Advice Archives - 510 Families

Advice

Kid bikes El Cerrito

21 Best Places to Learn to Ride a Bike in the East Bay

Trails, paths, and open spaces that offer opportunities for new riders to improve their skills on bicycles.
hiking in forrest

Spring Break Ideas for East Bay Families

Spring Break inspiration for road trips from the Bay Area, easy travel, and other ways to spend your week off.
sunset baby dog happy

5 Scenic Hotels Less than Two Hours from the East Bay

These special places make you feel like you hopped on a plane to get there & how to best experience them with kids
kids on bridge

Vacation Inspiration: Yosemite with Little Kids

Looking for a drivable vacation that's relatively affordable and truly awe-inspiring for all ages? Yosemite National Park should be top on your list!
Bumblebee costume easy DIY

Purim Fun for East Bay Families

Purim is a joyous Jewish holiday commemorating unity and safety with costumes and merriment. We found several local events
whitney, heather, and carol at filoli tunnel of lights

Big Thanks to Our 2025 Sponsors!

From 24 Hour Oakland Parent Teacher Children Center to Zip Code East Bay, these are 272 of our favorite sponsors this year!
Small Talk City in Berkeley

Baby Consignment Stores in the East Bay

I love that the East Bay has so many places to get quality used kids' clothes. Consignment sales are ideal for snow pants, dress clothes, ...
little kid in ski gear with an instructor

Dodge Ridge: More Accessible Kid-friendly Skiing Than Tahoe

More affordable than Tahoe and super family-friendly, Dodge Ridge is one Oakland mom's little secret.
Caring Santa via Autism Speaks

Sensory-Friendly Santa Claus Visits

Find special times and places where Santa will be available for special needs children.
baby in devil costume sitting among leaves

Where to Get Halloween Costumes in the East Bay

Here's where to buy costumes and get the materials to make them yourself in the East Bay.
Outdoors at Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley whale sculpture

Where Do You Take Guests From Out-of-Town?

To show off the East Bay to your friends from back home, where do you go? We've got culture, stunning views, the Bay, and redwoods!
Apple picking at Chileno Valley Ranch

Apple Picking with Children Near the Bay Area

Apple-picking season is upon us. Here are a few U-pick options and Bay Area apple orchards worth a visit with your family. Always, call first!
Shorebird Park

Twins by the Bay: A support resource for twin parents

Twins by the Bay (TBB) is a support group and network for parents of multiples in the East Bay. The non-profit club is run by ...
Oakland Zoo entrance

Oakland Zoo For Families (Is Membership Worth It?)

Oakland zoo membership for families pays for itself in less than two visits. We break it down for you.
Jupiter's outdoor patio

15 Berkeley Restaurants with Outdoor Seating

Top kid-friendly Berkeley patio restaurants with outdoor seating where the noises disappear and the crumbs bounce away.
east bay depot of creative reuse

A Crafter’s Paradise: East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse

The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse is "every teacher's first stop and every artist's second home" for a good reason. Find your treasure.
the winning view from angel island

East Bay Father’s Day Guide

Looking for things to do on Father's Day in Oakland? Here are some local-ish ideas for treating, entertaining, and celebrating Dad.
girl swims in water wings

Where Do You Swim in the East Bay?

We've rounded up all the best places to swim in the East Bay: seasonal pools, water parks, beaches, lagoons, and even private pools you can ...
child at library

Beyond Books: More to Love from the Library

Visit your local branch for some amazing checkouts and free offerings—from power tools and baking pans to telescopes and a museum outing.
mom and baby

East Bay Mother’s Day Guide

We love and appreciate you, Moms! Inspiration for celebration activities, cool outings, and great gifts for Mother's Day.

