Seven For Seven Kids! What To Do Around Town This Week

Patch has come up with a kid's version of its regular column: Seven for Seven: What To Do Around Town This Week. Check Patch every Friday for a week's worth of child- and family friendly activities and events. We'll include all "kids" ages, from babies to teens, with a mix of the fun and the informative. Here is the kick off to the week's happenings:

—Saturday October 16

     1) The 12th annual Hillside Community-Wide Swap takes place for a few precious hours on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This entirely FREE event is a yearly favorite, drawing a huge crowd that gathers to snag all manner of gently used household items, clothes, games, books, and more. You do not have to donate in order to take! Hillside School, 54 Orange Road, Montclair.

      2) Watchung Booksellers is having a read-aloud with author Marisela Santiago. Santiago will read her book My Name is Celia/Me Llamo Celia. This free event takes place at 10 a.m. at Watchung Booksellers, 54 Fairfield Street.

      3) Come support the Montclair High School Drama Club and check out their all-female cast performing Top Girls by Caryl Churchill. The performance takes place at 2 p.m. at the Montclair High School Little Theater, 100 Chestnut Street, and Montclair. Cost is free, but donations are accepted.

     4) Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is playing at the Bellevue Theater at 3:45 p.m. at 260 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair. The film is about Soren, a young owl, who is enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owl kind from the evil Pure Ones.

—Sunday October 17

     1) Time travel back to the 19th century with the Montclair Historical Society. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the whole family can enjoy historic games and toys and be part of a 19th century classroom by giving quill writing a try. There will also be child-friendly tours, a candle-making demonstration, and cider to sip before an open hearth. Montclair Historical Society 108 Orange Road, Montclair.

     2) Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole at the Bellevue Theater at 3:45 p.m.

     3) Take a short hop over to the Turtle Back Zoo in nearby West Orange to celebrate the fall harvest, and of course see some fabulous animals (and ride the train, the carousel .... so much to do!) Kids get a free pumpkin while supplies last. Event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $9 adults, $6 children, $6 seniors, children under 2 are free.

—Monday October 18

     1) If you are the parent of an athlete, consider attending a presentation by the Yoggi Berra Museum and Learning Center on "Sports Parenting." Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) will host this free event for MKA and Montclair High School parents of athletes. The presentation takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Montclair Kimberly Academy Weiss Auditorium, 6 Lloyd Road, Montclair.

—Tuesday, October 19

     1) Tuesday is Babies in the Library Day at the Montclair Public Library. Join other parents of babies ages 6-13 months for rhymes, singing, and board books. Gathering starts at 10:15 a.m. in the third-floor story room. To register call 973-744-0500.

     2) Watchung Booksellers has its weekly free story time for children ages 2 and up (with a parent or caregiver). Join Miss Elaine at 10:30 am for reading and singing.

     3) The YMCA of Montclair Family Center is continuing its Halloween-inspired activities this week. Drop in for a make-your-own treat bag workshop. All ages welcome. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. This is a parent/child activity. The cost is $5 at the door for members; $7 at door for non-members.

     4) This is week two of a seven-week workshop for parents of special needs children. The workshop is every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Adult School of Montclair, 100 Chestnut Street, Montclair. For pricing and more information call 973-746-6636 or go here.

—Wednesday, October 20

     1) Parents and their children ages 3-6 years can enjoy songs, books, and puppets at Mother Goose storytime at the Montclair Public Library at 2 p.m. To register call 973-744-0500.

     2) There's still more Halloween fun at the YMCA Family Center. Children ages 3-5 years can enjoy a Halloween Art workshop from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. This is a parent/child activity. The cost is $15, and registration is required. Please call 973-783-7640.

—Thursday, October 21

      1)  Mothers of Preschoolers aka MOPS www.montclairmops.com is having its monthly meeting at the Montclair Community Church. Join other moms of children ages birth through kindergarten from 9:30 a.m. to noon for brunch, a speaker, discussions, and a craft. This is a free event, with a suggested donation of $8. Click here for more information. Call 973-860-1163 or email to reserve your spot. Montclair Community Church, 143 Watchung Avenue, Upper Montclair.

     2) The YMCA Family Center hosts its last event for the week with an Edible Art Haunted Cemetery Workshop for ages 7-12, child only, at 4:15 p.m. Registration and membership required $12. Call 973-783-7640.

     3) Share a book and some quality mother-daughter time at the Montclair Public Library's Mother-Daughter book club. Girls in grades 6- 12 and their moms will read a selection of teen fiction in this community wide book club. The book club meets from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the third-floor story room, To register call 973-744-0500.

      4) Just Kidding Around is having a fun, free craft for ages 4 and up at 5 p.m. Call 973-233-9444 for more information or to reserve a spot. Just Kidding Around, 507 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair.

—Friday, October 22

     1) Starseed Yoga continues its Mothering in Awareness series, a weekly group for mothers to gather and share their experiences and discuss various related parenting and life topics. This week's topic: Healing Ourselves, Healing Our Families, Building Natural Immunity For Yourself And Your Baby. Gathering is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Pre-registered: $20/Drop-in: $25. Call 973-783-1036 for registration and information. Starseed Yoga is located at 215 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair.

     2) Come to Bnai Keshet at 5:30 p.m. for a family friendly service of Kinder Keshet with storytelling and singing to welcome Shabbat. There will be a potluck dinner following the service where guests can bring either a vegetarian or dairy dish or make an $18 donation instead. RSVP to Bnai Keshet at 973-746-4889. Bnai Keshet, 99 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair.