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Fairy Trail… Friendswood Field Trip

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

In this Houston field trip, little kids can search for fairies along a Fairy Trail… and learn about recycling, volunteerism, community, healthy eating, waste prevention, native plants and wildlife and care for our environment.

Many of our field trips are for bigger kids… but the Fairy Trail is perfect for preschool and lower elementary aged kids. (But I am certain some bigger kids would also enjoy the hunt for fairies!)

Look below for resources to read before your trip, details on each stop and parking/driving instructions.

Fairy Trail at Stevenson Park

Resources:

  • Fairy Trail Map (website)
  • What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet (Book)
  • Be the Difference: 40+ ideas for kids to create positive change using empathy, kindness, equality and environmental awareness (Book)
  • Oh, The Things You Can Do That Are Good for You (Book)
Friendswood Fairy Trail

Explore the Fairy Trail:

Search for fairies along the shaded trails of Stevenson Park!

When you arrive at Stevenson Park, find the Fairy Door and a map of the Fairy Trail. Then follow the the path and look high and low for fairy houses.

At each house, you can open the door and use the map (or website) to learn about each fairy.

Each of the fairies/trolls are diverse in looks and have jobs in the park such as: recycling, volunteerism, community, healthy eating, waste prevention, native plants and wildlife, litter prevention and care for our environment.

The trail is one mile so it is perfect for little feet.

After your walk down the trail, stay to play at the playground. Stevenson Park is a great park!

Fairy Trail

Drive/Park at Stevenson Park Fairy Trail:

Stevenson Park has lots of free parking surrounding the park. The main fairy gate is on the City Hall side of the park… but you can park anywhere and get there easily. The walking trail is one mile.

Stevenson Park Fairy Trail:

Address: 1100 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546

 

Find More Houston Field Trips:

Filed Under: All, Houston Field Trips, Things to do December 8, 2020

Supporting Kids with Emotional Issues

by JillBJarvis.com Sponsored Post Leave a Comment

Supporting Kids with Emotional Issues

Are you seeking to support a gifted child as a parent, teacher or professional? Join Rainard for a virtual workshop. The Head of School will discuss the issues gifted children are having during COVID-19 and how we can be supporting kids with emotional issues during these unprecedented times.

Virtual Workshop Supporting Kids with Emotional Issues:

  • Wednesday, January 20, 2021
  • 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST
  • The event is FREE.
  • Register HERE.

Rainard School for Gifted Students is the only non-profit school in Houston that specializes in helping Gifted children. Learn more about the school HERE.

The Head of School, Dr. Tomicic, comes to Rainard School with a background in clinical psychology, previously working as a clinician with both children and adults.

Dr. Tomicic’s experience includes psychological and cognitive assessments, individual and group therapy, crisis management, and clinical consultations for school counselors.

While at the University of Windsor, she was a coordinator for students with physical and learning disabilities, aiding in their academic accommodations.

Rainard School for Gifted Students is the only non-profit school in Houston that specializes in helping Gifted children. They are still accepting applications.

To learn more about the school, attend the weekly virtual open house on Tuesdays.

Also, for supporting kids with emotional issues during the pandemic, go HERE.

Filed Under: All, Resources December 8, 2020

Where in Houston? Sawyer Yard!

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

Yesterday I asked where in Houston this picture was taken. It’s from Sawyer Yards in Arts District Houston!

Filed Under: All, Where in Houston? December 8, 2020

University of St Thomas Christmas Lights

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

University of St. Thomas Christmas Lights

This year, go see the University of St Thomas Christmas Lights! The Christmas Nights of Hope and Joy are December 1, 2020 through January 6, 2021.

Nightly, the Houston community can drive through the campus and experience the magical Christmas lights along Yoakum Boulevard. Enjoy the lights for free.

The University of St Thomas Christmas Lights includes long rows of lit up oak trees (with lights all the way to the top) and wooden cutouts of your favorite characters.

Along the UST Light Path there is a sign with a radio station frequency for Christmas music to play in your car. It was not working while we were there, but outside they had Christmas music playing on the speakers.

