7 Movies for 7 Days of Fun!

Would you enjoy escaping the snow for a few hours? Luckily you have come to the right place. The Children’s Museum in Easton has created a list of movies that will have your whole family laughing, during these wintery times. You will enjoy the laughter these seven movies will bring to your family, as we have done extensive research.   

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Babe (1995)

“Dearie me! If it’s not a duck that thinks it’s a rooster, it’s a pig that thinks it’s a dog!”                                                                                         

Filmed in the greener pastures of Australia, the story of Babe (1995) is able to warm the hearts of those who watch this family friendly movie. Babe (a pig) is taken in by sheepdogs, and learns how to herd sheep with the help of Farmer Hoggett. Babe is able to form lifelong friendships, and creates his own family on the farm.  

The Aristocats (1970)

“Aristocats do not practice biting and clawing, and things like that. It’s just horrible.”

                                                                    

In Aristocats (1970), four cats (Duchess, Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie) are taken away from their owner after their Butler kidnaps them. Finding themselves lost and away from home, these four cats befriend a tomcat and will work together to get back home to Paris. As Duchess and her children try to get home, they are able to make friends with other animals on their journey.

Monster's Inc (2001)

“I think I have a plan here: using mainly spoons, we dig a tunnel under the city and release it into the wild.”   

In this animated feature, Monsters Inc (2001), tells a story of monsters living in Montropolis. Living in a different dimension, away from blizzards and the majority of the cold weather we are dealing with, Monsters must power their city, from scaring children. When friends Sully and Mike Wazowski find that they have an unexpected stowaway, they must rush to help a little girl (Boo) get back home. Sully and Mike soon find that Boo will teach them more about living than they ever could have imagined.

Finding Nemo (2003)

“Oh my gosh, Nemo’s swimming out to sea.”                                                

Finding Nemo (2003) is about Nemo, a clownfish, who is captured in the Great Barrier Reef, and taken to Sydney, Australia. Nemo’s father, along with his friend Dory set out to rescue Nemo, and bring him back home. This animated movie really captures the spirit of friendship, determination, and love. After seeing this movie, you will want to go to Australia.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

“How an elephant got in my pajamas, I shall never know.”

In this family friendly movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) tells the story of an inventor, Mr.Potts and his two children, who have been struggling to make ends meet. When his children ask him to buy a car they see, Mr.Potts makes their dream come true. While on a picnic, he tells a story to his children, about a country called Vulgaria, and a ruthless dictator that is trying to steal their car that they named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

“Violet! You’re turning violet, Violet!”

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), tells the story of a boy named Charlie. Charlie is granted the chance of a lifetime, when he finds that he bought a candy bar with a golden ticket, allowing him to enter one of the best candy factories in the country. This story captures the love between Charlie and his family, as he goes on an adventure in a world full of candy.

Charlotte's Web (1973)

“Salutations are greeting; it’s my fancy way of saying hello.”

In Charlotte’s Web (1973), Wilbur (a pig), born a runt, is labeled as being different. A young girl Fern, begs her father to let Wilbur live on the farm with them, saving Wilbur’s life. Wilbur and Charlotte (a spider) become unexpected friends while they are living on the farm. This movie allows children to witness the power of love and friendship.

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Your friends at the Children’s Museum in Easton hope that you are having a great week and hope to see you soon!

- Written by Melinda Kinnear, Public Relations Intern - 

The Benefits of Music in Early Development and Education

Art, Music, Drumming.  The value of music is often underestimated in the positive impact that it has on childhood development.  Kids who are involved in drumming, for example, learn to focus their attention and efforts on one activity improving concentration and focus.  Also, studies reveal that playing percussion instruments strengthen children’s skills in other areas such as math and science. 

Drumming teaches students about material science as well as the science of sound.  Beginning as early as first grade students can learn that each material, wood, metal, skin (drum heads), have their own capacity or ability for vibration.  Drumming teaches young students that sound occurs through vibration.  As students grow older, they can learn more about the science of sound.  Tuned percussion instruments such as a piano afford the opportunity to learn about frequency, intervals and harmony. 

Math is improved by drumming for example, because drumming teaches early elementary students to count.  It helps with basic counting and learning to count in cycles which are fundamental parts of drumming.   Drumming and percussion can also teach middle/elementary age students fractions and introduce the mathematics behind frequencies, intervals and harmonics. 

Drumming also helps with overall brain development and stimulates the left and right side of the brain simultaneously.  Little activities are involved in playing the drums, causing multiple parts of the brain to be used.  Kids have to use different parts of their brain to listen to music around them, to instruct their body to move and to create and understand either a rhythm given to them or to create one of their own.  Playing music develops analytical processes in the left side, whereas the right side is more involved in the creative process. Increased networks between the left and right brain form thick fibers that interconnect the two areas, an area that is larger for musicians.

