KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
|
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When I was a kid, a giant azalea bush stretched across our backyard, exploding into glorious pink blossoms in early May. In summer, it became something even better: a secret hideout that my sister and I named the Humble Abode. We hollowed out the dead branches behind the bush and dragged in little chairs and treasures and our dollhouse family. The Humble Abode barely qualified as
a fort, and it wasn't even secret; I'm sure my parents knew when we were back there. But it was a great kids-only space. A few weeks ago, I wrote about five summer lenses through which to plan summer: music, motion, making, nature, and food. Making—the lens for this week—reminds kids that they are not merely consumers of the world, but contributors to it. They can push value into existence. They can turn sticks, cardboard, fabric, tape, mud, blocks, gears,
sand, and flour into something that wasn’t there before. Especially for younger kids, making with the hands gives the brain evidence. I did that. I made that. I can make things happen. Summer is perfect for this because summer has time and room for mess. Pull out the science kits, the rocket kits, the LEGO bins, the soap-making sets that arrived at Christmas and then sat politely in the closet. "Upcycle" old boxes, fabric, toys, crayons, paint, buttons.
Let your kids build backyard forts, fairy houses, marble runs, cardboard cities, obstacle courses, blanket tents, museum towers, and whatever else the day and their imagination suggest. Of course, glue will drip. Sand will migrate. The kitchen table may briefly disappear under invention. (If the clutter gets overwhelming, consider a trip or two to your local science museum or maker space to save your sanity.) After all, you can’t make omelets without breaking eggs. And
you can’t make a maker without giving a child some space, some tools, some trust, and permission to begin.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
|
|
|
KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
|
|
|
All aboard Choo Choo Revue! In the first new show from BBMT in 40 years, your theater seat becomes a train bound for fantasy! A monumental milestone for BBMT and celebration of community and joy, Choo Choo Revue inspires IMAGINATION for all. Through the train window of BBMT’s stage, travel across rolling hills, mountainous peaks, and dazzling deserts. Meet dancing luggage, singing mushrooms, and a cicada jugband. This hour-long show, packed with over 100 handcrafted, BRAND NEW puppets, is presented with theatric grandeur and spectacular artistic skill. Bob Baker Marionette Theater is thrilled to present this milestone achievement in puppetry and theater, showcasing innovative art and performance for new generations to enjoy. This is your ticket to the future of puppetry!
|
|
|
|
Across Los Angeles, people and wildlife travel through shared landscapes, following paths that intersect and overlap. Metro is committed to creating environments where all species can flourish by reducing car dependence through public transit, planting native and drought-resilient vegetation, protecting nesting areas, and keeping paths open for animal movement.
|
|
|
|
It's a celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday! The Beach Boys perform chart-toppers from throughout their career, including “Surfin’ USA,” “I Get Around,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun,” and pay tribute to the 60th anniversary of their seminal album Pet Sounds. Plus, Thomas Wilkins leads the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and it’s all topped off by a huge fireworks show.
|
|
|
|
GAME! Basketball and Contemporary Art celebrates basketball as a source of creative expression and community connection. Anchored by the renovation of the Great Park’s four basketball courts—featuring original, site-specific art by California artist, Katy Ann Gilmore—the exhibition showcases a selection of contemporary artists from the book Common Practice: Basketball and Contemporary Art who explore the culture and aesthetics of basketball, alongside a survey of Project Backboard’s national and international court renovations.
|
|
|
|
Welcome to Utopia: Where Fairy Tales Come Alive. Step into your “happily ever after” at Lakewood Center and enter a magical world filled with mythical creatures, storybook characters, and over five million lights illuminating a glowing landscape. Immerse yourself in our activity spaces, dazzling infinity mirror rooms that play with your senses, and photo boxes, perfect for capturing memories that will last a lifetime.
|
|
|
|
Starting in the spring, we open our berry fields to the public for a unique strawberry & olallieberry picking experience.
|
|
|
|
For the very first time, the City of Eastvale will be celebrating the 4th of July and has invited us to be part of their FourthFest celebration! Our markets are a unique opportunity for kid-preneurs to develop a different set of social skills, confidence, and resilience that comes with nurturing a passion for their craft they can share with the community.
|
|
|
|
Birding Tours are on the first Saturday of every month at 10am
|
|
|
|
Orcas: Our Shared Future invites you to explore the powerful connections between orcas, people, and the oceans we share. Through life-size orca replicas and dynamic installations, discover how these intelligent, family-centered animals live, communicate, and thrive. View captivating sculpture, masks, and prints by Indigenous artists of the Pacific Northwest Coast that honor the compelling relationships between orcas and Northwest Coast First Nations. Weaving together science and culture, the exhibition examines the complex lives of these fascinating animals.
|
|
|
|
Spend an hour relaxing your mind, body, and spirit! This light-hearted yoga class is designed for all levels and will be led by Sarah Brown and her four-legged baby goat assistants! The baby goats are provided and cared for by our Barnyard and volunteers from the Togg N Tails herd. This class is a fundraiser for our Helping Farms Feed Families (501c3) and 100% of the proceeds go directly to HFFF. This class is limited to those participants 9 years and older. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You must bring your own yoga mat that you won't mind getting dirty. It is a farm, after all!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Orange County area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas!
|
|
|
|
|
|
The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in The OC is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more. Our guide
puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange County, CA Area's Pick-Your-Own Fruit Listed below are farms in and near San Diego that offer pick your own fruits, berries, and vegetables. And... to make the most of your experience, check
|
|
|
Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
|
|
