If your kids love watching Go! Go! Cory Carson, then they will be excited for the new special announced by Netflix. Netflix’s preschool special Go! Go! Cory Carson: The Chrissy premieres globally on May 1. The 44 minute special is perfect for families looking for safe, quality content to keep their little ones entertained.
The special comes from Pixar alumni Alex Woo and Stanley Moore and is an extension of the popular preschool series Go! Go! Cory Carson, currently streaming on Netflix.
Cory is a little kid car with an engine that runs on fun. His eager playful spirit can often get him into challenging and entertaining forks in the road. Cory and his family live in the town of Bumperton Hills, where there is always someone interesting to talk to and another adventure is just down the road.
In the new special, the Carson kids win a talent show with a dance that Cory created. But, when “The Chrissy” catches on, his sister gets all of the attention!
Once families are done watching, parents can keep them busy with these lesson plans and activity guides available for download through Scholastic and Young Minds Inspired.
San Diegans are currently homebound due to social distancing and widespread business closures. Your kids may not understand why trips to the museum, zoo, Safari Park or Birch Aquarium have to be put on hold. We’ve found plenty of ways for your family to enjoy some of your favorite places from home! See what the rhinos, elephants, giraffes, koalas and cute creatures are doing at the zoo and Safari Park (including Butterfly Jungle!) via live cameras, watch the fish swim through Birch Aquarium’s kelp forest in real time, spy some adorable, adoptable cats lounging at The Cat Cafe, take advantage of the San Diego Natural History Museum’s online learning experiences and videos, take an online yoga class hosted by a local yoga studio. Read on for how to explore the city without leaving the house.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park is bringing Butterfly Jungle to your home, via a new live video cam! Now you can view livestreaming video from Butterfly Jungle at sdzsafaripark.org/butterfly-cam and take a visual “walk” through the rain forest habitat. Here, you'll see some of the thousands of colorful, eye-catching butterflies as they flutter lightly through the warm air to find nectar-filled flowers, or catch of glimpse of up to 22 exotic bird species—including the critically endangered Bali myna and blue-crowned laughingthrush that reside inside the aviary, among the lush greenery.
The San Diego Zoo is closed through March 31, but you can still see many of the Zoo's animals via their live cams. Watch the African penguins snooze, swim and waddle. See the Hamadryas baboon troop or the Gelada monkeys hang out. Spy sweet koalas climbing through the trees. Giggle watching the orangutans and siamangs swing to and fro. It's quite fun popping in to see what all of these amazing creatures are up to!
Bonus: Visit the San Diego Zoo Kids website for additional videos, stories, activities and games that will keep kiddos entertained and learning.
Birch Aquarium is temporarily closed to the public but their live Kelp Cam is open 24/7. (But be advised it goes dark at night since it's naturally lit by sunlight during the day).
At time of publication, the Birch Aquarium's husbandry team is planning to keep the same feeding schedule, so you can watch divers via the Kelp Cam as they feed the animals and also as they clean the tank on Tues. and Thurs. at 12:30 p.m., on Sat. at 2 p.m. and Sun. at 10:30 a.m. (Subject to change).
This is a peaceful view into the underwater world of swimming fish and swaying kelp.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is closed through March 31st but kids can enjoy watching their favorite animals in action right from home. Click on the giraffe cam to see giraffes and rhinos roaming the African Plains habitat. Then encourage your kids to join the citizen science program Wildwatch Kenya to help save giraffes. Your fam can also delight in seeing the beautiful tigers sleeping and prowling via the tiger cam. Don't miss tuning in to the elephant cam to see these gentle giants eating, playing and looking regal. There are also condor cams and burrowing owl cams of feathered friends.
The San Diego Natural History Museum is closed but they have plenty of ways to keep young minds enlightened and entertained. Visit their new webpage: The Nat at Home for an array of activities from exploring nature in your backyard to exploring their specimens online. They're also offering Nature & Me Storytime every Thursday at 10:15 a.m. on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Additionally, check out their online video collection which features videos on topics including A Deep Look at a Mammoth's Skull, gray whale watching and administering medicine to a sick rattlesnake.
Additionally the Museum offers the following to keep kids engaged while home:
Their science blog goes back through years of research and discovery. It will continue to be updated during the Museum's closure.
Their educational resources are available here and include plenty of activities you can do at home.
Here kitty, kitty! Peer in to The Cat Cafe's live stream footage to see all of the adorable kitties! They're cleaning their cute little faces by licking their paws, snoozing in cat condos, clawing rope posts and more. See how many cats you can spy. The best part: these frolicking felines are up for adoption! So if you see a cute cat that's purrfect for your family, give The Cat Cafe a call.
