Beltway Bambinos

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

Holiday fun with My Gym Bethesda & My Gym Potomac

Zoom Holiday Fun with Santa:
Join My Gym for a special event where kids will spend time together on Zoom enjoying games, puppet shows, story time, and more with Santa.

When: Saturday, Dec. 19th from 3:00-4:00pm
Who: Perfect for ages 3 to 9 years
Member Price: $10 per family 
Non-member Price: $15 per family

Zoom New Years Eve Dance Party:
Kids will ring in the new year with their favorite My Gym teachers on Zoom enjoying dancing, games and fun!

When: Thursday, Dec. 31st from 4:30-5:30pm
Who: Perfect for ages 3 to 10 years (younger siblings are welcome to participate, but parental supervision is encouraged) 
Member Price: $10 per family 
Non-member Price: $15 per family

Winter break camp at My Gym Potomac has some spots left. Drop your kids off for three hours of active fun at My Gym including games, craft, gymnastics and sports!

When: Winter Break – Dec. 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31, 1:00-4:00pm
Member Price: $45
Non-members Price: $50

Related posts
Stocking stuffers under $10
Holiday gift guide

Celebrate The Season With A Free, Virtual Holiday Crafting Workshop With The Station At Riverdale Park!

WHAT: Following the speedy sell-out of their first holiday crafting session, join The Station at Riverdale Park for a Letter to Santa Watercolor Workshop. Santa is pulling into The Station! Join Santa’s crafting workshop and unleash your inner elf with a Letter to Santa watercolor workshop. Pick up your complimentary crafting kit at The Station PLUS a $10 gift card from participating restaurants at The Station.

WHEN: Pick up your free watercolor kit at The Station (6621 Baltimore Avenue, Riverdale Park, MD 20737) on Saturday, December 19 from 11am – 2pm and then tune in for a Zoom workshop at 4pm with local artist and maker, Serena Martin Designs. Can’t make the workshop live? They’ll send a recording to all registrants.

HOW: This activation is free and open to the public, registration required. Click here to register.

Stocking stuffers {and gifts} under $10

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.

Celebrate the High Holidays at home with PJ Library

Each fall, Jews around the world celebrate the High Holidays: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  It’s a time when one can take a deep breath and think about the ways to make ourselves and the world a better place. Traditionally, many families celebrate the holidays at synagogue and with relatives and friends. This year, to stay safe, many are staying home, so PJ Library has created a FREE, everything-you-need family guide to help celebrate what may be many family’s first High Holidays spent entirely at home. It’s easy to subscribe to PJ Library just click HERE! Be sure to check out and download this beautifully-illustrated “High Holidays at Home: A PJ Library Family Guide” featuring new and familiar rituals, hands-on activities such as shofar making and challah baking, conversation starters, “unpacking” of selected prayers (with tips on talking with children about God), and family-friendly explanations — all aimed at making the ten days the High Holidays are celebrated meaningful, memorable and fun for families, this year and in the future. The guide is also accompanied by an interactive online companion that offers helpful how-to videos, music, and audio versions of blessing and prayers.

Our family used the guide to make homemade challah, using the recipe in the guide. It was so simple and a great way to bond and discuss the holidays.

It’s easy to subscribe to PJ Library just click HERE!

Labor Day weekend in and around Washington, DC

This weekend definitely doesn’t feel like a typical Labor Day weekend but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the long weekend. Some ideas of things you can do while being outside and keeping a safe distance are below as well as a few events happening.

Day destinations (less than 2 hours away)
Trails, marshes & gardens
Beach & state parks
Outdoor fun
15 ways to get outdoors
Adult Getaways
Family Overnight Trips

All weekend
Park Up DC drive in has movies all weekend long for families as well as adult movies.

Our family is missing in-person Nationals games but luckily we can cheer them on by watching MASN or listening to games on the radio. This long weekend brings a tournament between Nats vs. Braves. You can bring the stadium food to your house by ordering the best ballpark bites.

Sunday
The National Symphony Orchestra returns for their annual Labor Day Concert. Composers” William Grant Still, Aaron Copland, and more! The performance will be livestreamed at the pop-up drive-in Park Up DC (on RFK Stadium’s campus). Up to 350 cars can attend the free show, but if you don’t make it, you can see the concert broadcast on the Kennedy Center’s social media channels on Monday, September 7. The drive-in concert itself is on Sunday, September 6 at 7pm. Please Note: You must reserve a space.

