Kid's Club Blog! University Village, Seattle

Do-it-yourself: Jumbo Angry Birds Game!

2011-08-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

Can't get enough Angry Birds?

Try this fun and easy do-it-yourself Jumbo Angry Birds game at home!

Here is what you need:

1 Set of Melissa & Doug Cardboard Bricks

3 Plush Pigs

5 Plush Angry Birds

Stack up your jumbo bricks however you would like. Make em' tall, make em' small! You don't have to just use bricks, you could also use some plastic cups from home, or Duplo Legos, or... anything un-breakable really! Once you have a nice stack, add your pigs. Grab a few birds, stand back, take aim, AND THROW!

[Direct Hit!]

[Pigs Down!]

[Win! Whoo Hoo!]

We have all your favorite Angry Birds plush in-stock now at Kids Club, but it won't last long! Declare your LOVE of Angry Birds to the world with a backpack clip!

Sticky Mosaics + Music = FUN!

2011-08-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

This year the University Village Sounds of Summer Concert Series might well be the biggest and best yet!

Last week's activity at the Kids Club table was Orb Factory Sticky Mosaic play day kit -- and it was a BIG hit! The pictures were all a mystery, with no way to really tell what it was before you got started. Each bag was packed with a cardboard picture, sticky mosaic tiles, and a color chart. The kids had lots of fun following the chart and filling in the numbers. Most followed the color chart, some made up their own unique designs (see photo below).

Many kids had never heard of or tried Sticky Mosaics before, and now they LOVE them! Many parents asked about their availability in the store. Let me tell you -- we do have them in-stock now! And yes, they make FANTASTIC travel activities! These pages keep kids focused and quiet for at least 30 mins if not more like an hour! Our table was elbow to elbow all night long with kids working on their pictures.

Awesome seahorse!

Completed clown fish (aka Nemo)

Employee of the month: Kelly!

2011-07-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

[one of her favorite gifts to suggest: Shrinky Dinks Fairy Garden]

July Employee of the Month: Kelly!

Kelly has been at Kids Club since May 2010

Here is what Kelly's co-workers had to say about her:

'Kelly is a very positive person. She is a ray of sunshine!'

'She is always ready to do a project and learn something new.'

'She is fantastic with children and at helping customers make really good gift selections.'

'She is a team player!'

Fun fact about Kelly: She is an anthropology major at UW and she has really been enjoying digging bones out of dirt in her labs.

GREAT JOB KELLY!

You can bring your pooch to Kids Club!

2011-07-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

It's true! Kids Club is a dog-friendly store, and so are most of the stores in U Village. Feel free to bring your dog(s) along with you on your next shopping trip. We love when doggies visit us! We even keep treats under the counter for any pup that's allowed to have some.

Got Tricks?

If your dog knows any tricks, let us see them! One of our favorite pups, a standard poodle knows how to 'bow to your sensei'. My dog Brutus has been seen dancing in the store on his hind legs quite often, once while wearing a tutu!

A while back, a cute pair of dachshunds strolled on into the store in the basket of an UPPAbaby Vista stroller, giving us yet another reason why we love this stroller; It can carry 3 kids at once, and 2 small pups!

If you find yourself walking around the Village with your dog and you aren't sure which shops are okay to bring him/ or her into, look for this decal in the window:

DOG EVENT COMING UP!

In a few short months, on Sept. 25, it will be time for the annual U Village FidoFest! Stay posted by liking us on facebook! Register for the Seattle Humane Society's walk HERE

Walk for the Animals - 9 to 11 am

FidoFest at U Village - 11 to 4 pm

Come on over the Kids Club table to make a free and fun doggie craft!

(Brutus will be there!)

Don't forget to visit Katie M. Simmons in front of Sole Food for amazing dog portraits. She will be donating a portion of the sales to the Seattle Humane Society! Please visit the events page of her website HERE to see photos from FidoFest 2010.

Introducing the dogs of Kids Club:

[Amy's dog]

[Mindy's dogs]

[Kathleen's dog]

Kelly is a Groovy Girl!

2011-06-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

Groovy Girls by Manhattan are seriously the grooviest dolls on the planet! From their funky hair to their crazy clothes, these girls will brighten anyone's day. Personally, these were my favorite dolls when I was younger.

I had so many of them! Remember when they were poseable? I do!

My mom had to go to all sorts of stores to find me the ones I didn't have. She still says that Kids Club always had the biggest and best selection when I was a tyke, and guess what? We still do! From the beloved ladybug girl, to the purple haired ballerina, to the pretty in pink princess, you can find any Groovy (fashion-forward) Girl your heart desires.

I am also super excited to say that Manhattan is now making corresponding costumes, so your little one can be as funky as her favorite Groovy Girl. Too bad they didn't have these when I was little!

-Kelly

New party games from Gamewright!

2011-06-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

My friends and I have a weekly tradition of getting together, having dinner, and playing games. Last, Sunday I brought over two new 12+ party games from Gamewright, and they were a big hit: JOE NAME IT, not your average party game, and WHO WOULD WIN, the ultimate celebrity showdown. The boxes are very small, maybe 4"x4"x2", so they are easy to throw in a purse or messenger bag for traveling. I'm planning on bringing them camping this summer.

JOE NAME IT is a fun twist on classic trivia party games. Flip a card, roll the die, input number in the blank. See photo on left. If the top of the card says 'ANY JOE,' everyone gets a chance, the first person who answers correctly wins. If the card says 'JUST JOE,' only the player whos turn it is gets to play. No possible correct answer? Shout out 'NO JOE!' to win the card. If a correct answer isn't giving within a reasonable amount of time, Joe wins the card. The first player, including Joe, to win 10 cards is the WINNER!

Name a word with 2 vowel(s).

