Healthy lifelong habits start in the kitchen. The Junior League shows families how on March 13.
Kidsguide Magazine Online
March 1, 2010

Here’s a hefty statistic from the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity: did you know that by this year, nearly half the children in North and South America will be overweight?

The answer is as close as your kitchen – literally! The Junior League of Long Beach on March 13 is back with its its deliciously informative community event, Kids in the Kitchen Healthy Eating and Exercise Fair.

This free event – part of the League’s children’s health advocacy efforts – encourages youth and families to make healthy food and lifestyle choices. Learn, munch and come home with a wealth of delicious ideas from various workshops and activities scheduled throughout the day, from yoga demonstrations and Veggie Bowling, to taking the Vons Eating Right Adventure Tours. Vons, a major supporter of the annual event, will host it in its Circle Center location in Long Beach.

Hungry yet? Make sure to visit the fair’s numerous cooking stations, where little (and big) chefs can learn to make goodies like fruit kabobs and PB&J quesadillas. The day is also a chance for families to meet and make friends with community groups promoting kids’ fitness, among them the Long Beach Fire Department, Tae Kwon Do Academy, Prep Kitchen Essentials, Stroller Strides and DG Boxing.

Make sure to stick around for the raffle, where attendees get the chance to win prizes fit to inspire even the most stubborn couch potato: Nintendo Wii and Active, one-month dance lessons and boxing classes, a one-week cooking camp from Prep Kitchen Essentials, Kids in the Kitchen cooking gear and more!

Kids in the Kitchen Healthy Eating and Exercise Fair
• Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Parking lot at Vons Market, Circle Center, 1820 Ximeno Ave., Long Beach (map it!).
• (562) 989-6400, www.JLLB.org

What’s your fondest holiday memory?

In Part 4 of The Buzz’s four-part Holiday Survival Guide series, we get a little nostalgic. At the heart of every yuletide celebration is a family tradition – picking out the perfect tree to bring home, marathon viewings of “A Christmas Story,” or baking all things gingerbread.

Whether you’ve refined your family traditions or are in search of new ones, The Buzz shares some of its staff’s favorite things:

A Holiday Movie. There are many perennial favorites. Here’s our picks: The one-week long run of Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” at the Long Beach Art Theatre begins today, with a special $8 rate for all evening shows. During Christmas week, the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro will feature a live stage adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic.

Caroling. Nothing quite gets you in the mood like a holiday tune. Hear some heavenly singing this weekend: the Bellflower Civic Chorus at Bellflower’s Rejoice Noel; the Southern California Children’s Chorus at Calvary Church in Santa Ana and the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, where they sing alongside the Pacific Chorale. Our pick: You! Start your own neighborhood caroling tradition. Here’s how.

“The Nutcracker.” With numerous productions on stage throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties, you need not drive far to catch a performance. Our picks: Long Beach Ballet Academy’s Dec. 19-20 and 22-23 “Nutcracker” performances, which will be accompanied by a live orchestra. We also like California Nutcracker Ballet for its up-to-date listings of every “Nutcracker” performance scheduled this month. Find the production nearest you here.

Water Worlds of Light. What we lack in snow, we make up with brilliant displays of light. Our picks: Dec. 19’s 63rd Annual Naples Island Boat Parade, where small and large boats will brighten the Long Beach peninsula’s waterways; Newport Beach’s Parade of Lights illuminates Newport Harbor Dec. 19-20; and in Cruise of Lights, guests are taken on a narrated evening tour along the Huntington Beach coast. Bonus pick: Prefer solid ground? Plot your own route to the Southland’s prettiest displays with some help from the Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Holiday Lights Guide and the Orange County Register’s Holiday Lights Contest.

Parade of Lights image courtesy of www.daveyslocker.com

We’re almost at the homestretch! In Part 3 of The Buzz’s Holiday Survival Guide, we help you find the ideal winter camp for your tyke, tween and teen.

Not only are winter camps lifesavers for the busy parent, they are also a productive way for kids to spend their two-week school vacation. Most camps often fashion their activities – sometimes even menus! – around fun themes to maximize the experience for participants.

