kidsLA magazine winter 09/10 issue by Liza Samala

l l ia ol ec n R n Sp k ‘ tio c di Ro E

100

magazine

Things That

ROCK

Meet the Bulldogs

kidsLA Magazine’s Own Tribute To

Beatles Rock Band

Kids and Diabetes: A Growing Concern Dealing With Kids’ Learning Disabilities

Winter 2009/2010

Jenny McCarthy: Autism Advocate

mom

Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom

contents

10 groups and singers 10 tees 10 books 10 activities 10 accessories 10 charities 10 little kids stuff 10 holiday items 10 games and toys 10 places to learn to rock

8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18

Meet the BULLDOGS 34 projects ROCK BAND MOM Tracy Rosenthal-Newson

VIVA LAS VEGAS 23 family-friendly, yes it is

style grab bag Beatles style

ROCK STYLE designer Jodi Lee

FAMILY STYLE holiday hip

Meet the BULLDOGS a Beatles Rock Band band

subjects grab bag subjects

BIO: JENNY MCCARTHY autism advocate

activities

CRAFT making rockin’ instruments

grab bag activities

CURRICULUM learning disorders

KIDS MEALS restaurants that rock

COUNSELING advocating for your child

TECHNOLOGY giving online

HEALTH kids and diabetes

PARTIES rock ‘n roll birthday

MUSIC tips to teach kids music

NUTRITION cookie exchange

SOCIAL STUDIES family holiday traditions

Last PAGE outdoor ice skating

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Go to kidsLAmagazine.com to view our Calendar and Social Scene sections! COVER image: COLETTE DE BARROS Style:Laura Zanotti grooming: Georgina Penate Crazy 8, Check Blue Dress Shirt, $17, Crazy8.com Kani Gold, Three Piece Navy Suit, $50, Burlington Coat Factory,

contributors

promotion Visit kidsLAmagazine.com and enter to win any of the following prizes. Random winners will be picked for each prize. rvey philip ha

rn kb van ho

x robin sa

robin le bowe

Philip Harvey is an observer, an adventureseeker, and a photographer by training, and he photographs because he loves to — even on vacation (much to the dismay of his family). He has 18 years experience helping clients find a visual direction, from the early concepting stage through final printing. His influences include literature, fine art, film, and his two girls. Philip’s clients include L.L. Bean, Restoration Hardware, and Target. And the occasional tourist who wants a really nice snapshot. Carolyn Jabs, M.A. has been writing about families and the Internet for over 15 years. She is the mother of three computer-savvy kids. Other Growing Up Online columns appear on her website growing-up-online.com LISA KOTHARI is the founder and president of Peppers and Pollywogs, pepperspollywogs. com, a kids’ party planning company that provides parents with ideas, entertainers, and interesting web-based tools to make kids’ party planning easy. She has recently written and published Dear Peppers and Pollywogs…What Parents Want To Know About Planning Their Kids’ Parties, which is available at Amazon.com and Peppers and Pollywogs. Robin Lebowe is a native Los Angelino, and has traveled the world round dressing models, actors, musicians, and kids. Realizing her craft as a stylist/costumer has no boundaries, she has worked for the last 15 years on TV (currently on Brain Surge for Nickelodeon), live shows and concerts (like Kids Choice Awards),commercials (like McDonalds), advertising (like Harry Winston), and editorial (like KidsLA). Take a look at her work on robinlebowe.com Robin Sax is a former Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney. She is currently a guest analyst and commentator for several high-profile news stations, including CNN Larry King Live, HLN Nancy

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jennifer randall

Grace, NBC Today Show, and has written several books: Everything I Learned About Parenting I Learned In Court, Predators and Child Molesters: A Sex Crimes D.A. Answers 100 of The Most Asked Questions, and her most recent Women’s Legal Lives: Raising the Bar, among others. Learn more about Robin at robinsax.com. Jennifer Randall is a learning disabilities specialist who has a passion for teaching each student in the way he or she learns best. After teaching fifth grade at The Briarwood School for six years, Jennifer joined the staff of Speech and Language Remediation Center where she conducts reading, grammar and written language workshops. She also provides tutoring and academic therapy at private schools in Houston. Jennifer currently lives in Houston with her husband, Paul, and their two children. Stephanie Schuster grew up as a reckless tomboy in the farming village of Turtle Lake,Wisconsin (pop.1,039). Her rural background gives her a unique and authentic perspective to capture the simplicity, curiosity, and playfulness inherent in all children. Stephanie uses an informal and highly kinetic approach that simply catches children in their carefree and natural state — resulting in photographs dreamily invoking their sense of wonder and inner potential. She specializes in seeing the magical, remarkable, and fabulous where others may only see mundane, routine, and familiar. K.B. VanHorn lives in North Hollywood with husband Erik, son Sage and daughter McKenna. She teaches language arts, social studies and art at Foundations School Community in Van Nuys. An avid thing-maker, she often chronicles her creations on her blog A Patchwork World. Her line of clothing and accessories can be found at kokoleo.com and in several boutiques and indie craft shows around Los Angeles.

Up from Disney Pixar is an inspirational adventure for all ages. Single DVD, $29.99. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is a delightful sequel, and for a limited time includes a Monkey Mischief special feature. Holiday DVD two-pack, $34.98. Ben 10: Alien Swarm brings to life Cartoon Network’s teenage superhero Ben Tennyson and friends, trying to uncover an alien threat. DVD, $19.97.

Four tickets to Star Trek: The Exhibition, the traveling exhibit of Star Trek memorabilia at Hollywood & Highland Center on Hollywood Blvd. Now showing until December 27.

Congratulations to kidsLA Magazine fall promotion winners: Karen Moore-Ellison, Jackson Sink, Ryan Bradley, Meredith Kennedy, Susan Cotsirilos, Dawn Falsetti, Patty Hansen

Associate PUBLISHERs Amanda Goldstein-Carlone • VP SALES agoldstein@kidslamagazine.com Jemma Samala Gafford • EDITOR-IN-CHIEF jgafford@kidslamagazine.com Liza Samala • CREATIVE DIRECTOR lsamala@kidslamagazine.com PHOTOGRAPHERS

Colette Debarros, Philip Harvey and Stephanie Schuster

STYLIST

Robin Lebowe

ILLUSTRATOR

Tane Beauvois

ART ASSISTANTS

Isabella Fritsch, Kino Zhou

WEBSITE

Ariane Thorne

COPY EDITOR Hannah Lee

CALENDAR EDITOR Christina Gregor

Editorial Intern Danielle DiMeglio

CONTRIBUTORS

Carolyn Jabs, Lisa Kothari, Patty Oropeza, Jo Perry, Nicole Prentice Williams, Jennifer Randall, Robin Sax and K.B. Van Horn

MARKETING

Michael Mathews, Maria Helena Segovia Mathews/Segovia Partnership Marketing LLC

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Rima Dorsey

ADVERTISING SALES

Melani Hurwitz, Kelly Martin, Roselma Samala

LEGAL

Joe Carlone, King Holmes Paterno & Berliner LLP

CIRCULATION MANAGER Doug Bitto

PRINTER

American Web Certified Member of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

MAILING ADDRESS

9461 Charleville Blvd. #327, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 kidsLAmagazine.com

SUBSCRIPTION ADDRESS CHANGES OR QUESTIONS subscriptions@kidsLAmagazine.com

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS AND SAMPLES jgafford@kidsLAmagazine.com or P.O. Box 221140, San Diego, CA 92192

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

kidsLA Magazine is published quarterly by Pearl Publications LLC. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily the opinions of this publication.

kidsLAmagazine.com 5

editor’s note

my lullabies

growing up included a whole repertoire of Beatles classics. Songs such as Michelle, Yesterday, Hey Jude and Let It Be. My parents were, and are, big Beatles fans, and I knew the lyrics of the Beatles songs much more than any nursery rhyme standards of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or Rock-a-Bye Baby.

Nothing you can know that isn’t known. Nothing you can see that isn’t shown. Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be. It’s easy. All you need is love. All you need is love. All you need is love, love. Love is all you need. - The Beatles

So planning our special rock ‘n roll issue and recognizing The Beatles: Rock Band was somewhat like reliving my childhood. Throw in some Rolling Stones, The Doors and Elvis and we’re back in the sixties. Music can be such a major influence on a child’s life, so pick wisely. My kids and I enjoy the Black Eyed Peas’ latest album The E.N.D. We listen to I Gotta Feeling before baseball games and to One Tribe for daily inspiration. Surround your kids with music and musical education. And who knows, it may lead to a future career choice. Although my accordion lessons just led to an instrument collecting dust in my garage. (Why the accordion? My grandfather thought I would be great on The Lawrence Welk show.) My travel story to Las Vegas is another trip down memory lane for me, and for my kids, who really do love going there. My older son wants his 13th birthday party there. I told him most boys wait until they turn 21. We’ll see, my husband does fondly recall seeing the Folies Bergere burlesque show as a teen — those were the days. I’m not so sure about that. I would prefer more of a night out at the ESPN Zone. Whatever you do with your kids, and especially during the holidays, just being together and making memories is what’s important. Kids will remember the simple acts of love the most, like singing bedtime songs or putting together a family Rock Band. So what’s the secret to raising successful kids? All you need is love. Happy Holidays and peace be with you,

Live in peace,

Jemma Samala Gafford Associate Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

6 kidsla winter 2009/2010

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Ziggy Marley – Family Time

Milkshake – Great Day

KIDZ BOP 16

Your family will easily get up and move to Ziggy Marley’s newest album of reggae tunes that encourage love, responsibility, unity, freedom and family fun. Inspired by his own family, Family Time is a musical gift to the many members of his extended family — his fans, especially the young ones. Proceeds benefit Chepstowe Basic School in Port Antonio, Jamaica. $13, ziggymarley.com.

Listeners will just Shake It Up when listening to Milkshake’s newest album of energetic, pop-rock music. Not only do the numbers of fans grow, but their fans grow up with them too. Great Day’s songs touch on issues of friendship, inclusion, family, self-esteem, goals and material desires — those that matter to your average 6- to 10-year-old. $15, iTunes, amazon. com, and milkshakemusic.com.

Celebrating their Sweet 16th album, KIDZ BOP continues to be a favorite. The newest album includes hits such as Boom Boom Pow, You Found Me and Heartless. Also features KIDZ BOP’s first original artist, 12-year-old Sinai Rose performing LOL. $19, iTunes.

Rhythm Child – Eat A Bowl of Cherries

Los Lobos – Los Lobos Goes Disney

Once you start listening, you won’t be able to stop humming the Eat A Bowl of Cherries tune in your head. Rhythm Child sings high-energy memorable songs from Riding on the Bus to the Shaker Song for the whole family to sing, drum and dance together. Dad Norm Jones performs with sons Bailey, 9, and Andre, 4. $15, iTunes and rhythmchild.net.

A long-time favorite for blending rock, blues and traditional Mexican music styles, Los Lobos’ younger fans will enjoy their take on some Disney favorites. Theme park fans will easily sing along to Grim Grinning Ghosts and The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room. $10, iTunes and amazon.com.

They Might Be Giants – Here Comes Science Known to most parents for their alternative rock music, TMBG also revolutionizes the way in educating kids through music. The Here Comes Science album follows the success of Here Comes the 123s, and subjects include paleontology, astronomy, anatomy and more. $20, iTunes and theymightbegiants.com.

8 kidsla winter 2009/2010

KSM – Read Between the Lines Kate, Katie, Shae, Sophia and Shelby form this powerful LA-based girl band, who rocks hard and likes to pull pranks. Modeled after girl band favorite the GoGo’s, and having already opened for Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers, they are on their way to being another Disney phenomenon. Parents will equally enjoy their rendition of Cheap Trick’s I Want You to Want Me. $10, iTunes and amazon.com.

Hullabaloo – High Roller Singer Steve Denyes and percussionist Brendan Kremer have been playing together since fifth grade. Together they create their own fresh and uplifting take on traditional and original children’s folk songs. $10, iTunes and cdbaby.com.

Glee Volume One: Road to Sectionals The newest TV musical hit about a high school glee club, offers fresh and funny story lines. Parents will enjoy exposing their kids to the songs of their own teen years through the dynamic musical numbers. $40, available December 29.

Barenaked Ladies – Snacktime A Canadian rock band, known for their alternative rock format, came out with an entertaining, and educationally humorous album for kids — and their parents too. Kids will remember their Crazy ABC’s, laugh about their 789’s and learn about Allergies. $10, iTunes and amazon.com.

These tees announce to all that kids rock ‘n roll all night, and play everyday. Lenny Kravitz, $37, rowdysprout.com Rebel Rocker, $34, mybaddbaby.com UK, $28, blucouturekids.com woodstock, $37, rowdysprout.com I WANNA ROCK N ROLL, $32, Bloomingdale’s Fender guitar, $20+, Macy’s and Guitar Center BORN IN THE U.S.A., $37, rowdysprout.com ROCK HARD ACID WASH, $34, mybaddbaby.com MEAT LOAF, $32, foxierockwell.com DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE, $24, shop.verymeri.com

kidsLAmagazine.com 9

kids

and their parents will enjoy these rocking reads words Jo Perry Shake, Rattle & Roll: The Founders of Rock & Roll by Holly George-Warren. (6 years and up). Brief biographies of rock ‘n roll pioneers Bill Haley, James Brown, Fats Domino, LaVern Baker, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Bo Didley, Carl Perkins, The Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Wanda Jackson, and Ritchie Valens. Laura Levine’s folk-arty illustrations really rock.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Camp for Girls: How To Start a Band, Write Songs, Record an Album, and Rock Out edited by Marisa Anderson (12 years and up). Girls learn how to form a band, play instruments, compose songs, publicize a concert and rock out with a live show. Includes testimonials from female musicians.

Bats Around the Clock by Kathi Appelt (4-8 years). Click Dark hosts a batty 12-hour-long rock ‘n roll party and helps kids learn to tell time.

Hepcat by William Bramhall (4-8 years). Piano-playing Hepcat is so nervous before a concert that he can’t find any music inside himself. But after exploring the world outside the concert hall, he learns that music is everywhere. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Beatles, Beatlemania, and the Music that Changed the World by Bob Spitz (9-12 years). The Beatles’ story with

great photographs, facts and anecdotes.

Punk Farm and Punk Farm on Tour by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (4-8 years). A pig, a cow, a chicken, a goat, and a sheep form a punk rock band.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Dogs by David Davis (5-8 years). Dogs rock out at the Doggie Disco — but not fleas, cats, vets, ticks, or squares. Luckily kids are welcome. Max Said Yes! The Woodstock Story by Abigail Yasguyr & Joseph Lipner (4-8 years). Barbara Mendes’ rainbow-hued illustrations complement the upbeat story of peace, love and music at Yasgur’s farm.

Baby Brains Superstar by Simon James (4-8 years) The baby genius learns to love classical music and rock ‘n roll, then masters a number of instruments, including the electric guitar. But when B.G. has his first rock concert, he discovers how it really feels to be a rock star.

