Activities

March 17 to April 29. Kidspace guests can adopt a live caterpillar and purchase a caterpillar care kit for $4.00 each at the Busy Bee Learning Store. Kidspace admission cost is not required to purchase a caterpillar and care kit. Children can create their own habitat for their adopted caterpillar, and while caring for it at home, they can watch the magic of metamorphosis as the caterpillar grows, forms a chrysalis, and then emerges as an adult Painted Lady butterfly. If you can’t go on the free day (April 3, 4:00 to 8:00pm) then here’s a coupon for $3 off admission. http://readysetgrowla.org/coupons-partners/kidspace.html

March 29-April 1. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. California Kids Consignment Sale. 25327 Avenue Stanford, Valencia, CA 91355. http://www.calkidsconsignment.com/index.html Shop at the Calkids consignment sale to find toys, clothing, shoes, books, furniture, strollers, play equipment, infant items,nursery items, maternity items, decor and more. Everything you need for baby, kids, and maternity at 50-90% off retail. Many items will be 50% off on April 1.

March 31. 2 p.m. Free showing of Hugo, rated PG, at the Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library. It’s okay to bring your own snacks. 16244 Nordhoff Street, North Hills, 91343. 818-895-3650.

March 31. 2:00 PM - 9:45 PM - Public Star Parties @ Griffith Observatory.

Free public star parties are held monthly with the assistance of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers at the Griffith Observatory from 2:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. They are a chance for the whole family to look at the sun, moon, visible planets, and other objects, to try out a variety of telescopes, and to talk to knowledgeable amateur astronomers about the sky and their equipment. Please be aware that the astronomers and telescope demonstrators must cut off the line for each telescope to enable all viewing to be completed by 9:45 p.m. Hours for telescope operation are not the same as for the building (which closes at 10:00 p.m.) 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027. For more info: http://www.griffithobservatory.org/pstarparties.html or (213) 473-0800 (Thanks to Macaroni Kid for this kickback!)

April 1. 9 a.m. Get tickets for May free day for Huntington Gardens. Call 800-838-3006 or get tickets online at http://www.huntington.org/default.aspx.

April 2. 3 p.m. Magic show at the Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library. 16244 Nordhoff Street, North Hills, 91343. 818-895-3650.

April 3. 5 p.m. Join in the FREE LEGO® Store Monthly Mini Model Build!
Visit your local LEGO Store on the first Tuesday of every month and you can learn how to build a cool mini model, and take it home – for free! Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. This week build a LEGO Seagull. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. See store for more details. Glendale Galleria, Phone: (818) 549-0733

April 3. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

April 3. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening for Kidspace Museum. 480 N.Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103. (626) 449-9144 www.kidspacemuseum.org. You may want to bring a change of clothes for your kids. They have a fun stream and water features the children can play with.

Ongoing Deals

Check out the following website to SAVE up to 50%on LA's best arts and culture. Now through April 30, 2012. This includes discounts to Zimmer Children’s Museum, Aquarium of the Pacific, and many more! http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/thearts/#1

Upcoming Events

Many parks are having egg hunts. I have listed a few. Check your local parks for an event near you!

April 7. 10 a.m. Third Annual Splash & Dash EGG HUNT at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center. Ages 10 yrs and under. Bring your little ones to collect eggs with prizes in the water slide pool. After you make a splash, stay to play in the heated water. Please note that a parent must accompany all small children, and are encouraged to swim with their child.

Life jackets are available at no charge.*FREE ADMISSION.* There is no fee for this event, but participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable, or canned food items with them to be donated to the Santa Clarita Food Pantry.

April 7. 12 noon-3 p.m. Egg Hunt and more at Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library. 16244 Nordhoff Street. 818-895-3650. Bring your own basket. All ages welcome. Moon bouncer, cookie decorating, egg hunt at 2:30. Snacks provided.

April 7. 1:30 p.m. Annual Easter Egg Hunt @ Los Encinos State Historic Park. Join the Los Encinos Docents Association at Los Encinos State Historic Park, on Saturday, April 7, 2012, starting at 1:30 P.M., for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. In addition to the Egg Hunts for ages from toddlers to 10, there will be traditional games, a blacksmith, and old-time music, tours of the historic adobe and performers in period costume. Please bring your own baskets.

The Egg Hunts will be grouped as follows:

1:30: 2 and under in the Corral.
2:00: 3-4 years old 2:30:
5 years and up in the Orange Grove

16756 Moorpark St., Encino, CA 91436.

Intended for families with toddlers to age 10. Admission is FREE. Donations of any amount are welcome to KEEP LOS ENCINOS OPEN. (Thanks to Macaroni Kid for this kickback!)

April 6-April 8 -10 a.m.-4 p.m. Big Bunny's Spring Fling @ LA Zoo.

Big Bunny’s Spring Fling brings fun activities and entertainment for Zoo visitors! Entertainment includes Jim Gamble’s Puppet Show, children’s songs with Dan Crow, and a visit with the Spring Fairies. Bunny related activities include an educational Bunny Discovery Zone, and bunny ear making crafts. 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027. Admission to Big Bunny is free with paid admission to the Zoo. Face painting and Big Bunny photos are available for a nominal fee.

For more info: http://lazoo.org/calendar/index.html

April 10. 6 p.m. Free showing of The Muppet Movie, rated PG, at the Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library. 16244 Nordhoff Street, North Hills, 91343. 818-895-3650.

L.A. County Junior Golf is a wonderful and free program and signups are happening now for the summer! They are offering summer weeklong program for children 18 and under at various golf courses. It is very well organized, with the children grouped by age and plenty of instructors. My boys (ages 6 & 8) love it! (I got to sit and read a book, so I loved it too!) Here’s a link to the website: http://www.lacountyjuniorgolf.com/applications.htm Click on 2012 Summer Schedule available in February 2012 Northern Section.