What better way to say hooray for spring than with some colorful Easter Egg OREO Cookies!

OREO has just revealed that they will be bringing back the Easter Egg OREO Cookies this year just in time to celebrate the season. The special Easter treat is an egg-shaped Golden OREO cookie tinted a festive pink.

Just like before, these holiday cookies are a limited-edition variety that will be sold while supplies last, so you’ll want to grab a pack before they bounce away until next year. Easter Egg OREO Cookies are slated to hit store shelves at major grocery retailers in Feb. 2020.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a sweet tooth fix, OREO Most Stuf Cookies will be returning to stores for a limited time starting Jan. 20. To celebrate the occasion, OREO is asking fans to vote on their favorite cream to cookie ratio. You can vote here from now until Mar. 20, 2020 for a chance to win some awesome prizes, including $100,000.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of OREO

 

RELATED STORIES

OREO’s Heart-Shaped Cookie Dunking Kit is Valentine’s Day Love

OREO Is Releasing a Tiramisu-Flavored Cookie & Goodbye New Year’s Resolutions

OREO Announces 2 New Flavors to Debut in 2020

Have the kids beaten your couch (or bed) into submission with the constant jumping? Get thee to an indoor trampoline park, stat! From gymnasium-sized trampoline parks on Long Island, to specialized trampoline classes closer to home, and even a spot for really little ones, you’ll find all kinds of ways to catch some air around NYC. (Reminder: Do yourself a favor and buy tickets and fill out waivers ahead of time online. And don’t forget socks!) Read on to see NYC’s top trampoline parks!

To Soar in Howard Beach, Queens: Launch Trampoline Park

Viviana G. via Yelp

One of the newest trampoline parks in NYC, Launch offers so much more than just jumping on trampolines. Play basketball, dodgeball, take off from the Launch Pad, face off in the Battle Pit, play some games in the arcade and more! Launch hosts a glow party on Fridays, Sensory Bounce on the last Tuesday of the month (4-8 p.m.), and Toddler Time is coming soon. Click here to see all programs.

Cost: Starting cost is $27/hour; family rate is $99/family of four

163-50 Crossbay Blvd. 
Howard Beach
718-593-4204
Online: launchtrampolinepark.com

To See Your Kid Stuck to a Wall: Xtreme Energy

Shirley M via Yelp

Xtreme Energy in Englewood, New Jersey is full of fun stuff to do, including a ropes course, a rock-climbing wall, a playscape to climb up around and through, a ninja course and virtual reality. But we personally love the idea of our child putting on a velcro suit, jumping and sticking to the wall. Hi-larious. Xtreme Energy also hosts Toddler Time and special events (click here for the latest), and serves real, nutritious food like salads and wraps at the cafe. (Sweet stuff, too.) 

Cost: two-hour pass weekday/$19, weekend/$25; weekend day all-day pass, $35

250 S. Van Brunt St. 
Englewood, NJ
201-408-5555
Online: xtreme.energy

 

To Jump, Climb, Tumble and More: Chelsea Piers

Chelsea Piers Manhattan

For jumping (and a whole lot more), check out the massive Field House at Chelsea Piers Manhattan, home to a gymnastics center, hardwood basketball courts, two playing fields, a 25-foot rock climbing wall, and, of course, trampolines. Kids 3-5 can get moving and bouncing with CP Champs. The three-hour session’s activities include trampoline, foam pit, and rock climbing, as well as story time and arts and crafts. Pre-registration is required, and must be done at least 24 hours in advance.

Cost: $365 for five sessions.; $660 for 10

Ages: Rock-n-Roll: 5-17; CP Champs: 2.5-5

Pier 62
23rd St. & Hudson River Park
Chelsea
212-336-6500
Online: Chelsea Piers Manhattan

 

For Toddler Time, Sensory Bounce, Ziplining, and More! : Bounce Trampoline Sports

Mike C. via Yelp

Roughly 45 minutes outside the city on Long Island, tucked behind a nondescript office park and just beyond a bottling warehouse, you'll find a gigantic building hopping mad with activity. Inside hundreds of kids are literally jumping for joy. Bounce! Trampoline Sports is a trampoline park of Olympic-sized proportions. The enormous gymnasium is cordoned off into different areas: one section contains more than 20 trampolines attached to each other - some even sloping up the walls - where kids can leap, bounce and laugh, while another area allows basketball fans to make slam-dunks on a trampoline court. The facility also boasts eight foam pits where kids can jump and somersault off a trampoline and land into a moat of soft red cubes. 

