The District at Tustin Legacy to Host Learn & Grow Family Fun Fair
Join us on September 14 for a free, fun, family-friendly fair that features learning resources and after-school activities at The District at Tustin Legacy.
Food
We bring you the best of the best in Orange County food for families and plenty more you won’t want to miss. Congratulations to all our winners!
Jamboree
Hosted by... Directions to The District at Tustin Jamboree Exhibitor Packages Jamboree Sponsorship Opportunities Exhibitors Map Jamboree Reservation Form Exhibitor Map Jamboree 2025 In March 2025, families who were planning summer activities—like summer camps, learning programs, sports, and travel found what they are looking for at the Summer Opportunities Jamboree. This event connected families with organizations across Orange County that support educational growth, developmental needs, and extracurricular engagement. Whether parents were seeking summer sports, academic support, or creative outlets for their children, Jamboree was designed to showcase a wide range of programs that meet those needs. Parents, planned their family...
Editor’s Picks: November 2019
PICK OF THE MONTH: Holidays at the Disneyland ResortFriday, November 8 - Monday, January 6“World of Color — Season of Light” again illuminates evenings at California Adventure, where you can also experience Disney Festival of Holidays and Santa’s Holiday Visits. Disneyland presents the festive “A Christmas Fantasy” parade and “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular, with its magical snowfall finale. You’ll discover more holiday attractions at both parks too. Hours vary; check the website for full details.Disneyland, 1313 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim714-781-4565 | disneyland.disney.go.com Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayFriday, November 8 - Sunday, November 24Have a very...
Editor’s Picks: March 2018
PICK OF THE MONTH Dana Point Festival of Whales Saturday March 3 - Sunday March 4 Saturday March 10 - Sunday March 11 An over-whale-ming amount of fun is to be had at the 47th annual Festival of Whales in Dana Point Harbor. For two full weekends, this exciting event has a little (actually big) something for all ages – real life whales! The festival invites families to experience some of the greatest animals alive during the gray whale’s annual migratory ritual. Besides whale watching, the event also offers a gigantic list of activities, including sand sculpting competitions, a clam...
Teaching Giving
Light the World Giving Machines offer teachable moments of service for kids while giving locally to those in need. Kourtney Harrison says she and her husband…
AI in Progress
As AI technologies evolve, local educators work to develop best practices preparing kids for the addition of AI to school curriculums in the near future.
Camp Lessons for Life
It is often said that summer camp helps children make memories to last a lifetime. But camp does more than build memories — it builds strong, resilient and…
Escape to Cambria
Where Moonstones, kayak paddles, otters and elephant seals compete with Hearst Castle for attention. The time was when families traveled to the San Simeon area solely to tour Hearst Castle and take in views of the dramatic Central Coast shoreline. Don’t get me wrong, those are still around and as eye-popping as ever — and the prices at the castle have been kept at a surprisingly reasonable $25 for adults and $12 for children. These days, though, there’s so much more to do and see in the area. Elephant seals, sea otters, whales, monarch butterflies, hikes in the woods, waterfalls...
Destination Science
The fun science day camp for curious kids 5-11! This summer enroll your camper in Solar Engineers & Sci-Mystery, Robot Island Marine Science, and Space Adventures Camp to experience fun, hands-on science encouraging year-round learning. Three science stations daily, 15 science activities plus games, silly songs and all the fun of camp! Our staff are enthusiastic professionals who love kids, science & camp. Multiple OC locations including The Fullerton Arboretum @ CSUF. Hurry for Early Bird Savings! Fullerton Arboretum (at CSUF) 1900 Associated Drive Fullerton info@destinationscience.org 888.909.2822 | www.destinationscience.org
Summer Movie Guide
Summer family movies bring popcorn and smiles. The doors to summer open up each May and so does the summer box office. A little bit of escapism, humor and life
Magnolia Science Academy — Orange County Opens in Anaheim
The nonprofit, tuition-free public charter school promises a well-rounded, college-preparatory curriculum emphasizing STEAM. Magnolia Science Academy…
SPONSORED
Where Community Grows
Discover the Montessori, Reggio and Nature-Based Experience at Westcliff Early Learning Academy. Finding the right early learning program in OC…
SPONSORED
LePort Montessori
Have you been searching for the “best Montessori school near me in Southern California”? If so, you have come to the right place. At LePort, we offer an authentic Montessori education from infancy through middle school. We believe that every child should have the chance to reach their full potential in a safe and engaging place. Your child will learn critical life skills—like independence, problem-solving, and confidence—that will help them succeed in school and beyond. You’ll find LePort Montessori schools in Solana Beach, Huntington Harbor, Irvine – Mandarin Immersion, Irvine – Orchard Hills, Irvine – Spectrum North, Irvine – Spectrum South, and Irvine – Westpark. Huntington 16081 Waikiki Ln....
