Gone are the days when going to the museum with your kids meant hearing them complain about being bored for, what felt like, hours’ on end. Now, an afternoon trip or play date equates to watching (and joining!) your little learners as they happily explore fun exhibits and unique hands-on activities.
The San Francisco Bay Area fortunately has no shortage of science centers and children’s museums that can inspire your kids, no matter their age or interest.
“The San Francisco Bay Area has one of the highest concentrations of museums and science centers in the world,” says Carol Tang, Executive Director of the Children’s Creativity Museum. “As a parent, I’ve appreciated exploring different museums because the entire family can find something new to do, discover new interests and learn new things about the world around us.”
In addition to reaping the benefits of visiting a museum–like increased creativity, literacy, critical thinking, and curiosity–kiddos can even receive higher achievement scores in reading, math, and science, according to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Keep reading to discover 12 museums that cater to a wide range of interests, from STEM learning and reading to nature and more!
1. Children’s Creativity Museum
With a mission to foster creativity and collaboration, the Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco provides two floors of hands-on, multimedia arts and technology experiences. Children ages two to 12 can enjoy the museums’s programs and exhibits, which are specifically designed to spark their imagination and creative confidence, from a music creation station and an animation studio to a storybook park and innovation lab. Don’t leave without taking a spin on the 100-year-old LeRoy King Carousel and discover its fascinating history.
Calling all budding scientists and researchers, The Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) is just for them! As UC Berkeley’s public science center, LHS features an interactive planetarium, a biology discovery lab, a computer lab, various hands-on exhibits and an inside look at Berkeley’s cutting-edge research. Be sure to check out LHS’ new outdoor exhibit, “Forces that Shape the Bay,” where kids can enjoy the beauty of the Bay while also discovering the climatic, geologic, marine and human forces that shaped it.
Winner of the 2015 National Medal for Museum and Library service, The Tech Interactive is a wonderful science and technology center for families in the San Jose and surrounding areas. Offering educational hands-on activities, experimental labs, design challenges and immersive STEAM education resources, the museum empowers children of all ages to innovate with creativity, curiosity and compassion.
An official visitor center for NASA’s Ames Research Center, the Chabot Space and Science Center brings some of space on Earth with its full dome planetarium, space artifacts and the largest research-level observatory complex. For sights out of this world, take a peek through one of three large-scale telescopes, which is regularly available to the public for live viewing.
Exploration is the name of the game at this museum that takes hands-on learning to a whole new level. With six indoor and outdoor galleries (that feature over 600 interactive exhibits your kids can tinker with, might we add!), your family can easily spend an entire day getting lost in the realm of science, art and human perception. Toddlers will love making mega bubbles, looking at their reflection in a giant mirror and exploring a colorless world in a special monochromatic room, while teens can create lifesize, rainbow-colored images and stroll across a fog installation bridge. Exploratorium truly has something for everyone—parents, included!
Your little ones can get back to nature at the California Academy of Sciences whose mission is to regenerate the Earth’s damaged ecosystems and climate through collaboration, learning and science. Museum goers can get lost in the wonders of the aquarium, planetarium and man-made rainforest. Snap a picture with the natural history museum’s jaw-dropping 87-foot-long blue whale skeleton and towering T. rex.
Mud pies are on the menu at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, where children can cook up their best concoction with baking sheets, pots, pans, and an old school stove. Located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, spanning across 7.5 acres, the museum also features woodshopping, an art studio, three large outdoor treehouses, a life-sized fishing boat, and even a mini beach for additional outside fun.
Playtime, creativity, curiosity and lifelong learning is the name of the game at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. Students of every age can enjoy indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits, including a two-story air maze, bubble-creation station, pretend farmer’s market and replica fossil digging, to name a few. For an engaging activity the entire family can participate in, test your discovery skills with the museum’s Discover Duck Scavenger Hunt. Families can win a special prize upon finding 20 wooden duck cut-outs hidden throughout the museum–bonus points for locating five extra ducks!
CuriOdyssey is a trifecta of every child’s favorite activities, combining a science museum, a zoo and a playground conveniently under one roof. At the zoo, budding zoologists will love seeing the nearly 100 animals that are native to the state, from otters and bobcats to owls, eagles and bearded dragons. Inside the science museum, curious learners can explore all of their senses through its innovative exhibits. Let your tots burn off some energy at the 4,000-square-foot outdoor playground where they can spin, swing and slide for hours’ worth of fun.
Your children’s favorite nursery rhymes and books come to life at this museum, with close to 60 whimsical storybook-themed sets designed for outdoor exploration, like the Jack and Jilll hill, Alice in Wonderland tunnel and The Jolly Roger pirate ship. Touting 10 acres of gardens, kiddos up to eight years old can stroll the grounds and get up close and personal with friendly animals on site.
Kids get the best of both worlds at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo where they can come nose-to-nose with animals outside at the zoo one moment, then engage with scientific activities inside the museum the next. Children can fuel their curiosity by building circuits, playing instruments, creating dioramas and experimenting with the exciting phenomena of gravity, inertia, electricty and energy. The museum also touts an extensive natural history collection for even more playful exploration.
Completely wow your tiny techie with a look at old computers and equipment that humans did indeed use at one point in time at this unique museum. With mind-blowing exhibits that highlight the history of emojis and the revolution of technology and software, both you and your children will be amazed and inspired. Your future graphic designer can learn Photoshop from the pros, while your tech-savvy teen can try their hand at coding. Plus: experience the sights and sounds of classic computing for the nostalgia you didn’t know you needed.
While walk-ups are welcomed at each museum, purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged! Be sure to check out their website for more information.
Make space under the tree! 4 STEM learning starter kits from Osmo that are ready to be wrapped
‘Tis the season for…STEM learning? As far as we’re concerned, it is! But don’t worry—your kiddos won’t even know that you’re sneaking learning into their stockings. With Osmo, all that is bundled into one completely fun, game-based program so your little ones actually want to play. And these aren’t just any games. These are hands-on learning games that allow players to use objects in the real world shown on their iPad or Fire tablets.
Kiddos learn best when they’re engaged in hands-on learning, and Osmo teaches with games connecting digital-physical interactions. Each game is designed to bounce the image of the game pieces or drawing the player arranges right onto their device screen. They’re able to see how their movements impact their game, blending the digital game world with their moves in front of them. And don’t worry—the Osmo Reflector is covered so it only captures images in a bounded area. Your child’s privacy is always protected.
