Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

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    • 13 kid-worthy podcasts
    • 20 classic outdoor games
    • Hour by hour
    • Inspiration for dinner @ home
    • A letter from a homeschool mom
    • Educational resources
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    • Live Streaming Shows for Kids
    • Virtual weekday adventures
  • Indoor Fun
    • Indoor options!
    • Even more indoor spaces
    • Theater and musical productions
    • Badlands
    • ZavaZone
    • Busy Bees
    • Not your typical kid gym
    • Nook
  • Fall
    • Ultimate guide to Halloween and fall
    • Fall foliage
    • Fall classes {virtual & in-person}
    • Boo drive thru at the Zoo
    • Fall festivals, farms, orchards and events
    • Fall bucket list
  • Winter
    • Gift guide
    • Winter bucket list
    • Ski and snowboard with kids
    • Cut-your-own tree farms
    • Holiday tea
    • Outdoor ice rinks
    • Holiday light displays, outdoor markets and celebrations
    • Camps, classes & parent groups
    • Holiday shows, ballets and concerts
    • Survive Daylight Savings
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    • Mother’s Day
    • Memorial Day weekend in 2018
    • Tax day steals and deals
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    • Summer camp guide
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    • Summer bucket list
    • Top ice cream spots
    • Live summer music
    • Splash parks
    • Outdoor movies
    • Trains!
  • Camps and Classes
    • Summer camp guide
    • Your favorite classes have gone virtual
    • School is out, these camps are in
    • Year-round kid classes
    • Spring break camps
    • DCPS mid-winter break camps
    • Fall classes {virtual & in-person}
    • Winter camps, classes & parent groups
    • Gymnastics and dance classes
  • Neighborhood Guide
    • Brookland, DC
    • Breweries in the DC area
    • Baltimore, Maryland
    • Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
    • Chevy Chase, DC
    • AU Park, DC
    • Bethany Beach, Delaware
  • Outdoor Play
    • Outdoor fun
    • Trails, marshes and gardens
    • 20 classic outdoor games
  • Virtual
    • At-home learning space
    • Virtual birthday parties
    • Connect virtually
    • Fun games and activities to do with friends and family
    • 13 kid-worthy podcasts
    • Virtual classes
    • Weekday adventures
  • Calendar
  • Beltway Bambinos Concierge
    • Introducing Beltway Bambinos Concierge
  • About
    • Advertising
  • Home
  • At Home
    • 13 kid-worthy podcasts
    • 20 classic outdoor games
    • Hour by hour
    • Inspiration for dinner @ home
    • A letter from a homeschool mom
    • Educational resources
    • Sample schedules and ideas
    • Live Streaming Shows for Kids
    • Virtual weekday adventures
  • Indoor Fun
    • Indoor options!
    • Even more indoor spaces
    • Theater and musical productions
    • Badlands
    • ZavaZone
    • Busy Bees
    • Not your typical kid gym
    • Nook
  • Fall
    • Ultimate guide to Halloween and fall
    • Fall foliage
    • Fall classes {virtual & in-person}
    • Boo drive thru at the Zoo
    • Fall festivals, farms, orchards and events
    • Fall bucket list
  • Winter
    • Gift guide
    • Winter bucket list
    • Ski and snowboard with kids
    • Cut-your-own tree farms
    • Holiday tea
    • Outdoor ice rinks
    • Holiday light displays, outdoor markets and celebrations
    • Camps, classes & parent groups
    • Holiday shows, ballets and concerts
    • Survive Daylight Savings
  • Spring
    • Spring break camps
    • Easter, eggs and hunts
    • Mother’s Day
    • Memorial Day weekend in 2018
    • Tax day steals and deals
  • Summer
    • Summer camp guide
    • Outdoor swimming pools
    • Summer bucket list
    • Top ice cream spots
    • Live summer music
    • Splash parks
    • Outdoor movies
    • Trains!
  • Camps and Classes
    • Summer camp guide
    • Your favorite classes have gone virtual
    • School is out, these camps are in
    • Year-round kid classes
    • Spring break camps
    • DCPS mid-winter break camps
    • Fall classes {virtual & in-person}
    • Winter camps, classes & parent groups
    • Gymnastics and dance classes
  • Neighborhood Guide
    • Brookland, DC
    • Breweries in the DC area
    • Baltimore, Maryland
    • Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
    • Chevy Chase, DC
    • AU Park, DC
    • Bethany Beach, Delaware
  • Outdoor Play
    • Outdoor fun
    • Trails, marshes and gardens
    • 20 classic outdoor games
  • Virtual
    • At-home learning space
    • Virtual birthday parties
    • Connect virtually
    • Fun games and activities to do with friends and family
    • 13 kid-worthy podcasts
    • Virtual classes
    • Weekday adventures
  • Calendar
  • Beltway Bambinos Concierge
    • Introducing Beltway Bambinos Concierge
  • About
    • Advertising

