Choice Sidebar: Kids

Seven hot tips for tots (and their keepers).

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Published: Nov 1, 2006

Children's books on soul food and sushi? MOMA-esque building blocks? Stuffed plushies of yeast microbes? The kids' section at the AIA Bookstore & Design Center provides children with the progressive-minded tools they need to grow strong brains, discerning palates and majorly ironic senses of humor. All that's missing is a tiny little paste-on moustache kit. (117 S. 17th St., 215-569-3188, www.aiabookstore.com) —Ashlea Halpern

You've seen those people on dancefloors jerking around like epileptics. Don't let it happen to your kid. Little People's Music teaches babies (infants to 5-year-olds) how to rattle egg shakers and shimmy their diapered booties. With a diverse musical staff, your little ones learn catchy new tunes, along with the olds favs like "Old MacDonald." Plus, you get a CD to shush your babes at home. (Various locations, 215-884-7553, www.littlepeoplesmusic.com) —Helen i-lin Hwang

They have to learn sometime that fairy tales don't always come true, and the Arden Theatre's Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales was a gentle, hilarious way to find out. From Cinderella snubbing Rumpelstiltskin to the frog-kissing Princess getting a mouthful of slime, this parody of classics made kids contemplate adult ideas — without even realizing it. Ugly ducklings that never grew up, rejoice! (40 N. Second St., 215-922-1122) —Megan M. Erwin

Owner and stylist Juliene Ebner didn't consider organic products until after the birth of her daughter, Lucie. Unlike the toxic hair color found in most boxed products, Juju Salon & Organics uses Organic Colour Systems by Herb UK, a permanent, nontoxic solution for covering gray hair, roots or just getting rid of mousy brown locks. Ebner says it has no harsh odors because it's made of organic botanicals and herbs. Even her gyno sends expecting moms to Juju. (716 S. Fourth St., 215-238-6080, www.jujusalon.com) —Natalie Hope McDonald

Changing your baby's nappy on a urine-stained bathroom floor is no fun for you or your kid. But diaper decks can be hard to come by when you're out on the town. It's like a conspiracy to keep all families sequestered in their homes. But if you and your child enjoy hitting the pubs, Standard Tap has the most unexpected, and therefore the best, diaper deck in the city. (901 N. Second St., 215-238-0630, www.standardtap.com) —Helen i-lin Hwang

For $25, kids ages 6 to 12 can get their hands dirty and make some tasty treats, all while unwittingly learning a little math, science and history. Kitchen Kapers Academy in Moorestown offers themed classes like "Hearty Harvest Baking" and "Cookies From Around the World." Kids can bake their cake and eat it too. (1341 Nixon Dr., Moorestown, N.J., 856-778-7705) —Megan M. Erwin

Tucked away near Elkins Park — yeah, just outside the city, but it's worth the drive — is the Richard Wall Park. There you'll find the "oldest house in Pennsylvania which has had continuous family residency," but you won't care about that. You'll care about the cool fenced-in playground across the way where your kids can run wild without causing too much trouble/seriously injuring themselves. Rugrats will dig the sandbox, or get lost in the giant wooden play sets. Older rats will love the free skatepark. You'll appreciate the benches. (600 Church Rd.; Skatepark, Wall Park Drive, off Church Road near Elkins Park) —Duane Swierczynski

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