Summer Family Fun + Games!

What do you get when you mix fun + marshmallows + ginger ale + and mustard? Something disgusting, but... you know what's not disgusting? Having a great Summer!

Summer shouldn't be solely about gaming, even though we recommend that it be on the activity list... but there are other things to enjoy. Get crafty, game on, and have some fun... under the sun! I'll kick this post off with a dose of gaming... crank up the speakers and enjoy!

Arts & Crafts don't have to be the same old same old... there are plenty of Printables from Play Nintendo that your children can enjoy. Check these out (many more where these came from):

Pikmin coloring pages:

Powered up activities:

Pikmin...in color!:

Up and away! Paper Mario Airplane:

Print & play with Peach activity book:

Printable Mario & Luigi Masks (Adult required):

Print & Play Princess Peach Crown: (Adult required):

DK dress-up fun! (Adult required):

Paper Pikmin (Adult required):

Stage Craft (Adult required):

Kicking it with Mario:

Wario 'stache mask (Adult assistance required):

If you serve up these activities to your kids once per day, you're looking at nearly a month or so worth of arts and crafts for them to enjoy. Grab crayons or coloring pencils, scissors, print... and dig in! Whether these activities are done at home, vacation or staycation... they're a perfect fit.

 Fun and Affordable Summer Activities for Families in Orlando, Florida 

Orlando, Florida, is renowned for its world-class theme parks, but there’s so much more to explore, especially for families looking for fun and affordable summer activities (even though those usually traveling to Orlando are here for the theme parks). On the most affordable note though, here are some top picks that won’t break the bank:

Crayola Experience Orlando

Located at The Florida Mall, the Crayola Experience is a vibrant, interactive attraction where creativity knows no bounds. Families can enjoy hands-on activities, from making personalized crayons to exploring the color playground. It’s a colorful adventure that kids and adults alike will love.

Fun Spot America Theme Parks

Fun Spot America offers a variety of thrilling rides and attractions, including multi-level go-kart tracks, a wooden roller coaster, and a splash pad. The best part? Admission is free for non-riders, and parking is also complimentary. It’s a perfect spot for a day of excitement without the hefty price tag.

WonderWorks Orlando

This “amusement park for the mind” features over 100 interactive exhibits that blend education and entertainment. From a ropes course to a 6D motion ride, WonderWorks offers endless fun for the whole family. It’s an affordable way to spend a day exploring and learning.

Lake Eola Park

In the heart of downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park is a serene escape with plenty of activities for families. Enjoy a picnic by the lake, feed the swans, or take a leisurely paddleboat ride. The park also hosts free concerts and events throughout the summer, making it a great spot for budget-friendly fun.

Leu Gardens

For nature lovers, Leu Gardens offers 50 acres of beautiful gardens and landscapes. Admission is free on the first Monday of each month, providing an affordable way to explore the diverse plant collections and enjoy a peacefulday outdoors.

Central Florida Springs

Cool off from the summer heat by visiting one of Central Florida’s natural springs. Places like Wekiwa Springs and Blue Spring State Park offer refreshing swimming spots, kayaking, and scenic trails. Admission fees are minimal, making it a cost-effective family outing.

Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center is a fantastic destination for curious minds. With interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations, and a planetarium, it’s both educational and entertaining. The center often offers discounted admission days, so keep an eye out for deals.

Disney Springs

While visiting the major theme parks can be pricey, Disney Springs offers a taste of Disney magic without the high cost. Stroll through the shops, enjoy live entertainment, and indulge in delicious treats. It’s a fun way to experience the Disney atmosphere on a budget. 

By the way, you can do something additional with this. You can resort hop... just take a free boat, bus, or monorail to the various Disney resorts and immerse yourself without an official resort stay. You can enjoy the atmosphere, the foods, as well as the desserts while being outside only during your transportation.

Big Tree Park & N Mills Ave

Not only do you have a park in this area, but it's right next to North Mills Avenue. This particular road isn't exactly a place presented to tourist, but it's a strip full of restaurants that also contains bars for those looking for that sort of thing.

Splash Pads and Playgrounds

Orlando is home to numerous splash pads and playgrounds that are perfect for cooling off and having fun. Many local parks offer these amenities for free, making them an excellent option for families looking to enjoy the outdoors without spending a lot. Lake Lorna Doone Park is one example of a park with a Splashpad, but... there is more than one option + some resorts have splash pads or mini waterparks.

