Education Archives - Baton Rouge Family Fun

Back to School Supply Drives, Events, & Programs

July 19, 2021 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

The first day of school is quickly approaching families in the Baton Rouge area. The start of the school year can be a stressful time for families. For one in five children living in poverty, parents often have to choose between buying school supplies or putting food on the table. Yet, whether they’re attending class online or in the classroom, school supplies remain critical to helping students feel prepared to succeed. Here’s a running list of back-to-school events to help parents prepare their children for the upcoming school year.

Back to School Baton Rouge Supply Drives, Events, & Programs

Back to School Bash and School Supply Giveaway

EBR Schools is hosting their annual city-wide Back to School Bash and School Supply Giveaway! Join EBR Schools at the Raising Cane’s River Center Saturday, August 7th, from 10 am – 4 pm for a fun-filled day. Get ready for school all in one place! Get information about all of the wonderful opportunities available for students and families in East Baton Rouge Parish, along with enjoying free fitness sessions, health screenings, haircuts, entertainment, and more!

WBRZ Stuff the Bus

WBRZ’s Stuff the Bus Campaign is a school supply drive that assists parents and teachers in East Baton Rouge Parish and West Baton Rouge Parish to receive the school supplies their children need in order to succeed.

Help them fill up East Baton Rouge Parish school buses and West Baton Rouge Parish school buses with school supplies for the children of our community! Drop off supplies on Wednesday, July 28th, at the Walmart on College Drive in East Baton Rouge and the Walmart in Port Allen in West Baton Rouge.

Salvation Army Stuff the Bus Baton Rouge School Supply Drive

The Salvation Army is joining forces with Walmart to “Stuff the Bus” for children in need. During this year’s Stuff the Bus Baton Rouge School Supply Drive event, shoppers visiting the Wal-Mart on Burbank and College Dr. on Saturday, the 24th, from 9 am to 4 pm can purchase and drop off requested items at Salvation Army collection bins at the front of each store. The goal is to provide new school supplies to children in need of a fresh start to the school year.

All donations made at Stuff the Bus campaign events will remain in the community to help The Salvation Army provide back-to-school support to children in need.

Annual Backpack Give-Away Back to School Community Fair

The Salvation Army is hosting its Annual Backpack Give-Away Back to School Community Fair on Saturday, July 31st, at 4025 W Brookstown Dr. from 10 am to 1 pm.

Lunch, Health and Educational Exhibits, Carnival Games, Prizes, and more! *For Backpack Give-Away, parents must bring ID. Child must be present. Pre-K through 8th Grade only. Limited to the first 400 children. Child must be present at the event to receive a backpack*

Family and Youth Service Center

Very little feels as good to a kid as starting school all prepared. Very little feels as bad as walking in on the first day with nothing.

Help Family and Youth Service Center make kids feel great on their first day. Please help them fill the barrel at the Family and Youth Service Center, 1120 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

They’re open from 8-5 Monday through Friday. You can contact them by ph 225-239-7801 or roxson@fysc-ebr.org

Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office

Back to School Bash at Main Event

Date and time

Sat, July 31, 2021

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT

Featuring:

● An exclusive activity from our brand-new STEAM-based program, Play Academy

● Birthday & School Group Booking Specials

● 1 Hour of FREE Arcade Play

● ½ Priced Bowling

● Contests and Prizes

● Face Painting and a Balloon Artist

● Local Vendors

Must RSVP via Eventbrite to save your spot – space is limited!

30 Things To Do in Baton Rouge & Beyond

June 1, 2021 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Summer fun is in full swing, time to relax and enjoy the lazy days of summer… but tell that to kids who are bouncing off the walls or singing the boredom blues. As parents, we want each summer to be more memorable than the last, and with that comes the need for a few new ideas, especially if your child is too young to go to a summer camp. Here are 30 Things To Do in Baton Rouge and beyond that are sure to keep you busy all summer long!

Good to Know Before You Go: Please be sure to call before heading out; times change, parks close, so many variables can affect your outing.

