MetroKids Summer Survival Guide - 2019

2019

Summer Survival Guide

Minor Leagues, Major Fun Towns for the Perfect Day Trip Accessible Beaches Stop Summer Slide The Best Summer Books Songs of Summer A Day Trip to Baltimore Beach Freebies Tear-Free Amusement Park Trip Is Sunscreen Safe?

Get Summer Screen Time Under Control Smooth Trails for Bikes & Strollers Super Playgrounds Worth the Trip Cool Local Pools Best Summer Festivals

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E S Summer I T R E Survival ADV H US! T I Guide W 2019

Inside 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 22 23

Towns for the Perfect Day Trip A Day Trip to Baltimore Minor League Stadiums for Major League Fun How to Stop the Summer Slide Get Their Summer Screen Time Under Control The Best Summer Books The Songs of Summer Tear-free Amusement Park Trip Super Playgrounds That are Worth the Trip Smooth Trails for Bikes and Strollers Is Sunscreen Safe?

Local Pools to Cool in for the Day Accessible Beaches in NJ and DE Freebies at the Beach Cheap Kids’ Movies All Summer Best Summer Festivals

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Contact MetroKids at

MetroKids.com 215-291-5560 • 856-667-3555 • 302-224-3020 • 888-890-4668

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Family Fun

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TOWN TRIPS

smart. local. parenting.

215-291-5560 856-667-3555 302-224-3020 Toll Free: 888-890-4668 Fax: 215-291-5565

President: Nancy Lisagor, PhD, ext. 109 nlisagor@metrokids.com Publisher: Darlene Weinmann, ext. 108 dweinmann@metrokids.com

We are lucky to be surrounded by so many small towns that offer plenty for you and the kids to do for a day and are close enough to allow you to be home for dinner or, at least, a reasonable bedtime.

Managing Editor: Dave Gilmartin, ext. 102 editor@metrokids.com Resource Editor: Cheyenne Shaffer, ext. 101 calendar@metrokids.com Contributing Writers: Terri Akman, Suzanne Koup-Larsen, Frank Lipsius, Kathy O’Connell, Ann L. Rappoport, PhD

DOYLESTOWN, PA

Production Manager: Veronica Hanna, ext. 103 production@metrokids.com

In the heart of Bucks County, Doylestown Borough has maintained its charming smalltown feel while its downtown blossomed with restaurants and shops. And thanks to the courthouse and surrounding law offices, it has a lively feel during the day too. Along its outer edges are museums that will enthrall kids and their parents. Or take a short bucolic drive to other family-friendly venues.

Finance: Marcella Reis, ext. 104 finance@metrokids.com Marketing/Circulation: Susan Braverman, ext. 100 marketing@metrokids.com

Mercer Museum is a six-story castle

filled with 50,000 tools and other objects that were part of early American life. You may have seen it featured as a category on Jeopardy! in June. Its collection is not stuffed into display cases; it hangs from the ceilings and walls and visitors can choose their own route to wend their way through the 55 rooms. And, yes, there are scavenger hunts. Print one from the museum’s website before your visit.

Peddler’s Village is a collection of small shops in a village setting that’s just a short trip up Route 202 from Doylestown.

They have special events all year, from a strawberry festival to a scarecrow festival.

But if that’s not enough to keep the kids’ attention, the Village is also home to Giggleberry Fair, an indoor play center with a carousel, a three-story obstacle course filled with foam berries, a game room and a play area just for kids under 6.

A little farther up Route 202 is New Hope, which is worth a day trip of its own.

But if you have young children, a visit to its Bucks County Children’s Museum could easily be part of your Doylestown day. Designed for toddlers through age 7, it specializes in pretend play, including a hospital with an ambulance; a turn-ofthe-century town square; and a “Big Dig” for budding archeologists and more. The typical visit last 90 minutes, which leaves time to walk through New Hope’s downtown for a bite to eat or a souvenir.

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PHOENIXVILLE, PA LAMBERTVILLE, NJ This town, which seemed on the verge of going the way of the steel mill that once supported it, has boomed along with the rest of the Route 422 corridor in Chester and Montgomery counties. Its walkable downtown is now bustling with restaurants and shops with many family-friendly adventures just a short drive away.

Upper Schuylkill Valley Park is a little-known gem across the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, just 10 minutes from downtown Phoenixville. Its river access includes a fishing pier and walk-in boat ramp.

But what makes it unusual for a county park is its Wildlife Center, which is home to foxes, wolves, owls, a bobcat, bald eagle and farm animals. There is also a butterfly garden, a turtle pond and an indoor Schuylkill Wilds display that features animals that can be found along the river. It’s the perfect spot for a quick visit and a picnic lunch.

The twin towns of Lambertville and New Hope are connected by a short bridge over the Delaware River, which means it’s easy to visit both of these riverside hamlets (and two states!) in a single day.

Both towns have a theater, but if you time your trip right, you and the kids can take in a show at the Music Mountain Theater in Lambertville, which has six children’s shows scheduled throughout the summer, from Robin Hood to Aladdin Jr. Nearby, the Howell Living History Farm, replete with live animals, takes families back to the 1730s, when the area was a rural farm tract. In the fall it boasts New Jersey’s longest running corn maze with four acres of paths. If you have young ones and a few hours, you can register children ages 3 – 5 for a three-hour hatchery program where they learn about farm animals, crops and farm life.

Across the river, New Hope hosts the Bucks

County Children’s Museum. It is de-

signed for ages toddler to 7-years-old and specializes in pretend play, including a hospital with an ambulance; a turnof-the-century town square; a “Big Dig” for budding archeologists and more. The typical visit lasts 90 minutes.

If you have something grander in mind,

Valley Forge National Park is just 15

minutes up the road from Phoenixville. You can make it an educational trip with stops at log cabins, cannons, monuments, the Visitor Center (a new one is set to open next spring) and Washington Memorial Chapel.

Guided tours are also available. Or just enjoy some time in the beautiful, wide expanses of fields crisscrossed with trails. You can rent adult- or kid-sized bikes at the park. Did we mention there is no admission fee?

Between Phoenixville and Valley Forge, not far off Route 422, is the John James

Audubon Center at Mill Grove,

which last month opened a $13 million, 18,000-square foot museum to display Aububon’s famous bird paintings as well as provide interactive exhibits for kids to learn about birds and nature. Outside, kids can build a giant nest out of pool noodles, play in a dirt pit stocked with gloves, rakes and shovels, or saunter on the five miles of trails.

MEDFORD, NJ A little bit farther inland, Medford offers a combination of history, shopping and nature practically flowing through the middle of town. The historic area of Medford Village and Main Street has many small shops and boutiques along its sidewalks lined with gaslights and Victorian-style homes.

After a stroll on Main Street, grab your paddle and make your way up to the Medford Canoe Trail, a two-mile stretch of Rancocas Creek from Medford Park to Kirby’s Mill. It takes about an hour to float from the park to Kirby’s Mill, passing right

by Medford Village on the way.

Before you put your canoe in the creek, though, check with Medford Township to make sure conditions are suitable.

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite on the water, return to the village and stop at

The Pop Shop, a modern soda fountain shop with 1950s charm, complete with a jukebox.

It offers new spins on traditional 50s fare in four dining areas, each with retro décor.

After lunch, head out to the countryside to pick some fresh fruits and vegetables at Johnson’s Corner Farm. At the Discovery Barnyard children can pedal go carts on separate tracks for small and big kids; go rock climbing and cool off in three splashpads. If you take a hayride too, tickets for the Barnyard are half off.

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HOCKESSIN/GREENVILLE, DE Hockessin is a small town on the Delaware–Pennsylvania border with a charming collection of museums, shops and restaurants. It is a good starting point for a day trip that can include shopping, trains and history and ends near the Wilmington suburb of Greenville.

First stop is the Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn Heights, which has open houses on the first Thursday and third Sunday of the month. But the best time to visit is on Steamin’ Days, which are held on select Sundays. This is when kids (and adults) can ride one of the mini locomotives or take a spin in one of museum’s antique cars.

replica of a giant squid and a hall of mammals. At the Nature Nook, young children can meet live animals, make crafts and borrow a backpack with everything they need to be a budding naturalist as they tour the museum and its grounds.

The last stop is Hagley Museum and Library, the site of the gunpowder works founded by E.I. du Pont in 1802. It has indoor and outdoor exhibits, including restored mills and the family’s ancestral home. In the Powder Yard, kids can see a 16-foot tall water wheel, experience the sight, sound and smell of a steam engine, and see a black powder explosion demonstration. Boom!

LEWES, DE Next up is Winterthur, where kids can borrow a scavenger-hunt backpack to explore the children’s garden, Enchanted Woods.

