She hangs signs outside their rooms, prepares special foods and takes lots of photos. The traditions ease the transition back to school and give the kids a reason to be excited.

“I want to set them up for enjoying school,” said Wilson, of Phoenix. The first day should “set the tone for how the school year should go.”

Back-to-school traditions at home can help children adjust to the changes a new year brings, said Tim Sullivan, founder of School Family Media, which focuses on increasing parental involvement in schools.

“Anything that encourages the thought that school is a special time is a good thing,” Sullivan said from his office in Wrenthem, Mass.

Parents who make a fuss about the first day back also are sending the important message that “school’s a priority in our family,” he added.

Keeping the traditions simple makes it easier to do them year after year, said Alanna Stang, executive editor of Martha Stewart Living magazine.

“Simple and thoughtful is always the best,” she said. Small gestures “show kids someone is thinking about me.”

Having first-day-of-school traditions also gives parents the opportunity to mark milestones in children’s lives that might otherwise get overlooked, Stang said.

“In our fast-paced lives, the meaning of the moment can get lost in the shuffle,” she said.

She suggests finding a mix of traditions that involve small surprises for the children, and projects that parents and kids can work on together.

In addition to preparing treats, Wilson takes her children shopping and lets them each pick out a new backpack. She takes photos of the kids with the new bags, which often reflect their developing personalities or interests.

Shopping for school supplies has already become a tradition for Summer Werchowski of Dublin, Ohio, and her 4-year-old son, Miles. When he was preparing for preschool last year, they bought supplies for him and some of his friends. They passed out the supplies at a back-to-school party, which they plan to throw again this year.

Werchowski also created a way to help Miles, who couldn’t wait for school to start, count down the days. About a month before school began, she placed enough pieces of candy in a jar that he could have one a day until school started.

Here are more ideas for back-to-school traditions:

• Pack a note with a loving message, joke or drawing in the child’s lunch box.
• Make a bracelet or necklace, or braid a pair of shoelaces together that the child can wear on the first day.
• Decorate a backpack with a beaded key chain, homemade pompoms or a name tag.
• Hide a small treat, such as a sticker or small toy, in the child’s pocket.
• Decorate the student’s lunch bag or box.
• Make a special breakfast, dinner of after-school snack.
• Take a photo before school and have it printed or in a frame when the child gets home, or break out the scrapbook and show the child that this milestone is already part of your family history.
• Measure the child’s height and weight, and record it in a special place on the eve of the first day of school.
• Buy an extra set of school supplies and donate it to an agency that helps needy families.
• Ask children what they want to be when they grow up, and preserve their answers with a video camera or voice recorder.

Melissa Kossler Dutton,
The Associated Press

Source: Martha Stewart Living magazine

My kids will fight over anything.  I have just resigned myself to that fact.  No matter what it is, they can find something about it to fight over.

The newest “treasure” at our home is no less than the end pieces of a loaf of bread.  That’s right.  The two pieces that nobody else wants.  Well, when there are six kids and only two end pieces, the end pieces become the most prized possession, worthy of a karate chop, a kick, a hit or a good hard shove to get to them before a sibling does.

When I mention this to other people, their faces draw up in some sort of fashion that one would make when eating a lemon.  “The end pieces?!” they exclaim.  And then I hear all sorts of things that other families do with the end pieces of bread -  chop them up to add to a recipe, feed them to the birds – but mostly I hear that people just throw them away.  When I hear that, I want to fall into a heap on the floor into some combination of sobbing and screaming.  I hear deep within my body this desire to holler, “No-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!!!”  as I envision myself diving toward the other family’s trash can trying to catch those end pieces before they hit the can.

No one knows the longing I have to be able to go to the grocery store and to buy a bag of just end pieces.  Although that full bag of bread would be consumed in one breakfast, it would be one breakfast void of fighting, pushing, screaming and lamenting over who got the end piece, the cry that “he had it last time,” the lament that “I never get to eat the end piece,” and the ensuing conversation over what is fair.  Fair would be what my children believe it to be:  “I get what I want when I want it regardless of anyone else’s needs.”  In other words, we would have woken up to a world where there are abundant end pieces and abundant peace.

Right now, I wake up daily to a world of abundant pieces but no abundant peace.  Peace comes in the end.  And unfortunately for my family of six children, there are only two ends.

So think before you toss that end piece of bread into the garbage can.  Or out to the birds.  Or for heaven’s sake, before you chop it into a recipe.  Think about what you could do for a child.  And his mother.

