Where does the time go? Consider a Kids’/Parents’ Night Out program for those coveted extra hours
Kidsguide Magazine Online
Dec. 4, 2009

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