Explore the Cosmos at the Griffith Observatory

by Jennifer O'BrienFebruary 19, 2019

The City of Angels may be chock full of stars, but the Griffith Observatory gives families the best opportunity to see the ones in the sky. Between the mesmerizing planetarium shows that take kids on a journey of cosmic exploration and discovery, fascinating exhibits, and telescopes that provide the most amazing views of LA and the stars above, the Griffith Observatory is the perfect pitstop for all the astronomers in your family.

photo: Griffith Observatory

Samuel Oschin Planetarium
The Samuel Oschin Planetarium is a truly magical and memorable experience for families. As the Zeiss Star Projector and digital projection system transform the dome into the night sky, visitors are transported to worlds beyond their wildest dreams.

Presently, the planetarium offers three shows to choose from that are presented by a live and engaging storyteller: Centered in the Universe takes visitors on a journey of cosmos; Water is Life leads the audience on a search for water and possibly life beyond Earth while Light of the Valkyries (their 75^thanniversary show) reveals the magic of the Northern Lights.

Live presentations are scheduled every 60-to-90 minutes. Note that children under 5 are only admitted to the first show each day (12:45 p.m. on weekdays and 10:45 a.m. on weekends).

Insider Tip: It gets quite dark in the planetarium at the beginning of the show, so prepare your astronomers, especially those that may be afraid of the dark. Tickets may only be purchased on-site at the Observatory for that day’s shows—no advance purchases are available.

photo: Griffith Observatory

The Exhibits

Within the Griffith Observatory, there are two floors of incredible exhibits waiting to spark the imaginations of visitors and encourage them to ponder their own relationships to the universe.

Don’t miss: Scales that tell guests how much they would weigh on each planet and our moon, the Foucault Pendulum—one of the largest scientific instruments in the world that proves Earth is spinning on its axis, and the Tesla Coil which discharges sizzling lightening sparks to the walls of its alcove.

photo: Griffith Observatory

The Telescopes

The main highlight for every Griffith Observatory visitor is getting to look through the famous Zeiss telescope on the roof. More people have looked through this telescope and learned about the movements of the heavens than any other telescope on Earth! After checking out this viewfinder, make sure to check out the other telescopes located on the vast terraces that provide more earth-bound, breathtaking views like the Hollywood sign, DTLA, and the Pacific Ocean.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

Observatory Events

Special events occur all year long at the Griffith Observatory, but little ones will especially love the “Let’s Make a Comet” presentation in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater during holiday breaks and summertime. During the 30-minute show, visitors help create a comet out of household ingredients.

Once a month, the Observatory hosts a Star Party where kids of all ages can look through dozens of telescopes on the lawn and interact with astronomy enthusiasts from local astronomy clubs, as well as Griffith Observatory employees.

Insider Tip: If you plan on visiting the Griffith Observatory on a Sat. or Sun., try to arrive right as close to 10 a.m. when they open to the public. Crowds will be lighter, and there should be available parking (with the exception of holiday weekends which can get a little crazy to say the least). If you become a member of Friends Of The Observatory, you can reserve parking ahead of time and even book tickets to the planetarium shows.

Where to Eat: Hungry star watchers can grab a bite on the lower level of the Observatory at Wolfgang Puck’s Café at the End of the Universe. A vast menu (including meals for kids) is available with everything from soups and salads to sandwiches and sweet treats. Visitors will find plenty of seating inside or outdoors on the terrace with stellar views of the city and Hollywood sign.

2800 E. Observatory Rd.
Los Angeles
213-473-0800
Online: griffithobservatory.org

To see what Red Tricycle Editors are up to this month, follow us on Instagram!

–Jennifer O’Brien

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Kapow! How to Make a Comic Strip with Your Little Storytellers

by Melissa HeckscherNovember 12, 2018

Every child has a story to tell, so why not get carried up up and away and write your own comic? Use words and pictures (which means less writing, more action). Get your child to the drawing board and start creating a comic book all his own. Scroll down to learn how.

