In order to take your child on a trip across the border,  you will need to get a passport for her/him.  Here are the steps to getting all the documentation together so you can go apply one at a post office near your house.

STEP 1: Complete and Submit Form DS-11: Application For A U.S. Passport

Complete Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport. To submit Form DS-11, the minor:

• Must apply in person with both parents/guardian(s)
• Must provide the additional documentation required by Form DS-11 (See Steps 2-7)
• Must not sign the application until instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent
• Must provide your SSN in accordance with 26 U.S.C. 6039E

STEP 2: Submit Evidence of U.S. Citizenship

The minor’s evidence of U.S. citizenship must be submitted with Form DS-11. All documentation submitted as citizenship evidence will be returned to you. These documents will be delivered with your newly issued U.S. passport or in a separate mailing.

Primary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship (One of the following):

Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state* Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth Naturalization Certificate Certificate of Citizenship

*A certified birth certificate has a registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Some short (abstract) versions of birth certificates may not be acceptable for passport purposes.

NOTE: If you do not have primary evidence of U.S. citizenship or your U.S. birth certificate does not meet the requirements, please see Secondary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship.

STEP 3: Submit Evidence of Relationship

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must submit evidence of their relationship to the minor applicant.

Evidence of Relationship (One of the following):

Minor’s certified U.S. birth certificate with both parents’ names Minor’s certified Foreign Birth Certificate with both parents’ names* Minor’s Report of Birth Abroad with both parents’ names Adoption Decree with adopting parents’ names* Court Order establishing custody Court Order establishing guardianship

*All foreign documents submitted with a passport application must be accompanied by an English translation (formal or informal).

NOTES:

• Previous U.S. passports are not acceptable as evidence of relationship
• Evidence of a legal name change must be submitted, if the name of a parent/guardian has changed since the original documents were issued (e.g. photocopy of a marriage certificate, etc.)

STEP 4: Present Identification of Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

When applying for a minor under age 16, both parent(s)/guardian(s) must present acceptable identification at the time of application.

Primary Identification (One of the following):

Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport Naturalization Certificate Valid Driver’s License Current Government Employee ID (city, state or federal) Current Military ID (military and dependents)

NOTES:

• If none of these items are available, please see Secondary Identification.
• If you apply at an Acceptance Facility and submit out-of-state primary identification, you must present a second ID, as well. For example, if you apply in Maryland with a Virginia Driver’s License, you must present a second ID containing as much of the following information as possible: your photo, full name, date of birth, and the document issuance date.

STEP 5: Submit a Photocopy of Each Parent/Guardian ID Document To Be Presented (STEP 4)

A photocopy of each identification document to be presented by a parent or guardian must be submitted with the minor’s passport application (excluding credit cards presented with secondary identification). If you are applying for multiple minors at one time, you must include a photocopy of each parent/guardian ID document presented with each minor’s individual passport application.

• Photocopy must be on plain white, 8 1/2 x 11″ standard paper stock, showing the front and the back of your ID
• Photocopy must contain images on only one-side of each page submitted.
  • If copies cannot be made on the same side of one page, you may present two separate pages; one displaying the front of the ID and the second displaying the back of the ID.
• The paper should be free of other images and/or markings.
• The 8 1/2 x 11″ paper size cannot be substituted with a larger or smaller size paper, even if the alternative folds down to the 8 1/2 x 11″ size.
• You may enlarge the image of your ID on the 8 1/2 x 11″ page, but you may not decrease the size of the image.

Other situations that require a photocopy of identification, but are less common, include:

• If you are presenting Secondary Identification, you must provide a photocopy of each document being presented with your application. A photocopy of your credit card will not be requested if it is to be presented with secondary identification.
• If you submit out-of-state primary identification, you must provide a photocopy of your primary identification document and your second ID. If a credit card is presented as your second ID, a photocopy will not be requested.
• An assistant to a disabled applicant who witnesses the signature or signs on the disabled applicant’s behalf must present a photocopy of his or her ID.
• A person acting as an Identifying Witness (Form DS-71) must present a photocopy of his or her ID.

