Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in tampa, FL

Top 5 Water Activities for Your Backyard

by Caroline

June 30, 2009

Unlike a number of Floridians, we don’t have our own pool. Certainly, the community pool is not far but there are times when I want my children outside – NOW - and worn out – NOW. Unfortunately one of the only ways to convince them to brave the afternoon heat in Florida is with water. Spraying water keeps kids playing outside for long, glorious stretches of time. Sure, sprinklers and such don’t exactly conserve water. However, once a week I’ll let my kids splash around in their backyard. (I am just sure to skip watering that part of the yard that week!) Here are my favorite ways to get wet n’ wild without a pool or leaving your backyard.

Birthday Party Options in Tampa Bay

by Caroline

May 26, 2009

Today, I am celebrating my oldest child’s birthday. And as expected, I have been researching birthday party ideas a great deal over the past few weeks. I thought I would share some popular birthday party locations for preschool aged children in the Tampa bay area. I’ve included some options that might work for their older siblings too.

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Ten Ways to Enjoy Earth Day with your Children

by Caroline

April 21, 2009

Tomorrow is Earth Day! As parents of very impressionable young ones, we should use this opportunity to kick off a year round family commitment to caring for our environment by reusing, reducing and recycling. Here are five suggested activities to honor Earth Day. And once you’ve checked those out, pull your kid up onto your lap and click through my top five suggested Earth Day websites for children. Get green, Tampa Bay!

1. Plant something today: Whether its a row of sunflowers, a new tree or a simple potted plant, you’ll be teaching your child about the outdoor world while doing something beneficial for your environment.
2. Go for a walk at a local park: Florida is a beautiful state worth protecting with its gorgeous state, county and city parks. If your child learns to love the outdoors, they will be more likely to protect it.
3. Enjoy Florida wildlife: Grab the binoculars and watch birds land near a pond, observe a squirrel jumping through your yard or use your pass and enjoy a day at the zoo. Florida wildlife is amazing so teach your children all about it.
4. Turn off the TV: Read books, play games, do crafts and spend a day enjoying something other than Noggin.
5. Visit a local farm: Teach your child about where fruits and vegetable are grown and then buy some produce while during your visit to support your local farm.

There are quite a few interactive websites that teach children about the environment that you might want to check out with your children also.

1. PBS Kids: This site offers Earth Day videos and the fun interactive Eeko World
2. Playhouse Disney: Games, printables and videos
3. Nick Jr.: Guides, gifts, crafts and garden fun
4. Kaboose: Crafts, food, games, projects and fun
5. Savvy Source: Our national site celebrates Earth Day

Top Ten Spring Family Activities in Tampa Bay

by Caroline

April 14, 2009

While the weather is still a perfect 80 degrees, dry and sunny - and schools are still in session - now is the time to take advantage of all that outdoor Tampa Bay has to offer. Here are my top ten suggested spring activities for Tampa Bay families.

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Five Water Conservation Tips for the Whole family

by Caroline

March 24, 2009

This time of year is always dry in Florida. While the St. Augustine grass crunches under our feet, brush fires threaten us every day. And as much as these sunny, breezy, humid free days are perfect for Spring Breakers and Floridians alike, rain is rare right now. So we should all be taking steps to save water. Here are five tips to get the whole family involved in water conservation.

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Top Ten Activities Tampa Families Should Take Advantage of in January

by Caroline

January 13, 2009

Unlike the majority of states in our country, January is a beautiful time of the year in the Tampa Bay area. However, it is easy for all of us to take the sunshine for granted while our northern friends and relatives shovel out their driveways. As a reminder for all of us to appreciate what we have, here is a top ten list of activitiesTampa Bay parents can enjoy with their preschoolers in the  Read more...

Picks for my favorite pirates

by Becky

August 07, 2008

We're all about pirates in Tampa Bay, whether it's the Gasparilla, John Levique Pirate Days or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. By far the favorite pirates in our house, though, are the Backyardigans . I've heard the "pirate song" so often that I can't help singing, "... a pirate ... a pirate ... a pirate ... says arr!" when I hear someone talk about pirates. It's on their "It's Great to  Read more...

Best things about vacation and best things about coming home

by Becky

July 08, 2008

As I mentioned before, my family went on summer vacation to Iowa in June . We lucked out with the weather, getting there just days after the worst flooding ever and a week without running water. With blue skies during the day and cool temperatures at night, it was hard to believe we had just missed tornadoes and torrential rain. Maybe it was just good old Iowan hospitality -- they ordered  Read more...

Five free (or almost free) things to do in Tampa Bay when 'it's too HOT, Mommy!"

by Becky

May 28, 2008

Looking for inspiration to bypass the perspiration without breaking the bank? Give these ideas a try. Go for a swim. Go see a free movie . Go to the library. Go for a milkshake or ice-cream cone Go to the Tampa Museum of Art .  Read more...