Children's Center Preschool Serving the Los Feliz, Hollywood, Silverlake , Atwater communities
  • Fun with Preschoolers

  • Aug10

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    Los Feliz Library in August

    Posted in: From the Director, Fun with Preschoolers, Upcoming Events

    Our school is blessed by its proximity to a wonderful library. We hope you enjoy getting to know it better for both your preschooler and younger children as well. A library card is a passport to so many wonderful books. We will be posting school favorites from the preschool as some starter ideas. Happy Reading!

    August 2010 Children’s Events at Los Feliz Library
    We have many exciting activities planned for kids and families this month.

    SUMMER READING CLUB – Read for fun. Read for prizes. Parents read with your kids.
    It’s not too late to join the club. Ask a librarian the next time you visit the library.

    Friday, August 6
    3:30 – 4:30 pm
    The Hollow Trees – Fun live music for all ages!

    Thursday, August 12
    3:30 – 4:30 pm
    Arts and Crafts – Create your own unique art!

    Friday, August 20
    3:30 – 5:00 pm
    Family Art Class – Make art with Laura Stickney, retired Barnsdall Jr. Art Center instructor.

    Thursday, August 26
    3:30 – 5:30 pm
    Summer Reading Club Finale – Tony Daniels magic show, ice cream party and prize shopping. Bring those library dollars that kids have earned for reading books. Read More | Comments

  • Jul19

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    Family Summer Music in LA

    Posted in: Family events, Fun with Preschoolers, Upcoming Events

    FAMILIES- SUMMER IS HERE- ENJOY THE MUSIC

    The music scene, easily accessible from the Hollywood, Los Feliz, and Silverlake areas, has much to offer children and grown-ups alike. One of our parents has a great web site to check out for things to do with kids in LA, musical and otherwise.  It is http://lakidstuff.com/. This is a thoughtful and thorough site with great ideas. Here are a few highlights to whet your appetite:

    THE LA ZOO- Music in the Zoo

    On Friday nights, July 23rd and Aug 6, from 6-9 pm, the zoo has a wonderful music program. You can bring a picnic and drinks. Also, it is a great time to see the animals as they are more active as the day cools. Free for members. One of our families really enojyed this late Friday.

    THE GETTY CENTER- Concerts for kids and families

    Saturdays and Sundays during most of August, 4-5:30 pm. Free for all.

    THE ORIGINAL FARMER’S MARKET

    Summer Music Series at the original Farmer’s Market at 3rd and Fairfax on the West Patio. Thursday and Fridays now through September 10th.

    Happy listening!

  • Jun23

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    Summer Break – Think Griffith Park

    Posted in: Family events, Fun with Preschoolers

    Summer break is coming up on June 25th and children in the Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silverlake areaare lucky to have  Griffith Park right in their own backyard. It  has many attractions that are perfect for preschool children. Check the website (http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithpk) for addresses and phone numbers.

    • Take a ride on the little trains, the ones just north of Los Feliz Boulevard and Riverside Drive. Next stop- Chicago.
    • Next to the trains are the pony rides.
    • The Merry-Go- Round is further up Riverside on the left.
    • Shane’s Universally Accessible Park and trike and bike riding area is a short walk down from the Merry-Go-Round.
    • Crystal Springs has a nice picnic area for frisbee playing and ball throwing as well as a playground.
    • Bike rentals are available on Crystal Springs Drive at the Ranger Station.
    • On the valley side is the LA Zoo and Gene Autry Museum. Go to the zoo in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.
    • The Live Steamers are a special treat. The Steam Club members give rides on live steamers on Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm.
    • Hiking Trails are sprinkled throughout the park and the website will lead you to where they are.

    Enjoy the break! For all of our kids, we look forward to seeing  you back on the 6th of July.

