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Editor’s note
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BUBBLELICK
Apparently my kids aren’t the only ones who’ve tried to lick the bubble wand. Bubblelick offers a twist on the beloved childhood activity with edible bubbles – think flying candy! Flavors include watermelon, cinnamon roll, cotton candy, and chocolate chip.
The annual Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl –the sweetest cancer fundraiser ever –moves from Boston to Patriot Place in Foxborough this year. On June 18, enjoy allyoucaneat ice cream, live entertainment, games, and more, all for a good cause!
Who doesn’t love a donut? June 3 marks National Donut Day and shops are celebrating with a “hole” lotta freebies. Go to baystateparent.com for a roundup of the delicious deals.
You might not even have to nag your kid to wear this bike helmet: Wipeout makes dryerase protective gear that children can draw on, wipe off, draw again. In addition to helmets and pads, they just launched a cool dryerase skateboard.
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editor’s note
I’ve had four years of kiddie pools and popsicles, beach days and fireside s’mores, but I’m counting this as my first real summer as a mom.
That’s because for the first time for me, summer ushers in more than sunscreen and slurpees – it marks the end of the school year, and the beginning of months on end with a kid at home. The reprieve from lunchbox packing and that seemingly endless afterschool pickup line is welcome, but I can almost hear him already telling me how bored he is.
Though experts say there are actually benefits to a little boredom – unscheduled, unstructured time can help kids discover or reconnect with their imagination and creativity – it’s good to have some ideas for entertaining the kids up your sleeve.
First, find your goto place to cool off this summer. Maybe it’s a pool or sprinkler in the backyard, a town beach, or a sandy seashore. For even more playful water fun, check out the Splash Pad and Spray Park Guide on page 19, with over a dozen places to get your splash on. Part water park, part playground, these summer spots are a big hit with kids of all ages. And, since many are free, these cooloff spots are pretty chill with parents, too!
You’ll also want some ideas for getting outside. Summer is the perfect time to explore nature, and there are some lovely, local gardens that are worth a walk. On page 11, we’ve rounded up five gardens created just for kids, including a secret spot in Shrewsbury full of whimsy and wonder, and The Ramble, in Boylston, a justopened woodland retreat at the New England Botanic Garden.
Make sure you're stocked up on things to keep the little ones busy at home, too. Bubbles and sidewalk chalk are cheap, easy, and timeless. On page 10, see how to take your chalk art to the next level by making ice chalk paints. Perfect for a hot summer day!
The next school year will be here before we know it. Until then, enjoy the break, have some fun, and soak it all in.
Amanda
WIPEOUT