What you’ll need:

Fine point black Sharpie marker (and other colors if your child wants to color in her comic)

Pencil with eraser

Card stock paper

ruler

Craft knife (X-Acto Knife)

Before You Begin: Decide on a story

Brainstorm story ideas. Make sure to explain to your child the importance of a story’s “beginning,” “middle,” and “end.” If your kiddo can’t come up with an idea on his own, have him think about something he did recently — or something he wants to do — that can be explained in in three simple pictures. Anything goes!

Step One: Make a comic strip stencil

This is crucial if you want to do more than one comic strip (or if your little artist makes a mistake and wants to start over). Make a 10″ by 5″ rectangular cutout that will fit three comic panels comfortably.

Step 2: Pencil in a template

Using the stencil, let your little illustrator pencil in the borders of the comic strip on a plain piece of white paper (card stock is better because the marker won’t bleed through). Then, draw two vertical lines so that your rectangle becomes three panels. You can mark these 1,2, and 3 to give your kids a guide for the beginning, middle, and end of their story.

Step 3: Make ruled lines for dialogue

Using your ruler, mark three or four lines across the top of all three panel lines (you’re going to erase them later, so keep them light). This is where your kiddo will write the dialogue or narration of his story. Note: Don’t skip this part! Guiding lines help your child write his letters correctly (especially important for newbie writers) and give his comic a professional look when it’s finished.

Step 4: Tell your story!

The stage has been set — now’s the time for your little creator to get to work. Have kids write their dialogue or narration on the ruled lines, leaving the square below to draw corresponding pictures.

Step 5: Make it permanent

Once the story and words are written, have your child trace over his words and pictures using a permanent marker. Note: Grown-ups can do this part if little artists are wiped out.

Step 6: Erase the pencil lines

Here’s where your kiddo’s comic starts to shine. Erase all the pencil marks from the page using light strokes (you don’t want to smudge any marker lines).

Step 7: Make some bubbles

Add bubbles or squares to make the narration or dialogue pop. Lastly, have your storyteller sign his comic. For proprietary reasons, of course — this little gem is going to be worth something when your cartoonist makes it big! After all, bestselling Captain Underpants author Dave Pilkey was just a second-grader when he came up with the winning idea for his scantily-clad superhero.

For more comic-creating fun…

Want to make an online comic you can share with friends via e-mail or on Facebook? Check out Marvel’s online comic-creation tool and you’ll be going WHAP! SPLAT! ZOINKS! in no time.

-This craft was inspired by the clever folks at mykidsadventures.com.

— all photos and copy by Melissa Heckscher

5 Cool Podcasts to Try on Your Next Road Trip

by rtmeredithOctober 2, 2017

With a spark of fun and a whole lot of inspiration, these new kid-friendly podcasts will keep your crew quiet and entertained when you hit the road—whether it’s for a weekend or maybe just a trip to the grocery store. Keep reading to discover what you should be downloading for your kids.

photo: Jonathan McPherskesen via Flickr

1. The Candlewick Podcast
Have you ever wondered how a children’s book author comes up with all those creative ideas? Well, so did Candlewick Press. Their new podcast series pulls the curtain back and offers us an up-close and personal look at authors and illustrators. In an easy to listen to interview format, authors and illustrators share personal stories about their creative process, how they landed in the world of children’s publishing, and how they come up with unique concepts. This engaging podcast will capture your kiddos attention, and it might have you hooked too!

Hear it: candlewickpodcast.com on iTunes and Stitcher

2. Wow In The World
If you’re constantly listening to NPR, be prepared to jump up and down because NPR recently launched a podcast for kids. Wow In The World is chocked full of interesting topics like technology, human origins, and the answers to some pressing questions (like how astronauts poop in space). Not only is the show exciting and engaging for families, but it’s designed to get kids and grown-ups talking long after the podcast has ended. Now, that’s an idea that will make you say “Wow!”

