Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in West LA, CA

5 Things To Do When the Sun's Shining

by Nina Moon

This list is nowhere near comprehensive since the sun shines here, well, a lot. LA has been designed with the sun in mind so you'd be hard-pressed to find places that aren't good for sunny day visits. Here are a few of my favorites nonetheless: 1. Redondo Beach and Pier After splashing around in the waves, head up to the pier and eat lunch at Pacific Fish Center where you're giant crabs and ... Read more >

Continue reading "5 Things To Do When the Sun's Shining"

The Littlest Picasso - Lakeshore Learning Store

by Nina Moon

There are countless stores around Los Angeles to buy top-quality professional art supplies (for top dollar, of course). There also countless toy stores with an aisle or so devoted to paints and play-doh and Crayola crayons. But I've found no better place to buy kids' arts and craft supplies and educational toys of all kinds, than Lakeshore Learning Store. Located on Venice Boulevard near the old ... Read more >

Continue reading "The Littlest Picasso - Lakeshore Learning Store"

5 Book Nooks for Tots

by Nina Moon

Some parents want to pass on to their children a love of music. Others long for their children to appreciate art. Others hope their children will love to cook. For me, it's literature. I want my children to delve enthusiastically into an afternoon spent reading, to get lost in an imaginary world (even to mourn a bit when it's over on the last page), to relish the smell of a new book. So ... Read more >

Continue reading "5 Book Nooks for Tots"

Princess for a Day -- So you want to be the Greatest Mom on Earth?

by Nina Moon

Sometimes, girls just wanna have fun. I don't have a daughter (yet!), but I did have The Greatest Mom on Earth who made sure to plan special mother-daughter days where I was basically pampered silly. And although there are tons of places to have fun on a much more modest scale, why not splurge a little? After all, Los Angeles is such a great place to be pampered.Start your day at the Grove and ... Read more >

Continue reading "Princess for a Day -- So you want to be the Greatest Mom on Earth?"

Room to Run - 5 Places to Tire Out Your Preschooler

by Nina Moon

The hours between 2 and 4 in the afternoon are holy in our home. Mess with them and you have to deal with a burnt-out mommy in all her fury. Routine may be naptime's best bud, but a good run around outdoors never hurts either. Here are the five places I turn to when I need to ensure a good afternoon nap.1. Palms Recreation Center This neighborhood park has a small playground perfect for young ... Read more >

Continue reading "Room to Run - 5 Places to Tire Out Your Preschooler"

10 Things you must do with your child in Los Angeles before they grow up

by Nina Moon

When Caius was born I had trouble imagining as one of those talkative, mobile toddlers I saw my friends running after, but here he is now about to start preschool. So even though it's impossible for me to picture my children as adults, I know that it will happen eventually. I may always be their mommy, but my time as their guide to the city is limited. Here are ten things I must do with them ... Read more >

Continue reading "10 Things you must do with your child in Los Angeles before they grow up"

Budding Art Critic -- Boone Children's Gallery at the LACMA

by Nina Moon

LACMA is enormous, overwhelming even. Where do you start with a preschooler? Why, Boone Children's Gallery of course! There really isn't much not to love here. The gallery is really more like a gigantic warehouse separated into different art and activity stations by towering shelving units displaying children's artwork. The room's theme, construct, carries throughout each station children can ... Read more >

Continue reading "Budding Art Critic -- Boone Children's Gallery at the LACMA"

Mozart, Moby and Miles -- SummerSounds at the Hollywood Bowl

by Nina Moon

There's nothing quite so romantic or fun as an evening at the Bowl, listening to music under the stars. Kids love the outdoor setting and the endless flights of stairs. And who wouldn't love eating a picnic dinner with hundreds of other Angelenos? Unfortunately, sometimes the evening concerts are just a little too late for our littlest ones. Luckily, every summer the Hollywood Bowl holds ... Read more >

Continue reading "Mozart, Moby and Miles -- SummerSounds at the Hollywood Bowl"

