School is Out! Now that summer break is officially here, parents are going to need some help keeping the little one’s entertained. If you need some fun activities to do with the children that don’t require a long road-trip, then this is the list for you!
Check Out the McWane Science Center
Keep those little minds active this summer by taking them to the McWane Science Center! Here, curiosity has no age limit. Children can spend hours walking through their interactive, hands-on museum exhibits, aquarium, Shark and Ray touch tank, Science Quest, and bubble room! You can even catch a movie in their IMAX Dome theater.
Go to the Vulcan Park and Museum
Overlooking all of Birmingham on top of Red Mountain, the Vulcan Park and Museum has a lot to offer! Families can walk through an interactive comprehensive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, enjoy the public park and walking trails, and even go to the top of the world’s largest cast iron statue.
Visit the Market at Pepper Place
Famers markets are a great way to get involved with the community and buy local products. The Market at Pepper Place is located in downtown Birmingham and has a variety of different vendors selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade jewlery. There are coffee and food stands and even live music from time to time.
Go to a Local Library
Visiting your local library is not only a fun way to beat the heat and pass the time, but it can also prevent against summer learning loss. Studies have found children return from summer break and start the new school year with lower academic achievement levels than they had at the beginning of summer due to the lack of formal literacy programs.
Taking children to the library can help offset this by keeping their minds active and instill in them a love for reading at an early age. It’s a win-win! Also, make sure to ask your local library about any summer reading programs or summer entertainment activities. Libraries typically offer these over the summer and they are usually free!
Tour the Birmingham Museum of Art
There is much to explore at the Birmingham Museum of Art! Families can travel to faraway lands, make history come alive, and discover the world of art together in the galleries and family spaces. With family tours, art activities, and cultural celebrations on special Family Days, there’s always something new to do. See what the Birmingham Museum of Art has to share with you here!