Easy, Great, Vowel

WHO WOULD WIN was the favorite of the evening. Probably, because my group of friends is very opinionated and like to debate. This is also, by far, the more original and unique of the two games. Players take turns flipping over a character card, choosing an opponent, they flip over a character card, and the debate begins. We, of course modified the rules to fit our own group arguing style, if you have a more civilized group of friends you can follow the instructions and use the timed debate rule: 20 seconds each, with a 5 second rebuttal. We just yelled across the table until we felt we had made our point. The rest of the players then get to vote on who they feel is the winner. The winning player keeps the event card. First player to collect 5 event cards wins.

Who would win in a dog training competition between Lance Armstrong and Bruce Lee?

-Amy

A Great Big Thanks from Mr. Belly Bank

2011-06-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

If you shop at Kids Club surely you know our trusty door greater: Mr. Belly Bank!

He sits right outside our front door, rain or shine. Kids have lots of fun putting coins in his mouth and watching them zig-zag down into his tummy. Did you know that all of the coins collected are donated to local charities? And we match every penny 100%, doubling every donation! About $200 worth of coins are collected from his belly every month! We rotate the charities, picking ones that focus on youth, children and women's causes.

This month our featured charity is:

Youth Suicide Prevention Program of Washington.

Why did we pick this organization?

Although suicide is a difficult topic to talk about, it is extremely important. With recent cuts in federal and state funding YSPP is finding themselves with a much smaller budget to work with. We are committed to helping them continue critical programs to reach out to youth and parents in need of their services.

For more info about YSPP and the services that they provide, and to donate, please visit: http://www.yspp.org

Past charities have included;

Rise N' Shine -- Since 1988, Rise n' Shine, has been providing emotional support programs, stability, advocacy, and AIDS education for children and teens affected by HIV/AIDS. This includes children and teens who have been orphaned by the disease, children and teens who live with a parent or other close family member with HIV/AIDS, and those who are infected themselves. For more info and to donate please visit: http://www.risenshine.org

Treehouse -- Offering support and resources for foster families. With the goal of giving foster children a real childhood as well as hope for the future they offer six core programs; Tutoring, Educational Advocacy, College and Career Planning, Little Wishes, Summer Camp, and the Warehouse - where kids can shop several times a year for new and like-new clothing, shoes, school supplies, books, toys, bikes and other essentials to help them feel good and fit in. For more info and to donate please visit: http://www.treehouseforkids.org/

Friends of Youth -- In addition to operating the only overnight youth shelters on the Eastside, FOY offers youth development initiatives, in-home family support for young parents of newborns, parent education, youth and family counseling, substance abuse counseling, thereputic foster care, residential treatment and transitional housing for homeless young people and teen mothers. For more info and to donate please visit: http://www.friendsofyouth.org

We want to give a great big THANKS to everyone that has dropped a coin or two into Mr. Belly Bank over the years and we hope that you will share your spare pocket change with the next time you shop at Kids Club. Together we can help our community, one coin at a time!

Kelsey's Top Ten Green Products for Baby

2011-06-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

It seems like almost every baby product on the market today is somehow 'green' or 'eco-friendly' and twice the price of the regular version. Great for mother nature and your baby's health, but not so great for your pocketbook!

In a sea of 'green', it's hard to know what is truly worth your extra green.

Here is a list of my top ten favorite eco-friendly baby products, that are well worth the added expense.

10. Kicky Pants Bamboo Newborn Gift Set [$39.90*]

Super soft, and made from one of the most sustainable fabrics available, Bamboo! This outfit will make a great gift at your next baby shower.

9. Dandelion Busy Block [$27.90*]

Made from organic cotton, this toy will keep any baby busy!

And a portion of the proceeds from this product will help support breast cancer research.

8. Natursutten Chill-It Teether [$12.90*]

This teether will soothe your baby's gums while keeping mother nature happy. It is made from EVAtane (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) a material used for medical products. It is free of BPA, PVC, and Phthalates and filled with purified sterilized water.

7. Manny & Simon Wooden Step Stools [$94.90*]

Made from sustainably harvested wood, these super cute stools will help your potty trainer reach new heights. We have one to try out in our family-friendly restroom at Kids Club!

6. Kumquat Elephant Onesie [$28.90*]

This brand uses recycled fabric to fashionably fashion your baby. With such bold designs who can resisit?

5. aden + anais Bamboo Muslin Wraps [$42.90*]

These swaddle blankets are super soft and made from bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource, making them a 'eco-friendly' choice over traditional cotton.

4. Robeez Organic Booties [$25.90*]

Robeez recently added an organic line to their already impressive collection of booties for your baby.

3. Green Toys Blocks [$24.95*]

All Green Toys products are made from 100% recycled plastic. Lightweight, durable, and green!

What could be better?

2. Manhattan Toy Natural Skwish [$16.90*]

Curiously clutchable! Made from replenishable rubberwood and a water based non-toxic finish,

this toy will be a favorite for years to come.

1. Feather Baby Organic Kangaroo Romper [$45.90*]

A new line at Kids Club, these adorable organic outfits will make all the other parents on your block jealous of your beautiful bambino!

-Kelsey

* Prices subject to change

Baking Memories with the Easy Bake Oven

2011-05-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

Memories from my childhood came flooding back, the day we got the Easy Bake Oven in the store. When I was eight, I asked Santa for an Easy Bake Oven. Sadly, on Christmas morning, I did not get my oven. Instead, I got the mixes with a note saying that I could use the 'regular oven' with my parents' help. It wasn't the same! After a few more years, asking every Christmas, I realized that I was never going to get my Easy Bake Oven.

Many years later I was blessed with a daughter. When she was eight, I asked her grandmother to buy her an Easy Bake Oven, to make up for the one that I never got. Christmas day, Jessica got her very own oven and was very excited to make treats. We assembled it, put in the light bulb, and made cookies for everyone. We had fun watching them bake by the heat of a light bulb. As time went by she continued to make treats for our family, until she eventually outgrew it. I have many fond memories creating baked goodies with her.

The Easy Bake Oven that I asked for when I was little.

The Easy Bake Oven that my daughter got when she was little.