Weekend Warriors: Father's Day edition

by Nina Moon

When our weekends aren't already filled with kids' birthday parties or visits to the grandparents' house, my husband and I quite often look at each other dumbly, wondering what in the world we're going to do to fill the time. Half the time we just end up puttering around the house or maybe spending a few hours at the park. Sound familiar?Well, hopefully we'll be able to overcome our seemingly ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors: Father's Day edition"

Weekend Warriors: Summer Solstice Edition

by Nina Moon

Today is officially the longest day of the year. Even better, LAUSD closed its magnificent doors on our children yesterday and today is the official first day of summer. That means that this weekend is going to be a very, very long weekend, which is a good thing right!?! But what are you going to do with all that extra time? This Saturday from 1-3pm, kick off the summer by celebrating the summer ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors: Summer Solstice Edition"

Let's Date: The Treehouse Social Club

by Nina Moon

As indoor play spaces go, The Treehouse Social Club on Robertson Boulevard has a leg up on the competition. They don't have a lot of toys per se (they do have a few, but if that's what you're looking for, go elsewhere). Neither do they have piles of primary colored foam blocks or children's gym equipment. Instead, the main room is dominated by a fantastic treehouse (complete with a tree, of ... Read more >

Continue reading "Let's Date: The Treehouse Social Club"

5 Ways to Get to Know Los Angeles with Your Preschooler

by Nina Moon

Los Angeles, unlike most major metropolitan cities, is sprawling. Taking stock of the city as a whole can be daunting, even more so when you have a preschooler in tow. And while so many Angelenos spend most, if not all, of their lives in their respective neighborhoods, that really is a shame. So why not play tourist (albeit a far cooler, in-the-know tourist) this summer and explore the City of ... Read more >

Continue reading "5 Ways to Get to Know Los Angeles with Your Preschooler"

Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

Help your children learn about going green at Venice Eco-Fest this Saturday from 10am-7pm at Windward Avenue and Ocean Front Walk. They will have a special Kid's Explor-o-rama featuring animals, stories and music. It's also a great opportunity to safely dump everything from old computers to defunct cell phones. For those who can't manage to wait for Fourth of July of fireworks, Santa Monica ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors"

Three Days In and Around Los Angeles -- Mid-Wilshire

by Nina Moon

Even though I don't live in the area, I spend about half my time in the Mid-Wilshire area. Comprising everything from Museum Row to Larchmont Village to the Farmer's Market and the trendy shops on 3rd Street to Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire is where I tend to fall back on whether I'm looking for a fun, enriching place to take my son or I want a great pair of shoes or some really excellent eats. And ... Read more >

Continue reading "Three Days In and Around Los Angeles -- Mid-Wilshire"

Weekend Warriors - Disco anyone?

by Nina Moon

This is a weekend where you're not going to want to stay at home. With everything from disco for babies to circus performances to those uber-celebrities of the preschool set (I'm talking about Diego and Dora, don't you know) coming to town, you're preschooler is bound to have fun.On Saturday morning at 11, head down to Topanga Canyon's Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum for Creative Playground's ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors - Disco anyone?"

Summer Read Alouds

by Nina Moon

My husband and I are always on the look-out for new picture books. We have many of the classics, but there are so many talented writers and illustrators out there that many of the newer books have become just as beloved as the tried-and-true classics, if not more so. Here are a few of my son's current favorites, full of the excitement, adventure and anticipation of summer:The OK Book My husband ... Read more >

Continue reading "Summer Read Alouds"

Children's Book World -- Why I want to live there

by Nina Moon

No, really. I want to live in this bookshop, lie down on the carpet and inhale that musty new book smell in my sleep. Children's Book World, located on Pico Boulevard just a hop, skip and jump away from Westside Pavilion, is unassuming enough. In fact, I passed by it probably 100 times before even noticing it was there. No matter, I've found it now. After parking in the back lot (there's also ... Read more >

Continue reading "Children's Book World -- Why I want to live there"