There’s hands-on history at the Touch-It Room and a Time Traveler Tour designed just for kids. If that whets their appetite, sign them up for Terrific Tuesdays, an all-day summer program with crafts and games that teach about history and art.

Lewes is where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet at Cape Henlopen, so of course water-themed activities are a big part of its character. But it is also a very walkable half-square mile town with shops, restaurants, inns, museums and an historic district.

Inevitably, though, you’ll find yourself on or in the water.

Examine Delaware’s maritime, military and social history at

Zwaanendael Museum, named for the first Dutch colony in the

region. After enjoying the artwork and exhibits, kids can play in the park grounds.

Cape Henlopen State Park, one of the nation’s

oldest public lands, has picturesque beaches and bayside walking trails. Families can also visit Fort Miles, a key point in coastal defense during the Second World War. Lewes offers easy access to Cape May beaches via the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. There’s plenty of shopping and things to do

with the kids in Cape May too. But the ferry ride itself is as much a draw as the destination. Offering scenic views of the Delaware Bay, it includes a buffet, lounge and bar for a fun and memorable voyage.

Not far away is Delaware Museum of Natural History, where kids have the chance to investigate nature and science indoors and out. Home to Delaware’s only permanent dinosaur collection, the museum features natural history exhibits, a STEAM trail, a

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Cape Water Tours and Taxi is another way to tour the shore from the water. Board at Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes or Rehoboth Bay Marina in Dewey. Cape Water Taxi offers narrated and non-narrated tours, Eco Tours, sunset cruises and charters.

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Family Fun

National Aquarium

BOLT TO BALTIMORE It’s close; its tourist district is compact; and there’s plenty for a family to do for a day or overnight trip

Sometimes you want to get away, but not too much. Maybe a weekend or just an overnight will satisfy the family’s urge to get out of the house without too much stress on your wallet or your patience.

Baltimore is an ideal spot for such a short-term excursion. It’s nearby — you can get from Baltimore Pike to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in 90 minutes — and once there, the family-friendly options are close enough that you can walk to most, drive to some and take a water taxi to others. (There isn’t a water Uber yet, is there?)

American Visionary Art Museum

Head south

If you are the kind of parent who wants your kids to learn something even while they are on the road, explain the significance of the Mason-Dixon Line when you cross into Maryland. You won’t be able to avoid it, since it runs along the Pennsylvania and Delaware borders. It’s early in the trip; they won’t roll their eyes too much.

Once you get to Baltimore, you might as well make the Inner Harbor your base camp, since much of the city’s tourist venues encircle the water there. If you haven’t been to the National Aquarium before, do go. It’s spectacular fun. But if your kids have been there for a class trip or on a previous visit, skip it and explore less-famous sites, like the Maryland Science Museum. It’s only a 10-minute walk from the Historic Ships that dot the harbor. With a planetarium and an IMAX theater, the Center is comparable to the Franklin Institute back home.

Just around the corner is the American Visionary Art Museum, dedicated to selftaught artists, like the Pennsylvania junk collector whose Family of Robots, made of household electronics and car headlights, will delight the kids.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Get weird

Now that you’ve done something smart and educational for the kids, why not head in a more frivolous direction? Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is just off the harbor. If the kids don’t know about Ripley’s, you could try and explain its long fascination with the odd/weird/ strange. Or you could just take them inside and let them discover for themselves. Aside from the expected Ripley oddities, there’s a mirror maze and a 4-D theater. Those require additional tickets, but if you can hold off until after 4pm, it’s a little cheaper.

Once back in the fresh air, look for a water taxi to take you over to Fell’s Point. You could walk, but it’s a bit of a hike, the kids are probably hungry and, did we mention, it’s a water taxi?

Fell’s Point and pirates

You can catch a water taxi right in Harborplace for the short trip across the water to Fell’s Point, one of oldest neighorhoods in Baltimore with cobblestone streets, restaurants and small shops. Sound familiar? Probably, but once you sit down for lunch, we suggest you look for crabs and crabcakes, not hoagies and cheesesteaks.

After lunch, explore Fell’s Point’s shops and stop in its Broadway Market, just renovated to house local restaurants, an ice cream shop and a big, pet-friendly outdoor patio.

All rested? Good, let’s go pirating! Just a couple blocks from Fell’s Point is Urban Pirates, where they dress the family up as pirates and take them on an hour cruise filled with swashbuckling songs, water cannons and plenty of “aaarrrrr matey.” It sets sail six times a day.

If all that buccaneering has the crew too wound up, catch a ride over to Walters Art Museum. It’s downtown, away from the harbor, but it offers a respite of more than 36,000 pieces of art from 5,000 BC to the modern day. And, hold on to your wallets, it’s free. A couple miles away is the Baltimore Museum of Art, which is also free.

We think that sounds like a pretty full day. Whether you choose to end it with a drive home or some more crabs and a night in a hotel is up to you.

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Urban Pirates

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Family Fun

MINOR LEAGUES, MAJOR FUN

We love our professional sports teams around here, but sometimes their minorleague counterparts offer a low-hassle, low-cost alternative for families, with plenty of promotions, giveaways and activities to keep the kids entertained.

BASEBALL Iron Pigs

Lehigh Valley, PA Ironpigsbaseball.com This Phillies minor-league team, founded in 2008, has plenty of theme games to choose from, including Star Wars, Harry Potter and a princess night.

On Dog Days, four-legged fans are welcome at the stadium in a designated seating area. Register for a chance to have your kid yell “Play ball!” to start the game and get two free tickets. Ticket prices range from $11 to $28.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders Moosic, PA SWBrailriders.com This minor-league Yankees team is a little farther drive, but offers plenty of promotions to tempt you, including Family Buck Night with $1 concession items for two hours before the game as well as Copa de la Diversion, a series of events that celebrate Hispanic culture. They also offer birthday parties and summer training camps. Prices range from $11 to $15 with special discounts for groups and $5 parking.

Trenton Thunder

Trenton, NJ Trentonthunder.com This Yankees minor-league team offers a picnic area for families and plenty of promotions, including Kids Run the Bases after every Sunday game. Kids can also join Boomer’s Kids Club for more special offers. Tickets are $11 to $15 with free admission for children 3 and under.

HOCKEY Hershey Bears

Hershey, PA HersheyBears.com Come September, hockey is in the air. At the minor-league ice hockey rink in Hershey, you can go early to see pre-game youth scrimmages. Sign up before the game so the kids can meet Coco, the team mascot, and get an autographed photo and gift. Children under 2 get in free as long as they sit in someone’s lap. Ticket prices vary but range from $20-$50.

Wilmington Blue Rocks Reading Phillies

Reading, PA Fightins.com A trip to the Reading Phillies means seats as cheap as $5, free parking that’s an easy walk to the stadium, plenty of promotions, from fireworks to free t-shirts, and enough in-game entertainment to engage the non-baseball fans.

They offer birthday parties and picnics if you want to bring a whole gang with you.

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Wilmington, DE Bluerocks.com The Blue Rocks’ Outstanding Students Program honors students who are nominated by their schools for their academic achievement. Each student gets a ticket and a hot dog and their family can buy additional tickets, which range from $8–$13.

If you want to live baseball all summer long, sign up to be a host family for one of the Blue Rocks players for the season.

Reading Royals Hockey

Reading, PA Royalshockey.com The minor-league hockey franchise offers birthday parties and special theme nights, including Scout Night, Mental Health Awareness Night and an Autism Awareness sensory-friendly game with subdued music and lighting and quiet spaces. Tickets start at $60.

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Education

8 ways to keep your kids from unlearning this summer.

By Tanni Haas Do your kids seem a little less ready for school after each summer break? If so, don’t worry. They’re far from alone.

It’s a common experience known as the summer learning slide. Research shows that kids typically lose the equivalent of a month’s worth of learning during the summer break and it gets worse as they get older.

What can parents do to avoid the slide? Here are eight activities that have worked for my 15-year-old son, and I bet they’ll help your kids too.

Read books regularly

Since my son learned to read, we’ve had him read one fiction and one nonfiction book every other week to keep his reading and comprehension skills at grade level. It is summer after all, so instead of assigning him books, like he’s used to from school, we let him choose what to read.

My Vacation

Keep a vacation journal

We take at least one big family vacation every summer. Ever since my son was very young we’ve had him keep a daily journal to write about what we did that day. It’s been a great way to keep his writing skills up-to-date and document his childhood.

Email family and friends To strengthen my son’s writing skills, we also have him email family and friends, especially those we don’t get to see much.

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Teenagers prefer texts, but we insist on emails because, as every parent knows, texts are usually full of broken sentences, odd grammar and spelling mistakes.

the board game Trivial Pursuit, aim to develop kids’ general knowledge.

