The Kids Fun Factory

Mom's & Multitasking, Apple iPhone 4, a MUST HAVE

2010-06-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

No doubt, Mom's need to multi-task to take care of their kids, themselves and whatever else life throws at them.

Now, the new version of the Apple iPhone 4 announced today will multitask too. Making this phone a must have for parent out there.

Multitasking. Done the right way.

Happy Mother's Day, Memorial Day & Father's Day Next

2010-05-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Happy belated Mother's day to all the mom's out there taking care of their kids in Orange County.

Memorial Day weekend is coming up, a great weekend for outdoor activities to take the kids to the beach or have a picnic at the park.

Up next, Fathers Day.

Give our readers some great ideas and post your favorite Memorial Day & Father's Day activities. Whether it's a barbecue in the backyard or taking the family out to enjoy the sunshine.

Go Green! Celebrate Earth Day with Outdoor Activities.

2010-04-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

* Jump! Whether you call it skipping rope or jump roping, it's a great activity to improve strength and fitness and can be performed on grass or pavement.

* Retreat to the Beach. Instead of driving to the beach, recreate a piece of the coast's serene atmosphere with a sandbox in the yard.

* Be Farm and Garden Fresh. Get to know your local farmer and enlist the kids to join you at the local farmers' markets. Better yet, plant your own garden that everyone can care for and enjoy all season long.

* Let's Go Fly a Kite! Show the kids how to soar into a colorful sky with only the force of nature to power your kite. A centuries-old activity, kite flying can be enjoyed at any age—with a little wind, of course!

* Give Back. Gather the family for a volunteer day dedicated to beautifying the earth. Many communities have organizations that champion environmental protection and regularly organize events like stream and trail clean-ups.

* Be Bubbly! Invite the neighbors to create bubble wands out of objects found around the house like straws, pipe cleaners, strawberry baskets and coat hangers. Take the kids outside and have your own bubble party!

* Take a Hike. Locate a nature trail near you and take the kids on a woodsy adventure. Hiking is a group activity that provides great exercise and hands-on experiences with the natural world.

* Start a Kickball Game. All it takes is a rubber playground ball, make-shift bases and some friends to start a kickball game. Create a neighborhood tournament and coach the kids though innings of bouncing fun.

* Catch and Release. Butterflies are some of nature's most beautiful creatures, although they aren't easy to observe when they flutter in the sky. Using an insect or butterfly net, capture them and show the kids how to appreciate their beauty up close. Then let them loose.

Snow Day at the Village, Saturday, December 12

2009-12-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

Snow Day December 12, 2009

Experience the magic of the holiday season with Shoreline Village this year! In honor of the Rainbow Harbor Holidays celebration, this quaint waterfront destination will be transformed into a wintry wonderland of snow and good cheer.
Kids aged 12 and under can frolic in 15 tons of real snow between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. or jump for joy in one of the two inflatable bounce houses for a small admission fee.
There will be a trackless train motoring around Shoreline Village. The rides begin at noon and are free for all ages. Before or after frolicing in the snow or your train ride enjoy free hot chocolate and coffee. And of course there will be holiday music.If there is rain the event will be cancelled.
To learn about other events happeneing during the month of December at Rainbow Harbor visit www.rainbowharborholidays.com.

$2.70 RubyBurger, One Day Only - Take your kids out to eat CHEAP!

2009-12-04T12:06:00.000-08:00

$2.70 RubyBurger, One Day Only - Take your kids out to eat CHEAP!
Ruby's is celebrating 27 years of Ruby Magic & you and your kids can enjoy a $2.70 RubyBurger and Fries on Monday, 12/7/09, 11:30am - close of business.

http://rubys.fbmta.com/members/ViewMailing.aspx?MailingID=40802193004

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day (FREE Disneyland Ticket)

2009-12-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

Last year, our family took advantage of the FREE Disneyland ticket on your birthday promotion. This year, Disney has mixed it up a bit and announce their Give a Day, Get a Disney Day promotion. It's great, give a day volunteering and get a FREE Disneyland Ticket!

Details here: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day-Terms-Conditions-FAQs

Decorate the house for Christmas with the kids

2009-12-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite things to with our kids is decorate the house for Christmas, er, the Holidays. Of course there is the Christmas tree to put up and decorate, but don't stop there. Look for online Arts & Crafts activities to decorarting fun for you and the kids, not a chore.

Art & Crafts activities with kids

And one of our favorite's, Window painting. You can pickup a Window Painting Pattern for only $0.99 on ebay. It super easy, you get a PDF file, print it out, tape it up and paint, following the pattern. You will look like the most talented Artist in your neighborhood.

Please feel free to leave a post of your favorite holiday decorating ideas with kids.

Maclaren Strollers Recalled :: One MILLION Strollers!

2009-11-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

This week, the Maclaren Stroller company agreed to a "voluntary recall" of all its models sold as far back as 1999, conceding that the fingers of 12 children were severed by the stroller's hinges when they were opened or closed.

Parents with concerns over the safety of Maclaren pushchairs can ask for new safety kits after concerns were raised about injuries to children.

If you own a Maclaren Baby Stroller, get your repair kit today, for your child's safety:
www.maclarenbaby.com

Pretend City in Irvine :: Top of list for fun things to do with kids in Orange County

2009-11-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

Pretend City Children’s Museum - Children at Play
http://pretendcity.org/

Children will have the opportunity to experience many professions as part of the Pretend City community. The opportunity for dress-up and role-playing are key components of education and fun at Pretend City!

When I grow up, I want to be…

There is an art place, where your child can do an art project. There is a garden to grow vegetables and harvest. There's a grocery store, a fire station, a gas station, a police station, a health station where you can pretend to be a doctor.

There is even an "ocean" where you can float boats and catch some fish. There is also a beach area to show how trash from the city can be get emptied out into the ocean. A little environmental lesson with your fun.

There is also a stage area where your child can either run the light-board or be in the show, mainly dress up and musical instrument play.

Your child can do various jobs and get stamps on a "timecard." You then go to an ATM machine and get money. Kids go to the ATM to get and spend money. Lots of little cars to drive around too.

It's a ton of fun, for kids and adults. It's on the top of our list for fun things to do with kids in Orange County. Check it out today: http://pretendcity.org/

Keep Kids From Eating Too Much Candy After Halloween

2009-11-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

Keep Kids From Eating Too Much Candy After Halloween

While I love the cute costumes and the neighborly aspect of trick-or-treating, I sure don't love the giant sacks of candy that result from it. How do you keep your kids from eating too much candy, whether they've accumulated their loot on Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter, or some other occasion?

Keep Your Eyes Peeled

My little girl had a Halloween Sleepover last year. Even though I took all her and her friends candy away and made them play lots of fun games, they still managed to get all hyper on there camp out. Before they went to bed I gave them each 5 peices of candy and took the rest away. Little did I know, her and her friends had bags in they had hidden plastic bags in there pockets and other bits of candy in there pockets. And one of her friends who lived next door had to go home, so I let her take her sweets home. What she done was went home through her back gate and threw her candy over the fence. When she came back with what she needed to get, she had got all the other girls to colect the candy. Now they had loads of candy in there tent. Some of the other girls Mothers had sent them with tubs of sweets to eat. So I had calls from the neighbours all night because they were really loud and hyper. My advice to parents is to take away the candy and check your child (and friends) for candy!!

