SUMMER LITERACY
Swimming Lessons p. 16
p. 12
SUMMER ENRICHMENT
For Children with Special Needs p. 3
SPECIAL NEEDS
and Summer Fun p. 34
for families of children and young adults with special needs
Preventing Summer Slide p. 18
SUMMER CAMPS
2020 summer fun GUIDE
VIRTUAL CAMPS
Summer CAMPS
Table of Contents
FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Cover cuteness: Makenzie Rodrigue
Any information provided by Families Helping Families (FHF) and/or Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center (LaPTIC), its staff, and/or its volunteers is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Any information expressed or implied is not intended nor should be construed as legal, medical, or other professional advice. FHF and/or LaPTIC do not render legal, medical, or professional advice or recommendations nor is legal, medical or other professional advice implied by any information given. Any information provided should not replace consultations with qualified legal, educational, medical, or other professionals to meet individual or professional needs. Reference to any program, service, therapy, or treatment option does not imply endorsement by FHF and/or LaPTIC or by its organizational staff members and should not be construed as such.
Summer Camps for Children with Special Needs 03 Camp Guides 12 Summer Enrichment 13 Summer Nutrition 15 Accessible Sports 16 Equine 17 Special Needs Swimming Lessons 18 Summer Literacy | Preventing Summer Slide 19 What Can I Do to Promote Literacy? 22 Summer Safety Tips 30 Virtual Camps & Summer Fun 34 What Can We Do at Home Today? 37 Accessible Playrounds 43
Building a Better 2morrow "Celebrating Differences" Summer Camp Ziska Bailey (504) 610-0652 buildingabetter2morrow@gmail.com Session 1 - June 1 - 26, 2020 Session 2 - July 6 - 24, 2020 Serving Kids with Exceptional Abilities (Down syndrome, Autism, Aspergers, etc.) Camper must be independent, ambulatory, potty trained, have no major medical needs, and not require medication during camp hours. Activities include arts and crafts, water games, sports, songs, theater, music, dance, and more! Low cost tuition. Free breakfast and lunch. Camp Location TBA. Space is limited for campers so please apply early to better your chances to reserve a spot. Camp Tiger: LSUHSC Campus, 533 Boliver St New Orleans, LA Any inquiries can be made to Peyton Hopkins, Camp Tiger Director, at phopk1@lsuhsc.edu or Cell: (407) 461-7693. May 18 - 22, 2020 Participation in Camp Tiger is open to all qualified children on a first-come, first-served basis and is completely free of charge. This camp invites children between the ages of 6-15 years old in the New Orleans, Northshore, Baton Rouge and Lower Parish metropolitan areas who are physically and/or mentally challenged. We especially welcome those children who are unable to attend other camps available for special needs children. Although it is our goal to accommodate all children, due to limited funding and staff, we can only accept campers whose needs we can meet with our current resources. In order to provide a safe camp experience for both our campers and counselors, all children are required to be completely updated on their immunization records according to their age based on CDC guidelines. No exceptions. Camp Tiger is a week-long day camp for children with special needs in the Greater New Orleans area. Each day campers encounter different parts of the city. Camp Tiger is staffed by rising second-year and incoming first-year medical students of the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. We have a 2:1 counselor-camper ratio to ensure campers’ safety and satisfaction. Campers and counselors form a close bond over the week and make memories that both will surely treasure. We are excited to have your interest in our camp and hope that you take part in such a fun and rewarding experience. Return Completed Applications (including completed immunization records) by Friday, April 10 Lion's Camp: 292 L Beauford Drive Anacoco, LA 71403 Telephone 337-239-6567 Fax (337) 239-9975 May 31 - June 6, 2020 Lions & LPDCI Camp Pelican (*) June 7 -June 13, 2020 Summer Staff Training Week June 14 - June 20, 2020 Mentally Challenged Youth (8-19 y/o) June 21 - June 27, 2020 Mentally Challenged Youth (8-19 y/o) June 28 - July 4, 2020 Physically Challenged Youth (7-19 y/o) July 5 - July 11, 2020 Physically Challenged Youth (7-19 y/o) July 12 - July 18, 2020 Lions & ADA Camp Victory (6-11 y/o)** Diabetes July 19 - July 25, 2020 Lions & ADA Camp Victory (11-14 y/o)**Diabetes July 26 - August 1, 2020 Lions & Camp Challenge (6-14 y/o)*** (*) Campers are assigned by LPDCI (**) Campers are assigned by American Diabetes Association (***)Campers are assigned by Camp Challenge Camper Application The Lions Clubs of Louisiana proudly present the Louisiana Lions Camp for youth with special needs, diabetes, and pulmonary disorders. With a rich history of 60 years, we proudly serve the youngsters of our state and give to them “Their Summer Place.” The Camp is located in west-central Louisiana on 173 acres, 6 miles north of Leesville, LA on US Hwy 171 Louisiana Lions Camp is free for boys and girls with qualifying Special Needs, Diabetes, and Pulmonary Disorders. Krewe De Camp: May 23 - 29, 2020 Krewe de Camp provides a traditional, overnight summer camp experience to children with developmental disabilities while also giving their parents and caretakers a much-needed rest. We operate the one-week long camp without charging the campers or their caretakers any fees so that the experience is available to all families regardless of financial need. Our campers get to experience an array of activities including swimming, outdoor games, guest presenters, arts and crafts, concerts, a dance, and a fair. Camp is also an opportunity to socialize with peers and relax in a fun nurturing atmosphere. MEDCAMPS of Louisiana: MULTIPLE CAMPS for children & adults. MEDCAMPS of Louisiana holds a series of one-week, fun-filled camps each summer free of charge for children in Louisiana facing the challenges of a variety of physical and mental disabilities. These include Spina Bifida and orthopedic conditions, cerebral palsy, asthma, sickle cell anemia, autism, epilepsy, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech impairment and those developmentally disabled. The focus is on what campers can do, and all campers are encouraged to reach their full potential. In the safe environment of MedCamps, surrounded by other children with similar challenges, these special campers discover they are not alone and gain a genuine sense of belonging, accomplishment, and self-worth. MedCamps also has camp dates available to adults with developmental disabilities ages 22 and up. Camp Friendship: July 27-31, 2020 Camp Friendship is a free, week-long, summer camp for children, 3 years of age through high school, with Spina Bifida and similar orthopedic conditions. Camp attendees are paired up with trained high school aged counselors. Attendees' medical needs are met by trained staff. A nurse is also available on site. Camp activities include arts and crafts, swimming, field trips and much more! Breakfast and lunch are provided throughout the week. We offer travel and hotel stipends to families who travel in from outside the Greater New Orleans area. Camp ABLE NOLA: MULTIPLE CAMPS for children & adults. Camp Able is a vacation, birthday party and family reunion all rolled up together. Camp Able is a gift of mutual respect and compassion wrapped up in silliness and love. We aspire to be a community that celebrates our diverse abilities and gifts. Camp Able is not about what we can't do, whether camper or staffer, the focal point is what we "can" do. Camp Able was specifically created to provide a unique camping experience for persons with diverse abilities. We seek to love our neighbors as ourselves understanding that our neighbors don't always look, sound or think the same way we do. Camp Dream Street: Ellie Streiffer Board of Advisors Camp Dream Street, MS May 24 - May 28, 2020 Dream Street is a five day, four night camping program for children with physical disabilities. The camp is held on the grounds of URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, MS and is sponsored by NFTY’s Southern Region. Dream Street campers are primarily from Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and West Tennessee and are between the ages of 8 and 14. All of our campers are children with physical disabilities. Predominant diagnoses of our campers include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, limb deficiencies, spinal cord injury, communicative disorders and other developmental disabilities. American Diabetes Association: Camp Victory - LIONS (504) 889- 0278 ext. 6078 Kasey Davis KDavis@diabetes.org July 12 - 25, 2020 Camp provides a fun and unique experience, inviting kids and their families to become part of a community where they can grow together. For nearly 70 years, we’ve run camps across the country serving over 100,000 children and their families. Camp is a lifeline for both children living with diabetes and those at high risk for developing type 2. We know first-hand how children respond to learning in a safe and fun environment. We believe every child should have the life-changing experience of summer camp. Camp Shriver, Special Olympics Camp Find when Camp Shriver is coming near you! TBA TBA TBA This camp will feature athletes from the Greater New Orleans area. Camp Shriver is an inclusive sports camp where athletes and partners will learn and play different sports throughout the week. On the final day of camp, awards will be given to everyone who attended the camp. A detailed schedule will be provided at a later date. A link to sign up will be provided by early March. Lighthouse for the Blind Summer Camps (Visual Impairments) Contact: Eric Mills 123 State Street New Orleans, LA (504) 899-4501 Camp is a 4-week, action-packed summer camp experience! Campers enjoy a variety of activities, including swimming, horseback riding, laser tag, and more. Camp runs Monday through Friday, 9am-3pm, for 4 weeks during the summer. This program is available to students ages 6-12. Speech ‘n’ Motion Camp (Varying Disabilities) Crane Rehab Center, Pediatrics 8300 Earhart Blvd., Suite 100 New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 866-6990 Camp Dates: Stay Tuned for 2020 Dates! Looking for a fun filled camp program for your kiddo? NOLA kids ages 3-10 will have a blast at Speech-N-Motion Camp is designed to create a fun, playful and inclusive environment in which children are motivated to interact and engage with others. Our staff of pediatric specialists, including occupational, speech, physical, art, and music therapists, utilize an engaging theme-based curriculum filled with creative play, art, music, and games to help kids have fun and learn, including: Listening and following directions Communicating and negotiating with peers - Sharing and turn taking Adjusting to transitions Camp Times & Costs*: TBD * Does not include Active platform fees and taxes. Platform fees and taxes will be calculated upon registration. A pre-registration code is required to register. Current patients should contact their therapist for a pre-registration code. For new campers who have never attended Speech-N-Motion at Crane Rehab Center, Pediatrics, a screening may be require before registering. Please contact Barbara Planells at (504)866-6990 or bplanells@cranerehab.com to schedule a screening. Jefferson Parish Recreation Department Summer Camps (West Bank) (504) 349-5000 Ext. 105 Susan Hirschman CAMP SUNSHINE - Ages 8 to 13 CAMP MOONBEAMS - 14 & up Session 1 - JUNE 01 - JUNE 26 Session 2 - JULY 06- JULY 31 Camp Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Nicholson Playground Rm 101 Camp Fee: $300 per camper per session Campers must be self-controlled, communicate effectively and be able to function in a small group independently. Must be mobility independent and able to attend to personal needs. No online or mail-in registration accepted You can check availability at JPRD.org Registration is only accepted at the West Bank Office 7437 Lapalco Blvd, Marrero | Monday-Friday, 8:30 - 4:30 PM. Make checks payable to JPRD, Visa, Discover and Master card accepted Camp fee does include field trips and $35 non-refundable service charge. The $7 annual insurance fee is required prior to participation in camp program. Campers will receive only one camp shirt per summer Jefferson Parish Camp Rainbow, Teen Scene, and & Summer Hang About Club 6921 Saints Drive, Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 736-6999 Ext. 100 Leslie Dunn, East Bank ldunn@jeffparish.net SUMMER CAMP Camp Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm Optional Before Care: 7:30 - 9:00 am - Included Optional After Care: 3:30- 6:00 pm - Additional Fee REGISTRATION FEE: $25 per summer *Registration deadline: May 15 for Session 1 & June 12 for Session 2.