Have a Sundae on Monday!

All this summer, get a free sundae at Ben and Jerry's when you buy one of equal or lesser value. This week doesn't look like it will be as hot as the past few, but don't let that stop you from taking the family for free (or at least cheap!) ice cream!

Ben and Jerry's Scoop Shops are located in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Dacula, Columbus, Douglasville, Suwanee, and Athens. You can also click on the link above to search by zip code.

Have a Fabulous Fourth!

The Fourth of July is on a Saturday this year, so it should be a fun holiday weekend! So many great events are planned that you can celebrate for three days straight if you want.

Local Events: Most towns have celebrations with fireworks and parades, but be sure to check the date - the fireworks are often on July 3rd. Check out Cumming, Alpharetta, Roswell, Decatur, Marietta, Acworth, Conyers, and Dunwoody.


Fantastic Fourth Celebration - Stone Mountain Park

Stone Mountain has lots of unusual events planned for the 4th, from a ropes course to a 4D showing of Journey to the Center of the Earth. From July 3-5th, you can see a great laser/music/fireworks show on Memorial Lawn. Be sure to check the website for details, because there are some parking restrictions.

USA Today says Stone Mountain's fireworks show is a must-see!

Lenox Square's Legendary 4th

Be part of the largest celebration in the Southeast! Starting at 4:00 p.m. on July 4th, concessions and Kids Zone (inflatables) will be open. Hear live bands, and finish the evening with fireworks at 9:00 p.m. Marta would be a good choice for transportation; if not, parking after 6:00 p.m. costs $10.

Centennial Park

The 4th of July celebration at Centennial Park will be packed - another good time to consider Marta. In addition to live music and food, kids can have fun splashing in the Olympic Rings or enjoying arts and crafts, face painting, performances, inflatables, and stilt walkers at the south end of the park, near the Rings. Fireworks begin at 9:00 p.m. Activities are free, except for parking.

Six Flags

If you can stand the heat, head to Six Flags for food, fun, and fireworks. In addition to the ticket price, pay $14.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids and enjoy a picnic buffet and the chance to pose for pictures with park characters. End the day with fireworks.

Mall of Georgia

Visit the Southeast's largest mall for a fun 4th celebration. Starting at noon, enjoy food, prizes, rides, inflatables, music, and a car show. The evening ends with fireworks and more music.

Lake Lanier Islands

It's going to be hot on the 4th, so why not head to the waterpark? There will be live entertainment all day and fireworks at night. If you come after 3:00, the price is $14.99 per person. After 7:00, the price is $8.00 per car and $10 per person.

Atlantic Station

If 9:00 is too late to stay out with your kids, consider the Radio Disney event at Atlantic Station. There won't be fireworks, but there will be games, contents, music, prizes, balloons, clowns, face painting, caricatures, a cake walk, and old fashioned relay races from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

The National Museum of Patriotism

Did you know Atlanta had a museum dedicated to patriotism? On the 4th, they will have activities for kids from 11:00-3:00, a ceremonial Liberty Bell ringing, and a reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Tanglewood Farms

The whole month of July highlights "Americana" at the petting zoo in Canton. Celebrate the spirit of our great nation all month long with patriotic pony rides, bluegrass music and a hayride through Tanglewood's all-American Wild West Town. Take a pony ride and see, pet and feed more than 100 miniature farm animals that call Tanglewood their home. The farm will be open on July 4th from 10:00-5:00.

To read more about Tangelwood Farms, go here.

INK

The Interactive Neighborhood for Kids in Gainesville has special July 4th crafts for $1 more than admission price on July 1 - 3, 2009.

To read more about INK, go here.

Outdoor Films

From quarries to parks to swimming pools*, there's no shortage of places to watch a movie outside this summer. Many locations have family-friendly showings.

Screen on the Green

Spread out your blanket on Great Lawn in Centennial Park and see a great film. On Thursday, June 18, introduce your kids to Home Alone, and on Thursday, June 25, see a classic 80's movie decided by the viewers: either Ghostbusters, Big, or The Princess Bride.

