Time to get a little more creative on how to celebrate your child’s birthday in the time of quarantine. After the birthday party parade is over, here are some suggestions to help you host a virtual, online birthday party. Since virtual doesn’t require “local” the people mentioned below are from all over the USA including California, New York, and Massachusetts.
Apart Party – They hit the spot with this offering: Games, laughs, and magic fun.
Bubble Dad – Bubbles and birthdays, what else do I need to say. Bubble Dad will host a virtual bubble show with magic and more.
Circus Science Zoom Show – Greg May has been entertaining people for years, particularly in Howard County, Maryland. This former Ringling Brothers Clown has brought some science to his act and perfected it online for virtual kids Zoom parties. Greg is great. Sure to be fun.
Scott Dietrich Magic Show – Scott Dietrich offers to bring his award winning magic to your child’s birthday party virtually. Magic, animals, and even balloon sculpting.
Tricky Tim Magic Show – Tricky Tim’s magic offering looks like a load of fun. Save the birthday party and invite Tim!
Jumpin’ Jams – Virtual music birthday. This is a fantastic way to have some fun and bring music to your guests.
CyberJams – A rockin’ 45 minute virtual birthday party, sure to get kids’ attention. The birthday boy or girl will take part in a musical performance.
Chris Palmieri Puppeteer – How about a puppet show for some great fun. A memorable show from a world-class performer.
The Pit – Since you can’t really “go” anywhere to celebrate your kid’s birthday, why not go somewhere you wouldn’t probably go “virtually.” The Pit is one of those opportunities. A Broadway impromptu performance. How cool!
Robert the Guitar Guy – Add some live, personalized music to your child’s online birthday party.
Guardian Adventures – Take an online interactive journey with your birthday hero at the center of the story. Fight monsters and save the world along the way. Possible themes include: Medieval, Warrior Princess, Superheroes, and Zombies.
https://youtu.be/2BQx-aky1xM
Games
Virtual Game Truck Party – Let the gaming experts from Game Truck handle the fun. Gaming party with kids together online.
Classes
The Art Farm – Consider streaming a live, virtual class from New York City’s famous “Art Farm.” Choose from arts, cooking, music, and more.
STEM
IMAG Museum – This world-famous museum in Florida can help you with a fun and educational birthday party for the cost of a $25 (or more) donation. Host a STEM-wars party.
Mad Science – Entertaining virtual kids parties with science.
Science Guys of Baltimore – Live stream birthday parties that consist of a 35-40 minute show with experiments, bubbling potions, and explosions.
Sky Zone – Sky Zone is offering FREE virtual birthday parties. See their video so you’ll know what the party is like. Unfortunately, there is a waiting list for the parties at this time–but why not sign up, heck, have two parties.
https://youtu.be/wafv3IB8ZE8
By now, most people have probably figured out a video chat platform that works for them. But in case you want to host your own party, I might suggest Google Meet or Houseparty. Both are great choices for easy setup and universal access.
Are you looking for some ideas for places to have your child’s birthday party in Baltimore County? If you need ideas, here is my list of birthday party places around Baltimore County and other areas of Maryland, including nearby in Howard CountyMontgomery County, and Anne Arundel County for toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens.
With each idea I try to include links to Amazon.com for some ideas for party favors and sometimes educational gifts that go along with the party theme.
First, here are some of the more typical birthday party place ideas from around Baltimore County. These are popular and possibly done too often (I am purposely not mentioning bouncy parties–I am so tired of them!), but kids of the right ages will usually have a great time:
Laser tag (Ages 6+) Red Zone Adventures in Lutherville is a great place for a fun birthday party. Although alot of kids have laser tag birthday parties–there is a good reason. They have a great time every time! This is a good kids party place for older kids and teens. Locations: Lutherville/Timonium ✳Party Favor Ideas: LED Bumpy Ring, Magnetic drawing tablets, Mini LED carabiner Flashlights
Bowling (Ages 8+) Bowling parties are a great idea for older kids. The younger ones who may have trouble handling the ball will enjoy it less, and may get frustrated, even with bumpers in place. I’d definitely, strongly recommend using a duckpin alley because the balls are smaller and lighter so it’s a better venue for birthdays, especially for the younger kids. There is one in Parkville that offers kid’s parties. Locations: Parkville ✳Party Favor Ideas: ✳LED Rubberband Helicopters ✳(I love these!) or Rocket Copters
Movie Parties (Ages 4+) Kids love going to the movies. Most people don’t think of it, but you can host a great party at some movie theaters. A great example in Balt. County is Cinemark in Towson. The theater has a party room, and if you have twenty or more guests, you can even do a private movie screening. Pretty cool! With the right movie, this party is a good idea for any age, and it’s definitely a great party place for toddlers. Locations: Towson ✳Party Favor Ideas: Kid’s Card Games, Mini Uno Cards, Puffy Kush Balls
Pool Parties(Age Range 1+) Indoor and outdoor pool parties are always fun for kids of any age from toddlers to teens. Great for a 1st birthday party. If your child likes swimming they’ll probably love the idea of inviting their friends to a swim party. There are lots of options for outdoor parties in the summer, but winter/colder months will require some research. As far as I know, your best bet in Baltimore County would be the YMCA, for example I know that the Y in Catonsville offers birthday parties, but I am not able to find a page for this on the website. They definitely have a great pool for indoor pool parties in Baltimore County. Kid’s First Swim School in Perry Hall, and Dundalk offers parties that would be good for younger kids. Same with Goldfish Swim School in Owings Mills. These are especially good for toddler birthday parties. Otherwise, you may want to consider places like the Columbia Association swimming pools in Howard County. Locations: Catonsville, Dundalk, Cockeysville, Owings Mills, Perry Hall ✳Party Favor Ideas: Water Toys, Goggles, Flip-Flop Keychains, Hawaiian Flower Leis, Hibiscus Flower Hair Clips
Gymnastics Parties(Ages 2+) These parties tend to work out great — especially for toddler birthdays and for other younger kids. Everyone has fun running, jumping, and playing on gymnastics equipment, not to mention it’s great exercise. There are lots of gyms that offer birthday parties in Baltimore County. For example Rebounders in Timonium offers great parties as does Gymboree on Rossville Rd. ✳Party Favor Ideas: Ribbon Wands, Necklaces, Jump Ropes
Indoor Parkour(Age Range +) Kids love to climb. The Alternate Routes gym in White Marsh takes it to the next level with indoor parkour birthday parties. Kids will train in a simulated urban environment to overcome obstacles. In short, they’ll have a great time getting worn out climbing and jumping. Sure to be a great birthday party. ✳Parkour Party Favor Ideas:Lego Bricks, Jump Ropes, Create Your Own Bouncy Balls Kit
The National Aquarium – This is a great opportunity to take a group to the aquarium. There are a couple of ways I would suggest doing this. You can officially book a party at the aquarium, and that makes sense if you want to have a reserved space, etc. But depending on how many people you wish to bring, you may be able to work it out by purchasing a membership. Memberships are a great value, for instance at the $250 “Ocean Ambassador” level you can bring in 4 adults and 6 kids (age 21 or younger) for a year. And you can come at any time – no timed entries like regular tickets. For bigger groups, you can get a group rate. (At this time, due to Covid, hosted birthday parties may not be available)
Wonderfly Arena(Ages 3+) This is definitely a fun kind of party for even the tiny tots to teenagers. Imagine a party in a hamster ball. Just keep in mind that keeping these giant balls moving is alot of exercise with lots of motion–meaning people who aren’t in the best shape or get dizzy might not have fun. They do have other party options though! Locations: Arbutus ✳Wonderfly Party Favor Ideas: Silly Putty Balls
Chuck E Cheese’s(Ages 3-7) I am not the biggest fan of Chuck E Cheese, but I know many families like it. There is a location in Catonsville. Token prices are low—maybe around 20 cents each depending on which package you get. This is a great party venue for toddlers and younger children.
