! Maneuver your way over and around farm obstacles while beaming up cows. The 40 Easy to Super Hard challenges are great for beginner puzzlers, while the 20 Genius level challenges are appropriate for experienced puzzlers. Ignite your mind with 60 out of this world challenges.
Discovery Break Your Own Geodes by Horizon Group USA
$12.99, Break and expose Geodes of 3 natural rocks with the Discovery Break Your Own Geodes set! With adult supervision, break each rock using difference methods expressed in the simple instruction sheet. Experience natural science as you reveal shimmery crystals. Display your cool crystals in your room décor for all to see. Kit Includes: 3 Large Geodes- 1 Magnifying Glass- Safety Goggles- Easy-to-Follow Instructions Available at Walmart November 2019 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Toys & Games Suuuper Size Puzzle Animal Match by Banana Panda
$21.99, Suuuper Size Puzzle Animal Match is a very large and colorful 34-piece floor puzzle and matching activity that encourages toddlers to play creatively in a variety of ways: kids can assemble 6 puzzles with different animals or combine them all to form one large picture. Kids can also match the baby animals to the parents. Of course, part of the fun is they are free to mix up the 10 round shaped baby animal pieces to change the animal habitats. https://bananapanda.com or www.amazon.com
Learn & Groove® Dancing Panda™ by LeapFrog
$34.99, Get up and move with the musical Learn & Groove® Dancing Panda™! Watch Panda shake, dance and spin around to the music. The LED screen on his guitar lights up with shapes, letters and numbers with four play modes. Play Freeze Dance and other games to explore the learning content. Press the musical instrument buttons on Panda’s light-up shoes to hear a saxophone, trumpet, drum and guitar. Toggle the bridge switch to scroll through numbers 1-10 and letters A-Z, while the whammy-bar music button on Panda’s guitar selects dozens of different tunes, including songs about numbers, shapes, letters and musical instruments. Available now exclusively at Walmart
Mixed Emojis by Hoyle
$5.99, The ‘express yourself’ game of feelings. Hoyle Mixed Emojis encourages recognizing and expressing emotions and memory for kids 6-8. http://bicyclecards.com/
Seal Squad by Hoyle
$5.99, The fishy game of cooperation. Hoyle Seal SquadTM encourages teamwork, simple strategy, and decision-making for kids 6-8. http://bicyclecards.com/
Match the Buddies Puzzles by Banana Panda
$16.99, Match the Buddies beginner puzzle set from Banana Panda provides creative play for kids ages 15 months and up that serves as both a first puzzle set and a sorting toy. The 12 two-piece puzzles feature extra-large pieces made from thick cardboard, that are perfect for little hands and encourage toddlers to create and discover while playing with round shapes. Match the animals, or mix them up - the creative combinations provide early learning fun. https://bananapanda.com or www.amazon.com
Coding Critters by Learning Resources
$39.99, Meet the Coding Critters™—your first coding friends! These interactive pets introduce preschoolers to critical thinking, problem-solving, and other STEM skills with the help of fun playsets, storybook coding adventures, and two interactive modes! Full-color 20-page storybook includes multiple fun coding challenges. www.amazon.com
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
Colorforms Silly Faces Game by Kahootz
$19.99, It’s a race to make the silliest face in this smile-filled classic game that sticks like magic! Spin the spinner and land on a face space to fill, then choose from a wacky assortment of re-stickable Colorforms pieces to stick on your face card. The first one to complete a whole silly face wins the game. Easy to learn and fun to play, it’s creative face-making fun for the whole family! Features characters from the new Netflix series Charlie’s Colorforms City. www.Amazon.com LIKE US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS Thinking Putty Puzzle by Thinkfun
$29.99, Stretch your mind with this unique logic puzzle featuring Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty®. Each of the 60 beginner-to-expert level challenges will put your spatial reasoning skills to the test as you attempt to connect the dots for all 6 Thinking Putty colors on the Puzzle Grid. The paths can’t intersect, so you will need to stretch and pull each color along different pathways, over bridges, and around blockers to succeed. Includes 6 different Thinking Putty colors – featuring Binary Blue, a ThinkFun® Exclusive! www.thinkfun.com
Myla the Magical Unicorn™ by VTech
Y’Art™- Pug Puppy
$59.99, Light up every day with Myla the Magical Unicorn™! This colorful robotic unicorn toy glitters with lights as she talks and sings. Touch Myla’s magic brush to the butterfly palette to choose a color. Then touch the brush to her eyes, wings and horn to decorate Myla in a variety of colors. Braid Myla’s mane, brush her tail and complete her look by adding her crown and hair clips you can share. Then, sing a rocking duet with Myla and her microphone. When it’s time to go solo, pull the microphone away and Myla will stop singing while continuing to play music. Every day, Myla will give your child a positive message and when they pat her back she’ll say the lucky color. www.vtechkids.com
Loog Mini by Loog Guitars
$79.99, The ideal first guitar. Designed to make it fun, easy and stimulating for kids to play music. The Loog Mini guitar comes with flashcards that teach you how to form chords and an app that gets you playing songs on day one. www.loogguitars.com
by Kahootz $14.99, A whole new way to create AMAZING textile art with the ease of coloring. 2019 ASTRA Best Toys for Kids WINNER - Arts & Crafts 7+. arn magically clings to the GripN-Stick Y’Artboard. Mess-free and OOPS-proof: lift the yarn and reposition if you make a mistake. www.kahootztoys.com
Cailin (girl fairy) and Gasur (boy fairy)
