If you are the parent of a young child of pre-school age, then you know just how difficult it can be to keep them busy, and all the challenges involved in keeping their little minds occupied. Because they are always interested and curious about every single thing in their vicinity, it can be a struggle to find something which will hold their attention.
However, when you’re on holiday in Central Florida, there are loads of activities which will keep your little tykes entertained! Of course, many of the best things will only be viable when the weather is decent (which is, admittedly, nearly all the time!), but there are still a number of options for you if the sun is refusing to cooperate.
Take a Trip to the (Many) State Parks
Florida is full of state parks – there are nearly thirty in the Sunshine State! Some of the best ones are as follows: Silver River State Park (Ocala), Tomoka State Park (Ormond Beach) and the Rock Springs Run State Reserve (Sorrento).
State parks are excellent places for a spot of exploration, and they are safe enough for you to let your pre-schoolers run free! If they’re lucky, there will be a number of animals around, just roaming about their natural habitat. The best way to spend your day in a state park? Bring a picnic!
Allow Them to Get Active
Pump It Up. No, we mean get down to Pump It Up – there are three branches, one in Brandon, another in West Chase and the third in West Melbourne. What is it, we hear you ask. To put it simply, it is a giant arena full of slides, obstacle courses, ball pools and inflatable bounce houses.
Once a week, the PumpStart programme occurs – kids will be singing and playing games together while they jump around! There are a number of free-play sessions if you’re feeling strapped for cash, and there are even Jump-N-Art sessions, where your kids will be active and creative all at once!
Get Closer to Nature
If you prefer your animal encounters to be guaranteed and in a controlled environment (rather than the luck of the wilds), then drive on over to Green Meadows Farm in Kissimmee – the collection of animals is amazing! Geese, goats, donkeys and pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys and ducks, all joined by a big ol’ water buffalo!
You can get up close with all of the above, and there’s a train provided to get around. If you fancy the farming experience, you can even try your hand at milking a cow!
If your child feels like seeing some more exotic fauna, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanic Gardens is the place to go. With more than 400 different animals (not counting the insect zoo!), you and your little ones won’t be getting bored any time soon.
Come on the weekend for the amazing animal encounters – one of them allows you to pay Maude a visit! Who is Maude? She’s only an Asian elephant!
Tom Rokins is a travel blogger with an eye on the Americas. For Florida flights, check out Cheapflights.com!
