The Saint Louis Zoo will will host the Big Eyes, Big Minds International Children's Film Festival of St. Louis, showcasing the best films from around the world to educate, enrich and inspire kids ages 1 to 16. All programs feature age-appropriate live-action and animated short films which are universally relevant to kids. The mission of the film festival is to expose children to diverse and imaginative works to broaden their view of the world, foster critical thinking and inspire creative expression.
Each program includes a series of 6 to 11 short films from various countries, ranging from award-winning animated films to child-produced films. Each film is between 1 and 30 minutes long.
Films will be shown on Saturdays: Feb. 9, 16 and 23. Tickets are available online and at the door. Showtimes are 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Tickets are $9 per person for ages 2 and up. Children under 2 are free. Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by at least one adult. Films are shown in the Anheuser-Busch Theater in the Living World /North Entrance at the Saint Louis Zoo.
After each screening, members of the Zoo education Department will offer a short filmmaking opportunity and other film-related activities for kids. The Wild Wonder Outpost discovery room for young children, located in the Living World, will be free of charge after the 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. film screenings.
More information, a full schedule of times and dates of each movie, and tickets: stlzoo.org
Your child is old enough to start kindergarten, are they ready? Are you? At this special presentation, both you and your child will get a brief overview of what is expected before your child even enters the classroom. You'll also receive a free backpack and school supplies. Registration is required.
Join in on First Art, a free art program for toddlers where the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!
Explore Ballwin's parks with your toddler or preschooler with the Little Explorers program, held twice a month. Each Little Explorers outdoor class includes a craft, snack, and lots of activities to get you and your toddler moving and exploring!
Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym is an opportunity for any child to have supervised free play in the gym. They can work on existing skills, try something new, or simply play around. It is completely up to them! Open Gym is open to both members and non-members ages 12 and under.
Learn ways to nurture your baby's development and make new friends in a relaxed, supportive environment at Baby & Me, a free class offered at the St. Louis County Library. Baby & Me classes are for parents and caregivers with pre-walking infants ages 0-12 months.