Mitteschön - Neues aus Berlin Mitte » Betsie

Green Times!

Betsie — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:48:52 +0000

The whole time we are talking about the needs of our children. But what about our own needs, especially if you are a single mom looking for a new relationship? Because how do you know who is on the playground also looking for a new partner? Just look out for someone wearing a green band on his wrist. A simple idea initiated by the Berlin mother Lena Petersen who also offers for all people to busy going to a store green bands on her homepage for 2 Euro. So, buy a green ribbon and wrap it around your hand, the diaper bag or wear it around your neck and off you go to the playground!

…Shooping For Kids

Betsie — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:39:00 +0000

Yes, I know. Children’s shops are terrible. As soon as you enter the shop you got a bag in the hand and some Euros less in your pocket. But it is so much fun to shop for the little ones, especially here in Berlin. And, lucky you, I have found some new ones for you like the children’s shop 2:1 in the Senefelderstraße 26 where Caroline Zech is offering a lot of cool stuff for kids: walltattoos turning your kids room into a floral paradise or T-Shirts with cute zebras or lovely squirrels.

Also very nice and not easy to find is the children’s shop Klein und Winzig in the Veteranen Straße 24. A must for every shopping addict. Especially at the moment, because everything is offered at half price.

For those who want to save some money instead of spending it, buy the book Kartonzauber by Berlin graphic designer and illustrator Claudia Scholl offering a lot of instructions for making cars or a kitchen of cardboards. Also a very good birthday gift! Have fun with it!

Yo’ghurt!

Betsie — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:48:43 +0000

Frozen yoghurt is the new ice cream, especially here in Berlin-Mitte. After all, who wants to buy a high-calories sweetie when there is a low-fat and equally tasty version?
Also for the kids the frozen yoghurt is a very good alternative because the Yoli Frozen Yoghurt shops in the Münzstraße 11 c and the Invalidenstraße 112 promise that their icy delight is 100% fat free and contains only healthy ingredients like calcium and vitamin B. Sounds good…so Iet’s give them a shot!

When I arrived there with my kid I saw a line of people waiting for their yoghurt-ice cream. But, what the heck, now it is too late to go because my little one has seen the toppings: mini Smarties, crushed chocolate cookies, Jelly Beans and similar nasty toppings. Sweetie-Wonderland for every kid!

“Mama,” she yells and points hysterically at the bowl full of Smarties. “Smarties, smarties, smarties” she cries until she finally holds a cup of frozen yoghurt in her hands. A very expensive alternative for ice cream by the way because the small portion costs € 2.90 plus 30 cents for each topping.

But my kid loves it. The frozen yoghurt disappeared faster than every ice cream. No wonder because it tastes incredibly sweet and sugary.

When we left the store there were still a lot of people, especially mothers sitting with their kids outside on the few chairs. However, the next time my kid wants some frozen yoghurt I will buy a pack of ice-cold organic yoghurt in the supermarket and sprinkle on some smarties. That’s definitely cheaper and tastes as well.

Please, no swimming again!

Betsie — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:58:08 +0000

Okay, the Kita-closing time is here. And, yes, the weather is fantastic. Perfect for swimming, I know. But I’m tired of pools. My skin starts smelling of chlorine, my hairs hast the consistency of horsehair and finally my bikini has lost his colour. Time to do something new like going to the Kreativhaus on the Fischerinsel. During the holidays they offer a lot of different activities for the children there. All children from five onwards have the option to go on an adventure with Hucklberry Finn and learn a lot on the world of the Mississippi Delta by gambling. Admission per kid: 3.50 Euro. Reservations required. The highlight of this event is a water ride on the 19th of August. Unfortunately only the children may participate winning at the lottery. But who knows, maybe your kid is one of the lucky ones.
Another good alternative for rainy days is the MACHmit! Museum in the Senefelderstraße 5. There are workshops with a weekly changing theme like in this week “limestones”. Unfortunately, the workshops are not very cheap and the cost per five days is 80,- Euro, the courses last till 16:00 including lunch.
A cheaper alternative is the Puppentheater Firlefanz located in the Sophienstraße 10. There the children have the possibility to watch “Peter and the Wolf” for 5,- Euro (adults 7,- Euro). Reservations also required.
All bargain hunters should visit the organic market on the Zionskirchplatz taking place every Thursday. There you have the option to watch a puppet-show for free. Regrettably my own kid hates puppets and begins to cry when she sees Punch. Maybe I have seen to much horror movies being pregnant. Next time, I skip Stephen Kings “It”…