5 Plant and Garden Stores in Washington, DC

February 18, 2021

Photo: Rewild

I have always had a love for gardening but the pandemic has brought to light my obsession of growing indoor plants. Keeping my orchids long after they’ve blossomed and shed that final bloom has paid off. I have found the secret to the exotic plants re-blooming {I’m currently looking at three orchids that have flowered twice since March}. Finding enough but not too much natural light, being careful of your heat sources and understanding how much to water them are a few simple tricks to being successful with your plants.

My next purchase will be a swiss cheese plant, string-of-pearls and a philodendron pink princess! It is not a cheap hobby but one that sure does bring me JOY {and a morsel of healthier air}! I’ve linked 5 of my favorite DC plant stores that not only have amazing plants but also extremely helpful employees that are sure to get you off to a good start whether you already have a green thumb or perhaps aim to have one soon.

Photo: Little Leaf

American Plant: 5258 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816 & 7405 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817

Capital City Hydroponics: 821 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC 20011

Gingko Gardens: 911 11th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Little Leaf: 1401 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Rewild: 1924 8th St NW Suite #100, Washington, DC 20001 & 3270 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007

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Filed Under: Neighborhood Guide, Products I Love Tagged: DC, indoor, local, plants

Stocking stuffers {and gifts} under $10

December 10, 2020

We have gathered small gifts perfect for a stocking or to be wrapped all under $10.00! For other ideas check out the gift ideas on our guide too.

Books:
Would you Rather?
Mad Libs
Paint By Sticker
Almanac 2021
Weird But True

Beauty:
Lip Smacker
Bath Bombs
Scarf Scrunchie
Sleeping Mask

Crafty:
Gel Pens
Rainbow Scratch Art: Bookmarks
Decorate Your Own Water Bottle
Decorate Your Own Box

Technology:
AirPods Case with Keychain
LCD Writing Tablet
PopSockets

Small Toys:
Hatchimals
Little Live Pets Scruff Surprise
Lego DC Batboat
LOL Surprise Boys Arcade
Uno Emoji
Jeopardy Card Game
Construction Toys with Playmat
Puzzles in a Box
Foam Baseballs

Cozy:
Baby Fleece & Sherpa Booties (Similar to the Zutano brand but so much cheaper!)
Cutetitos Fruititos, Surprise Stuffed Animals, Collectible Scented Plush
Everyday Active No-Show
Novelty Food Sock

Last years posts:
Gift Guide for Kids
Memberships & Experiences
Subscription Boxes

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

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Filed Under: Holiday Options, Products I Love Tagged: holiday

Covid-era gift guide: ideas for crafts, technology, home and outdoors

November 30, 2020

We hope you find this gift guide helpful as we have highlighted items that will entertain your children through the winter as we prepare to spend more time indoors as well as some gifts for your home (or others). Check out these stocking stuffers, all under $10!

For your home:

This steam mop is my favorite purchase during quarantine. Easy to use, I have now put my kids in charge of cleaning the floors! It eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam. I add essential oils to bring an inviting smell in, a bit of olive oil and sometimes a light cleaning product from Branch Basics into my water.

Solo Stove has allowed us to be outside on cool nights! It comes in various sizes and is smokeless (if you have dry firewood). Don’t forget marshmallow and hot dog skewers for the bonfire.

A lot of our friends have stepped up their outdoor spaces with a projector and screen so they can show movies outside alongside their bonfire and/or heat lamp. Whatever allows us to get out of our house in 2020, right?

Seriously don’t know why I didn’t get this sooner. The iRobot Roomba is a vacuum that intelligently maps & cleans an entire level of your home- set it and go! A cheaper option is the Eufy which also cleans hardwood and carpet.

Instant Pot is worth the hype and comes in various sizes. I just wish I had a cabinet it could be stored in.

Our air purifier is a 3-part filtration system that captures 99% of common airborne pm 2.5 pollutants such as allergens, odors, smoke, mold spores, dust mites and pet dander.

Add some green to your home and add a snake plant or palm. We have gifted this succulent subscription box to a friend and they delivered gorgeous succulents.

Get active and outside:

My kids are begging for rollerblades or rollerskates and I’m not opposed.

