SUMMER CAMP Guide

Active Play

 KENNEDY DANCE THEATRE

Week long themed day camps throughout the summer; Pre-school and school aged weekly classes; ballet intensives and technique classes for experienced dancers. Something for all, ages 2plus. www.KennedyDance.com

281-480-8441

 UNIVERSITY CHEER

Camps for individuals, stunt groups and teams! Campers are taught spirit dances, hip hop style cheer dances, pom routines, game cheers, game day spirit technique, tumbling, jumps and stunts! Parents are invited to a “showcase” on the last day to see their child perform the camp material and compete for fun awards! www.UniversityCheer.com • 281-991-1417

Music and Arts

 BAY AREA ARTS CONSERVATORY

In Person and online classes! Our summer workshops are Jr. Broadway Musical Theatre Productions where the students audition, rehearse, and then perform the show. M-F 9-5 with early drop off and late pick up available. For more information: www.baactx.com

281-938-1444

 CHARA CHRISTIAN DANCE ACADEMY

Reserve your Spot for Summer Fun at Chara Christian Dance Academy! We are looking forward to a FUN FILLED Summer with your kids at the studio! Camps run Monday - Thursday, morning and afternoon options available. 832-569-4065, www.charadance.com/chara-camps

 THE PURPLE BOX THEATER

Dedicated to developing a young actor’s craft through classes, workshops, camps, and productions. We offer high quality programs for Kids & Teens in Musical Theater, Theater, Improv, Dance, Voice, Acting, Musical Revue Performing Groups and Travel Teams. Ages 5-12 and 9-15. Showcase at the end of most camps. www.ThePurpleBoxTheater.com • 818-642-4665

Horse Camp

 THE SUGAR & SPICE RANCH CAMP www.TexasHorseCamps.com • 830-460-8487

Mother/Daughter or All Girl Camps. Our summer camp sessions run from Saturday through the following Friday every week from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. No Technology Allowed!

STEM & Educational

 A B SEA PRESCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

Ages 2-9 • Details coming soon! www.abseapreschool.com/summer-camp 832-243-4206

 BEST BRAINS PEARLAND

Offering Math, English, Abacus, Coding, and General Knowledge. www.BestBrains.com/pearland 832-559-0000

 CHILDRENS LIGHTHOUSE LEARNING CENTER OF MAG CREEK

Summer Camp Adventures! Summer curriculum for all ages! Exciting field trips and huge splash pad! Enroll now to avoid the summer slide! www.ChildrensLightHouse.com/magcreek 281-557-7700

 CODE NINJAS LEAGUE CITY

Send your kids for some summer learning and fun with camps that include: Code Your Arcade, 2D Design/Print, Roblox, Minecraft Mod, Stop-Motion Animation, DIY Website plus more. Morning or afternoon sessions or both, for ages 5-14. Spring Break Camp March 13-17, Summer Camp May 26-August 21 www.CodeNinjas.com/tx-league-city/camps/ 281-339-7482

 IDEA LAB KIDS PEARLAND

STEAM-powered camps ranging from Cooking School, Robotics, Drones, 3D Printing, Art Studio, Coding, Programming, Movie Production, Engineering, and Science. At our STEAM camps, participants will truly Rock Their Grey Matter! All camps feature our uniquely developed curricula that encourage and enable campers of all ages to learn through inquisitive hands-on activities utilizing science, math, critical thinking skills…and a great deal of IMAGINATION!

832-295-0796, www.idealabkids.com/ programscamps

 IVY KIDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER HOBBS www.ivykidshobbs.com • 832-670-8668

Ages 5-12 years. Fun themes, exciting field trips, cooking activities, design challenges, STEM projects, science experiments, team building games, and so much more!

 SUMMER SCIENCE SAFARI CAMP www.SummerScienceSafari.com • 832-305-8572

Where science and summer fun meet! We help students envision their future by taking them places where science actually happens every day! Field trips to places where science really happens, every day!

 TUTORING CENTER

Reading, Math, and Writing Summer Catch-Up and Get-Ahead programs. Students entering grades Kindergarten-12th grade in the school year 2022-23. June, July, August; Students choose 2 or 3 hours per week, Monday-Thursday. Check website for pricing, send us an inquiry, and any www.dickinson.tutoringcenter.com

281-337-2800

 UHCL KIDS U AND HAWK STEAM ACADEMY SUMMER CAMPS

Every summer, the Center for Educational Programs offers Kids U and Hawk STEAM Academy camps for children of all ages providing them opportunities to learn and have fun. Whether you want your child to learn more about science, math, reading, literacy, technology, character development, or cultures, there’s a camp or academy for them Camps held June 7-July 27 (No camp week of July 4) Pre-K-8th Grade

Held at both University of Houston Clear Lake and UHCL at Pearland www.uhcl.edu/education/centers-initiatives/ center-educational-programs/summer-camps

 CREATIVE CORNERS CAMP AT LEAGUE CITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Spring Break Camp (Spring Science) March 1416, 9 am-2pm, www.creative-corners.org

Spring Break registration begins Feb. 28th , Summer Camps June 13-29(Space Exploration) , and July 11-27th (Ocean Adventures) Summer Camp registration begins April 18th.

