For many of us, January signals an opportunity to start over, resolve to do things differently or hopefully better. And for parents, many of our resolutions involve our children.
How can we better help our kids achieve success and perform to the best of their ability?
One thing we hear about from parents at Engage the Brain is the lack of enrichment opportunities at their children’s schools. Whether programs have been scaled back to better prepare for high stakes tests, or school budgets have squeezed enrichment activities out of the school day. The bottom line is that quality enrichment programs are now left to parents.
The good news is we live in Central Florida, and we have an abundance of indoor and outdoor cultural activities available 12 months a year. You just have to know where to look.
Engage the Brain has done the heavy lifting for you. (You are welcome:-) Below is a list of 10 wonderful activities and programs you can explore with your child, each with a link to more information.
Central Florida Enrichment Activities
Blue Spring Park in January is home to the manatees. Located about 45 minutes east of Orlando in Orange City, the park is a temporary retreat for manatees that enjoy the warm springs water. There are great observation decks and a restaurant that features pancakes.
Go ice-skating at the RDV Sportsplex in Maitland. It’s great exercise and will give “transplant” parents from up north a chance to relive their skating days when they were a kid.
The Orlando History Center is located right in downtown Orlando. Exhibits include Destination Florida detailing 100 years of tourism before Disney; First People describing Native American life pre-European Florida; and an Aviation exhibit which includes a replica WW11 bomber.
Orange County Public Library has many wonderful programs for kids. Programs include kidsconnect that connects you to everything in the library for children; tweens prescribes activities for kids that are “too old for kids stuff and too young for teen stuff,” and Informed Teens, which details activities about gaming events and book clubs.
Take in a play at the Orlando Repertory Theater located in downtown Orlando in Loch Haven Park. If your child is interested in acting, the theater offers classes, camps and workshops.
The Mennello Museum of American Art is located across the street from the Orlando Rep Theater in Loch Haven Park. Every second Sunday of each month offers free admission to the galleries, mini-tours and the opportunity for your child to make a craft.
The Home Depot offers free woodworking programs on the first Saturday of each month. Knowledgeable Home Depot staff provides all the materials, tools and expert advice.
Engineering for Kids is an after school program that teaches STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math lessons. The programs are conducted in local schools. Check the website for participating schools and details about the classes.
Stand Up Paddleboarding has grown in popularity over the past year or two. Paddleboard Orlando offers a great beginner rental package that tours the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. And with Florida’s temperate winters, January is good time to try it out. If you get hooked, they sell boards and equipment too!
Is your child a budding musician? If so, School of Rock in Oviedo may be a great after school program for your kid. Musicians are placed in a band with peers of like ability. Through the guidance of working musicians, the band practices and eventually plays at a concert for family and friends.
Wrapping it up
Enrichment activities present opportunities for children to learn more about the world around them. In Central Florida, we are fortunate to have array of family-friendly activities available year round. Brainstorm with your child a list of her interests, then pick one of the links above and begin exploring. Who knows… while enriching your child, you may end up enriching and tightening your family bond.
David Karch (Learning Specialist at Engage the Brain)