Veterans Day can be a tricky one to explain to the kiddos: their natural curiosity can lead to questions you may not be prepared to answer or questions for which the answers might seem frightening. (What is war? Will we go to war?) So we’ve come up with a few facts about Veterans Day for kids to help.
For families with active or retired military members, Veterans Day can take on a very significant meaning. But not everyone knows what it really represents or how to explain it to children. Unlike Memorial Day, which honors members of the military who died in service (click here to read more about the story of Memorial Day), Veterans Day honors those who have served in war (and are therefore veterans of the war). Many, many veterans are alive and well today and deserve their special day!
Start with Facts about Veterans Day for Kids
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Veterans Day is November 11th, every year. (It is often observed as a legal holiday the nearest Monday to this date.)
Can you write the number 11? What about the word November?
If it’s always on the 11th, does it fall on the same day of the week every year?
What day does it fall on this year? (Hint: it’s Friday)
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A veteran is someone who served in the military.
Have you heard of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard? This is the military. The military is part of our government and is made up of people who have agreed to join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, in order to become part of this branch of the government. They are trained for many situations, including emergencies at home. Their goal is to protect people who live in their country (and elsewhere).
Do you know the difference between these different branches and what special skills or equipment they use? (As in airplanes, naval ships, etc.),
Draw a picture that might represent what the different branches of the military specialize in.
A veteran is someone who served in the military during war.
The military is trained to fight in wars. Have you heard of war? What do you think it means?
Before you launch into the explanation of war, you can let kiddos know that for most countries, and especially in more recent times, world leaders negotiate before declaring war.
Know Your Kids
If your children are sensitive or very young, getting into details about war should be handled accordingly. While we aim to tell our children the truth, there’s no need to keep them up at night in fear. Focus your discussion on the veterans who have served in war and why it is important that we honor them on this day.
Here are a few reasons:
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You probably know one. Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, aunts and uncles, neighbors: chances are there’s a veteran in your life. Got a photo of the vet? Show your kids. Putting a face on the concept will help kiddos connect with it.
Regardless of how you feel about war or specific wars, the fact remains that the men and women who have served during war times did so with honor and bravery. Talk about being brave. What does it mean? Why is it important?
Showing gratitude. This is an excellent chance to show kiddos how to honor their country’s history and elders, and how to be kind. For great ideas on how to thank a veteran, check out this story.
If there’s one thing parents can count on, is that kids usually love one of these: dinosaurs, trains or planes. And if you find yourself with an airplane fanatic at home—you know, a mini Maverick who feels the need for speed? Roger that—we’ve rounded up the best spots in SoCal to see planes up close, learn about aviation history and even where to take a thrilling flight. So buckle up and put your tray table in the upright and locked position because these high-flying ideas are ready for takeoff!
This airplane-themed restaurant is absolutely one of the best places in town to bring kids who are super into flying. Indoors, there’s a great food bazaar with plentiful family-favorite dining choices like Bludso's BBQ, burgers, chicken and waffles, Asian selections, pizza, healthy farmer’s market options and a swell kid’s menu. Outside is truly where it’s at though—with a fab playground, spacious grassy area and plenty of incoming flights making their way into LAX one after the other—it may just blow your kid’s mind.
Insider Tip: Competition for a good spot on the patio or around the fire pits is fierce on summer evenings so you may have a better shot getting an outside table during the week rather than on the weekend.
Hours: Wed., Thurs. and Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
What’s better than downing a delicious Double-Double from In-N-Out? Enjoying it while planes soar overhead at LAX! The In-N-Out on the northwest corner of 92nd St. and Sepulveda Blvd. is one of the prime spots in town for die-hard plane lovers. Located right next to the arrivals runway, this is an incredible place to watch incoming airplanes land. There are tables outside the restaurant as well as a grassy park directly across the street where you can picnic.
Hours: Vary daily for dine-in and drive-thru.
9149 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles Online: in-n-out.com
Vista Del Mar Park
This tiny park along the coast is one of the premiere locales to catch planes taking off from LAX. Vista Del Mar Park sits directly under some of the airport’s main runways, giving onlookers a stunning view of planes taking off over Dockweiler Beach. There's also a small playground and picnic tables, making it an ideal spot for sunset picnic.
Clutter’s Park is one of the very best places for watching planes take off from LAX’s south runways—just 1,500 feet away. The park features a few benches to rest your duff for some serious plane spotting, but it may be wise to bring a chair or two from home as well. It gets especially crowded on weekends, so for the best views, early weekday outings are a better bet.
