Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in san diego, CA

Scooter and Silliness

by Terese Farmen

August 03, 2009

There is something inherently silly about preschool age children. Maybe it's the way they view the world or how they try to use your vernacular in their own attempt at communicating. It could be the way they giggle when you turn their pancakes into smiley faces or spray whip cream directly into their mouth straight out of the can.

Whatever it might be, there is something infectious about wanting to hear that laugh and that giggle. It is not that difficult to invoke and if you have a prop of some sort, all the better.

Our latest "silly time" is around an adorable book called "Scooter the Cat" by Lisa LeLeu. This book comes fully equipped with a hand puppet and rhyme about a stray cat's adoption into a loving family. The book also comes with an empty template where you and your child can invent your own story for Scooter and read it as an alternative to the actual story.

We have so much fun making up new voices for Scooter, biting fingers, making purring sounds and just reading the story. My little one has it memorized and has her own version of funny voices and accents to give to this cat who gets dressed in a bib, visits a vet, gets a bath and gets "rescued" from a community park.

Since the puppet is removable, he is handy (no pun intended), and available to accompany you on plane rides, doctor visits and even the first day of school. He tends to invoke silliness wherever he goes.

5 Reasons to Love the Public Library

by Terese Farmen

June 23, 2009

I wish the Public Library had a delivery service. You know, where you could go online, research a bunch of great books, put in your order and a courier then rushes over and delivers them on your door step. Then there would be no reason why there wasn't enough time in the day or the fated, "darn, they're closed!" when you finally do get an opportunity to make the trip. In today's modern age, the Public Library has found a way to bring more literature and video content into people's homes without having to step outside and without requiring the services of a courier agent. Here's a list of 5 reasons to love your local library.

1. It's free. Well, if you turn in a book late or damage it, there is obviously a charge, but you can generally keep the books out for a long time and as long as somebody isn't on a wait list after you, you can renew it until you've had a chance to finish reading or listening to whatever it is you checked out.
2. You can check out Audio Books online and some of the books are even compatible with your ipod. Although the stories are only available for a set period of time, it is a great way to catch a story in between ballet and soccer practice.
3. You can borrow videos of fiction and non-fiction stories. Some of these videos can be downloaded directly to your computer and others can be physically checked out.
4. They have wonderful reading times, special events, homework help and special children's sections in each of the library branches.
5. They have online video games specific to pre-K students to help teach how to read that are directly accessible online. They also have special Kid librarians to help children with their reading skills.

Books for New Changes in a New Year

by Terese Farmen

January 05, 2009

The New Year promises to bring major life changes to all of us. Preschoolers will begin Kindergarten for the first time; some will be moving to a new house; others will learn how to potty train; and still others will bring a new baby into the family. Books are a great way to bring discussions about these changes to the forefront. Below is a brief list of books that might help your little one  Read more...

Hahahahahahahaha!

by Jenny Ciampa

November 18, 2008

Reading a funny book is a blast, especially when our kiddos are old enough to get the humor. What cracks me up is when my girl starts laughing at something that I didn't even notice or find funny. Laughing is contagious and takes the edge off. When you and your kiddo are in need of some good laugh therapy, check out these ha-ha's: Bread and Honey -bear paints a portrait of his mommy and  Read more...

Thank you, bedtime story creator

by Jenny Ciampa

November 17, 2008

Whoever told parents to read stories to their kids before they go to bed at night should be thanked. Think of all the kids across our country who snuggle up next to a loved one to read a bed time story each night. It's a cherished routine and some books are just perfect for those nighttime stories. A fun book for San Diego kids on their way to bed is Good Night San Diego . This  Read more...

Great apes

by Jenny Ciampa

November 14, 2008

Great Ape Awareness Week is taking place right now at our beloved San Diego Zoo. Now here is an opportunity to educate your preschooler on words, that when they understand and hear them, can set them into action: endangered and extinction. The purpose of this week of apes is to raise public awareness of animals on the brink of extinction. Can you imagine a world without apes? I can't and  Read more...

