Orange County Kids Activities Blog

April 21, 2010

Enter Your Masterpiece in the Orange County Fair!

Filed under: Cool Stuff, Family Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County, Music & Art — Tags: , , , — admin @ 5:42 pm

It’s time for creative kids in Orange County to show off their skills! Do you make the best brownies anyone has ever tasted? Have you taken an award-worthy photograph? Have you designed a jewelry masterpiece?

It has long been a tradition for artisans to enter their creations in the county fair competitions, but did you know that kids can get in on the act? Most of the competitions that adults enter also have a kids division for ages 3 to 8, a juniors division for ages 9 to 12, and a young adults division for ages 13 to 18.

The competitions that kids can enter are

  • Crafts
  • Photo Contest
  • Writing
  • Community Service
  • Painting & Drawing
  • Single-Day Contests
  • Farm & Garden
  • Floral
  • Collections
  • Culinary
  • Table Setting
  • Fiber Arts & Quilts
  • Hand Crafts & Hobbies
  • FFA
  • Jewelry
  • Fine Art
  • Fine Art Photography

There are subcategories for many of these competitions. You can see the whole list of categories and rules at 2010 Orange County Fair Competitions .

All entries will be displayed during the Orange County Fair in July and August. Imagine your masterpiece being part of the fair! Of course if you enter, your parents will have to take you to the fair to ride rides and eat junk food!

You have to live in Orange County to submit your work. The deadline for entering is May 26th. If you’re having trouble with the application, you can stop by the fairgrounds May 17-20 (Monday–Thursday), 1pm to 7pm or May 24-25 (Monday–Tuesday), 1pm to 7pm for help.

Who knows? You might even win a blue ribbon!

April 18, 2010

Time for Water Fun

Filed under: Children's Safety, Family Activities, Free Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County, Summer Safety, Swim Lessons — Tags: , , , — admin @ 8:48 am

Summer time in Orange County is almost here, and you know what that means – warm sunny days and no school. Kids look forward to summer all year, and with good reason. There are so many fun things to do in Orange County. So where do you start?

A lot of summertime activities center around water, whether it’s the pool, the beach, or a water park. The first order of business is to make sure that your kids are water safe. I use that term loosely. It’s not possible for a very young child – say under the age of five – to be water safe. Parents must be within arm’s reach. Still, children should start learning to swim early. They’ll get comfortable in the water and learn swimming skills that will eventually make them strong, safe swimmers.

Get your child enrolled in swim lessons as early in the season as you can. Here’s a listing of swimming lessons in Orange County. They’ll start off the summer with the right habits and incorporate some of what they’ve learned into their water play. To keep in practice, you could have them swim one lap, or whatever is appropriate for their age, before playing every time you go to the pool.

A lot of community pools aren’t heated this early in the season. Fortunately there are a lot of private swim schools with heated pools. If your child is sensitive to chlorine, you can even find salt water pools to learn in. Still, most pools are kept clean with chlorine – a lot of it. A lot of kids wear goggles in the pool, just because the chlorine is so strong.

If your kids are old enough to remember how to swim from one year to the next, they’re not going to want to take swim lessons with the little kids. If you are less certain about their skills than they are, there are other options to reinforce their swimming skills. You can sign them up for a swim team, an introductory water polo class, or a junior lifeguard program. Scouts often incorporate a swimming test into achievement requirements.

The beach is another place that you’ll be spending a lot of time this summer. The ocean can keep kids busy and happy for hours. There’s something endlessly fascinating about the waves. Even the smallest kids love to play chicken with the waves. There are a few things that are different, safety-wise, about the ocean. First, the water doesn’t hold still. Kids need to get familiar with the fact that they might be up to their knees one minute and up to their chest the next. Teach them how to behave when they wipe out. If they know what’s coming, they won’t panic. When they’re old enough, they need to learn about rip currents. Junior Lifeguard programs and surfing classes provide this kind of instruction.

The other big difference about the ocean is that it’s harder for you to see them, because the water’s not clear and they’re so far away if you’re on the beach. Always go to a beach with a lifeguard. Go into the water with them when they’re little. When they’re old enough to go into the surf on their own, set limits about how far out they can go, and have them stay with a buddy. Have them wear something that makes it easier for you to see them. Rashguards are a good idea anyway, and them come in very light materials. Have them come out of the water for a rest when they get tired. This is your opportunity to take your eyes off the water for a little while!

Most of all, let them play and wear themselves out. Kids and water are a perfect combination, and we’re lucky to have so many great places to play in the sun.

January 16, 2010

An Old Fashioned Remedy for ADHD

Filed under: Animals, Child Care, Day Trips, Educational, Family Activities, Family Logistics, Free Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County, Scouting, Summer Camps — Tags: — admin @ 4:26 pm

I read a great article in this month’s Parenting magazine about Nature Deficit Disorder. In it the author mentioned a study published by the American Journal of Public Health that found that exposure to nature reduced ADHD symptoms in children.

