By KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions

Once again HDNet Movies – kidScene offers a collection of classic family films in May that will have you laughing out loud. Whether you’ve seen these films before or are experiencing them for the first time, these popular titles will please even the pickiest viewers.

Two films being shown in May are “Mousehunt,” starring the hilarious Nathan Lane and Lee Evans and “Ice Age,” the hit animated film that spawned many sequels – all box office hits! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Molly Jackson says “Mousehunt” is “a laugh-out-loud family comedy.” “Ice Age” reminded our Film Critic Brianna Hope Beaton of when she was young, noting that the film is very funny and also teaches “you should help people and animals as much as you can, because it can result in a good ending.”

Visit HDNet Movies – kidScene for all the latest reviews and screenings.

Mousehunt

Reviewed by Molly Jackson, age 11

See Molly’s full video review here.

If you are an old time classic film lover like me, you will love “Mousehunt,” a laugh-out-loud family comedy. This movie is a battle of wits between humans and a mouse. Two men inherit a string factory and an old, run down house from their dad. Throughout the film, they battle to get along, but the hunt for the mouse brings them closer. The two brothers, Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars (Lee Evans) are hilarious!

I enjoyed “Mousehunt,” but it was hard to sit through at times because I love animals so much that it made me a little nervous. It is funny and also has some adult humor. The sets are amazing! They look as if they were torn apart, flooded and even bombed in one case! The writers do a fantastic job with the comedic timing. It kept me laughing the whole time!

I love Caesar (Christopher Walken) because he is very serious and so funny at the same time. He is the exterminator who Ernie and Lars hire to kill the mouse. He comes into the house telling the brothers that this will be super easy. He is no ordinary exterminator, because to find out about the mouse he eats and smells the poop! This mouse even out-smarts Caesar. The character Caesar really pulls this film together. I love Christopher Walken from other films such as “Hairspray” and “Click.”

My favorite scene is when Lars is in the string factory. He is trying to work the factory by himself because all the workers are on strike. It’s really fun to watch because every piece of his clothing gets caught. He struggles to free himself, with no success. It only gets much worse! To find out more about this great scene you should watch the movie.

I recommend “Mousehunt” for ages 8-12. It is a hilarious and heartwarming story.  I give “Mousehunt” 4 out of 5 stars.

Ice Age

Reviewed by Brianna Hope Beaton, age 13

See Brianna’s full video review here.

This 2002 animated film is very appealing and funny to watch.

Manfred (Ray Romano) is the protagonist, Sid (John Leguizamo) is the sloth and Diego (Denis Leary) is the saber-tooth tiger. They are given a baby human by its mother to take care of it. The three set out to find the human tribe so that the rightful owners of it can teach it their ways, but Diego has to bring the baby to his herd master so they can kill it for revenge. Will Diego bring it to his herd so that they can kill it or will he help his friends take the baby back to its tribe?

“Ice Age” is a great film. I really like it. I remember watching this film awhile back and I still like it. The script is well written by Michael J. Wilson and flows smoothly. The colors are vibrant throughout the film. The background music really enhances the specific mood of the scenes and makes it more enjoyable. My favorite character is Sid because he is extremely funny and never hesitates to speak his mind. My favorite scene is in the very beginning when Scrat (Chris Wedge-voice) desperately tries to find a place to hide his acorn from the cold harsh wind. On one of his tries he pushes it too far into the ice and cracks the ground, then a huge wall of ice comes down and almost kills him.

This film keeps me laughing and also produces many lessons to teach kids. One lesson is that you should help people and animals as much as you can, because it can result in a good ending.

“Ice Age” is rated PG with Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha directing it. It also stars the voice talents of the hilarious Cedric the Entertainer (Carl), Goran Visnjic (Soto) and Jack Black (Zeke.)

I recommend “Ice Age” for ages 6 to 13. The genre of this film is adventure and comedy. I give this film 4½ out of 5 stars.

KIDS FIRST! is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media.