by Wishing Pixies $39.99 (per fairy). These are 7 inch Pixie characters dolls that go with the Wishing Pixies story and App. A tool which parents can use to promote good behavior and positive thinking. Assign daily affirmations, tasks and meditations for children to complete. Parents use a responsive website to manage the interactions with their children acting as the pixie. www.wishingpixies.com
Moving Creations with k’nex® by hand2mind
$39.99, Learn to apply STEM principles just like an engineer! The Moving Creations set from hand2mind, a leading developer of classroom learning tools for over 50 years, is created in partnership with k’nex®. The step-by-step illustrated guide contains nine different builds, educational science content, 18 STEM experiments and “Think Bigger” challenges to practice the scientific method. Includes a 98 pg. book with storage box attached. Moving Creations also comes in a travel-friendly box perfect for easy storage or fun on-the-go. www.hand2mind.com
November 2019 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Toys & Games STEM at Play™ MAGNETS! by hand2mind
$29.95, Explore the science behind magnetism! Use real lab tools and materials to perform amazing experiments and experience what it’s like to think like a scientist or an engineer. Kids will float magnets, move trains, create compasses, and more, becoming an expert in all things magnetic. The fact-filled guide is chock-full of pictures and information needed for hours of experimentation in your very own home laboratory! STEM at Play™ kits bring science concepts to life through hands-on activities designed to spark interest, inspire confidence, and prompt creative critical-thinking skills while fostering collaboration between children and adults. STEM at Play™ kits provide materials to support scholastic goals while keeping at-home learning fun. www.amazon.com
Beaker Creatures ® Alien Experiment Lab by Learning Resources $19.99, Make your own Reactor Pods, soak your creatures in slime, and more! Set of 18 pieces includes 2 Reactor Pods with mystery creatures, full-color experiment booklet with science facts, and hands-on science tools. www. amazon.com
Longest Hidden Pictures Puzzle Ever!
by Highlights $14.99, Get ready to solve this amazingly long 15-foot Hidden Pictures® puzzle that features a whopping 280 objects hidden throughout a relay race that takes place in an imaginary www.amazon.com
Mini Maker Tube-Panda Mystery Makers by Plus-Plus
$14.99, Solve the Mystery! Mystery Makers are a blind purchase construction toy with a twist - while you can see what color pieces you’re getting, you don’t know what it will build! Once you choose your Mystery Maker and open the box, scan the QR code for a ‘swipe-to-build’ online experience OR use the enclosed step-by-step instructions. Let the solving begin!
by Plus-Plus $7.99, This Tube includes 70+ pieces and Instructions to build a Panda. Designed and made in Denmark. BPA-free and phthalatefree. https://www.plus-plus.us
Mini Maker Tube-Lion
by Plus-Plus $7.99, This Tube includes 70+ pieces and Instructions to build a Lion. Designed and made in Denmark. BPA-free and phthalate-free. https://www.plus-plus.us
JAWS Game by Ravensburger
$29.99, Experience JAWS as a suspenseful tabletop strategy game! One player menaces the island of Amity as the three-ton great white while the other players go on the hunt as Brody, Hooper, and Quint. Two thrilling phases of gameplay-Act 1: Amity Island and Act 2: The Orca-capture the edge-of your-seat excitement of the classic film. Available on Amazon and Target.
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
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HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Electronics Toys Kidi Star Dance by VTech
$59.99, Move and groove with the Kidi Star Dance™! Put on the motionactivated bands and learn 20 cool dance moves step by step by following the animated dance instructor. Once kids learn the moves, they can put them together and dance along to the included music. Color-changing lights flash along to the music to make kids feel like a star. Play four motion games or create music with movement by playing 14 different effects including drum and magical fairy sounds. Give the second band to a friend and challenge them to a game or a dance-off. Add more music by connecting your own MP3 player or loading songs using a microSD card. Available at Target, Walmart and Amazon.
Electric Motors Catalyst by Tinkering Labs
$55.00, A really cool and different tinkering kit/company on the forefront of not only getting kids engaged but a step further in challenging them at all ages. The Electric Motors Catalyst provides 16 possible inventions in one kit. It comes with 10 challenge cards that offer a description of what to reinvent your robotic creation into. The kit is also available as a 30-student class pack that can be an effective learning strategy for schools everywhere. Kids will address STEM, robotics, problem-solving, projectbased learning, creativity, and invention all through one kit. Tinkering Labs products is the ultimate kit for young inventors. https://tinkeringlabs.com/catalyst/
Remote-Control GearBotX by Lakeshore Learning
$49.99, Roll out the adventures with a real-moving robot you design yourself! Just connect any combination of gears, claws, heads and more to a motorized base…use the remote to direct your mighty robot to roll and turn in any direction you choose...and set all its gears in motion—from up to 50 feet away! The set comes with 149 pieces, including an easy-to-use wireless remote control. Plus, you get a full-color guide featuring step-by-step instructions to jump-start the building process. Requires 6 “AA” batteries (not included). Base measures 6” in length. https://www.lakeshorelearning.com November 2019 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Please note that event dates, times and details are subject to change. Always double check by phone, website or Facebook for event updates.