Dezerland Park Orlando

Dezerland Park is Florida’s largest indoor attraction, offering a wide range of activities for families. Enjoy thrilling go-karting, explore the extensive Orlando Auto Museum, play boutique bowling, immerse yourself in The Pinball Palace, bounce at Jump Start Trampoline, and engage in black light combat with gel blasters in Toxic Blast. With so many unique attractions under one roof, Dezerland Park guarantees a day full of fun and excitement for everyone. Dezerland Deals.

Orlando offers a wealth of affordable activities for families to enjoy during the summer. From interactive museums and natural springs to vibrant parks and free events, there’s something for everyone. So pack your bags, gather the family, and get ready to explore all that Orlando has to offer without breaking the bank. Even if you plan to only go to the parks a portion of the time... you can utilize these other options as fun fillers. Dezerland gives you a place to get out of the sun, rain, and it's open at night. Now let's jump into portable gaming!

 Why Handheld Gaming Devices Are Perfect for a Summer Vacation 

Summer vacations are all about the relaxation, adventure, and making the most of your free time between travel. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, traveling to a new destination, or simply enjoying a staycation, handheld gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and MSI Claw can enhance your summer experience.

Handheld gaming devices are designed to be portable, making them ideal for travel. The Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and MSI Claw are compact and lightweight, allowing you to easily slip them into your backpack or carry-on luggage. This means you can enjoy your favorite games whether you’re on a plane, at the beach, or at a fly resort. 

So you get the portability + convenience, the ability to connect to a resort TV if you want to use a bigger screen, you can jump online if you have internet access as well. By the way, even if you don't have internet access... you can still enjoy multiplayer on all three of these devices. Off top, you will be able to play multiplayer offline the easiest on the Nintendo Switch, you don't have to worry about using internet/hotspot or Ad-Hoc between two devices. 

If there are more than two gamers, the ease of connecting is even better with the Nintendo Switch and some games give you the ability to play together by way of only one person owning the game. Nevertheless, if you only have one handheld device on deck, and 4 controllers are available... you can still enjoy multiplayer action on these devices (preferably on a big screen). 

So take advantage of the versatility during your travels, fun it up, eat well, create some great memories and... game on!

 + Sophima 

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2023 Wishmas Guide... for Younglings!

 

It's that special time of year again... you're scratching your head wondering what you can get for your youngling, nieces, nephews, or a kid who simply deserves a nice gift. No need to worry ladies and gentlemen... the 2023 Wishmas Guide is here to erase the guessing games! Grab your cup of hot sip-worthy goodness... and get your click & scroll on!

Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle: This Switch bundle includes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + 3 months of Nintendo Switch Online. This gift will provide kids with an immersive and interactive gaming experience for on-the-go enjoyment and fun on the big screen. Great option for family fun!

Coding kits: As the importance of coding grows, giving kids coding kits will help them develop their problem-solving and logical thinking skills from an early age.

Robotic pets: Robotic pets are becoming more sophisticated and lifelike. They provide companionship and are a great way for kids to learn about responsibility. This particular robot is Eilik.

 Miko 3 is also a great option.

STEM building kits: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) building kits enable kids to learn while having fun. These kits encourage creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Smartwatches for kids: Smartwatches designed specifically for kids with GPS tracking, educational apps, and parental controls are a practical and trendy gift.

Awesome storybooks: Storybooks with great artwork and storylines make reading more engaging, and a nice collection should foster a love for reading.

Art and craft kits: Encouraging creativity and imagination through art and craft kits is a timeless gift idea. These kits provide all the necessary materials for kids to explore and create their own masterpieces. The kit seen here has a convertible easel to draw both flat or at an angle.

Educational subscription boxes: Monthly subscription boxes that deliver educational activities and experiments are a great way to keep kids engaged and learning throughout the year.

Outdoor adventure gear: A gift promoting outdoor exploration, such as camping equipment, bicycles, or scooters, encourages physical activity and helps kids appreciate nature. The Docyke Electric Go Kart Kit is a constructible vehicle that allows your kids and teens to build their vehicle of choice. Great for children interested in mechanics.