The Easy Bake Oven that we have in the store now.

[click on images to view larger]

The Easy Bake Oven has gone through many style changes over the years. It looks a lot different than the one that I wanted when I was little, and the one that my daughter had, but still comes with the cookie mix. Create memories with your child, bake a batch of Easy Bake Oven cookies!

-Debbie

Dance, Baby, Dance!

2011-05-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

And I thought the last caspar babypants in-store performance was crazy!

Thanks caspar babypants for a terrific show!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, to everyone that came down today to dance and sing out loud. We hope you had a lot of fun! I know we sure did. I'm so glad he sang my new favorite song 'Googly Eyes.'

We tried our hardest to keep everything on the up-and-up, clear walk ways, and make paths in and out of the store, but eventually had to give in to the chaos of it all. Good thing the fire department didn't come and shut us down!

I was able to get some insider info...

There's a new CD coming out in September!

Whoo Hoo!

We will let you know on facebook when we have the new CDs available in the store!

Be sure to 'like' Kids Club and caspar babypants on facebook for all the latest info on our events, sales, promotions, shows, funny tid-bits...!

Like Us!

Kids Club: http://on.fb.me/k6u7Xu

caspar babypants: http://on.fb.me/lJw6NL

Also, check out caspar babypants on the web for videos, music, and more:

http://bit.ly/lzycbJ

Confessions of a Fashionista Nana

2011-05-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

Who said shopping for clothes with your grandkids isn't fun?

Hi! I'm Pam, or as my grandkids call me 'Nana.'

Three of my grandchildren head straight to the clothing section when we come to Kids Club!

On my days off I love treating my grandkids to a day of shopping at Kids Club to pick out some new clothes. We carry many unique kids' clothing brands -and- thoughtfully selected groups from the major kids' clothing brands, that you won't find at other stores.

Finley (5) looks adorable in Joule with it's pretty colors and fun patterns.

Jake (10) and Tommy (8), however, want to look "cool" so they prefer Quicksilver or Billabong.

There are always great t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats that they love to try on.

(I even buy them some, most of the time!)

Finley in her new Joule outfit; sweatshirt, leggings, and sneakers.

Finley shopping for an accessory to go with her cute new top, pants, and shoes.

Tommy chooses Billabong in the 'Surfing USA' group; t-shirt, jeans, and hat.

Jake, as usual, goes for Quicksilver; new super soft slim-fit t-shirt, hat and a sweatshirt (that he is not wearing in this photo).

Looking good as they check out the toys.

Happily heading to Nana's house in their new threads.

If you need suggestions, I am full of them. I have seven grandkids that range in ages from 3 to 10.
Over the years I have bought many toys and lots of clothes from Kids Club.
So I can tell you which ones have been a big hit.

-Pam

Kids Club "Trash" is Seattle Children's Hospitals' Treasure!

2011-05-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

At Kids Club we never let anything go to waste!

We donate anything of use that we don't need. Last month, I cleaned out my craft bins filled with goodies that I use for store events like Village Playdays and Summer Concert Series. I donated anything I didn't need anymore to the Friends of Youth craft room and Whitney Easton who will be teaching in a low income school in the Bay Area this coming fall.

So, last week, I was doing some spring cleaning in our back room and came up with a great big pile of sample and demo games and craft kits that we have no use for anymore. One of my first thoughts was Seattle Children's Hospital. I checked their website and saw that they are always in need of toys for their patients, including crafts kits and games.

How perfect!

Two great big boxes of games and crafts for a large range of ages.

They are going to have lots of fun playing Classic Battleship

or mixing up a batch of bath salts with Spa Science.

To donate new toys for patients or make a financial donation to

Children's Hospital please go to their website:

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/ways-to-help/donate/

Please note: For safety and infection control reasons, please donate only new items that are washable, nontoxic and not easily broken. We are unable to accept used toys or toys that represent violence. Please do

not send large metal trucks or toys. Please do not wrap donations.

Greatest needs: Fuzzy coloring posters, Small Lego sets, Brio trains (no track), Nail polish, Coloring books, Arts and crafts kits, Playing cards, Tactile toys for all ages, Disney/Pixar DVDs, PG-13 DVDs, Gift cards, Spanish, Vietnamese and Russian videos, books and music.

Can't make a donation of new toys or money?

Donate your time, you will be glad you did!

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/ways-to-help/volunteer/

April Village Playday

2011-04-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of Earth Day on April 22nd, we made RECYCLED PAPER with the Thames & Cosmos Recycled Paper Press Experiment Kit for our Village Playday activity.

This science kit is intended for ages 8+,
but with help from an adult it was a fun activity for children as young as 3.

I saved all of the gift wrap and tissue paper scraps left over from the presents that had been wrapped the day before, along with the sports section of the news paper that someone left behind on The Salon at Kids Club waiting bench, and cleared out the hole punches of their tiny paper dots.

I tore and cut the paper into small pieces and mixed them up in a bucket with lots of water and let the whole slurry soak over night. This gave the paper a chance to break down and the fibers to separate. The next morning it was all mushy and ready to be made into a new sheet of recycled paper.The kids had a lot of fun touching the mushy paper pulp in the water.

I helped dip the provided trays into the paper pulp and water mixture and shake the tray so that the pulp was in a relatively even layer. I placed the layer of mesh over top and let the kids use the yellow tool to press out as much water as they could. This step was very easy for the toddlers to do without help from an adult. Since it was the second to last step, it gave the children a sense of accomplishment, being able to see that they pressed the paper into it's final product.

Here it is!

A beautiful piece of recycled paper!

If I do say so myself, we made the most beautiful recycled paper I have ever seen because we started with such fun and colorful gift wrap paper. Which we just happen to have lots of left over scraps in our recycling bin everyday.

What activity do we have planned for our May Village Playday?

Something SUPER special!!!

A LIVE IN-STORE PERFORMANCE WITH CASPAR BABYPANTS!!!