30 Things To Do in Baton Rouge & Beyond This Summer

LSU Lakes – Bike, Picnic, Splash Pad – Between feeding the ducks, the great little bike path, the kids’ playground, and a little splash pad behind the art gallery, this is such a fun little day to have with the kiddos.
Baton Rouge Splash Pad Parks & Pools Guide – Visit our Baton Rouge Water Fun Guide to find one of many Baton Rouge Splash Pads, water parks, and or pools!
Tiki Tubing – Just a hop skip and jump away down the Amite. While you’re there, grab some grub at Day’s Smokehouse & Specialty Meats.
Blueberry Picking – There is an abundance of places to do this around the area. The Sooner, the better before they are all picked over. We love to make Blueberry Scones with a Lemon Glaze.
Pottery Painting – Brushfire Studios – This is a quaint little studio in downtown Denham Springs.
Water Balloon Fight – This is a summer classic. Want to make it more fun? Add a little food coloring to the balloons and put the kids in white shirts. Just get ready to hose them down.
Young Chefs Academy – This is one of my oldest’s favorite places. They have summer programs and fun little classes.
Overtones Music Class – I am so excited about this. We are enrolling the oldest in a lesson, and the toddler will start a little class in August.
Blackwater Conservation
Tunica Falls
$1.50 Family Friendly Movies at Perkins Rowe -Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse is back with 8 weeks of kid-approved movies! Enjoy safe and exciting big-screen entertainment for just $1.50 per ticket for each movie. Save even more with $1 OFF deals on kids’ snack packs, large popcorns & large drinks during Summer Movie Clubhouse showtimes.
Louisiana Peach Festival – Okay, so maybe this isn’t a day trip, but it’s totally worth the drive. Happening on June 5th in Ruston, Louisiana. Peach ice cream and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Delcambre Shrimp Festival – While we are on the festival beat, this is totally a day trip. You haven’t gone Cajun till you go Acadiana. A bit later in the summer, this happens August 18th – 22nd. Bring your dancing shoes.
Old State Capitol – While you’re downtown, hit up the Louisiana Art and Science Museum.
Global Wildlife – This is one of the most underrated experiences of my childhood. Letting a giraffe eat out of your hand might be the highlight of your kid’s summer, and who am I kidding, your’s as well.
Myrtles Plantation Tour – My oldest is very into mystery and more. On your way home, do yourself a favor and stop at Chloe’s in Zachary for a snowball.
WWII Museum – I don’t really know that this needs much introduction; it’s a must-do with the older kiddos!
Louisiana Children’s Museum – This is one of my fondest childhood memories.
Audubon Zoo / Cool Zoo – I will spare you the song, but they do all “ax for you.” So don’t let those animals down. When you’re there, it’s totally worth the “pop” bracelet that gets you admission into the Cool Zoo and unlimited rides on the train and carousel.
Audubon Aquarium of America’s & Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium – What kid doesn’t want to touch an urchin and eat crickets.
Write and Illustrate a Children’s Book – Because, after all these big adventures, you will need some time at home.
EBR Library – The East Baton Rouge Parish Library has many little classes and fun projects for all ages. Check out their event calendar and enjoy!
Dinosaur Park Henderson – I have heard amazing things, and this summer, we intend to find out for ourselves.
Livingston Parish Library – Just a little hop next door, and there are so many fun programs for littles to enjoy.
Dig a Garden – There is no greater joy than watching my kiddos play in the dirt. If you need some help, Glad Gardens can build one for you!
Make a Nana recipe from scratch – No box mixes here, just some love, wooden spoons, and old family recipes.
Lemonade Stand – The earliest form of entrepreneurship at its south Louisiana finest.
Barnhill Preserve in Ethel – (sloths…Nuff said) hands-on animal encounters and programs!
Baton Rouge Zoo – One of our favorites to spend a day with the animals and play in the park – you can even feed the pelicans now too!
Cajun Pride Swamp Tour – take a unique and educational journey back to the early days of Louisiana bayou and swamp explorations on this authentic Louisiana swamp eco-tour.
Knock Knock Children’s Museum – this is a full day of fun and good eats at Acorn Cafe!

And be sure to check out our Summer Fun in Baton Rouge Guide for more!

