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.
June 1, 2012
Comprehensive Developmental Checkups
Time: 8:30 – 9:30a.m., Member priority
8:30 – 11:00a.m., General admission
Specifically for: Infants (0-12 months), Young Toddlers (12 – 24 months), Toddlers (2-3 years), Preschoolers (4-5 years); Grown-ups
Your child’s growth and healthy development is extremely important to us! That is why Good To Go From Head To Toe, our child development initiative, is here to help you stay on track! Join us at our FREE screening checkups for developmental, cognitive, behavioral and health concerns for children ages 0 – 5. At the screenings, the children are taken through eight different stations and are seen by occupational and physical therapists, an audiologist, a speech therapist, a cognitive specialist, vision specialist, mental health professional and nurses who will refer them for additional service if needed. You will also receive assessment results to take to your child’s pediatrician, school, or health care professional.
Play Partner: Family Support Network
Grown-up Tip: Have questions about your child’s development? This comprehensive developmental checkup is the place for you. Regular developmental checkups are the best way to ensure that your child is meeting the specific developmental milestones that are appropriate for his or her age.
RSVP: First come, first served
*Valid for Orange County residents only.
Fee: Free; museum admission neither required nor included
• Maximum: 75 Children
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June 2, 2012
Mad Science Goes Green – Dirt on Garbage
Time: 10:00-11:00a.m.
Specifically for: Kindergarteners (5-6 years), School Ages (6 years and up); Grown-ups
This class is sure to have your child and family focusing on recycling, reducing, and reusing your garbage! In this class your child will practice some basic scientific principles by making observations and predictions as they explore landfills and the decomposition rates of common household trash. Investigation skills will be used as children review a variety of alternative packaging methods and choose which the best is. Your child will even get to make their own take-home toy out of recycled and recyclable materials which will be a constant reminder to GO GREEN!
Play Partner: Mad Science of South Orange County
Grown-up Tip: Exploration is an important part of the science process. Your child needs to explore different objects using the five senses; vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell. Using all their senses will help children develop a hypothesis on how and where to use their new found objects.
RSVP: Register at Pretend City
Maximum: 25
Minimum: 5
Last Date to Register: Thursday, May 31, 2012
Fee: Included with museum admission
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June 5, 2012
Pocket Full of Feelings™
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Specifically for: Grown-ups Only
“Feelings are real and something we feel. What matters the most is the way we deal”™
A child’s behavior, and misbehavior, is an expression of how they feel, so let’s help them learn how to express their feelings in a positive way. In this parent-child interactive class, learn how to:
• Teach your child about communicating what they feel
• Identify behaviors
• Connect behaviors to feelings
• Model appropriate and fun ways for your child to DEAL with their feelings
• Address your child’s behavior in order to change misbehavior to best behavior
• Identify behaviors
• Connect behaviors to feelings
• Model appropriate and fun ways for your child to DEAL with their feelings
• Address your child’s behavior in order to change misbehavior to best behavior
Leave this class series understanding what feeling your child is communicating to you when they misbehave and how you can support them to communicate more effectively. Don’t forget to wear clothing with pockets!
Play Partner: Dr. Ann Corwin, The Parenting Doctor and Karin Lombardo, MA – creators and mothers.
Grown-up Tip: Expressing feelings is a big task for a child. Asking children how they feel when they accomplish a task or look upset can help them identify their emotions. Offer your child the vocabulary, such as happy, sad, and angry or excited, to help put a name to a feeling.
RSVP: Register below; No children are allowed
Maximum: 70
Minimum: 20
*Class subject to cancellation should the class minimum not be met.
Fee: $10
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June 6, 2012
Members Go Green with Sid the Science Kid – Wondrous Water
Time: 9:40a.m. (Members Only)
Specifically for: Children of all ages; Grown-Ups
Have you ever wondered how to explain where that icky, soapy toothpaste bathroom water goes after it runs down the drain? Find out today as we explore and learn about natural water systems, plumbing, and water conservation. Through this fun activity and corresponding Sid the Science Kid episode your children will begin to understand why they shouldn’t waste water.
Play Partner:Members will be guided by Pretendgineers and BrainBuilders; our experienced stage staff of trained early childhood and development educators.
Grown-up Tip: Water play is a great way to use all your senses. Add cups and spoons to water play and make it a mathematical learning experience. This one activity uses the senses, cognitive and critical thinking, and gross and fine motor skills! Who knew water play could do so much?!
RSVP: Not required
Fee: Included with the following Pretend City Memberships: Play Partners, Lively Learners and Engaged Explorers
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June 8, 2012
Way to Play Day, A Package of Learning!
Time: 10:00a.m. – 3:00p.m.; Way to Play Days occur on the 2nd Friday of every month
Specifically for: Infants (birth -12 months), Young Toddlers (12-24 months), Toddlers (2-4 years), Preschoolers (4-5 years); Grown-ups
Are you curious about your child’s healthy development? We’re here to help! Join us every 2nd Friday to get answers to questions about your child’s development. Our Way To Play Adventure Guide provides activities to enhance your play at Pretend City as well as at home. Good To Go From Head To Toe, Pretend City’s child development initiative, together with our Play Partners are here to assist you with:
• Developmental Checkups (available from 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.): Assess speech, motor, cognitive and social areas (first come, first served; limited spaces available)
• Parenting resources: Connecting families to development, behavior, learning, parenting, education and support services
• Parenting resources: Connecting families to development, behavior, learning, parenting, education and support services
Play Partner: Help Me Grow, Orange County, Irvine/ Laguna Beach School Readiness Nurses; Grown-ups
Grown-up Tip: Our Play Partners are here to answer any questions you have on your child’s development. You can also get information to a variety of resources in the community. Can’t make the checkup today? See where your child is developmentally by completing an online Ages & Stages Questionnaire!* They’re FREE, fast, and easy!