  • May30

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    Organic Fruit, Snack,& Making Ice Cream

    Posted in: Food and Cooking, Fun with Preschoolers

    Memorial Day marks the beginning of one of our favorite food times of the year. Each week, when I head off to the Hollywood or Barnsdall Farmer’s Market, I know that there will be new fruit coming in, organic and ripe.  Some the kids have requested particular ones, “More apricots, please”;  last week I bought too few. Some will be new at school snack. This week, we will add cherries; this is the first week they look really good. Also nectarines and pluots. The tangerines have more varieties than I realized so this week we are trying the pixie ones. Next week, the boysenberry man promised they would be sweet, if we have sunny days, of course. We will keep another tasting chart this week to record what everyone likes and doesn’t care for. We weave math into our daily life; this time it is graphing and charting to represent our tasting experiences.

    Memorial Day also marks the beginning of making ice cream, smoothies,  and fruit bars. On Tuesday, we are taking some of the ripest strawberries that are so good right now and mashing them up to make no- cook strawberry ice cream. We have a Donvier ice cream maker that the children hand crank and then the metal container is put in the freezer to finish the freezing process. The fruit bars and smoothies will be made with the remaining extra ripe berries at the end of the week.

    Children’s Center Preschool No-Cook Strawberry Ice Cream

    Very Kid- Friendly

    Ingredients:

    • 1 pound ripe strawberries, trimmed, quartered
    • 3/4 cup sugar ( can use maple syrup for some of this)
    • 3/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1/8 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 1 cup Half and Half
    • Equipment: an ice cream maker

    Preparation:

    Mash the  strawberries with sugar, lemon juice, and salt using a potato masher in a large bowl. Let stand, stirring and mashing occasionally, 10 minutes.

    Transfer at least half of strawberry mixture to a blender and purée with cream and 1/2 and 1/2 until smooth. (We use the Cuisinart hand blender that can be put directly in the bowl. We have the kids hold it with us. There is no exposed blade.) Return strawberry cream to bowl with remaining strawberry mixture and stir together.

    Pour into the ice cream maker and crank handle until it gets very stiff. Put in freezer and stir occasionally, until very cold, 3 to 6 hours.

    It can be frozen and left in the Donvier in ice cream maker. Otherwise, transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to firm up.

    Note: Ice cream keeps 1 week but ours never lasts that long. Can be used with other fruit and berries. Enjoy!

  • May22

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    The Adventures of a Penguin

    Posted in: Fun with Preschoolers, Weekly Happenings in the School

    The school began in September with two animal gifts. One was a fabulous big penguin, a gift from Melissa’s mother-in-law; the other was a wonderful bouquet of balloons with a white bear attached. They both enchanted the children and have taken their place in the school’s collection of stuffed animals. They have provided endless hours of fun.

    But the penguin has led a more adventurous life. He was first  sighted in the classroom, reading a book about penguins, or, as one of the kids said, “reading about what his own kind is doing”. The next sighting was at the drawing table.

    Then it was in the housekeeping area eating none other than sushi. The kids decided to see how he liked pizza.

    He started receiving visitors; the children brought penguins from home to join him and them  at rest time. Now he was in big demand.

    Next thing we knew, he was stepping out of the classroom and was spotted trying out the slide, the swing, and checking out the radishes in the garden.

    Now the penguin is going on the road. Each weekend, one child will take home the penguin with a camera and a notepad tucked inside. Along with their families, they will photograph and chronicle his adventures and bring them back to the school to share with the children.

    Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of the Children’s Center Preschool Penguin.

  • May6

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    4 Great Sensory Experiences for Kids

    Posted in: Fun with Preschoolers, Projects

    No Cook Stretchy Playdough, Clean Mud, Flubber, and Cornstarch Goop

    A preschool should be appealing to all of a child’s senses- visual, auditory, smell, movement, taste and touch. Children learn best through experiential learning that focuses on engaging these senses in play. They come to better  understand the nature of things when they are able to handle and manipulate them, to change their shape and form, and to experiment with how to use them.

