Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in oakland, CA

50 Things to Do Before Your Child Goes to School (Kindergarten, That Is)

by VDog

February 24, 2009

Roughly. A lot of these are great activities for your older kids, too!

This list was compiled over several blog posts by our former Being Savvy Editor, Heather Gibbs Flett. You can still catch her daily at RookieMoms.com! 

1. Children's Fairyland: trippy and bizarre unless you grew up here and remember it fondly from your childhood. Whoa, they even offer a sleepover.

2. East Bay Vivarium: stinky and warm homage to all things reptilian right off Fourth St. in Berkeley.

3. Pumpkin patch (which one's the best? I've heard good things about Clayton Valley?)

4. Little Farm at Tilden Park: wonderful, free working farm. Bring celery or lettuce to feed the animals.

5. Pottery painting at Brushstrokes: work together to make a keepsake gift and have fun getting all painty.

6. Sand castle building contest: play or watch in Alameda in June each year (this year, it's June 7th).

7. Ashkenaz for the kids' music series: we saw Hot Buttered Rum here and my son got hooked on their foot-stomping bluegrass. Plus the venue is a Berkeley institution.

8. The Oakland Museum of Children's Art, MOCHA: free for gallery visits and has an awesome Drop-In Art Studio for kids between ages 18 months and 5 years for $7.

9. Ferry to San Francisco: hop on the ferry at Jack London Square

10. Sketch for ice cream: whether you're pro-sugar or anti-sugar, this place is a real treat. Don't your kids deserve sustainable, organic, deliciousness? Yum.

11. Alameda Flea Market: first Sundays of each month at the former naval air station. Miles of wandering with very little shade, but an amazing trip for a little one. Bring water and a healthy snack or two.

12. Visit the Berkeley Rose Garden: meandering paths, stunning views of SF, and roses of all hue. An antidote to the flea market.

13. BART trip to anywhere: gas prices are so high, you'll want to do this without my suggestion

14. Watch an all ages movie at the Parkway or Cerrito Theaters - snuggle up on couches and enjoy being together as well as watching a show. Check the schedule for weekend all ages shows.

15. Berkeley or Oakland Farmers Market: there are so many good ones, you should pick the closest or most convenient time, then enjoy a snack together.

16. Lawrence Hall of Science: Great little kids area, many hands-on exhibits, and ample outdoor space. Worth a membership. My experiences with the younger scientist on RookieMoms.

17. March (or tricycle) in a Parade. The Pride parade (this weekend) is in SF: join the family fun with a group from the Discovery Museum. Or find a spot to watch from the sidelines. And we'll cover the Solano stroll as it happens. Otherwise, you're just on the receiving end of all those flying candies. Better to be in the action, right?

18. Fireworks: let your kid stay up late to watch the fireworks. We'll be taking our boys to the Berkeley Marina show. In earplugs.

19. Walk around Lake Merritt: Good luck to you! This jewel of Oakland has a 3.4 mile circumference.

20. Go to Berkeley Family Camp: Find a couple days or a weeks to make this tradition your family vacation.

21. Rock out at a Baby Loves Disco Party: You decide far east bay or the big city depending on where you live. I vote SF to relive my glory days and ride the BART.

22. Ride the (real) rails: Amtrak wherever you want or follow my tips for a fun daytrip to Martinez.

23. Circus class at Ha Ha This a way: he'll learn how to juggle and I'll refine my trapeze act, right?

24. Climb Indian Rock: Tucked away in the paths through the hills, reward your little climber with a treat at the top. Follow my tips and mini history lesson or just wing it.

25. Plant a garden: big or small, something edible so they can learn where real food comes from. I'll share my dirty experiences soon!

26. Brunch at Wat Mongkolratanaram, Berkeley's Thai Buddhist temple: At Russell St and Martin Luther King Jr. near the Tool Lending Library, monks invite the public to sit on the lawn and eat delicious and bountiful Thai food. I can't wait to try this! [helpful article in Berkeley Daily Planet]

27. Visit BAM: take your little art critic to Berkeley's Art Museum and ascertain MOMA-readiness.

28. Preschooler yoga class at Yogalayam: Namaste!

29. Wander through the Edible Schoolyard: living history and another great lesson in food!

30. Enjoy story time at N Berkeley Library: N. Berkeley has Whitney's favorite story times. Which one do you like best?

31. Captain's Cottage for High Tea for little princes and princesses in training. Recommended by a fellow preschool mom of 4. Her just-three-year-old enjoyed this place's charms and behaved the whole time.

32. Berkeley Kite Festival (pictured, my husband - photo by me). We loved this festival for our one- and three-year-olds. Responding to the excitement and peer pressure, we bought the Octopus Kite so we'd have something to fly. If at all possible, bike to the festival and avoid the traffic and parking scene.