In this study they had children do typical weekend or after-school activities in three settings, indoors, outdoors in a built setting (like a blacktop area without much greenery), and outdoors in a mostly green setting. Then their parents rated their abilities on things like following directions in comparison with what was normal for that child. The results of the outdoor built setting were better than indoors. The results of the outdoor green setting were even better. It appears that the results were measured in the first hour after the activity. I would love to see further study on how long the results last.

Even without further study, though, this information could be useful to parents. Getting outdoors is inexpensive and good for all kids whether or not they have adhd. In fact, there’s a lot of discussion about what adhd is and even whether it’s real. For a ‘treatment’ like this, it doesn’t matter. If your child has trouble concentrating or completing tasks, is easily distracted or can’t sit still, try getting them more green outdoor time. There are no harmful side effects. If it helps even a little, you’re ahead.

Here are a few ideas to get you started. Maybe your children can come up with more.

  • Have kids walk or ride their bike to school, preferably through an area where they can see trees, grass, rocks and other cool stuff.
  • Set up a fun spot in your back yard where you child can go to read, play or maybe even do homework.
  • Hang a hummingbird feeder outside your child’s bedroom window.
  • Open the windows so your child will see the great outdoors sometimes even when they’re inside.
  • Put houseplants in the house, maybe even in your child’s room.
  • When you’re looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon, head to one of the many wilderness areas in Orange County.
  • Sign your child up for one of the many children’s educational programs offered by these nature centers or sanctuaries. Don’t forget to allow some extra non-structured play time before or after class.
  • Join a club that does a lot of outdoor activities, like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or Indian Guides.
  • Don’t let poor weather stop your child from playing outdoors. Get rain boots and jackets, or just accept the fact that they’re going to get wet and muddy. They can clean up when they’re done.

October 28, 2009

Rainy Day Activities

Filed under: Day Trips, Family Activities, Free Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County — Tags: , — admin @ 5:42 am

Winter is coming, and you know what that means. Restless, cooped up kids are going to drive you crazy. Everyone needs to get out of the house – kids and adults alike. But it’s cold and rainy out. What is there to do? Well, here are some ideas of things to do on a rainy day.

Ice Skating. Don’t hide from winter, embrace it! Get out the mittens, scarves and jackets and go ice skating. Kids will get the wiggles out and you’ll get some exercise. And when you get home you’ll enjoy how warm your house is! You might be surprised to learn that there are quite a few Orange County Ice Skating Rinks – both indoors and outdoors.

The Mall. When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. You don’t actually have to buy anything. Local indoor malls have carousels, play equipment and more. Young ones will love wandering through the Disney Store. Older kids might go shopping for clothes. After all, now that the weather is getting cooler, they might need more long pants or a new jacket.

Make Tents. Let the kids turn your house, or at least a part of it, into a tent city. Get out extra sheets, blankets and towels. The kids can drape them over chairs and tables to make a cool indoor tent. Flashlights and books are a must!

Brave the Outdoors. I know you’re trying to avoid the wet weather, but every now and again you should just take it head on. Take the little ones on an Umbrella Walk or a Puddle Promenade. Pick up some rain boots at the local thrift store or Target. Older children can build a small fort with several umbrellas. And my kids cannot recommend Snail Races highly enough. Kids collect snails and release them into the water flowing down the gutter.

Theme Park. At least once this winter, you should hit up a theme park in the rain. The lines are non-existent and laughter is guaranteed. Just pack dry clothes (and slippers!) in the car for the ride home. Pack a thermos of hot chocolate as a special treat to help thaw everyone out when you get back to the car.

Bowling. Kids love bowling, and everyone from little to big can play together. If you’re willing to spend a little money at the snack bar, kids would love getting french fries or nachos to bring back to eat right at your lane. Here’s a list of Orange County Bowling Alleys.

Cook. Yes, I know that cooking sounds like a chore to you, but the kids will love it. They can bake cookies or a cake. You can have them choose something to make for dinner. In fact, they can make up a grocery list and you can take them to the store to do their shopping for dinner. You might even get your regular shopping done while you’re there. Are there any achievements in their scout books about shopping or cooking? What about preparing for those evenings when everyone is going different directions at dinnertime? Have the kids make burritos or little pizzas and freeze them for those get-it-yourself dinner nights. If you want to get a group of kids together, but you don’t want to offer up your kitchen, there are cooking schools for kids that will host a group activity.

Go to the Gym. No, not 24 Hour Fitness. Sorry. Most kids’ gymnasiums offer open gym time or group parties, even if you’re not signed up for a regular class. Kids can tumble on the (indoor) equipment, learn somersaults, even jump on trampolines. Check out places that offer gymnastics for kids in Orange County.