Here are some stand-out programs that caught our eye. (To learn what else is out there, make sure to check with your city’s recreation department, schools and local YMCAs.)

Alpert JCC Kamp Komaroff (Grades 1-6) & Winter Break Play Days (Ages 2-7). Parents have the flexibility of enrolling their child for one day or for the camps’ 6-day duration. Activities for Kamp Komaroff campers include filming their own mini-movies, the science of snow – including how to make fake snow – as well as an early New Year’s themed day complete with floats (the ice cream-based confection, and the kind that coasts down a parade route). Younger children in Winter Break Days will embark on kid-friendly archaeological dino digs, “travel” to Israel aboard a prop plane, and learn how to be mini-chefs. Dec. 21-23, Dec. 28-30. Sign up for one or more days, $40-$50 per day. (562) 426-7601, ext. 1090. www.alpertjcc.org

City of Anaheim Youth Winter Basketball Camp (Ages 7-13). Score! For $35, girls and boys for one week learn new basketball skills at the West Anaheim Youth Center Gymnasium. Beginner and intermediate players will work to improve their skill sets from the city recreation department’s professional and patient staff. Bring water and your game face! Dec. 21-24, 2-hour sessions, $35. (714) 765-4311, www.anaheim.net

Marine Science Camps. Regional institutions Aquarium of the Pacific and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium have three sea-riffic Winter Camp programs for preschool to elementary school-aged kids.

Children ages 5-6 in the Aquarium’s Sea Squirt Camp for three days learn about birds, underwater critters and marine mammals through games, aquarium visits, biofact discovery touch and crafts. Winter Day Campers (Grades 2-4) learn more advanced topics such as winter migrations, polar bears and cold habitats. In addition to aquarium visits, crafts and biofact touch sessions, they’ll also conduct behind-the-scenes animal observation.
Dec. 21-23, Dec. 28-30. $115-$150 per session. (562) 961-1630. www.aquariumofthepacific.org

Meanwhile, kids enrolled in Cabrillo’s Winter Seafari Camp will join the San Pedro-based aquarium’s enthusiastic staff as they explore the seashore. The camp is split in morning and afternoon sessions for Grades K-2 and grades 3-6. Other marine-related activities include ocean projects and crab-fishing. Dec. 28-31. 3-hour session, $68. (310) 548-7562.
www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org

Team OC Fun Winter Camp 2009 (Ages 3-12). Jump around! Team OC Fun offers two 3-day Winter Camps this month. The energetic folks at this Costa Mesa-based cheer, gymastics and dance gym will blend gymnastics, cheer, dance, trampoline, sports and art to keep your child’s days full of, well, fun! Kids will also have access to the establishment’s Rockwall, Zipline and mega-bounce house. Dec. 21-23, Dec. 28-30. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., $150. (714) 444-1144, www.teamocfun.com

In Part 2 of The Buzz’s four-part Holiday Survival Series, we look at some crafty ways to celebrate the yuletide season.

One idea is to get the kids involved, be it helping decorate the Christmas tree or making a special gift. Holiday crafts are a fun and creative way to grow that holiday spirit.

Below are some low-cost ideas for kids 6 and older:

Tree ornaments. Make a truly unique keepsake this Christmas. Kaboose and Disney’s FamilyFun merrily feature a growing list of easy-to-make ornament projects for youngsters like the popsicle stick Santa ornament pictured above.

Bow Wow! Leftover gift wrapping paper make awesome bows to top of your presents (learn how to make yours here). Use white or brown craft paper – brown grocery bags work, too! – to make homemade wrapping paper. Abigail Beal of Creativity Portal’s Project Playground provides several ideas and fuss-free paper styles in her piece, “How to Make Creative Gift Wrapping Paper with Kids.”

For the home. Make your own seasonal display pieces. Make a stylish papier mache bowl to hold the Mazao (fresh fruits and veggies) that rests atop a homemade woven mat on your Kwanzaa table. Kids Craft Weekly offers three lovely Hannukah projects for kids: Simple Dreidel Card; Macaroni Menorah; and Hanukkah activity envelopes.