Hear it: npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world on iTunes and Stitcher

photo: Tim Samoff via Flickr

3. Stories Podcast
Hit download on this magical storytelling podcast and hear all the classics like Snow White and The Boy Who Cried Wolf, as well as unique stories from the author Daniel Hinds, about mermaids, dragons and more. With new episodes to play each week and dare we say, addicting series to return for, your kids will be totally hooked, We’re not making any promises here, but you may find yourself with some free time to sit back and relax or tackle your to-dos. And if you become obsessed like we did, be sure to check out the eBooks available for purchase on Stories Podcast’s website, and your kids can be happily following along with the story as it is read.

Hear it: storiespodcast.com on iTunes and Stitcher

photo: Eric Peacock via Flickr

4. Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
Whether you’ve already got indie music-loving minis in your crew or if you’re desperately searching for kiddie tunes that won’t drive you totally nuts, Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child is a solid choice for listening ears of all ages. This family music show is produced and hosted by Bill Childs along with his own two kids, using studio quality sound played in weekly, hour-long sets. Your gang will love rockin’ to the best kindie bands around, like Dan Zanes, Caspar Babypants, and Recess Monkeys. They’ve even got some of our favorites including Ziggy Marley, The Replacements, Ella Fitzgerald and more.

Hear it: sparetherock.com on iTunes and Stitcher

5. Sparkle Stories
Sparkle up! If you’re striving for a peaceful and relaxing road trip, calming tales from Sparkle Stories is a must. Storyteller and author David Sewell McCann tells original fables with moral twists (think realistic kids handling everyday issues like sibling rivalry) hidden deep enough in the narrative your little listeners won’t even know they’re learning. A handful of episodes can be heard from your favorite podcast app or purchase a $15 per month subscription from Sparkle Stories website and gain access to a library of over 900 titles (psst...they’ve even got their own app for Apple devices to make it easier for you to listen).

Hear it: sparklestories.com on iTunes and Stitcher

Do you and your kids have a favorite road trip podcast? Tell us which one in the Comments below.

— Meredith Mortensen, Rachael Brandon, Shahrzad Warkentin

10 Ways to Play if You Only Have 30 Minutes

by Allison SutcliffeAugust 27, 2017

Your busy family is often short on time. But that doesn’t mean you can’t crank out memorable moments, even if they’re brief. So the next time your crew has half an hour to spare, bust out one of these quick activities everyone can play.

photo: Shannon via Flickr

1. Get slimed. It’s ooey. It’s gooey. It’s the science trend of the moment. And if your budding chemist hasn’t hopped on this train, now’s the time. Find out how to make slimes of all sorts (we’re talking fluffy, glitter, clear and more) at Little Bins For Little Hands, and then get mixing. Our tip? Purchase the ingredients ahead of time, and pull ‘em out when you’ve got 30 minutes to spare.

2. Steal the stuffie. You’ve got to be quick on your (tip) toes to nab the stuffed animal in this game. To set it up, start off with one player seated, her back toward the others, and a prized stuffie placed behind her. Once she’s set, it’s time to make a sneaky attempt to grab the prize. If the seated player hears anyone approaching, she turns around and sends everyone back to the beginning. But if no one’s there, she trades places with another player and becomes part of the approaching pack. If anyone’s finally able to reach the stuffed animal, she or he wins and takes a turn standing guard.

photo: Allison Sutcliffe

3. Spin a yarn. Your creative kiddo doesn’t need to be a master storyteller to spin a tale or two—the plot of this story is in the bag. To start, collect three to six random objects from around the house, and throw them in a bag. Any item will work, so have fun selecting silly, odd and even everyday objects. Then, let your Little weave a riveting narrative that incorporates each of the objects from the bag into the story. This one’s best for grade schoolers who’ll totally be up to the creative, zany challenge.