Take a fun video tour of Old Town San Diego. You'll learn about the restaurants, entertainment, shops and more in this exciting locale. Then your family can plan a future trip to Old Town after reading our guide to Old Town to make sure you make the most of your visit and don't miss a thing!
Surf's up! Hotel Del Coronado's live beach cam will help you channel the soothing vibes of the ocean. Log on to see the sun rise or set over the ocean and to watch the waves crashing on the shore. It's the good for the soul vitamin 'sea' we all need.
The San Diego Museum of Art mobile app is a great resource with various languages, audio from curators, maps and additional information about works of art from the Museum’s collection. The app offers a virtual tour of the Museum, from the lower rotunda to the galleries and the Museum’s facade. Visitors can also view works from various exhibitions on the app, including Bouguereau & America, Art for All and more. The app is also free easily downloadable on iOS and Android devices.
Mello Yoga is currently closed to abide by COVID-19 regulations. In the meantime, the wonderful studio is serving the community by uploading yoga videos for adults and kids to their YouTube channel. They'll be adding new videos for online classes daily––and doing yoga together is a perfect way to bond and get some exercise during your homeschool routine.
Parents across the country have been tasked with a new responsibility. With school districts closing due to COVID-19, parents are taking over the role of the children’s teachers for the next few weeks and possibly the remainder of the school year. Peanuts is providing educational materials and standards based lesson plans free of charge to assist during this time.
Students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade can bring STEM, language arts and social studies to life with the help of Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the gang. Kids can sharpen their math skills with Charlie Brown and his baseball teammates, celebrate spring with the Peanuts gang while completing activities in science, language arts and math. Several of the lesson plans feature Astronaut Snoopy which pairs with the new series Snoopy in SPace on Apple TV+. Both initiatives were created in collaboration with NASA.
All learning materials were developed by the award-winning curriculum specialists at Young Minds Inspired, the nation’s leading provider of free educational outreach programs.
As parents, we all want to raise their children with as many advantages as possible. In addition to a myriad of benefits, there have been countless studies that connect music with a child’s intellectual and social growth, which makes it a fun, joyous way to help our kids grow into healthy, happy grown-ups. So let’s commit to raising a musical child!
The Science & Why Music Is Important
Since the 1990s, a multitude of studies has connected music education with a child’s intellectual and social growth. Our top takeaways:
• Kids who study music have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills, as learning music develops the part of the brain that processes language. These kids also tend to score higher on reading and spelling tests.
• Music is closely aligned with math, so even a few years of music-making experience translates into higher math skills.
• Music builds self-esteem as a child sees improvement in their skills – some will enjoy showing off a bit for family and friends!
• Music performance teaches kids to conquer fear and take risks.
• Kids who suffer from anxiety or stress may find that a creative outlet like music is a relaxing, calming activity.
What You Can Do:
1. Create a Musical House. Do babies in the womb benefit from mom listening to music? For sure it helps mom relax! Once out, young minds are better off growing up in a home where music is all around. Young children are naturally drawn to music; this is why apps like Samsung Kids+ (a subscription service featuring safe, educational and entertainment content for kids) use music to teach preschoolers in learning videos, as music is the best way to engage young minds. And the more variety in the music your kids hear, the better.
2. Join Baby/Toddler Music Programs. Two well-known options are Kindermusik and Gymboree, who incorporate music and movement into play. Local city programs, daycare facilities, and learning centers will often have music-based programs. There are also many apps available that expose preschoolers to music learning.
3. Be a Role Model. If you ever played an instrument as a kid, share your experiences with your child, or get that old guitar out of its case! Singing and dancing at home are also musical expressions that will rub off on your kids in a great way. Show them how much fun you can have with music!
4. Explore Your Local Community. Seek out live music of all types. If you’re lucky enough to live in a city with a local symphony, see if they have programs for young children. Local theater groups will stage musicals for kids, or check out those free Sunday afternoon concerts with musicians playing in the park. Live music can be a big influence on how children learn to think about music.