calendar
OF EVENTS
NOVEMBER November 17 / Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the Music” Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the Music”: You’re invited to sing, dance, clap, cheer and move to the music with your friends from Bubble Guppies, PAW Patrol, Dora The Explorer, Shimmer and Shine, Blue’s Clues and You, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Top Wing in an unforgettable musical spectacular! Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the Music” follows Dora and her PAW co-hosts, Marshall and Rubble, as they team up with their Nick Jr. friends, live on stage together for the first time ever, in a one-of-a-kind adventure sure to excite the whole family. Show times are 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Ticket prices vary. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir. 210-223-8624. https://www.tobincenter.org
November 2 / Farm Day at Mission San Juan A free family friendly event exploring food and farming of the past and present. Explore the roots of San Antonio food culture from the Spanish colonial missions to modern food, health, and wellness at the historic farm at Mission San Juan: Activities includ games, cooking demonstrations, and outdoor activities. Shuck It! Shell It! Mill It! by the Institute of Texan Cultures: Visitors will be able to use old farm implements to process corn in the same manner as the pioneer Texans. Wool Spinning by the San Antonio Handweavers Guild: Watch as wool from local sheep is spun on spindles and spinning wheels. Livestock Corrals by Traylor Livery: Visit with farm animals of the missions era at the livestock corrals. Animals will include mustang horses, longhorn cattle, Navajo-Churro sheep, Spanish goats, and Nankin chickens. Free. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Missian San Juan, 9101 Graf Rd. https://www.nps.gov/saan/ planyourvisit/farm-day-at-mission-san-juan.htm
November 1-3 / Dia de los Muertos at Market Square A multi-day Mexican holiday focused on remembering loved ones who have died. The free weekend celebration brings together traditional art and culture, including several beautiful altars to honor the departed and a lively procession ritual. Bring the family out to enjoy festive children’s activities, face painting, live music, food, arts and crafts vendors, and unique shopping. Stop by Centro de Artes, located in Market Square, to view unique Day of the Dead art exhibitions. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public from 4 to 10 p.m. Historic Market Square, 514 W Commerce St. https://www.visitsanantonio.com
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
To Advertise Call 305-4181
Please note: Event dates, times and details are subject to change. Always double check by phone, website or Facebook for event updates.
1 Friday
Día De Los Muertos at Pearl: The Pearl will be honoring the rich traditional Mexican holiday that remembers family and friends who have passed away, with altars/ofrendas, music, a procession, art making, and more. This event is free and open to the public. 6:15 to 9 p.m. The Historic Pearl. www. atpearl.com ArtStrolls: Explore the McNay with your little one during a stroller tour and story time. Free for Members; $10 for nonmember adults. Strollers and baby carriers strongly encouraged. Children under 12 months should arrive at 10 a.m. and Children 12 months to 2 years should arrive at 11 a.m. Register online or call. McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave. 210-8051768. www.mcnayart.org Miss Anastasia’s Wild and Wacky Pre-Weekend Twiglet Storytime: Miss Anastasia combines story time and a delightful craft each Friday. Free. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Twig Book Shop in the Can Plant Building, 306 Pearl Parkway Ste. 106. 210-8266411. http://www.thetwig.com/ miss-anastasia Dia de los Muertos at Market Square: A multi-day Mexican holiday focused on remembering loved ones who have died. The free weekend celebration brings together traditional art and culture, including several beautiful altars to honor the departed and a lively procession ritual. Bring the 1 10/21/19 family Our_KIds_Nov2019.pdf out to enjoy festive children’s
activities, face painting, live music, food, arts and crafts vendors, and unique shopping. Stop by Centro de Artes, located in Market Square, to view unique Day of the Dead art exhibitions. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public from 4 to 10 p.m. Historic Market Square, 514 W Commerce St. https://www.visitsanantonio.com Family Movie Night at Market Square: A free sceening of “The Book of Life” kicks off at sunset at Market Square. Bring the kids for a family-friendly celebration of Día de Los Muertos with festive food, live music, and activities. Historic Market Square, 514 W Commerce St. https://www.visitsanantonio.com Kid’s Night Out: On the first Friday of every month, let your kiddos bounce in a castle, watch a movie, get balloons & so much more. Free event. 6 to 8 p.m. StreetFare SA, 1916 Austin Hwy. https://streetfaresa.com/ Muertitos Fest First Day: A time when families and communities remember those dearly departed and honor the continuity of life. Every year, SAY Sí curates one of San Antonio’s most comprehensive Día de los Muertos celebrations, providing educational context to the important holiday with two days of unique cultural happenings including: a multidisciplinary showcase of student art, altars to honor the departed, family folk art workshops, food booths, an artisan mercado as well as live cultural per3:51 PM formances highlighting local dancers,