Image: iStockPhoto

By Kathie Zaccaria

As a busy mom, I can honestly say that I don’t take care of my skin as good as I should. For me, it’s a combination of a lack of sleep, the boatload of products the line department store shelves, and running my business in between family time.

It’s difficult for me to take time out for me!

When I met with Karen, owner of Firefly Wellness, I went over some of the concerns I had about my skin. It’s dullness was high on my priority list.

Karen asked me if I exfoliate. “Nope,” I responded. Why? Because there are so many products that I have no idea what to buy.

“How about just starting with a washcloth?” she asked.

“Oh, I have one of those,” I humbly replied.

Long story short, Karen addressed all my concerns and then we happily began the wonderful process of a facial. This was only my third facial. Ever. And by far, the best one to date. Obviously, I’m a newbie at this, but when you can’t move afterwards and just want to lay there daydreaming, something magical happened… relaxation.

Of course, the face, neck, shoulder, arm and hand massage helped immensely as Karen is a massage therapist as well as an esthetician.

We started with a Microdermabrasian treatment, then went on to cleansing, extractions, massage of the face, neck and shoulders, and a mask combined with a hand and arm massage.

During the l-o-n-g extraction session, I apologized to Karen for the amount of time she had to spend on my neglected pores. I gave her my husband’s line and jokingly said, “Well, I was raised by wolves, that’s why it’s so bad.” She assured me I was normal. I think the word “exfoliate” then came back in to the conversation again.

As we age, our skin’s own exfoliation system needs help sloughing off the dead skin cells so those new ones can shine through.

Perhaps your skin cells need some lovin’ too! Karen has two specials going on right now.

• Spring Clean Your Skin with a Microdermabrasion Package
  The package promotion price is only $240 for four treatments, which is a savings of $20 per treatment.  Packages must be pre-paid and all four sessions booked in advance.
• Clairsonic is now available at Firefly Wellness
  She is doing pre-sale now for her initial order and will have them available in time for Mother’s Day. The pre-sale runs from now until April 24, 2013 and for each Clarisonic product ordered and paid for during the pre-sale, you will receive an extra brush head for FREE (valued at $25) AND a FREE 30-minute facial for Mom (valued at $50.) Contact her now to place your order for Mother’s Day!

All in all, Karen made me feel comfortable, relaxed, and gave me some great tips for having good skin. Ahem, and it starts with good skin care!

Connect with Firefly Wellness on Facebook and Twitter!

GIVEAWAY (Ended)

You can also enter this giveaway for a 30-minute facial. Use it for some me time or give it to your mom for Mother’s Day.

Please read the terms and conditions BEFORE entering this giveaway.

Terms and Conditions

1. You MUST be a SoCal Kids San Diego e-newsletter subscriber to enter this giveaway.
2. Entry deadline is Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 6 p.m.
3. Winner will be notified by email. Please make sure to add [email protected] to your address book to ensure you receive notification should you be the lucky winner.
4. Winner must respond within 24 hours of email notification or forfeit prize.
5. This is a random drawing using randomizer.org.
6. No purchase necessary.
7. Must be a U.S. resident 18 years of age and older to enter.
8. ONE entry per person/household, please.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAD ENDED.

In order to facilitate this review and giveaway, I was given a Microdermabrasion treatment and the Firefly Signature Facial for free. However, all opinions are my own.

By KIDS FIRST! Coming Attraction

If you want your child to think you are the hippest parent around, you’d better jump on the app bandwagon now!

Mibblio is an app just for your iPad or iPad Mini. Perfect for the music lover in everyone, and sure to hold any pre-schoolers interest. Interactive and full of options, KIDS FIRST! Critic Canela Roey says, “For me, making music is fun but some of the songs also demand me to dance!” and especially likes that you can add your own music and change it.

Mibblio (app for iPad and iPad Mini)
Reviewed by Canela Roey
See her review on YouTube.

I like making music and I like watching funny videos. Now with Mibblio, I can do both of those at the same time.

