Before we had children, I was determine to instruct our future kids on how to be outgoing and how to deal with embarrassment. Lord knows I’ve become an expert in the latter. It’s not that I want them behaving like jerks but rather to say, “Ooops” from an innocent faux pas rather than shrivel in humiliating horror. This can’t come at a better time for our daughter, who’s approaching her teen years.

“Hey Dad! You know what happened today?”

I assumed it was a rhetorical question so I answered, “The mailman came this afternoon?”

“No really! Do you know what happened today?”

“Does she REALLY think I know what “happened” today?” I was forced to give her the response she was looking for. “No sweetie, what happened?” If she said, “How come you don’t know,” I was going to bop her.

“I was at my locker and slipped in front of all the kids. I felt like a dork so I just turned around and did a pirouette and took a bow, like you taught me.” I hope you guys know that I didn’t actually teach her how to do a pirouette.

“Ah, so you handled it well, good for you, what did your friends say?”

“They just thought I was weird and looked at me funny.”

“Were you embarrassed?”

“No, I just remembered the story you told me about the time you were alone in the elevator and figured it was OK to f…

“Ah! That’s OK! We don’t have to remember that!”

“And then this beautiful girl yelled, ‘HOLD THE ELEVATORE!’ and ran in and it was just you and her and …”

“ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT! I don’t need to remember that.” We were both laughing hysterically at my retroactive humiliation.

We calmed down and she asked, “Did you ever say anything to her?”

“No, but I had to watch her roll her eyes when she got to her floor. Wish I knew how to do a pirouette back then.”

“Yeah! That might have helped.”

Anyway, that’s one way to bond with your daughter. See you guys next time.

The California African American Museum (CAAM) will celebrate National Children’s Book Week with the literacy event Heads are Turning, Children are Learning on Saturday, May 18, 2013, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Event co-hosts include actor Thomas Hobson of The Fresh Beat Band; actress Niketa Calame of The Lion King (animation); and actor Donis Leonard, Jr. from Showtime’s House of Lies.

During the literary event, renowned children’s author and illustrator Kadir Nelson will be on hand and several noted celebrities will read from his books. Participating celebrities who will read to children on the main stage in CAAM’s Courtyard include actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who will read from Nelson’s book “Nelson Mandela” and actress Deidrie Henry, who will read from Nelson’s book about Michael Jordan “Salt in His Shoes.” In addition, actress and choreographer Debbie Allen will read from her book “Dancing in the Wings.”

Many local authors will also read from their books including Bunny Hull, Quentin Holmes, Cassadra Black, A.K. Usafi, Lesley A. Anderson and Calida Garcia Rawles. Local authors will read in the CAAM galleries. Other activities include live performances, art workshops and face painting. Also there will be book, poster and art-kit giveaways. In addition, Eso Won Books, an independent Black-owned bookstore, will be on site selling the books included in the program. Guests can purchase a special gift for their friends and family. Adults have not been left out in this day of literacy, as the Los Angeles Public Library will host a table providing public library information and adult literacy.

Adults and children of all ages are encouraged to join CAAM in this special day of literacy. CAAM’s events, programs and exhibitions are free for the public to attend. CAAM is located at 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and closed Mondays. Parking is $10 in the lot adjacent to CAAM at 39th and Figueroa Streets. For more information about CAAM and its exhibitions, programs and events, please visit: http://www.caamuseum.org

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

The California African American Museum (CAAM) researches, collects, preserves and interprets for public enrichment the history, art and culture of African Americans. Chartered by the California State Legislature in 1977, CAAM is a state supported institution and a partner with the 501(c)(3) non- profit organization Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum. In addition to its permanent collection of over 3,000 objects of art, artifacts and historical documents, CAAM also houses a research library containing more than 20,000 volumes, employs and trains high school students through its Young Docents program, and hosts in-house curated exhibitions and traveling exhibitions on a regular basis. The museum also tours CAAM exhibitions throughout California and the nation.

Yesterday, I received a phone call from one of my kids friends. When I picked up the telephone, he said “Hi, who is this?” I politely responded with, “Well hello, who may I ask is calling? The young voice on the other end then proceeded to tell me who he was and and wanted to know if my son was home? This is very typical of kids today. However, it is not the correct way to make a phone call.  Telephone etiquette is one skill you will use your entire life. Many times, a person’s first impression of you is based on how you speak to them over the telephone, so it is important to be courteous and polite on the telephone and to learn what is and is not appropriate when answering the phone.