5. When Should I Get Music Lessons? Of course, while listening to and enjoying music is a great start, actually learning to play an instrument is the goal for your child, which is how they can reap those benefits mentioned above. It’s most common to start kids at age five or six. For younger children, there are Suzuki method teachers who offer string lessons to kids as young as three. Some think that’s too young, but like many things, it depends on the child. Some instruments (like the violin or piano) are better suited for small hands than others but talk to a music teacher for their advice. Next, you might ask…
6. Where Do I Find a Music Teacher? Your local music store will have music teachers available for a variety of instruments, and most music stores rent instruments so you don’t have to go all-in to purchase one. You can also contact local chapters of organizations like the Music Teachers National Association or The Royal Conservatory of Music, both of which have online tools that let you search their database for a teacher near you. Or check with the music department at your local community college, the band director at your local high school, or even the music director at your church. You’ll find that musicians form a tight community and are eager advocates for music education.
7. Check Out School Music Programs. Typically these start in third or fourth grade and have the added benefit of letting your child play with a group from the start. School band programs enhance music learning by creating a community of kids who perform together, go on trips together, and form a unique bond through music. While playing an instrument is still a great experience alone, there’s nothing like making music with others.
8. What About Practicing? We all know the joke: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice! Our advice is this: Music is a journey, not a destination. Successful children come from a home where you don’t quit in the middle of something, and music is no different. But you also need to weigh the costs with the benefits. If it’s a battle and you can only get a few minutes of practice a day, it’s the long haul that will pay off, and a few minutes is better than none at all. You’ve never heard anyone say they wish they had never taken a piano lesson, but many adults wish they had never quit.
This isn’t about making professional musicians. It’s about many things—opening a door to self-expression, bringing opportunities for joy, letting your child be part of a larger community, and allowing kids to get their brain working in a way that will give them an advantage in school. Bonus? You’ll be that proud parent during family gatherings when your child gets to show off their interruption of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
Their markers have run dry, their crayons are nubs and the glue bottle’s empty! Your kids have running out of craft supplies down to a fine art. It’s time to take your budding artists to enhance their creative genius at a local art studio. We’ve found brilliant San Diego art studios for kids where young minds will be inspired by all sorts of mediums from painting and sewing to drawing and pottery making. Read on for where to take kids to create their next masterpiece.
The Hot Spot
Beth Shea
The Hot Spot is a one-stop shop, creative wonderland! Here kids can paint their own pottery, make candles, fashion gnome and fairy gardens, create mosaics, paint canvas paintings and even make slime and glitter globes. The friendly and helpful staff provides everything required for these artistic endeavors and all creations go home the same day, except for pottery which needs to be fired and will be ready for pick-up after 1-3 days.
The Hot Spot also offers Mommy & Me Time, Family Night Out, birthday parties and Parents Night Out programs.
The Hot Spot 16445 Paseo Del Sur #135 San Diego, CA, 92127 858-312-1019
2770 Historic Decatur Rd. San Diego, CA 92106 619-223-1339 Online: thehotspotstudio.com
Little Fish Comic Book Studio offers an array of classes for kids who want to learn about and practice comic artform. Their Young Artists class for ages 6-10 is an introductory class wherein kids will learn lessons on drawing, character creation and enjoy demos from professionals.
The Studio also offers camps and events such as Cosplay figure drawing with live models.
Want to try it out before signing up? You can RSVP here for a one-time-only demo class.
6822B El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115 619-356-1103 Online: lilfish.us
ArtHaus 5 offers a pre-enrollment assessment to ensure your budding artist is placed in the class best suited to his/her needs and skill level. Class offerings include fun options like character illustration, life drawing, comic illustration, watercolor/acrylic painting, beginning sculpting, digital art and more!
10710 Thornmint Rd. Ste 201, San Diego, CA 92127 858-333-5172 Online: arthaus5.com
Global Art San Diego
Global Art San Diego
Global Art San Diego in Rancho Penasquitos, offers a variety of art classes, art camps and birthday paint or craft parties. Their focus is primarily in visual art drawing and they guide kids to be visual storytellers, tapping into their imagination to compose their art pieces. The studio's unique approach enables kids to solidify their skills and techniques before moving to more advanced levels. They also offer a variety of art projects through their spring and summer camps, which are designed for kids of all ages and packed with lots of fun while exploring different mediums and techniques.
Global Art is currently present in 18 different countries worldwide, with over 630 centers established. Join them for a free trial to discover their center and programs.
Lux Art Institute is a hub of inspiration for budding artists. Kids art classes are taught by local artists who are experts at mediums ranging from portraiture to jewelry making. There's also a Kids-in-Residence program through which kids ages 4-17 meet with the Institute's current artist-in-residence to learn about the style, technique and ideas behind their work.
