ONE Pure Spooktacular blast!

The stage was set, the ghastly feast was laid out, the weather was just right and the venue was perfect for

ONE Pure Spooktacular blast!

All we needed were the eery characters to gather around and make their presence felt! And oh, how they came, in all their spooktacular glory!

Special SHOUTOUT to the historic first batch of Major Players who came and helped us make a spooktacular night!

Spooktacular “ghost-hunting by the ruins!”
was presented by
KidsAhoyShop.com and United Laboratories, Inc.

together with
Martina Paula’s Catering Services: for our ghastly feast and beautiful venue setup

Tim Lim Photography: for our spooky photo portraits

Party Time Philippines: for providing us our face painters, balloon artists & decors and our superlicious chocolate fountain and cupcakes!

Charms & Crystals by Joy Lim: for our beautiful jewelry set prize

Gandour Philippines, Inc: For our yummy chocolates

Love at First Bite Cupcakery: for the yummy sweet cupcakes!

MTO Spa–gift certificate prizes for mom or dad, costume contest

Mead Johnson: for the Lactum Milk which kids surely loved!

Gardenia: for a twiggy treat

KIDS HAIR SALON: gift certificates for our kiddies crown jewels—their hair

as well as
Eton International Primary School: c/o Super Mom Jacqueline Marzan-Tolentino (School Directress) for supporting our vision for Kids Ahoy and all Filipino children and for continuously being the wind beneath our wings!

Cheer Factor : Super Mom Anne Tiangco who tirelessly planned and executed the event with Kids Ahoy! What a tandem we made and it will surely result in more exciting events!
and

PerfectInspirAsians.com : for our busy elves, staffers and dream weavers

A whooping thanks to the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors for performing for the Kids Ahoy families. We especially LOVED LOVED LOVED your version of the Lion King’s Circle of LIFE! To Tita Kat, our singing doctor-to-be, Tita Edna, our singing Engineer & Tita Leah for teaching the kids the value of whistlin’ a happy tune whenever they feel afraid! And let’s also give a big round of cyber applause for our PlayDate & Event host, Denise Ong! Awesome!

Together with those amongst our community who took the leap of faith and trusted Kids Ahoy to organize an unforgettable Spooktacular event, above Major Players & partners trailblazed in unchartered territories and new exciting destinations!!! We are surely excited to have made memories with you all last Sunday!  This is just the beginning so get ready for an awesome adventure with Kids Ahoy!

Watch out for our official event photos taken by Tim Lim Photography and his crew!  Special thanks to the crew of GMA-QTV’s Sapulso and for ABS-CBN for featuring our event! You can view the tv feature from QTV at http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/video/item/16/ We’ve yet to get a word from ABS-CBN TV Patrol’s Mark Logan when their feature will air! Watch out for that one soon!

Check out the initial photos from mamarazzis and paparazzis who took them!
Acuna Family
Ramirez Family
Sarne Family

Gartner Family

Kids Ahoy’s Tita Monster’s Camera

As a special sweet treat for all the kids who came, we will be announcing the requirements given to us by Robbie Pangilinan of Manila Genesis Entertainment & Management Inc. for your super kid/s profiles. Kids Ahoy believes there are future big stars amongst our community and this could be your first step to discovery!!! WUHOOOOO!

Happy Halloween everyone! See y’all next year and don’t forget to mark down your calendars, we have exciting upcoming events:

Nov 24/07: Dad/Mom and Me Bazaar & PlayDate in ONE!

Dec 16/07:  Christmas Gift-giving: BUILDING BRIDGES & CREATING HAPPY TOMORROWS

Feb 9/08: An enchanted Valentine evening for the entire family!

THE POWER OF PRETEND PLAY & HOW OUR HALLOWEEN EVENT CREATES THIS STAGE FOR YOUR CHILD TO PRACTICE!

Those were the days when Billy took on the identities of all the male workers he encountered. He was a gardener/landscaper with his own pretend tools including an ersatz "leaf blower." A few days later, he might become a carpenter, wearing at least one toy tool belt, and would offer to build or fix whatever was broken (in his imagination). Then came the day that he greeted me with an intriguing invitation. "Let’s be plumbers, Grandma. Here is the shower that needs to be fixed. We need more help — you use this [toy] phone to call for extra plumbers." I was happy to take up the challenge, calling for plumbers to be helicoptered into the backyard. He smiled at my performance, knowing this was just a game. Or was it? "Here they come; they are landing," I shouted. Billy rushed to the window, excited; but wait, he smiled, realizing it was all pretend play, and he was delighted.

