Lights, camera, action! Does your kiddo love captivating an audience with elaborate stories, hamming it up at family functions or belting out ballads in the car? Let their creative juices flow with the Tobi 2 Director’s Camera and the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine. The cool features on these gadgets make it simple for your filmmaker or rockstar to tap into their creativity and curiosity. Better yet, you won’t ever hear the words, “I’m bored.” (PS: siblings may quickly find themselves as constant supporting actors and backup singers.)
ML Interest Tag: groove
Kids have a lot of energy to burn. And beelining it to the snack cabinet or swiping their tablets doesn’t quite cut it. Get your kiddo moving and grooving on their very own stationary bike— The Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle. Bonus points if it’s “parked” next to your grown-up version. Has working out with a buddy ever been so adorable?
Here’s why kids (and parents!) love the Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle.
Workouts look different for everyone these days, especially moms. Whether you’re back to hitting the gym, fast-strolling through your neighborhood, or dancing around the kitchen with your new babe, one thing that’ll help motivate you to move your body is a stellar playlist. Here are 25 songs to power your workout playlist. Who knows, one of these catchy tunes might just become your new sweat-sesh anthem!
—Aimee Della Bitta
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Let’s Get Physical! The Gear & Tips New Moms Need to Get Active
Do your kids want to know what it is like to be a KIDZ BOP kid? Now they are in luck because KIDZ BOP partnership with GoGo squeeZ is debuting a brand new virtual workshop series. Beginning Jul.14, the KIDZ BOP Workshop six-part series will debut on the KIDZ BOP YouTube channel.
Sasha Junk, President of KIDZ BOP says, “With so many family activities, including vacations and summer camps, on pause this year, we wanted to find a fun way for our fans to interact with KIDZ BOP from home. Last year, we saw great success on the road with the KIDZ BOP Workshop, and we’re happy to bring that experience to kids and families at home on YouTube. We’re excited to partner with GoGo squeeZ to help bring this interactive series to life.”
Set to fan-favorite KIDZ BOP songs, kids and families will learn dancing, singing, and performance techniques from the official KIDZ BOP tour choreographer and KIDZ BOP official vocal coach, with help from KIDZ BOP Kid, Alana, and former KIDZ BOP Kid, Ashlynn. A new video will premiere daily at 12 p.m. ET.
The KIDZ BOP Workshop includes:
- Tues., Jul. 14: Warm Up
- Wed., Jul. 15: Beginning & Intermediate Choreography
- Thurs., Jul. 16: Vocal Warm Up & Vocal Performance
- Fri., Jul. 17: Performance Techniques and Q&A
Helene Caillate, Chief Marketing Officer at GoGo squeeZ, says, “Here at GoGo squeeZ, we are so excited to be partnering with KIDZ BOP for the very first time. Both brands are committed to seeing children learn, grow and be active each and every day. While the country adapts to new social distancing guidelines and spending more time at home, we are proud to be working alongside KIDZ BOP to offer healthy and fun ways to fuel up and get moving in a safe and exciting way. GoGo squeeZ YogurtZ is great for keeping kids fueled! Made from real yogurt and fruit, never anything artificial, our pantry-friendly yogurt is a delicious and protein-packed snack with no preservatives and no fridge needed, so your kids can keep on grooving!”
For more information on the new KIDZ BOP Workshop, please visit KIDZ BOP’s YouTube channel and www.KIDZBOP.com.
—Jennifer Swartvagher
All photos courtesy of KIDZ BOP
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As a parent, do you think about play time vs. screen time? Thanks to educational gaming tool Osmo, the time your kids log on the tablet can be all about hands-on play and creativity. Just pair Osmo with an iPad or Amazon Fire tablet, throw some cool components into the mix, and your kid can draw, spell, code and more. Read on for everything you need to know to bring games—and learning—to life.
Add Osmo to your cart on Amazon to snag the 30% deal good through 12/28/19.
Little Genius Starter Kit (Ages 3-5)
Preschoolers, especially, appreciate a tangible learning experience as they recognize letters, accumulate vocabulary, and work out their emotions with confidence. With its Little Genius Starter Kit, Osmo brings together its AI technology and knowledge of core developmental skills to deliver preschool basics to your 3-5 year old. One of four games will have your little genius moving and grooving right along with the characters they help create.
Find the Little Genius Starter Kit for your iPad or Fire Tablet.
Genius Starter Kit (Ages 5-10)
Now that it’s time to string those letters into words and solve math problems—while staying totally entertained along the way—the Genius Starter Kit is at the ready. Being physically engaged is key, so Osmo came up with tangible tools to arrange tangrams into creature and critters galore, sort number tiles, draw freehand, and even bring toys to life on screen—instantly—thanks to Osmo’s ability to react to your child’s movement in real time. Five smart games have been designed with visual thinking, creative problem solving, and self-expression in mind. You might say it’s “genius”!
Find the Genius Starter Kit for your iPad or Fire Tablet.
Creative Starter Kit (Ages 5-10)
Just when you thought things couldn’t get more creative, enter: Monster (Mo the Monster that is), Newton and Masterpiece, the names of three interactive games for your 5-10 year old. This next-level Creative Starter Kit immerses kids in STEAM learning as Monster brings adventures and stories to life, Newton introduces the basics of physics to help with problem solving, and Masterpiece sharpens fine motor and creative drawing skills. And kids can play together too, making group gatherings all the more creative with Osmo.
Find the Creative Starter Kit for your iPad or Fire Tablet.
Add Osmo to your cart on Amazon to snag the 30% deal good through 12/28/19.