Here's some tips from our readers;

Make 'em over eat

I remember this one time I over ate on candy right after halloween. This echoes a few of the posts here. I got sick right after a binge on candy. To this day, I never eat candy, and I can't stand the sight of candy and junk food.

Don't ration it!

I have to disagree with the advice to give a few pieces every night. The research on sweets and children shows that when you restrict a food, children view it as more desirable. So when you make candy a special treat and only give a little at a time you actually make it more appealing. I let my kids eat as much candy as they want on Halloween night and I also encourage them to give the rest away. Usually they're so sick after all that candy they are happy to part with it. :)

Teddy Bear Party

When my son was very young, I'd take him trick-or-treating with his friends, but afterwards, we'd have a "party" with his teddy bears. They "ate" the candy, and then we just threw it out when the "party" was over! My son grew up without a sweet tooth because that's really an acquired taste...so he was never very big on tons of candy. Whenever I had a party for him, we'd offer delicious but healthy food, and several mothers commented that they'd never seen kids behave so well. I'm sure it had to do with them not getting a sugar rush.

Ration It

After we went trick or treating my mom always made us dump all of our candy on the floor and went through it. She was looking for any candy that might have broken wrappers or look suspicious. Then she gave us a reasonable amount and stashed the rest in her room. We got a decent ration every day until it was all gone. There were no stipulations on whether we got it or not (I mean where's the fun in that?), but it did ensure that we weren't engorging ourselves on nothing but sugar all day.

Share with Adults

A co-worker brought in her daughter's Halloween stash and left in our break room. She simply asked her daughter if she would be willing to share some of her candy with her adult friends at work who didn't have kids of their own to share any candy with them. She gave her daughter a snack bowl to fill, allowing her to pick what candy to keep and what to share. I must say this little girl was very generous.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR TRICK OR TREATING

2009-10-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR TRICK OR TREATING

Trick or Treating should be one of the great adventures of Halloween for kids! They can get dressed in scary costumes and go door to door, begging "Tricks or Treats!" from neighbors or at the local mall. Lots of towns have a Harvest Festival so kids can Trick-or-Treat safely. But going door to door is the stuff of childhood memories! It should be a fun time, without trouble and pain, so following some easy tips can keep your child safe every Halloween.

* Children should go out during daylight hours only unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

* Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves.

* Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields. Make sure they know to stay in populated places and don't go off the beaten track. Stay in well lighted areas.
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Stop only at familiar houses in your own neighborhood unless they are accompanied by an adult.

* Small children should never be allowed to go out alone on Halloween. Make sure an older sibling or adult is with them.

* Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.

* Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.

* Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.

* Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult.

free pumpkin carving patterns | easy paper pattern for children Halloween pumpkin carving

2009-10-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

We love carving pumpkins at home with the kids, something free to do with your kids. We'll free after you pay for the pumpkins. Trader Joes has pumpkins for $3.49 each - the best price around. Even Walmart sells them for $4.99.

Here is a link to free pumpkin carving patterns | easy paper pattern for children Halloween pumpkin carving:

http://paperpumpkins.com/patterns.htm

Happy Halloween!

Cirque du Soleil™: Kooza at Orange County Great Park

2009-10-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

Cirque du Soleil™: Kooza at Orange County Great Park IN IRVINE
Tickets On Sale Now!

Opens on January 08, 2010
Under the Grand Chapiteau at Orange County Great Park

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/kooza/tickets/irvine.aspx?d=41

Kidsfaire This Weekend - OC Fairgrounds

2009-09-30T06:07:00.000-07:00

Tickets $5.00 for kids 2-12 and $8.00 for adults

» DISCOUNT TICKETS «
Click here to download discount tickets,
benefitting Ronald McDonald House of Orange County

http://www.thekidsfaire.com/pub/costamesa_tickets.htm

ClownTown
Join us at the ClownTown big top and enjoy the zany antics of juggling, slapstick comedy, magic and lots of family fun.
Character Central Features the World's Most Popular
Children's Television and Movie Stars!
Meet SpongeBob, Dora, the Care Bears, Junie B. Jones, Curious George, Scooby Doo, Super Why and tons more special VIP guests! Don't forget to bring your camera for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Visit Character Central and shake hands with the world's most popular kids tv and movie stars at Character Central.
Doggies of the Wild West!
It's a full cast of “Pooches from the Prairie starring multi-talented comedic canines, including Barks Brooks,' America's newest country music singing sensation; 'Miss Prissy,' the world's only pup to balance on one paw; 'Precious,' famous for her jump roping skills; the head balancing antics of 'Pistol Peanuts;' 'Peppy', the paw-scootin', dancin'est doggie in the West and the star of the show, Hollywood High Diving Champion, 'Paco'!
QUBO TV Village
Step inside the QUBO TV village and meet all the stars from QUBO TV, the NBC-TV children's television line up, including stars of VeggieTales, Turbo Dogs, Maisy, Babar and lots more fun!
Tiki Tiki Hut
It's a Polynesian paradise, right in the middle of Kidsfaire! The Tiki Tiki Hut is the ultimate destination for hula girls and boys, as they learn special hula dances, along with the music from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa and Tonga. It's a special place, located at the center of Kidsfaire, where kids can create their own hula skirts, lei's and hula craft projects while celebrating in our very own version of the Aloha Spirit!
Turbo Dogs Roar into Kidsfaire
For the first-time ever, the Turbo Dogs are wagging their way to Kidsfaire to celebrate with all their fans. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with stars of the hit television program, "Turbo Dogs".

Amazing Family Entertainment!
Kidsfaire brings together the most talented family entertainers you'll see anywhere!
Check out our just a few of our special stage shows:

The Jumpitz Jump into Kidsfaire
Get ready to sing and dance along with the Jumpitz, as they perform their hit songs from their latest CD and television show at the center of Kidsfaire!
Debi Derryberry "The Voice of Jimmy Neutron" Live in Concert
Winner of the iParenting Media Award, Best New Artist and CD of the Year, here's your chance to enjoy Debi's fantastic fun-filled show at Kidsfaire.
Warner Music Group's "Twinkle Time" Concert
A high-energy pop family musical. Twinkle and her colorful cast of friends will get your family movin' and groovin'

The Raymies Rock Kidsfaire
Music sensation "The Raymies" are five girls ranging in age from 14-16 years old that are heading for superstardom.

Kids Imagination Nation
Celebrate with the Kids Imagination Show and the Imagination Treehouse in this fast paced show with lots of music, dancing and magic.

Ronald McDonald Show
Join Ronald McDonald in his special Kidsfaire show, featuring lots of music, dancing, magic and fun for the whole family!

