Amelia Bedelia isn’t the only beloved children’s book character turning 50 this year — Clifford the Big Red Dog, born on February 14, is also celebrating his golden years.
Created by author Norman Bridwell and published by Scholastic, Clifford was once the runt of his litter but he grew and transformed through the love of his owner, 8-year-old Emily Elizabeth. Since 1963, over 70 Clifford books have sold 126 million copies and been published in 13 languages.
This week, Sirius XM Radio launched a new radio program to celebrate kids’ birthdays nationwide. Laurie Berkner, the former preschool teacher and award-winning children’s singer and songwriter, will host the eponymous show Laurie Berkner’s Every Day Birthday Party.
The show will appear on Sirius XM Kids Place Live, a 24/7 interactive talk show featuring music, talk shows, and on-air games for kids.
Each month, Berkner will select a group of toddlers and preschoolers (ages 1 to 5) to feature on the show. Each lucky toddler will receive a personal birthday salutation and hear a special “kindie rock” musical performance by Berkner herself.
Laurie Berkner’s Every Day Birthday Party airs Monday through Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. ET and 2:30 p.m. ET on Sirius XM Kids Place Live channel 78.
Parents can submit requests to kidsplacelive@siriusxm.com. The deadline for September shout-outs is August 20, 2012 5 p.m. ET. (The SIRIUS XM website also recommends including a 30-minute window of time you listen to the show during the day.)
Make sure to read our Tech Savvy Parents blog by Leticia Barr — she has some family- and budget-friendly ideas for celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday with fun online activities. March is also National Reading Month, so get your kids hooked on books with classic Seuss favorites such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Horton Hears a Who! Or plan a trip to the colorful Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando — where favorite characters, scenes, and places from the books come to life.
Update: Play a matching game online, The Many Languages of Dr. Seuss, to see if you can match the English versions of his book titles with the translations in other languages. You may need to print the image out and use a pen or pencil to draw lines between the titles. After you’re done, find the answers at www.smartling.com/seuss.
What are your favorite Dr. Seuss books? Which ones do your kids love?
A few of us unleashed our inner crafters and put together pretty paper medallions and Celebrate! cupcake stands (perfect to display our baked goods from Crumbs). And we completed the table with teal-colored napkins and paper cups (easily customized with names) filled with potato chips. Even though no American Girl dolls were in attendance, all of us had fun starting a workday with some sweetness and energy, and the staff (predominantly women) got nostalgic reliving their childhoods. (Sidebar: I, for one, have always wanted to dine at the American Girl Place in New York City, so this was the next best thing!)
Launched in October, the collection offers various party packs (Basic, Deluxe, and Ultimate) to help girls (ages 8 to 12) get creative about styling and personalizing their parties. Along with decorations and table settings, there are also invitations, stickers, party favors, thank-you notes, and easy step-by-step craft projects to entertain guests. Miniature versions of these party items are also available so dolls won’t feel left out. Products can be purchased at Michael’s, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, and EKSuccessBrands.com.
While we didn’t get to use our sticker party invitations (and their matching doll invitations), there will certainly be more meetings-slash-parties on the horizon…!
Radio Disney is celebrating its 15th anniversary today, and you are cordially invited to join in on the fun with the kid-friendly radio station. And what better way to mark the occasion than by sharing amazing giveaways with fans as part of Radio Disney’s 15th Birthday Blowout!
Today only, lucky listeners can win iPads, $500 gift cards, Xbox 360 with Kinect, and CDs and guitars signed by artists including Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and Cody Simpson. …And did we mention there’s cake?
Check out these pics of some of your favorite Radio Disney stars as they celebrate Radio Disney’s 15th!
Is your child obsessed with a group of funky, neon-colored friends named Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Toodee, and Plex? If the answer is “Yes!,” we know where you can score tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE in a city near you.
Starting at 12 pm on Friday, September 9, you’re invited to attend an virtual birthday celebration with Memorex and Yo Gabba Gabba! The 20-minute party will be streaming live on Ustream at ustream.tv/memorexbirthday.
During the party, kids and parents can chat live with Yo Gabba Gabba! characters and their friend Leslie Hall, dance and sing along to favorite songs, watch clips of the LIVE! tour, and win prizes including free tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE. Just watch the 20-minute party on Ustream for more information on how to win tickets.
Don’t forget to help your favorite Yo Gabba Gabba! characters make a wish when they blow out the candles on their virtual cake!
Elmo turned 3 ½-years-old today. Wait, didn’t he turn 3 ½-years-old last year, too? Guess our favorite Sesame Street character will always be young at heart! The lovable Elmo tweeted this morning, “Elmo wants to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes! But Elmo only has 140 spaces? How does Elmo get everyone’s name in?”
With all the fun games, delicious food, and great company, we’re sure your little one won’t forget this celebration anytime soon. Also, don’t get overwhelmed with all the planning. Make sure to check out our party planning tips.
Amelia Bedelia isn’t the only beloved children’s book character turning 50 this year — Clifford the Big Red Dog, born on February 14, is also celebrating his golden years.
This week, Sirius XM Radio launched a new radio program to celebrate kids’ 
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There’s nothing better than starting a Tuesday morning with a room full of glittery curlicues, pastel colors, and creamy cupcakes!
Elmo turned 3 ½-years-old today. Wait, didn’t he turn 3 ½-years-old last year, too? Guess our favorite Sesame Street character will always be young at heart! The lovable 