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

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Pretend Play

Weekend Roundup: January 17-18

by Rachel Orfila

January 16, 2009

T.G.I.T. Okay, so it's not quite the weekend yet, but if you're looking for something fun to do, there are plenty of options: Celebrate Sandra Boynton. Even if you've never heard the name Sandra Boynton, you've probably seen her cartoon animals on greeting cards and mugs. She's also the author of several classic board books for very young kids, including From A to Z and Barnyard  Read more...

Where to See The Nutcracker

by Rachel Orfila

December 01, 2008

I've always been a little suspicious of anything too girly-girly, but a few months back my daughter said she wanted to take a dancing class, so I signed her up for the pre-ballet class through the Long Beach Parks and Recreation department. I have to admit that at the sight of all those little girls lined up in their tutus, protruding bellies and all, I quickly came around. Besides the cute  Read more...

The Bowers Kidseum

by Rachel Orfila

November 20, 2008

Tuesday, in my ongoing quest to (1) get us out of the house but (2) avoid the smoke-filled air outside, we drove down to the Bowers Kidseum on Main Street in Santa Ana. It took us about half an hour to get there from Long Beach, although there was one harrowing bit when I had to cross three lanes of traffic in two seconds.   The Kidseum is near the Bowers Museum, but it's a separate  Read more...

Fear and Pretend Play

by Rachel Orfila

October 30, 2008

Halloween is all about exploring fear in a safe way. Witches and ghosts become a little less scary in the camp and theater of Halloween celebrations. In the same way, children act out their everyday fears in pretend play. In August, my four-year-old daughter Bella and I were in Louisiana visiting family when we had to evacuate abruptly ahead of Hurricane Gustav. Getting out of town  Read more...

The Littlest Picasso

by Rachel Orfila

October 14, 2008

Creating art with a preschooler is one of those things I love in theory, but not so much in practice. Setting up all the tiny cups of paint, then wiping smears off the wall afterward seems like a lot of trouble for an activity that will last half an hour. For preschool art minus the mess, check out Look What I Made! Look What I Made! is a cozy art studio on Pacific Coast  Read more...

Four Great Day Trips

by Rachel Orfila

October 13, 2008

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find it hard to get motivated to venture out of our little corner of Southern California. Sit in traffic with a cranky kid? No thanks. But I promise, the places in this post are actually worth the hassle. Just don't forget to bring snacks and a Magnadoodle for when you're stuck on the 405.   The La Brea Tar Pits smell like fresh asphalt on a  Read more...

More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in long beach

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Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle

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Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune

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Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues

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Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors

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Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun

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A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories

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Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites

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The Most Fun in Life Is Free!

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The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots

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