Your Guide to LA’s Best Fireworks Celebrations

by Andie HuberJune 21, 2022

Summer is officially in full swing and that means July 4th is just around the corner. We’ve got your guide to the most boom-tactic 4th of July events taking place in a LA neighborhood near you. From a small-town parade on the Westside to a music-fueled night at the Hollywood Bowl, here are all places to celebrate July 4th in Los Angeles with kids. And for those that won’t make it to the fireworks and just want to partake in the best foods LA has to offer (because let’s face it, July 4th is a great excuse to eat), check out our guides to the best hot dogs, best pizza spots and even our favorite global restaurants to take the kids this holiday weekend.

photo: iStock

Universal Studios

Independence Day at Universal Studios Hollywood: The park will be celebrating the 4 of July by extending its Independence Day festivities throughout the weekend from Sat., July 2 – Mon., July 4, inclusive of dazzling nightly fireworks displays, live music performances, specially themed décor and more, all included in the price of admission to the theme park. From the moment guests walk along the iconic red carpet and enter the theme park, they will be immersed in July 4 festivities from themed décor to the sounds of a fife and drum band. Then, beginning nightly at 9:00 p.m., an elaborate fireworks display will splash across the sky, synchronized to a score of Universal-themed music and patriotic favorites from two locations inside of the theme park. Event details.

Pacific Palisades

Pacific Palisades Parade & Fireworks: Los Angeles may be a big city, but this 4th of July parade has a small-town feel with marching bands, equestrian groups, drill teams and more. Post-parade, head to Palisades Charter High’s Stadium by the Sea for family-friendly live music, kids activities and food trucks, followed by—you guessed it—fireworks. You can also participate in the Patriotic Home Decorating, Patriotic Pups, and Kids on Bikes Contests. Event details.

DTLA

Grand Park 4th of July Block Party: Grand Park & The Music Center’s Fourth of July Block Party returns in-person with a spectacular celebration packed with fun for the whole family. This year’s party will feature a series of interactive multi-media art works in tribute to those who have contributed to the spirit of the Grand Park experience as the Park for Everyone, and will showcase a dynamic respective of the last 10 years. Join us for a night that will include food, music, the return of two stages featuring DJs as well as musical performances, dancing, as well as other surprises and dazzling fireworks over The Music Center Plaza. Event details.

Marina del Rey

Marina del Rey Fireworks: One of the best places to see July 4th fireworks is none other than in Marina del Rey. Enjoy dinner at waterfront restaurants in Marina del Rey with the best firework views or charter a yacht for the ultimate close-up! Or head to Burton Chace Park or Fisherman’s Village for a family-friendly party atmosphere including synchronized music played over loudspeakers. The fireworks start at 9 p.m. and last 20 minutes. This is a popular event, with visitors traveling to the area from throughout the Southland. Plan to arrive as early as 1 p.m. and stay in the Marina until the evening's festivities. Event details.

PS: City Cruises will offer special July 4 cruises. Reserve ASAP at City Cruises.

Huntington Beach

Annual 4th of July Fireworks Over The Ocean: Launched in 1904, the first Huntington Beach 4th of July celebration commemorated the arrival of the first electric passenger train linking the area with Long Beach and Los Angeles, attracting 50,000 people to the celebration. 118 years later, the annual tradition annually attracts more than 500,000 attendees over 4 days of programming and is the largest 4th of July celebration west of the Mississippi. Join us from Jun. 30-July 4, 2022 as we celebrate our Huntington Beach Hometown Tradition! The celebration culminates with the annual 4th of July Fireworks Over The Ocean, presented by Mr. Robert Mayer and family. Event details.

Woodland Hills

Councilman Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza: With one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in Southern California, the July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza delights over 60,000 people with a free concert and 15-minute spectacular fireworks display. There are over 15 local restaurants on hand along with arts and crafts vendors and local businesses promoting and selling their goods. The event takes place on July 4th of each year from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Come early! Parking fees are a donation to Valley Cultural Foundation and allow us to continue our longstanding tradition of bringing music and the arts to our West Valley. Event details.

Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach 4th of July Festival: A family friendly 4th of July Festival and Fireworks Show in Redondo Beach. Enjoy live music, food, drinks, and a state-of-the-art firework show. Event details.

Pasadena

The 96th Annual Americafest: The Rose Bowl Stadium, recognized as home to one of the nation’s largest and longest running shows to celebrate America’s birthday, will host its 96th Annual AmericaFest Celebration on Mon., July 4th. It is a great privilege to provide an event that will bring family and friends alike to celebrate in-person and enjoy in the patriotic festivities of the day in the Arroyo. Event details.

Hollywood

July 4th Fireworks with Steve Martin & Martin Short at the Hollywood Bowl: Fireworks crown the Hollywood sky on three huge nights at the Bowl, when Thomas Wilkins and the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform a program of favorites—along with two of the funniest, most influential, and most acclaimed talents of the past century: Steve Martin and Martin Short. Join us for one of LA’s greatest July Fourth traditions. Event details.

Calabasas

Calabasas Splash Party & Fireworks Spectacular: The City will once again host its popular Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular at Calabasas High School. Tickets for this exciting event are limited and are likely to sell out quickly. They must be purchased in advance of July 4 and there is free parking on-site. The gates open to public at 4 p.m. and the musically choreographed fireworks spectacular starts at 9 p.m with fun, family-friendly events taking place in-between. Event details.

Newport Beach

Celebrate Independence on the Back Bay at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort (one of our favorite places to water play) with live music, watersports, food trucks, and an incredible fireworks show sponsored by the City of Newport Beach at one of the region’s top viewing locations.

Hours: 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
1131 Back Bay Dr.
Newport Beach
Online: newportdunes.com

Gather family and friends at Dana Point Harbor and keep an eye over Doheny State Beach to experience south Orange County’s impressive aerial fireworks display—tune in to KSBR 88.5 FM and listen to patriotic music synchronized to the fourth of July fireworks.

Hours: 9 p.m.
Dana Point Harbor Dr.
Dana Point
Online: danapoint.org

See the 4th of July fireworks from one of the best possible spots—the water—with Cruise Newport Beach where you'll motor along the coastline, catch a stunning sunset and then have a front row seat to the one of the largest fireworks displays in SoCal.

If the late evening cruise sounds too late for your family, you can still get on the water with their 2.5 hour cruises and witness all the fun, 4th of July festivities—maybe even catch sight of a dolphin or whale.

To make a reservation call: (949) 675-0551.

Hours: 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Cost: $65 per person

309 Palm St.
Newport Beach
Online: cruisenewportbeach.com

Long Beach

Head to Long Beach and book a ticket aboard one of three boats from Harbor Breeze Cruises offering water-side firework vantage points.

Hours: Sir Winston departs at 6:00 p.m.; La Espada departs at 7:30 p.m., the Caroline departs at 8 p.m.
Rate: $50-75 per person, under 3 are free

Online: tickets.harbor-cruises.com

—Andie Huber

Why the World Needs More Luisas from ‘Encanto’

By Pam Kosanke

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

February 24, 2022

We’re all aware of the societal pressures around body image. You might be surprised to hear, however, that even accomplished women athletes struggle: A survey of Division I student-athletes by ESPNW found that 68% of women athletes said they felt pressured to be pretty and 30% reported a fear of being “too muscular.”

Being small and beauty-obsessed is still the pervasive societal norm for anyone who’s not a boy. In fact, according to one survey of 1,000 participants, the ideal woman would stand about 5’5” and boast a 26-inch waist—about one-third less than the average woman’s waist size of nearly 38 inches.

That’s why Disney’s “Encanto” has such an important message for girls and non-binary children. While society still tells anyone who’s not a boy that being “too muscular” is a problem, “Encanto” presents Luisa’s strength as a gift that her physique reflects. She’s normalized, not portrayed as some oddity. Her strength allows her to contribute to her family and community in unique ways.

Why the World Needs More Luisas

It’s high time for children to see more of those representations because as long as current societal ideals about body image reign, girls and non-binary kids will continue losing confidence and missing out on important opportunities.