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ZIPPITY ZOO FEST 2021 – BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo

March 8, 2021 by Tiany Davis

Calling all Party Animals!! 🦒🦓🐏 🐅🐆 Join BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo as they celebrate their 51st birthday at Zippity Zoo Fest 2021 on March 27th and 28th. The weekend will be filled with tons of fun, including live performances, edzoocation station, keeper chats, animal enrichments, photo contest display, Princesses & of course birthday cake for all! This is always one of our favorite events at the Baton Rouge Zoo, the weather is perfect for a day outdoors and the added festivities make for a fun day at the zoo.

ZIPPITY ZOO FEST 2021

Entertainment
Enjoy the talents of community groups from across the area. We may even have some characters stop by throughout the weekend for socially-distanced photo opportunities!

EdZooCation Station
Stop by the EdZooCation Station for fun and learning! Learn about animal facts, animal conservation and pollination. You might also get to meet some of our education department’s animal ambassadors!

Keeper Chats & Animal Enrichments
Hear from our Zoo Keepers, ask questions and learn how we care for our animals daily. At select chats, watch our animals enjoy a special Zoo birthday treat, while you enjoy a piece of free Zoo birthday cake!

Photo Contest Winners Gallery
Enjoy a display of the WINNERS of our photo contest. The photo contest is open to photographers of all ages and experience levels. Winners will be announced at Zippity Zoo Fest, and their printed photos will be on exhibit, gallery-style, throughout the 2-day event.

AAZK Booth
Visit the Baton Rouge Chapter of American Association of Zoo Keeper (AAZK). This year at Zippity, AAZK is raising funds for conservation. Stop by to talk with our Zoo Keepers, learn about the amazing things they are doing for philanthropy projects, continuing education and professional development.

Party Favors
Just like any good birthday party, we’ll have party favor treats for the kiddos to enjoy as the depart our annual birthday extravaganza!

Tickets
Make plans to join the Zoo for a festive, fun-filled family day at the Zoo! Click HERE to get your tickets in advance.

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company that sponsored it compensated BRFF via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

BASIS Baton Rouge Primary – Mid City – Information Session

February 15, 2021 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

As Baton Rouge parents, a lot of your time is spent thinking about the various options at your fingertips for giving your child the very best education possible; it’s what we all want for our children. We invite you to join BASIS.ed administration & parents for information sessions and parent panel discussions to learn more about BASIS Baton Rouge Primary – Mid City. See below for more details!

“We teach, it’s fun, it’s hard, it’s all about the future.” BASIS Baton Rouge is redefining education.

BASIS Baton Rouge Primary – Mid City will open in August 2021, joining their sister school BASIS Baton Rouge – Materra to serve East Baton Rouge students. BASIS is dedicated to providing a world-class education to its students. They will serve students in grades K-5. Learn more below and find more information on upcoming virtual tours, info sessions, and parent panels.

BASIS.ed Virtual Open House

BASIS Baton Rouge Primary – Mid City Campus Parent Panel

Thursday, March 11th.

Join BASIS at their Parent Panel, where you’ll hear testimonials, stories, and first-hand experiences from parents at BASIS Baton Rouge – Materra Campus. You will also be able to ask experienced staff members questions. This event will be held in-person and via webinar.

Meet the Head of School Info Session

Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 6:00 PM CDT

Learn how BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City’s world-class primary program prepares students for success.

At this info session, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Head of School, Rosalind Thompson, preview academic life and social culture at BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City, particularly as a primary student. We’ll address your questions and tell you more about the acclaimed BASIS Charter School Curriculum that builds foundations in language, literacy, civics, history, science, math, movement, engineering and technology, performance arts, visual arts, and music.

This event will be held in-person and virtually. For those that would like to attend in-person, masks and social distancing is required.

BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Virtual Q&A

Wed, Apr 7, 2021, 6:00 PM CDT

Join us at a Q&A where you’ll have the opportunity to meet school leaders, ask questions, and learn more about the BASIS Charter School Curriculum.

This event is will be held online via Microsoft Teams.

This event will be held in-person at our sister school, BASIS Baton Rouge Materra, and virtually via Microsoft Teams. For those that would like to attend in-person, masks and social distancing is required.

Learn more: www.basised.com/baton-rouge-mid-city

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Best and Worst Halloween Candy Options for Children’s Teeth

October 16, 2020 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

All kids (and some parents) want to load up on all the Halloween candy they can get. Why even have the “Trick” in “Trick or Treat”?! Right?

