Have you ever played a didgeridoo? This Saturday's interactive performance by Timothy will have your whole family vibrating their lips and practicing their circular breathing!

Check out this YouTube video of famed Aboriginal didgeridoo player Larry 'Winiwini' Gurruwiwi.

Remember - use the code groovy when you purchase your tickets online in advance to save $1 on each ticket!

Growing up I was told that education was important. It never occurred to me that some areas were mainly male dominated. I was just as good in math and science as the boys were. I actually preferred it when I was in elementary school.

There wasn't a strong push to teach gender equality when I was younger. Schools seem to be more aware of that now.  Perhaps it's the turn of the times or the legislation of the controversial No Child Left Behind law; either way, testing has shown that girls are just as smart as boys in math. The San Francisco Chronicle and The New York Times both touch on the subject in recent articles. They mention a toy made in 1992 as a social marker of the stereotype...the notorious Teen Barbie that proclaimed "Math is Tough."  The toy created an uproar with the moms and educators alike. 

Here at the Museum, I see children play at our own Lookout Cove.  There are trucks and brooms scattered all around the site and girls play dump trucks while boys sweeping away sand looking for buried treasure. In our more scientific Wave Workshop there is an equal interest in the science of currents and wind by both genders.

It's nice to see the stereotypes being dispelled by the children all while they are learning and having fun!

At the Museum, we believe unstructured Discovery Play encourages development of creativity. Creativity is more than the ability to paint or make music, of course - it's the ability to create novel connections, develop new themes, and see patterns.

Last week's New Yorker Magazine has a fascinating article examining the science behind those "eureka" moments - unfortunately only an abstract is available online - but if you can find a copy (it has a dinner party with lobsters escaping on the cover) do check it out.

Researchers John Kounios, a cognitive neuroscientist at Drexel University, and Mark Jun-Beeman, a cognitive neuroscientist at Northwestern University, explain that "the insight process is an act of cognitive deliberation--the brain must be focussed on the task at hand--transformed by accidental, serendipitous connections."

So, when your kids come to play here, we encourage them to use our exhibitions in novel ways - to get into the "flow" of playing and develop their own insights into the way the world works. Not only are they having fun, but they're exercising the part of their brain that will lead to creative success in the future.

Spice up your Saturday with a “gumbo” of Cajun, Creole, Zydeco and jazz influences from Johnette Downing. She's been called "the pied piper of Louisiana music traditions" and we're sure all your little ones will be dancing up a storm to her multi-award winning music.

Johnette says, "Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my parents, my siblings and me standing in the doorways of Jazz clubs in the French Quarter and listening to Dixieland Jazz. I want to share music with children the way my parents shared it with me at such a young age. I perform music for children because I love it, I respect children, I like making children laugh and think, I want to share my musical culture, and I like giving children a reason to celebrate being children."

Want a sample of her songs? Click on through to her Web site to listen to a medley and view a video.

She performs at 11 a.m. this Saturday -  tickets are $6 for members and $8 general (babies under 1 are free).

P.S. Use the code groovy when you register online in advance to save $1 per ticket!

Thanks for everyone who wrote us in for the category Best Enviro-Friendly Place in the Bay Area for families! We're thrilled that you think of us when you "think green." Fostering environmental appreciation in our children is a deep part of our mission, and we're glad you agree.

You can check out all the Parents' Picks winners online.

Did you have a garage band when you were younger?  Loud noises that sounded like music and some noises that were actually music?

Take that moment of music creativity and start it early with your children.  Stimulate their imagination and create a Kitchen Band! Try these "instruments" and see what songs come from your own little Beethoven's:

• Drums - Pots of all depths create different sounds and wooden spoons instantly become drumsticks.
• Cymballs - Empty pie tins can be clapped together to accompany the drummer.
• Maracas - tupperware with dry beans or macaroni inside.
• Microphone - use a ladle, egg beater, wooden spoon.

Take and familiar song like Twinkle, Twinkle or Old MacDonald and try to time out the beats as they sing.

Rock on Mommies and Daddies!

For many adults, the Middle East is a political place - but this weekend, bring your children to enjoy a different view of life, with a fairy tale set in Baghdad. The Golden Thread Players present The Girl Who Lost Her Smile, featuring the visually rich traditions of Iranian storytelling.

Their vision is "to create a world where our common experience as human beings supersedes our cultural and political differences. In our vast imagination, the Middle East is defined not by geographical boundaries and political separations, but as the shared experience of the people, who throughout history have been touched by its tales, melodies and aromas. The Middle East lives inside us, as we redefine ourselves, we redefine the Middle East."

P.S. That coupon code? It's still active! Use groovy to take $1 off each ticket when you buy online in advance!

We're enjoying our third week of camps at the Museum - with fort-making, drumming and dancing, and performances of homemade bug stories!

Visit our Flickr page to check out some photos of our creative campers - and if you still need a camp for a week or two for your little bug, sign up online!

¡Ahora es posible encontrar información en Español en nuestro sitio web! Usted podrá leer leer sobre todo lo que tenemos que ofrecer aqui en el Bay Area Discovery Museum para ninos de edades 0-8.

Descubre toda la diversión y la emoción para ninos y adultos en el Museo.

Infórmese sobre:

• Horas y Admisión
• Festivales y eventos especiales
• Días gratis
• Nuevos exposiciónes
• Actuaciones musicales
• Visitas para grupos y escuelas
• Imprimir un cupón para recibir un descuento

Para visitar la pagina web en Español haga clic aqui.

Highly acclaimed musician (and mom) Frances England returns to the Museum for what's sure to be another sold-out show - this time for a CD release party for her second album, Family Tree.

Reminiscent of Sarah McLaughlin and Norah Jones, Frances plays indie-folk music for kids that parents will enjoy too! Zooglobble (a terrific site that reviews kids' music) calls it, "a melding of folk and lo-fi indie pop originals that stands out from most of the kids music world in its sound and centeredness."

P.S. A special deal for our loyal blog readers - use the coupon code groovy when you buy your tickets online today to save $1 off each ticket!