While my oldest kid, who is Pre-K, is having a blast spending mornings over two weeks at a safety camp, I'm with my other two toddlers at the park beside his camp. We wait two hours for his camp to be over and it's the best two hours of my girls' day!
It's a fabulous park, with an enormous play structure the size of several houses, build like a castle. There are swings, slides and sand lots, and dozens of picnic tables along a gorgeous river that runs through the parklands behind the play areas.
We spend the morning here, the girls and I. And there are lots of kids. All seem happy and very well cared for, with parents playing along with them or reading while they keep an eye on the comings and goings. There are few, if any fights between kids. Parents are very easy going. Today there was a huge game of cops-and-robbers, with about 20 kids playing. Good, old fashioned fun. No video games, no technology - just a bunch of healthy kids having a blast.
Chilled out, relaxing and playful. All in all, it's a great way to spend a summer with your kids. Oh, and it's free!
The month of July is National Make a Difference for Children Month. Mainly, because not every kid is spending their days in parks, running through make believe castles and laughing over nothing and everything.
Some are ill - desperately ill. They battle cancers, blunt trauma head injuries and more. As we play in the sun, they remain in hospital beds, getting painful tests and treatments. Some don't have much family or money. And all of them would love to hear from anyone who could brighten their days up a little bit, by opening a card made specially for them. You can also pick a child (or children!) every month and send them a birthday card. Better still, sit down with your own kids and make one from scratch! Let your own kids know how fortunate they are, and in doing so, make a kid's day - a kid who is going through things no kid should.
www.hugsandhope.org is a great website that'll connect you with these kids. I'll be doing a card with my own kids. I hope several of you do too. Doesn't matter if you have children or not. Do one yourself, or with your girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband or cat! Let Fluffy do a little painted-paw art - I bet a kid would love it!
Tell Us
Did you make a difference in a kid's life?