Urban Air – Lots of fun attractions for a birthday party here. Located in Towson, this is a good option and kids are definitely going to have fun.
And here are some more unusual ideas. These parties are possibly more memorable because they are more likely to be “one offs” that none of their classmates or friends have already done:
Escape Room Party(Age ) There are a few escape room locations in the Baltimore area. The one I have experience with is Breakout Games (Timonium and Columbia). They offer several types of games. I am told that the best choice for kids is Museum Heist. They have no party room, and there isn’t really a group rate. You can just visit their website and purchase the number of tickets you need.Please note that you have to have an adult in the party and the maximum number of people is 8. So the most you can have is 7 kids. Still this is a great party, especially for older kids (Younger kids might find it frustrating rather than fun).
Fencing(Ages 8+) I am not sure if there is a fencing club in Baltimore County, however in Baltimore City there’s Chesapeake Fencing Club and then there’s the Baltimore Fencing Center in Columbia in Ellicott City, MD . Both of which have a great facility for unusual birthday parties. Guests learn the basics of fencing and can get a little practice in at the party. If you’re looking a different kind of party location, this is your place. Locations: Ellicott City, Baltimore City
Nature Center Parties(Ages 2+) There are several choices around Baltimore County for Nature Center birthday parties. One of the best is Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills. They have an excellent offering at a reasonable price. Fun for children of all ages. Location: Owings Mills ✳Party Favor Ideas: Animal noses
Craft Parties(Ages 4+) There are lots of options for this. One easy one is to have your party at either Michael’s (for example the one in Owings Mills/Reisterstown) or JoAnn Fabrics (stores in Parkville and Cockeysville). You may also want to check out Social Studio in Roland Park/Baltimore. Locations: Parkville, Cockeysville, Baltimore
Pottery Parties(Ages 6+) Paint your own pottery is a great idea for a birthday party. Kids in kindergarten and beyond will enjoy paint parties with their friends. In the Baltimore area, one of the best places is in Catonsville — the Pottery Cove. ✳Party Favor Ideas: Playdough, Magnetic drawing tablets, Putty Balls Locations: Catonsville
iFly(Ages 3+) An amazing new venue in White Marsh! Possibly the most unusual idea on this list, indoor skydiving would make for a wonderful birthday party place. Your boy or girl will never forget this birthday party! Be warned, this is a bit of a pricey option, at the end, each child will probably only get maybe 2 to 4 minutes of flying time. I would suggest that due to the amount of patience needed while waiting for your turn to fly, this venue is best for kids older than 7 even though toddlers are welcome. Locations: White Marsh ✳Party Favor Ideas: Parachute Cord Bracelets, LED Finger Lights
Rock Climbing(Ages 5+) Earth Treks has an amazing facility in Timonium that makes a wonderful place to host a bdp. Your kids will also definitely enjoy ClimbZone in White Marsh. Lots of great things to climb there. Locations: Timonium, White Marsh
Toy Store Party at AmuseToys(Ages 2-6) In Pikesville (Baltimore County). Parties in the lab are great fun. This is definitely a different kind of place to hold a birthday party. Locations: Pikesville
Indoor Playground(Ages 3 – 7) Kiddie Crusoe might be a good party place option for younger kids. Large indoor playground & party room.
Rent a pavillion at Local Park(Ages 2+) The tire park at the Hilton area of Patapsco State Park. This is a two acre playground made from recycled tires. Loads of fun and the nearby pavilions for a barbeque or just to hang out and do a craft. This is an inexpensive party venue, especially if you want to have lots of children attend. This is a particularly great party location for the warmer months. Locations: Catonsville ✳Party Favor Ideas: Sidewalk Chalk, Bubble Wands, Beach Balls
Fire Station Birthdays(Ages 3-7) Many people don’t even know that you can host a birthday party at some of the fire stations in Baltimore County (Pikesville). I know quite a few kids who love fire trucks and love birthdays…so why not combine the two. It’s fun for the kids, and they get some fire safety tips too! My only caveat would be that an emergency could potentially cut the party short. As an alternative, there is a Fire Museum in Towson that provides a pretty good bdp experience. It’s an interesting place for both adults and children. Toddlers are likely to get a thrill seeing all the fire equipment. ✳A great gift to go with this birthday party would be a pair of walkie talkies. Here is one suggestion for a pretty good pair–but please read my caveats about them in my gift ideas for brainy kids blog post. Locations: Towson, Pikesville, and other fire stations around Baltimore County.
Zoo Parties(Ages 1+) Wherever you are in Baltimore County, the Maryland Zoo isn’t very far. They offer great birthday party packages, and it is sure to be a great time for kids of all ages. Toddlers will really enjoy looking at all the animals, and even 8-year-olds and 9-year olds will have fun. The zoo is relatively small, which is really a plus. They do a great job of highlighting the animals, habitats, and ecology. A great place for a Maryland birthday party. Locations: Baltimore City ✳Party Favor Ideas: Zoo Animal Headbands, Cat Keychains, Magic Snake
Aviation Museum Party(Ages 5+) This is a bit of a different kind of party. The airplane museum in Middle River offers birthday parties that are interesting, educational, and fun. Locations: Middle River, Maryland ✳Party Favor Ideas: Inflatable Airplanes, foam gliders
Port Discovery(Ages 2 – 8) (Located in Baltimore City near the Inner Harbor) – Always a popular place to take kids for any reason, Port Discovery makes a great place for a birthday celebration. Depending on the package you get, this can be a rather pricey place to hold your party, and you really need to plan ahead because they need 2 months notice in most cases. Still, this is sure to be a fun, memorable experience for your child and their friends.
Granite Rose Tea Parlour(Ages 11+) Located in charming Granite, Md in Southwest Baltimore County ) – If you’re thinking of an especially fancy birthday party venue, this might be the place for you. Hosted in an authentic Victorian house, kids will enjoy attending a “real” tea party. I think this would be a great party for 11-year olds, and older, but if say you are looking for ideas for 7-year olds…perhaps extra-well-behaved 7-year-olds, they might also find this party interesting. Party Favor Ideas: Tea Party Hats,White Formal Gloves, Friendship Bracelets
Trampoline Party(Ages 5+) (Timonium) – SkyZone is the place to go for a trampoline party. Great atmosphere, lots of options including “sensory” jump hours for quieter time for kids with special needs. I hesitate a bit on this one, because I am concerned about safety issues–people do get hurt at these kind of places and that can really spoil a good time, especially if it is a serious injury. Having said that, SkyZone does a pretty good job of making trampolines as safe as possible.
IKEA – (Ages 13+) This might sound a little odd, but for some kinds, a party at IKEA may be great for teens and older kids. Friends dine in the cafe, and then have fun checking out the rooms. Photo contest anyone? $5 or less cactus plants for party favors…$1 ice cream cones. What could be better? Location: Whitemarsh
Hopefully this list of party ideas helps you out. If you can think of any places I missed, please comment below. Don’t forget to check out my list of gifts for gifted kids.
Educational video classes and other learning fun learning opportunities
This break in school is definitely an opportunity for parents to get to know their kids’ academic strengths and weaknesses, in case they don’t already.