Visit museums

Museum visits are a great way to acquaint your kids with the arts, history and natural science.

Even a visit to your town’s museum to learn about its history can be surprisingly fun. (To find museums near you, go to MetroKids.com/PlacestoVisit.)

Play (smart) board games

In the evening, whether on vacation or at home, we play math games like Monopoly or spelling games like Scrabble.

The key is to focus on the fun part — the competition — rather what they can learn. If you do that, the lessons happen automatically.

Watch (quality) movies

Aside from a board game or two, we also watch movies in the evening. With all the streaming services available, it’s not hard to find a documentary or feature film, which also happens to be educational.

Movies are fun ways to learn about other time periods, cultures and current events.

Educational apps

Although we try to make our son’s summer activities as social as possible, we also indulge his interest in anything technological and allow him to download all the educational apps he wants.

He really likes quiz apps, which, like

Take nature trips

We try to spend as much time as possible outdoors in the summer.

One of the most educational and fun things you can do with your kids is to go into nature and learn about the animal life. Try the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Aububon, PA, which has 175 acres with birding and hiking trails, including the new Fledgling Trail for kids. A new museum opened in June with hands-on exhibits. (To find nature centers near you, go to MetroKids.com/Nature.)

Tanni Haas, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.

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Health

SPF: Screen Protection for Families It’s summer, when kids want to spend all day on their phones, an unhealthy habit. See how parents set limits.

By Terri Akman Most parents know that potential health problems can result when kids focus too much on their phones — obesity, poor posture, eye strain, back pain — but there is now concern that a dramatic rise in childhood suicides, suicide attempts, anxiety and depression might be linked to time spent on social media.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the rate of suicides among girls 10 to 14 years old surged between 1999 and 2014.

It didn’t identify a reason, but the Journal of the American Medical Association called for an investigation into what role social media plays. “(It) may be the ‘canary in the coal mine,’” JAMA cautions, “signaling important health concerns arising from the increased and pervasive use of social media affecting child and adolescent development.”

Peer pressure

The average child spends 3.2 hours a day in front of a screen, according to a 2018 study, with the time rising as they get older.

When “everybody’s doing it” it becomes more difficult for parents to control.

Farah K., of Society Hill, says she does not allow her middle-school-aged son to use social media, but he is an outlier.

“In his grade all the kids are on social media and he gets stigmatized for it but I said he’s not ready yet,” says Farah.

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The CDC is not the first to sound an alarm about a link between the rise of social media and mental-health issues.

An April study showed that children and teens who went to emergency rooms with suicidal thoughts doubled between 2007 and 2015 to more than 1 million, coinciding with the increased use of smartphones and social media.

“Studies show a significant increase in both depression and suicide in about the past 10 years compared with the rates before that time,” says Hoff. “When screen time is taking the place of other behaviors that are important for health and well-being, like face-to-face social interaction, sleep, healthy eating and physical activity, that can have an impact on mental health.”

Adolescents who limit their social media to 30 minutes a day, one study showed, are less likely to have feelings of loneliness and depression, notes Katie Lockwood, MD, director of continuing education for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Primary Care Network.

“They call this FOMO (fear of missing out),” she says – when kids look at all the things friends are doing on social media and feel lonely and depressed that they weren’t included.

Strategies for parents

Chicken and egg

There’s a chicken and egg quandary — are children who are anxious or depressed likely to spend more time on social media or does spending too much time on social media cause depression and anxiety? That’s what experts will have to find out.

“Studies show correlations between increased social media use and increased depression, but we don’t know which of these caused the other,” says Alexandra Hoff, pediatric psychologist at Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children.

A 10-year trend

“We’ve had a pretty open relationship and I think that has been key. We have an understanding to not cross the boundaries because if you have something to hide, you are doing something wrong.”

Amy C. of Elkins Park, PA, limits her boys, ages 13 and 9, to an hour of screen time before school, an hour after and 20 minutes at night and that includes TV. It’s more than she’d like, but “I feel sort of beaten down,” she admits.

There are certainly important and beneficial ways for kids to use their screen time. They can do homework on the computer, talk to relatives on FaceTime, and blow off steam to release stress through a video game. But, especially for very young children, time spent online should be strictly limited.

“In preschool-aged children, we know that screen time can hinder developmental skills, including social skills,” says Lockwood. Aside from the impact on brain development, screen time detracts from other activities that promote language and social development, like playing, reading and interacting with parents.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization recommend kids under 5 spend less than an hour a day in front of a screen. But as kids get older, the recommendations are more vague and limits more difficult to enforce.

“Parents are important role models in teaching their kids,” said Lockwood. “The time that we spend looking down at our own phones makes us less available for interaction with our kids.”

Parents should also be mindful of when they use devices to read. Though you

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Health

might be reading the news or an e-book, you think of it as more academic than screen time, Lockwood points out. “But to your child, who is watching you, he is still perceiving that as screen time,” she says. “All they see is that you’re looking at your phone. Maybe when you’re with your kids, put that phone down and actually pick up a book or print newspaper or magazine.”

Lockwood also recommends devicefree mealtime for all ages, because it encourages families to interact and talk to each other.

We asked some parents to share their strategies to limit non-school related screen time:

Amy C., 42, two boys ages 13 and 9, Elkins Park

The boys are allowed to use screens (including TV) 2 hours and 20 minutes on weekdays. They get an extra hour on the weekend. Though she can’t always monitor what they are doing, “I do have access to their log-ins so I can monitor that,” she says.

Jayne B., 40-something, three boys ages 15, 14 and 11, Cherry Hill

“This was a huge issue at the beginning of the school year — coming off the summer when my kids were obsessed with Fortnite,” she says. The family purchased the Disney Circle app for $100, which allows them to monitor all online activity, set bedtimes, blackout periods and limit their hours on Xbox and phones.

“The kids fought us and were constantly trying to outsmart the app, but then we would take away their phones,” she recalls. “It especially drives me crazy when they’re doing it on a gorgeous day.

I’m constantly pointing out to them all the cool things they’re not doing because they’re in front of screens. Maybe I get through a little.”

Farah K., age 47, daughter, 18 and son, 12, Society Hill

Before her daughter went to college this year, neither child could watch TV during the school week unless they made an exception for event programming.

From Friday night through Sunday afternoon, they were allowed to watch TV, but not play video games. Her daughter was allowed to join Facebook in 10th grade and Instagram in 11th grade.

“The deal was that I had access to her passwords and I could check, even her text messages, to see if there was anything inappropriate,” she says. “If there was, we’d talk about it.”

Terri Akman is a contributing writer to MetroKids.

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Books

Summer Reading for All Ages The Horn Book’s 2019 Summer Reading List represents some of the best children’s books published this year. Below is one from each reading level.

To see the complete list, go to Metrokids.com/SummerReading.

Picture Books

The Little Guys

By Vera Brosgol (Roaring Brook) The “strongest guys in the whole forest” are the Little Guys — small pastel-colored creatures with acorn-cap hats and stick arms and legs. This presumed root-for-the-underdog story takes a humorously unexpected turn as close observation shows the Little Guys obnoxiously stealing from the other forest animals (“None for you! All for us!”). Brosgol’s jewel-toned mixed-media illustrations are imbued with humor both subtle and exaggerated, enhancing and extending the spare text.

Easy Readers and Primary

Detective Paw of the Law: The Case of Piggy’s Bank, The Case of the Stolen Drumsticks

By Dosh Archer (Whitman) In each of these lively beginning-chapter-book whodunits, Detective Paw, a Hercule Poirot–esque canine, and Patrol Officer Prickles, an action-oriented porcupine employing crime-fighting gadgets, follow the same procedural pattern to solve a robbery (Bank) and a band instrument theft (Drumsticks). Given the illustrations’ visual hints, young readers may well guess the straightforward outcomes, but in doing so they’re also working each case and learning that reading is an active process.

Intermediate

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

By Jonathan Auxier (Amulet/Abrams) When child chimney sweep Nan Sparrow gets stuck in a flue and nearly dies, she is saved by a “soot golem.” Nan and the kind, gentle Charlie escape from her cruel master and make a home in an abandoned mansion.

Weaving together strands of Jewish folklore, Blake’s poetry, Frankenstein, child-labor reform, and magical realism, Auxier crafts a beautiful, hopeful story from the ugly realities of nineteenth-century British life.

Middle School

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

By M. T. Anderson; illus. by Eugene Yelchin (Candlewick) Historian and diplomat (and spy) Brangwain Spurge has been sent from Elfland to the neighboring goblin kingdom. He befriends his host, goblin archivist Werfel. Unbeknownst to them both, however, their nations are preparing for war. Pen-and-ink illustrations resembling medieval lithographs represent Spurge’s not-always-reliable spy reports; with touches of humor, whimsy, irony, and menace, they’re well suited to both the acerbic wit and the affecting tenderness of Anderson’s prose.

