THE CHEAP BASTARD’S® GUIDE TO Los Angeles

CHILD’S PLAY:
CHEAP ACTIVITIES

"Your modern teenager is not about to listen to advice from an old person, defined as a person who remembers when there was no Velcro."

—DAVE BARRY

"Mom, I’m bored!" is an all-too-familiar declaration that falls on the ears of many a busy parent. "Then find something meaningful to do," was always the response my mother gently retorted. No one ever tells you, "You know what? One day you’ll be all grown-up and never in your life will you be bored again because there will always be something to do, whether that’s paying a bill, doing the laundry, cleaning the house . . . " I know, I’m sorry. Now I have you pining for those carefree summer days when the 4th of July felt like it was eons into the summer, and you had light-years ahead of you until you had to return to school again.

Los Angeles has a plethora of resources for babies, children, and parents, as well as activities, from museums to after-school programs, youth clubs, and music schools, to keep your child entertained and make a positive impact at the same time, so you’ll never have to listen to, "Mom, I’m bored!" again. Turn to these pages for answers and inspiration when you feel at a loss, challenged, or in need of support or access to a list of fun stuff your child can do.

ARTS & CRAFTS

4814 Hollywood Blvd. (between N. Edgemont and N. Berendo Streets),
Los Angeles
(323) 644-4629
http://barnsdallarts.org

Free family art workshops on Sun from 2 to 4 p.m. Check the online calendar. Free art workshops in Griffith Park on Sat, April through October. Ragan Art Academy for children ages 12 and up to enroll in a full 2-year art program in the visual arts, where they learn the techniques of drawing, design, painting, and sculpture. Students can also opt to take one class at a time. Financial aid is available.

The nation’s only free youth membership program is offered at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Free general admission to anyone under the age of 17 with an accompanying adult. Reasonably priced art classes and programs for kids and teens are available. Art camp for children ages 6 to 9 and 10 to 13. Financial aid for classes and camp is available. Call the art class registrar at (323) 857-6139 or the education department for more information at (323) 857-6512.

At over 100 participating recreational centers across Los Angeles, the Department of Recreation and Parks provides free, challenging physical, educational, and social activities for youth in low-income areas. Activities include dance, piano, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, boxing, tennis, drama, cheerleading, tutoring, swimming, and more. Call for more information.

LAMusArt has a dynamic and affordable program for youth in music, dance, drama, and visual arts. Student musicians age 12 and over, after an audition and interview, can participate in the Los Angeles Philanthropic Committee for the Youth Arts Orchestra. Boys and girls ages 7 to 16 can audition and interview to sing with the LAMusArt Choir, performing at school and community events. Children ages 7 to 14 are eligible to participate in a 4-week summer camp at a reasonable rate. Financial assistance is given to those who qualify.

Founded by the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist, Flea, children can study music at the Silverlake Conservatory with exceptional teachers at a reasonable price. Silverlake offers scholarships as well as free lessons and instruments for deserving children.

The Studio City Recreation Center offers gymnastics, soccer, tae kwon do, ballet, tap, and hip-hop for the 3 to 6-year-old set, cooking and sewing for pre-teens, and guitar, flag football, basketball, and tennis for the older kids. Prices average at $65 for 8 weeks of classes. This facility also has summer and spring camp programs to keep the kids out of trouble. Adults can delight and get fit in yoga, tennis, and tae kwon do.

Venice Arts encourages the creation and sharing of personal and community stories through photography, film, and multimedia. Ages 6 to 9 can participate in their Art Discovery program, and ages 10 to 18 can take photography, digital arts, and media arts classes taught by professional artists in a small and nurturing environment while having access to the use of cutting-edge equipment. Free workshops are held year-round at various schools, parks, and public housing developments.

6505 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100, Los Angeles
(323) 761-8989
www.zimmermuseum.org
Hours: Closed Mon and Sat; Tues through Thurs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sun 12:30 to 5 p.m.
Admission: $8 adults; $5 children ages 2 to 17; free to children under 2 and grandparents on Tues when accompanying a child.

Geared toward children ages 8 and under, the Zimmer Museum’s hands-on exhibits offer tots and tikes thought-provoking snippets of important cultural awareness and sensitivity issues, from global citizenship to community responsibility. Classes, family programs, and field trips create an interactive experience where your child will learn to play well with others and be curious, generous, and creative. Some exhibits have Jewish cultural themes but are not religiously or culturally exclusive. Play at the Water Table and learn how to take care of Planet Earth; drive an ambulance, learn about doctors and nurses, or answer a call for help in "People Helping People," and learn about the gift of compassion. The museum also accepts volunteer applicants, and youth volunteers can earn credit toward community service hours.

FUN PARKS

Whether it’s Disneyland, Magic Mountain, or Knotts Berry Farm, Los Angeles has got some great theme and amusement parks that will keep you entertained all the good long day. Their websites will offer discounts for you to purchase your tickets ahead of time; sometimes they also run 2 for 1 deals or perks via AAA or Costco. Below are some of the best deals offered that will fit well within your cheap bastard budget.