Finding the right Osmo Starter Kit is super easy, too. You can always check out one of Osmo’s Classic Starter Kits. These best-selling kits include games covering the area of your choice, so you can’t go wrong! Every Starter Kit also includes a Base and the Osmo Reflector. But we’re especially excited about their Age-Based Starter Kits that are curated specifically for your child’s age! Here are the four we’re making sure Santa drops off this year. Santa’s really into STEM learning, by the way.
Genius Family Starter Kit (Ages 6-10)
This is the perfect package for the whole family that'll grow with your little one! It comes with 9 classic games. ABCs, Squiggle Magic, Costume Party, and Stories for ages 3-5. For ages 6-10, there's Numbers, Tangram, Words, Newton, and Masterpiece. In addition to the Osmo Base and Reflector all Starter Kits come with, the Genius Family Starter Kit includes Tangram pieces, Numbers tiles, 38 silicon sticks and rings (BPA-free and dishwasher safe), 19 costume pieces, silicon play mat, and stackable storage!
The Kindergarten Starter Kit is designed to introduce little ones to core subjects. With hands-on games for independent and collaborative learning, this is STEM made just for kindergarteners! You get 11 games including Osmo's best-selling Genius Starter Kit and additional games that promote math, reading, vocabulary, and drawing. Also included: tangram pieces, numbers tiles, words tiles, creative board, 4 erasable markers, fuzzy pouch, 31 tangible coding blocks, and stackable storage!
Get ready for an in-depth learning experience with the Elementary Starter Kit! Everything your child needs for a firm core subject foundation is included. Along with all the goodies that comes with the Kindergarten Starter Kit, you get 15 games to explore, learn, and grow!
Osmo's most most packed kit yet comes with their most popular best-selling Classic games for hours of (learning) fun! If you can't decide which Starter Kit is right for you, the Super Osmonaut Kit is definitely the way to go.
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If a teacher lived in your kids’ tablet, it would create Osmo. Actually, that’s exactly how Osmo STEM learning system was created.
When we heard there was a way for our kids to get the screen time they want and have the learning practice we want for them at the same time, we were…skeptical. After all, there’s no shortage of gimmicks out there, especially during the holidays. Every “expert”, “next big thing”, and “miracle system” starts popping up everywhere claiming they have the best way, right? STEM is the educational buzzword right now (buzz acronym?), so wading through every product that claims to be STEM-focused can be SOFA (Super Overwhelming For Anyone). But the truth is, the Osmo STEM learning system is the real deal.
How does Osmo work?
If your kiddo can use a tablet (and we know they can. They know more about them than we do.), they can use Osmo. Designed to work with your iPad or Fire, Osmo is a hands-on STEM learning collection of games (yep, games!) where players (your kids) use real-world objects to interact with the digital world Osmo shows them on their tablet. With all the research surrounding evidence that hands-on learning is best, Osmo created games geared toward embodied learning. What does that mean? These are games that teach abstract concepts by connecting them to objects and actions in the physical world.
Each Osmo Starter Kit comes with a base and reflector optimized for your tablet. Depending on which Starter Kit you pick out, you’ll also get the accessories and game pieces used for each game. The Osmo Reflector bounces an image of the player’s game piece arrangement or drawing into the device camera. The Osmo app then processes this image and either recreates the image on the screen or translates its effect onto the story in the digital world. At Tinybeans, we’re passionate about our kids’ privacy, so we made sure that was covered. Literally—Osmo uses a covered reflector to only capture images in bounded areas, so your child’s privacy is always protected.
What skills does Osmo teach?
Coding
Math
Drawing
Spelling
Fundamentals of Physics
Spatial relation skills
World geography
…to name a few. This is STEM learning at its best! Plus, along with traditional school-based subjects, Osmo games teach social-emotional skills like problem-solving, creativity, and perseverance. We’re truly impressed by how all of this is worked into games that are so much fun, kids want to play them. What else could you ask for?
But you don’t have to take our word for it!
More than 31,000 classrooms use Osmo, and to date Osmo has been named one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions, is a Parents’ Choice award winner, a winner of the prestigious Oppenheim award, and a 2016 finalist for Toy of The Year. If that’s not enough, LeVar Burton serves as Osmo’s Chief Reading Officer (5 year old us is squealing, yes!).
Osmo is recognized the world over (sold in 42 countries!) for its proven approach to teaching kiddos from 3-12 years old through hands-on learning that keeps it fun, engaging, and sustainable.
Expansion packs, new games, and up-leveling sets like New Reader, Early Reader, and Emergent Reader allow kiddos to learn more and more with Osmo through each stage of their education journey.
The gift of learning lasts a lifetime, and childhood fun is so important for young people’s development. Osmo brings us the best of both worlds!
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The holidays are around the corner and with that comes parents’ annual scramble to find the perfect present that’ll make their child light up when they unwrap it. Finding a gift that meets your school-age kiddo’s interests, while also keeping them entertained for hours at a time, however, can be quite the challenge.
To help you find just the right toy that’ll impress your child, we’ve compiled The Toy Insider’s hottest toys of the season. From arts & crafts and educational goodies to dolls and action figures, you’ll find plenty of options that are sure to be a winner. Check them out below!
Educational Toys
LeapFrog® Magic Adventures Microscope™
$89.99
Your budding biologist can explore the world of botany, mineralogy & food science. They’ll be amazed at what they can see through this real microscope.
Your little builder will get lost in the creative possibilities Squaregles’ magnetic play offers. This set allows for building, art, storytelling, racing and more.
Help your pupil stay engaged with math, reading, language and other core skills through interactive video lessons, quizzes, read-along stories and digital worksheets.
Time to burn off energy and embark on an educational adventure! This action-packed bundle includes a trampoline, games and a sensor that tracks kids’ movements.
#Boneless electric-powered mini-stunt skateboards come with hyper-poseable skaters that twist and bend. Perform cool tricks and stunts, and try to stick the landing.
This personalized, interactive reading program helps to build reading proficiency and confidence through fun skill-building games, stories & a crystal wand.
Give the gift of self-empowerment with these motivational fashion dolls. All dolls & accessories are crafted to promote inclusivity, diversity and positive thinking.
The Rainbow Divas and the Neon Shadow are going head-to-head at the Rainbow Vision competition. There are six dolls, each with a second outfit and accessories.
The artistic options are endless with this hands-on playset. Kids can swirl, flow and stack sand using the included tools to create mesmerizing effects.
To discover even more toys that your toddler will adore, check out The Toy Insider’s expansive holiday guide or head to our gift generator here to find toys based on your child’s personality and interests!
