Things to Do with Kids from Feb. 7 to Feb. 13, 2020 – TAPinto.net

From having Breakfast with Pangolin, attending storytimes, cooking events and more – there are many fun things listed below to do with your families and kids this weekend into next week. There are also some fun activities listed for adults.

If you are looking to participate in fun activities and more this week, please enjoy this list of “Things to Do with Kids” in and around town, brought to you by The Goddard School in West Orange. #ThingstodowithKidsGoddardSchoolWONJ

Note: If you attend any of these events, partake in any of the ideas shared below, or just have a great picture of your kid(s) that you’d like featured, please send photos to jackie.eventscolumn@gmail.com. In addition, please send any events you’d like added to this column to the same email address.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Breakfast with Pangolin on Feb. 8 and 9 from 8:30 to 10:00 am at The Turtle Back Zoo (560 Northfield Avenue West Orange NJ

The Turtle Back Zoo Pangolin Breakfast is a morning education program for people ages 10 and above, which features the highly endangered pangolin as its educational focus. This program is intended for more mature audiences due to the frank discussion about animal trafficking, poaching, and pangolin conservation. The event will be located at the Mount Building Classroom and TBZ exhibit. The $35 ticket to participate includes a hot breakfast, the education program, up-close introductions to some ambassador animals, a behind the Scenes visit to a TBZ exhibit and admission to the Zoo for the day (for non-Zoological Society members). Register here.

Behind the Scenes Giraffe Tours, on Feb. 8 and 13 at 2 pm, at The Turtle Back Zoo (560 Northfield Avenue West Orange NJ (Tours will take place on Saturdays and Sundays in November 2019)

The Behind the Scenes ticket provides guests with a 30 – 45 minute Behind the Scenes Tour in the Giraffe Barn; a meet and greet the Giraffe Keeper; and admission to the Zoo for the day (for non-Zoological Society members). The tours are for people ages 6 and above. Register here. The fee is $50 a person.

Craft Club on Feb. 9 from 4-5 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Children of all ages are invited to come and work on crafts.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Monica + Andy on Feb. 13 from 11 am to 1 pm at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Monica + Andy invite you and your mini sweethearts to the annual Valentine’s Day celebration to enjoy Instagrammable mini sessions by photographer Anna ArtFitnessFlow Photography. There will be custom heart crafts, sweet treats and more.

FUN FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Sensory Storytime on Feb. 13 at 1:30 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Children ages 2-10, with autism, developmental challenges or sensory sensitivities and a caregiver are invited for some interactive storytime at the library.

FUN FOR LITTLE KIDS

Saturday Storytimes and Crafts on Feb. 8, at 10 am at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Children ages 0-5 are invited for stories and crafts on Saturday mornings.

Storytime and Activities Featuring Always More Love on Feb. 8 at 11 am, at Barnes and Noble at the Livingston Mall (112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston)

Kids ages 4-7 will discover a heartwarming story in Always More Love, by Erin Guendelsberger, an interactive book that shows us how love grows for our dearest friends and family. This special Storytime features fun activities following the reading.

Storytime at Barnes and Noble on Feb. 11 and 13 at 10 am at the Livingston Mall (112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston)

Children will embark on an exciting adventure as they are introduced to some of your childhood favorites, as well as some you may not have heard before.

Toddler Time on Feb.11 at 10:30 am at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Toddlers ages 2 – 3 1/2 and their caregivers will be entertained by puppets, stories, songs, and fingerplay.

Raising Readers on Feb.11 at 11:30 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Children ages 3 1/2 – 5 and their caregivers will enjoy stories, songs and games.

Little Explorers Winter Nature Program for Kids ages 2 to 5 (See schedule below) at the Essex County Environmental Center (621B Eagle Rock Ave, Roseland)

Children love to explore nature and observe all the natural wonders around them. Participants will take magnifiers and their imaginations into the wooded wetland to investigate what winter means to the forest plants and animals around the Environmental Center. Participants should come dressed for the weather since they will be spending time outside. Advance registration is required. Please call 973.228.8776. The fee is $12 per child/session.