Musical instruments: Musical instruments promote a love for music and creativity. Whether it's a guitar, keyboard, or drum set, learning to play an instrument can provide lifelong enjoyment and skills.

Work desks: Desks are a worthwhile consideration this year as parents look for options to promote fun learning and exploring in the world of tech, a desk gives your Youngling the workspace to avoid their experiments from covering the surfaces in the common area. There are great Black Friday deals at the moment.

Sophima | Guest Contributor

                          + BLU 

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Holiday Break Activity Suggestions!

 

If you like the tees... here's the shirt on the left + right!

During this Holiday break, kids rejoice, while parents are sitting back wondering... how's this going to work out? If they're a certain age I know a Babysitter is usually on speed dial, but that doesn't mean that activities are automatically a thing.

At times, school is the only access to other kids your child may have... so don't ignore that. Give them access to family and friends with tech like the Echo Show 5 2nd Gen, especially if they aren't old enough to have a phone. Of course, they get the other extras like shows to stream, and even audible for books, but you also get a free year of Amazon Kids+ for games. It's not just that though, they get the ability to socialize with friends and family.

There are plenty of teens and adults able to talk for hours, so just imagine your younglings doing activities while chatting with family and friends. It makes the activity even better, and if you want to keep it in a neutral area where it's facing a wall due to privacy concerns... you can set up a little communication station. Once the call is done, they can turn off the mic + camera and use the camera privacy shutter... and you can even have them unplug it if you just want it off-off.

The Echo Show 5 Kids... comes with a 2-year worry-free guarantee, and it ships in one day (for $39.99).

What types of activities can they get into during this holiday break? Well, before Christmas, maybe they can work on some arts and crafts based on tutorials they see on the echo show. Not calling it a Babysitter, but they can make some pretty cool arts & crafts with tech as their step-by-step guide.

Speaking of step-by-step activities, here are some pretty cool arts & crafts activities they can do with the needed supplies on deck (powered by... Nintendo). What you see below are a few examples, but there are plenty of other activities... here.

If it's cold outside, and they can't get out and enjoy activities because they don't have supervision or permission... physical activities in the house should certainly be considered so they can burn off some energy. 

Kids who like yoga... might like the Cosmic Kids Yoga app, which has tons of yoga videos that get them up and active. The various episodes have different themes, including video game themes. In addition to the yoga, there are also dance-related videos + these super yoga videos give a video game-like theme that challenges kids to... keep up.

The plus about incorporating physical activities is that it helps them into the habit of doing physical activities. When it's fun, it's hard to even consider it exercise... and it's proof that you can take an alternate route versus going to the gym. I can hear the gym rats gasping, but... relax, to each their own.

If you go this route, don't forget the yoga mat. The Kidnasium yoga mat gives them a mat, but also a separate standalone yoga-related activity game complete with a... spinner.

If you want to take another route and you have a Nintendo Switch at home... don't forget about Nintendo Switch Sports, which gives them the ability to do various activities. Think about this for a second, imagine having them playing with their family or friends online while on echo show with them. I would've loved that as a kid and it would be one heck of a way to immerse themselves while being active and social. 

If they need to get online via the switch to play with others (including 2 local vs 2 in another home), it's fairly inexpensive... and if there are multiple siblings (and if the sitter wants to get in on the action) 4 people can play locally. There are so many things that can be done to fun their break.

If you have multiple family members using the Switch, get the 12-month online plan. If only one person is gaming online, get the 12-month individual plan.

Speaking of Nintendo Switch games... Eastward is an awesome single-player action

RPG for the kids who enjoy games that allow them to embark on an adventure. Here's

the first 30 of Eastward if you'd like to make sure it's something you approve of.

 

This game is rated T for Teen. More on game ratings... here.

If the kids are able to get outside... consider some outdoor activities that can dial up the fun among them and their friends in the neighborhood. There are some options out there for soccer combos at affordable prices, basketball goals for less than $75 (for now), and some super affordable basketballs.

The activities don't stop here, but these are... suggestions to get those creative juices flowing. If any more come up, including chores, there are things like the Echo Show 15 that work well for a common area that has this very clean picture frame-like design that caught my eye. Its function can keep the kids or the Babysitter on task. Shows can be seen, calls can be made, step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a meal, and all that good stuff. This device also features privacy features.

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