Van Nuys Airport has a public observation area open daily that features permanent displays, special children's exhibits and live broadcasts of air traffic controllers in the airport's control tower. Because airport tours are still suspended at the moment due to COVID, kids are invited to take a virtual tour that gives little ones an insider’s look at the aircrafts, history, activities and people at the airport.
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. - dusk.
Woodley Ave. and Waterman Dr. (East Side of Airfield) Van Nuys Online: iflyvny.com
As the only aviation museum at a major airport, the Flight Path Museum is truly one of a kind. The museum hosts an impressive collection of airline artifacts, including a display of over 600 airline uniforms from 68 airlines around the world, and walks you through the history of LAX. Other must-sees include the DC-3 Exhibit, Space Exploration Exhibit, Flying Tigers Exhibit and Fire Fighting Vehicle Exhibit. Another bonus to coming here is being able to watch the planes taxi, take off and land at adjacent LAX. Free parking is available and advanced reservations for these one-hour visits are required.
Hours: Fri. and Sat. 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Cost: $5 per adult and $3 per child.
The Museum of Flying in Santa Monica invites plane fans to explore the fascinating aviation history of its beachside city. The venue features tons of interactive exhibits and memorabilia from the Donald Douglas Aircraft Company, as well as recreations of the Douglas Aircraft Company Executive Boardroom and office of Chairman and Founder, Donald W. Douglas. But the real star of the show here are the myriad aircrafts on display including a replica of The Wright Flyer, a North American Navion, a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, T-33 Cockpit and many more. There is lots of free parking and awesome views of from Santa Monica Airport’s observation deck nearby.
Hours: Thurs. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cost: Adults are $12, kids aged 3-12 are $6 and littles 2 or younger are free.
Filled with interactive exhibits from head to toe, the California Science Center never disappoints. And when it comes to aircrafts, the same holds true. Whether it showing kids the 1902 Wright Brothers Glider, a F-20 Tigershark fighter plane, the Velie Monocoupe, an A-12 Blackbird or tons of other artifacts, little ones will love learning how scientific principles affect aircraft design. Children can even pretend to be a pilot for the day in the Flying Club Simulator. No slouch to the airplanes, kids will also love checking out the Space Shuttle Endeavour during their visit as well. Timed-entry reservations are required.
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cost: General admission is free with a small service fee for online reservations. Featured exhibitions and simulators are available at an extra cost.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is a must-see for so many reasons, but the Air Force One Pavilion will be what your kiddos remember most. Guests are invited to step aboard the same Air Force One that flew President Reagan over 660,000 miles during his time in office. The exhibit offers visitors a real sense of what it was like to fly in this iconic plane, including a vibration and tilt that make it feel as though you're getting ready to take off down the runway. Also featured at the museum are the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter and F-14 Tomcat, as well as the Marine One helicopter that Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford flew during their time in office.
Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum in Compton is actively inspiring the next generation about the world of aviation. Museum highlights include an exhibit on the Tuskegee Airmen, a T-33 and T-38 Talon, a UH-1 Huey Helicopter, a T-28 Trojan and a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, among others. Kids will also love a harrowing turn in the Top Gun flight simulators – F-16 style cockpits outfitted with state-of-the-art fighter jet simulators which can be set up for team dog flights and airfield or carrier landings.
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Cost: Museum tours are free, but flight simulator costs vary.
Just a quick drive to Torrance and you'll land a the Western Museum of Flight—well-worth the trip for plane lovers. Dedicated to preserving and displaying Southern California’s aircraft history and heritage, the museum features several incredible items that kids can both see and touch, including Warbirds, aircraft and target drones, piston and jet craft engines, aircraft components, ejection seats, World War II instruments, aircrew accessories and an extensive model aircraft collection.
Hours: Fri. - Mon. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost: $5 per person and kids 10 and under are free.
If you don’t mind the trek to the OC, Flightdeck may be right up your alley as it features incredible flight simulators in both fighter jets and Boeing 737s. The minimum age for kids is 11 years old so this a better outing for the tweens and teens in your brood. Amateur pilots are invited to experience the thrill of aerial maneuvers at 600 knots and air-to-air combat in an authentic military flight simulator. Or you can take the controls of commercial airliner in their Boeing 737 flight simulator. Classroom training and in-flight instruction are provided. Your wingmen who may not wish to participate are welcome to watch all the action on large LCD screen inside the Officer’s Club. Be sure to wear light clothing as you will be putting on a flight suit over it during your simulation.