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Shopping for kids can be a struggle, especially when you’re trying to be creative and avoid the toy aisle for birthdays and other special occasions. But what if they could get something new and fun every month? That’s where a subscription box or service comes in. From celebrating women who’ve helped change our world to learning their way around the kitchen and exploring new worlds, scroll down to see our favorite subscription services for kids for any time of year.
Alltruists
Alltruists' subscription box isn't just an activity, it's a carefully curated program of at-home volunteer and giving projects. Using creativity and play, each eco-friendly box helps kids understand social and environmental topics and comes with conversation guides for parents, a donation experience, projects and empathy-building activities. Boxes include important topics like homelessness, clean water, bees and hunger.
We love this kit because it combines science with cooking! Each adventure kit is filled with a recipe, pre-measured dry ingredients and 2-3 STEAM-based projects that are all theme related. Uncover a new adventure and learning experience every time! In the Galaxy Donuts kit, you'll learn about the constellations and how to calculate the weight of planets.
Lovevery’s new Toddler Play Kits are an expansion of its highly praised subscription box service. Previously available for infants ages 0-12 months, Toddler Play Kits are designed for a child's second year of life. Expertly designed to foster brain development and help advance cognitive development, each Toddler Play Kit includes science-backed, sustainably produced play products and activities toddlers want and require for brain development, at exactly the right time. For parents, the Play Kits include need-to-know guidance in the form of The Play Guides—mini books that walk parents through the "how tos” of making the most of play time with their children, backed by all the research parents often don’t have the time to read. Unlike Baby Play Kits, which are shipped every other month, Toddler Play Kits ship every three months with fuller boxes.
Deliver some holiday cheer with a gift box from YearCheer! This fun subscription box offers holiday decorations and more that come right to your door. Targeted for kids ages 4-10, YearCheer's Halloween box came packed with fun like a haunted village to build and set up on your table, spider garland, spooky sounds noisemaker and more. There was even a ghost-shaped cookie cutter and instructions on how to create a boo box for your friends. Tying it all together was a favorite Halloween book, Room on the Broom. Available in single-month and longer subscriptions as well as non-recurring giftable options.
If your tween is obsessed with everything Claire's, this is the gift for them. Choose a one-time or monthly subscription and they'll get surprise glam delivered right to their door.
We Craft Box is an award-winning monthly kids craft kit for kids ages 3-9. With a themed story, 4-5 coordinating crafts, easy-to-follow photo directions, and all materials sent right to your door, the box can be shared between two children. You'll especially love the themed holiday boxes!
Get your three favorite Dr. Seuss™ & His Friends books for just $3, delivered right to your door. From The Cat in the Hat to P.D. Eastman's classic Are You My Mother? Dr. Seuss™ & His Friends offers sturdy, hardcover books they'll read again and again. Start out by building your welcome package of the first three books. After that, you'll get three books shipped to your door, each month. You’re in control: you can pause, skip, change shipping frequency or cancel anytime. You can even preview your three books online and add or replace books before they ship!
We love this subscription box for kids ages 5-9 and know you will too! You'll get a new science kit every month to learn about scientific topics like pressure, immiscible liquids, strength and jet propulsion. Download the AR app to get even more in-depth info on your project. Cancel your subscription at any time.
Want your kiddos to experience the ultimate joy of reading? The Just Right Reader subscription box combines entertainment and education in the perfect way. Kids will receive books specifically selected for them alongside items like superhero outfits, funny glasses, necklaces, laser reading pointers, reading finger buddies, stamps, stickers and more to get them amped up to read.
Little fashionistas will love Rowan's earring subscription box. Every month, littles will get a pair of nickel-free, hypoallergenic earrings designed in Brooklyn, NY with your choice of Gold Vermeil or Sterling Silver. In addition, every month your box comes with a thought-provoking mindfulness card to inspire conversation and a surprise accessory. You can also choose to upgrade your first box and snag a signature Rowan accessories bundle which includes an acrylic earring stand, satin travel pouch, journal, pen and a surprise extra pair of earrings while supplies last.
The brainchild of Bay Area Children's Theater Company, Play On! is an audio musical adventure kit for kids. There are two different boxes: Discover (0-5) and Adventure (5-10), and the boxes make it easier for BACT to share their award-winning programming with kids all over the U.S. during COVID and beyond. Every month, kids get everything they need to bring the magic of theater to their own homes; the most unique aspect is the audio elements that can be unlocked once the box arrives. Kids can use the materials to perform again and again. Opt for a single kit or a monthly subscription.
Cost: $40 for a single box, $120 for a year's subscription.
For the kiddos who love to lounge in the tub, this monthly subscription is a great gift idea. Each box contains goodies like waterproof books, bath bombs, activities, bath crayons and more. It's basically a bath party in a box!
What started as a family book club focused on literature about or from African countries has grown into a monthly book box that focuses on globally diverse books and learning materials for kids. Founder Bunmi Emenanjo says "Studies have shown that kids who are exposed to diverse cultures cultivate a global awareness that makes them more empathetic and compassionate. I firmly believe that such exposure leads them to not just accept cultures different from their own, but to celebrate them!"
There are four levels for different readers ranging from picture books to young adult novels. In addition to the books, subscribers will also get fact cards, a postcard, a culturally relevant souvenir and more. You can even purchase some of the previous month's boxes if they are available.
After she saw how travel (especially international) helps parents to empower their kids with cultural awareness, founder Dr. Zabina Bhasin—child psychiatrist and mom of two—came up with the idea for InKidZ. Focused on countries like Turkey, Guatemala or Australia, each box has been carefully curated by Bhasin and a few parent ambassadors (thing puzzles, jewelry, activity sheets, stickers, crayons and more), and each one strives to educate kids about various global cultures in a thought-provoking way. The “In the Know” cards are especially fun. Similar to trivia cards, they’re great for the car or family dinners. Topics range from how to speak in Turkish to knowing milestones made by iconic Black Americans.
Cost:Choose between bi-monthly ($49 for one kid, $59 for siblings) or annual ($270 for one kid, $300 for siblings, six boxes a year).
Founded by a Black CEO and father of six who sought to create nonfiction books covering topics that his kids were ready to discuss, A Kids Book About Box includes best-selling and popular titles like A Kids Book About Gratitude, A Kids Book About Racism, A Kids Book About Empathy, and A Kids Book About Belonging. Other books touch on subjects like bullying, creativity, disabilities, voting and more. Even better, A Kids Book About celebrates diverse authors who write stories influenced by their own experiences, which gives readers access to all kinds of voices.
