January 2018

MV Library Update
As many of you probably know, the library is undergoing some major renovations, and so story times have been sporadic the last month or two.  However, they are coming back during January (although at some new locations!)

Saturday Stories (Saturdays starting Jan 6th)
10:15 – 10:45
Location: The View Teen Center (263 Escuela Ave)
Ages 2 – 5 years
Every third Saturday is Bilingual (English/Spanish).
http://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24903

Time for Two’s (Tuesdays starting Jan 9th)
Tuesdays
Ages 24 m – 36 m
January 9 – March 6
10:30 – 11:00 am
Location: Center for Performing Arts (500 Castro Street)
http://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24909

Preschool Storytime (Wednesdays)
Spanish and English on alternating Wednesdays
10:30 – 11:00 am
January 10 – March 7
Location: Center for Performing Arts (500 Castro Street)
http://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24912

Mother Goose & More (Thursdays starting Jan 11)
10:15-10:45 am and 11:30-12:00 pm
January 11 – March 1
Stories and rhymes for babies and toddlers
Location: Center for Performing Arts (500 Castro Street)
http://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24906

Pearachute (Wund3rKid, Yes Creative Labs, Blossom and more — every day)
This new company has created a way for parents to purchase drop-in classes for their kids.  If you want to try it out, use my code to get your first month free on a 4 Credit Plan: REF-CJ3X6M. You can sign up here https://www.pearachutekids.com/referred?coupon_code=REF-CJ3X6M . So far it has been really fun (but haven’t decided yet if we’ll continue after the trial month since it is pricey).

Two of the local businesses from which you can buy drop-in class passes are Wund3rKid (Palo Alto) and Yes Creative Labs (Mountain View).  We did a drop-in play at Wund3rKid, and had fun but felt like it maybe wasn’t worth the trek/cost (although we are eager to try one of their STEM or other classes).   The teacher at Yes Creative Labs (Mountain View) was fantastic and we’ll definitely be going back.  We haven’t taking any classes yet at Blossom, but it is great organization to also checkout (with a great quarterly yard sale for kids clothes).

Stay N Play (Jan 5th and Jan 19th)
https://www.facebook.com/TrinityStayNPlay
This is a great place to let your toddlers explore new toys, try fun crafts, jump in their cool bouncy houses, and enjoy a great circle/song time with the amazing Miss Erin. The group meets every other Friday (9:30 to 11:30 am) at Trinity Church in Sunnyvale. It is very reasonable in price ($3 (cash preferred) per child 2 years and older).  The themes for the upcoming Stay N Plays this month are as follows:
Jan 5th: Winter Wonderland
Jan 19th: Animals on Parade (Wear PJs)

YMCA (El Camino Branch) Parent’s Day and Nights Out (Jan 6th and Jan 19th)
Being a parent is hard work, and if you are a member of the YMCA, you can take a little break from it all with their Parent’s Day and Nights Out.  Basically you drop off your loved ones for some pizza and fun at the YMCA (El Camino Branch), and the lovely workers ensure that they are well cared for while you and the spouse enjoy some time to yourself.   This month the Parent’s Day Out is Jan 6th (2:30 – 6:30 pm) whereas the Parent’s Night Out is Jan 19th (5:30 – 9:30 pm; for Night Out kids must be 3 and potty-trained).  The fee is $35 for one child and $25 for each additional child.

As a side note, the YMCA is just a great place of kids to explore new interests since many of the classes like guitar, martial arts, and ballet don’t require extra fees.

Click to access ECyouthactivities.pdf

YMCA (El Camino Branch) Family Movie Night – Friday, Jan 12
The YMCA chooses a great family flick to project up on a bring screen, and provides the snacks (health options as well as the quintessential movie treat, popcorn) and drinks. No worries if your little one starts fidgeting or talks during the movie — they won’t be the only ones.  Feel free to bring a dinner for your kids too!  Showtime is 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

January Parenting Book Club (Friday, January 12th)
This month we’ll be discussing Parenting With Love And Logic by Foster Cline et al.   We’ll meet the 2nd Friday of every month at 8:30 pm at Red Rock Cafe on Castro Street (note the new location!). The lineup for upcoming months is below:

February:  How to Really Love Your Child
March:  Prayer-Saturated Kids: Equipping and Empowering Children in Prayer
April: Wild Things
May: How to Raise a Wild Child
June: The Boy Who Played with Fusion: Extreme Science, Extreme Parenting, and How to Make a Star

Cheetah Cubs at Theurkauf Elementary (Wednesdays starting Jan 17th)
Are you in the North Shoreline area of Mountain View (near Theuerkauf Elementary)?  If so, there is a great, free preschool preparatory class on Wednesday mornings at 8:45 am at Theuerkauf Elementary for babies through preschool aged children.  Check in at the front office upon arriving to Theuerkauf Elementary’s school campus.  Every morning there is free play, circle/storytime, and a wonderful craft.  The teacher is great and is bilingual (Spanish and English), and tries to work Spanish songs and books into the curriculum.

Toddler Science Club (Tuesdays)
Some friends and I have a science club for our toddlers that meets on Tuesdays afternoons at 4:30 pm.  If you are interested in joining, please contact me (emilyrainschang@gmail.com).  Resumes on Jan 9th.

Chinese Storytime (Wednesdays)
For Chinese-speakers, the Zhaoyu Cultural Foundation in Mountain View has a great children’s library.  They offer a wonderful music-based storytime for babies and toddlers on Wednesdays at 11 am.  You do need to reserve a spot before the class and will need a library card (free) to do so.

Storytimes on Castro Street: Books Inc. and Red Rock (Wednesdays)
Two great local businesses host regular story times on Castro Street, every Wednesday /Thurs morning at 10:00AM.
1st Thurs. of the month at Red Rock Coffee
2nd Wed. of the month at Books Inc. Mountain View
3rd Thurs. of the month at Red Rock Coffee
4th Wed. of the month Books Inc. Mountain View
Babies – 5 yrs. old
https://www.booksinc.net/event/wednesday-storytime-books-inc-mountain-view-0

Munchkin Monday at Sky High (Every Monday morning when local elementary schools are in session; not available on holidays)
Take your little ones to the trampoline mecca in Santa Clara on Monday mornings (resuming Jan 8th).  Their dedicated toddler time  is great because it just $6 per kid and also you don’t have to deal with larger and older kids accidentally squashing your little munchkin.
http://sjc.skyhighsports.com/pricing-and-specials/