Cost: Fighter jet simulations start at $59 and Boeing 737 simulations start at $109. Reservations are highly recommended.
Launched in 1992, the Young Eagles program has made it its mission to help inspire kids in the world of aviation and give them firsthand experiences in flight. Through the generosity of EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) volunteers, the organization has dedicated 25 years to giving area youth ages 8-17 their first free ride in an airplane. During the 15-20-minute flight, pilots walk kids through the various parts of the airplane and answer any questions about flying or aviation. Parents are invited to find a Young Eagles event or pilot near them and fill out the necessary registration online.
As the leading provider of airplane tours for both tourists and locals in LA, Corsair Aviation takes guests up, up and away in a luxurious Cessna over some of LA’s most iconic landmarks—whether it's soaring over downtown and the Hollywood sign or cruising high over Santa Monica and Malibu, every passenger on board gets a window seat for the best view. Tours start at 30 min. in length and go up from there.
Indoor Skydiving:iFly Hollywood has a vertical wind-tunnel waiting for flight fanatics. Jump into a tunnel of air with an instructor and feel the thrill of skydiving without being 10,000 feet in the air. Prices start at $75. Flyers must be over 3 years of age and kids under 18 must have a parent sign their waiver.
Parasailing over the Ocean: Strap into a seat side-by-side with the kids while parasailing off the Marina Del Rey harbor. The minimum age to parasail is 6 years old and kids under 18 must have a parent to sign their liability waiver. Rates start at $105 per person.
Zip-Lining as a Family: Zip with views of the ocean in Catalina ($139 per person during the spring and summer). Participants aged 10 and up and weighing at least 80 lbs. may ride solo. Kids between ages 5- 9 must ride tandem with someone age 18 and older who will act as the child’s guardian during the trip. Littles under 5 are too young to zipline. If you want to make a whole weekend of adventure, here’s our awesome guide to spending the weekend in Catalina.
When it comes to baseball there are a few names that ring out louder than the sound of the ball hitting the bat. Arguably one of the most famous is Babe Ruth. Read on for some interesting history about the Sultan of Swat.
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1. Babe Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, as George Herman Ruth.
2. But for decades he thought his actual birthday was February 7th, 1894. He only discovered his real birthday after applying for a passport for a trip to Japan in 1934.
3. Ruth was sent to a Catholic Boys Reformatory school at the age of 7. Each child was trained with an industrial career. Ruth was trained to be a shirt maker.
4. Young George Ruth played baseball at the school, thanks to encouragement by the monks.
5. For a time, young Ruth lived above what is now Camden Yards in Baltimore, above one of his father's saloons.
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6. He was signed to the major leagues at the age of 19.
7. He is the only baseball player in history to have the last name Ruth.
8. He was the first baseball player to hit a home run in the All-Star game, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1933.
9. Why Babe? Some say it’s because Ruth was so young when signed to MLB he required legal guardianship and was “adopted” by one of the monks. Others say it was just because he was still merely a babe.
10. His other nicknames included Bambino, the Home Run King and The Sultan of Swat.
11. He began his career as a pitcher: Ruth was both a left-handed pitcher and a left-handed batter.
12. He was the first highest plaid player when in 1930, his salary hit the $80,000 mark.
13. Ruth played for the Boston Red Sox (1914-1919), the New York Yankees (1920-1934) and briefly the Boston Braves (1935).
14. In six seasons with Ruth, the Red Sox won three World Series titles. In 107 seasons without him they have won four.
15. Babe Ruth had what many consider to be his finest season in 1921. He hit .378/.512/.846 with 59 home runs, 171 RBIs and 177 runs scored. The home run and RBI totals were single-season records.
17. At an exhibition game (a “for fun” or charity game) on April 2, 1931, a 17-year-old female pitcher named Jackie Mitchell struck Ruth out (Mitchell then went on to strike out Lou Gehrig.)
18. Babe Ruth was knocked unconscious during a game at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. He hit a concrete wall trying to catch a foul ball.
19. Although many believed him past his prime, on May 25, 1935, Babe Ruth played one of his final games in the major leagues hitting 3 home runs in a single game. He retired the next week.