33. Ice skating in Alameda where the groovy surface is slick without the cold. Cool. Can't wait to try it.

34. Funky sleep over at the Zoo or Fairyland for a change. Good for the over-four set. We'll have to do it next year.

35. Daytrip to SF Giants game and fan lot. Fun for baseball lovers and baseball haters.

36. Visit the USS Hornet for a climbing history lesson. Anyone done this with their kids yet?

37. Bike the Ohlone greenway

38. Pick fruit from neighboring trees and make a tart or pie

39. Visit the fab waterpark swimming pools in Antioch or San Ramon

40. Oakland A's game

41. Boogie through lunch at Cheeseboard Pizza, bring your tipping money

42. Parents' Night Out at Dig's bistro

43. Venture to the Discovery Museum in San Rafael

44. Ride out to Sonoma's Train town

45. Head to Chapel of chimes during a concert

46. Cheer for the Oakland Warriors

46. Go to the pet wash at Telegraph and Alcatraz and watch for sudsing pooches

47. Swing out for a party or take a class at Trapeze Arts

48. Pass the day away at the amazing indoor playspace of Studio Grow

49. Cal Berkeley football game while they're still young enough to dress like a mascot

50. Ardenwood Farm in Fremont -- draft horses pull a train car, kids can help feed the sheep and the chickens, and they offer many seasonal special activities.

Best Indoor Play Places for a Winter's Day

by VDog

January 20, 2009

Sadly the extremely short lived Blue Sky Family Club leaves us one less place to go when it is dreary out. But have no fear! There are still great places to take the tots when the weather outside is frightful. Some of my favorites: Sadiey Dey's Play Cafe (formerly Tumble & Tea): I know some may disagree with me, but Sadie Dey's is at the top of my list  Read more...

5 fabulous gift ideas

by VDog

December 09, 2008

Here are a few gift ideas for you...not much shopping time left until Hanukkah and Christmas! Sugar Plum Fairy Skirt What girl (or boy?) in her Princess phase WOULDN'T love this combination tutu/ballerina/musical outfit? I know several little girls for whom this would be a perfect gift -- prancing around and taking the music with you is pretty darn convenient! And hey, if you get sick  Read more...

Read Any Good Books Lately?

by VDog

December 04, 2008

Tired of your same old books? Looking for something new to you and them? Try out one of these...they are sure to be a hit. Touch & Feel Fire Engine We have a few of the "Touch and Feel" series books, and they are all big hits, even 1 years after first purchase. This one is sure to be a hit with toddler and preschoolers who are obsessed with all 'things that go!' I love that these  Read more...

Top 5 Local Holiday Traditions

by VDog

December 02, 2008

If these wonderful activities aren't already a part of your yearly Holiday festivities, I would strongly suggest adding one or two to your repertoire. Kids love doing the same thing year after year, and all of these activities would make great outings for a child to look forward to (and hey, maybe you'll even look forward to it, too!). 1) The Tilden Park Merry Go Round and  Read more...

Make your own road rug

by Heather Gibbs Flett

November 20, 2008

In the spirit of invention, creativity, and not buying crap , let me present to you a brilliant crafty craft that sparks the imagination and keeps giving... for about $5. Jeremiah over at ZRecommends gives a tutorial and shopping list for making a cheap-o homemade "road map rug" for your preschooler. This play mat is great for cars, trains, plains, blocks, and rhinos because all the blank  Read more...

A triple public transportation outing from the East Bay

by Whitney Moss

October 17, 2008

Yesterday I took Julian for a special date. We took three modes of public transportation in a pretty convenient loop. This is a fantastic outing for an older preschooler who can comfortably walk along city streets for a few blocks without a stroller. Here's how it's done. Fill in your own sightseeing and snack stops along the way, or keep it wheels-focused and just move through as quickly as  Read more...

Spare the air and ride your bike!

by Heather Gibbs Flett

September 04, 2008

On very hot days, the transit authority begs us all to stop driving and spare the air. Oh the poor car commuters today -- probably getting eggs thrown at their windshields for driving on a SPARE THE AIR DAY . But what a great time for the rest of us. We can walk, bike, or ride trains and buses all day in good conscience. June 19th was the only free transit day this summer, but you are doing  Read more...

A ticket to ride: East Bay Trains

by Heather Gibbs Flett

June 26, 2008

We like trains. Yep, I've said it before. I told you all the good places to go trainspotting and sent you on an awfully big adventure to ride a real train... and now I give you, the best mini trains within a 10-mile drive of my house: [photo credit: me, HGF] Best nearby trains to ride: Steam trains at Tilden Park : to-scale replica of a train you can ride has a cult following from parents  Read more...

Construction heaven: the new Berkeley Bowl

by Heather Gibbs Flett

June 05, 2008

Last week, both my kids were out of preschool and I had some extra days to fill. No worries. The best construction is happening within a half mile walk from my house. Yay! [photo credit: Alec Flett] Let me add that pre-kids, I wouldn't have cared or I might have just been annoyed by the road closures, but now I can admit that I take in some small pleasures in watching the diggers and loaders  Read more...

99 things you must do in the East Bay before your child grows up

by Heather Gibbs Flett

May 29, 2008

I love lists, challenges, rules and games so it is with great pleasure that I both try to list all the great things to do with kids in the East Bay and then to DO them all. Please help me create this list. Here are the first 10 places to go with your kid before kindergarten: Children's Fairyland : trippy and bizarre unless you grew up here and remember it fondly from your childhood. Whoa, they  Read more...

Planes, Trains, and automobiles: things that go vroom!

by Heather Gibbs Flett

May 21, 2008

PART ONE: Can we talk about trains? I have two little boys and we are all about trains. When Holden was one, the best way to get him out of the house was to talk about the trains we would see: real train, BART train, train table... it didn't matter, but there had to be trains. I could easily talk him into leaving Totland if I said we were going to go to Target for some train spotting. In fact,  Read more...