Editor’s Choice One Shoe Blues by Sandra Boynton and starring B.B. King for all ages. Boynton is a delightful author and cartoonist (I also love her calendars) who has created a humorous, toetapping story about Momsock and other singing sock puppets trying to find missing shoes. Includes story DVD.

Grammy photos: Maury Phillips/Wire Image

rock Nation

words KidsOfftheCouch.com Rock Nation

The Grammy Museum

Playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band is one way to experience music but nothing beats learning how to rock out for real! Rock Nation is Southern California’s hottest Rock Music School. The flagship program consists of weekly private lessons, weekly rehearsal and jam sessions with live performances at actual venues. Project Rock Star is based on a proven track format to develop and promote the best music education and experience. Students learn how to read, write and perform. Rock Nation starts with cover songs and over time students write original songs and work on band development. rocknationschool.com

Rock the Block at The Grammy Museum and L.A. LIVE The new L.A. LIVE complex downtown is both rock-worthy and family-friendly — a visit to The Grammy Museum’s lavish, interactive exhibits will keep your kids humming and happy — but save time to explore the other fabulous entertainment destinations at L.A. LIVE — like ESPN ZONE, Lucky Strike Lanes, and The Farm Restaurant. lalive.com.

kidsLAmagazine.com 11

Mini Yogis

Rock Out at a Kids Concert Now, more than ever, excellent familyfriendly music has arrived in Los Angeles. Be sure to strike a musical note with your family time by booking these shows now: Shushybye Dream Band (12/5) at the Geffen Saturday Scene (geffenplayhouse. com), The Imagination Movers (12/5) at Club Nokia (clubnokia.com), Putumayo Presents Holidays Around the World (12/12) or the Ozomatli Family Show (12/19) at the Grammy Museum (grammymuseum.org). Check out these same venues for 2010 programming, and the Center for the Arts at Pepperdine (arts.pepperdine.edu) for Aesop Bops on January 16.

Climb a Rock! Take 9,000 square feet of sculpted climbing terrain, varied top rope challenges and crazy climbing terrain and you have hours of indoor fun that rocks! Rockreation’s trained instructors teach kids how to climb and have fun while getting great exercise. Private and group classes and birthday parties are all part of the experience here. rockreation.com.

It’s a ROCK World, and You Live in It! Nowadays, new songs are just a mouse click away, but do your kids know the joy of browsing the racks at a great record store? Treat yourself and your kids to a trip into Hollywood and check out Amoeba Music on Sunset Blvd. Claiming

12 kidsla winter 2009/2010

to be the world’s largest independent record store, the place is chock full of every genre of music as well as tons of music memorabilia. The store frequently has live shows so check out their monthly calendar. amoeba.com.

Meet a Rock Star... Living in Los Angeles, it is possible that you could run into any number of musicians, but, to insure an actual rock star sighting, don’t miss the new Madame Tussaud’s wax museum. The museum recently welcomed “The King of Pop,” Michael Jackson, to its star-studded wax attraction, but you’ll also find Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Shakira and others among the collection. madametussauds.com/hollywood.

After you Rock, You May Want to Roll Every rock star needs to decompress now and then and yoga is a great way to let it all hang out! The Mini Yogis yoga for kids program is a mobile yoga studio that comes to your home, school, camp, or other organization to teach yoga at a time (and in a place) that is totally convenient for you, at a price that you can afford! Mini Yogis can also be found at many yoga studios in Los Angeles and Orange County. Check out their website to find out where. miniyogis. com/clients.htm.

Eat Like a Rock Star Memorabilia and great food greets you at

the Hard Rock Café and House of Blues where music meets food! The stylish Hard Rock at Universal City Walk, claims it has the largest, most valuable music collection in the world. Meanwhile at the House of Blues, patrons get a sense of the history of rock ’n roll while watching great music and chowing down on soul food. Check out the Sunday Gospel Brunch, as well as upcoming family programming. hardrock. com and houseofblues.com.

Reading Really Rocks! There are so many great books about music and musicians that your book shelves will be bursting. To find the most rockin’ reads, check in with the people who know books best. The staff at Children’s Book World in West Los Angeles (childrensbookworld.com), Storyopolis in Sherman Oaks (storyopolis.com) and Mrs. Nelson’s Book & Toy Shop (mrsnelsons.com) in LaVerne are the most knowledgeable folks in town.

Rock Your Kid’s Wardrobe! Everyone knows that if you’re going out, you want to dress the part. Where do you go when you want to find clothes that are out of the ordinary for your bee-bopping kid? Try the trendy, stylish mix of clothing that can be found at these great sites that specialize in an eclectic mix of artful and hip kid’s clothes. sugarbabyonsunset.com and wickidz.com

science

glam it up Glop and Glam hair products keep any girl’s look fashionably rockish with a rainbow of colored hair extensions. Use the glitter gel to keep it all in place. Hair extensions, $4; Glitter Gel, $16, glopandglam.com.

banner bracelet Announce that your kid’s rock with these personalized banner bracelets. $99, lisaleonardonline.com.

ttom top to bo m o r f e f li kin’ live a roc tag it Mag-tagz interchangeable magnetic necklace tags change with your mood — which can be quite often. $5, mag-tagz.com.

ROXY HEAD BANGER A rocker gals must-have accessory is Roxy’s faux leather Roadie Jacket. $69, roxy.com.

sleep on it Oeuf’s 100% alpaca knitted pillow will rock the kids to sleep. Handmade in Bolivia. $58, oeufnyc.com.

moms rock too Just because you’re a mom, doesn’t mean you stop rocking and rolling. $40, peacelovemom.com. hot legs Fly high with these great Black Tie Leggings by Flutter. Perfect for the holidays or a girl’s first concert. $50, frostcool.com for store locations.

gypsy rock style Gypsy Soule’s dog tag necklace is just one of many styles to keep moms and daughters in that gypsy rock look. Shoes and clothing available too. $45, gypsysoule.com.

ARM CANDY Moms will love this rockin’ grafitti-style wooden cuff bracelet. Personalize it with your kids’ name. $44, ShopToughCookies.com.

infuse your mind Keep your head warm and listen to your favorite music too with these music-infused beanies that hold your iPod or MP3 player. $50, ithreesixty.com.

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Starlight Children’s Foundation

After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles

The creators of Rock Band, Harmonix and MTV Games supports the Starlight Children’s Foundation in their efforts to improve the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries by providing entertainment, education and family activities. starlight.org

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger founded the organization in 2002 as an after-school program provider that educates, enlightens and inspire young people by providing dynamic and exciting opportunities for success, while cultivating self-esteem, leadership and respect to build healthier communities. la-allstars.org

Doctors Without Borders Founded in 1971 by doctors and journalists, Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization, providing aid in nearly 60 countries. Downloadable tracks from The Beatles: Rock Band is released each month, with proceeds donated to charities. The “All You Need Is Love” album’s charity is Doctors Without Borders. doctorswithoutborders.org

Usher’s New Look Foundation Grammy Award-winning Usher helped create the foundation to provide talented youth in underserviced areas the economic and educational building blocks to learn firsthand the business of sports and entertainment industries. ushersnewlook.org

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Make-A-Wish Foundation Since 1980 the foundation has enriched the lives of children with lifethreatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. Make-A-Wish has had a life-changing impact on so many young lives and their families. Fulfilling a child’s wish is powerful. wish.org

Rock the Earth Many working in the music industry, and its fans, are concerned with the fate of public lands, air and water. Rock the Earth acts as advocates to ensure the existence of a sustainable and healthy environment for all. rocktheearth.org

Little Kids Rock The organization dedicates itself to bringing free musical instruments and music instruction to underserved schools across the country. Little Kids Rock believes that learning to play a musical instrument can be a transformative experience for a child. littlekidsrock.org

UNICEF “Unite for Children” is one motto of this well known organization which helps children in many areas of need all over the world. They provide assistance in everything from child survival and development, to basic education and gender equality and helping children with HIV/ AIDS. unicef.org

The Grammy Museum The Grammy Museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music, the creative process; the art and technology of the recording process; and the history of the Grammy Awards. They also educate school children through interactive musical experiences. grammymuseum.org

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation Inspired by the movie Mr. Holland’s Opus, the story about the profound effect a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students, the film’s composer Michael Kamen founded MHOF as his commitment to the future of music education. Programs help K-12 and after-school music education, and helps outstanding music students who cannot afford to obtain an appropriate instrument. mhopus.org

suck on this! Rebel Ink Baby’s Black Pacifier completes any little rockers outfit. $3, rebelinkbaby.com.

baby maniac It’s a shame that little kids will mess up such artistic bibs, but they clean up easily. $20, minimaniacs.biz.

tattoos on babies No, not on their smooth skin, but on these adorable tees designed by legendary tattoo artist Mark Mahoney. $18, babyeggi.com

wipe that smile off your face Fashionista moms will love showing off these travel wipe clutches. Stylish bibs too. Wipe clutch, $32; bibs $18, jellibeebaby.com

science

born with a rockstar spoon A baby’s first spoon sets the tone for their future. $24, lisaleonardonline.com.

(ok, we can’t count – but they’re so cute!) one for all, all for onesies Whoever invented onesies, must have been a mom. It’s a newborn’s fashion staple, and these onesies truly rock. For those about to walk, $28, rebelinkbaby.com The Who, $30, rowdysprout.com I live in a gated community, $28, rebelinkbaby.com Rock & Roll Baby, $25, peacelovemom.com Rock Girl, $32, mybaddbaby.com

set on rock Babygags offers all sorts of baby sets that will rock any little one — hopefully to sleep. Socks, $5; bib, $10; beanie, $14, sillysouls.com

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MUSIC CDs

KIDZ BOP Christmas

Rock around the Christmas tree with the Kidz Bop kids singing to popular holiday tunes, such as Jingle Bell Rock, Frosty the Snowman, and Do They Know It’s Christmas (Feed the World). Includes Kidz Bop original artist Sinai Rose doing her take of the Jackson 5’s version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town. $12, kidzbop.com.

Chanukah Fever Mama Doni (Doni Zasloff Thomas) brings a special mix of funky music with a Jewish twist to the holiday season. Her original songs delightfully blend traditional Jewish music with reggae, rock, disco, Latin, klezmer and Jewgrass. $15, iTunes and MamaDoni.com.

It’s Hackin’ Christmas with Fred YouTube sensation Lucas Cruikshank, aka Fred Figglehorn, debuts his Christmas album with his fresh interpretations of holiday classics, plus two original songs Christmas Cash and Christmas is Creepy. $4, iTunes and amazon.com.

HOLIDAY DVDs

Bob the Builder: Christmas to Remember

Elton John joins Bob the Builder in creating a holiday rock concert. Not all goes as planned, but a surprise visit by Santa makes it a Christmas to remember. Features two music videos I Can’t Get Down and An Apple a Day. $15.

Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving The VeggieTales gang learns the true joy of giving to others as Bob the Tomato tells a story about Saint Nicholas, the world’s greatest giver. Amy Grant performs the song Give This Christmas Away, a new holiday song by Matthew West. $15.

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ECO The Living Christmas Company rents out Christmas trees that are alive, fresh and potted — not cut! Founder Scott Martin, aka Scotty Claus, maintains the trees throughout the year for the next holiday season, providing that great fresh tree smell. The Living Christmas Foundation gives back to charities and families. Starts at $75, TheLivingChristmasCompany.com.

DÉCOR Prismera Design offers eco-friendly ornaments made from recycled stainless steel. Your choice of a Cone, Acorn or Maple Seed, or get the whole set. $11 each, $28 set of three. Engraving available. Use as a bookmark after the holidays. Prismeradesign.com.

READ-A-LOUD

Tinycandy’s Gift by Susan Estes tells the story of an elf who wants to find a special gift to contribute to Christmas. He realizes his special gift of making candies shaped liked hooks, which Santa calls Candy Canes. The hardcover book will soon become an annual read-a-loud with your kids. Includes a read-a-long CD. $15, seecreativeconcepts.com or amazon.com. Kris Kringle by Maria Ciampi is a read-a-loud movie for the entire family to enjoy. It’s a wonderful tale of Kris Kringle who wants to bring his toy sketch to life. He visits the North Pole, which is tougher than his home of New York City, where he meets and falls in love with Santa’s daughter Evelyn. $15, paperback; $25, hardcover. barnesandnoble.com, and borders.com.

WEB Kids and parents will enjoy elfontheshelf.com. The website is a virtual North Pole Schoolhouse with fun activities for the family, and for the classroom too. Visit elfontheshelf.com.

adult toys! Remember all those old vinyl albums collecting dust in the garage. Pull them out and bring the music up to today’s technology with the Audio-Technica Turntable. The system transfers music from LPs to MP3, WAV or other digital audio files. $229, audiotechnica.com to purchase online or find a dealer near you.

build it Kids can choose their own rockin style at Build-A-Bear. Start off with the Jonas Dog or the Stage Star Scruffy Puppy, then add on all the accessories you want. Jonas Dog, $25; Scruffy Puppy (as pictured) $40; accessories additional. buildabear.com.

t with l rock ou il w s t n e r hbors their pa the neig t r kids and le a – ys these to girl power Daisy Rock Girl Guitars specifically creates guitars built for females of all ages, fit for the female form, with lightweight bodies and a “slim & narrow” neck. Debutante by Daisy Rock are the perfect beginner guitars for the young girl rocker. Also includes 10-watt amp, “Girls Guitar Method DVD” and special goodie pack. $199, daisyrock.com.

LEGO Rock Band — combines the humor of LEGO games with the music experience of Rock Band to create family-friendly video game nights. Players can even perform in fantasy settings on Earth and beyond. Kids love LEGOs and Rock Band, it’s a winning team. $50 Xbox360, PS3 and Wii; $30 DS.

Let’s Play Drums A set of five drums depicts people and places around the world. The drums are a great way to introduce children to rhythm, as well as daily life in different cultures and times. $20, wjfantasy.com. Rolling Stone: Drum King — put your drum skills to the test solo, or duel it out with a friend. Cover tracks include Queen, Fall Out Boy and The Clash. $20 on Wii.

girl gamers Divas On Ice to skate, step, jump and spin. Perfect for Winter Olympic aspirations. $40, Wii; $30, DS

Chimalong A musical toy that never is out of style. Play by number, color or notes. $40, fatbraintoys.com.

create it Kids can make their own holiday music jams with Ucreate Music, which is an easy-to-use digital music-making system that allows kids to become the ultimate DJ. They can record samples, mix and match loops and create their own music tracks using an assortment of rifts, instruments, runs and backbeats. $40, shop.mattel.com.

