Liz Baill

Liz Baill is an educator, writer, and mom of three in the Philadelphia area. She loves developing resources that inspire kids and families to engage in creative play and open-ended exploration. She has taught children and their grown-ups in museums across the country including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Liz has developed award-winning content for kid-friendly audio guides, labels, exhibitions, websites, and lesson plans, and is the author of "Armor & Animals" and "What Can Colors Do?" Follow her attempts at momming creativishly and her work pursuits in the art education world in Instagram @creativishmom.

Latest posts by Liz

Valentine STEM Activity for Kids: Magic Crayon Messages

Submitted by Liz Baill on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 12:00pm

Surprise your little valentines with sweet magic crayon messages.

Want to put a science-y spin on your valentine cards this year? Try this creative STEM activity for kids inspired by the classic Sweetheart candy of yore—you know, the ones with the cutesy sayings like "Be Mine" and "You're Sweet". This Valentine's Day project is as simple as it is fun. Just write short messages on white paper hearts with a white crayon, then invite your little valentines to reveal their love notes by adding watercolor paint.

Once you've made a heap of hearts, the possibilities are endless. You can give them out as valentine cards, hide them for a heart hunt, or string them up as a banner for some festive Valentine's Day decor. Read on for instructions on how to make these magic crayon messages, the perfect STEM activity for kids this Valentine's Day and all year long.

Need another fun STEM activity for kids? Check out our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids, where you can learn everything from how to make rock candy to how to get an egg into a bottle. And if you need more ways to get crafty this Valentine's Day, see our list of 20 Valentine's Day crafts and recipes.

Visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art with Kids: Creative Family Time at the Art Museum

Submitted by Liz Baill on Sun, 01/08/2023 - 7:41am

Turn your eye of the tiger into the eye of an artist at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Run up the Rocky Steps and head on in to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a creative family outing at one of the country's largest art museums.

What Philly kid doesn't love a romp up the Rocky Steps? It's a rite of passage to run up those iconic stairs and strike a victorious pose--but the real question is when was the last time you went inside to see the astounding art collection behind that famous facade? To take that a step (ha!) further, have you ventured into those glorious galleries with kids in tow? Though art museums aren't always the most obvious spot for young kids, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is hands-down our family's museum of choice, where you'll find some of the city's most creative kids' programs and engaging educators at a place that transcends age. Did I mention kids are always...FREE?

Here are all of the things we love about visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art with kids, including a list of some of our favorite galleries, programs, and insider tips. Visit our Guide to Philly Museums for more reviews like this, and browse our list of 50 indoor places to explore when it's too cold or rainy outside, featuring museums, playspaces, and more.

Best of 2022 - Philly Kid Edition: 22 Top Openings, Happenings and Other Awesome Stuff We Loved

Submitted by Liz Baill on Sun, 12/25/2022 - 7:00am

We flipped it and reversed it in 2022 at the Museum of Illusions.

Who doesn’t love a “best-of” recap? And what a time to be a Philly family. 2022 was an epic year in the City of Brotherly Love, from the Phillies World Series run to the Eagles' current 13-2 record…and that’s just the sports. This year saw the opening of new museums, restaurants, play spots, and experiences that make Philly more kid-friendly than ever. So browse our top 22 new additions in 2022 and see how many you’ve hit, or let us know what we missed!

Keep an eye on our events calendar to see what’s to come in 2023, and don’t miss our Winter Break Bucket List for all the ways to keep busy between that last opened present and the ball drop.

8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Kids: Hanukkah Gifts, Fun Crafts, and a Little History

Submitted by Liz Baill on Mon, 11/21/2022 - 10:22am

Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to celebrate Hanukkah with your family. Photo courtesy Cottonbro Studios

Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to make your Hanukkah a whole latke (sorry) fun. For my family, Hanukkah is more than the Jewish footprint in the holiday season. Mixed in with those dreidel spins are lessons to be learned about having pride in our Jewish identity. From the songs and stories to the gifts and gelt, here are eight awesome ways to celebrate Hanukkah and make your Jewish festival of lights lit. (Again, sorry!)

For more ways to celebrate this holiday season with your family at home, creating new traditions and memories that last a lifetime, check out our Guide to Holiday Fun for Kids.

The Philadelphia Zoo is All Aglow for LumiNature

Submitted by Liz Baill on Sat, 11/19/2022 - 6:31am

What's that sparkle off 76? LumiNature is back. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo

LumiNature is back, transforming the Philadelphia Zoo into a winter wonderland decked with more than a million twinkling lights. While you won't see too many live animals out and about (it's past their bedtime), the light shows and displays celebrate the magic of wildlife and nature, from a mesmerizing African safari light projection to the new Penguin Prismatic spectacle that's loaded with love for Philly.

Phillies World Series 2022: Make your Philly Kid a Phanatic

Submitted by Liz Baill on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 6:25am

Ring the bell! The Phillies are heading to the World Series 2022.

Everything you need to turn your family into a Phamily as the Phillies head to the 2022 World Series.

To have kids in Philadelphia right now is to be entrusted with great responsibility that no true Philly parent will squander. We are parenting during a Phillies World Series run. It’s been 13 years since the Phils were NLCS Champions. That means there’s a whole new crop of kids and basically the next generation of Phillies fans who have the opportunity of their childhood (Sound hyperbolic? Good.) to root for the Phillies in the World Series. So whether you’re a bandwagon fan (shh we won’t tell) or a die-hard phanatic who remembers McGraw's final out, we’ve got you covered for how to make the most of the World Series 2022, from the swag to the snacks.

10 Simple and Fun Light Experiments for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Liz Baill on Thu, 09/01/2022 - 12:00pm

Who needs a disco ball when you've got a flashlight and magnetic tiles? Photo by author Liz Baill @creativishmom

We've all made hand shadows with flashlights when the power goes out unexpectedly, but have you tried lowering the lights on purpose for playtime? Light experiments are a magical form of sensory exploration with well-documented developmental benefits for kids, while happening to be deceptively simple for even the laziest parent (like me). Setting up a dark environment and incorporating flashlights into your play unlocks a whole new way of looking at the world, mesmerizes tumultuous toddlers, and brings open-ended process play into your home with minimal effort. Light experiments can even work wonders on children who fear the dark.

So cut the lights and grab your flashlights (check for batteries first, because dead flashlights are a bummer) and try out these 10 easy light and shadow experiments for toddlers and preschoolers. For more preschool and toddler science ideas, check out our list of science experiments for toddlers, and more science fun for kids of all ages in our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids.

Visiting Philly's Museum of Illusions with Kids: Fool Your Eyes, Bend your Brain, and Strike a Pose

Submitted by Liz Baill on Fri, 08/12/2022 - 8:00am

Don't worry, Ben's keeping watch at the Museum of Illusions.

By now you've probably seen photos popping up all over your social media feed of friends defying gravity in a diner, playing cards with several versions of themselves, chilling with their heads on a platter, or sauntering down a spinning light tunnel while trying to keep their lunch down. Welcome to the Museum of Illusions, Philly's hottest selfie spot that also manages to strike that elusive note of being both genuinely entertaining and educational.

Here's what you need to know for Philly's most mind-bending museum, including all the best highlights to fool your eyes, challenge your brain, and seriously up your selfie game. For more stories like this sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, and browse our Guide to Philly Museums for Kids for more of the city's most kid-friendly museums.

Liz Baill

Latest posts by Liz

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