You can share some love and make Valentine’s Day memorable for Children’s of Alabama patients.

Now through Feb. 14, you can send free greeting cards to patients at the hospital. The process is simple. Visit give.childrensal.org/valentinesday and select one of four Valentine’s Day card designs. Hospital staff will print and distribute the cards to patients on Valentine’s Day.

“Being in the hospital can be hard for a child, especially during a fun holiday like Valentine’s Day,” said Mindy Wald, community development manager at Children’s of Alabama. “These cards, which are coming from community members, bring a smile to their faces.”

The card drive is sponsored by Spire, a proud sponsor of Children’s since 2017. Spire will also match donations made by donors during this card drive up to $5,000.

“I’ve seen firsthand the joy the medical play program brings to the patients and families at Children’s of Alabama,” Joe Hampton, president of Spire Alabama, Mississippi and Gulf Coast, said. “That’s why all of us at Spire are excited to once again support this special Valentine’s Day campaign.”

Children’s can’t accept any in-person gift donations, handmade cards, food or candy, stuffed animals, toys depicting violence, religious items, crotched/knit items and gently used homemade items due to infection control protocols.

For more information about donating to Children’s of Alabama patients, visit childrensal.org/foundation.

Creativity is a superpower, and your child can find theirs with classes at Red Mountain Theatre.

Dip a toe into the world of the theatre and learn new fun – and useful – new skills! It’s not just about singing and dancing. Theatre arts teach focus, discipline, collaboration, and confidence. Spring classes are just $10 each for the 8-week session. Registration is open now! Financial aid is available. Classes start January 22, so don’t hesitate!
www.redmountaintheatre.org
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Is your superpower ACTING? Learn to tell incredible stories using your body, voice and imagination! This is an excellent option for beginner to intermediate level students and will focus on characters and skills for reading scripts. Ages 8-10 and 11-14.

Mondays, 6:00pm-6:50pm | January 22-March 11 | $80/8 classes
Acting: Ages 8-10
Acting: Ages 11-14

Is your superpower MOVING TO MUSIC? Try Musical Theatre Dance classes. Learn basic Broadway-style steps and put them together for showstopping dance numbers. You’ll learn to connect with the audience and tell a story using your whole body. Ages 8-14.

Thursdays, 6:00pm-6:50pm | January 25-March 14 | $80/ 8 classes
Youth Musical Theatre Dance

Is your superpower LOVING BROADWAY MUSICALS? Join us during the day to learn fundamentals of musical theatre: acting, singing, and dancing. Students will hone their creativity, and collaborate with creative peers! Ages 8-13.

Mondays, 11am-12pm | January 22-March 11 |  $80/ 8 classes
Intro to Musical Theatre Daytime Session

OR COME TRY A PLAY DAY!
Play Days are one-day experiences designed to let imaginations run wild. Spend the day exploring the world as a character from one of your favorite stories! On Monday, January 15, we’re headed out for A Winter’s Day in Hogsmeade, to take in the sights at Honeydukes,Zonko’s Joke Shop … and the Shrieking Shack! Ages 7-12.

Monday, January 15, 2024 | 9am-4pm | $70/1 day
PLAY DAY: Winter in Hogsmeade

Aside from gifts and family gatherings, the holiday season can also mean family vacations. In our post titled Holiday Travel Ideas for 2019  we discussed family holiday ideas like park rides and shows at The Park at OWA and festive music and dazzling lights at Stone Mountain Christmas. These local attractions are a great way to keep the young ones engaged in holiday festivities. However, holidays can also be a great opportunity for international travel. If planes and flights seem overwhelming, you may consider cruises.

A study by the Cruise Lines International Association showed that traveling by cruise is becoming one of the fastest- growing tourism sectors. Likewise, data from Condé Nast Traveler revealed that 47% of people said they would be interested in setting sail on a ship.

One thing distinguishing cruise ships from air travel is that your children won’t be expected to sit around throughout the trip. Instead, cruise ships have many facilities and onboard activities to entertain families and little ones. If you’re planning to take your children on a family cruise for the holidays, there are certain things to remember. Below, we’ll look at what Birmingham moms need to know before going on a family cruise:

Onboard child-friendly activities

As mentioned above, most cruise lines today offer a variety of onboard facilities and activities to keep families entertained — some more child-friendly than others. Explora Cruises is a great choice for its offering of authentic cuisines and high-quality service, along with fitness and well-being programs.

However, the cruise line also offers Nautilus Club for kids aged 6-17. Open from nine in the morning to midnight, the Nautilus Club offers a huge choice of games, sports, adventures, and activities to support young energies. This includes a dedicated Sports Court and a host of next-generation consoles like PlayStation 5 and Oculus Pro fororganized tech tournaments. By ensuring your kids get plenty of onboard play, you’ll also be able to have some time for yourself.

Explore themed cruises

Another way to guarantee family-friendly fun for the kids is to seek out special-themed cruises. Recently, Japanese cruise company Tokai Kisen announced that its Salvia Maru cruise ship will showcase decorations inspired by the highly popular anime, Spy x Family. This includes a novelty ticket, participation token, and Spy x Family character stamp.

Going on themed cruises is a great way to ensure that onboard activities and facilities will match up with your kids interests. Aside from onboard activities like games and guided tours, you can also find collaboration merchandise for souvenirs. Of course, this isn’t the only themed family-friendly cruise available. Another popular option is Disney’s cruise line, known for its many  themed ships and cruise experiences.

Consider onboard cuisine

Finally, aside from onboard activities and facilities, you’ll want to make sure that your preferred cruise line offers menus that fit the little ones tastebuds. Kids can be particularly picky eaters, and being unable to enjoy their food may lead to tantrums or a miserable experience.

Fortunately, many cruise lines consider this and will often offer onboard snacks, meals, and food vendors catering to children. Disney Cruise Line announced its all-new onboard meal offerings earlier this year to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary. This includes sweet treats like the Mickey chocolate sphere and a Captain Minnie Mouse vanilla crispy rice treat. Of course, adults won’t be left out of the fun. A signature Jubilee by the Sea cocktail is also offered as a celebratory drink.

For more tips and guides on holiday fun, travel, and events with the family, you can check out other posts on our Birmingham Mommy website.

The magical Coca‑Cola® Holiday Caravan is bringing a taste of the holidays to multiple stops around Birmingham. Loaded with holiday gifts, delicious Coca‑Cola products and even Santa himself, you’re invited to join the fun. Holiday magic and joy awaits.

Here’s where you can find the fun!

Wednesday, December 13th

Adamsville Walmart | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
2473 Hackworth Road

Marino’s | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
195 Bessemer Road

Thursday, December 14th

Birmingham Walmart | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
9248 Parkway East

Cost Plus | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
2096 Springdale Lane

Friday, December 15th

Piggly Wiggly Birmingham | 12pm – 3pm
2500 29th avenue North

Gardendale Walmart | 6pm – 8pm
890 Odum Road

Saturday, December 16th

Piggly Wiggly McCalla | 12pm – 3pm
4750 Eastern Valley Road

Fresh Value | 6pm – 9pm
528 4th Avenue North

Sunday, December 17th

Zaxby’s | 12pm – 3pm
282 Palisades Blvd

The Birmingham Zoo | 6pm – 8pm
2630 Cahaba Rd

*Caravan times and locations are subject to change.
For more information visit the Coca-Coal Caravan website