Cost: Starting at $20/book, and monthly subscriptions start at $17
Baketivity boxes are sure to put a smile on your little baker's face! Each themed box comes with pre-measured ingredients, kid-friendly instructions, colorful lessons and games to play while your treats bake and a shopping list if you need to add anything extra. All the included ingredients are vacuum-packed fresh, and when you sign up for a subscription, your kiddo will get a Baketivity hat and apron! The newest kit is the limited-edition Positivity Cookie Kit Project, which aims to encourage conversations about diversity and equality, and there are tons of other baking kits, like whoopie pies, pull-apart cupcakes, muffins, cinnamon buns, cookies, cake pops and bagels. You can buy a one-time kit or subscribe to receive one on a monthly basis.
From the creative genius of Sago Mini comes the new Sago Mini Box subscription, a kit that creates hands-on experiences for kids ages 3-5. Every month, subscribers will receive a new box that encourages open-ended play and make and play activities that are easy to assemble. In addition to the box and three themed activities, kids will receive a letter from a Sago Mini character! Sago keeps sustainability at the forefront, with all paper materials constructed from recycled content or sourced from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC Certified).
Cost: $19 per month, or $15 per month when you subscribe annually
GIRLS CAN! CRATE is a new subscription box that celebrates the lives of women who've changed our world. From Bessie Coleman and Dr. Irene Uchida to Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie, Madam CJ Walker and Dorothea Lange, GIRLS CAN! CRATE celebrates the lives and stories of diverse women across race, profession and the world so that every girl who picks up a crate will see something of herself reflected in her GIRLS CAN! experience. Choose between two monthly offerings: the original GIRLS CAN! CRATE which includes a 20-page activity book, two or three STEAM activities, a collectible button, tote bag and tips for grown-ups related to the month's featured lady's trait; or the mini-mailer which is a smaller version of the original GIRLS CAN! CRATE. All aspects of the GIRLS CAN! experience, from start to finish, are curated by its all-female owned and operated company.
Cost: Crate subscriptions start at $35 per month. Mini-mailers start at $18.50 per month.
Little Global Citizens is a subscription box that looks to take children (ages 4-10) on a new adventure around the world every other month, focusing on the culture and the people of a new country. Each box brings to life a new country through carefully curated books, cultural activities in the form of games, puzzles and quizzes, interactive crafts, language and recipes for a themed dinner party night. The brand uses their Montessori Educator to curate each box. The founder of LGC, Akeelah Kuraishi, says that the ultimate mission of Little Global Citizen is to foster open-mindedness, compassion and global awareness.
Cost: $40 for a bi-monthly subscription; $50 if you want to add an additional set of craft and activity materials for a sibling.
Kids who love cooking and STEM learning will love this new subscription box from America’s Test Kitchen Kids. The Young Chefs’ Club box is jam-packed with kid-tested, kid-approved recipes, science experiments, creative items (think: DIY board games, tortilla warmers, special sprinkles) and more. Designed to inspire a new generation of empowered cooks, engaged eaters and curious experimenters, each box contains recipes that have been tested by over 5,000 kids in the US and received at least an 80% approval rating. Each month, kids will receive a box based on a theme, ranging from specific ingredients such as cheese or bread, to cooking techniques like cake decorating, to scientific subjects centered around texture or molecular gastronomy. The projects range from 15 minutes to a few hours, depending on the child's age and ability, and grocery lists are emailed before the boxes arrive. The Young Chefs Club is designed for kids ages 5 & up.
Good to know: Members get access to America’s Test Kitchen Kids' extensive digital library of recipes, experiments, videos, fun food trivia and more.
Cost: Starting at $20 per month for a 12-month subscription.
KiwiCo, a parent fave for STEM, STEAM, science and art subscription kits for kids, recently launched its Panda Crate line designed specifically for babies and toddlers. Made in partnership with researchers at Seattle Children’s Hospital, KiwiCo ensures that all the products and information delivered in its crates are perfectly suited for a child’s developing brain. Plus, a portion of every Panda Crate purchase is donated toward child development research. Designed to grow with baby's development, the Panda Line crates are broken up into five separate age bands–delivering an age and stage-appropriate crate every other month as baby grows over two years. Each crate in the subscription line is billed and delivered every three months, and you can easily adjust the timing or cancel anytime.
Cost: Starts at $15.50 per month for two year’s worth of Panda Crates (12 shipments).
Based on the world-renowned 0-3 Montessori curriculum, Monti Kids provides the only at-home Montessori toy program for babies and toddlers ranging in age from birth to 36 months. The subscription-based program was founded with the mission of helping parents support their babies during the most critical years of development. With a Monti Kids subscription, Montessori toy curriculum is delivered every three months with exactly the right learning materials needed at each developmental stage. Each Monti Kids box also includes guides for parents which consist of short videos and articles on how to introduce and use the materials with their baby–also great for caregivers and grandparents! Choose from eight different levels.
Good to know: Before your toys arrive, you’ll have access to the Monti Kids Learning Center, packed with instructional videos, research and tips.
You know and love Raddish because it takes the guesswork and stress out of teaching kids to cook. It also provides a bonding, interactive and tasty adventure for families to share. Each month features a new exciting theme, from "Edible Experiments" to "Ticket to Japan." Kits include a set of three laminated and illustrated recipe cards with easy-to-follow instructions and tips to develop safe and smart kitchen techniques. Kids also receive a kitchen tool, craft, experiment or foodie game, monthly collectibles in the form of Table Talk conversation starter cards and a colorful apron patch. And now, your preschooler can get in on the action, with the Cook + Play Kit. Kids can mix, mash and stir as they whip up 123 Blueberry Muffins, ABC Chips and Guac and Rainbow Pasta Salad while learning the alphabet, counting, colors, measuring and even setting the table.
Good to know: Raddish includes a digital and printed grocery checklist, but does not include the actual food. Raddish also has an expansive library of free content from bonus recipes to activities and playlists and offers dietary modifications for all recipes.
Izzy & Liv Brown Sugar Box for Little Girls & Tween Girls
Lifestyle brand Izzy & Liv recently launched a version of their Brown Sugar Box for kids and teens. Both the Kids Box (for ages 4-8) and Tweens Box (for ages 9-14) are similar to the adult boxes where even though the items will be a mystery until opened, everything included will equal a retail value of at least $100. The boxes are designed with African American girls in mind, with culturally inspired items featured in every box. You'll get at least one Izzy & Liv shirt and other sweet things made with the brown sugar girl in mind. Little girls might get school supplies, hair accessories and books, while tweens can expect to get beauty products, lunch totes and even pillow covers.