Star Wars "The Force Experience Show"
Catch the Star Wars "The Force Experience" Show at Kidsfaire, where you'll witness a Litesaber Fight staring Darth Vader and more Star Wars characters! After the show, shake hands and interact with many of your Star Wars favorites, including Jedi, x-wing pilots and more right at Kidsfaire.
Wild Wild West Stunt Shows
Enjoy Wild West Stunt Shows from our famous cowboy friends, plus panning for gold and lots of fun wild west excitement.
Pirate's Cove Adventure
Ahoy, Matey! Step Inside Pirate's Cove for some fun and frolic with our real pirate friends and get ready of our biggest “Pirate's Treasure Hunt” ever! It's a pirate's life for your right in the middle of Kidsfaire!
Xbox and Nintendo Gaming Zone
Step inside the Gaming Zone and enjoy free Nintendo, Xbox and more interactive fun.
Princess Pavilion
The Princess Pavilion, Presented by My Princess Academy, features crowns to decorate, a mini nail salon, arts and crafts and a special meeting with Princess Skylar!
Plant-It Pavilion
There's water water everywhere as your kids become expert gardeners inside the Plant-It Pavilion. Enjoy free planting as a special souvenir of your day of fun at Kidsfaire.
Elephant and Camel Rides!
You'll feel like you're on a safari adventure as you hop on an elephant or camel for a good time tour of Kidsfaire.
Stargazing
Take a virtual trip through the solar system as you climb aboard the Stargazing exhibit and visit the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and all of the planets in the solar system and still be home for dinner!
Cartoonists Across America!
Don't miss your last opportunity to catch the world tour of Cartoonists Across America as they complete their 25th anniversary at Kidsfaire. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your kids to paint alongside some the most talented and world reknown cartoonists as they make their way to the center of Kidsfaire for a super duper mural extravaganza.
Roller Derby Stunt Shows
The world-famous FireBirds are making their first-ever appearance at Kidsfaire with an awe inspiring Roller Derby Show, featuring the most amazing roller derby stars in the country.
Rainforest Adventure
You'll be transported miles away to a exotic rainforest with an amazing array of animals amidst a real-life Rainforest setting!
Animal Exhibit
Here's your chance to get up close and personal with Alligators, rattlesnakes, baby cougar, cubs and bobcats...an amazing array of rescued animals!
The Happy Meal Tent... The Happiest Place at Kidsfaire
Enter the Happy Meal Tent and enjoy lots of fun Arts and Crafts, face Painting, a super special 3D green screen and lots of fun surprises!

Day Trippen newsletter

2009-09-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

Lots of great ideas on day trips around Southern California : Day Trippin Newsletter

2nd Annual Angels Fiesta coming to Anaheim Stadium

2009-09-16T12:47:00.001-07:00

For something fun, and free to do with your kids, visit Anaheim Stadium for the 2nd Annual Angels Fiesta coming soon: visit this site for more info:

http://www.thekidsfactory.com/

Orange County GREAT PARK :: 17 Hippies at the Great Park

2009-09-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

Flights & Sounds of Summer :: 17 Hippies, Berlin’s very own “orchester spezial” will play its whirling, crashing, diving, bobbing and weaving mixture of music that morphs French songs, English ballads and international rhythms into a captivating cocktail of sound.

http://www.ocgp.org/

For information on fun things to do (mostly FREE) with kids in Orange County

2009-09-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.orangecounty.net/html/fun.html

http://www.daytrippen.com/oc.html

http://www.travsite.com/orangecounty/thingstodo.html

http://attractions.uptake.com/california/orange_county/family/587810869.html

http://www.thingstodo.com/states/CA/orange_county.htm

Ready... Go have fun!

A new place for Orange County kids to play, explore

2009-08-27T16:13:00.000-07:00

Visit the Orange County Great Park for fun and exciting things to do with your kids. The park is now open to the public and home of the Orange County Great Park Balloon, offering Free Flights, Year Round!

The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Park’s first major attraction. With the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 visitors and soar up to 500 feet above the surrounding landscape, passengers can watch the Great Park’s development unfold as construction activity increases. Best of all, admission on the Great Park Balloon is FREE!

http://www.ocgp.org/visit/balloon/

The Preview Park is being actively programmed with concerts, dances, workshops and other special events. The current event is the Flights & Sounds of Summer
Night Dances & Concerts, with top-talent comedians and bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Free Admission, $8 Parking

For more information go to: http://www.ocgp.org/

Cookie Magazine: Stylish Parenting Magazine

2009-01-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

A staple in our house, every OC Parent must have: Cookie Magazine: Stylish Parenting Magazine

Family Fun at the Orange County Zoo

2008-12-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

Family Fun at the Orange County Zoo

As Christmas break gets closer and closer, parents everywhere are scrambling to come up with fun, family-oriented activities that will both entertain and educate the kids. Well, what kid doesn't love a trip to the zoo? The Orange County Zoo has plenty of kid-friendly activities going on this winter. So put the toys back in those toy boxes and head off to the zoo for a day of family fun!

Christmas at the OC Zoo:

Date: December 20th
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
What's Going On? The OC Zoo is getting into the holiday spirit with this special event. Come and see the zoo animals receive special treats hidden inside Christmas trees. Activities include arts and crafts, face painting and, story time with Mrs. Clause and of course - a visit with Santa himself!
Price: Free with zoo admission ($2.00 per person; ages 2 and under gets in free)

Creatures In The Cold - Toddler Class Ages 3-4):

Date: January 8th
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
What's Going On? Your young ones can come to the zoo and learn all about animals that live in cold climates! Reindeer, polar bears, penguins and much more! The class includes hands-on educational activities as well as arts & crafts.
Price: $5.00 (includes one parent)
Special Instructions: Phone registration is required. Please call Marcy Crede-Booth at (714) 973-6846 for more information and to register for the class! Hurry, as the class fills up fast!

Nose, Toes & Ears - Toddler Class (Ages 3-4):

Date: January 15th
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
What's Going On Nose, toes and ears - oh my! Learn all about different animals - furry, fuzzy and otherwise! Who has small ears? Who has a big nose? How many toes does a bear have? Arts and crafts and educational activities a plenty!
Price: $5.00 (includes one parent)
Special Instructions: Phone registration is required. Please call Marcy Crede-Booth at (714) 973-6846 for more information and to register for the class! Hurry, as the class fills up fast!

Scales, Feathers & Fur - Toddler Class (Ages 3-4):

Date: January 23rd
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
What's Going On Learn all about birds, reptiles and mammals and even meet some of these fine feathered and furry friends! The class includes fun, educational arts, crafts and other activities.
Price: $5.00 (includes one parent)
Special Instructions: Phone registration is required. Please call Marcy Crede-Booth at (714) 973-6846 for more information and to register for the class! Hurry, as the class fills up fast!

Free Santa Pictures for Kids in Orange County

2008-12-12T07:19:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Claus for a Cause and Rascals to Rebels, just bring your camera and you can take your very own photos of your kids for FREE!