Georgia Movies in the Park

Northside Hospital sponsors this festival, which comes to parks all over north Atlanta. There's lots of fun before the films: face-painting, carnival games, inflatables, and concessions. The films are free - bring low-backed lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. In most cases, they don't release the film titles ahead of time, but here is a list of locations. Click on the link above to find more information, including showtimes.

June 27 - Heritage Park in Canton, GA

July 18 - Newtown Park in Johns Creek, GA

August 7-8 North GA Film Fest at the Forsyth Fairgrounds in Cumming, GA

August 1 - Heritage Park in Canton, GA

August 15 - Ocee Park in Johns Creek, GA

August 21 - Rock Creek Sports Park in Dawsonville, GA

Oct 3 - Newtown Park in Johns Creek, GA

Movies Under the Stars

Mall of Georgia's Village Pavillion is home to live music and kid-friendly films every Saturday night this summer. The list below has the dates, the band names, the band performance times, and the film.

June 13
The Woody’s
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Kung Fu Panda

June 20
High Cotton
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Back to the Future

June 27
Pete Whitfield
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Inkheart

July 4
Mike Rogers Band
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Johnny Rockbridge
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Lifeforce
6:30pm – 8:30pm

Independence Day

July 11
The Ron Johnsons
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Shrek the Third

July 18
Legend
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Second Hand Lions

July 25
Justin
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Princess Bride

August 1
The Woody’s
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Hoodwinked

August 8
Sister Jane
6:30pm – 8:30pm
No Movie will be showing this day

August 15
Legend
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Monsters vs. Aliens

August 22
Movie Only
At Dark
TBD

Good to know: You can buy food at the events or bring your own picnic, but no alcohol. Bring blankets and low-backed chairs. Don't forget bug spray!

*Seriously! Every Tuesday night this summer at the W Atlanta, swim with the beautiful people and watch a movie from the pool.

Father's Day Fun

June 21, 2009 is Father's Day! If Dad's dream Father's Day includes unfettered access to the recliner and the remote, you probably don't need these ideas. But if he sees the day as more than one of extreme rest, you have a lot of choices. Many locations around Atlanta are offering special discounts and activities to honor Dad.

Zoo Atlanta invites dads and kids to spend the night at the zoo in a special father-focused Nightcrawler on June 19. Here's what's happening: "Help our Zoo Atlanta keepers ensure that our Wetland Exhibit is a happy and healthy home for our wetland creatures - turtles, alligators, and many more. Use water samples, microscopes, and night vision scopes to search for viable biological indicators!".

This program is for kids 6 and up and costs $50 per person for members and $55 for non-members. It starts at 6:00 p.m. on June 19 and ends at 10:30 the next morning. You can register online.

Atlanta Botanical Garden wants you to bring Dad to the garden on Father's Day! He'll get in 1/2 price, and you'll all enjoy music, activities, carnival food, games, and a ride-on train. Don't miss the "dream car" show! The cost for Dad will be $7.50; other adults, $15; seniors and children 3-17, $12, and under 3, free.

Tanglewood Farms in Canton has free admission for dads all through the month of June, saving you $10. Click here for more information about the farm. Thanks, Susan!

Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville is hosting a Father's Day Feast in their Maple Restaurant. The cost is $19.95 for adults and$9.97 for children; under 5 are free. Afterwards, hike to the waterfall known as the "Niagara of the South" (it's a lot skinnier, but still lovely!). You could also pariticipate in these classes:

10:00 AM – BEAR FACTS
1:00 PM – CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BIRD
4:00 PM – LEAF PRINTS

The American Girl store in Alpharetta is offering a "Date with Dad" on four different dates:

June 17: 5:30 p.m.
June 21: 4:30 p.m.
August 9: 4:30 p.m.
August 12: 5:30 p.m.

You'll have a meal together, make a memory book, and bring home a photo to remember your time together. This event is for ages 6 and up. It costs $30 per person, and you'll need to make reservations by calling 1-877-247-5223.