Weekend Warriors: Olympic Edition

by Nina Moon

So I don't know about you all, but this weekend I'm going to try and spend as much time in front of the television as possible. My son's preschool is having an Olympic-themed week starting Monday so I figure a little preparation won't hurt him, right?For those of you who plan on seeing the light of day, there does happen to be some great events going on in Los Angeles this weekend. For starters, ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors: Olympic Edition"

Weekend Warriors -- Fines, Fire Trucks and Festivals

by Nina Moon

All of us, I'm sure, have had an overdue library book here or there. But what about those embarrassingly overdue books? Several months, even years, overdue? It's almost easier to just stop going to the library under the weight of that fine, right?Instead, you take advantage of the Los Angeles Public Library's Fine Free Week, which ends this Sunday. And it's still not too late to take advantage ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors -- Fines, Fire Trucks and Festivals"

Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

My son and I are big Elizabeth Mitchell fans her children's folk tunes are just the thing for sunny afternoons, both playful and calming. So I'm absolutely psyched to go see her and her family perform at the Getty Center Central Garden this weekend. Pack a picnic and go see this free family concert on Saturday or Sunday at 4 and 5pm. Starting tonight, check out the Fiesta La Ballona festival at ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors"

Scribble Press - for the pint sized author/illustrator

by Nina Moon

A couple of weeks ago my son and I visited Scribble Press, an entirely new kind of publishing powerhouse. Located in Westside Pavilion, Scribble Press aims to make authors and illustrators out of us all, particularly our little ones. Armed with Developmental Curprints fill-in-the-blank type stories that help children process difficult events and transitions or memorialize everything from ... Read more >

Continue reading "Scribble Press - for the pint sized author/illustrator"

Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

It seems like just a few weeks ago when I was heralding in the first day of summer, the longest day of the year and the end of the school year. And now suddenly you want to tell me that summer is nearly over? That this is Labor Day weekend? No!Okay, okay, so denial is not the most effective tactic against the onslaught of autumn. Perhaps I should just try and take advantage of what's left of it. ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors"

Play - A place both kids and their parents will love

by Nina Moon

Indoor play spaces and I have a complicated relationship. I appreciate the idea of a contained, stimulating area for my son to play in, but it's not worth it to me to pay a lot of money for entry when I could simply take my son to the park for free. And yet, again and again, I shell out to spend a couple of hours at one of these places because maybe, just maybe, this one might be the one. The ... Read more >

Continue reading "Play - A place both kids and their parents will love"

Art and culture for the cost of parking

by Nina Moon

One of the best things about living in a big city like Los Angeles is the sheer amount of options you have when it comes to museums. You can take a stroll through a world-class sculpture garden, immerse yourself in ancient Egypt or spend a morning on playing with the animals in Noah's Ark. And if you plan it right, you can do it all for free. Okay, you'll probably have to pay something for ... Read more >

Continue reading "Art and culture for the cost of parking"

Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

As you already know (because you've already entered our giveaway), the LA County Fair starts TODAY. My family is planning on making the trip this weekend for the first time ever and, from what I gather, there's more to do (and, more importantly, eat) than one can possibly imagine. So, get thee to the fair! LA Greek Fest is also taking place this weekend with Greek music, dance, art, food and ... Read more >

Continue reading "Weekend Warriors"

5 perfect preschool playdates

by Nina Moon

Preschool may make it a tad bit easier to set up playdates (no more desperately hoping that another lonely parent will send a friendly smile your way), but there always remains that question - where to go? Here are five perfect places for your kids to play and for grown-ups to bond.Play - I love that Play is set up to facilitate both playdates and one-on-one bonding between parent and child. ... Read more >

Continue reading "5 perfect preschool playdates"

Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center - Teaser

by Nina Moon

I finally made it out to the raved-about Noah's Ark exhibit at the Skirball Center today. I've been procrastinating, probably because I'm bad at doing anything that involves advance tickets (you must order tickets in advance, which can be done online). After today, however, I'm hitting myself over the head - how could I have waited so long? My son loved every minute of our two-hour visit. We ... Read more >

Continue reading "Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center - Teaser"

Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center

by Nina Moon

Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Museum, nestled just off the 405 freeway north of the Getty Museum, is a whimsical, imaginative, non-stop fun destination for young children. Maybe because I'm so desperate for a children's museum here in Los Angeles (because the old one has moved far, far away - or at least too far to visit before naptime) the entire two hours I was there I couldn't stop ... Read more >

Continue reading "Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center"

Boxers and Ballerinas

by Nina Moon

When I was growing up I took ballet and in the adjoining studio, my brothers took Tae Kwon Do. In the midst of our plies and pirouettes we would hear the unmistakable sound of kicking feet meeting (albeit heavily padded) chests, not to mention the distinctive yells that punctuated every punch and kick. Fast forward a few years and I was still dancing, but I also found myself joining the boys ... Read more >

Continue reading "Boxers and Ballerinas "

It Takes Two - 5 activities that are more fun with a pal

by Nina Moon

Sometimes planning a playdate seems like more effort than it's worth. After all, it's hard enough to watch your own kid, let alone their friend too. But preschoolers are at that magical age where they're just learning to play with and not just alongside other children, and it's worth it to give them time with other children even outside of preschool. Here are a few better-with-two fun ... Read more >

Continue reading "It Takes Two - 5 activities that are more fun with a pal"

The Getty Museum - A Preschooler's Guide Part 1

by Nina Moon

You exit the 405 at Getty Center Drive and make your way to the parking entrance where you fork over $10(!!!!) for parking. You enter the underground parking lot and pass several large school buses and your heart sinks as you anticipate large hordes of elementary school students ready to trample on your tiny preschooler. But you continue on (since you already paid the ten bucks, there's no ... Read more >

Continue reading "The Getty Museum - A Preschooler's Guide Part 1"

Flashback - 5 favorite posts from September

by Nina Moon

My husband has been working long hours all this month so I've basically been flying solo around here for a month. Needless to say, I welcome October with open, grateful arms. Still, September wasn't a total wash. In case you missed it, here are five of the best posts from September.1. Bistro de l'Hermitage - friendly French food for four-year-olds - Because excessive alliteration aside, it ... Read more >

Continue reading "Flashback - 5 favorite posts from September"

5 Places to Spark Your Preschooler's Imagination

by Nina Moon

If summer means ample opportunities to explore the world outside, the coming of fall - yes, even in Los Angeles - ushers in a cornucopia, if you will, of the arts and crafts. What it's too cold to play outside, what better than to experiment with paint and clay or curl up in a comfy corner and read a beautifully illusrated picture book? Or even write one? Here are five Los Angeles locations that ... Read more >

Continue reading "5 Places to Spark Your Preschooler's Imagination"

Pumpkin Activities for Preschoolers

by Nina Moon

This is the first year my son is old enough to actually, sort of "get" Halloween. Or at least the pumpkin-loving, candy-eating, door-to-door-knocking, costume-wearing part of Halloween. His first Halloween I dressed him up as a bumble bee and let him waddle around my friend's neighborhood. Last year, I was too pregnant with my now infant to even make an effort. But this year we're going all out, ... Read more >

Continue reading "Pumpkin Activities for Preschoolers"

Halloween Events for Preschoolers in Los Angeles

by Nina Moon

When you're a kid, one day of Halloween is simply not enough. And we here at The Savvy Source are trying to help you sort through the deluge of pre-Halloween festivities. So maybe you've already shopped for a costume and you've got your Halloween craft thing going on, but here are some fab parties coming up in Los Angeles between now and Halloween. Scribble Press - Just drop in the store ... Read more >

Continue reading "Halloween Events for Preschoolers in Los Angeles"

Picture Book Classics - Old and New

by Nina Moon

Just because a book is old doesn't make it a classic and just because a book is new doesn't mean it's not a classic either. The test of time just takes too long in the brief interim of childhood. So here are a few of our family's classics, both old and new. Now that winter's here, my son and I have been re-reading The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats with Peter's bright red snowsuit and ... Read more >

Continue reading "Picture Book Classics - Old and New"