Munich Kids

There are several good internet resources to help you translate German websites, or your mail, or your phone bill, etc. There are direct links to each of these sites from the Munich Kids home page.  Look under “Useful Links”

Google Language Tools -  http://www.google.com/language_tools

• You can cut and paste text into the “Translate Text” box, or type in the website address to have the entire web page translated.  Text can be translated from almost any language into any other language.

Free Translation Services - http://www.freetranslation.com

• This site has a free text translator that allows you to type or paste text. Translation can be to, or from, English from 11 different languages.  The translations can sound clunky, but you can understand the basic meaning of the text.  Professional translations are also available through this site, but for a hefty fee.

LEO Deutsch-Englisch - http://dict.leo.org

• This is an online dictionary.  It’s very helpful for those words that don’t translate well when you use an online text translator.  Also available are LEO on-line dictionaries that translate between German and French or between German and Spanish.

The pediatric dental practice of Dr. Pfau, Dr. Butz, and M. Baltes, in Schwabing, is designed to make children comfortable.  The waiting room is very friendly and inviting, with toys to play with and an indoor jungle gym and slide to climb on.  The main philosophy of the practice is to provide excellent dental care and support for dental hygiene while making a trip to the dentist a non-frightening experience.  The dentists go out of their way to explain to the children what to expect.  They even have a stuffed gorilla with a full set of teeth that they use as a model to explain how the dentist will look into the child’s mouth.  Children are encouraged to play with the gorilla and even check its teeth for the dentist.  After the exam, the child is given a token which they can use to obtain a small prize from the prize machine.

At least one of the doctors, Dr. Butz, is fluent in English, as are several of the assistants. 

Appointments are available during the week, and also on Saturday. 

 The website is very informative and is in both English and German.

Address:  Marschallstrasse 11, 80802 Munich

Phone: 089/ 38 32 90 0

Email: info@meinekinderzahnaerztin.de

Website: http://www.meinekinderzahnaerztin.de/index2.php?language=en

Nearest public transportation:  U3/U6 Muenchner Freiheit and the bus station at Muenchner Freiheit 

Legoland Germany is not that far from Munich, only 90 minutes by car.  It could be a really fun day trip for the family.  It is even reachable by public transportation (Details available on their website).

Legoland has all of the traditional attractions of an amusement park — rollercoasters, water rides, kiddie rides, trains, and concessions stands — but many of the sights are made with Legos. It is amazing (and inspiring for the kids!) to see the complex Lego creations that beautify the park. 

In addition to the rides, there are playground areas, picnic tables , shows, and an observation tower.

Entrance fees can get pretty pricey.  Discounts are available with package deals or a season pass.  You can often get discount coupons at participating retailers.  For example, Woolworth on Leopoldstrasse in Munich is currently (April, 2007) offering discount coupons after you make a 15 Euro purchase.

Details regarding prices, events, and directions to the park are available on the website.  The website is in English and in German.

Website:  http://www.LEGOLAND.de

Looking for a playground in your area, or in a new neighborhood that you plan to visit?  The following website, a city mapping guide, can you help find the location of 570 playgrounds in the Munich area.  Simply click on the street name that you are interested in visiting.

(The website requires Java and Javascript so it may not be available to all users.)

Website:  http://www.geoinfo-muenchen.de/cgi-bin/cityguide.pl?action=show&size=8660&group=7.2&object=331&mapper=1

The Kultur & Speilraum (Culture and Play Room) of Munich sponsors dozens of cultural activities for children and teenagers in two locations in Munich - at Pasinger Fabrik near the Pasing train station and at the Seidlvilla in Schwabing. 

After a  quick perusal of their Spring and Summer catalogue (2007) you should find activites that will entertain and educate each of your children and satisfy their varied interests and hobbies.  Examples of upcoming events include: Art workshops at the Seidlvilla every Friday from 2:30 - 6:00 with different themes each session; Creative dance or Hip-Hop dance courses; Music workshops; Make your own music CD and learn how to be a soundchecker; Theater; Rhythm and drums; guided tours of museums for kids; Self-portrait painting; Film festival, and; a Children’s flea market!

Both locations have options for celebrating birthday parties.  Details are available on their web sites.

The fees for most events or courses are generally inexpensive.  Because each event is meant to be entertaining and meaningful for a specific age group, there are minimum and maximum age requirements listed for each event.  The majority of events are for children between the ages of 8 and 15, though you will find a few events for younger children, down to about age 4.

I have not yet visited the Pasinger Fabrik.  However, I have enjoyed the grounds of the Seidlvilla on multiple occasions.  The Seidlvilla is a lovely old villa in the heart of Schwabing (just off of Leopoldstrasse near the Giselastrasse U-bahn stop).  There is a courtyard with a garden and several picnic tables — a very peaceful place to sit and rest for a while or have a picnic lunch.   In addition to the Kultur & Spielraum program, the Seidlvilla also hosts a number of other programs for adults.  There are coffee cafe meetings, readings, lectures, and theater.    In June, they will sponsor a neighborhood-wide flea market.

All events and classes are conducted in German.  The websites are in German as well.

Seidlvilla

• Address: Nikolaiplatz 1b, 80802 Munich 
• Phone: 089/ 34 16 76
• Website: http://www.seidlvilla.de  and http://www.kulturundspielraum.de
• Email: info@kulturundspielraum.de
• Nearest Public Transportation:  U3/U6 Giselastrasse stop

Pasinger Fabrik

• Address:  August-Exter Strasse 1, 81245 Munich
• Phone: 089/ 888 88 06
• Website:  http://www.kulturundspeilraum.de
• Email: kjwpasing@kulturundspielraum.de
• Nearest Public Transportation: S4 - S8 Pasing Bahnhof, follow the Nordausgang

Magnolia Six Artists proudly presents:  “Sweet Phoebe” by Michael Gow and directed by M.Payne-Hahner with Ethan Reitz and Verena Roth.   Produced by Magnolia Six Artists
 
Venue:  theater…und so fort 

Address: Hans-Sachs-Str. 12, 80469 Muenchen

Website:  http://www.undsofort.de/spiel.html; Also, find our Event on iDiSCi.de;  http://www.idisci.de/direction.php?adid=74
  
Dates: Preview: April 26th, 2007 (for preview - all seats are 10 EUR! Premieres: April 27th- May 19th 2007; (Wed-Sat except for Sat. May 12th - no performance)

Time:  8:30 pm; Doors open at 8.00 p.m.

Cost: 10 EUR for Students and Seniors; 14 EUR Regular admission

Reservations Phone Number: 089/ 23-21-98-77

10% of proceeds will go to  www.heifer.org

Magnolia Six Artists focuses manily on English language theater and all of the productions up to date have been in English

Speilkultur describes itself as a program for educational activities.  They try to promote culture through play.  They have recently (March, 2007) moved premises to Lepoldstrasse 61, near Muenchner Freiheit.  They have several events coming up from Easter through the Pfingsten holidays (beginning of June).  On April 10-14, between 11:00 and 17:00, children between the eages of 8 and 14 can make creative, Easter-themed art projects.  From April 11-13, between 10:00 and 17:00, children between the ages of 10 and 14 can be art detectives and journalists at the Lenbachhaus.  Coming up at the beginning of June is a soundproducer workshop for teenagers between 12 and 16 years old.  For additional information, see the website or send an email.  Activities are led in German.

Address:  Leopoldstrasse 61, 80802 Munich

Telephone: 089/ 2609 208

Email: info@spielkultur.de

Website:  http://www.spielkultur.de

Nearest Public Transportation:  U3/U6 Muenchner Freiheit or the bus stop at Muenchner Freiheit