Kidspace Campout Kids Family Exhibition

Family Fun

by Rachel Marks, Kids Editor
Mommy Blog Expert

Our Adventure at Kidspace Campout

MBE partnered with Kidspace Children's Museum for this story

My husband Chaim and I always enjoy Sunday outings, going to engaging places like Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, California with our three little explorers: sons Izzy (6) and Ori (3) and daughter, Arya (20 months). Our latest family adventure found us experiencing Kidspace's Campout themed children's special exhibition -- which runs all summer through September 15. This was a day filled with fun, laughter, learning, plenty of perfect photo opps, and some seriously magical moments for us all.

Activities for Every Child's Age Group

When we arrived, we headed straight to the indoor area to check out "Campout" at the Roberts Pavilion. Arya was absolutely fascinated by the moving butterfiles fluttering around. Ori and Izzy, on the other hand, were instantly drawn to the Ant Tunnel where they had a blast climbing through it, their laughter echoling through the pavilion.

After exploring indoors, we mad our way outside to the bike's highway. The boys eagerly navigated their trikes over the faux "Golden Gate Bridge" and through a tunnel. Izzy really enjoying giving his younger brother Ori a ride. Seeing them work together was such a proud moment for us as parents. Arya watched them with wide eyes, clapping her little hands in delight as she rode he own age-appropriate bike in "Kirby's Pit Stop."

Family Memories and Fun Photo Opportunities

Next up was the campfire sing-along, a definite highlight of the day. To set the mood, first Arya and I spread out a blanket, and then all the kids sat down to join in the fun. They loved the hands-on music experiences of playing drums and using shakers as they sang along to familiar songs like "Old McDonald," "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and "If you're Happy and You Know It." Watching our kids sing along with the ther families assembled around the pretend cambire with the other families and engaging staff members was so fun.

After the rousing family sing-along, we ventured to the Creative Campgrounds area. Our middle child Ori was in his element, pretending to play in his camper with a "lake" view. He was so imaginative, and it was wonderful to his witness his creativity and role playing in action.

We also checked out the newest permanent exhibit, Arroyo Pequeño. This extension of the Arroyo Adventure delves into the delicate ecosystem of the Arroyo Seco. The kids loved observing the signs of native wildlife and Izzy was particularly fascinated by the koi pond.

 

There is really so much to do throughout Kidspace, you and the kids might also want to check out the Camp Craft Cabin to create your own camp swag, string togther a friendship bracelet, and more. For budding little fishermen and fisherwomen there's also a Go fish activity where kids can put on a life vest, grab a net, and go "fishing" in Winding Willow Lake, a blue sand play area with a real boat and whimsical toy fish to "catch."

After all the fun and excitement, the event wrapped up with a sense of contentment and a sprinkle of magic. It was a day well spent, exploring nature and summer's delights without leaving the city. Kidspace truly outdid themselves with their memorable Campout Event, creating a wonderful, safe space for familites to bond and make lasting memories.

I highly recommend checking out this Kidspace special installation which will be ending in mid-September as well as their permanent exhibitions and upcoming limited engagments. They consistently deliver on bringing out the best in every season and create unforgettable experiences and fun unique outings for families, creating cherished memories for both kids and parents.

In addition to enjoying the special Campout events and activities, families can delight in popular ongoing exhibits including twirling the Butterfly Kaleidoscope, spinning on Los Trompos, building roadways at Ramps and Rollers, and getting hands-on with science in the Physics Forest.

About Kidspace

Visit kidspacemuseum.org for hours, activity schedule and to reserve general admission tickets for Kidspace Children's Museum, sign up for a Family Membership, and to discover more about Kidspace offerings year-round. Kidspace is geared toward kids ages 6 months through 10 years-old. For the youngest ones, for crawlers and non-crawlers there are age-appropriate toys and areas to explore. For the older kids, there are fun, educational, and hands-on opportunities to discover. The children's 3.5 acre indoor and outdoor space features 40 interactive exhibits with daily events and special monthly programs. Stay in the loop on everything Kidspace is up to by following their social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. 