 CAMP ALLEN

281-332-8936

Fun & unique environment for young people to cultivate friendships, experience personal growth, and learn about the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. (located 1 hour from Houston) www.CampAllen.org • 936-825-7175

 UNIVERSITY BAPTIST www.UBC.org

Activities for kids from K-preteens. Sports camps include basketball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, bowling, football and more!

 VICTORY CAMP www.victorycamp.com • 281-338-Camp (2267)

Amazing summer camp experience that’s close to home! All the activities your kids love in a fun Christian camp environment. Corcl Boats, Go Carts, Gymnasium, Lake Blob, Rope Course, Swimming Pool, Train Rides, Volleyball Court, Water Slides, and Zip Line! Kids Day CampGrades 1st-4th; Overnight Camp- Grades 3rd-5th; Junior High Camp- Grades 6th-8th.

Laugh at the absurd moments in parenting with these humorous books for moms. They’ll make you smile when you feel like crying.

Days of Derangement: Sidesplitting Stories from a Loopy Life

by Jackie Papandrew

Ketchup is a Vegetable: And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves

by Robin O’Bryant

Lost in Suburbia: A Momoir of How I Got Pregnant, Lost Myself, and Got My Cool Back in the New Jersey Suburbs

by Tracy Beckerman

The Parent Trip: From High Heels and Parties to Highchairs and Potties

by Jenna McCarthy

Awkward Family Photos

by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

Blacklisted from the PTA

by Lela Davidson

When Parents Text: So Much Said...So Little Understood

by Sophia Fraioli and Lauren Kaelin

Who Peed on My Yoga Mat?

By Lela Davidson

Parenting is serious business and it can be overwhelming at times. It can also be a whole lot of fun if you find ways to sneak some play in your day. You don’t have to shirk grown-up responsibilities or make a fool of yourself (not that there’s anything wrong with that) to become a more playful parent.

Here are some easy-peasy ways to have more fun with your kids. Why not try one today? You can clean out the fridge tomorrow.

Answer the call of nature. The demands of adult life can be hard to ignore. Bills are piled up on your desk and dinner isn’t on the table yet. Ditch the distractions by going outside. Walk or bicycle around the neighborhood or help your kids build a fort, sandcastle, or snowman. Outdoor playtime is especially energizing. Work it out. A game of catch, tag or capture the flag can substitute for your usual workout if you let yourself get sweaty. Sports help kids develop muscle strength, coordination and control. They also burn off extra energy before bedtime. That means everyone gets to rest easier.

Take a role. Is your child begging you to join him in fantasy land? Enact your assigned role with gusto. Adopt an appropriate voice and use outlandish gestures to define your character. Stay in the role even if your child starts to slip back into reality – this is guaranteed to give kids the giggles. And nothing is quite as contagious as a good belly laugh.

Teach grown-up games. If children’s games can’t hold your interest for more than a minute, it’s time to up the ante. Teach kids the basic rules of adult games, like checkers, blackjack or Yahtzee. Keep score for both yourself and your child if she isn’t old enough to do the math. Grown-up games can be fun (and educational) for everyone.

Bend the rules. Kids often enjoy making up their own rules to games. Let them have at it. Follow their instructions in the spirit of playfulness instead of harping on the “real rules” of the game. Play is supposed to be creative and expansive, not stodgy and confining.

Change up the usual routine. Serve breakfast for dinner or have a pizza picnic on the living room floor. Pitch a tent in the backyard and camp out overnight as a family. Wear silly socks or turn your sweatshirt inside out. Everyday activities like eating and sleeping can be playful if you get creative.

Shift your speed. Are you feeling impatient or stressed out by the pace of family life? Laugh it off by talking and moving in fast-forward or super slow-motion. Kids can’t help noticing you are doing something different when you change your pace. A little levity opens the pressure-relief valve so you can cope more effectively. Make faces. Your mother may have warned you that your face would freeze in a scowl if you didn’t change your expression. But you know that’s not true. Have a contest with the kids to see who can make the goofiest facial expression. Take pics with your smart phone and post them to Facebook so friends can vote on the winner. Who needs dignity when you have bragging rights?