Socker boppers are another fun way for kids to get out some energy with theses inflatable boppers which can used in a variety of ways.

Another item on my kids list this year is a hoverboard. Perhaps it’s due to the marathon we just had watching Back to the Future.

Micro scooters are great– they come in a variety of sizes and styles and my kids have loved each one they’ve had. The mini-deluxe is perfect for ages 2-5 and the maxi deluxe is the next scooter for ages 5-12 while this micro is great for the older kids who have better balance.

If you have space outside a ninja obstacle course is a great way to get your kids outdoors and burning energy.

Balance stepping stones are great for smaller kids to set up in the yard while developing balance, collaboration and concentration skills

Dueling stomp rocket allows two friends to stomp rockets as high as they can into the sky.

Arts and crafts:

This playhouse allows kids to doodle & decorate a cardboard castle and other designs. A perfect indoor activity that will provide plenty of fun for winter.

Don’t let the word painting steer you away from this. My six year old received this for her birthday and in one day created all of the 12 designs– she LOVED it and it is an activity that allowed her to be completely independent while creating. Grab this big gem diamond painting!

3-D printing pen is the first in a 3D printing device!

Light-up tracing pad is a favorite in our house. It has a variety of designs featuring 1 graphite pencil, 12 short colored pencils, 10 tracing sheets, 10 blank sheets, and 1 graphite pencil.

The art case that comes with everything your budding artist needs and you can keep it all in the carrying case.

Grow n glow terrarium is another favorite in our house. It is an indoor activity for kids that allows them to craft, plant, water and grow your own mini ecosystem. Just add water for a unique science experience!

Aquabeads give your child a chance to place the beads following the template and spray with water to complete! Flip the tray to remove the design, wipe dry and continue creating with Aquabeads!

Build and paint a wooden car (or rescue vehicles) with 42 pre-cut & sanded wooden pieces to make 3 cars, sand paper.

Tech:

Oculus Quest 2 transports your movements directly into VR with intuitive controls. Get the best seat in the house to live concerts, games, groundbreaking films, exclusive events and more.

Echo Dot for kids lets kids ask Alexa to play music, read stories, and call approved friends and family. The included year of Amazon Kids+ (FreeTime Unlimited) gives them access to thousands of hours of kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games, and educational skills.

Fuji film instax mini camera + accessories is an awesome gift for kids who enjoy snapping photos. Photos immediately are printed and can be added to the photo albums.

VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch is great for kids 4+. They can take photos, learn to tell time and play games on this watch. It comes in a variety of colors.

Powerbeats wireless earphones: Up to 9 hours of listening time with secure ear fit. Apple Airpods Pro are another good option in fact these are my favorite as they are noise reducing and I can pop them in while my kids are doing virtual school if I need to cancel out the noise.

Wireless karaoke microphone is a handheld karaoke microphone which is small in size and easy to hold. Kids can practice and share favorite songs using music apps (YouTube , Pandora, Spotify..)

Osmo starter kit: Children interact with actual hand held pieces & an iPad, bringing a child’s game pieces & actions to life (No WiFi necessary for game play).

A bluetooth speaker is great to have when you go outdoors as it is bluetooth compatible. We brought this one along on our beach trips this summer and it worked great. A cheaper option is this Bose one.

Related posts:
Gift guide for kids
Stocking stuffers under $13
Toys & games that are educational
Indoor & outdoor must-haves
Subscription boxes for children

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

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Filed Under: Birthday, Education, Holiday Options, Indoor Play, Outdoor Play, Products I Love Tagged: gift guide, gifts, tech

Thanksgiving books, crafts, games and volunteer opportunities for families

November 19, 2020

Thanksgiving themed books-
Balloons Over Broadway
Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving
How To Catch A Turkey
The Great Thanksgiving Escape
The Story of Pilgrims
Would You Rather? Thanksgiving Edition
Thanksgiving on Thursday: Magic Treehouse
Thanksgiving Activity Book

Wreath of Plenty craft from Parents

Crafts & games-
We have added some fun activities and games to our Pinterest page to get your kids thinking about what they are grateful for. Our family will be creating a grateful tree and I love the idea of having them create a handprint runner and decorating it for our dinner on a long sheet of inside out wrapping paper. A few more of my favorites that are on our Pinterest page are:
-Disguise the Turkey
-Thankful Banner
-Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Need last minute Thanksgiving decor? Check out Caravan Shoppe for downloadable (send to a local print shop) interactive decorations!

