How much video game time is too much? Can kids get addicted to video games? How can parents teach their kids to set reasonable limits for themselves? Video games are a big part of most kids’ lives these days, and they are often interactive and have a social aspect as well as an entertainment aspect. […]
News
The Book Hive Delivers Books and Fun to Memphis-Area Kids
Have you heard of the Book Hive? It’s a full-size school bus that has been transformed into a mobile media center. The bus makes the rounds in the Memphis, Michigan area, providing children with access to books, technology, and activities. Memphis’ mascot is the Yellowjackets, so the “Book Hive” is the perfect name. The mastermind […]
Can-Am BMX Track Brings Thrills for All Ages
The Can-Am BMX track next to Goodells County Park brings real BMX racing and riding to families in the Blue Water Area. The huge track is full of hills and jumps and places for riders to test their skills. The track is a USA BMX-sanctioned BMX track. The track is open on Tuesdays at 5:30 […]
Michigan Activity Pass Gives Free and Discounted Admission to Top Attractions
Updated 6/26/2023 Everyone loves a discount. The Michigan Activity Pass offers library cardholders free and discounted admission to 475 attractions across Michigan. Places like the Detroit Insititute of Arts, LEGOLand Discovery Center, SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium, and much more, including state parks, campgrounds, Metroparks, and even local museums in the Blue Water Area are part […]
Local Gymnast Hannah Scheible Reaches Goal to Make Elite Oklahoma Sooners Team
What does it take to be a national champion in gymnastics? That’s a good question for Melinda and Joe Scheible, owners of All-American Flames Gymnastix in Port Huron. They have sent ten gymnasts to nationals just this year and their daughter, Hannah Scheible, is the highest-scoring Level 10 gymnast in the country, after dominating at […]
Detroit Zoo Trip Guide
Have you been to the Detroit Zoo lately? The zoo is constantly upgrading, repairing, and rethinking its exhibits. It’s possible to see something new every time you go. BlueWaterParent.com publisher, Jennie McClelland, and business development specialist, Emily Herbert, recently took a trip to the zoo to give you the scoop on how to make the […]
Learning Adventures: New Preschool and Child Care Center Coming to Marysville
Learning Adventures Preschool and Child Care in Marysville is getting ready for its August 2023 opening. The new early childhood center is owned and operated by Cassie Nickels. Nickels said she is local to Marysville and has been working with children since 1997. She said she fell in love with the Early Childhood age group […]
The Dance Academy in Port Huron Offers Dance Experiences for All Ages, Abilities
The Dance Academy in Port Huron has been teaching dancers of all ages and abilities for over fifty years. The studio, located on Lapeer Road, between Michigan and Beach, in Port Huron Township, opened in 1971 and has been under the ownership of Donna Miller since 1995. The studio has taught thousands of children and […]
Take the Family on a Spring Flower Walk
Spring has definitely sprung and early wildflowers are abundant. You can take a walk anywhere to look at the wildflowers (dandelions count), but how fun would it be to take a guided hike through the woods with an expert? If that sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday morning, mark your calendar for […]
Win a Free Book: The Adventures of Dog & Bear
Dog & Bear are always where the fun can be found. The duo can be spotted at library events, community outreach events, and many other places. BlueWaterParent.com is proud to partner with Dog & Bear and the creator of their story, Jacklin Kinzer, to offer you a chance at a free book to learn more […]
Traveling with Kids is Worth It
Traveling with kids is a lot of work, but it is worth it when memories are made and kids’ experiences are broadened. Theresa Winters of Faraway Places Travel said, “Travel of any form is such a unique educational experience. There truly are endless opportunities to have them learn about the world past their own four […]
Easy Road Trips from the Blue Water Area
The desire to hit the open road and get out of town, even for just a few days, is common for families who have been stuck inside during the cold winter, or who need some quality time together to reconnect before spring and summer schedules take over. We asked Theresa Winters of Faraway Places Travel […]
Road Trip 101