Exploring Oakland’s Jack London Square with Kids

Things to do with kids in Oakland's Jack London Square, from food to play, there's a lot to do and see.
east bay consignment stores for used kids clothes

Gently Used Kids Clothing Shop in Berkeley: Grove Street Kids

At Grove Street Kids in Berkeley, the clothing is as well merchandised as I've ever seen in a used clothing store.
Best pizza in the east bay

Best Pizza in the East Bay for Families

50 favorite East Bay pizza places beloved by kids & families sliced up by type of crust including 10 for half-baked!
kid in a tilden park t shirt

20+ Ideas for Shopping Local

Wondering how to shop local and support our wonderful small {510} businesses? Here you go!
Sleepy kids justify drive-through starbucks

Drive-Through Coffee = Rookie Parents’ BFF

Iced or hot, drive-through coffee is a parent's best friend. But you have to know where to look. The East Bay hides them away.
waterfront cargo bike mom and children

Top 3 Family-Friendly Bike Rides in Alameda

Biking is the best way to experience the city of Alameda with your kids. Cross the island on a bike via clearly-marked bike routes. Here ...
Fairyland kid running through the card maze, Oakland photo by Sally Mason

Children’s Fairyland Membership: Is it Worth it?

Fairyland membership costs a family of five $159; we would only need to visit twice to break even. We do the math for you.

10 Swim Clubs for East Bay Families

Some people like to belong to a club because of an attached gym, tennis courts, or a snack bar that makes it easy to feed ...
Nick's Cove Tomales Bay villa overlooking the water with mom and two kids

The Ultimate Guide to Weekend Getaways For Bay Area Families

Less than a half day's drive from home, kids will love these vacation spots just as much as their parents. Get your weekend getaway started.
highway 5 in california

Driving to L.A. – 9 Places to Stop on a Road Trip Down Highway 5 in California

Driving I-5 down the center of California is a fairly joyless journey. I offer some tips, restaurants & diversions for enduring a day in the ...

Thrifting With Tweens & Teens on Telegraph Avenue

Berkeley thrifting can be a great way for tweens + teens to find clothes that fit their budget and style.
two kids playing indoor wheelchair soccer

Oct. 14: Free BORP Adaptive Sports Expo — Register Now

Oct. 14, the BORP Adaptive Sports Expo is a free opportunity for people with disabilities to try many different sports + recreation activities at 3 ...
teenager using laptop

Help Wanted: Seeking Writers and Content Creators!

Do you have a passion (and the time!) for telling other parents about your favorite local discoveries? Become a contributor for 510Families.com. We need you!
Canvas tents situated on a hillside

All About Berkeley Family Camps: Echo Lake vs. Tuolumne

Are you registered for a City of Berkeley family camp? We're here to share some details and tips to prepare your family for the trip. 
kids swim lessons

Canyon Swim School in El Sobrante

If the casual classes aren't doing the trick, and you're ready to get serious, it's time to make the drive to Canyon Swim School.

Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Food

20+ East Bay Restaurants with Family Sized Take Out Meals

I love having curbside takeout or delivery once (or twice) a week. I especially appreciate the restaurants and caterers who sell family-size portions.
Girl at science museum

EBT Benefits for Alameda and Contra Costa County Families

EBT cardholders may find accessible destinations on this list of museums that offer discounts.
Family Activities Fremont

What to Do With Kids in Fremont

Some of the most fun you can have with kids in Fremont no matter what the season. Where to go to play, learn, and go ...
Piedmont Recreation girls with basketballs

Rookie Parents’ Guide to East Bay Youth Sports

Getting a child started with a brand-new sport is a bit overwhelming. Figuring out gear, registration deadlines, & all the lingo...
two girls playing at adventure playground berkeley. one is rolling the other around in a tube

5 Fantastic Spots to Photograph East Bay Kids

A couple of things make a great spot to photograph your kids in addition to having an interesting visual landscape.
Parents Guide to Berkeley's Gilman District

Gilman District in Berkeley with Kids

Gilman District in Berkeley, Gilman between the freeway and San Pablo Ave is awesome for families with kids for lots of places to eat, shop, ...