Building strength and embracing an athletic identity by participating in sports, for example, can help children build self-esteem along with leadership and communication skills. A 2020 study even found that 95% of women in the C-suite are current or former athletes. Yet girls drop out of sports two-to-three times more often than boys due largely to pressures to appear “feminine” instead of building the muscles and strength they need for success in athletics.

As the ESPNW study shows, these feelings persist even for those who stick with athletics until adulthood. Just one comment shaming girls for any portion of their physique can discourage them, and those comments are all too common. Even Olympian Simone Biles grew up being shamed for her body, covering up her muscular arms because other kids made fun of them.

And social media only exacerbates the issue. The endless feedback loop from likes and comments leads to new levels of self-doubt and body anxiety. It’s no wonder that 66% of teen girls on Instagram reported experiencing negative social comparison.

How to Encourage Your Daughters to Take up Space

No child or adult should get trapped into feeling inadequate because they’re strong or have unique physical gifts like well-defined quads or prominent biceps. And while parents of daughters and non-binary children might not be able to reshape the societal narrative entirely, they can help their children see encouraging representation and have positive experiences throughout their most formative years.

So how can you encourage your children to be more like Luisa and get comfortable taking up space?

1. Become a cheerleader for strong female characters.

Toy manufacturers have quite a bit of sway in how kids see the world. If the only doll a child ever sees is waif-thin, she may idolize and normalize an impossible-to-attain shape. Consider introducing your children to characters and toys that represent a more comprehensive range of sizes instead.

You don’t have to make a big deal about how a toy looks, either. Focus instead on the character’s internal or physical attributes. Remember: Luisa’s strength is framed as a non-issue from a stereotypical perspective. The drama lives separate from her muscularity.

2. Present kids with regular physical challenges.

In the U.S., just over one-third of teens participate in multiple sports. But engaging in many types of physical challenges can be mentally and physiologically beneficial. Not every child will be athletically inclined, but parents can present them with multiple options for physical activities to help them find their niche.

For example, have your child participate in one team sport every season or every other season. If no team sports seem to stick, look for opportunities for your children to challenge themselves, like swimming or rock climbing. The important thing is to help children find pride and value in what their bodies can do rather than how they appear. It’s no coincidence that girls who participate in sporting events tend to possess stronger self-esteem and are 16% less apt to stress about the way they look.

3. Emphasize women’s health and ability in your household.

What could be a better way to help your child feel good about being strong than to have conversations around sport-specific training, nutrition, and mental fitness?

Watch women athletes and talk about their careers. For example, Fiao’o Fa’amausili, former rugby player and New Zealand Black Ferns captain and the first woman to be named the Auckland Rugby Union president, follows a fitting acronym through all her endeavors. STRONG stands for “sharing the load, trusting your team, respecting your players, thinking about others first, allowing no negativity, and being a good communicator and a great listener.”

Other influential women in sports—like Naomi Osaka, entrepreneur and four-time Grand Slam singles champion, or Megan Rapinoe, captain of the United States National Team—can serve as excellent role models. Another is Mikaela Shiffrin, the American alpine skier who openly spoke about mental health as health during the 2022 Winter Olympics. The list of body-positivity heroes, coaches, and mentors goes on and on.

If you’re parenting older teens, consider discussing incidents of sexism in sports, such as when a FIFA commentator verbally dismissed the skills of a female linesman because of her gender. You might also recommend your child join social media groups that celebrate female sports role models for their work ethics, not their style or fashion. Be sure the visuals, video, and media they consume will reinforce the message you want to send.

Ultimately, you can influence how your kids feel when they look in the mirror. Teach them that, like Luisa, they never need to hold back. Superpowers can come in all forms—including harnessing the athletic identity to be strong, look strong, and smash their personal best on the field.

Pam Kosanke

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Pam Kosanke is Sport Bigs’ visionary, a multi-sport Team USA member, and a 6x competitor in softball, rugby, and long-distance aquabike world championships. Today, she partners with the world’s best athletes to help every child learn about hard work and the relentless pursuit of their dreams with Sport Bigs.

