I’m sure you can see the commercial playing in your head right now (for those that have no idea what we are talking about, here is the commercial).
For many parents, this is a joyous time of the year – finally, a quiet house! The rest of you may not be so happy. The images of your happy child climbing onto the bus in their first-day-of-school outfit, clutching their new backpack, are replaced with nightmares of paperwork and schedule changes. Fear not. We’re here to help with some tips & tricks.
Shopping
We know you have probably been busy running around for the typical items – shoes, clothes, bags, lunchboxes, etc. When it comes to the supplies the kids will need, leave it to the school to decide. Some schools send out lists ahead of time, but many do not. You may find yourself running around wasting your time and money, which no one is happy about. Chances are that your kid will come home with a list from his/her teacher of what is needed for class (unless he/she is in high school, where each teacher will give a different list!). Until then, keep the notebooks and writing utensils to a minimum.
Organization
Sure, the kids need to be organized, but so do you!
Keep a family calendar. Locate it in a central place, like the refrigerator. Mark every appointment on it for every member of the family, and encourage your kids to add their events as they come up. It will help you to avoid scheduling conflicts, and it will teach your children the invaluable lessons of independence and self-sufficiency. Instead of asking you for the answer to a question, perhaps they can reference the calendar. Want to get really creative? Use a different color pen for each member of your household.
Folders, folders everywhere! Kids come home with a lot of paperwork, so set up a folder for each child in a main area. Teach them to put anything that you need to see into that folder on a daily basis, preferably as soon as they come home. Young children will need a lot of help with this, but they will eventually catch on and it will make things easier in the future. Folders for each grade level are helpful as well. Instead of throwing their art and report cards into a box or a drawer, put them into the folder marked for that grade. At least it will be somewhat organized! Use a binder if you want to cut down on drawer space.
Those backpacks always get thrown on the floor somewhere, so set a specific location in your house for those and other school-related paraphernalia. This will cut down on you tripping over one more thing on the floor.
Routines
Changing the schedule will be tough for the family… especially mornings.
If you haven’t done so already, start waking the kids up earlier. This will be a shock to kids of any age. When they are tired, younger kids will be more whiny and the older kids just won’t talk to you (then again, they may be more whiny, too). Just remember that it is truly in their best interest to change their internal clocks before the first day.
Have the kids lay out their clothes the night before. This will cut down on the early morning fights, which no one is ever in the mood for.
Breakfast can be rushed, even skipped at times when everyone is running around. Kids burn a lot of energy and they can’t run on an empty stomach. Make it easier by setting the table the night before. This will help for the first few weeks of school.
Fun Stuff
Let your kids know you are thinking about them and love them. Sneak a card in their schoolbag or place it on the breakfast table to be found on the first day of school. Take a picture of your kid leaving the house or getting on the bus every year. Write notes and leave them in their lunchboxes; with older kids you can email or text them. Little things like these will keep the lines of communication open for years to come.
Mom Says: My favorite back-to-school tradition was going out to breakfast with my mom on the first day. Just make sure to get your kid to school on time… my homeroom teacher from senior year never forgave me.
With only a couple weekends left until the kids go back to school, it’s time to start making plans for their last big hurrah. Throw the Ultimate Sleepover for your family and you will make priceless memories that will last the rest of their lives, and yours.
Who to Invite
This is a great opportunity to bond with your kids. If they are young, they will love the idea of hanging out and doing fun stuff with their parents. If they are older they may not like the idea as much, so allow them to invite a friend or two. Sometimes more people = more fun!
Where to Sleep
The best part about a sleepover is not sleeping in your own bed, which leaves room for creativity. You can keep it simple and camp out in the living room by using the floor and the couch, or even some blow-up mattresses (parents may especially like this option!). Remember making forts when you were young? Your kids may love to sleep in one.
If you want to get really daring, sleep outside! You can pitch tents, sleep in your camper that is parked in the driveway/backyard, or even arrange some lawn chairs and sleep on those. Depending on how the night goes, you may wind up in the living room anyways.
What to do (other than sleep)
There are a million games or activities you can come up with to do with your children. Just think of something you did when you were little that was a huge treat, or just plain fun. If you need some ideas, here is a list we have come up with. Some of these are for older kids and require parental supervision:
Make your own sundaes
Tie-dye shirts. You can buy shirts at a craft store or just a package of men’s undershirts and search for directions online.
Remember your field day races from school: eggs on spoons, egg toss, sack race, tug o’ war, three-legged race, etc. Come up with your own family field day.
Play some team sports: volleyball, badminton, soccer, football, baseball, etc.
Make fried dough
Pizza party – everyone can choose their own toppings. Be sure to make it big enough so everyone can try each other’s creation.
Have a dance party. What better way for your kids to learn to dance than to do it in your living room where there are a limited number of people to judge their moves, or yours! Don’t forget a stick for a limbo contest.
