Community pick for little one’s birthday parties in Rancho Cucamonga:

7360 Milliken Avenue #130
Rancho Cucamonga , CA 91730
(909) 980-3290
Email MyGym

Every year since the birth of my first daughter I have planned big birthday celebrations. Birthdays are such a great opportunity to get family and friends together and help your child be the star of the day – just like when they were first born. Planning can take a few months. You have to decide on a theme, the location of your party, create a guest list, buy food and drinks, plan activities, and so much more. This can be overwhelming and the cost can really add up.

I have two summer babies, with birthdays about a month apart. Last year, my oldest wanted a tea party and pool party. That was a lot of work, especially with a new baby. I know my daughter and her friends enjoyed the party, but I didn’t really get to participate in the festivities and really enjoy the time with my birthday girl. Afterwards, I was so exhausted and I still had to do clean-up!

This year, I decided to give myself a little break. Earlier in the year, we were invited to our friend’s 2nd birthday party. She had her party at My Gym in Rancho Cucamonga. Both of my kids, a 6 year old and a baby, had such an incredible time. The staff took care of all of the preparations, activities and clean-up. They made the birthday girl feel so special, she had a blast. We were hooked! The party inspired us to sign both girls up for My Gym classes, which they love and look forward to each week.

For our little one’s 1st birthday, my husband and I agreed that the place to have her party was My Gym. We reserved the date about 6 weeks in advance. The staff provided us with invitations, thank you cards, set-up of the facility, 2 hours of non-stop fun and games for the kids, serving of food and cake to all of the children, and afterward they take care of all of the clean-up. Furthermore, the staff set up special activities for the older kids to keep them engaged and having fun while the babies and toddlers had their own activities that were appropriate for their age.

Everyone had a great time. Our little birthday girl is familiar with the staff and gym, so she was excited and ready to get started. The best part for me was being able to participate with both of my kids and not having to stress about doing all of the work. I don’t know how to emphasize enough just how amazing the My Gym staff is.

Another benefit of having a My Gym birthday party is that they have an indoor facility. Sometimes the weather in Southern California is unpredictable, particularly when you’re planning so far in advance. I pretty much know that in the summer it is going to be hot. But I would not have guessed we would have rain and thunderstorms like we’ve had this summer.

For more information about My Gym classes, special events and birthday parties, visit their website www.my-gym.com and by sure to check out a free introductory class.

Community pick for little one’s birthday parties in Rancho Cucamonga:

7360 Milliken Avenue #130
Rancho Cucamonga , CA 91730
(909) 980-3290
Email MyGym

 Community pick for tutors in Rancho Cucamonga:

Accent on Basic Skills Tutoring
8560 Vineyard Ave. #507
Rancho Cucamonga, CA  91730
p.  (909) 980-5388
e.  accenttutoring@hotmail.com

Summer is a much anticipated break from the school year, at least for students who enjoy the 3 month long vacation. Since I couldn’t quite figure out the logic behind such a long hiatus from learning, I searched the web for a little history of summer break.  It seems that the main reason was (and still is) financial. It is expensive to run a school. Other reasons included the intense heat of summer and the belief that hot, crowded environments would encourage the spread of disease. Some reasons, like family vacations, are still relevant today.

Whatever these reasons may be, a recent study reports that children forget between one to three months worth of schooling during their time off.  With three months off, and worst case another three months forgotten, you’ve got about half a year’s worth of education per grade level.

The study assures us not to fear, and provides a variety of useful tips on how to keep your child intellectually stimulated even while on summer vacation. Many parents keep their children reading during the summer, which is especially easy since so many public libraries have put together summer reading programs. Our kids have Caught the Reading Bug at the Upland Public Library and love the rewards the have received for all of their reading and journaling. The Rancho Cucamonga Paul Biane Library at Victoria Gardens also has a reading program for kids, as well as a full calendar of free events and learning experiences for the whole family.

However, since the subjects hardest hit during summer break are writing, math and spelling, the article provides a variety of examples on how to keep your child learning and engaged. Some examples include maintaining a writing journal, creating a list of spelling words from books your children are reading, and formulating math problems using real world situations (ex: sorting and counting your pocket change!).