How You Can Help Your Kids Thrive This School Year

By Liz Kimmelman

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

December 17, 2021

The 2021-2022 school year is shaping up to be one of the most challenging yet. I was asked at the beginning of the school year to put together some thoughts on how parents might be able to help their kids succeed this school year. Going into Winter Break, these seem like great reminders to help us during the second half of the school year!

This question is really great for two reasons—it gives parents some tangible impact in what sometimes feels like a situation that is out of their control and it helps to refocus the work on the adults and not the kids. Children are really resilient—it’s the adults that we need to help out.

Ok! Let’s dive into it. My first recommendation for parents on how to help their children thrive and excel in school is to provide as much outdoor time as possible. And preferably unstructured outdoor time. Go to a park with no plan. Sit on your balcony. Walk to the post office. Wander in a garden or the woods. Our kids need time to recharge and nothing does that better than some mindful time in nature.

When your child is feeling more refreshed and present, then they can begin to make space for learning and being at school. Parents want to be involved in their kid’s lives at school, but don’t always know how to do that. Start out by asking open-ended questions about your child’s day at school, and not just asking, “What did you do today?” or “Was your day good?” Ask things like:

“What is something new or exciting you did today?”
“What was something funny that happened today?”
“What did you do today during recess / homeroom / a-period / lunch?” Ask about a time at school that is NOT a class.
“What’s a problem or a challenge you solved today?”

And then, after asking about whatever thing you are interested in, follow it up with, “Tell me more!” Invest some time into what your child does day to day so that when you ask these questions, it’s not just about getting information, it’s about sharing an experience.

The Importance of Autonomy

Along with connection and community, happiness is made up of autonomy. So much of what our children do at school is decided for them. Until the upper years of high school, they have very little choice in what they get to learn or experience at school. Parents can have a huge impact in making their child’s time at school successful by giving them opportunities for choice and ownership. Daily opportunities for autonomy are huge—it provides a touchpoint throughout the day of something they can be proud of and invested in and it helps with understanding commitment and ownership. Something as small as choosing a snack can give a student the confidence and calmness that they need to tackle bigger problems like algebra or asking a teacher for help.

The Importance of Mastery

The last component of happiness is mastery. This might seem like that is the point of school, but when kids don’t get to choose something they can be experts in, it’s not the same. Even at a young age, parents can help kids thrive and excel in school when they invest in something their child love to do outside of the classroom. When a child has an interest, hobby, sport, or enrichment they are working on outside of school, it helps them to better express who they are, it becomes part of their persona, a part they can always go back to even when school gets hard. From ukulele lessons, to playing rugby, to even just collecting rocks, investing in something that helps your child feel like an expert comes in all shapes and sizes.

The Importance of Gratitude

Lastly, of all the recommendations I make to parents and families, this one comes up time and time again. We believe that a grateful child is a healthier child. Studies have shown that acts of gratitude increase feelings of optimism and drastically decrease anxiety. If you can see the good around you, you can expect there to be good tomorrow and are less worried about what bad thing might happen to you.

Parents can help their children thrive at school by practicing what my family calls, “Favorite Part of the Day.” If you have younger students, doing just one “favorite” part or good thing, is enough, for older ones, the practice of sharing, “Three Good Things” at the end of the day works just as well.

Whether your family is lucky enough to have dinner all together, or maybe it’s driving back from everyone’s sports’ practices, take turns for everyone to share one good thing or their favorite part of that day. And sharing is mandatory—everyone can find one good thing that happened that day even if it was a really, really hard day. There are some days when my good thing to share is the meal I’m having right then and there.

—Liz Kimmelman, Tumbleweeds

Do you have a story you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear it! Sign up for our Voices Contributor Network where you can submit your funny, heartfelt and/or unbelievable parenting stories and see them on Tinybeans.com!

Liz Kimmelman

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I'm Liz - mom of two, wife of one, and small business owner. I live in Los Angeles but hail from the North East. I like dancing while washing the dishes, listening to my kids laugh, hanging out at breweries with friends and going to baseball games with the husband.