Bonus: There's also a special "Bounce Jr." area just for kids age six and under, and a ninja course and Adventure Zone, complete with elevated ropes course and zipline (with options for little and big kids). 

Small kid tip: Check the calendar for the latest schedule, but Bounce! pretty consistently holds Toddler Time (ages six and under) from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. every weekday, and 9 a.m. to noon on weekends for $20. Note: they do not host Toddler Time during school vacations. It also holds sensory-friendly sessions on Mondays from 6 - 8 p.m., and Jump N Glow blocks (must be  at least 48 inches tall). 

Cost: Starting at $24.99 for 60 minutes at Open Bounce and Jump N Glow; $12 for 60 minutes Sensory Bounce

310 Michael Dr.
Syosset, NY
516-762-1300
Online: bouncesyosset.com

For Tiny Jumpers: Billy Beez

Sam T. via Yelp

From bouncing on Grandpa’s knee to swinging high in Daddy’s arms, the under-five set can’t get enough of going vertical. But sometimes all that jumping around can be dangerous for tots. And that’s why Billy Beez’s is an ideal destination for the leapin' young’uns. The huge rainforest-themed indoor play park (25,000 feet!) features two trampolines (which have safety netting surrounding the sides), twisty slides, hide-and-seek tunnels and climbing walls - all found about 45 minutes north of the city. Prices are for all-day re-entry; socks are required. 

Small kid tip: For kids under age 3, check out the "Mini Beez" area, which has special padded play structures.

Cost: $21.95/age 4-17; $16.95/ages 1 - 3; $7.95/adults; seniors 65 and older/free with paid child or toddler

1000 Palisades Center Dr.
West Nyack, NY
Phone 845-535-9277
Online: billybeezus.com

To Bounce With Artistic Flair: STREB

Streb Facebook page 

Sometimes simply jumping up and down can become monotonous — even for the most rambunctious kids. And that’s where Williamsburg's Streb Lab for Action Mechanics (SLAM) comes in. Founded by choreographer Elizabeth Streb, who’s been called the "Evel Knievel of dance", Streb Lab’s Kid Trampoline class channels kids’ energy and refocuses it on performance and overcoming fears. All of the classes are taught by Streb troupe dancers and take place where the dancers train and perform themselves. Students will not only learn acrobatic skills on a huge trampoline but will also be inspired as they watch dancers rehearse on the trapeze swings and aerial silks. 

Cost: For kids ages five and up. $500 for a 16-week semester. 

51 North 1st St.
Williamsburg
Phone: 718-384-6491
Online: streb.org/kid-popaction

To Soar on Staten Island: Fly High

photo:  Tony L. via Yelp 

Fly High is Staten Island's HQ for bouncing it out. (They also bill themselves as NYC's first indoor trampoline park.) This spot has not only an expanse of trampolines for jumping, you'll also find the Bungee Slingshot, foam pits to dive into and the Dunk Zone, where a satisfying slam dunk is possible thanks to a trampoline assist. Fly High has no age restrictions, but of course you'll need to keep an eye on the kids at all times. Note: wearing Fly High's Jump Socks is a must; they're $2 and you can bring them back and use them again. Also note: they have massage chairs on site if you need a rub down after some major bouncing. Ages: Fly High is all ages but they advise that kids five and under not jump on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays due to high volume. If you do choose to visit with a little one, an adult must purchase a ticket and jump with them.

Cost: $15/30 minutes; $22/60 minutes; $27/90 minutes, $30/120 minutes.

501 Industry Rd.
Staten Island
718-524-6561
Online: flyhighny.com

To Jump in Jersey: Sky Zone

Sky Zone via Yelp

At Sky Zone in South Plainfield, jumpers can bounce and play dodgeball on the open main court of trampolines, sail into pits of foam blocks in the "Foam Zone", or do a fantasy slam dunk in the SkySlam area. (The trampoline park's most recent addition: axe-throwing!) Sky Zone hosts special themed Toddler Time jumps (Fairy Tale Jump, Sports Jump) for kids up to six years of age on Tuesdays from 4 - 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 - 11 a.m.. (Kids are $12/hour, parents $12/hour, although adults don't have to jump, and socks are included.) Sky Zone also hosts sensory-friendly bounce during Toddler Time on Tuesdays. 