Mibblio is an app for the iPad and iPad Mini where you take a story with existing music and you get to add your own musical taste to it. When a song is played, pictures move along with the music telling a story; simultaneously, you create your own musical experience by adding and removing instruments. You can either take away one existing musical sound or all of them. You can also add your own music at the same time. When it’s your own music, you have a keyboard and a choice of eight different instruments from wood, wind and string. Along the side of the screen you can also add 6 different string instruments as well as 10 percussion sounds. The possibilities of musical fun are endless.

The App is free and comes with one song to get started. There are eight other songs to choose from which cost $1.99 each. Fortunately, the free song is playful and catchy and a great way to throw yourself into the game. But there’s such a range of great songs with the other eight, you’d be cheating yourself for not at least trying just one more (or two or three or four or five or six or seven or eight.)

One of the most fun songs for me was “On Top Of Spaghetti.”  It was a song I knew and the pictures and music were funny, but also it was very inviting for me to join in and make it my own. “Wheels On The Bus” was a fun choice as well because you have a kiddie standard which you can dissect and reassemble into an entirely new experience.

For me, making music is fun but some of the songs also demand me to dance!  That’s a plus. The open-ended capability of this app really lets me be in control, which I like. It’s pretty simple to catch onto but if you’re younger than 7, you’ll probably need a grown up to show you the ropes.

This is something I wish I had when I was younger!  I’d recommend this app to ages 4 to 7. While I liked it, I think the kiddie song choices and unlimited creativity is perfect for the younger ones as I found myself getting a little tired of it after ten minutes or so. However, I could definitely see a younger child having loads of fun playing this game! My seven-year-old sister loves this app. She said, “I love music and that’s what I like to do!”  So for younger kids, I give Mibblio five out of five stars.

The Mibblio app is available for the iPad and iPad Mini for free from the iTunes Store.

KIDS FIRST! is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media.

By KIDS FIRST!

“Parental Guidance” seems to have appeal to every age group – kids, parents and even grandparents really relate to this story. 13-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Brianna Hope Beaton, says “this is a good comedy that will keep you laughing” and Cheyenne Nguyen, our 9-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic points out that this film “has something for every age.”

Rated PG, this film is now available in DVD/Blu-Ray. So, if you are looking for a film to share with your family, here’s your chance.

“Parental Guidance”
Reviewed by Cheyenne Nguyen
Click here to see Cheyenne’s video review!
Watch Cheyenne’s interview with cast here.

I love this movie. It has something that every age group can relate to. Artie (Billy Crystal) and Dianne (Bette Midler) are asked by their daughter Alice (Marisa Tomei) to watch her three kids for one week. Alice and her husband have won a trip for two to celebrate their success. However, Alice wants Artie and Dianne to use her method of parenting not the old school way that Artie and Dianne used to raise her. The children are Harper (Bailee Madison), Turner (Joshua Rush) and Barker (Kyle Breitkopf). They are not to have any sugar and live a very structured life. Each has their own issues. Artie and Dianne have to learn how to deal with their issues using the 21st century method.

Billy Crystal owns his character. I really see Billy Crystal as Artie. I did not see any acting with this character. Bette Midler also does a great job as Dianne, funny and with a great voice. Artie and Dianne’s lines seems like they are improvised and their comic timing is awesome. The child actors are great too. Harper’s look of awkwardness when her crush asks her to his party is so true to life. Turner’s speech impediment is so real; I thought he really has the impediment. Barker is a riot; he has that face that looks as if he’s up to something.

The movie quality is very clear. The props for the smart house are awesome. One day we will all have a smart house and our parents will think it’s creepy. The small home town setting looks just like it’s in Fresno, California.

My favorite character is Turner. He is determined to overcome his speech impediment and defend himself with the bully. He does a great job of stuttering. The lesson in this movie is each generation has their own way of parenting. I rank this movie 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this movie to ages 5 and up.

KIDS FIRST! is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media.