What to Do With Kids in Berkeley’s Westbrae Neighborhood

The Westbrae Neighborhood of Berkeley, at the crossroads of Gilman and the Ohlone Greenway, is a perfect kid-friendly destination for a sunny day.
kid with squirt gun super soaker

13 Distant (But Together) Birthday Party Ideas for Kids

Highlighting the creative socially distant -- but still together -- birthday party celebrations, food heroes, and entertainers!
Bay Area Toddler Activities, things to do with a toddler, Toddler Activities Bay Area. San Francisco Toddler Activities Our Favorite East Bay Toddler Activities

Call for submissions: A Three-Year Olds’ Guide to Everywhere Fun

Does your preschool-aged kid have strong opinions about popular family-friendly Bay Area destinations? If so, we want to include them in our upcoming series, A ...
Sue-Meg State Park Hike

Free Park Passes for Fourth Graders

Hey fourth graders! See natural wonders and historic sites in California and beyond for free. Two very cool initiatives—one federal and one state—to get all ...
chicken white rice vegetables

Dinner on The Table: My Family and GreenChef

Starting in September 2021, and continuing weekly ever since, my family of 4* has been trying and mostly loving the meals from GreenChef.

How to Prevent Lice, a Guest Post by NitPixies

Just the thought of our children — or us — getting head lice makes us itchy. We are so grateful to share helpful advice by ...
Snippety Crickets haircut

Where East Bay Kids Get their Hair Cut

Where do you take your kid for a hair cut? Here are the hair-cutting solutions parents shared with us and the ones we keep going ...
ballot box in Berkeley

Time to Vote, East Bay: Where & How for the 2020 Election

Your typical polling place is NOT open this year. Find out where to cast your ballot in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
teenager using laptop

Outschool Surprised Me With Affordable Fun and Learning. Here’s What We Tried.

Outschool is a fantastic resource for low-cost live online classes that will actually engage your child, from fitness to problem solving.
Brown book cover

New Book for Oakland Kids: BROWN

BROWN: The Many Shades of Love was written by two Oakland educators and is available wherever books are sold!

Simple, Creative Halloween Costumes

Super simple but creative Halloween costumes for kids or clever parents with easy DIY instructions.
swing at mori point 3 kids

Talking about Race with Kids Right Now

We are excited to share a guest post from Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, East Bay mother of three and a child psychologist who specializes in trauma ...
dipping toes in wildcat creek

Some East Bay Parks Remain Closed, Most are Open

Five Regional Parks remain closed, the rest are open now with cautions in place.

25 Super Duper Activities to Do With Kids at Home

No matter your reason to be stuck at home, here are 25 entertaining at-home ideas more fun than singing Baby Shark for the hundredth time.
black girls code

41 Enrichment Activities & Centers by and for Black Families

This community-generated list of East Bay classes and mentorship programs for Black kids and families includes art, science, nature, biking, and more.
plant and kids hands

The Essential Guide to Gardening With Kids In the East Bay

My family and I have had some extra time to be diligent in picking weeds and carefully planning out our garden. Hints for East Bay ...

Wrangling the Mess of Family Life During Shelter In Place

Here's how I mostly keep my house and family running smoothly during shelter in place by optimizing daily and weekly tasks. Please share yours!
Book-Toy-Swap

How I Set Up a Quarantine Book and Toy Swap

My four kids are burning through every book, toy, puzzle and snack in the house. Here's what I did to refresh our toys and games ...

This Incredible Spreadsheet of East Bay Food Sources Will Save You

Fresh ideas for getting food to your house, without anxiety-producing supermarket runs.

Thank You to Essential Workers with Printable Sign

Put a bright THANK YOU sign in your street-facing window. Here's one you can use.

A Bare-Bones Daily Schedule for Those Who Just Cannot With School At Home

A rigid facsimile of a school day is not the goal for many of us. Here's another take on what the daily schedule might hold.
Biking through Tilden Park with kids

5 Tips to Get Your Teenager to Play Outside

As my kids get older, it is harder to take them outside into nature. Here are five strategies I’ve used to get my kids to ...
teacher and kindergarten students

Resources for Raising a Bilingual Child in the East Bay (Tips from a Mom)

Stephanie is passionate about languages and speaks Spanish, French, Portuguese, some bits of German, Armenian, Russian, and Arabic.
child reading by headlamp

Power Shutoff with Kids: What to Do & Where to Go

An East Bay parent's guide to planned PG&E electricity shutdowns with tips, resources, and advice to keep kids happy, healthy, busy, and safe.
LEGOLAND California

Road Trip to LEGOLAND

We had an adventurous few days at Legoland and I want to share our experience. It was our first time at a big theme park ...

kids at golfland mini golf

Kidpower safety courses for children

I attended a Kidpower workshop with my child. Safety and self-defense classes are taught in an age-appropriate way for three-year olds through teenagers.
Morgan Territory climb a tree

Winter is the Best Time to Explore the California Delta with Kids

Annie Burke is the creator of Outside Kids.  In the summer months, those of us living in the hot inland areas head west on highways 580, 80, ...
Edible Excursions stop on Uptown Oakland tour

Anytime experience gift: Edible Excursions in Oakland (DEAL)

Want to eat, drink, and be merry anytime of year? We strongly recommend the foodie tours of Edible Excursions around Bay Area neighborhoods!

