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Traveling can be a stress-ridden experience even when you're solo or as a couple, but throw some little ones into the equation too and, thanks to your children, everything becomes a larger logistic hurdle to overcome. Budgets are increased, places to lay your head in small rooms are limited and you can forget star-fishing in the luxury beds to yourself! But, here’s where the fun comes in. You can make it a creative bed arranging experience that is memorable and won’t just end up with someone sleeping on the floor. While it’ll be easier in some rooms than others when you go on a family trip, if you’re stuck for inspiration, we’ve got some inventive solutions for you to use when you need extra beds in a hotel room. Photo Credit: Unsplash.com Use an airbed One really simple way to give yourself an instant extra bed at no additional cost when booking the room is to take an airbed along with you. Should you be sleeping on an air bed every night? Well, the novelty might wear off, meaning it’s not as much fun for the kids when they do, so, keep it for special occasions, and make it more appealing when you do roll it out and pump it up! Use two chairs Does your room come furnished with two chairs with arms? If so, then just go ahead and push them together to create a space for a small child or toddler to sleep in safely. You can phone down to reception and ask them to provide you with an extra sheet to cover the seats and make it comfier for the kids too, while also helping the chairs to stay together by tucking the sheet in nice and tight. Photo Credit: Pixabay.com Sleep on horizontally on the bed If the room you’re booked into has two double beds (queens and kings count too), then you can easily turn one of those beds into two sleeping spots with little to no effort at all. All you need is an additional blanket if your kids are wrigglers while they sleep. Here’s what to do: Remove the blanket and top sheet off of the bed. Form a low ‘pillow wall’ located in the middle of the bed. Make it just high enough for your youngest to not be able to see their brother/sister sleeping next to them. Make up each side of the bed with a pillow and blanket. Make sure your youngest sleeps at the top of the bed, nearest the headboard to give them a safety barrier on both sides so they don’t fall off of the bed. This option means you can sleep in one of the beds and your kids get to share a more appropriately sized sleeping space that is secure. Pick the sofa bed option If you can, book a room with a sofa bed. Ask to have some extra sheets and blankets in the room for your arrival. Prevent any squabbling from the kids by splitting the sofa bed up. All you have to do is remove an equal share of cushions and place them on the floor next to the sofa bed, giving each of your children their own sleeping space. By doing this, one bed, turns into two, with the sofa bed being the first and the cushions on the floor being the second. This might help you all get a better night’s rest when no one being disturbed by the other! Photo Credit: Unsplash.com Can you get away with a rollaway? Let's not forget about the rollaway bed. You might be able to pull a few strings for no additional fee and secure yourself a rollaway bed to use for the children. Not every hotel is going to oblige your request if you’re booked into a double room, but if you have young children and you explain that they have trouble sleeping together you may get lucky with the hotel staff. For families who have younger kids, just remember to place some pillows on the ground in case they roll off the rollaway during the night. You may also enjoy: Drooling in Your Sleep? Here’s Why It Happens and How to Treat It 25 Bed Bug Natural Home Remedies and DIY Treatment Highest Rated Breathable Lovey Blankets for Babies This post is brought to you in collaboration with The Sleep Advisor.

When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog Toto are whisked away to the magical land of Oz. As they follow the Yellow Brick Road to meet the Wizard and find their way home, Dorothy and Toto come upon a rubber-legged Scarecrow that needs a brain, a kindly Tin Man missing a heart, and a lovable Cowardly Lion who wants courage. Together they battle the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys until Glinda the Good Witch helps them get to the Emerald City. Will the great and powerful Oz grant Dorothy and her friends their wishes? See for yourself in this dazzling musical filled with wonderful songs and thrill after thrill at Nine O'Clock Players Theater for Children. The opening day is November 4, 2018, and the next shows are on November 11, 18 and 25 with closing day of December 2, 2018. All performances start at 2:00pm. The tickets are only $15 per person. For more information about OZ, and to purchase your tickets, visit the Nine O'Clock Player's official website.