Follow the yellow book road

by Jenny Ciampa

November 13, 2008

Have you followed Parkway Drive in La Mesa to The Yellow Book Road ? You should, it's San Diego's largest children's bookstore. Toys, music, teaching supplies and obviously books adorn the walls and shelves of this fantastic bookstore. Other than having a top notch supply of children's books, The Yellow Book Road also has a story time every Saturday at 10 am. If you are a book lover and your  Read more...

Thank you, books

by Jenny Ciampa

November 12, 2008

An attitude of gratitude is an attitude worth teaching...and modeling. With our upcoming day of thanks why not begin the conversations of gratitude and giving thanks? Think of how proud you will be when it's your kiddos turn to share what they are thankful for at Thanksgiving dinner. Thank You Bear -now here is the sweetest story of the sweetest bear with a sweet heart. Animal after  Read more...

Homemade Books About San Diego

by Jenny Ciampa

November 06, 2008

When I saw this topic on our Savvy Source calendar I got all giddy. I LOVE making books at home...really, really love it. The creativity involved fills me up and my girl, well she gets a treasured and personalized book. Here are some ideas for homemade books about your babes adventures in San Diego. ABCs of San Diego -create an ABC book with pictures of your babe out and about  Read more...

A Wonder-full Vintage Bookstore

by Jenny Ciampa

November 05, 2008

Remember as a child having your most favorite picture book, story or chapter book? You know, the kind of book you could read over and over and over again or, at best, get lost in for awhile. Fond memories swim in my brain of those books and then those fond memories are interrupted as some of my favorites are now labeled "vintage". Am I really of an age where books of my childhood are  Read more...

Creepy Tomes

by Jenny Ciampa

October 24, 2008

Halloween can be creepy, too creepy for some youngsters. Then there are those fascinated by it all. Some are fascinated by the creepiness only in books-on Halloween Night forget about it. That would be my daughter. Here are some creepy tomes that will peak the curiosity in all levels of creepiness tolerance. Adam Rex has done a brilliant job rhyming about Frankenstein and other B  Read more...

Toys that Come to Life Through Books

by Jenny Ciampa

October 17, 2008

Tomorrow, here at Savvy Source, our awesome writing team will be sharing with you all books about toys that come to life. When I heard about this topic I just had to share my daughter's most favorite book about personification. I have the kind of kid who wants to adopt every stuffed animal she comes in contact with-even visual contact from afar-because she just doesn't want  Read more...

Must Read Halloween Books

by Jenny Ciampa

October 10, 2008

Every October I open up the Halloween storage bin and pull out a pile of October books. Every October I also walk into the bookstore finding myself in the children's section drooling over the latest and greatest in Halloween books. Here are a few that are at the top of our "Must Read Halloween Books" list. Room on the Broom -this is probably the cutest book I have read in a long time. A  Read more...

Siblings Rock Our Worlds

by Jenny Ciampa

September 11, 2008

Siblings can rock the worlds of our children. Heck, I welcomed my sister home with a hairbrush smacking when I was 14 months old and she entered the picture. It's a big transition and one that can be made a bit smoother with some preparation and a few good books. I Used to Be the Baby -an older brother works through the ups and downs of having a new baby in the house. Best part, the  Read more...

Art Walk on the Bay: Kidswalk, Kids Give

by Jenny Ciampa

September 10, 2008

For the past few years, we have been regulars at Art Walk in Little Italy. Progressively through the years this art festival has become better and better. More art, more performers, more icy cold drinks, and more stuff for the kiddos. For these reasons, we are very excited for the return of Art Walk on the Bay (put on by the same folks as Little Italy's Art Walk) this weekend, September 13  Read more...

