There's also some stuff going on at the CMOM I'd like to try out...

[conuly]

They've opened a new exhibit, so maybe I'll prefer it nowadays :)

Saturday 11/4



Super Hero Comics 11am, 12, 2, 3 & 4pm
Sign-up programs for ages 5 & older
Learn about the art of comic books and the tools of the trade. Develop your own superhero character and create a comic book adventure.


The only problem with this is that it can conflict with Su and Evangeline going to the Blooming Babies Weekend at the BCM, but not if I take the older two while the younger two do something else, or if we do the BCM on Sunday instead. And I think Deniz would also really enjoy this - call the CMOM and find out about it, would you, Jenn? Their site is cmom.org

They seem to have a nice schedule of programs, one right after the other, all week long including on weekends. So that's always something to do if we need a change of pace. I'll remember this now.

(Mind, the train ride is *insane*, so the odds of me heading up there regularly are slim indeed :)

Comments

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

Is Deniz the type to go to a "special, exciting, fun class that's just for older kids" by herself for an hour? or would she insist that you stay? How about if you were right next door? If she's fairly independent, and willing to sit in the class alone, you could take Ana or whoever else you're with downstairs to do drop in art, or to another area. Most kids are OK with their parent/sitter leaving, especially if they know where they'll be. Also, in general the younger kids are asked to leave during the lesson, but can come back for the art part...so Ana could probably use the crayons or whatever while Deniz is doing her thing. the educator could tell you when it'd be OK to come back.

I hate when parents try to make their kids leave, and the kid is having a ball! "come on,let's go see clifford!" "but mommy, I LIKE dora!" "no honey, mommy's bored. let's go"...um yeah. Lady, this day is not about YOUR boredom level. seriously. It's one thing to say "let's take a look around, and if you don't like it better we'll come back"...sometimes kids don't know what else is there, and you know there's something they'd like even better. But if they really do truly like that room better..let them stay! Unless it's closing for the day, there's really no problem.

[conuly]

I didn't realize it was a kid-by-themselves thing... but of course, it's for older kids, that makes sense!

The only real problem is that Ana or Deniz might decide they don't want to be separated, but then we have the option. I can leave it up to Deniz to decide.

And if Mommy is so bored, Mommy should have brought a book. Any kid old enough to have this conversation is old enough you shouldn't have to sit right next to them the whole time. Anyway, Clifford is going to be just as boring as Dora when you come right down to it, so why bother?

The only exception to "don't drag kids away" is when you have more than one kid. But then you have to be reasonably fair and let the kids play for a good length of time before letting the next kid take their turn and bring you elsewhere, y'know?

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

well, some kids insist on having parents there..and if the parents are only with one kid, they generally do stay. but you do have the option of dropping them off, since they are older-we just ask that you stay in the museum, rather than going out to the shop on the corner or something! (See? I say we. I don't, for the moment, work there!)...But I know you're not the type to do so, so why do I even mention it? no idea. But if we didn't let people drop off the older kids, we'd end up with a bunch of 1-3 year olds running around during our lessons...which is not fun when the older kids are trying to concentrate.

Ana and Deniz may decide they don't want to be separated, but if they know it's only for a short time, and if Ana feels like she has her own special thing to do at the same time(works well if there's an exhibit she really loved, or a drop in program going on that she's interested in) it might be easier. after all, 30 minutes apart seems long to them, but they'll be back together before they know it.

some of the kids are REALLY little. their conversation goes more like "DOWA!! MOMMY!" "honey. mommy's bored, we're going to go see clifford. you'll like clifford". "NO CWIFFORD! want play with dowa!"...and then they cry and scream "dowaaaaaaa!" like they're being tortured. So not worth the screaming, really. And yes, I agree about the multiple kids thing. People try to leave their 7 year old alone in an exhibit so their 3 year old can move on...um, no, not really a good option. In fact the ONLY place you're allowed to leave kids is the workshops, but that's just because the door is closed and the educator's at the front/at the tables, so they're not wandering off or being taken or whatnot. Make your kids take turns and share. they'll be better people for it, really.