Cost: Varies by time and duration of jump; starts at $22 for 60 minutes. Memberships for unlimited bouncing are also available. Head to Family Night and pay $100 for a family of four. 

600 Hadley Rd.
South Plainfield, NJ
908-756-5867
Online: skyzone.com

For Bouncing and Climbing and a Ninja Course: Chelsea Piers CT

Chelsea Piers CT

What is it about jumping up and down that makes a kid instantly smile? Well, that’s exactly what will happen when your kids visit the Jump/Climb Zone at Chelsea Piers’ Adventure Center in Stamford, Conn, an easy train ride from Grand Central. From the same team that designed Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, CP Stamford offers the same state-of-the-art facilities, including its wall-to-wall trampoline room. Besides leaping, soaring, and bouncing their ya-yas out, kids can also use the indoor climbing wall to boost their upper body strength, or test their skills on a Ninja Adventure course. If you're heading there with a big kid and a little one, the facility also has a Little Athletes Zone, equipped with tunnels, slides, climbing structures and more, for kids 6 months to five years old, as well as separate Toddler Jump Times for kids ages two to four. 

Cost: $18/hour, youth Jump and Climb; $16/hour, Toddler Jump; $20/hour, Ninja Adventure (ages 7 to 14)

Chelsea Piers CT
One Blachley Rd.
Stamford, CT
Phone: 203-989-1000

Online: chelseapiersct.com/adventure

.—Alice Perry

Featured image: Sky Zone

RELATED STORIES:

Flip Out! 10 Circus Schools for NYC Kids

Take it Inside! Birthday Party Spots for Active Kids

Where to Zip-line In and Around NYC with Kids

If there’s one thing you can count on during the holiday season it’s plenty of heartwarming moments, like the sweet scene in this Star Wars-themed ad that shows why inclusion matters.

The ad for Filipino phone company Globe Telecom follows two young boys as they go door-to-door in their neighborhood collecting materials, like old cellphones and tires. The boys appear to be building some kind of a spaceship with all the materials, but it appears to be missing something so they grab some more materials and enlist a young girl to help.

Working together the three engineers create a contraption that provides a fully immersive movie-watching experience. The girl sits in the bouncing, moving seat with water spraying and a fan blowing as Star Wars plays on screen. It’s not until the very end of the ad that we discover that––spoiler alert––the girl is deaf.

The ad, which is meant to show that “the wonder of Star Wars can touch the lives of everyone, even of those who can’t hear it” is part of Globe Telecom’s holiday campaign to raise funding for virtual schools for people with disabilities. You can learn more about it here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Globe via YouTube

 

RELATED STORIES

Now You Can Get a Star Wars Instant Pot

This “Star Wars” Roblox Collab Is Out of This Galaxy

The Final “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker” Trailer Has Landed & It Will Give You Goosebumps

A mere three months after giving birth to her second son Jacob, Carrie Underwood got back to work in a serious way. The country mega-star launched her “Cry Pretty” tour earlier this week, taking the term “working mom” to a whole new level.

So how does Underwood balance her career and parenting? Like many of us, finding a happy medium isn’t easy for the celeb. In an interview with Today, the singer revealed that bouncing back after baby number two wasn’t anything like the first time around and that she had to adjust her expectations.

Underwood told Today’s Natalie Morales that she holds herself to a high standard but, “If you set the bar too high and you have unrealistic expectations, at some point you’re going to realize, ‘I’m not there,’ and, again, you’re going to feel like you’ve failed. And it’s ridiculous. You know, my son is three months old, and I was expecting to … I don’t know what I was expecting, to be quite honest.”

That’s when Underwood changed her expectations revealing, “I stopped trying to be perfect immediately. And I started putting one foot in front of the other, instead of trying to plan everything out—putting one foot in front of the other, and being on my journey, and being on my path and, you know, thinking about my end goal. And it really doesn’t matter exactly when I reach that goal, as long as I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

Now that’s some solid celeb advice that every mama can follow!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Carrie Underwood via Instagram 

 

RELATED STORIES

Kelly Clarkson Thanks Carrie Underwood: “It’s So Important” to Talk about Miscarriage

This 8-Year-Old Performed an Amazing Carrie Underwood Cover—in Sign Language

Carrie Underwood Just Shared Her New Son’s First Video & We Can’t Stop Watching

The Big Bounce America has made an exciting announcement: The World’s Biggest Bounce House is going on tour! From March through November, you can get your bounce on in over 40 cities in 25 states.

