Glad you clicked on our Grab & Go Kids Planner!

We've assembled a weekly calendar of kid-friendly activities and new places to try out with children.

You're time-pressed enough, so we're happy to do the research and find the best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable striking distance.

Help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips — just add them to the comment box. We want to hear from you!

FAMILY BEST BETS OF THE WEEK

Birdwatching for Kids

Where/When: Rock Creek Park Nature Center (5200 Glover Road, NW ) on Thursday 4 p.m.

Why Go: Children decorate their own "binoculars" and head outdoors to hunt for common birds of the area.

Pricing: FREE

Family Day at House of Sweden

 Where/When: House of Sweden (2900 K St.) Saturday 11 a.m. to  2 p.m.

Why Go: Activities include hanging out in the interactive play room, Space for Children, creating animals out of fusible beads, taking an interactive quiz walk to learn some Swedish, getting a Swedish treat from the fishing pond, and a painting corner.

Pricing: FREE

Boogie Woogie Bow Wows

Where/When: National Theater (1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW )  Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Why Go: Joan Rose and her miniature longhair dachshund Tucker and Lynn Franklin and her standard poodle Sam present a a fast-paced romp set to music. The doggies ride a skateboard, jump through hoops, and cavort with their human partners - and volunteers can join the doggies on stage.

Pricing: FREE

Story Hour with Susan Stockdale

Where/When: Museum of Natural History (10th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW ) on Saturday at 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

 Why Go: Susan Stockdale reads from her books Bring on the Birds and Carry Me! Animal Babies on the Move. A short activity and book signing follows each reading. 

Pricing: FREE

Multimedia Scavenger Hunt: Pheon

Where/When: National Portrait Gallery (Eighth and F Streets, NW  ) Sunday 2:30  to 6 p.m.

Why Go: Families can test their ingenuity by exploring the collection, making objects, and texting their way around the museum in a multimedia scavenger hunt. Bring a cell phone with text messaging enabled, comfortable shoes, and a sense of adventure.

Pricing: FREE