* CAMP RAINBOW - Ages 6-12 at the Ree Alario Special Needs Center Session 1 - June 1 - June 26 $350 4 wks PM Care $50 Session 2 - July 6 - July 24 $263 3 wks PM Care $38 CAMP TEEN-SCENE - Ages 13-18 at Pontiff Playground Session 1 - June 1 - June 26 $350 4 wks PM Care $50 Session 2 - July 6 - July 24 $263 3 wks PM Care $38 PINNACLES SUMMER HANG ABOUT CLUB at Pontiff Playground - Room 3 (Ages 18/up) For Active Pinnacles Members Only Must be social, mature & high functioning adult with mild disabilities. He/She must be mobility capable with independent self-help skills, self-controlled & capable of following verbal direction with minimal supervision. The individual should be able to attend to personal needs, feeding & personal hygiene. An annual non-refundable secondary medical reimbursement fee & $15 membership fee must be paid before participating in this program. Session 1 - June 1 - June 12 $175 (2 weeks) Session 2 - June 15 - June 26 $175 (2 weeks) Session 3 - July 7 - July 24 $263 (3 weeks) Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Southeast Louisiana Summer Camp 650 Poydras Street Suite 2225 New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 566-0707 Covington Club Ron Smith, Club Director - (985) 327-7634 NFL – YET Club Connie Smith, Club Director - (504) 309-7952 Slidell Club Cynthia Johnson, Club Director - (985) 643-3464 West Bank Club Sarah-Jane Lowery, Club Director - (504) 368-3434 The Creative Learning Center of Louisiana, Summer Camp (Autism) Contact: Sheila Ealey sheilaealey@yahoo.com 2432 General Ogden Street New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 975-7961 This summer camp is for campers who have a primary diagnosis of Autism. Activities include a social integration group, music, academics, bowling, swimming and field trips. Age Range 4 - 21 years. Camp Wawbansee (Girl Scouts) Contact: Briana Luers Highway 309 Arcadia, LA 71001 (800) 960-2093 & (318) 868-7222 Dates: TBA Camp Wawbansee is an ideal area for learning about the outdoors and world around us. Activities include: aquatics, archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, fishing, music, nature/environmental studies, instructional and recreational swimming. This camp is not equipped to accommodate children with extreme special needs. Camp Wawbansee also different times with different themes such as Camp Hogwarts where girls will make potions and watch a Harry Potter movie every night and Camp Hakuna Matata which features a Disney Theme. There’s also Camo Amazing Race which features the Amazing Race and crafts from different countries. For more information and to see all the different themes being offered visit the link above and click on the 2017 Camp Guide. Financial Assistance is also available. Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts Summer Camps (including Attention deficit disorder (ADD), Autism, developmental disabilities, and Down syndrome). Mandeville School of Music 316 Girod St. Mandeville, LA (985) 674-2992 River Ridge School of Music & Dance 2020 Dickory Ave #200 Harahan, LA (504) 738-3050 Our Summer Camps provide all campers (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) with the opportunity to explore up to five of our instrumental, theory, and vocal programs. Campers (with little or no musical background) are able to receive initial training and see what program(s) interest them. Our camps can also provide experienced students with a week of concentrated study to accelerate proficiency and to generate motivation to learn new and improved methods of study, giving new life to the student’s instrument or vocal study. 25 students are admitted per week. Accommodations are provided for children with disabilities Ages 5-17. St. Charles Parish Parks and Recreation (985) 331-3010, (985) 331-3007, Fax (985) 783-5059 Inclusive Summer Day Camp Cajun Camp (Deaf) Deaf Action Center Social and Recreational Services 1408 Carmel Drive Lafayette, LA TTD & Voice (337) 232-3959 and TDD & Voice (337) 232-3463 daclaf@bellsouth.net Two week Summer Day Camp with arts and crafts, field trips, Tae Kwon Do, therapeutic animals. Camp can accommodate 50 campers. Camp Sunshine (Developmental Disabilities) BREC’s Womack Park IRP Room 6201 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge (225) 272-9200 ext. 572 kcoots@brec.org Camp Sunshine designs summer camp for children with mental and developmental disabilities, aged 6-25 years old. All BREC summer camps are inclusive, but Camp Sunshine is for children who need to function within a staff ratio of 1:5. Each themed week consists of games, activities, arts and crafts, field trips, water activities and inclusive activities with other recreation camps to give the children opportunities to interact with their typical peers. BREC staff conducts recreation assessments to determine if Camp Sunshine is the right choice for children or if they should attend an inclusive summer camp. Muscular Dystrophy Assn. (MDA) Summer Camp (Neuro MuscularDisease) Contact: Diane Dobbs Camp Grant Walker 300 Highway 8 Pollock, LA 71467 (504) 455-4460 Children participate in a variety of activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, arts and crafts, horseback riding, and canoeing. The camp has a nurse and a physician on site. Ages 6-17 / No Cost Theraputic Learning Center 3329 Metairie Road Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 565-7300 info@tlcnola.com Spend the summer with TLC where your child will be immersed in therapuetic sensory-based activities while attending therapist-led-groups throughout the day. Audubon Zoo Summer Camp 6500 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 212-5380 or (504) 861-5103 Summer Camp Registration will open March 1, 2020. Campers can attend one to eight one-week-long sessions. Children are grouped by age and each group experiences hands-on learning, animal encounters, arts and crafts, and lots of wild play throughout Audubon Zoo. Audubon Nature Institute strives to accommodate all interested children. Please understand that our camps are very active, with multiple transitions and sensory changes throughout the day. Audubon Nature Institute strives to accommodate all interested children. Please understand that our camps are very active, with multiple transitions and sensory changes throughout the day. All campers are expected to follow directions and safety rules. If you have specific concerns, please contact our camp director Ellie Fallaize at (504) 212-5357 or efallaize@auduboninstitute.org to discuss your child’s needs. While we are a traditional camp (not specialized for specific special needs), we welcome all children and do our very best to accommodate every child. If you have any questions regarding registration, please email zooedadmin@auduboninstitute.org or call (504) 212-5380. Creating New Connections, LLC (504) 231-8981 christine@creatingnewconnecti ons.com Helps children with autism spectrum disorders create meaningful interactions with the world. Creating New Connections employs the techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to teach children on the autism spectrum and offers support and training to families in the Greater New Orleans area. (This is not specifically a summer camp, but there is summer programming available.) Kingsley House Summer Camp Trinell Farria – Program Coordinator tfarria@kingsleyhouse.org (504) 523-6221 ext. 188 1600 Constance Street New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 523-6221 ext. 261 Kingsley House offers its historic summer camp to more than 200 children ages 5 to 12. Our 7 week, full day camp activities include indoor and outdoor sports and recreation, drama, arts and crafts, swimming, individual and group mental health counseling, academic enrichment (with a special focus on math and reading), drug and violence prevention education, and weekly field trips to fun and exciting locations throughout the area. Kingsley House facilities are wheelchair accessible/Kingsley House is not equipped to accommodate children w/extreme special needs. Center Ridge Outpost - TEAAM Located in Smith County on Highway 37 between Raleigh, MS and Taylorsville, MS. It is the location of our summer camp programs as well as all of our other inclusive adventure recreational activities. SUMMER CAMP REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTENDANCE Campers must meet age requirement for the camp they attend (7-17 for some weeks, 18+ for others) Campers with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, or a Related Developmental Disability are given acceptance priority. Campers with all types of disabilities or non-disabled campers are welcome to attend! Camp involves a great deal of walking, including trails and hills. This should be considered when applying. Campers are encouraged to participate in the daily activities and programs at camp. A camper can opt out of an activity if necessary. THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULES Center Ridge Outpost holds 4 weeks of camp. Two of those weeks are for ages 7 to 17 and two are for ages 18 and older. There is no maximum age. All camps begin on Monday with an arrival time between 10 AM and Noon. All camps end on Friday with a program that is presented at 3 PM. We encourage all families to stay and enjoy the program. Short sessions (3 days) are as follows: Monday - Wednesday: Campers should arrive on Monday between 10AM and Noon. Campers should be picked up on Wednesday between 10AM and Noon. Wednesday - Friday: Campers should arrive on Wednesday between 1PM and 3PM. Camp ends on Friday with a program that is presented at 3PM. We encourage all families to stay and enjoy the program. CAMP DATES Week 1 - June 8th, 2020 thru June 12th, 2020 (For campers 18 and up) Week 2 - June 15th, 2020 thru June 19th, 2020 (For campers 7 to 17) Week 3 - June 22nd, 2020 thru June 26th, 2020 (For campers 7 to 17) Week 4 - June 29th, 2020 thru July 3rd, 2020 (For campers 18 and up) COST TO ATTEND OUR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS One Session (2 Nights, 3 Days) - $300 One Week (4 Nights, 5 Days) - $600 Within Reach NOLA 3313 Jurgens St., Suite A Metairie, LA (504) 885-4327 Emily@WithinReachNOLA.com The goal of the Within Reach preschool program is to equip children with the necessary tools to be successful in future school enrollment. While developing individualized academic skills during group activities, such as circle time, story time, and arts and crafts, “school readiness behaviors” are also targeted. Some of these “school readiness behaviors” include walking with a group of peers, participating and attending during group activities, toileting, appropriate manipulation of arts and craft materials, and mealtime behaviors. They offer special needs summer programming. Ms. Donna's House Mini Camp Donna Berger (504) 228-3521 Ms. India (504) 248-8693 7653 Hwy 23 Belle Chasse, LA 70037 Looking for something fun for your children? Well look no further!! Miss Donna's House has the perfect kid friendly camp for you!! Ages are from 2 - 5 years, hours 9 am - 3 pm August 5 -16, 2019. Chewbacchus Art Camp 4321 Saint Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA 70117 Contact: Sam Bass (504) 603-0042 camp@chewbacchus.org
