Community Corner

Family Forum: Spring Break Activities

This column will explore questions and seek answers for and from local residents.

Family Forum is the new name of our previously named Mom Talk column. This is a new initiative on our Patch sites to reach out to moms and families.

Also, this new forum will allow you to reach out to your neighbors as well as we share comments and information with residents in Sachem, Sayville, Bayport, Blue Point and Patchogue. We invite you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for families.

Each week in Family Forum, our Moms Council of experts take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.

Family Forum will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Do you know of local moms raising their children in the Tiger Mother's way and is it the best way? Where can we get information on local flu shot clinics for children? How do we talk to our children about the Tucson shootings? How can we help our children's schools weather their budget cutbacks?

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today.

What are some good and inexpensive activities to keep the kids occupied during the April Break?

Sharon Boyle: Play dates are free. Go to the park or library. The zoo in Holtsville is great. Pet shops are fun. Have a “Make Your Own Pizza Party”. (buy the dough from your Pizza place and supply the cheese, sauce, etc.) Get your friends to have a different theme each day and house hop. Make tie dyes. Pack a lunch and ride bikes to a destination picnic. Invite friends along. “It is always more fun when you do it with a friend!

Debbie Bacon: If we stay close to home, we try to take advantage of any library programs going on, or activities like bowling or roller skating (there are always coupons) and we try to catch the latest flick during matinee pricing. Most restaurants also offer mid-week deals where kids eat free. Staying overnight at a local hotel, with an indoor swimming pool, is a special treat and still inexpensive on weeknights. It helps to break up the holiday week and, if the kids don't bring their gadgets along, it helps to boost some quality family time as well.

Donna Nolan: The Holtsville Ecology Center is always great because it's free. Depending on the weather, we would bring a picnic. If it is raining and I have absolutely no money I take my kids to Chuck E Cheese and let them play in the tubes. We bring our refillable cups so I don't have to pay for drinks. Of course there are always playdates.

Amy Keyes: There are a lot of really great parks and playgrounds in our area – the Holtsville Ecology Site comes to mind immediately. It’s especially great because it’s appealing to so many different age groups, my 1 year old certainly gets a thrill out of a stroller ride through the Animal Preserve, and school-age kids can romp around on the new playground or ride their bikes around the outdoor track.


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