1550 S. El Camino Real Encinitas, CA 92024 760-436-6611 Online: luxartinstitute.org
Paintbox Studio
Paintbox Studio
'Sew' cool! Winner of San Diego Magazine’s Best Art and Sew Class in San Diego, Paintbox Art Studio is a one-stop shop for a budding imagination. Founded by UCSD grad Jaimee Brant, classes include both art and sewing and teach concepts of specific historical art movement and various art techniques. Students are invited to display their art at a quarterly show where anyone can drop in, look around and enjoy the art and sewn works. Great for kindergartners and up.
Teach your favorite creative minds to follow the beat of their own drum when it comes to artistic expression. Kristel Boe, owner of ArtBeat, believes having an artistic outlet helps people of all ages find happiness, so she designed her studio around an instructional based artistic experience with wiggle room for creativity & artistic exploration. You're guaranteed an experience that will leave you and your little one with a full heart and an inspired imagination. Check out their offerings for classes and private kids art parties.
Young artists will love the classes, workshops and camps offered at this art studio. Each class has under ten students, which means more assistance for each child. Here's just a hint of what kids can do: paint their sneakers, learn how to write chalkboard lettering, cartooning and character design, retro tapestry weaving and so much more. Check out Bravo's calendar for details on classes, days, times and prices.
Drawn2Art is a creative haven where kids can achieve big accomplishments. The thoughtful curriculum is based on the idea that artistic skill is learned and can be cultivated in every child. Whether your child is interested in sculpting or cartooning, Drawn2Art has a class or workshop that will get their creative juices flowing. They also offer a free introductory class for new students.
13173-10 Black Mountain Rd. San Diego, CA 92129 858-538-5278 Online: drawn2artstudios.com
One of the better known art studios in San Diego County, Monart has earned its credible reputation by teaching kids how to draw since 1992. Monart is more than just a studio, it's a specialized drawing method based on the best-selling book, 'Drawing with Children' by Mona Brookes. The method focuses on teaching children how to draw realistically while helping them build confidence and develop skills. Check out their schedule and sign your kiddo up for a free trial class to get started on their art adventure. Monart also offers plenty of camps throughout the county.
2590 Truxtun Rd., Ste 204 San Diego, CA 92106 619-222-DRAW Online: monart.com
Kids classes at Art Adventure Studio are designed not only to teach kids the technique of fine art, but to offer them a calm environment to create and explore their artistic side. The studio's beautiful light, art benches, easels and music will help your sweet pea tap into his creativity. Kids are able to work one-on-one with an instructor in a small group setting, giving them the opportunity to learn at their own pace. They also get to explore a variety of mediums you may not have lying around the house, like charcoal, chalk pastel, oil pastels, watercolors, acrylics and oils.
Art aficionados will happily report that local favorite, A Colorful Universe, is out of this world. The full walk-in art studio offers pottery painting, clay impressions and canvas painting for the whole family. With awesome daily specials like Paint Me a Story and Kids' Night Out, the art studio is not only an inspiring outing but an affordable one too. Have a kiddo who wants to give making their own pottery a whirl? A Colorful Universe offers an after school Intro to Clay Wheel class that teaches new techniques and skills each week.
1523 San Elijo Rd. Suite 106 San Marcos, CA 92078 760-761-0476 Online: acolorfuluniverse.com
With multiple locations throughout San Diego, Little Artists is earning a reputation as a go-to spot for art education. Kids who sign up for their program will develop a thorough understanding of basic drawing skills and techniques and then move on to watercolors, acrylics and oils. Most kids begin drawing from pictures that are broken down into simple steps. This prepares them for more challenging subject matters such as a photograph or still life. Little Artists teachers are qualified art educators who are trained in all drawing and painting media. Best suited for kids age 4 - teens.
Get ready for an exquisite vacation that’s a world away from the ordinary right here in SoCal! Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbarawelcomes families to an elevated experience thanks to attention to detail, thoughtful amenities and a first class, friendly and accommodating staff. A stay at this extraordinary resort, which is just steps away from one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, is something every clan should indulge in. Read on for 11 among countless reasons you must book a stay at Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara.
A Gorgeous Setting That's Idyllic During All Four Seasons
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
Thanks to southern California's ideal weather and year-round beach vibe, Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara is truly a destination you can visit any day of the year, throughout all four seasons. This Spanish colonial hideaway is nestled within 22-acres of lush jungle and boasts serene gardens and the largest planting of Kentia palm trees outside of Australia. The relaxed setting has a tropical feel akin to Hawaii––but you needn't fly anywhere when this phenomenal resort is so close to home.