At Fun With Kids in LA, our mission is to inspire parents every day to do fun things with their kids. We share the best of LA with our awesome followers, and as a thank you for being so awesome, we surprise you with gifts that will inspire you to make memories with your families. This week, we are excited to partner up with The Inflatable Festival & Run to giveaway two sets of family 4 packs to the Los Angeles Inflatable Festival & Run happening on October 6, 2018! What is The Inflatable Run? The Inflatable Run is an all-ages family event featuring a kid-friendly obstacle course race plus fun games, shows, and attractions in the festival area. There are Free activities for kids and interactive attractions available the entire day including zorb ball races, bounce houses, carnival games, go-cart racing, water balloon battles, live music, delicious food, face painting, magic shows, and so many more surprises. Being healthy as a family CAN be fun! What Makes This 5K Unique? Instead of a typical 5K Race our course is only 1 mile long and each runner will be able to do three laps around the inflatable obstacle course (3 laps = 5K). The best part is kids and parents can choose to complete all three laps at once or complete one and then go enjoy some fun activities for a few hours before completing another lap. The fun times are all up to you! Activities This fun event offers fun kids activities available the entire day – including zorb ball races, bounce houses, carnival games, go-cart racing, water balloon battles, live music, delicious food and beverages, magic shows, dance parties, inflatable attractions, face painting, coloring stations, and many more fun surprises. It promises to be a day full of unforgettable family memories. This event is sponsored by Kids Events Near Los Angeles. Click here to enter for a chance to win. You must be 18 years of age to enter. Giveaway ends on October 1, 2018 at 12:00 am. We announce the winners on September 26th! For more information about the Inflatable Festival & Run, visit their official website.

"The child's natural desire for attention is at the heart of all the different roles they take on in the Class room,” says William Purkey, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of Teaching Class Clowns (and What They Can Teach Us). “The endless quest to feel special and unique, to be valued and seen in a social group—that's a basic drive of human beings.” In this Article, I would like to talk about the different class behaviors, and to give you few tools to help your kids with attention seeking. Mr. Popularity. A born leader, he's a wanted commodity at birthday parties, where other kids crave his attention and approval. One of the biggest tasks of life is figuring out how to connect with other people, and the born leader's natural charisma helps him navigate groups, and feel comfortable with public speaking. He may use his power to exclude children or boss them around. He may also try to milk his charm, sweet-talking his way out of trouble. Encourage your child to be a social butterfly without winging toward King (or Queen) Bee territory. Talk about how he can use his playground prestige to befriend the new kid or say no to cliques. Help your kid get a grip on the fact that not all life's opportunities will be handed to him. The Chatterbox is got a serious gift of gab, so the Chatterbox will lure anyone into long conversations. The gift of gab is great, but explain that he'll keep friends and family happy and do better in school if he gets the yapping under control. If he needs help, develop a hand signal to let him know when it's time to cool it down. The Teacher's Pet. A people-pleaser strives to make adults happy by doing well on schoolwork and being genuinely helpful in class. She can be sensitive. A disapproving look from an authority figure can make her dissolve into tears. One low grade can derail her. Usually this comes from a need for perfection in an educational system that stresses grades over learning. Praise for her hard work—and downplay standardized tests, and above all emphasize on how much you love her. Explain that learning is more important than wanting to please the teacher. Getting a genuine laugh makes the Class Clown glow. She is the ultimate entertainer. Class Clowns use their sense of humor to make friends, and defuse tense situations; skills that will serve them well. Heck, they may even turn this gift into a career. She could use her biting wit to mock other kids or sass the teacher. Plus, all the laughing sometimes masks the fact that these kids are struggling in school—or bored stiff. Help your child's teacher find ways to put your kid's positive energy to work; when your child crosses the line from funny to fresh, don't give her a pass. To learn more about the author, and the services she provides to LA parents, please visit HomeParentCoach.com. Ana can be reached at anaedelson@gmail.com.

Childhood is a world of imagination and magic. They crave it, they admire it, and they glow when they watch it. We have a great news for all your little magic lovers. This September every Monday evening through October 1st, you can fill your child's world with magic at Santa Monica Playhouse with Albie Selznick, life-time member of the Magic Castle, and creator/performer of hit theatrical magic show Smoke and Mirrors. Albie Selznick brings a new and different lineup of world-class, award-winning magicians and outstanding variety acts to the Santa Monica Playhouse every week. Get ready for an unforgettable season of show-stopping feats — including sleight of hand, interactive parlor magic and mind-blowing illusions. The shows are every Mondays at 8 p.m., but get there early for the pre-show entertainment, which begins at 7:30 p.m. The shows are as follows: • Monday, Sept 3: Jonathan Levit, Robert Rodriguez and Mad Tad • Monday, Sept 10: premier mentalist, Max Maven; pre show by Roby • Monday, Sept 17: Scot Nery’s Boobie Trap (“Best Variety Show in L.A.” — Los Angeles magazine) • Monday, Sept 24: 10 X 10 fundraiser for Swing Left — Ten magicians X ten 10-minute acts of amazement. This is a fundraiser for Swing Left. Swing Left helps you find and commit to supporting progressives in your closest Swing District so that you can help ensure we take back the House in 2018. (All proceeds go to Swing Left – no discounts or passes) • Monday, Oct 1: retro mind-readers The Sentimentalists recently fooled Penn and Teller on Penn and Teller’s Fool Us You can buy your tickets in advance by calling 310-450-2849, or online at www.MagicMondayLA.com. Tickets are $40 per person. Weekly discounts and season passes are available at www.MagicMondayLA.com (No discounts or passes on Monday, Sept. 24).