Dress up. Let the kids go through your closet and try on some old dresses, suits, and shoes. Makeup and hair can be a bonus!
Paint – this can be messy, so it’s a great outdoor activity. Buy some cheap frames to hang their artwork in the house; it looks nicer than hanging it on the fridge and they’ll love that you value their work.
Hang up a sheet outside… the opportunities are endless! You can make hand puppets if you light it from behind. You can use it as a backdrop for a variety show, karaoke, or lip-synching. Rent a projector and play a movie on it. If you’re really technically savvy you can make a slideshow of pictures of your kids, which is a great surprise for them and a wonderful keepsake.
Make a fire – don’t forget the marshmallows, hot dogs, and s’mores. For a really different idea, put potatoes next to the fire for baking and make a topping bar with sour cream, broccoli, bacon bits, butter, cheese, chives, etc. You may be surprised at the toppings your kids choose! Want to spice up the boring flames? Get a copper pipe and drill holes into it, then insert a piece of garden hose equal to the length of the pipe and throw it into the fire. The reaction produces multi-colored flames that are sure to wow the kids. The fire can be used in the morning to make bacon and eggs.
Watch a movie together and make popcorn to go with it.
Live on a lake or have a pool? Go for a late-night swim under the stars.
Get a box or two of sparklers and show the kids how to write things in the air with them. If you’re good with a camera you can use a long shutter speed to catch the moment.
Make luminaries. Give your kids some paper lunch bags and let them cut out some designs on them. Put a few inches of sand or some rocks in the bottom and when night falls, put a candle in the bottom and place them around the yard for light.
Mom Says: I have great memories of dance parties with my family. It didn’t make me a better dancer, but we had a lot of fun! You don’t need to pack everything into one night – split it up and do an activity here and there to keep the fun and bonding going.
Dad Says: We all spend a lot of time looking for places to go with our kids and sometimes forget the adventures we can create in our own house or yard. Include your kids in the planning of the Ultimate Sleepover to make sure you have activities they are interested in.
We had no idea where Mendon was, but had heard great things about the Southwick Zoo and decided to try it out. With our kid and some grandparents in tow, we navigated our way down Southwick Street and were blown away by this hidden jewel. Bring your camera, some quarters (we’ll explain that), walking shoes, and love for animals to this zoo!
Planning Your Visit
Southwick Zoo is pretty big and has many different paths throughout the facility. We’d recommend either mapping out your plan before you get there using on their online map or spending some time when you first get in to plan the day. There are live shows throughout the day, so keep that in mind when planning your route. The times for these are posted on a board when you first enter (we used our digital camera to take a picture to remind us of the times throughout the day). We saw the elephant show and the live animal show and would recommend both; if you only have time for one, the elephant show would be at the top of our list. Wanderers will find it easy to walk about with no plan as well, but some of us need to be more orderly than that!
The terrain is very hilly, so wear good walking shoes and bring a stroller or wagon if you have bags, coolers, or younger kids. We were happy with the amount of natural shade provided by the trees throughout the entire zoo. We always try to get to zoos early in the day to avoid the large crowds and would recommend the same with Southwick. We arrived at 10:20 (they open at 10:00 am) and the parking lot was already half full. Despite the expected crowd, we found very few exhibits to be overcrowded, mainly due to the size of this zoo, and we hardly had to wait in line anywhere.
If you head into Deer Forest, where you can walk with the deer and feed them out of your hand, you will want to bring some quarters to buy the deer food ($0.50 for half a handful of corn). You may want to bring a bag or cup to carry it if putting corn in your pocket isn’t appealing to you. Some of the deer are skittish and may not want to come close. Be patient and you should be able to find one that does not mind eating out of your or your child’s hand.
The Animals
The animals are why we visit zoos, and Southwick does not disappoint with its variety of animals and the quality of its exhibits. Most of the exhibits provide close-up, unobstructed views of the animals, and there are opportunities to feed and play with some of them. Highlights for us were the humungous Aldabra Tortoise, leopard, rhinos, elephant, monkeys, giraffes, lemurs, and camels, to name just a few.
The Petting Zoo area is full of goats, turkeys, and sheep and lets you and your kids walk around with these animals, feeding them and petting them. This area was a little hectic, but armed with some quarters to buy food, we headed into the fenced-in area to play with the goats. Some were more aggressive than others, so if you have little ones, keep a close eye on them. Hand sanitizer was provided outside the door of the petting area.
The Food
We brought food for our son and planned to buy lunch at the zoo for our adult contingent. There are seven different food locations throughout the zoo, ranging from the Pizza & Snack Shack and the Jungle Hut (popcorn, pretzels, candy) to the more healthy Clarice’s Cupboard (fresh sandwiches, wraps, and salads). We opted for the healthy option and enjoyed our freshly made wraps along with some homemade oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies (so much for healthy!).