4. Find the missing pair. The brilliance of this matching game is in its simplicity. All you need to play is a bunch of shoes (including the ones your kidlet’s got on) and a blindfold. Gather the shoes in a pile, and then throw only one of your sidekick’s shoes on top. Put the blindfold on, mix the shoes up a bit, and have her search out the missing match. Here’s the kicker—sibs or parents can give her guidance by shouting out directions (like “dig deeper, or one more to your left”) as she rifles through the pile. It doesn’t get easier than that!

photo: Official Bicycle Cards’ Facebook

5. Cut the deck. With half an hour to spare, you’ve got just enough time to pull out a trusty deck of cards and play a few rounds of kindie faves like Go Fish, War or Slapjack. Turn play time into a “best of” match so these quick five-minute games go the distance.

6. Head out on a hunt. This no-plan-needed scavenger hunt’s simplicity will put a smile on your face. Parents can pull it out at a moment’s notice, and every time you play it’s different. When your crew is ready, simply pick a category and a quantity (“find four triangles” or “find five objects that start with an ‘a’”) and then send them on their way. They’ll be searching out colors, shapes, letters or numbers on each run! Psst … it’s even better when sibs or friends set the search parameters.

photo: John Brooks via Flickr

7. Follow the leader. Let your silly sidekick bust out his best moves for this old school game. To play, your leader needs to strut his stuff (think: walking backward, taking bunny hops or dance walking) as he leads sibs, friends or parents through the house or around the yard until he’s back at his starting spot. Now it’s time for someone else to take a turn. Your preschooler won’t want to get off of this train!

8. Set up a sumo-wrestling match. Got pillows? Then your wiggly worms are ready to bump, bop and be bowled over during a sibling sumo wrestling match. Allison at All for the Boys has the hook up you need to make it happen.

photo: andrechinn via Flickr

9. Hop to it. Inside or out, pillow sack races never get old. So hit the linen closet and set your kids hopping around the house or in a backyard relay. Even if they’re flying solo, wiggle worms can partake. Time them as they bounce from start to finish, with the goal of getting a new P.R. each time. And, they’re off!

10. Stop, hammer time. Setting up a hammer busy bag, designed by Sue at One Time Through is a total cinch. And your tool-loving tot will have a blast hammering out her name, numbers and ABC’s when she’s on the lookout for a fast activity.

Do you think you’ll try one of these? Have another 30-minute activity to add? Leave it in a comment.

— Allison Sutcliffe

I’m Making Memories with My Daughter…and Leaving a Legacy

By Corey Wheeland

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

June 16, 2017

Photo: John Flobrant

“Zoey!” I call out, the impatience apparent in my voice. I glance at my watch as I place my daughter’s lunchbox in her backpack.

7:32 a.m. Five minutes until we need to leave.

She’s supposed to be brushing her teeth, but instead of running water and toothbrush scrubbing, the only sound I hear coming from the bathroom is her sweet chattering. Zoey’s been talking to herself since she first learned to speak; how comforting it must be, I think, to always have someone to talk to, who you can always count on to listen. If it was the weekend, I would have just smiled to myself and let her carry on her conversation, but alas, it’s a school day.

The first bell will ring in 13 minutes.

– – –

“Come on, Z,” I say as I step into the bathroom. She looks up and smiles as she can now see the both of us reflected in the mirror. I slip up behind her and bury my face into her neck.

“If I have to ask you one more time…” I playfully growl.

“Mommy?” she asks.

“What’s up, Pea?”

“I wanted to tell you something.”

I look back into the mirror so she can see me. I roll my eyes. “Now you’re just stalling. Brush. Your. Teeth.”

“No, really, come here,” she says as she pulls my face next to hers. Carbon copies of ourselves blink back at our real versions.

“I told my teacher the other day that the only thing different about your face and mine was the color of our eyes.” Her hands squeeze my cheeks. “How cool is that? Other than your green ones and my blue ones, we’re the same!”

We’re the same….

One day, when I am gone from this earth, Zoey will probably be nostalgic about me and our times together. Being a masterful storyteller, she will no doubt find ways to keep my memory alive, so I wonder: How will she remember me? What stories she will choose to share?