DoReMi Musical Blocks Stacking blocks and a muscial instrument in one. Each side teaches something different about music. $25, kazootoys.com or amazon.com.

kidsLAmagazine.com 17

Yamaha Music Centers

Rock Stars in Training

words Patricia oropeza

If you’ve seen your child rocking out to Guitar Hero or Rock Band tunes far too often lately, then it may be time to steer them to the real deal. The following is a list for your kids to learn, have fun and rock their socks off. Happy rocking! Alfred’s Kid Guitar Course

Beverly Hills Music Together

If your child would rather jam away from the comfort of your home, this fun method series teaches children as young as 5 years old to play songs on the guitar. Available in two separate levels or as a complete pack, the course comes complete with activity pages of the Notespeller, and includes accompanying CDs. Each lesson is easy to understand; three guitar experts — a classical dog, a cool jazz cat and a friendly alligator who loves the blues — keep your children’s attention focused by pointing out what’s important on each page. alfred.com

Beverly Hills Music Together provides a setting for parents to nurture their child’s natural enthusiasm for music, encouraging family participation along the way. Children share songs, play instruments, do rhythm chants and movement activities, among other activities, and can sit in their mom or dad’s laps or hang out with the other kids. Classes are taught on Sundays and include Pajama Jam, which features a drum circle setting, and Junior Singers and Songwriters. beverlyhillsmusictogether.com

Eagle Rock Music Studio Gymboree

From voice lessons and drums to fiddle and mandolin, this Eagle Rock-based music studio offers it all. Students can learn a variety of musical styles, including rock of course, as well as bluegrass, Celtic and Afro-Cuban. Classes are limited to six students to ensure they receive quality education, and private lessons are offered as well. The studio also offers a five-week Fall Rock Camp in the fall season. eaglerockmusicstudio.com

Gymboree Offering more than just clothes, Gymboree also has an array of music classes that allow infants to 5-year-olds the chance to explore the power of rhythm, tonality

18 kidsla winter 2009/2010

and beat all the while nurturing key physical, social and intellectual skills. Classes include Music II, where infants from 16 to 28 months dance and sing to a new musical style each month, including Latin, rock and classical. A Family Music class gets the whole family in on the fun through instruments, song, dance and games. gymboreeclasses.com

The Paul Green School of Rock Music With several locations throughout California and the United States, the Paul Green School of Rock Music offers kids ages 7 to 18 a chance to rock right from the beginning, alongside other musicians and professional equipment. Programs are offered in the spring, summer and fall and feature a combination of private lessons and group band practice. Students also get an opportunity to play at live venues. A summer boot camp includes studio and rehearsal time and elements of song writing and composition. schoolofrock.com

Performing Arts Workshops Guitar Camp At this guitar camp, kids ages 7 to 14 learn the basics of chords, tabs, picking, strumming, music theory and song writing. Kids will learn and perform rock, pop, even classical guitar pieces, and will write and perform an original song. These miniature guitar heroes work in conjunction with PAW’s Theatre Camp, showcasing their original compositions and providing underscoring for theatre productions before a live audience. Students must provide their own acoustic guitar. kidscamps.com

Eagle Rock Music Studio

by professional recording artists and award-winning musicians and singers. The weekly music class features rock songs from different decades, original songs and classic children’s songs. Kids are also introduced to a variety of musical genres and learn to be a part of the band by playing along with bells, scarves, rhythm sticks, drums, as well as participate in movement activities to enhance musical learning. rockstarsintraining.com

Silverlake Conservatory of Music

Power Chord Academy At Power Chord Academy, students play in a band, record a CD, make a video, play concerts and meet a professional touring band, among other activities. The Academy also offers a game-musician program for Guitar Hero and Rock Band aficionados. Students get to show off their talent at a Battle of the Bands-type final concert where they vie for bragging rights and prizes. The Academy offers 34 sessions in 12 locations throughout the United States with musicians attending from across the world. kidscamps.com

Rock Stars in Training This enrichment program was founded by twin sisters Lauren and Dana, members of country band Malibu Storm. Rock Stars in Training touts itself as the only children’s music program in L.A. taught

At the Conservatory, every child who wants to learn music has an opportunity to do so. The nonprofit organization offers private music lessons at a reasonable cost and grants scholarships to kids in need. The Conservatory offers a range of classes, including Funk Express, where students study the music of James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone, among others, and participate in jam sessions. A summer camp includes workshops in instrumental and vocal technique and a recital where students get to show off their newly honed skills. silverlakeconservatory.com

Yamaha Music Centers Billing itself as the number-one music education system worldwide, Yamaha Music Centers provide education for piano, string and wind instruments, as well as voice. The centers offer both group and private lessons and also regularly host the Los Angeles/Orange County Regional Yamaha Junior Original Concerts and master classes for selected students. Many of the centers’ students have been invited to participate in national and international Yamaha concerts with the students’ full travel and lodging expenses paid by Yamaha. A variety of classes means kids from 18 months to teenagers can participate. irvineyamaha.com

kidsLAmagazine.com 19

biography

mom rocking out with Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom

adventure is no stranger to Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom. Working in the past as an assistant director on major films, she’s had logistical challenges such as flying two Iditarod sled-dog teams to an Alaskan glacier and car chases in the depths of Louisiana salt mines. Tracy’s turned those skills into producing successful video games such as The Beatles: Rock Band, Rock Band Unplugged and Lego Rock Band as vice president of production for Harmonix Music Systems. Ten questions help us learn a little more about the mom behind Rock Band. What makes you rock?

Playing Drums on “It’s a Hard Day’s Night” in The Beatles: Rock Band. It’s the first song I ever remember rocking out to; the first record I learned to put on the turntable in a small apartment in Santa Monica, Calif. I was about 3 or 4 years old. Now my husband, my daughter and I create a Beatles band in our Boston living room and rock out to it 40-something years later. That makes me rock!

20 kidsla winter 2009/2010

What made you decide to enter the video game entertainment industry?

I wanted to create new play experiences that would bring people together. I wanted to merge social dynamics and games in some innovative way that would celebrate life and play. That’s where Harmonix came in. Nine and a half years ago, I joined the Harmonix team when we were a small company with the desire to create ways for non-musicians to find the joy of making music. It has been an incredible journey culminating in creating the Rock Band games, which bring friends and families, musicians and non-musicians, gamers and non-gamers, young and old all together to experience the joy of performing in a band, singing and playing music they love. Tell us a little about what it takes to make a video game like The Beatles: Rock Band or Lego Rock Band?

The Beatles: Rock Band game was developed by teams of designers, engineers, producers, artists, audio designers and testers who collaborated to build an experience of musical authenticity and artistic expression centered around the most famous band in the world. Researching details of their history, and working with Paul and Ringo, along with Yoko and Olivia to ensure that we captured the true essence of the band in every detail of the game was a critical part of the production process. Allowing three-microphone support meant that multiple people could sing along to the songs, which we found everyone wanted to do with the Beatles’ catalogue. But for those who aspired to be challenged, we built a system to recognize and track the harmony parts. Creating the vocal harmony feature of the game required a lot of play testing to get it just right. When three singers are rocking three-part harmony, and three others are rocking drums, guitar and bass, your party of six connects in a whole new way. How has The Beatles Rock Band helped you connect with your family?

My husband, my daughter and I used to play all sorts of games frequently. But as adolescence approached, there

was less interest in playing with her folks. The Beatles: Rock Band has brought us back together again. I usually play drums, my husband plays bass, and my daughter plays guitar and sings at the same time. Sometimes her friends will be over and we’ll all play together. When we’re playing, sometimes there is healthy competition around who got the best score, but mostly we are all working hard together to get through a song, saving each other when we need to, racking up score multipliers when we can and enjoying that experience of playing together. It’s pretty amazing to be sharing the music I grew up on with my daughter who is discovering her own appreciation for the music of The Beatles. Since Lego Rock Band isn’t based on an actual band, how does creating that game differ from making The Beatles Rock Band?

The Lego brand brings a whimsical humor to the Rock Band brand. Creating rock power challenges, those humorous stories, was a completely new part of the Rock Band game. We were focused on making the game accessible to the whole family including families with small children, so by introducing humor and customization and options for simpler game play we were considering this wider demographic in all the choices we made throughout development. We added easier levels for the little kids but preserved the most difficult expert level for those experienced Rock Band players. And we had lots of kids play test the game too. How does being a mom influence your decision in creating new video game titles?

I want to make games that people of all ages want to play together. Families lead busy lives these days. In the few hours of family time that we put aside for each other, games that celebrate the social connections between players have great value. How does your daughter react to your outside-thehome job?

My daughter is 12 years old. She loves the games we

kidsLAmagazine.com 21

biography make and the people at Harmonix who she has grown up with. She offers up lots of opinions while we are in development, which can be a lot of fun for her. But making games is a demanding job that often prevents her mom from making dinner every night. It’s a balancing act. I cook a lot on the weekend. How do you make sure your daughter isn’t spending too much time playing video games? And how do you think video games can actually help educate kids?

Homework and practicing violin always come first. Playing video games is a leisure activity that happens after homework or chores. There needs to be awareness if you are a parent. If you notice that the Xbox 360 is on all the time, turn it off. If you notice the PSP in her hands instead of the book she needs to read before bed. Have a conversation and remind your child of the guidelines you have set. If you bring video games into your house pick ones you enjoy playing too, then video game playing can also be family time. Music games like The Beatles: Rock Band and Lego Rock Band are designed to bring people together. What kind of role model do you want to be for your daughter?

I think it’s important for kids to know that you can have a job that you love. Every day I think about the games we have made here at Harmonix and how much joy people have playing those games. It’s possible to bring joy to people. I’d love kids to believe they can do that too. Advertiser: marti chocolat Ad size/issue dAte: 1/4 winter 2009/2010 dAte: 10.31.09 Ad Proof #: martichocolat_prf2.pdf

What do you enjoy doing with your daughter? And do you have any special holiday traditions?

I love traveling with my daughter. We both enjoy experiencing new places and cultures. We love cooking together. We love going to art museums and making funny stories about modern art. We Please examine carefully this is how we have interpreted your instructions. love watching TV We cannot be resPonsible for errors you fail to correct dance shows and going to dance concerts. We used to love playing real time strategy board games…. but now… we love playing The Beatles: Rock Band together. Please sign and fax back to (866) 941-5903 After moving to Boston 10 years ago with no extended family ______ OK as is and send to the printer in ______ OK with corrections written on proof or emailed sight, we created a special holiday tradition of celebrating the with friends so that we could have a festive holiday ______ COrreCtiONs please send another proof beforewinter final solstice approval dinner with beautiful candles, lights, music and games — and not infringe upon our friends’ Christmas holidays with their families. Client Name/title: ____________________________________________________ It turned into quite a special holiday tradition for our East coast friends and us. Client signature: ______________________________________________________ date: _________________________________________________________________ 22 kidsla winter 2009/2010

geography

Viva Las Vegas!

what happens in Vegas, is a family thing

wordsJemma Samala Gafford

kidsLAmagazine.com 23

a little girl playing

in the pool slowly glides over to her Dad; all giggly, delighted when he pulls out a

wet dollar bill from his pocket to dry before placing a bet at the poolside blackjack table. Ahhh, memories. Whose memories? Mine.

My parents took us girls everywhere, including Las Vegas. I loved Vegas as a kid, as a single adult,

as a married couple B.C. (before children), and absolutely as a family. Yes, we take our kids to Vegas, and they love it. When my older son was just a toddler, we visited Vegas during Halloween, and we dressed him up in a homemade Elvis costume (that was when I still had time to do such creative things). Now, our kids enjoy the Strip’s bright lights, kids’ gaming and the sprawling resorts.

We recently took a multi-generational family trip to Vegas, which included

my Dad, Papa Elmer, who started the family vacation tradition. Vegas has something for everyone. My husband is the gambler and golfer. He looks for casinos that have decent racing and sports books. I’m the spa person. The kids want the cool pool and game rooms. We all like luxury accommodations, eating out and occasional shopping.

the comforts of home For our most recent Vegas visit, we stayed at the Trump International Hotel & Tower (trumplasvegashotel. com). If you want to stay at a luxury resort, don’t like walking through smoke-filled casinos on the way to your room, while enjoying the comforts of home, the Trump is for you. The Trump does not have a casino, but it’s not a big deal, as the Wynn’s casino is just a block away. What we appreciated the most was that our luxurious accommodations included a full kitchen, since all suites were originally designed as condos. So, when we wanted to stay in and relax, we could toast a bagel for breakfast, microwave some popcorn while watching a movie, or eat leftovers for dinner (just like home). The Trump has a contemporary pool (with airconditioned cabanas), a workout room and a restaurant. And for the shoppers in the family, the Fashion Show mall is just across the street. (Our kids enjoyed the mall’s food court.) The Spa at Trump offers wonderful treatments to help parents reenergize themselves. I

24 kidsla winter 2009/2010

liked that they had co-ed lounges and private couples wet rooms! Special teen spa services are also available. A plus is that the concierge desk is top-notch at the Trump, providing informational suggestions, happily obtaining reservations and making your stay one to remember. The Trump treats you like a special family guest. Our family has stayed at many other Vegas resorts. Some of our other favorites include: Mandalay Bay (mandalaybay. com), with their sprawling 11-acre Beach playground that includes a wave pool, lazy river and three large pools; the Hilton Grand Vacation Club at the Flamingo (hiltongrandvacations. com), which has fully equipped kitchen suites and waterfall tropical swimming complex; and the Bellagio (bellagio.com), which exudes absolute luxury and contains an enchanting seasonal botanical garden.

geography

family activities

Courtesy

Courtesy of MGM MIRAGE

of M

MIRA

Parents don’t have to worry about whether Vegas has enough activities to keep the kids occupied, because there are plenty. My kids enjoy everything from lazily hanging out by the pool with their mango smoothies, to eyeing the Ferrari-Maserati Auto Collection at the Wynn (penskewynn.com), to arcade gaming at the ESPN Zone at New York New York (nynycasinohotel.com). We’ve attended Excalibur’s “Tournament of Kings” Jousting Dinner Show (excalibur.com), which includes a three-course dinner. It’s one time that it’s OK for kids to eat with their fingers. Animal lovers will enjoy the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage (mirage.com). Kids will love the white lions, white tigers and bottlenose dolphins. Once they turn 13, kids can become a Dolphin Trainer for a Day. Another favorite is to visit the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay (sharkreef. com). Besides sharks, the aquarium contains giant rays, endangered green sea turtles and rare golden crocodiles.

