For April, celebrate Earth Day, Pet Day, and even Superhero Day at Pretend City. They have some really fun days lined up with special guests visiting the museum. Some of the furry 4-legged kind, too! Be sure to mark your calendars for these family fun events.
Fridays, NOW – May 8: Kindness Club: Social Skills Program (12:30p.m. – 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 and it is $60 per child for the 6-week class series (includes museum admission for 1 adult and 1 child on day of the class) Class Link: https://16116.blackbaudhosting.com/16116/Kindness-Club-03Apr2015
Saturday, April 11: Celebrate National Pet Day! (11a.m. – 3p.m.)
Celebrate National Pet Day on April 11 at Pretend City Children’s Museum. 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 Event Link: https://pretendcity.org/event/celebrate-national-pet-day/
Monday, April 13: Baby Steps through Pretend City (2:00p.m – 3:30p.m.)
Specifically for: Infant (0-18 months) and their grownups. (no older siblings please) Baby Steps is a monthly event and a great opportunity to ask questions, meet other parents, and engage your baby in developmentally appropriate activities and exhibits. 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)
Event Link: https://pretendcity.org/event/baby-steps-through-pretend-city/
Friday, April 17: The City Olympics (6:00p.m. – 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! Register online. Registration required $10 per person
Event Link: https://pretendcity.org/event/city-olympics-ylc/
Wednesday, April 22: Celebrate Earth Day! (10a.m. – 3p.m.)
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: https://pretendcity.org/event/earth-day/
Monday, April 27: Family Autism Event (5:00p.m. – 7:30p.m.)
Specifically for: Families with children of all ages who are on the autism spectrum; Pretend City will be closed to the general public. 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. Registration required on line Fee: Free for families with children on the autism spectrum.
Event Link: https://pretendcity.org/event/family-autism-event/
Tuesday, April 28: Imagination Conquers the City! (Superhero Day) (10a.m. – 3p.m.)
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! Event Link: https://pretendcity.org/event/imagination-conquers-the-city/
About Pretend City Children’s Museum:
Pretend City Children’s Museum features a small, interconnected city designed to “build better brains” through purposeful play, hands-on learning experiences, role playing, and educational programming. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization serving all children, it depends on community-based funding and guest support. Through 17 interactive exhibits and activities guided by a highly trained professional staff, children learn foundational math, reading and science skills, while fostering curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, organization, teamwork, self-confidence and socialization. The museum is a unique community resource offering developmental screenings and tools for families, educators and community agencies working to ensure that each child gains the experiences needed to discover their potential and build toward a productive and fulfilling future. Pretend City Children’s Museum is located at 29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618. For more information, please visit www.pretendcity.org.
