Summer Reading Programs 2012

School is out for my son this week. Like many parents, I've been busy filling our calendar with things to do to occupy his time. Although I signed him up for summer camp, that's only a couple of hours a day for 2 weeks. My preschooler loves to be read to and during the summer he can get rewarded for it. Summer reading incentive programs are a great way to keep kids' minds active, engaged, and retain some of the things they learned during the school year. Most summer reading programs are designed to encourage kids to read by giving a prize for completing the program. You can find an incentive program for preschoolers to teens. Below is an updated list of free summer reading programs.

Swap Sites - Trading the old for the "new" - Part 2

Last year, I wrote a post about swap sites. After I published the post, I found more sites which offer children's items. The list below includes sites that facilitate the exchange or sale of used children's items, among other things.

Location

Various locations throughout the US

Service

The following sites allow parents to swap children's items such as clothes, accessories, toys, gears, books, movies, CDs, etc.

AMF Summer Unplugged

In going with my theme of free (or almost free) summer activities, here's another one that the entire family can take advantage of. AMF is offering free bowling for kids 16 years and under all summer long (shoe rental not included). All parents have to do is register at a participating AMF bowling center and eligible family members get 2 free games per day. In addition to free bowling, the AMF Summer Unplugged program also offers learn-to-bowl lessons, a tournament with prizes, a chance to win a Disney World family vacation, and a pin decorating contest to win a $2,500 scholarship prize. Also, Kids Combo Meals are only $2.99. Families of registered kids also get a deal with the AMF Summer 17 Plus Pass. For $27.95, the pass offers 2 games per day for 4 people. That's less than $7 for 2 games per person.

Here's the semi fine print. The AMF Summer Unplugged program is only valid:

• from May 30 to September 5
• from opening to 8 PM, daily
• at participating locations
• with a completed registration

For more information, visit the AMF Summer Unplugged website.

Bowling is a great summer activity. Why? Because it:

• is an activity the whole family can enjoy together, regardless of skill level
• fosters team work and healthy competition
• gets the kids out of the house and out of the heat

There are over 200 participating locations. Find one near you to start the summer fun. What will you be doing this summer?

Disclaimer: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing.  All opinions stated in the post are my own.

Summer Family Movies for $1 (or less)

We started family movie nights at home this year since my son can sit long enough to finish a movie. We've taken him to watch a couple of movies in theaters (Kidtoon Films), but the cold, dark theater and loud sounds made him uneasy. Of course, after we leave, he always says he had a good time. The good news is that a lot of theaters near us are offering discounted price for movies all summer long. At least if we leave, I won't feel bad about paying an arm and a leg for the tickets. We'll probably check out movies at the park this year, too. Although knowing him, he'd rather run around and play.

Inland Empire

Harkins Movie Fun (10 movies for <$1/movie)

Movies on the Promenade 

Los Angeles County

Movies in the Park at the Grove 

Orange County
Lake Mission Viejo

San Diego County
SD Movies in the Park

Santee Movies by the Lake 

Multiple Sites
Regal Entertainment Group Summer Movie Express ($1 on Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10 AM)

Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse (10 movies for $5)

UltraStar Cinemas Kid Summer Series (10 movies for $5)

Disclaimer: Most, not all, of the movies are family friendly. Although the activities are free, check to see if the venue charges a parking fee. Last updated June 10, 2012.

Free Summer Reading Programs

Summer is almost here. What better way to keep our kids engaged than to join a summer reading program. Most of the programs offer prizes for completion of tasks. Check your local library for more information.

Inland Empire

Riverside County Public Library

Los Angeles County
Los Angeles Public Library
Summer Reading Program

Orange County

Summer Reading Program

Mission Viejo

San Diego County

San Diego Public Library Summer Reading Program

Multiple Sites

California Library Association 

Nationwide

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading 

Book Adventure by Sylvan Learning

Book It Program by Pizza Hut 

Chuck E. Cheese 

Collaborative Summer Reading Program 

Feed Your Brain by Half Price Books 

Scholastic 

Summer Reading Sweepstakes by iVillage 

This page was last updated on June 10, 2012.

Happy Birthday, Amtrak!

To celebrate turning the big 4-0 this year, Amtrak is giving away free rides.  

Location

US

Time frame

Must purchase between April 25 - May 6, 2011
Must travel between May 1 - June 9, 2011

Condition

An adult fare must be purchased for a child's fare to be free. Applies to children 2 - 15 years of age.


For more information, go to the Amtrak website.