I look at my tiny 5-year-old in the mirror and picture her all grown up, telling her own children about how when she was a little girl, she thought their grandmother looked just like her.

And as Zoey’s blue eyes stare back at my green ones, her innocent pride pulling her lips into a happy smile, I think of the legacy I want to leave behind.

Isn’t that something that we all should keep in mind as we go about our days? How do we want our loved ones to remember us? Will their memories of us turn into stories told with proud smiles and endless love? And in those stories, what words will we want written on the pages?

As for me, I want to be remembered fondly (I mean, don’t we all?). So for now, looking at Zoey’s beautiful face in the mirror, the words I decide to write on my pages today are those of love, patience, and gratitude.

“You know what I told someone about you the other day?” I ask her as I hand her the toothpaste and toothbrush, my head still next to hers, my arms encircling her waist into a hug.

“What?” she asks through a mouthful of bubble-gum scented foam.

“That when I grew up, I wanted to be just like you.”

Though the colors may be mismatched, our eyes crinkle up smaller when we smile; in the mirror now, both sets are almost non-existent.

But then the sweet moment passes, and we are in a rush again. We quickly grab our bags, rush down the hall to catch the elevator, and buckle up in the car so we can get to school on time.

Yet despite feeling harried, we laugh and rock out to the radio and play I-Spy and tell each other about what parts of our days we are looking forward to the most.

And that’s when I know: That’s the person I want to be. That’s the person I am. And if I make sure to always practice being me — being happy, playful, joyful, and positive — that’s the person she’ll tell stories about. That’s the person she’ll remember. That’s the person she’ll love.

That’s the person she loves.

So today, I decide to put those things into action. I go to work and I smile at my co-workers as I say good morning. I dive into my long to-do list with enthusiasm. I think about how lucky and blessed I am in all aspects of my life.

And I also set a reminder on my phone to wake up 5 minutes earlier tomorrow morning.

Just in case Zoey and I decide we want to create some more memories.

Want to share your inspiring stories and fun family tips? Sign up to become a Spoke contributor!

Corey Wheeland

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I'm a graphic designer, writer, and single mom. Over on my blog The Nostalgia Diaries, my goal is to simplify, enhance, and engage people’s lives by helping them focus on the most important things: remembering, appreciating, believing, and becoming. It’s all about celebrating the past to create better days today.

FREE Fall Library Story Times for Kids

by rtbrynwiedSeptember 21, 2015

The summer reading programs may have ended, but that’s no excuse to stop visiting your local library! Get ready to dive back into books with your kids. The whole family can curl up and enjoy story time together for free at these San Diego libraries. Kids don’t have to be school-age to enjoy reading, either. Click through the slideshow to check out these spots that have a variety of programs for kids of all ages, infant to teen!

Escondido Public Library

The Escondido Public Library has different storytime programs for kids of all ages offered on nearly every day of the week. Times and schedules for the programs are subject to change, so be sure to check the library’s website or call for the full storytime schedule.

For infants ages 0-24 months: The Wee Wigglers Storytime engages both parents and their babies. The story time includes songs and books as well as some play time. The focus of the program is on developing language as well as social skills.

For ages 3-5: The Rhymes and Reading program combines music and books into a fun atmosphere that helps make books approachable for kids who aren’t yet reading. Kids and adults can clap along, sing, and answer questions as the storyteller reads through books and nursery rhymes.

For all ages: The Library also provides a bilingual storytime to help with Spanish and English language development. The program is open for kids and families of all ages, and includes stories as well as popular songs.

239 S Kalmia St.
Escondido, Ca 92026
760-839-4683
Online: library.escondido.org

Photo Credit: Aaron Muderick via Flickr Creative Commons

Where are your favorite storytime programs? Do you have a favorite San Diego library storytime?

— Bryn Wied

ML Interest Tag: storyteller

Explore the Cosmos at the Griffith Observatory

The Exhibits

The Telescopes

Observatory Events

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Escondido Public Library