Dover DoodleHeads

Birthday Parties at Malzone Baseball

via www.malzonebaseball.com

A new addition to the Birthday Parties Nearby list:

Malzone Baseball in Medfield has a birthday party option for your baseball and softball loving kids!

• Baseball, Wiffle Ball, Tag, Dodge Ball.....name your child’s activities and we’ll make it happen!
• 1 1/2 HOURS of Baseball / Softball / FUN / Games, Drills with an organized instructor.
• 1/2 Hour in the Party Room for your Cake, Pizza, etc.
• Invitations, Thank You Notes, Paper Products provided.
• $150.00 - Minimum, first 10 kids / $10.00 ea. Addt’l child

Click on the link above to find out more.

Dover Library lends out cake pans - Dover, MA - Dover-Sherborn Press

Some of these pads are SO cute!  Take a look at them before you make your next cake!
Dover Library lends out cake pans - Dover, MA - Dover-Sherborn Press.

Nearby Birthday Party Ideas - Updated!

My list of Metrowest birthday party ideas is getting longer!  I added Crazy Jayne's in Natick today.  My list is getting unwieldy - I will prettiify it soon!

(see "Birthday Parties Nearby" link at left under DoodleDo's)

If you have any other ideas, please leave a comment! Thanks!

Birthday Parties Nearby Updated

I updated the Birthday Party Options List (see @ left under DoodleDos) this morning with the new American Girl store in Natick.  Pricey parties - $450 for 8 guests, but it includes lunch, games, crafts and goody bags.  Nice new option in the area.  Check it out.  (Note: American Girl @ Natick Collection opens on November 1 (limited opening on Oct 31st))

Dover DoodleHeads: Birthday Parties Nearby.

Birthday presents get a timeout from parents - The Boston Globe

Link: Birthday presents get a timeout from parents - The Boston Globe.

New Additions to Birthday Parties Nearby

Two new additions to the Birthday Parties Nearby chart - Sweet Beads bead store in Wellesley & the Dedham Blue Bunny's birthday party options!

Link: Dover DoodleHeads: Birthday Parties Nearby.

Never Too Young for That First Pedicure - New York Times

Cosmetic companies and retailers increasingly aim their sophisticated products and service packages squarely at 6-to 9-year-olds, who are being transformed into savvy beauty consumers before they're out of elementary school.

Link: Never Too Young for That First Pedicure - New York Times.

Birthday Parties Nearby

New sections added to Birthday Parties page (under DoodleDos at left) - Birthday Parties are available at the Dedham Community Theatre!

Link: Dover DoodleHeads: Birthday Parties Nearby.

Nuts for Nature

Nuts for Nature is a nature based preschool program integrating outdoor exploration with games, crafts, songs, dance and/or stories run by Janey Fryer of Dover.  The purpose of the program is to expose children to nature in their backyard, i.e. town, through high quality, educational and fun nature curriculum.  With an experienced naturalist and educator, children will be engaged in the outdoors through hands on activities involving sensatory exploration. 

In addition to classes, Nuts for Nature also offers nature birthday parties & vacation programs.  Choose from a number of fun and educational themes (fairies in nature, insects, butterflies, birds, a spider’s tea party, etc.) to get your preschooler ready to party!!

Birthday Parties Nearby

A new page on birthday parties!  Find some birthday party options near Dover.  Some even come to you!  Click on Birthday Parties Nearby under DoodleDo's at the left!

Know of another one?  Leave a comment!

Link: Dover DoodleHeads: Birthday Parties Nearby.

Personalized Party Favors for Kids Parties: Where to Buy

The WSJ recently reviewed personalized party favor websites. The article reviews personalized party favors for a 2 year old's birthday party for guests ranging in age from 2 to 8. Websites highlighted:
Outrageouspartyfavors.com
Lillianvernon.com
Mailordermommy.com
Happykidspersonalized.com
Justadreamonline.com

Nguyen, Lan. Personalizing Children's Party Favors: We Test a Range of Gifts Featuring our Guests' Names. WSJ. 11/8/07, p D2.