The good news is that there are loads of fantastic educational websites — many of which are normally for pay, but are free for now. Some include video lessons and classes, distance learning, others are paid courses.
Here are a few popular sites. I have selected them by hand, so I hope you’ll find something that will engage your child in the list below:
Khan Academy – This is very helpful, free website with loads of educational videos on all sorts of topics. It’s “gamified” so your child can earn points and badges as they progress through lessons.
The videos are broken down into very specific how-to’s so you can zero right in on what you want to learn, or just follow along a given course. I very highly recommend this site. Here is a daily schedule for various grade levels using Khan resources. Grades Pre-K and above.
Khan Academy (again!) – This is a special mention because I really like this activity – Imagineering in a box. “Designed to pull back the curtain to show you how artists, designers and engineers work together to create theme parks.”
Outschool – For a VERY limited time FREE $100 credit for classes (Sign up here) I think this is a great opportunity for kids to learn. They have classes that are prerecorded, and others that have a live teacher that teaches your child along with classmates via video lessons. One of my children is currently taking a language class from this site and it’s really working well. I just signed the other up for an American Sign Language class. Grades Pre-K and above.
Varsity Tutors – Free live online classes for K-12. Wide variety of courses.
Learn At Home with YouTube – Great list of educational channels on YouTube. I like Crash Courses and It’s Okay to Be Smart.
Coding schools – Ok, now would be a good idea for kids who may have some interest in learning computer programming to take some courses or improve their skills with practice. There are some wonderful options for kids of all ages to get started. Here are three popular choices:
Code Kingdoms – Very good choice to get started coding!
HourofCode is a great example, and it is very well done. Honestly, great for any age. Grades Pre-K and above.
Scratch very good for kids age 6 to 12. Fun, entertaining. Grades 1 and above.
Code.org also a great option for learning to code. Grades 3 and above.
CodeAcademy – another great resource with free and paid lessons.
The classes are on just about any imaginable topic. Some are self-guided, others are “live” in that if you pay a fee, you can submit work for grading and you have to complete work in a given time frame. Grades 8 and above.
Linked In Learning/Lynda.com – Lynda offers a huge collection of online classes, mostly aimed at adults, but older kids/teens would benefit from many of them. For example, they have courses in Photoshop and other digital art tools that kids could benefit from. (Moms or dads would probably also find a worthwhile topic) Howard County Library offers it for free to their patrons, but if your library system doesn’t, the cost to join Lynda is not very expensive and is month to month. Grades 6 and above.
Instructables – I love this website. Loads of crafts, and other how-to’s on a wide variety of topics. Most kids are likely to find something that interests them–these would be good for parents and children to do together. (Thanks to Milanjali for the suggestion to add this one!)
CommonLit – Reading and writing program. Free. Parents have to go through a verification process, but this is a worthwhile platform with guides for teachers and parents. Grades 3 to 12.
Learn a language with Duolingo. This is a fun, easy way for your child to learn a language or learn more of a language they already know. You may also check with your local library to see if they have any other online language learning resources. For example, Howard County Library offers Rosetta Stone for free. I like Rosetta Stone for a few reasons, but top among them is the fact that it can listen to your pronunciation and tell you if you have it right.
I would also mention that one of my kids is taking live online language lessons on Outschool.com. It’s working great even though the teachers and all of the students are in different states. Grades 4 and above.
Prodigy Math – Math activities for grades 1 – 8. Grades 1 – 8.
Delta Math – My kids are using this now. Lots of great activities. Create a free account as a teacher to get started.
First in Math– This is a great math resource with entertaining games and world-wide competitions. Paid subscription ($20 for 6 months).
iCivics.org – Great stuff on this site — this is a link to some excellent social studies games…including a game where you have to get the votes in a run for president.
Get out your library card and check to see what kind of electronic learning resources your local library has. (Note that in many places, you can get a access to libraries anywhere in your state and beyond).
Do a project. This is one of the best ways to learn. Here is an article about project based learning–at the end of it are 15 ideas for projects including things like redesigning your city’s public transport system and solve your parents’ problem of being too busy.
StarFall – This is a venerable, popular website for younger kids. Great fun. Grades Pre-K – 3.
Whizzimo.com – Free until July. Help for different learners including Orton-Gillingham.
This Way Up – Great mental health resource. This is a link to their Covid page, but be sure and look at all of their offerings.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth – Very well reputed online courses. This one is here because it’s a great option for some kids. The courses definitely aren’t free (quite the opposite), and you have to get accepted into the program.
This could be a problem under quarantine since you have to test into the program.
MobyMax and ListenWise – These two are suggestions for schools and school districts rather than individual families: MobyMax helps your child catch up to grade level. This is great for different learners or learners struggling with school. It’s free for the rest of the school year. Call 888-793-8331 to get started. Listenwise offers articles and podcasts about a variety of subjects, and can be effective for different learners.
Plan an end of break “dream” party. “Money is no object” for this activity. Organize lists of needed materials, budgets, etc. What would the party look like? Who would be invited? Make invitations.
Where would it be held? What kind of music would be played?
Use a Google Doc or Google Sheet to keep track of everything. Find photos of needed items online and paste them into your document. Share with a friend.
There are also social story sharing websites where kids could share their writing with others. I’d recommend adult supervision, but for example, Wattpad is very popular and Underlined is also a good option for teen writers.
Slime is banned from my house, but if it’s not banned from yours (or you are desperate for a fun activity and have the ingredients) here is a video tutorial. (Also see the “Do Science” section below!) Grades 1 and above.
Go on a scavenger hunt outside. There are loads of suggest lists of things to find on various sites (eg – Find something that starts with “M”, find something purple…)
Hold a photo contest. This could be between family members or friends. Pick a theme. If you want to have judges (not necessarily recommended), upload the photos to Facebook without credit or explanation and see which one gets the most likes. If a contest is too much or you don’t have enough people to compete, just do a funny photo shoot and take the silliest photos of each other possible.
Write a play – You and your child can work together to create a script for a skit or play. How about working with a friend via video call to brainstorm the plot together? Some kids will need some help getting started. Check out these writing prompts for ideas.
Read. Here is a reading list if your child or teen isn’t sure what to read. If we’re lucky, those of us who aren’t quarantined could still go to the local library. But if not, your local library probably has a great collection of electronic books that you can access online or download to your Kindle/e-Reader. The Howard County Library has a few options including “Overdrive.”
In the worst case, you could purchase Kindle books from Amazon (If you have Amazon Prime, you may get free books to borrow.)
Games and online fun
Here are some ideas for some ideas for fun, some of the suggestions may even be educational.
One of my kid’s teachers suggested the Plague Incorporated simulation game. It’s actually really good, and you can consider it topical, if not possibly touchy. The goal is to create a super-virus to decimate the Earth’s population. Rather than directly link to the game, I am linking to the Common Sense Media reviews of it, so you, the parent can decide if this is a good idea. They recently added a mode that let’s players try to prevent the spread of a disease!
This might also be a good time to go back to SimCity. See other science games in my list below under “Do science.”
ABCYa. The learning kind of sneaks up on you. Great for younger kids, but there are definitely some fun opportunities for older kids up to 6th grade on this site. Grades Pre-K – 6.
Microsoft has made Minecraft Education Edition free for those with Office 365 education accounts through their schools. Here is the form to request access.
Although I am not the biggest fan of worksheets, these free downloads will be helpful for parents who need something quick and easy for their kids to do. Worksheets have their place, but parents who have additional time may want to consider the idea of working on a project with their student instead (or in addition).