Image courtesy of Kaboose.com

Welcome to Kidsguide Magazine and The Buzz’s four-part Santa Survival Guide series!

In the following weeks, we’ll help you find your inner Santa – jolly, efficient and prepared to tackle the holiday’s nice and naughty challenges.

We begin the series with a jolly idea: finding time. More specifically, getting the extra hours to attend to holiday tasks such as organizing that big family get-together, home decorating, and gift-shopping.

We suggest Kids’ Night Out, a drop-off program offered by numerous Long Beach Metro-area and Orange County organizations. It’s a win-win situation; the kids spend a jam-packed evening enjoying age-appropriate activities and making new friends, while Mom and Dad get their shop on.

Several communities also run Kids Night Out programs, so make sure to check with your city recreation department and YMCA. Below are some area Kids’/Parents’ Night Out events to help get you started.

? Parent’s Night Out Program at Paint ‘N Glaze. Held the first Friday of every month. For $25, kids 5 and older get a pizza dinner, a $10 ceramic piece to paint and a craft to get their creative juices flowing. The next Night Out is Dec. 4. 3960 Studebaker Road, Long Beach. (562) 421-8000, www.paintnglaze.com

? My Gym – Huntington Beach Parents’ Night Out. This youth health and fitness center customizes its activities based on the age group of the evening’s young attendees. The next Night Out date is Dec. 18. $35 per child. Make sure to inquire about their “Shopping Days” drop-off program in December! 6030 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 842-2486.

? Open Gym Night at PDA Sports Center. PDA’s state-of-the-art gym becomes a playground for kids 3 and up. A pizza dinner is included in the $15-25 fee. The next Open Night is scheduled Dec. 5. 15064 Shoemaker Ave., Santa Fe Springs. (562) 229-1927, www.pdausa.net

? Drop and Shop at American Gymnastics Academy! The Signal Hill-based gymnastics training center takes your kids off your hands for the afternoon so you can attend to your task without distraction. $20 per child age 3 and up. Upcoming Drop and Shop Nights are Friday, Nov. 27; and Saturday, Dec. 5 & 19. 1901 Obispo St., Signal Hill. (562) 494-0087, www.american-gymnastics.com

? Shop While They Bop at Arts & Learning Conservatory. Drop off your little performer at ALC for a morning-to-afternoon theater workshop while you tackle your holiday list. Receive the $45 early bird special when you sign up early for the Dec. 12 and/or Dec. 19 workshops. Vanguard University, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 623-1907, www.artsandlearning.com

? Parent Night Out at SCAT Gymnastics. It’s never too early to schedule anything New Year’s Eve-related. Held on the last Saturday of the every month, SCAT’s next Open Night is scheduled Dec. 31, with special extended hours for New Year’s Eve: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., or the option of an overnight sleepover for the same price of $45 ($35 for every additional sibling). Games and a delicious pizza dinner are a part of the schedule. 5742 McFadden Ave., Huntington Beach. (714) 895-2909, www.scatsgymnastics.com

The Discovery Science Center is cookin’ up something delicious.

In 10 days, The Cube will debut The Science of Gingerbread, a tasty winter-long exhibit exploring the art, science and fun in all things gingerbread.

Not only will visitors have the opportunity to test their baker’s talent in numerous kitchen science and decorating demos, they will also have a chance to be part of the exhibit and the parallel event, Gingerbread Holiday Festival.

If you consider yourself a crafty in the kitchen, you’re invited to share your wisdom with the public by volunteering to lead a workshop, host a stage show or host a decorating demonstration.

In the opening week of the exhibit, kids (and grownups, too!) are encouraged to submit their gingerbread masterpieces for The Cube’s Annual Gingerbread Competition. Enter any one of the nine categories for the chance to win cash prizes, bragging rights and the privilege of having your confection on public display during the exhibit’s 6-week run.