Where to donate books in Oakland

Book donations serve a variety of local non-profits. Here's where to drop off your gently loved books.

Reader tip: Infant CPR classes in Oakland

Infant/Child CPR classes (in English or Spanish) are taught monthly at the Summit Campus Health Education Center in Oakland for $35/person (some discounts apply) Learn ...

Reader tip: Picante has easy pickup!

Picante ended their popular curbside pickup service in favor of brief parking and running in. Good but not as good. Apparently this is safer.

Reader tip: Help UC Berkeley improve parenting information

Receive $50 for a one-hour interview to help Cal improve parenting information through its UC Berkeley School of Public Health.
Ada Twist, Scientist

Diverse Reading List via Solidarity Sundays

Jenny Berggren is a librarian and parent living in Alameda, CA. I am sharing an excerpt from her fantastic Solidarity Sundays rad kids reading list. ...
Living Car Free

Living Car-free in the East Bay (with kids!)

Our family of 5 has been living car-free in the East Bay for 5 years. And we love it. Here's how we do it in ...
Grandparents

30 service projects to help bring extended families together

Wonderful service project ideas encouraging the whole family to do good together. These giving-back ideas are great for mixed generations.

Locally-inspired gift ideas for East Bay families

10 ideas for holiday gifts for those who love their East Bay lives, from art to housewares and apparel.
Mr Dewies Cashew Creamery and other vegan choices for families

Kid-friendly Vegan Restaurants for Families

A round up of kid-friendly vegan and vegetarian restaurants for eating out with families in the East Bay. The easiest, tastiest, & kid-friendliest places.

20 free things to do in the East Bay before summer is over

Take on one of these items as your mission every day, and you'll definitely be getting the most out of the East Bay.

 

 

Bay Area moms release SCREENAGERS: Growing up in the digital age

On my recent group tour for prospective parents of King Middle School in Berkeley, a hot topic on the minds of the parents of soon-to-be ...

FREE AAA car seat inspections are for big kids too

This post was sponsored by AAA. In time for holiday travel, I want to remind you that AAA offers personalized car seat inspections by appointment for all young ...
Kid report on getting ears pierced at Zebra Tattoo Piercing parlor

Kid Report: Zebra Tattoo & Body Piercing, A good place to get your ears pierced

Our guest reporter today is Fiona G. who will be in sixth grade at King Middle School this fall when school starts again. She is ...
whitney and jackie on the shore

Getaways with mom: ME time

This is the third post in our series about ME time, sponsored by domain.ME. I’ve just returned from spending a long weekend with my mom, ...
Cherry harvest in Brentwood

Brentwood farms fruit picking, tips for families

Monday, I drove four boys out to Brentwood to go fruit-picking. I was vague in my promises — berries, cherries, apricots, or whatever they have. You like ...

Parents’ guide to Piedmont parks

6 places to play in Piedmont

Getting some ME time in the East Bay

ME time: My favorite spots around the {510}

This post was sponsored by domain.ME who wants you to have more time for ME. All opinions and picks are my own. I recently wrote ...
Fairyland's Jolly Trolly

How do you encourage your children to give back?

Here are four ideas for including your kids in holiday giving. I'd love to hear yours in the comments!

Tech Tuesday: Common Sense Media for Bay Area parents

Our family’s screen time rules are fluid with a side order of strict. My sons are allowed about 30 minutes to watch shows each evening ...

We love Everyday Bento!

Local author and blogger, Wendy Copley, wrote and photographed my children’s current favorite book: Everyday Bento: 50 Cute and Yummy Lunches To Go. My sons ...