It’s hard not to love Disneyland. Come on, isn’t it time you tap into your inner child? It’s okay if you don’t want to mention how much you love it. I won’t give away your secret. Follow @DisneyParks on Twitter, where they sometimes run contests for free tickets. If and when they do, you have to act fast. Make good friends with a park employee, and he or she can get you and two others in for a day. Best of all, admission is totally free on your birthday! Where’s your party hat?

Thrill rides, children’s rides, family rides, and water rides. I love the Ferris wheel! Free admission for 2 weeks in December if you bring a $15 toy for the Toys for Tots Drive. Online your admission is reduced to $34.99, AAA members can save 30 percent, military and veterans plus one guest get in free November 1 through Thanksgiving, and Social Services and County Welfare employees plus one get free admission on select dates in November and December.

Flume rides and wooden roller coasters are my favorite, but Magic Mountain is happy to turn you upside down and all around so you can scream your head off. What’s the best way to get that cost lowered? Go near Christmastime for $15 with a present in hand for the Toys for the Holidays Drive, or bring a can of food during Thanksgiving week, and you’re in! If you use your Discover card, you get a 5 percent discount on regular admission, and once in a while, your Coke can will run a "buy one, get one free" admission deal, so be on the lookout as you quench your thirst.

STORY TIME

Free story time every Mon at 10:30 a.m., as well as Music Merriment on Tues at 10:30 a.m., Wed at 10 a.m., and Fri at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Music Merriment includes finger play activities, singing, dancing, and drumming, and occasionally some basic music theory and terminology.

Open since 1986, this full-service children’s bookshop in West LA stocks over 80,000 titles and hosts storytellers, author readings, and musical performers every Sat at 10:30 a.m. Check the website or call for the most up-to-date events.

Free sing-along for kids every Thurs morning from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Great for kids up to age 3. Tips encouraged.

Free story time for toddlers ages 3 and under 9:30 to 10 a.m. every Wed. Free preschool story time for ages 3 to 5 from 10 to 10:30 a.m. every Wed. Includes stories, songs, art activities, and finger plays for children.

Family Pajama Story Time on Thurs evenings at 6:45 p.m., plus story time on Tues for babies at 11 a.m., and toddlers at 11:30 a.m. Check website under "Children’s Department" for more details.

In operation since 1894, Vroman’s is Southern California’s largest independent bookstore. Check the online calendar or call for kid story times and events, both at the bookstore and the ranch.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS & YOUTH CLUBS

6501 Fountain Ave. (at Wilcox Ave.), Los Angeles
(323) 957-4426
www.la-allstars.org

All-Stars, supported by such celebrities as Kobe Bryant, has a three-tiered approach to their program, focusing on the visual and performing arts; health, nutrition, and physical fitness; and leadership, character development, and community service learning. They also offer homework assistance and sponsor summer youth camps.

822 E. 20th St. (at Stanford Ave.), Los Angeles
(213) 747-6357
www.allpeoplescc.org

All Peoples Christian Center offers after-school youth social and academic programs in South LA for children ages 6 to 18 in order to encourage students at a young age to graduate and pursue higher education. Family work social services, counseling, crisis intervention, and parenting classes are also held in both Spanish and English. All Peoples Christian Center also hosts Camp Joe Ide Summer Camp, which allows 60 children ages 8 to 12 to experience nature in the San Bernardino Mountains for 1 week each summer.

850 N. Cahuenga Blvd. (at Willoughby Ave.), Hollywood
(323) 467-2007
www.bgchollywood.com

Daily homework help, in addition to a technology lab, Career Launch and Money Matters workshops, leadership building programs, sports, fitness, and recreation classes, an art studio program, and music classes through UCLA.

After-school arts programs at various elementary and middle schools throughout Northeast Los Angeles, as well as winter and summer art camps targeted toward nontraditional and underserved audiences. Free animation classes for ages 10 to 14 in a special 30-week program. Check website for more details. They also host a music festival every fall.

A nonprofit writing and tutoring center dedicated to supporting kids ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their children to write. After-school tutoring programs from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., as well as evening and weekend workshops covering things like SAT preparation and character sketching. In-school tutoring and field trips. Student work is published in anthologies.

The church sponsors a youth group, open gym, homework help for school-age children, a youth basketball team, Head Start program, counseling, and parenting classes. Emergency food and clothing are available. Thrift shop on the premises; donations welcome. Staff speaks Spanish and Samoan. All services are free.

1718 N. Cherokee Ave.,Suite A (near Hollywood Blvd.), Hollywood
(323) 957-6481
www.lacerstars.org

Arts- and literacy-based after-school programs that encompass visual art, music, dance, film, academic support, sports, and enrichment activities for underserved middle school and high school students.

Fitness classes, after-school programs, youth summer day camps, child care, parenting classes, support groups, and more. Each location offers different services and programs. All are reasonably priced. See the website for a complete listing of YMCA locations in the Metropolitan Los Angeles area.

