Upcoming Events | Pretend City Children's Museum

May 16, 2012

Members Go Green - Magazine Mix-Up

Time: 9:40a.m. (Member’s Only)
Specifically for: Children of all ages and their grown-ups!
Does your child love animals? By the end of two years old, children may be able identify common animals. Today, we will work on language skills as we look at the classic story, The Mixed up Chameleon, by Eric Carle. Through this colorful story time, children will experience a bit of magic as they watch the chameleon change into different animals. Using recycled magazine clippings of a variety of animals, children will be able to make their own collage art of mixed up creatures and talk about the many different shapes, sizes and textures that their creature is made up of.
Play Partner: Pretendgineers and BrainBuilders; our experienced stage staff of trained early childhood and child development educators.
Grown-up Tip: Did you know, children who regularly hear stories read aloud develop a strong foundation for literacy, including the motivation to read? This is a key element for educational and social success. Through reading, your child will learn vocabulary and language, how letters make up words, and phonemic awareness.
RSVP: Not required
Fee: Included with Pretend City Play Partners, Lively Learners, and Engaged Explorers Memberships.

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May 19, 2012

AAA Road Safety Day

Fasten your seat belts because today we launch our very first Auto Club Day! This day is presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Our guests will have a new way to explore the city by focusing on safe driving. It is never too early to help children ensure that they are playing safely in the community and that they understand those important rules which are very important for them to follow for safe play.

May 21, 2012

Pediatric Literacy – How to choose the right book for your child’s development!

What books should you choose for your child that will help to develop important developmental milestones? Join Dr Geeta Grover, M.D., a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Orange County Chapter, in learning how and why it is important to promote children’s literacy development. Research has proven that the more children are read to at a young age the better vocabulary they will have by age 3. Dr. Grover uses this knowledge and incorporates the importance of developmental milestones to provide parents with the tools needed to encourage literacy growth.

Baby Steps through Pretend City!

Think you can’t do an art project with your baby? Nothing could be further from the truth! To complement our monthly theme, Magic of the Arts, this Baby Steps event will focus on infant art activities with your baby to help in their development as well as give you fun bonding time. Make sure to visit the art studio, beach, and grocery store to take advantage of this exclusive, infant and early toddler only time by engaging in age-appropriate facilitated activities. Don’t forget to pick up a free Ages & Stages Questionnaire!* to ensure your little one is developing on track! They’re FREE, fast and easy!

May 22, 2012

COPEing with Toddler Behavior

Class Sessions: Tuesdays, April 3 – May 22
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Specifically for: Infants (0-12 months), Young Toddlers (12-24 months), Toddlers (2-4 years); Grown-ups
The COPEing with Toddler Behavior Program (CWTB) offers an eight-week parenting class to families of children ages zero to three, which utilizes the COPE model of facilitation and group discussion. CWTB supports the need for healthy infant/toddler emotional development by fostering positive interactions and relationships between parent and child. The discussion of infant/toddler developmental stages helps create positive relationships and decreases negative interactions between parent and child. The CWTB classes help parents set children up for better attention, social skills, and self-esteem, creating successful and happy children and adults.
Play Partner: CUIDAR CHOC/UCI Initiative for the Development of Attention and Readiness
Grown-up Tip: Look for the developmental milestones your child is reaching with the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)! Don’t forget to pick up a free Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)!* to ensure your little one is developing on track! They are FREE, fast and easy!

* Available for Orange County residents only

RSVP: Space is limited, Pre-registration is required contact Laura Ramirez at (949) 824-4449

Class Maximum: 35 Parents

Fee: $20 for 8 Week Session

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May 23, 2012

Members Go Green - Newspaper Art

Fairy tale and modern fantasy stories invite us into mystical worlds beyond; but they also pay close attention to real moral “laws” of character and virtue. Stories can help stimulate and instruct the moral imagination of children. Today, fairy tales get a fresh nonsensical twist with tabloid newspaper reports of the well-known fairy tale characters’ gone awry as we read Fairy Tale News. Children will have the opportunity to explore real newspapers as we recycle them to create magical newspaper art.

May 24, 2012

Hour of Parenting Power, Office Hours with Dr. Selena Emond

Did you know that through art you can observe your child’s social and emotional development? This month get tips on how you can use art in your home to focus on your family through special office hours with behavior and parenting expert Dr. Selena Emond! As you sit down during your one-on-one appointment, Dr. Selena will work with you to identify and assess any concerns you may have for your family. You will then have the opportunity to immediately apply and utilize the tips that Dr. Selena provides by playing with your child in Pretend City with her by your side to guide you.

May 28, 2012

Pretend City open full day in honor of Memorial Day!

Member’s Only Time: 9:00 – 10:00a.m., General Admission 10:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.

May 29, 2012

Volunteer & Youth Enhancement Program (YEP!) – Jr. Pretenders Training

Volunteer for fun and help Pretend City Children’s Museum fulfill its mission of educational programs and hands-on exhibits!

May 30, 2012

Members Go Green - Crazy Crayons

Crayons are a wonderful way to work on your child’s cognitive skills as you work together to identify the various colors available. What about when the colors are mixed-up? Today we will use recreated crayons to explore color magic! See what color comes up as you create your very own piece of art while going on an adventure with The Crayon Kids Art Adventure, by Jennifer L. Ruprecht. The crayon kids color everyday! They know what color to make the sky, a tree, and a cat, or do they? Through using their imaginations, the Crayon Kids learn that any crayon can be anything it wants to be and so can you!