SUMMER enrichment
camp guides
Crane Rehab SOCIAL DETECTIVES Social Detectives is an enrichment program that uses books and activities to teach students strategies to monitor and regulate their social behavior. We will focus on increasing appropriate social interactions, flexible thinking, following group plans, expected and unexpected behaviors, body awareness, and reactions to various social situations. Review of concepts and at-home activities will be provided to parents at the end of each class. For Ages 4-6/ Ages 7-9 Dates: 2020 dates TBD Cost: 2020 class fee TBD *Your child may be ready for this class if he or she can attend to a brief story and answer questions about what was heard or seen in the pictures. Your child will also likely benefit most if he or she can participate in small group activities with minimal prompting and redirection. If your child does not yet have these skills, additional services may be needed prior to participation. A screening is required. Kim 4 Kids Summer Programs 2237 N. Hullen St., Ste 202 Metairie Dates TBA PreK - 8th grade (504) 517-5437 Handwriting Helpers, a summer enrichment program for handwriting designed for students who would benefit from preparation of written work for the upcoming school year. Please go to www.kim4kidsnola.com and click on the “Summer Programs” tab for more information about times and registration. Jefferson Parish Parks & Recreation 6921 Saints Drive, Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 736-6999 Ext. 100 Leslie Dunn, East Bank ldunn@jeffparish.net ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS Offered to unincorporated Jefferson Parish residents with low to no income. Minimum fee charged to cover secondary medical reimbursement insurance. Activities are funded through sponsorship donations and/or volunteers. Proof of residency and income are required for these programs. Beginner & Adult Piano (Ages 6 & up) Learn to play your favorite songs, chords & scales. (6 classes - $4) Instructor: Morris Dillard iPad Galore (Ages 6-12) Ipad Galore is designed with 25 ipads that can be a social, recreational or educational setting that has lots of apps. It is a very exciting and fun class. (6 classes - $4) Instructor: Morris Dillard Cooking w/ Mary Kay (Ages 6 & up) Join Mary Kay in cooking some of your favorites dishes. You will learn how to read recipes, how to measure using measuring utensils, etc. (8 classes - $4) Instructor: Mary Kay Johnson Educational Enrichment (Ages 6-12) This class is designed to enhance ypur child's educational skills. The class will also assist with testing materials. *Note: This class is not a tutoring class.* (6 classes - $4) Instructor: Morris Dilla Alley Cats Bowling (Ages 13+) Alley Cats Bowling League is a great way to socialize with your friends. Bowl for FUN, but serious bowlers are welcome. Additional fee of $2.00 per game payable to the Bowling Alley each week. (9 classes - $27) Instructor: Marvin Gates Ceramics (Ages 13+) Participants will purchase a piece of their choice to paint while learning basic skills. Those needing one-on-one will need to have someone accompany them. Please bring a $6.00 supply fee to the first class. (12 classes - $5) Instructor: Darlene Fretwell Digital Media - Beginner Piano (Piano 1) (Ages 8+) Instructor Morris Dillard will utilize iPads and other digital resources to teach beginner piano skills and songs. (6 classes - $24) Digital Media - Piano 2 (Ages 8+) Instructor Morris Dillard will utilize iPads and other digital resources to teach chords,scales with additional music. This class builds upon the skills learned in beginner piano. (6 classes - $24) Digital Media - Education Enrichment (Ages 8+) Instructor Morris Dillard will lead participants in activities using an I-Pad. Participants will have the opportunity to work with social, recreational, and educational apps in this exciting class. (6 classes - $24)
KidsCamp.com - scroll over to the drop down menu tab labeled "Special Needs" where there is a list of camps throughout the United States classified under each disability. Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation 2020 - East Bank or West Bank Elmwood Fitness Center - Kids Camps & More The 2020 Ultimate Guide to Summer Camp in New Orleans and the Surrounding Areas - New Orleans Moms Blog The 2020 Ultimate Guide to Baton Rouge Camps - Red Stick Moms Blog 2020 New Orleans Summer Camps Macaroni Kid - 2020 Summer Camps In and Around New Orleans NOLA Family - overnight, art & drama, preschool, special needs camps and more. New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) YMCA Summer Camps
Summer is also about ensuring our most vulnerable youth have access to good nutrition. According to the Food Research and Action Center, only one in seven youth eligible for summer meal programs receive them, which means many children go hungry when school is not in session. Using No Kid Hungry‘s summer meals texting service, parents, grandparents, and caregivers can text ‘FOOD’ to 877-877 to find free summer meals sites in their neighborhoods. Families can also use the USDA’s Summer Meal Site Finder.
Theraputic Learning Center 3329 Metairie Road Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 565-7300 info@tlcnola.com Clinics will be held from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm on May 26 - 28 June 30 - July 2 August 3 - 5 Register at www.tlc.nola.com Handwriting: Scribble to Script - Ages 5 yrs. & up Pre-K Prep - Ages 3 - 4 yrs Small Talk Speech & Language Group - Ages 4 - 8 yrs.
National Summer Learning Association - NSLA’s vision is that every child, regardless of zip code, grows and thrives every summer.
SUMMER NUTRITION
New Orleans Track Club P.O. Box 52003, New Orleans, LA 70152-2003 (504) 467-8626 Wheelchair division is open at most (not all) of our races; however, this does not include handcycles—wheelchairs must be push rim. S.M.C.L. Foundation Julius Lee (504) 450-4014 Jleepva@cox.net Established in March 2006 to improve the quality of life of our veterans or youth with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged in the Metro New Orleans Community and Southeast Louisiana. The Rollin' Pelicans are a Division 3 wheelchair basketball team and represent Louisiana as members of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA). Adaptive/Paralympic Sport Club of New Orleans. The Miracle League of Greater New Orleans (504) 894-5415 glorio@chnola.org The Miracle League Northshore (601) 431-0696 noble.young@lcmchealth.org The Miracle League provides all children with special needs, regardless of their level of disability, the opportunity to play league sports and be part of a team. Goalball Lighthouse Louisiana invites all children with vision loss and their parents to participate in goalball - a fun and challenging sport designed for people who are blind. Generously sponsored by area Lions Clubs, games are typically held on the fourth Saturday of each month. Phone (504) 899-4501 x 264 for more information. Special Olympics Louisiana Special Olympics Louisiana provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Athletes participate at local, parish, and area level competitions. Parishes are grouped into 13 areas and are managed by Area Teams. New Orleans Fencers Club (504) 430-0053 Offers seated and wheel chair fencing for all ages and abilities. The League of Angels angels.league@yahoo.com Val Riess Park Chalmette 1101 Magistrate St, Chalmette, LA 70043 Did you know the League Of Angels accepts players from all over! You don’t have to be a resident of St Bernard to join our league. All are welcomed. The League of Angels will offer a chance for the special needs community to play sports and be one with Da Parish. Ski-Dawgs Adaptive Water Skiing David (985) 516-8283 Think Adaptive skiing is just for someone in a wheelchair. Think again! Adaptive skiing doesn't mean just someone in a wheelchair, if you have any kind of disability that prevents you from skiing the traditional way then adaptive skiing may be for you.
Accessible SPORTS
GaitWay Therapeutic Horsemanship 1300 Lawrence Parkway, St. Gabriel, LA 152 Turner Road Port Allen, LA (225) 766-1614 info@gaitway.org West Baton Rouge Location Louis J. Mouch Multi-Purpose Facility 152 Turner Road Port Allen, LA 70767 Greater New Orleans Therapeutic Riding, Inc. P. O. Box 23284 New Orleans, LA 70183-0284 (985) 651-5239 info@gnotrc.com Activities: Grooming & Tacking, Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Riding Disabilities Served:ADD or other Hyperactivity Disorder, Amputee, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay or Disability, Downs Syndrome, Head Trauma/Brain Injury, Hearing Impairment, Learning Disability, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Orthopedic, Paralysis Happy Trails Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, Inc. 17050 Hwy 16 Franklinton, LA (985) 839-9736 Crossroads Riding Center 600 Claiborne Street, Pineville, LA (318) 623-5507 lindabrocato@yahoo.com Activities: Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning, Grooming & Tacking, Ground Work, Recreational Riding, Therapeutic Riding Disabilities Served:At Risk Youth, Emotional, Behavioral, or Mental Health, and Substance Abuse. Cascade Stables Avery Bul Scheurich (504) 891.2246 Offers one-on-one saddle seat-riding instruction to children with disabilities; instructors are NOT certified in Therapeutic Horseback Riding but are comfortable teaching children and adults with disabilities.
EQUINE
by Sharon Blackmon
Preventing Summer Slide
How do we keep our kids from sliding backward during the carefree days of summer without stressing ourselves out and boring them to tears? That’s the age-old question for parents of ANY child, but especially those who have a child with some type of learning differences or difficulties. And there really are many non-traditional ways to “teach” or engage in educational outings or activities without sitting at the dining room table practicing your multiplication tables. Studies show that there are five things that are important to do every day to prevent the summer slide:
Pictured: Madeline Young, Self-advocate Advocating at the Louisiana State Capital.
