Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in greater los angeles, CA

Universe in a Box

May 11, 2009

My son wants to be an astronaut when he grows up.  He's pretty adamant about it.  When I float other, less dangerous possibilities, such as astronomer, or ground control commander, or perhaps, the lucrative yet athletic position of professional golfer, he corrects me.  "No, Mommy.  I'm going to be an astronaut and fly in a multicolored spaceship to Uranus and Jupiter."

Well, then.  I suppose we can start looking into those programs now.  It's never too early.

What's the best way to pretend you're an astronaut when you are four?  A costume?  Helpful, yes, but ultimately a costume is not dynamic enough.  No, a budding space explorer needs a spaceship.   I am not one to go out and purchase fancy expensive toys, so I gave the child a box.  It was free - it came in the mail and contained Christmas gifts in December.  I gave him the box and some paints, and a spaceship was born.

It doesn't look like a spaceship, but that doesn't matter.  His imagination provides all of the necessary accessories. 

 

 Read more...

Best Places to Bring the Little One WITH the Older One

March 03, 2009

Sometimes I am jealous of my friends who have one child.  Okay, more than just sometimes.  Especially when mom and child are playing happily, or better yet, the child is playing happily and mom is enjoying a nice conversation with her friends.  I would be the friend who is chasing one and then the other child.  It is very difficult for me to take the two kids out by myself at this point because as soon as we arrive at our destination, they split up.  It is getting to the point where I can actually depend on the preschooler to stay in one place for over 30 seconds while I chase down the toddler, but these outings are still exhausting for me, and take weeks of storing up energy for me to undertake.  And several cocktails later to help me wind down.  But that's just me.

My kids at Playsource

I am going to share a few of the places/activities that I have deemed safe and fun for our little threesome when we go out.

1.  Parks with fenced in children's play areas.  Warner Center Park, Vanowen Park, and Castle Peak Park are a few of these locations.  Depending on the day and time you go, there are only a few other kids playing so it is easy to keep track of your little ones without going cross-eyed.

2.  Indoor playgrounds.  I have a personal affection for Jumping Genius because it was the first one I visited, but Playsource is good for multiple children too, and they let you eat your snacks right in the play area.  Under the Sea is a nice, well-contained area as well.  Creative Leap is fun but their tube system allows children to get out of your sight.  There is a place called the Coop that I have not checked out yet in North Hollywood.  Swanky, I've heard.

3.  The library.  Depends on the location, as with everything, but you might be able to squeeze out 20 minutes of activity time before the toddler runs screaming through the stacks.

4.  Tarzana Community Center park where the TC Kids Club holds their events.  The space is shady and enclosed even though it is right at Tampa and Van Alden.  Just don't let your toddler get wind of the giant open gate or you will be chasing him back and forth the whole time.  Also, don't let him jump into the koi pond.  Yuck.

5.  Dare I say it?  Someone else's house.  Read more...

9 More Things To Do Before Your Kid Is Stuck in School All the Time

by Kim Tracy Prince

January 27, 2009

Last May, I started a series called Seize the Day: Top 99 Things To Do in Los Angeles Before Your Kids Grow Up. I only covered 10. It's about time for the next installment, because at this rate, it will take 8 years to get through it (here's hoping this site will still be around then!). When I took the preschool tour in December, one of my questions to the teachers was  Read more...

Ten Things In the Lives of Preschoolers

by Kim Tracy Prince

January 06, 2009

Today's national Being Savvy blog talks about things that matter to a preschooler, and things that don't. That idea seems open to interpretation, and so here I will interpret it from the mind of a mother who lives in the San Fernando Valley. Here's what matters to my preschooler around here, and here's what doesn't: Five places that matter: 1. The beach, where he  Read more...

3,000 Puppets! Bob Baker Marionette Theater

by Kim Tracy Prince

October 16, 2008

In this day and age of virtual reality and blinking beeping talking toys and computer games and 24-hour television, isn't nice to unplug for a while? Kids should still be given regular opportunities to enjoy pursuits of imagination that don't require electrical power. At least not for the toys themselves. Overhead lights are okay...especially if they are needed to light the stage!  Read more...

Indoor Playground Review: Playsource

by Kim Tracy Prince

October 01, 2008

You've seen indoor playgrounds mentioned in this space before. I don't rely on them as a usual place to take my kids: even at a discounted rate, paying for playtime seems silly to me except in dire circumstances like very hot or rainy weather. I have been to several of them, however, and I will continue to review them here for you. Last week we ventured to Playsource for the first  Read more...

Family Movie Night

by Kim Tracy Prince

September 29, 2008

A lot of preschoolers have two speeds: off (sleeping) and warp speed ahead. Mine is no exception. Add to that a little brother who has similar settings (but he has a third: Tasmanian Devil) and we are one weary family at the end of the week. Our newest way to wind down while enjoying each other's company is Family Movie Night. We do it on Friday or Saturday as the schedule  Read more...

Heatwave: Six Ways To Cope

by Kim Tracy Prince

August 26, 2008

We're in the end of summer doldrums here in The Valley, with temps in the triple digits every day this week. One thing I do NOT recommend: having your car break down in a hot parking lot and waiting over an hour for a tow truck. If you must, make sure that happens at a Trader Joe's, because the staff there will take good care of you. If you are not that unlucky, here are my favorite  Read more...

Party like a mermaid under the sea

by Kim Tracy Prince

August 14, 2008

Forget about pirates and princesses thanks to Disney, the mermaid has made a big comeback as an idol for children. Unfortunately, it's hard for little kids to run around the way they do in fishtail costumes. They don't have to wear those at Under the Sea indoor playground in Northridge and Woodland Hills. UTS is a typical indoor playground with lots of big toys, an air hockey  Read more...

The Littlest Yogi: Parent and Me Yoga Class

by Kim Tracy Prince

July 31, 2008

My favorite form of exercise besides walking has been yoga. It's difficult for me to get to a yoga class these days, and let's face it - the DVD's aren't standing there making sure you do the poses right, so cheating is rampant when using one of those. Now there's a perfect marriage of childcare and yoga - Lisa Helfer's Parent and Child Yoga class for parents with children aged 3-6. I know  Read more...

Escape To the Valley 3: Hipster's Revenge

by Kim Tracy Prince

July 10, 2008

This morning, your mechanic calls your cell phone and says yes sir, your car will be ready tomorrow and you can head on your way. So you still have another day to explore sunny Southern California. But you don't want to just do what tourists do you want an authentic experience. And oh yeah, your kids are still with you, so they'll need to be entertained, fed, and nurtured as well.  Read more...