Learn more about Stephanie

When you’re out of the house and a kid says he’s got to go, you can bet he means business. And after that panicked rush to find the bathroom — during a long car trip or a day at the beach — his mom will probably face a stark choice: Men’s room or women’s?

Parents don’t think twice about toting little ones into a public bathroom, first in diapers and then when they’re learning to use the toilet. But sometime during their kids’ preschool or elementary school years, they may begin to wonder if it’s still OK for a dad to be taking his daughter into the men’s room, or if a mom should keep her son out of the women’s room.

There’s no set age when a child can use a public bathroom alone — it’s one of the many gray areas of child-rearing, and the sometimes uncomfortable subject raises issues of confidence, maturity, privacy and fear.

“I hear about it from moms all the time,” said Nancy McBride, national safety director for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “They want their kids to have some independence, and on the other hand, they want them to be safe. It’s really a dilemma for a lot of parents.”

If there’s no family or single-use bathroom around, some parents are adamant about keeping their opposite gender children with them in the restroom, fearful of strangers.

“What tipped the scales for me was … we did a check to see if there were predators in the neighborhood. There were so many that even in (our) small rural town, it wouldn’t have been safe to leave my kids alone,” said Liora Farkovitz, who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Roller coaster fanatics George Hinkes and his 7-year-old daughter, who live in Dundee, Ill., face the issue at the amusement parks they love so much.

When his daughter was younger, Hinkes went into the men’s room first to make sure it wasn’t too crowded before bringing his daughter into a stall. But at about age 6, he felt she was ready for the women’s room.

“I always stood where I could see both the entrance and the exit to the bathrooms,” said Hinkes. “Obviously as a parent, you’re always going to be concerned.”

Some parents don’t worry about stranger danger.

“The likelihood that someone is hanging out in the bathroom in hopes that I will send my unaccompanied 4-year-old child in so they can molest them are slim,” said Marta Segal Block, of Oak Park, Ill., whose son won’t use the women’s room and has used the men’s room alone at the library or a restaurant.

Most sex crimes against children — about 80 to 90 percent — are committed by relatives or acquaintances in homes, not strangers in public, said Cynthia Calkins Mercado, an associate professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Though some parents base their decision on the location — coffee shop vs. huge stadium — McBride said, “Any public venue that allows access and opportunity to sex offenders has a potential risk.”

She recommended that once kids feel too old to go in with an opposite gender parent, they should go in with a friend. She also endorses the idea of asking a woman with children to check on a girl in the bathroom. Parents can also ask an adult friend, security guard or employee of a venue to check on their child.

In general, a 5-year-old can handle going into a public bathroom but shouldn’t be asked to go it alone without being taught “protective behaviors,” said Kate Gallagher, an educational psychologist.

“Children need to know that they have the right to keep their own body safe — that other grownups aren’t allowed to touch them, said Gallagher, who directs a family and child care program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The behaviors are teaching them to be cautious and aware, not fearful, she said. Kids should be taught that “in the real world there are some unhappy grownups who don’t do nice things to other people,” she said.

A family restroom takes the pressure off. And more are on the way. Since the late 1990s, building codes have required newly constructed venues such as stadiums, shopping centers and restaurants big enough to require a total of six toilets to also include a family restroom.

Lisa A. Flam,
The Associated Press

Rating: G, all ages admitted
What it’s about: An imaginative 9-year-old pest bungles everything from school projects to both her sister’s and her favorite aunt’s romances.
The kid attractor factor: It co-stars Selena Gomez and is based on those beloved Beverly Cleary novels.
Good lessons/bad lessons: “It’s good to scare yourself, once in a while.” “We’re not going to let one bad day get us down.”
Violence: None
Language: Disney clean
Sex: An old-fashioned grown-up romance and a sweet teen one, too
Drugs: Don’t be ridic.
Parents’ advisory: More sentimental than slapsticky, this kids’ comedy is suitable for all ages.

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE

Rating: PG for fantasy action violence, some mild rude humor and brief (profane) language
What it’s about: A college science student learns he is destined to become a sorcerer and begins his training as villains chase and battle his teacher.
The kid attractor factor: An action film with a heavy dose of magic.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Wise wizards pay attention in science class.
Violence: A bit, cartoonish and exaggerated
Language: Pretty clean
Sex: Flirtation
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: Every bit as family friendly as your average Harry Potter movie.

