fun Archives - L.A. Parent

Indoor Fun

Published August 4, 2021

By Evonna Ranade

Try some of these fun, creative indoor activities to bring a little sunshine to any day.

PHOTO COURTESY GET SPLASHEZ

**A2PLAY Beginner Jigsaw Puzzle System**: Have fun and educate your kids with this innovative puzzle system. Guides them through the art of jigsaw puzzles with a treasure map to help understand the best building methods in 3 simple steps. $16.99, ages 3 – 5 years, getsplashez.com

PHOTO COURTESY SCHLEICH

**Sunny Day Mobile Farm Stand**: Don’t let the rain prevent you from finding the sun. Your child’s imagination will soar as they learn to buy and sell fresh produce directly from a farm. Set contains 2 figurines, 1 horse and lots of accessories. $34.99, ages 3 – 8 years, schleich-s.com

PHOTO COURTESY MISSING PIECE PRESS

**Science Stumper**s: Enjoy a fun-filled collection of bite-sized science mysteries that include brainteasers with counterintuitive results. Great activity to unleash the inner science genius in us all. $16.95, ages 7 years – adult, missing-piece-press.square.site

PHOTO COURTESY DISCOVERY

**3D Glow Spin Art Station**: Capture your little artist’s imagination with this unique, 3D swirl art machine. Watch as their paintings come to life! Just place a card on the wheel, pick a paint color and spin. Perfect for the entire family. $24.99, ages 6+, kohls.com

PHOTO COURTESY BOLD MADE

**Bold Made**: A remake of the classic game Old Maid without avoiding the older woman deemed too old to marry. Learn about bold women who made huge impacts on our world with this exciting game. $19.99, ages 3+, boldmade.com

PHOTO COURTESY WORLDWIDE BUDDIES

**The Book of Cultures**: This picture book allows young readers to discover the world, embrace its diversity and go on adventures all from the comfort of home! Features stories with buddies from different countries and interactive activities in each culture. $35.00, ages 4 – 9 years, worldwidebuddies.com

PHOTO COURTESY SHAMBHALA

**The Little Yogi Deck: Simple Yoga Practices to Help Kids Move Through Big Emotions**: Being inside does not mean we miss out on activity. Interact with this colorful card deck featuring yoga practices. Help kids work through big emotions while learning vibrant, new ways to move their bodies. $19.95, ages 5 – 9 years, shambhala.com

For more product reviews visit nappaawards.com

Birch Aquarium is Now Open Indoors and Out

Published March 21, 2021

By Elena Epstein

La Jolla’s Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is now welcoming guests back into the Hall of Fishes, as well as the museum side of the aquarium.

Birch Aquarium at ScrippsQ Institution of Oceanography | aquarium.ucsd.edu

Several of the experiences that were added to the aquarium when it was operating outdoors-only will remain to encourage social distancing and give guests more to explore. These include the new tropical touch experience, the Growing Up Seahorse activity, and the small animal nursery, all on Smargon Court near Shark Shores.

Their newest exhibit, the Marine Protected Area Touch Experience, where guests can get hands-on with juvenile sharks and rays, as well as other local species, also remains open on Preuss Tide Pool Plaza.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography | aquarium.ucsd.edu

For more information on what you need to know before you visit, check out the aquarium’s Know Before You Visit Page. The most important detail to note is that advanced reservations for a specific date and time are now required for all guests, even members.

Bright Green Smoothie

Published March 20, 2021

By Elena Epstein

(serves 2)

Prep Time: 2 mins Cook Time: 2 mins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups fresh spinach
1/4 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 cup frozen mango
1 large banana
1 cup orange juice

Preparation

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth and creamy.

Recipe provided by model turned wellness entrepreneur and cookbook author Catherine McCord, co-founder of meal delivery service One Potato and the founder of the popular Weelicious brand.

Go Random!

Published March 4, 2021

By Cassandra Lane

Grace Dirig is one of the co-hosts of The King of Random.
PHOTO COURTESY THE KING OF RANDOM

When we become parents, getting used to a healthy dose of uncertainty and adventure is part of the game. And the YouTube show The King of Random encourages families to intentionally let “random” happen to enhance your sense of wonder with everyday items such as hairspray, Legos and even candy.

The King of Random (aka TKOR) describes itself as a place where curiosity, creativity and experimentation meet. “We’re all about learning how things work, doing cool projects and sharing our discoveries with you,” says co-founder Janae Thomas. “We’ll blow things up, get our hands dirty, and all learn something new every day.”

