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One of the best parts of being home in San Antonio after a long legislative session is spending time with my kids. We’ve trotted their curious minds along bike paths and nature trails, gotten sticky with popsicles, and cooled off in the sprinkler.
Summer is a great time for children to enjoy free, unstructured play…something that is too often squeezed out in our testing-driven education system.
But these lazy days of summer can also be a challenging time for many families. Working parents struggle with child care arrangements. Others simply struggle with the inevitable question, “What are we going to do today?” And children, particularly those in low-income communities, often suffer what experts call “the summer slide, a loss of knowledge and skills that they acquire during the school year. Children who gravitate towards television and video games over free play also tend to show setbacks in physical fitness.
I've teamed up with other parents to provide you our first “Parent Summer Survival Guide”. We really hope that you’ll enjoy these free and low cost activities to cultivate children with creative minds and healthy bodies. Please share the suggestions with your friends and neighbors!
If you’ve got ideas to share please post a comment here, or join the conversation on Facebook. If you choose to do any of these activities, please send us a picture of your family and we’ll share it on our website.
Happy Summer!
- Mike
Read and roam into new worlds:
· Mayor's Reading Club - It's not too late
to sign up . Children log the books that they've read (or that adults have read to them) and receive a free book at one of San Antonio's public libraries through August 31. Children can register at any library location or
online.
· Find your muse at the museum! Several of San Antonio's museums have free admission times.
Click here (and scroll to the bottom of the page) for a listing.
Explore nature:
· Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to complete
the San Antonio Nature Challenge! Marcos and Bella and I have had a blast with these nature scavenger hunts at several area parks. The formal competition is over for this summer, but you can use the activities throughout the year.
· I know - for some of you, it seems a wee bit sunny for a hike. The
Judson Nature Trail is a hidden treasure right in the midst of our city. The trails are completely shaded and you can join a beginner's birding walk the 2nd Saturday of each month. Thanks to the Audubon Society volunteers who maintain this space!
· Go for an
early morning bike ride on the Mission Trail. We've spotted egrets, herons, and turtles.
· Is your home a habitat for many creatures? My neighbor and her 7 year old daughter photograph bugs that they find in their back yard, identify them, and keep a journal. When in doubt, they post the picture to Facebook and get the help of friends and neighbors in identifying the insects.
· Your little astronaut can
explore the wonders of outer space at the Scobee Planetarium. They have daytime and evening shows about stars and the solar system.
Have fun in the comfort of your own home:
· Set up a lemonade stand! Teach your kids about entrepreneurship with a good old-fashioned stand.
Click here for resources for kids and parents on how to make this a great learning experience.
· Recipes for summer fun: Cooking can help children to learn to follow instructions, understand sequencing, and get a better grasp on math concepts (such as fractions and multiplication). Follow these links for recipes for
homemade playdo,
silly putty or check out
PBS Parents' guide on cooking with kids and inspiring healthy eating habits.
Stay cool:
· San Antonio public pools have free admission.
Click here for a listing of pools and other City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation activities for young people.
· Right in the heart of downtown, you can splash under the fountains, enjoy a shaded playground, and take in a play at
Hemisfair Park.
Please share your favorite way to stay cool in San Antonio and the surrounding areas and your ideas for other summer fun on my blog. Help us to grow our list.
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