At Pretend City, April marks the beginning of our Spring Has Spring quarter. This month we’re celebrating Earth Day, Pet Day, and even Superhero Day! We've got some really fun days lined up with special guests visiting the museum. Some of the furry 4-legged kind, too!
April is also Autism Awareness Month. As you may know, Pretend City has a free Family Autism Event every month usually on the last Monday. This event is completely free for families with children on the autism spectrum or with Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). We hope you will also shine light on Autism Awareness this month.
SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
PRETEND CITY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Thursday, April 2: Light It Up Blue! in honor of World Autism Awareness Day
Pretend City colors the city blue today! For the 3rd year in a row, Pretend City participates in Autism Speaks’ Light It Up Blue initiative to help shine light on Autism Awareness. Walk into a blue-lit city all month long as Pretend City stands in support of families who experience the gifts and challenges of having a child on the spectrum. Specially designed activities will help support the cause and educate families:
· Partner in Play (10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.): Footprints Behavior Interventions presents “A Walk In My Shoes”. These series of activities gives your child the opportunity to experience vision impairments, sensory issues, and more; supporting your child’s learning and understanding of what it is like to have a disability.
· Sensational Story Time (3:30p.m.): My Friend Has Autism encourages children to be mindful and patient of the differences that exist and to also appreciate the positive contribution that a child with autism can make to the group. Children will engage in activities that allow them to share their own differences and commonalities.
· Smart Art (All day): Art It up Blue! All day in the art studio your child will participate in blue themed activities!
Support Pretend City Children’s Museum FREE Family Autism Events by donating $1.00 at the front desk!
Fee: Included with museum admission
Event Link: http://pretendcity.org/event/light-it-up-blue-autism/
Event Link: http://pretendcity.org/event/light-it-up-blue-autism/
Fridays, April 3 – May 8: Kindness Club: Social Skills Program
Class Days: Weekly every Friday
Time: 12:30 – 1:15p.m.
Specifically for: Children 4 – 6 years of age; Grown-up supervision required.
This 6-week class series helps children explore self-awareness, kindness, compassion, and self-control. Each class will include either an art activity or a mindfulness exercise designed to encourage positive behavior. Children will also practice identifying feelings, effective communication and problem solving, as they recognize the benefits that kindness can bring to their lives. Registration is required.
Cost: $60 per child for the 6-week class series
(includes museum admission for 1 adult and 1 child on day of the class)
(includes museum admission for 1 adult and 1 child on day of the class)
Saturday, April 4: Celebrate Easter!
No-bunny does Easter quite like Pretend City Children’s Museum! Easter is filled with fluffy bunnies and gooey eggs. We've got some fabulous Easter activities to keep your kids entertained and get them into the Easter mood. It's all totally eggs-citing fun.
· Sweatpea Foundation Rabbit Rescue (11:00a.m.): This rabbit rescue will be celebrating Easter with us as they share bunny knowledge and facts to guests. They will also be bringing some special furry friends for children to meet and greet. Animals can provide great opportunities for entertainment and learning. Most children are naturally drawn to animals; therefore interaction with animals can be a fun activity where children are engaging in learning at the same time. With Easter just one day away, children will love meeting these sweet bunnies!
· Meet N’ Greet: Make sure to capture the magic of the holiday by taking a photo with Mr. Bunny! He will be hopping in throughout the day to meet and greet little ones. Make sure to say hello to receive a special Easter treat!
· Growing Up Great Games: An Egg-cellent Adventure await little ones! Help them solve the riddles and find the (paper) Easter eggs hidden throughout the city. Turn in your completed egg hunt for an Easter surprise.
· Music & Movement: It’s time to do the Easter Bunny Hop. This hop is sure to get your little trainee Easter Bunny’s rabbit feet dancing!
· Smart Art: Egg-xtravagant Eggs – Easter eggs are a symbol of the season. Visit us to decorate your very own egg utilizing a variety of colorful mediums and materials.
Fee: Included with museum admission
Event Link: http://pretendcity.org/event/celebrate-easter/
Saturday, April 11: Celebrate National Pet Day!
Celebrate National Pet Day on April 11 at Pretend City Children’s Museum. Pets are a great addition to the family. There is also research on the benefits of children having pets at home. Pet ownership can teach children a range of important life lessons on responsibility, compassion, empathy, kindness, friendship, and patience (to name just a few skills and attributes). Special guests will be at Pretend City for Pet Day to educate families about responsible pet ownership and share community resources.
· Sweatpea Foundation (11:00a.m.) who will have live rabbits for petting and information regarding their rabbit rescue
· OC Animal Care will present interactive activities to show children how to be responsible pet owners and understand animal behavior
· The Little Red Dog, Inc. (10:00a.m. – 3:00p.m.) will be onsite helping share information about pet adoptions, becoming a shelter volunteer, and becoming a foster.