As a pediatric dentist, I obviously don’t want your kids to eat too many sweets. Although I love seeing their smiling faces, I don’t want to find new cavities or an unglued crown that came out when they were eating a Laffy Taffy! Moderation is key here. I would say don’t deprive your kids of candy. After all, that’s what Halloween is all about! But my advice is to go through all the candy together with your kids and choose 2-3 pieces they can have that day. Then stash the rest away out of sight.

Best and Worst Halloween Candy Options for Children’s Teeth

The best types of candy for your child’s teeth are dark chocolates or sugar-free hard candies. Dark chocolates have antioxidants and are crunchy and dissolve quickly in the mouth. This means your child’s teeth will be exposed to sugar for less time.

Types of candy to avoid are hard candies that remain in the mouth for longer periods of time (i.e. lollipops) because these expose your child’s teeth to sugar over longer periods of time and have an increased chance of causing tooth decay. Similar to hard candy, caramels and gummies will stay in the mouth longer and also tend to stick to our teeth’s biting surface, creating a perfect environment for cavities to form. Sour candies have increased acidity and can cause tooth enamel to break down more quickly.

Another great idea is to give kids fun, but healthy (SHH!) Halloween treats. I love Pinterest for ideas and found a great site with Halloween snacks for kids. Check it out here: http://www.cleanandscentsible.com/2013/09/heathy-halloween-food-ideas.html

Halloween doesn’t have to be a dentist’s nightmare. As long as candy is eaten in moderation and you supplement that candy with some fun, healthier alternatives, your kids can enjoy Halloween and still have a healthy smile!

For more information on children’s oral health or if you have any questions, please visit www.ascensionsmiles.com or call us at (225) 402-4118.

Baton Rouge Distance Learning Program – YMCA of the Capital Area

August 10, 2020 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

As school resumes on a modified schedule, working parents are left wondering who will assist with their children’s schoolwork. The YMCA of the Capital Area is here to help! The Y will provide directed supervision, wi-fi, and space for children to complete their virtual learning via their Baton Rouge Distance Learning Program. Pre-registration is required.

Baton Rouge Distance Learning Program – YMCA of the Capital Area

Program Includes:

Access to wi-fi and a space for children to complete their virtual learning
Distance learning will be followed by structured activities, games, and more.
Supervision while completing virtual learning
Pre-registration is required

Each student should bring a device, headphones, and appropriate school supplies. Please make sure your student knows how to log in to their school’s website and learning platforms and how to operate their devices and software.

Days:
Monday – Friday from 7 am until 6 pm

Grades:
Pre-K through 8th grade

Locations:
A. C. Lewis YMCA
Americana YMCA
C. B. Pennington Jr. YMCA

FAQs

Cost:
Registration Fee

Family Members $0
Youth Members $25
Program Members $35

Weekly Fee: Distance Learning
Family Members $75
Youth Members $125
Program Members $150

Weekly Fee: Hybrid Learning (3 days a week, A. C. Lewis YMCA & C. B. Pennington Jr. YMCA only)
Family Members $60
Youth Members $100
Program Members $120

To learn more and to register your child please visit YMCA OF THE CAPITAL AREA.

Red Stick Schools Guide: Choosing a Quality Baton Rouge School

May 26, 2020 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

The coronavirus wreaked havoc on school districts — closing campuses for the remainder of the school year and shifting students and parents to online learning. We made it through to the finish line and now we turn our thoughts to the fall and what the following school year will hold for our children. When it comes to sending our little scholars to school, we face a plethora of Baton Rouge school options, that’s where the Red Stick Schools Guide can help!

One thing is for sure, our children deserve a quality school. And we deserve to choose which school earns the right to educate our children and prepare them for the next grade level and eventually… the rest of their lives.

Red Stick Schools Guide

To simplify the school choice process, parents need to learn what to consider and how to evaluate their options.

One very important thing quality schools do is hire strong teachers who are engaged and committed to students’ success. And good teachers are critical in helping student achievement.

Which makes sense because, quality schools, along with great teachers, also ensure that ALL students master concepts in their English, math, and science classes — passing prepared for the next school year.