New Garden Girl Spa Birthday Parties Coming Soon

Coming Soon! Garden Girl Spa Birthday Parties
The "IT" party for any birthday girl

Not to show our cards too much, but we wanted to give you a little head's up. We've been busy testing a new concept that will be offered through our consultants. It is a SPArty that your daughter will absolutely love! Featuring make-your-own bath fizzies, body scrubs and facials using all natural ingredients. And those are just a few of the goodies. We can't tell you everything!

Look for the Garden Girl Spa Party in early '08!

Creative Movement & Arts Needham - Fall 2007 Schedule

The Creative Movement & Arts Center in Needham [right behind the library] is a wonderful facility with great teachers.  (website is being revamped 4/28/08 - call (781) 449-2707 for info)) They have many different kinds of programs and membership includes additional perks like:
Free Drop-In Gym & Art, Marshmallow Campfire & Sing-a-longs, Growing Reader Saturday morning story hour, Priority enrollment, Parenting and Childhood information, Free session of Side-by-Side Baby Dance (3-7 months). Discounts on Pediatric First Aid & CPR, Pizza Pajama Pizzazz Party, Big Bash Birthday Parties ($80 discount) and Family combo class packages.

Partner programs are playfully planned instructional settings that rely on parents/caregivers to provide a significant amount of active involvement for the program to be successful. Teachers provide specific instructions and assistance to adults and interact closely with the children.
- BABY DANCE (Physical, social, multi-sensory and creative development)
- LITTLE PARTNERS (Physical, social, multi-sensory and creative development)
- BIG PARTNERS (Physical, social and creative development)
- DYNAMIC DUOS (Social skills, emotional intelligence, communication, creative thinking)
- MESSY MASTERPIECES (Art education, creative expression & thinking, social development)
- MOVING MELODIES (Music education, creative expression and thinking, social development)
- LITTLE BALLET PARTNERS (Ballet education creative expression, social development)
- STEPPING STONES (Pre-school preparation, creative expression thinking, social development)

Go-It-Alone programs are designed for children to participate and progress without a parent or caregiver present in the classroom. Speak with our staff about our “Better Together” policy on achieving success in transitioning!
- CREATIVE GYMNASTICS (Gymnastics instruction, physical, social and creative development)
- ALLSTAR GYMNASTICS (Gymnastics instruction, physical, social and creative development)
- SPORTSCLUB WORKOUT™ (Team sports instruction, physical, social & creative development)
- SUPER SPORTS WORKOUT™ (Team sports instruction, physical, social & creative development)
- CREATIVE BALLET (Ballet instruction, creative expression & thinking, social development)
- MODERN DANCE (Modern and jazz dance instruction, creative expression & thinking, social development)
- MESSY MASTERPIECES (Art education, creative expression and thinking, social development)
- ART ADVENTURES™ (Art education, creative expression and thinking, social development)
- SHOWSTOPPERS™ (Performing arts education, creative expression and thinking, social development)

BIG BASH BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Kids U - Needham [Fall 2007 classes]

If you haven't seen the KIDS U in Needham, you need to go see it. The Play Quad is worth the class fees alone! It is immaculate and lots of fun. One of the many benefits of taking classes at Kids U is unlimited access to a large indoor jungle gym designed to encourage active play. Your child can use the 2000 square foot, 17-foot tall Play Quad ANYTIME the facility is open! There was a great article about the facility in the Needham Times & MetroWest Daily - read it here. WBZ did a nice segment on Kids U too - read/see it here[see the playquad in action]. The types of classes being offered in Fall 2007 are:

MOMMY & ME CLASSES:
for 12 – 17 months, 18 – 24 months, 18 – 36 months, 25 – 36 months in
Gymnastics and Cooking

DROP-OFF CLASSES for 3-4 yrs, 3-4.5 yrs, 3-5 yrs, 4.5-5.9 yrs, 5-7 yrs, 5-8 yrs, 6-9 yrs in:
MARTIAL ARTS, Gymnastics, Cooking, Theater

CLASS FEES (12-Week Session)
50-minute class $280 / 1 hour class $300
Sibling PlayQuad $ 50 [so worth it!]
REGISTRATION FEE: $30 (per student per year)

DISCOUNTS: Child enrolled in two classes receives 10% off second class fee. Two children enrolled from same family receive 10% off second child class fee.

