Happy Healthy Childhoods

All of us at Child Care of Southwest Florida, Inc. hope you, your family and friends are having a great 2012 so far!

In 2011, we were very happy to debut our new web site (www.CCSWFL.com) and are really happy to start using the power of Social Media, and the Internet, to spread the news about our mission:

“To strengthen and enhance the lives of children and their families.”

Thank you to Charly, Dan and the entire ISG Team for:

• creating our new site,
• educating us on how to maximize the use of the Internet, and most importantly,
• helping us create helpful information for the very families and areas we service.

Our very first eBook, “12 Fun Things to Do With Your Children in Southwest Florida“, has been well received, and has helped many parents, grandparents and families have a better understanding of all of the fun things that can be done with kids of all ages in Southwest Florida.

We’ve been hard at work creating two new eBooks for 2012, and are really excited them!

They are called:

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Over the past couple of months we have provided tips about the fun, family friendly places to visit in Southwest Florida with your children. Whether you have lived here your entire life or just moved to the area, we hope you have learned about the great places to take your kids. In case you haven’t read this information, you can download it as a FREE eBook. Or simply click “read more” where we’ll give you a summation of our posts on the fun places in Southwest Florida.

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This is the twelfth installment of 12 Fun Things to do With Your Children in Southwest Florida which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

If you’re thinking about taking a day trip with your kids, consider a swamp buggy or airboat ride in the Florida Everglades. This type of safari adventure is perfect for kids who love the animals and the outdoors. Your family will get to experience the true wilderness of Florida, traveling through marshes that are home to all kinds of exotic wildlife. Can you guess what types of wildlife you will see on an Everglades airboat ride?

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This is the eleventh installment of 12 Fun Things to do With Your Children in Southwest Florida which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

If your kids need to cool down, why not spend a day at the Sun Splash waterpark? This Cape Coral attraction features 14 acres of pools, slides and watery fun. There are lifeguards stationed throughout the site.

Your youngest children will enjoy the Tot Spot, where they can splash around with kids their own age. Older children will enjoy the thrilling, highspeed water slides like:

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This is the tenth installment of 12 Fun Things to do With Your Children in Southwest Florida which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

If your family lives in Cape Coral, you may already know about all the great things available at Four Freedoms Park. Four Freedoms is a 3.2 acre park that is adjacent to Bimini Basin. The park is completely fenced in, so your children can run around freely. It also features safety surfaces to avoid bumps and bruises. There are lots of mature trees on the site, so it’s also a good place for catching some shade.

The playground equipment at Four Freedoms Park is designed for children of all ages. From ladders to slides to spinning wheels, the playground keeps children entertained for hours. If you’re bringing a picnic, you’ll be able to enjoy lunch overlooking Bimini Basin. There are shelter pavilions available for rent. The park is also home to a large multipurpose facility that has programs for children of all ages, like:

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This is the ninth installment of 12 Fun Things to do With Your Children in Southwest Florida which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

Your children are growing up in paradise, so don’t forget to enjoy the beaches with them! Fort Myers Beach is home to warm, tropical waters, soft, white sand and miles of coastline. In this sub-tropical climate, you and your children can enjoy the beach all year round. What are some of the best things to do with your childern on Fort Myers Beach?

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This is the eighth installment of 12 Fun Things to do With Your Children in Southwest Florida which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

A rainy day doesn’t have to mean gloom and boredom. It can be a great opportunity to explore your creative side and have a day of family fun indoors! There are plenty of activities that your kids will love. What are the fun things to do in Southwest Florida on a rainy day?…

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This is the seventh installment of 12 Fun Things to do With Your Children in Southwest Florida which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

The Six Mile Cypress Slough (pronounced “slew”) Preserve is a wetland park that’s home to many native Floridian plants and animals. It’s a protected area and an official Lee County park. The Slough is located off Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers. The park is open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk. It includes:

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This is the sixth installment of 12 Fun Things to do With Your Children in Southwest Florida which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

If your kids are animal-lovers, then a day at the Naples Zoo might be just the ticket! Southwest Florida is home to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens – a great non-profit zoo located off Goodlette-Frank Road. This attraction has been voted “Best Place to Take Kids” by Gulfshore Life Magazine. The zoo is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and ticket sales close at 4 p.m. Ticket prices will vary based on age and residency. Look for special prices or discounted tickets, which are often available.

At the zoo, your children can see all their favorite animals – like monkeys, lemurs, apes, bears, lions and even kangaroos! Adventurous kids can even feed the giraffes. The zoo’s path is nearly a mile long, so start early and bring a stroller for young children.

There are always special shows and exhibitions going on at the zoo. Some child favorites include watching professional snake handlers, a daily alligator feeding, a zookeeper demonstration, and a Primate Expedition that cruises through monkey, lemur and ape enclosures. Other special attractions include:

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This is the first installment of 12 Fun Things to do With Your Children in Southwest Florida which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

This is one of Southwest Florida’s best kept secrets for kids, and it doesn’t cost a dime! Bring food to grill on the free BBQ grills, or pack a picnic basket and make a day of it at the beautiful Estero Park.

Estero Community Park and Recreation Center is the largest park within the Lee County Parks and Recreation system, encompassing over 55 acres. In this park, you will find: Read the rest of this entry »