That’s where understanding school performance scores, or SPS, comes in — measuring how the school’s students score on state tests (like the LEAP 2025) and student progress (in other words: how many students are prepared for their next grade level).

School scores — expressed on a scale of 0-150 — are also expressed in letter grades ranging from A-F.

Now, more than ever, it’s important that families understand what makes a quality school. And the Red Stick Schools Guide and www.redstickschools.org are great resources that help families make the most sense about school scores, enrollment windows, admissions, and student eligibility.

While matching a quality school to your children’s educational needs is a key step, it’s also important when looking for that next school that parents understand these key factors regarding quality:

– Is my child currently performing at grade level?

– Is my child ready for his or her next grade?

Combined: your child’s report card and their school’s SPS or student performance score, are strong proof points regarding quality.

If you’re unsure of your child’s current school’s performance score or would like to research the next school your family is considering for your child, visiting www.redstickschools.org/choosing-a-school/ is an informative first step in that journey.

Rainy Day Activities For Kids – Parent Sanity Savers!

May 15, 2020 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

With the never-ending rain and kids being home, we have put together 20 rainy day activities for kids that will help you pass the time with the kids, indoors…

20 Rainy Day Activities For Kids:

Get out the crafts – Let the kids use their imaginations and create some Mother’s Day masterpieces.
Make a fort in the living room out of blankets.
Play Restaurant – Let the kids help in the kitchen for a day – bake cookies, make lunch and dinner together, and have them “critique” meals.
Write letters to friends and family or fill out a year’s worth of birthday cards.
Have a fashion show or photoshoot or better yet, make a photo booth and take lots of funny pictures. Making photo props can be fun and allow the creative juices to flow!
Read books, Make a book or flipbook – You can rent books online or via the Library & Amazon!
Put on a puppet show – During Hurricane Katrina, we had our boys put on a play with puppets, or paper dolls. They drew the characters, cut them out, glued them to cardboard and glued a stick on the backside, fixed a stage out of a large shipping box, wrote a script and put on a play. This entertained them for hours!
Make paper airplanes and have a flying contest.
Cleaning party – Crank up the radio and have a dance party while cleaning the house.
Zoom Playdate – Catch up with friends and family you haven’t seen in a while.
Donate – Go through your home with the kids and find items {clothes, toys, appliances} to donate.
Camp out– Create an indoor camp with tents and use the microwave to make s’mores.
Bowling – Create your own bowling game with items around the house.
Try to make Origami – this site has tons of great ideas.
Go to the movies at home – pop some popcorn and catch up on movies you have yet to see or revisit an old favorite.
Puzzles, board games, Freeze Dance and Charades are always a must on a snow day…try to change things up or make up your own games. Use this Charades generator to get ideas.
Have a beach party – indoors! Get creative with crafts, treats, and a beach-themed movie!
Paint Rocks of Kindness and leave around Baton Rouge once the rain stops. 😉
Go through old photos – this always offers plenty of entertainment.
Blow up some balloons – toss ’em in the air, and don’t let them touch the ground, or grab some paddles or kitchen spoons for balloon tennis.

We would love to hear your ideas for indoor activities, please share them with us on Facebook!

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Kids are home from school for a month, now what?

March 14, 2020 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

So your kids are home from school for the next month. What are you going to do? How will you keep them entertained? Will they fall behind in school? Take it from this homeschool mama of two, all of these things can be avoided with a little prep and a good measure of organization. I’m not talking crazy and elaborate projects that tie you to a table helping for hours. I’m talking about some good planning leading to you not losing yourself in kid chaos.

Kids are home from school for a month, now what?

Stick to a schedule

You will never convince me otherwise. Kids like expectations to their day. My kids know breakfast, school work, art, etc. and when each thing is coming. When you set the expectation for your kiddos it will help keep them from coming back over and over with “I’m bored” and “There’s nothing to do”. It also allows for you to plan when you need to get your own things accomplished.

Get outside!

This past week we flew a kite. It was simple, cheap, and fun. Get some bubbles or chalk. Play hopscotch. Throw the ball. Go for a walk or jog. For us, it is one of the best times of the year for getting to spend time outside. Going outside lets the kids get out pent up energy and the fresh air is great for you. The heat isn’t stifling yet, and we’ve even had a breeze as of late.