Here's something for Dad and his sons: Autrey Mill in Johns Creek is hosting a Father's Day Father/Son Campout from 10-noon on Saturday, June 20. They'll learn the basics of camping from how to make a fire to how to pick a campsite. The class ends with a hotdog and marshmallow roast. Cost: $20 plus $5 for each additional son. Register on the website at the link above.

Do you have any great Father's Day plans? Let me know in the comments!

Kids Bowl Free

I grew up with an obscure type of bowling called candlepin. The balls are smaller and you have three balls per frame. It's probably harder for children to knock down the pins (they are smaller, too), than those in ten-pin, but it's nice that little kids can pick up the balls by themselves!

Most likely in an effort to introduce bowling to the next generation, bowling centers around the country are offering 2 free games of bowling every day this summer. The program is called "Kids Bowl Free."

When you sign up on their website, you will receive coupons every week for your free games. You can also purchase a Family Pass for $23.95 which enables up to four named adults to play two games per day. Each center can make its own restrictions, so be sure to read the fine print carefully.

Unfortunately for us in north Atlanta, there are no locations close by. But those of you in Snellville, Marietta, Woodstock - or around the country - have at it!

Bass Family Summer Camp

Here's something fun - and free! - to do on summer weekends! Bass Pro Shops has free family summer camps from May 30 - July 5 on Saturdays and Sundays from noon-6:00 p.m. The closest one to Atlanta is in Lawrenceville on Sugarloaf Parkway.
.

Here's what the website says:

.

"Every Saturday and Sunday stores will be offering FREE craft activities for the kids including decorating a fishing bobber, making key chains, designing their own birdhouse, creating plaster animal tracks and painting a souvenir wooden lure for Dad.

.

The whole family will enjoy FREE outdoor workshops about hiking, camping and fishing basics. Other workshops include bird watching, archery, animal identification, plants & insects, and even how to make campfire S’mores. Kids will earn a FREE collectable pin for every workshop completed."

.

Check out the summer camp link to find Bass Pro Shops' kids' website, which has games, puzzles, animal facts, and other fun stuff.

.

Thanks, Debbie!

Summer Reading Programs for Kids

Reading is its own reward - but many companies offer an incentive to make summer reading all the more fun for your children. Educators say regular reading is the most important thing you can encourage to keep your kids' minds sharp. Even better, you can instill a life-long love of reading - and what's better than reading on the beach, in a hammock, or by the pool?

 
If you are interested in wonky, research side of children's reading, here's a great overview. Basically, study after study shows children from all backgrounds score higher on tests and show comprehension and vocabulary gains if they read 5-6 books during the summer. And you don't need to fill up your Amazon cart to reap the benefits: use of public libraries strongly correlates to school success and reading proficiency.

 

Libraries

  Most libraries have reading programs in the summer. Kids set a goal, track the number of books they read, and sometimes get a prize at the end. Libraries often have fun events for kids to supplement the reading programs. For example, Forsyth County's theme is "Be Creative @ Your Library." They have storytellers, puppeteers, and musicians scheduled to come, as well as special events for middle-schoolers and teens. 

  Click here to find links to Atlanta -area libraries.  

  Online Programs

Scholastic has an online program for kids ages 7-12 with quizzes, games, prizes, and competitions. Children are on teams, and the winning team at the end of the summer will get to choose which charity will recieve a donation from scholastic. Kids can earn extra points by taking quizzes and playing games, and they can enter to win books weekly.  

  There's a separate tracking program for families with children ages 0-7. 

  Don't miss the links for parents - they have great ideas about raising a reader, books kids love, parent/child book clubs, and more. 

  Sylvan's online program is a free motivational tool for kids in grades K-8. They can track their reading, take quizzes, and earn points and prizes. 

  Reading is Fundamental has a challenge that runs from April 1 -June 30. Kids log reading minutes and have the opportunity to win a trip to Disney World and other prizes. 