20. In 1914, he married Helen Woodford, a coffee-shop waitress he met on his first day in Boston.
21. Babe Ruth only had one child in his lifetime. He had a daughter named Dorothy Ruth with Juanita Jennings.
22. Babe Ruth retired in 1935 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He was one of the first five players to be inducted. The Yankees retired his famous number 3.
23. Upon his retirement, he was the career record holder in home runs, RBIs, total bases, walks and strikeouts.
24. The Sultan of Swat played 2503 games in his Major League career. During that time he had 2174 runs and stole 123 bases. Of his runs, 714 were home runs. In 1927 alone he scored 60 home runs. (This was the world record until Hank Aaron hit 755 in 1974 and Barry Bonds reached 762 in 2007 for the all-time record.)
25. In 1922, you could get chocolate-covered ice cream balls called Babe Ruth Home Runs. They cost 10 cents.
26. The candy bar, Baby Ruth, is most likely named for Babe Ruth. The bar was formerly called Kandy Kake but the name was changed right around Ruth’s rise to popularity. Because “official” permission was not requested, the company (then the Curtiss Candy Co.) denied that Babe Ruth was the namesake. However, in 1995, the Babe Ruth estate licensed his name and likeness for use in a Baby Ruth marketing campaign with Nestle.
27. Babe Ruth appeared as himself in four different movies. In one, he lost 40 pounds in order to play a younger version of himself.
29. Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923. Ruth hit the first home run there, earning it the name “The House that Ruth Built.” In 1947, Happy Chandler declared April 27 officially Babe Ruth Day, and Ruth addressed the crowds at Yankee Stadium. At the time, Ruth had already been diagnosed with throat cancer.
29. Babe Ruth died at the age of 53 in 1948. For two days, his coffin was laid in state (open casket) at Yankee Stadium for fans to pay their final respects. More than 100,000 people attended.
Back-to-school time is always a perfect time to get nostalgic about your own days in the classroom, but things have changed a lot since you were the one sitting behind the desk. From hand-operated (gasp!) pencil sharpeners to everyone’s favorite folders, scroll down to re-discover some of the school supplies you probably couldn’t live without.
Scented markers made your papers smell delicious. Lucky for kids everywhere, they're still going strong and available anywhere school supplies are sold.
Bento boxes with Instagrammable food art have replaced plastic lunch boxes packed with fruit roll ups and gummy sharks (don't forget your matching Thermos!).
He has the perfect last name as the fastest man alive. And Usain Bolt and partner Kasi Bennett have definitely capitalized on that when naming their children. In a sweet post over Father’s Day weekend, the track and field great announced new additions to the family: twins Thunder and Saint Leo.
Thunder Bolt and Saint Leo Bolt join sister, aptly named Olympia Lightning Bolt, who was born last May. Bennett added her own post featuring the whole family, adding the caption: “Happy Father’s Day to my forever love! You are the rock of this family and the greatest daddy to our little ones. We love you world without end!”
The Bolt babies came just in time for the upcoming Summer Olympics. It will be their dad’s first time in the stands after he retired from racing in 2017. During his career Bolt racked up eight gold medals and 11 world championships. It looks like he’s excelling at fatherhood, too!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Salty View / Shutterstock.com
Disney Junior recently announced the debut of a brand-new animated adventure series—and it’s over-the-top egg-citing! The Chicken Squad will premiere on Fri., May 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Disney Junior and DisneyNOW series premiere will feature two back-to-back episodes.
The series chronicles the comedic adventures of three chicken sibs: Coop, Sweetie and Little Boo. Based on the popular children’s books penned by Doreen Cronin, The Chicken Squad tells the tale of the young chips and their problem-solving adventures.
Teaming up with rescue dog mentor, Captain Tully, the chicken stars of the show help their animal pals and model good community helper behaviors. Each episode includes two 11-minute stories and includes the Chicken Charge anthem song.
Along with the anthem, the episodes also include at least one new original song. The songs range the musical gamut, including everything from R&B to country.
The cast includes Yvette Nicole Brown (Captain Tully), Ramone Hamilton (Coop), Gabriella Graves (Sweetie),and Maxwell Simkins (Little Boo). Recurring guest voice cast members include Tony Hale as Frazz, a nervous squirrel, Jane Lynch as Dr. Dirt, a forensic scientist snail, Melissa Rauch as Dinah, the chicks’ mother, Sean Giambrone as Riley, a pack rat, Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Lt. Scruffy, a retired firehouse dog and Melissa Villaseñor and Zack Pearlman as Wheeze and Snick, mischievous raccoon sibs.
