Annual Posts
4 Virtual L.A. MLK Day Events for Families
Though the campaign to create a federal holiday in honor of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. began shortly after his assasination in 1968, the holiday wasn’t made official until 1983. President Ronald Regan signed the declaration. Even then, though, some states did not observe it. The first year all 50 states celebrated the […]
4 Virtual New Year’s Events for Families
From the annual balloon drop at Kidspace to the Zoo Lights show at the L.A. Zoo, many of the great in-person family events we’re used to attending at on New Year’s Eve are canceled this year. But fear not. Before you tune in to the Rose Parade Special on New Year’s Day (with highlights and […]
4 Helpful Resources for This Year’s Family Holidays
As we all navigate the holiday season and in the midst of the pandemic, many extended families won’t be able to come together this year. While caregivers themselves are dealing with the emotional impact of a very different holiday, children are experiencing this sadness, too. Children need a foundation of social-emotional skills, including the ability […]
7 Shows to Stream for the Holidays
We won’t be bundling up in our holiday finest for an evening at the theater this season. But the show must go on, and some of our very favorite venues are offering streaming productions to bring your family a taste of that festive spirit. Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish-The Musical (www.eleanorswish.com): Based on the heartfelt […]
6 L.A. Spots With Holiday Sparkle
Tired of being cozy at home? Don your most festive mask and check out these local attractions. All are following public-health guidelines, with limited capacity, social distancing and other requirements in place. Reflections at Descanso (www.descansogardens.org):This year’s celebration at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge features daytime festivities through Jan. 10. The celebration will include […]
L.A. Shopping Centers Celebrate the Season
When summer retail shelves transformed into holiday displays this year, it was oddly reassuring. Recently, I stopped to watch workers string up lights on trees in a Playa Vista shopping area and felt my spirits lift several octaves. Few things warm a winter soul like holiday lights. Perhaps this is why, when the pandemic first […]
Four Ways to Connect This Thanksgiving
With cases of COVID-19 once again surging in L.A. County, even the most modest Thanksgiving gatherings are in jeopardy. This is happening at a time when family and friends need connection more than ever. So how do we make our loved ones feel close, even if they are far away? And how can we make […]
Here’s How to Keep Your Thanksgiving Gathering COVID-safe
“It will be a challenging and very different holiday season for all of us,” says infectious disease specialist Kimberly Shriner of Huntington Hospital, voicing what many of us are thinking right now. “We can be creative, but we must be careful. It is imperative that we try to control this pandemic to prevent so many […]
4 Self-Care Tips for a More Joyous Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving promises, for sure, to be unusual. Many of us will be missing family and friends due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local officials are recommending that no more than three households gather together. And, to keep things safe, many of us will be carving the turkey outdoors. Some challenges, however, remain the same from […]
5 Ways to Boost Your Gratitude Practice this Thanksgiving
Are we grateful to have made it to November? Thankful that 2020 is almost over? Before it is, we have the holiday season to get through and next up is Thanksgiving. This is a time of year when we focus on gathering together, connecting with family and friends, sharing a meal and expressing gratitude. Does […]
Three Spooky Halloween Crafts for Kids
It’s time to get into the spooky spirit. With costumes to create, pumpkins to carve and spider webs to string as we decorate our homes, the Halloween season is the perfect time to put on our creative hats and use our imaginations with Halloween crafts. Spanish immersion early-education company Tierra Encantada created some spook-tacular Halloween crafts […]
Our Guide to Halloween Fun in L.A.
These are scary times, but that doesn’t mean your family can’t have some safe and spooky fun. Here are our picks for the best Halloween happenings in the Southland this year. All in-person events follow public health guidelines, requiring face masks and social distancing. Drive-through events require participants to remain in their vehicles. Pick a […]
Bring Those Cool Summer Vibes Home
“School’s out for summer!” Yes, Alice Cooper! Could there be a better feeling than the last day of school? One of the things I savor about my kids’ childhood is the gift of experiencing summer vacation and summer fun again, but – as we are reminded over and over – the end of the school […]
New Year’s Eve, Family Style
Ring in 2020 as a family on New Year’s Eve – or even New Year’s Eve day. Preserve your little one’s early bedtime with a Noon Year’s Eve celebration. The party at The Children’s Museum at La Habra (www.lhcm.org), from 10 a.m.-noon, includes DJ music, themed crafts and a balloon drop at noon for $12. […]
Thanksgiving in L.A.? Yes, You Can!
Your friend at work moved from the Midwest to L.A. with her husband and baby a few years ago. You know they’re not flying home until Christmas, so sometime around Halloween, you ask: “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Since then, you’ve also added your oldest kid’s college roommate, your niece’s boyfriend and a family […]
Cover Kids Search 2020 PopUp!
We’re holding a special addition to our our 2020 Cover Kids search — a PopUp during our Education Fair March 7 at Valencia Town Center! To enter, fill out the registration form below and submit payment of $30 per entry. You can also enter in person at the PopUp, which will be open from noon-2:30 […]
Labor Day Getaways
As summer draws to a close, many of us (kids and parents alike) have difficulty stepping into a routine once again. Luckily, there’s one saving grace for those of us who want to experience summer fun before it’s gone for good: Labor Day weekend. “Labor Day weekend is always a great time to snag deals on […]
L.A. Helps Families Get Back-to-School Ready
Heading back to school can be a challenging time on both parents and kids (traffic, back to school shopping, new teachers– oh my!). Happily, businesses and organizations across the L.A. region have your back to help ease the transition– and help you save a few bucks as well. Here is just a peek at some […]
Tips for Getting the Most Out of L.A. Summer Camp Fairs
The holidays are behind us and you’ve just gotten used to the kids being back in school. Don’t get too comfortable, because now is the time to look ahead to summer break. What will you do with all those weeks when your children are, once again, on vacation? Summer camp is the answer for many, […]
Where to Go Whale Watching in SoCal This Season
From late December into early April, Pacific gray whales migrate down the Pacific coast to Baja California Sur, Mexico and then back up to Alaska, giving Southern California a great chance to view these majestic ocean mammals. In Oxnard (visitoxnard.com), Island Packers and Channel Islands Sportfishing Center offer daily outings. In the L.A. area, you […]
16 Great Ways to Spend Father’s Day in L.A.
When I was a kid, my three brothers and I agreed that going clothes shopping felt more like a punishment than a pleasure. So, when my daughter asked me to take her clothes shopping at local thrift stores, the idea didn’t fill me with excitement. Still, off we went. During our first few stops, including […]
Fountains, Water Play and Splash Pads in LA: Where to Get Wet
By Erin Mahoney Harris From squirting splash pads to burbling brooks, these Los Angeles parks, plazas and playgrounds offer refreshing relief on a hot day – and we’re sure to have plenty of those in store this summer. Downtown’s crown jewel, Grand Park (227 N. Spring St., Los Angeles; 213-972-8080; www.grandparkla.org), has proven a successful […]