Adventurous kids will enjoy the thrills at the roller coaster rides at New York New York, Stratosphere and Sahara — where you can also experience realistic NASCAR racecar driving at the Las Vegas Cyber Speedway (saharavegas.com). Older kids can help solve crimes at CSI: The Experience at the MGM Grand (mgmgrand.com). Crime-solvers examine bullet casings, match DNA samples, and eventually find the killer. Vegas is known for their shows, and many are kidfriendly. During this trip, we were in awe at Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatles Love showing at the Mirage. The acrobatics, costumes and stage design were amazing. And it was great to see our kids enjoy some of the same music we enjoyed as kids. And if you never saw The Lion King locally, see it at Mandalay Bay. Those mesmerized by magic will enjoy such shows by Criss Angel (luxor.com), Lance Burton (montecarlo. com) and Penn & Teller (riolasvegas. com).

tip If you’re driving from Southern California, stop off in Barstow for a midway break. It’s one place where I love to go to McDonald’s. The McDonald’s is built from old train cars, and now includes other quick food stops, such as Quizno’s, Panda Express, and a central candy store that I’ve been getting fudge from since I was a little girl. kidsLAmagazine.com 25

geography

date night Do I really need to list all the choices here? What you and your partner may have done in Vegas B.C., you can do again — but you’ll probably come home at a much earlier hour. And if you decide to really try and relive those days, at least you’ll remember the person that’s next to you when you wake up in the morning. A good date night out for my husband and I is going to a “fancy” restaurant, and maybe sitting at a blackjack table for a few hands. Oh yes, and that’s without the kids. Vegas is really a great place to dine, and I’m not even going to attempt to list all the options. But a few of our favorites are Circo at Bellagio, Delmonico Steakhouse at

the Venetian, and Shanghai Lilly at Mandalay Bay. Vegas really does provide a range of activities for the entire family. There’s plenty for a week long vacation, or the one-night stop at the end of a road trip. And there’s nothing wrong with just staying poolside, reading a book and enjoying the peace and quiet — until of course your kids start arguing about who was first swimming across the pool, and you were supposed to be watching. But as soon as we were packing to go home, we were already thinking about when we would return. We’re thinking the holidays — does Santa deliver to Vegas?

off the strip: a red rock oasis Just about 10 miles away from the strip is a family resort by the panoramic Red Rock Valley. As you drive there, you’re wondering where is there a casino resort in this cookie-cutter developed area. But then you enter the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa and you’re transformed into thinking, wow this is a magnificent, contemporary oasis. Not only is the décor stunning, the resort offers everything for a family vacation. The Red Rock resort amenities include, get this, a 72-lane bowling

alley, a 16-screen cinema complex, and three-acre pool playground. Hang out in one of the comfy private poolside cabanas, with a corner dressing area, flat screen TV and private pools. The Red Rock offers a variety of casino gaming, plus a race and sports book and bingo. There’s also plenty of dining options, and a kid’s favorite — the food court, including a Starbucks! Red Rock really has thought of it all for family togetherness, and you and your kids may never want to leave. redrocklasvegas.com.

shop ‘til you drop Las Vegas offers plenty of shopping options, including my kids’ favorite — the Fashion Show mall. Major resorts all seem to have luxurious shopping arcades and bargain hunters will love the Las Vegas Outlet Center and Premium Outlet. Plus there are specialty shops designed just for a kid’s heart, and their wallets too. Try: Disney’s Character Warehouse Outlet Store – toys, clothes and collectibles from the theme parks. Las Vegas Outlet Center, premiumoutlets.com or ams-liquidation.com. Lance Burton Magic Shop – magic kits, merchandise for the whole family. Monte Carlo Street of Dreams, montecarlo.com. M&M’s World – all things chocolate, with a free 3-D movie “I lost my ‘M’ in Vegas.” Showcase Mall, next to the MGM Grand. mymms.com.

26 kidsla winter 2009/2010

tip

Bring the grandparents! They will enjoy the getaway with the family, plus they make trustworthy babysitters for a parent’s night out on the strip.

las veg as ne ws bure aue/l

evening lights

vcv a

Courtesy

Little kids and big kids love lights. Las Vegas is known for the evening light show up and down the strip. Here are a few free evening attractions that the whole family can enjoy. Fountains of Bellagio – beautifully orchestrated water fountain show. Every evening on the half-hour, and every fifteen minutes on the weekends. Fremont Street Experience – a neon extravaganza downtown played every hour. Your senses will be amazed at this light and musical show in an outdoor pedestrian promenade in downtown Las Vegas. The Mirage Volcano – erupts nightly on the hour into a spectacular show of fire, lights and water.

wilton products gum paste classes stencils books

cake pans cookie cutters spatulas cake boxes molds

the one stop shop for all baking needs

MG MM IRA GE

310.481.0875 • nycake.com 10665 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064

making the list Oyster.com, an independent hotel review website, provides the following lists for Las Vegas family vacations.

Best Kid-Friendly Hotels 1. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino 2. The Mirage 3. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino 4. Excalibur Hotel & Casino 5. Trump International Hotel & Tower 6. New York New York Hotel & Casino 7. Paris Las Vegas 8. Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino 9. Hilton Grand Vacations Club on The Las Vegas Strip 10. Cancun Resort

Best Buffets 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Bellagio M Resort Spa & Casino Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino Wynn Las Vegas Paris Las Vegas Flamingo Las Vegas Treasure Island

You’ve Seen It. We’ve Got It!

The Safest, Most Comfortable & Durable Harness Advertiser: ny cake west Money Can Buy. Ad size/issue dAte: 1/4 winter0910 “Pawsitively For Dogs dAte: 11.07.09 Ad Proof #: nycakewest_prf.pdf is a great place to get pet accessories. We

have bought thewe walking Please examine carefully this is how have interprete harnesses and they are fail to c We cannot be resPonsible for errors you great; our dogs love them. And the prices Please sign and fax back to (866) 941-5903 are excellent.” Gerry Good, Naples ______ OK as is and send to the printer

______ OK with corrections written on proof or emailed We alSo Sell: Doggles Apparel (for all seasons) ______ COrreCtiONs please send another proof before fina Pro and College Sports Jerseys and Collars Leashes • Doggies • Carriers • Doggie toys Client Name/title: ____________________________________

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date: _______________________________________________ kidsLAmagazine.com 27

grab bag: beatles style personalize it

Name Your Tune creates made-to-order music compilations of songs with your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name. With the release of the entire Beatles catalogue and The Beatles: Rock Band video game, Name Your Tune has selected 64 names found in Beatles songs. $20, nameyourtune.com.

more than a game The Beatles: Rock Band. What more can you say? The video game offers players an unprecedented, experimental progression through the music and artistry of the Beatles. Starting from the early Liverpool days to the infamous performance on the Apple Corps rooftop, the game captures the vibes of Beatlemania. The Beatles: Rock Band is a video game meant for all generations of Beatles fans. $60, available on XBOX 360, PS3 and Wii, for store locations visit thebeatlesrockband.com.

BEATLES INSPIRED TEES Yellow Submarine long-sleeve, $37, rowdysprout.com. Love long-sleeve, $26, blucouturekids.com. Sgt. Pepper short-sleeve, $29, rowdysprout.com.

litlle yellow sub

The newest generation will soon grow fond of the Beatles and the yellow submarine. Long-sleeve dress, $40, rowdysprout.com.

lyrics say it all Song lyrics define our culture, and these bracelets take the words right out of The Beatlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mouths. Leather cuff, $75; set of three bangles, $85; lyricculture.com.

when in Vegas The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil is an extraordinary experience meant for multi-generations. Baby Boomers will appreciate the tour down memory lane, and the younger ones will be entranced by the acrobatics, dances and special effects. The exposure creates a whole new generation of Beatles fans. Sit in the upper 100 or lower 200 sections for best viewing and to billow underneath the parachutes. mirage.com.

28 kidsla winter 2009/2010

style

profile: SandBox Rebel designs for the up-and-coming rocker

fashion

forward-thinking mom Jodi Lee didnt want her newborn son Aurthur wearing Pooh Bear and other generic baby brands. So the capable and talented mom went to work designing original one-of-a-kind pieces for her little guy. But then people wanted to buy the clothes right off Aurthurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back! Jodi Lee then started taking wholesale orders, and eventually opened her own store, the SandBox Rebel in Valley Village. Her styles are perfect for the little rebels, and her store carries all the goods that little boy and girl rockers need, everything from onesies to toys. Jodi Lee is also commited to conserve and reuse recycled fabrics, helping the earth be a little greener.

SandBox Rebel

818.985.7586 FoxieRockwell.com 12437 Magnolia Blvd. Valley Village, CA 91607

rocker

diva

Sandbox Rebel, Button Down Shirt, $21, Pony Boy Pant, $38, Suspenders, $16, Ramone Print T-shirt, $17, Golfer Hat, $22

Sandbox Rebel, Gwen Rocker Dress, $38; SR Vest, $32; Rock Legs, $26; Beanie, $12

style: Robin Lebowe, image: Stephanie Schuster

kidsLAmagazine.com 29

family style tartan plaid — find out how the whole family can make it work style Robin Lebowe

art Stephanie Schuster

Want to work one of this season’s hottest trends into your — and your kids’ — wardrobe for the holidays? Tartan plaid is a versatile look that can be casual (like a plaid shirt with a tank and leggings) or fit for a queen (printed on an opulent fabric or fancied up with ruffles). Take this tried-and-true tradition and use it in ways that aren’t expected. But keep it simple — one plaid per outfit in definately enough.

for her

Designer?, Knit Scarf, $28 Designer?, Purple Sunglasses, $15 Flowers by Zoe, Plaid Dress, $89 Three Pommes Sweater, $52 Le Big, Leggings, $32 Designer?, Peace Pendant $26

clothes for her and him

Available at Flicka 323-466-5822 204 Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004

30 kidsla winter 2009/2010

for him

CP Kids, Flannel Shirt, $34 Wes and Willy, Rock Guitar Tshirt, $26 Kingsley, Pant $72 Designer?, Goorin Hat, $24 Designer?, Peace Bracelet $31

style

for mom

Black Halo, Plaid Jackie O Dress, $349 Claudia Ciuti, Red Croco Pumps $325 Soixante Neuf, Onyx and Gold Drop Earrings $110 Verve, Multi Chain Necklace, $200

for dad

Filippa K, Brown Cardigan $299, Tan Corduroy Pant, $189 Plaid Shirt, $169 Christyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Hat $55 Dita, Flight 03 Sunglasses, $300

clothes for mom and dad

Available at Noni 323-469-3239 225 Larchmont Blvd., Los Angels, CA 90004

kidsLAmagazine.com 31

m e e t t h e The “fab four” Beverly Hills boys who love The Beatles: Rock band p h o t o g r a p h y b y COLE T T E DE BARROS

hat do you get when four kids from Beverly Hills discover one of the greatest bands of all time? Your newest group of Beatles fans, who after taking on The Beatles: Rockband, have taken to dressing up like the Fab Four and calling

themselves The Bulldogs. kidsLA decided to recreate some of The Beatles

most iconic images with the mini-me versions of “the boys from Liverpool.” Introducing the new John, Paul, George and Ringo. Style Laura Zanotti • grooming Georgina Penate

32 kidsla winter 2009/2010

Gymboree, Black Turtlenecks, $13, Gymboree.com

kidsLAmagazine.com 33

the kids 34 kidsla winter 2009/2010

Noah The Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place, Black Striped Vest, $20, ChildrensPlace.com Janie and Jack, Black Turtleneck, $13, Black Wool Twill Pants, $48, JanieAndJack.com Crazy 8, Plaid Laceless Sneakers, $19, Crazy8.com J.J. Crewcuts, Aldridge Suit

Jacket, $138, JCrew.com Crazy 8, Black

Turtleneck, $13, Plaid Pant, $20, Crazy8.com Converse, White All Star Shoes, $20, Target

Noah

Ethan Kaiserman

J.J.

Gluckman Age: 7 Favorites Food: mashed potatoes TV show: Phineas and Ferb Movie: Star Wars and Night at the Museum Video game: Lego Star Wars Wii Singer or band: The Beatles Subject: art Book: any Star Wars books

Age: 8 Favorites Food: cheese plate TV show: I prefer movies to TV, but when I watch TV, I watch Top Chef and The Apprentice Movie: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Video game: The Beatles Rockband Singer or band: The Beatles Subject: history Book: anything in the Harry Potter series

Joey Janie and Jack,

Black Wool Twill Blazer, $98, JanieAndJack.com Gymboree, Black Turtleneck, $13, Gymboree.com Crazy 8, Pinstripe Pants $20, Crazy8.com Converse, Black Sneakers, $20, Target Jake Janie and Jack,

Grey and White Pinstripe Vest, $39, JanieAndJack.com Gymboree, Black Turtleneck, $13, Grey Herringbone Pant, $29, Gymboree.com Converse, White All Star Shoes, $20, Target.

Jake Ullman

Joey Fratto

Age: 7 Favorites Food: Cheeseburger TV show: SpongeBob Movie: Star Wars Video game: The Beatles: Rockband Singer or band: The Beatles Subject: math Book: The Magic Treehouse Series

Age: 7 Favorites Food: pasta TV show: Clone Wars, iCarly, SpongeBob Movie: Star Wars Video game: The Beatles Rockband Singer or band: Paul McCartney/The Beatles Subject: computer class Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

kidsLAmagazine.com 35

the group Why did you start a Rockband band? Joey: I wanted to be Paul McCartney so bad! I’ve been watching The Beatles cartoons and the Yellow Submarine movie since I was little. I was excited when Rockband came out with The Beatles game, and I play it all the time. J.J.: We love The Beatles and video games. We got The Beatles Rockband the first day it was released and have been playing it together ever since. Noah: We decided that it would be fun to be in a rock band like The Beatles. We dress up in different clothes and then play the guitar, except for J.J. He plays the drums because he is Ringo. It’s so cool. We look cool. Jake: We started it because we thought it looked like fun. We play the songs and sing along.

What do you like best about playing Rockband? Joey: Singing! Playing Paul’s guitar. J.J.: I really like watching the performances while I play and sing. Noah: I like to strum the guitar and pretend we are famous. I like pretending to be George Harrison. He’s awesome. Jake: Playing The Beatles songs! I love them! J.J.: Crewcuts, Black Velour Jacket, $140, Blundstone Boots, $98, JCrew.com; Bobinette, Navy and White Polka Dot Shirt, $49, Bobinette.com; Kingsley, Black Skinny Jeans, $66, KingsleyClothing.com Jake: Michael Kors, Brown and White Pinstripe Jacket, $80, Burlington Coat Factory; Crewcuts, White Button Down Shirt, $30, JCrew.com Crazy 8, Straight Jeans, $17, Crazy8.com; The Children’s Place, Brown Leather High Tops, $23, ChildrensPlace.com; White tie vintage Joey: Janie and Jack, Black Wool Twill Blazer, $98, JanieAndJack.com; Ciao Marco, Polo Sweater, $56, CiaoMarco.com; KINGSLEY, Black Skinny Pants, $66, KingsleyClothing.com; CONVERSE, White All Star Shoes, $20, Target Noah: Calvin Klein, Black Stripped Jacket, $70, Burlington Coat Factory; Gymboree, Cream Turtleneck, $13, Gray and Black Checkered Vest $37, Gymboree.com; Bobinette, Gray Pants with Red Stitching, $55, Bobinette.com; Stacy Adams, Black Dress Shoe,s $25, JC Penny

36 kidsla winter 2009/2010

kidsLAmagazine.com 37

the group What do you know about The Beatles? Joey: I know The Beatles were together for nine years. I know the words to a lot of the songs. I know Paul wrote Helter Skelter, Get Back, Let It Be, and I Saw Her Standing There. J.J.: Everything. I love to read and there are a lot of great books about The Beatles. Noah: I know that they make really good music and they are from another country called England. They are very famous and my grandmother really liked them when she was a teenager. She had all their albums. My mom and dad like listening to them too. When the Beatles are playing in the car, they like singing with the music. Sometimes, it’s annoying. My favorite song is I Want to Hold Your Hand. Jake: I know that they were buddies (like brother’s) and they formed a band together.