Oceanfront Swimming at Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club
Guests of the Resort's Jungle Rooms and higher categories have access to the glamorous and wow-worthy Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club. Here you can dive in to one of the world's largest swimming pools, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. There's also a smaller pool for young kids and a large whirpool you can relax in while soaking up ocean views. Private Cabanas are also available that come complete with staff to attend to you.
Seamlessly enjoy both the pool and the beach via the Club's private, gated stairway to Butterfly Beach. Plan on heading up to the sundeck to watch the sun set over the ocean each evening.
Get your workout in at the fitness centre that offers an array of equipment and fitness classes as well as spa areas with stone-clad steam rooms and red-cedar saunas.
Dining options at the Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club include poolside dining at Coral Café and Bar and fresh-pressed organic juices and smoothies from Fins during the day. For dinner, head to Tydes to dine on local seafood and seasonal dishes with Mediterranean flair.
Direct Access to Butterfly Beach
Beth Shea
As mentioned above, it's a truly priceless experience to be just footsteps away from the pristine Butterfly Beach during your stay. Surf, swim, watch the sunset and stroll the beach at your leisure. There's no need to pile in the car or navigate to find the best stretch of sand, because it's right there at your feet.
Welcoming Amenities Especially for Kids
Beth Shea
Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara welcomes kids upon arrival by letting them choose from an adorable selection of Beanie Babies. Ty Warner, the creator of Beanie Babies owns the Resort, and this thoughtful touch makes kids feel comfortable and special right from the start. Kids will also love the "Fun in the Sun" toiletry kit waiting especially for them in their room. Made exclusively for the Resort, the kit contains dreamy-scented, soothing and natural bubble bath, conditioner and body wash.
You can also take advantage of the complimentary Kids for All Seasons program. Available for kids ages 5-12, the professionally run program keeps kiddos entertained and happy while you're on a date, at the Spa or enjoying some me-time. Hours: during the festive season, 7 days a week 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Off-season, Sat. only, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., peak season, 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Luxurious & Comfortable Rooms
Beth Shea
The guest rooms are impeccable, equal parts luxurious and cozy, and decorated with a combination of modern elegance and Spanish colonial style. We loved the spacious Jungle Room that includes a furnished outdoor terrace in a garden setting with soothing fountains. Some Jungle Rooms come with additional connecting rooms to accommodate families who need more space. Suites, bungalows and villas are also available, depending on the size of room you need and your budget.
Bike Rentals on Property
Beth Shea
For a nominal fee, you can rent bikes from the Spa right on property and take one (or more) of several scenic and memorable bike paths from the Resort. We recommend the 3 mile coastal bike path that runs from the Resort to the harbor and downtown's State Street. They offer an array of bikes and beach cruisers to suit your whole family, from kid-sized to adult-sized, and they include helmets, bottled water, bike locks and bike maps.
Also good to know: the Resort offers complimentary, continuous shuttle service on Fridays (4-9 p.m.) and Saturdays (1-9 p.m.) to and from downtown Santa Barbara, with drop off and pick up service from any location within a five-mile radius of the Resort. Go enjoy shopping on nearby State Street without having to worry about parking.
Delicious Dining with Ocean Views
Beth Shea
Dine on local and fresh, organic, Italian-inspired California-coastal cuisine and soak in opulent ocean and island views at the Resort's Bella Vista restaurant, where kids ages 5 and younger eat free. You may get extra lucky and spy seals or dolphins splashing about in the distance as you enjoy your meal.
Whether you're in the mood for the Santa Barbara Harbour Seafood Platter, the fresh house-made pasta dishes or the Portobello Piccata, there's a dish to delight everyone and to accommodate any dietary needs on Bella Vista's menu.
Young diners will surely find their perfect meal on the extensive kids' menu (for ages 5-12) which includes items ranging from waffles, pancakes and breakfast burritos to start the day to all day offerings like a kid-spin on a steak salad, fried chicken sandwich, veggie burger or skinless salmon. Eye-popping dessert options for kids include a decorate your own cupcake platter with assorted toppings and an ooey-gooey brownie sundae
We appreciated all of the delicious vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options that were available on both the kids' menu and regular menus.
Bella Vista is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and they offer brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
Food Prepared Especially for Kids & A Heavenly Buffet
Beth Shea
Treat the fam to the Biltmore Champagne Sunday Brunch and you'll all think you're in heaven. This buffet-style brunch includes bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys as well as endless decadent dessert works of art and savory options at sushi stations, omelette and soup bars and so much more. At $85/person, it's worth every penny. There's even a table dedicated to kid diners that's full of fare like chicken tenders, fruit skewers, PB&J sandwiches, grilled cheese and Jello.