Rascals to Rebels is a specialty children's boutique carrying quality fashions and accessories for your newborn baby up to your "Rebel" at size 12. They offer a convenient play area for your child while you shop. Their toy section includes books, crafts, stuffed animals and educational toys for children of all ages.

Santa will be at the Rascals to Rebels shops in Seal Beach and Huntington Beach for a few more dates this month. He’ll be in HB on the 16th, and then back to Seal Beach on the 19th (all between 3 and 5 P.M.). Expect a little bit of a line; how fast it goes depends on the kids in front of you and how long their lists are. They do have a professional photographer on hand in case you prefer to use her services. Kids also receive a small gift after the photo shoot; babies get small candy canes “for their memory books”.

While the events are totally free to the public, Santa and Mrs. Claus do accept donations, with every dollar received going toward the Breast Cancer Angels organization. So even if your kid goes totally ballistic on Santa’s lap, at least you can say that it was all for a good cause!

Rascals to Rebels, Huntington Beach

7101 Yorktown Avenue, Suite 103

714.374.9937

Rascals to Rebels, Seal Beach

12185 Seal Beach Blvd.

562.598.3900

Enjoy the Holidays at Rainbow Harbor in Downtown Long Beach!

2008-12-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

Make holiday shopping painless, entertain the entire family, dine and shop outside amid the fresh ocean air at The Pike at Rainbow Harbor! During the month of December Santa pays a visit to The Pike Marketplace and offers free pictures with a receipt from any Shoreline Village, Aquarium of the Pacific or Pike merchant. Admission to The Pike Marketplace is FREE.

Free Pictures with Santa: Visit Santa at The Pike from 11am-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays during December (December 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 20). Receive a free picture with Santa with any valid receipt from The Pike, Shoreline Village or Aquarium of the Pacific.

Free Snow Play: It's Snowing in Long Beach....Play in real snow on the first three Saturdays in December! Children ages 3-11 can frolic in twenty tons of real snow! December 6: 1-4p - Aquarium's front lawn/December 13: 1-4p - Shoreline Village parking lot/ December 20: 1-4p - The Esplanade
Shark Lagoon Nights:The public is invited to get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators at the Aquarium of the Pacific for FREE during Shark Lagoon Nights. Guests will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and see large sharks such as sandtigers as well as rays in the Aquarium’s Shark Lagoon.

The Pike Marketplace: Introducing The Pike Marketplace
Every Saturday from 11am to 4pm on the grass area at the corner of Pine Ave. & Shoreline Dr. (adjacent to the famous landmark Ferris Wheel).

Live Entertainment: Schedule

Click Here for full Events Schedule

Click Here for Directions and Parking Information

FREE Kids Cartoon Pumpkin Carving Templates

2008-10-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

Click here for FREE Kids Cartoon Pumpkin Carving templates, including the Backyardigans, Spongebob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer. And for all you old school parents, there are some great Classic Cartoon templates to choose from too, like Popeye, Garfield and Mighty Mouse.

http://www.carvingpumpkins.net/kids/kids.html

FREE Disneyland Tickets on your Birthday!

2008-10-06T22:57:00.001-07:00

It's true! Disneyland is giving away FREE tickets for your birthday. Yes, a marketing plan first introduced by Denny's restaurant who used to give away free meals for your birthday. But now, the concept has been upped by Disneyland with free entrance to Orange County's favorite amusement park. Bring the kids to celebrate their birthday along with Mickey, Minnie and all the princesses.

All you have to do is register here at the Disney website and you will get an email reminder two weeks before your kids big day. And for all you annual passport holders, go ahead and register because there are other exciting gifts too.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/disneyland/index?name=CelebrationsDLRFreeOnYourBirthdayPage&bhcp=1

Kidsfaire-Orange County Fair Grounds

2008-09-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Kidsfaire-America's Family Expo is coming to Orange County. The Kidsfaire is California's Largest Children's & Family Event offering endless family entertainment,6 Stages of Live Character Shows, Acres of rides and attractions, Hundreds of Interactive Exhibits, Childrens Pavillions and Great Resources for your home and family. A place designed for kids of all ages and their families. We had the pleasure of attending this event last year and we had so much fun we plan on going back for more this year.

Click her for more info. on this event:

KidsFaire

October 4-5, 2008

Orange County Fairgrounds

Costa Mesa, CA (click here for directions)

10AM-5PM

Tickets to Kidsfaire; America's Family Expo are sold at the gate. Regular admission is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 2-12. Admission includes all non-stop entertainment and fun family pavilions. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase food at the faire!

*Pick up a Discount ticket at your local McDonalds Restaurant.

Storytime for your kids at BORDERS Bookstores

2008-09-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, September 27th from 2-4PM,
BORDERS Bookstores are having a Kids Party! You're invited to bring the family for games, story times, activities and more!

Check out the kids section at Borders!

You'll find a new area devoted to kids graphic novels and manga, plus you'll discover fun toys and games for kids of all ages. And don't miss the weekly story times.

We love taking our kids on a bookstore trip where we always find a great bargain on kids books. See you there.

Bring your kids to watch the Pet Parade TODAY!

2008-09-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Join us for some family fun today at the 12th Annual Laguna Beach Pet Parade & Chili Cook-Off located in South Orange County. There will be an assortment of entertainment provided for children, a pet parade for our furry friends, and a Chili Contest for the cook in your family.

Sunday, September 14, 2008
Noon to 3p.m.
Tivoli Too- Laguna Beach (click here for directions)
Admission: $5.00 (Children under 10 Free)

Call for more information: 949-497-2474

Kids fun @ Irvine Spectrum

2008-08-19T00:03:00.000-07:00

The Irvine Spectrum, where the 5 and 405 Freeways meet, otherwise known as the the "Y" is where you can find tons of kids fun. Plenty of kids and baby boutique shopping too.

Most moms love to shop. Kids love to have fun! Combine the two at the Irvine Spectrum where there is more shopping for kids than you can handle, and as much fun for the kids...

The Merry-go-round / Carousel, Ferris Wheel, live entertainment and train rides keep the kids entertained. Not to mention movies, and Mega Arcades like Dave & Buster's for the teens. The in-ground water fountain that spews water from holes in the concrete like oil from our soil is our child's absolute favorite. (Be prepared though and bring a towel, bathing suit and/or an extra outfit for after the water fun).

Here is a list of some of our favorite children's boutique and kid's clothing stores:

Bellini
Phone: (949) 753-0588
Discover the country’s leading design source for juvenile furnishings and accessories. Discover the craftsmanship, safety and style that make a Bellini bedroom an instant classic.

Naartjie
Phone: (949) 450-1439
Naartjie offers unique kids' fashions sizes preemie to 9.

Carter's
Phone: (949) 727-4124
The cutest apparel for infants to toddlers.

Old Navy
Phone: (949) 727-1968
Hip clothing for the whole family.

Here's some reviews from other Spectrum visitor's:
http://www.lilaguide.com/reviews/irvine-spectrum-521281.aspx

Our daughter loved eebee as a baby and now Barnes & Noble makes it easier to bring home

2008-08-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

Our daughter fell in love with eebee, but we couldn't find the DVDs locally and the eebee doll was sold out, so we settled for the cable on-demand episodes.