Cost: If you sign up now, you'll lock in a special $45 (plus shipping) quarterly rate. It'll go to $55 (plus shipping) soon.
Mail Order Mysteries are a tech-free creative experience that unfolds through a series of six weekly installments. The letters are personalized to kids from the characters in the stories. There are spies, pirates, knights, librarians, detectives, dragons and trolls, and when these characters ask for help with a top-secret mission, the kids become key characters themselves. One of their latest mysterious launches is the Case of the Missing Bigfoot, perfect for ages 9 & up, and is a classic whodunit set in an old mansion before a big dinner is about to begin. The lights go out, and when they come back on, the safe is open and empty. Uh oh. This box comes with everything to help solve the crime, including crime scene photos, suspect cards, notebooks, suspect board, interview transcripts and more.
Cost: $87 for a six-week subscription containing five letter mail envelopes and a final package.
Style knows no age, so why not encourage their love of fashion with Stitch Fix’s personal styling service for kids? Stitch Fix has recently been reinventing the shopping experience for adults as well as expanding. They now offer sizes 2T-14 for kids! Parents can easily manage their kids' profile, and they can work together to create a style profile and set up their delivery. Each Stitch Fix Kid box contains 8-12 pieces of clothing, shoes or accessories, which range in price from $10-$35. A stylist handpicks items based on the style profile. The best part? There’s no pressure to keep anything, and no subscription is required. Simply order Fixes when you like or schedule automatic deliveries. Easy-peasy!
Cost: $20 styling fee that is later applied toward anything purchased.
Kids have busy lives these days between school, sports, play dates and activities, but one important lesson they all need to learn is that kindness is key. KyndKits are a way to pair volunteering with the convenience of home delivery. KyndKits is a subscription box filled with new, customizable volunteer activities and acts of kindness delivered to your child’s door each month. These opportunities can range from making cards for Veterans to building care kits for the homeless. The projects support a variety of causes and include everything needed for a meaningful volunteer experience. KyndKit subscriptions are handled online, making sign up and subscription management easy. Packages range from single, one-person kits to large-group kits.
Cost: $19 for one project per month. Up to four KyndKits projects can be ordered per month.
So many toys, so little time. Imagine being able to borrow and return new toys, just like books at the library. Well, that’s what mom Christie Jacobs thought when she’d had enough with her kids playing on the iPads too much. With limited space, she didn’t want to keep buying new toys. Instead, she created ToyLibrary, a service that provides unlimited access to over 500 educational toys. "ToyLibrary lets you borrow and play with the newest toys, curated and selected by child development experts so parents always get the best toy for their child,” Jacobs said. "Parents enjoy an uncluttered house, great value and the convenience of free shipping straight to their door." Kids can play with the toys for a month, three months or 12 months, and then just return them in the pre-paid mailer.
Cost: $30 a month for two toys; $20 a month for six toys for three months; $12.50 a month for 24 toys for 12 months.
Little Feminist book club, which aims to teach kids about gender equality diversity and empathy, now has three age ranges (0-3, 3-7 and 7-9) for their popular book subscription service. Every month, one or two books are carefully hand-selected by a team of educators, librarians and parents, who then create discussion questions and a DIY activity to accompany them.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the value of self-reliance and a greater appreciation of the freedoms that the great outdoors affords—which is exactly why community gardens are blooming everywhere in Atlanta! Keep reading for our favorite spots to learn how to garden, to plant your own garden, or to support local farmers.
West End Community Garden Are you interested in learning how to create and sustain your own garden? How about learning the countless benefits of eating healthy, homegrown foods? Want to experience the amazing sensation of garden therapy? If this sounds like the place for you, then meet Haylene Green, the Garden Queen, whose goal is to teach people how to identify, grow and prepare healthy food, especially in at risk communities.
Volunteer: Volunteers are needed Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. (1 hour minimum). Yo might plant seeds & seedlings, build boxes, make compost, weed, help with general clean-up, recycling, food preparation, painting, or helping with the market.
352 University Avenue SW Atlanta, GA 678-933-1087 Online:thegardenqueen.com
Lakewood Environmental Arts Foundation (LEAF) Operating in the Lakewood neighborhood, this 501C-3 has a house and 6 acres where they receive thousands of pounds of donated food every week that they distribute to individuals, families, churches and other non-profits in the Greater Atlanta area. Expect to find many weekly volunteers who help unpack and distribute food, and a handful of resident volunteers who help with distribution and maintaining the property, garden and compost.
Volunteer: LEAF is almost always looking for more hands to help with tasks around the property. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Cassie at cassie@leaftrust.net.
Blue Heron Nature Preserve Community Garden The garden is home to over 30 organic plots, and the largest plot is dedicated to growing vegetables for the St. Luke’s Crossroads Kitchen, a volunteer-based effort that feeds unhoused people in Midtown. This garden is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, and annual fees ensure gardeners are given their own plot to tend. The garden is organic, and organic gardening principles must be followed: no chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Gardeners are also responsible for working together to maintain the common areas in the garden.
Membership Info: Contact the Garden team (gardenmembership@bhnp.org) for plot availability and waitlist. Annual dues are $100.
4055 Roswell Rd. NE Atlanta, GA 404-946-6394 Online:bhnp.org
Cabbagetown Community Garden The Community Garden's mission is to leverage its unique urban location to engage the community, educate gardeners of all ages and backgrounds, and empower them to plant, grow and harvest healthy, organic food. The Garden is built on city owned property but not located on parkland. With the help of city council, Park Pride and CI, the city passed legislature to realize a community effort to created a shared gardening space.
Membership Info: Dues for the 2020 season were $42, and paid for the adoption of one plot in the Community Garden, access to onsite water and gardening equipment, maintenance of non-growing areas in the garden (lawns, pathways, beehives, table space), early access invitations to all Community Garden social events and fundraisers, and subscription to Garden-related news through the Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association (CNIA). Membership is open to Cabbagetown neighbors having lived in the neighborhood between 0 - 10 years.
Global Growers Network GGN partners with people from diverse cultures who grow fresh food for their families and for local marketplaces. Together, they build and sustain networks of growers, land, resources, and markets in order to create a more equitable food system that is driven by cultural diversity, inclusive economies, and regenerative agriculture practices.