High School

With the Fire on High

By Elizabeth Acevedo (HarperTeen) High school senior Emoni Santiago, an aspiring chef, and her two-yearold daughter live with Emoni’s abuela (grandmother). Emoni signs up for a culinary arts class that culminates in a trip to Spain and she begins to see a path forward, if only she dares follow it. Acevedo (The Poet X) creates beautifully realized characters with complex lives. A few recipes (such as “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemon Verbena Tembleque”) are interspersed.

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Music

Summertime, Party Time Songs to make any kid (and parent) get a move on

By Kathy O’Connell Summertime is party time and camp time, and this month’s artists create worthy soundscapes for both.

Johnette Downing’s Swamp Romp is a year-round Louisiana dance party packed with Mardi Gras spirit. Downing and Scott Billington have captured the danceable delight of Louisiana roots music in a wellproduced collection of (mostly) original songs. “Poor Worry Anna” is a smooth retro homage to the worrywart in our lives. “Bamboula Rhythm” features an outstanding horn section.

The traditional accordion, fiddle and rhythms are here, along with some lovely flute work on the delightful “Mississippi River.”

Downing’s throaty vocals lend intimacy to the whole shebang.

It’s a wonderful introduction to this Pied Piper of Louisiana music traditions and her collection of music and books.

Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips is a high spirited kids’ band fronted by CJ Pizarro. I have never heard a song from Mista Cookie Jar that didn’t make me happy. This remarkable and prolific spirit’s latest release welcomes kindie superstar Secret Agent 23 Skidoo on another universal love song, “Rock This World.”

Wherever this outstanding entertainer’s music is heard is where the party is. Check out his whole catalog.

Summer means camp, both formal and backyard. KB Whirly and Lisa Loeb have created nice collections mixing campcentric covers like “Hello Muddah Hello Faddah” (KB Whirly’s Camp Songs Vol. 1) and fun songs with a summer camp sound to them like Lisa Loeb’s “The Disappointing Pancake” on her Camp Lisa CD. Loeb’s own wonderful camp experiences inspired Camp Lisa, with sales of the CD going to her nonprofit sending kids to camp. “The Disappointing Pancake” also appears on her Silly Singalong CD. KB Whirly is a one-stop shop for music to fill every hour of a summer day. The catalog of this one-man band from Boston includes camp songs and funk for parties (Songs From the Whirly House). His fourth release Now that We’re Home is a gorgeously simple collection of lullabies and love songs that will wind down your day beautifully.

Kindie Legend Laurie Berkner makes it easy to throw a party with her music, both her Party Day CD/DVD and The Dance Remixes. The latter is a brilliant 14-song collection of her classics, meant to get toes tapping. Note: It’s also a pretty amazing workout CD. Big news in the kindie community involves a name change for Lucky Diaz’s band. Grammy winners Diaz and Alisha Gaddis are now the Lucky Band, with us the lucky ones. Their Buenos Diaz CD is a wonderful party soundtrack, featuring Spanish/English-combined songs that truly represent what’s great about this remarkable duo.

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Kathy O’Connell is a contributing writer to MetroKids and host of the Peabody award-winning Kids Corner, on air Monday-Thursday from 7-8pm on WXPN 88.5 FM.

Go to MetroKids.com/kidsmusic for the full music review, plus links and videos for these CDs. SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

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SpecialKids

Theme Parks Without Tears How to help a child with special needs enjoy a visit to an amusement park.

By Rachael Moshman You’ve shelled out a fortune for a magical family trip to a theme park. Sorry to break this to you, but theme parks can be overwhelming and exhausting experiences, especially for young children or those with special needs.

There are usually crowds of people who try to navigate through the same small walkways. Much of the day is spent in line. The rides are often loud or have unexpected visual or sound effects, such as flashing lights. Some rides splash water on people as they pass by. There are food carts with smells on every corner.

Add in the heat of summer and many adults and typical children will quickly hit sensory overload. The experience is intensified in children who have special needs. My daughter has generalized anxiety disorder, as well as sensory processing issues.

We took her to Disney World for the first time when she was nine.

We had spent weeks prior to the trip talking about Disney World.

We watched videos, looked at photos online and read books. We told her what to expect — for example, it would be a lot of walking and we would have to wait in line to go on the rides.

It was still too much for her. We quickly realized within an hour that we would need to develop strategies to have a successful vacation. She was completely overwhelmed. Here are some things that worked for us over the course of that trip as well as subsequent trips to other theme parks.

Tell your child what to expect

Talk about things that might cause your child stress, such as the crowds, screams on the rides, long lines or weather. Plan an exit strategy in case the child becomes overwhelmed.

Remind your child of the things you spoke of, including the exit plan, as you enter the park. No matter how much research, planning and discussion you do to prepare your child, it may all go out the window when she is in the moment. My daughter simply couldn’t comprehend how large, crowded, loud and busy the Magic Kingdom was until it was actually in front of her.

Get a hotel onsite if possible or at least nearby. If you don’t have your own vehicle, choose a hotel that has a free shuttle service

throughout the day. Even if everyone holds up fine, plan to go back to the hotel in the afternoon. Enjoy a quiet lunch. Cool off in the pool. Maybe even take a nap. Then go back to the park for a few more hours in the evening once the crowds have thinned and your family is refreshed.

If leaving during the day isn’t an option, look for quiet places within the park to get away for a break. Let your child kick off her shoes and run around a patch of grass off the beaten track. Sit on the pavement in a quiet space to enjoy a cold drink.

Don’t let too much time pass without a snack and drink. It’s easy to get dehydrated when you walk around as the sun reflects off the concrete. Most children have little control over their emotions when their blood sugar drops or they are dehydrated. Bring lightweight snacks, such as fruit leather, nuts and beef jerky.

Bring an empty bottle that you can fill at water fountains.

Take cues from your child

Follow your child’s lead. If they find a ride they like, they will most likely want to ride it several times. The unknown of trying out the next ride can be very frightening. If they start to get agitated in line for a ride, it is probably a good indication that the ride will be too intense for them.

Encourage your child to ask the park staff questions. The attendant at the front of each ride can tell your child what to expect. Then you can help your child decide if he wants to give it a try.

Let go of your expectations. Don’t try to stick to a rigorous schedule. The day might not go anything like you planned, but you can still consider it a success if there were more fun times than meltdowns.

With quick adjustments, our first day at Disney World was a success. We arrived as the park opened. As the crowds increased, so did her anxiety.

By the time lunchtime arrived, she was out of steam. We caught a bus back to our onsite hotel and grabbed lunch in the food court there. We spent the afternoon playing in the pool.

We took a water taxi to Downtown Disney for dinner and then went back to the Magic Kingdom after dark. The temperature was more tolerable and the crowds had thinned. We learned the best time to enjoy the rides is when everyone else is watching the parade.

Yes, she was up way past her bedtime, but she left the park with a big smile and felt like she was successful in handling the day.

We’ve gone on to enjoy many more theme park days with these strategies.

Rachael Moshman is a freelance writer.

SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

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Family Fun Smith Memorial Playground

SUPER PLAYGROUNDS Almost everybody has a small playground nearby with a few swings, a slide and a couple things to climb. But if you want to super-size the kids’ experience (and burn off some of their energy in the process), check out these jumbo playgrounds, many of which are accessible to kids with special needs and all of which should keep the little ones busy for an afternoon.

PA Kids Castle

Central Park, Wells Road, Doylestown, PA Look for this popular playground to reopen soon. Renovations that started in the spring will add many new features, including two bridges, a pirate ship and a Drop Zone that allows kids to ride an “elevator” to the ground. One goal of the renovation is the make the playground accessible to children with special needs.

Manderach Memorial Playground

Swamp Pike, Limerick, PA Two giant slides are the focal point of this large playground in Limerick Community Park, but those are surrounded by two large climbing structures with rock walls, slides, bridges and ladders. There are also plenty of swing options, including large disks that can hold several kids each. The playground is part of a busy complex with facilities for baseball, basketball and volleyball. It has a pavilion and plenty of restrooms.

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Smith Memorial Playground

Reservoir Drive, Phila The giant playground in Fairmount Park just off Kelly Drive is the size of six football fields and includes a 16,000-square-foot, three-story playhouse for kids 5 and under, a giant wooden slide and more than 50 pieces of play equipment. It hosts several special events each year, including the Kidchella Music Festival in July and August.