RESOURCES

Free weekly support groups for parents and adolescents, with a focus on families dealing with low self-esteem, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, running away from home, and pregnancy. Individual and family therapy is also offered on a sliding scale, as is low-cost drug testing.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, (909) 498-6277
Children’s Hospital of Orange County, (714) 532-7571
Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, (310) 794-5561
USC Medical Center, (323) 226-3813

The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America is dedicated to controlling asthma and allergic diseases for millions of sufferers. The California chapter of the AAFA is the largest one. Breathmobiles, or allergy clinics on wheels, were developed to decrease morbidity and mortality rates in disadvantaged children. Since 1995, the Breathmobiles have treated over 120,000 children. Allergists, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and patient service workers at Breathmobile clinics provide diagnosis, treatment, and education to high-risk inner city schoolchildren with asthma or allergies. Free educational programs and brochures on asthma and allergy topics.

The Autism Society of America offers an information and referral service that provides monthly parent support groups, a library, resource files, and more.

Medical, dental, and mental health care for eligible residents of Hermosa, Manhattan, or Redondo Beach. Counseling, support groups, referrals, and more. Serves the uninsured and underinsured. Most services are low-cost or free.

For 30 years, Because I Love You has been supporting parents with troubled kids of all ages with behavioral problems including drugs, runaways, truancy, verbal and physical abuse, curfew, dress codes, and problem friends. Call or check the website for a BILY group near you, or to access their comprehensive list of websites for parents, free publications, addiction resources, anger management tools, and pamphlets in downloadable form.

At-need or at-risk girls ages 6 to 18 (or up to 21 if pregnant or parenting) are matched to volunteer Big Sisters, who act as positive role models and provide friendship, companionship, and guidance on a one-to-one basis. Fatherless boys ages 6 to 12 are paired up with adult male volunteers who are over 18, have a driver’s license and proof of auto insurance, and act as Big Brothers.

Open enrollment on parenting classes offered 50 weeks a year for parents with everyday problems. Support for parents with custody disputes. Free eNewsletter on divorce. Serves West LA. Fees are on sliding scale.

Temple Beth Hillel
12326 Riverside Dr. (at Laurel Grove Ave.), Valley Village
(818) 762-4817

A nonprofit mental health service center open to all community members, regardless of race or religion. Assists with problems in raising children, and teens who face challenges in coping with life. Fees on sliding scale based on ability to pay.

40 E. California Blvd. (at Edmondson Alley), Pasadena
(626) 792-6183
www.dy-dee.com

It is estimated that by the age of 2.5 years, a child has spent over 22,000 hours in diapers, and parents have changed those diapers over 13,000 times. Since 1938, Dy-Dee Diaper Service has been delivering cloth diapers and supplies to Los Angeles and Orange Counties, including Pomona, Ontario,

San Bernadino, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley. Cloth diapers decrease the likelihood your child may develop diaper rash, they are slightly less expensive than disposable diapers, and even more so if you wash them yourself. Are you converted yet?

The Family Focus Resource Center serves those in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys and offers free services to families with special needs. Call to make an appointment Monday through Friday with any of their fulltime Spanish-speaking staff, or e-mail family.focus@csun.edu.

The mission of La Leche League USA is to help mothers to breast-feed through mother-to-mother support, information, encouragement, and education. There is a small membership fee that is nominal, considering all the money you’ll save using the knowledge you gain and the wonderful resource that is your body, rather than forking over the bucks for formula. Visit the website to find a local group near you.

The Toy Loan Program is designed to build character, integrity, and a sense of responsibility in children. Toys are loaned freely, and there are no fees associated with this program.

The Los Angeles Valley College Family Resource Center has a free baby clothes exchange program where you can bring in the baby clothes ages 0 to 3 that your child has outgrown and exchange them for ones that you need. They also have a great lending library of parenting books.

Maud Booth Family Center offers comprehensive services for families with children up to 11 years of age, including health, mental health, nutrition, parental involvement, social services, and advocacy. Child care is available, and they serve breakfast and lunch. Bilingual staff.

Voted as "The Best of LA" by the readers of L.A. Parent Magazine 2010, The Pump Station was started nearly 30 years ago by two women who were Lamaze teachers, RNs, and mothers. The website alone offers many educational breast-feeding videos and information, and they offer free weekly sling clinics on how to "wear your baby" and the benefits of doing so. Additional locations are at 245 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica (310-998-1981), and 2879 Agoura Rd., Westlake Village (805-777-7179).

Dedicated to preventing and treating child abuse, the Richstone Family Center has after-school programs, parenting classes, family activity days, counseling, and support programs for South Bay, Centinela Valley, and Southeast LA residents. Bilingual staff and fees on sliding scale.

Founded in 1982, the UCLA Parenting and Children’s Friendship Program teaches parents techniques on increasing cooperation and reducing conflict within the home and at school. They also have social skills training for children ages 7 to 12 who have difficulty making and keeping friends.

8616 La Tijera Blvd., Suite 200 (at W. Manchester Ave.), Los Angeles
(310) 337-1550