Have a family sing along or a home karaoke session. Use YouTube for karaoke or try one of the a cappella apps to create your own cool arrangements. Look up rounds on the internet and try singing them together. (Thanks Debra T)
Take turns playing your favorite songs for each other – the things you used to listen to as a young person, and the things they like to listen to now. Notice similarities and differences in style and production. Then check out a style you don’t usually listen to and try to figure out what people enjoy about it.(Thanks Debra T)
Have an iPad or iPhone? Now would be a great time to learn how to use Garage Band. So much fun. Why not have your child come up with a new ring tone for you to use when they call you or a family theme song! Garage Band is free from Apple. Here’s an introduction on YouTube…bonus: the presenter sounds like Shrek.
Planet Fitness – “Starting Monday, tune in to Facebook Live for FREE at-home workouts for anyone and everyone. Get moving with our trainers and even some surprise celebrity guests for a 20 minute workout to relieve stress and stay healthy.” (Thank you Kathy H)
Get out that old bread maker. Everyone loves fresh bread, and your kids will enjoy helping to make something the whole family will enjoy. Of course you’ll need to have yeast on hand, but there’s a good chance you have the rest of the needed ingredients. There are loads of great recipes out there…Our challenge this break will be to make rolls that are most similar to Subway Italian bread. TIP: If you don’t have a bread maker, just visit your local thrift shop, there’s a strong chance of finding one there.
Cooking contests. If you have more than one child, hold a cooking contest. Think Kids Baking Championship or Cutthroat Kitchen. Or see who can come up with the lowest cost recipe using staple items from your pantry. Grades Pre-K and up.
I know this suggestion will not be possible for most people, but if you’re one of the lucky people with access to any type of high-end or low-end virtual reality gear, there are some really cool virtual field trips that really make you feel like you’re “there.”
For an over-the-top, absolutely amazing experience, I’ve heard great things about the Oculus Quest and Oculus Go (which is the cheaper of the two). That’s the higher-end, but you and your kids can definitely get a feel for this with much cheaper options. For example, Google Cardboard or items like this from Amazon that use your smartphone to power the experience.
If you haven’t tried virtual reality yet, I’d just say it can be surprisingly good. Side note is that I believe this is the future of the future for many aspects of school.
Didn’t find any activities you liked? Here is another list that someone posted on Facebook with more quarantine activities for kids. Definitely has some great ideas for things to do!
Duckpin Bowling White Oak(Ages 8+) Bowling parties can be fun for kids. The key is to go to an alley that has duckpins rather then standard balls. This is because duckpin smaller balls are much easier for toddlers/younger kids to handle. There are obviously a few bowling alleys in Montgomery County, but I only know of one with duckpins: White Oak (near Silver Spring). Locations: White Oak ✳Bowling Party Favor Ideas: ✳LED Rubberband Helicopters ✳(I love these!) or Rocket Copters
Movie Parties (Ages 4+) With the right movie, a movie theater birthday party can be a fantastic choice. This can take a bit of planning and luck to be sure an appropriate movie is going to be playing when it’s time for your child’s birthday. One option would be the Arclight Theaters in Montgomery Mall. The party goers could enjoy the movie and then a party in the mall at the Food Court. Locations: Bethesda ✳Movie Party Favor Ideas: Kid’s Card Games, Mini Uno Cards, Puffy Kush Balls
Indoor Parkour(Age Range 7+) Kids love to climb. Bolt Gym in North Bethesda takes it to the next level with indoor parkour birthday parties. Kids will train in a simulated urban environment to overcome obstacles. In short, they’ll have a great time getting worn out climbing and jumping. Sure to be a great birthday party. Location: Bethesda Party Favor Ideas: Lucky Bambo, Jump Ropes (*or better quality jump ropes), hula hoops
Chuck E Cheese’s(Ages 3-7) I am not the biggest fan of Chuck E Cheese, but I know many families like it. There is a location in Rockville and Takoma Park. Token prices are low—maybe around 20 cents each depending on which package you get. This is a great party venue for toddlers. Locations: Rockville, Takoma Park
Here are some other ideas that aren’t as popular. This will give your kid the chance to do something more unusual:
Escape Room Party(Age 11+) There is an escape room in Rockville – A Game of Rooms. They offer several types of games. There is a conference room available for rent for parties, but there isn’t really a group rate. You can just visit their website and purchase the number of tickets you need. You need to be 11 or older to enjoy this birthday place. Keep in mind that the puzzles are very challenging and some might find it frustrating instead of fun. Location: Rockville ✳Escape Room Party Favor Ideas: Mini Magnetic Board Games, Mini Rubics Cubes, Mini Teaser Puzzles, Snake Twist Cube Toy
Nature Center Parties(Ages 2+) There are several choices around the Montgomery County area for Nature Center birthday parties. Consider Green Meadows Petting Farm in Ijamsville, or Black Hill in Boyds. They have several types of parties available. Bonus suggestion: Just over the Montgomery County line in Frederick County is Gaver’s Farm in Mount Airy – beautiful place to have a party, but only available in the fall! Location: Boyds ✳Nature Center Party Favor Ideas: Succulent Plants, Worm on a string
Craft Parties(Ages 4+) Kids can have a great time at craft parties. There are several options for locations including Michael’s Stores and JoAnn Fabrics. Locations: Rockville, Wheaton
Pottery Parties(Ages 6+) Paint your own pottery is a great idea for a birthday party. Kids in kindergarten and beyond will enjoy paint parties with their friends. Color Me Mine in Rockville is a great choice for this type of party. Locations: Rockville ✳Pottery Party Favor Ideas: Playdough, Magnetic drawing tablets, Putty Balls
iFly(Ages 3+) An amazing venue in Gaithersburg! Possibly the most unusual idea on this list, indoor skydiving would make for a wonderful birthday party place. Your boy or girl will never forget this birthday party! Be warned, this is a bit of a pricey option, at the end, each child will probably only get maybe 2 to 4 minutes of flying time. I would suggest that due to the amount of patience needed while waiting for your turn to fly, this venue is best for kids older than 7 even though toddlers are welcome. Locations: Gaithersburg ✳iFly Party Favor Ideas: Parachute Cord Bracelets, LED Finger Lights
Rock Climbing(Ages 5+) Earth Treks is a fantastic place to host a birthday party. The location in Rockville on Gude Drive is convenient for all of Montgomery County. Locations: Rockville
Fire Station Birthdays(Ages 3-7) Many people don’t even know that you can host a birthday party at some of the fire stations in Montgomery County (Potomac). I know quite a few kids who love fire trucks and love birthdays…so why not combine the two. It’s fun for the kids, and they get some fire safety tips too! My only caveat would be that an emergency could potentially cut the party short. ✳A great gift to go with this birthday party would be a pair of walkie talkies. Here is one suggestion for a pretty good pair–but please read my caveats about them in my gift ideas for brainy kids blog post. Locations: Cabin John/Potomac, Rockville.