Great Birthday Parties Too!!!

Kids U Needham, 71 Fourth Avenue, Needham, MA 02494
Ph: (781) 444-8255
kidsu.needham@kidsu.com

Kathy McCrohon Dance Center - Needham

http://kathymccrohondance.com/

Pre-Ballet, Tumbling for Tots, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical Modern Jazz, Jazz Tumbling & Boys Hip Hop offered. Dance Birthday parties too!

Coco Key Indoor Water Park - Danvers, MA

See this great article about a visit to Coco Key from North Shore Sunday. The link to the YouTube video of the visit is a must! It looks like quite the place!

Coco Key Website

Specials / Coupons / Promotions Codes for Coco Key Resort

Sheraton Ferncroft Specials / Promotion Code Page - Looks like "SUMMER" is a promotion code that lasts until 9/7/07. And "CBR" is a promo code good thru 9/30/07.

Sign up to receive a brochure here - I did and I got a $20 off coupon for one night's stay and 4 passes to the waterpark good thru 12/31/07!

They also have a discount program called Coco Play Dates for kids 6 & under [& their parents]. Only $15 per person on Tuesdays!

See all the info here at FamilyZip: http://www.familyzip.org/tips/970/coco_kids_bargain_tuesdays_coco_key_water_resort/

Family Music Makers

Family Music Makers has fun music classes for young children with caregivers.

Classes are offered year round. There are classes in Needham (Congregational Church on Great Plain Ave) and Wellesley (Unitarian Universalist Society on Rte 16), as well as in : Boston's Back Bay, Brookline, Cambridge, Hamilton-Wenham, and Manchester.

They also do birthday parties and offer sample classes!

Boston Birthday Bonanzas: Boston Globe

Birthday-party bonanza, Boston Globe, Sidekick page 8, June 13, 2007.

This great article gives the low down on:

Coco Key, an indoor water park in the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers, MA / Coco Key Resort, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, 978-777-2500. http://www.cocokeywaterresort.com/

New England Revolution games @ Gillette Stadium / Gillette Stadium, 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough. 508-543-3900. http://revolutionsoccer.net

The ImprovBoston Family Show / ImprovBoston, 1253 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-576-1253. http://improvboston.com

Backyard Jams, a recording studio in Pawtucket, R.I. / Backyard Jams, 25 Esten Ave., Pawtucket, R.I., 401-648-7144. http://backyardjams.com

And for at home parties:

Naomi Greenfield, balloon artist, $150 for parties / 617-501-6296. http://redballooncompany.com

Lil’ Folk Farm, ponies and petting zoo. $140 for an hour with one pony, $240 for an hour with two ponies, $350 an hour for a pony and the petting zoo / Lil’ Folk Farm, Holliston, MA 508-429-1700. http://lilfolkfarm.com

Sudbury Taylor Rental: Cotton candy & snow cone machines, moonbounces, carnival games, and hot dog steamers Sudbury Taylor Rental. You get to keep the equipment for an entire weekend. It’s $156 for a giant moonbounce and $50 for the cotton candy maker and most of the food machines.
978-443-7368. http://sudburytaylor.com

Magic man Robb Preskins - $250 / 781-523-1147. http://awesomerobb.com

http://www.boston.com/ae/sidekick/insidekick/get_out/index.html

Great Bowling in Millis @ Ryan Family Amusements

Need something fun to do on a cold or rainy day? Check out bowling in Millis at Ryan Family Amusements. Beautiful, clean bowling with bumpers for kids! http://www.ryanfamily.com Right on Route 109 in Millis! Sign up for their email list on their website for updates and coupons.

Kids Fun Stop in West Roxbury, MA

This indoor playspace has classes, birthday parties, and a drop in play space. Looks like fun.
http://www.kidsfunstop.com

Zig Zag Zone in Milford, MA

This Zig Zag Zone at John Smith Sports in Milford looks like great fun.

This soft indoor playground is for kids 1-12 years old.

