Play Ideas

Discovery Beach is the name for this game that’s part puzzle, part matching, and part ocean education. The game is self-contained in a box with clear plastic cover, hidden from …

My kids love homemade anything. Don’t we all? Homemade cookies, homemade toys, homemade playdough, homemade forts all make their list of favorites. For every mom, however, there is implicit meaning …

(Me, on the playground in 1970-something. I still have that sweater.) We eat together almost every evening in our house. Normal dinner conversation is usually entertainment enough. We share our …

Kids Grow Gardens of Joy We have a “dry” recycling bin in the kitchen where we throw newspapers, boxes, egg cartons, toilet paper rolls and the like. My son picks …

Looking for an Ojai hike along Shelf Road? A good friend and I recently escaped for a weekend away. My favorite mini-outing was hiking in Ojai. We found the hike …

Hiking & Camping Take a walk through your neighborhood, backyard, local park or nature trail and try to find something for every color of the rainbow. Look hard with kiddos …

I’m no activist.I’m passionate about parks.I would care if I couldn’t bring my kids.My children verge on tears to hear some might close. This weekend I went to Emma Wood …

Crown Valley Community Park in Laguna Niguel is truly a great place for community gatherings and exploration. “Thank you, thank you!” to Staci who recommended Crown Valley Community Park. I’ve …

Yep. That’s me. Am I digging for treasure? The next generation.

Ode to the Biggest SandboxI grew up by the beach. I’ve lived away from the beach. Now that we’re back near the beach. I visit as often as possible. Before …