Special events planned for rising kindergartners

Events in Durham and Wake counties aim at helping rising kindergartners and their parents get ready for school.

Posted 12:30 a.m. Jul 28, 2011 — Updated 12:30 a.m. Jul 28, 2011

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

It's hard to believe that the school year is just around the corner (and I know it's already started for some of you). We have a couple of annual events in August that are aimed at kids who are starting kindergarten.

In Durham, the Countdown to Kindergarten is from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. You'll find information about Durham schools' services, including transportation, before and after school care and more. Parents and kids also can tour the museum's exhibits, see UNC-TV characters and sign up for a library card.

In Wake County, Marbles Kids Museum hosts its Kickoff to Kindergarten from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 20. The event is for rising or current kindergartners and their families. Experts in nutrition, education, healthy living and more will answer questions for parents and provide activities for kindergartners.

This is an annual event and Marbles is doing things a bit differently this year. Instead of holding the event for a couple of hours and limiting attendance to just rising kindergartners and their families, this year's kickoff is all day. The museum will remain open to the public, but the focus of all museum activities and play will be designed for kindergartners. Admission will still be free for current and rising kindergartners and their families.

Other popular activities will return this year too, including a real school bus parked on Hargett Street, a Wake County libraries bookmobile, UNC-TV characters, chances for rising kindergartners to ask a first grader questions and a lunch line with pretend food. Marbles also is inviting local celebrities to lead storytimes throughout the day.

I took my older daughter to this one last year and it was definitely a memorable event. She especially enjoyed signing up for her own library card and going through the lunch line. And I was proud that I made it through the entire thing without sobbing.

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