Tuesday May 17th

performance will start at 10:00 a.m. sharp

Listen to music, watch videos, and read more about caspar babypants on the web here:

http://www.babypantsmusic.com/fr_home.cfm

Staff Game Night!

2011-04-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stopped by the store on a Sunday evening and seen us around a table playing games?

What were we doing? Staff Game Night!

We all get together once a month on Sunday after the store has closed and play games. We do this so that we can explain them to you in much better detail than just reading the blurb off the back of the box.

Here is what we played this week:

Dixit

2010 Spiel des Jahres Winner

(prestigious German board game award)

We all had a lot of fun with this game!

Dixit is a party game best played with 5 or 6 players, but can be played with as few as 3. The manufacturers suggested age is 8 and up, but we felt like this game might be difficult for some, not all, eight year olds. The playing time is approximately 30 minutes. Dixit is in the same vain of party games as Apples to Apples. Each player has a hand of 6 cards with different images on them. One player is the storyteller each round, and the storyteller moves clockwise around the table with each subsequent round. The storyteller chooses an image from their had and expresses the idea of the picture to the other players. The instructions for the game state that the player is to give a sentence, but we prefer the alternate rules MUCH better. We played the game such that the storyteller could express the idea of the image in any way they wanted; sentence, one word, song lyrics, movie quote, interpretive dance, and in once case a really loud scream.

After the player has expressed the idea of their card, each of the other players much choose a card from their hand that they think could also, in some way, be described by what the storyteller just did. These cards are shuffled and displayed face up in a line for everyone to see. Each player uses their voting tokens to secretly vote for the card they think is the correct card that the storyteller was describing.

If the vote is unanimous, either all players vote for the correct card or the incorrect card, the storyteller receives no points and all other players score 2 points. The clue that was given was either too easy or too hard! The goal of the storyteller is to give just enough of a clue that some players get it, but keep it a little obscure so that it stumps some of the players. In the case that some players vote for the correct card and some vote for the incorrect card the following points are scored:

3 points for each correct vote to the storyteller

3 points for each player that votes for the correct card

1 point for the player that put down a card that receives an incorrect vote

The game ends when the entire deck of cards has been used. The player with the most points wins!

Quelf

The card game version

This is the card game version of one of our favorite adult board games, Quelf! It is played much like the board game but simplified. This would be a better version to play if you have less time or are camping and don't want the hassle of the board and game pieces. This game is for ages 10 and up and best played as a party games with all your best buddies. The sole purpose of this game is to look like an idiot and make your friends laugh so hard they cry. A game of Quelf can take anywhere from 30 minutes to all night.

There are 5 types of cards; Stuntz, Scatter Brainz, Roolz, Showbiz, and Quizzle.

Stuntz cards make you perform ridiculous acts and daredevil moves.
Scatter Brainz cards make you choose one of two topics and everyone gives answers until no one can think of a valid one like; "Ways to get your leg out of a spring-loaded, steel bear trap" or "Brands of Lipstick"
Roolz cards give you a crazy rule to play by for the rest of the game. Kelly had to say 'Funny, I thought farming was outlawed in that part of the country!' every time someone drew a card.
Showbiz cards make you mime, sing, tapdance, draw, do impressions, write poetry...
Quizzle cards are trivia questions and brain teasers. These cards must be read by another player.

Each card has 3 options and players have to announce a number, one, two, or three, before drawing a card and cannot change their mind once they have seen all three options.

Some of our favorites from Sunday night were when; Pam, our resident grandma, had to give herself a wedgie and walk around the store, Debbie had to hum a Hawaiian song and do a hula dance, and Tricia had to poke herself in the forehead with her thumb every time someone drew a card.

Village Green!

2011-04-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it wasn't as warm and sunny as last year, but we still had fun this year at Village Green. The theme of our booth this year was BUGS!

We had four super fun games for kids to play:

Game #1: Name that bug!

We had eight kinds of bugs for kids to name; the most tricky ones were the preying mantis and the scorpion. A lot of kids thought the scorpion was a lobster. I suppose that's because we don't often see scorpions around here, but we see lobsters all the time!

Game #2: Ladybug Life Cycle Stages

This game was a challenge for both the children and their parents! Most people did not even know that ladybugs go through metamorphosis like butterflies. The common mistake was to put the pupa second (in third spot above), and the larvae third (in second spot above).

We had all stages of the ladybug life cycle on display for everyone to check out in our

Ladybug Land by Insect Lore.

Game #3: Draw what you see!

Take a look in our Creature Peeper by Insect Lore and draw your observations of ladybugs. I really liked the artistic touch that this child had.

Game #4: Butterfly Life Cycle Stages

Use the Life Cycle Stages Stamps by Insect Lore to put the stages of a butterfly in the correct order.

Stage 1: eggs, Stage 2: caterpillar, Stage 3: pupa or chrysalis, Stage 4: adult butterfly

PRIZES!!!

After all the games have been played, each kid gets to take home a Little Bug Locket by Insect Lore with ladybugs inside!

You can find more photos on our facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=280155&id=101309500963&l=b429330833

Math Gear Fast Facts!

2011-03-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it, I personally love math. I have, on occasion, been called 'a human calculator'.

These super cool self-checking flashcard books from innovative KIDS make math fun for everyone, I promise!

The books come in four versions; Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division.

Each book starts and finishes with 'Fun Facts'.

The book I am using for demonstration purposes is the Multiplication book, the 'Fun Facts' that it includes are:

Multiplication is just another way to write addition;

3 x 4 is the same as 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 or 4 + 4 + 4.

The numbers in the two-digit products of the 9 times table, all add up to 9:

9 x 2 = 18...1 + 8 = 9,

9 x 3 = 27...2 + 7 = 9,

and so on.

To multiply any number by 10, just add a zero to the end of it! For example:

3 x 10 = 30

12 x 10 = 120

137 x 10 = 1370

To multiply a number (up to 9) by 11, just write the number twice! For example:

3 x 11 = 33

7 x 11 = 77

The genius part about these books are the slide wheels. You simply turn the wheel clockwise to create the desired equation.

