Easter Fun at Simon Malls | Caring Bunny™ Days for Children with Special Needs

Disclosure: We received product for sharing this. All opinions are our own.

One of our favorite Easter tradition (after Egg Hunting) is taking photos with the Easter Bunny, because they make great keepsakes and the children are forever changing. We hopped on over to Westminster Mall this week to visit with the Easter Bunny located in their Macy's Court. Friendly bunnies are important to us, and this bunny waves to children as they are passing by. 

Helpful Tips to Try Before Meeting the Bunny:

It would be amazing if my kids can do a photo session within 5 minutes. It would be perfect if we go in there, they look when they're suppose to, and we walk away with beautiful photos, but this is Mom's wishful thinking, of course.

Having very energetic boys (one with mild special needs). My kids tend to do better when I fully prepare them of what's to come instead of surprising them. For example, if I just bring them and shout, SURPRISE!, there's a chance they might freak out and try to run away from the scary giant animal. Instead, I break it down for them step-by-step by repeating the steps a few times, asking them questions to see if they're listening, and offering a prize/reward/incentive (whatever they like at the moment) that they will receive after they earn it. I try to be as clear as possible when I'm doing this.

EXAMPLE:

1. "We're going to the mall."
2. "We're going to meet with the Easter Bunny."
3. "Smile for the camera."
4. "You'll get _______ (eg time for iPad, favorite treat, etc.) for doing all these things." 

I'm aiming for 100% cooperation, but I'll get about 50-75% which I think is still pretty good.

TIP: Go during the week to avoid large crowds. 

Our photo session with Noerr Programs at Westminster Mall was short and sweet. The staff was extremely patient and the photo quality is high end. We love our photo! The photo is brightly colored and balanced, sharp not blurry, and the children look happy.  If you love your photo, consider purchasing a CD. Ours included all the images from our session, and they're high resolution (about 5.5 MB, 4272 x 2848) so we can print them or make customizable gifts (mugs, calendars, cards, etc.) over and over again. 

Bunny Photo Experience


This year's presenting sponsor for the 2015 Bunny Photo Experience is The Gymboree Corporation (Gymboree, Crazy 8, Gymboree Play & Music Centers).

SIMON MALL LOCATIONS:

• Brea Mall: Now through Saturday, April 4 (10 am to 7 pm) on the lower level near the JCPenney wing. For full list of dates and times, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/801318743238854.

• Westminster Mall: Now through Saturday, April 4 (10 am to 7 pm) in Macy's Court. For the full list of dates and times, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/363466660500150/.

• The Shops at Mission Viejo: Now through Saturday, April 4 on the lower level near Nordstroms. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 7 pm, and Sunday 11 am to 6 pm.

“We love to hold family-friendly events and we always look forward to watching children interact with the Bunny at Easter,” said Anna Cotter, director of marketing and business development at Brea Mall.



Caring Bunny™

Simon’s Caring Bunny™ events offer families that have children with special needs a subdued environment to participate in the Bunny Photo Experience. Caring Bunny has been developed by Simon and is guided by AbilityPath.org (a national online resource hub and special needs community.) Over 90 Simon® properties will host the Caring Bunny this season. Promotional assistance for Caring Bunny has been provided by Autism Speaks.

LOCATIONS:

• Westminster Mall: Sunday, March 22 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am
• The Shops at Mission Viejo: Sunday, March 29 from 9:30 am to 11 am

Many steps will be taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for children’s cherished visit with the Bunny.  Here are some examples (specific elements or aesthetics may vary):

• Turning off in-mall music, 
• Stopping escalators located near the photo set, 
• Dimming the lights,
• Shutting down fountains for the duration of the event,
• Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called,
• Special activities geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit. 

NOTE: Reservations are required for the Westminster Caring Bunny event, and can be made at http://westminstermall.eventbrite.com.


Kidgits Club Easter Event

The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8. The Simon Kidgits Club® will host a special event at each Simon Mall where kids can participate in various Easter activities and games. It's free for members or just sign up there. (Annual memberships are $5 per child). Participants will receive a special Easter keepsake to take home. The egg-citing celebrations will take place at the following centers:

• Brea Mall: Hosting Kidgits Easter Hop Into Spring event on March 14 from noon to 2 pm at the Bunny Photo Experience set on the lower level near JCPenney.

• Westminster Mall: Hosting Kidgits Eggcellent Easter Extravaganza event on March 28 from 10 am to noon in the Target Court.

• The Shops at Mission Viejo: Hosting Kidgits Easter Eggstravaganza event on March 21 from 10 am to noon on the lower level near Old Navy and H & M, where kids can participate in various activities, and spring-themed crafts, including special entertainment by Nick The Music Man and Jen The Fairy Dancer at 10:45 am.

For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, visit www.simon.com/kidgits/.