MOPS – First Presbyterian

MOPS – FIRST PRESBYTERIAN. 9-11:15 a.m. Meeting dues: $5. Child care, food, fellowship, speakers. First Presbyterian Church gymnasium, 9 S. Eighth Ave., Yakima.  Julie: 307-4887.

Kids Open Clinic Drop-In Art Studio

KIDS OPEN CLINIC DROP-IN ART STUDIO. 4-5:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon Fridays. Drop-in art studio for children age 6 and older. Cost: $12 drop-in; or prepay $40 for four weeks. Red Art & Sunflower Studios, 2522 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima. 509-469-2766.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

HOME DEPOT KIDS WORKSHOP. 9 a.m. to noon. Free drop-in projects for kids 5-12. The Home Depot, 2115 S. First St., Yakima. 509-452-3016.

Ace Kids Club

ACE KIDS CLUB. 10 a.m. to noon. Free drop-in projects for kids ages 3-12. Hometown Ace Hardware, 3700 Tieton Drive, Yakima. 509-972-4400.

Borders Books Story Time

BORDERS BOOKS. 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap; 248-4018. Story time at 11 a.m. Saturdays.

Official Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist King Tournament

OFFICIAL YU-GI-OH! DUELIST KING TOURNAMENT. 12:30 to 4 p.m. Cost: $5.  Bring your own deck.  Ron’s Coin & Book, 6 N. Third St., Yakima. 509-248-1117.

Saturday Night Live

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. 7-9:30 p.m. Free drop-in program open to youth ages 7-15, in partnership with Yakima Valley Young Life. Swimming, sports, games, and Christian message. Yakima Family YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave. 248-1202 or 961-9898.

April is Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month

Yakima’s Children’s Village is offering Parent-to-Parent Autism/Asperger support meetings. Called “Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” the group meets the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Children’s Village. It offers support, information and education for parents and caregivers raising children with autism spectrum disorders. Child care is provided. Call 509-574-3260 or 800-745-1077, or email tracie.hoppis@yvmh.org.

Saturday, April 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m. “Autism Awareness Family Night.” Families with children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders are invited to attend a family night for children to play and adults to visit. Free. Presented by the Autism Society of Yakima. Located at Gymnastics Plus/Kids Castle, 2121 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima; 509-453-8126.

Thursday, April 28, 7-8:30 p.m. Alison Singer, the founder and president of the Autism Science Foundation, will speak about being the mother of a child with autism and legal guardian of her adult brother with autism. Singer will also provide information on the latest autism research. Free event. Children’s Village, 3801 Kern Road, Yakima. Contact 509-961-0700 or erinnlynch@gmail.com.

The University of Washington has also created a new toll-free Autism Information Line to provide information about community and statewide resources, clinical services, research opportunities and more. Call 877-408-8922.

Jazz Up Your Spring

Jazz Up Your Spring

The Naches Valley High School Jazz Band will host its fourth annual Swing Dance at 7 p.m. April 9 at the Harman Center in Yakima. Swing dance lessons will start the night, followed by open dancing. Desserts and silent auction. Tickets are available at the door for $10/singles and $17/couples. For more information, contact Mary Lynne Brewington at 509-969-2256.

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Group (Ready By Five)

Ready By Five’s Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups emphasize thematic, structured and interactive play, and are open to everyone. Meets every Monday at 9:30-11 a.m., and every Friday from 1:30-3 p.m.

Ready By Five’s Lending Library hours are now Mondays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Tuesdays: 3-5 p.m.; and the second and fourth Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ready By Five, 414 N. Third St., Yakima.  For information on all of Ready By Five’s services and programs, call 509-454-2493 or visit readybyfive.org.

Mom & Baby

MOM & BABY. 10 a.m.-noon. This group is for moms and their babies up to 12 months of age. No registration is needed and the group is free to attend.  This group allows other moms to meet and receive helpful suggestions when it comes to raising a baby. Located at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital’s Education Center in Nob Hill Plaza, 2506 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima. 248-7322.

Moms In Touch International (East Valley)

MOMS IN TOUCH INTERNATIONAL.  10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  East Valley group: Moms, grandmas, aunts, and others are welcome to join in praying for children and the East Valley Schools and staff.  Bring snacks or a lunch for the kids.  Babysitting is provided for a small fee.  Meets the first and third Mondays of the month (during school year), beginning Sept. 20. Terrace Heights Presbyterian Church, 4303 Maple Court, Yakima.  Contact Julie Byers at 453-0741 for more information.

Itty Bitty Art

ITTY BITTY ART. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Drop-in open studio for children age 5 and younger. Cost: $5. Parents must stay with their children. Red Art & Sunflower Studios, 2522 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima. 509-469-2766.

Inklings Bookshop Story Time

INKLINGS BOOKSHOP STORY TIME. 10 a.m. toddler story time each Tuesday. Chalet Place, 5629 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 509-965-5830.

MOMSnext

MOMSnext. 7 p.m. Open to all mothers with children in grades K-6, and mothers of preschoolers and home-schooled children are also welcome. Free. No childcare. Westside Church, 6901 Summitview Ave., Yakima. Contact Tera at 972-3001 or terapledger@charter.net.

Be Our Playdate Guest Columnist!

Be Our Playdate Guest Columnist!

As parents we all have stories to share about our little ones, and of the trials and tribulations of parenting. Dad’s Pad, a regular feature in Playdate magazine, has showcased one dad’s experiences. Now, though, he will relinquish this section to allow a reader to share his or her own thoughts and experiences.

So, mothers or fathers, it’s your chance to submit a column of 500-700 words to Playdate magazine. Make us laugh, make us cry, make us think, or make us do all three! The winner will be the next guest writer of Dad’s Pad – we’ll call it Parent’s Pad since this is open to both mothers and fathers.

Your column will be featured in the June/July edition of Playdate magazine. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. April 30. You can submit your story to the Yakima Herald-Republic office at 114 N. 4^th St., Yakima, WA 98901, or email contest@playdateyakima.com.

We can’t wait to see your submissions, so get writing!

Yard Sale Contest!

Are you a “Yard Saler”? If so, we want to see your best find!

Yard sale lovers know that finding that one gem in a sea of items gives a bigger thrill than taking a dive down a water slide.

So here’s a contest for you, seasoned hunters.

Yard sale season gets underway during Spring, and many of you will be anxious to get out there. We’d love to see what you find: Is it an antique lamp for just a few dollars? A brand-new sofa? A collectible figurine?

Go on, give it your best shot, and then share with us your treasure (with photos, please!). The best find will be featured in the next edition of Playdate magazine. Email your item’s description and photo to contest@playdateyakima.com.

Deadline is 11:59 p.m. May 6.

Mommy Connection

MOMMY CONNECTION. 9:30-11:30 a.m. First hour is Mommy & Me, second hour is just for moms; all ages welcome. Free. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6015 Summitview Ave., Yakima. For childcare reservations and more information, e-mail Kate: katejoyt@hotmail.com

Kids Castle 2-For-1 Day

KIDS CASTLE 2-FOR-1 DAY. Open at 10 a.m.; call for closing. Two kids play for the price of one. Cost: $2.50 up to age 2; ages 3 and older are $5.25 for one hour or $8 unlimited; weekend rates are higher. Clean socks required. Located inside Gymnastics Plus, 2121 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima; 509-453-8126.

El Cuidado Basico Del Bebe

El Cuidado Basico Del Bebe (Baby Basics: Novices with Newborns). 6-8:30 p.m. Classes offered March 7 and April 6. 509-225-3178. $20 or free with a childbirth class. Memorial Education Center, 248-7322.

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