The Rides
There are mechanical kiddie rides, animal rides, a Sky Ride and a tire train ride. For the older kids (42” and taller) we recommend the Sky Ride, which is a 15-minute aerial tour of the zoo in a 2-person ski lift chair. This ride costs $5.00 per person, but we think it’s worth it as you get a nice break from the hilly paths and a great view of the animals and much of the zoo from above.
The Woodland Express is a tire train ride that takes you through a wooded area outside the main zoo area, giving you a view of North American animals in their natural setting. We missed this one by a couple minutes and didn’t feel like waiting the 15 minutes for the next train, but would hop on this train during our next visit.
With five circle mechanical rides, a moonbounce, and camel, pony, and elephant rides, there are plenty of options to choose from. If your kids are going to want to go on multiple rides, or if you have several kids, you will want to look into the ride ticket packages to save some money.
Final Thoughts
Southwick Zoo is one of the best zoos in Massachusetts! As a privately run zoo (no government funding), it’s more expensive than others at $18.75 for adults and $12.75 for kids 3-12 and seniors. We came across a coupon that got us four adult passes for $30.00, so look for deals before heading to this one. They also have a coupon posted on their website for $2 off per person. Even at full price this place is worth the admission, especially if you can pack a lunch. This will be a place we go year after year with our family.
Mom Says: There are tons of picnic tables, so it’s very easy to find a spot for your family to sit and eat. Even with the big crowd and eating at high noon we had no problem finding a table. If you are cold easily then bring a pullover; I was cold on an 80 degree day due to the shade throughout the zoo!
Dad Says: This place just kept going and going and rivals some of the country’s top big-city zoos. Do not worry about having to sit through a show with your kid – they are short programs designed to keep their attention.
I receive a pretty steady stream of phone calls and emails with new organizations, books, movies, and TV shows that are trying to teach our kids about the environment, ecology, going green, and the issues currently facing our planet. I talked with Victoria Lauren at Blue Vision who developed the site saveplanetblue.com. Victoria’s concept of creating a virtual world where kids can learn about the environmental challenges we face intrigued me so I took a look at it the other day.
Save Planet Blue is a membership site that is currently offering free access to some of its content. Over time, the site will have a subscription model and Victoria is passionate enough about the environment that they will be giving a portion of the proceeds to various environmentally focused charities. One you sign up as a member, you get to create a weebol like avatar that lets you customize the gender, hair color, skin color and the color of your clothes.
Once created, you are propelled into the virtual world where the arrow keys move your avatar around the screen. When passing some locations on the screen, you’ll be prompted with factoids about environmental issues. There are also gates that will take you to different parts of the world. Currently, the Rain Forest is open for free playing.
Within Rain Forest, which comes with jungle like noises in the background like birds and monkeys, there are several games that entertain and teach kids. We played the following games:
Puzzle game. The Puzzle games comes with various level of difficult but provides you with various numbers of pieces that usually combine to make a rainforest animal.
Match Game. This concentration like game has you match rainforest insects. My kids was fascinated and disgusted by so many bugs in so many colors and shapes. At the end of the game, factoids regarding insects pop up.
Recycle It. This game was high action and stress. As garbage flies down a conveyor belt you need to put it in the correct recycling bin (paper, plastic, glass, metal) or risk filling up a landfill. At the end of the game, you are reminded with different facts about how much waste is produced and the impact on the environment.
Petey’s Repeat. This game brought me back to the days of Simon (that multi-colored sound game from the 70/80’s). Except the noises were various plants and animals from the rain forest. My kid concentrated hard to remember the pattern and giggled when he lost.
Banana Toss. Definitely our most favorite game was throwing bananas at the monkey. If you hit the monkey it makes a good squash sound and if you throw at a different animal you lose points.
Overall, I think Save Planet Blue has the right idea. Like many of these children’s sites, the graphics are very intense and can put a lot of strain on the computer. I also think the games and the world can be even more educational with more learning opportunities than just at the end of the game. But in general, it did a good job of entertaining a four year old while sneaking in some education about the planet. Look for this site to expand quickly with new features and possibly even expand into TV or on-line videos.
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"What will I do with my Kids today?" is on the lips of every parent, every day. Once you get past breakfast, the grueling decisions start. You have done the same things a million times. Crazy Kids is the cure. We’ll provide reviews on everything Kids do and let you and other parents comment on them.
The Crazy Kids Blog will highlight a specific activity each week to give you a more in-depth look at one specific idea. We are all in this together and Parents must join in the fight against boredom and repetition. Good luck, have fun and let us know what you think.
Mom Says: My favorite back-to-school tradition was going out to breakfast with my mom on the first day. Just make sure to get your kid to school on time… my homeroom teacher from senior year never forgave me.
Dad Says: We all spend a lot of time looking for places to go with our kids and sometimes forget the adventures we can create in our own house or yard. Include your kids in the planning of the Ultimate Sleepover to make sure you have activities they are interested in.
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