But why was I so eager to play along? Why wouldn’t I have preferred to sit him down to learn letters or numbers or practice writing his name? Why did I not see imaginary play as a frivolous activity, especially in this era of heightened concern about measurable academic achievement?

The answer is simple: Everything in my education and experience supports the conviction that young children’s capacity and eagerness to engage in increasingly complex pretend play are vital signs of healthy growth — emotionally, socially, and cognitively. What’s more, children between the ages of 3 and 6 who cannot pretend, who do not engage in imaginary play, are very likely to face developmental troubles in some or all of those spheres. Dramatic play is not, as some parents and teachers fear, a waste of time; in fact it is the best predictor of a child’s capacity for creative thinking and future social success.

We begin to see early forms of pretend play at or even before age 2 when children assign an object (say, a block) to represent something else (perhaps a cell phone). And actual tools, such as a spoon or baby bottle, may also be used, to feed dolls or stuffed animals, for example. Two-year-old pretend is usually done solo, perhaps with a parent or caregiver as cooperating assistant. It is not until well after their third, or even fourth birthdays, that such play becomes complex and truly interactive.

By 4, rich imaginary play flourishes in well developing children. It is often interactive, and there is an unfolding story. Roles are assigned: "I’ll be the teacher and you be the student." As the complexity increases, kids may spend more time establishing the plot and assigning the roles than in the actual play. You can help by being a good member of the cast; providing props such as old clothes or a collection of hats; or accepting an assignment (such as calling for plumbers). But your child should be in charge. When adults try to lead the play, many of its intrinsic values are lost.

What are some of those values? Through imaginary play, children: Come to terms with their feelings, thoughts, confusions, wishes, even fears.

Change the power balance by "becoming" the adults in charge: Mommy, Daddy, policeman, teacher, doctor, carpenter, gardener, etc. Suspending the reality of their size, age, and relative powerlessness is very reassuring.

Fulfill some unacceptable wishes: returning the baby sister to the hospital, for example.

Make sense of their social environment. If you pretend to be someone else, you will get a sense of how it feels to be that other person.

Develop feelings of mastery and control. In their role-playing, children are clearly in charge. And the play gives them opportunities to use many of their developing skills: eye-hand coordination, language proficiency, even large motor performance on tricycles or jungle gyms. It provides an opportunity to be inventive, to take risks (social, not physical risks).

Learn concepts and symbols — far more meaningfully than in situations that call for mere memorization and rote behavior.

Learn from their mistakes without mortification or any sense of failure.

So much for common notions about play being a waste of time! Restricting the opportunities for pretend play at this age is no less self-defeating than binding a child’s feet to stunt their growth.

For all these reasons and more, every early childhood program from preschool to kindergarten and even beyond should value free play and allow ample time for it. Programs that shun such opportunities are not developmentally sound or appropriate.

Time for solo or interactive imaginary play outside of school should be equally encouraged. It’s OK if you are not at ease doing pretend play as long as you are willing to take direction from your child. Any play that is safe for people and property should be allowed and in fact, encouraged. Our task is to marvel at the skill and creativity that emerges, the ability to symbolize, the unfolding logic, the act of storytelling that enriches pre-literacy, the socio-dramatic qualities that are associated with social skill and problem-solving … but most of all the sheer joy of self-expression that SETS THE STAGE for future success.

Later, in the primary grades, there is usually less overt imaginary play; but in the best of circumstances, children’s imagination remains vital and is transferred to storytelling, daydreaming, planning, and the development of a lasting, rich inner life.

************************************

SEE YOU ALL ON SUNDAY, OCT 28TH!

KIDS AHOY WILL SET THE STAGE SO OUR KIDS CAN DO "PRETEND PLAY" IN A SPOOKTACULAR WAY!

DRESS THEM UP IN YOUR FAVORITE COSTUME & WATCH THEM JOIN IN THE PARADE OF CHARACTERS!

and while you’re at it…why not join in the fun & show your child how "game" you are by wearing a costume, too?

BE THERE TO CAPTURE THIS EXTRAORDINARY TIME…AS A FAMILY!

TOP 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND KIDSAHOY’S HALLOWEEN EVENT co-presented by UNILAB!

1) It is a private, exclusive event held in a secured venue, just perfect for our theme! Not mass attendance, estimated to gather only a maximum 100-125kids plus their adult companions or maximum of 300 (kids & adults) for the whole event including Kids Ahoy Staff, Major & Minor Sponsors, as well as suppliers (and "creatures!")

