A new gem in Fremont

  A visit to the Natural History Museum in the heart of Fremont, Ca was refreshing change from dragging my girl to the various museums in other near-by cities. Visiting it gave me hope, and a new revived love for Fremont. It was interesting, informative, with an organization that showed great eye to the detail. There are several different rooms divided into various aspects of science. Every room made me pause and take a long look at all the exhibits. The place has kept in mind the interest of the littlest member to the adults. If you have a little paleontologist, they would spend probably the entire time scraping the sand to find some hidden fossils. I can see this museum becoming bigger and even more attractive, serving the public of Fremont and near by cities. In turn, it has given me a new surge of enthusiasm to pursue our dream of building "Kimbookai Children's museum".

Moitreyee Chowdhury
Board Member,
Kimbookai Children's Museum Project

A book that made them work

  Before I had my third child, I trained my husband on how to clean the bathrooms and kitchen. After about a month of my husband doing these chores, he suggested we get a cleaning service which we did for the first 5 years of my third child’s life. At that time, I realized that my children (5,7 and 10) probably were old enough to start helping out around the house, but were spending most of their time on electronics. Coincidentally, I was surprised to see an old church acquaintance whom I admired as one of the speakers at a woman’s conference. She had written a book which has been one of the most life changing parenting books which I have read. I highly recommend it to any parent who wants to raise independent, self-reliant kids who can take care of themselves, help take care of the house, car, finances, etc…I have applied her principles in parenting my children and it has worked! I am confident things will continue running smoothly at home if anything was to happen to me. So you are probably wondering what the title of this book is…drum roll please…. It is The Parenting Breakthrough, A Real-Life Plan to Teach Your Kids To Work, Save Money and be Truly Independent, by Merrilee Browne Boyack. It includes a plan for children from three to eighteen years old! Best wishes and happy parenting!  

Lin-Lin Otani,
President, Kimbookai Children Museum Project

Help Us Create a Children's Museum!

Kimbookai and Kids

It was a little while ago, since my children are grown, but I remember doing mental summersaults thinking of ways to entertain and educate my kids during the summer. Sometimes I would schlep them to the other side of the Bay to museums there. Sometimes I would try to set up elaborate games and activities at home. It was then that I said to myself: “if only there were a children’s museum close to home.”

That’s why I became connected as a board member with Kimbookai Children’s Museum. Just think of it: Having within a few miles a place to take our young kids or grandkids where they can learn, play and enjoy being with each other. I picture them being able to expend physical energy in a safe and secure place; I picture them learning how to shop, to understand the world around them, to get their first glimpse of how technology works, to feel free to draw and sing and dance. And what’s equally as helpful a place where parents can get together and share parenting techniques and experiences; where experts can come and talk about subjects like early childhood education; where we can become better moms, dads and grandparents.

That’s the powerful vision of Kimbookai. The folks who first had this dream started it in 2001 and are still hard at work making the dream come true. We’ve come a long way. We’ve become known throughout the three cities through our many children related community activities. We have a team of committed and excited board members and volunteers. We have a powerful data base of people who want to help. And we have a great many wonderful ideas we’re beginning to execute.

But we need help. We can’t make a children’s museum a reality without the help of many, many people from all walks of Fremont, Union City and Newark life. We need fund-raisers and donors; we need volunteers to help us with the many functions we stage during the year; we need people gifted in IT and finance, real estate and volunteerism. In short we need you. If you would like to join our cause, please email me at shoil2000@yahoo.com and we’ll put you to work.

After all, what can be more precious than our kids. Absolutely nothing! Let’s make their lives richer and better.

Shirley Gilbert

Board Member

Kimbookai Children’s Museum

http://www.kimbookai.org