What do you want to do when you grow up Joey: I want to be an actor in Spiderman movies. I want to learn to play guitar and sing. J.J.: I want to be a lawyer, scientist or CFO. Noah: I want to do computer animation or maybe make some movies too. My Mom says I can be an architect because I like to draw and build buildings. Jake: I would like to be in a band with my friends.

How can kids help other kids? Joey: We all need to get along, and be nice to each other. J.J.: Doing little nice things for people, even just being nice and friendly to other kids makes them feel good about themselves and makes them want to be nice to others. Noah: I think kids should not be mean to each other. Everyone should be nice and help each other with their homework. Jake: Treat other kids the way you want to be treated.

38 kidsla winter 2009/2010

(Left) Noah: Crazy 8, Chambray Utility Shirt, $55, Flare Jeans, $17, Crazy8.com; Converse, White All Star Sneakers, $20, Target J.J.: Janie and Jack, Black Wool Blazer, $98, Trousers, $49, JanieAndJack.com; The Children’s Place, Tie, $8, ChildrensPlace.com; Stacy Adams, Black Dress Shoes, $25, JC Penney Joey: Fuen Collection, Navy Pinstripe Suit , $50, Burlington Coat Factory; Thomas Mason, Classic White Shirt, $78, JCrew.com Jake: Fouger, Three Piece Suit, $80, Target; Converse, White All Star Sneakers, $20, Target (Bottom) All Boys: 77kids, Marching Band Jacket $40, AE.com Kingsley, Black Skinny Jeans, $66, KingsleyClothing.com

See more pictures and get more info at meetthebulldogs.com.

Joey: Crazy 8, Check Blue Dress Shirt, $17, Crazy8.com Kani Gold, Three Piece Navy Suit, $50, Burlington Coat Factory, Stacy Adams, Black Dress Shoes, $25, JC Penney Jake: Gymboree, Black Corduroy Pants, $29, Black Turtleneck $13, Laceless Sneakers, $14, Gymboree.com 77kids, Faux Fur Vest, $50, AE.com NOAH: Baby Phat, Black Faux Fur Coat, $20, Burlington Coat Factory. Gymboree, Red Turtleneck, $13, Gymboree.com The Childrens Place, Green Pants, $10, ChildrensPlace.com Crazy 8, Plaid Laceless Sneakers, $19, Crazy8.com J.J.: Janie and Jack, Black Pants, $50, JanieAndJack.com Gymboree, Black Turtleneck, $13, Gymboree.com Old Navy, Red Coat, $37, OldNavy.com Stacy Adams, Black Dress Shoes, $25, JC Penney

kidsLAmagazine.com 39

Special Promotion

grab bag: subjects HEALTH

fitness ZumbAtomic kids workout DVD collection teaches about fitness concepts such as coordination, discipline, confidence and teamwork. And how can kids not have fun, moving and shaking to such dance styles as Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton and Hip-Hop. $35, zumbatomic.com.

Music Lauren Barrett teaches kids about songwriting through one-on-one, group and school lessons. Her Sessions Songwriting for Kids curriculum focuses on both the musical and creative songwriting processes. For info: SessionsSongwriting.com.

Sick kids wipe their noses anywhere (some adults too). Sniffle Buddies are a sanitary, eco-friendly way to wipe noses. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re naturally antibacterial absorbent wristbands made from bamboo and organic cotton. $10, snifflebuddies.com.

Music The ocarina is an easy-to-play and inexpensive wind instrument, played something like the recorder. Video gamers of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time may know the colorful instruments. $9 and up, stlocarina.com.

DocRock (Dr. Mache Seibel) teamed up with CIGNA to create a rap video, to help kids avoid catching the H1N1 or seasonal flu. DocRock raps about getting a flu shot, sneezing into your elbow or a tissue, washing hands or use sanitizer, staying away from others who are sick, and keeping your fingers out of your eyes, mouth and nose. Find the video at youtube. com (search CIGNA and DocRock) or HealthRock.com.

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42 kidsla winter 2009/2010

biography

jenny mccarthy speaking up for autism

all know and love Jenny McCarthy onscreen as a fun-loving actress. She has taken that energy and focused her efforts into speaking up about autism. She had to, her son Evan was diagnosed with autism as a young child. Jenny is now well-known as a spokesperson about autism, and has taken her words into action, creating both learning tools and learning centers. As most moms will do anything to protect their children, Jenny is a strong leader in the autism world. This remarkable mom answers some questions about her roles today. You seem like such a fun person, are you a fun mom? What do you like to do with Evan?

I have no idea if I’m a fun mom. I hope so. I have a hard time playing with boy themes like trains or tank battles so I try to do activities with Evan like hiking and riding scooters. Has motherhood been what you expected? What is as was expected and what has been different?

The most unexpected thing in motherhood has to be the fear that every mother acquires after having her baby. Is he/she healthy? Will he/she be cute? Will he or she get bullied? I noticed that this fear still remains in my own mother even though I just turned 37. Evan’s diagnosis of autism has really changed the direction of your life. What kind of role do you feel you play because of it,

and how can you help others through your own personal experience?

After autism came into my life, I knew my dreams of one day becoming a “really great” actress seemed dumb and shallow. The only leading part I want now is to help moms learn how to get their kids better. I know not every child will benefit from the biomedical treatments and therapies I did with Evan, but I feel the need to at least share the information with parents who are desperate for guidance. Do you think people have mistaken your viewpoint as anti-vaccine, rather than pro-safe vaccine? What would you say to your distracters about the misconception?

family:

son Evan, 7; partner Jim

other occupations besides mothering:

author, actress, educator, comedian, producer

charities:

Talking About Curing Autism (TACA); Generation Rescue

Yes, I think people have mistaken my viewpoint on vaccines and no matter how many times I say that I am not against vaccines people will still buy into that. I believe that vaccines are safe for some kids and vaccines are not safe for some kids. There should never be a “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to prescribing medication. Vaccines have gone from 10 shots given in 1983 to now 36 shots given. Too many too soon is my philosophy. You consider Evan as recovered from autism. What does that mean, and what does Evan have to continue doing to stay recovered?

Recovery from autism is the term used instead of cured because there are many parents that believe (including myself) it was caused by an injury. An example being if you get hurt in a car accident you don’t become cured from it, you recover any injuries or abilities you might have lost due to the injury. Evan can now fully talk, socialize, play normally, have empathy, use his imagination, and understand abstract information. He now longer qualifies under the autism diagnosis. Does he have anything “wrong” with him? Yes, seizures are still a concern kidsLAmagazine.com 43

biography

along with some ADD issues. Tell us about your company Teach2Talk? How do the products help kids, and are the products just for kids with learning differences or are they suitable for all learning styles?

Teach2Talk was created for all kids with different learning styles. There was nothing on the market to teach social skills like making friends and sharing. We also wanted to do videos teaching kids about imaginary play since most toys are now cause and affect. (Hit a button something moves.) In the Teach2Play videos we teach how to use toys like we did when we were young. Building a barn with sticks and using a crayon as a pretend horse. Sarah Scheflen is the co-creator who is a qualified therapist on the subject. (teach2talk.com) Also, tell us about the Teach2Talk Academy. Why did you start it and what makes it more suitable for kids with autism and other learning disorders?

insurance, health, treatments, than you do! If you can’t muster up any energy because you are so drained from autism than allow those parents that have that extra energy to do it for you. We are all on the same team. Just know someone is fighting for you even though you can’t. Are you pretty protective of Evan?

Teach2Talk Academy opened this year and I’m proud to say is an absolute success in terms of the amount of progress children with autism are making. We have children age 2 to 6 and we use a combination of ABA, floor time and other therapies that help the kids progress according to their specific goals. I also teach parents and guide them toward diet/nutritional tips that can help further their progress while at the school. We also have an after school social skills program for ages 3 to 9. Evan attends social skills and it’s his favorite part of the week. They learn how to play freeze tag, teamwork and the importance of making a buddy. (t2tacademy.com)

I am very protective of Evan. I’m terrified of germs. If he gets the flu he could have a seizure, so needless to say we have one of the cleanest schools in the country. I’m obsessed with washing hands. And, god forbid, if someone sneezes on Evan, I freak out. I have horrible memories of the hospital and can’t imagine ever having to go back.

Do you plan on opening more academies, and/or growing it to include older children?

How has your relationship with Jim Carrey helped you in dealing with everything you need to deal with in being a mom?

We do have a goal to open more schools around the country. If I had Bill Gates’ money I would have them in every state. For now, Sherman Oaks is our home. We do plan on increasing with age in terms of social skills group. But our intensive school is only for ages 2 thru 6.

What kind of kid is Evan?

Evan is a ham. He has an amazing sense of humor and loves girls. If you ask him, he has a wife named Andrea and a girlfriend named Catherine. (How typical male is that?)

My relationship with Jim has helped me feel safe and trustworthy of love again. I was so hurt from my past that I decided to let go and not look for it. Then BAM, there he was. Funniest guy in the world became my knight in shining armor. He is a great man and a great dad.

What’s your advice to parents on being the best advocate for their children’s medical and educational needs?

What is there left for you to do?

The best advice I can give in terms of being an advocate for your kids is to follow your gut. If you feel like you need to fight for

I’m hoping my talk show gets off the ground. I just finished shooting my pilot for a possible 2011 launch. Fingers and toes crossed.

44 kidsla winter 2009/2010

I’m sure there will also be another book on the way soon. What kind of example do you want to be for Evan, and other children?

That if you believe in manifestation, anything can happen. What are your favorite charities and why?

Needless to say autism will be the only charity I will devote all of my time to. There isn’t anyone leading it and until someone else feels like joining me in Hollywood, I will continue speaking on behalf of these families. Do you have any special holiday traditions with Evan? What are they?

Our special tradition on Christmas is to dress Jim up as Santa. Jim climbs the roof outside and stomps around pretending to have landed on it. Evan goes nuts and we all love it just as much as Evan. What will you be asking Santa for Christmas this year?

I’d like to ask Santa for about a billion dollars so I can open more autism schools. That and to pay off my Visa. It’s bruised.

Autism Books 101 Games and Activities for Children with Autism, Asperger’s and Sensory Processing Disorders by pediatric occupational therapist Tara Delany offers a variety of interactive games to enhance a child’s development through play. $16.95 My Child Has Autism: What Parents Need to Know by Dr. Clarissa Willis provides tips for families on how to prepare for family vacations or just out to dinner. $12.95. The Horse Boy: A Father’s Quest to Heal His Son by Rupert Isaacson is the personal story of a Texas couple that takes a journey through Outer Mongolia in order to treat their autistic son Rowan. The Horse Boy is part travel adventure, part view of shamanic tradition and part look at the autistic mind. Also made into a movie (horseboymovie.com). $24.99.

www.enchantedenfant.com kidsLAmagazine.com 45

crafts

make it and shake it making musical instruments words K.B. VanHorn

kids love to make noise. They bang on pots and pans on the kitchen floor, drum on the dining room table with chopsticks, and belt out impromptu songs. There’s a world of sound around them and they want to explore it. Here’s a simple craft activity that will shake things up a little.

instructions

Have your kids experiment with the sounds that different objects make in a mint tin. Raid the craft stash for beads and buttons. Scour the pantry for beans, macaroni, rice, and popcorn kernels. Take a nature hike and gather pebbles and tiny acorns. Let them mix and match their noisy objects to create their favorite shaky sound.

46 kidsla winter 2009/2010

You will need:

• empty mint tins • small, hard objects • super glue (optional) • decoupage glue like Mod Podge • fabric scraps or magazine images

When they find the sound that they like best, place a few drops of super glue around the rim to seal the tin and Voila! — it’s an instant musical instrument. Younger children can decorate the outside with stickers. Older children (and grownups too) may enjoy decoupaging their instruments with fabric scraps or images cut out of magazines to create one-of-a-kind designer noisemakers.

To decoupage the shaker, smooth a layer of Mod Podge over an area of the tin. Place a magazine image or fabric scrap over top and smooth out the wrinkles with a paintbrush. Repeat on other areas of the mint tin until it is sufficiently covered. Finish with a layer of Mod Podge over the entire instrument, and allow it to dry for a few hours. This will create a waterproof seal over the design. Finally, take it, and shake shake shake it!

curriculum

learning disabilities: making the journey from panic to peace words Lead Teacher Heather Baird, M.Ed., Contributing teachers, Melissa Lowry, M.A., Jennifer Randall and Patina Sehorn

art Tane Beauvois

just

after the last of the turkey leftovers have been polished off and the first round of manic holiday shopping has been endured, or in my case avoided, comes a little-celebrated, and often-dreaded annual tradition: end-ofthe semester teacher conferences. Having sat on both sides of the desk, I know that conferences can cause a great deal of anxiety and turmoil on the part of the parents and the teacher, especially when there is unexpected or unpleasant news. Whether your conferences fall just before or just after the mad holiday blitz, there is no great time to receive the news that your child’s teacher has “concerns.” Often, this rather vague and disconcerting information descends like a bomb into your lap and leaves you wondering, “What do I do now?!” While I am not one to deny anyone her fair share of tears and hysterical meltdowns, it is critical to remain calm. However awful the teacher’s concerns may seem, it is not the end of the world. While it is important to take her comments seriously, a teacher’s words do not contain the magical power to change who your child is. With or without a specific label or diagnosis, your child is the same sweet, lovable, quirky kid that she was a few days before. All you have now is new information. This information will lead you on a difficult yet transformational journey.

Classrooms are not made to bend and stretch as families are. However flexible and fabulous your child’s teacher may be, there are limits to what she can do. If she has expressed concerns about your child, then as a parent, set aside your fears for a moment and take a serious look at this new information. Be very wary of waiting for your child to “grow out of” his difficulties. While waiting may seem like a safe and appealing choice, allowing too much time to pass can widen the gap between your child and his peers. Taking action is a loving choice. The following steps will help you journey through the first few days, weeks, and months after hearing that your child may possibly have a learning difference.

Step 1: Do not panic. Even the hint of a diagnosis or label for your child can seem overwhelming. You probably do not have a firm grasp of your child’s situation at this point, but even if your worst fears do come true, there is always hope. Having a learning disability is lifealtering, not life-ending. There are countless examples of highly successful adults with learning disabilities; many of whom would credit their success to the creativity, perseverance, and determination that their learning difference requires. Learning kidsLAmagazine.com 47

differences intensify and amplify the importance of one of the most critical jobs of every parent: to help provide opportunities for their child to learn, flourish, and thrive.

she is a gifted athlete or artist. Creative or athletic pursuits can provide a much-needed refuge from the stresses of school.