Online time

Our kids get online time that isn’t, as we call it, “brain dead”. There are so many free educational sites and games that are available for kids to get their screen time and still have to think. For example, for science we use mysteryscience.com. There are several free lessons available. A video plays and they usually have an easy project or follow up that they give directions on how to complete. If you want a subscription, there are even more options. We personally use ABC Mouse for my younger and Adventure Academy for my older. The kids have to complete educational tasks to get to do other fun things on their “journey”.

Pinterest!

I know I said no spending hours glued in project assistance mode, but Pinterest really has some easy projects that kids love. They also have great science projects, game ideas, cooking projects, and so much more. We may do one Pinterest idea a week. Sometimes they are great and sometimes they are a most definite #pinterestfail, but we always have fun and make memories while we do it. That’s what it’s really all about y’all!

Free Time

I know that we are trying to fill this, but kids really do need some free time. Our free time consists of me being able to get things done without interruption. The kids should not have to ask “Can I?” They have the option of playing with toys, playing board games, pretend play, etc. All things that are at their disposal and they are able to do themselves. They great thing about this is that you get to set the parameters. They could have access to one specific toy bin or shelf. They could get to spend time in a playroom or however you are set up. It’s about what works for you.

School work

There are so many FREE resources for worksheets, coloring sheets, etc. The local library is a wealth of books and dvds. Where we live, they also have educational tablets. I have made youtube lists of educational videos that we watch. Disney + has Nat Geo with so many interesting shows. One of the great things about the digital age is that if you want your kids to learn, you have only need to hop online. You can also find many Facebook groups of homeschoolers to join that have pre-built lists of all kinds of resources for parents. They don’t care if your kids are only home for a month or if they homeschool full time. They welcome you to the information.

Quiet time

This one is important Mommas because we cannot spend all day running kids from project to project to be a non-stop source of entertainment. We have things to do too! We have a quiet time every single day. When my kids were smaller, they napped. They now have additional options. They can read, they can draw or color, they can listen to music. Anything that allows for some quiet to enter your home and you to get that break that you may really need to re-center and gain focus, where there may be chaos.

Finally, use the TV

We don’t sit in front of the TV for hours on end, but there is certainly nothing wrong with sitting the kids at the TV for a movie or a couple of shows. Go ahead and sit down with them! I find that when my kids are not sitting in front of the TV constantly, they grow to be much more appreciative of the time they are given. They are selective on the shows or movies they choose to watch. They pay attention to what is on. It is a treat instead of a constant background noise.

As a homeschooling mom, you come to realize that there has to be balance. A balance of entertainment, of getting things accomplished, of managing your house and the kids. We constantly have things that need to be done and sometimes the biggest thing you can do for yourself is just realize that the day doesn’t always go as planned. Don’t be afraid to phone a friend. It doesn’t matter if it is for ideas for rainy days or just to have some good conversation with another adult.

Don’t be afraid to just kick up your feet with the kids for a movie. If a project fails, laugh and take pictures. We have some pretty great fail memories. Let go of expectations, whether they are from others or yourself, and find what works for you!

At bedtime, I always ask my kids what their favorite part of the day was. Sometimes they do say it is something big that we did as a treat. Most of the time, my kids list simple things that you wouldn’t think about: Popsicles outside, flying a kite, messing up our baking project, or playing a board game. Through the eyes of a kid, the simple things sometimes mean the most. That is what it’s all about!

Baton Rouge Moms Ambassador -Erica Mautner

Erica is an LSU alum, with a Master’s in Business Administration. She recently left her career in banking to be at home with her 2 boys, Fisher & Sawyer, full time. They have started an adventure in homeschooling. Erica likes to travel, take photos, and attempt crafting projects with her boys. She also likes to attend LSU football games with her boys and husband of 11 years, Cody, who proposed while tailgating fall of 2008.

Six Reasons to Visit the Louisiana Children’s Museum in City Park

August 26, 2019 by Tiany Davis

Baton Rouge families, the Louisiana Children’s Museum opens to the public August 31st and you should start planning your day trip now! We recently had the opportunity to attend a media preview of the LCM, it wasn’t yet complete, yet we felt like we were walking through the most magical of places. It’s going to be something special for Louisiana families, a tactile experience that will delight young and old alike. Every section of the LCM is created to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through many inventive and engaging experiences, most importantly PLAY! Every decision made throughout the museum was intricately thought out to help elevate the capacity of our little ones.