But now, eebee videos and doll are now available at Barnes & Noble bookstores:

Visit your local Barnes & Noble or shop online at
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?AUD=JUV&kids=y&WRD=eebee
books

Just like the award-winning on-screen adventures, these interactive books have a heart and soul that playfully engages every baby and every parent with new ideas to discover and share together.

Titles include:

eebee’s BATH TIME adventure, a floating, squirting water play book!

eebee’s ALL ABOUT YOU & ME adventure, a combination book and language game!

eebee’s PEEK-A-BOO adventure, where the action begins right on the cover!

eebee’s LAUNDRY TIME adventure, where soft towels, colorful PJs, and an interactive washing machine combine to equal countless explorations!

eebee’s HAVE A BALL adventure just might be the only baby book with a built-in basketball hoop!

For more information, you can also visit us at www.eebee.com/shop.html.

Reading to your baby helps to build creativity, listening and language skills. Reading also encourages your child to look, point, and interact with you and the world in the book and beyond. Most importantly, it’s simply the sound and rhythm of your voice and having you close that makes reading a joyous adventure for your baby.

The early reviews are in! And here’s what these moms are saying:

“You don’t have to know who eebee is, or already like him, to love these books. The new books, just out from eebee’s adventures, are interactive learning tools, not just books. The books are made out of soft, tactile material to engage the child. The books don’t just show a picture and a word to describe it, they allow a child to actually perform the movement. Motor skills are sharpened and imaginations soar.”
Jillian (age 22 months) and Heidi (mom) eebeediaries: http://eebeediaries.blogspot.com

"My son loves the books,"
411 Mommy (411mommy.blogspot.com)

“These books have been lovingly created to appeal to and nurture the natural inquisitiveness within each young child.”
Josalyn Moran, Vice-President of Children’s Books, Barnes & Noble
doll

PLUS, you’ll find a little surprise only at Barnes & Noble!
The 8” eebee doll, a great size for the stroller and diaper bag!

Visit Barnes & Noble or shop online at
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?
AUD=JUV&kids=y&WRD=eebee.

Take your baby beyond the page with these new eebee’s adventures books!

Take your kids to see Walking with Dinosaurs

2008-08-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

The Dinosaurs are coming next week to the Honda Center in Anaheim (formerly Arrowhead Pond). The show start next Wednesday, August 20th and runs through the weekend, Sunday August 24th. Be sure to take your kids to see the dazzling arena spectacle that is a $20-million dollar budget production.

The show includes Tyrannosaurus Rex, Utahraptro, Stegosauras and Brachiosaurus dinosaurs. Here's the official website where you can order tickers online: http://www.dinosaurlive.com/

Great online resource for Kids Education

2008-07-21T21:31:00.001-07:00

http://www.education.com/

It's been a busy summer already

2008-07-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Hope your summer with the kids is going great! Apologies for the hiatus but we have been very busy this summer with lots going on. We have plenty to catch up on in the next few weeks to help keep you informed on fun & educational things to do with your kids in Orange County, CA.

We added a new puppy to our family. Haley, a 14 week old Basset Hound / English Bulldog mix. The dog aficionado refer to her as a basset bully designer breed. She is adorable and best of all, a smart, calm dog that is great with kids. So we will begin blogging about raising puppies with kids. Let me tell you, you haven't been challenged until you are potty training a puppy and a two-year old at the same time!

We've spent plenty of time at the beach already this summer, and even went camping at the beach, so we will post a nice camping check list for families with kids and dogs.

Don't forget the OC Fair is going on now at the Orange County Fairgrounds and the Circus is coming town: the Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey circus will be at the Honda Center in Anaheim from July 23rd through August 3rd. And after that at the Honda Center is WALKING WITH DINOSAURS: For 200 million years the Dinosaurs ruled the earth, Now, they’re back roaming the arenas of Americain an extraordinary new theatrical production.

STAY TUNED for more exciting, fun and educational things to do with your kids in Orange County.

FREE Audio Stories for Kids

2008-06-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

All kids love stories. Here is a great resource for FREE Audio Stories for Kids: Storynory where Prince Bertie the Frog brings you an audio story every week. Each one is read specially for him by his friend Natasha . But Bertie likes to share - so you can hear them too, ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Explore over 100+ Tales in the Archives

http://storynory.com/

Schools out, kids are home, now what to do them?

2008-06-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

About to go crazy with all the kids home for summer? Having a list of fun things to do with the kids can be a great help. Here are some fun ideas of things to do with and for the kids this summer break.

Summer Fun
Library Reading Programs. Many libraries offer great reading programs for the summer. Many also have craft days, discussion groups, and parties. Get your kids in on the fun! Watch for sign up times in your area. If you don't want to get out, check out these ideas of activities you can do with your kids. There are several craft projects for your older readers.

Orange County Public Library
http://www.ocpl.org/

Get together with another family. Find another family with kids that range in the same age bracket as your kids. Host a child(ren) from the other family one afternoon and on another day have your children go to their house. This will give one mom a chance to get things accomplished without the kids or at least take a nap!

Walk for Charities. Get the kids involved with an activity that not only promotes physical well-being, but also the importance of helping others. During the summer are many opportunities to walk for various charitable events.

Giving Children Hope - be part of the GCH's very first Walk-a-Thon
http://www.gchope.org/walking-with-hope.html

Lessons or sports? How about swim lessons? Dance? Soccer? Art? This will teach the kids skills and give you a break. Here's a list of youth sports leagues:
http://www.dmoz.org/Sports/Basketball/Youth_and_High_School/Leagues/

Scouting. Scouting can be a great activity with plenty of learning and fun. There may be day camps available as well as over night activities.

Orange County Scouts website
http://www.ocbsa.org/site/c.khKQIWPBIoE/b.2627577/

Cultural Activities. Get the kids excited about learning about their culture. Many ideas can be found in this article: Focus on Culture.

Cultural learning website with lesson for teaching kids
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSLAOCICountriesandCulturesIdeas18.htm

Crafts. Family Crafts guide, Sherri Osborn, has literally hundreds of craft ideas to keep your kids busy for three summers!

Fun Kids Arts & Crafts
http://familycrafts.about.com/

Life books. What a great time to focus on updating or completing the children's lifebooks. Working on their lifebooks may be a learning activity that they may be able to do with little help, depending on the age of the child, from you.

http://adoption.about.com/cs/legalissues/g/lifebook.htm

Day Camps. YMCA offers a great kid's day camp.

YMCA of Orange County
http://www.ymcaoc.org/branches/noc.php

Take your kids on a bike ride

2008-06-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

We love going on bike rides as a family. We have the trailer setup & the child seat which fits behind mommy's and/or daddy's seat. We usually cruise down the boardwalk at either Newport Beach or Huntington Beach. Today we decided to do something a little different and enjoyed the bike trail around Newport back bay. It's quiet, safe to take your kids and flat! Don't forget to protect your kids noggin and be sure to put a child helmet on their heads.

