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Planning birthday parties for kids > Bakersfield, CA
3709 Rosedale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
(661) 859-1111
In Southern California we have such unpredictable weather. One week will be a hundred degree heat wave, while the next will be overcast, even raining with lightning and thunder. This can make planning an event quite difficult. We were just at a birthday party over the weekend. They had a bouncy house set up, and even though the entire week gave us hot temperatures, we experienced rain and thunderstorms that put a bit of a damper on the festivities. Fortunately, we were able to move indoors and wrap up the birthday party and head home to get dry and stay warm.
When planning a birthday party or other event, it’s a good idea to have a back-up plan in case the weather doesn’t cooperate with your outdoor plans. If you’re doing a party at your house, be prepared to move things indoors in order to make your guests comfortable and keep the festivities going. In the event you’re planning a much larger party, decide on an indoor venue that can accommodate your guests so you’re not stuck scrambling at the last minute. If there’s a good chance the weather isn’t going to be pleasant, be sure to call partygoers with enough notice for them to make necessary arrangements for the change of plans.
Our playgroup enjoys doing a Thanksgiving playdate each year. It’s the perfect time for friends to get together and play, do fall crafts and Thanksgiving activities, and have the opportunity to be thankful for their friendships. Don’t forget your camera to capture memories you and your children can look back on for years to come. Our Thanksgiving party is one of the special times of the year that everyone comes together and is reminded of how thankful we are for one another. It’s also a time to eat some delicious food, like one friend’s home baked pumpkin walnut cookies!
Most years we do a potluck style feast at our favorite city park. This is a great spot to have an event. There are places to sit and eat and tons of room for the kids to play and have a great time. While many parks have covered picnic areas, too much wind or rain can ruin your plans. Usually we have someone in the group who offers their home as a Plan B. That way everyone can still enjoy their time together. With three kids, one being a toddler, it’s hard enough for me to keep up on laundry and other household chores, so I’m typically not the one volunteering to move the party to my house. I’m always very thankful when a friend is so generous (and organized)!
But what about bigger groups? We’re planning on a Thanksgiving potluck with our homeschool group at the park. This is a large group of families, and the children range in age from babies and toddlers to high-schoolers. Everyone looks forward to these get-togethers and there would be a lot of disappointment if the event had to be canceled. Moving to an indoor location to avoid poor weather conditions is the only solution. You want to choose a venue that will provide enough space and all the amenities a large group with such a variety of ages would need. John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is just such a place. John’s can accommodate large groups, giving you enough space to set up craft tables, and has food, fun and games that will make the kids and parents entertained and satisfied.
Here’s the top 5 reasons we love John’s Incredible Pizza:
1. The All-you-can-eat-buffet of pizza, pasta, salad, dessert and fountain drinks
2. Beer and wine are available at an additional charge with a two drink limit
3. Multiple themed rooms about the size of a standard restaurant that will take care of any mood you may be in
4. Rides, fun and games that are relevant for very young ones all the way up to adults
5. Fun promotions you can sign up for here
View the interactive map and directions from any location.
Bakersfield schools > homework rewards and fun things for kids
A great reward for your kids this school year:
3709 Rosedale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
(661) 859-1111
Getting back into the school routine can be rough for everyone. Bedtime schedules change and morning routines can be stressful when you’ve got to be ready on time. A day at school is typically about 6 hours. That’s a long day for a child. They come home tired, hungry and in need of some down time. But with homework and extracurricular activities, it seems like the time between school and bedtime is fleeting. Parents know the homework battle puts a strain on their relationships with their children. So how do we get our kids to do their homework without a fight? That’s just the question we all need an answer to!
I did some searching on the web for tips to calm the homework tension, as well as this one. Each of the three websites offers a unique perspective on handling the issue of homework. The first details a six week plan to get your child’s homework time set as part of their ritual. Routine, organization and keeping the necessary supplies on hand for them is key. Helping them manage their time and giving them guidance is the basis for success. The second article listed above focuses on organization as well. Basically it stresses the importance of teaching your child to become responsible for her/his own homework responsibilities so you are not the one reminding and igniting the feud. The final site reminds us that homework is a useful and necessary tool in the learning process. It is the practicing of a new skill until it is mastered and the child will then be able to apply what s/he has learned. The focus here is more behavioral and suggests that kids need to be trained to do their work and eventually gain intrinsic or internal reward for doing their work. The author clearly states that threats and bribes don’t help the situation, but setting goals and offering rewards (in the beginning stages) is very helpful for getting the child on task.
This advice has given me a great deal of insight on how I can aid in my little student’s success. I know that as an adult I need to set goals and then go through and check things off as I’ve completed those goals. In my college days I would write out all assignments I had due and then check them off as they were completed. That visual of marking something off the list gave me something tangible to grasp and helped ease that feeling of being overwhelmed by the mountain of work that lay before me. These days, I make a list of things to do for my day and it feels good to see how much I have accomplished.