The event will feature the world’s largest bounce house and two new attractions for 2019: a space-themed land and a 900+ foot long obstacle course! The tour launched Mar. 22 in Boca Raton and guarantees family fun for everyone. Keep reading to get all the details!

The tour will feature several attractions, including the bounce castle, The Giant and airSPACE. You’ll find a basketball court, giant slide, and a massive ball pit at the bounce house as your rock out to a world-class DJ. Over at The Giant, perfect your ninja skills on a 900+ foot long inflatable obstacle course that is great for kids (and adults) of all ages.

New this year, you won’t want to miss the space-themed inflatable, airSPACE. With a five-person race slide and a fifty-foot-wide play space for little bouncers, your family won’t be able to get enough of the fun alongside the friendly aliens, spaceships, and planets.

Spectators will not need a ticket––watching is free! However, any parent accompanying their child will need to purchase a ticket. Children three and under require a parent, while kiddos four and older jumping in a Junior or Bigger Kids session can bounce solo.

Tickets are already on sale and start at $16 for toddlers, $24 for big kids and $28 for adult all-access passes for three hours. Choose between Family Sessions and Adult-only (16 years and older) and check out upcoming locations by visiting Big Bounce America. Don’t wait––it will sell out!

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of The Big Bounce America

 

RELATED STORIES

These are Your Top Destinations for Summer Vaycay This Year

All the New Attractions Coming to the Disneyland Resort This Year

This Over-the-Top Glamping Experience Is Not Your Average Tent-Out

Seasoned Seattle parents know that tulips and sunshine aren’t signs of spring; they’re harbingers of the rainy season ahead. That’s why we’re super excited Defy Tacoma, the Seattle area’s newest indoor trampoline and air sports park, just opened its doors. It’s the energy burning, indoor activity parents and kids crave on rainy days. Scroll down to learn more!

Jump In!

The newest indoor aerial arts park, Defy Tacoma, makes the most of its expansive 30,000 square foot warehouse space. Attraction density was the goal when the park was designed, and it shows. Everywhere you look, there’s something new and engaging for kids to try. Plus, close together features mean parents can easily keep an eye on kids when one sprints off toward the dodge ball court and another makes a beeline for the battle beam. If trampoline parks are your jam, you’ll recognize some favorites here. Defy Tacoma has the requisite open jump space where kids can bounce from one tramp to the next, until they can’t bounce anymore. There’s also a netted dodge ball court, complete with a referee who not only keeps a watchful eye on things, but also establishes some rules so players can make the most of game time. The basketball court is great for kid dunks and the adjacent ninja warrior course is challenging no matter what your age. Other familiar attractions include circus favorites like the slack line, cloud swings and trapeze bar.

Try Something New

If Defy Tacoma’s familiarity gets you through the door, it’s the not-found-anywhere-else features that will keep you coming back. The most noticeably new feature is Wipeout. The attraction is mechanized, pitting a staff-controlled machine against kids of all ages, as they try to avoid getting knocked off base into the foam pit. It’s sure to attract your kids the moment they walk through the door. Next up are the Zip Lines. There are two that kids can swing on during flight time. We’re particularly taken with the booty ball zip line, which makes the typical traverse a little more challenging than kids are used to. Families can also battle it out on the Battle Beam, a suspended balance beam where players use padded bats to try and knock each other off balance and into the pit below. And finally, the Log Roll for lumberjack wannabes, although this one is padded and the landing is soft and dry.

A Much-Needed Break

When flight time’s over, your kids are sure to be hungry. Defy Tacoma has a café and seating area guests can use whenever they need a break. Families will find the typical snack bar fare (think: pizza, sodas, slushies). Pricing is reasonable (between $5-$15) and there are offerings to feed one or many, so you can get your fill no matter your group size. You can also bring your own food from home, if you prefer. This summer, Defy Tacoma’s outdoor patio will open, so you can take a sun break before heading back in for more off-the-wall antics.

Host the Perfect Party

Busy parents are always on the lookout for great birthday party spots. When the venue does all the work for you? It’s even better. That’s what you can expect from Defy Tacoma’s party packages. Book one of their four party rooms for your next shindig and you can rest easy. They take care of everything, from decorations, to food and drink, to all the paper goods. The only thing you bring is the cake! But if planning is your thing and you want to throw a coordinated or themed bash, they can help you do that too. Reach out to the Event Coordination Team to bring your perfect party vision to life. Weekday packages for 10 jumpers start at $275 ($325 on Fridays and weekends) and include all the party fixings. It’s an easy party win!

