Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in baltimore, MD

Of Fauna and Fairytales: A Visit to Clark's Elioak Farm

July 20, 2009

If you're as old as I am (or--gasp--even older), and if you've been around these parts since, say, the dawn of time, you may remember The Enchanted Forest, the fairytale-themed amusement park that used to draw the kiddies to Ellicott City.  As far as I know I only visited once, and all I can remember is a dizzy ride on the Mad Teacups, but I know lots and lots of Baltimoreans who have wonderful memories of that place.  Anyway, The Enchanted Forest is long gone, but many of the park's relics, including one of my barely-remembered teacups, have been hauled on over to Clark's Elioak Farm, the petting zoo/playland/produce stand that stands, just behind the castle gate, on Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City.  If you've never been to Clark's Elioak, of if you haven't been since they've added a number of new Enchanted Forest attractions, you really must visit, posthaste.  Snow White, The Three Little Pigs and The Dish and The Spoon are all waiting, and they're wondering, frankly, what's been taking you so long. 

We stopped by on a warm summer's day, a day just perfect for picnicking with the Gingerbread Man and for popping in on The Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.  The kids, from the moment we strolled through the castle gate, were, indeed, enchanted . . . so enchanted that it was nearly impossible to get them to eat the picnic lunch that I'd packed.  They especially grooved on the mouse and cheese slide (these mice, apparently, were the ones that took Cinderella home from the ball), as well as on The Rainbow Bridge, where they were able to look down on real, live frogs.  Every attraction was a hit, though, as they made their way through some of their favorite stories, including "There Was a Crooked Man" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."  Then, once they'd pretty thoroughly explored the Enchanted Forest stuff, we moved on to the petting zoo, which was also quite entertaining.  You won't find anything out-of the-ordinary at Clark's Elioak's petting zoo--no camels or buffalo or anything exotic--but the goats and pigs and donkeys will keep the kids happy, even if--and this happened to my daughter--the donkey gets a little bitey.  Pony rides, which are satisfying but none-too-lengthy, are available for two bucks a pop, and hay rides, too, can be had for two dollars.  There's also a pine tree maze, a summer vegetable stand and a gift/snack shop, should you require a cold drink or a little souvenir.  

So what are you waiting for?  Head on down to Clark's Elioak this weekend, and give your kids a taste of the classics! 

 Clark's Elioak Farm - 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD, 410-730-4049

Chills and Thrills by the Campfire

July 13, 2009

Summer is here, and the time is right for camp-outs, both at home and out in the woods and the wilds.  And what, besides s'mores and tent poles (Go ahead and ask me about the night my family spent in a tent without tent poles.  You want a scary story?  Because goodness, that one'll give you chills.), makes for picture-perfect camping?  Why, a scary (but not too scary) story, of course . . . one that's just right for your outdoor-loving, preschool-aged camper.

Listen, I'm going to tell you the truth:  I don't know a lot of spooky stories.  I vaguely remember one about a lumberjack-zombie who emerges from the woods with a head and a chainsaw, but I'm pretty sketchy on the details, and anyway, I don't think that's the kind of story you want to share with your preschooler.  What I do know, though, is where to find some kid-friendly, spooky-ish stories, and the first place that I'm going to direct you is to Hutchinson's The Spooky Storybook.  A thoroughly excellent collection of silly, sort-of-scary stories, The Spooky Storybook is one of the best ghost tale anthologies for younger children.  It's out-of-print, so you may not be able to pick it up at just any neighborhood book shop, but don't be discouraged, because I found our copy quite easily at a downtown Baltimore thrift store.  Amazon has a bunch of them, available from a wide variety of sellers (and at a wide variety of prices), and you can always check in at your favorite used book shop.  However you find it, find it, as the stories here--including one about a pirate who takes over a double-decker bus and another about a magical, aunt-eating toilet--are perfect for sharing around the campfire.  Another pretty good collection of young children's stories is Simon J.Bronner's American Children's Folklore.  In this book you'll find rhymes, jokes, secret languages and camp legends, all of which will go nicely with those marshmallows and teeny weenies.

Got a spooky story that you'd like to share?  Fantastic!  But first, here are a few storytelling basics that you might want to remember before clearing your throat and illuminating your face with the flashlight.  Ready?

1.  Choose a story that won't give your child nightmares for months to come. 
This seems obvious, but it's easy to overlook, particularly if your child seems into the story as you're telling it, that you might be overdoing it and that there might be repercussions.

2.  Choose funny over scary.
Go for a story with a joke ending.  Both of the books I've mentioned above are chock-full of tales that fit this description.

3.  Suggest that your child sit with a buddy.
Snuggling up with another child or with a grown-up can help your child to feel more at ease about storytime 'round the campfire. 

4.  Get the audience involved!
Try to incorporate hand gestures or repetitive phrases that your child can imitate if she likes.

5.  Reassure your audience! 
If your child seems frightened or uneasy, remind him that the story is make-believe (also--don't forget--refer to number one!), or consider trying another story.

6.  Build suspense and add to the realism.
Add sound effects, change your voice to reflect different characters, and pause right before the punchline.

7.  Pass the flashlight.
When you're finished telling your campfire story, encourage the little ones to weave some yarns of their own.

We'd love to hear some of your favorite campfire stories.  What will you be telling at your next camp-out? 



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Weekend Highlights, 5/15 - 5/17

May 14, 2009

Another great springtime weekend is headed our way.  Get out there and enjoy all of the fun--and pollen--that the next few days have to offer.  Here, for your perusal, are a few weekend highlights:

Weekend Highlights, 4/3 - 4/5

April 02, 2009

Ha-Ha-Ha: Five Books to Make You Laugh

by Laura Stallard Petza

November 18, 2008

We're talking about funny kids' books at Savvy Source today, and if you're like us and all of our children, you probably have a ton of funny favorites. The classics like Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are , while brilliant and beautifully illustrated and funny in their own ways, are not the ones that make my children laugh the hardest. Probably because, like me, the kids have  Read more...