See schedule below:

Toddlers (age 2): on Tues., Feb. 11, 18, 25 (10 to 11 am)

Tots (age 3) on Thurs., Feb. 13, 20, 27 (1 to 2 pm)

Pre-K (ages 4-5) on Tues., Feb. 11, 18, 25 (1 to 2 pm) OR Thurs., Feb. 13, 20, 27 (10 to 11 am)

Tiny Toddlers Ages 12-23 Months on Feb. 12 at 10:15 am at the Livingston Library (10 Robert H Harp Dr, Livingston)

Toddlers ages 12-23 months will enjoy stories, songs.

Books n’ Babies Storytime on Feb. 12 at 10:30 am at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Infants up to 24 months and caregivers will enjoy stories, songs and rhymes introducing babies to language skills.

Jumpin’ Jamie at Monica + Andy on Feb. 13 at 1 pm, at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

This class for babies and waddlers, ages 2-6, will include live music, puppets, bubbles, movement scarves, toy instruments, limbo, and parachutes. Interactivity is encouraged between the child and their guardian to do things like “jumping,” “riding the choo-choo train,” and “taking the elevator.” The fee is $15.

Musical Storytime on Feb. 13 at 4 pm at the Livingston Library (10 Robert Harp Dr.)

Kids ages 2-5 and their caregivers will enjoy a Guitar Joe medley of music and storytelling including songs, picture books, puppet shows, dance parties, multimedia presentations, drum circles, egg-shaker jams, and so much more!

FUN FOR KINDERGARTEN TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED KIDS

Williams Sonoma Jr. Chef: Valentine’s Day Conversation Heart Cookies on Feb. 8 at 10 am at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Spread some love this Valentine’s Day with delicious sugar cookies that look just like conversation heart candies. Kids ages 8-13 will then try their freshly baked treats. The cost of $30 per person includes a Conversation Heart Cookie Set. Call (973) 467-3641 to reserve a spot.

Speaking of Stories Book Club (Grades 4-6), on February 11 at 4:30 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Kids in grades 4-6 will enjoy a discussion on the book, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, by Kwame Mbalia.

FUN FOR TEENS

YA Book Club Featuring Loveboat, Taipei on Feb. 7 at 7 pm at Barnes and Noble at the Livingston Mall (112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston)

This month, the YA Book club will discuss Loveboat, Taipei, a sparkling coming-of-age story with a touch of romance.

Williams Sonoma Jr. Chef: Valentine’s Day Conversation Heart Cookies on Feb. 8 at 10 am at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Teen Hamilton Party on Feb. 12 at 7 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Are you a Hamil-fan? Do you like musical theater? Teens are invited to come to the library for karaoke, trivia, and more!

Dungeons and Dragons: A Teen Club on Feb. 13, from 3:15-5:15 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Teens ages 13+ are invited to join a Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) adventure! Epic quests await teens who join the DnD club at the library! DnD features role-playing, storytelling, on-the-spot strategic thinking, math skills, problem-solving, and teamwork all rolled into one!

FUN FOR ADULTS

Williams Sonoma Technique Class: Instant Pot Valentine’s Day Baking Class on Feb. 9 at 11 am at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with decadent desserts made using the best-selling Instant Pot. You’ll make two delicious Instant Pot dessert recipes from the new Instant Pot cookbook including Salted Caramel Cheesecake with Pretzel Crumb Crust and Chocolate Molten Cakes. The cost of $30 per person includes a copy of The Instant Pot Desserts Cookbook. Call (973) 467-3641 to reserve a spot.

HAVE FUN CELEBRATING THIS NATIONAL HOLIDAY!

National Pizza Day is on February 9

Most people love pizza. They eat it for breakfast (cold), lunch, dinner or as a late-night snack. There are so many was to make it and top it. There’s something for everyone. It is also a very popular food for parties and events. So, it makes sense that there is a national holiday for pizza.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…

The next time you sit down for a family dinner, toss out some of these facts to spark a lively and informative family conversation. After dinner, look up some of these dates and facts and explore the historical moments as a family.

On Feb. 8, 1910 – The Boy Scouts were founded.
On Feb. 9, 1964 – The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show.
On Feb. 10, 1763 – France ceded Canada to England, ending the French and Indian War.
On Feb. 11, 1809 – Robert Fulton patented the steamboat.
On Feb. 11, 1945 – The Yalta agreement was signed by Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin.
On Feb. 12, 1870 – Women in the Utah Territory won the right to vote.