2) No fighting, no elbowing…each participant guaranteed to get their fill of a Halloween experience!

3) This is appropriate for all ages! Just the right balance of spooky-ness and yet still a creative, learning activity for all kids! Just like our monthly PlayDates BUT themed and bigger! Always remember what Kids Ahoy is all about. Our goal is not to give them nightmares—so don’t be scared! Help us make them understand that there may be things that they can be scared of but in real life, help us find ways so they can get over those fears.

4) Exciting fun, creative activities and surprises!

5) Want to win cool prizes? Wear your Halloween costumes (adult and kids alike!) and may the best costume win a prize! How’s 12k worth of a jewelry set (Adult Costume contest) as an incentive for dressing up and joining in on the fun?

6 ) Fee includes trick or treat goodies PLUS light dinner on top of the activities and surprises!

7) Your family portrait taken by a professional photographer against the authentic background of "old world Manila"!

Miss this one, and the next experience won’t happen again ’til a year later and since no two events are the same, this will be different from the next one.

9) We have invited a talent scout to do his/her talent-hunting at the event…who knows? Your kid could be the next BIG STAR after this Halloween?

10 ) We’re going ALL-OUT, be our very first ever trick or treaters! Be amongst other families like you who look for unique creative experiences for their kids, memories of which may last for a very long time especially if you’re going to do it as a family

Contact us at kidsahoy@yahoo.com or 0920-5178127 to reserve your exclusive pass today!

@Photos courtesy of JM (perfectinspirasians.com) taken last Oct 19 at the venue.

FOR VISUALS & EVENT DETAILS: http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/photos/album/30

Kids Ahoy Mom/Dad & Me Mini Bazaar Nov 24: A Win-win situation for all : KIDS AND PARENTS ALIKE!

DO YOU…

• Want to join our Kids Ahoy Mom/Dad & Me Mini Bazaar for November 24th? A wonderful day of showing our community what products you have, while your child practices kiddie-entrepreneurship, too! Who says we can’t mix business with our family time? Hit many birds with one stone…join the very first Mom/Dad & Me Bazaar organized by Kids Ahoy! Why not buy from each other? Why not start showing our kids the value of "doing business" at a young age?  Step aside Bill Gates—Kids Ahoy Super Kids are lining up to take your place *smile*
• Want to donate a prize for our Halloween Costume Contest? Kids & Adult Categories?
• Want to be a Major Player in any one of our upcoming activities?
• Want to teach a creative, fun and educational class for kids?

Scrapbooking, Beadmaking, Basic Photography/Videography, Theater/Speech, Dance, Music, Magic, Math & Science Fun Experiments and many more…

The special things we look forward to as a family and the everyday routines we abide by such as the time we get up, the foods we have for breakfast, the things we do on the weekends, and the activities we are involved in during the week are the threads of life that bind us together as a family.

KidsAhoyShop.com
Not only do we want to be your children’s creative playground,
their center stage, their social circle, and your extended family
but also your business network & contact!
A Win-win situation for all : KIDS AND PARENTS ALIKE!

Contact us at kidsahoy@yahoo.com today and let’s explore endless possibilities together!

KidsAhoy promotes Kiddie-Entrepreneurship because we believe that business is not just a livelihood, it is a way of life. We do business everyday—our products or services may differ, our industries or expertise may vary …but we do business no matter what.  Let us create an environment wherein our kids can develop business skills at a young age. Let us provide them the opportunities to think-outside-the-box and to execute their creative ideas through a fun and play activity!

“The best way to learn about a business is work in the business – the next best way is to observe it and think about it.”
" If we spend a small fraction of the time and money we spend on developing kids in sports on preparing them for business - we would have more business super starts."

-Jeff M. Brown

JOIN THE KIDS AHOY! TRAILBLAZERS CLUB

9/29 PlayDate: Of pouring rain & inspirations!

Kids Ahoy! put our best Game Face on last Saturday and we are committed for as long as there’s a little girl like Gabby who made her Mommy Scarlet and Dad Ramon promise to bring her to the next PlayDate as soon as she came home from our very first PlayDate last Sept 1st, we will continue to do what must be done. RAIN OR SHINE! How can we disappoint sweet Gabby?  How can we not continue when CJ had his heart set on sharing one of his favorite books "The Giving Tree" to his new friends, little bibo kid Enoch was in the house and if he wasn’t sick last Sept 1st would have come then too. It was such a pleasure to meet mega cute Justine who was so game in saying our Opening Prayer for the day. Our in-house kid wiz Hamzah was present too and Oh boy was he happy to have the opportunity to play again!  What about little Nicole with her super adorable little attitude (oh my we love the way she shakes her head when she said No Mommy Razz *wink* You were right, she surely knows what she wants!)? And let’s not forget Baby Stan—Mom Leslie was soooo excited to bring him to his very first PlayDate ever!!!   We had  a handful of new Playmates too, Shekinah (your Giving Tree was just beautiful with heart-bearing fruits), Chinna (taking her little recipe/photo holder to the next level with such glittery colors!) and the playground was set.