Jo Jo’s Hope Therapeutic Swimming at Elmwood Fitness Center 102 High Avenue Metairie, LA (504) 957-9962 JoJo’s Hope focuses on an interactive aquatic curriculum that includes games, songs, and laughter. Sessions are on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. Activity programs are adapted to meet the needs of individuals with mental or physical limitations. The therapeutic programs are specially designed for those with Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Autism, Down syndrome, and other disabilities. JoJo’s (ages 6 months-100 years) Cost is $30/month for insurance coverage. West Jefferson Fitness Center Marrero On the corner of Medical Center Blvd. and Wichers Dr. 1121 Medical Center Blvd. Marrero, LA (504) 349-6164 Janell Perez - Instructor This program is funded by a grant, but they do request a donation to their foundation of $50. That's for 4 lessons, and Janell will give another 4 free lessons if she feels they will benefit. YMCA Diverse Abilities Swim Program 2019 Aquatics Guide (504) 568-9622 Pilot program focused on reaching children with diverse abilities during the summer of 2019. Our new program will provide specialized one-on-one or small group lessons for children with various special needs. Through this swimming program, parents and caregivers will be given the opportunity to provide their children with the means to learn fundamental water safety and swimming skills in a safe environment. Offerings vary based on location. Scholarships are available based on financial need. Please see your branch for more details. Please contact Association Aquatics Director Rachael Jonas at rachaelj@ymcaneworleans.org to discuss options and availability. Love Swimming 5221 S. Front Street New Orleans (504) 891-4662 Email: loveswimmingnola@gmail.com Year-round, indoor swimming school offering lessons for ages 6 months to adult. Jewell's Pool 2315 Alcide Drive Marrero, LA (504) 218-8800
READ. For some children reading may be a pleasure, but for others it can be a struggle. Making a habit of going to the library and browsing through the books and letting them choose one THEY want to read is helpful if your child falls into the latter category. What are their interests? If they like trains, find books from the nonfiction section on trains. If they’re fascinated by weather, or monthly cycles of the moon, go check out those sections in the library and let them choose what they want to read. Most public libraries also have summer reading programs; some children may be motivated to read more just to win prizes from the library. Some libraries also have a Reading to Rover kind of program, where kids get to come and read to therapy dogs. (Of course, they could also read to their own pet at home!) The library also offers a wide assortment of audio books that kids may enjoy listening to while they play or ride in the car. Getting them into stories that are read to them may motivate them to read more on their own. Remember, too, that there are things around us to read almost all the time. When you’re out in the community, make a game out of reading signs or store names. Make a grocery list and have your child read it as you go through the store. Play “I Spy” in the car and see if they can find a word that you name using signs or store names around you. USE MATH. Do you know how much academic mileage you can get by making a dish from a recipe? Well, of course there is the math. My six-year-old LOVES to bake. So while we go through the recipe and use measuring spoons and cups to add our ingredients, we talk about how many ¼ cups of flour she would need to equal 1 cup of flour. And I’ll sometimes purposely use a ¼ measure to get ¾ cup of sugar, or something similar, and ask her beforehand how many we will need. Even at six she is starting to get a basic grasp of fractions, which is half the battle won for later on! Recipes involve reading, measuring, following directions, sorting, using gross and fine motor skills, planning, observing safety rules, performing tasks in a given order, the list goes on. You might also half or double a recipe, if they are ready to get a little more into fractions. And if the child is involved in the meal planning from the start, they can choose the recipe and assist with making a list and purchasing the groceries (which involves reading, writing, and math). And navigating a grocery store uses a whole other list of skills! See, math really CAN be fun! GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY. “It’s hot.” “I’m thirsty!” “There’s nothing to do.” “I’m bored.” “There’s a spider on the swing!” “An ant bit me!” Those are just my husband’s complaints; you should hear the kids! And not everyone has a playground in the back yard or even in the neighborhood where kids can safely play and get away from air conditioning and electronics. Also, most parents work all day and don’t necessarily have the time to take kids outside or to a local park. But if it’s feasible, TAKE your kids outside and play with them. A dollar store Frisbee, some water guns, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a cheap inflatable pool, a hula hoop, or a plastic bat and ball can provide endless hours of summer fun. Kids are more apt to play when mom and/or dad is available for the fun as well. You don’t need a long, expensive vacation trip to make memories that last. And let’s face it: ALL of us can benefit from more exercise and sunshine! I think when I was a kid I spent about 92% of my summer sitting at the edge of our yard, playing in the dirt. I made dirt forts, dirt Barbie cities, dirt volcanoes, dirt houses, dirt swimming pools (yikes)…you get the idea. Kids benefit from being outdoors in so many ways. WRITE. We’ve already looked at some ways to incorporate writing into daily activities. Think about making a summer scrapbook; keeping a daily journal; writing a story, either about an actual event or something imagined; making a list of things you want to do, either on a particular day or during the summer break; writing a friend or relative a letter or card and mailing it; co-writing a story where you take turns writing one sentence to add to the story; writing down interesting things you see as you ride in the car on a road trip. Think outside the box! DO A GOOD DEED. While baking cookies to take to your local fire station or police precinct is a truly wonderful idea, a “good deed” doesn’t have to be a pre-planned, all-day affair. Looking for little ways to simply make someone else’s day better can build a child’s self-esteem, foster empathy, evoke feelings of gratitude, encourage leadership skills, aid in improving communication / language, and cause friendships to grow! Something as simple as bringing in an older neighbor’s newspaper or mail could brighten their day and lead to an ongoing relationship. Consider making a list of opportunities a child could look for to benefit another person, or keeping a daily journal of good deeds, along with the effects they had, to look back on at the end of the summer. (I know, there I go with the reading and writing again! And if you count the deeds, there’s the math…) Early Childhood Use wordless books to encourage language. Ask questions about each page; talk about what the child sees. Read story books with your child. Ask questions about each page, such as, “Can you find the blue flower?” “How many trees do you see?” Build communication by simply talking with your child and asking them questions that require more than a one-word answer. A simple conversation with your child while you’re driving across town or on a road trip can be a boredom-buster and a language-builder. Elementary school Do some of the cooking activities described earlier. Elementary school is a great time to begin learning those kitchen skills! Use a standard deck of playing cards to keep numbers on your child’s mind during the summer. The classic card game War is great for younger kids to practice basic greater than/less than and number line thinking. For older children, play Double War. In this game, each player turns over two cards and must add them together to find out who wins that hand. You can try this using subtraction or multiplication as well for a bigger challenge. Visit places like public parks, zoos, aquariums, and museums and just talk about what you see. In New Orleans, NOMA and the Audubon sites have free days for some residents! Check their websites for more information. Play school, with your child as the teacher. Get them to teach you something that they know (you know, like how to reprogram a computer or open a SnapChat account…). Teaching someone else requires higher levels of thinking than just being told or taught. Middle school Take cell phone pictures every day and arrange the printed pictures in a scrapbook or photo album. Actual scrapbooking supplies can be found at almost any department or craft store, or you can just use stickers or construction paper on hand to decorate the pages. Scrapbooks can also be done digitally through photo companies like Snapfish, or even Walgreens and Walmart. Start a passion project. Let your child choose something she is interested in, then use all the resources available to learn as much as possible about it. I know a young man who LOVES lawn work. A great passion project for him might be finding out how to start a lawn business of his own. How much does the equipment cost? How would he advertise, and what is the cost? How would he get to customers to do their lawn? How many lawns could he cut in a weekend? Is there a license of some sort needed? What about paying taxes? There are loads of things to learn and research, and a good passion project might take the whole summer to complete. Take a virtual vacation. Has your child taken an interest in traveling? If they have a place they’d love to visit, have them go online and find out everything they can about the people, the culture, the special events, the costs of different things, how much it would cost to get there and where they would stay. They might even create a virtual scrapbook of all their virtual journeys! High school Summer time is an excellent time for high school students to start thinking about what they’re going to do after graduation. Is there a certain passion they want to follow, such as starting a lawn care business like the young man mentioned earlier? Start considering what would be needed for that venture. Is there a trade they might be interested in that would take some training? Look into schools who offer the training: what does it cost? How long does it take? Is there financial aid available? Perhaps a college degree is the goal. Consider some campus visits over the summer, or at least a virtual visit online. Find out about degree programs, cost, financial aid, transportation to and from. Get a job! It doesn’t even have to be paid work. Does your child love animals? Encourage her to volunteer at the local animal shelter, or get a position with a vet or pet grooming business. Valuable information can be obtained with a regular position, be it volunteer or paid. Skills like appropriate interactions with a supervisor, being on time, dressing appropriately for the job, following rules and directions, and communicating effectively in social or professional situations are all excellent skills to learn early. Get ready for driving. If your child doesn’t already have a driver’s license, and they plan to get one, take the summer to study and learn as much about rules of the road as possible. Go for local drives and talk about right-of-way, signage, signals, safety, pedestrian crosswalks, etc. Even if the child isn’t ready to actually drive yet, there can still be a lot to learn and think about. I know I’ve covered a lot of ideas and information; hopefully there are a few things here that can work for your family. Some main things to keep in mind as you try to minimize the summer slide are to minimize screen time and increase stimulation. Take opportunities as they present themselves. Enjoy your family, and above all, HAVE FUN!
Special neeDs swimming lessons
SUMMER lITERACY
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What Can I Do To Promote Literacy?
Talk and sing with your child Infants learn to talk by hearing people talk to them. They are communicating with you from the very beginning. Communication with your infant can be a part of everyday activities. For example, talk with him as you are feeding, dressing, and bathing him. When your child gets older and starts to point to things and ask questions, answer them all in clear, simple language. Listen and respond in a way that shows you are truly interested in what she has to say. Read to your child everyday Begin reading to your child in infancy. Even if a baby doesn’t understand the words you use, she feels the connection with you. Carry books with you when you go out. When reading to your preschooler, point out letters and words in the book. Pay attention to your child to see when he has had enough. Provide materials that prepare your child for writing Babies start to develop the hand and finger muscles they need for writing by holding toys. Provide arts and crafts materials such as markers and play dough that help develop writing skills. Teach by example by letting your child see you writing recipes, grocery lists, things to do, and letters to friends. Provide opportunities for play and exploration Materials that involve matching, sorting and ordering by shape and color all support reading and writing skills. As your child grows older, involve him in activities that you do around the house. When you cook, let your child help you read the recipe and stir the ingredients. When you fold the laundry, your child can help while you talk about the size, shapes and color of the clothing. Be a role model by showing your love of reading The best way to express the importance of reading to your child is to demonstrate your own love of reading. Spend quiet time in which your child observes you reading. Visit libraries and bookstores Visit the library regularly in order to spark your child’s interest in books. Give your child a healthy start A healthy start begins with quality prenatal care. After your child is born, ask a health care professional about proper immunization, nutrition and safety for your baby. Early screening to detect vision or hearing problems is also critical, since these problems can seriously affect a child’s ability to hear and learn language. Select quality childcare Quality childcare can be a place to prepare your child for reading, so spend time with providers, and ask questions about the children’s activities throughout the day. Don’t be impressed by a center that says they teach 3-year-olds to read. Do be impressed if you are told that there are many activities that prepare children for reading and writing. Look for a provider that emphasizes communication and a ‘hands-on’ approach. Instill a lifelong love of reading Parents can instill a love of reading in their children by fostering their literacy growth through everyday activities – not by teaching them to read from an early age. A lifelong love of reading begins with children wanting to be read to and parents reading to them; children will soon be spending quiet time reading books on their own. Reading Tips Parents can make reading with their children part of the daily routine. Reading together in the evening can become an important part of the bedtime ritual. Here are some additional suggestions for making reading together a pleasurable experience. Make reading a part of everyday - Read at bedtime, on the bus or whenever your child needs a quiet break. Have fun - Children who love books learn to read. Books can be part of special time with your child. A few minutes are OK- Young children can only sit for a few minutes for a story, but as they grow, they will sit longer. Talk about the pictures - You do not have to read the book to tell a story. Let your child turn the pages - Babies need board books and help to turn pages, but your three-year-old can do it alone. Show your child the cover page - Explain what the story is about. Show your child the words - Run your finger along the words as you read them. Make the story come alive - Create voices for the story characters and use your body to tell the story. Ask questions about the story - What do you think will happen next? What is this? Let your child ask questions about the story - Use the story as an opportunity to engage in conversation and to talk about familiar activities and objects. Let your child tell the story - Children as young as three-years-old can memorize a story and many children love an opportunity to express their creativity. Choosing Books Children are excited by books that speak to them and their experiences. They love familiar sights and stories, but also love novelty and challenge. What follows are some suggestions of what to look for when you are choosing books for young children. Infants 6-12 Months like: Board books with photos of babies Brightly colored board books to touch and taste Books with pictures of familiar objects Small books sized for small hands Younger Toddlers 12-24 Months like: Sturdy board books they can handle and carry books with photos and pictures of children doing familiar things – sleeping, eating, and playing. Goodnight books for bedtime; books with only a few words on the page; books with simple rhymes or predictable text. Older Toddlers 24-36 Months like: Books with board pages – but also books with paper pages Silly books and funny books Rhymes, rhythms, repetitious text – books they can learn by heart Books about children and families Books about making friends Books about food Books about animals Books about trucks Word books Preschoolers 3-5 Years like: Books that tell stories and books with information Books about kids that look like them and live like them – but also books about different places and different ways of living Books about going to school, books about making friends Books with simple text they can memorize counting books, alphabet books, vocabulary books. Resource: Reach Out and Read. www.reachoutandread.org Excerpted from: Promoting Literacy in Your Child: 10 Important Guidelines. Parents Action for Children.