Telephone skills are fun to teach and fun for the kids to learn. Here are some tips to share with your kids:

1.  Choose a good time to call people. Never call anyone to early or too late.
2.  Let the person you are calling know who it is and ask politely to speak with someone. Example: “Hi, this is Joey can I please talk to Sammy?”
3.  When answering the phone answer with a pleasant hello.
4.  If the call is for someone else, go and get them. No yelling!
5.  If the call is for someone else who is not available, take a message and let the caller know that you will let them know that you called.

The most important tip, is to start teaching your kids early. When children are young they love to pretend. Start by role playing with two unplugged phones.

You’ll both have fun while you teach your child a lifetime skill.

Today’s spring-cleaning is not the same today as in our mother and grandmothers’ day. Then the house was literally turned inside out with a schedule including, deep cleaning and polishing of all furniture, fresh wallpaper, painting, rug cleaning, fresh or new slipcovers, and more. If you do not recall all this fuss over winter’s ending, I am sure your elders have not too fond memories.
Yes. Spring does still conger up thoughts of opening the windows and freshening up the house. So go for it with these quick tips to help you “spring” into action.

1. Open windows to air out each rooms. While you’re there, quickly
clean the window and ledges on the inside. You can plan a later day to tackle the outsides. Or hire a window cleaning service.
2. Try using a light sprinkling of water on the bristles of a broom to “catch”
more dust and dirt when sweeping. This works especially well on porches, decks and garage floors. Or try the new disposable pads on a stick method of dusting and wet cleaning.
3. A telescoping duster is great for cobwebs in those high spots. When using a
feather or “furry” dust catcher, try giving it a quick (light) spritz of furniture
polish to catch the dust and not just push it around.
4. Check out the cleaning supplies at your supermarket for great shower, tile
and grout cleaning sprays & solutions. Also visit a local janitorial supply store for substantial and reasonably priced products.
5. A swipe of a baby wipe or a spray of window cleaner is great to freshen
up sinks & fixtures. Remember to change the kitchen sink sponge daily…yes daily. They can be a breeding ground for bacteria! Toss them into the dishwasher or washing machine or zap them in the microwave oven for two minutes.
6. Keep cleaning supplies under each sink in a handy plastic caddie for easy
access and quick daily clean-ups. It is easier to clean on the spot when the
supplies are handy. Take care to prevent small children from getting into
these areas.
7. Window blinds can be a hassle to clean. A feather duster with a light spray of 
dusting spray will do well to collect the dust. Or hire a window blinds
cleaning service.

That should get you started with the “new & easy” spring-cleaning.
Now, reward your hard work with some fun in the sun! After all it IS Spring!

For about six week now, my husband and I have been on an extremely healthy diet kick. We experiment with being Vegan for 3 weeks last November and loved how we felt. We started again at the end of March but have made a few adjustments to the Vegan diet so we could live with it longer like adding eggs and fish. I have been gluten free for almost 5 years and only this year has my husband starting asking for gluten free bread!
So have hope that if you want your kids to eat healthier- it has to start with you. Be the example you want them to model. Here are a few snack ideas that you can start experimenting with to see what works for your family.

Veggies and Dip- my favorite is cucumbers with hummus but you can use many vegetables like carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, bell peppers or even asparagus. There are so many flavors of hummus out there these days such as sundried tomato and red pepper, garlic, pesto, spicy, cilantro and dill just to name a few. There are also white bean dips to try if hummus is not your favorite. My favorite is the spicy hummus from Trader Joe’s with sliced cucumbers because it’s crunchy, spicy, low calorie and refreshing. Guacamole or even salad dressing would work to as a dip. Try to avoid the high fat cheese dips if possible since they are not considered healthy or even nutritionally valuable.

Fruit and Dip- in the photo above, I made a raw macadamia nut cream and a raw chocolate hazelnut cream to dip fruit into when I was experimenting with a totally raw diet over a year ago. I learned about some great recipes that I still use today. You can have the fruit without the dip but I think it’s more fun for kids when they have a dip. Try it both ways and see what works. You can always use almond butter as you sidekick with the fruit too

Shake- Who doesn’t love a “milkshake”? Well it doesn’t have to be made of dairy, it can be coconut, almond, rice or hemp milk based too! Use one scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein powder (made preferably from egg, rice, or pea protein – NOT SOY!) and your child’s favorite frozen fruit (my husband loves the pineapple and I love raspberries) and voila! What makes it even more fun is if you have a magic bullet each child gets to blend their own cup. You can involve them in filling their individual cup, screw in the blade top on and blend. Somehow that works for adults too…

Hard Boiled Eggs- easy to make one time and have in the frig as a quick grab and go. You could even make egg salad and use that as a dip with your veggies or gluten free crackers.