Kidspace is located at 480 North Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91103; phone 626-449-9144.

Kids Food Allergies Resource for Parents

Wellness 

5 Things to Know About Food Allergy Testing, Treatments 

GUEST POST

By Kimberley Yates, CEO and Founder 

Latitude Food Allergy Care 

Readers Note: This guest post is for informational purposes only and it is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.

As many as 32 million Americans currently are impacted by food allergies. Diagnoses continue to grow at epidemic rates. While expertise is needed to accurately diagnose and properly treat this growing portion of the population, misinformation is rampant. Many people are unaware that safe and effective treatments are available for food allergies for babies, children and adults. These treatments have the power to keep patients safe and possibly allow patients to enjoy the foods they’re currently allergic to.

1. Food allergies can affect anyone, at any age, and change over time

Food allergies often present early and dramatically in a baby or young child’s life. For the parents of children with food allergies, this might mean a jarring first trip to the emergency room. But new allergies can turn up later in life, too. In fact, food allergies can develop, and change, at any age.

Some food allergies, such as cow’s milk or eggs, have high rates of being outgrown in childhood. Others, such as peanut and tree nut allergies without treatment — could be life-long. Shellfish allergies can also present later in life. Just because a patient was told they were fatally allergic to 10 things as an infant or toddler does not mean those allergies can’t be outgrown, or that new allergies can’t be gained. 

Periodic testing with an allergist is essential. Oftentimes, a fresh diagnosis allows patients to open up their diet, and bring foods they enjoy back into their lives.

2. Finding a qualified food allergy specialist is imperative

While food allergies have risen dramatically in the U.S. and other industrialized countries, the number of physicians specializing in food allergy diagnosis and treatments have yet to catch up, making it very difficult for patients to get the care they need. 

In addition to working with your pediatrician, it’s very important to find a food allergist who’s motivated to get to the bottom of your child's allergies. Not all allergists are trained in or specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of food allergies. The best, most qualified allergists are well-informed on the latest research and are specifically trained in food allergy. 

3. Common misdiagnoses can lead to unnecessary restrictive diets 

Without thorough testing, it’s easy for patients to confuse and conflate food allergies, sensitivities, and other medical conditions. In one study, researchers at National Jewish Health in Denver conducted "food challenge" tests on 125 children with allergies and eczema and found more than 50 percent of the kids could tolerate foods they had been told to avoid. 

Misdiagnoses may result in an overly restrictive diet with unnecessary food avoidance, which can adversely impact quality of life. 

Many young adults, for example, might have been advised to avoid entire categories of foods such as tree nuts if they had a diagnosed peanut allergy. The best food allergy care involves working with a specialist who can provide an accurate diagnosis and work to reduce the foods that a person needs to avoid — lessening the emotional and physical burdens of managing food allergies. 

4. Inconsistent and inaccurate information is rampant

Because of the risk and anxiety food allergies can cause, families are desperate for answers and want to understand their options. While there are a growing number of resources for families impacted by food allergies, it’s important to point out that information can vary drastically from source to source. For example, not all clinicians are aware that proactive treatment options for food allergies exist, and therefore may not recommend them. 

It is important to continue to seek out accurate information. If you do not like what you are hearing or aren’t getting the answers you are looking for, it's a wise idea to get another opinion.

5. Treatments for all ages, start as soon as allergy is suspected

True food allergies do not need to be tolerated, and avoidance is not the only solution. Life changing treatments are available for patients of all ages — including babies, older children, and into adulthood. 

The most effective and life changing treatment available today is Oral Immunotherapy. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) desensitizes patients to foods they’re allergic to through exposure to small quantities of the food allergen over time. 

Patients can be treated for a single allergen or for multiple foods simultaneously, which allows for a significant improvement in quality of life in a short amount of time — often less than 12 months. Treatment can be started as soon as an allergy is confirmed. 

Over the last decade, clinical trials have proven OIT to be both safe and effective, especially in the youngest patients. 