NJ Fort Medford

Commonwealth Drive, Medford, NJ The highlight of Bob Meyer Memorial Park, this fort-themed play area includes a tire swing, multiple slides, climbing walls, sandbox, tunnels and a balance beam.

It is also all-inclusive and wheelchair accessible. The surrounding park includes multi-purpose fields, volleyball and basketball courts, a picnic pavilion and restrooms.

Imagination Kingdom Playground

Pemberton-Browns Mills Road, Pemberton, NJ This large castle-themed play area is for kids of all ages and abilities. It features rock walls, climbing ropes, tire swings, musical equipment and interactive play equipment that teaches about the solar system. There are plenty of places to get out of the sun on a hot day, as well as a public restroom complete with a changing table and water fountains.

Jake’s Place

Bortons Mill Road, Cherry Hill, NJ Designed to accommodate children with special needs, there are all kinds of bridges, balance beams, swings with molded bucket seats, rock walls, and stepping circles to help learn balance and coordination. There is even a wheelchair-accessible glider, sections just for children with autism and activities for sensory and tactile play. There is also a grilling station at the pavilion and restrooms. Another Jake’s Place opened in Delran Community Park in Burlington County on July 9.

DE Big Oak County Park

Smyrna, DE This park is partially owned by the Delaware Aero Space Education Foundation for Space and Earth Science and it shows. The walking trails that surround it are marked with signs bearing fun facts about science.

Kids can have a blast climbing the rocket ship-themed jungle gym and slide.

Can-Do Playground

Alapocas Run State Park, Wilmington, DE This accessible playground includes play structures with cool features like musical instruments, telescopes and agility courses. There is also a large sand pit where kids can sit on “back hoes” to scoop up bucketsful of sand. Another accessible Can-Do Playground opened last year at Charles E. Price Memorial Park in Middletown, DE with similar features.

John Waples Memorial Playground

Dewey Beach, DE The site boasts two play areas — a fencedin grass area for younger children and a larger area for kids 6 to 12. You can let the younger kids play with the toys and trucks in the large sand box. If sand isn’t their thing, there are monkey bars, single and double slides, a play bridge, a large swing set and a geodesic dome for climbing. Or they can romp in a tunnel or slip down the elephant slides. There’s also a lion water fountain where children can cool off.

Parents can rest at the gazebo and picnic table nearby.

SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

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Family Fun

LET’S ROLL! Hiking is great, but if you have small kids, you need a paved or smooth trail to make it a pleasant walk in the park. Check out these stroller- and bike-friendly parks and trails.

PENNSYLVANIA Cynwyd Heritage Trail, Bala Cynwyd

Connecting SEPTA’s Cynwyd station to Bala Cynwyd Park, West Laurel Hill & Westminster cemeteries and a pedestrian bridge across the Schuylkill River, the 1.8-mile trail boasts a wide, paved walkway. After the walk, burn even more energy at the park’s playground.

Peace Valley Park, Doylestown In addition to four miles of mostly flat blacktop along the shores of Lake Galena, the loop-shaped hike-and-bike trail — just north of Doylestown — passes woodlands.

The park also offers boating, fishing, playgrounds and a nature center.

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Phila.

Wide, seldom-crowded paths make this preserve an ideal spot for a stroll. Along the way, you’ll encounter observation decks and a boardwalk over the water that let kids get an even closer look at wildlife. Explore the scenery from another vantage point during a canoe ride on Darby Creek.

Alapocas Run State Park, Wilmington

The Northern Delaware Greenway Trail spans part of New Castle County, but the portion of the trail that passes through this park is wide and paved. Along the route, you’ll encounter Piedmont forests and streams, open spaces, historic features and recreation areas including the Can-Do Playground, an accessible space for kids with and without special needs.

Bellevue State Park, Wilmington Ridley Creek State Park, Media With a paved, flat path and 15mph speed limit for bikers, the multi-use trail, which starts at Barren & Chapel Hill Rds., is a familyfavorite. Round out the visit at one of the many picnic areas or by trout-fishing at Ridley Creek.

Tyler State Park, Newtown Cyclists and pedestrians share the paved, 10.5-mile trail here; perfect for families with both strollers and bikes in tow. Playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing, a disc-golf course and canoe rentals are also available.

Valley Forge National Historical Park, King of Prussia

This onetime Revolutionary War encampment is now a great spot to get active.

Head to the south side of the park to access the 6.6-mile Joseph Plumb Martin Trail, a paved path that connects historic and interpretive sites.

SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

DELAWARE

Explore the 1.6 miles of paved trails by foot or stroller, or take advantage of two-hour bike rentals. The park also offers fishing, disc golf, picnic areas, arts center, arboretum and playground.

Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes The 3.3-mile Bike Loop, accessible via the main entrance on Cape Henlopen Road, is a paved path with views of the Atlantic Ocean & Delaware Bay, Seaside Nature Center and a WWII observation tower.

After the hike, enjoy a packed lunch on the beach.

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Killens Pond State Park, Felton

The 2-mile bike trail, complete with both paved and crushed-stone paths, comes to a head at the perfect post-hike spot: a waterpark that houses two slides, a kiddie pool and a play area.

Lums Pond State Park, Bear

The gentle terrain of the Swamp Forest Trail alternates between packed earth, crushed stone and elevated boardwalks and bridges.

At nearly 7 miles, it’s a lengthy trek, but there’s plenty to do instead if the fam can’t finish: Check out the campground, boat launch, nature center and picnic areas.

SOUTH JERSEY Blueberry Hill, Gibbsboro Several paved trails and ample signage make this a popular spot for families. At the top, take in views of a canyon and the Philly skyline.

Historic Smithville Park, Eastampton Amid 4 miles of well-maintained trails that meander through upland forest, wooded wetlands and a historic village, the highlight here is a floating walkway suspended above Smithville Lake. Get an even closer look at the water with fishing and canoe opportunities.

Chestnut Branch Park, Mantua At less than a mile in length, the loopshaped nature trail here is ideal for families with little ones. The park also offers a paved path that circles the athletic fields. Check out the kid-favorite butterfly garden after the stroll.

Berlin Park, Berlin

Cooper River Park, Pennsauken

The 3.6-mile Cooper River Trail features a smooth surface and close proximity to other activities, including a playground, mini golf, kayaking and picnic areas.

The park offers two miles of mixed dirt and gravel trails surrounded by trees that provide plenty of shade. Round out your visit with two playgrounds or fishing in the Great Egg Harbor River.

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SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

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Health

Yes, Sunscreen Can Enter Your Body, FDA Study Finds The FDA is asking sunscreen makers to determine if the chemicals that are absorbed into the blood are dangerous.

Ingredients in sunscreen can be absorbed into the body, prompting the FDA to ask sunscreen makers to test them for safety.

The FDA stressed that you and your family should still apply sunscreen to protect against skin cancer.

The FDA asked 24 adults to apply one of four sunscreens — two sprays, a lotion and a cream — four times a day all over their bodies for four days as recommended on the label. Blood tests found four ingredients — avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene and ecamsule — seeped into the bloodstream in amounts that trigger FDA requirements for safety testing. In fact, the amount detected exceeded that level after the first day.

What’s a parent to do?

While we are in peak sunscreen season, the push in recent years has been to apply sunblock all year, sunny day or not. So what’s a cautious parent to do.

First, whatever you, don’t stop protecting your kids from the sun and, potentially, melanoma years later. Clothing and shade are natural ways to shield the sun’s rays, but not an answer for hot, active kids, especially around pools and beaches.

Second, understand that just because sunscreen chemicals were detected in blood doesn’t mean they present a

SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

danger.

The Journal of the American Medical Association, in an editorial published along with the study, said the use of sunscreens is still important while additional testing takes place, particularly as it applies to children.

Many pediatricians and dermatologists recommend mineral or “physical” sunscreens for young children. They are made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which have already been determined to be safe.

But, JAMA notes, to be effective, you have to use so much of them that they leave a white film all over your skin.

Maybe young kids will let that slide, but try getting a teenager to hang out on the beach looking like a ghost.

While further testing may show that some or all of the ingredients in chemical sunscreens are safe, that might not clear the way for kids to use them.

“An urgent question involves absorption in infants and children, who have different ratios of body surface area to overall size and whose skin may absorb substances at differential rates,” JAMA notes.

In the meanwhile, some experts suggest using a combination of chemical and physical sunscreens, along with clothing and sunglasses, and avoiding direct sunlight between 10am and 2pm.

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Family Fun

JUST ADD WATER

A pool membership isn’t a viable option for every family. Luckily, there are several spots to cool off without commitment. Here’s where to go, plus the cost and features of each place.

PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA Public pools

Hatfield Aquatic Center, Hatfield Offers “fitness” and “fun” pools.