Resolving Conflicts, Resolving Anger

by Jenny Ciampa

September 08, 2008

Preschooler conflicts are filled with confusing feelings of anger. Resolving conflicts also means accepting the emotions that come along with them. It's OK to feel angry and mad. It's also OK to like yourself even if your feelings make you dislike yourself sometimes. Emotional intelligence is key to a life of conflict resolution, at least I think so. Here are some books that shed light on  Read more...

Starry, Starry San Diego Night

by Jenny Ciampa

August 27, 2008

The wonder of stars up above our world so highthey are sparkly diamonds filling little astronomers with a sense of something far larger than themselves. Here in San Diego, let's share this wonder with our preschoolers. The Sky Tonight -there is one show remaining this year at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center's Planetarium. September 3 rd 's show focuses on the constellations of the  Read more...

Marine Biology for Little Minds at Birch Aquarium

by Jenny Ciampa

August 18, 2008

Little minds are intrigued with life under the sea, just look at the success of Nemo. Living in San Diego, we are fortunate to have an aquarium whose education programs feed those hungry minds about what life under the sea is really all about. Birch Aquarium's A-B-Sea Club offers monthly, theme based classes for infants up to four year olds. With names like Five-Armed Frenzy, Ocean  Read more...

Ahoy San Diego Pirates!

by Jenny Ciampa

August 07, 2008

So, you have a little pirate do ye? Well, blow me down; we have a pirate ship for them to set sail upon! Tell your little scallywag to grab their spyglass and cutlass, it's time to board the HMS Surprise and set sail in search of loot. Sail ho! The Maritime Museum in downtown houses this gun frigate (you might even recognize it from Master and Commander ) and below its wooden decks,  Read more...

A "Down by the Shore" Book Recommendation

by Jenny Ciampa

August 04, 2008

Since we'll be heading to the shore this month, I figured I would recommend a book to enhance those beachy experiences. Connecting real life to literature is something I truly believe in (it's the educator in me) and this book has endless possibilities. Wave , by Suzy Lee, is a wordless picture book with a little girl, a wave and some seagulls. I love that it is wordless because  Read more...

Chinese History in San Diego

by Jenny Ciampa

July 28, 2008

I'll be the first to admit that we have strolled through Chinatown downtown and in the blink of an eye, passed right through it. There are a few buildings that are noticeably Asian and at the Sunday Farmer's Market and Asian Bazaar on Third Street, you get a taste of Chinese influence. But what I found admirable, without it being blatantly obvious, was the fight to preserve San Diego's  Read more...

A Getaway Balloon

by Jenny Ciampa

July 21, 2008

Batman has the Batmobile-and we all know what a fat getaway vehicle that is. San Diegan's have a pretty fat getaway vehicle too-the hot air balloon . Sure, it might not be as sleek and fast as the Batmobile but I'm pretty sure the Batmobile doesn't come with sushi and champagne. And, as we all know, getaway vehicles come with a price. Collect your ching-ching, or your vivid imagination, for  Read more...

Shark Week at Birch Aquarium

by Jenny Ciampa

July 17, 2008

[photo credit: stock.xchng] A reality of being a kiddo, adult, surfer at San Diego's beaches is sharks. Yep, sharks, the T-Rex of the sea. Yikes. Regardless of their menacing and rather terrifying demeanor you cannot help but be fascinated with this predator. Enormous jaws, razor sharp teeth, creepy eyes, dorsal fins cutting water and let's not forget they hunt in our very ocean. An  Read more...

Top 5 Summer Read Alouds: Cultivating Thoughts of Summer

by Jenny Ciampa

July 15, 2008

[photo credit: stock.xchng] Thoughts of summer around here include grandparents, family vacations, memories, the outdoors and adventure. If my girl and I had to choose our top 5 summer read aloud books that cultivate our thoughts of summer, they would surely be these: The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant -this is by far one of my all time favorite children's books because it  Read more...