Hours:
November - April: Monday - Friday 10am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 7am-12 midnight:
May-June / Sept-Oct: Sunday - Saturday 10am-6pm.
July-Aug - Monday - Saturday - 9am-5pm.

Price: $7/child for non-members, $5/child for members - both for unlimited amount of time!
(No charge for Adults) Yearly membership fee of $15 is available to everyone!!
More info at:
http://johnsmithsoccer.com/indoor/zigzagzone.asp
They have camps and birthday parties too!

Plaster Fun Time

http://www.plasterfuntime.com/
Plaster Fun Time is a great place to spend an hour or so painting away. Vacation weeks have extended hours - they open at 10am and tend to email coupons for "buy 2 get one free" - great fun. Birthday Parties too!

Maple Magic Day at Natick Community Organic Farm

From now until about mid-March, the sap will be collected and brought to the farm’s sugar shack, where the sap will be boiled down and turned into something that makes pancakes, waffles and French toast all the more special. Seeing the process from bucket to bottle will be a part of the Maple Magic Day set for Saturday, March 3, at the farm from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
See article in Dover Sherborn Press at: http://www.townonline.com/dover/homepage/8998904556536463359
More info at:
http://natickfarm.org/

The Natick Community Organic Farm also has popular summer and vacation camp programs, hosts birthday parties as well as other classes during the school year.

Indoor Playspace in Norwood!

Need to burn off some energy and get the kids out of the house? Try Kids Club Fun Land in Norwood. You can let them burn off some energy on the indoor 2 story maze, tunels, slides and air pillow. They also have video games and kiddie rides. $11.99 per child without lunch, $14.99 per child with lunch (pizza, drink and ice cream) both include 8 tokens....

http://www.kidsclubfunland.com/

Create a Cook in Newton

Create a Cook in Newton has a drop in program called "Do it yourself cake decorating" so you can decorate cakes ($8 or $14), cupcakes ($3) Mon-Fri from 11-6 or Sat 10-6. The facility is gorgeous and everyone in the two cooking classes we saw were having a blast making yummy smelling things! Great for rainy days to get them out of the house!

They also have classes, birthday parties and adult private classes too. Neat. http://www.createacook.com/

West Newton Cinema

Great theatre with kids shows and birthday party rentals!
http://www.westnewtoncinema.com/

Puppet Showplace Theatre

http://www.puppetshowplace.org/
Great Puppet Shows in Brookline at the Puppet Showplace Theatre
Vacation week special schedules and birthday parties too

Puddlestompers

New Schedule posted on Puddlestompers' website - Classes in Wellesley, Needham and Newton. Parent Talk Members are eligible for a 10% discount on Needham classes. Now they offer birthday parties too [in Newton]. Schedule at: http://puddlestompers.com/sched.htm

Needham Dance Theatre

New Class Schedule posted http://needhamdancetheatre.org/  Ballet for 3 years olds & up! Annual recital is quite an event.  New location opening soon.

Snip-Its

I never even tried taking my kids to a regular barber/salon for their first haircut.  I had heard about Snip-Its and while it can be a little over the top for the parents, the kids love it.  And it really isn't that much more expensive than say, a SuperCuts.  I have been to the one in Chestnut Hill [M-Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5], but there are also locations in Framingham, Canton and Burlington.  They even have Birthday parties that run about $20 per kid plus a $30 party fee - but I have never been to one.  They do have a lot of toys available for purchase, so if you end up having to wait for a while, that can get annoying because of course your kids want them....

Prices:  [Mar 05] $15.95 for a haircut, $6.95 for a bang trim, $9.95 for a buzz cut

Creative Movement & Arts Center - Needham

Creative Movement & Arts is a great place for classes up to age 8.  They have infant, gymnastics, ballet, spanish, music and art classes.  The birthday parties are super fun and let the parents relax. The facility is gorgeous with two HUGE playrooms with climbing structures and one smaller mirrored wall room. 

The teachers are great and my kids loved it there!  They are part of Bright Horizons and post most of the information on their website at (website is being revamped 4/28/08 - call (781) 449-2707 for info) http://centers.brighthorizons.com/CMAC/index.cfm  They are located in the office park behind the new Needham Public Library.