Don't miss the Little Chef Experience! Offered daily, kids ages 5-12 can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Resort Kitchen, enjoy a meet-and-greet with the chefs, cupcake decorating, and they'll get a chef hat and apron! $40/per child––perfect for young foodies.
Pickleball & Tennis Courts
Beth Shea
Get sporty with your crew and reserve a complimentary pickleball or tennis court via the Resort's concierge. If your kiddo's can't quite swing it for tennis yet, pickleball is a super fun option on a smaller court with larger paddles that make it easier to get the ball over the net.
Additional Resort activities to keep you all entertained include croquet and a putting green.
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
1260 Channel Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
805-969-2261
Online: fourseasons.com/santabarbara
Nearby Spots to Visit During Your Stay
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation
Beth Shea
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation is a unique and wonderful wonderland of learning that combines science and creativity in unprecedented activities that will make a memorable impact on kids. The MOXI's interactive "powerfully playful" exhibits constantly engage kids in experiencing the environment. From creating a wind-, sun- and human-powered symphony with the Weather Orchestra on the rooftop Sky Garden while taking in amazing views of Santa Barbara, to creating giant digital mosaics using personal photographs, building your own race car and sending it speeding down a track, strumming a gigantic guitar to learn more about music and countless additional activities that encourage curiosity––from the moment kids step into The MOXI until long after they leave, young minds will be inspired this visit.
125 State St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-770-5000 Online: moxi.org
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Beth Shea
Consider The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's temporary exhibit, Garden Casitas: Playhouses Designed with Nature in Mind (running now through Feb. 29, 2020) a must-see! Kids will love exploring six playhouses created by local designers that are constructed using plant-based materials. Shown above is the Big-eared Woodrat House. Each house has an informational plaque by it with fun facts such as: "big-eared woodrats (Neotoma macrotis) are nocturnal and forage for leaves, plants, and seeds during the night. If they come across anything shiny or cool-looking, they will carry it back to their nests for display." Kids will delight in all of the playhouses they can climb through and explore. It's an unbeatable way to spend an afternoon.
Even if you don't make it in time to catch this exhibit, a visit to this Botanic Garden is a peaceful family outing that's not to be missed. Here you can roam through towering Redwoods, follow the Canyon Trail across Mission Creek, enjoy an array of family-friendly programming and so much more!
1212 Mission Canyon Rd. Santa Barbara CA 93105 805-682-4726 Online: sbbg.org
––Beth Shea
This trip was partially paid for by Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara and Visit Santa Barbara, but all opinions here belong to the writer.
Just in time for your elf’s reappearance for the holiday season, there’s a new Elf on the Shelf movie the whole family will love.
From the creators of The Elf on the Shelf,the Elf Pets’ new Christmas film,A Fox Cub’s Christmas Tale is now streaming through Dec. 31 on YouTube. Based on the book,Elf Pets: An Arctic Fox Tradition, which launches this holiday season, the short animated film gives fans of all ages a peek into life at the North Pole.
If your inquisitive young minds at home can’t stop asking how Santa can manage to deliver all those presents in just one night, this movie has all the answers. The film follows the story of “Newsey Noel,” the North Pole’s ace Scout Elf reporter, who is invited to ride along with Santa on Christmas Eve to learn first-hand how time pauses so Santa can deliver presents undetected and unheard.
Elf Pets:A Fox Cub’s Christmas Tale is available now on YouTube, as well as on DVD.
Fall is here and local museums around the Bay Area have started rolling out their lineup of exciting exhibits for the whole family. Immerse yourself in the world of Burning Man, take a trip to Japan and then learn all about your cells at these exhibits that kids will love. Scroll through our picks, then open up your calendars to block out some time to check them out!
Wild Child — Junior Center of Art & Science
Erin Lem
For an experience especially tailored to the littles (crawling through five years old), head to the Wild Child pop up exhibit at Junior Center of Art & Science in Oakland. This interactive exhibit encourages young minds to touch, climb, tinker and create.
The outdoor area features an immersive sculpture full of sensory surprises, while indoors you'll find two play rooms. One boasts a sweet portal tunnel (mom and dad, be prepared to crouch to enter!), ball pit, sticker wall and Hygge nook. Next door find a creative space (toward the back there's a separate shoe-free area just for babies and crawlers) with sensory, creative art projects led by staff, "artifacts" like typewriters and calculators, and a huge wire cage our own toddler was especially fond of exploring. Beyond free play, Wild Child also features baby and toddler classes on their calendar here.
