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We had a company outing over the past weekend and we took our families to Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena, CA. The day was amazing and filled with smiles, laughter, learning and so much more. If you live in the greater Los Angeles area we highly recommend you take your children to Kidspace for a day of fun.

 

 

 

Regular admission is $10 per person and children under 12 months are free… We purchased group packs for 10 people which only cost $69, so we ended up saving $31.00 per 10 people. You know how we love to save and at this price it’s a steal.

 

Kidspace Children’s Museum is located at 480 N Arroyo Blvd Pasadena, CA  91103 its right next to the Rose Bowl and there’s a big park area out-front that is great for picnicking before you go in.

 

To see their hours of operation and holiday schedule check here

 

The adventure begins with a really cool large kaleidoscope style entrance. This fun kaleidoscope entrance really sets the tone for the excitement that waits ahead. The kids actually loved the entrance so much it took 10 minutes just to get into Kidspace. Did I also mention we went on a Saturday at 1pm and there was no line at all?

 

Buying tickets was a snap and again no lines at all. After we got everyone’s tickets we headed down the path, well it was more like we skipped down the path very excited. Before entering the indoor exhibits building there is a large outdoor area with plenty of tables, chairs and umbrellas to keep out of the sun. There are a couple fun, little interactive water features that squirt water out of the ground when you walk over the sensors, the kids liked this. They also had a large blow up tent feature that had oversized building blocks and legos for the kids to play with. We actually didn’t waste much time out here as the kids where all very excited to see what was waiting inside.

 

There’s plenty of stroller parking available outside the exhibit building but you can’t bring your strollers inside.

 

When we opened the doors and walked in to the exhibit building it was every parent for themselves because the kids all headed in different directions at the same time. There are so many fun, educational exhibits it’s amazing that they don’t charge more to spend the day here. If your kids don’t like bugs they are in for a treat because there are some big spiders for them to see.

 

Tyler & Dylan the Trading Cradles twins love bees and they have a bee hive inside that the bees can come and go as they please. Of course the bee hive is incased in plexi glass, so don’t worry. We spent around 15 minutes looking and learning about these bees and their larva.

We got to see some big hairy tarantulas, scorpions, beetles and other amazing little creatures. One thing that really caught my attention was a video they had playing which showed people eating tarantulas and other bugs (Yuck). Apparently with a little salt they are quite yummy but I would never eat one.

 

We spent time painting on a large plastic leaf that had water spray down and wash the paint off every so often. We played with a massive oversized radio tuner and climbed all over a life size safari jeep. We climbed in and out of the tunnels of a human ant hill and climbed up a couple different 40 foot tall towers which had a nice view above.

 

Just about everything in this place has an educational component to it but we have two and half year old twins and they where more excited about the hands on elements rather than learning. Some of the other parents said their children got to learn a great deal about bugs, fossils and more.

 

One thing we really liked is how safe and well designed everything is. A funny tidbit I have to share; they have a sink to wash your hands next to the flower painting exhibit and of course it’s low for little kids to use. The sink had hot and cold water knobs? So as I looked across from the cute little mushroom table I noticed Tyler turning the hot water up really high, what happens next is hilarious. I scream Tyler’s name at the top of my lungs and say “too hot” as I leap over the table to grab him before he burns his hands. I think about 50 parents stopped and starred at my amazing athleticism and wondered what the heck I was doing. The funny thing is, though there’s a hot knob it doesn’t actually turn on hot water. It was quite funny and embarrassing at the same time. The moral of the tidbit is Kidspace thought of everything and made it a safe place for children.

 

To read more about the Kidspace indoor exhibits click here

 

After about an hour or more of bouncing from one thing to another we made our way to the back outdoor area of Kidspace. In my opinion this was the best part of the experience but that’s probably just because I love the outdoors.

 

We did the trike track and learned how important it is to wear a helmet when riding your bicycle. They actually provide helmets for all the kids to ride the trikes. Our sons had a little hard time staying on the road and avoiding other trike traffic but overall they had a blast riding around. We are so thankful they won’t be driving for a long time…

 

This weekend it was bubble weekend and they had quite a few buckets of bubble soap and things to blow different sizes of bubbles. They even had a kiddie pool your child could stand in the middle of and then they would blow a massive bubble around him/her. I picked up one of the bubble rope things and started making bubbles that where massive. I quickly became the bubble entertainment for everyone and was being cheered on by the kids and even some of the staff. It was quite fun watching all the kids pop the 3 to 5 foot long bubbles.

 

Note to Mom: if your children like water and you plan on going during a hot summer day be sure to bring sunscreen, towels and extra clothes because your kids are going to get soaked.

 

Next we found the first water exhibit (the water symphony). This exhibit had a bunch of water sprayers that your kids can spray onto a set of drums. When the water hits the drums it makes different tones on the drum heads. It only took about 30 seconds before the twins realized they could aim the water spray at each other and from then on it was a full on water battle. Our boys love water and so we ended up playing the water drums for quite awhile.

 

We explored all over the huge gardens in the back of Kidspace and around every bend there was another fun activity to do. It’s really serene and beautiful back there and they maintain everything so well. We learned about plants and how to water them with cute little elephant watering cans. We climbed their outdoor climbing wall, we saw fish, turtles, birds and more.

 

Then came what I now call the Kidspace water park (kids basin). Here, you will encounter a rain shower, just like the Arroyo Seco habitat! As rain falls periodically, the basin fills with a few inches of water causing a surge towards the water play areas below. And guess what you can run under the water as it comes down. Tyler and Dylan loved this and they had a blast running under the water and splashing about.

