Autism & Asperger’s Workshop: Teaching Social Thinking to Individuals Entering and Living in the Adult World
Dec. 1-2, 8:30 am – 4 pm, Hilton Concord Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord
Speakers: Michelle Garcia Winner and Dr. Pam Crooke will present strategies for professionals and parents on how to prepare students with high-functioning autism, Asperger’s and similar challenges for adulthood. Winner and Crooke developed these strategies based on their clinical work and development of related curriculum materials at the Social Thinking Center in San Jose. $150-$350 – Register at www.socialthinking.com.
Childhood Matters
December 5 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org
Join nurse Rona Renner and guests as they discuss parenting issues.
Tater Tiara: It’s time for the seventh annual Mr. Potato Head Beauty Pageant at Oakland’s MOCHA — Museum of Children’s Art. You too can create a glamorous spud and compete in this art workshop and wacky contest. The family fun runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 27. Details: $8 per child; http://mocha.org.
Arctic Wonderland: San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences goes all polar this holiday season during its “’Tis the Season for Science” festivities, now through Jan. 2. Check out the reindeer, get the lowdown on mistletoe from a botanist, play Polar Jeopardy and enjoy the Arctic flurries. Did we mention the hot cocoa cart? Details: Activities included with general admission; www.calacademy.org.
Nutcracker at the Zeum: San Francisco’s “Nutcracker at Zeum” is a particularly kid-friendly take on the classic tale with whimsical sets, fabulous costumes and music by the Magik*Magik Orchestra on stage. The 50-minute show by the Mark Foehringer Dance Project runs Nov. 27-Dec. 19. Details: $25; www.brownpapertickets.com.
Cinderella’s Slipper: Fairyland’s puppets take on the Cinderella fairy tale this weekend. Enjoy the Oakland children’s amusement park rides, then head over to the Children’s Fairyland stage for the saga of Cinderella, Prince Charming, the Fairy Godmother and those nasty sisters at 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m. Nov. 27 and 28. Details: Tickets $8; www.fairyland.org.
Mummenschanz Pantomime: The beloved and bizarre Swiss pantomime group Mummenschanz returns to Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall Nov. 26-28, but that 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 27 is tailor-made for little ones. And the whole run is part of Cal Performances’ family series, so tickets are half-off for kids under 16. Details: Tickets $22 and up; www.calperfs.berkeley.edu.
Childhood Matters: Family Rituals & Traditions
November 28 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org
Join nurse Rona Renner and guests as they discuss holidays, celebrations and family traditions.
Autism & Asperger’s Workshop: Teaching Social Thinking to Individuals Entering and Living in the Adult World
Dec. 1-2, 8:30 am – 4 pm, Hilton Concord Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord
Speakers: Michelle Garcia Winner and Dr. Pam Crooke will present strategies for professionals and parents on how to prepare students with high-functioning autism, Asperger’s and similar challenges for adulthood. Winner and Crooke developed these strategies based on their clinical work and development of related curriculum materials at the Social Thinking Center in San Jose. $150-$350 – Register at www.socialthinking.com.
Childhood Matters
December 5 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org
Join nurse Rona Renner and guests as they discuss parenting issues.
Frogs, Friends, Music: Catch the kid-pleasing chamber music group, the Bellavente Wind Quintet, as they celebrate the release of their new CD, “Frogs and Friends with the Bellavente Wind Quintet, Music and Stories for Children.” They’ll be doing a children’s concert at Berkeley’s Crowden School at 11 a.m. Nov. 21. The show is free; cookies and juice are $1 each. Details: www.bellavente.com.
Cool Capoeira: If you’ve never seen the Brazilian martial arts/performing arts hybrid known as capoeira, the next show on the Pleasanton Public Library’s “Dance and Sing Around the World” series offers a perfect opportunity. The ABADA-Capoeira ensemble will perform a free show at 3 p.m. Nov. 20. Details: www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/library/programs-and-events.html. Read the rest of this entry »
Free Family Law Clinic
November 16 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Bananas, Oakland
This free law clinic, sponsored by BANANAS and offered by the Volunteer Legal Services of the Alameda County Bar Association, is designed to help low-income families with domestic matters. Reservations are required; call Volunteer Legal Services, 302-2222.
Living with Ones and Twos
November 17 at 7 p.m. at Bananas, Oakland
Nurse practitioner Meg Zweiback offers practical advice in this workshop for parents of toddlers.
Childhood Matters: Does My Teen Have a Learning Disorder?
November 21 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org
Join nurse Rona Renner and Beth Samuelson as they discuss teens, learning disorders, the signs to look for and what to do next. Read the rest of this entry »
Curious George: Grab your yellow hat and indulge your inner monkey when the new “Curious George Saves the Day” exhibit opens this Sunday at San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum. The special exhibit explores the lives and art of Curious George creators Margret and H.A. Rey. Young museumgoers get free family ARTpacks — mini-suitcases with adventure journals and storytelling games — when they arrive. And museum members get to enjoy a bananas and bagels brunch on opening day. Details: Nov. 14-March 13; kids under 18 are free; www.thecjm.org.
Screaming Thrills: Explore the physics, biology, thrills and chills behind roller coasters at the new “Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters” exhibit at Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., now through Jan. 2. Details: tickets $6-12, www.lawrencehallofscience.org. Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re anything like me, you’re starting to contemplate the holidays and those long road trips to grandma’s house. All that “over the hills” and “through the woods” stuff eats up a lot of miles, and prompts many a whined “Are we there yet?” Fortunately, we’ve got this cool new book – Elizabeth Carpenter’s “Mummy Mazes: A Monumental Book.” It holds 28 poster-sized Ancient Egyptian mazes, that are pretty much guaranteed to keep the backseat crowd quiet and happy for at least a little while. And one of you lucky people is going to get it! Click “comments” and tell us, what’s your best Thanksgiving travel tip? We’ll pick a winner next week.
Meanwhile, congrats are due to Ellie, who won the last giveaway – and that copy of “Thumb Love.”
Childhood Matters
November 14 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org
Join nurse Rona Renner and guests as they discuss parenting issues.
Free Family Law Clinic
November 16 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Bananas, Oakland
This free law clinic, sponsored by BANANAS and offered by the Volunteer Legal Services of the Alameda County Bar Association, is designed to help low-income families with domestic matters. Reservations are required; call Volunteer Legal Services, 302-2222.
Living with Ones and Twos
November 17 at 7 p.m. at Bananas, Oakland
Nurse practitioner Meg Zweiback offers practical advice in this workshop for parents of toddlers.
Holiday blockbuster season is upon us and oh boy, are we excited!
Megamind opened last weekend, Harry Potter and Tangled are coming soon… And the only question is what to see now, what to wait for on video, and what we’re going to end up seeing again and again and again?
Food Network, PBS and Bravo-TV have always had their high-profile chefs. But have you noticed the newest celebrity chef trend? We’re talking, of course, about Dora the Explorer, Disney’s Princess Tiana (of frog-kissing fame), and now the Muppets’ Chef Angelo.
Cora’s sous chefs include Miss Piggy, Kermit and the newest addition to the Muppet world, Chef Angelo. He’s the one wearing the toque and standing next to Cora in the photo. Very cute show. Recipes are delish. And it’s drawing considerable attention in the blogosphere. Michele Spring Fajeau, a blogger for the Mama Manifesto, says simply, “They had me at Muppets.” Yep, but they had me at Cat Cora.