By KIDS FIRST! Film Critics

Return To Nim’s Island, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Friday, March 15, 2013. Following up on the success of Nim’s Island, this sequel is a great platform for Bindi Irwin, through her portrayal of Nim, to introduce young people to the importance of protecting our earth and its fragile species.

Three of our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics reviewed the film and shared their thoughts with us. According to Brianna Hope Beaton, Nim teaches us “that you should do everything you can to help the marine and wildlife.” Cassandra Hsiao says, “Return to Nim’s Island will take families on a spectacular expedition underwater, into dark mysterious caves, and up awfully steep cliffs.” And, Jailene Arias agrees with the others, that the main message in the film is “don’t give up!”

Check out these great video reviews from Cassandra Hsiao and Jailene Arias and see Brianna’s review below.

Return to Nim’s Island
Reviewed by Brianna Hope Beaton
Click here to see Brianna’s full video review

Listen to our radio interview with star, Bindi Irwin
This film has lots of action, is very funny and is definitely great for the whole family to see.

Let’s return to Nim’s Island to see how things are going with Nim (Bindi Irwin) and her Father (Matthew Lillard). One day they get a message that some people will be buying the island to build an attraction there, but Nim will not stand for it and comes up with some things to do to save what she calls home. She will do almost anything to protect the island and the animals that she loves so well. Everything is going fine until Edmund, (Toby Wallace), comes along to help but brings trouble. Will Nim get to keep living at her personal resort or will she have to pack up and leave?

I really love this film. It’s the sequel to Nim’s Island. I love the underwater shots and the humor. The cast does an incredible job in interacting with the animals and making it all believable. My favorite character is Nim because she is not afraid to speak her mind, and will not let anyone push her around. My favorite scene is when Nim is going on the zip line. It looks really cool to ride and I would love to do it. I love the music as it fits in perfectly with the scenes.

Brendan Maher directs Nim’s Island. Author of the Nim’s Island series, Wendy Orr, is the inspiration behind this film. Everyone does an amazing job – from the animals to all the cast – it makes an impact with an environmental message.

The big message is that you should do everything you can to help the marine and wildlife, if you cannot, please do not harm it. Additionally, it emphasizes the idea to “never give up on what you want to do.”

I recommend, Return to Nim’s Island for ages 7 to 14. Parents will enjoy it as much as their kids. If you love the wild you will love this film. I give this film an overwhelming 5 out of 5 stars. I love the adventure, cinematography, action and, of course, the humor.

Tune in to see the Return to Nim’s Island on March 15 on the Hallmark Channel 8pm EST / 7PM CT. It will also be available on DVD/Blu-ray at Walmart on March 19.

KIDS FIRST! is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media.

By KIDS FIRST!

If you missed Chasing Mavericks when it was recently in the theater, or just can’t get enough of those awesome surfing scenes, you are in luck. Released to DVD and Blu-ray on February 26, 2013 by Twentieth Century Fox, you can now bring the excitement and inspiration – not to mention a bit of the beach – to your own living room!

Enter the KIDS FIRST! Critics Go Local Campaign, by submitting your review of Chasing Mavericks and win free movie tickets or a free skin for your favorite mobile device.

Chasing Mavericks
Reviewed by Cheyenne Nguyen

Click here to see Cheyenne’s full video review!

This movie is based on a true story that will inspire the audience. Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston) is raised by a single mom (Elizabeth Shue) who is never around. He almost died of drowning when he was younger and Frosty Hesson (the local surfing legend) saved him.

Since that day, Jay follows Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler) and notices that Frosty often goes out very early in the morning. One day, Jay follow Frosty to see what he’s doing out so early in the morning. On this trip Jay discovers the secret place where some of the local surfer legends surf. Frosty tells him that the biggest wave will come to this spot one day. He asks Frosty to help him train to ride the biggest waves. During the training process many life events happen and it turns out that Jay is helping Frosty as much as Frosty is helping him. They build a father and son bond.

