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Poison Prevention Week to Kick Off 14th Annual
Early Childhood Safety Campaign

State Farm Insurance has once again awarded a grant to Habitot to sponsor an annual "Early Childhood Safety Campaign". The Campaign, which kicks off this month, will host free car seat inspections in the community as well as a two-day safety fair (with free admission) in July. Safe Kids California is supporting this month's event highlighting poisoning prevention and awareness with an information table on display in the Museum March 16-22. 50% of calls to Poison Control are about a child 0-5 years old - learn how to avoid being one of them. (see Parent Q&A for more information).

Habitot’s 2014 Safety Campaign seeks to address the high number of unintentional accidents among very young children—“the biggest threat to the life and health of children one to six years old”, according to the
American Academy of Pediatrics. Over the past thirteen years, thousands
of Habitot families have benefited from informational events, training and community services. Watch future issues of Totmail and our Facebook page
for information on upcoming events.

The Rocketship Has Landed

Back from its year-long stay at the Sacramento Discovery Museum Science and Space Center is Habitot's ever popular Rocketship and Mission Control exhibit. Look for new interactive components, including a communication sound tube from the planet's surface to the rocketship. Donors to the 2013 year-end campaign funded new costumes and props and installation costs. Thank you!

Two Sessions of Spring Camp Plus
Summer Camp Now Enrolling

This year, we'll be offering two weeks of morning drop-off spring break camps for 2.9-4.9 year olds, March 31-April 4 and April 14-16. Weekday drop-in children's classes will continue through March 28 and resume April 21 as will a new 5-week series of Discovery Playgroup ~ a facilitated parent-child support group encouraging children's social play as well as parent connection and inspiration.

Summer camps for under 5's are now enrolling, too. Plan ahead for all of these popular camps that fill up quickly.
Click here for summer camp flyer.
REGISTER for all camps

Last Call to Give Us Your 2 Cents

Through March 31, take 3 minutes to complete our annual visitor and member survey, and share any ideas you have for making Habitot even better. Surveys completed by the end of the month will be entered into a drawing for a 12-Visit Pass (worth $195). Click here to take survey.

Habitot at the Great Baby Romp in San Francisco

The Great Baby Romp is San Francisco’s annual event just for babies and toddlers. The fun-filled event will feature a children's concert as well as enrichment class providers all together in one space, so parents and children can sample the wide variety of classes offered in San Francisco and beyond. Teacher Toni will lead an interactive puppet class similar to ones offered in camps.

Welcome New Board Member

Habitot museum member, Katy Wafle, has joined Habitot's Board of Directors, and is excited about the prospect of moving Habitot to a larger facility. Katy, who is a fundraising professional and business owner with wide experience, conducted a small feasibility study on behalf of the museum last fall. She lives in Albany with her husband and young daughter; she's expecting her second later this spring. Welcome aboard! Interested in board service? Click here

Shamrock Day
Monday, March 17
9:30 – 12:30 pm

Top ‘o the Morning! For Shamrock Day, hunt for hidden “gold” throughout the museum and in the Art Studio decorate leprecaun spyglasses that make the whole world look green. Play with green gak and wear green for an extra dose of the luck of the Irish! All visitors will enjoy interactive storytelling in the Multicultural Reading Tent.

National Poison Prevention Week
March 16 – 22
9:30 – 12:30 pm

All week, check out our information booth on preventing accidental poisoning during National Poison Prevention Week, a part of our 2014 Early Childhood Safety Campaign. TEXT the word SAFEKIDS (SEGURO in Spanish) to 69866 for weekly poison prevention steps that you can take to help prevent accidental poisonings and tips for promoting community involvement in poison prevention.

Every 4th Friday*
Now Year-round!
Lower Price for Siblings!

*Except for November and December; the 3rd Friday of the Month.

Parents' Night Out
Friday, March 28

Drop off your kids, 2-7 yrs, for play and fun while parents enjoy an evening out.

$39 per child, $29 for siblings.

Cheese pizza for dinner included.

ADVANCE registration strongly encouraged to permit us to adequately staff these evenings. Last minute registrations may not be possible.

To register, call our Reservations Desk at 510-647-1111 ×14.

Pizza Fridays!
Fridays • March 7, 14, 21 & 28

Our friends at Papa John's(2222 Shattuck Ave.) will deliver child-sized cheese slices on sale for $1 each beginning at 11:30 am, first come first served. Proceeds benefit the Museum.

New! Color and Music class on Wednesdays

• Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday
• 10:30 - 11:10 am

• Drop-in, Pay at the door
• $8 per child (adults free)
• $45 / 6-class passes
• Class passes do not expire.

For all ages, 0-5. Children under 12 months FREE when accompanied by an older sibling.
Parent or caregiver participation required in all classes.

• "Let’s Do Lunch!" COOKING TUESDAYS with Toni
• "Color and Music" MUSIC WEDNESDAYS: with Heather
• "Shake Rattle & Roll" MUSIC THURSDAYS with Jaime

• Registration required
• $75 / 5-week session (Special pricing)

You and child are sure to love this engaging, structured playgroup led by Terra Sawdy, a specialist in early learning and development. We will practice being a part of a group, work on our growing social skills and have fun following directions as we play. Activities will include art, science, storytelling and lots of pretending! This is a great way for your child to make some new friends and get ready for preschool. Parents and caregivers will play along with us and will have a chance to ask questions about age-appropriate behavior and child development.

About Terra Sawdy
Terra is an established early childhood educator, working with children and parents in and out of the classroom. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and has extensive experience as a teacher at a local parent cooperative preschool.

For class descriptions and more information

Mamas & Papas (for LGBTQ Families)
Wednesday, March 5
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Join our free, drop-in support group for LGBTQ families and their 0-5 year old children, presented in partnership with Our Family Coalition. While parents engage in lively and supportive conversations facilitated by Habitot and Our Family staff in our classroom annex (Habitot, Too), children play (with supervision) in the Museum.

Caregiver Café
Monday, March 24
10:00 - 11:00 am
Share some coffee and pastries, connect with other caregiving professionals and talk about the fun and challenges you face in raising others' children. Habitot staff will occupy your charges at nearby tables with art activities and puzzles while you take part in a facilitated group discussion. We hope to bring in outside experts to share their expertise on topics of interest. Free museum admission for all attendees following Caregiver Cafe let's you put new ideas into action.