Day Spa Parties(Ages 4 – 14) There are some great spas in Potomac, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, and Silver Spring that can host children’s birthday parties. One option would be Cutesy Celebrations in Kentlands/Gaithersburg. They offer spa parties and tea party theme packages for kids. Locations: Around Montgomery County, Kentlands
Imagination Stage(Ages 2 – 8) Why not have a dramatic birthday party with a show or class at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. This is sure to be great fun and it’s a one of a kind kids party venue. Location: Downtown Bethesda ✳Theater Party Favor Ideas:Tea Party Hats,White Formal Gloves
Indoor Miniature Golf (Ages 8+) Monster Mini-Golf is an interesting place to have a birthday party for older kids. The place is dark, flashy, and rather loud in my experience, and I realize that for many kids this will be a plus. Since it’s also coupled with “monsters” it might be a little bit too creepy for younger kids, so I’d steer you away from this place for kids 7 or younger. Location: Gaithersburg ✳Miniature Golf Party Favor Ideas:Colorful Mechanical Pencils, Noise Putty, Active Flyers
Music Birthday Parties(Ages 4+) There are some options for music-related birthday party fun. One venue suggestion is Bach to Rock in Gaithersburg featuring a two hour jam session for 7 year olds and older kids. They also have programs for kids 4 and older as well.
✳Bonus Idea:For any birthday party, consider getting a photo booth. These can be great fun and provide lasting memories. Choose your photo booth provider carefully. I’ve had great luck with Shelly’s Sweet Photo Booth (410) 961-2983. ✳
Hopefully this list of party ideas helps you out. If you can think of any places I missed, please comment below. Don’t forget to check out my list of gifts for gifted kids.
SEE MY LIST OF 33+ IDEAS FOR KIDS’ BIRTHDAY PARTIES IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD BELOW
Are you looking for a great place to host your child’s birthday party?
There are so many choices, but unfortunately, many parents return to the same old places again and again – for example, bounce houses.
Below you’ll find some other party ideas that may be a bit more creative. Please note that this is my own collection of birthday party place ideas – no business have paid to be on it. The list contains links to party favor ideas which are sponsored by and link to Amazon.com.
This list of birthday party ideas is mainly for people who live in or near Anne Arundel County, but if you live elsewhere, there are probably similar places near you!
Where to have children’s birthday parties in Anne Arundel County:
Whole Foods Cooking Lesson Party (Ages 5+) The the Whole Foods in Annapolis has a closed off kitchen area where they hold classes and parties. The kids will get a cooking lesson and learn about the store. If you’re looking to hold a baking birthday party, this is definitely the place. When I attended a party at Whole Foods Annapolis, we made guacamole in a bag, which was great for a party for 6-year olds. Older kids can make more serious culinary creations. Unfortunately, not available for toddlers. Location: Annapolis
Go Kart Speedway (Ages 5+) in Crofton Maryland. Looks like a blast. This venue doesn’t really have a reservation system, so you just show up with your party and have a ball. This would be especially good if it’s a last minute party. There will be plenty of fun and smiles. Location: Crofton Party Favor Ideas: Balloon Racers, Balloon Helicopter Racers
Craft parties (Ages 4-10): Have your party at Michael’s Craft Store. Michael’s provides a party room where your group can do a craft together. Location: Bowie, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Hanover
Jewelry Making at Twisted Bead and Rock Shop (Ages 5+): The twisted bead is located in Edgewater and has jewelry making options for all ages. Location: Edgewater
Paint Parties (Ages 5+): Muse Paintbar in Annapolis hosts kids parties where they can paint on canvas or glasses. The painted masterpiece is the party favor. Location: Annapolis Towne Centre
Is your child a cat lover? (Ages 7+) Have a birthday party at Kittens in Cups on defense Highway in Annapolis. Cafe setting with a dozen or more cuddly cats to play with.
Indoor pool parties (Ages 2+) There are many places in Anne Arundel County where you can hold an indoor pool party. For example, at Kid’s First Swim School in Severna Park you can hold a party for about $250 for an hour of swimming and an hour of room use. There are also other venues that offer kids’ pool parties. For example, the North Arundel Aquatic Center is a great choice. They also have a party room and very reasonable rates for large parties. This is a great birthday party place for toddlers, but usually the parents are going to have to swim with their kids. Location: Severna Park, Glen Burnie Fees: $225-$350 Party favor idea: Goggles and water toys
Rock climbing parties (Ages 5+) There aren’t any notable rock climbing facilities in AA County. If Laurel isn’t too far away, consider a party at ClimbZone. The place is really fun with some very creative climbing walls including a giant book shelf and “Mount Rushmore”. You may want to check with the Pip Moyer Center in Annapolis, as they do have a climbing wall there. Also, see Big Vanilla, below. Location: Laurel
Ballet and dance parties (Ages 2-10) The Annapolis Dance Academy in Arnold is a great choice for kid’s BDPs.
Location: Annapolis
Gymnastics parties (Ages 2-10) Severna Park Gymnastics does great parties for kids. Works well for girls or boys. Also, in Severna Park is We Rock the Spectrum, a perfect place for a birthday party for a child with autism…their value proposition sounds great: “Finally a Place Where You Never Have to Say I’m Sorry” Location: Severna Park Party Favor Ideas: Ribbon Wands, Necklaces
Build-A-Bear (Ages 2-7) – Kids of love Build-a-Bear parties. The location in Annapolis mall does a great job with parties. Consider having snacks in the food court area before the party. Location: Annapolis Mall
Bowling parties (Ages 5+) Bowling parties can be fun, but I would caution parents to steer towards older kids with this idea. Even with bumpers, the game can be frustrating for younger children. Definitely go for duck pins if possible. Although they are relatively rare, the bowling alley in Severna Park still has them. By the way, the Severna Park alley is a great environment and kids older than 7 are sure to have a great time there. My only complaint about this place is that the food choices just aren’t healthy. For example, their popcorn is full of chemicals. If you have a party here, you aren’t allowed to bring in your own food except for a cake. Glen Burnie also has a duck pin alley. There are certainly other bowling alleys in Anne Arundel County such as Crofton Bowling and Annapolis Bowl, but no duck pins there. Location: Severna Park, Glen Burnie, Crofton
Roller skating (Ages 5+) The Skate Zone roller skating rink in Crofton has birthday parties starting at about $260. Another good choice is the roller skating rink in Odenton. Location: Crofton, Odenton Party Favor Ideas: Invitation Tickets
Ice skating (Ages 5+) The Piney Orchard Ice Arena is a great place for a birthday party year-round. Great deal! They have a party room upstairs, and accommodate quite a few people with skating for $200. For kids who don’t know how to skate, they have “walkers” to help them on the ice. Nice place. In the winter, there’s also the Glen Burnie outdoor ice rink. Location: Odenton, Glen Burnie
Music Birthday Parties (Ages 2-7) – School of Rock in Gambrills and Arnold offers music birthday parties. Location: Gambrills, Arnold Party Favor Ideas: Inflatable Guitars
Paintball (Ages 8+) Paintball parties can be lots of fun…there is a great paintball venue in Pasadena called Paintball Sports and Supply (Curtis Bay). Location: Curtis Bay, Md
Horse center parties (Ages 6+) Morningside in Annapolis offers birthday parties for your horse-loving child. Location: Annapolis
Terrapin Adventures (Ages 6+) (301-725-1313) This is a tree-top adventure park located in Savage, MD (Howard County). This place is really fun, and would be an especially good party in late spring or early fall. Location: Savage, Md Party Favor Ideas: Tickle Plant Seeds
Movie Theater Birthdays (Ages 3+) Arundel Mills Cinemark Egyptian Movie Theater or Bowtie Theaters in Annapolis Mall are easy choices. They have party areas and offer group rates. Let the movie you watch dictate the theme of your party (ie-Peanuts or Disney Princesses). Location: Arundel Mills Mall, Annapolis Mall
Dave and Busters (Ages 4+) Dave and Busters in Arundel Mills mall is a very popular party venue. Kids will have fun, but usually very busy there. Location: Arundel Mills Mall
The Melting Pot (Ages 7+) This is a great place to have a party with a small group of your child’s friends. This place is always a hit. Parties here are probably going to take at least 2 hours, so just collect parent’s mobile phone numbers and text them when dessert arrives to pick up their kids. Location: Annapolis
Ecoventures – Animals and fun. Location: Millersville
Have a Lego birthday party (Ages 5-10) – Brikz for Kids -You’ll need to provide a space for this party, but this is definitely a cool way to go. Location: Crofton, Annapolis
Fire house birthdays (Ages 3-7) Consider having a birthday party at one of the firehouses in Anne Arundel County. These parties are exciting and fun, plus it is a wonderful way to support the local volunteer fire departments. For example, see the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company website. Location: Odenton and other fire houses in Anne Arundel County
Pottery Party at Clay Bakers (Ages 5-10) Clay Bakers on Main Street in Annapolis is a great place to hold a birthday party. You’re guests will be able to socialize together as they paint mugs, plates, etc (whatever the hold chooses) and then they will be able to have their creation as a party favor memory (there might be a few days before they have a chance to put the items in the kiln). This is a great place for a party! Location: Annapolis
YMCA (Ages 3-10) – YMCA (formerly Big Vanilla) has a variety of parties including dance, martial arts, swimming, cheer leading, tumbling, and rock climbing for kids. Even if you’re not a member, I believe you can still have a party at this venue in Pasadena, Maryland. Location: Pasadena Party Favor Ideas: Sports Mini-Stress Balls
Chuck E Cheese’s – I am not the biggest fan of Chuck E Cheese, but I know many families like it. There is a location in Glen Burnie. Token prices are low—maybe around 20 cents each depending on which package you get.
