5TH ANNUAL TEEN VIDEO FESTIVAL All aspiring young filmmakers are encouraged to submit their work for public screening. That means a lot of people will be watching and silently judging your talent and motivation. Excerpts from 15 of the more bearable films will be selected for viewing and discussion, Sat, March 11, 1pm, FREE, Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, 118 S. 36th St., 215-898-5050.

ACT 2: CHARACTER AND STORY Take a week off from family Jerry Springer-and-BLT night for a workshop with some REAL characters. Every Sat, 10am-noon, $175, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.

ACT: MOVEMENT AND CHARACTER As if your kid wasn't enough of a character, this class will only encourage him. Bring the valium. Every Sat, 10am-noon, $175, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.

ACTING SHAKESPEARE The play's the thing! Explore the adventure of the Bard's life and literature in this one-day seminar. Grades 3-6, Mon, March 13, 1-4pm, $40, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.

THE ADVENTURES OF PETER RABBIT Remember that garden chase scene at the end of The Shining? Peter Rabbit is like that — except cuddlier. Mr. Malcolm and his Story Time Friends present the classic children's story. Shows at 1:00pm & 3:00pm, Sat, March 11, $6, Cheltenham Art Center, 439 Ashbourne Rd., Cheltenham, 215-612-9018.

ALADDIN I know a joke about a small man who found a genie and was granted three wishes, but it's too dirty to tell you here. Suffice to say that Storybook Theatre has crafted a tame version of the classic kids tale. Runs through March 12, $10-$12, Mitchell Performing Arts Center, off Tomlinson Rd., between Pike & Buck Rds., 215-659-8550.

ANIMALS ON THE LOOSE! Relax, they're not real. And not actually on the loose. The exhibit features Mercer Museum's collection of animal-shaped museum objects, like an alligator hand puppet and rabbit chocolate molds. Tasty. Free with museum admission. Runs through May 31, Mercer Museum, 84 S. Pine St., Doylestown, 215-345-0210.

ART CLASSES FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES Treat your budding Picasso to family-style art workshops. Classes include drawing, painting, mixed media, and printmaking. Various dates and times, $70, Manayunk Art Center, 419 Green Lane, 215-482-3363.

ART CLASSES FOR KIDS Day and evening classes include drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics and more. Various dates and times, Fairmount Art Center, 2303 Fairmount Ave., 2nd Fl., 215-765-ARTS.

BOATLOADS OF BEN Did you know that Ben Franklin formed America's first Navy? Or that he chartered the Gulf Stream? Learn how Ben got his feet wet with this informative exhibit. Free with museum admission, $6-$9, Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-925-5439.

THE BROTHERS GRINN Totally improvising, the Brothers Grinn put on a fairytale themed show as part of New Jersey Family Week at the Theater. You suggest it; they act it. It's all made up. Don't look so surprised. This is what you do at work. Everyday, Sun, March 12, 4pm, Gordon Theater, Rutger's University, 3rd Street, Camden NJ, 856-225-2700.

CARTOONING CLASS Stop watching those gosh-darned cartoons. Get off your butts and go draw them. And clean your room! Every Thu, 4:15-5:45pm, $80-$90, Whitemarsh Community Art Center, 100 Cedar Grove Rd., Conshohocken

CHILDREN'S ART CLASSES These workshops cater to artsy fart kids of all abilities in a variety of mediums. Various dates and times, $60, Wissahickon Art Center, 5245 Ridge Avenue, 215-482-4860.

CHILDREN'S STORY HOUR When I was little, my mother used to sit on my bed and read to me every night. Now she refuses to do that, so I have to resort to other means. Every Wed & Fri, 11am & 2pm, FREE, Head House Books, 619 S. 2nd St., 215-923-9525.

DRAWING TOGETHER The family that draws together...stays together? Err...nevermind. Bring the kids and whip out the pencils. Get ready to create some bodacious art, Picasso. Various dates, noon-2:30pm, FREE, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. & the Parkway, 215-763-8100.

FAMILY COMMUNITY DANCE Open to everyone, but geared toward parents with children ages 5-12, come learn North America and British Isle folk dancing. No experience required, Sun, March 12, 2-3:30pm, $2-$5, Merion Friends Meeting Activity Bldg., 615 Montgomery Ave., Merion, 610-339-3706.