Volunteer opportunities are a bit different this year but nonetheless more important than ever.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

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Filed Under: Education, Fall, Fun from home, Holiday Options, Products I Love Tagged: crafts

Subscription boxes make a great gift for kids

November 16, 2020

I love giving my children (and to others as these subscription boxes make for a great gift!) experiences rather than another toy for the holiday. Especially since we are stuck at home so much now, these boxes are even more useful. Subscription boxes have become a great way for kids to make memories, stay busy creating something hands-on while having an experience where all of the necessary materials come delivered to their doorstep. Choose a topic that interests your child and order a box before committing to receiving one every month. Many of these subscription services offer first time sign-up deals as you visit the homepage which is an added bonus. We have personally tried the first 6 and highly recommend them- happy to answer any questions.

KiwiCo  believes that children learn by playing and doing and children are naturally curious and creative. KiwiCo was created to give children exposure to new materials, new tools, new techniques, and new concepts that encourage hands-on learning and fun. They are dedicated to inspiring these young scientists, artists, explorers. Below are the various crates they offer-

Panda Crate Explore & Discover (Ages 0-24mo)
Koala Crate Play & Learn (Ages 2-4)
Kiwi Crate Science, Art & More (Ages 5-8)
Atlas Crate Geography & Culture (Ages 6-11)
Doodle Crate Create & Craft (Ages 9-16+)
Tinker Crate Science & Engineering (Ages 9-16+)
Maker Crate Art & Design (Ages14-104)
Eureka Crate Engineering & Design (Ages 14-104)

Bookroo is a monthly subscription for kids ages 0-10 that helps them fall {even more} in love with reading by combining the excitement of opening a gift with the discovery of a new, wrapped, treasured book! The mission is to enable and empower parents to build their children’s book collections in an affordable and exciting way through curated monthly book deliveries. Bookroo believes in the power and impact of the written word in the life of a child and believe it’s never too early to start reading to children. Use this link to get 15% off your first order. We’ve raved about Bookroo before and here again and will continue to do so because literacy is so important and receiving books as a gift is sure to bring a smile to Bambinos faces. 

Bonus: Book of the Month for the adults in your life! They can choose from a variety of books each month to be delivered to their door.

Rosie Riveters
Rosie Riveters is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to equip and empower girls ages 4-14 to be strong, confident, and competent in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by providing a fun space for to imagine, learn, build, and play. 

CookKitz
Cook Kitz delivers all inclusive, educational and delicious cooking projects to your doorstep in the DC area. What began as a way to keep your family deliciously occupied during quarantine, has now become a household staple- there’s always a reason to have a COOK KITZ on hand! Each KITZ focuses on a main recipe with “choose-your-own-adventure” elements to encourage culinary imagination and recipe versatility.

District Dabble Lab
District DabbleLab is a space that seeks to inspire imagination, develop skills, spark curiosity, and promote creativity. DabbleBox is a new subscription box for artsy craftsy kids, delivered monthly with four projects and Emily instructing your child step-by-step via videos!

Sensory TheraPlay Box are toys to help develop important sensory motor skills and stimulate the senses. Engage your child in fun, silly sensory play! Items are therapeutic and can be calming or help manage anxiety. Curated for children with autism/ sensory needs in mind, but suitable for children of all abilities by a Pediatric OT. Each month’s box is carefully curated by a licensed occupational therapist and includes a description card inside.

Skip & Play is a monthly subscription boxes for babies, toddlers, and kids includes the very best, award-winning toys that encourage learning and development. Each month hand-selected toys will arrive which are matched up with the child’s age and stage of development. In the early years, there are toys including teething toys, a tummy time mat, bath toys, and other great items that your baby needs in their first year of growth. As they enter the second year the toys grow to match their curiosity, with shapes, colors, stackers, puzzles, and more. By ages 3, 4, and 5, there are pretend play sets, advanced puzzles, early writing tools, drawing pads, and more!

Bits Box provides monthly coding projects that teach elementary aged children how to program apps. Kids look through the materials and pick an app. Every box comes with dozens of coding projects, ranging from simple to more advanced. Kids type the app into the Bitsbox website and start with the code from the book, then change it to make it their own. Kids use and share their apps on any mobile device. Bitsbox apps run on any computer, tablet, or phone with a web browser.

Girls Can! Create inspires girls to BE and DO anything by introducing them to fearless women who made the world better. The company believes that real women make the very best heroes and every month, as a subscription service, they deliver them to girls 5-10 years old. Each crate or mini-mailer celebrates the life and work of one woman who changed the world through story, activities, play props, and more. Each month, meet a fearless woman who changed the world. Discover her in a 20-page book filled with games, fun and experiments. Explore her field with 2-3 fun science, engineering or art activities. Play props stickers and more.