Spring break time is road trip time. “Getting there” can be half the fun. Or not. Planning ahead is a deal-breaker when it comes to making the most of all that family togetherness in a confined space. We teamed up with Blue Water area travel guru, Theresa Winters of Faraway Places Travel, to get some […]
Tips for Freshening Up Your Home for Spring
Ignore those mounds of melting snow. Spring is here. Well, almost. As the weather gets warmer and the days grow longer, the annual tradition of spring cleaning and refreshing one’s home gets into gear. We asked Erin MacNeill, Designer and Owner of Willow and Grove Design, to let us in on the top trends for […]
Fresh Air, Please
As people refresh their homes for spring, they might be tempted to fill their homes with artificial floral scents or swap out the cinnamon and pine-scented remnants of the holiday season for “springier” scented room sprays, candles, and other gadgets. We asked Erin MacNeill, Designer and Owner of Willow and Grove Design to share her […]
Clutter Control
All. Those. Papers. If you have kids, you have papers: worksheets, art projects, permission slips, newsletters, schedules, lists, waivers, and so much more. Managing the paper is a chore and if you let it go, that stack of papers can seem overwhelming. Erin MacNeill, Designer and Owner of Willow and Grove Design, gave us some […]
The Adventures of Dog & Bear Bring Simple Wonder to the Community
Once upon a time, a couple was at an airport and a man gave them a stuffed animal from a sales promotion. The couple eventually took the stuffed bear on a trip up north, took some pictures of the bear “on vacation”, and sent the pictures to their grandchildren. From that point, The Adventures of […]
Experts Say No Puffy Coats in Car Seats
Being a parent is hard. You need to bundle the little ones up in cold weather, but thick coats could compromise the effectiveness of car seats. What are parents, grandparents, and caregivers who live in cold climates supposed to do? The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning has some tips for surviving this Michigan winter […]
Wonder Wolf Entertainment Adds Sparkle to Parties and Events
Michelle Stuckey-Wolford of Wonder Wolf Entertainment is everywhere these days. If she’s not leading a dance class or dressed up like a mermaid or a snow fairy at a children’s event, she’s creating a magical balloon arch or face painting at a birthday party. Miss Michelle, as her young dance students call her, has worked […]
Prowlers Deliver Memorable Night for Local Family
When Dave Chemin, Jr. won a pair of tickets from BlueWaterParent.com to the Saturday Prowlers Hockey Game, he was excited, but he didn’t know that it would turn into a magical night for him, his wife, and their 8-year-old son. They knew it was Mitts’ birthday, so they showed up with a birthday card. Mitts, […]
DNR Outdoor Adventure Center is Sensory Friendly
The Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit has announced that it is Sensory Friendly. That means that kids who don’t love constant noise and stimulation can relax and enjoy all that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources-run facility has to offer. Along with being Sensory Friendly, the Center provides for the needs of nursing mothers, provides […]
Can You Spend 1000 Hours Outside this Year?
The 1000 Hours Outside movement challenges families to get outdoors. The goal is 4-6 hours per day outside. If that seems like a lot, it is. Four to six hours is also a lot of time to be looking at a screen, but most families spend at least that much time on computers, smartphones, gaming […]
Make Connections at a Playgroup
Playgroups are essential for both young children and parents. The connections that parents make with other parents in the same stage of life can last for a lifetime. Meanwhile, toddlers and preschoolers are getting started on life skills like learning a routine, listening to directions, and playing nicely with others. They are also getting a […]
Activity Sign-ups
Sports Signup information is shared as a resource for the community. BlueWaterParent.com bears no responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Please send your organization’s sign-up information to events@bluewaterparent.com. Port Huron Parks & Recreation Programs Port Huron AYSO 161 Soccer St. Clair AYSO 673 YMCA of the Blue Water Area Youth Fitness Programs Port Huron […]
Sophisticatz Karaoke in Birchwood Mall Offers Family Fun
Sophisticatz Karaoke in the Birchwood Mall in Fort Gratiot is the place to go for a unique kind of fun. The family-owned small business opened in 2022 to bring karaoke to everyone in the Blue Water Area. They were inspired by the grandmother of President and co-owner, Eilish Warner, who sang with the singing group, […]
Prowlers Hockey Ticket Giveaway!