Step 2: Educate yourself.

If you have further questions for your child’s teacher, set up an additional conference. Ambushing her at the classroom door at the beginning of the school day will probably not be wellreceived. Decide with your child’s teacher what your next steps should be. In order for your child to receive services and accommodations from the public school system, she will need an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

As your child’s most powerful advocate, the more you know the better off you will be. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, for example: “Can you give me a specific example of Jeff’s ‘off-task behavior’?” “What time of day does Carly seem to have the most difficulty?” or “What can I do to help Matt at home?” Making a list of questions for your child’s teacher, doctor, or other professional can be calming and empowering. Remember, there are no stupid questions. You may be faced with many new and unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. Do not be afraid to ask for clarification.

Step 3: Treat yourself as an expert on your child. Make a list of observations about your child that may be relevant. For example, how long it takes your child to complete his homework, if there have been any major changes at home (the death of a pet, the birth of a sibling, a move, etc.), or any changes in your child’s behavior such as difficulty sleeping or changes in appetite or energy level. Know that you have valuable information to add to the conversation. Keep copies of your child’s schoolwork; examples of both success and failure. This will give those assisting him a better picture of his strengths and weaknesses.

Step 4: Put together a support team. For yourself: Find someone such as a trustworthy friend, family member or counselor who can listen to you vent without passing judgment or offering unsolicited advice. Support groups and parent hotlines exist for parents whose children have learning differences. The Internet has a wealth of information and resources. Some great places to start are: www. ldonline.org and www.autismspeaks.org. Do not be afraid to ask for help for yourself so that you can better help your child. Feeling alone is often the most difficult part of caring for a struggling child. For your child: Keeping your child’s self-esteem intact is a monumental task, and one that should not be tackled alone. Nothing can replace the unconditional love and acceptance of a parent, but knowing that you have a coach, minister, teacher, or mentor who is also supporting and encouraging your child can make a huge difference. Consider your child’s gifts. Perhaps

48 kidsla winter 2009/2010

Step 5: Make a plan.

Step 6: Take action. If your child’s teacher gives you specific recommendations, such as speaking with your child’s doctor or a specialist, make the necessary appointments. Follow through with any recommendations your child’s teacher gives you for helping your child at home, such as setting up an organized study station for your child to do homework, spending extra time reading with your child, or practicing problem-solving and social skills. You may need to restructure your family’s schedule and carve out time for these extra activities. Helping your child must be a high priority.

Taking action is a loving choice.

curriculum

Step 7: Allow yourself time and space to grieve. As a parent, it is excruciatingly painful to watch your child struggle. Grieve the change of expectations and the loss of time and money and energy spent helping your child. Grieve the losses your child will bear as well. They are real. Allow yourself to grieve so that with open arms and a free heart you may embrace your child exactly as she is. Love, hope and acceptance are your most powerful tools as a parent. By following the steps outlined above, you put yourself in the best position to help your child meet her challenges head on and experience success in life.

Brief Explanations of Three Commonly Diagnosed Learning Differences Dyslexia Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Dys- meaning “difficult” and lexia meaning “words,” it literally means having difficulty with words. Many people associate dyslexia with reversals and “seeing things backwards.” While many dyslexics do substitute b for d and vice versa, it is incorrect and misleading to say that they actually see things backwards. Studies using neuro-imaging have shown that individuals with dyslexia use a different part of their brains to read words than most of the general population. It can be compared to taking the side roads rather than the freeway to arrive at a given destination.

ADHD — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder This is a controversial, often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, but very real disorder. It is a common misconception to say that having ADHD means an inability to pay attention to anything. Individuals with ADHD all have great difficulty managing their attention, but this difficulty manifests itself in many different ways. One person may have trouble shifting her attention from one task to another. Another may have a tendency to pay attention to everything. For example: the way his shoes feel, buzzing fluorescent lights, the birds chirping outside, his teacher’s voice, and what he ate for breakfast may all present themselves as equally important. Another individual may have difficulty maintaining a consistent level of attention over a period of time, especially if trying to attend to a task that is not par-

Creating Futures for Individuals With Autism Preparing for a Special Education IEP Meeting An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed for every child eligible for special education. This plan contains a statement of a child’s present level in terms of performance, educational needs, goals, levels of service, and measurable outcomes. An IEP meeting can be held after a formal assessment; if a child demonstrates a lack of progress; or if a parent or teacher requests a meeting to develop/review/revise a child’s current IEP. Here are some suggestions to make the most of this important planning session: Prepare supplemental materials. Gather reports or other documentation for the school district to consider at the IEP meeting and provide to the district one week in advance. Ask members of your “team” for their opinion of your child’s progress/needs. Consider: • Where is your child now, in terms of progress/ goals? • What current goals would you like your child to continue to work on? • Where do you want your child to be one year from now? Write the school district. Request all assessments, progress reports, and proposed goals in advance of the meeting. Have a basic understanding of key terms. Some common IEP terms include: • Present Level of Performance — summary

of strengths/needs • Objectives — skills a child needs to develop/achieve specific IEP goal(s) • Benchmarks — the mastery level a child is expected to meet Plan who to bring. Determine if there is another person — such as a current service provider — who you’d like to have at the IEP meeting. You may consider contacting a lawyer or advocate if you need assistance/support beyond the IEP team. Evaluate goals. Determine if baselines are accurate, objective and meaningful; if areas of need are addressed; and if goals are objective, measurable and appropriate. Document. Note the date, time, who said what, and what was said in the meeting. Potential placements. The team will determine which learning environment will allow the IEP to be best implemented. Observe initial sessions to ensure the placement is a good fit for your child. Carefully review the IEP. Make sure to read the complete IEP, and ensure that all of your questions have been asked and answered about the IEP. This information is provided by Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST), an agency providing autism services to individuals and families, and is in part adapted from a 2009 workshop presented by attorney Michael Jewell, jewellawoffice.com. For more information visit autismtherapies.com or call (866) AST-1520.

kidsLAmagazine.com 49

curriculum some experts believe that an individual with autism’s brain is essentially wired and organized differently. Many behaviors associated with autism are thought to be coping mechanisms — an autistic brain’s attempt to process a world that is not wired for it. Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism is one of several disorders, along with Asperger’s synAutism is a “neurobiological” disorder meaning that it manidrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) known fests itself in the brain and nervous system. Although there is together as Autism Spectrum Disorders. The root of the word currently no genetic, chemical, or neurological test for autism, autism comes from Greek auto- or aut- meaning “self, spontaneous, directed from within.” Autism impairs a person’s ability to connect with, communicate with, and relate to other people. While • Know that you are not alone and that there is no shame in having difficulty with social skills is a primary having a child with a learning disability. symptom of autism, social struggles alone are • Be respectful of teachers, doctors, and other professionals not enough to warrant a diagnosis of autism. A even if you disagree with their observations about your child. diagnosis of autism is given when all of the three • No learning difference or disability is caused by too little following areas of development are significantly effort on your child’s part. Telling your child to “try harder” affected: social interaction, communication, and is destructive. repetitious behaviors/restricted interests. • Trust your instincts and be a loving and persistent advocate ticularly interesting. Many people with ADD/ADHD are able to hyper-focus and tune everything else out when pursuing their passions.

Additional Toolbox Tips

for your child.

For more tips from the teachers’ toolbox, visit teacherhomeworkbook.com.

Tomorrow’s Author

Preschool lays the foundation for a love of learning and best prepares a child for success in kindergarten and beyond. Give kids the opportunity they deserve to dream and to succeed.

A non-profit organization providing high-quality education to the children of Los Angeles County LAUP is funded by First 5 LA

50 kidsla winter 2009/2010 LAKids.indd 1

10/30/2009 1:55:57 PM

counseling

defend your child working with the legal system words Robin Sax

art Tane Beauvois

just

when you thought a learning disability diagnosis for your child was difficult enough, now you may have to navigate through the legal system to get your child the rights they deserve in the classroom. Defining the disability for psychological, practical, and medical purposes is one thing, but you may find that you still have to define it for legal purposes as well. But what is the definition of a learning disability in the eyes of the law? The federal law that defines special education and related service programming for children and youth with disabilities is called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law entitles eligible school-aged children and youth with disabilities to receive “free appropriate public education.” The parameters for what qualifies as a learning disability is defined as “a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.” It is important to note that the law goes on to state that learning disabilities do not include, “learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.” Site: 34 Code of Federal Regulations S300.7(c)(10). A child with learning disabilities may have a speech or communication disorder, like dyslexia, or a more severe learning disability like Asperger’s syndrome, autism, or Down syndrome. Different conditions require different levels of attention for the child in the classroom; but few will disagree that a learning disabled child needs special classes and programs to excel — not only for the benefit of that particular child but for all the children in a class as well. If they are not getting the kind of attention they need, they most often can’t speak for themselves to demand it. In the classroom, failure to adequately define the learning disability of the child can be a major problem, as is the lack of qualified professionals at school facilities to deal with the variety of learning disabled students. The only way to even begin to tackle this issue is for the parent to address it, define it, and understand it. Without proper definitions, and therefore legal recourse, we are failing our kids! >

Speak up and push until your child gets what she needs in the classroom. Your kids depend on you and your voice to represent their needs.

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counseling Parents have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of their child. If a teacher, principal, or school administrator is not providing sufficient support for your disabled student — do not back down. Fight it and demand the necessary educational resources for your child. If you have to go through legal means to get results, do it! The law requires that your child be given a fair education. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, which is now the IDEA, reflects our society’s concern that we provide children with disabilities with the same rights and privileges that all other kids enjoy. The purpose of the IDEA act is to protect the rights of children with disabilities and their parents or guardians — to make sure they are assisted. The act is also in place to help states and local districts to make sure they provide for the education of all children with disabilities. But the effectiveness of the act has been called into question. As you probably already know, a federal act is not going to protect your child on a day-to-day basis. It is true that you can take legal action if you feel there has been discrimination or that necessary resources are not being provided. But you, as the parent, can be your child’s best weapon. Below is a partial list to find detailed information on special education laws and laws that affect those with disabilities: • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) • No Child Left Behind (NCLB) • Perkins Vocational Education Act • Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act • State and United States Departments of Education With the use of a little law and a lot of passion, I urge you to take action on your own and not sit by if your child has a learning difficulty. Take the example of Jim Fruchterman, founder of Bookshare (a group with more than 60,000 members). He reminds us: there was a time, not that long ago, when children who were blind, or had another kind of disability that prevented them from easily reading a printed book, were pretty much out of luck when it came to reading. It was thanks to the efforts of Fruchterman that the concept of Bookshare got underway. Thousands of caring parents got involved and then forced the U.S. Department of Education to pay for every American student of any age to get access to Bookshare and talking eBook software for free in their schools. Now, I don’t expect every parent to take on the world and network with thousands of parents. But I do expect you to talk to your child’s teacher directly and if that is not working, to take the issue up with the school’s administration. Speak up and push until your child gets what she needs in the classroom. Your kids depend on you and your voice to represent their needs.

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health

diabetes and kids

Type 1, Type 2 … The world of diabetes can get complicated. Let’s look at the facts words Kathy Sena

we’ve all seen the headlines: “Kids’ Poor Diets and Lack of Exercise Can Lead to Type 2 Diabetes.” And we’ve heard conflicting terms: “adult-onset diabetes,” “juvenile diabetes,” “type 1,” “type 2.” Today’s parents grew up in an era when we never heard of a child getting type 2 diabetes. No wonder these headlines are so bewildering! According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2007 (the most recent data available), about 186,300 children and teens in the U.S. had diabetes (type 1 or type 2). However, many kids have undiagnosed diabetes as well, according to the CDC. Confused? Here’s help. >

“The rapid rise in obesity, physical inactivity and the consumption of excessive calories seems to have led to the epidemic of children with type 2 diabetes.”

kidsLAmagazine.com 53

Nick Jonas wrote the song A Little Bit Longer about his own experiences with diabetes and in the hopes of inspiring those living with diabetes and other serious illnesses. Available on iTunes.

type 1 diabetes This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. It was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar (glucose), starches and other food into energy. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, symptoms may occur suddenly, and include one or more of the following:

• Extreme thirst • Frequent urination • Drowsiness, lethargy • Sugar in urine • Sudden vision changes • Increased appetite • Sudden weight loss • Fruity, sweet or wine-like odor on breath • Heavy, labored breathing • Stupor, unconsciousness Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves checking bloodglucose levels with a tiny bit of blood from a skin prick and then administering insulin or other medications via injections or an insulin pump.

type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a bit more complicated to diagnose. With type 2, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the older population in general. But it is on the rise in children, teens and young adults. Experts believe that the increasing amount of obesity and the low level of physical activity among many young people, as well as exposure to diabetes in the womb (when the mother has gestational diabetes), may be major contributors to the increase in type 2 diabetes during childhood and adolescence.

54 kidsla winter 2009/2010

Children and teens diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are generally between 10 and 19 years old, obese, have a strong family history for type 2 diabetes and have insulin resistance. It’s hard to detect type 2 diabetes in children because:

• It can go undiagnosed for a long time • Children may have no symptoms or mild symptoms • Blood tests are needed for diagnosis Type 2 diabetes symptoms may develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years and not even know it, according to the Mayo Clinic. Look for:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination • Increased hunger • Weight loss • Fatigue • Blurred vision • Slow-healing sores or frequent infections • Areas of darkened skin According to the American Diabetes Association, the first treatment for type 2 diabetes is often meal planning for bloodsugar control, weight loss and exercising. Sometimes these measures are not enough to bring blood sugar down near the normal range. The next step is taking a medicine that lowers blood-glucose levels.

a difficult diagnosis In people with type 1 diabetes, things are pretty clear cut: The pancreas no longer makes insulin and the person needs insulin shots to use glucose from meals. People with type 2 diabetes, however, make insulin, but their bodies don’t respond well to it. Some people with type 2 diabetes need to take insulin to help their bodies use glucose for energy. As with type 1, checking blood-glucose levels with a monitor is important. “Type 2 diabetes is extremely complex,” says Memphis, Tenn., pediatric endocrinologist A. Jay Cohen, M.D., session moderator at a recent meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. “The rapid rise in obesity, physical inactivity and the consumption of excessive calories seems to have led to the epidemic of children with type 2 diabetes.” The National Institutes of Health are conducting two clinical trials to identify the children at risk for type 2 diabetes and to demonstrate the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention among youth. The first trial is following a group of about

health

6,400 children from sixth through eighth grade to determine if modifications in exercise programs and nutrition at school can reduce their risk. Researchers are tracking the youths’ body mass indices (BMIs), fasting glucose levels and fasting insulin levels to show the health benefits of lifestyle adjustments. The second trial is exploring the best treatment options for children with type 2 diabetes.

inspiration for kids While parents listen to doctors and try to find the right care for their kids with diabetes, kids of a certain age may be most influenced by 16-year-old Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes nearly four years ago. Jonas says when he was diagnosed with type 1, he didn’t know anything about it and had never met anybody with diabetes. That’s all changed now. Young people with diabetes are among his most passionate fans, and he has even written a song, “A Little Bit Longer,” to share his experience with the disease.