Watch a preview of The Chicken Squad on Disney Junior’s YouTube channel here!
Hello Bello always goes over and above to provide families with unique experiences through their bundle boxes. Each bundle comes with 7 packs of diapers and 4 packs of wipes to help get you through the month. July’s bundle is even more special as it turns into an adorable DIY rocket.
The box is equipped with instructions, but Hello Bello also created a video , voiced over by Kristen Bell, showing how the box comes to life right before your eyes. Additionally, Hello Bello is launching a fun collaboration with retired NASA astronaut and artist, Nicole Scott and her Space for Art Foundation.
This isn’t the first time that Hello Bello’s bundle boxes have transformed into a fun plaything. Their May boxes were designed like treasure chests and the November/December boxes turned into fun gingerbread houses.
One of Disney’s hottest attractions is getting an update! This week, the parks announced that Splash Mountain would undergo a transformation into a new Tiana-themed ride at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Released in 2009, The Princess and the Frog was the first musical to feature a black princess, and it’s time for the leading lady to get her own ride. While still under development, Imagineers have released that the attraction will pick up after the final kiss, and will follow Princess Tiana and Louis on an adventure as they prepare for their first Mardi Gras performance, showcasing music from the film.
photo: Courtesy of Disney
In a Disney blog post, the company states “The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.” The ride will be set in the Louisiana Bayou with a working title of New Adventures with Princess Tiana.
The reimagining of the attraction will mean that the Splash Mountain moniker will be retired forever, along with Br’er Rabbit and other animal icons. The attraction’s theme was originally derived from the musical, Song of the South, a controversial film with racist imagery that is not even available on Disney+.
While the timing of these changes couldn’t be more fitting given the recent protests across the United States, Disney has actually considered revamping the ride for over five years. “It’s important that our guests see themselves in the experiences we create,” says Carmen Smith, Creative Development and Inclusive Strategies Executive.
Girl Scout Cookie season has officially arrived and along with it comes a brand new cookie to tempt your tastebuds.
Girl Scouts USA has just announced the new Lemon-Ups cookie, the newest addition in form of a crispy lemon cookie baked with inspiring messages. “I am a go-getter” and “I am an innovator” are among the eight different phrases the cookies feature. The Lemon-Ups are replacing Savannah Smiles, a different lemon cookie which was retired last year.
The Lemon-Ups are not to be confused with Lemonades, which are a shortbread cookie with lemon-flavored icing. Each variety is available in select regions across the country along with the rest of the cookie line up, which still includes fan favorites, like Thin Mints and Samoas.
In addition to the newest cookie, GSUSA also revealed a brand new look to the cookie packaging for 2020. The updated boxes feature new images of real Girl Scouts taking part in activities like camping, canoeing and space science exploration.
“Everyone loves Girl Scout Cookies—but the program is about so much more than cookies,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “Girls learn about entrepreneurship as they run their own cookie businesses. The important business and financial literacy skills girls learn through the program are proven to build their leadership skills and position them for success in the future. When you purchase cookies you are helping girls power their Girl Scout experience and you’re supporting female entrepreneurs.”
With cookie season kicking off for 2020, be on the look out for a Girl Scout near you or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app to get your fix.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Warrick Dunn recently donated his 173rd home! The retired Buccaneer’s nonprofit, Warrick Dunn Charities, collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to give single mom LaToya Reedy her own fully-furnished space to live.
Dunn and her 18-year-old son, AnTrez Reedy, haven’t had their own home for the past two years. The single mother, who works as a nursing assistant and is living paycheck to paycheck, told the Tampa Bay Times, “I got tired of paying the high rent, and with renting it goes up every month.”
The increasing cost of housing meant that Ready and her son had to move in with her own mother. Not only were the pair forced to live in a small space, but they had to rotate sleeping on one bed and share one bathroom with five family members.
Reedy’s new two-bedroom, 2,000 square-foot, fully furnished home came courtesy of Dunn’s charity, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, furniture company Aaron’s and Cigna healthcare provider.
The single mom told the Tampa Bay Times, of her new home, “I can be at peace. I can bring sweet memories to my house and I can have my family and my friends over. I have a home now, and that’s something that I’ve always wanted for my son, and for myself.”