Here's a nice map that shows the trail:

Back Bay Trail Loop
Find more Bike Rides in Newport Beach, California

For more great fun outdoor activities in Orange County, CA visit the Kids Fun Factory website.

Sesame Street - always a great go-to

2008-06-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

Father's Day events in Orange County

2008-06-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Father's Day, the Newport Beach Breakers of World Team Tennis have launched the "Dad Pack."

The package includes two matches: Newport Beach Breakers vs. St. Louis Aces (featuring Anna Kournikova) on Wednesday, July 16th and Newport Beach Breakers vs. New York Sportimes (featuring John McEnroe) on Tuesday, July 22nd. This package will only last through Father's Day, so if your Pop loves tennis, then this is the gift for him. Package cost is $75.

Other matches this season include:

July 5th vs. Kansas City Explorers (Bank of America Jr. Night)
July 10th vs. Springfield Lasers (Featuring Lindsay Davenport)
July 13th vs. Washington Kastles (Featuring Serena Williams)
July 14th vs. Sacramento Capitals (Free Women's Clinic with Tracy Austin)
July 21st vs. Boston Lobsters (Featuring Martina Navratilova)

Other Ticketing options include, Full Season General Admission and Full Season Club Box. For more info and to order tickets click to: http://www.newportbeachbreakers.com/teams/index.aspx

For more great gift giving ideas for Father's Day and other fun stuff to do with Dad in Orange County visit the Kids Fun Factory website.

Take your kids to the ballgame this summer

2008-06-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

Anaheim Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels is a fun place to take the kids to enjoy some great Angels baseball and so much more. We enjoy taking our daughter to the ballpark for all the fun kids events, promotions and activities too.

We try and take in as many McDonald's Family Sunday games as we can for the fun and exciting Angels activities in the Family Picnic Zone. Tickets start as low as $12 for adults and $5 for kids. Kids fun stuff include sports games: virtual batting & pitching games, arts and crafts, and Ronald McDonald himself.

More McDonald's Family Sunday info

Family Fun Pack is another great Angels baseball promotion for families with a few kids. You can bring the whole family out for a day of baseball, food and fun! The Angels Family Fun Pack is only $39 for a family of four good for Upper View seating areas (or also available for $51 in the Lower View Box).*

The package includes: 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 small soft drinks.

There are several great 2008 Angels' home games to choose from.

Family Fun Packs can be purchased at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim Ticket Office and here online.

Check the kids promotions calendar for other great kids & family events:

$3 Kids and Teens
$3 Tickets available for select Upper View seating areas for fans, ages 2-18. Tickets can only be purchased on day of game at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim Ticket Office during regular business hours and prior to game time.

Kids Run the Show 6
Angels' fans ages 5-18 will get the opportunity to participate in various game day activities. Register for a chance to win one of many Angels' baseball fantasies such as honorary bat kid, guest PA announcer, guest radio broadcaster and more. Look for the entry form at angelsbaseball.com in the coming months.

& EVEN MORE KIDS EVENTS
Rally Noodle Photo
Fourth of July Fireworks
Chone Figgins Mesh Kids
Kids Run The Bases Angels
Poster giveaway
Camp Halo
Bobblehead character giveaways

See you and your kids at the ballpark. For more fun stuff to do with kids in Orange County visit The Kids Fun Factory.

Costa Mesa Fish Fry is coming this weekend

2008-05-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

The COSTA MESA-NEWPORT HARBOR LIONS CLUB Fish Fry is coming to Costa Mesa this weekend, May 31 - June 1, 2008. Some of the events listed include: Carnival, Prizes, Food, Games, Entertainment, Beauty & Baby Contest.

Event Map

You can definitely find us there with our daughter this weekend for sure!

COSTA MESA-NEWPORT HARBOR LIONS Fish Fry History

For more fun stuff to do with your kids in Orange County visit The Kids Fun Factory.

Upcoming Events : Orange County : Costa Mesa / Newport Mesa / Newport Beach

2008-05-26T22:28:00.000-07:00

COSTA MESA-NEWPORT HARBOR LIONS CLUB Fish Fry

May 31 - June 1, 2008

Event Webshttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifite: http://www.cmnhlions.com/fishfry/index.html

Carnval Rides open at 11:00 a.m.

Saturday - MAY 31 Sunday - JUNE 1

12:00/2:00 Davis All star Band/Choir 12:00/12:30 CMHS Cheerleaders

2:00/3:00 8 Ways To Sunday 12:30/2:00 Mighty Jam Band

3:00/3:30 Wanda Dance 2:00/3:00 Baby Contest

3:30/4:00 Raffle 3:00/3:30 Raffle

4:00/5:00 Star Light Theater 3:30/5:00 3rd Degree Blues Band

5:00/6:00 open 5:30/---- Latin Themed Band

6:00/----- Latin Themed Band 8:00 Raffle

8:00 Raffle

Happy Memorial Day

2008-05-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day in Orange County, CA.
A great day to take your kids outdoors, to the park, swimming pool or to the beach. We rode our bikes with the child seat from Newport Beach to the Balboa Beach pier. We enjoyed a nice lunch at Ruby's at the end of the pier. Kids love eating at Ruby's Diner -- especially when you get a great seat overlooking the ocean at the end of the pier.

Most importantly be sure to take the time to teach your children what Memorial Day is really all about; paying respect to our veterans. Here's a read on Returning Meaning to Memorial Day by U.S. News.

Happy Memorial Day, hope you and your family had a great one!

Memorial Day Weekend : Fun things for kids in Orange County

2008-05-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

For something fun to do with your kids in Orange County this Memorial Day Weekend visit the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival.

Lots of funs stuff for the kids: Kids Rides, Kids Activities, Child Celebrity guest appearances.

Our favorite is the BERRY BERRY BEAUTIFUL BABY PAGEANT FOR BABIES 3 MONTHS TO UNDER 3 YEARS.

MAY 23-26, 2008

Friday (1pm to 10pm)
Sat & Sun (10am-10pm)
Monday (10am to 8:30pm)
Admission is Free!
Click here for directions

Kid Rides
Badlands 4x4
Bear Affair
Bees
Clown Glass
Cobra
Dragon Wagon
Elephants
Free Fall
Goliath Slide
Kiddie Bumper Boats
Kite Flyer
Lolly Swings
Raiders
Silver Streak
Survival Island
Toon town
Tug Boats
Wave Runner

For more fun stuff to do with your kids in Orange County visit The Kids Fun Factory.

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival: Event Website

Wii Fit for kids

2008-05-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Nintendo Wii Fit, a excercise and fitness game for the Nintendo Wii game console was released this week. It comes with a ton of games and a Balance Board.
Just a few of the games for kids are: Soccer Heading, Ski Slalom, SKi Jump, Hula Hoop and Basic Step (similar to the Dance Dance Revolution game)

Like most of the games on the Wii game console, it gets your kid up off the couch and excercising. There are also some great fitness and aerobics games for parents too:
Yoga, Strength Training and Aerobics

Unless you pre-ordered they are hard to get your hands on one. But, if you can, the Wii Fit is a great game for kids and parents too.

http://www.nintendo.com/wiifit/launch/

The Circus is in town - Orange County

2008-05-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Remember going to the Circus as a kid. This was always top of the list of fun things to do on my all time childhood favorites.