Betsie

Child-friendly Art

Betsie — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:07:17 +0000

Soccer, soccer, soccer: in the last few weeks the kids are talking about nothing else. Even my little one, just three, was interested in soccer, especially for the fact who’s injured and why. But at the end of the World Cup even she knows that we are crossing the fingers for the team in white or black and gold.
But now everything is over and normal life goes on. And instead of looking soccer we are going to the playground and playing with the kids in the sand. Another good alternative for this hot summer days is going in the museum which are always very cool and during the holidays they offer special programmes for the kids. Like the Bode Museum where you have on 17July the possiblity to learn what St. Michael, St. George and Frederick William of Brandenburg have in common. Or listen on 22 July how the brave Hercules killed the nine-headed snake and fights with a dangerous lion.
Another very interesting event is taking place on 22 July. On this day the kids have the opportunity to vistit on the Museumsinsel the original places of the famous german children’s thriller “Beschützer der Diebe” written by Andreas Steinhöfel. Please register in advance, the number of participants is limited.
For all those who are calling to late for this event, don’t worry, during the holiday season there will be at every weekend special tours for families.
And maybe your kid has so much fun on this tours that it will become rather an art historian than a soccer star like Beckham.
For all parents who need a lection in history here are the most important facts about Hercules as told by Disney.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Betsie

Summertime, party time

Betsie — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:17:00 +0000

For mothers summer is the hardest time of the year because all kindergartens close for a minimum of three weeks. During this time you have only two possibilities to get some rest: turn the DVD player on a continuous loop of Pippi Longstocking or call the babysitter.

But before this never-ending test of patience and composure begins there are the obligatory summer kindergarten parties whose planning often causes a heated debate between the parents. Especially during the World Cup, but what can you do when the kindergarten party takes places at the same time as the England vs. Germany? A classic not to be missed!

Apart from this special situation the only important thing for the success of the party is the place! And, my dear mothers, I know a very special one: the adventure playground in Humboldthain.

There is a perfect playground (sand pit plus a slide for the kids, climbing homes for adults and a small cable car for all) and also a small little house where you can escape in case of bad weather, or at least basing your buffet. Two other highlights of the place are the huge barbecue grill and the pizza oven, which you are allowed to use for your own party.

The best thing is, you can reserve the place for free. You only have to call the manager and reserve the playground for your party. They ask only for a small donation in support of maintenance of the playgroun. So give freely because this place is special!

For years we’ve been going there with our kindergarten and the summer party there was always great! Especially this year, thanks to Müller but that’s another story…

Click here to view the embedded video.

E-E-EATING!

Betsie — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:46:45 +0000

Today, after giving you a lot of playground and shopping tips over the last weeks I finally have some restaurant hints for you. Because we all know how difficult it is to eat with a child in public unhurriedly. The usual case is that you have to look the whole time after your kid because it loves nothing more than to destroy everything or eat the sugar sprinkle completely.

Do you agree? In that case I have good news for you: There are some places where you have the possibility to eat in peace, even as a mother. In the organic-supermarkets in Mitte you often have the option of eating lunch at a table which is located outside or near a kids area. Just like in the LPG at the Senefelderplatz or in the Bio Company near the Hackesche Markt. which offers daily two alternate dishes, usually a soup and a main course.

Another option is to look after a restaurant which is placed vis-à-vis a playground or has an outside area. Here is my absolute favourite: the #mce_temp_url#. A good restaurant which is a little bit expensive, but offers excellent Swiss food. A cheaper alternative is Clärchens Ballhaus in the Auguststraße, a restaurant with a great patio and good children food. But in the summertime it is also very crowded.

