West Michigan and the Greater Grand Rapids area can be very family-friendly and child-friendly, if you know how to find the right events! There is always something engaging going on around this city, and event organizers know not to forget about the smallest residents of our community (or their parents).
Next week Thursday, the Grand Rapids Childrens Museum will be debuting a brand new, exciting exhibit! Whether the little person you love is an aspiring police officer or architect, they will be sure to get sincere enjoyment out of experiencing Little GR.
Little GR is exactly what it sounds like: a miniature city scape constructed to be the perfect size for underage explorers to enjoy it! The children visiting the Grand Rapids Childrens Museum on or after April 30th, 2015, will have the chance to play like the big kids do. There will be several unique and fun “stores” in the exhibit, including a restaurant, an auto service center, a post office, a grocery store, a bank, and another storefront which will change to be different businesses throughout the upcoming year. Several local businesses contributed to the exhibit, meaning the businesses will be modeled after real, live grown-up businesses here in Grand Rapids (such as the mini-Meijer in the featured image above).
If hitting the Children's Museum isn't your thing, but you need a family-friendly activity for the next week, perhaps you should consider attending the free Money-Smart Week story time at the Alto branch of the Kent District Library. While this may be a little bit of a drive, for families whose little ones are starting to understand money and finances, the trip should be well worth it. Not only does this event focus on children age six and younger understanding how to responsibly use and handle money, every kid who attends will get a free copy of the classic childrens book The Berenstein Bears and the Trouble with Money!
If you're hoping to find something more low-key and relaxing, Mommys are in luck! Today at 11 am, there is a Monday Movie for Mommys at Celebration Cinema South. The theater turns the sound down to protect developing ear drums and leaves the lights on low so that parents with upset little ones can easily exit and re-enter the theater while the movie is playing. Check with Celebration Cinema South for this week's offering; this is a recurring event! A mom-oriented movie screening can be a great chance for mothers with small children to get out of the house, and it's just one example of the multitude of socialization opportunities that the culture in West Michigan affords people.
No matter the age of your family members, there is always something happening in West Michigan. Get out and be a part of it all!