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Best Activities For Preschoolers In Los Angeles

Skirball Cultural Center
(credit: Skirball Cultural Center)

Tots and their parents will both enjoy the wide range of museums, workshops, and activities available throughout Los Angeles. From science experiments to art and outdoor space, here are some of the best spots in the city for activities preschoolers will love.

Giggles N' Hugs
(credit: Yelp/Lucia C.)

Giggles N' Hugs
10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 553-4847
Multiple Locations: Canoga Park, Glendale
www.gigglesnhugs.com

Giggles N' Hugs, with locations throughout the LA area including Glendale, Canoga Park and Century City, combines high quality organic food and kids entertainment. Featuring a 2,000-square-foot play area in each location, magic shows, musical concerts, crafts, and puppet shows, this is essentially an upscale and interactive dinner theater for little tykes. Fresh and delicious foods from pasta to salads are provided for adults, while kids can enjoy favorites like Nutella pannini or mac n' cheese. Each location offers specially themed birthday parties for tiny kids, too.

California Science Center
(credit: California Science Center)

California Science Center
Exposition Park
39th Street and Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90037
(323) 724-3623
www.californiasciencecenter.org

Get your future Einstein involved in small child-friendly exhibits at this vast, free museum packed with interactive displays. Whether kids are eager to learn about the human body, gawk at aircraft, or take a Journey through Space through a new exhibit featuring a simulated orbiting space station, there's something colorful, bright, and touchable for just about everywhere. Magnets, eco-systems, and planetary exploration are just some of the other fascinating exhibits for all ages. Plus: the Space Shuttle Endeavor is a huge draw for all kids.

Skirball Cultural Center)
(credit: Skirball Cultural Center)

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 440-4500
www.skirball.org

Preschoolers love the Noah's Ark exhibit, an interactive vessel with a menagerie of cool hand-crafted critters that invites playing and exploring in an 8,000-square-foot space, at LA's Skirball Cultural Center. Kids can also help build a section of the ark and climb a gentle ropes course. The Center also frequently offers special family programs, inviting kids to play games, listen to stories, and create mixed media art.

CBS tots kidspsace
(credit: Yelp/Jessica B.)

Kidspace Children's Museum
480 N Arroyo Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 449-9144
www.kidspacemuseum.org

Located next to the Rose Bowl, the indoor/outdoor interactive exhibits here include a giant lever,
Bugsy's Diner - a spot to learn about the feeding habits of insects, a nature exchange involving rocks, minerals, and plants, and a pretend archeological dig. Gardens featuring native plants, and an outdoor water play area are both sure to bring smiles.

CBS tots Zimmer Children's Museum
(credit: Zimmer Children's Museum)

Zimmer Children's Museum
6505 Wilshire Blvd #100
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 761-8984
www.zimmermuseum.org

Should you really bring your tots to just one museum when you can bring them to two? The Zimmer is a unique museum with a focus on the arts including instruments for globally inspired musical jams, a stage on which to perform a show, and the ability to slip behind the wheel of a real plane. Located on Wilshire Blvd.'s Museum Row, kids can play a giant pinball machine, examine beautiful rotating art exhibits, and participate in art classes that are geared to include pre-schoolers. It's never too early to explore diversity and cultural awareness, both themes of the museum. There's even special play times for babies. On Sundays, family programs including musical offerings, take place. Bubble days take place on Wednesdays.

Genie Davis is a multi-published journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. She lives near the beach in Los Angeles. See more on: CBSLA | eco-exist.com | geniedavis.com | Divulge.com | Twitter.
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