Who wants to go to a Prowlers Game for free? BlueWaterParent.com will be giving away many pairs of tickets throughout the season thanks to a partnership with the Port Huron Prowlers, your local Federal Prospects Hockey League team. This is professional hockey in Downtown Port Huron, and some of the best family-friendly and affordable entertainment […]
Flames Gym Offers Plenty of Space to Burn Energy
All-American Flames Gymnastix, located in Port Huron, Michigan, provides a place for kids to run, jump, flip, and test their limits in a safe environment. The enormous 35,000-square-foot facility has three separate gyms: the Main Gym, the Tot Spot, and the Fuse- a Ninja Warrior-style course. Kids can start the structured gymnastics program at 18 […]
It’s Time to Sort the Candy
After a full month of buildup to Halloween and an endless amount of Trunk or Treats and community events, the time has come to sort the candy. Here’s how it goes at our house: the chips and little bags of Famous Amos cookies go in the pantry to fill lunchboxes for the next few weeks […]
Free Costume Ideas
Don’t want to be part of the $10.6 billion spent on Halloween hype? Here are some ways to be a legitimate trick-or-treater without spending a dime: There’s always the option of cutting two eye holes in a white sheet and being a ghost, but sheets are expensive. Recycle a sports uniform. Soccer players are adorable. […]
Painting with Britt Takes Face Painting to the Next Level
Brittany Rodriguez has turned her artistic talent into a thriving local face-painting business. Her business, Painting with Britt, has been around for about five years, making kids’ dreams come true at Birthday Parties and other events as they temporarily transform into superheroes, princesses, and more. Brittany said that she got into the business in an […]
Those Leaves, Though
This is one of those years when the fall colors are spectacular. You don’t have to drive far to see the trees putting on a show. Some of the best local color is along I-69 near Wadhams. The red maples are doing their thing in a big way. Taking a walk through the woods is […]
New Laws Update Foster Care Rules
Sometimes “family” is more than blood relatives. New changes to Michigan’s foster care system redefine what a “relative” is and can include those with close emotional ties to a child who are not blood relatives. Several bills were signed into law this week that affect the foster care system and acknowledge those who are not […]
The Arc Offers Special Education Support
The Arc of St. Clair County can help parents to know the law and know their responsibilities when it comes to getting appropriate Special Education supports for their children. There are zoom classes held monthly. Each class provides an opportunity for parents to ask questions and learn more about the system so they can get […]
Thank a Teacher
October 5th is World Teacher’s Day. If you are taking care of kids, you know the huge impact that teachers can have on kids. Not only do teachers teach academics, but they are responsible for safety, discipline, and much more. It’s not an easy job and the pay could be better. How can you thank […]
Newborn Screening Can Prevent Lifelong Impairment
When babies are born, they get checked out for a few things to make sure they are on track for normal development and growth. If they aren’t, modern medicine has some treatments to get newborns back on track. Babies will now be tested for Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase Deficiency, or GAMT Deficiency, as part of the state-required […]
The Bedtime Battle
So if Little Aiden needs the recommended 13 hours of sleep every night, and he gets to preschool at 7:30 in the morning every day, and needs time to eat breakfast and get dressed and ride in the car, he would need to go to bed at 5:30 p.m. every night. Right. Getting kids to […]
Port Huron Police Community Engagement Trailer is Ready to Roll
“It’s not a party unless the cops show up”. That phrase has new meaning with the creation of the Port Huron Police Department’s Community Engagement Trailer. The trailer is now outfitted with TV screens, video games, and popcorn machines, along with an outdoor basketball game. Expect to see the trailer at community events as the […]