You can play a big role in helping your child learn to read, write, speak and listen well. The results will pay off for years to come. Helping your child learn these skills can bring you and your child closer together – plus it can be rewarding and fun.
Summer Home Learning Recipes for Parents & Children
Grades K-3 Here are some reading, writing, math, and science Home Learning Recipe activities. These have been developed by the Home and School Institute. Parents of young children in prekindergarten through third grade find them to be easy and enjoyable ways to work with the school--using materials they have at home to build their children's skills. Reading Activities Sorting and Stacking -Teach classification skills with dinnerware. Ask your child to match and stack dishes of similar sizes and shapes. Also have your child sort flatware--forks with forks, spoons with spoons. This is like recognizing the shapes of letters and numbers. Telephonitis --Give your child practice in reading numbers left to right by dialing a telephone. Make a list of telephone numbers your child can read--for relatives, friends, the weather bureau--and have your child make a call or two. Let 'Em Eat Shapes - Cut bread into different shapes--rectangles, triangles, squares, circles. Make at least two of each shape. Ask your youngster to choose a pair of similar shapes, then to put jam on the first piece, and to place the second piece on top to make a sandwich. This is a snack plus a game to match shapes. Dress Me - Increase your child's vocabulary. Teach the name of each item of clothing your child wears--shirt, blouse, sweater, sock, shoe--when your child is dressing or undressing. Also teach the body parts--head, arm, knee, foot. Then print the words on paper and ask your child to attach these papers to the clothes in the closet or drawers. Make a pattern of your child lying on a large sheet of paper. Tack it up. Ask your child to attach the words for the body parts to the right locations. Hidden Letters - Build reading observation skills with this activity. Ask your child to look for letters of the alphabet on boxes and cans of food and household supplies. For example, find five A's or three C's, or any number of letters or combinations on cereal boxes, soup cans, bars of soap. Start with easy-to-find letters and build up to harder-to-find ones. Then have your children write the letters on paper or point out the letters on the boxes and cans. Writing Activities Disappearing Letters - Promote creativity and build muscle control with a pail of water and a brush. On a warm day, take your children outside to the driveway or sidewalk and encourage them to write anything they wish. Talk about what they've written Comic Strip Writing - Use comic strips to help with writing. Cut apart the segments of a comic strip and ask your child to arrange them in order. Then ask your child to fill in the words of the characters (orally or in writing). And that’s the End of the Story--Improve listening skills and imagination. Read a story aloud to your child and stop before the end. Ask the child how the story will turn out. Then finish the story and discuss the ending with the child. Did it turn out the way you thought? Math Activities Laundry Math - Sharpen skills by doing a necessary household job. Ask your youngster to sort laundry--before or after washing. How many socks? How many sheets? And you may find a lost sock as well. Napkin Fractions - Make fractions fun. Fold paper towels or napkins into large and small fractions. Start with halves and move to eighths and sixteenths. Use magic markers to label the fractions. Weigh Me -Teach estimating skills. Ask your children to guess the weight of several household objects--a wastebasket, a coat, a full glass of water. Then show children how to use a scale to weigh the objects. Next, have them estimate their own weight, as well as that of other family members, and use the scale to check their guesses. Some brave parents get on the scale, too. Science Activities Ice Is Nice - Improve observation and questioning skills by freezing and melting ice. Add water to an ice cube tray and set it in the freezer. Ask your child how long it will take to freeze. For variety, use different levels of water in different sections of the tray. Set ice cubes on a table. Ask your child how long they will take to melt. Why do they melt? Place the ice cubes in different areas of the room. Do they melt faster in some places than in others? Why? Float and Sink - Encourage hypothesizing (guessing). Use several objects--soap, a dry sock, a bottle of shampoo, a wet sponge, an empty bottle. Ask your child which objects will float when dropped into water in a sink or bathtub. Then drop the objects in the water, one by one, to see what happens. What Does It Take to Grow? - Teach cause-and-effect relationships. Use two similar, healthy plants. Ask your child to water one plant and ignore the other for a week or two, keeping both plants in the same place. At the end of that time, ask your child to water the drooping plant. Then talk about what happened and why. Plants usually perk up with water just as children perk up with good words and smiles from parents. Children are eager learners: they are interested in everything around them. These easy-to-do activities encourage children's active learning and those wonderful words of growing confidence, "I can do it." Think of these as starter activities to get your ideas going. There are opportunities everywhere for teaching and learning. Grades 4-5 Here are some reading, writing, math, and social studies Home Learning Recipe activities. These have been developed by the Home and School Institute. Parents of fourth and fifth graders find them to be easy and enjoyable ways to work with the school--using materials they have at home to build their children's skills. Many of the activities focus on talk--sharing ideas and feelings, providing information, and responding to the needs of youngsters to grow as separate and responsible individuals. Reading Activities A Lifetime of Reading - Encourage lifelong reading. Read with your youngsters by taking roles in stories and acting out dramatic poems. Whenever possible, tape record these sessions. Then listen to and enjoy these performances together. Street Smarts - Put reading skills to practical use. Gather bus and subway route maps and schedules to a special place in your area--the zoo, a museum, a football stadium. Let your child plan a trip for friends or family. Figure out the travel time required, the cost, and the best time to make the trip. TV and the World - Connect current events to TV viewing. Post a world map next to the TV set. Watch the TV news with your children and have them locate world news spots. Keep reference books such as dictionaries and the world almanac close by. In this way, children find answers to questions when their curiosity is high. Writing Activities Picture Stories - Develop imagination and creativity. Have your children select four or five pictures from magazines and newspapers, and put them together to tell a story. Ask your children to number the pictures--1,2,3, etc. First, ask them to tell the story with the pictures in numerical order. For variety, have your children rearrange the pictures and tell a new story using this different arrangement. Writing Instead of Talking - Exchange notes instead of words at different times during the day--when getting up in the morning, at dinner, or at bedtime--or whenever the noise level becomes too high. Day-by-Day Calendar - Turn a large calendar--commercial or home made--into a personalized family communication center. Have your children fill in the blanks with morning messages, weather reports, birthdays, special activities, or notes to the family. Math Activities A Trip to the Supermarket - Plan ahead with the 3 R's. Ask your child to choose a dish to prepare for a meal--a pudding, a salad, a sandwich. Have your child check to see what supplies are on hand and then make a shopping list. At the supermarket, let your child select the food on the list. First, your child decides which items are the best buys and makes selections. Also have your child write the price of each item on the list and if possible figure the total, checking the prices against the sales receipt. On the Move - Sharpen math skills on trips. Use even short trips around town. For example, at the gas station, ask your child how much gas you needed and the cost per gallon. On the highway, ask your children to read the signs and check the different speed limits. Then ask them to watch the speedometer readings and notice how fast or slow the car is going. Have your children estimate distances between cities and check the estimates on a road map. Newspaper Math - Use the Weather section to check temperatures across the nation and the world. This is good geography practice, too. Discuss baseball and football scores and averages on the sports pages. Who are the high scores? What are the percentages? Social Studies Activities A Closer Look - Help your children become aware of family responsibilities. Make a chart of family chores, including the name of the person responsible, the days and time required, etc. Discuss ways to change or improve these job assignments. History Time Line - Record history at home. Stretch a roll of shelf paper along the floor. Use a ruler to make a line about three feet long. (Use a separate sheet for each child.) Ask your children to fill in the important dates in their own lives, starting with their birth. Those familiar with U.S. history can fill in major dates since the founding of our country. Display these finished time lines in a special place for all to see. The Foreign Touch -Travel abroad at home. Visit ethnic shops, food stores, and restaurants in your community. Before the trip, have your children find on a map different countries you will "visit." After the trip, encourage your children to talk about what they have seen. These activities may sound too easy to do any good. Make no mistake. They work. They build children's interest in learning and this translates into achievement both in school and beyond. Think of these as starter activities to get your ideas going. There are opportunities everywhere for teaching and learning. Grades 6-8 Here are some reading, writing, math, social studies and health Home Learning Recipe activities. These have been developed by the Home and School Institute. Parents of sixth to eighth graders find them to be easy and enjoyable ways to work with the school--using materials they have at home to build their children's skills. These activities will also help preteens and parents talk together about matters both care about, which improve family communication at this crucial time. Reading Activities Read All About It - Introduce your child to the many kinds of information in the daily newspaper. Ask your child to find the pages containing news about government leaders, editor's opinions, weather reports, car sales, house and apartment rentals, and want ads. Discuss how to use this information. Follow the News - As a family, choose an important news event to follow for a day or two. Ask each person to find as much information on the topic as possible--read newspapers, listen to the radio, and watch TV news. Then talk about what everyone learned. Writing Activities Nice Words - Make someone happy. Write each family member's name on separate sheets of paper. Add a note or a drawing--for example, "I like the way you make breakfast," or "You make me happy when you do the dishes." Fold the paper and put them in a bag. Ask each person to choose a paper from the bag. Place the notes where they can be found by family members. And watch for the smiles! Looking at Advertisements - Take a closer look. Help your children improve their thinking and writing skills by looking carefully at newspaper, magazine, and TV advertisements. What is the main point of the ad? What details does it use to communicate its message? For example, a strong, handsome man holding a soft drink in an expensive car with a beautiful woman at his side is telling us something about the soft drink. Pro and Con: What Do You Think? - Make a family game of discussing a special issue--for example, "Teenagers should be allowed to vote," or "There should never be any homework." Ask your youngsters to think of all the reasons they can to support their views. Then, ask them to think of reasons against their views. Which views are most convincing? For variety, assign family members to teams and have teams prepare their arguments pro and con. Math Activities How Much Does It Costs? - Put math skills to work. Help your children understand living costs by discussing household expenses with them. For example, make a list of monthly bills--heat, electricity, telephone, mortgage or rent. Fold the paper to hide the costs and ask your youngsters to guess the cost of each item. Unfold the paper. How do the estimates compare with the actual costs? Were they close? Math Marks - Are they really necessary? Ask your children to look through the newspaper to find and list as many percentages and decimal numbers as possible--sale prices, sports scores, bank rates. Ask what would happen without those marks? Living Within Our Means -Teach children who have allowances or regular spending money how to budget. Ask them to make a two-column list of expenses and income. Under expenses, they list what they expect to spend for movies, bus tokens, lunches, etc. Then, have your youngsters add all the expenses and subtract the total from the income. Ask them to think of ways to reduce their spending. If their income is more than their expenses, talk about a savings plan. Social Studies Activities Expanding Horizons - Help your child learn about people from different countries. Suggest talking to neighbors from foreign countries, reading library books about other cultures, reading newspapers, and watching TV specials. Let Your Voice Be Heard - Promote