The Circus Vargas is in town, the stop for Orange County is at the Westminster Mall. You can see the big top from the 405 freeway. The show runs from May 15th through the 26th before heading off to Ventura. There is a schedule of shows all days of the week with varying times from the afternoon to the evening - plenty of options to bring the kids regardless of their nap schedule

For information on the circus visit: http://www.circusvargas.org/

For more fun stuff to do with your kids in Orange County visit The Kids Fun Factory.

Boutique shopping in Huntington Beach

2008-05-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hush Baby has some of the cutest clothes and accessories. We love to shop for unique outfits for our daughter at Hush Baby. The store is located in the Bella Terra mall in Huntington Beach, Ca.

They feature designer brands starting at newborn through 6T and also offer maternity and mommy and me clothing. They have diaper bags, bath products, car seat/high chair covers, jewelry, day planners and much more.

Our favorite thing though is the story time!
Story Time - Every Tuesday from 11 - 12
Enjoy story time with The Story Lady's Magic Book. Your children will enjoy storytime with a creative twist and facing painting. Stories will include a little of everything: classic fairytales, old favorites, new finds and seasonal themes told with Story Lady's bunny and favorite puppets every Tuesday 11:00 am - 12:00 pm.

And the bonus: you can enjoy 10% off all purchases during story time!

Hush Baby
http://www.hushbabyhuntingtonbeach.com/
7777 Edinger Ave
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
United States
(714) 892-2121

Here's a link to a map

For more kids boutique shopping ideas and more great fun stuff to do with kids, check out The Kids Fun Factory.

Camp Newport Expo

2008-05-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

From the day our daughter was born we have dreamt about her surfing in Newport & Huntington Beach. She loves watching the animated movie Surfs Up and surf documentaries always grab her attention. Every chance we get we take her to the beach and she points out the surfers. Being only two, we have to settle for the excitement and helping her stand on her kick board in the pool is closest were getting to her surfing this summer.

But if you are lucky enough that your kids is just a few years older, then you should check out the Camp Newport Expo this Saturday, May 17 at 10:00a to 2:00p at Newport Coast Community Center, Newport Beach, CA.

Discover how your child can turn dreams into reality this summer. Meet camp directors, ask questions, and enroll in a drawing for a free week of summer camp.

Check it out here: http://www.campnewport.com/

For more kids outdoor sports ideas and more great fun stuff to do with kids, check out The Kids Fun Factory.

Balboa Island Artwalk

2008-05-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Balboa Island Artwalk is this Sunday, May 18 9:00a to 5:00p at South Bayfront, Balboa Island, Balboa Island, CA

The Balboa Island Artwalk is the premier showcase for talented local artists and marks the start of the Island's summer season. Celebrating its fourteenth anniversary, this fine art show features over ninety artists displaying paintings, jewelery, sculpture.

We try and expose our child to as many different types of art we can to stimulate her creativity.

Event Web Site

For more kids Arts & Crafts ideas and more great fun stuff to do with kids, check out The Kids Fun Factory.

Take your kid on a boat ride

2008-05-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

We took our child out on a cruise through Huntington Beach Harbour and had a blast. We rented an electric Duffy boat out of Sunset Beach and cruised around the harbor for hours. The boat is super easy to drive and makes for a relaxing cruise with beautiful views of million dollar mansions and yachts.

This was a great family outing and highly recommend looking into it for any families that love spending time on the water. Pack a lunch and make a picnic out of it.

For more great family outing ideas and more great fun stuff to do with kids, check out The Kids Fun Factory.

Celebrating Mother's Day

2008-05-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

How we celebrated Mother's day:

We started the morning with a walk on the Huntington Beach pier down to Ruby's Diner for some decent, inexpensive breakfast overlooking the ocean. Kids love this 50's diner-style restaurant. Then we spent some time shopping for mommy at the stores on main street. Followed with some nice old fashioned fun in the sun by the pool and barbecuing hot dogs. To finish things off we went to In N Out for dinner.

For more fun kids stuff visit The Kids Fun Factory

Happy Mother's Day to all mommies.

Join the mom's networking network

2008-05-10T16:26:00.000-07:00

Check out our Kids Fun Factory blog

Mother's Day in Orange County

2008-05-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

Remember Mom this weekend with something just for her. The Philharmonic House of Design is still happening and it's a great day of discovery plus a fun boutique, caf� and lectures. Or sashay on over to the Honda Center to hear Michael Bubl� sing. For a relaxing brunch try 21 Oceanfront, Sapphire, Palm Terrace and any of the Culinary Adventure restaurants. Or head to Laguna for a spa getaway at the Surf and Sand Resort, The Balboa Bay Club & Resort or my favorite place the St. Regis Spa Gaucin and truly indulge. Heavenly!!! more

For fun things to do with kids in orange county visit thekidsfactory.com

California Strawberry Festival May 17 - 18

2008-05-08T17:37:00.000-07:00

KIDS Ride FREE in Amtrak Pacific Surfliner to the 25th Annual California Strawberry Festival
http://www.strawberry-fest.org/information/information-amtrak.html

One of the Premier Outdoor Festivals in the Nation
A tribute to the tasty fruit that wears its seeds on the outside, the 25th Annual California Strawberry Festival gets underway May 17 and 18, 2008 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard (3250 South Rose Avenue).

With live musical entertainment, over 300 Arts & Crafts, 50 food booths with yummy berry favorites, gooey contests, the Strawberry Promenade, Star Berry Hunt, Strawberryland For Kids, and more, it’s the perfect celebration of the region’s agricultural heritage with proceeds benefiting more than 40 Southland charities.

Hours:

Saturday, May 17: 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m.
Sunday, May 18: 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m.

Strawberry Meadows of College Park
3250 South Rose Avenue
Oxnard, California

Admission
$12 Adults
$5 Youth (Ages 5-12)
$8 Seniors (55+)
$8 Active Military and Dependents with ID
Children 4 and under are free

http://www.strawberry-fest.org/information/information-main.html

Strawberry Express Shuttle
Take the FREE Strawberry Express. Get off the freeway, park and ride our shuttle.

Keeping it real, teaching your kids about organic fruits and vegetables

2008-05-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

Keeping it real, teaching your kids about organic fruits and vegetables

http://www.tanakafarms.com/

Tanaka farms located in Orange County offers tours of their fields year round. Right now you can take the Strawberry tour.