What's the answer? Think you have it? Check under the ? flap.

When you flip through the book from 'front to back' you get the equations for odd numbers 1 through 11, and when you flip through the book 'back to front' you get the equations for even numbers 2 through 12.

These books are great to use with your kids as an alternative to flash cards. Kids can use them with your help or even by themselves.

Since they are bound in a book format, there are no cards to lose!

New Recommendations for Car Seat Safety

2011-03-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

New car seat recommendations were released yesterday, March 21, 2011, from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Here is a brief overview of the current recommendations:

Birth - 12 months

Type of seat: Infant car seats and rear-facing convertible car seats

All infants under 12 months should always ride in a rear facing car seat. Infant-only car seats can only be used rear-facing, convertible car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for rear-facing position, allowing your child to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat- Fuego

1 - 3 Years

Type of seat:

Convertible car seats and forward-facing car seats with harnesses

Keep your child in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible. Your child should remain rear-facing until at least age 2, or until he or she reaches the highest height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer, whichever occurs last.

Recaro ProRIDE Convertable Car Seat - Envy

4 - 7 Years

Type of seat: Booster seats

Your child should ride in a forward-facing car seat with harness until he or she has reached the top height and weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.

Recaro Vivo Booster - Crimson

8 to 12 Years

Type of seat: Booster seats and vehicle seats with a seat belt

Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seatbelt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the chest and not on the neck or face. Most children will need a booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years old. Children should ride in the backseat of the vehicle until they are 13 years old.

Clek Olli Booster - Red Skurvy

Helpful links for more information:

AAP UPDATES RECOMMENDATION ON CAR SEATS

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/carseat2011.htm

NHTSA RELEASES NEW CHILD SEAT GUIDELINES

http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2011/NHTSA+Releases+New+Child+Seat+Guidelines

CAR SEAT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILDREN

http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/Traffic%20Injury%20Control/Articles/Associated%20Files/4StepsFlyer.pdf

CAR SAFETY SEATS: INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES FOR 2011

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token

Kyle's Big Day!

2011-03-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

We were so glad to participate in Kyle's Make-A-Wish VIP day at U Village!

Kelsey and Kelly waiting for Kyle to walk the red carpet.

We arrived at the red carpet early and got a great spot right at the front. We made signs a few days before, but his buddies arrived with an even BIGGER sign!

Soon after Kyle's friends and neighbors started lining the red carpet waiting for him to come out of the Apple store. The entire staff of The Ram came out to welcome him to lunch! We were all clapping and cheering when he finally emerged, holding his new MacBook Pro.

While Kyle was eating lunch we hurried back to Kids Club to prepare the dressing room for his arrival. We chose five outfits, eight hats, and six pairs of shoes from Sole Food for him to choose from.

"Cool!"

He was super excited. He started flipping through the outfits right away, picked out his favorite and put it on.

Thumbs up! This was his first pair of skinny jeans, "They are really comfortable!"

Top to bottom: Madness Hat by Quicksilver (see last photo), Hangin Ape Short Sleeve Tee by Billabong, Backbone Zip Hoodie by Quicksilver, Everglory Twill Jacket by Quicksilver, Young Gun III Jean by Quicksilver, Kids' Hiker Street Socks by Smartwool, and B La Cripta Dos Mid Shoe by Vans.

After picking out a snazzy new outfit, Kyle was treated to a Kids Club shopping spree: Anything he wanted from the store. He picked out a Lego set and Yahtzee!

One last photo and he was on his way to The Confectionery, where the phrase "Like a kid in a candy store," will become a dream come true!

Come back and visit us!

Everyone at Kids Club hopes to see you again really soon, Kyle!

It takes a U Village!

2011-02-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, so you've heard the old adage 'It takes a village to raise a child,' but I say it takes a U Village!

There are so many great kid-friendly shops, restaurants, and activities in U Village! You just can't get this experience anywhere else.

Of course, I have to mention Kids Club and The Salon at Kids Club! Your one-stop-shop for everything you need.

I really like this well-worded description of Kids Club by Jane Keller Watson, NWsource Editor:

'If you're a parent, this small independent toy store/children's boutique/kids' hair salon in the heart of University Village could become your home away from home. The store carries a well-edited and high-quality selection of baby gear, toys, games, puzzles and books as well as fashionable clothing, shoes and accessories for infants through the tween years. The experienced sales staff is knowledgeable and helpful, and the kid-focused hair salon at the back of the store makes getting a haircut a fun experience, even for squirmy little ones. Nursing moms will appreciate the sitting area and restroom near the back of the store, and little Thomas the Tank Engine devotees won't be able to tear themselves away from the train table -- no matter how many times Mom says it's time to go.'

If you need some new kicks you must head over to Sole Food for the best selection of children's shoes, not to mention all of the great ones for mom's and dad's too! Sole Food is locally owned and operated by the same owner as Kids Club. They have knowledgeable long-time employees that are dedicated to helping you find the right pair of shoes for your little one. Every shoe is thoughtfully ordered with specific attention to durability and cool factor. Some great brands you can find at Sole Food are See Kai Run, Camper, Keen, and Kickers, just to mention a few.

Like painting with the little ones, but not the mess you have to clean up afterwards? Make lovely painted ceramics at Paint the Town, and best of all, the take care of the mess! Paint the Town is a do-it-yourself ceramics painting studio that is super kid-friendly. There are hundreds of ceramic items to choose from, ready for your child's artistic touch. They will even host your next birthday party! Bring your little one in to make a hand-painted mug for a mother's day or father's day gift for your spouse.

Cook with your kids! Have you seen the show on the Food Network, Worst Cooks in America? I'm certain that as children, their parents were not in the kitchen cooking with them. Teach your kids simple age-appropriate skills that will stay with them for their whole lives. Mrs. Cooks carries a great selection of supplies, like adorable little aprons and kids spatulas, that will make cooking with your little one lots of fun!