6 Things I Wish I Had Known about Breastfeeding before Giving Birth

By Monica Greco

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

December 2, 2021

Editor’s Note: Here at Tinybeans, we respect and celebrate every mom’s feeding journey. Bottle? Boob? It doesn’t matter—we believe fed is best. Our Voices Contributor Network is inclusive and open to all parenting journeys—yours, too!

I always pictured my babies to be breastfed. I used to see breastfeeding as this natural and spontaneous thing that both my wife and I were going to experience (my wife carried our first child, I carried the second). I never even considered the scenario where our children would be bottle-fed. Yet, life had different plans: our first daughter ended up being bottle-fed, and I really struggled during the first few weeks of breastfeeding with our second daughter.

What my wife and I experienced with breastfeeding really taught me a lot. I’d love to share with you a list of 6 things I wish I had known about breastfeeding when my wife was still pregnant, before either of us had babies. Had I known these things, I think we could have better prepared mentally for what was coming and avoided so much stress and pain.

1. Breastfeeding does not come naturally. Not always, at least! All those stories of women happily and seamlessly breastfeeding soon after birth are not the norm. The first time I breastfed my daughter I was being stitched up due to a tear during vaginal delivery and the latch hurt like hell. It did not come naturally and it took me several days, a session with a lactation consultant and several midwives showing me how to do it, before I could finally say I got how to hold my baby while breastfeeding.

2. There are multiple positions that you can use to breastfeed your baby. Holding your baby in your arms across your belly, supported by a feeding pillow, is not the only position to breastfeed you baby in! That is the classic “cradle hold” position we are used to seeing in pictures of breastfeeding moms, but it’s not the only one. I was shocked to find out how many different breastfeeding positions there are.

My wife had big breasts and a c-section, so she was shown the “rugby ball hold” When it was my turn, I was struggling with very sore nipples and a midwife must have shown me at least 3 other different positions to try and relieve the pain. Then my lactation consultant showed me the “reclined feeding” position, which totally worked for me and saved my poor nipples. There’s no one right way to breastfeed your baby, you just need to find the one that works for you.

3. It’s important to know of a lactation consultant before you give birth. When my wife gave birth to our first daughter, we didn’t know the importance of seeing a lactation consultant to help us with breastfeeding. It took us several days of struggles, with my wife experiencing extremely engorged breasts before we finally got in touch with one. What we learned from the first appointment with her was priceless. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and we ended up bottle feeding our baby. But it sure came back in handy with our second child a couple of years later.

When I gave birth to our second daughter and I started experiencing sore nipples we didn’t hesitate one bit and went to see her straight away. I really wish we had known about the benefits of seeing a lactation consultant from the start. Who knows, maybe our journey with our first daughter could have been different.

4. Skipping or delaying feeding is never a good idea. My second daughter was a few weeks old and we were out at a Christmas parade. She started showing signs of hunger, but the wind was blowing and it was so cold: I didn’t feel like feeding her in the open air. So, I decided to walk all the way to the car and feed her there: she was screaming at the tops of her lungs, poor thing. The walking soon turned into running.

By the time I got to the car and fed her, one of my breasts was so huge and hard! That’s when I learnt that skipping or delaying feeding can cause plugged milk ducts, which can subsequently lead to mastitis. I was lucky enough to avoid mastitis, but it took me quite a few days of massaging a very sore breast to get the plugged duct to drain completely.

5. It can take up to five days for your milk to come. I had no idea it could take that long so, when I was at day four postpartum, and all I could see was colostrum, I started panicking. I was so afraid I wasn’t going to produce enough milk and I spend so much time trying to hand express under the shower. Milk eventually came on day five. I really wish I had known better and relaxed a bit more during those first few days after birth.

6. It’s not the end of the world if you can’t breastfeed. When my wife and I came to the realization that she could not breastfeed it was devastating. We really wanted our baby to be breastfed. We didn’t really prepare for any other option. But what we soon realised was that bottle-feeding her was not going to be that tragic. On the contrary, we ended up loving the fact that I could also be more involved with feeding and we could share the night load.