Miniature Golf (Ages 7-10) – Night Hawk Golf Center in Gambrills/Crofton has a fun, 19-hole miniature golf course. They also have basketball and batting cages. Party packages are available. Severna Park Golf Center also offers miniature golf. Younger kids can play, but the game may be frustrating for newbies. Location: Severna Park Gift idea: Home mini golf set
Baseball Park Birthday Parties (Ages 6+) – Obviously these three aren’t in Anne Arundel County, but an unforgettable birthday could take place at Camden Yards or Nationals Park. Another option, just as fun might be a Bowie Baysox birthday. Location: Baltimore or Bowie
Lady Bug Kid’s Glam Spa (Ages 5+) – Hold a princess party with manicures, pedicures, and more in Crofton. They have a party room, a stage, a candy bar. Sounds like a great place to hold an amazing party. You may also want to check out Pig Tails and Crew Cuts in Annapolis for a variety of parties for girls and boys. Location: Crofton Party favor idea: Clip on colored braids
Wiggle Room – Located in Crofton, this new 3,800 foot indoor play space hosts fun parties with free gourmet coffee for the adults. Location: Crofton
Bonus idea: Kids love to take photos of themselves with funny props and goofy expressions. Add a photo booth to any party for added fun. Sure to please kids of all ages. I’ve had good experiences with Shelly’s Sweet Photo Booth(410) 961-2983.
These notebooks put a new twist on taking notes in the more traditional way with pen and paper, while at the same time not being as onerous as using a tablet computer to take handwritten notes.
There are a few things that raise the value of this system:
The spiral-bound notebook is made of paper-like plastic, rather than regular paper. This is great because it means that if you use the readily available Pilot Frixion Pens or Markers, anything written on the pages can be easily wiped away clean with a damp paper towel. So basically it means you can reuse the notebook over and over again. I love the feel of the special Pilot pens on this surface. It is smooth and fluid. I also appreciate the fact that the notebooks have some pages that use dots instead of lines. I prefer this because makes it easier to use the paper for a wide-variety of notes including drawings and landscape notes (as opposed to portrait) which definitely has come in handy.
There are two sizes available: 8.5″x11″ and 6″x8.8″.Although there is a cool-factor to having the smaller size, I’d recommend going with the letter-size book. It’s slightly more expensive, but the added utility makes it worth it.
Before you wipe away your notes with a wet cloth, you can use the Rocketbook app to photograph your work and automatically file it up to one of several services including Google Drive, DropBox, and Evernote, or just email the notes to yourself or a designated email address (perhaps use Gmail’s “+ addressing” as part of a filing system).
The app includes handwriting recognition that incorporates artificial intelligence to improve the results. I have been using this feature and I must say it is pretty good–not perfect, but my writing certainly isn’t either. What it gives you (for now) is the ability to make your notes searchable once you scan them and email/file them in the cloud. That’s a huge step forward, and it’s definitely a welcomed feature.The notebook’s pages have a 7 symbols at the bottom of the page that when checked tell the system where to send your notes…You define the symbols in the app…that way, if you check one or more of the symbols, the app will automatically know where to email or upload your notes. Otherwise you have to do it manually once you’ve photographed the pages…kind of a waste of time since it can be automated.
These two parts taken together mean freedom for people like me who need to take lots of notes and actually keep track of the resulting work for future reference.
Here are a few points that may help you understand the way you can make use of the Rocketbook system:
The Rocketbook system let’s you work in a nonlinear way–since the notes will be sent to the cloud, you don’t necessarily have to use contiguous pages to track the same topic–you just have to send the right pages to the right place in the cloud and then possibly further organize them from there.
You may want to consider adding a pen holder to your Rocketbook. Or you may want a full portfolio – these are very nice – be sure to pick one that’s the right size for your Rocketbook!
If you don’t plan to fill the notebook before you photograph it, or if you need to erase some notes but aren’t ready to erase others, you’ll need some sort of system to identify which notes have already been photographed. I keep it simple–I just use the upper right hand corner of the page to put the date and circle it after I capture the page so I will know it’s safe to erase.
There are a wide variety of Pilot Frixion pens and markers available from retailers including Amazon.com. They come in different colors, sizes, and tips.
I learned from the “A Life of Productivity” blog, that it’s better to use the Pilot Frixion 0.5 tipped pens–they dry faster and obviously don’t make your writing as thick. This solves a problem that I have also noticed: it takes a few seconds for the ink to dry on the page–I’ve definitely smudged a few notes with the default 0.7 pen that ships with the Rocketbook. I have a few of the .5 tipped pens, and it is clearly an improvement. I also appreciate the fact that I can take up less space with a fine tip.
Rename your files when they reach the cloud. For instance with Google Drive, you would want to rename them and possibly move them into a more precise folder.You will want give the files some kind of descriptive name to help you to know the contents of the notes and the order that they’re meant to be read. If you always write about a particular subject, you may be able to leverage the symbols system to always file particular types of notes to a particular place/folder…so that can save some time.
The Rocketbook people also have another notebook that is possibly more well-known than this one called “The Rocketbook Wave.”It is cool in that you erase the notebook by microwaving it, however it may only be able to be used a few times.Aside from that, the idea behind the notebook is basically the same as the Rocketbook Everlast.
One final tip: The day is going to come when you’re going to make a little mistake in your notebook and you’re going to want to erase. It would be simple to just use the eraser that is on the other side of your pen. Don’t Do That. If you do, you’re going to mess up the coating on the notebook. I know it’s a pain to use a damp cloth to get to just one small area of the notebook, but still don’t erase the regular way. If this comes up for you alot, you might find something like this aqua eraser which could work in some cases.
Stickers like post-it notes seem to mess up the notebooks. It’s unfortunate because one thing that’s missing is a good way to bookmark or divide up the Rocketbook…but try to avoid putting these to use in your notebook.