So setting out the goals is important. Having an organized workspace and consistent routine also contributes to peace in the house. And while bribes and threats aren’t the best practice (in desperate moments, parents try desperate tactics - I’ve been there), giving your child something to work toward is positive reinforcement. Let’s face it, in the workforce we expect a paycheck. School is kids work. It’s important that they feel good for turning out hard work. Indeed that should make them proud. My daughter loves getting her report card, knowing we’ll take advantage of some rewards offered by businesses in our community. One of her favorites is Limited Too. She takes her report card there for a $5 off credit and the girls working there make a big deal about her good grades. These young women serve as role models for my daughter, and their support (and the free gift) helps her realize the importance of her hard work.
Another place we always take the report card is John’s Pizza Co. They have a number of incentive and reward programs. Their “Accolades for Good Grades” program encourages kids to bring in their report cards and 
show off their good grades and rewards them with up to 20 free Fun World credits. Our kids love this. In addition, John’s Pizza has coupon awards for teachers and other leaders to give to students for work well-done.
You can also set up your own program at home. Have a family meeting with the kids, set goals together, and vote on what the rewards will be for achieving those goals. My daughter loved getting a new Webkinz bookmark after she finished reading twenty chapter books. Getting her to do her work without complaints? I’d be willing to plan a fun day out for that! John’s Pizza is always a hit for the whole family, and something fun to work toward for kids who need a little help getting back on track with their schoolwork.
A great reward for your kids this school year:
3709 Rosedale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
(661) 859-1111
IN Bakersfield CA > 4th of July fireworks > family fun things to do
John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is located in Bakersfield, California and is our community pick for kids indoor fun indoor activities this 4th of July holiday weekend. Remember, John’s Pizza can easily consume a full day so plan accordingly!
3709 Rosedale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
(661) 859-1111
Bakersfield Fireworks Schedule
4th of July celebrations and fireworks in Bakersfield are just a few days away. This year many people are opting to stay home in lieu of the expensive two week family vacation. This doesn’t mean your holiday fun has to suffer.
4th of July barbeques are an absolute must, otherwise the holiday just wouldn’t be the same. Many of your local Bakersfield grocery stores are having big sales this Summer so check your local paper to see which chain has the best offers and make sure your barbeque has plenty of propane!
Fourth of July falls on a Friday this year, which makes for a fun and short work week for most.
If your family is like ours you’ll start the holiday with outdoor games or swimming (if you have a pool) then move to the cookout and ice cold beverages. As the sun begins to set it’ll be time to pack up and get ready for the fireworks show.
This year you can find all of the Bakersfield/ Kern County fireworks and events here. Most cities have gates opening between 5-7pm and fireworks starting around 9pm.
4th of July falls on a Friday this year. The fun part about having the 4th of July on a Friday is you then have the rest of the weekend to have more fun with the family!
The kids will undoubtedly need to get out for some physical activity and other fun things on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures are expected to approach 100 degrees this holiday weekend so you should consider some indoor activities to keep the kids (and you) cool.
If the kids want fun with rides and games, there are many options around California for parks, but again you’ll likely be dealing with intense heat. If you’re like us and you have a young one in a stroller, it’s just not an option.
This leads us to the idea of kids indoor playgrounds and parks. Indoor parks are a must in California. John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is the only facility we’re aware of that has diverse offerings for the entire family with an amusement park feel.
Here’s what your family gets and why we like it so much:
* John’s Incredible Pizza is giant! You’re not going to run out of space or fun things to do here. John’s is easily the largest indoor play area for kids (or adults) anywhere. Now you can even take an interactive look at what a typical John’s Pizza is like on the inside. If you’ve never been to a John’s Pizza, you’ll be surprised.
* John’s has many indoor rides and games. These are real indoor rides for kids including the coolest bumper car setup we’ve seen anywhere. The Bakersfield location also features the dino ride and speedway go karts.
* Interactive and fun video and other games
* Multiple themed dining rooms. Themes range from music videos to cartoons, each is easily the size of a standard restaurant.
* There is great need for multiple dining rooms due to the all-you-can-eat-buffet. The buffet ties the rides for our favorite part of John’s. Simply said John’s has more pizza flavors than you can imagine, tons of pasta variations and a fantastic salad bar for those seeking a lighter fare. Of course if you dine on the salad bar you’ll have room for the all-you-can-eat dessert section too, which includes soft-serve ice cream, cakes, cookies and more.
John’s Incredible Pizza Co. is located in Bakersfield, CA and is our community pick for kids indoor activities this 4th of July. Remember, this type of activity can easily consume a full day so plan accordingly.
Be sure to sign up for special promotions.
John’s Incredible Pizza Company
3709 Rosedale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
(661) 859-1111
Bakersfield Fireworks Schedule
Take a look inside John’s Incredible Pizza Co.!
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