musicians and entertainers. This year’s theme, Mestizo, reflects the convergence of cultures and indigenous roots of our region. Traditionally referring to a person of combined European and Indigenous American descent, the term Mestizo has become more of a cultural term. Today, a vast majority of Spanish-speaking Latin Americans are considered mestizos regardless of their actual ancestry. Free and open to the public. 6 to 10:30 p.m. SAY Si Central, 1518 South Alamo. 210-212-8666. http://saysi.org/ muertitos-fest/ Catrinas on the River Parade: San Antonio will host its first ever “Catrinas on the River Parade.” The parade will feature the city’s famous barges (which in Mexico are called “trajineras”) to showcase the colorful hallmarks of the holiday down the River Walk: skeletons, skulls, candles, incense, marigolds, pan de muerto and everything in between. The parade will kick off at the Arneson Theatre with a performance of “La Danza de Las Mojigangas,” across from the historic La Villita neighborhood where a weekend of Día de Muertos entertainment can be further enjoyed. Dia de Los Muertos Festival: Celebrate your loved ones with kids activities, live entertainment, food, face painters and an ofrenda for the community to share. Ticket prices from $6 - $20. Event is from 6 to 11 p.m. Big Texas Fun, One Retama Parkway. Selma, Tx. https://boilandbrew.bigtxfun.com/
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Our Kids App Available on Itunes & Google Play
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FREE THINGS TO DO IN SA Downtown Tuesdays Free parking at city facilities, restaurant deals and special events can be found downtown every Tuesday night from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Information is available online. www.downtowntuesday.com
Institute of Texan Cultures ITC offers complimentary admission on the Second Sunday of every month. 210-458-2300. www.texancultures.com
McNay Art Museum Free admission the first Sunday of each month from noon to 5 p.m. and every Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave. 210-8051768. www.mcnayart.org
New Braunfels Railroad Museum Free Admission every first and third Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children under 18 are Free. 302 West San Antonio St., New Braunfels. 830-627-2447. newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org
San Antonio Museum of Art Free admission every Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon and every Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave. 210-978-8100. www.samuseum.org
The Witte Museum Free admission from 3 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday. 3801 Broadway. 210357-1900. www.wittemuseum.org
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
2 Saturday
Diwali Festival 2019: Celebrating Indian culture and traditions this event is the largest and most significant event organized by the Indian community in San Antonio. There will be live entertainment, food and handicrafts for sale, 2,000 floating diyas to be released and a DJ area for dancing the night away. The event concludes with a spectacular fireworks display. Free. 5 to 11:59 p.m. Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo St. San Antonio. https://hemisfair.org/event/diwali-sa-2019/ Muertitos Fest Family Day: Bring the kids for this family-friendly final day of Muertitos Fest! You can get crafty with various folk-art workshops, get your face painted and shop for one-of-a-kind treasures from our Muertitos Fest Artisan Mercado. Enjoy a special family program of music and performances in the SAY Sí Black Box Theatre. Free and open to the public. Noon to 4 p.m. SAY Si Central, 1518 South Alamo. 210-2128666. http://saysi.org/muertitos-fest/ Día De Los Muertos at Pearl: The Pearl will be honoring the rich traditional Mexican holiday that remembers family and friends who have passed away, with altars/ofrendas, music, a procession, art making, and more. This event is free and open to the public. 5 to 9 p.m. The Historic Pearl. www.atpearl.com 8th Annual Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio Festival and Día de los Muertos: This festival features the very best of young mariachis in our own community. Come hear area high school groups compete for the title of “Best High School Level Mariachi in the San Antonio Area,” along with a cash prize for first place High School Mariachi. These young students will be sure to amaze everyone with their remarkable talent. Individuals will also be trying out to be a part of the international award-winning Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio, a mariachi program for high school students that lead to scholarships towards higher education. This year will also be celebrating Día de los Muertos throughout the evening. Altars will be setup for public interaction. Also featuring a calavera by Garcia Art Glass. Showcasing at the end of the evening will be Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio with a concert finale you won’t forget. The evening will conclude with San Antonio | The Saga, the captivating video art installation