Nuts- Stores carry big bags of individual serving size bags of nuts. Great for lunches or after school snacks.

A Health Bar- Whether it’s a protein bar or a fruit and nut bar, find a few to choose from that your family enjoys. I look for Gluten Free, organic, non GMO, soy free, and dairy free bars with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving. Buy one of a few that you seem to gravitate towards and try them before buying many. You will need to spend a little time at the store reviewing your options and comparing them to your nutritional needs. But once you find a few you like- your set!

Mother’s Day, Sunday May 12, is just around the corner and children everywhere are thinking, planning, and organizing events to honor their favorite woman. The hope is that we’ll create special moments to invoke lasting memories for our loving moms.

One spot I’ve found this year that is doing the work for us and pulling out all the stops is Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point. On Saturday, May 11th from 10:30AM 4:30PM they are offering a Mimosas & Makeovers Mommy and me package. You and your children can enjoy their signature cashmere massage. The therapist uses organic, unrefined shea butter blended with essentials oils of centering vetiver and uplifting patchouli. Or try a Cashmere facial. After an expert analysis, your esthetician will cleanse, tone, treat and hydrate your skin incorporating the resorts signature cashmere shea butter for a neck, shoulder, hand, and arm massage. With either treatment mom gets to take home a cozy Cashmere spa blanket. They will also be hosting complimentary makeovers using Advanced Mineral Make-up, expert eyebrow threading, non-invasive brow lifts with NuFace an FDA approved facial toning device, under-eye brightening with Clarisonic Opal, eyebrow shaping and coaching by Chella Skincare & Brows and best of all each mom and guest of age will receive free mimosas. Children of all ages will receive complimentary OJ. Treatments available May 1 through May 31.

Then on Sunday check out the Champagne Brunch in Vue Restaurant featuring international cuisine from11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The buffet is available for $99 (Adults) and $40 (Children ages 6- 12) per person. Enjoy live entertainment, receive a special rose for mom, and 5 X 7 family photo. For reservations visit www.lagunacliffs.com.

Guest Writer – Kerri Zane
Kerri is an Emmy award winning television executive producer, healthy living expert, single mom advisor, speaker, and author of “It Takes All 5: A Single Mom’s Guide to Finding the REAL One.” published by Morgan James, (November 2012). She is the family travel expert for Peter Greenberg Online, a regular contributor to What’s Up For Kids as well as various mommy blogs.

The one thing working moms have in common is that they’re busy ladies with a lot on their plate. The second thing they have in common is that they feel guilty a lot of the time. One of the main sources of that guilt comes from the feeling that they don’t have time to spend quality moments with their children; “life is just a race” moms tell me.

A very important thing for working mothers to understand is that it doesn’t take much to satisfy their child’s need for attention, and if just a few things are put into place, they can be guaranteed that they are giving their child all they need to.

What are those things?

Well, we all know that children need focused attention in order to feel loved. And, if they feel this focused attention on a regular basis, they are better behaved and happier kids to be around. The point then is to create moments of focused attention.

Here are seven ways working moms can give their child focused attention when they have little time to give:

1. Create a ritual. The definition of a ritual is: a series of actions regularly and invariably followed by someone. With this in mind try to think of what small ritual you can create with your children that can happen everyday, without fail. Perhaps each morning you and your children light a candle (or turn on battery operated ones) at the breakfast table and you share your intention for the day. Perhaps you do and say certain things each night at bedtime. Whatever it is, keep it simple; the more simple, the more impact it has.
2. Schedule one-on-one time. Working moms need to be organized. Carry this organization through to spending one-on-one time with each of your children once a month. Brainstorm activities you and your child would like to do together then once a month pull one of those ideas and schedule it on your calendar. It doesn’t have to be long; 30-60 minutes is all it will take. (Children who I surveyed told me this!)
3. Plan a theme night. This is one of my favourite things to do. Choose a country and plan a family evening around the theme of this country. For example, if you choose Japan, your family can brainstorm costumes, music, dishes to cook, movies to watch, etc. Plan these theme nights every 4-6 months and just watch the bonding that occurs!
4. Make reading together YOUR thing. What could you do to make reading a special event between you and your children? Could you read a chapter book out loud each night for 15-20 mins after dinner? Could you cuddle in bed each night and read them a story? Could you make up a story each night or save this for Sunday night?
5. Bake on the weekend. Get a great cookbook (choose it together) and bake one thing each weekend from the book. Think, “Julie and Julia”, the movie with Meryl Streep. How exciting would it be to bake through a cookbook (baking book) and experiment together?
6. Make grocery shopping YOUR thing. Create a tradition that after the weekly grocery shop you all go for a hot chocolate or special drink.
7. Go to the Library. Create a special tradition around the Library. How about Friday after the school pick being your time to go hang out at the library and collect books? Or, does your library have weekend reading, rhyme or story times? Be sure that your kids choose their books first so that they have something to look at as they respectfully give you time to browse.