Monday
Herndon Labor Day Festival

Plan ahead
The National Landing BID (née Crystal City BID) is hosting a series of drive-in movies, starting Thursday and running weekly in September. The film series dubbed “Ride in Reels” the venue is the empty lot at 33rd Street S. and Crystal Drive. Gates will open for moviegoers at 7pm. Prior registration is required to attend. Would-be attendees are encouraged to sign up for the National Landing BID newsletter; a link will appear in the Monday newsletter for Thursday’s movie. When registering, participants select their vehicle type or choose one of the non-vehicle spaces for those walking or biking to the movies.
Films scheduled for the drive-in are:
Sept. 10: Finding Nemo
Sept. 17: Just Mercy
Sept. 24: The Goonies

Gift Guide for Kids

It’s Black Friday so deals are hot right now so stock up while the sales are good. If you are in the need for some gifts, we’ve got a short list of items that are sure to delight your Bambinos, whether it be a holiday gift or birthday presents you can hide for the future. We also have posts on Subscription Boxes for Kids and Memberships & Experiences for Families for more gift options.

STEM:
Kano Computer Kit
Build your own computer. Comes with step-by-step book, Raspberry Pi 3, programmable LED lights, DIY case, power button, wireless keyboard with track pad, memory, HDMI and power cables, stickers, Kano unique operating system, 100+ coding challenges, and 100+ apps.

Shifu
They have a variety of games that are compatible with your smart device for various age ranges.

Osmo
Osmo is magic: fun-filled & Award winning learning games that interact with actual hand held pieces & a fire tablet, bringing a child’s game pieces & actions to life (no wi-fi necessary for game play). Comes in many different age ranges as well as games.

Code & Go Robot Mouse
This coding set includes 16 maze grids create a 20″ X 20″, 22 maze walls, 3 tunnels, 30 double-sided coding cards, 10 double-sided activity cards, cheese wedge, and activity guide to provide a hands-on introduction to coding concepts.

Nature Lover:
Grow n Glow Terrarium
This kit allows you to craft, plant, water and grow your own terrarium tabletop garden and it grows SUPER fast.

4-Piece Gardening Set
Get some help with yard-work!

See Through Garden
This deluxe root viewer lets you see how vegetables grow and serves as a great year-round indoor experiment for all ages.

Gardening Set
Slightly different tools for older age.

Games & Puzzles:
Kanoodle
Includes 12 puzzle pieces, 200 puzzle challenges, a 48-page illustrated puzzle book, and a carrying case. Perfect brain teaser, travel game! Kanoodle includes 200 logical thinking puzzles from basic to deviously difficult, there are hundreds of possible combinations, but only one correct answer.

Zingo
Bingo with a Zing! Also there is Sight Word and Bilingual Zingo

Mapology World Puzzle
Consists of 3 foam puzzle: 2 for world map, 1 for Europe map, 83 country shaped pieces, 65 flags, and capital stickers.

Djeco Puzzles & Crocodile Creek Puzzles
ANY and ALL. We are huge fans of both of these brands.

Monopoly Unicorns vs Llamas
In this awesome animal Monopoly game, unicorns and llamas faceoff to see which adorable beast is best.

Rush Hour Logic Game
This logic game and STEM toy includes an ice cream truck, traffic grid, 40 challenge cards, 15 blocking vehicles, and a game-go bag for easy cleanup and storage, and is one of the best gifts you can buy for kids ages 5 and up.

Magnetivity Building Set
One-piece magnetivity magnetic building play set with a neighborhood house theme lets kids design, build, and play with their own house again and again. Includes car, 16 double-sided illustrated magnetic panels, 80 magnetic accessories, 3 magnetic play figures with stands.

Apples to Apples Junior
Players will delight in the crazy comparisons while expanding their vocabulary and thinking skills.

On the Go Water Wow!
Perfect for an airplane or car ride.

Crafty Kids:
Fashion Plates and Action Plates
Includes 15 fashion plates, 20 sheets of paper, 8 colored pencils, 2 rubbing crayons, crayon holder, drawing tablet, carrying case and idea guide. Action Plates include jet packs to rocket boots, to Super capes and robotic arms, you have the tools to draw a hero or villain to suit any adventure you dream up.

Magnetic Mini Tile Art
This magnetic tile art set includes tiles, magnets, a paint strip and brush. Tiles make ideal fridge art, or can be safely attached to a locker door for a unique personal touch.

Water Bottle Creation
Create a personalized tumbler by coloring the three tumbler liners you want and placing one of them inside the tumbler, then use the stickers to decorate the top! 

Comic Book Kit
Has everything you need to create your own hilarious misadventures or epic superhero stories.

Build & Paint a Wooden Car
Build your own wooden race cars with action wheels and create unique designs!

Magnetic Drawing Board
Comes with 5 fruit stamper magnets, 6 plastic stencils (6 different vehicles), 2 cute stickers and 1 replacement pen.

These bath paints or crayons let your child get artsy and messy in the bath– bonus they can get clean while having fun. Bath bombs are also a hit especially these with surprises inside!

This slime kit is perfect to have on hand for a winter day inside.

This is a great starter box that has plenty of supplies for any art & craft project.

The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays at National Theatre + GIVEAWAY

This is the greatest holiday giveaway. Win 4 tickets for this holiday magic show on Tuesday, December 3rd at 7:30pm at National Theatre!!