How to Support: Global Growers Network offers fresh veggies grown in Decatur through a safe, no-contact order and pick-up system. With support from the farm stand, new Americans are rebuilding their lives in the United States by using their agricultural expertise to nourish their families and yours.
Gilliam's Community Garden Gilliam's is a 3-acre sustainable urban garden located in Atlanta's Westside neighborhood that produces beautiful vegetables, herbs, fresh eggs, and their very own dried spice blends. Gilliam's Community Garden serves as an outdoor educational center for local children, homeschool families and schools seeking unique science-based and STEM learning. They provide cooking classes for seniors, as well as learning tours and urban farming experiences for volunteer groups. Core to their mission is the determination to see more healthy, equitable communities across Atlanta.
How to Support: A mobile farmers market, known as their beloved "green machine, " allows you to have boxes of fresh vegetables delivered to families, as well as home-bound seniors, who otherwise cannot access it on their own.
Spring has sprung, and that means Easter fun is on the way! Looking for Easter gifts that aren’t going to come with a costly trip to the dentist? We have your back and are in love with the coolest kid-tech on the block—Osmo!
Osmo is an educational (but they don’t need to know that) game system that’s fun, academic, confidence-building and creative. This leading-edge tech uses tangible pieces to create a hands-on learning experience second to none. Osmo is an engaging and lovable character that connects with your child, as he can magically “see” how your child is coming along with activities and respond in real-time! A true one-on-one learning experience transforms how kids learn, combining tactile exploration with innovative technology. Bottom line—you won’t find another learning system out there like this, and your kid will keep coming back for more! Read on to learn more about the Osmo kits (and be sure to let the Easter Bunny in on your favorite for the big day!).
This Osmo kit is packed with preschool fun. With four games that touch on core subjects, your little genius will work on building letters with squishy colorful lines and rings, building vocabulary and reading skills. They’ll foster their creativity and drawing skills, watching their creations come to life. With Costume Party, they’ll experiment with clothes and colors watching their new friends react! ABCs helps kids gain confidence in letter recognition, vocabulary, construction, and phonics. Squiggle Magic helps foster creativity and pre-drawing skills. And with Stories, they can work on problem-solving as they navigate stories with their newly dressed up friends. This starter Osmo kit will spark their imagination, teach critical skills, and entertain for hours of fun with these four games!
The next step in the uber-cool Osmo universe, the Genius Starter Kit, includes everything your kids need to experience hands-on STEM learning and digital fun in five different ways. Playing Tangram is a great way to exercise spatial and visual problem-solving skills—start thinking with shapes! Words will have them zooming letter tiles around, spelling creating and having fun, while Numbers will show kids there are multiple ways to solve a problem—making math creative and fun. With Newton, physics meets creative problem-solving as your kid guides falling on-screen balls into targeted zones and avoids a catastrophe! Next, take a picture of anything and Masterpiece will transform it into simple outlines so kids can draw it to perfection. The bottom line with this kit: STEM learning can be creative and fun.
The Coding Starter Kit builds coding skills in an easy-to-learn way, by building in a progression with three hands-on learning games. Watch your kid learn to code (and maybe pick up a thing or two yourself) as they connect colorful blocks of code to chart the adventures with Osmo and friends on their screen. The first step is with Coding Awbie, building problem-solving and logic skills while learning the basic concepts of coding. Is there a DJ in the house?! With Coding Jam, kids arrange coding blocks in patterns and loops to create their own music. The third and most advanced step is Coding Duo, where kids solve advanced side-by-side puzzles on their own or with a friend for double the fun and challenge.
This crafty kit blends kids' real-life doodles with on-screen Osmo action so they can invent, explore and play! Watch your kid's creativity and communication skills bloom as they dive deep into a world of endless imagination. With Monster, they will be amazed as their doodles come to life in Osmo’s hands—it's pure magic! Draw obstacles to get balls to land on target with Newton, and with Masterpiece, any picture is broken down into traceable lines so your kid can practice creating their own works of art.
Launch your little learners into space with these easy to connect circuit-building sets. Circuit Explorer allows kids to make custom builds with lights, sounds and motion. These connectable circuit pieces are simple and durable and do not require reading, so kids can play independently.
Kids will learn how to engineer simple circuits with these off-the-board space-themed circuit playsets, including a Rocket, Rover, and Deluxe Base Station, that combine creative imaginative play with STEM fundamentals. Circuit Explorer’s kid-friendly, 3D design makes it easy to snap the pieces together in the correct order to instantly receive feedback and interactive results to know they are on their way to a galactic journey, such as light, motion, or sound, championing a child’s creativity while encouraging STEM learning and honing problem-solving skills.
Circuit Explorer Rocket, Circuit Explorer Rover, and Circuit Explorer Deluxe Base Station all feature real-working, kid-friendly 3D circuit pieces designed specifically with safety in mind, eliminating the worry of short circuiting or other hazards. Children utilize cause and effect logic to determine when they have completed the circuits correctly. Each set also comes with friendly astronauts, robot figures, and stickers, so children can customize their Circuit Explorer sets and launch into hours of space-age adventures. To add even more customizable fun, Circuit Explorer sets feature a universal grid-like design to allow for additional construction play pieces to be incorporated.
“We’ve reimagined what it means for kids to learn about circuits by providing a product that allows a younger age group to become familiar with these basic concepts, ultimately learning skills that will make future learning less intimidating and more fun,” said Lisa Guili, General Manager at Educational Insights. “Now there is no need for kids to choose between learning basic circuits or expressing their creativity. Circuit Explorer allows for the combination of both that has never been done before.”
The following Circuit Explorer sets are available:
Follow the easy instructions to build a rocket with light-up nose cone and nozzles, a space rover with light-up headlights, and a landing pad with color changing light effects—or connect the pieces correctly another way to create out-of-this-world custom, light-up builds. Then launch into hours of screen-free, pretend-play fun with the included astronaut and robot figures!
Kids can connect with home base as they build a communication station with a rotating radar dish, and power station, or they can power up with a rover charger to take their space rover with a motor out on a mission along with a non-powered space rover both with wheels and light-up headlights. Explore the unknown for hours with two included astronauts and two robot figures.
Snap the 3D pieces together together to build a fully powered, large-scale, space-themed world including a Deluxe Base Station with towers, rotating diner sign, planetarium with Color changing dome, voice synthesizer that includes 10 space sounds, communication station with rotating radar dish, and one fully-powered space rover and a free-rolling rover, both with light-up headlights. Includes six astronauts and two robot figures for hours of imaginative play.
