Selwyn Swe's Top 10 Free Events In Madison:
1. Home Depot Kids Workshops
Stop by any Home Depot in the US between 9am and noon on the first Saturday of the month to create your own wood project. Each child gets their own kid-sized orange Home Depot smock just like the ones worn by the Home Depot people. The projects usually involve a bit of hammering, glueing and decorating. All tools and safety equipment is provided for you. In the end, you get to take home your project, your smock, and an official pin to commemorate your project. Each month bring your smock back to the store to do the next project and add another pin!
This is a great parent-child project for kids 8 and under. If you have more than 2 kids the role of the parent helper can get a bit challenging, but there are usually enough Home Depot employee helpers around to lend a hand.
A museum of contemporary art normally doesn't scream kid-friendly, but for one Saturday a month it is the best bet in town for the age 10 and under crew. A local elementary school art teacher takes the kids through an exhibit currently on display at the museum and talks a bit about what the artist was trying to achieve. The kids then all go into a project room tucked in the back of the museum where they get to make their very own art projects inspired by the featured artist. You can tell that the leader of this program is an elementary school art teacher as she really knows how to engage the kids and make this an all around fun event!
Note that since the art teacher takes the kids on a tour of the featured exhibit to explain the inspiration for the project before they go into the art room, it is important to get there on time!
3. Madison Museum of Contemporary Art's Art Cart
http://mmoca.org/events/eventdetails/artcart/index.php
In the summertime MMoCA and MSCR team up to bring their art project to you. Art Cart is a rolling workshop that takes art projects to parks, playgrounds, community centers, and beaches throughout Madison. Art Cart EXTRA! brings the same join-in art projects to towns throughout Dane County. Both programs are appropriate for kids 6 to 11 years old; children age 5 and under are welcome, but must be accompanied by a supervising adult. Participants should “dress for a mess” in comfortable play clothes.
Most every bookstore in town hosts storytimes or other kid oriented events Not all are published online so you may need to call to get the scoop. The most notable of all the bookstores is Barnes & Noble. Both the east and west side locations have activities for toddlers and school aged kids every week that range from story times, to character visits, to book clubs-- all for free. Their online calendar let's you look for events at any location, so you can even find family friendly events when you are on the road.
When was the last time you checked out something other than a book from the library? Our public libraries have programs for infants, toddlers, elementary school, and teenage youth. With Madison's online system you can find and register for events weeks in advance so you can plan ahead. Also note that they now have Spanish language programs available for kids too!
6. Madison Children's Museum
The museum has an extensive calendar of events online that include multicultural, art, movement and musical enrichment. The first Sunday of every month is free family Sunday; however, you can get a one year membership for about the same cost as a single night out with the kids for pizza and a movie. In addition families who receive any form of public assistance; live in transitional, subsidized, or emergency housing; qualify for free or reduced lunch at school; or face serious illness or disabilities are eligible for a $5 membership package.
7. UW Arboretum Earth Partnership for Families
http://uwarboretum.org/education/epf/
On the second Saturday of the month the UW Arboretum provides a kid-friendly program that incorporates nature hikes, stories, crafts, and activities that explore nature. On the second Sunday of the month they offer a family walk that covers nature topics of interst to younger kids. Both programs are ideal for the toddler to age 7 crew.
