: North Texas Kids : Your family guide to raising happy, healthy kids

Sesame Street Live: Can’t Stop Singing Feb 21st-24th

Join Elmo, Grover and the Gang in Can’t Stop Singing February 21st – 24th

When Elmo gets his furry fingers on Abby Cadabby’s magic wand, there’s something in the air – and Sesame Street becomes a nonstop, all-singing, all-dancing musical montage! Grover and Baby Bear sing their highs and lows, Cookie Monster sings fast and slow, Bert and Ernie converse in song and Murray makes mouth music for all to sing along! Learn why it feels good to sing a song, but why it feels good to stop, too! What will Elmo learn about the power of musical magic? Join the conga line of fun to find out!

Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Celebration

Turn Back Time the Ball Drops at Nine! New Year’s Eve Celebration

December 31st from 6:30-9pm at Fairview Farms

Families today are struggling just to survive. Social, economic and time pressures have robbed parents of the ability to slow down and invest the time needed to create healthy relationships with each other and their children. This missing foundation of “intentional quality” family time has huge implications for children, marriages and the community at large.

The holiday season is no different. The holidays should be about family connection, but instead this is a time where stress, hurry and tension are more top of mind than love, relationships and purpose.

This Side UP! Family Center (a local family-strengthening non-profit) and The City of Plano’s Police and 9-1-1 Departments have teamed up to provide a solution to holiday over-stress!

Continue Reading

Family Fun at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

By Mina Frannea

Every time we drive by the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, I’m intrigued by the design and the building’s textured look. Coupled with the cool looking enclosed escalator on the outside of the building, the overall effect is really interesting and unusual.

We recently got a chance to visit the Perot. Up close, the building is an architectural treat!

There is so much to see and do at the Perot. Multi-level exhibits offer a chance to learn about animals, our planet, our bodies, technology, science, engineering and so much more. Those of you who visited the old Museum of Nature and Science may recall that it was split into two buildings. The new museum combines everything into one building that is convenient and easy to navigate. There’s also a children’s museum on the lower level for little ones.

DTC’s Christmas Carol: A Fresh Take on Dickens’ Timeless Classic

Review of A Christmas Carol Presented by Dallas Theater Center

by Mina Frannea

We saw Dallas Theater Center’s production of A Christmas Carol at the Kalita Humphreys Theater recently.

This adaptation of Dickens’ classic by Richard Hellesen is in its eight and final season at the Kalita Humphreys. Although we were expecting the usual story of Ebeneezer Scrooge, we were blown away by the quality of the production. The diverse cast and their stellar performances were a treat. We also enjoyed the dramatic special effects and sounds that underscored scenes such as booming clock chimes, rattling chains, eerie fog and lightning strikes. All of this combined created a gripping backdrop for the performance.

Sci-Tech is Throwing a Big New Year’s Bash and You’re Invited!

Ring in the New Year with Family Friendly Fun at Sci-Tech Discovery Center

On December 31st from 3:00pm-5:30pm, Sci-Tech Discovery Center will be hosting our second annual New Year’s Eve celebration and you’re invited!

There will be games, crafts, hands-on-activities as well as refreshments. This will also be your last opportunity to explore our amazing Animal Grossology exhibit.

Cirque Banquiste Presented by Lone Star Circus

All-New Circus Extravaganza Celebrates the Arrival of the New Year

Lone Star Circus presents Cirque Banquisté!, a breathtaking, family friendly, circus extravaganza that illuminates the imagination with performances from an international galaxy of circus superstars. Acrobats, aerialists, hand balancers, jugglers, clowns and contortionists perform together to create the most sensational circus extravaganza DFW has ever seen. Banquisté!, a shimmering spectacular of awe-inspiring proportions, celebrates the end of 2012 and the dawn of the New Year. This dazzling new production features celebrated artists from all over the world including Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Russia and the United States.

From the moment the curtain opens, you’ll be swept away on an emotion-stirring, magical journey. Check out a review of last year’s performance. You can also learn about Lone Star Circus founder, Fanny Kerwich, an 8th generation circus performer.

Performance Schedule
Thursday, December 27 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 28 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 29 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 30 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Monday, December 31 at 6:30 pm
Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 2:00 pm

Playing at Rosewood Center for Family Arts (Dallas Children’s Theater) from December 27th through January 1, 2013.

Scrapbooking for a Positive Family-Image

As the Holidays Approach, Start a New Family Tradition with Scrapbooking

By Dr. Caron Goode

We are all aware of what a positive self-image can do for a person. It gives him the confidence to achieve more. It picks him up when he is down. It makes it possible for him to enjoy life to the fullest. The same holds true for families. Like individuals, every family has its ups and downs. Situations such as illness, separation, divorce, and parent-child power struggles can dent a positive family-image. One way to offset the effects of these situations is to involve the family in a group project.