on the magnificent façade of San Fernando Cathedral.Free face painting, local vendors, and live entertainment. Free & Open to the public. Main Plaza, 115 N Main Ave. www. mainplaza.org Mission Marquee Plaza Family Film Series - Coco: Come for a screening of “Coco”. With plenty of lawn space, visitors are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy an evening of entertainment under the stars. Venue will open 6 p.m. and the movie will begin 15 minutes after dusk. This event is brought to you by the Pet Friendly. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. Movie begins 15 minutes after dusk. Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. 210-2078612. https://www.facebook.com/ MissionMarqueePlaza/ 49th Annual Veterans Day Parade: The 49th Annual Universal City Veterans Parade is the oldest continuous Veterans Parade in the San Antonio area and the City is proud to honor veterans of all United States wars. This parade has been host to more than 40 groups participating in the parade, including various military groups, police & fire departments, schools, and local businesses and organizations. The viewing stand will be located located in the Randolph Plaza Shopping Center parking lot but spectators are welcome to gather all along the Pat Booker Road route to enjoy the parade. The City is looking forward to another successful event next year, so please make plans to come out and celebrate with us. Free. Parade starts at 10:30 a.m. http://www.universalcitytexas. com/586/Veterans-Parade Farm Day at Mission San Juan: A free family friendly event exploring food and farming of the past and present. Explore the roots of San Antonio food culture from the Spanish colonial missions to modern food, health, and wellness at the historic farm at Mission San Juan: Activities includ games, cooking demonstrations, and outdoor activities. Shuck It! Shell It! Mill It! by the Institute of Texan Cultures: Visitors will be able to use old farm implements to process corn in the same manner as the pioneer Texans. Wool Spinning by the San Antonio Handweavers Guild: Watch as wool from local sheep is spun on spindles and spinning wheels. Historic Cooking Demonstrations by Casa Navarro State Historic Site: View historic meals being cooked To Advertise Call 305-4181
over an open fire. Take home an easy historic recipe to try out at home. Livestock Corrals by Traylor Livery: Visit with farm animals of the missions era at the livestock corrals. Animals will include mustang horses, longhorn cattle, Navajo-Churro sheep, Spanish goats, and Nankin chickens. Decorate a Bag with the National Park Service: Decorate a “Find Your Park� bag to fill with event goodies and take home. Farmer Q&A with the San Antonio Food Bank: Meet the farmers that maintain the demonstration farm at Mission San Juan.Gift Shop with Western National Parks Association: Find something to remember your time at Farm Day by at the gift shop. Free. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Missian San Juan, 9101 Graf Rd. https://www.nps. gov/saan/planyourvisit/farm-day-atmission-san-juan.htm Monster Mash Pumpkin Smash: College of Engineering and College of Sciences student organizations are working hard on their trebuchets to see who can launch their pumpkins the furthest. This family-friendly event will include music, food trucks, and interactive STEM activities for the kids. UTSA Main Campus, University of Texas at San Antonio’s East Campus
Free screening of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory� at the Tobin on November 8th. Parking Lot. http://engineering.utsa. edu/ssc/calendar/ Dia de Los Muertos Festival: Celebrate your loved ones with kids activities, live entertainment, food, face painters and an ofrenda for the community to share. Ticket prices from $6 - $20. Event is from 12 to 11 p.m. Big Texas Fun, One Retama Parkway. Selma, Tx.
https://boilandbrew.bigtxfun.com/ ComiCon 2019 at Trader Village: Come Buy, Sell & Trade all sorts of things like Comics, Funko POPS, Collectibles, T-Shirts & everything in between. Celebrity line-up includes Reb Brown: The Original Captain America, Charle Fleishcher: Voice of Roger Rabbit and Rikki Simons: Voice of Girdle’s from
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At PLANET PARTY SA we are the largest private venue in Texas. 5000 ft² of fun! Private Parties includes: • All reservations are private. • You may have up to 75 guests • Main Game Room with Arcades, Pool table, Air Hockey, Foosball & Bounce houses! • The Largest Toddler Zone in San Antonio with Amusement rides, Life size castle (NE), Jungle gym (NW), soft play Toddler Area, Activity tables, Play houses, Slides and more! • Eat comfortably in a Large Dining area (Seats 72) • Indoor Pinata Breaking area!
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$5 off Camping per family per visit November 2019 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Schultze house; look for bright blue way-finding signs. Free. 10 to 11 a.m. Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo St. 210-7094750. http://hemisfair.org Free Family Nights at the DoSeum: Free admission to The DoSeum every first Tuesday of the Month. Family night is at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wristbands will be given out at 4 p.m. at entrance. Wristbands guarantee entrance for Free family Night. Once all wristbands are given out, Doseum has reached capacity. Parking is limited; please plan accordingly. See website for more details. The DoSeum, 2800 Broadway. 210-212-4453. https:// www.thedoseum.org
Luminaria will be at the hemisfair this year on November 9th from 7 to 12 a.m. PHOTO CREDIT RALEIGH MEADE
Invader ZIM. Parking is $4. Free Event. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traders Village San Antonio, 9333 Soutwest Loop 410. https://tradersvillage.com/san-antonio/
3 Sunday