But what if your child is already struggling before s/he went on break? These ideas are still practical for you, but you may also need to take a more serious route. Many families in this situation are opting for outside help – a private tutor. One-on-one attention from a licensed educator can really make a difference during this time off. A child who is having a difficult time in school may also develop confidence issues, particularly in their ability to do well in school. This may also create negative feelings about school in general. Instead, provide them with the opportunity to overcome their academic obstacles and help give them the tools to make a new school year something they face with a positive, confident attitude.

Community pick for tutors in Rancho Cucamonga:
Accent on Basic Skills Tutoring
8560 Vineyard Ave. #507
Rancho Cucamonga, CA  91730
p.  (909) 980-5388
e.  accenttutoring@hotmail.com

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Riverside Community pick for back-to-school fun and Labor Day kid’s activities:

John’s Incredible Pizza Co.
6187 Valley Springs Parkway
Riverside, CA 92507

Summer is my favorite season. Yes, it’s hot, but we get all of those extra daylight hours. Perfect for late afternoon dips in the swimming pool and evening walks with the dog. I remember being excited about school starting again in the fall, but wishing summer could last just a bit longer.

Many kids these days are going back to school already at the end of August. As a parent, I feel like summer just started. When I was at Target today in Riverside I was not prepared for the huge Back-to-School section with all the supplies you’ll ever need, many of them on sale. While you’re there, be sure to see if they have a grade-appropriate checklist available to make your purchase selection easier. Another idea is to make Back-to-School goodie bags for your child’s late summer birthday party. A friend of ours filled pencil boxes with school supplies one year and the kids all loved it.

Fortunately, there is a chance for one last hurrah in summer fun department. Even though school starts at the end of August, kids and parents can look forward to a long holiday weekend that Labor Day brings. This helps ease the transition and gives the kids something to look forward to during their first week at school. Particularly if your child has some apprehension (first day jitters) or difficulty adjusting to the new routine, providing her or him with a fun-filled holiday weekend may be just the thing to keep them going.

For many families, going out on vacation over Labor Day weekend isn’t an option. Gas prices are still high and with the economy faltering most folks are looking for ways to save money, not spend it hand over fist. Besides, if you’re anything like me, the thought of driving in traffic on the freeways and fighting crowds is not my idea of fun family time. We prefer to say close to home and find something the whole family will enjoy.

An outdoor barbeque is a great way to spend Labor Day weekend together. We are fortunate enough to have my folks close by, so we spend the majority of holidays with them. They have the perfect backyard for hanging out, grilling, swimming, and plenty of room for the kids to run around and have a good time. But in the midst of a Southern California heat wave, even a good amount of shade and a cool dip in the pool aren’t always enough.

Sometimes we need to find fun things to do with the kids indoors. Somewhere that is air-conditioned and conveniently has everything we need in one place. The whole family has a great time at John’s Incredible Pizza Co. complete with their all you can eat buffet, wine and beer for adults (2 drink limit), special themed dining rooms, and a huge game and rides room. John’s Fun World side has the feeling of an indoor amusement park. They even have the frog hopper, bowling, bumper cars and a really good dancing bear (mouse over-click play inside box)!

The all-you-can-eat buffet includes pizza, pasta, salad and even a dessert bar with lots of goodies like soft-serve ice cream. Be sure to try one of their unique pizzas….you will be glad you did.

The themed rooms are really cool and provide an atmosphere for any mood from cartoons to the more laid back cabin fever theme. Each room is the size of a standard restaurant.

The game room is simply huge. If you’ve never been to John’s you can check it out here.

For additional information, visit www.johnspizza.com. Be sure to check our their “John’s Rewards” section for incredible ways John’s helps motivate kids to succeed in school with their incentive programs!

Riverside Community pick for back-to-school fun and Labor Day kid’s activities:

John’s Incredible Pizza Co.
6187 Valley Springs Parkway
Riverside, CA 92507

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