Good to know:
Depending on your child's attention span (and how crowded the place is) expect to spend anywhere from 2-3 hours exploring.
Beyond the pop up, you can check out the other rooms in the Junior Center of Art & Science like the play house room, replete with a play kitchen, stuffed animals and trains, and the reptile room where your kiddo can peek at snakes and other creepy crawlies.
Ample parking is available. The Center is located in the same area as Children's Fairyland. Sat & Sun. parking costs $5/day and Mon.-Fri. parking costs $2/first two hours or $10/day.
Junior Center of Art & Science Now through Feb, 23, 2020 558 Bellevue Avenue Oakland, CA 94610 Online: wildchildplay.com
No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man – Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) will bring cutting-edge artwork, sculpture, and interactive installations from Burning Man, one of the most widely-celebrated and influential cultural events, to its galleries this fall. No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man will illuminate the event’s origins and its culture of experimentation, collaboration and creativity, which draws over 70,000 people to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert each year.
An adaptation of the original exhibition organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in collaboration with Burning Man Project, No Spectators will take over OMCA’s Great Hall and beyond, going outside of the walls of the gallery with outdoor sculpture throughout the Museum’s public spaces, including an OMCA-commissioned 40-foot-tall outdoor temple by internationally-acclaimed sculptor David Best. A companion exhibition within the gallery, City of Dust: The Evolution of Burning Man, organized by the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, will trace Burning Man's origins from its countercultural roots in the San Francisco Bay Area to the world-famous city in the desert it is today.
Oakland Museum of California On exhibit October 12, 2019-February 16, 2020 Online: museumca.org
The Exploratorium has just opened a new permanent exhibit collection entitled Cells to Self: Exploring the Life Inside You. Through more than 20 new experiences, this collection reveals the wondrous variety of human cells and the amazing things they’re doing in your body. See live heart cells beating in time with your own pulse, or find out which bacteria are living on your skin. Through living tissues, microscopes and digital models, you’ll discover how cells move and communicate.
The Exploratorium Opens October 3 (part of the permanent collection) Online: exploratorium.edu
Hello from Japan! – Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Children's Museum of San Jose
Come visit Tokyo right here in San Jose and get an authentic peek into Japanese culture. Featuring a bustling modern city street inspired by Tokyo’s Harajuku district that bridges to a tranquil Shinto shrine, you’ll see the incredible contrast between modern kawaii aesthetics and traditional motifs and customs. The transition between the two show how the Japanese culture values history, a society where the past, present and future harmoniously coexist.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose On exhibit through Feb. 5, 2020 Online: cdm.org
Science + You - Bay Area Discovery Museum
Science You
All children are scientists and at the Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM) they can look and act the part! In BADM's new traveling exhibit, Science + You, visitors get hands-on with the machinery, processes and technology used in real laboratories every day. Upon entering the exhibit, children wash their hands, wipe their feet and even walk through a pretend shower before donning their white lab coat,
Abracadabra! Magic in Peanuts - Charles Schulz Museum
Charles Schulz Museum
Charles Schulz loved sleight of hand and stage magic of all kinds. Learn firsthand how the cartoonist dabbled in magic and, like all things in his life, brought magic into the panels of Peanuts. See original comic strip art, animation cels, and a selection of the magic items that belonged to Schulz—no hocus pocus required.
Charles Schulz Museum On exhibit through Jan. 19, 2020 Online: schulzmuseum.org
The exhibition SOFT POWER is about the ways in which artists deploy art to explore their roles as citizens and social actors. Appropriated from the Reagan-era term used to describe how a country’s “soft” assets such as culture, political values, and foreign policies can be more influential than coercive or violent expressions of power, the title contemplates the potential of art and offers a provocation to the public to exert their own influence on the world. Presented on two floors of the museum, the exhibition features new commissions and recent works by twenty international artists.
SFMOMA On exhibit Oct. 26, 2019-Feb. 17, 2020 Online: sfmoma.org
Survival Architecture and the Art of Resilience - Museum of Craft and Design
Museum of Craft and Design
This winter, the Museum of Craft and Design (MCD) will present two new, dynamic exhibitions exploring the ways that creative individuals are addressing issues of climate change. Survival Architecture and the Art of Resilience is a timely exhibition showcasing visionary architects and artists who have created artistically interpretive solutions and prototypes for emergency shelters in a climate-constrained world. Concurrently, the exhibition Linda Gass: and then this happened… will examine the human-made and natural water infrastructure affecting the greater Bay Area, considering present and future challenges with respect to climate change.