Fee: Included with museum admission
Monday, April 13: Baby Steps through Pretend City
Time: 2:00-3:30p.m.
Specifically for: Infant (0-18 months), grownups. For the comfort of our infant guests, no older siblings please.
Do you have questions about feeding, napping, crawling, or just want to enjoy an event where you and your baby can come and play? If so, Baby Steps through Pretend City is the event for you! This monthly event is a great opportunity to ask questions, meet other parents, and engage your baby in developmentally appropriate activities and exhibits. Pretend City was designed with your infant in mind, but with so many excited, older children playing in the museum, it may be hard for your little one to get around. This monthly event allows you to take advantage of an exclusive, infant only times by engaging in age-appropriate facilitated activities which will teach you about your baby’s developmental milestones.
Cost: Free for infants 0-18 months; Adults are $10. (Free for Pretend City Members)
Friday, April 17: The City Olympics
Time: 6:00 – 8:30p.m.
The ultimate family night is happening at Pretend City’s City Olympics! Join other families in the community for an evening of physical fitness, family and play. Participate in the Olympic events in each of our exhibits, including "Quick Dress" in the Fire Station, an Obstacle Course in the Theater, Olympic Trivia in the Marina and more! You can even decorate your medal and pose for a photo op on the Olympic pedestal! Other activities include and opening & closing ceremony, an athlete’s dinner & an opportunity drawing with a ton of great prizes. This is one family night you won't want to miss out on!
RSVP: Register online. Registration required.
Fee: $10 per person
Event Link: http://pretendcity.org/event/city-olympics-ylc/
Event Link: http://pretendcity.org/event/city-olympics-ylc/
Wednesday, April 22: Celebrate Earth Day!
Earth Day celebrates our amazing planet Earth, and the plants and animals that live here with us! As budding environmentalists, children will be motivated to recycle, reduce and reuse waste through diverse activities. Children will experience the outcomes of wasteful actions and make the learning connection that their actions can have a dramatic impact on the environment. Special offerings will include:
· Sensational Story Time (Morning): Compost Stew will introduce children to the idea of composting. They will work on science skills as they sort items to create their own composting bin and math skills as they put the composting steps in order.
· Let’s Move (Afternoon): Don’t miss the Recycle Relay! Children will see just how much trash we can cut down on going into the landfill by recycling.
· Smart Art: This handmade Planet Earth will serve as inspiration for your child to be green every day.
Get your hands earthy making seed balls with Earthroots Field School from 11:30a.m. – 3:00p.m.!
Seed balls are fun and easy to make for all ages. Seed balls are marble sized mixtures of native seeds, clay and compost used to replant habitat. Take them with you and toss them into empty landscapes to plant a habitat. Seed balls protect the ungerminated seeds from being eaten by birds or other critters and keep them in place until the right amount of rain falls to wash away the clay leaving the seeds surrounded by a moist bed of compost, ready to grow. www.earthrootsfieldschool.org
Fee: Included with museum admission
Event Link: http://pretendcity.org/event/earth-day/
Monday, April 27: Family Autism Event
Specifically for: Families with children of all ages who are on the autism spectrum; Pretend City will be closed to the general public
Time: 5:00 – 7:30p.m.
Pretend City Children’s Museum holds a special monthly event for children and their families to have fun in an autism-friendly environment along with other families. Community partners, who specialize in supporting children on the autism spectrum, will be on-hand to enrich your family’s play experience with welcoming smiles and practical support.
RSVP: Register online. Registration required.
Fee: Free for families with children on the autism spectrum.
RSVP: Register online. Registration required.
Fee: Free for families with children on the autism spectrum.
Tuesday, April 28: Imagination Conquers the City! (Superhero Day)
Children love superheroes. What’s not to love? Strength, courage, smarts, super powers, the ability to conquer any obstacle in the blink of an eye! Your children’s imaginations will soar as they become Pretend City’s superheroes. Fun activities will inspire them to do good and be the best they can be! This event is part of the Arts Orange County’s Imagination Celebration arts festival.
· Smart Art: Make your very own superhero threads in the art studio. Cuffs, capes and masks will be the style of the day!
· Let’s Move: Visit the Superhero Training Course to build your skills! See if your child has what it takes to make it through the obstacle course, take down walls, hit the target, and build super strength.
· Café Creations: Super Snacks are necessary for any super hero to keep their energy up to power through the day. Learn about healthy eating and how it relates to your physical energy. A tasty super snack will inspire your children to continue to eat healthy!
Fee: Activities included with museum admission
Discount: Children who come dressed up as their favorite superhero will receive FREE admission!
Discount: Children who come dressed up as their favorite superhero will receive FREE admission!
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