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Summer Fun
For children 3, 7 and 15 What they can all enjoy?
friendly mall in metro Detroit is Twelve
Oaks in Novi. Little ones will love the
play place, where they can run and
jump.
ikey is 5 and "really, really"
Middle-sized children can visit the
wants to go ride a little train
Disney Store; call ahead and ask when
somewhere.
sales are planned because prices then are
Josh is 13, and he does not "really,
astonishingly low.
really" want to ride a little train. In fact,
Bring a few extra dollars and let each
a 13-year-old on a little train may be the .
child pick a kosher chocolate from
dumbest thing he ever heard of, and if
Godiva, and Mom, buy yourself a much
his friends ever found out, even though
deserved coffee from Starbucks. If you
he rode only because his mom forced
have older children who can shop alone,
him, he would be mortified.
hand each $5 and challenge him or her
If all your children happen to be of
to find something that's amazingly weird
the same age, you've probably had no
or funny or beautiful.
trouble coming up with summer activi-
ties to entertain them. But if you've got a • Are You Game?: Discount and toy
stores offer a huge selection of games
Mikey and a Josh, you may be in search
that can be played by children age 6-18.
of fun they can all enjoy. Here are a few
Consider Cranium (for older boys and
ideas:
girls) or Cranium Cadoo (for children 7-
• Join Up: A family membership to the
12), which are not only fun but make
use of various parts of the brain.
Jewish Community Center may not be
Children will be challenged at one turn
in your budget, but the Center does
to read a rebus, another time to "Find
offer reduced-rate memberships for chil-
dren.
something that's squishy."
Another great family game: Make A
If you're looking for a great way to
Scene. Everyone takes the same back-
entertain boys and girls age 12-18, con-
ground — a farm scene for example —
sider buying a JCC general membership
then must come up with items, all
for just $72 a year for each child. Not
beginning with the same letter, you
only will they be able to swim as much
might find at this spot.
as their little hearts desire, as JCC mem-
The most popular game in
bers they will receive reduced rates when
Hollywood is one you can play in your
taking classes or joining sports teams.
• An Apple A Day: Children of every
own home for a few pennies. It's called
Celebrity. Have everyone write names
age will have a great time fruit picking.
Check first, but throughout the summer (of anyone, alive or dead, famous or not,
real or imaginary) on tiny sheets of
you'll find a variety of fruits including.
paper, then throw all into a hat.
blueberries, strawberries, raspberries,
Now form two teams. One player
cherries and peaches to pick.
picks a name from the hat, then does
The bonus is that when you're done
everything he can to get his team to say
you've got all that yummy food to eat
right away or use to make pies and jams. whose name is on that paper (you can
Whatever is left over can be frozen, then talk away; just don't mention the name,
of course). Each team has 60 seconds a
eaten during the rest of the year.
turn, trying to identify as many names
Recommended: Spicer Orchards in
as possible. Keep playing until all the
Fenton (810-632-7692). Spicer is at
names are used up.
10411 Clyde Road, just off U.S. 23
Now add popcorn and M&Ms and
North, about 30 minutes from
Southfield.
Coke and you have a wonderful day.
In addition to fruit picking, Spicer has • Water Babies: When it's hot outside,
water parks are the place to be. These
a small farm where you can feed the
can be costly, but take advantage of dis-
always-hungry goats and a playground
counts for Oakland County residents
for children 10 and under. There's also a
(when you buy the tickets) and get the
market with fresh cider, crafts and
$1 off per person coupon, to either
kosher candy sticks. Bring a lunch and
spend the whole day.
county water park, from the Internet, go
• Be A Mall Rat: On a rainy day, noth-
to wwvv.co.oaldand.ini.us/parksrec/
info_pub/coupon.html
ing beats the mall. The most family
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor
M
.
At Waterford Oaks in
Waterford and Red Oaks
in Madison Heights you'll
find water slides and wave
pools to entertain older
children, water play places
with squirting fountains
and slides for the younger
set.
Bring a picnic lunch, but
if you want to splurge for
dessert, these spots carry
frozen candy bars and soft-
serve ice cream that often is
kosher (just ask to see the
box).
If a water park isn't in your budget,
use your imagination to create your own
backyard water park. Let the hose pour
down your swing set's slide and you've
got a water slide (be careful — this can
get very slippery). Fill up a kiddie pool
with bubbles. Buy water balloons. Play
music. Hang lights. There's a terrific
party.
.
• Author, Author!: Everyone in the
world is either an aspiring actor or an
author. If your children fall into the lat-
ter category, invite them to write their
own book.
You can find very hip, with shiny and
sparkling covers, blank books at dollar
stores. To make this even more fun, buy
art supplies like markers and stickers, so
children can write and illustrate their
story. Afterward, have everyone read his
book to the family.
• You Are Emeril: This will require every
inch of a parent's patience, and a lot of
work cleaning up afterward, but chil-
dren will be deliriously happy if you let
them cook and bake all day. Older boys
and girls can read recipes and supervise,
lettirig younger ones add ingredients and
mix. Cookies are always a good idea
because everyone can help shape and
frost them.
• Doing What Comes Naturally: For
children, there's no place nicer in the
world than a nature center, most of
which you can visit for free or a small
donation. Fortunately, Michigan has
plenty of nature centers (check out
Ellyce Field's Detroit Kids. Catalog for a
complete listing).
Walk through the woods on trails.
Look for wild animals and listen to bird
songs. Talk about what it would be like
if you were living out in the wild, alone.
Bring along a book and study the differ-
ent kinds of trees.
• Crossroads Village: One of the best
places in the world is Crossroads Village,
just outside Flint (about an hour's drive
from Southfield).
This charming, old-fashioned town
has everything to entertain children age
3-18. You can see homes and businesses
from days gone by, watch a live show
with favorite American songs, and ride
on a merry-go-round, Venetian swings
and pony carts from the turn of the cen-
tury (tickets for rides are four for $3 —
and be prepared, the merry-go-round -
goes very quick).
There's also a paddle-wheel boat and a
train, a general store, a print shop, a
blacksmith and a cider mill.
Bring your. empty water bottles and
fill them up at the well behind the
blacksmith.
Crossroads Village employees are all
dressed in costume and are more than
happy to answer your questions. Don't
be surprised if they stop and thank you
for coming.
Before heading off, call your city's
recreation offices as you can often find
discount tickets for Crossroads Village
and other family sites for sale.
Crossroads Village is usually an all-day
affair. However, if you still have energy,
check out Mott Farm right next door,
where you can visit with a host of
friendly animals. Also, just past
Crossroads Village is Bluebell Beach.
This is a free beach that has a small
water park with fountains.
(Note: Crossroads Village is closed on
Mondays. For information, prices and
directions, call Genesee County Parks,
SUMMER FUN
on page 30
7/ 9
2004
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