Summer Sun & Fun

Summer is as easy as A-B-C from Camp Mommy/Daddy  or Grandma to Weekend Fun to Summer Vacation. Here are some suggestions to keep the fun times of Summer going! 

A is for Art! When the mid-day temperatures hit over 90 degrees seek some shade or a/c and work on an art project with the kids. Not creative? Let the experts at ArtNest, Armory Art Center, Kids Need More Art, Lighthouse ArtCenter or Picasso’s help you with a class or take home kit  for the kids!

B is for the Beach! People from all over the world travel to enjoy our beautiful beaches that we have year round! It is easy to take for granted what is right here in our backyard!  Head out early to beat the hot mid-day sun and don’t forget the beach umbrella and sunscreen!

C is for Camp! Summer Camp is a great way for the kids to have fun and mom and dad to have a break! Check out our Summer Camp Guide on Page 16 and online (www.pbparenting.com) for suggestions to send your little ones for fun!  

D is for Discovery! Check out the Sandoway Discovery Center. There are sharks, rays and more! Learn about Florida’s coastal eco system. Tickets are sold online at www.sandoway.org.

E is for Energy! Seriously where do these kids get it from! Stay cool and let them bounce it all out at Adrenaline Entertainment Center in Lake Worth. Their Summer Rush deal is awesome 3 hours of jumping, a slice of pizza and a water for $30. Monday – Friday from 10 AM – 4 PM.

F is for Family Game Night! Turn off the screens and spend some family time together. Some of our favorite games are Sorry, Monopoly, Clue, Uno, Apples to Apple and the Game of Life. 

G is for Galaxies! Visit the Cox Science Center and Aquarium’s planetarium to embark on an interstellar journey and explore the wonders of distant galaxies.

H is for Hungry!  These kids are always hungry! Get them involved with cooking and meal planning. Let them pick dinner and help you make it. Teaching children to cook is a valuable life skill. Show them a cooking video online, go shop for the ingredients and replicate it at home.

I is for Ice Cream! My kids love to go out and get ice cream. Their favorite lately is the frozen yogurt places with the add your own toppings. I try not to judge but gummy worms on mint chocolate chip!

J is for Join!  Membership has its perks that is why PB Parenting recommends joining and becoming a member! Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Schoolhouse Children’s Museum and Learning Center, Sandoway Discovery Center, Palm Beach Zoo, and Norton Art Museum all offer family memberships. They usually pay for themselves in 2-4 visits and many have reciprocal memberships to other museums to receive free or discount admissions which can be very handy when traveling! 

K is for Kayaks and Paddleboards! Spend a few hours on the water kayaking. There are places all along the intracoastal to rent kayaks. 

L is for Library! The Palm Beach County Library is a great place to grab some books for your summer reading list. 

M is for Manatee! Kick off Summer with Mia’s Summer Shell-A-Bration at Manatee Lagoon. This a free event on Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will include face painting, a scavenger hunt, beach bingo and more.

The event’s theme is “Manatee Moments” to promote conservation efforts and raise awareness about these gentle giants. Learning opportunities abound with Manatee Tales, a “Manatee Rescue” simulation, and more. Check out www.manateelagoon.com to learn more.

N  is for Naps!  LOL we wish… but every day you should schedule some quiet time. Children don’t have to nap but some screen free time reading, drawing or journal writing would be appropriate.

O is for Outings– We love day trip outings! It is a great way to get out for a change of scenery. Hop on the brightline train and head south to Miami or Fort Lauderdale to the museums there. For a bigger outing you can even take the Brightline to Orlando and visit the Crayoloa Experiece! 

P is for Parks and Playground!  Make a plan to head outside early before it gets too hot and enjoy the many parks Palm Beach County has to offer. Find out what your local park has to offer at www.discover.pbcgov.org/parks.

Q is for Quest!  Scavengers Hunts are a lot of fun! Print a sheet online and take it with you on the nature trail or in the car. It will keep the kids busy looking the items on their list. You can also use the camera on a phone or tablet to document their discoveries. 

R is for Road Trip –  We know the price of gas is high but a road trip can still be cheaper than flying. Either a short trip in and around Florida (We love St. Augustine or St. Pete!) or go further – Savannah, Georgia, Asheville, North Carolina, Chattanooga, Tennessee. These towns all have fun family activities to enjoy. A few summers ago my family and I went to Chattanooga and really loved the mountains, Ruby Falls and the Incline Railroad. It was such a fun trip and we found some cool quirky stops along the way! 

S is for Schoolhouse – The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum and Learning Center is a great place for kids to enjoy Summer. Check out their calendar on their facebook page, it is filled with fun storytimes, art, and movement classes. 

T is for Treasure Coast- The Treasure Coast is just a short drive north of us and has kid friendly places like McKee Botantical Gardens. McKee has a beautiful children’s garden for kids to have fun and explore. Learn more at www.mckeegarden.org.

U is for U.V. – With all the summer fun you are having don’t forget to protect you and your kids skin with sunscreen! 

V  is for Visit- Summer is a perfect time to visit Grandparents!  I remember as a child staying over at my grandmother’s during the summer and baking cookies and spending time with her. The kids won’t miss school and maybe Grandma will keep them a few days for a welcome break for mom and dad!

W is for Water Safety! Kids love water! We have so much of it around us from the beach to pools. If your child doesn’t know how to swim or isn’t a strong swimmer, Summer is a great time to get some lessons in. 

X is for eXtra Careful!  Summer can be fun but also can be accident prone! If you do find yourself in a jam, After Hours Pediatrics is a good place to get quickly checked out.

Y is for Yard!  Sometimes you just need to keep it simple and go play in the Yard! Sidewalk chalk, sprinklers, hoola hoops, scooters are some fun ways to enjoy your own space! 

Z is for Zoo! Check out the Palm Beach Zoo! Spend time walking around outside and checking out the animals. Kids are free in June and July with a paid adult admisson.

Summer will be over before you know it. School returns August 10th so pack in all the fun you can! Please share your adventures with us online in our PB Parenting Facebook groups!

Have a Fun and Safe Summer

from PB Parenting!