 

Second note to MOM: bring a plastic bag to put the wet clothes in once you change your kids.

 

After spending the rest of the afternoon exploring the Basin we called it a day and headed out front for some well needed relaxation in the shade. We had some snacks and food that we purchased from the Kidspace cafeteria and then headed home for an early bedtime because everyone was wiped out.

 

In summary Kidspace in Pasadena, CA is a true educational adventure that Trading Cradles highly recommends. I think we got through about 50% of what they have to offer and we spent a majority of the day there. We plan to go back a couple more times before the summer is over. Kidspace has a lot more to offer from educational events, to an outdoor amphitheater and they have different events focused on different educational adventure topics.

 

To learn more about Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena, CA visit their website at http://www.kidspacemuseum.org

 

Thanks Kidspace for making our company outing an amazing day our kids couldn’t have had a more rewarding day…

 

 

Our busy lives sometimes feel like they are spinning out of control. We have so many places to be and things to cross off our “to-do” list we tend to lose track of the little things we can do to add meaning to our lives and make our family feel appreciated.

Our jobs as mothers entail a lot of areas where we nurture our children – from helping our children learn everyday life skills, kissing boo-boos and displaying the values we hope our children will adopt.  I like to encourage moms to look at what the atmosphere is like in their homes.   Is it chaotic, full of stress and just a home-base – running in and out while on the way to other activities?  It can easily become just a “pit-stop” in the crazy life with kids or it can become a haven where your family wants to come to, receive rest and refreshment.  How do you see your home?

One of the primary duties we are called to as mothers and wives is to create an atmosphere and environment in our home where our family can be refreshed, re-energized and renewed – a sanctuary.

Our family is bombarded with negative influence, harsh words and unrealistic expectations outside the walls of our home. Most everyone comes home after doing something that has consumed the best energy of his or her day. Everyone is tired, but dinner must be prepared, homework completed, and chores accomplished.

I greatly value creating a haven for my family – not only for the sake of my children, but also for my spouse.  Intentionally designing a place where they can be free from fear, where spirits can flourish, and revel in the simple things that truly matter.  Everyday our family is bombarded with outside influences – my question to myself is what and how can I help make my home a place of restoration so that they may be ready for the next day?

 

A few things I keep in mind and feel are important when creating a haven for your children:

 

Show Kindness

How kind are you toward not only your children but to your spouse? Do you treat your children with the same sweetness you offer a visitor you bring into your home?  Often we treat strangers better than we treat our own family. I know I find myself falling into old, bad habits when I am stressed and feeling pressure. My tone of voice, my body language, how I complete a task, my attitudes are all areas I have to constantly be aware of.

Moms are the barometer in the house, if you are in a good mood and it shows, generally everyone else feeds off the energy and falls in behind you!  Kind words welcome relationship, and that is our main goal in our home, building family relationships.

 

Create a warm atmosphere

Simple things like turning on music and lighting candles will create a restful ambiance for our family to enjoy.  Who wouldn’t love to come home to a place where you feel your load lighten the minute you walk in the door?  Children especially are sensitive to sounds, smells and visual elements.  I know my family will immediately comment on a certain smell when they walk in the door – it may be bread baking in the oven or cookies cooling on the counter, there is no other welcoming gesture than smelling something ‘homey’ after a rough day.  If you are not a baker, invest in a few candles that do the trick for you!

 

Keep an orderly home

Managing our home effectively nurtures our family; it communicates our love in a tangible manner. Our family benefits from our management on a daily basis, less chaos means less time wasted looking for things. When the house is in order, the stress level is down for everyone, which results in a place where family members can be refreshed, re-energized and renewed.  I believe my kids find comfort in knowing that they will have clean clothes ready for them in the morning to get off to school on time.  The alternative is a rushed morning quickly washing what you can or finding something in the hamper what will just have to “do” until you can do a load of laundry.  I know I don’t want my children to develop that type of habit to carry into adulthood.

 

Limit Media

I am not against media, but I do think it can become a habit to have the TV on for extended periods of time with no real value.  By setting limits with regard to which programs are allowed and actually reflect your family values, you will provide a safe place for your children as well as encourage other activity that often gets lost when screen time takes priority.  Although media can be seen as only TV, you also need to consider video games, radio station choices, and computer viewing.

 

Being Present

A haven is more of a haven when parents are around.  Simply being there for your child creates a space of safety – a place where you interact purposefully.  It is easy to fall into the trap of multi-tasking, but try to make sure you set aside time where you can give your children and your spouse your undivided attention.  By giving your child focused and undivided attention your child will feel that he is completely loved and truly important to you. Being present, engaged and open to conversation will help develop the relationships you desire to create and will sustain over the years – and it starts in the home.

 

This list could go on with other wonderful examples and principles to incorporate in order to create a haven for your family – what ways are you intentionally creating a place of refreshment in your home?

 

 

Post written by Susan Heid…

Susan Heid is the mom behind The Confident Mom where she loves inspiring  moms to make small changes managing their home and family life giving them more time, less stress and stronger family relationships! She enthusiastically wears the hat of mom, step-mom and foster mom to 4 awesome kids – ages 18, 14, 10 and 17 months; is married to her very own prince charming, loves coffee, cloudy days, and does think the bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle.  Her FREE 5 part mini series: “The Opening Act” is helping moms worldwide become the calm mom they want to be!  Join the community of moms on Facebook or find her @ConfidentMom on Twitter.