Sesame Street Presents: The Body at Discovery Science Center

Location

Discovery Science Center

2500 N. Main Street

Santa Ana, CA 92705 

(714) 542-2823

January 29 - May 1, 2011

Social Networks

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Admission

Free with admission to museum
Adults (18 +): $12.95 
Kids (3-17): $9.95

Kids (2 & under): Free with the purchase of admission 

Teachers: Free  
Association of Science-Technology Centers members: Free

Bank of America card holders: Free on the 1st Saturday of the month

Parking

$4.00

Stroller/wheelchair accessibility

Yes

Restroom facilities

2 on the first floor and 1 on the second floor

Food/concessions

Taco Bell and Pizza Hut

Activities

Wall-to-wall hands-(and feet)-on activities engaged visitors in learning about the human body. Visitors got to explore the body in ways they may not have before. Through over-sized displays and activities, my son saw what happened to food from the moment a person eats it, to the moment it leaves the body. Layer by layer, he saw underneath the skin, going from the muscles, all the way to the skeletons that help shape our bodies. Displays and activities focused not just on the body, but how to keep it healthy through proper diet and physical activity. My son helped Telly shop for meals. This was one of his favorite activities. He loved finding the foods and scanning them. He also prepared healthy snacks at Mr. Hooper's Store. Interactive exhibits tested the body and the mind's agility through friendly competition. And the list goes on.

Our family experience
My son loves Elmo. I thought he would enjoy seeing Elmo and his friends in a fun and educational way. He did. We spent about 30 minutes going through the exhibit, bouncing from one activity to the next. Though the exhibit was small, the space was packed with so much stuff to see and do. Although he may not recognize it, he learned about anatomy and physiology, dietary behavior, and physical activity. I don't expect him to retain anything he saw or learned, but he certainly had a lot of fun exploring. This is certainly an exhibit worth going to, even if the child is not familiar with Sesame Street characters. There were a lot of lessons to be learned by the youngest of visitors, all the way up to those young at heart.

Tips

Buy tickets online to save money and time. The website often offers online specials. Also, look for coupons/discount offers in local magazines. As with any attraction, the museum gets crowded on the weekends, especially Bank of America free Saturdays. If you can, go during the weekday, however, check the website for any scheduled field trips. Bring your own lunch, especially if you don't like Taco Bell or Pizza Hut. The line to meet and take pictures with Elmo gets filled up fast. I suggest picking a time when you want to meet him and stand in line early.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are solely mine. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review. I received permission from the museum to post their trademarked brand/logo on my blog.

California Science Center

Location

California Science Center
Exposition Park


39th Street & Figueroa Street


Los Angeles, CA 90037

(323) 724-3623

Admission

Free

Parking

$8

Stroller/wheelchair accessible

Yes

Restroom facilities

Restrooms throughout center

Food/concessions

McDonald's, Rose Garden Cafe 

Activities

Hands-on activities and interactive displays are scattered throughout the three-story museum. Each exhibit has it's own theme and displays/activities have a brief description to help parents explain the concepts presented. 

Our family experience

We went with my cousins and nephews (ages 8, 5, and 2) on this adventure; even before we stepped into the museum, the kids were already engaged. In the parking lot is a lever; on one end is a flat bed truck, and on the other end are 3 ropes you can pull to try and lift the truck. The kids had so much fun testing their strength trying to lift the truck that it was a challenge to get them away from it. Right outside of the entrance the kids marveled at the Dichroic Skylight and Aerial. They played for a while, we took pictures, and finally was able to go inside. 

There were so many exhibits and we knew we couldn't visit all of them, so we went to only a few. We went to 2 special exhibits, Science in Toyland and Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear and 2 permanent exhibits, Creative World and Ecosystems. In Creative World, we went in the following rooms: Transportation, Tech Lab, Structures, and Discovery Room. We explored all of the rooms in Ecosystems, as that was my son's favorite exhibit. In the four hours we spent at the museum, we drove a solar powered vehicle and a hover craft, experienced a California earthquake and dessert flash flood, rode a bicycle 43 feet off the ground, broadcasted news as anchors, planted a garden, rebuilt a rooftop, swam with sharks, and many, many more. Although he was too young to fully understand the scientific concepts behind the displays, he enjoyed pushing buttons to see what would happen, playing with the toys, and exploring as many things as he possibly could. We will definitely come back again and again. As we were exiting the museum, my son said, "Nice museum, Mama. Nice museum." I couldn't agree more.

Tips

Although admission is free, donations are welcome. If you make a donation at the ticket booth, you will get a tax donation receipt. Pack a lunch and have picnic outside in the Rose Garden. Benches and tables are available. There are a lot of exhibits to see. Although it is possible to see all of them in one day, it is not suggested for toddlers. There will be certain displays/activities that they will not want to leave. Do a bit of research and see which exhibits your children will like the most or you think they will get the most out of. If going in the morning, be prepared to be surrounded by students on field trips. The museum website recommends going after 1:30 PM for a less crowded experience. 
 