The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays at National Theatre

Ring in the holidays with the mind-blowing spectacular THE ILLUSIONISTS – MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS, showcasing the jaw-dropping talents of the most incredible illusionists on earth. THE ILLUSIONISTS has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen on stage. This nonstop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions. This show will be at National Theatre Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. You can purchase tickets here.

The show is recommended for ages 6 and up. Run time is approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes with an intermission.

GIVEAWAY: Win 4 tickets for the show on Tuesday, December 3rd at 7:30pm!! Enter by commenting on Facebook & Instagram with your favorite holiday activity to do with your family. Winner announced November 30, 2019.
Anyone associated with Allied (promo partners, employees, etc.) are not eligible to enter the contest.

Celebrating New Years Eve in Washington, DC with kids

(Photo: Noon Yards Eve at The Yards)

Weekend Tots: Noon Year’s Eve at Tudor Place

Date: Sunday, December 30, 2018

Time: 11:30am-12:30pm

Location:  1644 31st St. N.W. (between Q and R)

Details: Celebrate New Year’s Eve a day early with a Tudor Place event for children aged 2 to 4.  Enjoy a festive, counting-themed story time, then count down together at noon. Celebrate the “noon-year” with noisemakers, confetti, a sparkling craft, and then toast 2019 with juice.

Noon Yards Eve at The Yards

Date: Monday, December 31, 2018

Time: 10:00am-1:00pm

Location: The Yards Park Boardwalk: 355 Water Street SE Washington, DC 20003

Details: The free family-friendly New Year’s Eve daytime celebration that transforms Yards Park into an all-ages holiday wonderland, complete with interactive activities for children and adults. Yards Park will offer New Years-themed musical and magical performances, an inflatable obstacle course and the ever popular trackless train ride throughout Yards Park. The event will culminate with a countdown and celebratory balloon drop when the clock strikes noon to ring in the New Year!

Midnight Noon at Maryland Science Center

Date: Monday, December 31, 2018

Time: 10:00am-2:00pm

Location: 601 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230

Details: Join for the annual New Year’s Eve celebration; Midnight Noon. There will be fun New Year’s festivities throughout the day, including a live concert by popular kids band Milkshake. Their Grammy-nominated tunes will keep you dancing throughout the day. The entire Science Center will be open and ready for you to explore. All activities are FREE with paid admission, and completely free to members.

Noon Time New Year’s Celebration at Port Discovery Children’s Museum

Date: Monday, December 31, 2018

Time: 10:00am-5:00pm

Location: 35 Market Pl. Baltimore, MD. 21202

Details: Don’t wear just anything to this New Year’s Eve celebration. Kids are encouraged to dress in their favorite costumes and join in an energetic countdown to the new year. There will be live performances, dancing, and snacks.

12th Annual Rocknoceros New Years Eve Party at Jammin Java

Date: Monday, December 31, 2018

Time: 11:00am

Location: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna, VA.

Details: For the 12th year in a row, the hyper popular kids band will once again get the little ones rockin’ at this special New Year’s Eve gig at Jammin Java. Rocknoceros will do a full-fledged countdown and an apple juice toast for all!

Busy Bee’s New Year’s Eve Party at Chevy Chase location (details in photo below)

Busy Bee’s New Year’s Eve Party at Falls Church location

Date: Monday, December 31, 2018

Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm

Location: 6110 D Arlington Blvd Falls Church, VA 22044

Details: Come wave goodbye to 2018 and say hello to 2019 with us, and most importantly, your little one(s)! Rock with us and with Rainbow Rock Band as we play, dance, eat, count down and toast with cider to the new year! Who says we have to wait until midnight? The important part is to see the new year with the ones we love! We promise you won’t find a better kid-friendly new year celebration around!Pla

First Night Alexandria 

Date: Monday, December 31, 2018

Time: 2:00pm-11:45pm

Location: 30 indoor venues, within walking distance, along King St in Old Town

Details: A New Year’s Eve celebration for families with children 12 and under! Face painting, games, balloons, fireworks, dancing, DJ and more.  Includes a Fun Hunt from 2:00pm-4:00pm. There are 3 Kids Karnivals from 6:00pm-9:00pm especially designed to entertain and engage families with children up to 12 years old. There will be clowns, face painting, music, games, and a special guest host at each location all for only $5 per child 2-12 years old (or free with adult with a First Night Badge). 

Plan Ahead:
A family-friendly event to kick off the new year; Jaleo’s annual Three Kings Day brunch is back at Jaleo Bethesda on Sunday, January 6. From 10:00am – 2:00 pm. Guests can enjoy brunch and a complimentary slice of Roscón de Reyes (King Cake) alongside live performances by Adventure Theatre. 2019 may be your lucky year – whoever finds a bean in their slice of cake will win a prize!

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