Being Savvy: Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers and kids in Tampa, FL

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This Weekend's Family Activities

April 23, 2009

Tampa Bay parents have another busy weekend of activities to look forward to. Come check out what has made Being Savvy Tampa’s list for this weekend.

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Ten Ways to Enjoy Earth Day with your Children

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

 

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This Weekend's Family Activities

April 16, 2009

With Earth Day coming up next week, there are all sorts of events planned this weekend to start raising awareness about this important day. While Earth Day isn’t the only thing going on around town - a lot of the events highlighted this week also happen to be free! Come see what’s happening for families in Tampa Bay this weekend.

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Top Ten Spring Family Activities in Tampa Bay

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

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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Local Kid-friendly Farmers Markets and Community Farms

March 09, 2009

After so many trips to the grocery store, I have come to wonder if my children know where fresh vegetables actually come from. Sure, they understand the concept of farms and how they work, but I think it’s high time they learn more about growing fresh, organic produce at local community farms. I also think it’s time we visit area farmers markets more often. I will list some community farms and farmers markets here so that we can all benefit from freshly grown local produce on a more regular basis.

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Cultivate Your Child's Green Thumb in Tampa

October 27, 2008

As a child, I have fond memories of my mother's neighborhood garden plot. We spent endless summer afternoons tending, cultivating and finally harvesting enough tomatoes to fill a laundry basket. Fast forward to this past weekend. As I was cutting back that enormous palm bush in my front yard, who should be standing over my shoulder, watching? Donning enormous garden gloves and a watering can?  Read more...

Best things about vacation and best things about coming home

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...

More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in tampa

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Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle

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Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune

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Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues

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Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors

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Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun

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A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories

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Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites

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Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet

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The Most Fun in Life Is Free!

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The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots

The Voice of Being Savvy tampa:
Caroline, Becky

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