Go to a Museum. There are tons of museums just for kids. Discovery Science Center is always popular. Or how about the new Pretend City in Irvine? There are museums to discover wildlife, dress-up, history or art.

Crafts Project. Make a gingerbread house, finger paintings or macaroni necklaces. You can keep it simple and just bring out the art supplies you have and let the kids exercise their imaginations. Or you can make a whole day of it by going to the craft store and picking out a big project that everyone can do together. A more expensive but less messy (for you) option is to take them to a ceramics place where they can decorate their masterpiece and bring it home.

Go to a Pet Store. Check out Omar’s Birds, Prehistoric Pets or just the local pet store near you. There’s even a pet store in Orange called Wagon Train Feed & Tack that specializes in farm animals – baby farm animals.

Indoor Bounce House. There are many places that have a variety of bounce houses set up indoors. They mostly cater to birthday parties, but some of them offer an open playtime too.

With all the fun things for kids to do, you and your kids will be looking forward to the next rainy day!

October 11, 2009

Haunted Attractions in Orange County

Filed under: Family Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County — Tags: , — admin @ 7:46 am

Do your kids love Halloween? Do they like to be scared? Throughout October there are lots of opportunities for frights and fun. These are mostly geared towards older kids and teenagers – kids who don’t mind having a ghoul jump out and scare them when they don’t expect it. Some are scarier than others, and most have a recommended age.

Some organizations set up a haunted something either in a home or in a retail space. They all have a theme, which changes each year. Do clowns scare you? What about a maze and characters based on Silent Hill?  There are some very creative people out there ready to scare you to pieces!

Some historical societies are taking advantage of Orange County’s rich history. You can go on a tour of a historic neighborhood or forest, with the tour leader sharing local ghost stories along the way. San Juan Capistrano does a great haunted Halloween tour of Los Rios Street, and groups are small enough that the tour leader can adjust the scariness level to the age of the group. Fullerton Arboretum hosts a tour through a haunted forest, led by a vampire.

The granddaddy of all Orange County Halloween activities is Knott’s Scary Farm. It’s pricier than the others, but you get the rides as well as the Halloween frights.  Ghouls will jump out and scare you as you make your way through the scary mazes.

One of the best things about these haunted houses is that each one is unique. You could go to one each weekend and have a different experience each time. Check out the listing of the Haunted Houses in Orange County.

September 23, 2009

Kids Gym has moved to Capistrano Beach

Filed under: Child Care, Educational, Fun Things to Do in Orange County, Sports — Tags: — admin @ 5:32 pm

A cooking class for 5 year olds? Basketball and hockey for 4 year olds? A science class for 3 year olds? Yep! Kids Gym lets the young ones do all these fun things and more. Classes are geared toward the preschool set, who like to get their hands dirty!

doughy-handsThese classes are for kids and their parents, and a good time will be had by all. The cooking class helps kids build math, science and thinking skills.  They’ll mix, shake, stir, and blend to create delicious, messy munchies to share. Did I mention messy? The Messy Art class involves – you guessed it – hands on projects like fingerpainting. I think a theme is beginning to emerge!

Kids Gym also offers drop in child care on selected days and evenings so that parents can get away for a little while, knowing that their kids are having a blast.

Want more Kids Gym? Preschool is offered two, three or five days a week.

Kids Gym has recently moved from Rancho Santa Margarita to Capistrano Beach. Visit their website or stop by and see their new digs!

August 13, 2009

Dance Classes for Children

Filed under: Dance, Fun Things to Do in Orange County, Sports — Tags: , — admin @ 3:06 pm

Dance classes are great for children. Once they’re old enough to play with others and be part of a group, they can participate in all kinds of activities, including sports like soccer, t-ball and gymnastics. Many parents choose a dance or gymnastics class as their child’s first class because it’s good for children as young as 2 or 3 years old. Many kids love this activity and continue with dance, gymnastics and cheerleading through high school and beyond. Others grow from this experience and go on to try different things. Here are some of the benefits of early involvement in dance classes.

