Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Editor-in-Chief

Years spent at Nickelodeon prepared Roberta to launch Mommy Poppins' Los Angeles branch in 2011, eventually becoming Mommy Poppins Editor-in-Chief in 2013. Previously she served as LA Editor for GoCityKids, National Editor for ParentsConnect, and Editor for NickMom—all of which works out well for her son, who has grown up serving as Chief Guinea Pig for all things fun in LA and beyond.

Latest posts by Roberta

Low Cost and Free Classes in Los Angeles for Kids After School

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 09/12/2021 - 12:25pm

Kids can do homework, hear stories, do arts & crafts, and more at free after-school programs in LA.

The school calendar feels like it starts earlier every year! Now that Labor Day has passed and kids are back-to-school, it's back-to-after-school season, when families look for enriching and fun programs for kids to take part in when the school day is over. Options for kids' sports activities, arts programs, and other activity classes for kids in LA are numerous and varied—lucky us!—but many are tough to manage on a budget. The good news is there are also several free classes for kids in Los Angeles, as well as inexpensive programs, all of which engage students’ minds and bodies in the hours after school lets out.

Check our guide to the Best Kids Classes and Activities in Los Angeles for more kids' activities and programs for everyone from tots to teens.

The Aquarium of the Pacific: What Makes LA's Biggest Aquarium So Spectacular

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 08/24/2021 - 1:59pm

Of the many things that make Los Angeles kids lucky, one of the best isn’t even in Los Angeles—it’s an aquarium in Long Beach. We love the California Science Center, the Los Angeles Zoo, and so many other classic LA family destinations, but for a joyous, educational, satisfying SoCal day out it’s hard to beat the Aquarium of the Pacific.

The Los Angeles area’s top aquarium is not a one-and-done experience, though. The Aquarium of the Pacific is a destination to visit again and again, with a variety of marine life ranging from tiny, barely visible jellyfish to big playful sea mammals. In fact, for the price of an annual membership, you just might find that your kids form a lifelong bond with a frisky sea lion—but more of that in a moment.

100 School Lunch Ideas for Kids: Back-to-School Lunches Kids Will Actually Eat

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 08/19/2021 - 9:00am

A perfectly packed lunchbox helps kick the school blues. Photo courtesy of www.YumboxLunch.com

Need lunch ideas for kids heading back to school? Chances are you've had a healthy, well-packed school lunch box delivered back into your hands virtually untouched at the end of the school day. There should be a special name for the heartbreak one endures at the words, "I told you I hate peanut butter and jelly," when not only is this the first you're hearing of it, but you spent extra on organic jelly and freshly ground peanut butter. And if not PBJ, then what? Well, we've got 100 lunch ideas for kids to answer the question of what to pack in a successful school lunch.

20+ Great Los Angeles Party Entertainers Who Make the Party

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 07/25/2021 - 8:23am

Happily Ever Laughter's playful fairytale characters keep kids enchanted.

Like the people who throw them, birthday parties have evolved. Grandma might point out that she managed just fine without puppies and ponies, but that doesn't mean we have to. The truth is that a good party entertainer can make a budget party in the backyard or local park feel like the event of the season. If you're that mom who's never at a loss to entertain a dozen 8-year-olds, our hats are off to you (and please contact us about writing a party piece!); for everyone else, here are 20+ party entertainment companies who bring the party to your house, and we think they really take the (birthday) cake!

Clue Live! Solve a Classic Murder Mystery at Westfield Century City

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 07/15/2021 - 2:36pm

The best thing to come out of the past year has got to be the flood of creativity in event planning. As quickly as we lost some activities we loved, other new family-friendly, socially distanced experiences sprang up, from drive-through dinosaur museums to walk-through candylands (with a few of hands-off haunted houses and holiday displays in between). The latest innovative addition to the LA event scene is Clue Live!— an in-person, open-air version of the classic board game. Attendees solve a familiar murder mystery: was it Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick? Mrs. Peacock in the kitchen with a lead pipe? The walking adventure in Century City brings all of these characters to life this summer so you can play detective.

Pageant of the Masters in Laguna: These Paintings Are Not What They Seem

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 07/13/2021 - 7:00am

A pageant sculptor helps volunteer cast members into their poses at a rehearsal

One of the most exciting pieces of news for summer 2021 is that the Pageant of the Masters is back!

Every city has something uniquely its own, some quirky event or phenomenon that defies description yet defines by association. Houston has its rodeo; Boston has its tea party, and Laguna Beach has the Pageant of the Masters.

If you've never experienced this curious gem, the private treasure of the people of Laguna, opportunity awaits you every night all summer long. But get ready to clean your glasses, because you won't always be sure what you're looking at. The extraordinary event is unlike anything else I've seen; it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're raising a budding artist, if your family rocks art museums, or if you just love outdoor entertainment on a summer evening, you owe it to yourselves to check the Pageant of the Masters off this summer's bucket list.

100 Things To Do with LA Kids Before They Grow Up

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 07/11/2021 - 10:20am

Visit LACMA's Levitated Mass. Photo by Joey Zanetti

Kids. We can't stop them from growing up so fast, but we can try not to miss any of the best, most memorable things to do in their hometown. LA is probably the best city in the country for raising kids, but that just means there are more things to remember to do before the little chickens spring the coop. Being phenomenal Southern California parents, you've certainly already done several of these; but which of these 100 not-to-be-missed, family-fun outings have you not yet done? There's always this weekend!

If you're in the mood for a more local itinerary, check out one of our neighborhood bucket lists. And finally a tip: Keep an eye on our list of ages that kids get in free at SoCal attractions as you make your plan.

The Coolest (Mostly) Free Splash Pads and Spraygrounds in LA

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 07/09/2021 - 9:16am

The fountain at Grand Park is all about water play. Photo courtesy of Grand Park/The Music Center

Kids in Los Angeles can splash through hot days at one of LA's many parks and playgrounds with free and fabulous water features, like the ones below—many of which are open year-round. Entire playgrounds (plus a few swimming pools and wading pools) are dedicated to water play with plenty of fountains, geysers, pumps, and water sprayers. Kids adore these spraygrounds and splash pads, and parents love the fact that they're a great way to beat the heat without a drive to the beach (not to mention, the car won't get all sandy!).

If a pool or a water park sounds like too much work (or too expensive), cool those kids down at one of these (mostly) free splash parks or spraygrounds.

Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Latest posts by Roberta

Pages