The Sept 29th PlayDate experience and those who braved the storm (from as far as Cavite & Quezon City) inspite of the possibility of impassable roads and traffic, embodied the spirit which drives us here at Kids Ahoy! to want to climb greater heights, to blaze paths inspite of the odds and just keep on movin’ forward! 

Thank you God, for this new day
At Kids Ahoy, to laugh and play

Please be with us, all day long
In every story, game and song

May all the happy things we do
Make You our Father, happy too!

AMEN
(Thanks to Justine and Mom Jen for sharing this short and sweet prayer with us)

We were so happy to have new Grown-up Players join us too! Tita Kat (of Heartsong) our singing Doctor-to-be for our "Getting to Know You" song (in her Doc’s uniform too! Duty calls!), our singing Engineer Tita Edna who spent the whole week just absolutely "kilig" about the possibility of teaching the world to sing and yup, Tita Yumi (henceforth Tita Yummy!) of yummy "Piece of Cake" company who whipped up our delicious chocolate cupcakes to decorate as we pleased (by the way she’s also a corporate Lawyer!). Being around such inspiring and multi-talented grown-ups will hopefully encourage our kids to think-out-of-the-box!  Just you guys wait for what Kids Ahoy! is planning together with Baked in the City super mommies Yumi & Jen. It’s guaranteed to be another fun-filled event! 

We also welcomed our new PlayDate Host, Tita Denise who was much loved!(judging from the way Stan hung on to her when she just walked in and hugged her tight when he said goodbye)  She was so happy to have a chance to come and play with us, she volunteered to host our Halloween event too!

BRING IT ON is Tita Denise’s battlecry!

Tita Rubz "The Grasshopper" attended for the first time, too and if she ever had second thoughts about joining the team, that flew out of Mariners’ Home after last Saturday! She’ll be a busy bee from hereon helping us design even more fun, creative and learning programs!

Yeeeey!

Tita Lyn & Tita Jhera our multi-tasker elves (part-time event stylists & decorators, graphics works, avid snapshotgraphers and full-time all-around rah rah girls!) and all the Ates- Mimi, Lolet, Ellen, Jonabel, Eden, Dimples, Glen and the whole Kids Ahoy! gang went home exhausted but with such happy hearts! They say it takes but a spark of inspiration to see a brighter future…we say, we had several reasons to be inspired last Saturday!

Icing on the cake…we welcomed our very first Kids Ahoy! PlayDate "Major Players"!!!

As always, the arts and crafts activity kits were a hit! Kids can’t seem to get enough of them and once they’re in the "create-build zone", it’s so amazing to watch!

Just a day to rest…and off we go again!!!  There’s a Creative Play Shop unveiling in several days with tons of exciting after-school playdates, Reading, Performing & Singing Circles as well as Sunday Playshops  to offer, a SPOOK-tacular Halloween experience to prepare for, an AHON Foundation - Ayala Malls series of events to gear up for, A Trailblazers Club to introduce, a new power-packed website to develop and many more new trails to blaze in the coming days!

As we at Kids Ahoy! dream of endless possibilities and work on each one of them every day, we hope that you will not only continue to actively join us in our endeavors (maybe even collaborate with us utilizing all our talents and expertise!) but you will also help us share the great news to other Filipino parents, kids and kid-lovers who haven’t heard of our Kids Ahoy online family yet.

If we may be so bold as to challenge each and every one of you to invite at least one other family member to join us! We believe that reaching our milestone of 10,000 members by end of 2008 or sooner (yes, why not sooner?) is ambitious and daring—but with your help, it is within reach!

Our dreams are yours too — a better and brighter future for all Filipino children!
TOGETHER, LET US UNLEASH YOUR CHILD’S CREATIVE POWERS!