Science on a Sphere – Discovery Science Center
? Opening day: Monday, Nov. 23. Exhibit runs until Jan. 3, 2010.
? Admission, $9.95-12.95
? 2500 North Main St., Santa Ana. (map it!)
? (714) 542-2823, www.discoverycube.org

An Iraqi dog of war becomes a dog of peace

Kidsguide Magazine Online
Nov. 2, 2009

What do you call a nameless dog that would cross 70 miles of desert war zone in the thick of bitter winter to be with the human who showed him kindness?

Nubs became a part of Major Brian Dennis’ human pack after a chance encounter at an abandoned Iraqi fort in 2007. Dennis recounts their friendship and Nubs’ death-defying trek in the newly published picture book, “Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, Marine & a Miracle.”

Meet military man and best friend on Tuesday, Nov. 10, when Dennis and Nubs make a special author appearance at the Mission Viejo City Hall Chambers to discuss the book. Copies of the book will also be available for purchase and for autographs. The event is made possible by Mission Viejo Library and Irvine children’s bookstore A Whale of a Tale.

READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

A worthwhile read for children and canine-lovers alike, Dennis with co-writers Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery present the story in a series of personal snapshots taken by Marines, e-mail correspondence, and photographs from the media frenzy that ensued after Nubs’ story – and the race to bring him to the United States ? became public.

(Can’t make it to Dennis’ author appearance? You can still read about Nubs when you win your copy of “Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle” and a special-edition Nubs dogtag in The Buzz’s Nubs Contest. To enter the drawing, drop us an e-mail by Nov. 18 with “NUBS” in your subject line.)

Major Brian Dennis and Nubs at City Hall
? Nov. 10, 7 p.m.
? Free admission
? Mission Viejo City Hall Chambers, 200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo
? missionviejolife.org; to reserve your spot, call the Mission Viejo Library, (949) 830-7100, ext. 5105.

Images courtesy of the Hachette Book Group.

For a snack that’s been around for thousands of years, popcorn never really got old – we munch on it at the movies, string fluffy kernels together to to decorate our Christmas trees, and continue to invent recipes to satisfy our cravings for something familiar yet new.

Celebrate the granddaddy of snacks and the ghoulish season with festive and delicious Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Balls, a tasty treat that pays homage to two icons: the pumpkin and popcorn.

This recipe is from www.popcorn.org, the National Popcorn Month headquarters. (Find nutrition information, recipes and other poppin’ ideas here.)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Spray one large mixing bowl lightly with cooking spray and place popcorn inside.

2. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in marshmallows and gelatin dessert powder until the marshmallows are melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour over popcorn and mix well until coated.

3. Spray hands with cooking spray and press the popcorn mixture into balls. Place the finished balls on wax paper.

4. The fun part: decorate the balls with funny faces! Press your candy decorations to form eyes, nose and a Jack-O-Lantern grin. Serve immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap for storage.

Image courtesy of www.popcorn.org.

cutting down fewer trees and, we don?t know about you, but we?ve gotten real used to breathing oxygen.

The good part about us going smaller, physically, is that we haven?t sacrificed a bit of all the great information and suggestions you?ve come to expect in each edition of Kidsguide. Even with a smaller magazine in width, you?ll still find plenty of places to go, things to do and animals to ride.

With that in mind, why don?t we get started right away with some big ideas about some small things: fun things, helpful things, important things, conversational things, pretend things and tetanus shots. All that and Rhode Island.

SMALL TOWN

When Pam Shambra was helping to put together Pretend City, an amazing and innovative kids museum in Irvine, she and her staff visited more than 60 children?s museums across America. While they got lots of great ideas, they came away with one thing that doesn?t work: ?Anything behind glass,? Shambra said.

And so Pretend City, which opened in August, is a completely interactive museum where kids can play and touch and learn in 15 different exhibits that include a grocery store, farm, doctor?s office, art studio, amphitheater, restaurant, marina, construction site and many others. Kids learn through role-playing based on real-world experiences as they dress up as a grocery store stocker, police officer, deliver the mail, create real art or put out a fire (not real). Shambra said that one of the things Pretend City hopes to teach kids is how interconnected all aspects of a city are. For example, a kid works on a farm and sees that the food goes from there to the grocery store where it is sold to the restaurant which cooks the food and serves it to their guests. Just as important, though, is that Pretend City shows parents how their kids learn: through repeatedly trying, or mastering, activities.