Know Before You Go:

1. Be sure to book flight time and sign the online waiver before you make the trek.

2. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled flight time so you have plenty of time to get checked in, get your wristband and store your shoes before it’s time for take off!

3. Grippy socks are a must. If you’ve got a pair, great! If not, you can buy them at Defy Tacoma for $3.

4. Special flight times are set aside for the youngest bouncers (6 & under) every weekday from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. They get the run of the place, without any of those pesky big kids around.

5. Looking for special pricing and events, like Family Night or Parents Night Out? Follow Defy Tacoma on Facebook to stay up to date and in the know.

Defy Tacoma
1680 S. Mildred St.
Tacoma, WA 98465
253-300-3499
Online: defytacoma.com

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 9 a.m.-midnight; Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Cost: $15/1 hr. flight, $20/1 ½ hr. flight or $23/2 hr. flight (7 & older) weekdays; $11/1 hr. flight, $15/ 1/12 hr. flight or $19/2 hr. flight (6 & under) weekdays; $15/1 hr. flight, $23/1 ½ hr. flight or $28/2 hr. flight (7 & older) weekends & holidays; $11/1 hr. flight, $17/ 1/12 hr. flight or $22/2 hr. flight (6 & under) weekends & holidays.

—Allison Sutcliffe (all photos courtesy of the writer)

RELATED STORIES

Art, Architecture & Aquariums: 14 Must-See Tacoma Attractions

Have you booked your Spring Break vaycay yet? If not, you’re in luck—because LEGO Movie World at LEGOLAND Florida has officially opened. And yes, everything is awesome.

So what can you expect from this new LEGOLAND Florida attraction? The newest and largest expansion of the theme park is 80,000 square-feet, which means your kiddo will have plenty of room to roam around and explore their favorite attractions straight out of The LEGO Movie franchise.

LEGO Movie World includes a quick-service restaurant, three rides, a play area and (of course) a retail store.

When it comes to the rides, Unikitty’s Disco Drop is a spinning, bouncing, dropping party.

The ride carries you 35 feet up into the air and like the name says, drops you down to the ground.

There are also plenty of meet-and-greet photo opps for the whole family!

And if all that doesn’t make you feel like everything actually is awesome, check out this clip to see just how awesome it really is!

LEGO Movie World is open now at the LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Orlando. Book your vacation and buy your tickets online here.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Courtesy of LEGO

 

RELATED STORIES

Oh Hello, Free Tickets to LEGOLAND (Here’s How to Get ‘Em)

16 LEGOLAND Secrets You Need to Know Before You Go

Should I Take My Kid to LEGOLAND or Disney World?

From those hazy newborn days to Daylight Savings havoc, being a parent means losing sleep. In fact, it can mean getting less sleep for up to six years. So how do you make up lost sleep? There are few ways you can replenish some of that missing shut eye.

A study recently published in Current Biology confirms what experts have long agreed on: you can’t make up for too many late nights simply by sleeping in on the weekend. A couple extra hours doesn’t make make up for the lost time or correct shifts that have occurred in your body’s natural circadian rhythms.

photo: Wokandapix via Pixabay

Instead of hitting the snooze alarm all weekend, a better approach is to follow the age old advice given to new moms and sleep when the baby sleeps. In other words, take a nap. “The light exposure in the morning right after your sleep period is what we think is most important for keeping those regular biological rhythms going,” Dr. Cathy Goldstein, an associate professor of neurology at the the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center told TIME. “If you do need to log some extra hours, a midday nap might be better.”

Keep your nap short and sweet, just twenty minutes is the perfect amount of time according to the National Sleep Foundation. Just make sure you don’t take that nap too close to bedtime or you’ll be bouncing off the walls right along with your toddler. Goldstein also suggests maintaining consistent wake times, even on weekends, and limiting nighttime light exposure to improve sleep quality.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

RELATED STORIES

How Long Do Parents Lose Sleep After Having a Kid? You Should Probably Sit Down

This Acupressure Point That Puts Your Baby to Sleep May as Well Be Magic

How Much Sleep Do Kids Really Need? Study Offers New Guidelines

An outing to the movies seems like a family friendly slam dunk until halfway through the trailers you remember that sitting still does not rank among your monkey’s greatest attributes.  Cinèpolis has arrived in Pico Rivera (via Mexico!) to save the day for movie lovers young and old.  Because here, the experience is entirely and explicitly made for kids who can’t sit still, and the people who love them.