This movie has so many different emotions. There are the relationships between Jay and his mom, Jay and his first crush, Jay and his best friend, and Jay and his father-figure neighbor. There is so much awesome footage of the waves and the surfing culture that the audience can really enjoy watching while learning. The music is so perfect for all the scenes, especially with the skateboarders and surfers. The scenery of the 80’s and the small town lifestyle is awesome to see. The special effects in this movie are above average. The big wipe out captured is like no other picture I’ve seen.

The message in this movie is to never give up. Sometimes it is so much work to achieve your goals, but if you practice everyday, you will be better than yesterday. My favorite characters are Jay and Frosty. Jay is so friendly and never hold grudges; he always forgives. Frosty is a great surfer with a big heart.

I rank this movie 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this for ages 7 and up.

Listen to the KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions Radio Show on Voice America Kids. Airing soon, the film critics interview the real Frosty Hesson, who is played by Gerard Butler in the film.

KIDS FIRST! is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media.

Jonathan Taylor, Zach Stones, and Joe Birdsong

by Kathie Zaccaria

Kinda serious.

Okay, not really.

Well, when it comes to the art of comedic improvisation, they are serious enough to now offer workshops for kids and adults.

Seeing the value of what an improv class can teach people in all areas of life – whether it be to improve communication skills, garner an edge at an acting audition, or tackle shyness – the National Comedy Theatre (NCT) is expanding their reach by setting up additional space at Liberty Station in Point Loma.

Since their opening night in October, 1999, the NCT has performed more than 3,600 shows during their 13+ seasons, making them the longest running show in San Diego history.

Really. Where have I been? Obviously living in a cave because (1), I love comedy and (2), I can’t believe I have missed out on this for that long!

Until now.

My husband and I were guests recently at their theatre on India Street in Mission Hills. This fast-paced, think-on-your-toes show incorporated audience suggestions in every skit. From subject ideas to family personalities, the stage was filled with people who simply amazed me with their ability to perform off-the-cuff, while having loads of fun doing it in front of a live audience. They are not trained comedians or trained actors, they are just like you and me. Perhaps with just a tad more improvisational skills. Just a tad (ahem).

Think back to “Whose Line Is It Anyway” hosted by Drew Carey. No one belted out a tune like Wayne Brady, but they all had the comedic chutzpa to bring on the laughter. And we laughed a lot as the two teams battled it out for the title.

Can anyone do improv? Probably not. But YOU can certainly try.

“Ask any casting director what skills are most important when seeing an actor at an audition,” says Gary Kramer, artistic director, National Comedy Theatre. “The vast majority would answer that it is the ability to improvise.”

Additionally, corporate employers need employees who can communicate clearly and can think quickly on their feet. A recent Wall Street Journal article on must-have job skills in 2013 as determined by human resource professionals, indicated that flexibility, and employees getting out of their comfort zone to adapt to changing customer needs and the industry environment.

National Comedy Theatre Youth workshop

When it comes to kids, attending an improv class can help build confidence and improve public speaking. It’s also a creative outlet where no previous experience is necessary. Students will learn the basics of creating improv, storytelling and stagecraft. At the end of each series of workshops, students will have the opportunity to perform for friends and family.

NCT will offer these improv classes for kids and teens at the NCT Training Center in Liberty Station. Beginning February 23, classes will run every Saturday for six weeks and will finish with a performance on the last day. Classes are $125 for the six-week session and kids eight to 12-years old will meet from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. while teens, ages 13 to 17, will meet from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. More information for the new workshops can be found at www.nationalcomedy.com/kidsandteens.html.

This comedic consort was as much fun to watch as it was impressive. How do they do that? My husband and I pondered after the show. They were quick with ingenuity, quick with creativeness, and quick brainstormers.

They’ve got some serious talent.

Seriously.

About the Author
I am founder and publisher of SoCal Kids San Diego. I am married to a percussionist. We have one daughter, one dog, 4 cats, tortoises, and turtles. Yep, that’s me!