There are many options for preschools in Howard County, Maryland.
Finding the right fit can be difficult. It is not always easy to know which school to trust with your young children. You want to find a school with smart teachers who will be able to recognize your child’s talents and skills and bring them up from there.
Preschool should be fun, but hopefully your child will be involved in both learning fun and play fun, or both.
To help you with finding the best preschools, I have created a list of some of the top pre-K / preschool programs in Howard County.
Note that some of these schools have pre-K for various ages younger than 4, in fact some of them may be able to take kids that are younger than 1. If I don’t mention which age the school starts, please contact the school.
Also, the schools below have not paid me to list them. I have handpicked them. If you know of one that I should be aware of and possibly mention here, please submit a comment.
Bryant Woods Montessori School – One of the best Montessori schools in Howard County. Education starts at age 3 and goes to age 6 in this school located in Columbia.
Children’s Manor Montessori School– This school has several locations throughout Maryland, including three in Howard County including Columbia, Ellicott City, and the differently named Children’s Magnet School in Elkridge. Montessori is a great option to consider. The Children’s Magnet Montessori School feeds into Howard County’s newest private school–The Maryland International School in Elkridge, which is based on the International Baccalaureate program and has an emphasis on STEM education.
Columbia Academy – Columbia Academy has several preschool childcare center facilities around Howard County. Their newest building is very nice and is located in Maple Lawn. This school also has a campus that services kindergarten to 8th grade. They are able to accept infants for daycare.
Glenelg Country School– Located in a rural area of Ellicott City, Glenelg Country School provides a comprehensive experience for kids. This is a college prep school that goes all the way from pre-K3 to 12th grade. They also offer a full-day pre-K4 program called Pre-K4 Plus.
If you like the idea of a private independent education for your child, Glenelg is definitely worth considering in Howard County. They have modern facilities and and a beautiful 90-acre campus. There are lots of enrichment activities for the preschoolers at this school.
Glenwood Country Day School – Campus in Woodbine in Western Howard County. If this is a convenient school for you, program for ages 2-5.
Public School Employees Child Development Program – This preschool is meant mainly for the children of Howard County Public School teachers and staff. Although Howard County Public Schools employees’ kids are given preference anyone can apply to send their kids here. The caveat is that Howard County School’s academic schedule is followed — so that means, for example, no classes over the summer.
On the other hand, if you want to send your kids to preschool but not over the summer, this might be perfect for you as you’ll find that many schools may not hold your place if you withdraw your child over the summer months. There are six locations in Howard County, all but one of them is inside of a high school, the other is at the Cedar Lane School in Fulton.
More Private Schools in Howard County
Want a broader list of private schools in Howard County? Here is a list of great private schools.
I love the idea of keeping track of my kid’s best memories, growth, and accomplishments with a digital record. Below are some ideas I use in hopes of creating future-proof records for family and friends to enjoy.
Conduct a yearly video interview with your child. We do ours every New Year’s eve. Sometimes it can be difficult to think of questions to ask. I always ask about how school was going, their favorite teachers and classes, but I like to include more philosophical questions as well. This year, I asked my friends on Facebook for help. I got some great ideas:
“Do you feel the movie Wonder Woman empowers girls & young women to be smart & strong?” (Jeff)
“Do you think Mariah Carey nails her New Years singing after last years debacle ??” (Tom)
“2017 was the year of the fidget cube, fidget spinner, slime, and squishies. Which was your favorite, and why? What do you predict will be the next kid craze?” (Jennifer S)
Heather: * What advice would you give your parents?
* What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now?
* Why do you like being your age?
* What is your happiest memory?
* Who do you like to hang out with the most?
* What is your favorite thing to wear?
“What traits do you value in your friends? What do you like about yourself?” (Mary Anne)
“If you could meet one person who would it be?” (Leigh De)
“What is your favorite meal, including beverage and dessert? “(Melissa)
“Are there any accomplishments that you will be striving for this year? “(Svetlana)
“What are your favorite words? Least favorite words this year?”
2) Like the other ideas, this isn’t original, but it’s a great way to keep track of your kid’s accomplishments–set up an email address on Gmail when they are born (may improve the chances of them getting something remotely close to their name. And whenever you have a thought about them, or they’ve reached a milestone, accomplishment, etc, you can email accolades and artifacts to that address. When they reach the right age, give them the username/password to the account. If you’re going to do this with Gmail, you need to use the Family Link feature. Otherwise, you’ll have an issue when you put in their birthday–you need to be 13 to have a full Gmail account!
3) Tag them in their Facebook photos. Eventually they’ll have an account and they can go through and see.
4) Take a yearly photo for a photo wall. The secret to this idea is to purchase a whole bunch of matching picture frames that you’ll store until they’re needed. Each year, take a photo of your child for the wall. This could be done by taking “the same” photo every year as they age, or by just selecting one or two of the best photos from every year to put on the wall.
5) Use Google Photos to Back Up Photos of Events and Great Times. Google photos is an excellent way to backup all of the photos you take, especially those taken with your mobile phone. Aside from being free, several other things make it great:
Any photo you take with your phone can automatically be backed up to the cloud.
Google has done an amazing job of making the photos searchable–you can search for things that are IN the images (that you haven’t tagged with text)…want to find photos of people on the beach? Just search for beach. Want to find photos of people on the beach wearing sunglasses? You can search for that too.
Google’s photo assistant will automatically gift you with animations and videos. It will even find similar photos of when your kids were younger and create a new photo that shows the old picture and new picture side-by-side. It also makes videos about my kids…since it knows their faces, it finds pictures of them and puts them together in a video with music and transitions (it also recognizes family pets–I get an occasional “meow movie”).
6) Use Google Photos to Back Up Art and Writing – Google Photos is also a great way to backup your child’s artwork, writing and other school projects.
If you’re like most parents, it can be difficult to part with the various schoolwork projects your child brings home. On the other hand, after you have accumulated boxes and boxes of art, it becomes a bit of a space issue, and perhaps in some cases a fire hazard.
Snap a photo or two using your phone’s camera or using Google’s special app just for taking photos of documents. If it happens that the item in question was created digitally, just make a folder in your Google Drive to house it. Eventually, you’ll want to just share that Google Drive directory or photo album with your child’s Gmail account (when they finally have their own.)
If your family is like ours, we eat lots of fruit and vegetables. We especially like to buy fresh organic fruits and produce when possible, but we also like to keep the costs under control.
Below are my top recommendations for where to buy produce, plus some bonus tips on how to get great veggies for lower prices in Maryland. Read further for some great kitchen gadgets to help you make the most of your produce:
1) You can subscribe to a weekly fruit and vegetable box delivery. We’ve been using Hungry Harvest to get weekly organic deliveries. The company drops the box on our porch every Friday. We can pick the items we want to have in our box week by week.
This particular company says they give you cheaper prices because they deliver “ugly” fruits and vegetables. We haven’t really found this to be the case for the most part for our organic box. We suspect it may be more likely that we’d get less attractive fruits if we subscribed to their non-organic offering. Sometimes we do see things in the box that are a bit undersized, but mostly it’s just the normal stuff you’d get in the supermarket. (And some things you wouldn’t find there at all.)
Often we get unusual fruits and vegetables that you don’t normally find in regular grocery stores. Things like sunflower greens and fresh bay leaves. Again, we get these by choice — you can select the items you want for each delivery.