?Kids will do something over and over again because they are learning to master it,? Shambra said. ?We had a boy who for the whole two hours he was here, dressed up as a police officer and went back and forth between the caf? and grocery store asking if things were OK. This is how kids learn.

?We have early childhood educators at each exhibit who help parents understand that their child is mastering something. This is so important because, in the end, parents are their child?s best teacher.?
29 Hubble, Irvine, (949) 428-3900. www.pretendcity.org

SMALL TIME

According to quantum theory, the smallest amount of time is Planck time which is the time required for light to travel, in a vacuum, a distance of one Planck length.

That?s all very well and good but, with all apologies to German physicist Max Planck for whom Planck time is named, every parent knows the smallest amount of time is the span between the beginning of vacation and the moment your child announces, ?I?m bored!?

SMALL CHANGE

I think we?d all agree that the world is a lot like our relatives: fundamentally decent, but could do with a good cleaning and a bit of improving. And, as we all know, any real change in the world starts small and starts at home. There are a lot of things we can do around the house to teach our kids how to live better and make the world better at the same time. Now relax, Bono, we?re not talking about big, save-the-rain-forest type stuff. We?re talking small changes, the kind of changes that not only make the world a better place, but can save you some money. Here are three simple, and small, things you can start doing today.

Unplug: It?s one thing to tell the kids to turn the lights off when they leave a room (why is it the only time they actually do this is when they?re leaving the bathroom and you?re in the shower?); go a step further and have them unplug appliances not currently in use. That would include the cell phone charger, the flat iron, the TV, all of which continue to eat energy even if they are turned off.

Cook: You can save so much money, be so much healthier and enjoy so much more time together with your kids if you just cook at home. Great activity for sparking conversation, great way to learn about family history. Cooking is an invaluable skill and so much fun. They?ll thank you when they get older and, when they?re hungry instead of reaching for their keys to get some fast food, they?ll reach for a whisk. Healthy, frugal, fun, what?s not to like? Plus, check out Kidsguide?s ?Cooking? section. It features businesses that specialize in teaching kids how to cook.

Bike: Like food, we tend to be on autopilot when it comes from getting from one place to another. According to Transportation Quarterly, only about one percent?ONE!?of trips in the United States are taken by bike while more than 80 percent are done by car. Granted, some trips require a car, but 80 percent? This business of jumping in the Saturn to go to the store just a few blocks away is a learned behavior. We can just as easily teach our kids to get on their bikes to make a lot of those trips. It?s all made easier if you keep your bikes in good running order and somewhere they can be accessed easily.

SMALL FAVORS

There are few things, nothing actually, that is as fulfilling and fun as volunteering to help others. It?s sometimes funny to listen to parents complain about the younger generation being selfish and self-centered when, much of the time, they haven?t thought to introduce their kids to volunteering. Anyone who has done volunteer work with their kids knows how quickly and enthusiastically they take to it. If you?re looking for something to get involved in, the ?Calendar? and ?Volunteering? sections of Kidsguide have numerous opportunities. Remember, these don?t have to be big things?any real change comes in small doses. Remind them, and yourself, of what Thoreau said: ?One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.?

SMALL WORLD

The world can seem like a pretty big place when you?re always looking up. Cut the world down to size with some things that have the word in their title: here?s a hint, try things with the word miniature. Like ?

Miniature Golf in the Dark ? Putting Edge Fun Center: Play 18 holes of glow-in-the-dark miniature golf and find that you putt about as well as you do when you can actually see. Fun, and there?s an arcade. Dibs on the air hockey table! All this and a glow bracelet is included in admission. 6081 Center Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 348-9770. www.puttingedge.com

Miniature Railroad, Travel Town Museum, Griffith Park: This offers daily miniature train rides, weather permitting; special events are held regularly. Admission is free, though there is a suggested donation. Rides are $2.50; kids 18 months and under are free. 5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. (323) 662-5874. www.traveltown.org

Orange County Great Park Balloon: OK, it?s not a miniature balloon. That might be dangerous. Actually, the balloon is quite huge, 118-foot-high, helium-filled and tethered so that passengers soar between 250-400 feet for a bird’s eye view of Orange County Great Park in Irvine and the surrounding area. Suddenly the world might seem a lot smaller. The other thing that?s small? The price. It?s free. (866) 829-3829. www.greatparkballoon.org

SMALL WORLD (It?s a)

According to the Web site Hidden Mickeys, the water coursing through Disneyland?s popular ?It?s a Small World? attraction is not emergency potable water and, therefore, anyone who falls into it is required to get a tetanus shot.