— Jennifer Massoni Pardini
all photos courtesy of Osmo
With lazy summer mornings replaced by hectic “get everyone out the door” with two minutes to spare wake-up calls, we’re guessing you’ll need more than a cup of coffee to get your brood ready for the morning hustle. We spoke to savvy moms across the country to get their tips on how they conquer their mornings and get back into a groove once school starts. Read on for their tips and hacks, and then share what’s worked for your family in the comment section below.
1. Give Them Choices
Lisa Jackson empowers her kids to make their own choices in the morning. Get dressed or eat breakfast first? Brush teeth or put sunscreen on? By giving her kiddos choices, Lisa tells us that they’re more likely to quickly choose their marching orders and get everything done in time!
2. Stay Organized & Prep the Night Before
A lot of the savvy moms we spoke to said that their #1 rule for conquering stressful mornings is to stay organized by packing or laying out everything their kids need the night before. We know it’s often easier said than done, but we love this idea. Read below for each mom’s take on this morning tip.
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3. Give Them Their Own Shelf
Trial and error in her morning routine brought Dana Leigh to the realization that by giving her kiddos their own mud room shelf they’re able to keep the morning stress to a minimum. She tells us that each kid has his or her own shelf where all school supplies are kept, including backpacks, shoes, books and coats!
4. Play Tunes
Make your morning a dance party. With just the right tunes, your kids will be distracted by the lyrics and be moving and grooving in no time says Ken Kinzie and April Riehm. What songs would you add to your morning playlist?
5. Learn By Doing
If you have two littles at home take some advice from Erin Kreitz Shirey: have them learn by doing. Her older one lines up her own shoes, lunch and bag at the door before she brushes her teeth. And now, her littlest one does, too!
6. Designate School Shoes
Samantha McBride is all about designating one good pair of shoes just for school. That way her kids know what exactly they need to slip on their feet in the morning. Her extra bonus tip: Put ’em near their backpacks so it’s the last thing your kids do in the morning.
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7. Be Efficient
When you have maybe a dozen things to get done in a 15-minute window, you need to multi-task and be efficient, says Kendra Stanton. While her kids chow down on their morning breakfast, she brushes their hair.
8. Ask Your Kids to Dress Themselves
If Junior doesn’t like what you picked out for her to wear, let her choose her own outfits. That’s what Sara Olsher does with her daughter. In fact, her daughter is even responsible for cleaning up the big pile of rejected outfits that inevitably end up on the floor.
Thanks to their clever parents, these kids are for some awesome mornings. Plus, they’re doing it all in style, outfitted in KEEN Kids’ Encanto shoes. Love the shoes and want to get in on the fun? Click here to see KEEN’s newest collection of school-ready shoes and as an added bonus, get 15% off your order when you use code RedTricycle2016 at checkout. Offer valid July 29-Sept 20, 2016.
What other morning tips should we add to our story? Tell us how you conquer mornings in the comment section below.
Whether you’re old enough to recall big combs in the back pocket of tight jeans, feathered hair and tube socks pulled all the way up, or just like the idea of taking a spin al fresco at dusk, we’ve got some exciting news. Magic Hour, an all-ages, “summertime roller skating jam” is back at LeFrak at Lakeside, and ready to roll. Hurry up and lace up!
photo: Flavorpill
Magic, man!
Taking its name from that special window of time at dawn and dusk when the light is just, well, magical (and when the event takes place) Magic Hour is an all-ages rollerskating party brought to you by the funky folks at Flavorpill.
From now until September 25, this moving and grooving party will take place every Sunday from 4 – 8 p.m. Each week will feature fresh DJ talent spinning tunes; the current lineup includes Gang Gang Dance with Michael Beharie (May 22), Talib Kweli and Prince Klassen (June 5) and Xeno & Oaklander with Heathered Pearls (June 19). (More DJ talent will be announced soon.)
photo: Flavorpill
Skating — and much more!
Never been to LeFrak at Lakeside? We can’t think of a better way or time to make a first visit. Not only does the $14 admission fee get you entrance to the party and skate rental, LeFrak is a primo spot for warm weather fun. Cool down in the complex’s water feature, rent a paddleboat and cruise around the lake, or grab some refreshing grub at the on site Bluestone Cafe and Gelato Parlor. Plus: there’s a bar at Magic Hour for the 21 + crowd, so you can chill with a cold brew if you like — we recommend doing so after skating.
photo: Flavorpill
Get a Lyft
You can even have some help getting there. Flavorpill teamed up with Lyft to offer a cheaper ride. Use the code MAGICHOUR15 to redeem 15% off a ride with the service.
In short, you really have no reason not to go. See you at Magic Hour! (We’ll be the ones wearing the rainbow suspenders.)
Magic Hour presented by Flavorpill
LaFrak at Lakeside
Tickets: $14
Sundays, 4 – 8 p.m., May 22 – Sept. 25
Prospect Park
Online: flavorpill.com/magic-hour
Did you hit up a Magic Hour last summer? Tell us about it in the comments!
— Mimi O’Connor
LA is a haven for arts and entertainment, so it should come as no surprise that there are dozens of amazing local bands just for kids—and for their music savvy parents. You shouldn’t have to choose between listening to the Frozen soundtrack for 2 years straight and precociously playlisting pre-teen pop to tiny tots. So don’t! Check out our favorite stars of the local scene; we guarantee you’ll want to jam to these LA kids bands just as much as your mini DJs.
Note: In addition to their awesome albums, these bands can all be found playing at various venues around town so that you can introduce your tush-shaking tots to the joys of watching their favorite bands play live. Check websites (or our calendar of events!) to see when these bands have local gigs.
What are some L.A. kids bands that get you grooving right along with your kids? Share your favorites in the comments!
—Shahrzad Warkentin