Family Day See + Do: Día de los Muertos: Celebrate this special holiday through theatre, art, and music. Decorate a sugar skull, craft ofrendas, make Catrina-inspired art, and contribute to our community altar.Free with Museum admission. 12 to 3 p.m. San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 West Jones Ave. https://www.samuseum. org/ Dia de Los Muertos Festival: Celebrate your loved ones with kids activities, live entertainment, food, face painters and an ofrenda for the community to share. Ticket prices from $6 - $20. Event is from 12 to 11 p.m. Big Texas Fun, One Retama Parkway. Selma, Tx. https://boilandbrew.bigtxfun.com/
ComiCon 2019 at Trader Village: Come Buy, Sell & Trade all sorts of things like Comics, Funko POPS, Collectibles, T-Shirts & everything in between. Celebrity line-up includes Reb Brown: The Original Captain America, Charle Fleishcher: Voice of Roger Rabbit and Rikki Simons: Voice of Girdle’s from Invader ZIM. Parking is $4. Free Event. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traders Village San Antonio, 9333 Soutwest Loop 410. https://tradersvillage.com/san-antonio/
5 Tuesday
Story Time at the Book Garden: Visit the Hemisfair on Tuesday morning for Story Time and a fun activity to accompany it! We’ll also have the Book Garden, our mobile library, available so you can take a free book, or donate any that you’re done with. It’s a free take-a-book, leave-a-book library for your family! Perfect for kids under age 4. Story Time will be in the
7 Thursday
FREE H-E-B Thursday Nights at the McNay: Free general. Special exhibition access is $10 on Thursday nights. 4 to 9 p.m. McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave. www.mcnayart.org
8 Friday
Miss Anastasia’s Wild and Wacky Pre-Weekend Twiglet Storytime: Miss Anastasia combines story time and a delightful craft each Friday. Free. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Twig Book Shop in the Can Plant Building, 306 Pearl Parkway Ste. 106. 210-8266411. http://www.thetwig.com/ miss-anastasia H-E-B Cinema on the Plaza - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!: A free screening of The Incredibles will be shown. The adventures of a superhero crime fighter and his family, who return to adventuring after spending years living “normal” lives. Full concessions and bar available. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the movie on our 32 foot LED video wall (Chairs also available at
• Balloons • Magic • Storytelling • Face Painting
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
Coming In Reserve your Spot! February 210-305-4181 2020
To Advertise Call 305-4181
the venue). No outside food or drinks allowed on the plaza. No pets allowed on the plaza please. The Will Naylor Smith River Walk Plaza opens at 7 p.m. The movie begins at 8 p.m. Free event. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir. https://www. tobincenter.org
9 Saturday
Luminaria 2019 : Luminaria is San Antonio’s premier after-dark contemporary arts festival. Artists will showcase their works in performance, music, literature, dance, visual arts and much more. Installations will be on display the entire night and performances will run in a rotating schedule all night. Free and open to the public. 7 to 12 a.m. Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo St. www.LuminariaSA.org A Journey To Mars: A family friendly STEAM event with activities for kids and a free planetarium showing (limited seating) to coincide with the CORE4STEM Family Day. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Scobee Education Center. 1819 N. Main Ave (SAC Campus). http://sacscobee.org WellMed Diabetes Exp: Free event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Center
Court. Rolling Oaks Mall, 6909 N Loop 1604 E. https://rollingoaksmall.com Second Saturday Artwalk: A family friendly monthly artwalk event occurring every Second Saturday of every month in the Lone Star and Collins Garden neighborhoods in Southtown The Arts District. Exhibits open as early as 6 pm and run til 10pm. Full of music, art, food trucks and fashion, Engage with locals and purchase art from your hard working local artists. 6 to 10 p.m. Southtown The Arts District, 1906 S. Flores. https://southtownsatx.com/ Movie in the Park - Frozen: Grab a blanket and enjoy a screening of “Frozen” under the stars. Free. Movie will start at sunset. Tower of the Americas, 739 E Cesar Chavez. https:// www.toweroftheamericas.com
12 Tuesday Story Time at the Book Garden: Visit the Hemisfair on Tuesday morning for Story Time and a fun activity to accompany it! We’ll also have the Book Garden, our mobile library, available so you can take a free book, or donate any that you’re done with. It’s a free
take-a-book, leave-a-book library for your family! Perfect for kids under age 4. Story Time will be in the Schultze house; look for bright blue way-finding signs. Free. 10 to 11 a.m. Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo St. 210-709-4750. http:// hemisfair.org
14 Thursday
Expo Mexican Fest November 2019: Come enjoy Vendors, Food, Mariachis, Folklorico Dancing, Several Multicultural items & vendors, Authentic Mexican Food, Artisans, Jewelry, Clothing & Many other surprises. Free. 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wonderland of the Americas, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd. https://wonderlandamericas.com
15 Friday
Toddler Art Play-The Day the Crayons Quit: Mini museum visit meets creative playtime for children under 5. Wear paint clothes for a fun, messy time at the McNay! All programs will be outdoors unless it rains! Free for Members; $10 for nonmember adults. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave.