THE A-TEAM

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence throughout, language and smoking
What it’s about: Swaggering, wise-cracking Army Rangers bust out of jail to kick butt and clear their names.
The kid attractor factor: Hardcore action, or as hardcore as you can get in a PG-13 film
Good lessons/bad lessons: “No matter how random things might appear, there is still a plan.”
Violence: Why, yes
Language: Mercenaries enjoy a good cuss word now and then.
Sex: Jessica Biel’s in it.
Drugs: Cigars. Wine. Medication.
Parents’ advisory: A little too cavalier about the consequences of violence, but try and keep ‘tween boys away from it.

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Rating: PG-13 for fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief sensuality.
What it’s about: Men revolt against their cruel gods and only Perseus can save them from the gods’ wrath.
The kid attractor factor: Sword and sorcery, brawls with supernatural creatures.
Good lessons/bad lessons: “The oldest stories ever told are written in the stars.”
Violence: Oh yes, decapitations, beheadings, drownings, incinerations, impalings.
Language: Medusa’s nickname rhymes with “witch.”
Sex: “Sensuality.” That Zeus, he got around.
Drugs: None.
Parents’ advisory: More violent and intense (thanks to 3D) than the Clash of Titans of yore, it’s still suitable for 10-and-up.

DATE NIGHT

Rating: PG-13 for sexual and crude content throughout, language, some violence and a drug reference
What it’s about: A couple gets into all sorts of trouble just by trying to have a nice night out on the town.
The kid attractor factor: Steve Carell and Tina Fey, as parents behaving badly
Good lessons/bad lessons: Even the smallest lies can have major consequences.
Violence: Quite a bit of shooting _ to no effect
Language: Scattered bits of profanity, an f-bomb or two
Sex: Discussed, simulated in a strip brothel
Drugs: Alcohol, cigarettes
Parents’ advisory: More a parents’ date comedy than a family one, suitable for 15-and-up

DESPICABLE ME

Rating: PG for rude humor and mild action
What it’s about: A villain with an image problem resolves to steal the moon, but needs the help of cute orphans to do it.
The kid attractor factor: It’s an animated comedy with “rude humor.”
Good lessons/bad lessons: Some kids never stop trying to impress their mom.
Violence: A bit, cartoonish and exaggerated
Language: Disney clean
Sex: Not a hint of it
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: Suitable for all ages, its appeal seems a bit younger than “Toy Story 3.”

GET HIM TO THE GREEK

Rating: R for strong sexual content and drug use throughout, and pervasive language
What it’s about: A drunken, delusional has-been is escorted to a comeback concert by his biggest fan.
The kid attractor factor: It has hints of “Superbad” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in it.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Choose your idols carefully, but they can still let you down.
Violence: Not really
Language: Lots of profanity
Sex: Yes, comically graphic
Drugs: More than you can imagine, and abused, all in good fun
Parents’ advisory: The drug use should give even parents of “Free Range” teens pause. Take the R-rating seriously.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

Rating: PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language
What it’s about: A Viking lad learns that slaying dragons is not the only way of coping with them.
The kid attractor factor: A 3D, animated film based on the popular children’s books
Good lessons/bad lessons: On parenting _ “You can’t stop him. You can only prepare him.”
Violence: In a movie with Vikings and dragons? Yes! But comical.
Language: Oh, a few mild oaths here and there
Sex: All the Viking lads want to get close to the Viking lass who looks like a Bratz doll.
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: A cartoon comedy with more sensitivity and heart than we usually get from Dreamworks; suitable for all ages.

INCEPTION

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout
What it’s about: A team of spies infiltrates dreams to steal secrets or implant ideas.
The kid attractor factor: Leonardo DiCaprio stars, and “Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan is behind the camera.
Good lessons/bad lessons: “Positive emotion trumps negative emotions every time.”
Violence: A high body count, a bit of blood
Language: Not much profanity
Sex: None
Drugs: Sedatives so that dreams can be invaded.
Parents’ advisory: Smart, thought-provoking but probably too violent, too dense and too long for the younger set. Take the PG-13 rating seriously.

IRON MAN 2

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language
What it’s about: Iron Man has new foes to fight, new friends to help him fight them.
The kid attractor factor: A comic book adaptation with action and a little edge
Good lessons/bad lessons: Sometimes, it isn’t obvious just what parents pass down to their kids.
Violence: Lots and lots of it, with blood
Language: Some profanity
Sex: Scarlett Johansson joins the cast, and is leered over.
Drugs: Alcohol is consumed.
Parents’ advisory: The fantasy-violence and profanity aren’t so extreme as to make this unsuitable for anybody over the age of 10.