School Houses
Home-schooling rocks for these OC families While many of us are checking supply lists, picking out new shoes and clipping the tags off this year’s backpack, many OC parents have chosen a different educational route for their kids. Here are a few we’ve met and why out of the box learning gets an A in their book. Carol Freeman School for an Athlete’s Schedule While there are many reasons to look outside of traditional school, for some kids with extraordinary talent in sports, acting or dance, it is a practical choice that offers freedom to pursue greatness. When the immensity...
Beachy Keen Gear
These sandy saviors are a breath of fresh air and great way to celebrate the end of being cooped up in the classroom. Inflatabull Pump up the fun and take a ride on the wild side with this large floatie, best used at the beach for plenty of space to get ‘thrown’ from the bull. (Parents and kids can fight over who rides first.) $59, intexcorp.com Beachmate System Be the hero of the beach when you sling this 8lb tote over one shoulder. The system includes five small-to-large sand castle buckets that can double as drink/lunch/kid seats, two shovels big...
Diving Into Lessons
Q: “My preschooler is afraid of the water, it has been a real struggle to teach him to swim. Now that we have a newborn, we want to make sure we don’t have the same challenge with her. There are a half dozen private pool hazards in our neighborhood alone and I would love to actually enjoy a day at the beach without tears as we cajole our son to get his toes wet. We are on a budget and thought those mommy-and-me swim lessons would be a waste of money when he was an infant. Is it worth it...
IEP, SOS? Navigating the Assessment Process For Your Child
Within every child we can find such unique beauty, characteristics and talents that comprise their individuality. The way they smile, what makes them laugh, whether they are left or right handed or even left or right-brain thinkers, all make them who they are – our precious little gifts. So it should make sense that each child would also have its individual means of learning. In an educational environment of structured, mainstream teaching, there are bound to be roadblocks for many students. We all learn differently. But for some students, the differences present challenges that a typically-structured classroom environment cannot fully...
Chic Lit
Hey, Sam-I-Am, you don’t have to resign yourself to endless picture books to properly celebrate Read Across America day. The best way to inspire young readers is to lead by example and let them see you fall in love with a good book. So put down that phone, and pick up one of these great reads. In Twenty Years By Allison Winn Scotch Twenty years ago, six Penn students shared a house, naively certain that their friendships would endure—until the death of their ringleader and dear friend Bea splintered the group for good. Now, the remaining five reluctantly gather at...
Life Time of Happiness
Amy Fink, 9, Laguna Niguel Theme: There was no particular theme; it was a traditional birthday party. Location: Life Time Athletic Laguna Niguel www.lifetimefitness.com Photography by: Friends, family and parents Invites by: Justine at Life Time Athletic was a big help. She helped create and print the invitations, and Amy gave them out to her friends. Cake (or Cupcakes) by: The kids enjoyed pizza provided by the LifeCafe at Life Time Athletic, followed by a two-tiered cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes for dessert. Decor by: traditional birthday decorations provided by Life Time Athletic Entertainment: The team at Life Time Athletic...
Workout Gear
Refresh your workout by taking runs out of the gym and onto the beach. The sand amps up your exertion and the water is right there for a post-run cool down. Here are our fave tools for the job. Laguna Blue Towels These eco-friendly, bacteria-resistant microfiber towels are super soft, quick wicking and have the bonus of lab tests boasting a 99.8% level of effective prevention of the spread of germs and diseases, including life threatening MRSA. You’ll love the handy running towel, but pop for the Active Set and share with your kiddo to combat those school gym germfests....