Looking back, it was silly of us to react the way we did. It is definitely not the end of the world if you can’t breastfeed. Whether it’s because of some medical reason, or because it’s just too hard and is not working for you, it’s okay to stop. You can still have a perfectly healthy and happy baby!

—Monica Greco, conqueringmotherhood.com

Feature photo: Brytny.com on Unsplash

Monica Greco

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Monica is the proud mom of two beautiful girls and author of the blog Conquering Motherhood. Here she shares tips, suggestions and recommendations on how to have the best pregnancy and birth experience, as well as how to survive the first year of motherhood.

Royal Baby News Alert! Zara & Mike Tindall Welcome Third Child

by Erica LoopMarch 24, 2021

There’s a new royal! Even though it seems like everyone is still reeling from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s pregnancy pics and the announcement, this isn’t the only royal baby news. Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Zara Tindall and husband Mike recently welcomed their third child—a baby boy!

Tindall gave birth to son Lucas Philip last Sunday, making the newborn the Queen’s tenth great-grandchild. Unlike the other recent royal births, the new mom didn’t deliver in a swanky U.K. hospital. Instead, Tindall had her son at home.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mike Tindall (@mike_tindall12)

Not only did Tindall end up having a home birth, but according to her husband/new dad for the third time, Zara had her baby in the bathroom! Mike shared the birth story on his podcast, The Good, The Bad, & The Rugby, saying, “A little baby boy arrived at my house!”

Mike elaborated on the birth experience, telling listeners that his wife didn’t have time to get to the hospital, “So, it was run into the gym, get a mat, get into the bathroom, get a mat on the floor, towels down, ‘brace-brace-brace’.” Luckily, the couple’s midwife was able to get to their home in time to deliver little Lucas Philip.

Baby boy Lucas Philip Tindall joins big sisters Mia and Lena in this now-family of five!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

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The New Harry Potter x Boden Kids Collection Has Us Believing in Magic

by Jennifer SwartvagherMarch 25, 2020

Mini Boden fans can share in the magic one more time. Your little wizard-in-training will be ready for Hogwarts with the third installment of the bestselling Harry Potter x Boden Kids Collection. Boden in partnership with Warner Bros Consumer Products has just released this Wizarding World-inspired apparel for Spring/Summer 20.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Hogsmeade without a trip to Honeydukes. The Bertie Bott’s t-shirt features hand-drawn illustrations of the sweet treats.

There’s more candy store fun with the technicolor jelly bean embroidered Bertie Bott’s shorts and sequined Bertie Bott’s dress

Harry Potter’s loyal owl companion, Hedwig, is featured on dresses, skirts and pajamas.

The rugby shirts and dress will have you rooting for your favorite house at the Quidditch match. With shirts featuring the Hogwarts crest and Harry’s number 7, your little one is bound to catch the golden snitch.

The Mini Boden x Harry Potter collection is available for girls and boys ages 2–16.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Boden

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Mario and Sonic Are Teaming Up for a New Game That’s a Total Throwback to Your Childhood

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 2, 2019

Mario and Sonic are headed to the Olympic Games in Tokyo for 2020 and you’re invited to come along and play in a brand new Nintendo Switch game.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 brings these popular Nintendo and SEGA characters together once again. Kids, young and old, get to join Mario, Sonic and plenty of their friends, like Bowser, Luigi, Princess Peach and many more, to play action-packed sporting events in classic retro 2D and modern 3D.