Ok, the Mutt House has everything you could possibly want from a night out enjoying musical theatre. Dancing, funny dialogue, and clever original songs that are very accessible, and genuinely fun. Set within an animal shelter whose funding is about to be cut by a self serving politician, you meet this lovable group of pets, and Eddie their caretaker. The hilarity between the dog characters is instant. The behavioral idiosyncrasies of our furry friends are instantly recognizable, and well utilized for laughs. The morality of the tale is born from Eddie's personal growth throughout the performance which leads to him standing up for himself and the shelter. The fun that the performers are having preforming this show is contagious, and you may even find yourself laughing at small moments that feel like were just between the cast. All this, built around a story line that ultimately tugs a bit at your heart, lightheartedly, about our obligation to take care of those who need our help. For more information about Mutt House, visit their official Facebook Page.

Raising a sensitive child can pose some parenting challenges. Emotionally, sensitive kids become overwhelmed easily. They cry often, worry about getting into trouble frequently, and they require a great deal of reassurance. There’s nothing wrong with being sensitive. In fact, a sensitive child can be one of the kindest, most compassionate kids you'll ever meet. While strict discipline may help some kids turn their behavior around, harsh punishments are likely to cause more problems with sensitive kids. Here are five parenting strategies to use for raising a highly sensitive child: 1. Emphasize on your child’s strengths and gifts instead of her shortcomings. 2. Set Limits. Although it might be tempting to bend the rules to avoid upsetting a sensitive child, constant exceptions to the rules won’t be helpful in the long run. 3. Teach Problem-Solving Skills. This can make a big difference in a sensitive child's daily life. Teach your child step-by-step instructions for tackling problems and she'll gain confidence in her ability to handle uncomfortable situations. 4. Provide Plenty of Downtime. Create a “peace corner” with quiet activities such as coloring, listening to soothing music, or books to read, and encourage your child to use it when she's feeling overwhelmed. 5. Use Logical Consequences. Just because a child cries or feels bad, doesn’t mean she should escape other consequences. To learn more about the author, and the services she provides to LA parents, please visit HomeParentCoach.com. Ana can be reached at anaedelson@gmail.com.

LACMA offers free Art classes for anyone 17 years and younger. As NexGen members, kids and teens can visit for free anytime and bring one adult guest for free admission. This world-class art museum is a wonderful introduction to art for kids of all ages, even babies. Friendly and helpful staff introduce painting techniques, offer tips, and even provide high chairs for little ones. To get your free membership card, fill out this form with your child's name and date of birth. Include your address and email it to membership@lacma.org and they'll send you invitations to NexGen programs. For children under 13, a parent or guardian signature is required. LACMA is located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. LACMA is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm; Saturday and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. They are closed on Mondays. ​ The easiest parking for families is in the underground Pritzker Parking Garage on 6th Street at Ogden ($16) or street parking on 6th Street where the meters are free on Sundays!

