Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Long Beach, CA

My daughter's fascination with her own body began when she was a baby, and discovered she could chew on her toes. When she was a toddler, she tried to touch and kiss that other kid she saw reflected in the mirror. (I spent a lot of time cleaning off all those smudges.) At three she was obsessed with her shadow, and these days, she's very curious about the inner workings of her body. My science knowledge is a little hazy these days, so when she stumps me with a question about the digestive system, we read a book about it, or better yet, head to a local museum to explore a hands-on exhibit.

The World of Life exhibit a the California Science Center, teaches kids about the inner workings of living beings. If you've ever wanted to know what you have in common with bacteria, this is the place to find out. The exhibit is broken up into several segments, including galleries about energy, circulatory systems, and genetics. In BodyWorks, kids can learn from Tess, a giant see-through replica of a human body, how our organ systems work together to keep us alive.

On our recent visit to the Discovery Science Center, one of the exhibits we explored on the 2^nd floor showed how the bones in the hand move when we turn a doorknob. Kids can also inspect real x-rays showing human bones, or play virtual volleyball using green-screen technology. Downstairs in the Perception area, children can make impressions of their hands and feet on a wall of pins, or see a technicolor silhoutte of their bodies in Recollections.

At the La Habra Children's Museum, SenseSurround focuses on how we use our senses to learn about the world around us. Kids can slide through a giant ear canal or look inside a model of an eye to learn about the five senses. (The exhibit ends on January 25.)