Village Playdays is a weekly event at U Village hosted at a different store or restaurant every Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am, that offers a free activity to entertain your little one. Past Village Playdays at Kids Club have included face painting, a puppet show, crafts, a Caspar Babypants concert, and lots more! Check often for the schedule of Playday events on the U Village webpage: http://www.uvillage.com/village-playdays/

Back to the basics!

2011-02-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneak preview of some great new toys

arriving soon at Kids Club!

Mama K's Play Clay is not your average dough! Molding dough is great for kids because it encourages imagination, boosts motor skills, and improves dexterity. We love Mama K's dough because in addition to great play it's 100% natural, gluten free, naturally tinted, scented with essential oils, and it's made locally! You can't get much better than that! Using essential oils like lavender, chamomile, and bergamot give this play clay soothing and tension-easing powers. Use this to your advantage the next time your little one is feeling a little crabby, give them a lump of clay and let them pound it out.

Playing dress-up is a time honored childhood tradition. My nephew can completely loose himself in self-created character. He enjoys acting out everything from a superhero, to a dinosaur with really sharp spikes on his head (his words), to a pirate on a ship. What makes a great dress up chest? Variety and Durability! 2 Big Kids has got you covered on both! We will soon have in the 2 piece pirate set, which includes a hat andeye patch, magic wands fit for any princess or fairy, 2 piece gnome set, with head garland and a mushroom pouch, my personal favorite 3 piece crown and cuffs set for a most adorable little queen, and for your little letter carrier, a mail box full of mail. All of the costume items are made from durable wool felt, handmade in Nepal, and fairly traded. The mail box is hand crafted in the same great wool felt in the USA.

There are millions of fantastic new children's books on the market, but we can't forget the good old classics! Laughing Elephant is reproducing childhood favorites in their original vintage charm. They thoughtfully select the best versions of classic children's story books. The Mother Goose book of rhymes is a facsimile of a 1917 edition with beautiful illustrations to accompany all of the original rhymes. Stock your book shelves with some or all of these great books!

2010-12-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

My favorite holiday line in the store this year is a whimsical line of hand blown glass ornaments from Italy. Sofferia de carlini is a small family owned business that has been making these ornaments since 1947. Each ornament is hand painted as well. I picked up a few in New York years ago and have wanted them for the store ever since. We were finally able to get the line for the store this year. My favorites are the storybook characters...Peter Pan, Dorothy, the tin man, lion and of course scarecrow. Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland are also fun.

Every year when I pull Aladdin and his lamp or Little Miss Muffet out of my ornament box, it brings a smile to my face. They were gifts for my children over the years and one day in the not so distant future, I know they will come to claim them. I look forward to seeing these ornaments move on as part of a family tradition to their homes.

Visit the store today and look for other ideas to help create new family traditions. Elf on the Shelf has been a hit with kids and parents. The clever story by Carol Aebersold tells of the elves that Santa sends out as scouts to see who is naughty and who is nice.

Don't forget we always have complimentary gift wrap....there is just a bit of wait this time of year. You can do you other shopping while we get them tree ready for you.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Read to me....

2010-11-17T19:43:00.000-08:00

Every Monday at 11:00 am Debbie is doing one of her favorite things...reading to children. Larry Gets Lost in Seattle by John Skewes is always a good choice, but there are many other books to choose from at Kid's Club. Take a trip to University Village, get a cup of coffee, do a little holiday shopping and relax while Debbie reads to the kids. It is a good way to start the week.

Neighborhood Toy Store Day!

2010-11-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Kids Club will be participating in the first annual ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retailing Association) Neighborhood Toy Store Day on Saturday November 13th!

What would be better than one fun filled toy store day? Two fantastically fun days! We will be be having tasty snacks, raffle prizes every 30 minutes, in-store product demos, friendly staff to offer gift suggestions for anyone on your list, and free gift wrapping!

Also, recieve 10% OFF your whole purchase on Saturday November 13th and Sunday November 14th

-AND-

We will be donating 10% of our sales for the weekend to the University Village giving tree to help make it a Merry Christmas for every child in our community!

Here are a few of our favorite toys that were also choosen by

ASTRA as the Best Toys for Kids 2010:

Golden Retriever Puppy Puppet

by Folkmantis

Ages 3+

Encourage creative play with this life-like 17" puppet. She is soft and cuddly with a workable mouth and big brown puppy eyes, perfect for your little ones next puppet show.

Bake and Decorate Cupcake Set

by Melissa & Doug

Ages 3+

This fun set of 4 cupcakes is essential to any great tea party. Set includes: Baking tray, 4 wooden cupcakes, wipe-off cupcake tops, cupcake sleeves, candles, dry-erase 'icing' markers, and an oven mit.

Sticky Mosaics Heart Box
by The Orb Factory

Ages 5+

Decorate this cute heart shaped trinket box with sticker by number, sparkly mosaic tiles. Finish off the inside with included felt lining for a safe place to keep all of your jewelry.

Sustainable Earth Lab

by Thames & Cosmos

Ages 10+

Calling all scientific minds! Conduct 40 hands on experiements to learn about energy conservation, climate change, waste and water management, and renewable energy.

Magformers Carnival Set

by Rainbow Products

Ages 6+

Build 3D carnival rides with this fun new set of Magformers. Combine with other Magformers sets to build an entire theme park!

Block Set

by Green Toys

Ages 6 months+

These toys may have started in your recycling bin! Made in the USA from 100% recycled milk jugs, free of BPA and Phthalates, and PVC! Set includes 18 bright colored blocks that are easy for little hands to stack and build!

To learn more about ASTRA Best Toys for Kids 2010 or Neighborhood Toy Store Day visit:

http://www.astratoy.org/

Adopt-a-Ghost!

2010-10-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Adopt-a-Ghost!

To help prevent Spina Bifida

and help those affected by it!