The classic 2D events, featured in the original Sonic in Super Mario 64 include Gymnastics (Vault), Judo, Kayak Single (K-1) 1000m, Long Jump, Diving, Marathon, Volleyball and more. You can also take the leap to 3D in new events including Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Discus Throw, Equestrian (Jumping), Fencing, Football (Soccer), Gymnastics (Floor Exercise), Javelin Throw, Karate (Kumite), Rugby Sevens, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Shortboard Surfing, Swimming the 100m Freestyle, Table Tennis and more.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be played with one to four players, making a great family night choice. It will be available exclusively on Nintendo Switch starting Nov. 5.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: SEGA via YouTube

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Target Releases 18 Brand-New Matching Family PJ Sets for the Holidays

by Karly WoodOctober 26, 2018

Have a holly jolly Christmas, especially when you and the entire fam celebrates in this year’s family pajama collection from Target. The bullseye retailer does a great job of releasing festive family pajamas and this year shoppers can pick from 18 collections ranging from traditional snowflakes and stripes, to film-influenced designs.

We’ve selected our top 10 and you can find them in our roundup below.

Nite Nite Munki Munki Holiday Llama Notch Collar Pajama

If you follow pattern trends, you know that the unicorn is out and the llama is in! Now the whole family can celebrate in style with these ivory PJs with festive llamas carrying gifts and wearing pom poms. The line not only includes sizes from toddler to adults, but also a dog bandana with prices ranging from $8-$28.

The Grinch Family Union Suit Pajamas

Merry Grinchmas! This collection of one-piece zip up jammies with the Grinch theme and red cuffed sleeves and pants. The collection ranges from $15-$25 and features original artwork from the fame holiday classic and are beyond cute.

Burt's Bees Striped Holiday Rugby Family Pajamas Collection

These aren't your regular PJs, they're Burt's Bees striped holiday rugby pajamas! The entire collection is made with organic cotton, and comes in baby, big kid and adult. You can't beat that red and white striped pattern! The collection ranges from $10-$40.

Holiday Fuzzy Bear Fair Isle Family Pajamas

Keep the entire family toasty in these adorable Holiday Fuzzy Bear Fair Isle Family Pajamas. The festive pants come with fun polar bears and red and greens, along with that ultimate fuzzy shirt. Shop socks, dogs, baby, kids and adults in this line in the $3-25 price range.

Holiday Harry Potter Family Pajamas

Accio holiday pajamas! Embrace your inner Harry Potter with these adorable PJs that range from $13-25 and include sizes in toddler, big kid, mens, women's and women's plus size. The pattern boasts maroon cuffs, with iconic images like Harry's lightening bolt scar, his glasses and the house emblems.

Holiday Festive Dogs Notch Collar Family Pajamas

No one is left out of these festive jammies! The Holiday Festive Dogs Notch Collar Family Pajamas Collection from Wondershop has fun printed dogs wearing reindeer ears and holiday hats atop a white background. There's even sleep shirt for your fur baby! The collection includes socks and PJs ranging from $3-$25.

Holiday Elf Family Pajamas

The entire family will be Santa's little helpers this year when they don the holiday elf pajamas from Target. Striped pants and a shirt look-a-like top with a funky collar, buttons and belt give these PJs a fun look. Sizes range from toddler to plus-size for women, in addition to socks, slippers and even an outfit for your pup from $3-$25.

Holiday Animals Family Pajamas Collection from Wondershop

We can't get enough of these adorable animal pajamas! Each size comes with a unique pattern and colorful cuffs that comes off as whimsical yet still coordinated. The 100% cotton PJs range in size from baby to adult, include socks and are priced $3-25.

Holiday Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Family Union Suits

Is it a Halloween costume or a pair of Rudolph pajamas? Both! These one-piece suits are warm and toasty, and boast a hood for extra fun. Perfect for wearing all Christmas morning, these PJs range from $10-25 and even offer a dog version.

Burt's Bees Baby Holiday Snowflake Family Pajamas

Organic cotton holiday snowflake PJs? Yes please! These cuffed jammies are all soft cotton and we need a pair please. The come in baby, kid and adult sizes ranging from $13-$40.

––Karly Wood

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First Class: 5 Private School Camps To Consider

by Phebe WahlMarch 5, 2014

It’s no surprise that Atlanta’s private schools are also some of Atlanta’s best summer camp providers, with sessions designed for the brainy, the brawny, the adventurous, and the dramatic alike. Not to be confused with the summer schools of yore, these summer camps are designed to entice kids with their favorite activities, engage them with weekly challenges and themes, and entertain them with new buddies, dedicated staff, and silly surprises scattered throughout the summer.