Museum of Craft and Design Both exhibits will be available Dec. 19, 2019-May 3, 2020 Online: sfmcd.org
A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art - Walt Disney Family Museum
Untitled Pastel, Marker and Pencil on Newsprint Courtesy of Youth Spirit Artworks
The Walt Disney Family Museum's 2019 community access exhibition will be A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art. Featuring original artwork created by young people experiencing homelessness, the exhibition’s title was inspired by Walt Disney himself: “There is great comfort and inspiration in this feeling of close human relationships and its bearing on our mutual fortunes—a powerful force to overcome the tough breaks which are certain to come for most of us from time to time.”
A Powerful Force will feature artworks created by homeless youth with three greater San Francisco Bay Area partner organizations: Raphael House, Larkin Street Youth Services, and Youth Spirit Artworks. These nonprofit organizations help at-risk youth and their families achieve independence by providing career-building skills, educational programs and safe housing.
Walt Disney Family Museum On exhibit through Jan. 6, 2020 Online: waltdisney.org
Cointraptions: Classic Coin-Operated Machines - Museum of American Heritage
Travel back in time to the early 1900s to the 1950s when pennies, nickels and dimes were dropped into slots across the nation. Coin-operated machines were widely used in places of businesses such as general stores, toy stores, parlors, restaurants, bars, casinos and gas stops. See how businesses across America operated before the era of the credit card.
Museum of American Heritage On exhibit through Feb. 16, 2020 Online: moah.org
Chances are you’ve heard a lot recently about young climate activist Greta Thunberg and her mission to get the world to take action to save the environment. Introducing those important lessons to young minds can be tricky, but a new picture book, Greta and the Giants is a great place to start.
Rather than focusing on the non-fiction narrative behind Greta’s campaign, Greta and the Giants is an allegory that helps illustrate her crucial message to a young audience. It focuses on encouraging kids to think about how their actions affect others. The book tells the story of Greta, who protects the animals living in a forest from Giants who want to chop all of the trees down.
photo: Courtesy of The Quarto Group
The book also includes tips for how kids and families can help reduce their carbon footprint. The publisher will be donating a percentage of the proceeds to 350.org, an organization Greta supports. In keeping with Greta’s message, the book will also be printed locally in the United States on 100 percent recycled paper.
Greta and the Giants will be available to purchase starting Nov. 19.
The focus on STEM education isn’t just about encouraging kids to love math and science, it’s about opening up their eyes to future career paths and helping their minds develop the critical thinking skills necessary to become future engineers. The 2019 FIRST LEGO League has just introduced new architecture-themed building sets that are all about giving young builders hands on experience with solving the large-scale problems, like transportation and overcrowding that real cities face today.
For the uninitiated, FIRST LEGO League is a program designed for kids ages nine-16 to participate in STEM-based challenges in teams. The teams compete to find solutions to real-world problems based around a STEAM theme. Previous year’s themes have included “Hydro Dynamics,” exploring how we use water, and “Into Orbit” navigating the challenges of space exploration.
This year’s theme is focused on urban planning. The program also features FIRST LEGO Jr., which is designed for kids 6-10 in non-competitive teams completing smaller projects. The FIRST LEGO League was founded in 1998 and now has over 320,000 participants in 98 countries around the world.
The teams are only allowed to use the LEGO Education sets specifically created for each year’s theme. LEGO Education has just unveiled the two new sets for this year’s focus on architecture. The BOOMTOWN BUILD, which is designed for FIRST LEGO Jr. teams and is centered around building a city to accommodate all different types of people, and CITY SHAPER, which is designed for FIRST LEGO and requires teams to build and code an autonomous LEGO Education robot to complete the series of architecture-themed missions on the competition mat/playing field.
“If you meet students where they are, challenge them appropriately, allow them meaningful failures, they will ultimately succeed, and this builds their confidence and desire to learn more, try more and stretch themselves and their learning,” said Esben Stærk Jørgensen, president of LEGO Education. “We believe all students can gain confidence in STEAM through hands-on learning. We are excited for all FIRST LEGO League and FIRST LEGO League Jr. participants to build their confidence in learning while competing with our newest architecture-themed sets and now with the addition of our intuitive and adaptive LEGO Education SPIKE Prime.”