The King of Random is a popular YouTube show where hosts conduct wild experiments that the whole family can enjoy.
PHOTO COURTESY THE KING OF RANDOM

After watching a few of TKOR’s videos — “Which Hairspray Makes the Best Flamethrower?,” “Making Hamburger-Sized Skittles” — we sat down over Zoom to speak with Thompson (mom to four curious boys) and co-host Grace Dirig to get an inside look at the origins of the show and how parents of kids of different ages can use these TKOR videos to keep things exciting at home.

Dirig says the show is a mix of hosts, scientists and artists coming together to form a “big brain” to explore why and how things work. TKOR was the brainchild of Thompson’s late husband Grant Thompson, who started doing experiments in the couple’s garage around 2008 and filming trials from start to finish.

Check out our Zoom chat with Janae Thompson and Dirig here.

Sightseeing Close to Home

Published March 3, 2021

Coastal Wildlife in Marina del Rey

By Elena Epstein

PHOTO COURTESY OF Marine del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau

If you’re looking for a way to connect with nature, but not ready to venture too far out, take a drive to the Marina. The kids will love watching the sea lions lounging on the docks at Fisherman’s Village. As you stroll the walkway, you’ll also spot pelicans and gulls.

Take a walk along the 10-acre Burton Chace Park and not only will you have wonderful views of the harbor but also more views of the sea lions sunbathing.

According to the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors COVID-19 safety protocols prohibit group gatherings of any size and visitors must practice safe physical distancing by staying at least 6 feet apart.

Find a Big Boy and Small Trains Around Toluca Lake

Published April 22, 2014

Take a family field trip to the SFV neighborhood to find classic diner food, sophisticated sweets, gelato, playgrounds and trains.

by Erin Mahoney Harris

Toluca Lake is nestled between Studio City, North Hollywood and Burbank, offering convenient access to the nearby television and movie studios while maintaining a relatively quiet vibe. Distinctive restaurants and shops, classic architecture and close proximity to many of the San Fernando Valley’s best family attractions make it a great place to raise – or visit with – kids.

It doesn’t get more American classic than Toluca Lake’s landmark Bob’s Big Boy (4211 Riverside Dr.; 818-843-9334; www.bobs.net), the oldest remaining Bob’s in the U.S. Built in 1949, the restaurant boasts distinctive retro coffee shop architecture with an asymmetrical shape, curving picture windows and dramatic neon signage. The burger-and-fries-dominated menu is a kid magnet. Make sure to order a milkshake or vanilla Coke and take a picture with the giant namesake statue out front.

If you’re interested in a more modern and refined dining experience, travel a few blocks West to Sweetsalt Food Shop (10218 Riverside Dr.; 818-509-7790; www.sweetsaltfood.com). The menu features healthy and sophisticated salads and sandwiches to please adult palates, as well as kid-friendly offerings such as grilled cheese – not to mention cookies, cakes and other seductively sugary treats.

While Gelato Bar (4342 ½ Tujunga Ave.; 818-487-1717; www.gelatobar-la.com) isn’t technically located in Toluca Lake, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump away in Tujunga Village, and well worth the short trip. The extensive array of flavors changes daily, but you can always count on delicious classics such as chocolate and vanilla, as well as light and fruity sorbets. Enjoy a scoop or two in the colorful, bistro-style shop and then take the kids out to burn off the sugar high.

Around the corner from Gelato Bar, Woodbridge Park (11240 Moorpark St.; 818-769-4415), one of the Valley’s most pleasant playgrounds, is surrounded by leafy trees, wide lawns and meandering jogging paths. Separate areas for young tots and older kids ensure age-appropriate play for all ages, while shaded benches make it a pleasant place to picnic or sit back and enjoy the sight of your kids at play.

The northern entrance to L.A.’s biggest playground, Griffith Park, is just a couple of miles from downtown Toluca Lake. And while Valley families are likely to head to the Travel Town Railroad Museum, they’ll find more thrills just next door at L.A. Live Steamers (5202 Zoo Dr.; 323-662-8030; www.lals.org). The nonprofit attraction run by train enthusiasts is open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays and offers rides atop 1/8^th scale model trains. They run faster than you’d expect, traveling on elaborate tracks across shady meadows, through Old West towns and tunnels, and over steel and truss bridges. The unique experience will plaster a grin across any kid’s (or grown-up’s) face, all for a suggested $3 donation.

Erin Mahoney Harris is a mom of two and L.A. Parent columnist.