At Latitude Food Allergy Care, data reveals a 92 percent success rate among all OIT patients. For patients 3 and younger, the success rate is even higher at 97 percent. OIT offers the ability to live more freely, and some young patients may never know they had a food allergy. 

In addition to OIT, the FDA recently approved the biologic Xolair (omalizumab) as the first medication approved to reduce allergic reactions to accidental exposures. Xolair does not remove a food allergy but can provide a layer of protection against reactions. Xolair may also be used alongside OIT, offering another very safe option for treating a food allergy. 

Ongoing research offers the potential for an even wider range of food allergy treatment options in the future, but OIT and Xolair are available now — already impacting the lives of tens of thousands of families across the country. And food allergy specialists do exist to help families best navigate their testing and treatment options. 

Kimberley Yates, CEO, Latitude Food Allergy Care

About the Author

Kimberley Yates (Grosso) is the mother of Tessa, Reese and Alyssa and CEO and founder of Latitude Food Allergy Care. Finding a cure for her daughter Tessa’s multiple severe food allergies drove Kimberley to raise the resources for a clinical trial using Oral Immunotherapy (OIT), which led to the founding of the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University, a world-renowned food allergy research center. After nine years at Stanford, she started Latitude to increase access to life-saving treatments.

Hot Weather Family Safety Tips

Heatwave Survival

Worldwide Summer Heat Wave

The summer is well underway and temperatures are soaring to new heights. In fact, weather forecasters are predicting the almost non-stop heatwave will force record-breaking high temperatures to spike to well over 100 degrees in many places, both in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. 

With record heat engulfing the U.S., Yale Climate Connections reports that the #3 hottest day ever anywhere in the world was right here in America, in Furnace Creek, California which hit a sweltering 129.3 degrees on July 7, 2024. Nationwide, about 117 million U.S. residents are experiencing higher temperatures than normal. All this excessive heat, attributed to climate change by many experts, is impacting more than 5 billion of people worldwide, amounting to 60% of the world's population as of June 2024.

Make sure everyone in the family, young and old

• Drinks plenty of water all day and through the evening to stay properly hydrated, keeping in mind that alcohol, sports drinks and sugary juices often contribute to dehydration.
• Stays in covered or shaded areas outdoors or if indoors in well-ventilated areas, during the heat of the day.
• Limits outdoor sports and excessive physical exertion to the early morning hours or after dusk when the air is starting to cool off.
• Uses a good quality sunscreen with a high enough SPF --  whether it's sunny or cloudy -- to protect against harmful UV rays which can burn and dehydrate skin and add to further body dehydration.

6 Heat Wave Survival Tips

• Never leave a baby, child, ill or elderly person alone in the car even with the windows rolled down during hot days, whether in summer or any other time of the year. The same applies to never leaving a dog or other pet in the car.
• Keep more than enough extra bottles of water in your car when traveling (whether locally or on a road trip) in the event you get stranded or breakdown in the middle of the day.
• Encourage each person (all ages: babies to old age) to always wear a hat outdoors during daytime hours to help avoid sunburn on the head, unnecessary dehydration, and also aid in reducing the potential of sunstroke.
• Observe family members who have been out in the sun carefully, watching for symptoms of heat exhaustion -- such as headaches,  nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, and behavior changes -- any of which may indicate serious heat-related illness.
• Seek out qualified professional medical advice immediately if you notice anything unusual or have any doubts or concerns about how the heat might be affecting your loved ones.
• Remember your pets are usually affected by extreme heat, too. So keep them hydrated and out of the sun during the heat of the day. What's more, avoid walking your dog on hot pavement, roads, or tarmac which can burn animals' paws and even cause heat exhaustion and worst

Learn More

Always be aware of local weather conditions and how it might impact everyone's health. Visit the CDC website for detailed information about Heat Stress, Hydration, and a free, downloadable guide to How Much Water To Drink. 

Important Note: This post is not a substitute for professional medical advice and you should always seek out your trusted healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you have.