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Give your kids a truly international experience at Chinese Culture Days at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Become immersed in traditional Chinese arts, music, culture and cuisine at the Garden on Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16.

Hey, my fellow Gleeks! If you’re just as excited about the return of Glee on April 13 on Fox as I am, flash me some jazz hands!

At the park we get a lot of weird looks

                    – from the song “Stay-At-Home Dad” by Justin Roberts

The stereotype of men as the ones who toss babies in the air, wrestle on the floor with preschoolers and throw out their backs playing tackle football with teenagers holds true in real life. And it’s great for kids who get this kind of interaction from their dads, both boys and girls.

It’s never too soon to start teaching your kids the importance of protecting the Earth and it’s natural resources. The Magic House in Kirkwood is kicking off Earth Day a little early with “Recycled Creations” this Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11.

Is your child a budding young actor with a love of musical theater? The Center of Creative Arts in University City is holding auditions on April 23 and 24 for its 2010 summer musical, Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA. The production, supported in part by Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, has available roles for children and teens ages 10 to 18. Students should prepare 32 bars of a song and provide sheet music. A headshot and resume is appreciated, but not required.

I’m not big on blood. Not only do I swoon while having it drawn for tests, but after two kids I still can’t even remember my own type.

My husband did the most romantic thing ever this past week.

He called the mortgage company.

The Saint Louis Zoo is bringing the ocean back to you in 2010 when Stingrays at Caribbean Cove reopens for the season on April 24.

Pinkalicious is my homegirl.

As a teen who wanted to spend her summers and free time volunteering for local organizations, Simone Bernstein found the most difficult part was locating volunteer opportunities for teens her age. From the age of 12 she spent time volunteering at her local library and The Magic House, and as she got older, the St. Louis Crisis Nursery and local hospitals. But she had to devote a significant amount of her time to approaching local organizations to ask them what volunteer opportunities were available. She decided that as her next project, she’d make finding volunteer opportunities easier for her and others her age.

“I was surprised at how few resources were available to search for local youth volunteer opportunities,” said Bernstein, a student at Clayton High School. “There are national Web sites that are geared toward ages 18 and older, but I could not find a local Web site for youth.”

So Bernstein launched www.stlouisvolunteen.com last year. The site lists volunteer opportunities for teens and tweens (and even some for adults) at more than 40 local organizations.

About a year ago, my family and I moved from St. Louis to the Metro East, or as I lovingly call it, the Dark Side.

Bring your preschool-age children to see the Missouri History Museum’s The 1904 World’s Fair exhibit and participate in hands-on activities, including crafts, dress-up and more that incorporate touch, movement, smell, sound and art. Parent and Me Programs are held at the Missouri History Museum each Friday in April from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and are $7 per class ($5 per class for members), or $20 for the four-class series per family ($15 for members). Activities are appropriate for children ages 2-5.

We’re used to hearing medical experts talk about new treatments and drugs, but in one area, infant nutrition, they’re all in favor of the oldest method there is: breastfeeding. While formula is a necessary option for some moms, doctors and child development researchers agree that breast milk is best for babies. This is a big contrast to 40 years ago, when not even 25 percent of moms nursed at all. Now, a new report says, the national average of those who’ve ever nursed is nearly 75 percent.

2010 marks the 10th running of the GO! St. Louis Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend, Missouri’s largest fitness event. In addition to the full and half-marathon events, there are plenty of activities for families and kids to enjoy some fit fun in the (hopefully) sun.

Looking for a way to get some exercise with your baby or toddler while enjoying the great outdoors? Check out Strollerobics classes at the Missouri Botanical Garden from April 6 through May 28.