A must-go for all mothers who love fish is the fish-on-stick-shop at the Arkona-market which is taking place every Friday. Take my advice and go there very early, because often the fish is quickly sold out, especially when the sun is shining. For dessert just go to the crêpe shop nearby and buy a little sweet something. Then you will definitely have more fun eating than these two gentlemen.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Betsie

Visiting The Past

Betsie — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:30:10 +0000

Currently the World Cup is everywhere and every cafe or pub has a TV for the guests, providing them with an all-round football-service. Good for the guests, bad for the moms who have to explain their kid at every telly they pass the rules of football. Especially that the young man who is lying down in the green grass is not really badly hurt.

If you want to escape this never ending cycle of questions go with your kid in one of the museums here in Berlin-Mitte like for example the Naturkundemuseum. This museum offers on every Sunday until the end of June between 14.30 and 16.30 a.m a special program for young children. Parents and kids have to pay the regular admission plus an extra 5,- Euro per kid. Registration is required.

The highlight of this month is the journey into the world of the dinosaurs at the 20th of June. At the end of this program the kids have the possibility to explore the dark museum rooms with their flashlights. For older kids very cool!

But, if you want to watch all the games you have only one possibility: to explain to your kid again and again how football works. And let me tell you: It’s very hard work!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Betsie

Splashing In The City

Betsie — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:18:34 +0000

Yeah! Finally summer is here and with it comes the start of the swimming season. For those parents who have neither the time nor the inclination to squeeze themselves on a free spot at one of lakes around Berlin the Monbijou-Kinderbad is a very good alternative. There you have the possibility to swim in an ordinary pool or to splash with your kids in the nice children’s pool directly next to it. Also there is the obligatory sand pit and the green lawn where the parents read books or simply relax while their children are playing around them. The best thing is that the main part of the lawn is in the shade and you don’t have to worry about heat strokes or sunburns – especially with young kids an important issue! And even if something is happening like it happened to me last summer when I tread on a wasp and was stung there is a very helpful nurse around.

Admission is 4,00 €, reduced 2,50 €. Take my advice and go there just before the closing time at 17:30, then you have to pay only 2,50 € and have still enough time to splash.

Those parents who don’t want to pay for their splashing fun have the possibility to got to one of the numerous playgrounds having water sources. One of my favourites is located in the Weinbergspark. The only handicap is that the pool is very slippery and the kids have to pay attention not to hurt by falling. But by wearing water shoes you can handle this problem. So, enjoy the summer and happy splashing!

Kinderwagen-Cinema

Betsie — Sun, 30 May 2010 19:51:54 +0000

Okay, your’re right, this weather is awful. I’m wondering if summer will come, maybe never? I am finally at my wits end what do to with my kid indoors. Memory? We played it the whole winter and no, I’m not in the mood to do drawings with her because she always wants to tell me which colour I have to use for the pictures in her coloring book ( – “Hey Mom, are you crazy? Horses are pink, not brown and what do you want the black pencil for? That’s disgusting!” )

For a long time I have been dreaming of a day off so I could read a whole book or go to the cinema… impossible with a child except you have a good and cheap babysitter who always needs money.

But, watch out dear mothers, in Mitte you really can go to the cinema with your kid under 2 years old. I know, it sounds weird, but in the USA it’s a common thing and here in Berlin the Babylon Kino at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz has been offering this service for quite some time. Every Wednesday at 11 am for 6.50€ you watch a movie from the current program in a child-friendly atmosphere. Crying kids in the cinema doesn’t sound like fun, but be assured, it works. Most of the children are under one year of age and sleep at this time. It is a perfect break from the children’s everyday lives. And you don’t have to carry a diaper along because you get it for free at the front foyer. So let me give you an advice: If the weather is still like today and you have a child who’s too young to express its will: Go to the Kinderwagen-Cinema before it’s too late!

Betsie