This article first appeared in Piedmont Post. July 11, 2018
Summer can be a confusing time for families. We all think, “Oh, summer is coming, it will be such a FUN time.” But, when I chat with other parents, it seems like summer is five times more challenging than the school year. The kids are having an awesome time at camps or daycare, but parents are going crazy trying to figure out the ever-changing schedule of summer. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE evening picnics and weekend adventures, but the pressure for summer to be FUN is often a little overwhelming.
One antidote to the summer drive for family activity is a good book. For older kids, having leisurely hours to read a chapter book outside in a shady nook can be heavenly, and for the younger ones, what could be better than time with a parent, a grandparent or babysitter reading a favorite story aloud?
Over the past few weeks, we have heard from so many families about one of their current favorite series of books: Pete the Cat! Clearly, Pete has captured the imagination of children all over the Bay Area.
Well, fear not parents, Bay Area Children’s Theatre has a perfect weekend morning or afternoon of pure FUN for you and your kids. Yup…a rollicking musical version of Pete the Cat on stage! And, when you come, expect a crazy cat-filled trip!
Seriously, there is something so delightful about a show that is funny and entertaining for adults and children alike. For parents, the show will remind them of TV favorites from “Nic at Night.” And for the kids, it’s a giggle-fest musical journey. From the first reveal of Pete’s rock band to the grand finale, singing in the Biddle’s living room, this show MOVES. We visit school, outer space, the Renaissance and even peek under the couch! It’s a whole summer’s worth of adventure in just 55 minutes!
Let’s embrace the summer of FUN, as Pete would have us do . . . find the time to explore creativity, share a moment together, eat something crazy!! Pete the Cat wants all of us to just have a little Rock ‘n’ Roll fun, and I think he may be onto something! So, this summer, our challenge is to find those moments when we can put aside the “to-do” list, the schedule, the meal planning.
Your Real Summer To-Do List
- Build a fort in your living room out of blankets and shoes
- Use a cardboard box to make a time machine or an astronaut’s helmet
- Cook an entire meal with your kids that is RED--the color of Pete’s shoes
- Make a rocket ship out of delivery boxes
- And come see PETE THE CAT!!!
Nina Meehan is the Executive Artistic Director of Bay Area Children’s Theatre. BACT’s production of “Pete the Cat” rocks out through August 5 at BACT’s Berkeley Theatre Center, 2055 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, with performances on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Recommended for ages 3 – 8.
www.bactheatre.org or (510) 296-4433.
