01. Contact each nearby church and ask about their Vacation Bible School.  It is big on fun and just a bit of religious overtone.

 

02. Google the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and see what events they have planned for nearby

 

03. Call 311 and ask them about summer programs for kids.

 

04. Make a list of nearby libraries - 4th & 51st &  68th & Fort Hamilton Pkwy (and others) and tell your kids that you are going on an adventure - to explore a different library and "investigate" it and compare to others.  Maybe even keep notes or write a review like a restaurant review.

 

05. Sit on your front stoop and begin loudly reading a story to your kids.  Within minutes other kids will join you.  Before long you will have a reading club for your block.  You can let the kids bring their favorite stories.  You can even let kids read a bit too.

 

06. Same as #5 - but singing...

 

07. Go fishing on 58th Street pier 4, or 69th Street pier. You don't need a real fishing pole.  Your kids will be just as happy dangling a string with a rock to hold it under water and maybe a piece of uncooked chicken to attract fish.  Your kids will love it and so will the grateful fish!

 

08. Go to the pier with a blanket and packed picnic.  Picnics aren't just for lunch or supper - go for breakfast - maybe stop at Georges and get take-out breakfasts in little tins.

 

09. Collect!  What?  Collect what?  Anything.  Get a cheap notebook and some scotch tape, go to the park and collect leaves and even weeds (don't do damage to gardens or flowering plants).  Tape them into your notebook and make a notation of the date and the location.  Later at home go on line and learn about your collection.  You can collect pebbles too.

 

10. Before the school year ends, ask your child's teacher if you can loan a book that your kid will be using next year.  And each day assign a half-hour of "school" work.  The kids will complain, but when they breeze thru next year they will be all smiles.

 

11. Draw maps!  Take a walk with your kid and take along a layout of rectangles - like our blocks, and have your kid draw a line showing where you have walked.  Mark particular items of interest - like an unusually big tree, or a house with something interesting about it, or the name of a store.  Use your cell phone to take some pix and later print them out and add to your map book.  Discuss with your kid alternate routes and why one is better than another.

 

Send your ideas to sunsetparkrestoration2000@gmail.com and I will add them to our growing list.