Julia Bland, CEO of Louisiana Children’s Museum, spoke beautifully on the importance of childhood, she encouraged us to enjoy and celebrate children where they are and to not make the mistake of wishing away seasons of childhood. The museum has been structured to support parents in their efforts to embrace each stage of development while focusing on literacy, environmental education, health and wellness, STEM, arts, and our rich Louisiana culture.

Why the relocation? The new location allows the museum to better meet the needs of the community as well as improve geographic access and connect children to nature. The attention to detail outside is just as significant as the inside. The Louisiana Children’s Museum will include five new exhibit galleries indoors as well as a literacy center, a parent/teacher resource center, an edible garden, a sensory garden, and full-service café. There are a plethora of reasons to make the day trip to New Orleans to visit the LCM, here are just 6 reasons to start planning your family day trip…

Six Reasons to Visit the Louisiana Children’s Museum

Talk and Play Center

The Talk and Play center is a family-centered space that encourages families to make joyous connections – connections of children to parents, to grandparents, to life long learning, to growing cycles – the continuums, connections, circles, and cycles that we see in so many parts of our lives.

Play With Me Exhibit

Created for children under the age of four, this ground-floor gallery is designed to provide easy access for parents of young children with strollers. Little ones can explore and play while resources are available to support parents in their journey as children’s first teachers. The Play With Me exhibit includes a fun one of a kind Sensory Lagoon, much like a tiny Lilly Pad water bed for children play on and experience. Play With Me also includes a Cypress Tree Book Nook, Peek-a-Boo Puppet Theater, Early Literacy Sensory Wall and a Discovery Zone.

Follow That Food

Follow That Food will be one of the largest galleries. It will take children on a playful Louisiana Growing & Gathering food journey that starts in the fields and coastal waters, passes through the busy Ports & Cargo with stops at the Food & You Market, Creole Kitchen, café and finally, makes its way to the family table.

Dig into Nature

Overlooking the lagoon on the ground floor, this gallery is where children will discover the abundance of natural resources unique to Louisiana and the Gulf Coast Region. Through this tactile and textural set of experiences, visitors will explore the relationships between the diverse resources, ecosystems, plants and animals who live here. The “caring” and “sharing” stations will allow children to bring their own outdoor treasures to examine under massive microscopes and projector. The exhibit also includes Exploration & Innovation, Sedimentation Table, Storytelling Nest, Cajun Pirogue and an amazing Promise Tree Portal.

Make Your Mark

Entering the second floor, Make Your Mark celebrates New Orleans’ rich art and its architectural, musical, historical and cultural heritage. When children understand and embrace their heritage it invites children to discover how to make their mark with their own original creations. This is exhibit includes Studio in the Park, Jammin’ House, Jackson Square, NOLA Urban Design Studio, Build Big Dreams, Book Nook & Light Tables and more!

Move With the River

Move with the River will immerse children in an action-packed wet world of fun where they will begin to explore the story of the Mighty Mississippi River. Families will follow the journey of Louisiana’s most abundant resource, water!

Acorn Café

We’re not done yet, a huge BONUS to your visit to the Louisiana Children’s Museum is the family-friendly Acorn Café! Acorn a Dickie Brennan & Co. Cafe at the new Louisiana Children’s Museum in City Park is the icing on a day of fun exploration. Guests can enjoy a meal indoors or outdoors on the LCM balcony overlooking the lagoon, oaks, and wildlife. The menu is sourced around high quality, local food at an affordable price. The majority of children menu items are $6, and adult entrees range from $6 to $11. Have a little one with a food allergy? No worries! Acorn will be peanut-free and will offer many gluten-free options, including a gluten-free dough for pizzas. Come early or stay late, Acorn will open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with French Truck coffee and pastries served for a morning starter or an afternoon pick me up.

We can’t wait for you all to visit. The new Louisiana Children’s Museum is breathtaking, but don’t take our word for it, make it a family day trip and plan to visit the new museum in City Park which will open on August 31st.

Learn more about the museum, prices, birthdays and more on the LCM website at LCM.org.

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