As you can see, all of my ideas are based around keeping things slow, simple and meaningful. You don’t have to have all the time in the world to spend with your kids, it’s just about making the time you DO have, count

Sesame Street Live “Can’t Stop Singing” is a larger-than-life, musical touring stage production featuring Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie…and more.  Each performance is 90 minutes of singing, dancing and audience participation, including a 15-minute intermission.  The perfect length for very young children!

When Elmo gets his furry fingers on Abby Cadabby’s magic wand, there’s something in the air – and Sesame Street becomes a nonstop, all-singing, all-dancing musical montage! Grover and Baby Bear sing their highs and lows, Cookie Monster sings fast and slow, Bert and Ernie converse in song and Murray makes mouth music for all to sing along! Learn why it feels good to sing a song, but why it feels good to stop, too! What will Elmo learn about the power of musical magic? Join the conga line of fun to find out!

 New Play Zone Experience       

Come and play BEFORE the show! Play Zone at Sesame Street Live is a fun way for children to experience their favorite street! Sing and dance with Sesame Street friends, sit in Big Bird’s nest, twirl in Zoe’s dance studio, sit on the steps of 123 Sesame Street, and much more. You won’t want to miss a single picture-perfect moment! Hosted by Murray, Play Zone opens one hour before the show – best of all, Play Zone is FREE with your Sesame Street Live ticket!

Performance Schedules

Thousand Oaks Performance Schedule

Friday, May 24          10:30 am & 7:00 pm

Saturday, May 25     10:30 am, 2:00 pm & 5:30 pm

Sunday, May 26        1:00 pm & 4:30 pm

Los Angeles Performance Schedule

Friday, May 31          10:30 am & 7:00 pm

Saturday, June 1      10:30 am, 2:00 pm & 5:30 pm

Sunday, June 2         1:00 pm & 4:30 pm

Long Beach Performance Schedule

Friday, June 7                        10:30 am & 7:00 pm

Saturday, June 8      10:30 am, 2:00 pm, & 5:30 pm

Sunday, June 9         1:00 pm & 4:30 pm

$3 OFF EACH TICKET for WHAT’S UP FOR KID’S – WESTSIDE subscribers!

Use the passcode ERNIE at Ticketmaster.com to receive the special offer.
(Offer excludes Gold Circle & Sunny Seats. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Cannot be combined with any other offer.)”

We are also giving away  4 tickets to 1 lucky family. Will it be you? Just subscribe to the What’s up for Kid’s Westside newsletter and you will automatically be entered.

The  winner will be selected and contacted by May 20th! Goodluck and see you on Sesame Street!

Spring is here. The weather is warmer. Swim lessons have begun. If your child is starting kindergarten in the fall, questions about readiness for “real school” may be on your mind. Parents often ask me, “Will my child be ready? After all, kindergarten has become the new First Grade.”

In interviewing a number of elementary school principals and directors of private school admissions, the consensus is that a confident start is important for a smooth transition and to foster a love of learning. Research shows that children succeed in kindergarten when they display the following:

• The ability to interact with other children and adults
• The ability to verbalize their wants, needs and preferences
• The ability to follow directions
• Recognition of basic colors, shapes, letters and numbers to 20 (or more)
• Strong fine motor skills (such as writing, drawing and the ability to use scissors)
• A sense of independence, such as caring for a backpack and lunchbox

Having these strengths will provide the foundation and confidence for de-mystifying reading, as well as for navigating the playground at recess.

Now…..how can you enhance those skills?  It’s easy!

Play Games.  Taking turns and making predictions are important skills for success in school. Simple games such as I Spy, Go Fish, Dots and Candy Land reinforce color recognition and offer opportunities to practice patience.  Also, playing board games help your child develop simple strategies. While having fun, your child is learning cause and effect, learning to wait, and experiencing winning (and losing) in a safe setting.