Day rate: $5-$15, weekday; $5-$25, weekend & holiday Season pass: $395, 4-person family Amenities: Lazy river, snack bar, sprayground, waterslides

The city is home to 70 outdoor pools that are free and open to the public. Find the full list at Phila.gov/services/culture-recreation/ find-a-swimming-pool/.

DELAWARE

BUCKS COUNTY

George Wilson Center and Park Pool Dickey Park Pool, Newark

Neshaminy State Park Pool, Bensalem

Pool with maximum depth of 4.5ft.

Day rate: $10 Season pass: $90, person Amenities: Snack bar, swim gear for purchase

Nockamixon State Park Pool, Quakertown

Half-acre pool.

Day rate: $3-$15, resident; $3-$20, nonresident Season pass: $45-$70, resident; $70-$140, nonresident Amenities First-aid station, snack bar, waterslides, sprayground

Oxford Valley Pool, Fairless Hills

Fifty-meter pool with maximum depth of 4ft., 3 inches.

Day rate: $6-$7, resident; $12-$14, nonresident Season pass: $60-$80, resident; $120-$150, nonresident Amenities: Kiddie pool, waterslide

CHESTER COUNTY Marsh Creek Park Pool, Downingtown Half-acre pool.

Day rate: $8, weekday; $9, weekend & holiday Season pass: $295, 4-person family Amenities: Pavilion with grill, snack bar Spring City Community Pool, Spring City

Three pools with depths up to 8in., 4ft. & 10ft., respectively Day rate: $6-$8, weekday; $9-$11, weekend & holiday Season pass: $250, any size resident family; $275, any size nonresident family Amenities: Snack bar, swim gear to borrow

MONTGOMERY COUNTY Fourth Street Pool & White’s Rd. Pool, Lansdale

Borough pools.

Day rate: $10-$12, resident; $14-$16, nonresident; half-price daily after 5pm & Wednesdays Season pass: $250, 4-person resident family; $390, 4-person nonresident family Amenities: Snack bar, waterslides, Wi-Fi

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Both pools up to 5ft. deep.

Admission: Free Amenities: None

Killens Pond Water Park, Felton

Pool located within Killens Pond State Park.

Admission: $6-$8, weekday; $8-$10, weekend & holiday Amenities: Kiddie pool, sprayground, waterslides

Jungle Jim’s, Rehoboth Beach

State’s largest waterpark.

Day rate: $23-$38 Season pass: $125-$190 Amenities: Kiddie pool, lazy river, sprayground, waterslides

Lake Como, Smyrna Swimming area at Main St. & Rte. 13.

Admission: Free Amenities: Fishing, boat rentals

SOUTH JERSEY CoCo Key Water Resort, Mt. Laurel Indoor-outdoor waterpark attached to the Hotel ML. Day rate: $24.99 & up Annual pass: $64.99 Amenities: Arcade, kiddie pool, lazy river, on-site eateries, waterslides Roberts Pool, Collingswood

50-meter & 25-meter pools.

Day rate: $10, resident; $20, nonresident Season pass: $250, resident family; $500, nonresident family Amenities: Diving board

Sahara Sam’s Oasis, West Berlin Indoor-outdoor waterpark.

Day rate: $32.99-$36.99 Season pass: $47.99 Amenities: Arcade, kiddie pool, lazy river, on-site eatery & bar, waterslides SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

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MomSpeak

PICTURE IT! Your child as the winner of

Accessible Beaches New Jersey and Delaware shore towns with sand wheelchairs and walkways make it easier for people with mobility issues to get closer to the water.

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Do you know someone who would love to go to the beach, but the trek across the sand is too difficult, either because of age or disability?

Lisa Lightner, who runs A Day in Our Shoes and is one of our MomSpeak bloggers, found accessible walkways and beach wheelchairs a great convenience when she went to Sea Isle City, NJ and Rehoboth, DE with her son last year.

“They were such a lifesaver and patience-saver,” she says. “Dragging my son’s chair across a hot, sandy beach really sucks the life out of me and deters me from going at all.”

As a result, she set out to make a list of all the local beaches that provide similar services.

“I’m looking for one big thing — a ramp that goes a significant way down toward the ocean,” she writes. “Sometimes they are wooden, other times they are this plastic or rubber material called a Mobi Mat. “If they have the beach wheelchairs, that’s a huge bonus.”

Here are the beaches she found that offer walkways, sand wheelchairs or both.

See Metrokids.com/accessiblebeaches for details on each location.

New Jersey Asbury Park Atlantic City Avalon Barnegat Light Beach Haven Belmar Island Beach State Park Lavellette Long Branch Twp. North Wildwood Ocean City Seaside Heights SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

Sea Isle City Ship Bottom Wildwood Wildwood Crest Windward Beach

Delaware Bethany Beach Cape Henlopen State Park Delaware Seashore State Park Dewey Beach Fenwick Island Rehoboth Beach

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MetroKids’ annual CoverKids Search is open to all children from infants to age 16.

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Deadline: July 31, 2019 Visit MetroKids.com/Coverkids to enter!

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Family Fun

Keep the kids and your wallet happy during your family’s beach vacation with this guide to free fun and great deals. Whether you plan to stay for a day or the week, there are plenty of low-cost ways to enjoy the trip.

Atlantic City

Margate

FREQUENT FREEBIES

FREQUENT FREEBIES

Free beach access all summer

Thrilling Thursdays No beach tags required! Sidewalk sales, farmers’ market and movies on the beach.

July & Aug., 8:30pm. Huntington Ave. & the beach.

Wednesday through Sunday 3D Light Show. Runs every half-hour after sunset. Boardwalk Hall.

HOTSPOTS

HOTSPOTS

Steel Pier

Lucy the Elephant

The centerpiece of this boardwalk theme park is the 227-foot-tall Ferris wheel — the steepest in the state. Cost cutter: Twoticket Tuesdays are in effect 1-6pm, starting June 18.

Thunder Over the Boardwalk

This year’s free airshow is Aug. 21, featuring demonstrations and a high-speed boat-vs.-airplane showdown.

Infants and toddlers strut their stuff Aug. 8 on the boardwalk during one of the longest-running events of its kind in the country.

Visit the town’s mascot, a 65-foot-tall wooden structure complete with a quaint gift shop. You can tour inside Lucy for a fee.

Beachstock 2019

Party on the beach for free June 29, and enjoy live music and entertainment, treasure hunt, face painting and hula lessons.

Ocean City FREQUENT FREEBIES Tuesdays Entertainment, face painting and balloon art. July & Aug., 10am. Asbury Ave. Wacky Wednesdays Activities differ weekly and include French fry sculpting and a donut-on-a-string eating contest. July & Aug, 10:30am. Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & the boardwalk.

Thursdays Family-oriented boardwalk entertainment.

July & Aug., 7:30pm. 6-14th Sts.

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HOTSPOTS Baby Parade

Sandcastle Park

Perfect for pre- or post-beach playtime, the expansive playground is equipped with rubberized flooring, equipment made of recycled plastic, shaded areas and bathrooms.

Sea Isle City FREQUENT FREEBIES Mondays & Fridays Movies Under the Stars; July & Aug., 8:15pm; Excursion Park.

SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE • 2019

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Family Fun

Tuesdays Family Dance Parties; July & Aug. (excluding Aug. 6), 7:30pm; Excursion Park.

HOTSPOTS Skimmer Festival

Enjoy live music, family activities, a craft market and tours June 15. JFK Blvd. & Pleasant Ave. and Excursion Park..

Sara the Turtle Festival

On June 26, discover turtles’ role in the environment with nature displays, activities and entertainment. Excursion Park.

Wildwoods FREQUENT FREEBIES Free beach access all summer

Wildwoods Convention Center

Rehoboth Beach

Thursdays & Saturdays Movies Under the Stars. July & Aug, 8pm; Lou Booth Amphitheater, North Wildwood.

Bethany Beach

Free beach access all summer

HOTSPOTS

Free beach access all summer

Morey’s Piers

Mondays Movies on the Beach. June 17-Aug. 19, dusk. Garfield Pkwy.

Sundays Fox Park Concert Series. June 23-Aug. 25, 7:30pm. Fox Park Amphitheater, Wildwood.

This Wildwood boardwalk staple boasts amusement rides and two waterparks.

New this year, the Runaway Tram family coaster pays tribute to the town’s tramcar and the park’s 50th anniversary.

Also on the Wildwood boardwalk, this venue plays host to a slew of sporting events and all-ages festivals, many of which are free.

FREQUENT FREEBIES

HOTSPOTS Bethany Beach Nature Center

Open year-round, the center features walking trails, exhibits and activities that highlight the area’s inland bays and wetlands.