good citizenship. Help your child write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper about an issue affecting children. For example, suggest that a bike path be built near the school or that a city event be planned for youngsters. Children are citizens and their ideas are worth hearing. Health Activity Stretch, Run, Bike - Ask your child to do at least one kind of exercise every day. For example, run or walk briskly for 10 minutes. Walk, when possible, instead of riding, for any distance less than a mile. Have your youngster make a week-long exercise plan. Try to think of a modest reward for sticking to the plan and exercise right along with your child. Remember--keep the talk flowing. It's the stuff high test scores are made of and it's the basis for parent/child closeness. Think of these as starter activities to get your ideas going. There are opportunities everywhere for teaching and learning. Grades 9-12 Sometimes it's easy to forget about the important role that families play in children's education--especially as children become teenagers. Parent involvement in student schooling usually declines dramatically as children reach the teen years. Adolescents are baffling--because they are simultaneously grownup and not grownup. What continues to be clear is that adolescents need adult guidance. Teens need to know that their parents care about them. The activities that follow help parents and teens talk together to solve problems they both care about. The future is never a "sure thing." What is sure is that there will always be problems, and students need the ability to tackle them. Teenagers need to learn how to make adult decisions--to decide about careers, to make personal value judgments, to learn how to get along at work and to manage households. These are problem-solving activities designed by the Home and School Institute. They are designed to help parents build their teenagers' problem-solving skills. To learn these skills, students need practice--practice they can get at home. The Problem-Solving Habit Teenagers can get used to sizing up a problem and coming up with common-sense ways to solve it. Here's a six-step method that works and can be done easily at home by parent and child. STEP 1: What is the problem? This is a first, often overlooked, step in problem solving. You have to be able to state the problem and, if there's a conflict, the opposing views. For example: For a teen, it might be whether to go to a certain party; for a parent, whether to ask for a raise. STEP 2: What can be done about it? This is when you come up with a variety of solutions. Brainstorm as many solutions as possible without judging which ones are better than others. Just keep the ideas coming. STEP 3: What are the good and bad points of these solutions? This is when you judge the different solutions. What are the pros and cons of each one? You're making judgments, assessing the possible solutions in light of your experience and the way the world works. And in this process you may well come up with a new and better solution than any you originally thought of. STEP 4: Making the decision This is the moment you choose a solution to try. Pick one or perhaps two based on the decisions made in Step 3. Talk about why you selected these solutions. STEP 5: Putting the decision into action Now you put your decision to the test. In advance, talk about what will happen and what might be expected. What obstacles can you anticipate? What helps can you expect? How can traps be avoided by building on the helps? STEP 6: How did it go? This is the follow up, the evaluation of your solution. How did it work? What changes must be made in it so that it will work better? What would you try next time? It's possible that a decision that sounded good will not work as well in real life. Overall, there is a greater chance for success when decisions and solutions are selected in this way. After going through the process with one problem, ask your teenager to try another. Review the six steps so that everyone will be able to keep on using them afterward. The goal is to help teens get into the habit of this kind of problems solving. The Problem "Bank" Just in case you don't have enough problems of your own to solve, here are a few you can use to practice the problem-solving method: Who gets to use the car? Why is it bad to smoke? When does the garbage get taken out? What happens when I go for a few days with little sleep? How much TV are we going to watch? How much money do I need this week? Can I buy that new pair of jeans? Whose turn is it to go grocery shopping? Who has to baby sit the younger kids? When is a good time to visit grandma? What happens when I take a test without studying for it? Why can't I go to that after-school party? Feelings Are Important: Getting Control of Our Emotions Here's a KNOW YOURSELF activity: Think together, for example, about what makes people angry. Everyone gets angry for different reasons. Some people get angry when others take something from them; others get angry when people don't listen. Ask yourselves: What do we do when we get angry? Some people try to cool off before they speak. Others start fights. Some people scream. Some people don't say anything. What do you do? Caring about others is another area teens can often use help with. Talk together about the problems of being a parent, the problems of being a student. Think about a time when you disagreed with each other. Exchange places; the parent is the youngster, the youngster the parent. Afterward, talk about it. Do you understand each other better now? Common Sense: Not So Common The basic ingredient in common sense is experience--good and bad. This gets put into the storehouse of our minds, to be used when the time is right. Common sense is not a sense we are born with. These activities help give teenagers practice in problem-solving experiences that are the basis of common sense. Think of these as starter activities to get your ideas going. There are opportunities everywhere for teaching and learning. These home learning "recipes" have been tested and developed by Dr. Dorothy Rich, author of MEGASKILLS ®, for the National Education Association. Reprinted with permission of the National Education Association and The Home and School Institute.
Educational research has made it clear that parents who are actively involved in their children's learning at home help their children become more successful learners in and out of school. During the early adolescent years, adult guidance is especially important. Parents and families are the first and most important teachers. If families teach a love of learning, it can make all the difference in the world to our children.
The Adventures of Splish and Splash App Help your child learn what to do (and not to do) in and around pools and spas with The Adventures of Splish & Splash, our interactive app! Available for download on Apple and Android devices from the App Store or Google Play.
Take the Pledge Join Michael Phelps and 60,000+ pledge takers who have made the commitment to Pool Safely! PLEDGE NOW
Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. Make sure adults watching young children in the pool know CPR and can rescue a child if necessary. Install a fence at least four-feet high around all four sides of the pool. Make sure pool gates self-close and self-latch at a height that children can’t reach. Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd’s hook – a long pole with a hook on the end – and a life preserver) as well as a telephone near the pool. Avoid inflatable swimming aides such as “floaties”. They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security. Swim programs for children under four should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning. Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision”. Boat Safety Children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water. Make sure the life jacket is the right size for the child. The jacket should not be loose. It should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted. Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts and air mattresses should never be used as life jackets or life preservers. Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection and to set a good example. BIKE SAFETY Ride a bike that fits you—if it’s too big, it’s harder to control the bike. Ride a bike that works—it really doesn’t matter how well you ride if the brakes don’t work. Wear equipment to protect you and make you more visible to others, like a bike helmet, bright clothing (during the day), reflective gear, and a white front light and red rear light and reflectors on your bike (at night, or when visibility is poor). Ride one per seat, with both hands on the handlebars, unless signaling a turn. Carry all items in a backpack or strapped to the back of the bike. Tuck and tie your shoe laces and pant legs so they don’t get caught in your bike chain. Plan your route—if driving as a vehicle on the road, choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds. Your safest route may be away from traffic altogether, in a bike lane or on a bike path. Bug Safety Do not use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on children. Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom. Avoid dressing children in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints. To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail. A stinger can also be removed by pinching it out with a pair of tweezers or your fingers. Check with a physician regarding use of “bug” spray on children under the age of 2. Insect repellents containing DEET are the most effective. The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10 percent to over 30 percent. The benefits of DEET reach a peak at a concentration of 30 percent, the maximum concentration currently recommended for infants and children. DEET should not be used on children under 2 months of age. The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product, so read the label of any product purchased. Dog Bites When getting a pet as a companion for a child, wait until the child is mature enough to handle and care for the animal – usually around age five or six. Never leave an infant or child alone with any dog. Teach children some basic safety precautions for dealing with dogs outside the home, such as not surprising or scaring a dog and never approaching an unfamiliar dog. Instruct children to stand still if approached or chased by a strange dog. Tell them not to run, kick or make threatening gestures. Children should face the dog backing away slowly until he or she is out of reach. Contact a pediatrician whenever a child receives an animal bite that breaks the skin, no matter how minor the injury appears. The doctor will need to check whether the child has been adequately immunized against tetanus. Fireworks Safety Fireworks that are often thought to be safe, i.e. sparklers, can reach temperatures above 1,000 degrees F. Never allow children light the fireworks themselves, including sparklers. Older children who decide to use fireworks should always be supervised by an adult. Always read and follow all warnings and label instructions. Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks. Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves and grass, and other things that may catch on fire. Never try to relight “dud” fireworks that did not work the first time around. Keep water handy (a garden hose and a bucket) in case of a malfunction or a fire. Light only one firework at a time. Never light fireworks in glass or metal containers. The person lighting the fireworks should always wear eye protection and never have any part of the body over the fireworks. Use long match sticks to light the fireworks, not lighters or cigarettes. Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trashcan (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water). The AAP* recommends prohibiting public sale of all fireworks, including those by mail or Internet and encourages families to attend professional fireworks displays instead of using fireworks at home. Fun in the Sun Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of the direct sunlight. Move babies to the shade or under a tree, umbrella or the stroller canopy. Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs and use brimmed hats. Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside and use a sunscreen even on cloudy days. The sun protection factor (SPF) should be at least 15. Try to keep children out of the sun between 10 am and 4 pm That’s when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Public Playground Safety Make sure surfaces around playground equipment have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel, or are mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials. Check that protective surfacing extends at least 6 feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar. Make sure play structures more than 30 inches high are spaced at least 9 feet apart. Check for dangerous hardware, like open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends. Make sure spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs, measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches. Check for sharp points or edges in equipment. Look out for tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and rocks. Make sure elevated surfaces, like platforms and ramps, have guardrails to prevent falls. Check playgrounds regularly to see that equipment and surfacing are in good condition. Carefully supervise children on playgrounds to make sure they're safe.
Kids Activity Poster for Coloring After you’ve downloaded the app, print out this poster as a fun coloring activity for your child. DOWNLOAD THE PDF
POOL SAFETY
summer safety tips
The Pool Safely Song The Pool Safely campaign teamed up with children’s performer Laurie Berkner to create the Pool Safely Song. Staying safer around the pool only takes four simple steps!