All images courtesy of the National Comedy Theatre.

Disclosure of Material Connection: My husband and I attended an evening performance for free in order to facilitate a write-up on my website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and/or believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

by KIDS FIRST! Coming Attractions

Originally released in 1979, The Black Stallion is a classic film sure to please horse lovers and adventure seekers alike. It’s beautiful cinematography and captivating story have stood the test of time. The Black Stallion is perfect for the whole family, and as Brianna Beaton, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic sums it up, it is “appealing to the eye, inspirational and touching.” Don’t miss this exciting tale, playing throughout the month of February 2013, on HDnet Movies – kidScene.

The Black Stallion

Reviewed by Brianna Beaton, age 13,
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic

This film is very appealing to the eye, inspirational and touching.

Alec Ramsey (Kelly Reno) is on a ship with his father and a very wild black Arabian stallion, which Alec calls Black. A terrible storm happens and only he and Black survive. They end up on a small island and Alec befriends Black. Some travelers stumble across the island and bring them to England, where retired horse trainer, Henry Dailey (Mickey Rooney) helps Alec train Black.

I like this film because of the cinematography and the plot. This is a beautiful story and there are a lot of scenes with great angles and close ups that catch my eye. Black is a very pretty, strong and fast horse. The acting is very believable and I can sometimes feel their emotions. My favorite character is Alex because he is able to earn the trust of Black and this is very hard to do. My favorite scene is when Alec is trying to get Black to like him so he gives him some food and after that he puts some food in his hand and then walks around the beach of the island to get the horse to follow him. After a while this turns into a game. If Black follows Alec then he will get some food.

Carroll Ballard directed The Black Stallion while Melissa Mathison along with Jeanne Rosenberg wrote the screen play. Other actors in this film are Clarence Muse (Snoe), Hoyt Axton (Alec’s Father), and Ed McNamara (Jake).

A message in this film is that you can become friends with any person or any animal and it doesn’t matter if you’re young or old. Also, everything that happens happens for a reason.

I recommend, The Black Stallion for ages 7 to 14. Younger ages may be scared at some of the scenes, but if they are watching this with family, it may not be too scary. Of course, if you are a horse lover, this film is for you and you can add this to your collection.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars. Some of the scenes are a little too short and have too little details, but even with that, this is still a great family film.

KIDS FIRST! is a project of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media.

By Dorothy Gottfredson

Author’s 3-year-old skiing for the first time at Snow Summit

It’s winter time! Yes, even here in sunny San Diego, where many of us seek out the snow. In fact, many Southern California families are probably looking to get their kids on skis at some point before the season ends. Snow recreation isn’t a way of life in Southern California. Even with snowy mountains a short driving distance for many families, the winter season just doesn’t last long enough. So for parents living here, I’ve compiled what I learned these past two ski seasons about ski schools.

Two Ski Resorts at Big Bear

This is our second year as parents taking our kids skiing. Two winter seasons doesn’t seem like a lot of skiing, but for SoCal families it adds up to be a lot of experience! With two seasons of skiing under our kids’ belts, I’ve gotten a lot of inquiries about ski lessons. Both years we took them to Big Bear Mountain (the best known area for snow recreation in Southern California). Big Bear has two popular ski resorts, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. We have tried both!

Kids getting ready to ski at Bear Mountain.

Similarities

After skiing both resorts, we found Snow Summit and Bear Mountain to be similar in many ways. The price on ski packages and options are fairly close. Their schools and private lessons are run the same way. There is also not much difference between the slope quality and skiing areas between the two. Both resorts are situated next to each other, right in the heart of Big Bear. In fact, if your vacation time allowed it, you could ski at both resorts without giving more effort to one over the other.

Differences

Author’s daughter and her ski instructor going up the ski lift.