University of St. Thomas Christmas Lights Church

After you drive through the St Thomas Christmas Lights (and maybe park to walk down the beautiful street), drive by Present Company on your way out of Montrose. It’s currently lit up Griswold style.

While in the area, you could also take a lap near Poe Elementary School. North and South Boulevard are full of beautifully lit up houses.

To find even more Houston area holiday lights, go HERE!

(Also, a fun fact… while you are driving through the St Thomas Lights, you will go right by the childhood home of Howard Hughes.)

University of St. Thomas Christmas Lights Characters

St. Thomas Christmas Lights:

Address: Branard St & Yoakum Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

Find more Houston area holiday lights HERE!

Filed Under: All, Holiday Events December 6, 2020

Friendswood Christmas Trail & Fairy Trail

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

Go, go, go to the Friendswood Christmas Trail! Stevenson Park has transformed for the holidays… and families can enjoy the FREE Lighted Christmas Trail and the FREE Christmas Fairy Trail!

Friendswood Christmas Trail and Christmas Fairy Trail

Friendswood Christmas Trail:

The Friendswood Christmas Trail includes different themes of lights every evening, 5:30pm-11:00pm, through New Year’s Day. On Saturday nights, the park also features holiday music and food vendors. Learn more HERE.

The Friendswood Christmas Trail replaces Santa in the Park for this year. The public can social distance AND enjoy the holiday light displays.

And to add to this, Santa has dropped off his mailbox and is accepting letters! Children can write their own letter and drop it off at Santa’s mailbox by the 20′ Christmas tree in Stevenson Park. They will be accepting letters thru December 11, 2020. (Make sure to put your return address, so Santa can write you back!) 

Christmas Fairy Trail

Christmas Fairy Trail:

The Fairy Trail has been dressed up the holidays. The Christmas Fairy Trail is a daytime hunt for Christmas related fairies. Find the new Christmas fairies hidden along the new lighted Christmas trail. Fairy maps are available online and at the Fairy door and bulletin board in Stevenson Park.

The Christmas Fairy Trail is an updated to the popular Fairy Trail… which is available all year long. Know that there are two fairy trails right now, so look for two maps. There is a Christmas map that points to Christmas fairies that are like 3D stickers around the park. There is the regular map that points to the little fairy houses that kids can open. These little houses have been decorated for Christmas too!

Watch the video below for a preview of the Christmas Trail at Stevenson Park… and go HERE to learn more!

Filed Under: All, Holiday Events December 6, 2020

Breakfast with Santa… at Margaritaville

by JillBJarvis.com Sponsored Post Leave a Comment

Breakfast with Santa at Margaritaville Lake Conroe

Go have Breakfast with Santa at Margaritaville Lake Conroe. Since the resort is right on the beautiful lake… Santa will arrive by boat!

Enjoy a magical and socially distanced buffet with the whole family while enjoying floor-to-ceiling views of beautiful Lake Conroe!

The event is open to the public and to hotel guests. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 936.448.4400, Option #3, or 936.448.3224.

December 12, 2020 – 10:30am – 1:30pm
Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe | Houston
Open to the public, guests, and members.

Adults $38.95 | Children 6-12 $19.95 |Children 5 and under FREE
Plus tax & gratuity
Complimentary Valet at Conference Center Entrance

Learn more about Breakfast with Santa, go HERE. (And to see more pictures of the resort, go HERE!)

Filed Under: All, Houston Events December 3, 2020

Picking the Best Houston School for You…Westbury Christian School

by JillBJarvis.com Sponsored Post 2 Comments

Are you looking for the best Houston school for your family? Look at Westbury Christian School.

Do you need more individualized attention? Comprehensive course opportunities? An emphasis on spiritual formation?

Private School Tour at Westbury Christian School, Best Houston School

Westbury Christian School has a Lower, Middle and High School and offers a three-dimensional program of education. It consists of a Spiritual Development Program, an Academic Development Program and a Student Activity Program… each receiving equal attention.

Students receive instruction through varied experiences and utilize proven methods to elevate them to a greater level of education – spiritually, formally, and practically.

Here’s what one parent has to say about why Westbury Christian School is the best Houston school for them:

“We have a high school student at Westbury. Our student’s three years at Westbury have been exceptional.