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Nick Jr. Live “Move to the Music” comes to the Tobin on November 17th. 210-805-1768. www.mcnayart.org Expo Mexican Fest November 2019: Come enjoy Vendors, Food, Mariachis, Folklorico Dancing, Several Multicultural items & vendors, Authentic Mexican Food, Artisans, Jewelry, Clothing & Many other surprises. Free. 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wonderland of the Americas, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd. https://wonderlandamericas.com
16 Friday
Solar Fest 2019: Grab the family, grab a bike or catch a bus to Hemisfair for a day of family fun and learning! Enjoy live music, local artisans, a variety of food trucks and engaging activities at the 2019 Solar Fest celebrating renewable energy, energy efficiency and our beautiful city. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo St. San Antonio. 210-709-4750. http://hemisfair.org Santa Spectacular: Free event from 10 a.m. at Main Entrance, Next to H&M. Rolling Oaks Mall, 6909 N Loop 1604 E. https://rollingoaksmall.com Miss Anastasia’s Wild and Wacky Pre-Weekend Twiglet Storytime: Miss Anastasia combines story time and a delightful craft each Friday. Free. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Twig Book Shop in the Can Plant Building, 306 Pearl Parkway Ste. 106. 210-826-6411. http://www. thetwig.com/miss-anastasia Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the Music”: You’re invited to sing, dance, clap, cheer and move to the music with your
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
friends from Bubble Guppies, PAW Patrol, Dora The Explorer, Shimmer and Shine, Blue’s Clues and You, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Top Wing in an unforgettable musical spectacular! Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the Music” follows Dora and her PAW co-hosts, Marshall and Rubble, as they team up with their Nick Jr. friends, live on stage together for the first time ever, in a one-of-a-kind adventure sure to excite the whole family. Show times are 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Ticket prices vary. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir. 210-223-8624. https:// www.tobincenter.org Mission Marquee Plaza Family Film Series - Home Alone & Elf: Double Feature: Come for a screening of Home Alone & Elf: Double Feature. With plenty of lawn space, visitors are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy an evening of entertainment under the stars. Venue will open 6 p.m. and the movie will begin 15 minutes after dusk. This event is brought to you by the Pet Friendly. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. Movie begins 15 minutes after dusk. Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. 210-2078612. https://www.facebook.com/ MissionMarqueePlaza/ Expo Mexican Fest November 2019: Come enjoy Vendors, Food, Mariachis, Folklorico Dancing, Several Multicultural items & vendors, Authentic Mexican Food, Artisans, Jewelry, Clothing & Many other surprises. Free. 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wonderland of the Americas, 4522
Fredericksburg Rd. https://wonderlandamericas.com
17 Sunday
Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the Music”: You’re invited to sing, dance, clap, cheer and move to the music with your friends from Bubble Guppies, PAW Patrol, Dora The Explorer, Shimmer and Shine, Blue’s Clues and You, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Top Wing in an unforgettable musical spectacular! Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the Music” follows Dora and her PAW co-hosts, Marshall and Rubble, as they team up with their Nick Jr. friends, live on stage together for the first time ever, in a one-of-a-kind adventure sure to excite the whole family. Show times are 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Ticket prices vary. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir. 210-223-8624. https:// www.tobincenter.org Expo Mexican Fest November 2019: Come enjoy Vendors, Food, Mariachis, Folklorico Dancing, Several Multicultural items & vendors, Authentic Mexican Food, Artisans, Jewelry, Clothing & Many other surprises. Free. 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wonderland of the Americas, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd. https://wonderlandamericas.com
19 Tuesday Story Time at the Book Garden: Visit the Hemisfair on Tuesday morning for Story Time and a fun activity to To Advertise Call 305-4181
accompany it! We’ll also have the Book Garden, our mobile library, available so you can take a free book, or donate any that you’re done with. It’s a free take-a-book, leave-a-book library for your family! Perfect for kids under age 4. Story Time will be in the Schultze house; look for bright blue way-finding signs. Free. 10 to 11 a.m. Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo St. 210-709-4750. http://hemisfair.org
22 Friday Miss Anastasia’s Wild and Wacky Pre-Weekend Twiglet Storytime: Miss Anastasia combines story time and a delightful craft each Friday. Free. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Twig Book Shop in the Can Plant Building, 306 Pearl Parkway Ste. 106. 210-826-6411. http://www. thetwig.com/miss-anastasia
23 Saturday
Holiday Art Market 2019: This free event is an outdoor market focusing on fine arts and high-end artisan products, with fun for all ages. Stop and shop for unique items for the entire family, including beautiful artwork, home decor, gourmet food, accessories, gifts and much more--just in time for the
holidays! Bring the family to enjoy live holiday music, meet Santa Claus, sample hot drinks and gourmet treats, and so much more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir. https://www.tobincenter.org/ Tree Giveaway at Confluence Park: Fall is here and it’s the perfect time to adopt a tree! Supplied by San Antonio’s Parks and Recreation Department, these 1 gallon FREE native trees need your love and care to grow and join the vibrant canopy which makes San Antonio a beautiful place to live and play. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (while supplies last) Resendez Pavilion, 310 W. Mitchell Street. http://confluencepark.sariverfound.org Light the Way Holiday Festival 2019: Get a jump start on Christmas shopping from various vendors at the Holiday Shoppe. At 6:15 p.m., the lights turn on so guests can enjoy the night’s entertainment under the twinkling lights. Guests will have the opportunity to take selfies with Santa and visit with the DoSeum and other kid-friendly activities. Visit food trucks from the San Antonio Food Truck Association for some delicious treats. Event is from 3 to 9:30 p.m. University of the Incarnate