FRANKLIN'S FLIPPERS Try on wacky wooden flippers that look like the ones Ben Franklin used to make his swim machine. Then, if you're lucky, the museum staff will toss you in the shark tank. Good luck! Free with museum admission. Runs through April 30, New Jersey State Aquarium, 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ, 856-365-3311.

KID'S CLAY AND MOSAIC MAKING Bring out your kid's inner Martha with lessons in tilemaking, pottery, and mosaics. Anal retentiveness not included in cost. Ages 8-12. Every Thu, $65, Tesserae Studio Gallery, 6780 Germantown Ave., 215-848-2110.

SAFARI OVERNIGHT You've always wanted to spend a night in a museum. But don't think Ross & Rachel style; this is for kids ages 7-14.Every Fri & Sat, 6:30pm, $30-$40, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th St. & the Parkway, 215-299-1060.

SATURDAY FAMILY WORKSHOPS PAFA's weekly family workshops let you and the kids see famous artwork and then make some of your own. PAFA does not guarantee that your artwork will be famous anywhere — except on the fridge, 11am-12:30pm, $2-$6, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St., 215-972-2061.

SESAME STREET LIVE: ELMO'S COLORING BOOK The Broadway-caliber musical production features Elmo and friends in their quest to travel into their colorful drawings. Here's some Street trivia for you: in Iceland, kids called the show Sesam Opnist Pu. Say that five times fast. Runs through March 12, $12-$48, Wachovia Spectrum, 3601 S. Broad St., 215-336-3600.

SET DESIGN Soon the little ones will be transforming your duplex into a dungeon. Sounds like time for a dinner party!, Sat, March 11, 1-4pm, $40, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.

SOUND ALL AROUND Charlotte Blake Alston and double bass player Mary Javian tell stories to children and play instruments to accompany the stories. Various dates and times, $18, The Baldwin School, 701 W. Montgomery Ave., Bryn Mawr

ST. PATTY'S DAY "JUST MOM & ME" Top 'o' the mornin'! The Cherry Hill Mall has holiday fun in store for area kids and their parents. A variety of crafts await visitors, from shamrock planting to "catch the leprechaun and win the gold.", Thu, March 9, 10:30-11:30am, FREE, Cherry Hill Mall, 1032 Route 38 & Haddonfield, Cherry Hill, NJ, 609-665-5885.

STORIES AND GOOD ADVICE FROM KIDS Aww, kids are useful members of society too. I guess. Maurice Sendak displays his collection of kids' aphorisms, bits of advice and etiquette rules. Free with museum admission. Runs through May 28, Rosenbach Museum & Library, 2008-2010 Delancey Pl., 215-732-1600.

STORY CRAFTERS Pay to have your child fooled into thinking that he or she is a character in a favorite book. Then sit back and giggle. Every Sat, 10-11:30am, $175, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.

STORY TIME Join Please Touch for a weekly storytime session. You were absent the day they taught reading in school, anyway. Every Wed, 3pm, Please Touch Museum, 210 N. 21st St., 215-963-0667.

TEN BUCK TUESDAYS What you have: $10.00. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Play as many games as humanly possible in a day without (a) seizing on the floor or (b) losing control of bodily functions. Go! Every Tue, noon-10pm, $10, Gameworks Studio, 1400 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-271-9675.

THEATRE CLASSES FOR KIDS Arden Theater Company is offering a wide array of children's classes. Various dates and times, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.

TODDLER STORYTIME Toddlers ages one year and up are invited to read picture books. Every Mon & Wed, 11am, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 720 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-520-0355.

TOURS FOR TOTS I'm just a smidgen skeptical about a three-year-old's ability to appreciate art and not mistake it for — say — vomit, but the Art Museum seems to think otherwise. For kids ages 3-5. Various dates and times, FREE, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. & the Parkway, 215-763-8100.

WEATHER VANES WORKSHOP In like a lion? Enjoy making a weather vane with your family that will attract blustery March winds, Sat, March 11, 1-3pm, $2, ABINGTON ART CENTER, 515 Meetinghouse Rd., 215-887-4882.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH Explore the history of female leaders all month with a hands-on activity guide including games, quizzes, and craft projects, Wed, March 1, 10am-5pm, $1-$5, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St., 215-925-2800.