photo: Cinèpolis Junior

There’s a Movie Jungle in the Urban Jungle
Ever wished there was a jungle gym in your movie theater, so kids can get the jiggles & wiggles out right up until the lights dim?  Factoring in those previews (have these gotten both longer and louder since we became parents?), two hours is a long time to sit, let alone sit still.  If only they could climb and bounce and be exactly their age. If only there was a jungle gym inside the movie theater…wait, now there is!

photo: Jolie Loeb

The Junior Theater Is Where It’s At
One for the “Things One Must See to Believe” category.  Double that for the “Why Didn’t Anyone Think of This Before” category. But be careful when you get tickets; there are a total of 14 theaters at the Cinèpolis and only one of them boasts the kid-menities.  So be sure to reserve tickets for the Junior Theater; that’s where the party awaits.

photo: Jolie Loeb

Bean Bags, Pillow Seats & Lounge Chairs, Oh My
So yes, there’s a jungle gym, complete with two slides and platforms and pogo sticks, and spinning things, and no, they cannot continue to climb about once the movie gets going.  At that point all squirmy worms must take their seats so that everyone can actually watch the movie.  (But there’s a break mid-movie to get the wiggles, and more, out.  More on that later.)  But another thing to note, when reserving your tickets—all seats are not created equal.  There are bean bag seats, which our kid testers thought were the coolest.  ($27.50 for two seats).  There are also double pillow seats (also $27.50 for two), or just run of the mill movie seats which get the job done just fine ($12.75-$14.75).

photo: Jolie Loeb

Rules Rule
There aren’t many, but they are enforced for the sake of safety and cleanliness. The slides are for 6-12 year-olds.  A parent or guardian must be present (no ditching the kid flick and heading next door).  Food and drinks cannot be brought inside the play area (but yes, of course, inside the movie theater!).  Socks are a yes, shoes and hats are a no.  And several reminder announcements are made when show time is about to commence.

photo: Jolie Loeb

Tote the Toddler, Too
There’s plenty for the under 6 set as well.  A rainbow gated area at the front of the theater is filled with mini climbers and tiny slides.  Ample architecture to safely get their giddiness out before the lights go.

Potty Break!
You show us a parent, we’ll show you someone who has missed at least 10 pivotal scenes from 10 movies because, when they’ve gotta go…here, not necessary.  The lights go up and the movie pauses mid-showing for a solid break, where yes they can climb, they can take care of business, and you’ll actually be able to witness a movie, start to finish.  The simple pleasures.

photo: Cinèpolis Junior

In the Future, Everyone Will Have Fifteen Minutes of Fun
The play structure is 55 ft. long and 25 ft. high, and features slides, wobble hoppers (like immobile pogo sticks), a stand-n-spin, and hanging fun forest bags for their bouncing off the walls pleasure.  Ticket holders are admitted in fifteen minutes early to get that bounce going.  Like hitting the park and the movies all in one.  Sans sand.

All That, and Parking Is Free
And parking is ample.  Since there are about three places we can say that about in Los Angeles, this is a parental highlight.  And three is being generous.

photo: Jolie Loeb

Once They Go Cinèpolis…
Perhaps the only drawback of the situation is that it raises the bar.  But with the promise of showing child friendly films seven days a week, when you hit the movies, this very well might be a habit worth adopting.  If you’ve got bigger siblings along for the ride, let them know that this theater also shows the latest teen faves in 4DX, which means seats shake, mist and wind hit your face and smell-o-vision comes to life.  So this is truly the theater with something for everyone in the family.

Cinèpolis
8540 Whittier Blvd.
Pico Rivera
424-744-8860
Online: cinepolisusa.com/pico-rivera.aspx

What’s your favorite movie theater for kids?  We love this new one, plus the iPic for special occasions, these retro theaters for classic screenings and these amazing kid-pleasers!

—Jolie Loeb

Feel like your kids are bouncing off the walls? Let them do it literally at one of the area’s many bounce house places. Giant slides, obstacle courses and plain old jumping will be sure to get them good and tired for nap or bedtime. At most places, parents looking to burn off a little steam (yes, the Fitbit counts each jump) can bop around with their kiddos, but for those who need a break, many also have cafes.