October is Spina Bifida Awareness month

Join us this month to help prevent the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States and enhance the lives of those living with or affected by Spina Bifida.

We were compelled to participate in the Adopt-a-Ghost fundraiser by one little customer. He was so spunky and full of life, we simply could not say no. He comes in to the store to check how we are doing every week or so. Last year he and his mom were amazed that we were able to raise nearly $1,500, but this year we would like to reach a goal of $2,000!

I want to thank everyone that made a donation to fund the on-going programs at SBA which support families living with the effects of Spina Bifida and to help raise awareness of ways to reduce the risk of Spina Bifida in newborns.

Please consider making a $1 donation with your next purchase at Kids Club or Sole Food during the month of October and help us reach our goal to raise $2,000 for the Spina Bifida Association of Washington State.

For more info or to donate online please visit:

Spina Bifida Association of America

http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/

Spina Bifida Association of Washington State

http://www.sbaws.org/

Crafts for Little Hands

2010-09-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

I often have parents ask for art kits and crafting supplies for children over the age of 4, but what about the preschoolers? Are they left out because they are too little?

Obviously there are some concerns when crafting with little ones - an 18 month old can't use scissors, while you aren't looking a 2 year old might decided that paint looks an awful lot like a smoothie, and small squares of paper and glue might make a toddler cry from frustration before they make a beautiful mosaic.

Luckily, Alex has a line of art products created specifically with little ones in mind called 'Little Hands.'

Alex 'Little Hands,' products are great because they take into consideration a toddlers' not-so-nimble hands and are created to be large, grippable, durable, and fun. They make great basic supplies for simple everyday projects, like the 'Farm Finger Crayons,' 'Stamp & Farm,' and 'Chunky Glue Sticks.' The finger crayons are one of my personal favorites because they are easy for for little ones to hold in the palm of their hand like a door knob rather than in pencil fashion like other jumbo crayons.

In addition to basic art supplies, a wide range of craft kits are also available from Alex 'Little Hands.' A few of our best sellers include 'Paper Bag Puppets,' 'Paper Plate Bugs,' and 'Yum Yum Crafty Fun.' These kits are great because they include all necessary supplies to create a specific project and focus on necessary skills like gluing, stamping, and drawing. 'My Giant Busy Box,' is great to have around for rainy Seattle days! It includes lots of supplies to create 16 different fun projects like paper bag puppets, tissue art pictures, dough animals and more.

Those silly kids and their Silly Bandz!

2010-08-25T14:36:00.001-07:00

You might remember collecting marbles, pogs, or pokemon cards...

Well, right now, Silly Bandz are the coolest collectible!

I have to be honest, I don't really get it, but I'm pretty sure that's only because I'm not a kid.

When I was in grade school, I collected pogs, and they don't make very much sense either.

Here's the scoop:

If you're a kid you MUST have Silly Bandz!

They are currency, they are cool factor, and they are a major fashion statement.

Now I know that lots of kids are wearing Silly Bandz all the way up to their elbows, but I believe that the most fashionable way to wear your Silly Bands is to wear a few of your favorites on your wrists like bracelets, and keep the rest on a Silly Bandz Caribinerz attached to your backpack. You could even keep separate Caribinerz of ones to save and ones to trade.

Keep your eyes peeled for super cool licensed Silly Bandz, like *NEW* Marvel Comics Silly Bandz just in at Kids Club today, Wednesday, August 25th! That's right, Spiderman, Ironman, Hulk and all the Superheros the kids like best! Barbie is on it's way soon, but we don't have them yet.

Kids on the west coast have a much easier time getting a hold of Silly Bandz (for now), but I hear the fad is at an all time high on the east coast. Stores will get shipments in and be sold out in a matter on hours! We haven't sold out of any that quickly, yet.

Stop by Kids Club and we can help you get geared up to go back to school in style with all of the coolest Silly Bandz!

2010-05-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Orbit G2, What's New?

Orbit customers spoke up and they listened!

They made a lot of changes to their stroller based on customer feedback.

Here are the highlights:

Tilt! In addition to the great 360 degree turning feature you can now tilt the seat backwards and forwards. Go out on a walk with baby and tilt them up to see the world, when they fall asleep tilt them back to relax.

No more flats! They swapped out the air filled tires for solid tires. To compensate for the rougher ride that usually goes along with solid tires they added 4 shock absorbers per tire!

New cup holder! A better fit for water bottles and sippy cups with a surrounding tray that is great for keys or snacks.

Snack happy! They came up with a new snack tray for the toddler seat. Snap on the included lid to keep snacks fresh and collapse the stroller without a mess.

Cool off! Unzip the back panel to allow better ventilation on warm days.

Better extension! New buttons on the stroller handles make it much easier to extend and compress. With four positions it is customizable for almost any height.

Spring showers, Corolle has you covered!

2010-05-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

Spring Gift-with-Purchase from Corolle!

Get this cute pink children's umbrella with any Corolle purchase of $35 or more.

While supplies last!

Stop in and check out our selection of Corolle dolls and accessories!

Featured below are Emma and Paul!

These cuties make potty training a snap.

Emma and Paul drink water from their bottles and wet in the potty.

They are also great for any big brother or big sister to be!

Baby and KidZ BanZ!

2010-04-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

Stay safe in the sun with Baby and KidZ BanZ

(and look cool too!)

The Ultimate in Children's Sun Protection!

Baby and KidZ BanZ won The Toy Man® Award of Excellence! In addition they were the first product in the award's history to receive blanket 5-star ratings in all areas!

Baby Banz were originally designed in Australia for one of the world's toughest UV environments. Clinically tested by one of the world's leading authorities on sunglasses, Baby Banz have passed the most stringent standards on sunglasses in the world. The Orignal wrap-around neoprene elastic strap keeps sunglasses in place.

Baby BanZ are for ages 0 to 2 years

KidZ BanZ are for ages 2 years to 5 years

Lots of colors to choose from!