  Bookstore-based Programs

Barnes and Noble gives kids a free book once they have read eight books (they don't have to be purchased at B&N) and written about them in a reading journal. You can download the paperwork at the link, or you can go to Barnes and Noble to pick up a packet. The program runs from May 26 - September 7, 2009.  

  Borders/Waldenbooks has a program called Kids Reading Challenge! at their stores. Download the worksheet, track at least eight books, and bring the worksheet to Borders for a 50% off coupon. Dates for the program are May 26 - August 31, 2009. 

  Half Price Books isn't in Georgia, but I wish it were! With their Feed Your Brain promotion, kids age 12 and under can earn $3 gift cards for each week they read for 15 minutes per day. Dates are June 1 - July 31, 2007. 

  Other Incentives

Chuck E. Cheese has incentive calendars on their website, and one of them is a reading tracker. Once kids fill up the two-week calendar, they can bring it to Chuck E. Cheese for 10 free tokens. Incidentally, there are lots of other tracker calendars, including ones to help with thumb-sucking, pottytraining, manners, and homework! 

  Hebuddy is offering a free t-shirt when kids read 10 books this summer. Just track the books on the downloadable list, and mail it by August 9, 2009. In 2-3 weeks, your child receives a free t-shirt! 

  Many banks offer reading incentives; check with your local branch! 

  ********************************************************** 

  Did I miss any programs that you know about? Please let me know in the comments!

Free Summer Movies

When it's really hot outside this summer and you don't feel like schlepping to the pool AGAIN, take the kids to a free (or cheap) movie! Many movie theaters nationwide show second run movies for free in the summer on select days.

Regal Cinemas Free Family Film Festival - On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. beginning in June, Regal Cinemas shows G and PG movies for free. Buy tickets at the theater. Click on the link to search for locations near you and see what's showing. Here's an example of the shows at my local theater (I'm not sure why the dates are a three day range).

06/02/2009-06/04/2009
Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
Shrek The Third (PG)
06/09/2009-06/11/2009
The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)
06/16/2009-06/18/2009
Charlotte's Web (G)
Surf's Up (PG)
06/23/2009-06/25/2009
Horton Hears A Who (G)
Journey To The Center Of The Earth (PG)
06/30/2009-07/02/2009
Space Chimps (G)
Star Wars: Clone Wars (PG)
07/07/2009-07/09/2009
Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
Spiderwick Chronicles (PG)
07/14/2009-07/16/2009
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G)
Nim's Island (PG)
07/21/2009-07/23/2009
Everyone's Hero (G)
Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa (PG)
07/28/2009-07/30/2009
Mr. Bean's Holiday (G)
Kung Fu Panda (PG)

AMC Theaters Summer Movie Camp - AMC's movies cost $1.00, but the proceeds benefit children's charities. Every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. from mid-June through early August, AMC will show family movies. The "kid pack" is discounted to $3.00 as well and includes kid-sized popcorn, drink, and snack. Here's this summer's schedule:

June 17:
Space Chimps
June 24:
Kung Fu Panda
July 1:
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
July 8:
Tale of Despereaux
July 15:
Horton Hears a Who
July 22:
The Spiderwick Chronicles
July 29:
Nim's Island
August 5:
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

MNM Theaters - This Georgia chain has locations in Cumming (Movies 400), Hiram and Atlanta. On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., they show G and PG movies for free. They also offer $1.00 popcorn and $1.00 drinks. If you bring a can of food for a food bank, your popcorn is free! Here's the schedule:

5/26 & 28
Space Chimps
6/2 & 4
Nim's Island
6/9 & 11
Chipmunks
6/16 & 18
Igor
6/23 & 25
Kung Fu Panda
6/30 & 7/2
Madagascar 2
7/7 & 9
Hotel for Dogs
7/14 & 16
Bee Movie
7/21 & 23
Despereaux
7/28 & 30
Veggie Tales
8/4 & 6
Horton Hears a Who

Good to know: These showings fill up fast, so get there early to avoid sitting in the front row. Also, don't expect a quiet theater: the theater will be filled with loud, laughing, crying, talking kids. The good news is that you can bring any age of children and they won't disturb anyone!