Our series, Family Tales, is an honest peek into the daily lives of families across the country who are on this crazy ride we call parenthood! From divulging childcare costs to breaking down family finances to managing a virtual school year with multiple kids, we tap into the Red Tricycle army of parents to find out how they’re making it work. This series is a judgment-free zone.
Interested in telling your story? Start by filling out our questionnaire here. All stories are anonymous.
Distance Learning Is Not My Family’s Ideal Choice. Here’s How We’re Making It Work.
Name and occupation: Beth Shea, San Diego Editor at Red Tricycle My partner’s occupation: Sales Manager City: San Diego, CA Grades my kids are in: daughter in 8th, son in 4th. They go to the same public school. School set-up in 2020: Our school district is currently only offering distance learning. When they get the green light to go back to school in-person, the students will be split into attending morning or afternoon sessions to lessen the amount of kids on campus at one time. Many precautions and safety protocols will be in place and my kids will go back to school as soon as they’re allowed to.
The concept of ending summer to head “back to school” was an even harder sell for my kids this year since none of the excitement of seeing classmates and teachers and returning to campus was on the table. Our school district even gave our kids several extra weeks of summer in an effort to drop off the state’s Covid-19 watch list and return to in-person learning. We did in fact drop off the list, but then got word that school would still only be offered virtually for the time being. The yo-yoing and excitement over the prospect of going back and the disappointment of realizing this year there was no “back” in “back to school” has made this an emotionally and mentally draining time for our whole family.
My kids are ready to step out from behind the screens and go back to school. They are both social butterflies and extroverts and they enjoy absolutely nothing about being isolated behind a screen for hours on end every day. They learn better when lessons are taught in person and they thrive in settings where they can interact with their peers. Seeing them at home all this time is akin to watching beautiful birds who have had their wings clipped.
I’m trying to use this distance learning experience to teach my kids some vital life skills: grit, resilience, and how to adapt to change. Thus far, we have been dealing with a pretty steep learning curve of failed log-ins, links that don’t connect and online portals we can’t access… but we’re all trying to keep our cool and our sanity and have a lot of grace for each other and the teachers on the other end trying to orchestrate all of these moving parts.
Morning Routine: Up Early to Prepare for the Day
Luckily we’re all early risers, so we wake up ready to greet the new day and sit around the table for breakfast. My kids start school at 8:50 a.m. so it allows for a nice, leisurely start to the day. I also use this early morning time to make sure my kids’ laptops are charged, that the learning supplies they need are close at hand, and that they can log-on to all of their various applications. We save our passwords and bookmark important pages so all they need to do is click and go.
One issue we had to correct was that our Wifi signal wasn’t reaching far enough to provide a strong enough signal. My daughter’s Zoom calls kept freezing or dropping, which led to panic. We purchased this WiFi booster, programmed it, and now it “boosts” the WiFi signal so it reaches her room and enables a strong signal.
After breakfast we all go to our own corners of the house to log-on for school and work. I fill each of us a large bottle of water in our respective reusable water bottles, and I pop a packet of Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Hydration Powder in each bottle. San Diego’s hottest temperatures are during the fall months, so I like to make sure we’re all staying hydrated––especially since dehydration leads to fatigue and immune stress. (Hydration is important during winter too!) These handy packets come in a variety of flavors from lemonade to raspberry and they really make it easy to get our necessary water intake alongside 6 electrolytes and trace minerals.
Both of my kids start their day with an hour and a half long Zoom session of STEM learning, followed by a mid-morning snack break. They like the option of staying connected on their Zoom call during snack break to chat and eat alongside their classmates. After snack they log on to their next major chunk of learning for the day, their hour and a half long session of Humanities. Next comes independent work, reading time and PE or music lessons (my son is learning to play the recorder).
Mid-Morning to Lunchtime: We All Head to Our Separate Workspaces, Kind Of
I spent the summer preparing for the inevitable eventuality of distance learning by making sure my kids had functional, comfortable workspaces tailored to their liking. They set up their own desk decor and even have some fidget toys on hand to get them through long Zoom calls: we like these stress balls. I’m currently on the hunt for a cushion for my son’s desk chair because he’s not ergonomically well-positioned at his computer. I have my eye on this chair cushion to provide a boost and comfort.
Another absolute must-have for every member of our family for distance learning and work: CalmOptics blue light blocking glasses. Now that we’re all on screens for a large part of the day, it’s essential that we wear these protective glasses to prevent eye strain, itchy eyes, headaches and even trouble sleeping––which can all be caused by blue light from screens. We love our glasses so much we even wear them to watch TV and my son wears them when playing video games as well. They’re a lifesaver anytime you have to look at a screen. CalmOptics glasses come in multiple sizes for little kids, teens and adults, so everyone’s covered––and the styles and colors are super cute too.
It’s vital that we all have our own separate workspaces because we all work better with no distractions. I work while my kids are in their rooms on their school calls, and they just give a shout if they need me––usually to solve a tech issue.
While I have a home office, I find myself migrating around the house a lot more with my laptop to be closer to my kids as we acclimate to connecting to Zoom calls and sorting out all the various school programs they need to navigate online. They often have questions and need support during these early weeks of this new way of doing school, so it’s easier for me to be nearby. My kids have always been respectful of my need to do my job (I’ve worked from home their whole lives), so they understand that more often than not, their downtime is my work time. When my kids were physically at school, I had large chunks of time alone to complete my work. Nowadays I have been working more late nights when it’s silent and I can work uninterrupted.
Throughout the Day: Staying Organized Saves Our Sanity
As mentioned, my kids’ school days are set up in chunks of time for each class subject. We all prefer tangible paper trails and dry erase boards over digital calendars, so I printed up and posted their schedules on the dining room wall so we can all see at a glance what’s happening when and so we all know when snack and lunch breaks take place. I have a magnetic dry erase board on my fridge that functions as my brain outside my body. Without it, I’d be lost. My daughter also got this weekly dry erase board for her wall to keep her assignments straight.
I also read a study that it’s really good for kids’ organization if they keep track of their assignments and to-do lists in written form, so we’re big fans of paper planners.
Lunchtime & Multiple Meet-Ups At the Kitchen Table to Check-in
The kitchen table is the heart of our home. The kids have daily snack time (from 10:10-10:30 a.m.) and lunch time (from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.), so we all sit together to eat and discuss what’s happening and what needs to be accomplished. I offer them fresh, healthy brain foods to keep them alert and energized. I make sure we have tons of grab and go fruit on hand as well as their favorite snacks and food so this downtime is something they look forward to and enjoy.
