Montessori preschools take a different approach to early childhood development, one which is focused on self-directed learning. Parents choose preschools that use the Montessori method for a variety of reasons, including the positive environment, self-directed curriculum, and individual attention each child receives. This laid-back and sunny approach to school is a great fit for the SoCal lifestyle, which must be why there are dozens of fabulous Montessori schools in Los Angeles. From the Valley to the South Bay, here are some of the most popular preschools in Los Angeles for Montessori learning.

For more great preschools in Los Angeles offering unique opportunities, like these dual-language and immersion programs, check out our Los Angeles Preschool Guide.

Dr. Doolittle may have been able to walk with the animals and talk with the animals, but at these petting zoos near Los Angeles kids can feed, hug, and sometimes even ride the animals. Actually, petting zoo is too narrow a term for these rescue centers and urban farms, where kids can meet critters in closer quarters and even get their hands on them (gently, of course). These incredible animal encounters and petting zoos near Los Angeles have rescue animals, pony rides, animal feeding experiences, and more. Some offer birthday parties on-site or even parties that come to you.

To discover more places where kids can get up close and personal with animals in LA, check out our roundup of all the best zoos near Los Angeles, including insider tips for visiting our very own LA Zoo.

West Adams is one of the oldest neighborhoods in LA, and as you explore you can feel how right it is in culture, diversity, and history. But it can be tricky for visitors to locate the area’s “hot spots”—which is one of the reasons why those living here love it! Knowing where to find the perfect taco, the perfect gift, or the perfect park, still feels like insider information. You are very much in the middle of a giant city here, but rarely are your favorite spots overcrowded. I love the many family-friendly surprises that this urban, creative neighborhood holds!

Here are 20 spots (and a bonus at the end!) in the greater West Adams and Mid-City area that families are sure to love. For more places to explore in Los Angeles, check out our favorite neighborhood and city guides that help families uncover every great hidden place in LA.

Halloween can be a tricky time for families with younger kids. There are lots of haunts and thrills for teens and bigger kids to get their adrenalin pumping: haunted houses, terrifying hay rides, theme park terrors, and more. But for those of us with young children, or any kids who are easily overloaded by sensory experiences, the choice is often limited to some version of a pumpkin patch. Don’t get me wrong: I love a good patch. But it’s also fun to have something a little less ... expected. To shake up our Halloween activities this year, we headed for the hills in Calabasas to experience Nights of the Jack. This is a perfect outing for families like mine with kids of a whole range of ages, as it strikes just the right balance of atmospheric and fun without being too scary.

Read on to find out why this is my family's new Halloween tradition. And for more Halloween fun for kids of all ages, from the best free Halloween events in Los Angeles to scary Halloween houses for big kids, check out our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

As a huge theater lover, finally being able to share live theater with my three-year-old is so exciting. Theater can bring stories to life like no other medium can. Kids’ theater can make a huge impact on our children and their imaginations; at the very least, it’s a really fun-filled family day. While shows have been dark for well over a year, the lights are coming back up and performers are eagerly waiting to tell their stories, make your kids’ day, and even make a theater lover out of them. These are some great shows happening in Los Angeles this fall that will delight kids as young as 3 years old.

For more fall fun, including loads of Halloween events and activities, check out our Los Angeles Fall Fun Guide.

"Do we need a movie museum?" Tom Hanks asked the first invitees in the Academy Museum 0f Motion Pictures' new Geffen Theater. He looked at us like we were crazy, before finishing, "Yeah!"

We Angelenos know what we're famous for. Hollywood has been synonymous with the movie industry for so long that people outside of LA don't even realize it's a neighborhood. Other cities have movie theaters, but only in LA do we see the street we just drove down to get to the movie theater on the screen in the movie.

So, yes, if there is one museum Los Angeles needed it was the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a museum dedicated to the art of film-making which we've been doing in this city for more than 100 years. Movies are LA history, and that makes it something to teach our children—who, incidentally, get free admission to the new museum! Read on to find out what we get to see, do, and experience at the new Oscar Museum—including holding our very own Oscar.

The lazy days of summer may be over, but fall is when there's FREE stuff for kids to do in San Diego. So, pack up and head to SoCal's favorite tourist destination to take advantage of San Diego Tourism Authority's annual Kids Free promotion.

This citywide campaign kicks off October 1, enticing families to visit San Diego's big-ticket attractions like Legoland, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wildlife Park, and Seaworld. Kids can eat, stay, and play for free at more than 100 participating hotels, restaurants, museums, and parks until October 31.

We've selected a dozen offers that we think are particularly good deals—put two or three together, and you've definitely got savings worth traveling for. Scroll down for a link to all 100+ free opportunities for kids in October.

Summer Shakespeare is the norm and as summer passes into fall, much of our outdoor theater also fades away. However, that's not the case at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in the Forest of Topanga (I know it’s a canyon, but it reminds me of the Forest of Arden!). Here Shakespearean actors tread the boards (and Shakespeare's fairies flit through the trees) into November. The annual production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is perfect for even young kids—there were kids as young as two in the audience when we saw it—running a tight 80 minutes, with plenty of singing, slapstick, and even animals. Read on to discover why everyone from tots to teens delights in this production filled with mistaken identities, naughty fairies, unrequited love, and an Amazon queen.