Three Days In and Around San Diego: Day 3

by Jenny Ciampa

July 10, 2008

The Jewel of San Diego La Jolla, meaning the jewel in Spanish, lives up to its sparkly name. This spectacular coastal community has a day's worth-a weeks worth-of activities for every age group. I've highlighted a kid-friendly day in the life of La Jolla including options because honestly, it's hard to decide. This town is magnificent. Hungry for breakfast? Grab a table on the  Read more...

The Old World Storytellers

by Jenny Ciampa

July 04, 2008

[photo credit: wikimedia] The Coronado Public Library is hosting an old world style, marionette performance of Thumbelina on its lawn, Saturday, July 5 th at 1 pm. An old world style performance? How cool. Many babes might think of Pinocchio singing, I've got no strings to hold me down when they think of marionettes. Or many babes might think, What's a marionette What I find so  Read more...

La Jolla's Very Own Dr. Seuss

by Jenny Ciampa

June 27, 2008

[photo credit: wikimedia] Oh Dr. Seuss , an artist and writer who created a quirky world that young readers fall deeply in to with whimsical rhymes and one of a kind characters. Take pride in knowing he wrote about them in La Jolla while sitting in an abandoned observation tower he made a home. On a shoulder of Mt. Soledad, Theodor Geisel took in the views that stirred his artistic  Read more...

Summer & Reading Go Hand in Hand

by Jenny Ciampa

June 26, 2008

[photo credit: stockx.chng] I don't know about all of you but summertime and reading go hand in hand, it's like sunscreen and swimming pools. Sure, my summer reading has changed from novel after novel to maybe getting through one in three months but hey, reading is reading. Encouraging the love of reading in kids during these not so structured months takes place at the Coronado Public  Read more...

Signs of Growth for a Little Girl

by Jenny Ciampa

June 25, 2008

Today marks the third birthday of one very special little girl in our family and she could not be more excited about this All About Me day. She is not a baby anymore, she is a little girl who is growing'she shares this information with many, many people. To drive this growing theory home even more, I looked around the house for signs of growth. I know she has grown in the obvious, physical  Read more...

5 Classes You Should Know About

by Jenny Ciampa

June 17, 2008

[photo credit: stockx.chng] On those non-preschool days, my girl and I have our favorite habits but you know, we need to kick those habits and try out some new gigs. San Diego offers a lot more than our same ol' habits ever will. Nature, Mommy and Me -on the second Thursday of each month at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park this class is offered for kiddos ages 1-5. Story  Read more...

The Budding Art Critic: How to Make the SDMA a Place Your Child Loves

by Jenny Ciampa

June 02, 2008

[photo credit: stockx.chng] Georgia O'Keefe has arrived! The Georgia O'Keefe and the Women of Stieglitz Circle exhibit is on its last stop, here in San Diego, from May 24-September 28 th . We checked out the exhibit on opening day because I could no longer contain my excitement. O'Keefe's flowers are um, let's say, thought provoking. Before our visit, I dusted off My Name is  Read more...

Book Nooks for Tots: Best Story Times and Reading Rooms in San Diego

by Jenny Ciampa

May 26, 2008

I'll never forget the story time teacher who required all 0-4 year olds be quiet. She even rolled her eyes at kids and shook her head at parents. She did not make books come to life, she sucked the life right out of the room. I promise these places will do the exact opposite. Hands down the best story time we visit is Miss Mary's 10:10 story time at the Coronado Public Library . Her  Read more...

Top 5 Things to do in San Diego on a Rainy Day

by Jenny Ciampa

May 15, 2008

[photo credit: stockx.chng] It's raining, it's pouring, San Diego feels so boring. Aw, it's not that bad, but come on! This city wasn't designed with rain in mind. It rains like 42 days annually. San Diegans are meant to be outside, all of the time. Well, OK, not all of the time but what to do to burn energy? While sitting in a cozy chair sipping a latte at Java Mama in La Mesa, I  Read more...