“Teachers and staff at WCS have done the important work to create a place that students can thrive while learning to navigate academia, sports, and the arts- all while growing up in uncertain times.

“The student body is diverse and welcoming. The teachers are attentive to the student’s academic needs, seeing each student as an individual. “The theater department is excellent, for the students involved in production and performance, as well the community that watches. Athletics demand excellence while pursuing love for the sport and team.

“We have been so thankful to have our student attend Westbury Christian for its commitment to Biblical principles and love for students.”

If this sounds intriguing, attend a virtual tour by going HERE and decide if this is the best Houston school for you. (And make the most of your tour by considering these questions first!)

Filed Under: All, Resources December 2, 2020

Virtual Field Trips in Houston

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

In most of our Houston field trips, we head out to parks, landmarks and museums… but in this post, we’re learning from home. Here are some ideas for virtual field trips in Houston!

Virtual Field Trips in Houston

Virtual Field Trips in Houston:

  • Asia Society of Texas
    • Take At-Home Adventures through Asia!
    • Take virtual trips through Japan, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Korea and China.
    • Build a foundation for global learning and foster cultural empathy by sparking learner curiosity, contextualizing information, and sharing different perspectives.
    • Free materials are available (including notes for parents to guide each trip).
  • Children’s Museum of Houston
    • The Children’s Museum has been all virtual since September.
    • There are so many resources and workshops available. Learn CAD, tour the museum, listen to stories, engage in projects and so much more.
    • The museum also has virtual field trips, you can guide yourself through the Museum, stopping as you choose. Each tour option is themed either by age or by topic.
  • Generation Serve Houston
    • Volunteer as a family!
    • Find the calendar of virtual events HERE.
  • Houston Museum of Natural Science
    • Free and paid resources are available to take you on a Virtual Dinosaur Adventure, Wildlife Safari, World of Energy and Journey Through Ancient Egypt.
    • The HMNS website points you to resources on YouTube (and also Prime, Netflix, etc). Paid add-ons are available as well.
  • Houston Zoo
    • Take a virtual tour of the zoo.
    • There are programs to bring the animals to your classroom… including your home classroom.
    • For the at-home programs, you connect through Zoom to learn about animal adaptations, habitats, and more! Meet an animal visitor up-close, compete in a family quiz, and become experts in saving wildlife.
  • Lone Star Flight Museum
    • Several of the field trip Activity Guides have been adjusted to be used as distance learning lessons during the pandemic. Head to the website for at-home lessons, virtual tours and virtual classes.
  • Museum of Fine Arts Houston
    • Access the art collections and selected exhibitions, film screenings, art-making activities, recorded lectures, artist’s talks on Google Arts & Culture.
    • Also, look for virtual family activities HERE.

Find More Houston Field Trips:

Filed Under: All, Houston Field Trips, Things to do December 1, 2020

Where in Houston? MKT Houston Heights!

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

Yesterday I asked where in Houston this picture was taken. It’s under Shepherd Drive, right at the the new MKT in the Houston Heights!

Filed Under: All, Where in Houston? December 1, 2020

Where in Houston? Allen Street and Durham Drive!

by Jill Jarvis Leave a Comment

Yesterday I asked where in Houston this picture was taken. It’s on the corner for Allen Street and Durham Drive!

Filed Under: All, Where in Houston? November 24, 2020

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jill-jarvis-bigkidsmallcity-circle-300 Welcome!  JillBJarvis.com is the go-to blog for things to do in Houston with kids!  It is upbeat and dedicated to making our big city feel small.   START HERE!    

On this website you will find a full list of Houston weekly events, things to do around the city, travel ideas and resources for parents.

I know just what it’s like to be overwhelmed by work, life and family. I spent a lot of years traveling for work, missing big milestones for my kids and feeling bad about everything.

I started this website to make a list of all the events happening around Houston and then pick one to enjoy with my kids. And instead of thinking of all the things I was missing, I started to enjoy the things we were doing together.

If you are a parent that is feeling overwhelmed by all the things you could be doing in Houston… please just use our weekly lists and daily posts as suggestions. Pick one thing to do with your family and intentionally ignore the rest!

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