Designed for kids 3.5 to 6 year olds, the Wee Kick Classes help develop your kids' gross motor skills, balance and coordination while teaching them about respect, personal space, and setting boundaries. Alonzo Martial Arts is excited to announce new weekday "Wee Kick Classes" for kids 3.5 to 6. These new classes are forming Tuesdays through Fridays at 3:30 pm at their brand new space inside TriFit Club and Studios consisting of 29k square foot at the Colorado Center in Santa Monica! Wee Kick plants seeds of self-discipline and prepares Pre-K & Kindergarten kids for the physicality and structure of more mature martial arts training. It’s fun, empowering, and taught from a child development perspective. Benefits include confidence, self-esteem, better focus and self control. Physically, they’ll gain improved gross motor skills, coordination, balance, strength & flexibility. Mindful meditation eases anxiety and helps promote kindness. Kids will also learn the important benefits of determination in reaching lofty goals. But kids can't have ALL the fun! parents are encouraged to join in too. Parents who sign up their kids for classes are invited to enjoy a discounted membership to use the gym while their kids are in the class! For the past 23 years, Richard Alonzo, the owner and the instructor, has built his professional reputation as an ambassador to martial arts for kids and adults. His commitment to traditional training, quality self-defense, mindful self-awareness, and unlimited possibilities dates back to 1991. You can read the many reasons parents love his classes in his Five-Star Yelp Reviews. He has also been featured on VoyageLA as one of LA's Most Inspiring Stories. The Wee Kick Classes are available for kids 6 and older too. Mr. Alonzo teaches other Martial Arts classes for kids, Teens, and adults. For more information about his classes, please visit Alonzo Martial Arts' website. To reserve a spot for your child at the next Wee Kick Class, contact Richard D. Alonzo at (310) 895-5100, or email him at alonzomartialarts@gmail.com. Your First Class is FREE. Alonzo Martial Arts is located at 2425 Colorado Ave. in the city of Santa Monica. We have not been paid for this article. We have been provided with free classes, and we recommend Alonzo Martial Art classes to all parents based on our own observations. They have also received our "Certificate of Totally Awesome" because we really believe they are totally awesome.

Featuring 18 original songs and a cast of 10, Mutt House is the story of quirky outsider Eddie Corbin. Bullied all his life, Eddie has finally found a place to call home — a neglected downtown animal shelter. When the city threatens to close the shelter, Eddie must do something he’s never done before: stand up for himself and fight for what’s right. With the help of six zany mutts, he faces his fears and makes an unexpected human connection in the process. Celebrate summer with man's best friend in the world premiere Mutt House starting on July 10, 2018. Mutt House is full of singing, dancing and fun, and will inspire and bring you and your family endless amounts of joy! The award-winning creative team of Los Angeles designers will include scenic designer Stephen Gifford, lighting designer Matthew Denman, sound designer Cricket S. Myers and costume designer Allison Dillard. Mutt House is a guest production at Kirk Douglas Theatre at 9820 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232. Tickets are on sale now at 213-628-2772 or online at MuttHouseTheMusical.com. Tickets start at $39 per person. This Article is part of a sponsored blog.

On June 20th, you have an unique opportunity to experience the past coming back to life. Be one of the first to see Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom before it opens in theaters at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live. Travel back to the island for a special rescue operation, and once again see the creatures who roamed the Earth before us as dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and mosasaurs come to life on the big screen. Your exclusive ticket includes a special screening of Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, panel discussion and Q&A with dinosaur experts and enthusiasts, and General Admission to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. sponsored Regal Cinemas L.A. Live is located at 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015. Tickets are $28.50 for Adults, and $26.50 for Students and Seniors. If you are a member, tickets are $26.50 for Adults, and $24.50 for Students and Seniors. Your General Admission to NHMLA can be used anytime through August 31, 2018. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit NHMLA's website.

At Fun With Kids in LA, our mission is to inspire parents every day to do fun things with their kids. We share the best of LA with our awesome followers, and as a thank you for being so awesome, we surprise you with gifts that will inspire you to make memories with your families. This month, we have partnered up again with a very talented photographer, Oscar Malo, to give away a free family photo session. To Enter Entering is easy! Sign up for our newsletters between May 20 and May 25, 2018, and you will be entered for a chance to win a free family photo session with Oscar Malo Photography. Session includes 30-45 minutes shoot with 10 fully processed print delivered via photographer's website. Value $85. About Oscar Malo Oscar Malo specializes in family and portrait photography. His attention to detail and ability to capture candid shots ensure you will have a family album that can be cherished and shared for many years to come. He uses state-of-the-art equipment to deliver high-resolution images that beautifully captures vivid colors and subtle variations in contrast. He was recently featured on VoyageLA: Art & Life with Oscar Malo. See our Giveaway page for full details to enter for a chance to win. You must be 18 years of age to enter. Giveaway ends on April 30, 2018 at 12:00 am. Oscar Malo is also available for your special occasions, weddings, bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, baby showers, kids birthdays, bridal showers, and your other special events. You can contact Oscar directly at (323) 243-9685 or for more information, please visit his website. #circus #funwithkids #giveaway #sanpedro