Happy New Year! Our January 2010 issue is hitting the stands this week with loads of articles and information to help you start the year off right.

In it we explore how you and your kids can get the sleep you need and deserve, provide an overview of the area’s numerous enrichment opportunities, and introduce a new monthly feature, Family Fare, offering reviews of the area’s best family-friendly dining.

As always, you’ll find all our regular features, including More…

Category: New Issue // Posted on December 30, 2009 // Leave a Comment

Our January issue hits the stands this week with a feature about sleep. We all need it. We all talk about it. But are our children getting enough? Are we getting enough?

We spoke with doctors in OHSU’s and Legacy’s pediatric sleep programs – as well as Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, author of Sleepless in America: Practical strategies to help your family get the sleep it deserves – and we were particularly intrigued to learn that research has shown strong links between behavioral problems, including ADHD-related symptoms, More…

Category: New Issue, Sleep // Posted on December 28, 2009 // 1 Comment

Ho! Ho! Ho! We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and are well on your way to a happy holiday weekend! The hubbub of events we’ve enjoyed all month is slowing a bit this weekend, but there are still some family-friendly activities to entice you out. Here are a few of our recommendations. For a complete list of events this weekend, check our online calendar. More…

Category: WOW! (What's on this Weekend) // Posted on December 26, 2009 // Leave a Comment

If you’re like me, you’re cooking for the holidays this week. Rummaging through recipes looking for something new to try, I can’t help but think about holiday foods and how every family has their own set of tasty treats that make this time of year feel so festive.

Of course there are the traditional favorites – from candy canes and sugar cookies to potato latkes and sufganiyot (jelly-filled Hanukah donuts) – but aside from the old standards, More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on December 23, 2009 // Leave a Comment

Last night my family watched Elf, starring Will Ferrell. It’s a new entry on my list of favorite Christmas movies and it marked the final installment in our 2009 Christmas movie schedule. (That’s not to say we won’t re-watch one or two this year, only that we actually made it through the entire list.)

I’m sure sharing Christmas movies is a family tradition many of you have enjoyed for years, but for us, this is the first year we’ve been able to convince our son to watch many of our old favorites. For one thing, More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on December 21, 2009 // 4 Comments

Talk about WOW! December continues to amaze us with its myriad family-friendly events and activities. Check our online calendar for the full list of each day’s events. And don’t forget our Holiday Highlights with details on local holiday events for families, too.

SPOTLIGHT: Cafe au Play Tree Sale: Still looking for the perfect Christmas tree? Need some unique gifts for the holidays? Head down to Cafe au Play (5633 SE Division) between 10 am and 7 pm on Saturday or Sunday (or 2:30 to 6:30 today, Friday) to pick out a Noble or Grand fir from Timber Ridge Tree Farm in Mollala — or shop the holiday bazaar featuring More…

Category: WOW! (What's on this Weekend) // Posted on December 18, 2009 // Leave a Comment

We just received this review of Do Jump’s holiday show Tiger Lilly and Sunny Lu (from a friend of Metro Parent):

This show is fantastic! Clearly written by someone who fully understands cat behavior, Do Jump’s Tiger Lilly and Sunny Lu is an energetic and often hilarious tale (tail?) based on the memoirs of a house cat. Combining dance, acrobatics and gymnastics, the talented cast members wrestle, stretch, leap, pounce and play to create a feline circus that is sure to entertain. Add in well-made costumes, a whimsical set and vibrant live music, and you have a delightful holiday show that both grown-ups and children will enjoy. My girls (ages 10 and 7) loved it!

Sounds like a must see! Here’s the scoop to plan your theater date:
Tiger Lilly and Sunny Lu runs through Jan. 3; various dates and times (check the website for details). $32 adults, $20 ages 12 and under. Echo Theatre, 1515 SE 37th. 503-231-1232. www.dojump.org.

Category: Events/Performances // Posted on December 17, 2009 // 1 Comment

If you haven’t already donated to our Holiday Giving Campaign (and even if you have), we’re offering a little incentive to encourage you to contribute to one of our favorite charitable organizations.

Here’s the deal: Donate a minimum of $15 to Mercy Corps (feel free to donate more; it’s all deductible!) and you can claim one of the gifts listed below. Your money will go toward building a health clinic in an impoverished third world country, and Metro Parent will match your contribution!

These offers are on a first come, first served basis, More…

Category: Charitable Giving // Posted on December 15, 2009 // Leave a Comment

There’s no snow in the forecast this week (although it sure has been cold enough!), but even if the flakes don’t fall from the sky, you can get your fix of snowfall while you shop! Pioneer Place will be transformed into a winter wonderland complete with falling “snow” at 6 pm every Monday through Friday; 1, 4 and 6 pm every Saturday; and 1, 3 and 5 pm every Sunday through Dec. 24. (Free. 700 SW 5th Ave.; 503-228-5800; www.pioneerplace.com.)

Not to be outdone, the Woodburn Company Stores will produce their own “snowfall” at Santa’s cottage every night from 6 to 7 pm through Dec. 24. (1001 N Arney Road, Woodburn; 888-644-SHOP; www.woodburncompanystores.com.)

For information about great places to enjoy snow on the mountains, check out the listings in our Family Activities and Destinations guide under Skiing and Winter Sports.

Category: Events/Performances // Posted on December 14, 2009 // Leave a Comment

It’s another fun-filled December weekend for local families. Again we’ve highlighted just a few of the family-friendly options, but you’ll find loads more on our online calendar. Check our Holiday Highlights for a full list of holiday events for families, too.

Happy Hanukah! (The eight-day festival of lights begins at sundown tonight.)

Friday
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting. See the giant menorah lit up in Pioneer Courthouse Square, followed by a public Hanukah party. Festivities begin at 4:09 pm. Free. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th St. 503-223-1613. www.pioneercourthousesquare.org.

Saturday and Sunday
Science of Juggling. OMSI hosts our FAVORITE juggler, Rhys Thomas (among others), this weekend during its Science of Juggling celebration. Discover the fascinating science behind the ancient art of juggling. Thomas will present “Science Circus” three times each day at 11 am, 1 and 3 pm in the OMSI auditorium. More…

Category: WOW! (What's on this Weekend) // Posted on December 11, 2009 // 1 Comment

There are so many holiday shows to choose from, it’s difficult to decide which ones to see. Every family has their favorites, but we’d like to put in a special plug for Play After Play, a truly unique theater experience for kids and families. Play After Play shows begin with a short performance based on “loosely adapted” folk tales from different cultures, specifically designed to engage young audiences. But what makes these shows so unique More…

Category: Contests // Posted on December 9, 2009 // 6 Comments

The Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) recently released its 24th annual survey of toy safety, ominously titled, “Trouble in Toyland.” We find the report especially noteworthy this year, after the seemingly endless onslaught of toy recalls we’ve seen over the past few years. The 2009 report looked into the issues of choking hazards, excessive noise, and lead and phthalates in toys. In addition to naming specific products that pose safety hazards, the report offers some solid guidelines to keep in mind when purchasing toys for small children, but the bottom line is, parents need to be vigilant. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) doesn’t test every toy on the market, and some toys you find on the shelves do not meet CPSC standards. More…

Category: Safety, Toys // Posted on December 6, 2009 // Leave a Comment