FREQUENT FREEBIES Friday through Sunday Concerts. June 14-end of Aug., 8pm.

Rehoboth Beach Bandstand.

HOTSPOTS Delaware Seashore State Park

Bike, boat, crab, fish, swim or hike at the 2,825-acre park.

Jungle Jim’s

The state’s biggest waterpark offers splashy faves like the Lazy River, waterslides and wave pools. Cost cutter: Take advantage of discounted admission after 3pm.

Captain Jack’s Pirate Golf

With sand traps, water holes and secret pathways, this not-too-challenging mini-golf course lives up to its name. Cost cutter: Ages 2 and younger are free with a paying adult.

Log on to MetroKids.com/familyfun for more information, including address, phone number, time & website.

FIND MORE ONLINE Outdoor Adventures • Indoor Fun • Teen Events

Arts & Performances • Free Admission • Special Needs

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Family Fun

KIDS’ MOVIES ALL SUMMER

What better way to take a break from the heat than at the movies? Take advantage of the deal on select days each week.

AMC also has kid movies on Wednesdays for $4, which includes treats.

REGAL This summer, kids can catch a flick for just $1 at Regal Cinemas on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The movies will be from the theater’s “2019 Summer Movie Express” series, featuring: Kung Fu Panda Shrek The Croods Puss in Boots Despicable Me Turbo

The LEGO Batman Movie The House with a Clock in its Walls Teen Titans Go! To the Movies Paddington 2 Despicable Me 3 The Grinch The LEGO Movie 2 How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Smallfoot Secret Life of Pets LEGO Movie Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Sing How to Train Your Dragon 2 Penguins of Madagascar Boss Baby

Kung Fu Panda 3 LEGO Ninjago Movie Trolls Minions Madagascar Shrek 2 How to Train Your Dragon Storks To find a participating Regal Cinemas near you, visit Regmovies.com.

AMC AMC theaters also have a special for kids this summer: Every Wednesday, $4 gets them a movie and a KidsPack, which has popcorn, a drink and candy.

The movies include: Trolls The Lego Movie Hotel Transylvania 3 Rascal Rebel Rabbit Teen Titans Go to the Movies Wonder Park Smallfoot How to Train Your Dragon The House with a Clock in Its Walls To find a participating AMC Cinema near you, visit AMCtheatres.com.

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Family Fun

BEST FESTS The Best, Biggest FREE Festivals Happening This Summer and Fall

Pennsylvania Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest

WHEN: Through Sept. 1 WHERE: Penn’s Landing, Phila.

WHAT: This so-called “urban beach” by the Delaware River houses a roller rink, mini golf, a boathouse-style lodge, food and drink, boardwalk games, a midway with a carousel and a 60-foot-tall Ferris wheel.

East Passyunk Car Show and Street Festival

WHEN: July 28 WHERE: E. Passyunk Ave. between Broad & Dickinson Sts., Phila.

WHAT: In addition to an array of antique, show, classic and custom cars, trucks and motorcycles, families can expect a craft show, live music, food vendors and a kids’ area with a moonbounce and roaming stilt walkers.

Philly Free Streets

WHERE: Aug. 3 WHEN: N. Broad St. between Butler & Arch Sts., Phila.

WHAT: Ever wanted to walk in the middle of the road? You can do just that during this event that closes a stretch of North Broad to vehicle traffic. Take the opportunity to stroll or bike, play and explore neighborhoods along the route.

2nd Street Festival

WHEN: Aug. 4 WHERE: N. 2nd St. from Germantown Ave. to Brown St., Phila.

WHAT: The Northern Liberties neighborhood serves as the backdrop for a Philly-centric lineup of bands on three stages, more than 150 food, drink and merchandise vendors and several food trucks.

Night Market Philadelphia

WHEN: Aug. 15 & Oct. 3 WHERE: Fairmount & Point Breeze neighborhoods, Phila.

WHAT: Typically held four times annually in different areas of the city — with two dates left this year — visitors to this pop-up street festival can dine al fresco at dozens of food trucks and nearby restaurants. Entertainment for kids is often on tap, too.

Scarecrow Festival Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest

PECO Multicultural Series

WHEN: Multiple dates WHERE: Penn’s Landing, Phila.

WHAT: Celebrate cultures around the globe during a succession of outdoor festivals that highlight traditions, music, dance, art and cuisine.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Hispanic Fiesta, July 6 & 7 Islamic Heritage Festival, July 13 ACANA African Festival, Aug. 4 Festival of India, Aug. 17 Caribbean Festival, Aug. 18 Brazilian Day Philadelphia, Sept. 8 Mexican Independence Day Festival, Sept. 15

WHEN: Sept. 14 & 15 WHERE: Peddler’s Village, New Hope WHAT: Fall family fun includes scarecrow-making workshops, pumpkin painting, live musical entertainment and the popular scarecrow competition & display.

Delco Arts Week

WHEN: Sept. 21-28 WHERE: Multiple venues WHAT: Explore the local arts scene during 50-plus events, many of which are free. You’ll find movie screenings, concerts, workshops, tours and dance performances.

The Oval

WHEN: July 19-mid Aug. WHERE: Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Phila.

WHAT: This pop-up park plays host to games, outdoor movie nights, fitness classes, a beer garden, fitness classes and a rotating lineup of food trucks.

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Family Fun

Midtown Village Fall Festival

Collingswood Book Festival

Old City Fest

Apple Festival

South Jersey

South Jersey Pumpkin Show

WHEN: Oct. 5 WHERE: 13th & Chestnut Sts., Phila.

WHAT: While parents explore merchant & vendor displays, crafters and food & drink sampling, little ones are kept busy with performances and kids’ activities.

WHEN: Oct. 13 WHERE: N. 3rd & Arch Sts., Phila..

WHAT: Artists and entertainers put their creativity on display while families enjoy exhibits, fun for kids and vendors.

Haddonfield Crafts and Fine Art Festival

WHEN: July 13 & 14 WHERE: Kings Hwy., Haddonfield WHAT: More than 250 artisans exhibit a wide range of arts and crafts, including ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood, fiber, metal, paper, drawings, paintings, photography and wearable art.

Craft Beer and Crab Festival

WHEN: Aug. 3 WHERE: Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May WHAT: While parents try a variety of craft beer and cocktails, all ages can check out live music, crafts and a Victorian circus complete with acrobats and jugglers.

Barnegat Bay Pirate Day

WHEN: Sept. 7 WHERE: Gazebo Park, Barnegat WHAT: Bring your scallywags for a day of seafarin’ fun, including kids’ costume contests, 100-plus vendors, themed entertainment, a treasure hunt and strolling pirates who interact with visitors.

Camden County Fair

WHEN: Sept. 22 & 23 WHERE: County Fairgrounds, Gloucester Twp. WHAT: Enjoy performances by local talent, face painting, pony rides, 4H demos, food trucks, a petting zoo, carnival games & rides and an apple-pie contest.

WHEN: Oct. 5 WHERE: Haddon Ave., Collingswood WHAT: Bookworms of all ages meet authors of adult- and kid-friendly titles, chat with bookkeepers, listen to storytellers and poetry readings, join workshops and browse exhibits.

WHEN: Oct. 12 WHERE: Kirby’s Mill, Medford WHAT: The Medford Historical Society’s annual extravaganza features dozens of craft vendors, food, live music, demos, fun for kids and apple treats. (The apple-cider donut is a must-try!)

WHEN: Oct. 12 & 13 WHERE: Salem County Fairgrounds, Woodstown WHAT: Fall fun abounds here. You’ll find seasonal food, dog and decorated-stroller parades, a massive pumpkin display, amusement rides, food contests, hayrides and the Little Miss & Mr. Pumpkin pageant.

Delaware Delaware State Fair

WHEN: July 18-27 WHERE: Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington COST: $9, adults; $4, ages 6-12; FREE, ages 5 & younger WHAT: This good old-fashioned fair features carnival rides, livestock exhibits, concerts, a circus, fireworks, cooking demos and games.

Dover Comic Con

WHEN: Aug. 17 WHERE: Loockerman St., Dover COST: Free WHAT: Comic and graphic-novel fans unite to geek out during activities that have previously included artist & author meet-andgreets, cosplay & fan groups, a video-game party, pop-up escape rooms and more than 100 vendors.

Delaware Burger Battle

WHEN: Aug. 24 WHERE: Rockford Tower, Wilmington COST: $50, adults; $32, teens; $12, kids WHAT: Bring an appetite! Visitors dig into a variety of burger samples served up by some of the area’s best chefs and vote for their favorite. Proceeds benefit the Food Bank of Delaware and Delaware ProStart.