Be Creative.  While you wait for dinner at a restaurant, arrange sugar packages or toothpicks to shape letters for each child to identify.  In addition, let your child form letters for others to guess. This experience will deepen the learning as they form letters, as well as read them.  In other settings, guide your child to write letters and numbers with sticks, twigs, or even your bodies. For example, you might suggest the following:  “Let’s make the letter “O” with our mouths …  now, the letter “X” with our arms,” etc.  Use a wide variety of media to practice letter and number recognition.  Use your finger or a stick to write numbers in a tray of salt for your child to identify or encourage her to help you count the number of cars going by while you are at a traffic light.  Remember to let your preschooler choose the activity and have a chance to “test” you too.

Add a Little Magic.  Children love novelty.  Incorporate an element of magic or surprise in every activity.  Simply using a colorful scarf to cover the letter cards in an “alphabet bingo” game, makes the learning more memorable.

Model Problem Solving and Risk Taking.  Show your child that trying matters.  Verbalize when you make a mistake, and engage him in a conversation such as the following: ‘That was an ‘oops.’  Hmm… what do you think we can do to fix it?”  Let your child be part of solving the problem. Give your child time to respond.  The 21st  Century learner must know how to work collaboratively.  Give your children chances to be part of your team by encouraging brainstorming about real life activities, such as how to ice a cake or wrap a present.  Let them help!

Read Aloud.  The greatest gift you can give a child is a love of reading.  She will be reading for the rest of her life.  Reading enhances imagery, vocabulary and when done in a loving setting, creates a bond that no video game or “app” can ever rival.  Engage your child in a conversation about what he thinks might happen next. Enjoy the illustrations together and chat about what you think a character in a picture is feeling.  When reading, show that you are reading from left to right, and read all the way through the book or chapter.  Task completion is an important skill for children to develop throughout their academic careers.

Stay Calm.  Children may not be able to articulate all that they experience but they can pick up on adult anxieties. By modeling calmness and displaying confidence in your child’s kindergarten experience, your child will follow your lead. So, breathe, relax, and enjoy the time together with your child, and…..

Most importantly, have fun!

Guest Writer - Susan Rudich  is an early childhood educator and consultant. She has worked in both public and private schools for over 10 years and currently teaches for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. Previously, Susan taught at the prestigious UCLA Krieger Early Childhood Education Center and also has helped preschools obtain NAEYC accreditation.

Susan’s expertise lies in early childhood curriculum development, with a strong emphasis on kindergarten readiness. Susan enjoys working with parents on how to build success for their young learners. Susan is a candidate for the Master’s degree in Education with a focus on literacy. She is working on her first children’s book, entitled Feet are Neat.

Susan can be reached at susanrudich@yahoo.com

We’re lucky to live in Southern California. We’ve got some of the best surfing destinations right in our backyard, but sometimes we still feel the need to mix things up. So this month we ventured out to explore one of the up and coming hidden gems of surfing destinations in the world, Sagres, Portugal.

There are 22 beaches within a 30-minute drive in this area where you and your kids will find amazing Atlantic rollers. With south and west-facing coastline it provides fine surf conditions the whole year round for all surfer levels regardless of the swell and wind direction. Some of the best beaches for beginners are Castelejo, Amado, Carrapateira and Arrifana and for more experienced surfers try Ponta Ruiva, Cordoama and Vale Figueiras. The best spot to stay with your family is Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel. Accommodation options range from 5-star hotel rooms to a selection of spacious family houses. In addition to surfing your family can luxuriate in any one of the 5 swimming pools, crèche and kids club, spa, gym, 3 restaurants all with children play areas, one family surf bar and village shops.

This April 4th through the 7th Martinhal is hosting Roxy Surf Days. The brands very own Portuguese Roxy girls will be at the resort to get guests into the surf spirit. When you’ve had enough surfing some other activities at the resort include bodyboarding, yoga or pilates, bike tours, walking tours, kayak tours, tennis lessons and more.

Create a life long memory for you and your children!

Guest Writer – Kerri Zane
Kerri is an Emmy award winning television executive producer, healthy living expert, single mom advisor, speaker, and author of “It Takes All 5: A Single Mom’s Guide to Finding the REAL One.” published by Morgan James, (November 2012). She is the family travel expert for Peter Greenberg Online, a regular contributor to What’s Up For Kids as well as various mommy blogs.