STEP 6: Provide Parental Consent

Both parents must provide consent authorizing passport issuance for a minor under age 16. See the scenarios below, and follow the instruction that best applies to your circumstance:

IMPORTANT NOTE: The written consent from the non-applying parent that accompanies an application for a new passport must be less than 3 months old.  New written consent from the non-applying parent must be obtained and submitted with any future passport application for the minor under age 16.

STEP 7: Pay the Applicable Fee

Please see Current Passport Fees and methods of payment.

STEP 8: Provide Two Passport Photos

We can help you submit clear and correctly exposed passport photos the first time – especially when applying for the U.S. Passport Card. See Quality Requirements for Passport Book & Passport Card Photographs to avoid photo processing delays.

Your Photographs Must Be:

• Identical
• In color
• 2 x 2 inches in size
• Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
• Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
• Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
• Taken in normal street attire:
  • Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily
  • Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline
  • If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture
  • Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (a medical certificate may be required)

  
  NOTES:

  • Vending machine photos are not generally acceptable
  • See Digitized Passport Photos for information on acceptable digital photos
  • Professional photographers, see Guidelines for Producing High Quality Photographs for U.S. Travel Documents

NEED A U.S. PASSPORT IMMEDIATELY?

You should make an appointment to be seen at a Regional Passport Agency only if:

• The U.S. passport is needed in less than 2 weeks for international travel
• The U.S. passport is needed within 4 weeks to obtain a foreign visa

Contact the National Passport Information Center to make an appointment or locate a Passport Agency.

Free Family Flicks Screening of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Based on a children’s book by Ian Fleming and adapted by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) with director Ken Hughes (1968, 35mm, color, 144 min.)

WHERE: Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum, Westwood

WHEN: Sunday, August 15 at 11:00 AM

When:
Sat, JULY 17, 2010 9:30am to 10:05am & 11:00am to 11:45am
PLUS 1st Sundays of each Month!
Sunday, August 1, 2010 11:00am to 11:45am

Where:
Recreational Music Center
7308 Coldwater Canyon
North Hollywood, CA 91605
(818) 982-0461

Cost: FREE!

A place where everyone has permission to explore music making!

Join RMC for kids drum circle where kids can enjoy interactive creative music making with parents, friends, and family using rhythm, song, and dance to build community, foster self-confidence, and HAVE FUN!!!

Recommended ages for kids: 2 to 12, but all ages are welcome.
The older kids and parents play supportive rhythms and songs while the younger children explore instruments and rhythm making.

Parents are encouraged to participate. Parents must stay with children.

Drums Provided. No Reservations Needed

MOVIES + PARK + FOOD TRUCKS

CORRECTED INFORMATION

GETTY OFFERS SUMMER SCHEDULE OF DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES

Getty Center and Getty Villa increase daily opportunities

for free family fun over the summer

LOS ANGELES—The whole family can enjoy an artistic summer at the Getty, with stepped-up schedules of free family-focused activities from mid-June to September.

Getty  Center

At the Getty Center, start the summer early with a Family Festival celebrating Leonardo DaVinci on Saturday, June 5, 10am-6pm.  Enter the world of Leonardo da Vinci and Renaissance Italy in this full-day celebration with music, dance, storytelling and interactive workshops.

Throughout the summer, join Family Art Stops and get up close and personal with a single work of art in a half-hour gallery experience geared for families with children ages 5 and up.  All summer long, Family Art Stops is offered Tuesday-Friday at 2pm and again at 2:30.  Sign up at the Museum Information Desk 30 minutes before the program begins.  Art Adventures for Families is a one-hour, fun- and activity-filled gallery experience geared for families with children ages 5 and up, offered Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.   Sign up at the Museum Information Desk at 1:30pm.  The Center also offers Family Art Lab every weekend from 11am-3:30pm, a drop-in art workshop designed to exercise the imagination.  Don’t miss the Family Room, open all day long for drop-in hands-on activities highlighting the Getty Center’s collection.

In August, the Getty Center’s Central Garden fills with music every weekend from 4-5pm, with the Garden Concerts for Kids, free performances by some of the best children’s music performers around.

