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FREE Car Seat Inspection this Month
14th Annual Early Childhood Safety Campaign

Free car seat inspections are a key feature of Habitot's Annual Safety Campaign and four will be presented this year, the first on Saturday, April 26 in Alameda. 4 of 5 car seats inspected are found to be installed incorrectly and children are at risk. There is also new guidelines for car seats which can be seen on a display in the museum.

The car seat inspections are offered with the support of the Alameda
Police Department, and local technicians from SafeKids California, California Highway Patrol, Alameda County Health, and other police departments and hospitals. Three additional inspection events will take place on May 10, August 9 and September 20. Location: City Hall parking lot 1555 Oak St., in Alameda.

Coming in July, a two-day safety fair, July 19-20, featuring experts and information booths on a wide range of safety topics relevant to families raising young children. Habitot admission will be FREE during the two days of the fair. Watch future issues of Totmail and our Facebook page for information on upcoming events.

New Classes, Spring and Summer Camps

Just a few spots are left in our Spring Break Camp days (March 31-April 4 and April 14-18). Our week-long summer theme camps like "Space Station" week, "Castles & Dragons" week and "Back to the Farm" are now enrolling. Beginning April 21, look for new spring drop-in classes for tots in cooking, music and puppetry on weekday mornings at 10:30. Classes are $8/child; no charge for adults. 6-class booklets available for $45 - good for any class.

See classes & camp descriptions and
registration info

Welcome New Board Member

Stef Tousignant, a designer and entrepreneur with both architectural and fine arts degrees and wide experience in childcare design, has joined Habitot's Board of Directors. She shares Habitot's philosophy saying, "children should always be free to be children – to play, laugh, experiment, and get messy. As adults, we facilitate this process by granting children the freedom of space to take risks, overcome challenges, and learn by doing." She is the nanny blogger at AskaNanny.com and the founder of the community building event The Great Baby Romp in San Francisco. She is the mother of two boys and lives in San Francisco. Welcome aboard!
Interested in board service? Click here

Egg Week
April 7–12
Regular Hours

All week in the Art Studio, decorate eggs and other spring inspired projects using ribbons, stickers and fun fabrics. Last week to Make-a-Plate (children’s drawing embedded on a plate) for mom/grandma in time for Mother’s Day in May ($20).

Foster Family Fun Day
Sunday, April 13
2:00 – 5:00 pm

Habitot, a hands-on discovery museum for 0-5 year old children, opens its doors for a special exclusive and FREE event just for foster, kinship and adoptive families. Children of all ages (including siblings) are welcome. Meet other foster/adoptive families and enjoy time together while playing with our fun hands-on exhibits and creative art activities in our Art Studio.

FREE with Registration: HabitotFosterFamilies.eventbrite.com
More Info: Contact Rachel at (510) 647-1111 ×16 or parented@habitot.org

Celebrate Habitot's Sweet 16th Birthday!
Free Admission Day!
Saturday, April 19
9:30 – 4:30 pm

We are celebrating our Sweet 16th birthday with a dance party! Your dancing shoes will get a work out with tunes from DJ Chungtech and DJ Smokestack from 10-11am and a specially curated “Sweet Sixteen” mix afterwards. Wear your fancy dress for a costume contest with prizes for winners, such as Best Parent-Child Sweet Sixteen, Best Throwback Prom Dress, Best Menswear, and more! Don’t miss the photographer taking “prom-style” photos in front of an Under the Sea backdrop. Punch and birthday cake will be served at 12:30pm. Thanks to ScholarShare, this will be a Free Admission Day!

Positive Discipline for Toddlers - Parenting Workshop
Tuesday, April 22
6:30 – 8:00 pm

In this 1.5-hour workshop based on the concepts of Positive Discipline, we will talk about the long-term results of rewards and punishments, as well as learn and practice some amazingly effective and practical Positive Discipline techniques for kids 10 months to 3 years old.

Facilitator:
Marcilie Smith Boyle is the mother of three children ages 5, 9, and 12. All three of her children enjoyed Gymboree for many years! She became certified as a Positive Discipline Parenting Educator after having spent 16 years professionally in marketing and management consulting. She is also a Certified Life & Business Coach. She has a BA from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Learn more at www.WorkingParenting.com

FREE with Registration at Eventbrite:
PositiveDisciplineAtHabitot.eventbrite.com
For more information, please contact Rachel at (510) 647-1111 ×16 or parented@habitot.org.
Learn more >>

FREE Car Seat Inspection
Saturday, April 26
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

LOCATION: City Hall parking lot 1555 Oak St., in Alameda.

Trained technicians will install and/or inspect your car seat. Offered with support from retired police officer, Bob Rollins, and the City of Alameda Police Department. Participants will receive a guest pass for Habitot admission.

For more information, contact Rachel at 510-647-1111 x16 or parented@habitot.org

View more child safety events ...

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, April 25
5:30 – 9:30 pm

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.

Storytelling Fridays!
Fridays • April 4, 11, 18 & 25
10:30 am

Our friends at the Tibetan Aid Project welcome you hear children’s tales of “positive thoughts and actions”
highlighting the power of compassion, love, wisdom,
and kindness.

Pizza Fridays!
Fridays • April 4, 11, 18 & 25
11:30 - 12:30 am

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.

Mamas & Papas (for LGBTQ Families)
Wednesday, April 2
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, April 28
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.