I was just told about a fantastic place, Educational Chess,in San Clemente that teaches chess and art to young kids. Both are done by a semi-professional (taught by a top chess expert with an international rating and an artist- 20 years of experience). Kids will enjoy....classes are offered weekly, there's a summer camp offered, and in the end of May, there's a chess tournament for kids! Registration is required, so please check out the website www.educationalchess.com. 

If you're looking for a day trip with your kids, consider going to see the Noah's Ark Exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.  Your kids will absolutely love it....it's an 80,000 sq. ft. gallery, filled wih filled to the rafters with whimsical animals.   You and your family will play, build, climb, explore, make music, make friends, and more!  You can conduct a storm, help construct the ark, and bask in the glow of a beautiful rainbow. Mingle with hundreds of fancifully handcrafted animals-from cuddly companions to life-sized puppets-all crafted from recycled materials and everyday objects, including bottle caps, bicycle parts, baseball mitts, croquet balls, mop heads, and rear-view mirrors.  Visit the Skirball Center website to see information about admission, reservations, etc. but this is one exhibit you and your kids do not want to miss!

Spring has officially sprung!  It's the perfect time to plant vegetables to harvest this summer with your little ones.  Recently, we've planted some cherry tomatoes (my daughter LOVES to pick them off the plant and eat them) and some peppers (yellow bell, jalapeno and serranos), some watermelon and some zucchini!  We are also growing rosemary, thyme and basil.  It's a great activity with to do with your kids in the spring, and you will be able to enjoy the harvest all summer!  Even if your yard and growing space are small, you can easily grow some plants in small pots.  Kids love to water them and there is nothing better than teaching kids about good nutrition and tasty vegetables, freshly picked!  Start small....a few plants, a few pots, and kids love things like their own tools, garden gloves and shovels.  (Target has some wonderful, cheap kids' garden tools!)  Start growing!  Your children will love it!

Check out the Kiddies Garden website for more information about growing vegetables with kids.

If you haven't taken the opportunity to go to the many exciting (egg-citing) events in South OC with your kids, you need to this weekend! The Easter Eggstravaganza is fabulous and fun for the WHOLE family....and is still going on at the Irvine Park Railroad. Also, there are Egg Hunts at the OC Fairgrounds & in San Clemente, which is always fun to see. Both events are free and open to the public. See their websites for detailed information, times, etc. And, of course, the strawberry festival is still going on at Tanaka Farms. Kids of all ages love the ride around the farm, looking at the vegetables, and the best part....you get to bring some of their delicious strawberries home! (See their website for tour times and prices....reservations are always recommended!) And this weekend, Cinderella is playing this weekend at the Irvine Barclay Theater! Advanced tickets are required, but it's a great way to spend an afternoon with your kids!

Have a wonderful Easter and Passover (and any other celebrations you might have!), everyone, and enjoy spending time with your kiddos this weekend!

 

Tomorrow (March 27th) is the Summer Camp & Activities Fair, held at Pretend City in Irvine.  The "fair" will be open from 9-5.  Explore all the options for summer fun and the range of incredible camp possibilities available, including sports, music and art, educational, all-around, overnight and day camps. The camp fair is included with price of museum admission. Come early, the first 500 attendees will receive a goodie bag worth $50.  See www.pretendcity.org for more information and details!

This weekend marks the beginning of Strawberry Tours at Tanaka Farms.  It's funny, kids in Orange County sometimes really miss out on farming and agriculture, but at Tanakea Farms, they can get a little taste of homegrown food!  A tour includes a ride around the farm in a tractor pulled wagon, the different fruits and vegetables you get to taste on the farm, and a one pound basket of strawberries to pick and take home.  (Check the website for prices and to make reservations!)

Also, this is the last weekend for the Festival of Whales in Dana Point.  The whales have been amazing this year, and this weekend the weather should be perfect for a day with the kids on the Dana Point Wharf.  There are lots of activities for the whole family....kids of all ages will have a wonderful time with all the activities!  Enjoy!

If you're looking for something spectacular to do with your kids in March, you should consider taking them to Dana Point and going on a whale watching cruise.  The goal of each tour is to see gray whales, but they often see blue whales, fin whales and minke whales.  Tours depart 3 times daily on weekdays, and more on weekends.  Reservations are a must...but kids of all ages are welcome.  (You can even bring strollers & the like on the cruise!)  Check out their website:  Orange County Whale Watching for more information and for reservations.  Enjoy....your kids will be thrilled with it!

A rainy weekend is upon us in South Orange County, so it's a perfect time to head to the local library with your little kiddos!  Oprah.com has recommended books for children (of any ages).  Check out her top picks, as well as tips on how to help make your kids life-long readers & learners!