SMALL TALK

It may seem unfathomable to you parents of five year olds who want to tell you everything that passes by the car window??Yes, yes, honey. Another dog??but there may come a time when your child will be less than forthcoming, verbally. This is known as middle school and high school years, and is distinguished by long periods of silence passing between the two of you intermittently broken up by you asking them a question and them answering either ?Fine? or ?I said fine.? While a good deal of this is normal growing pains, you don?t have to accept that you?re not going to talk to your child again until they go to college and are old enough to say ?Can you send more money??

Psychiatrist Dr. Debra Hill says that you start building toward that when your child is talking to you, there are no special tricks, conversation comes from trust.

?If you?re asking me is it important to have conversations with your kids, I?ll say the most important thing is having a relationship with your child. That grows out of conversation. Both of those grow out of trust.?

As Dr. Hill explains, harried parents sometimes are too quick to dismiss their children?s opinions or feelings as childish or silly.

?It?s important to acknowledge how your child feels,? she said. ?That doesn?t mean you have to agree with them, you just have to acknowledge, you just have to say ?Mmmmm? or ?Oooooh? to let them know you are listening to them.

?One thing I hear a lot from kids is that they feel they are criticized all the time. They begin to think ?Why am I talking? Why should I bother? All I get is criticized.?? So be respectful, no one wants to be shot down that way.?

SMALL POND (BIG FISH IN)

Has anything truer been said than ?The worst day fishing is better than the best day at work.? Well, maybe it was ?Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days? but, c?mon, that?s kind of a downer?hey, Ben Franklin, turn thine frown upside down! Anyway, fishing is a great way to actually hang out with someone on the flimsiest of excuses of catching fish and taking time to actually just be and perhaps talk or perhaps not. Little moments like that are hard to come by, what with cellphones and, well, cellphones. But there are two such places in Orange County:

Irvine Lake (Santiago Reservoir): This stocked lake has a designated fishing lagoon just for kids. 4621 Santiago Canyon Road, Silverado. (714) 649-9111. www.irvinelake.net
Santa Ana River Lakes: This features the kid-centric Huckleberry Fish Pond where staff members will assist kids in catching and cleaning fish. 4060 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. (714) 632-7830. www.fishinglakes.com

SMALL FORTUNE

Two things are true: kids love money and kids really love your money. What if you could introduce them to the world of making money easily? What if you could do the same for me and, while you’re at it, tell the fine folks at Mastercard to ease up. Anyway, yeah, kids and money. Type ?kids make money? in an engine search and you?ll find multiple ideas that range from mowing lawns to tutoring. One of the neatest Web sites for this subject comes to us from the people at Sunkist who show kids step-by-step how to set up a lemonade stand. They offer valuable information like about a dozen delicious drink recipes?Strawberry Lemongrass Citrus Fizz anyone? It also offers such safety tips as washing your hands before handling food and never approaching a car to make a sale. And if your child is so inclined, there are suggestions and instructions on how to earn money for charities and even a list of worthy organizations to choose from. It?s really quite cool. Go to www.sunkist.com/takeastand to get started.

SMALL POTATOES

There was a time when Southern California was dotted with farms, big and small. That?s what the history books say anyway. And you can see for yourself by taking your family out to enjoy Tanaka Farms, a real working farm in the heart of Orange County. Visitors can taste test different fruits and vegetables while seeing how they grow, plus Tanaka Farms offers fantastic seasonal tours, year-round. And they offer a U-Pick Pumpkin Patch in October; Christmas trees in December. Please call to make reservations. $13 per person; ages 2 and under free. Group rates are available. The produce stand is open year-round and is filled with home-grown produce.