Hungry Harvest has a warehouse near me in Jessup and they employ local drivers to drop off the fruit and vegetable boxes in each neighborhood. I spoke to our driver today and she said it’s really exploding in popularity.
Each produce box you get comes with a gel ice pack. So if you decide to order from Hungry Harvest, be sure and save your ice packs and return them…just leave them on your porch on the drop off day and the driver will get them. They prefer them to be thawed out and dry.
One of the great things is that they stock lots of organic fruits and vegetables, both fresh and frozen. Availability varies from store to store, but at the Costco in Columbia, MD they reliably have organic bananas, gala apples, “power greens” (Kale, spinach), and frozen organic corn as well as pineapple and various berries.
Another great thing about Costco is that it is more Earth-friendly to purchase in bulk. I highly recommend Costco for everyone, you don’t have to purchase very much food there to make up for the membership price. Find a Costco location near you.
Green Onions at a Maryland Asian Market
3) Shop at Asian or International markets. There are many of these in Maryland. One of the better ones is Lotte, but also in Laurel there is the Super Best. We are always surprised at the cheaper prices at Super Best–but note that we tend to find that the items we buy there need to be consumed quickly as the cheapest items tend to be near the end of their shelf lives.
There are plenty of other Asian markets around…for example H-mart and Lotte in Ellicott City/Catonsville. And my current favorite Great Wall in Catonsville. You won’t find very much in the way of organics, but you will find a huge, unusual variety of fruits and vegetables and they’re suspiciously cheap. For example 3 bunches of green onions for $1. If you live in Columbia, you may want to visit La Mart. To find your nearest Asian market, just Google Asian Market in your city/state.
3) Get your fruits and vegetables wholesale by the case. Wholesale fruit markets aren’t for the faint of heart. You need to have time and a sense of adventure to make this happen, but it definitely does pay off. In Jessup, Maryland there are two places where consumers can go to get wholesale produce at the central distribution point.
That’s right you can go the place supermarkets and restaurants get their fruits/vegetables and save. Below is a video that explains what to do if you decide to go to the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market – Conowingo Drive, Jessup Maryland. Note that when you go, you should probably expect to pay with cash and you’ll have to stop at a guard gate to explain what you’re doing there.
If you’re mainly interested in organic produce, you’ll want to visit Class Produce. Class Produce isn’t far from the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market, but it is a bit easier to access. Class does take credit cards and my experience with the staff there is that they are very helpful and welcoming to families who want to purchase wholesale.
It is very important to note that you really need to place your order ahead of time. Visit their website to get more information and to request a current price list. They are located at 8477 Dorsey Run Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401 in an industrial area. (410) 799-5000. PRO TIP: For the freshest perishable fruits and vegetables (ie-berries) arrange for pickup on Mondays or Tuesdays. It seems that Class produce and other wholesale sellers get their deliveries late Sunday nights, so it’s strategic to pick up your fruits and veggies early in the week to get the freshest foods possible.
4) Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group or “farm share”. Local produce is delivered to your home or central location at predetermined intervals. This is a great way to get super-fresh food and help keep local farming viable.
A great example of a well run CSA program is Gorman Farm, which is kind of on the border of Columbia and Laurel. You have to be on the ball to get into a CSA program–there is a window of time when you can sign up each year and generally there aren’t many openings because of course the farms don’t produce an unlimited amount of fruits and vegetables each year. There are lots of these but here is a list that the Washington Post provided a few years ago.
5) Shop for fruits and vegetables at farmers markets. There are a few farmer’s markets around Howard County that have fairly decent variety and prices. Locations sometimes change but for instance the Howard County General Hospital and the Miller Library are two reliable places to find markets. Here is a resource with an up-to-date list with hours and days (typically farmers markets take place once per week in the specified location). PRO TIP: One great thing about Farmer’s markets is the ability to actually talk to the people who grew the crops. This means that often you’ll be able to get a pretty good idea of how pesticide-happy the farmer was when growing them–often you will find a farmer who is actually using organic farming methods but who hasn’t yet been certified in organics and that can lead to significant savings.
Bonus Tip: Not-So-Cheap Fruit and Vegetable Options: Grow your own. Ok, this isn’t directly buying fruits or vegetables, and it can in fact be expensive rather than cheap, but it is fun, educational and great exercise to have a garden.
This year we got 3 Aerogardens hydroponic systems, so we’re growing year round now. At the moment, we are raising Italian herbs (parsley, thyme, mint, two kinds of basil…and had the cat not eaten it, we would also have chives), roma tomatoes, and chamomile. Miracle Grow is the manufacturer and they definitely do make it easy.
Unfortunately, even though the plants don’t need any herbicides or pesticides (since they’re grown indoors), the required nutrients that you add to the water isn’t organic. We aren’t that concerned about this, but I am trying to determine whether there is an organic substitute we can use. Having said that, we REALLY love the Aerogardens. My favorites are the tomatoes and basil. The basil grows like crazy!
There are different price points for getting an Aerogarden. The Aerogarden Elite takes 6 seed pods, and gets great reviews. There is also a 9-pod system that may be worth consideration, especially if space is not an issue.
Bonus #3 Also in the expensive rather than cheap column, but worth it is a trip to Larriland Farm in Northern Howard County to pick a variety of fruits and vegetables. They have apples, peaches, broccoli, kale, spinach, melons, potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and more. Check their website to see what is ready for picking.
BTW, Larriland Farm uses “integrated pest management” which they say means that they use much less pesticides than a typical farm. I have spoken to them about this several times and they say that they mostly only use pesticides when they have severe problems. It may not be organic farming, but at least this sounds like a huge improvement over the norm. You can read about how Larriland uses this system here. There are many pick your own farms throughout the USA–here is a curated list.
BTW, here are some of the gadgets I recommend that are great to have in the kitchen when cooking with produce:
Looking for ideas for what to do with your kids when schools are closed for special days off in Howard County during the 2019 – 2020 school year?
Here are a few of the organizations that I know of that can provide care and learning during days off such as spring break, fall break, teacher in-service days, and other days off during the school year.
Idea Lab – Lots of cool school’s out camps. Located on Redland Road in Ellicott City. See a list of camps and dates here.
Howard County Conservancy – [2021-2022 registrations are open] Great camps my kids really enjoy these. Beautiful locations in Elkridge and Woodstock. For example, this year, on the break for September 30, 2019, they have a reasonably priced called “Gardens Galore” that seems like loads of fun!.
Club Science Kids – [2021-2022 registrations are open via Howard County Recreation and Parks] I love these camps and so do my kids. Great organization. Your child is going to have a great time and they will learn some STEM! Camps are located in various places including the Maryland International School in Elkridge.
Active Kids Camp – [2021-2022 registrations are open] They have a variety of sports camps. You may need to look around their site for this year’s camps.
Kid Museum – Outside of Howard County in Bethesda, Md, but possibly worth the trip, especially if you happen to work in Montgomery County. Kid Museum has some great offerings for camps.
Brickz for Kids – Lego camp held at the Roger Carter Community Center in Ellicott City. These look like great fun at reasonable prices!
Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts – Located on Dobbin Road, this venue has after school programs and camps for middle and elementary schoolers.
Howard County Schools – Howard County Schools may offer sports camps on days school is closed. Check their website for schedules and locations.
Silver Knights Chess and Programming Camps – They offer camps during Spring Break only in Howard County (last year at the Roger Carter Center in Ellicott City). Check the link above to see if they have added any local day off camp programs as they have them in some locations.
Help me build this list of schools out day camps. If you know of other places that offer camp during school vacations, days schools are closed, or breaks, let me know!
