Things to Do with Kids During the Week of April 24-30, 2019 – TAPinto.net

This week is the perfect time to teach children about protecting the planet as they participate in Earth Day (April 26) activities. Families will also enjoy celebrating National Pretzel Day (April 26) and International Astronomy Day (April 28) with crafts and recipes as well as storytimes and more. 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.

Note: If you attend any of these events, or partake in any of the craft or cooking ideas shared below, please send pictures of your child(ren) participating to jackie.eventscolumn@gmail.com to be featured in the next column.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY…

Earth Day Celebration on April 27 from 11-4 pm at the Essex County Environmental Center (621B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland)

The public is invited to this free annual outdoor Earth Day festival. Attendees will celebrate nature with crafts, games, and recreational opportunities, such as canoeing and hiking and enjoy demonstrations, a Turtle Back Zoo live animal show, Woodturners, Beekeepers, Master Gardeners, eco-vendors, live music, and food.

Liberty Science Center Weeklong Earth Day Conservation Celebration through April 28 (Open from 9 am (Special house from April 22-28 from 9 am – 7:30 pm) at Liberty State Park (222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ)

Join the LSC weeklong Earth Day Conservation celebration chock full of activities, experiments, and demos all about protecting our environment and keeping its creatures safe. Attendees will meet fascinating animals who need our help, like the critically-endangered cotton-top tamarin monkeys and the NJ-endangered timber rattlesnake. Guests will learn from different exhibitors at the Green Expo. Explore LSC’s environmental initiatives by touring the super-secret fifth floor–where all the engineering magic happens. Discover the natural abilities of rats by watching the thrilling Rat Olympics. Plus, make enrichment activities for the animals, watch the aquarist take a dive, touch amazing animal artifacts, discover residents of each layer of the rainforest, and understand Earth’s changing climate via the stunning Science on a Sphere six-foot suspended globe. On select days, guests will be joined by animal visitors from the Staten Island Zoo (April 27, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm) and wolfdogs from Howling Woods Farm (April 28, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm). Fee: Throughout Conservation Week, there will be a $5 discount. All kids who come to LSC wearing clothes with an animal on them will receive $5 off their LSC child ticket. Simply visit the Box Office upon arrival to receive the deal.

Click here for a list of more Top Earth Day Festivals and Activities in NJ, courtesy of NJ Kids.

FUN FOR LITTLE KIDS…

Tiny Toddlers Storytime on April 24 at 10:15 am at the Livingston Library (10 Robert H Harp Dr, Livingston)

Stories, songs, and fun for tiny toddlers ages 12-23 months! This program is developmentally designed for “waddlers.” Drop in, registration is not required.

Spanish Stories Storytime on April 24 at 4 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Come and listen to stories read in Spanish. This program is great for Spanish speakers and Spanish learners of all ages! Ven a escuchar cuentos en Español. Para todas edades de hispanohablantes y personas aprendiendo Español!

Babies and Books Storytime on April 25 at 10:30 am at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Infants up to 24 months and their caregivers are invited to partake in a fun storytime session where they will enjoy books, songs and rhymes, while being introduced to language skills.

Terrific Toddlers Storytime on April 25 at 11:30; April 30 at 10:30 am at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Children ages 2 to 3 ½ and their caretakers will be entertained by puppets, stories, songs and fingerplay.

Little Moving Artist Class at Monica + Andy on April 25 and 26 from 10:30 – 11:30 am at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Bring your little ones, ages 2-4, to participate in a Movement Class with The Little Moving Artist. Children will enjoy this whimsical and imaginative movement class that incorporates dancing, imagery, music, sensory props and costumes. Children will ice skate on paper plates, tap dance on bubble wrap, take part in an ultimate snowball fight, bug hunt, fly with super hero capes and wings, freeze dance, and more. Drop in fee: $10.

Happy Birthday to the Very Hungry Caterpillar! on April 27 from 11 am – 12 pm at IndigoKids at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

IndigoKids is throwing a party to celebrate the Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 50th birthday. Guests will enjoy a storytime, crafts and more!

Special Children’s Storytime Event at Barnes and Noble on April 27 at 11 am at the Livingston Mall (112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston)

Bring the little ones for a storytime, where they hear, Join What Will You Do With A Chance, by Kibi Yamada, the story of a child who isn’t sure what to make of a chance encounter and then discovers that when you’re brave, take chances, and say yes to new experiences, amazing things can happen. Attendees will receive a coupon from the B&N Café for a grilled cheese sandwich with milk or juice for $4!