5380-3/4 University Drive, Irvine. (949) 653-2100. www.TanakaFarms.com

SMALL PRINT

As the Harry Potter phenomenon proves, one of the great pleasures of reading is sharing the experience with others. One of the best ways is to have your kids join a book club or start one themselves. If you want to join, have your child check in with your local library. If they?d rather start their own, the following Web sites offer information about not only starting one, but offer reading suggestions as well:
www.book-clubs-resource.com; www.kidsreads.com;
www.teenreads.com; www.preciousprettypowerful.com;
and www.bookclub4boysinfo.blogspot.com

SMALL PACKAGES (GOOD THINGS COME IN)

Uh, did we mention Kidsguide?

had our daily, complimentary, three-Faberge egg omelets. I guess we?d been living pretty high off the hog?though Publisher Liz Davis never liked being called that?I guess everyone had.

And then, we weren?t. Yes, it was the economy. And while I?m not exactly sure what this economy is or why it has found it necessary that I buy store-brand chili, the fact is we?re all affected. And few people figure to be more affected ? with the possible exception of mink wranglers ? than families. Adults may know times are tough and money is tight, but kids just wanna have fun. Money is just some word they haven?t yet learned the meaning of and probably won?t until their second year of grad school. In short, kids will be depending on stuff to do this summer and you?re going to have to come up with something.

What are you going to do? Lots. It turns out that there are a ton of things you can do with your kids that are either cheap or free or, or at the very least, cost-effective. But, as with planning a land war in Asia or trip to the grocery store, the key to success is having a strategy. Simply going out with the kids, or leaving it to them, is like going to the grocery store hungry: you?re going to end up spending a lot of money unnecessarily and most likely feel fat.

So how does one plan? Well, you?ve already taken the first step in that direction by picking up this free copy of Kidsguide. In it, you?ll find thousands of places, activities, events, classes, etc. From those you can come up with a battle plan. Here?s a quick tip: try planning activities that have multiple layers. For instance, if you?re planning a morning excursion to a museum, try and pick one with a nearby, park-like area to eat an economically-friendly lunch you prepare at home. Also, be aware that kids have the attention span of, well, kids. If you think they are going to be satisfied doing anything for hours on end at any place not called Disneyland, you haven?t met kids. So stacking activities is a very effective way to elongate the fun and I?ll show you how do that.

Oh, didn?t I mention? I?m going to save you money. In the following few thousand words, I?m going to give you places to go and things to do for cheap. I?m also gonna give you a few money-saving tips, as are some of our more frugal readers.

CHEAP MOVIES

There is no more reliable respite from the summer heat than retreating to the air-conditioned recesses of a movie theater for a couple hours of entertainment. Sure, oday?s technology means you could throw a DVD on at home and let your kids watch something on your GIANT TV but here?s the thing about a theater: It?s Not Your Home.

Movies on the Beach, Newport Dunes Resort

Regal and Krikorian theaters

Super Savers Norwalk

Always check the Web site of wherever you want to go for deals, coupons, etc. There may be a more inexpensive time to visit an attraction, they may offer printable coupons on the site. Sometimes signing up to receive their e-newsletter brings coupons and discounts to your inbox. Google the destination you are going to combined with the word ?coupon? or ?discount.? You?ll be amazed at what comes up.

CHEAP CULTURE

No, we?re not talking about the MTV family of channels, I?m talking honest-to-goodness, hoity-to-toity, stick-it-in-your-stuck-up-friends-face culture?the very best kind. There is lots, LOTS, of free cultural stuff you can do, so much that there?s no way to list it all. We?ll give our three choices, but if you want a more complete list, check the pages of Kidsguide or, if you’re technically inclined, check out http://lawithkids.com/free-los-angeles-museums.html.