Steve Spangler Science Club allows you to choose hands-on science kits. A new theme will be explored every month such as kitchen chemistry, glowing germs, the power of air or bubbling potions, electricity and more. Ideal for kids ages 5-12. Ignite the spark of science and creativity in your child. Learn the real science behind each amazing experiment.

Little Passports is a global adventure. They create award-winning subscriptions for kids that inspire them to learn about the world. Get 15% off all subscriptions using code: JOLLY

Early Explorers (Ages 3-5)
Science Junior (Ages 5-8)
World Edition (Ages 6-10)
USA Edition (Ages 7-12)
Science Expeditions (Ages 9+)

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Filed Under: Fun from home, Holiday Options, Products I Love Tagged: Delivery, mail, subscription boxes

DIY Halloween fun at home with Kiwi Co

October 20, 2020

You’ve seen us post several times about our love for Kiwi Co and the amazing boxes we have ordered. You can order just one box and see which line you like best or subscribe to receive one each month. Boxes range from exciting STEM crafts to a doodle crate and everything in between. I love saving our Kiwi boxes for rainy or cold days. A few boxes my kids have loved are making soap and creating a paint pendulum. You can save $10 by using this link to place an order.

Count popula craft from Kiwi Co

Check out these fun at-home ideas for making Halloween crafts & experiments. My kids are eager to make the 3-D yarn spiderweb. Extend the at-home crafts with these Fall ideas too!

Related post:
Subscription boxes for children
Ultimate guide to Halloween
Fall foliage

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Filed Under: Fun from home, Products I Love Tagged: at home, kiwi co

Get in the spooky spirit with COOK KITZ

October 16, 2020

This Halloween season certainly is different and while some may be carrying on with traditional trick or treating others may not. We want to highlight a local business that can help you celebrate Halloween in the comfort of your home.

COOK KITZ

COOK KITZ was featured last month on our blog. We loved the curated box that arrived at our doorstep which had step by step directions for baking. This month you can get a Halloween themed box! This KITZ includes all the ingredients and supplies for the spider web cookies, edible slime and 3 interactive games. It does not include ingredients for the spooky lunch menu, however we share a grocery list + recipes if you choose to make this optional activity.

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Filed Under: Food, Holiday Options, Products I Love Tagged: cook kitz, curated box

Prime day deals for families, kids and dogs

October 13, 2020

Today was day 1 of 2 for Amazon Prime Day. I’ve found some good deals as it relates to home, kids and dogs. Deals end tomorrow at 11:59est. Happy shopping!

My favorite quarantine purchases–
Steam mop: Eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam. I add essential oils, a bit of olive oil and sometimes a light cleaning product from Branch Basics into my water.

iRobot Roomba: Seriously don’t know why I didn’t get this sooner. The vacuum intelligently maps & cleans an entire level of your home- set it and go!

Instant Pot: Worth the hype comes in various sizes.

Air purifier: 3-part filtration system that captures 99% of common airborne pm 2.5 pollutants such as allergens, odors, smoke, mold spores, dust mites and pet dander.

Powerbeats wireless earphones: Up to 9 hours of listening time with secure ear fit. Apple Airpods are another good option!

For the kids–
Blue light blocking glasses: Non-prescription glasses for daily use when kids use a computer, iPad or smart phone. AHXLL kids blue light glasses can cut harmful blue light, reduce eyestrain and headache while protecting children’s eyesight.

Osmo starter kit: Children interact with actual hand held pieces & an iPad, bringing a child’s game pieces & actions to life (No WiFi necessary for game play).

Arts/Crafts-
Playhouse: Doodle & decorate a cardboard haunted house and more designs.

3-D printing pen: The first in a 3D printing device. 

Light-up tracing pad: Various designs featuring 1 graphite pencil, 12 short colored pencils, 10 tracing sheets, 10 blank sheets, and 1 graphite pencil.

Art case: Comes with everything your budding artist needs and you can keep it all in the carrying case.

Dogs- We recently welcomed a puppy to our family so have stocked up on some essentials during Prime Day!
Furbo dog camera & treat dispenser: Livestream video, dispense treats, 2-way audio and more.

Metal dog crate: Various sizes

Travel water bottle: Fill it up and go.

Bully sticks: If you know, you know!

Back seat cover protector: Waterproof and easy to clean.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

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Filed Under: Products I Love Tagged: kids, prime day

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