Music is not only good for mental health and development in children, but it’s also great in helping kids develop physical fitness and in understanding how their body works.  Drumming increases your heart rate and blood flow.   Drumming teaches students about their body.  The entire body is used in drumming and most especially the fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders and legs are all physically developed through drumming.  Children can also gain a better understanding of rhythm in their own body by realizing that the heart has its own steady rhythm to keep the body functioning properly and that breathing often involves rhythm too. 

Ollie and Bianca!

Ollie Luey and Bianca Mase aren’t your typical 17 year olds. After being friends forever, these two decided to take their talents to the streets! For the past four years, Ollie & Bianca have been performing street shows and touring on their talents. We had the pleasure to host one of their shows on July 25!

Though these two are young, they’ve been practicing their talents for years. Ollie has been playing the accordion for 8 years! She is already an award winning accordionist who made her video debut at age seven with The Dresden Dolls. Bianca has been playing the ukulele and juggling for 4 and 5 years respectively and already teaches circus arts. Once Bianca began playing the ukulele, the pair got together and started working.

At an Ollie and Bianca show a lot goes on: music, dress up, and other clowning around activities. Ollie and Bianca say to expect, “entertainment and having a good time!” The two always play music, and make balloon animals for kids; sometimes they even face paint! Children can even interact with the music by playing some percussion instruments.

Aside from dressing up in their Ollie and Bianca clown costumes, the girls’ favorite parts of performing are the interactions with the kids. “[We love seeing them] enjoy the music, and smile for the balloons.” 

Though they love performing for children (they do kids birthday parties, festivals, and local circus events), Ollie and Bianca have performed for all sorts of different audiences. They’ve performed in Cambridge and Boston as street performers and even had a show about them on Cambridge Cable Access television! In Cambridge, the duo has performed at Octoberfest, the River Festival, The Brattle Theater, and Lydell’s Bakery Summer Movie Nights. They have also been the invited buskers at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

Drawing inspiration from Amanda Palmer, the two always hope “to improve ourselves and be different!”

And they really are different! Ollie and Bianca offer a refreshing twist on clown and circus performances. Be on the look out for Ollie and Bianca in and around Boston and check them out on Facebook by searching Ollie & Bianca!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ollie-Bianca/178255888888619?fref=ts

Rolie Polie Guacamole!

Rolie Polie Guacamole performed an awesome show on Thursday, July 25 at the Children’s Museum in Easton! In case you missed it, or you just really enjoyed it, we spoke with lead singer and guitarist Frank Gallo to learn more about the band

RPG consists of Frank Gallo along with Andrew Tuzchilin on the bass and Peter Barr on the drums. The New York based band started in 2006. Frank’s father, Lou Gallo was a children’s musician and inspired Frank to follow in his footsteps. Frank called up his buddy Andrew and they got to work forming Rolie Polie Guacamole! With their first drummer Christian McCarthy, they demoed in 2006 and put out records in 2008, 2010, and 2012.

“We started out with the theme of eating healthy,” Frank recounts, “after playing some live shows we went more in the direction of movement. Now we’re focusing on the fitness aspect” Rolie Polie Guacamole focuses on healthy living. They say their mission is, “to engage audiences from 0-100 with catchy songs about staying active and eating healthy with an emphasis on movement.” Frank says they they’ve coined the term “musement” meaning music and movement: two things you are guaranteed to find at a RPG concert!

Among things to anticipate at a show, Frank says to expect “a tight band playing catchy songs. Parents should be happy when they go home with kids who want to take a nap!” He later summarizes with a laugh: “expect healthy goodness.”

Rolie Polie Guacamole loves performing for kids. Their favorite part? “They actually listen a lot better than adult audiences in a lot of ways!” Frank explains, “They know our lyrics, and they’re loyal fans. And the songs are really fun and wholesome which ends up making you feel really good after the show. I’ve noticed I smile a lot more after playing a show.”

It’s sufficed to say that everybody at a Rolie Polie Guacamole show leaves with a smile! Rolie Polie Guacamole shows truly involve everybody there. “The songs that directly engage the kids are always the best!” says Frank. There are songs that get the kids jumping, songs to get them singing, and songs to get them thinking! Parents will love to see their children having a blast and getting involved with music that has a positive message.

Right now RPG is working on expanding their reach. Where they mainly play shows from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania, they are moving to play more shows in Chicago, DC and even Seattle!

They won’t forget New England though! Frank ends the interview with stating, “We love coming to New England and hope to be back soon!”

If you’d like, you can catch Rolie Polie Guacamole this fall! They will be playing on October 19^th in Cambridge at Club Passim for a Halloween show!

Lastly, don’t forget to check out and pick up Rolie Polie Guacamole’s upcoming album “Triathlon” which will be coming out in early 2014. Find out more information on their website at http://www.roliepolieguacamole.com/