Bring your kids for an exciting adventure which includes:

*A guided Wagon Ride around the farm

*See how different fruits and vegetables grow

*Taste different fruits and vegetables

*Pick and eat your very own STRAWBERRIES

Strawberries, Strawberries, Strawberries
Starting our Strawberry tours in 1998 we started something in the heart of Irvine that some people still may not know that exist. Something elders remember from there childhoods but young kids have never experienced. Some place to pick your very own strawberries right off the vine. Nothing taste better than a vine ripened Tanaka Farms Strawberry. On this 1 hour tour, we will experience a tractor pulled wagon ride around the farm, see different fruits and vegetables growing, we will get to taste some fruits and vegetables, and at the very end we will get out and pick our very own strawberries. Nothing beats the excitment of kids trying to find the biggest strawberries and then dripping the juice all over themselves. The pictures speak for themselves. Along with the fun and excitment it is also a great learning experience for the kids. We will teach you the difference between a fruit and a vegetable and I bet the parents will even be amazed as well.
So come join the for Strawberry Tours that run from March-June. Don't miss out on the fun. For Group tours and reservations please call 714-968-6588.

http://www.tanakafarms.com/Strawberry_Tours.html

Santa Margarita Water District's Family Fun Kids Day

2008-05-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

source: daytripping mom

If you live in South Orange County this sounds like a fun family outing. You are invited to join the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) for its annual Fiesta de Agua Family Fun Day water conservation festival on Saturday, May 3rd. New this year, SMWD will host the free event along the shores of its Oso Reservoir in Rancho Santa Margarita. The family-oriented festival is held by SMWD each May to kick off its celebration of National Water Awareness Month.

Fiesta de Agua’s new location will provide a beautiful natural backdrop for participants to learn about water conservation and the local environment. Activities, which include water education games, a live reptile show and nature hikes, will be centered at the Boy Scout camp on the banks of the reservoir.

What: SMWD Fiesta de Agua
When: Saturday, May 3rd 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: SMWD’s Oso Reservoir
(Directions and map below)

Activities for this year’s Fiesta de Agua are scheduled to include:

· Water conservation education
· Nature hikes
· Live reptile show
· Marksmanship demonstrations
Fossil displays
Bird watching
Face painting
Scout demonstrations
S’mores and campfire songs
Kids’ crafts
Community exhibitors
Firefighters and fire engines

Free food and beverages will be provided by the District. Other participating sponsors include The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scout Council of Orange County, City of Mission Viejo and City of Rancho Santa Margarita.

For more information on Fiesta de Agua, please visit http://www.smwd.com/.

About Oso Reservoir
Oso Reservoir is the largest recycled water reservoir in South Orange County and is located in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita. The man-made lake is capable of storing more than one billion gallons of recycled water for the region’s irrigation needs and is a critical component to the region’s water supply reliability infrastructure.

Directions to Oso Reservoir:

From Mission Viejo: Head north on Los Alisos Blvd. After crossing the 241 Toll Road, take an immediate left to “Oso Lake.” Follow the dirt road about half a mile to the parking area.

From Ranch Santa Margarita: Drive west on Santa Margarita Pkwy. Turn right onto Melinda Rd. and follow to just before the 241 Toll Road. Turn right to “Oso Lake.”

From the 241 Toll Road: Take the Los Alisos exit and drive north. Take an immediate left to “Oso Lake.”

For more great ideas of fun stuff to do with your Orange County kids visit http://www.thekidsfactory.com

Catalina Island - A Great Vacation from Orange County for Kids

2008-05-06T05:20:00.000-07:00

Catalina Island, just 26 miles - a 45 minute boat ride on the Catalina Express, is a great place to take Orange County kids for vacation. The short trip makes for a great day trip, weekend getaways or even longer.

We recently took our child to Catalina Island for the weekend and had a wonderful time. The weather was beautiful, the people are warm and friendly, and there is so much to do: snorkeling, biking, hiking, boating, miniature golf, video arcade, movie theater and much more.

For more great ideas of fun stuff to do with your Orange County kids visit http://www.thekidsfactory.com

Newport Beach Pier & Boardwalk

2008-04-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

We love to walk and ride bikes on the boardwalk in Newport Beach near the pier.

For other fun stuff to do with kids in Newport Beach visit thekidsfactory website.

2008 Smile! Youth Expo

2008-04-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 25, 2008 - Sunday, April 27, 2008
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
OC Fair and Event Center
Fairgrounds Costa Mesa CA
Description: The 2008 Youth Expo will be featuring 20,000 square feet of space with exhibitors offering summer and family activities, education resources, schools, camps, and more! Also OC Parenting will be hosting the 2nd Annual Spelling Bee competition and Cutest Kid Cover Contest! Call 714-771-7454 X106 for more info. Or visit www.parentingoc.com

Kids in Orange County

The kidsfaire Orange County, CA

2008-04-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we brought our kid to the kidsfaire held at the Orange County fairgrounds. Lot's of exhibits and fun things to do with the kids.

http://www.thekidsfaire.com/index2.htm

information and resources for orange county kids

2008-04-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

This looks like a great source for information and resources for orange county kids:
http://www.orangecounty.net/html/fun_kids.html

Orange Coounty fun for kids

2008-04-23T22:33:00.000-07:00

Another helpful directory on the Fun things to do with kids in Orange County: http://www.arestravel.com/orangecounty/fun_for_kids.php

The Kids Fun FACTORY - fun things to do with kids in Orange County, CA

2008-04-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

The kids fun factory is a collection of Orange County kids community events & services, educational information, fun stuff do with your kids around the OC, where to buy kids clothes, toys & furniture, and an assortment of online resources dedicated to enriching your child's creativity.

visit http://www.thekidsfactory.com/

La Petite Academy - Talking and Listening to Parents

2008-04-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

La Petite Academy

Unlike many child care centers, we are committed to working and communicating with parents. By partnering with you, we can give your child exactly what he needs to become a successful lifetime learner. We like a good, honest, old-fashioned, face-to-face conversation and follow-up.

http://lapetite.com/public/100/how-we-communicate.jsp

The Kids Fun Factory - an online collection of things to do with your kids in orange county

2008-04-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a website: thekidsfactory.com, which is a collection of fun activities to do with your kids in Orange County, CA.

Kobe Bryant lives with his kids in Orange County

2008-04-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

Kobe Bryant along with his wife and two kids reside in beautiful, sunny Newport Beach behind the orange curtain, better known as Orange County.

http://www.stockteam.com/hbpress17.html

Authentic Angels Jersey from the early 1990's for sale

2008-04-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

An ebay auction is selling an Authentic Chuck Finley Angels Jersey from the early 1990's for sale on eBay!

Nintendo Wii - Great fun for kids and parensts alike

2008-04-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

After our gymnastics class organized at the local city recreation center. We are getting together with family to celebrate Grandpa's birthday. And of course, we are bringing along our Nintendo Wii for the kids and adults alike to have a fun time.

There will be swimming in the pool, and horseshoes out back, but all will gather together to join in to play Wii Sports. If you haven't checked out this video game console, it's affordable at $249 and worth every cent. Mario Kart Wii & Wii Fit comes out next week and we can't wait. Wii Fit is a great indoor exercise program.

thekidsfunfactory

fun things to do with kids in orange county

2008-04-18T21:16:00.000-07:00

fun things to do with kids in orange county