JUST WRIGHT

Rating: PG for some suggestive material and brief language
What it’s about: Plane-Jane physical therapist falls for the NBA star she is trying to rehab.
The kid attractor factor: Queen Latifah, Common, the NBA
Good lessons/bad lessons: Men of substance will choose character over arm candy.
Violence: None
Language: A teensy bit of profanity
Sex: Suggested
Drugs: Party situations
Parents’ advisory: The basketball background will be more interesting to kids than the romance at the center of this. Best for 13-and-up

JONAH HEX

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, disturbing images and sexual content
What it’s about: A haunted Civil War vet searches for the man who killed his family and branded him in the face.
The kid attractor factor: It’s based on a comic book, and it co-stars Megan Fox.
Good lessons/bad lessons: “Dirt likes dead, dead likes dirt.” And learning geography is helpful if you’re considering a screenwriting career.
Violence: Mayhem, and lots of it
Language: Pretty clean, considering
Sex: Megan Fox plays an Old West hooker.
Drugs: A saloon is visited.
Parents’ advisory: One of the more violent comic book adaptations, suitable for 11-and-up.

THE KARATE KID

Rating: PG for bullying, martial-arts action violence and some mild language
What it’s about: Small boy moves to China, is bullied, learns Kung Fu from a master.
The kid attractor factor: Everybody is Kung Fu fighting, including Jackie Chan.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Martial arts can teach discipline, self-respect, respect for elders. And yet some students still turn into bullies.
Violence: Quite a lot of it
Language: Pretty mild profanity
Sex: A smooch, here and there
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: A kids’ action film with mostly positive messages, suitable for pretty much everybody

KNIGHT AND DAY

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action violence throughout, and brief strong language
What it’s about: Unsuspecting woman finds herself attracted to a spy who seems to kill an awful lot of people in the line of duty.
The kid attractor factor: Slam-bang action without much blood; Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz at their toothiest
Good lessons/bad lessons: Watch out for the guy who keeps “bumping” into you.
Violence: Almost, but not quite, constant
Language: A smidgen of profanity
Sex: Quite chaste, despite the presence of Cameron Diaz in a bikini
Drugs: Tranquilizers, mixed drinks
Parents’ advisory: I didn’t count, but this movie has a “Die Hard”-sized body count, a little blood, but mostly killing without consequences.

THE LAST AIRBENDER

Rating: PG for fantasy action violence
What it’s about: A boy who can “bend” the elements of nature to his will must bring peace to a world where those elements, and the people who represent them, are at war.
The kid attractor factor: It’s based on a popular Nickelodeon cartoon.
Good lessons/bad lessons: “There is no love without sacrifice.”
Violence: Stylized, cartoony
Language: Nickelodeon clean
Sex: A smooch
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: Suitable for pretty much all ages, though younger kids and adults may find it hard to follow.

LETTERS TO JULIET

Rating: PG for brief rude behavior, some language and incidental smoking
What it’s about: A young woman tracks down the author of a letter and tries to help her find her long-lost love.
The kid attractor factor: Amanda Seyfried, who specializes in moist-eyed, chaste romances for kids old enough to appreciate them
Good lessons/bad lessons: Sometimes, first love is the great love and the one that counts.
Violence: None
Language: A smidge of profanity
Sex: Not really
Drugs: A little wine
Parents’ advisory: Not enough comedy or action to keep 12-and-unders interested.

MARMADUKE

Rating: PG for some rude humor and language
What it’s about: Big, goofy, talking (to other dogs) Great Dane endures his teen years in So.Cal.
The kid attractor factor: Big dog, small car. Big dog, small bubblebath. You get the picture.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Sometimes you change to fit in, sometimes others should change to fit you.
Violence: Canine slapstick
Language: Doggie trash talk _ “Who’s lickin’ butt now?”
Sex: Flirtation
Drugs: The dog and cat are tranquilized for a plane trip
Parents’ advisory: Utterly harmless, but probably too bland for anybody over 10.

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action
What it’s about: A young warrior-prince and a fetching damsel scamper across the desert sands to keep a magical dagger out of the hands of villains who would control time.
The kid attractor factor: See above. And it’s based on a popular video game.
Good lessons/bad lessons: “We make our own destiny.” And Persians love avoiding their taxes, too.
Violence: Quite a bit, nothing that bloody, though one “poisoning” scene is pretty gross.
Language: There’s no profanity in Persia!
Sex: A little smooching between the smoochable Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: Quite kid-friendly, all in all, and certainly suitable for 10-and-up.