Celebrate National Superhero Day at IndigoKIds on April 28 from 12-2 pm at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Celebrate National Superhero Day with a special superhero meet and greet from PJ Masks, along with a storytime. Plus, attendees will receive a special take-home superhero mask. NOTE: Line-up for PJ Masks meet and greet will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, on the day of the event.

Adventurous Storytime at Monica + Andy on April 29 from 12:30-1 pm at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Shop till you drop and then stop in at Monica + Andy with your little ones to enjoy a few fun and interactive reads from some favorite children’s books. Free event.

Preschool Page Turners Storytime – April 30 at 11:30 am (West Orange Public Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange, NJ)

Bring preschool-aged children for an interactive fun time of stories, songs and games.

FUN FOR KINDERGARTEN TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED KIDS…

Williams Sonoma Jr. Chef: American Girl Springtime Madeleine Party on April 27 from 10-11 am at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Kids ages 8-13, will learn how to make delicious recipes – from main courses to desserts and snacks, with plenty of tasting along the way including Madeleines, little French sponge cakes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. They are easy to bake with special tools that Williams Sonoma partnered with American Girl® to create. Little bakers will use a fluted plaque to bake the golden, shell-shaped cakelets, then use the sifter to sprinkle them with powdered sugar after they’ve cooled. Next, they will arrange them in tissue-lined boxes decorated with colorful twine and stickers to surprise friends with homemade treats. Cost of $30 per child includes an American Girl® Madeleine Set. Please call (973) 467-3641 to reserve a spot.

FUN FOR TEENS…

Teen D.I.Y. and Craft Night: Duct Tape on April 24 from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, West Orange)

Do-It-Yourself with Duct Tape! Did you know duct tape can be used to make a ton of cool things? Attendees will work on making wallets, cuffs, or another project.

Teen Gaming at the Library on April 25 from 3-4:30 pm at the Livingston Library (10 Robert H Harp Dr, Livingston)

Teens in grades 9-12 are invited to play Nintendo Switch games including Super Smash Brothers Ultimate and Mario Kart on the big screen!

Dungeons and Dragons: A Teen Club on April 26 from 3-5 pm at the West Orange Library (46 Mt Pleasant Ave, Livingston)

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 roleplaying, storytelling, on- the-spot strategic thinking, math skills, problem solving, and team work all rolled into one!

FUN FOR ADULTS…

David Yurman’s Cocktail Party in Support of the Paper Mill Playhouse on April25 from 5:3- pm – 7:30 pm at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

You’re invited to an exclusive cocktail party in support of the Paper Mill Playhouse at David Yurman. 10% of the evening’s sales will be donated to the Paper Mill Playhouse. Please RSVP to rsvpshorthills@davidyurman.com.

Sugarfina Cold Brew Happy Hour on April 27 from 1-4 pm at the Short Hills Mall (1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills)

Come see what all the buzz is about at Sugarfina’s Cold Brew Happy Hour and celebrate the launch of Sugarfina x Alfred caffeinated cold brew bears! Swing by for samples of the new candies and the chance to win a “coffee break” for the whole office.

HAVE FUN CELEBRATING THESE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS…

National Pretzel Day is on April 26

Since dating back to 610AD in Southern France, pretzels are believed to be the world’s oldest snack – so it’s only fitting that we have a day to celebrate them. At the time, monks baked thin strips of dough into the shape of a child’s arms folded in prayer. Today, pretzels come on all shapes and sizes with all types of flavors and toppings.

International Astronomy Day is on April 28

International Astronomy Day was started in 1973 by Doug Berger, the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California as a way to provide a means of interaction between the general public and astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals.

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 April 24, 1184 BC, the Greeks enter Troy using the Trojan Horse (traditional date).
On April 24, 1877, Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire (Russo-Turkish War 1877-78).
On April 25, 1990, they Hubble Space Telescope was placed into orbit by shuttle Discovery,
On April 25, 1945, delegates from 45 countries meet in San Francisco to organize the United Nations.
On April 26, 1986, the world’s worst nuclear disaster, 4th reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power station in USSR exploded, killing 31, radioactive contamination reached much of Western Europe.
On April 27, 1937, the first Social Security checks were distributed on this day.
On April 28, 1789, Fletcher Christian lead a mutiny on HMS Bounty against its captain William Bligh in the South Pacific.
On April 29, 1913, Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, N.J. patented the zipper.
On April 29, 1990, wrecking cranes began tearing down the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate.
On April 30, 1975, the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon (later renamed Ho Chi Minh City).
On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America.
On April 30, 1859, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities was first published in literary periodical “All the Year Round” (weekly installments, until Nov. 26).