It’s the silver lining of home learning that we get to spend time together throughout the day and I’m up to speed on how they’re coming along with their schoolwork and privy to what they’re working on.
After School: Getting Off Screens & Outdoors is Vital to Our Happiness
Whether we’re taking an educational field trip to San Diego Botanic Garden, heading to soccer practice, riding scooters and skateboards or walking the dog, we usually can’t wait to get out of the house and into the great outdoors at the end of the virtual school day. It’s the most important part of our day to break away from screens, get fresh air and clear and reset our minds. School ends for both of my kids between 2-3 p.m. each day, depending on whether they have PE or music or need to finish up classwork that was assigned for the day. Normally, they’re out of in-person school at 2:50 p.m., so this means some days we get more free time (including no commute or long school pick-up lines), which I don’t miss.
None of us are fans of distance learning, but we’re grateful we have supportive teachers and the ability to rise to this unprecedented occasion from home. I know my kids will never again take for granted the ability to walk onto their school campus to see their friends and attend classes in person.
Interested in telling your story? Start by filling out our questionnaire here. All stories are anonymous.
With Los Angeles County public schools offering online-only instruction fall (and parents of pre-schoolers nervous about sending little ones back to classrooms), more and more Los Angeles parents are considering starting up their own at-home pandemic pod (aka micro-schools, aka quaranteams). Curious about this latest trend in learning? Read on to find out what a pod is, how much it costs and everything you need to know before you start one.
Not to complicate things further, but not all pods (groups of 3-6 students of similar ages) function in the same way. Here's a rundown of the basic pod types to consider.
Pod + Distance Learning: For parents who either can't oversee their child's virtual learning experience or want to supplement it with in-person instruction plus provide socialization for your kids, Scoot at Home can help you create an at-home learning pod. Scoot has a roster of fully vetted, experienced educators for grades K-12. You can contact them for a free consultation and help getting your pod going.
Pre-School Pod: Because preschools don't have state-mandated curriculum to follow, setting up a pod for little ones is a bit more straightforward. A company like Podskool can help pair your pod with an educator, who will provide play-based STEAM curriculum for children up to six years old.
Full-Time Pod: Parents looking to forego virtual instruction altogether for kids K-12 need a full-time pod teacher. (This kind of pod falls under homsechooling, and requires following guidelines set by the California Department of Education.) Locally based tutoring company Kids on the Yard now offers a service to help match families with a full-time pod teacher. (Similar to Scoot at Home, Kids on the Yard also offers "distant learning support" for children's regular school, with a learning pod option.) There are also Facebook groups popping up, like Tutors and Instructors of the San Fernando Valley, to help parents find a pod teacher on their own.
Co-op Pods: Instead of hiring an educator, some pod parents are sharing the teaching responsibilities. This might mean alternating supervising a small group of kids during their regular distancing learning instruction, and offering support as needed. Or, particularly if you have younger kids for whom distance learning is a nonstarter, it might mean taking turns leading the pod of little ones.
Pods Can Be Pricey
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While parent-run pods are obviously free (not counting the cost of your time, of course), other types of pods vary in price, depending on the number of students, amount of hours and level of instruction. For example, an educator through Scoot at Home costs $349 a day (equivalent to five hours of instruction) for up to six students, kindergarten through 6th grade. That's about $60 per child—assuming your pod has six students. But if your pod has only three students, that amount goes up to $116 a day.
Other learning pod educators or tutors charge per hour and based on the number of students. An instructor with Diamond Learning Center in Granada Hills runs $40 an hour for two students, compared to $60 an hour for five kids.
Whether you're paying by the hour or by the day, the price for five hours of instruction, five days a week could cost more than $500 a week per student.
Wondering where to set up a pod? "For safety reasons, we suggest being outside is best, followed by an indoor space with plenty of ventilation," says James Sanders, CEO of Scoot Education and Scoot at Home. "The more room to allow for social distancing, the better," he adds. Sanders also recommends using flexible seating, rather than traditional tables or desks and chairs.
In terms of social distancing among kids, you'll want to make sure you and your fellow pod parents are on the same page about how much interaction kids will have. Some pods might be all in (no masks, no distancing, like one big happy bubble), while others may forego masks but still practice distancing. Similarly, you'll want to have clearly established, mutually agreed upon safety guidelines with any educator.
Pods Can Increase Inequities in Education
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We can't talk about pods without addressing the inequities in education. Already, research has shown that distance learning increases the digital divide and disproportionately harms students of color. Experts say learning pods will only further that divide. According to a report on Vox, some school districts are looking at ways to create pod-like instruction for all students. In San Francisco, for example, the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, with the support of the city, is setting up 40 learning hubs, located in libraries and recreation centers, for lower income students.
And just recently, Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest district in LA county, announced that it was launching a pilot program to provide one-on-one tutoring, both in person and online for students who need it most. "Carefully screened Step Up Tutoring volunteers from across the country will provide K-8 students with supplemental, individualized assistance outside of the regular school day," according to a release from LAUSD.
Something to bear in mind if you permit into a school that's not your school of residence: Being in a pod could jeopardize your permit status. (Students who continue with online instruction while participating in a pod are not affected.) We've reached out to LAUSD to confirm the details and are waiting to hear back. We'll update this post once we know more, but in the meantime, if you're concerned about losing your permit, you should contact your child's school directly.
Got Game Pods In-Home: The pros at Got Game, which normally offers in-person camps and after-school programs, are bringing their energy, creativity and experience to kids at home. They offer both full- and half-day options, and can provide virtual learning oversight, along with sports, arts and more to keep your kids engaged and inspired.
Big & Tiny On-the-Go: The co-working space (with studios in Silver Lake and Santa Monica) now offers a private at-home program, starting at $615 a month per child. That includes 4 hours of weekly in-person STEM learning for your little one.
Selected for Families: Search for professional, qualified teachers to serve the education and enrichment needs of families and learning pods. Teachers are evaluated by Selected and matched with you based on your needs and preferences. Families and learning pods directly connect with same teachers that leading schools hire on Selected, a leading teacher-hiring platform for schools.
Design Hive: Located in Mid-City, Design Hive has opened its space as a meeting place for for pods, plus they also have pod kits (pictured) with activities for kids. Contact them for more information.
Join the Troop: This networking app for parents can help you connect with other local moms and dads looking to find or create their own pod.