There are small distinctions between the two resorts. They are minimal but can make a big difference depending on what you are looking for. I personally liked the set-up for the younger kids, aged 4-7, at Bear Mountain. The kids’ area there is located in a more remote area when compared to Snow Summit. My kids are 5 and 3 years old, and for safety reasons, it was more appealing to me that they were farther away from bigger kids – and bigger people in general. There is another advantage of going to Bear Mountain. If you’re interested in your child going to ski school rather than private lessons, Bear Mountain’s ski school allows for kids as young as 3 years old. You must be at least 4 years old to attend ski school at Snow Summit. (Private lessons are available for all ages at either resort). In turn, unlike its sister resort, Snow Summit offers a family park area. This is an area designed for low to intermediate skiing, smaller bumps and jump variations, so the entire family can ski together in close proximity.

Ready To Ski

After research and finally deciding where and how our kids were going to take ski lessons, there were still many things we didn’t quite get the first year we went. Both my husband and I had very little experience as parents wanting to teach our kids how to ski. Many of our questions were answered only through trial and error.

The kids’ zone at Bear Mountain resort.

Here are a few helpful skiing tips we’ve learned:

• Ski gear is expensive. Borrow hand-me-downs or save old ones, if possible. If you can look into a consignment store, Craigslist or garage sales beforehand – do so!
• Sunblock, gloves, goggles, helmet. Not usually a requirement for skiing, but I highly recommend these.
• There is a period of time during the winter, as well as weekends and holidays, that Big Bear considers the ‘peak season’. If you decide to ski during these days your lodging, ski packages, etc., will be at a slightly higher cost. Contact the resorts to find out when peak season occurs and book accordingly.
• To avoid the huge resort crowds, choose a weekday (NOT a weekend) to ski.
• Once you have chosen the day(s) you’re going to ski, make reservations. Ski schools and private lessons get booked quickly, especially during peak season.
• Show up at least 1 – 1.5 hours ahead of your scheduled lesson. Registering, renting ski gear, putting gear on, going to the locker rooms, using the bathroom and walking to your designated lesson spot takes A LONG TIME. It’s even more challenging when your kids are really young and you have to carry all their equipment for them.
• Your kids will most likely want to ski some more after their lessons. I recommend choosing reservations for earlier in the day. Skiing during the later half of the day can take you into the night and into colder conditions.

Have fun and stay safe! You can never be too SoCal to learn a snow sport!

About the Author
I’m a wife to a comedic husband, a stay-home mom of 2 rambunctious girls, and a college student in my 30′s. I feel lucky to be raising my kids in the same city I grew up in… San Diego! Our days as a family are often filled with many surprises. I write about it ALL at www.PowderRoomPlayground.com.

All images ©2011-2013 by Dorothy Gottfredson.

By Loretta Saladino

Something just feels right about a tree. To our family a sapling represents hope and gifts for future generation. A young fruit tree becomes an instant giving friend to my two kids. A massive live coast oak holds a mystery of wisdom and endurance. So it doesn’t surprise me that birds and bees and maybe even a curious bear can find food, shelter and a little mischief in a tree too.

I had the pleasure of reviewing The Tree That Bear Climbed by Marianne Berkes and Illustrated by Kathleen Rieetz. I could tell in an instant that this was going to be a book for my kids to learn from and enjoy. Told in the same repetition style as the classic, The House That Jack Built, The Tree That Bear Climbed delightedly entertained my son and daughter with it’s rhythmic prose.

It is the perfect book to introduce the parts of tree, learn about where a tree gets nourishment, how the tree attracts bees, and how the bee’s hive attracts a curious bear!

Published by Sylvan Dell, illustrations are accurately rendered, cheerful and very detailed! (As an artist, I’d like a art lesson on the bees please!) Both of my kids pointed to the bees and the bear and asked about pollen. Before you know it, all the little “tree huggers” in your life will be captivated, like a bear to the scent of honey!

Loretta Saladino is a mommy of two active and adorable children, an interior designer, and owner of Rise and Shine Art.

Image courtesy of Sylvan Dell Publishing.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in order to facilitate a review on my website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and/or believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”