Summer Programs at Lovett
If you can’t find a camp to love at Lovett, you might as well stop looking. With twenty-five sessions ranging from age-specific to interest-specific themes, the Summer Programs at Lovett run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. throughout June, July, and August. Rising kindergarteners through second graders will rock Camp Lovett, with its daily swim time and weekly field trips to Stone Mountain, Southern Belle Farm, Center for Puppetry Arts, and Zoo Atlanta. Older kiddos will love the Sports and Games Camps, or might prefer to dabble in the specialty offerings (Cheerleading Camp, Performing Arts Academy, and Karate Camp, to name a few).

Details: Summer Programs at Lovett, The Lovett School, 4075 Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Ga 30327, 404-262-3032, extension 1469, Click here to see a list of camps and dates, Weekly camp fees include lunch and field trip expenses and are $320 per week

Woodward Academy Summer Camps
Offering 80 differently themed camps, you can be certain that WA’s Summer Camps has you covered for keeping the kiddos busy this summer. Dance camp? Done. Magic Camp? Yes. Every sport you can imagine camp? Absolutely. Add to the menu Academic Enrichment courses and a traditional Summer Odyssey Day Camp and you’ll quickly realize that your kids don’t have enough weeks in the summer to try everything they’ll be interested in trying. With a flexible session schedule (morning half days, full days, and afternoon half days available), and prices that vary by theme and session, WA’s Summer Camp might be your one-stop-shop for summer variety.

Details: Woodward Academy Summer Camps, Woodward Academy, 1662 Rugby Avenue, College Park, Ga 30337, 404-765-4000, Visit the website for prices and camp schedules, which vary by theme and session

Atlanta International School Summer Camp
While AIS offers a traditional day camp experience for rising kindergarteners through fifth graders, be sure to check out their Summer Language Camps in French, German, Spanish, and Chinese for children of all ages. Does your tribe delight in drama or design, or turn flips over tae kwon do or volleyball? Have no fear – AIS offers camps in both Arts and Sciences as well as Athletics all summer long. Camps generally run in one or two week sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with free drop off beginning at 8:00 a.m. for all campers.

Details: Atlanta International School Summer Camp, 2890 North Fulton Drive, Atlanta, Ga 30305, 404-841-3840, extension 149, Click here for a list of prices and camp dates, which vary by theme and session

The Westminster Schools Summer Camps
Golf, baseball, robotics, and theater are just a few of the fourteen summer camp offerings to be found at Westminster this summer. And, while most of the camps are offered in two-week sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., some (baseball, golf, tennis, cooking, music technology, and sports intensive camps) are available as week-long sessions. Younger campers (ages 4-7) will run wild at Camp Wildcats, which includes a set schedule of activities and both indoor and outdoor fun.

Details: The Westminster Schools Summer Camps, The Westminster Schools, 1424 West Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Ga 30327, 404-355-8673, Prices per camp vary and are available to view by session here

Pace Academy Summer Programs
Knights and Princesses? Spies? Super heros? Check, check, and check. Your preschoolers will love each week of the Paceketeer Camp, while your kindergarteners through fifth graders will enjoy the same themes (with age appropriate activities) at Pace Camp. Whole days run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and include daily swimming, while half days run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and do not. Looking for something a little more adventurous for your sixth graders and older kids? Check out the Leadership Camps, which are two week sessions that culminate in a trip to the Outer Banks or North Carolina mountains, and are filled with zip-lining, rafting, paddle boarding, and kayaking. Athletic camp sessions are also offered on-campus, in addition to enrichment academic courses.

Details: Pace Academy Summer Programs, Pace Academy, 966 W. Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Ga 30327, (404) 262-1345, Visit the website for prices and camp schedules, which vary by theme and session

What does your family have booked for this summer? Share your lesson plan with us below!

—Shelley Massey

Photos courtesy of Woodward Academy Summer Camps via Facebook, The Lovett School via Facebook, and Atlanta International School via Facebook

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