ROBIN HOOD

Rating: PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content
What it’s about: Robin Hood is “created” in the turmoil of 12th century England
The kid attractor factor: An action picture with swords, bows and boiling oil
Good lessons/bad lessons: Civil rights have to be fought for and won.
Violence: Intense swordfights, and arrow impalings
Language: Occasionally bawdy
Sex: Some discreet wenching
Drugs: Mead, and lots of it
Parents’ advisory: The darkest, most violent ‘Robin Hood,’ it’s a bit intense for kids only used to the Disney version, suitable for 10 and up.

SHREK FOREVER AFTER

Rating: PG for mild action, some rude humor and brief language
What it’s about: Shrek sees what his world would be like if he’d never lived and must win Fiona all over again to set things right.
The kid attractor factor: The friendly green ogre does battle with witches and Rumpelstiltskin, and deals with diapers and Donkey.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Never sign a contract without reading the fine print
Violence: Cartoon clashes
Language: Mild-mannered profanity
Sex: Nope
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: More kid-friendly (fewer adult jokes) than previous “Shrek” sequels, suitable for 5-and-up.

STANDING OVATION

Rating: PG for some rude behavior
What it’s about: Tween dance teams compete in a music-video contest.
The kid attractor factor: Teens and tweens shake their moneymakers and sing their little hearts out in big dance numbers.
Good lessons/bad lessons: “Just because you want something doesn’t mean you’re going to get it.”
Violence: Snakes, frogs and fleas used as threats
Language: Milder than mild
Sex: The dancing leans toward high-school cheerleader bumping and grinding.
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: Pretty wholesome, though it does push flirting and sexy dancing by tweens

TOY STORY 3

Rating: G
What it’s about: Buzz, Woody and the toys face abandonment as their little boy outgrows them.
The kid attractor factor: The “Toy Story” toys are back for more adventures in 3-D.
Good lessons/bad lessons: Don’t toss that toy you’ve outgrown, donate it.
Violence: Toddler toy abuse
Language: Disney clean
Sex: Ken and Barbie flirt, even though Ken is a little overly fond of his wardrobe.
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: A prison escape movie, with toys escaping daycare, this has a dark stretch near the end that could disturb younger children.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some sensuality
What it’s about: Bella and Edward approach “graduation,” in more ways than one.
The kid attractor factor: Hot vampires and werewolves, teens treating death carelessly
Good lessons/bad lessons: If the guy wants to “wait until we’re married,” he has his reasons.
Violence: Not remotely as bloody as you might expect
Language: A “d” here and there, an “a” word or two
Sex: Getting there
Drugs: None
Parents’ advisory: The special-effects fights might lure kids, but the talk-talk-talk and heavy breathing make it inappropriate for 11 and under.

— Roger Moore | The Orlando Sentinel

More reviews:

www.CommonSenseMedia.org

www.parentpreviews.c

Participants will solve five puzzles while learning about the grounds and architecture of the Robert Mills House, artifacts, and the life of Robert Mills. Activities are both indoor and outdoor and include 19th-century plant discovery and identifying 19th-century objects and their uses.

Admission is $6 for the first child, $3 for each additional child from the family and free for members.

Information: (803) 252-1770 or historiccolumbia.org

Choose from thousands of print and nonprint materials in all genres, from bestsellers, fiction, nonfiction and children’s books. All items sold at Friends’ book sales are donated by the community.

In 2009, the four Friends’ book sales raised more than $70,000 to support special programs and services not available through the library’s budget appropriation from Richland County.

Information on membership or book sales: (803) 929-3475 or myRCPL.com/friends.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 24, at EdVenture, 211 Gervais St., Columbia

Free with museum admission.

edventure.com or (803) 779-3100 for more information

Presenters and exhibits include:

Sonoco – Explains the garbage vs. recycling process, how to compost, and how to make a worm bin.
City Roots – Columbia’s only in-town sustainable farm demonstrates organic farming and composting.
H.E. Corley Elementary School – Showcases classroom activities on the environment.
Russell & Jeffcoat – Explains LEED certifications and how to upgrade your home.
Rosewood Market – Provides information on its organic selections and deli.
Boys & Girls Club – Showcases Ben Arnold Center’s community garden.
Charlie Walters Art – A local artist creates unique works with recycled materials on site.
USC Herbarium – Bring your mystery plants to John Nelson, PhD, aka “Plant Man,” who will identify them.
Art Shack – Provides information about its organic menu.
SC Wildlife Federation – Presents information about Schoolyard Habitats and Backyard Wildlife Habitat programs and climate change.
Also: Saluda Shoals Park, City Parks & Recreation, Adventure Carolina, Native Plant Society, Richland County Public Library, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Nature Conservancy, Congaree Riverkeeper, Coastal Conservation League, and Sustainable Midlands.