A Parent’s Prayer

Help Me give my children the best… not of trappings or toys,
but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine.
Teach Me to accept them for who they are, not for what they do;
to listen to what they say, if only so they will listen to me; to encourage
their goals, not mine; and please, let me laugh with them and be silly.
Let Me give them a home where respect is the cornerstone,
integrity the foundation, and there is enough happiness to raise the roof.
May I give them the courage to be true to themselves;
the independence to take care of themselves
and the faith to believe in a power much greater than their own.
See That I discipline my children without demeaning them,
demand good manners without forgetting my own
and let them know they have limitless love, no matter what they do.
Let Me feed them properly, clothe them adequately and have enough to give
them small allowances… not for the work they do but the pleasure they
bring…
and let me be moderate in all these things,
so the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving.
See That their responsibilities are real but not burdensome,
that my expectations are high but not overwhelming
and that my thanks and praise are thoughtful and given when they’re due.
Help Me teach them that excellence is work’s real reward,
and not the glory it brings. But when it comes.. and it will.. let me
revel in each honor, however small, without once pretending
that it’s mine; my children are glories enough.
Above all, let me ground these children so well that I can
dare to let them go.
And may they be so blessed.

by Marguerite Kelly

(Above Parent’s Prayer was shared to us by Mommy Jen and we both love it so much, we thought it would be wonderful to share with everybody!)

  Also check out more of Tita Yummi aka Tita Yummy’s work athttp://www.flickr.com/photos/yummypieceofcake/yummypieceofcake@gmail.com / 09178054063 Hope Mom Razz won’t mind if we share her blog entry here:http://sweethopia.multiply.com/photos/album/22/Nicole_Joins_KidsAhoy_Playdate_SEE YOU SOON AT THE SPOOK-TACULAR HALLOWEEN EVENT THIS OCTOBER!!!For more PlayDate Photos: http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/photos/album/27/929_PlayDate_Photos
We all agreed that the most memorable part for all grown-ups who attended must have been our Making Memories Handprint activity! It was so touching to capture this one moment in our children’s lives! Someday when they’re all grown, we hope to be able to look back with such fond memories of their growing up together!  We would like to encourage those who have joined our PlayDates before to share with us your favorite moments, too! Both Sept 1 & Sept 29th PlayDates pioneers are welcome to share!  Our sincerest thanks to Miss Maricris Locanas, Account Manager of Robinsons Properties  Marketing &  Management Corp and to the wind beneath our wings, Eton International Primary School, a school without borders (http://www.etonph.com) for believing in Kids Ahoy to be a kids-centered, collaborative and socially-committed approach to CREATIVE PLAY–dedicated to helping transform society through art and culture. They usher in a new chapter in the young history of our online family! We hope that more Major Players will follow their steps so we can continue to create an ideal environment for our kids to play and learn from!

INVITATION: SPOOK-tacular “Ghost-Hunting by the ruins”

http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/photos/album/30

KidsAhoyShop.com cordially invites you to join us in a   
SPOOK-TACULAR “Ghost-hunting by the ruins!”

an Exclusive Halloween Experience!

at the Patio of Casa Manila, Intramuros

(front of San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila)

OCTOBER 28, SUNDAY
Batch 1 : 5:00-7:00PM
Batch 2 : 7:15-9:15PM

For kids of all ages, even the kid-at-heart!  Walk-through our haunted trail, collect treats and encounter scary, weird and wacky characters along the way. At the end of your journey, enjoy a bloody drink, a ghastly feast of “intestines, hearts, eyeballs & fingers”, a spook-tacularly fun story and song around the campfire plus other games, activities and surprises!  Halloween costumes encouraged! Prize awaits the Winning Costume (Kids & Adults Categories) 

ENTRANCE FEE: P500ea
LIMITED SLOTS ONLY : PRE-REGISTRATION / PRE-PAYMENT REQUIRED

You will be assigned a start time when you register. Times are assigned in the order they are received so register early! A 150-person max per batch only will be strictly enforced. Kids under 7yrs old are required to enter with ONE parent/adult companion (discounted rate of P250/adult) 

Batch 1: 5:00pm (’til 7:00pm), ideal for all kids below 12yrs old
Batch 2: 7:15pm (’til 9:15pm), ideal for 13+yrs old and grown-ups 

INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN IN THE FUN!

GROUP DISCOUNTS:  AT LEAST 20/group (20% off)

BE A KIDSAHOY TRAILBLAZERS CLUB MEMBER & AVAIL OF DISCOUNTS (Pathfinder: 10% off / Vanguard: FREE ENTRANCE)

HURRY & GET YOUR EXCLUSIVE PASS NOW! KIDSAHOY@YAHOO.COM / 0920-5178127 / KIDSAHOYSHOP.COM

Payment accepted thru GCASH or Union Bank