Word, 4301 Broadway. www.lightthewaysa.com
28 Thursday
2019 Turkey Trot 5K: It’s a family & pet friendly 5K run/walk that goes through the King William Cultural Arts District & Downtown SATX. All proceeds go to providing turkey dinners to families in need. Register fee vary. 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. Commander’s House Senior Center, 622 South Flores. Register at www. safoodbank.org/turkeytrot
29 Friday
Ford Holiday River Parade: Ring in the holidays with this iconic night parade filled with lights, costumed float riders & music. Ticket prices vary by location. 6 to 9 p.m. The San Antonio River Walk. https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk. com Miss Anastasia’s Wild and Wacky Pre-Weekend Twiglet Storytime: Miss Anastasia combines story time and a delightful craft each Friday. Free. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Twig Book Shop in the Can Plant Building, 306 Pearl Parkway Ste. 106. 210-826-6411. http://www. thetwig.com/miss-anastasia
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Ford Holiday River Parade strolls through the Riverwalk on November 29. Photo by David Finell
Fredericksburg Hot Air Balloon Festival: Held on a large polo field just minutes from downtown Fredericksburg, Texas join dozens of vendors, chefs, local musicians, artists, cooking demonstrations, pop-up art galleries, PLUS food and alcohol tasting partners. Weather permitting, Friday night and Saturday morning and night will include glows and tethered rides. If the weather cooperates we will also attempt a Hot Air Balloon activation on Saturday morning around day break. Not just about the balloons, Saturday will include Live Music, a Wine Tasting Tent, a Battle of the Chefs Tasting Competition, Polo Matches (a little bit of cowboy polo!) and a kids play area. Ticket prices vary. 4 to 8 p.m. 6120 East, US-290 Fredericksburg, TX. Learn more by visiting: https://victorycup.org/ fredericksburg/ The Nutcracker 2019: The holidays aren’t complete until you experience the magic, humor and beauty of The Nutcracker. Originally commissioned by Ballet San Antonio for Ballet San Antonio, with live music by the San Antonio Symphony and a talented cast of San Antonio area children, Ballet San Antonio’s The Nutcracker has become a treasured holiday family tradition. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Ballet San Antonio, 115 Auditorium Circle. www.tobincenter.org Bulverde Christmas Lighting: Come enjoy entertainment, music and vendor treats for the young and young at heart including REAL SNOW, a living Nativity and so much more. 5:30 to 9 p.m. The Old Village in Downtown Bulverde, 2355 Bulverde Rd, Bulverde. https://bulverdespringbranchchamber.com Wonderland Christmas: Enjoy your favorite attractions covered in twinkling lights, visitors from the North Pole (arriving at dusk), a simulated ice rink,
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Our Kids Magazine | November 2019
therapy animals, The Wonder Squad, holiday shows, complimentary cookies and hot chocolate, a petting zoo and more. General admission rates apply 4 to 9 p.m. Morgan’s Wonderland, 5223 David Edwards. https://www.morganswonderland.com/ Dickens on Main 2019: 20 Years of Holiday Cheer: Celebrate 20 years of holiday cheer at the Hill Country’s best and brightest Christmas celebration! Your old favorites like SNOW on Main Street, Ice carvers, street revelers, live music and more will be back, with lots of new surprises too! Get the whole family together November 29 & 30 for a vintage Christmas experience like no other. Come early for great shopping along the Hill Country Mile, stay late for live music, food and tons of fun. Free. 2 to 10 p.m. Hill Country Mile, 1100 S Main to 521 N Main, Boerne. https://boernedickensonmain.com
30 Saturday Fantasyland at Milam Park: A Free family friendly holiday event wtih train rides through the park and face painting for the children. Santa Claus visits and photo ops. Tons of merriment for all who attend, with Arts & Craft vendors, Classic Cars and yummy Food Vendors. City mascots and costumed Hero characters will be on hand to delight all who attend. Tree lighting will be at dusk with Mayor Nirenberg and a mini concert by our MC Patsy Torres. A wonderful event for the entire family and the perfect way to begin the holiday season. Free. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Milam Park, 500 W Commerce St. https://www.facebook. com/Fantasylandmilampark YUMiCON 2019: A convention celebrating Japanese culture/art, industry talent,
manga, fashion, animation, gaming, and cosplay. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 900 E Market St. http://yumicon.com/ The Nutcracker 2019: The holidays aren’t complete until you experience the magic, humor and beauty of The Nutcracker. Originally commissioned by Ballet San Antonio for Ballet San Antonio, with live music by the San Antonio Symphony and a talented cast of San Antonio area children, Ballet San Antonio’s The Nutcracker has become a treasured holiday family tradition.Two showings. 2 to 4 p.m. and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Ballet San Antonio, 115 Auditorium Circle. www. tobincenter.org Wonderland Christmas: Enjoy your favorite attractions covered in twinkling lights, visitors from the North Pole (arriving at dusk), a simulated ice rink, therapy animals, The Wonder Squad, holiday shows, complimentary cookies and hot chocolate, a petting zoo and more. General admission rates apply 4 to 9 p.m. Morgan’s Wonderland, 5223 David Edwards. https://www.morganswonderland.com/ Dickens on Main 2019: 20 Years of Holiday Cheer: Celebrate 20 years of holiday cheer at the Hill Country’s best and brightest Christmas celebration! Your old favorites like SNOW on Main Street, Ice carvers, street revelers, live music and more will be back, with lots of new surprises too! Get the whole family together November 29 & 30 for a vintage Christmas experience like no other. Come early for great shopping along the Hill Country Mile, stay late for live music, food and tons of fun. Free. 2 to 10 p.m. Hill Country Mile, 1100 S Main to 521 N Main, Boerne. https://boernedickensonmain.com To Advertise Call 305-4181