Tips for raising a reader with CommonSense Media

Two of my children are pretty avid readers so I want to share a few of the things we are doing (right, wrong, and otherwise) ...

Plan ahead for Summer Fun

What’s great about Summer is that some days, you can just roll out of bed slip on a swim suit and play til your mom ...

Lyft and Uber: good resources for one-car families

Though Uber has been driving tech-savvy folks around San Francisco, New York and Boston for a while now, I just tried it myself last month ...

Share your tips with our readers!

Do you have a favorite class, restaurant, or East Bay destination? Did you take a roadtrip with your children that was so great you can’t ...

Kids giving back: Project Night Night

Have you heard about Project Night Night? If you’re looking for a way to give back to others with your children this holiday season, this might be ...

Talking about the news with kids

Thanks to Madeleine Rogin for offering to share her perspective on talking to kids about current events. She is a mother, a schoolteacher, and a ...

Back-to-school checklist

Back-to-school prep in the East Bay: hair, shoes, backpack, lunchbox, clothes, what else do you need?

Lauren's Closet resale in Alameda

Alameda resale: Lauren’s Closet + Toy Safari

This post is part of a series of consignment shops I visited trying to find terrific kid clothing bargains in the East Bay. Today’s resale ...
Easy fabric projects for moms

New mom challenge: Visit the fabric store

Visit a fabric store with your baby awake and spend a naptime on one of these easy projects: play blanket, swaddle blanket, or carrier!

Comics and literacy, discover the connection

Jessica Lee, Teacher Librarian at Willard Middle School highly recommends this program for all parents: Reading with Pictures: Comics and Literacy Tuesday June 4th, 6:00pm ...

Where to donate used kids’ stuff

We appreciate this guest post by Berkeley mom, Jennifer Pesetsky. She founded KinderCycle (which is now under new ownership)! Jennifer blogs at www.berkeleymommy.com. For Hanukkah ...

Great gift for little book lovers

Cool gift for a limited time! Turn your children’s book into a personalized keepsake by adding the author’s autograph. Together with Jim Averbeck, Gianna Marino, ...

How To: Dinner and a Movie

Ever since going on a date with my husband has carried an extra $15 per hour expense (that’s for the babysitter, for those of you ...

Reader tip: Transition back to school

Here’s a tip from Elizabeth Sautter, Director of Communication Works, that we use in my own house! This sign was created with my 7 year-old ...
storefront for 3 stone hearth

Dinner on the table: Fast food that’s super healthy

Or what the heck is a community supported kitchen? Three Stone Hearth is a worker-owned cooperative, offering nutrient dense foods to homes and families around ...

Dinner on the table: prepared meals from Berkeley Bowl

When the second Berkeley Bowl opened in West Berkeley, I started writing a post in my head featuring all the terrific prepared meals that someone ...
See Tow Mater at Disney's Cars Land

What to know about Disney’s California Adventure CARS LAND

I was invited on a media tour of Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure park in Anaheim — just across the plaza from Disneyland but ...

Parent Coach Tom releases book for sports-loving dads

El Cerrito dad Tom Limbert, AKA Parent Coach Tom, has written a book titled Dad's Playbook: Wisdom for Fathers from the Greatest Coaches of All ...

Hiking in the East Bay with kids

I have a shelf full of travel books that I’m reluctant to toss because they remind me of my past life. However, I know that ...

How to get your preschooler to talk about his day

This guest post comes to us courtesy of local parenting coach and new author, Tom Limbert. I posed this question to him myself, and he ...

6 tips for photographing your newborn from Nancy Alcott

Bay Area photographer Nancy Alcott creates beautiful, high-end images for the families who hire her.

Great idea: Eventbrite for school events

Almost any feature your special event requires -- even those that made you wake up at 5 am and worry -- has been thought of ...

Get this app: Chinook Book (free)

The mobile coupon app is free to the first 20,000 users. No need to buy the book if you act quickly!

Berkeley’s Off the Grid with a kid

El Cerrito mom, Sunny McKay, thinks that Off the Grid with a kid is a great idea! Here are her tips.

Get the {510} Families weekend planner in your inbox. It's free!

* indicates required

logo
Scroll to Top