Picking a Pediatrician
Q: [Maternity/Newborn] We must have been good this year, because Santa is bringing us our first bundle of joy. But we need to score a great pediatrician, STAT. It’s so confusing and stressful to choose, would it be greedy to ask him to toss one of those in his bag, too? A: Your belly is growing … and so is your anxiety. Luckily, you’re not in this alone. Your pediatrician is your partner in keeping your newborn healthy and in monitoring her development and milestones. That is why finding the right pediatrician for your family is so important. Many parent...
Changing of Schools
Q: [School-Aged] My daughter just moved into a different school for fourth grade and it just isn’t gelling. The older crowd has her worried about bullies and a lot of the joys of her day at her elementary school (music, art, drama) are missing due to budget cuts. We’re thinking private, but is switching midstream bad? Should we make her stick it out? Is it too late to jump into a new school? We just want her to love and be excited about school again. A: Making a school change is a difficult decision for any family, however, there are...
How to Pack a Safe Lunch
September is National Food Safety Education Month and STOP Foodborne Illness (stopfoodborneillness.org), the leading national advocate for safe food, is shining the spotlight on ways to keep school lunches safe. Keep your kids healthy with these tips. Keep in mind the bacteria danger zone. Bacteria grow rapidly in the temperature “danger zone” of 40-140° F. Wash your hands. When preparing lunches, wash your hands thoroughly and keeping all surfaces you’re working on clean. Use this as an opportunity to explain the importance of hand-washing in preventing foodborne illness. Use an insulated lunch box. Whether hard-sided or soft, this helps keep...
Tween Hygiene
The kids are getting older and their hygiene needs are growing with them. Here are some products that help bring balance to the wildly hormonal years of tween-dom. Dove Go Fresh Cool Essentials Antiperspirant We love the body-image message from Dove, and you’ll love the 48-hour formula that covers your kid even when she forgets to swipe left, or right (underarm). Our favorite is the mildly scented Cucumber and Green Tea, which works for sensitive skin just adjusting to shaving, and doesn’t stain clothes or leave wet-looking streaks behind. $4, www.dove.com Febreze Fabric Refresher Middle school and junior high kids...
CalOptima: Keeping Indoor Allergies at Bay
A large number of Orange County’s young and old are sniffling, sneezing or wheezing their way through spring’s allergy triggers. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with a cost of $18 billion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With increasing amounts of money being spent on treatment against outdoor allergens, we often forget about the small changes indoors that can collectively make a difference for our family. According to Dr. Miles Masatsugu, Medical Director at CalOptima, the health insurance provider for thousands of adults and children throughout Orange County, it’s...
Screen-Free Survival Guide
Can your children survive a week without their favorite TV shows, computer games, and videogames? More importantly, can you? According to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, children who spend less time with the TV, computer, and videogames do better in school and have more time for creative play and interaction with caring adults. For this reason, the group advocates for Screen-Free Week from May 2nd to May 8th. We have suggestions for activities that can make the week not just bearable, but great fun. Bonus: Because your family will burn extra calories during Screen-Free Week, we’re making daily dessert...
Special Needs Camps
Sending a child to summer camp for the first time can make any parent nervous. But worries are often magnified for parents of kids with special needs. Images of sunlit lakes and carefree campers are often trumped by concerns about behavior, communication, and physical safety. Stacy De La O, whose daughter has high functioning autism, remembers the weeks leading up to Fia’s first overnight camp experience as a 10-year-old. “I was a wreck!” she admits. “But we prepared well, and in the end I trusted the counselors at Blue Compass to take care of her.” Children with physical, cognitive, or...
CIT, a Summer Solution for Tweens and Teens
Is your tween insisting she’s too old to attend camp this summer? If your child isn’t old enough to get a summer job and just hanging around for three months is off the table, look into your local Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs. These programs are for young teens serious about assuming the responsibility and effort it takes to work with young children in a camp setting. Openings are limited, and some camps only consider those teens who have been “campers” in previous years, so now is the ideal time to do your research. What It’s All About CIT programs (sometimes called...