Camp Kinda (In English and Spanish)| Here's a free, virtual summer camp experience designed to keep kids engaged, asking questions, and having fun even while they’re stuck at home. "Open" each weekday starting June 1 to September 1. On any given day, kids may be exploring the art of graphic novels, unlocking the mysteries of history, or jumping into the world’s craziest sports. Also available in Spanish. BREC's 2020 Summer Camps BREC is excited to be able to offer summer camp this year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, camps will look different. As always BREC will offer a variety of activities, experiences and camps to serve as many children as possible while following state and federal recommendations to ensure the safety of campers and camp staff. For the first week BREC will only offer virtual experiences and will move to both in-person and virtual experiences after that. Available opportunities and registration details for the month of July are expected to be announced sometime in June as additional information becomes available from public health officials. Watch this page for further information such as modified procedures for camp and new opportunities as they become available. While safety is our top priority, we are just as focused on ensuring your children have fun!
Summer should be fun, not stressful, right? Grown-ups, we’ve got you covered. Each of our camps has been specially designed by parents (who also happen to be content experts and educators) to make your whole family's experience fun, engaging and stress-free. So rest easy adults, and visit us at www.summercamptogo.com to find out more and register!
New Orleans Public Library The Library's much-loved SUMMER FUN program will look a little different this year due to COVID-19; but, just because Library buildings are closed, it doesn't mean we don't have a ton of fun in store for all ages. Get started by signing up for VIRTUAL SUMMER FUN 2020.
Virtual CAMPS & SUMMER FUN
Jeremy Love MMT, MT-BC Love’s MusicTherapy, LLC Phone: (504) 281-8968 Email: lovesmusictherapy@gmail.com
GNO STEM INTRODUCES NEW VIRTUAL SUMMER STEM CAMP - "ROBOTIC ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CAMP" Session I | June 15 - 19 Session II | July 13 - 17 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Instructor is available 30-minutes prior to/following camp for one-on-one time if needed For students in grades 3 - 11 Students will be grouped together by age and subject matter expertise Requirements Access to a computer/iPad with a camera and internet to participate in Zoom calls. Cost: $185 Participating students will receive a kit of materials including a camp guide and directions for daily activities, and all electronic components needed for the camp and lab experiments! Camp Instructor - Brian Young GNO STEM Virtual Summer Camp instructor, Brian Young, is an engineer and certified teacher with more than 20 years experience. GNO STEM's Virtual Summer STEM Camp sessions will immerse students in a week of exciting hands-on activities as they bring gadgets to life with electrical engineering and lab experiments. Campers will discover how engineering and programming work together to make new and exciting inventions and build technology skills while collaborating with others camp students online, all from the safety of home. Students will complete camp with an understanding of the electrical engineering process and have the tools they need to continue to practice what they've learned at home. Participating students receive 2 hours of daily live instruction plus hands-on circuit building followed by self-paced circuit practice and challenges. Some of the topics and activities include: voltage, current, resistance, schematic symbols, series and parallel circuits, batteries, switch types, motors, buzzers, photocells, diodes, RGB LED, capacitors, SCR, and integrated circuits. REGISTER FOR GNO STEM's VIRTUAL STEM SUMMER CAMP SESSIONS, HERE.
Have an outdoor tea party - It is always fun to dress up and pretend. Invite your friends or grab your stuffed friends and have an outdoor tea party. You can pretend to eat and drink or put some of your favorite snacks together to eat. Bonus - those old costumes won't go to waste. Make sailboats and race them - Put water in a plastic kid’s pool and race your handmade sailboats. Use only the natural wind power to make them go and see who makes it to the finish line first! (If you live near a ditch or other moving water source, you might consider racing them down the stream after a rainstorm!) Remember water safety with young children. Puddle jumping - Nothing is more fun than getting to play outside when it’s raining. Summer rainstorms don’t always mean you have to head inside - put on bathing suits and rain boots and stomp in the puddles! Have your own drive-in movie - On a clear, dry night, bring the television set outdoors and let the kids watch a movie on blankets under the stars. For added fun, invite the neighborhood kids to drive-in on their bicycles to enjoy the movie, too. Don’t forget the popcorn! Plant a container garden - Many vegetables and herbs can be grown indoors or out inside containers. Let your children pick some varieties to grow and tend to them throughout the summer. It may even convince them to eat a vegetable if they know they grew it! Target squirting - Set plastic cups on the top of a fence, or deck railing and let other children squirt them off with water guns or plastic water bottles. You can create points by writing on the plastic cups and keep score or just see who’s the fastest to knock over the cups. Car wash - Arm your kids with the hose, a bucket, soap and some sponges and set them to work washing the family car (and each other). Remember, children will often get tired before the car is clean. Dirt restaurant - Kids love to play restaurant, and who doesn’t love to play in the dirt? Send the kids outside with plastic cups and plastic spoons, a few dollar store dishes and see what kind of gourmet meals they come up with. They can make salads from leaves and flower petals, mud pies, and tree bark chicken. The kids can take turns making meals, being waiters and restaurant patrons. Go for a hike, walk or bike ride - Most towns have parks and areas that are perfect for this, but even if you have to make it a full day trip and travel a bit, this is a great activity. Pack a picnic lunch and plenty of fluids and enjoy some exercise. Oversized painting - Tape several large sheets of paper together on the backside, and flip them over on the lawn. Fill a few containers with different colors of finger-paints, and give the kids a box of strange items to make their painting with. Try: spaghetti strainer, a balloon, a mop head, sponges, rain boots and any other objects you see lying around! Water painting - Paint with clean paint brushes and a pot of water outside on walls, pavement, wood fences etc. the sun removes the evidence. Mud painting - Make some mud and let kids create art on the sidewalk. Cleanup is a breeze with the garden hose. Bubbles - Just about every kid enjoys bubbles! Create your own bubble solution (see Fun Art Recipes). Pour into a shallow container with a wide open mouth and then use odd objects to create your bubbles. String, rubber bands, the spaghetti strainer, straws, slotted spoons and anything else you can think of make some fun bubbles! Bubble art - When the kids get tired of making bubbles, add a few drops of food coloring to the bubble solution and have them blow bubbles that pop onto white paper. The result will be an artistic masterpiece made from the rainbow colored bubbles! Sand art - Use food coloring to color sand in Ziploc bags. Pour the sand on paper plates to dry before using. Once dry glue to paper to make cards and art, or fill plastic containers with your sand art creations. Make a sandbox - For whatever reason, kids like playing in the dirt! You can make an inexpensive sandbox by filling a kid size plastic pool with clean dirt you dig up from your yard, or from sand you purchase from the store. Fill with plastic trucks and plastic cups and let the kids go to town. Organize play dates - If you live in an area where there are many children, you may be able to organize play dates, taking turns at each other’s house. Set up some of the activities listed here for fun activities to do together. Create race car track - If you have miniature cars (hot wheels and others), it can be tons of fun to create elaborate race tracks in the dirt, complete with jumps, water pits and crash areas. Water games - You can let the kids run through the sprinklers, wade in a kid’s pool, spray each other with the hose, or play with a bucket full of water and plastic cups. They’ll be creative with it; orthey’ll just get each other wet but either way they’ll have fun doing it. Organize a bike parade - Gather as many neighborhood kids as you can, and have everyone decorate their bikes or wagons like parade floats then parade around the driveways or through a bike path. Collect cans and bottles - Take your kids through the town and collect as many bottles and cans as you can. Return them to the store and give the kids the money to buy themselves a treat. It will take up an afternoon, give the kids exercise, and help the environment all at the same time. Scavenger hunt - Create a list of 20 or more things that can be found naturally outside in your area, things like pine cones, specific flowers, nuts, etc. Send the kids on a scavenger hunt to try and collect one of each item on the list. This can be done as a group effort, or each child can compete with the other to see who can find the most objects, the fastest. Lemonade stand - Turn your children into mini-entrepreneurs! Teach them how to figure out their profits by subtracting the cost of their materials and supplies and how many cups of lemonade they sell. Start a collection - Seashells, rocks, old keys, fancy pencils, matchbox cars, etc. Starting a collection can be a lot of fun, especially if you can start with items you have around the house or can find easily. Make a nature display - Go for a nature walk and collect items such as leaves, twigs, flowers, rocks, and acorns. When you get home, take a shallow box (a cereal box works well) and cover with plain white paper or the paper of a brown grocery bag. Cut the front of the box open, leaving a 1-inch border. Glue light weight items to the back inside of the box, and heavier items to the bottom. Have a campout - You don’t have to actually go anywhere to go “camping”. Pitch a tent in the backyard, build a fire (if local laws allow), toast marshmallows and enjoy camping in the backyard. Set up an obstacle course - Turn your backyard into an amazing obstacle course! Help your kids create a course from toys, bikes, and other things found in your backyard. Build the course with your child’s age and ability level in mind. Go to yard sales - Give each child a few dollars and allow them to make purchases at a few yard sales. The new-to-them items are always more fun than the items they already own (at least for a couple hours!) You could do the same thing at the dollar store. Join the (Secret) Toy Society - It’s totally free, feel good fun! This family fun idea started in Australia and has caught on around the world. Simply make a handmade toy and leave it with a note someplace a child will find it. Build a rock garden - For some reason, kids really enjoy rocks. Let them collect various rocks and arrange them in a nice garden. For added fun, they could paint the rocks. Make a slip-n-slide - Use an old tarp as a slip n’ slide, or buy one. The kids will enjoy this activity for a few hours on a hot summer day. Stargaze - Take a blanket out after it gets dark, a flashlight and an astronomy guide. See if you can find all the constellations. Letterboxing - Set up a letterboxing hunt in your neighborhood or Local Park and enjoy a low-tech treasure hunt! Be a tourist - Pretend to be a tourist in your own town or nearby locations. Use maps to discover real landmarks,attractions, and parks that you’ve never gone to, and plan family trips to visit each.
Online Camps Fill Kids' Summer with Learning Adventures (Also available in Spanish) Virtual camps and classes offer a wide variety of enrichment to keep kids busy, learning, and having fun -- while practicing safe social distancing. Summer Camps: Virtual Camps In and Around NOLA - NOLA Family Magazine
Outdoor Activities
What Can We Do At Home Today?