“So many fans with diabetes, from all over the world, share their stories and thank me for being an inspiration to them,” Jonas said in a recent statement. “It’s important for them to know that they motivate and inspire me as well.” He has also created “Nick Jonas’ Dog Tag Program” (Kids skip the medical-ID bracelet in favor of the dog tags.) The program has raised $75,000 for the Jonas Brothers’ Change for Children Foundation to fight diabetes. To learn more, visit nickssimplewins.com and click on “Nick’s Dog Tags.”

For more information on diabetes visit: • Juvenile Diabetes Foundation: jdrf.org • American Diabetes Association: diabetes.org Sources: American Diabetes Association, the National Institute of Health’s National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Jonas Brothers’ Change for Children Foundation.

8540 South Sepulveda Blvd. | Suite 710 | Los Angeles kidsLAmagazine.com 55

music

strike a chord KIDZ BOP’s tips for introducing kids to music

studies

show that kids who are exposed to music from an early age do better in school. Unfortunately, most U.S. schools have cut back or even eliminated their arts and music programs due to shrinking budgets. With back-to-school season here, KIDZ BOP, the #1 music brand in the U.S. for kids ages 5-12, has developed its Top 6 Music Tips—for fun, inexpensive ways parents can introduce their kids to music at home—and maybe even get them away from the TV and up and moving in the process!

Sing Along! Sing to AND with your child from an early age. Whether it’s “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” or a hit song by your favorite top 40 artist—kids love to sing along and share their favorite music with you! You don’t have to be a great singer — just get into the moment and create happy, shared memories.

Sing to Learn! Music is a powerful teaching tool. Kids can learn the alphabet, numbers, vocabulary and rhyming—keys to building early literacy skills—through singing or listening to music. After you’ve shared a song together, talk to your child about the words. What do you think this song is about?...What does that word mean?...What words do you hear that rhyme?...How do you think the singer is feeling? Why?

Turn Off and Tune In! Turn off the TV and turn on the radio or iPod. Cultivate your child’s musical taste by exposing him or her to all different genres of music, including pop, rock, hip hop, classical and country. Music

56 kidsla winter 2009/2010

is a kid-friendly vehicle for introducing tolerance for other cultures, styles and tastes.

Play Along! Numerous household items can be turned into musical instruments to help develop your child’s inner rock star. Make drums out of pots and pans and empty boxes, musical shakers and maracas out of coffee cans or water bottles filled with dried beans (make sure they are securely closed) and horns out of paper towel tubes…the possibilities are only limited by your imagination! Educational experts consider imaginary play to be a fun and valuable tool for developing your child’s reasoning and comprehension skills. FREE Musical Instruments! Musical instruments are expensive. When your child shows interest in picking up the clarinet or violin, don’t despair! Check out websites like Craigslist or local swap and barter clubs to find cheap second hand (or better yet, FREE) instruments. Just Dance! Music is good for the body and soul. The CDC reports that almost 1 in 3 kids (ages 2-19) in the U.S. is overweight or obese. Dance is not only great exercise, it helps teach rhythm and coordination. So channel your inner “Dancing Queen” and “Twist and Shout” with your kids.

social studies

L.A. Holiday Traditions Old and New local families’ holiday celebrations words Jo PERRY

The Morgans

Lexi, Astor, Giada and Liliana — share Hanukkah celebrations with close friends and observe Catholic and Italian family traditions at home. Each January 1st, as their Nona, or Sicilian Grandmother, has taught them, Giada and Liliana sweep the old year out the back door, and gleefully toss out something old to make way for a bright and shiny new year. On January 6th they celebrate La Festa dell’Epifania, when, according to Italian tradition, La Befana, Astor Morgan

an old woman who regretted not joining the Wise Men on their visit to the baby Jesus, leaves gifts and candy for children. They have also included some classic L.A.style kitsch into their holiday repertoire. Giada and Liliana enjoy recreating L.A. cultural historian Charles Phoenix’s Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree — a foil-draped Styrofoam cone bedecked with olives, Kosher hot dogs, pineapple chunks, kidsLAmagazine.com 57

social studies

“It takes an endless amount of history to make even a little tradition.” — Henry James carrots, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes from their garden — for their holiday celebrations. Phoenix discovered the midcentury modern hors d’oeuvre tree in a 1963 Kodachrome slide, one of the thousands of slides he preserves and shares through his slideshows and books. Inspired by the festive “cooking and craft project,” Phoenix demonstrated the making of his own edible tree in a hilarious video (youtube.com and search “astroweenie christmas tree”) that inspired the Morgans and many others to create their own.

The Sverdlovs Winter glows with holiday traditions that reconnect L.A. kids and their families to the past, to our city, and to nature. Each holiday season the Sverdlovs — Julia and Jacob, and sons Marc and Greg — observe a traditional Hanukkah then celebrate New Year’s in lavish Russian style. Because Julia and Jacob grew up in Russia when religious observances were outlawed, their families had a decorated yolka or New Year’s tree, and would receive gifts on New Year’s Eve from Ded Maroz — Grandfather Frost — and his granddaughter, Snegurochka — Snowflake. The Sverdlovs honor these Russian traditions with their extended families and closest friends each New Year’s Eve. A costumed Grandfather Frost and Snowflake arrive bearing gifts for the children. But, according to Russian custom, the kids can receive gifts only after singing songs, reciting poems or putting on a show. The young and old stay up very late enjoying games and lots of food (and for the grownups, caviar and champagne). At midnight everyone joins to toast (in Russian), “May all the bad things in our lives remain in the old year, and may all the good things in our lives continue into the new.”

58 kidsla winter 2009/2010

The Lemons Fionn and Ben Lemon and daughters Clara and Isabel look to Serbia during their family’s winter celebrations, and have created their own traditions as well. Their holiday season begins in September when they make fragrant blocks of soap that dry and cure until December when they present them to family and friends as gifts. Clara and Isabel, their mother says, “have come to think of the smell of essential oils as the smell of Christmas.” In late December the Lemons celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas in the tradition of the Serbian Orthodox Church, but December 24 begins the family’s “American Christmas,” for which they choose a special theme each year. Past “American Christmases” have had Mexican, Italian, and French themes, and the Lemons have also celebrated a cowboy Christmas and a “Merry Widow” Christmas that included opera and opera-themed foods. This year the family will enjoy a Christmas inspired by Julia Child’s The Art of French Cooking. Their season of celebration concludes in early January, when the family celebrates Christmas at their Serbian Orthodox Church.

This winter, whether you observe religious holidays, celebrate light in darkness, or mark the dying and rebirth of the year, enjoy and honor cherished family traditions, and create new rituals that bring you and your kids together in joy and laughter. David Polushkin, Fionn Lemon

read

The Joy of Family Traditions: A Season-bySeason Companion to Celebrations, Holidays and Special Occasions (Adult). Multi-cultural and international in its inspiration, this compendium includes ideas for celebrating Family Hibernation Day, inventing birthday rituals, holiday gift-making, marking the seasons and commemorating milestones.

Together: Creating Family Traditions by Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes (Adult, but kids will enjoy the photographs) Simple and beautiful ideas for celebrating childhood and the family including a New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wishing Tree, Good Luck Gumbo, Halloween scarecrows, and gingerbread garlands.

America at Home: A CloseUp Look At How We Live by Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt. (All ages) A photo of your family can grace the cover of this fabulous coffee-table collection of beautiful, exciting, touching photographs of American families. To find out how to order and upload your family photo, visit: myamericaathome.com/customcover/.

Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations Around the World by Heather Conrad (4-8 years) Explains the origin of winter festivals and celebrations: Yule, Saturnalia, Soyal in India, Teng Chieh in China, Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, Las Posadas, and Kwanzaa.

The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer (4-8 years) History of the solstice, solstice science and ideas for having a winter solstice party for birds and for people.

While the Bear Sleeps: Winter Tales and Traditions retold by Caitlin Matthews (4-8 years) A bear explains winter customs and festivals to a little girl and meets St. Nicholas, celebrates Hanukkah in Mexico, learns about the Nativity, and for Kwanzaa learns a story of kindness repaid.

Growing Up with Tamales/ Los tamales de Ana by/por Gwendolyn Zepeda (5-9 years) Ana helps with her familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual tamale-making and looks forward to a lifetime of Christmases and tamales.

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grab bag: activities Whether for a quick family staycation, for visiting guests, or for starting an annual holiday gathering, these resorts will make your holidays happy. The Langham, Huntington Hotel Elegance never goes out of style in this timeless hideaway. Children will enjoy the tradition of the Teddy Bear Tea, where Santa himself comes to relax and enjoy a spot of tea. Teddy Bear Tea guests are asked to bring an unwrapped gift for children in need. Additional lavish holiday meals are available, as well as Holiday Sparkle spa specials. 1401 South Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, 626.568.3900, pasadena.langhamhotels.com.

Montage Laguna Beach The Cliffside location is magical enough, but during the holidays make the Montage Laguna Beach even more special. Holiday activities include Santa’s Workshops, holiday stocking delivery, and a Christmas Eve Magic reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” followed by a twilight search to spot Santa’s sleigh. Their Children’s Night Out program will give parents some time out too. 30801 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 866.271.6953, montagelagunabeach.com.

Hotel Del Coronado Guests are transported back in time at this Victorian masterpiece. Special holiday family packages are available. Holiday activities include the production of An American Christmas, lavish Victorian holiday dining, Victorian Tea, and ice skating overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a backdrop of 100,000 lights. Ice skating proceeds benefit Make-AWish Foundation. Kids will enjoy surrey-sleigh rides through Coronado Island, cookie decorating and “Elf Tuck-Ins” at bedtime. Parents can take time to Spa La La. 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, 800.468.3533, hoteldel.com

celebration prep Moms and daughters can leisurely get ready for all those holiday parties at the CHI Nail Bar & Organic Spa. Treatments are 100% organic. Kids will love the nail art, including sparkly Swarovski nail jewelry. Try the Pumpkin Spice Mani/ Pedi. 9390 Little Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, chi-nailbar.com.

cake decorating party Who doesn’t like cake? Your parties will rock when you decorate personal cakes for that artistic sugar rush. Rebekah’s Cake and Craft will set it all up. Too pretty to eat — I don’t think so. rebekahscakeandcraft.vpweb.com. 60 kidsla winter 2009/2010

kids meals

rockin’ restaurants places that rock your meal words Nicole prentice williams

let’s face it; while we’d like our kids to think we’re cool, hip

Henry’s Hat

parents, there’s a slim likelihood of that happening. However, we can surprise them once in a while by doing something cool and trendy. At the least, they may be impressed that we’re still in the know, despite being born in what seems like ancient times to them. (What, no cell phones or computers when you were growing up? What’s a pager, mom?) Discovering a hot new restaurant isn’t always the kids’ ideas of fun, but some restaurants are offering more than just the menu to whet Angelenos’ appetites. And they’re appealing to the entire family. Here are a few new rockin’ restaurants that the kids will have a blast at, and mom and dad will still feel like trendsetting adults out on the town.

henry’s hat Henry’s Hat is a hot new American pub that’s all about fun and games. How many restaurants have their own Wii room? Henry’s does. From the restaurateurs who brought us Luna Park, this pseudo-living room/restaurant on Cahuenga Boulevard West, caters to having a great time. They have a built-in “Den” with a 5-foot by 5-foot projection screen where you can play Wii and rent out board games. You’ll dine on vintage furniture from flea markets in an industrial setting with wood beam ceilings and exposed brick walls where chalkboards are hung to showcase the daily specials. The entire family will love indulging on their comfort food of All-American burgers of Meyer Ranch natural beef, North Carolina-style pulled pork sandwiches and the ultimate Mac n’ Cheese made with seven different cheeses. They do an old-fashioned banana split served in the classic dish and put over the top with sparklers. And if you’re family’s not a group of night owls, try them out for brunch with Bourbon cinnamon French toast or pulled pork and sweet potato hash with poached eggs. It’s a great spot to watch sporting events with their 14 flatscreen TVs. Guests decide what games will be shown by voting on the Henry’s Hat website. Or you can go

uWink

retro with games like checkers, dominoes, Jenga and Connect Four. Between the food and the fun, your kids will think you absolutely rock…at least for the night. Henry’s Hat, 3413 Cahuenga Blvd. West, L.A., 323.512.2500, henrys-hat.com

uWink At uWink, it’s hi-tech fun from the moment you get your table. There are touch screen terminals at each one where you order your food and drinks, but more importantly it’s where you order all the digital entertainment you can imagine from games to movie trailers, celebrity gossip, music videos, horoscopes and comedy skits. From the founder of the arcade game pioneer of the 1970s, Atari, and Chuck E. Cheese pizza restaurants, uWink is intended to become the family entertainment chain of the new millennium. The digital games are aimed at bringing the whole table together and you can invite other tables to join in too. Games include “challenge games” like “Zillionaire” (a trivia game similar to “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”) and multikidsLAmagazine.com 61

kids meals

player Pong-style games that groups can play away from their tables while they’re waiting for their food. Besides the games and music, these restaurants rock because of their key locations: one in the heart of Hollywood next to the Kodak Theater at the Hollywood and Highland complex; the other at the newly renovated Westfield Promenade mall. Both the kids and mom and dad will love the food from favorites like burgers, pizza and salads to more sophisticated fare, like braised short ribs, Korean skirt steak, carne asada and grilled salmon. uWink, Hollywood & High-