Griffith Park Observatory

Long Beach Museum of Art

Natural History Museum

From reader Christine Byrom: ?The Los Angeles area has loads of great museums and other sites that offer free entrance on various days of the week or month. To save even more, we pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic. We recently enjoyed a free visit to the Long Beach Art Museum on a Friday and had a picnic lunch on the lawn next to the museum which is on the bluff looking over the ocean. We also love packing a lunch and enjoying a breathtaking view of L.A. from the patio of the Getty Museum. Another favorite is picnicking on the lawn outside of the Natural History Museum (free on first Tuesdays) next to the rose garden. The possibilities are endless.?

CHEAP PARKS

OK, parks are pretty cheap to begin with, but some parks are cheaper than others in that they offer more play for your (non)pay.

Atlantis Garden Grove

Irvine Regional Park

CHEAP OUTDOORS

Now, it may stand to reason that anything that?s outdoors is going to be cheap. Well, just remember that Disneyland is outdoors.

Huntington Beach Central Park

Orange County Great Park Balloon

Point Vicente Interpretive Center, Palos Verdes

Combine free parks with free Letterboxing ? a fun and free hobby for families. Letterboxing is a ?scavenger/ treasure-hunt? in parks, forest and cities. All you need?are items you probably already have around the house ? a unique stamp for each kid; their own notebook; a pen; and a sense of adventure!?Clues for local letterboxing hunts (and Letterboxing instructions) can be found on the Web by entering in your zip code. We had a great time biking and scootering from clue to clue in El Dorado Park in Long Beach.??Your kids may even be inspired to create a letterbox as a family where you create the clues! Just remember when letterboxing, be sure to leave the boxes just as you found them, so other families may enjoy them, too! www.atlasquest.com or?www.letterboxing.org. ?The Salter Family

CHEAP CLASSES

There are some great classes kids can take during the summer that they will actually enjoy. Just be sure and not use the ?L? word (learning).

Free Kids’ Fishing Clinic and Free Sundays at Dana Wharf

Fullerton Arboretum

Rocketry

From reader Susan Janson: Once a month, Lowes and Home Depot have really great kids clinics. Kids learn how to build and?paint a birdhouse, make a portable garden, etc.?They are 100% free and are?typically held on the?second Saturday each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.?Web sites: www.lowesbuildandgrow.com and www.homedepot.com.

CHEAP THEME PARKS

Yeah, I know, I know. No such thing as a cheap theme park. Well, there is if you?re willing to go off the beaten path and expand your mind a little as to what constitutes a theme park. Also, you?re gonna get wet.

Adventure City

Adventure Park

Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

From reader Lisa Clemons: ?Make and freeze peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in plastic bags. When you are running late and need to grab and go, they defrost in about 10 minutes and then you can enjoy soft, yummy sandwiches that were almost free.”

CHEAP ANIMALS

For anyone who has a pet dog, cat, ocelot (especially an ocelot) you know there is no such thing as a cheap animal?well, except maybe for the gerbil, the disposal lighter of the animal kingdom. WE KID, GERBIL PEOPLE! Anyways, here?s a few ways to get your kids in proximity with our betters without your wallet getting mauled.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Centennial Farm

Los Angeles Zoo

CHEAP GAMES

Bowling. Who doesn?t like bowling? And with the innovation of bumper bowling, kids can enjoy it even more. For more specifics, check out the Kidsguide ?Bowling? section in the magazine.

Games. There are literally countless games you can play with your kids: sports games, hide and go seek, red rover, jump rope, jacks, hopscotch, hand-clapping rhymes. And then there are those great games that you just make up on the fly. You know, ?OK, I can touch my nose with the rolled up sock before you reach the tree?? There?s actually a Web site to help you with ideas: www.gameskidsplay.net.

Nickel! Nickel! For an admission price of $3.50 ($1 on Tuesdays) you can play your great arcade games ranging from golden oldies such as Pac-Man to Star Wars Trilogy to Deal or No Deal to Battle Gear 3, all of them for, you guessed it, a nickel. Well, actually, such vintage fare as Pac-Man is actually free. FREE! There are locations in Anaheim (714) 638-5050; Cypress, (714) 761-5515; Huntington Beach (714) 847-2191; Lake Forest (949) 837-1020 and Whittier (562) 902-1755.