Indoor Activities
Rock Painting - Whether you’re hoping to create something for your garden, home, or just hoping for fun crafts to do with your kids, rock painting is an awesome option. It’s also easy to do! You can purchase all-surface paint, paint brushes, and rocks for painting at Target, Walmart, Michael's, and a variety of craft stores. You can also go on a rock hunt of your own and dig out the old paint brushes. Get is a little inspiration from Kitchen Fun With My Three Son's. Crafts - You can purchase a bunch of craft supplies and let your children’s imaginations lead them to the creation of masterpieces. The local dollar store often has a good selection of craft supplies, and if not - Walmart or the craft store have a good variety that won’t hurt your wallet too much. Alternatively, you can probably dig up enough craft stuff from around your house for a few hours of creating: buttons, glue, string, macaroni noodles- if it can be glued, it can work! Indoor camping - Throw a sheet over your kitchen table and camp out underneath. You can sing campfire songs, make s’mores in the microwave, and pretend to go fishing. If you have a small pop-tent, these can be set up indoors temporarily and provide hours of entertainment. Make a puzzle - Draw a picture or cut one from a magazine or cereal box. Cut it into puzzle shapes and then put it back together. Play volleyball - Yes, you can play this version of volleyball inside. You just need a blow-up beachball and your couch. Pull the couch into the middle of the room so you can stand on either side of it, and use it as your volleyball net. (You could also drape a sheet over a couple of chairs to create your net) Newspaper basketball - Roll a sheet of newspaper into a ball then throw into an empty wastepaper or laundry basket. Add different size baskets or distances. Blow football - For two players. Use a straw each to blow a ping-pong ball or small newspaper ball on an empty table. Goals can be unopened cans of soup. Papier-mâché - Mix water and flour in a bowl to create a paste. Cut up strips of newspapers and make Papier-mâché objects. You can make piñatas, decorative items or animal creations. Just remember it takes several days for it to dry before you can paint and decorate it (or before you can break it open if you’ve made a piñata!) Make puppets - Use socks and craft supplies from around the house to create puppets and put on a puppet show. 5-Minute Make-Your-Own-Ice Cream - In a quart Ziploc bag, put in 1/2 cup of milk, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 Tablespoon of sugar. In a gallon Ziploc bag, put in a 1/3 of a cup of rock salt and fill the bag ¾ of the way full with ice cubes. Place the smaller bag inside the larger bag, and shake for 5 minutes. Open and serve! Become a dancing fool - If you feel like you’ve been cooped up inside for too long due to bad weather or other reasons, put on some upbeat music and dance until you’re too tired to dance anymore! The sillier you are the better! Set up an obstacle course - Turn your living room or basement into an amazing obstacle course! Let the kids create a course from toys and other things found in the house. Crawl under tables or chairs, slither through a tunnel made from couch cushions. Build the course with your child’s age and ability level in mind. Create the beach - If the beach is too far away or the weather causes you to stay inside, turn your bathtub into the ocean! Fill your tub with some cool water, play some beach tunes and give the kids the sand toys to play with in the tub in their bathing suits. Blow up a beach ball for some extra fun. Café Kids - Let the kids create restaurant menus of items you have in your kitchen and then take turns taking lunch orders from each other (or you). Let everyone be the kitchen staff to prepare the lunches, and then switch to become the customers who get to eat the delicious meals they’ve ordered! Make your own board games - Playing board games is fun for all ages, but can get a little boring when you play the same games, over and over. Spend some time creating your own board game with cardboard, crayons and other objects - then play it! The real fun is the creation of the game itself, but you can play and save the game for future playtime as well. Draw mazes - On paper, create mazes and let your kids try to get to the end point. If you have a hamster or guinea pig, create a maze out of cardboard and see if it can find the end of the maze. Start an activity co-op - If you are good at arts and crafts, your friend is good at yoga, someone else knows gymnastics or plays an instrument, etc. you could all get together and start an activity co-op. Once a week, each parent could host an activity at their home for everyone’s kids. It’s a low-cost way to keep the kids involved in various activities. Pass the Parcel - Hot potato meets musical chairs. The player stuck with the parcel when the music stops must unwrap a layer of paper to reveal his or her task. To prepare the game, start with a prize that can be shared with everyone such as stickers or packages of raisins or fruit snacks. Place it inside a box, write a message on the box such as “sing row, row, row your boat while pretending to row a boat, spin around 10 times with your hands on your head, make a silly face, pinch your nose and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, waddle like a duck, or anything silly that you can think of. When the box is unwrapped everyone can enjoy the snack. Indoor picnic - Spread a blanket out on the living room floor and have an indoor picnic. The best part is No bugs. Scrapbook - If you have a digital camera, consider letting the children take photos and get the best ones printed. Alternatively, you could buy a few disposable cameras for them to use. Using your craft supplies, create mini scrapbooks. Put on a talent show - Let the kids practice their talents, create tickets and flyers to give to the neighbors, and invite everyone to watch their performance. Let the neighborhood kids participate in the talent show, too! You can hold it inside or out; and give every participant a certificate and a round of applause. Make a dream book - Using magazines let the children cut out photographs and draw pictures of things they’d like to have someday, places they’d like to go, careers they’d like to have one day and glue them into a dream book. Make holiday gifts for family - Using various craft supplies the kids can make photo frames, mini scrapbooks, and other items to give as gifts throughout the year. Tye Dye - You can buy a kit or just get the colors from the craft store (or department store). You’ll need socks or tee shirts or whatever else you want to tye dye, and rubber bands, as well as rubber gloves to protect your skin from the dye. Alternatively, you could try using berries to create your own dyes. Room rearranging - Let the children draw a new layout of their bedroom(s) on paper, and then help them move everything around into their new configuration. Organize a block party - Get everyone on your street or block together for a block party. Have face painting, activities, music and dancing, karaoke, and food (potluck works great!). Set up a net - Put up a badminton or volleyball net, or create one from clothesline and a sheet. Use a blow-up beachball to play volleyball or get a badminton set from a yard sale and play. Soccer bowling - Set up 10 empty soda cans or plastic bottles in a triangle or circle on a fairly level section in your yard or driveway. Give each child three tries to knock down as many "pins" as possible by kicking an inflated ball at them. Keep score like bowling. Make fruit Popsicles - Make your own fruit juice Popsicles with juice in paper cups and popsicle sticks in them. Pop in the freezer until frozen and serve. Host a pretend sleepover - Let your children invite a few friends over for a “sleepover”. It’s a fun way to break up the routine. The kids can play games, watch a movie, make and eat fun snacks and enjoy some social time. Ask parents to pick up their children when it’s time to go to bed. Act out your favorite book or movie - Get the family together and/or invite some friends over to help re-enact a fairy tale or favorite scene from a book. Learn a new language - Use the Internet or rent videos and/or audio instructions from the library to learn a new language. Make a Movie/Play - If you have a video camera, let the kid’s write, direct, act, and record their own movies. If you don’t have one and can’t borrow one, you can do the same thing but have a live performance- like a play. Treasure Hunt - Hide a small treasure (a bag of candy, new game, stickers etc.) somewhere in the house. Then use post-its to write clues or pictures. Each clue will lead to another clue until finally,the last one will lead the children to the “treasure”. Make music together - Write song lyrics and come up with a melody then record on your computer, mp3 player or tape recorder as a special keepsake. Make your own musical instruments - Cymbals: 2 saucepan lids, Drum: upside down saucepan and wooden spoon, Maracas: rice, dry beans or pasta in an empty water bottle, xylophone: jelly or pickle jars filled with different levels of water and a spoon, Guitar: shoebox without the lid and rubber bands around the box. Play store - Either purchase a toy cash register from the store or set up a calculator at the checkout station. Make or buy play money, and spend an afternoon buying items and making change. You could even make a pretend check register and write checks,depending how old your children are. Teach children to cook - Use easy recipes, but take advantage of all the learning opportunities involved with cooking: creating the shopping list, sticking to a budget, using measuring cups and spoons, nutrition, and actually making the meal. Start a parent-child book club - Ideally, you could get a few kids around the same age with their parents to all read the same book and get together to chat about it. Make it a fun time together and create a craft or snack that relates to the story. Color carnations - Buy white carnations from a florist or grocery store, and place them in cups with food coloring mixed with water. After a while, the flowers will take on the colors of the water they’re in. Play school, restaurant, veterinarian, or florist - If possible plan a visit to see what happens in a school, restaurant, veterinarian’s office or florist first. Talk about what you see and hear. Take pictures that you can look at once you are at home. Gather the props you will need Keep a Journal - Have your children keep a daily in a journal. They can draw about what they did that day, or such as stuffed animals, pretend money, menu’s, paper and pencils.what they hope to do the next day. Ask your child to tell you about their picture and you can write the words. Toss a ball - Have everyone sit in a circle. Every time they have the ball, they say a name of a state (or animal, or food, etc.) that starts with the next letter of the alphabet as they throw the ball to someone else.
Walnut Street Playground Located in the front of Audubon Park near St. Charles Avenue and Walnut Street. Thanks to a generous donation from Saints star quarterback Drew Brees and wife Brittany, Audubon Park visitors can now enjoy a pioneering playground that offers inclusive recreational opportunities for children—and adults—of all abilities. The new Walnut Street Playground promotes interactive physical, cognitive, visual and hearing experiences for all. The unique design offers a welcoming environment for children with mobility challenges, including playground equipment accessible for people who use wheelchairs. In addition, the design presents a variety of features that provide sensory engagement and promote the development of motor skills. There are benefits for adults, too. For parents and grandparents who face mobility challenges, the new playground is built to encourage cross-generational play, a key to building strong family ties. Examples of the inclusive playground features are wheelchair-accessible areas, including a bongo drum panel that allows children to have fun with rhythm and tone, a Braille and Clock Panel, a Periscope Reach, a Ring-a-Bell Reach and a bridge with guardrails. The largest playground feature is the “ZipKrooz,” a two-way ride similar to a zip line, which includes a track with a bucket seat for children with limited core strength. The playground also offers conventional attractions such as slides, parallel bars, a balance beam, boogie board and tightrope bridge. PontifPark 1521 Palm Street, Metairie, LA Kaboom 5 star rating /Fully Accessible Jefferson Playground 4100 South Drive, Jefferson, LA 70121 Kaboom 5 star rating.Features of the new playground: Rubberized surfaces Wheelchair accessible ramps Safety sign in Braille Exercise stations Extensive amount of slides and play components Climbing and balancing activities for three generations – children, parents & grandparents Kenner City Park 3800 Loyola Ave., Kenner, Louisiana Kaboom 5 star rating / Fully Accessible Kenner City Park just added a full cover over one of the large playground set so parents don’t have to worry about the little ones burning their legs going down the slides or burnt hands climbing up the rock wall. A local favorite for Kenner parents and their children. City Park City Park is home to two fun-equipped, wheelchair accessible playgrounds. The Stanley Ray playground, located on Dreyfous Avenue between the Peristyle and Casino Building, has swings, slides, bridges and tunnels designed for children ages 2 to 5 yrs old. The Starbucks/Blue playground near Shelter 1 on Victory Avenue is geared up for older kids, ages 5 to 12.
Accessible playgrounds
Have a safe & happy summer
700 Hickory Avenue | Harahan, LA 70123 504-888-9111 | 800-766-7736 504-353-2350 fax fhfofgno.org | info@fhfofgno.org
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