It won’t be long before school is out and you’ll be looking for something to keep your little ones occupied. Some of you may have already found the ultimate summer program. Good for you! Enrollment for these programs fills up pretty fast and your effort will pay off.image I hope I can inspire those of you who may not yet have a plan to begin your search. The hunt can be simpler than you think. Many schools, neighborhood community centers, churches, or camps are accessible online and sponsor neighborhood programs. Counselors, nurses, the music or art teacher, or the secretary of your child’s school, may have access to that same knowledge. That might shorten your search, since one of them might have a suggestion or solution. Community centers often offer their own summer sessions, or they can direct you to something that sparks your interest. Many churches conduct programs that are fun and engaging. But, summer programs are really just a click away. You’ll be inundated with choices online by googling ‘summer camp’. You’ll have lots to choose from. image And let’s not forget the public library. They’ll have a schedule of events that will inform you of various activities throughout the summer. And so will our local Y’s and state parks as in Delaware State Park, Fairmount Park, and New Jersey State Park. They usually load up on outdoor summer activities and opportunities to keep you and your little ones busy. 
You can ask for a list of playgrounds and centers open for service and choose facilities closest to you. Your local and community newspapers have already begun to announce upcoming functions. And just so you remember them all, filling out a summer calendar will help you avoid missing out on them. image And then there are crafts! What a great thing to keep some little hands busy and yours too. The fun you’ll have will be alluring. My favorite is the origami frog (google it); once you make them you can race them and that can turn into a family frog tournament. Once you’ve mastered the art of its folds, you can also organize a frog designing session. That can keep you going for awhile and I’m sure you can come up with some ideas of your own. A summer journal/art book (which can be a custom designed composition book or your own thing) can be an exciting home project which will definitely keep them engaged and prepped for the next school year giving them a chance to write and draw about their favorite thing they did that day. If you ask them to share their work you will be aiding them in keeping their skills sharp. And some fun will come as you look back on their work; memories!
I’m excited about an upcoming event that might inspire your search to get underway. I’ve announced it on my Facebook page, The Family Bonding Books, sponsored by The Big A Foundation. Its theme is Party for Autism Awareness. If your little one loves to shoot baskets and is pretty fast they might walk away with a nice sized monetary prize. Check it out! It promises to be a fun-filled day with some surprise guests and I’ll be there to enjoy the festivities and be on hand for book signings.
Summer days are important in the lives of little ones. It’s wind-down time. Time to have some fun! Time to find new interests and discover new things. Time to create new memories and enjoy the ‘oh so brief’ moments of kid-hood. Time to re-ignite the family bond. And….maybe even time to rediscover yourself!
