The idea of messy, sticky, ooey-gooey art can be daunting to some parents.  The thought of paint or glue everywhere, let alone something more challenging such as fine glitter or pudding finger paints, is more than some want to take on.  I will say that as a parent of two children myself, there were days I was not sure I wanted to dive into such artistic endeavors.  There are great ways to have these experiences though, and I want to be sure that those of you that may steer clear, have an understanding as to why these types of experiences are so vital to a young child.  More importantly, there are great ways to make this type of art work in your home or outdoors. Read more →

For any parent who has considered or planned a birthday party for their young child, this message is for you!  I am not only a CMT employee but also a mother of two and I have planned, prepared and paid for my share of parties.  Parties are a great experience and full of fun, but can also feel a bit hectic. Sometimes parents can't even enjoy their little one's special day.  So here is my idea.... book a party at the Children's Museum of Tacoma and leave all the hectic pieces to us!  We will help to make your experience joyful and easy, but most importantly positively playful! 
Click on this link for a special coupon to add a free activity to your child's party!
Hurry and book now as this offer is available for a limited time.

As we move into our 17th month of Play to Learn....(Wow! 17 months have flown by I must say)  we are discovering and experiencing that our programs draw quite a crowd at times.  When I look back at the beginning, I remember days when we had 20 or less and I thought that was incredible.  Now we see groups as large as 90 at some of our locations... it's mind boggling to think of offering a circle time for 90 adults and children.  It is such great fun!  I consistently welcome the challenge, joy, and am so excited to see the learning that takes place in such a crowd even when it may look or seem impossible. 
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While I was talking with a mom at our Play to Learn program, she shared her love of the program, which is always wonderful to hear, but she also said a few things I had not heard in the same way before. 

She told me that her two children have become more playful and more joyful- something she hadn't realized as deficient until she came to Play to Learn.  She claims they have more fun now at home and play longer together as a family....laughing more, reading more, and learning happily.

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I am always fascinated by the creative ways children attempt to hold, use and manipulate scissors.  As adults, we want to teach them the "correct" way even when they are very young or not let them use scissors at all until they are older. 

Truth is...scissors are tricky and they require some intense fine motor skills and muscle control.  It takes time for children to develop these skills and they can become easily frustrated during the process.
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