Beaver Creek
[caption id="attachment_13590" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Beaver Creek Resort is the perfectly designed ski village of family vacation dreams.Photo by Jack Affleck[/caption] The Ultimate Family Ski Getaway There’s a wonderful indefinable energy about Colorado’s Beaver Creek Ski Resort, something akin to getting a family hug by a destination. Swoosh your way into this easy peasy one-stop spot that has everything you need to build memories and some serious quads from the world class skiing. Getting Around Don’t feel chained down by worries over snowy driving, let the pros at Colorado Mountain Express whisk you from the airport to your getaway. Once in...
Talk About Curing Autism This Holiday Season
The Sensitive Santa program is ideal for those who struggle with the chaos of meeting Santa at a nearby mall. Launched more than 14 years ago in November 2000, the Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) organization began as a local support group for OC parents with autistic children. Founded by Lisa and Glen Ackerman, parents of an autistic son, the grassroots program had its humble beginnings in Huntington Beach, with TACA's first meeting held in the Ackerman's living room amongst 10 other families. Since then, it has spread to over 45,000 families, becoming a nationwide non-profit organization focused on supporting...
A Healthy Outlook
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo) Reality TV star and OC mom Ashley Wahler talks about helping others feel beautiful through hair, and raising awareness about mental health and addiction. For as long as Ashley Wahler can remember, she’s always had a passion for hair. “My great-grandfather was a hair stylist who immigrated here from Italy, so it is definitely in my blood,” said Wahler, of Laguna Hills, who works at Indigenous Salon in Laguna Beach. In fact, she loves hair so much that she recently launched her own hair accessories line called The Gold Collection by Ashley Wahler. If Wahler’s...
The Hula Children
Competition is fierce but the aloha spirit presides over this event on Maui for young dancers, the Hula O Na Keiki. According to our annual Parenting OC Reader’s Choice survey, Maui was the top choice for the family vacation. One reader explained its popularity by saying it’s a place that feels “comfortably exotic.” All islands in the Hawaiian chain are simultaneously far-flung and filled with friendly folks who spread the aloha spirit, but Maui, with the most activities available of all the Hawaiian Islands, is uniquely qualified to fulfill any type of goal for summer travel. There’s downtime goals to...
STEM Survival
(Photo Courtesy of Bionerds) How STEM programs survived and continue to thrive in public schools and throughout the county. The massive, nationwide experiment that was the 2020-2021 school year is now essentially over. Whether parents, teachers or students liked it or not, every student got a taste of being home schooled. The ability to adapt — either financially, technologically or logistically — was often the key to success. As an entire school year operated on a makeshift plan, some subjects fared better than others. So while it was not a great time to be a P.E. teacher, others were seemingly...
Kids Camps Adventures
Enjoy sailing, fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, shark dissection and more at Newport Sea Base in Newport Beach. There are undeniable benefits to sending your kids to camp. And in Orange County, the camping possibilities are endless. Ask any kid what he or she liked about summer camp and the response might go something like this: “It was fun!” Though the underlying theme of most camps—whether day or overnight—is indeed fun. Kids who attend camps are getting much more. “As children grow, they face a variety of developmental tasks as they transform and become more sophisticated in how they think,...
Setting the Bar for Hot Chocolate
[caption id="attachment_34219" align="aligncenter" width="346"] Photo by Sarah Mosqueda[/caption] In-N-Out That’s right, OC’s favorite burger chain serves hot cocoa. In-N-Out’s tightly edited menu includes a cup of hot cocoa reportedly made with Ghirardelli Chocolate and freeze-dried marshmallows. Honesty, drinking hot cocoa out of a palm tree-adorned cup is about as California as it gets. Bonus points if you are wearing flip-flops. Multiple Locations [caption id="attachment_34221" align="aligncenter" width="402"] Photo courtesy of Sugarbuzz[/caption] Sugarbuzz With milkshakes, ice cream, and cake by the slice, it is hard not to achieve a sugar high at Sugarbuzz in Anaheim. There is also a selection of hot...