  • Exercise. Children who partake in dance classes are constantly active. Dance, regardless of what style, helps children build endurance, strengthen muscles, and increase flexibility. Dancing also teaches children to appreciate and take care of their body. Instilling these healthy values in your child while they are young can have long term positive effects.
  • Coordination: Enrolling your son or daughter in dance classes will help them acquire a keen sense of coordination. Coordination is imperative in the world of dance. Children are more apt to pick up and keep skills that they learn at an early age, so the dexterity of dance will become second nature to your child. It can also be an advantage as your child grows and decides to pursue other activities like sports.
  • Social Skills. Dance classes allow your child to interact with their peers in a positive manner. Joining in similar activities with like-minded individuals will give them bonding experiences that will last for a life time. Dance and gymnastics classes are non-competitive and are often cooperative.
  • Creativity: Dance classes will help your child get in touch with their creative sides by exposing them to the art of many cultures offering a wide variety of creative influences. Involving them in this kind of instruction so young will help them hone in on their own skills which can lead them to lifelong hobbies or even to their dream career.
  • Appreciation of the Arts: Dance is not limited to a series of movements performed to music. Different styles of dance are influenced by different cultures. Dance classes will educate your children on several cultures and artistic movements throughout history.
  • Responsibility: Dance classes require a certain amount of responsibility and dedication. Should your child become involved in dance they will learn the value of commitment in terms of progress. This life lesson is extremely important in all arenas and will help them succeed in the future.
  • Confidence: Performing in front of others is something a lot of teens and adults fear. Involving your child in dance will lead to performances in front of family and friends. As they progress in their dance career they will be on stage in front of larger audiences. Each well executed performance (be it in practice or on stage) will leave them more confident in themselves.

There’s no shortage of dance studios in Orange County that offer children’s classes. You can pick out a dance studio by visiting and watching a class in action. Many city recreation departments offer introductory dance classes for kids. This is a great way to find out what a studio is like, while only making a commitment for 6 weeks or so.

I’m usually reluctant to buy gear for kids (who are growing) for a short-term class that they may or may not like. In the case of dance leotards, dance shoes and even tutus and cheerleading shoes and outfits, kids will play with them as dress up costumes even if they never do more than the first six week class.

August 4, 2009

Last Week for the Orange County Fair

Filed under: Animals, Day Trips, Family Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County — Tags: — admin @ 2:10 pm

This is the last weekend to enjoy the Orange County Fair. It runs through this Sunday, August 9th.

If you’re planning to go this Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and you can arrive before 5:00 PM, stop at a Ralph’s grocery store before you go. If you spend $10 or more, you’ll get a coupon to get tickets to the fair for $5. That’s half of the regular adult ticket price!

If you’re going this weekend, August 8th or 9th, you can get in for $2 if you arrive before 2:00 PM.  You’ll need a coupon from the fair’s website.

July 21, 2009

Beautiful Fountains

Filed under: Family Activities, Free Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County — Tags: — admin @ 6:33 am

I love fountains. I got hooked many years ago watching a very simple fountain. It had a bowl at the top and water cascaded down in a circle. Nowdays fountains, or water shows are controlled by computers and include lights and music. Here are some of my favorites.

Cosmic Waves in Disneyland

Sadly, Cosmic Waves is gone. The best thing about it, as you can see, was that it was interactive. The fountains would squirt up unexpectedly. The challenge was to get to the middle without getting wet, and then get back out without getting wet.  Of course it was more fun just to go play in the fountain and get wet. Unfortunately it wasn’t really designed for so many people to bathe in it, and it ended up being closed.

Cosmic Waves

Cosmic Waves

Interactive Fountains at Shopping Centers

Along the same lines, many outdoor shopping centers now feature interactive fountains like this one at the Irvine Spectrum.

Music Center Fountain in LA

This fun fountain is also at ground level and completely unpredictable. It’s almost impossible not to tempt fate by stepping in when you think it’s safe.

Fountain Show at the Bellagio in Las Vegas

Now we come to the fancy fountains that you can watch but not play with. They often come with lights and music, like this one at the Bellagio.

Fountain of Nations at Epcot in Disneyworld

This one caught my attention when I visited Disneyworld 11 years ago. I could sit and watch it all day.

Burj Dubai Lake Fountain

Here’s a fountain on a really grand scale. Maybe I’ll get to go see this one someday.

So how about you? Do you have any favorite fountains?

July 14, 2009

Free Museum Days

Filed under: Educational, Family Activities, Free Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County, Music & Art — Tags: , , , — admin @ 6:40 pm

Looking for something fun and free? Target is sponsoring free museums and symphonies.

Bowers Museum, including the popular Kidseum, in Santa Ana is free the first Sunday of every month. Kids can learn about African, Asian and Native American cultures.

Children’s Museum at La Habra has a variety of exhibits – from a dress-up stage to dinosaur fossils. And it’s free on the first Saturday of every month.

Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach is free on the second Sunday of every month. Kids can exercise their own creativity, and they may even run across work by artists they’ve studied at school!   

Pacific Symphony Orchestra of Orange County will be performing at various parks during August. The Musical Playground for kids starts at 5:30 PM and the concerts begin at 7:00. Dates and locations are:

  • Saturday, August 1st   Mission Viejo
  • Sunday, August 2nd   Irvine
  • Saturday, August 16th  Lake Forest

Hats off to Target for making all this kid-friendly culture free!


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