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are solely mine. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Swap Sites - Trading the old for the "new"

Swap Sites have grown in popularity in the past few years. Parents are no longer restricted to eBay® or craigslist for getting rid of their used or unwanted items or getting items at a discounted price. Parents are smarter, more informed, and are working more effectively. Some of these sites were born out of the need to help fellow parents out. They facilitate a forum for parents to give, exchange, swap, or trade their old possessions for "new" items.
Location

Various locations throughout the US

Service

The following sites allow parents to swap children's items such as clothes, accessories, toys, gears, books, movies, CDs, etc.

Cost

Free, no membership fees are required to join

The Freecycle Network(TM)

Founder: Deron Beal

Established: 2003

Status: Nonprofit 
Registration: Required
Items: Clothes, accessories, toys, gears
Shipping: Local pick up
How it works:
-Join a local group
-Post items you want to give away or items you want
-Communicate directly with other members
-All items are FREE, no money or trading involved

Kizoodle 

Established: 2009

Registration: Required

Items: Maternity clothes, children's clothes, accessories, toys, gears, books, CDs/DVDs

Shipping: Paid for by contributor ("seller")
How it works:

-Post items you want to swap on the Kiz Store
-Earn Kiz Credits for your posted items that were bought by a member

-Once you have earned Kiz Credit, "shop" at the Kiz Store, no money involved when you purchase

Out Growing In

Founder: Christine Korkin

Established: 2010

Registration: Required, free; Premium upgrade is $24.95 Items: $3 per box of children's clothes; $5 per box of maternity clothes
Shipping: $13.95 - $18.95 per box, paid for by recipient; arrives in 5-7 days
How it works:
-List a box that you want to swap. If a member chooses your box, Out Growing In will send you a shipping label. Drop off your box at the post office or schedule for a pick up.
-To get items, simply pick a member's box and pay shipping charges

Rehash Clothes

Founder: Orpheux Design

Established: 2007

Registration: Required, free

Items: Clothes, accessories, toys, gears
Shipping: Local pick up or arranged by members involved in swap
How it works:

-Post item(s) you have to swap

-Communicate directly with other members for swap

-No money involved in swap

Swap
Founder: Greg Boesel, Mark Hexamer

Established: 2009

Registration: Required, free

Items: Books, video games, CDs, DVDs; $0.50 per swap for low value items & $1.00 per swap for high value items

Shipping: $3.18 (1lb. media mail), paid for by sender

How it works:

-Post items you want to trade and items you want to receive
-Swap facilitates the trade; able to do 2-way and 3-way trades
-Once a member wants to trade for your item, you can print a mailing label to ship your item to them

-Items are protected by SafeSwap which guarantees that members will receive the item they want

Swap Mamas
Founder: Darcy Cruwys

Established: 2009

Registration: Required, free

Items: free

Shipping: Local pick up or sender will pay for shipping

How it works:

-Post items you have to swap

-Communicate directly with other members for swap

-Giveaways on website

thredUP

Founder: James Reinhart, Oliver Lubin, Chris Homer

Established: 2009

Registration: Required, free; PRO Membership upgrade is $29.99

Items: $5 per box of clothing

Shipping: $10.95 per box, paid for by recipient

How it works:

-List a box that you want to swap. If a member chooses your box, thredUP will send you a shipping label. Drop off your box at the post office or schedule for a pick up.

-To get items, simply pick a member's box and pay shipping charges

-Free swap giveaways on Facebook

Trading Cradles 
Founder: Charlie McCreless, Aaron and Sophia Rose, Jason Tenenbown

Established: 2011

Registration: No

Items: Clothes, accessories, toys, gears

Shipping: Local pick up

How it works:

-Join a local group

-Post an ad for your item(s); your ads will be screened prior to posting

-Communicate directly with other members

-Some items are free and some are sold at owner's discretion

-Giveaways on Blog, Facebook

My Experience

Children's items are not cheap and they take up a lot of space. I have 12 bins of outgrown clothing and shoes for my almost 3 year old son. And, that does not include gears and toys. I know I'm not the only one who has this experience because I hear the same complaint from my friends. I just love the idea behind each of these sites. Thanks to their creative founders, parents have an outlet to free up closet space while helping other parents out. The websites are user friendly and have a ton to share with their members. Each site has a unique feature that separates them from the others. Some sites offer members a community group where parents can post resources and parenting advice. Other sites offer giveaways on their website or Facebook page. And one, offers items absolutely FREE; no money, no trading, just free. Whatever the cost of your trade, be it swapping fee or shipping, it is only a fraction of the cost of buying a new item. If you want to reclaim your closet and garage space, check these sites out. If you are looking for a great deal on used maternity clothes, children's items, and media, check these sites out. Or, if you are simply looking for a new hobby, check these sites out.

Disclaimer: Although I registered with the sites as part of my research, I have not used any of the sites to trade items (yet). I was not compensated to write this post. I received permission from the companies to post their trademarked brand/logo on my blog.

This page was last updated on February 16, 2011.