4 Family-Friendly Things to Do in and around South L.A., According to a Local Grandma
When Rosa Granados emigrated to the United States from a small town in Mexico at 15, she couldn't continue her education. She became a mother at a very young age and dreamed that her children could go to college and get a degree — an opportunity she didn't have. Now that she's raising her grandchildren, she's ensuring they live up to the same dream.
Two of her three children made it to college. One graduated from a four-year college, and the other is in school. Granados said it took a lot of hard work and luck because she did not find many resources for parents like her to support their children's learning at home while raising them.
"I was not well-informed, or there were not as many resources as there are now," she said.
She believes that things have changed for the better now that she's raising her five grandchildren, who are between the ages of 2 to 15 years old. Three of them have become her adopted children, and she's in the process of adopting the other two.
"When my kids attended kindergarten, they didn't know the ABCs, and once they got home, they didn't learn anything. My kids in the head start and preschool program know the letters of their names, vowels and ABCs already," Granados said. "I know many people at the school and other parents who are willing to share resources, and we support each other. We're a community, and that makes a huge difference."
Granados lives in South L.A. near the University of Southern California, where two of her younger grandchildren attend a Head Start program operated by USC's School for Early Education.
"Education has always been very important for me. My family and I were very poor, so I couldn't afford an education in my home country, but for me, education has always been very important," Granados said. "I want the best for my kids, and education is the best I can give them."
She said it is never too early to motivate young children to learn science and math concepts.
"My kids struggled with math, so now I'm starting early with my grandchildren; that's why I signed up for the PBS Family Math program, in the Head Start program. I joined the program with my grandchild Leo, and he loves it," Granados said.
What she appreciates the most about the program is that it provides many interactive activities with all the materials needed for activities, like building planets or other hands-on science experiments.
"If I had to come up with all this myself, I would be lost, so I'm thankful there's a program like this, and based on the TV shows my grandkids love. I'm grateful for these kinds of resources to help the kids with their learning at home, which I didn't have with my own children," Granados said. "I take advantage of all the resources the school offers to me. The best part is that I can share them with other parents too."
Granados believes she is lucky to live in a community that offers her grandchildren a few landmark places within walking distance from home they can enjoy and learn in. Here are some of her favorites.
1. Exposition Park Rose Garden
701 State Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037
The Exposition Park Rose Garden is a historic 7-acre garden located about 4 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. It has been called "one of the city's best-kept secrets." As its name references, roses in all colors abundantly fill the landscape. It's a common place to grab a snack, let children play and watch brides and "quinceaneras" have photo shoots. Granados said she likes the "Parque de las Rosas," as it's known in Spanish because kids run around and get tired before going home. "We just walk three blocks there, the kids play, and I can sit on a bench, rest and enjoy watching the roses while the kids are having fun."
2. California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90037
Behind the Exposition Park Rose Garden is the California Science Center, a world-class educational museum with hands-on, interactive exhibits. It also offers educational programs and summer camps and has an IMAX screen. Kids' admission is free, but reservations are required due to COVID-19 guidelines. The charge per reservation is $6. "My grandchildren have been there several times on school trips, and they love it!" Granados said. "It's one of their favorite places."
3. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 W. Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007
"It's also within walking distance, and my grandson loves dinosaurs, so he loves it when I take him there," Granados said. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, also located in Exposition Park, is the largest natural and historical museum in the western U.S. Its collections include nearly 35 million specimens and artifacts and cover 4.5 billion years of history, according to the museum's website.
4. Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008
"My kids and I love going for breakfast at IHOP on the weekends. It's a place where we all agree to go to eat well and have a good time as a family. It's also close from home, and we spend some time walking by the stores afterwards," Granados said of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza restaurant. The commercial space in South Los Angeles includes restaurants, ice cream shops and retail stores. The Museum of African American Art (MAAA), a small museum filled with emerging artists' exhibits, is also located inside the plaza on the third floor of Macy's.
