By Heidi Hess
Ella Fitzgerald said it best, “It’s summertime, and the living is easy.” At least it should be. Parent life here in ole Palm Beach County can leave you feeling frazzled, frayed… and a few other “f” words I can’t say here (my editor would kill me).
The heat and traffic alone are enough to overwhelm even the most seasoned local. This isn’t what summer should be like. Life should be slower, more relaxed. In the summer months we should embrace flip flop life. But if you’re like me, you still want to keep the kids busy. Well, what if I told you that doing nothing is important for you and your kids. Everything moves slower in the heat… it’s a form of self preservation. Look at the lions at Lion Country Safari (a fun mostly air-conditioned outing for the kids) or Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They aren’t moving unless it’s necessary. And neither should you. Calypso Cay in Royal Palm has two water slides, a water playground for the littles and… a lazy river… perfect for embracing our new summer anti-activity.
Or simply set up a picnic blanket in the shade, complete with cool lemonade, yummy snacks and a good book. You can read while the kids play. They’ll come back to tell you they are bored. That’s good. This is where the magic happens. Kids, need to learn how to entertain themselves. Imaginative play (aka problem solving) comes from this. So let the kids play with rocks and sticks; they become wizards casting spells or swashbuckling pirates sword fighting. You could even join them. Which brings to mind another “f” word … fun! Have a wonderful summer with your kids! It goes fast.