COMING IN spRING 2010

land, 323.466.1800, Westfield Promenade, Woodland Hills, 818.992.1100, Uwink.com

kidsLA Magazine’s green issue a focus on environmentallyfriendly products

Westside Tavern

pLus: mompreneurs

westside tavern

a kid’s self-esteem

The new Westside Tavern on Pico rocks because of its California Tavern cuisine, chic interior and, what the kids will love most, its proximity to the Landmark Theater, Barnes & Noble and the Westside Pavilion mall. Modern day meets traditional tavern in this sleekly designed space that’s attracting everyone from the happy hour crowd to families packed into their roomy booth seats. It’s the new neighborhood restaurant. Former executive chef of Whist at The Viceroy Santa Monica, Warren Schwartz, is the owner and culinary talent behind the tavern food that’s all about comfort: lamb French dip on a soft roll, prime beef short rib pot roast and warm sticky toffee cake with mascarpone cream. Kids under 12 get a square meal for just $8. That includes an entrée of fish sticks, cheeseburger or pasta plus a side and a drink. After a hearty meal, it’s the perfect location to catch a movie, peruse the bookstore or do your part to help the economy with a little shopping. After all, you’ve saved yourself one headache by grabbing parking in their free lot. Westside Tavern, 10850 Pico Blvd., L.A., 310.470.1539, Westsidetavernla.com H

food allergies

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62 kidsla winter 2009/2010

image: Don Diaz ; model: SyDney for Jet Set KiDS

prepping for standardized tests

technology

giving online: virtual generosity with real results words Carolyn Jabs

as soon as you become a parent, you have a powerful incentive to make the world a better place. You also have a lot less time to devote to good causes. One solution: Do good deeds online where there are thousands of opportunities for children as well as adults. Even though online bad guys often grab the headlines, the Internet is also teeming with people who want to help each other. Some of the ideas in the list that follows are simple enough for young children. Others require a parent to take the lead. Either way, they present opportunities for family philanthropy — and lots of opportunities to talk about how important it is for people to share both time and money with those who need it. Start simple. Network for Good has a very straightforward Kid’s Guide to Giving (http://tinyurl.com/mut7oj) that helps even very young children identify meaningful ways to volunteer their time or donate their pocket money. There are also ideas about how children can raise funds for causes they want to support. Think small. Microgiving is the latest trend in philanthropy because small gifts at the right time in the right place can often make a big difference. Globalgiving.org allows you and your kids to search for good causes all over the world. The projects are described in very concrete terms so you know exactly what your dollars will do — $40 sends a child in India to school for a year, $100 provides clean water for 100 children in China and so on. The site also makes it possible to purchase gift cards so the recipient can have the satisfaction of deciding where a donation should go. Use the network. Most social networking sites now include many philanthropic opportunities. MySpace gives

“Microgiving is the latest trend in philantrophy because small gifts at the right time in the right place can make a big difference.” Impact awards to groups that are creative about using their pages to do good. (To find a directory of these causes, search “All of MySpace” for Impact.) On Facebook, try searching on “Feed a Child with Just a Click.” You’ll find a long list of websites where you can make donations just by clicking on an icon. Adolescents may also be interested in social networks devoted entirely to making a difference (mtdn.com) or to a single cause such as climate change (oneclimate.net). Enlist teens. Adolescents, especially those who need to find community service hours, are also likely to respond to the energy at Dosomething.org, a website dedicated to the proposition that teens can change the world. In addition to inspiring stories about what other young people have accomplished, the site offers a sophisticated way of searching for volunteer opportunities by location, duration, interest groups and causes. Treat a teacher. If your kids are lucky enough to attend good schools, think about adopting a teacher at a school that is struggling. At Donorschoose.org, teachers post often-eloquent messages about what they need in their classrooms. You can support a project in full or in part, and you might want to browse with your kids to find a classroom teaching students in the same grades.

Answer a question.

Many sites promise to donate every time you correctly answer a quiz question. Everywon.com has quizzes about a variety of topics. Each correct answer earns two points, which can be spent on a variety of causes including planting trees, buying books for kids, kidsLAmagazine.com 63

technology

providing meals for hungry people and so on. Charitii.com is an addictive collection of crossword puzzle clues. Each time you guess the right word, you make a micro-donation to one of four causes. Freerice.com also offers quiz questions including some that will help kids review for tests in geography, grammar and algebra. Knowing that you’re doing good for others at the same time may make homework a little more palatable for some kids. Donate downtime. In most households, the computer stays on even when someone isn’t using it. You can donate that downtime to scientific research through a project managed by Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing, also known as BOINC. Signing up is easy at boinc.berkeley.edu and you can even pick the research project you want to support. Collect for a cause. Kids love to collect things. Thanks to the Internet, you can think beyond the traditional canned food drive. What about a sock drive? Six-year-old Hannah started collecting socks after she met a homeless man who didn’t have any. Today, 45,000 pairs of socks later, she uses a

website (hannahssocks.org) to share her enthusiasm. Kids can also collect worn out blue jeans (cottonfrombluetogreen.org), video games (donategames.org) and almost anything else they don’t need anymore. Just put what they want to collect and “donate” into the name of a search engine. Search for good. Speaking of search engines, consider using one that donates every time you use it. Goodsearch.com let’s you choose the charity of your choice from a huge master list. Theecokey.com donates money to environmental cleanup each time you click “search.” Finally, before donating time or money to any organization you discover online (or anywhere else for that matter), do a little research to be sure the group is legit. The Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) reports on non-profits and so does Charitynavigator.org. Guidestar.com and Charitywatch.org are also reputable sources of information. Use these sources to find a cause that touches both you and your children. Then open your hearts and start a habit of generosity that will enrich your children for the rest of their lives.

FREE

ChiLD’s ADmissioN with paid Adult Admission

Present this coupon at the Aquarium ticket window and receive one FREE Child Admission with paid Adult Admission. Limit (4) discounts per coupon. Not applicable with online tickets or any other offer. Not valid at off-site sales locations. Distribution or resale of this coupon prohibited. No cash value. Valid through 2/28/2010.

D-KILA

illers. Man eaters. Mindless eating machines. Sharks are given many labels that make them among the

most feared predators on the planet. But the truth about sharks is more fascinating than the myth. Uncover the mystery behind these majestic creatures — you’ll never view sharks the same again.

aquariumofpacific.org 562 . 590 . 3100 100 AQUARIUM WAY, LONG BEACH, CA 90802

64 kidsla winter 2009/2010

planning

party like a rock star rock and roll party planning words Lisa Kothari

art Tane Beauvois

rocking

and rolling out to The Beatles or any other band is a favorite party theme for school-aged children and is relatively simple to organize. Guests add a lot to the feel and theme of the party by coming dressed up in ’50s or ’60s attire. Many of the activities take place on the dance floor, so planning time is minimal if that is a factor for you. Also, if your child wants a lot of friends to attend his party, this theme works well and is manageable with a large group of guests.

Invitations: Use pink material and cut it into a poodle skirt, then trace out pink card stock into the same shape. Paste the skirt material onto this colorful card stock. On the paper side, include all of the party details. If you have a bunch of old 45 records lying around that you wouldn’t mind getting rid of, you could peel off the labels and print your own labels with the party details on the album and send these. Try using album language. For example, as the host, you could be the record producer, the guests could be the recording artists, etc.

Decorations: Use bright colors to decorate your party area. You may also want to consider creating a dance floor and decorating it with cardboard microphones and old records from the ceiling with brightly colored streamers. Create a backdrop to your stage by hanging a colorful sheet on the wall directly behind the dance floor and string clear lights around the curtain for a framed effect. Have the birthday child dress up in attire from the era you are celebrating: a full skirt, cardigan, Mary Janes, pink scarf, jeans, leather jacket, etc., or hippie outfits. Have your guests dress up too: pink poodle skirts for the girls, jeans and white T-shirts for the boys. If a girl comes wearing just a full skirt, have her pin a pink poodle craft on it herself. You could provide goodie bags to the girls at the beginning of the party with stuff they could use to dress up

with: pink knapsacks full of mini tubes of red lip gloss, bubble gum, jewelry, scarves, etc. Play music from the decade you are celebrating. Make a jukebox out of Styrofoam. You can do this either before the party as a decoration or as a craft at the party. Have themed posters if you can find them of favorite rock and roll stars. Create a Rock Star Walkway of fame leading up to your front door with stars with the guests’ names leading to the party entrance. Hand out glow sticks to the kids for a rock concert feeling.

Crafts: While everyone is waiting for all of the guests to arrive, provide temporary tattoos to the kids to wear during the party. kidsLAmagazine.com 65

planning

You can also hand out sunglasses, and let the kids decorate with plastic gems for a “coolness” factor. Hand out small autograph books and make sure that all of the guests gather each other’s autographs during the party too! This would be a great take-home party favor to remember the party.

Menu: Serve drive-in food: hot dogs, hamburgers, curly fries, onion rings, and milkshakes in a variety of flavors. Make your own banana splits and root beer floats. Serve the food in vintage red/white paper baskets.

Cake: Bake a round cake and decorate it as a record album with a personalized label for the birthday child. Make cupcakes, and decorate each one as a 45 LP with a different label from that era.

Goodie Bags:

them with an assortment of goodies. Some ideas include glitter sunglasses, combs, microwave popcorn, mini coke bottles, gel pens with little notebooks, and Blow Pop lollipops. Alternatively, buy vintage soda pop glasses and fill them with an assortment of candies. Have a Rock and Roll good time!

who wants cake? SusieCakes makes delicious rock’n’roll themed cakes for any occasion. Cakes range from $30 for a 6-inch cake to $180 for a full sheet. SusieCakes, four locations: Brentwood, Calabasas, Manhattan Beach and Newport Beach, susiecakesla.com.

For goodies, use popcorn boxes from the movie theater, and fill

Ne ed som ef res hn ew

sic Look for ing f or a yo rock ur ing c kid hildr s? en’s band to play at your upcoming bi rthday party?

Check out Dustin Type and the award winning album Dustin and the Leftover Pancakes. Available on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and dustintype.com

66 kidsla winter 2009/2010

For b ookin g inf orma Dust tion in at conta : 310 ct :9137143

nutrition

Holiday Cookie Exchange Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a few favorite cookie recipes from readers. Happy Baking! images Philip Harvey

model: Jaret for Marla Dell Talent; Prop stylist: Leigh Noe; Crew Cuts, Shirt, JCrew.com

kidsLAmagazine.com 67

Cranberry Nut Swirls

I have memories of baking christmas cookies every year with my mom and grandmother. My grandmother would come out for Christmas and we would all spend two days in the kitchen baking, laughing and telling stories. This is when I got to hear the stories of my grandmother’s and mother’s childhoods. When I was little, I would be in charge of putting the candied fruit on the shortbread cookies. As I got older I took responsibility of rolling and mixing the cookies. Now that I have a daughter, I look forward to passing along this tradition during the holidays. I can’t wait to sit her down at the table with chopped candied fruit and shortbread cookies. Hopefully she will find the stories that I tell of my childhood as entertaining as I found my mother’s. – Kathleen

Cranberry Nut Swirls 1/2 cup softnened butter 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup finely ground cranberries 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts 1 tablespoon grated orange peel 3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons milk Combine the butter, sugar, egg and vanilla, beat until light and fluffy. Combine the dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. In a small bowl combine walnuts, cranberries and orange peel. On a floured surface roll the dough into a 10-inch square. Combine brown sugar and milk and spread over dough. Sprinkle with the cranberry mixture and roll up tightly. Wrap with waxed paper and chill for several hours. Cut into 1/4-inch slices. Bake on a well-greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 14 minutes.

wrapping paper, mini-suitcase, paper polka dot napkins available at paper-source.com

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CherryCoconut Drops 1 2 1/2 1 1/2

7oz. package flaked coconut (2 2/3 cups) tablespoons cornstarch cup sweetened condensed milk teaspoon vanilla cup chopped candied cherries

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Freeze and flour a cookie sheet; set aside. 2. In a medium mixing bowl stir together coconut and cornstarch. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla until mixture is combined. Stir in the chopped candied cherries. 3. Drop dough by small rounded teaspoons about 1 inch apart onto prepared cookie sheet. 4. Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned on bottoms. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to wire racks; cool. Makes about 24. Place cookies in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Credit Cherry-Coconut Drops

nutrition

My great aunt started the tradition before I was born. She made the best holiday cookies. As my generation started to become teens, my aunt enlisted us and challenged us to come up with or find a recipe and have the family try them. It taught us young women the love of cooking and the young men that food was not just going to show up on the table. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; TaNisha Gates Harris

Walnut Snow Balls

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This recipe is passed down from my mom, who is Scottish-English. You will need Christmas cookie cutters, (reindeer, Santas, stars, etc.) These cookies are simple, sweet, and delectable. Just make a little hole in the top of each cookie before baking. After the cookies have cooled, put a piece of thread through the hole, knot it, and hang on tree. Kids love hanging cookies on the tree, and also picking one out later to eat. – Brenda Scott

Walnut Snow Balls 3/4 cup walnuts 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 large egg yolk 1 tablespoon Brandy * 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 to 2 tablespoons orange flower water 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.. Toast the walnuts until golden brown and fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool, then chop about half of the nuts (you should have about 1/2 cup chopped). Pulse the remaining nuts in the food processor until finely ground (about 1/4 cup ground). Stir the flour, baking powder, salt and nuts together in a medium bowl. Set aside. In another medium bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg yolk, brandy and vanilla extract together with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture gets light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. At low speed, stir in the nut mixture to make a crumbly dough. Cover the bowl and set dough aside at room temperature for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or coat with nonstick spray. With a tablespoon, scoop out 1-inch pieces of dough and roll

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into balls between the palms of your hands. Pinch the ends of the balls to make a football shape. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies set and start to brown, about 18 minutes. Remove cookies from the oven and immediately sprinkle them lightly with the orange water. (If you don’t have a brush, simply dip your fingers into the water and flick it over the cookies a few times.) Take care not to douse them, just enough for them to carry the scent of flowers. Put the confectioners’ sugar in a bag, and add 5 to 6 of the warm cookies to it. Very gently toss the cookies to coat with sugar. Remove them from the bag and cool cookies on a rack. Repeat with remaining cookies. Serve. *The kidsLA test kitchen tried them without Brandy, and they’re just as good!

Edible Ornament Sugar Cookies

Orange and Cinnamon Biscotti

1/4 lb. butter 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon milk 1 1/4 flour 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp. 2 large eggs 2 tsp. grated orange peel 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. salt

If desired, add colored sprinkles Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients with wet. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on racks. Enjoy, joy, joy!

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter 2 baking sheets. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until blended. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each. Beat in orange peel and vanilla. Stir flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into medium

bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture; mix just until incorporated. Divide dough in half. Place each half on prepared sheet. With lightly floured hands, form each half into 3 inch-wide by 3/4-inch-high log. Bake until dough logs are firm to touch, about 35 minutes. Remove dough logs from oven and cool 10 minutes. Transfer logs to work surface. Using serrated knife, cut on diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange cut side down on baking sheets. Bake until bottoms are golden, about 12 minutes longer. Transfer to racks and cool. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Store in airtight container.)

nutrition

In memory of our grandma Julie, who loved to lavish her family with her delicious homemade treats on any occasion.

Orange and Cinnamon Biscotti

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last page

Before growing up, every kid should. . . a ICE at Santa Monic

Hotel Del Co ronado

LA Downtow n on Ice

â&#x20AC;Ś go outdoor ice-skating! Outdoor Holiday Ice Skating Venues: ICE at Santa Monica, 1234 Fifth Street, Santa Monica $10 admission includes skate rental. Open through January 31, 2010. downtownsm.com LA Downtown on Ice, Pershing Square, 532 South Olive, Los Angeles $6 admission. Open through January 18, 2010. laparks.org (click to Pershing Square) Woodland Hills Ice, Westfield Promenade, Woodland Hills $15, adults; $10, children 12 and under. Open through February 21, 2010. woodlandhillsice.com Hotel Del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado $20, adults; $15, kids 10 and under. Open through January 3, 2010. hoteldel.com

72 kidsla winter 2009/2010

Woo Hills Idland ce