Getty Villa

At the Getty Villa, embark on an Art Odyssey for Families Thursdays and Fridays at 12pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.  The Art Odyssey is a 45-minute activity-filled journey through the galleries for families with children ages 5 and older.  Sign up at the Tour Meeting Place 15 minutes before the tour begins.  The Art Odyssey is also offered in Spanish.

The Villa also offers ArtQuest!, a family drop-in program, weekends from 11am-4pm.   Parents and children can play the Mysteries of Ancient Art game in the galleries and do fun art-making activities in the Outer Peristyle, such as mosaic-making and painting in the style of fresco.  The Family Forum is also open all day for drop-in hands-on play and engagement for young and old.

Admission to the Getty Center and Getty Villa is always free.  Parking is $15.  Advance, timed tickets are required for the Getty Villa.  For tickets, and for more information about free family activities at the Getty this summer call (310) 440-7300 or visit www.getty.edu.

Just received some information on the GEffen Playhouse. This should be a terrific event.

May is for Theater Going!  A KOTC Member Subscriber Benefit

The kids don’t even need to sit still.

The folks at the Geffen Playhouse want your children to love the theater, and host a series of marvelous one-day only productions from the best acting troupes and kids bands in the country. The two May shows are perfect for kids who are just learning to enjoy live performance. With great music and original songs, kids will be encouraged to participate. You can be sure your wee ones will clamor to come back for more (especially since the shows only last for an hour). Stick around after the show so your kids can meet the performers in the fabulous Geffen Playhouse courtyard. Snacks provided by Gelson’s Markets included!

Artichoke: 26 Animals on May 1: Join this amazing band as they sing songs about animals – one for each letter of the alphabet!

Jambo on May 8: Taking its cue from the jumping-est American tunes — from songs from the Mississippi Delta, to New Orleans street sounds to a jazzy Chicago juke joint – Jambo is a journey of self-discovery and toe-tapping fun.

WHERE: The Geffen Playhouse, Westwood Village

WHEN: Artichoke: 26 Animals on May 1. Jambo on May 8. Each show is perfect for kids over three. Show starts at 11:00 AM; Doors open at 10:30 AM.

SPECIAL KOTC SUBSCRIBER DISCOUNT: Buy a Child’s ticket ($15) and receive an Adult ticket free! Use offer code: KOTCSS2. Service charges/handling fees apply. Valid only by phone by calling the Geffen Playhouse at (310) 208-5454. Restrictions apply.

Sometimes its really difficult to find things to do with your little bean. However, its not all about the big plan and the big adventure. Sometimes, its just enough to get up early, go to a mall, sit down by an open space and watch your little one find life interesting. It was rainy today in Los Angeles so we decided to head out to one of our favorite malls, Century City. Well formerly known as Century City now I believe its Westfield. Its an outside mall, so you would think that its NOT a good idea in the rain. However, if you park yourself at the BreadBar you get a great covered view of a fairly wide open space where you can let your bean roam free. The beauty of today was really that it rained and no one was out. So our little girl got to run around in the puddles while we ate croissants and bread from the BreadBar. It was a blast.

Another offering for Family Portrait Day with Orit Harpaz in time for Father’s Day prints: Sunday 6/6 at Coldwater Park. Great gifts for dads and grandfathers…

Sorry everyone for the inconvenience. We had some technical difficulties with out site but now we are all sorted out. More posts about what to do in LA with your kids to come soon. For now here’s a short notice item:

JPL is holding their yearly open house. We highly recommend it.

JPL Open House

The 2010 JPL Open House will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16, 2010, 9am-5pm both days.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Open House

This popular event celebrates JPL’s accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrations about the Laboratory’s ongoing research and space exploration. Many of the Lab’s scientists and engineers are on hand to answer questions about how spacecraft are sent to other planets, how scientists utilize space technologies to explore Earth and how researchers are searching for planets beyond the solar system.

JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive in Pasadena, off the 210 (Foothill) Freeway at the Berkshire Avenue/Oak Grove Drive exit. Parking is available near the Oak Grove main gate and the eastern boundary of JPL, accessible from Windsor Avenue via the Arroyo Boulevard exit off the 210 Freeway.

Check out previous open houses