Photo: Pump It Up

Pump It Up
Open jump times welcome kiddos of all ages to hop around the giant bounce houses, which feature slides, climbing and obstacles. Area locations offer special events, too. In Manassas, wear tie-dye on Tuesdays and get $2 off, keep it safe with Little Tikes Jump for ages 6 and under while parents enjoy a free cup of coffee in Loudoun County, and make it a family affair with Family Jump in Silver Spring. It’s $11/kid and $3/adult, including 90 minutes of bouncing, 30 minutes for pizza (two kid-sized slices per person) and a drink.

Cost: About $10, varies slightly by location
Where: 10110 Battleview Pkwy. (Manassas, Va); 73 Lawson Rd. SE (Leesburg, Va); 12210 Plum Orchard Dr. (Silver Spring, Md); 109 Post Office Rd. (Waldorf, Md)
Online: pumpitupparty.com

Jumping Joeys
Tap your inner kangaroo and head here to bop from inflatable to inflatable. There’s one set aside for the littlest boppers and a long one with basketball hoops on either end. Tall slides and obstacle courses are plentiful. Note: It’s a nut-free facility.

Cost: $10.60/single session, bulk passes available
Where: 1425 N. Quincy St., Arlington; 402 W. Broad St., Suite 200, Falls Church
Online: jjbounce.com

Sport Bounce of Loudoun
It’s tough to get bored with 10,000 square feet of jumping and playing potential. Two steep slides greet you at the door, with two more giant slides waiting farther back. There’s also a colorful jumping pillow that’s huge, basketball challenges, obstacle courses and a bounce house for the 36-month-and-under set. The back room houses some climbing and seesaw-like toys, and there’s a café for mom and dad. Remember to bring socks!

Cost: $10/child over 24 months, $6/child 18 to 23 months
Where: 44710 Cape Ct. (Ashburn, Va)
Online: sportbounce.com

Kid’s Choice Sports Center
Lots of options during open play here, including bounce houses, basketball, soccer, aquatics and bubble ball. There’s also the new Toddler Town for kiddos 1 through 5. It features more than 100 games, a playhouse and mini sports. Each pass gets you 2.5 hours of play time. Check out the after-school programs and day camps, too.

Cost: $8 for single play, $35 for five passes, $55 for 10 passes
Where: 13000 Sport and Health Dr. (Woodbridge, Va)
Online: kidschoicesportandfuncenter.com

Bounce Mania
In its 8,700-square-feet of space, this family-owned indoor playground and bounce house place offers two bouncing areas and a full arcade plus a parents’ lounge serving free coffee. Look for discounts such as the $5 Bounce for late-afternoon jumpers and $7 sessions on Wacky Wednesdays.

Cost: $10
Where: 7679 Limestone Dr. (Gainesville, Va)
Online: mybouncemania.com

Monkey Joe’s
Keep an eye out for the furry purple Monkey Joe mascot as kids 12 and under bounce around on the giant inflatables. There’s a separate area for the youngest guests, and an arcade where the machines give tickets that can be exchanged for prizes. Note: Adults can help children 4 and under but are not allowed to bounce for safety reasons.

Cost: $12.99/child over 2, $6.99/child 2 and under who are playing
Where: 23521 Overland Dr. (Sterling, Va); 13032 Middlebrook Rd. (Germantown, Md)
Online: monkeyjoes.com

BounceU
Check out the All-Age Open Bounce on Mondays through Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. ($10.95/bouncer), Cosmic Open Bounce on Fridays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. ($13.95/bouncer, parents bounce for free) when the facility breaks out glow-in-the-dark accessories and turns up the tunes or Preschool Playdate, which happens on weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ($11.95/bouncer) for kids 5 and younger. It includes 90 minutes of bouncing with a snack and story break in the middle. Toddler Time is offered four times on weekends for kids 4 and under.

Cost: $10.95 to $13.95
Where: 1632 E. Gude Dr. (Rockville, Md)
Online: bounceu.com

Jump!Zone
The five giant inflatables here feature superhero and princess themes, and a firetruck with a slide. Stop by for Family Fun Night on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m., when you can get the Family Package for $30, which buys you admission for two children (adults are free), a onetopping pizza and a 2-liter bottle of soda.

Cost: $8 to $10.99
Where: 6858 Race Track Rd. (Bowie, Md.)
Online: jumpzoneparty.com

Have you checked out any of these bounce houses? Tell us about it in the comments below. 

–Stephanie Kanowitz