Stop by to see our current selection at Kids Club!

Read More about The Toy Man® Award here:

http://www.thetoymanonline.com/product_review3.html?p=Baby%20Banz

Meet Oobr and Olli!

2010-04-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

A Better Booster!

Clek booster seats are designed and engineered by a world-class automotive seat manufacturer and utilizes many of the same materials found in luxury vehicle seating, providing key safety, convenience, comfort and styling features.

Designed with an integrated rigid LATCH system to deliver both the safety of LATCH and the convenience of uncomplicated installation.

Available in Crypton® Super Fabrics to resist moisture, stains and bacteria.

We currently have Oobr in-stock in the following colors; Snowberry (pink), Dragonfly (green), Special Edition Paul Frank Skurvy and Special Edition Paul Frank Zoom Julius (featured above), .

And Olli in-stock in the following colors; Raspberry (pink), Tadpole (green),

and Jet (black).

Have a cough, sore throat...or even bad breath? US TOO!!

2010-02-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

Introducing the coolest and cuddliest things since baby bunnies...GIANTmicrobes! A group of stuffed animals that look like tiny microbes — only a million times actual size! They're humorous, educational, and fun!

Each of the GIANTmicrobes comes with an image and information about the real microbe it represents. They make great learning tools, as well as amusing gifts for anyone with a sense of humor.

Give the gift of 'Athlete's Foot' to your little athlete...maybe 'Bad Breath' to your loved one, and who doesn't enjoy a 'Sore Throat'!?

Make sure to join us Sunday, March 7th for a fun filled Germ Day with GIANTmicrobes! Meet "Dr. Jeff" from 10 to 2pm for a fun hand washing activity, give-aways and cool germ facts...sounds like a germy filled day to me!

Hope for Haiti Balloons!

2010-02-03T12:44:00.000-08:00

Here's how one little customer found a way to help Haiti! Excellent work and thank you for letting Kid's Club help out!

Adopt a Ghost! Support the Spina Bifida Association!

2009-10-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

Help us reach our goal of $1,000 for the Spina Bifida Association!

October is Spina Bifida awareness month. Kids Club is partnering with the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) for their Adopt a Ghost fundraiser. The mission of SBA is to promote the prevention of Spina Bifida and to enhance the lives of all affected.

Facts about Spina Bifida:

Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States.
SBA estimates that more than 70,000 people in the United States are living with this birth defect.
Studies have shown that if all women who could become pregnant were to take a multivitamin with the B-vitamin folic acid, the risk of neural tube defects could be reduced by up to 70%.

ADOPT A GHOST TODAY FOR ONLY $1

Visit http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/ to learn more!

Cade Christian For Little Heads

2009-09-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Left: Koi Pond Trucker Hat, Right: Fun Strummin Trucker Hat

THESE HATS HAVE ATTITUDE!

Keep the rain off their face this fall with one of these funky new hats. Cade Christian trucker and military style hats are cafefully constructed for little heads, toddler through age 6. These high quality hats are made to last, even on the most rough and tumble kids. We have several styles for both boys and girls, in colors to match any little rockers outfit.

Come in and try one on!

Dragon of Love Military Hat

Interested in having your child's portrait painted?

2009-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Check out our new favorite local artist, Page Eaton! She'll turn your cherished family photograph into a one-of-a-kind pop art masterpiece! Come check out some of her work in person at Kids Club, and mark your calendar for special in-store appearances on September 26 and October 17 from 10 to 2.

For more information contact Page at:
pagek.eaton@gmail.com
www.pagekeaton.com

*images courtesy of www.pagekeaton.com

Back-to-School Donation Drive!

2009-08-05T12:27:00.001-07:00

Come support our Back-to-School Donation Drive for foster kids! Our donation drive will help Treehouse give foster kids new clothes, backpacks, tutoring, school pictures, field trips and more as they return to school this fall. Save 10% on all items purchased at Kids Club for donation AND you'll have a chance to win a $50 gift card to Kids Club and Sole Food when you donate (limit one raffle ticket per donation).

Wish List:
-back to school clothes
-school supplies (we're not picky, anything you want to give is great!)
-backpacks
-lunch boxes
-new underwear & socks
-monetary donations are gladly accepted too!

Drop off your donations at Kids Club now through August 15th!

Yo Baby!

2009-07-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

Check it out! Yo Baby video. The Yo Baby practice board is the perfect tool to teach your kids balance for snowboarding, skating and surfing. Indoors or out, on carpet, grass or sand with these lightweight boards children 3 and up can twist it, kick it, flip it and pop it. Made of a lightweight plastic in 6 bright colors, it's strong enough for any age to learn new boarding tricks.

Dog Portraits with Personality!

2009-07-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite local artists, Reilly Jensen, makes adorable custom dog portraits! You can view one of the pencil and watercolor portraits on display at Kids Club. Each portrait comes matted and framed (16"X20") on archival paper for $250. For instructions on how to order go to www.reillyjensen.com and click on 'dog'.

Backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles OH MY!

2009-07-21T16:10:00.001-07:00

I know, I know.... You're thinking it is too early to start thinking about back to school supplies, because summer just started. However, now is the best time to come in while we have a great selection of backpacks, lunch boxes, and water bottles. We also have Smencils and those Japanese puzzle erasers that all the kids are asking for. So come on in to Kids Club and check out our back to school supplies. Don't get caught waiting until the last minute.... OH MY!

Pattycake Prints!

2009-07-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

Come experience Pattycake Prints at Kids Club July 23-24 and make your own ceramic keepsake!
Check out our calendar for more upcoming dates.

Our New Website!

2009-07-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! We've just launched our brand new Kids Club website for you all to enjoy. We've given you a glimpse of what Kids Club is all about by highlighting some of our favorite products that we carry. Everything from strollers, diaper bags, clothing, toys, baby accessories and more! Come visit us in store for an even bigger selection and check back regularly for new merchandise and seasonal items. Stay connected with us by joining our email list!