Rehoboth Beach Sandcastle Contest

WHEN: Sept. 7 WHERE: Between Delaware & Laurel Aves.

COST: Free WHAT: While you stroll along the beach, keep an eye out for 100plus sandy creations that’ll make you do a double take. You might spot swamp creatures, crabs, dolphins and sharks or pyramids, mermaids and pop-culture characters.

Apple Scrapple Festival

Camden County Fair 24 MetroKids.com

WHEN: Oct. 11 & 12 WHERE: Main Street, Bridgeville COST: $1 WHAT: This culinary odd couple is the centerpiece of the autumnal extravaganza. Festivities include the Little Miss Apple Scrapple contest, the 5K Hogg Jogg, kids’ apple toss, ladies’ skillet toss, a carnival and a car show.

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Family Fun

Sea Witch Festival

WHEN: Oct. 25-27 WHERE: Rehoboth & Dewey Beaches COST: Free WHAT: This silly and spooky celebration scares up a slew of activities, including costume and dog parades, a Sea Witch Hunt, trick-or-treat, hayrides and beach games.

FAB FREEBIES Free Days at Local Museums

Pennsylvania Bank of America Museums on Us

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders score one free admission to participating museums on the first Saturday and Sunday of every month. Be sure to bring your credit or debit card and photo ID. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE: African American Museum in Philadelphia, Phila.

Museum of the American Revolution, Phila.

National Museum of American Jewish History, Phila.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Phila.

Community Nights at the Franklin Institute, Phila.

Explore permanent exhibits, special programming and activities with free admission once a month.

UPCOMING DATES: July 15 • Aug. 19 • Sept.16 • Oct. 28 • Nov. 25

First Wednesdays at the Please Touch Museum, Phila.

Stop by the first Wednesday of every month to take advantage of extended hours and $2 admission from 4-7pm.

Sundays at the Woodmere Art Museum, Phila.

Get free admission to this staple in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood weekly on Sunday.

Delaware Bank of America Museums on Us

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders score one free admission to participating museums on the first Saturday and Sunday of every month. Be sure to bring your credit or debit card and photo ID. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE: Delaware Art Museum (Saturdays only) Delaware Museum of Natural History Maryland Science Center, Baltimore, MD Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Baltimore, MD

First Sundays

Museums offer free or pay-what-you-wish admission on the first Sunday of every month. Additional fun typically includes kids’ activities, art projects and tours.

PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE: Barnes Foundation, Phila.

Brandywine River Museum of Art, Chadds Ford Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Phila.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Phila.

Bank of America Museums on Us, Delaware Museum of Natural History

Museum Day Live

Venues across the country grant free access to ticketholders, taking after the free-admission Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. Held this year on Sept. 21, each ticket — downloadable from Smithsonianmag.com/museumday — admits two people to one museum. Tickets are available starting Aug. 15.

First Sundays, Barnes Foundation

PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE: Read House and Gardens, New Castle Iron Hill Science Center, Newark Delaware History Museum, Wilmington

Museum Day Live

Venues across the country grant free access to ticketholders, taking after the free-admission Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. Held this year on Sept. 21, each ticket — downloadable from Smithsonianmag.com/museumday — admits two people to one museum. Tickets are available starting Aug. 15.

PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE: Fonthill Castle, Doylestown Institute of Contemporary Art, Phila.

Mercer Museum, Doylestown Penn Museum, Phila.

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Family Fun

BLASTS FROM THE PAST Historical Reenactments

Pennsylvania Civil War Days

WHEN: July 20 & 21 WHERE: Lands Valley Museum, Lancaster COST: $12, adults; $8, kids; FREE, ages 5 & younger WHAT: The site transforms into a Civil War-era crossroads village complete with an encampment, cavalry & musket drills, wagon rides, civilian & military reenactors and old-school games.

Civil War Reenactment

WHEN: Sept. 20 & 21 WHERE: Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, Newtown Square COST: $12, adults; $8, kids WHAT: Watch Northern troops defend the farm from invading forces during daily reenactments. Firearm demos, drills and camp-life vignettes round out the entertainment.

Civil War Weekend

WHEN: Sept. 14 & 15 WHERE: Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May COST: $14, adults; $12, kids; FREE, ages 2 & younger WHAT: Tour Union and Confederate camps, meet authentically clad military & civilian reenactors, discover what life was like as a Civil War soldier and watch battle recreations.

Historic Soldiers Weekend

WHEN: Sept. 28 & 29 WHERE: Fort Mott State Park, Pennsville COST: Free WHAT: Expect military displays, reenactors and demos that span every American conflict from the French and Indian War to the Vietnam War.

18th-Century Field Day

WHEN: Oct. 27 WHERE: Red Bank Battlefield, National Park COST: Free WHAT: Visitors learn about the Battle of Red Bank and why the state is called the “crossroads of the American Revolution.” Battle reenactments, colonial demos, sword fighting, a magic show and vendors are part of the entertainment.

Revolutionary Germantown Festival

WHEN: Oct. 5 WHERE: Cliveden, Phila.

COST: Free WHAT: Witness how the Revolutionary War turned this spot into a battleground for Gen. George Washington’s colonial soldiers as they fought the British to liberate occupied Philly.

18th-Century Field Day

SUMMER SPOTLIGHT Kid-friendly Performances

Pennsylvania Revolutionary Germantown Festival

Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks Cirque du Soleil Amaluna, July 24-Aug. 25

South Jersey

Hedgerow Theatre, Rose Valley

Revolutionary War Encampment

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Phila.

WHEN: Sept. 7 & 8 WHERE: Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May COST: $14, adults; $12, kids; FREE, ages 2 & younger WHAT: Living-history groups lead encampment and weaponry demos while families “meet” Ben Franklin and embark on a spy game.

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Mary Poppins, July 26-28 Frozen Jr., Aug. 23-25 The Wiggles, Aug. 31

Players Club of Swarthmore, Swarthmore Schoolhouse Rock Live, Aug. 10, 11, 17 & 18

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Family Fun

Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, Drexel Hill Disney’s High School Musical Jr., July 10-12 Seussical Jr., July 17-19 Disney’s Frozen Jr., July 24-26 Honk Jr., July 31-Aug. 2 Elliot and the Magic Bed, Aug. 7-9 Willy Wonka Jr., Aug. 14-16

Delaware Clear Space Theatre, Rehoboth Beach Hello, Dolly!, through Aug. 29 Mamma Mia!, through Aug.31 The Wedding Singer, July 3- Aug. 17

Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theater, Rehoboth Beach

Alice in Wonderland, July 2,10, 24, 30 & Aug. 8, 14 & 20 Wizard of Oz, July 3, 9, 17, 23 & Aug. 1, 7, 13 & 22 The Jungle Book, July 16, 31 & Aug. 6, 15 & 21

Second Street Players, Milford

Happy Days: A New Musical, July 19-21 & 26-28

The Grand Opera House’s Copeland Hall, Wilmington The Dinosaur Quest of Dr. T.Rex, July 11 A Year with Frog and Toad, July 18 Robin Hood, Aug. 2

Cirque du Soleil Amaluna

South Jersey Broadway Theatre of Pitman

Aladdin, July 10-13 Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Sept. 27 & 28 The Little Ghost Who Couldn’t Say Boo, Oct. 18 & 19

Kelsey Theatre, West Windsor Tom Sawyer, July 26-28 & Aug. 2-4

Moorestown Theater Company Guys and Dolls Jr., July 31-Aug. 2 Footloose, Aug. 14-16

Princeton Summer Theater

Puck’s Midsummer Mischief, July 5-Aug. 4 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, July 25-28 & July 31-Aug. 4

Ritz Theatre Company, Haddon Twp. Jack and the Beanstalk, July 15-20 The Music Man, July 11-Aug. 4

Hello Dolly!

FIND MORE ONLINE Outdoor Adventures • Indoor Fun • Teen Events

Arts & Performances • Free Admission • Special Needs

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Professional casting agents, local modeling agents and photographers will select the winners. One additional CoverKid will be selected by a vote of our readers.

FREE TO ENTER! Deadline: July 31, 2019

How to enter: Mail or submit one recent photo online, with the date it was taken, to be reviewed by the judges. Photo tips: Entrants must be photographed individually. Do not wear make-up or costumes. This is NOT a beauty pageant. We’re looking for kids with natural good looks and lots of personality!

What happens next: Finalists will be selected for a live final audition in August. Grand Prize Winners and Finalists will be announced in MetroKids magazine. Grand Prize Winners will appear on a MetroKids’ cover or one of our other publications including SpecialKids, Educator’s Edition and MetroKids’ Ultimate Family Guide. Entrants must be available for a local cover photo shoot at later date. All entrants’ photos will appear on MetroKids.com.

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