August 7 – 8

“Museums on Us” is a Bank of America program that offers its card holders free admission to more than 70 museums nationwide.

Family Night

August 10

Visit EdVenture for an evening of fun at a price you can afford.  $1 per person admission from 5–8pm.

Carolina Panthers Junior Training Camp

August 5, 8:30-10:30am

Wofford College, Spartanburg (home of the Carolina Panthers training camp)

EdVenture is offering children the opportunity to experience an NFL Training Camp in an effort to increase their interest in team sports and inspire them to become physically fit. Registration for this camp is FREE but space is limited to the first 200 registrants ages 7-14. edventure.org.

Countdown to Kindergarten

August 13, 5 – 8pm

Is your child going to Kindergarten this fall? Be a part of a statewide celebration for both children and parents who are reaching this exciting milestone in 2010. Come to EdVenture for a free evening of fun. No registration required.

Blooming Butterflies

Now through October 1

Visit EdVenture’s “Blooming Butterflies” and explore the world of these fascinating insects.  Interact with live butterflies and watch chrysalises emerge into beautiful butterflies through the “Bloom Room” viewing window.

Tales for Tots

August 8

Experience Tales for Tots at EdVenture – a fun and educational series that features a read-to-me time followed by a character appearance that is sure to make stories come alive! Join us to see Thing One and Thing Two and hear “Cat in the Hat” from 2 – 3pm. Free with museum admission.

Blue Man Group – Making Waves

Now through September 19

The newest traveling exhibit making a stop at EdVenture is fun for the entire family. Explore the 1,500-square-foot exhibit inspired by the musical Blue Man Group, participating in a playful way to learn about the science of sound and light. With the dynamic Blue Men as your guide, play the unique Blue Man Group instruments in a surround sound environment. The exhibit was created by the Boston Children’s Museum. The Blue Man Group exhibit is free with museum admission.

Daily Activities – (free with museum admission)

Butterfly Releases

Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays in August

Join us to witness live butterflies released into their new home at 10 am and 2 pm in the newly reopened “Blooming Butterflies” outdoor pavilion. Regular admission prices for non-members apply plus an additional $3 to experience this exhibit.

Aha Factory at EdVenture

Tuesday – Friday & Sunday (1 – 4 pm), Saturday (10 am – 4 pm)

Open Monday-Friday (10 am – 4 pm) throughout the summer.

Guided daily art activities with weekly themes. Use recycled products to create unique take-home projects.

Home Safe Home

Tuesday – Saturday (11:30 am, 2:30 and 3:30pm) Sunday (2:30 & 3:30 pm)

Monday (11:30 am, 2:30 & 3:30 pm throughout the summer)

This multimedia, 4-D interactive movie teaches children how to help their families be fire safe.

Toddler Tuesdays – August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

A drop-in program designed for our littlest visitors. Children will participate in fun hands-on activities and listen to engaging stories every Tuesday at 10am. For families with children ages 4 and younger. No RSVP necessary.

Weekly Themes at EdVenture

Experience EdVenture during one of these weekly themes with fun activities throughout the museum.

August 2-8: Detective Objective

August 9-15: Blast to the Past 60’s

August 16-22: Blast to the Past 70’s

August 23-29: Blast to the Past 80’s

August 30-September 5: Best of the Best

• Mix 1/2 can cream of coconut and 1/2 can fat-free condensed milk.
• Add 3 cups half-and-half and about a teaspoon coconut extract (optional); stir well.
• Place in the ice cream freezer and freeze according to directions.

This recipe turns out perfectly in a countertop ice cream freezer.

Top it with chocolate syrup, and it tastes like a Mounds bar.

Save the remaining 1/2 can cream of coconut and condensed milk for another batch of ice cream in a day or two; you know you’ll want it.

Variation (just as delicious): Mix 1 can condensed milk; 3 cups half-and-half; a 16-ounce package frozen berries, thawed (any kind or mixed);  and 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar. Place in the ice cream freezer and freeze according to directions.