    The  sense of touch and smell got more interesting at our school  when Ty joined us. She brought with her some great recipes for sensory experiences-Each of them is easy to make and the children enjoy helping make it; then it is good for hours of fun. Tell us how you and your children like them!

    NO COOK PLAYDOUGH

    1 cup white flour

    1/2 cup salt

    2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

    1/2 cup water

    Food coloring

    • Mix flour, salt, and vegetable oil in a big bowl.
    • Add food coloring and scented oil to water.
    • Gradually add small amounts of water until mixture is like bread dough. Add water to leftover at bottom of bowl if they are dry.
    • Knead and play. We add rollers, garlic presses, cookie cutters, small pancake turners, and any other tool that you can find.

    CLEAN MUD

    Read More | Comments

  • Apr28

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    3 Nat. History Museum Great Things

    Posted in: Family events, Fun with Preschoolers, Upcoming Events

    1. The Pavilion of Wings
    2. The Bug Fair
    3. Critter Club

    Bugs, Caterpillars, and Earth Things in general are very popular here. We have been building a collection of “discovered” creatures in covered petri dishes to use with the big magnifier. Then there are the great ones that Ty has brought us.  Ty, one of our teachers,was part of the education department at the museum so she is knowledgeable about the natural world.

    The Natural History Museum has  interesting things going on this spring and a great summer program.

    • The Pavilion of Wings is open now and is a great place to see butterflies and to  learn about them.
    • The Bug Fair 2010 will be coming for Saturday and Sunday May 15th and 16th for an insect extravaganza.  You can view an amazing array of bugs and purchase ones for your collection.
    • Critter Club is a wonderful parent /3-5 year old child program monthly summer event that butterfly and frog metamorphosis, insects, and snakes and lizards. Very cool choices! Check the website for how to enroll; it is free but limited seating. Go early.

    Enjoy the great community resource we have at Exposition Park!

  • Apr9

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    9 Spring Day Trip Ideas with Children

    Posted in: Family events, Fun with Preschoolers

    9 Spring Day Trip  Ideas with Children

    • Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Museum- a magical and elaborate exhibit with interactive components- a great experience for children and adults. http://www.skirball.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=194
    • Long Beach Aquarium- well worth the trip- tide pools and special experiences i.e sea otter feedings.http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/
    • Cabrillo Beach Museum and Tidepools http://www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/
    • Butterfly Pavilion at the Natural Museum http://www.nhm.org/site/
    • Huntington library and Descansco gardens http://www.huntington.org/- beautiful right now, small eateries and picnicking areas
    • Balboa Park and Cherry Trees in bloom- small lake has boats to rent and good trike paths
    • Griffith Park universally accessible play area located near the merry-go-round. Trike area adjacent with big area for riding.
    • LA Zoo with the new gorilla habitat http://www.lazoo.org/
    • Children’s Book and Music Center in Westwood- Fabulous collection of books and music, very knowledgeable staff

  • Feb4

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    10 Rainy Day Ideas for Preschoolers

    Posted in: Fun with Preschoolers

    1. Read Thundercake by Patricia Polacco and make one as the storm arrives.
    2. Get out waxed paper, eye droppers, and colored water ( use the little bottles of food coloring) and make rain drops drip down.
    3. Switch the waxed paper for white napkins and make beautiful designs to tape on the windows.
    4. Read Frederick by Leo Lionni and think of all the summery, warm things you can remember.
    5. Put on rain boots when the rain pauses and puddle jump.
    6. Be brave, put on a raincoat and boots, get an umbrella, and play in the rain. Have a hot bath afterward.
    7. Sing rainy day songs- the Eensy, Eeensy Spider, Oh Mister Sun,  It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, Singin’ in the Rain.
    8. Open up the closet for some dress up time.
    9. Put on your favorite Dan Zane dancing music and boogie.

    10. Hot chocolate, anyone?

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