It takes a U Village!

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!

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!