Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in san francisco, CA

Tiki Dance Contest

by Michael Rohde

June 09, 2009

Here’s a new contest for families with a backyard, which excludes my apartment-dwelling family… Any woo… For those of you with a backyard, kids who love to dance, and if you wouldn’t mind winning gift cards, a camcorder, a grill, some outdoor torches, etc., please read on.

Tiki (the torch company) is holding a dance contest in honor of its new Island King Tiki Torch and the beginning of summer. Just for submitting a video of you/family/friends dancing for 45 seconds, you could win a lot of great prizes that could help you improve your backyard ($1,000 Visa Gift Card, a Charbroil grill, etc.). Go here for more prize info and to enter.

The Grand Prize includes:

• $1,000 Visa Gift Card
• A Canon® VIXIA HG10 High Definition Camcorder
• A Charbroil® Designer Series 4 Burner Grill, grill cover and stainless steel tool set
• 2 Metropolitan Patio Torches, 8 Island King™ Torches, 8 metal torch stands
• 12 64-oz. bottles of Bitefighter® Fuel

Five First Prizes include:

• $250 Visa Gift Card
• 4 Island King™ Torches
• 6 64-oz. bottles of Bitefighter® Fuel (25) Bonus Prizes
• $25 Visa Gift Card

Twenty-five Bonus Prizes of $25 Visa Gift Cards

99 Things to Do in San Francisco Before Kindergarten: The Full List

by Graham Charles

January 02, 2009

One of my great accomplishments last year was to finish this enormous list of things I think every San Francisco kid should do before the age of 6 or so. The range is vast and yet I'm sure I'm leaving quite a bit off, all the same. Since we originally posted in ten parts, I'm going to reprise the entire list here, complete with check boxes so you can keep track of your progress. (There's  Read more...

99 Things to Do In San Francisco Before Kindergarten, Part 6: Places to Go With Grandparents

by Graham Charles

November 17, 2008

My almost-three-year old, Fern, has just been blessed (or cursed!) with a little sister. Naturally, she's been getting to spend a lot of time with her extended family: grandparents and cousins and uncles and aunts -- not to mention friends -- who have all pitched in to help entertain the new big sister. There are some San Francisco sights that lend themselves especially to visiting relations;  Read more...

Six San Francisco Locales for Inspiring Your Child's Imagination

by Graham Charles

October 14, 2008

The folks at Savvy headquarters have asked us this "List Tuesday" to describe some local spots that really inspire kids to creative, free-form imagination. We all love our museums and zoos, but sometimes kids need a little more undirected, unrestricted space. Here are some of my favorite "Imagination Zones": 1. The Beach. I know of few free-form, fully pliable environments that equal the  Read more...

Longer Nights Mean it's Time for a Night Hike with Your Kids

by Graham Charles

September 12, 2008

With the days shortening, it's getting easier to take our nearly-three year old out for a night hike before bedtime. About once a week, Fern, her mom and I bundle up and head out around our block or up a trail for a chilly adventure. Here are some tips for a successful nighttime walk with your children: Listen a lot . Every few minutes, especially if we're on a trail rather than  Read more...