*Valid for Orange County residents only.
RSVP: Not required
Fee: Checkups and activities are included with museum admission
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June 9, 2012
Volunteer & Youth Enhancement Program (YEP!) – Jr. Pretenders Training
Time: 9:00-9:30 a.m. YEP! Program Jr. Pretenders Workshop
10:00-11:30 a.m. Volunteer & YEP! Program Jr. Pretenders Training
Specifically for: New Volunteer Program Participants or Interested Participants and youth 12 years* and older
“The four seasons are salt, pepper, mustard, and vinegar.” This anonymous quote came from a child’s answer to the question “what are the four seasons?” If you feel passionate about science and educating and inspiring the scientists of tomorrow then Pretend City is the place for you! This month we are focusing on science in our city. It is through volunteers who lend their knowledge and experiences to assisting us in fulfilling our educational goals that our vision will help usher in children who have new solutions to global challenges. This is vital to our common future! Click here to learn more about the variety of volunteer experiences at Pretend City!
Play Partner: Our experienced and knowledgeable Volunteer Coordinator
Grown-up Tip: By 5 years old children can collaborate and work in a group. Have your child plan an activity to do with playmates. Going to the beach and doing a beach cleanup will help develop social skills and teach your child about the importance of caring for the environment. Talk with your child about how important it is to take care of our planet.
RSVP: Register here.
Maximum 20
* Please note new and interested volunteers of all ages are welcome to attend this training, however, youth 11 years and younger must be accompanied by a grown-up at all times.
Fee: Free; museum admission neither required nor included
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June 13, 2012
Members Go Green with Sid the Science Kid – Awesome Air
Time: 9:40a.m. (Members Only)
Specifically for: Children of all ages; Grown-Ups
Next time you take a walk through the park with your child make sure to stop and smell the roses. They look so calm and peaceful, but plants and trees are working hard. Today we will learn all about the various “jobs” that plants and trees have and why they are so important to the environment. We will work together to investigate ways to ensure that we keep our plants safe and healthy with Sid the Science Kid.
Play Partner: Members will be guided by Pretendgineers and BrainBuilders; our experienced stage staff of trained early childhood and development educators.
Grown-up Tip: Encourage your child to plant some herb seeds in a pot and watch them grow. Don’t forget to water the plant daily and ask questions! Your child will learn about what plants need to grow, such as sunlight, water and oxygen. Trimming herbs from your plant to add to dinner will help your child learn about the concept of “farm to table”.
RSVP: Not required
Fee: Included with the following Pretend City Memberships: Play Partners, Lively Learners and Engaged Explorers
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Speech & Language Screenings
Time: 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.
Specifically for: Young Toddler (18-24 months), Toddlers (2-4 years), Preschoolers (4-5 years); Grown-ups
Join our play partner SPA in a speech and language screening to assess your child’s clarity of speech, use and understanding of language, pronunciation of words, hearing and more. Learn about what you can do at home to promote your child’s speech and language development. Our play partner, Help Me Grow, will be onsite to offer valuable resources in our community.
Play Partner: Speech Pathology Associates & Help Me Grow
Grown-up Tip: Around age 4 children understand and use simple words for objects that are real or symbolic. Play a “naming game” by naming the signs that represent stores and street signs.
RSVP: First come, first served; max 15 children. Screenings take approximately 10-20 minutes per child.
Fee: FREE; museum admission neither required nor included
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June 16, 2012
Celebrate Father’s Day
Time: A.M. Activities: Smart Art, Scientific Stories (morning times may vary)
P.M. Activities: Sensational Science, Creative Construction (afternoon times may vary)
Specifically for: Children of all ages; Grown-ups
This year celebrate Father’s Day early at Pretend City! Your experience is guaranteed to help dads, uncles, grandpas and kids alike enjoy the magic of playtime together and tap into the infinite possibilities of their imagination. The day’s guided activities will be brimming with endless fun and scientific tidbits so join us to discover:
• Scientific Stories – Daddies Do It Different will be the basis for the start of utilizing the science skills of comparison and observation. Your child will enjoy fun stories while bringing a personal touch to a Venn diagram activity.
• Sensational Science – Mechanics Machines! Today’s the day to play in the “garage” just like dad! Children and grown-ups will encounter open-ended problem-solving Lego activities designed to enable them to explore, investigate, and solve tasks related to mechanical principles.
• Creative Construction – WoodWorks! Dads and children alike will enjoy this workshop! Using realistic tools, families can work together to build a take-home project out of foam "wood".
• Smart Art – I Love My Daddy! This book will inspire smiles as we see the love between parent and child from a toddler’s point of view. This will be followed by an art activity of love.
• Sensational Science – Mechanics Machines! Today’s the day to play in the “garage” just like dad! Children and grown-ups will encounter open-ended problem-solving Lego activities designed to enable them to explore, investigate, and solve tasks related to mechanical principles.
• Creative Construction – WoodWorks! Dads and children alike will enjoy this workshop! Using realistic tools, families can work together to build a take-home project out of foam "wood".
• Smart Art – I Love My Daddy! This book will inspire smiles as we see the love between parent and child from a toddler’s point of view. This will be followed by an art activity of love.
Play Partner: Pretendgineers and Brainbuilders; our experienced stage staff of trained early childhood and child development educators; Grown-ups
Grown-up Tip: Today is a great time to do something special for Dad. Help your child make several pictures of what Dad does for your family. Tie it together just like a book so you can read the story to Dad. Your child is now an author and an illustrator!
RSVP: Not required
Fee: Included with museum admission
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