Steve & Kate’s Camp
Since 1980, Steve & Kate’s has put kids in charge of their own learning experience. Kids ages 4-12 choose from a variety of activities in real-time, including sewing, coding, film, sports, and more! Families can buy any number of days, and use at any time–no weekly reservations required. Or, buy a Summer Pass, which covers the whole season. Either way, any unused Passes will be automatically refunded at summer’s end. Lunch, snacks & all hours (8am–6pm) included. 949.669.5134 | steveandkatescamp.com/Irvine irvine@steveandkate.com
Top Employee of Orange County 2023
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo) Patty Fabian Vibrant Minds Charter School in Anaheim Just a few things Patty Fabian does for Vibrant Minds Charter School include answering phones, payroll, collaborating with the school district for homeless issues and the meal program, arranging transportation, translation at meetings, cleaning restrooms when needed, tending to sick students and the list goes on. “I do anything and everything that is needed,” she says. “It’s never boring. Every day is different.” Though technically her title is lead office clerk/office coordinator, she goes far above and beyond that. Fabian is Parenting OC Magazine’s Top Employee winner...
Newport Beach Recreation & Senior Services presents Camp Newport
With hundreds of camps to choose from you’re invited to Newport Beach to explore our shores in a sailing, surf, and bodyboarding camp, enjoy the breeze in a range of outdoor sports and active camps, or embrace the shade in one of the many science, music, technology, and art camps awaiting you. For more information, visit campnewport.com. Sign up by May 4 and receive a 10% or more discount on most camps! 949.644.3151 | www.campnewport.com recreation@newportbeachca.gov
Tangled Web
A local mental health professional offers useful tips on how to protect and prepare children in an increasingly online world. Nicole recently arrived at the youth shelter I oversee. She is 15 and in crisis. Her home life is pretty overwhelming, so she turned to social media to escape and numb out. But over time, that source of solace grew into a full-blown addiction. Nicole is disengaged from extracurricular activities, choosing instead to spend hours each day on social media. She will often miss meals, classes and sleep as she stares into her cell phone. Her addiction has exacted a...
Best Parks in OC
Play in the Park! Find the best family friendly parks and play places that Orange County has to offer. 1. Irvine Regional Park (Photo Courtesy of OC Parks) Irvine Regional Park features close to 500 acres of picnic areas, sport fields, hiking and equestrian trails. Other attractions include Orange County Zoo, Irvine Park Railroad and pony rides, bike and paddle boat rentals and plenty of playgrounds. The park’s train guides passengers through the historic park, which sits in the foothills of Orange. The petting zoo is nestled among the park’s live oak and sycamore groves, where families can feed goats...
Wild Rivers is Back
We introduce our new blog focused on finding fun, themed adventures in and around OC. Wild Rivers is pumping with activity, rides and water. The OC Zoo has a new
High Expectations
Special education teacher Nicole Messick has a deep passion for helping nurture student potential. They may look different. They may behave differently.
Holiday Gift Guide
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) Unwrap excitement this season with on-trend stocking stuffers and unique local finds for everyone on your list. FOR KIDS (Photo Courtesy of Red & Olive) Red & Olive Co. Stuffed Dolls Each doll created by stepmother-and-daughter team Lita Barreda and Destiny Conner has its own personality, from Sassy Cassy the cat to Stinky Reed the adventurous skunk. Designed in Newport Beach and hand-knitted by artisans in Peru, the 7-inch baby collection animals fit perfectly in the crook of tiny arms, while 22-inch dolls make the perfect friends for kids with big imaginations. $35-$98; redandoliveco.com (Photo Courtesy...
Hot Educational Toys
These educational toys make learning a blast! Smithsonian Mold & Paint Kits The education craft kits by Skullduggery combine creativity, discovery, and learning in one. Each kit includes everything needed to create a masterpiece and an Illustrated Educational Booklet. We love the Dolphin and Whale Kit for marine mammal fans, while the Space Kit launches imaginations as they recreate history. $15, www.skullduggery.com PLAYMOBIL Pharaoh’s Pyramid Spark a love of history, and let imagination unlock ancient secrets and mysteries. Uncover sneaky traps and hidden treasures throughout five chambers, climb to the top to explore the mummy’s tomb chamber, or remove the...
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