The days are long, temperatures are rising, and mangoes are back in season! This could only mean one thing – its summer time! Keeping your children entertained on their days off from school can be exhausting. You can’t blame them either; we were all like this during our summer holidays! Times have changed though, kids these days, would rather be glued to their screens than venture out and play outdoors. The only way to reduce screen time is to have them occupied with engaging activities that you can all enjoy as a family. Here are 5 things you can do with your kids this summer and make some amazing memories, while you are at it. PRANI PET SANCTUARY Located on the outskirts of the hustle and bustle of Bengaluru city, Prani Pet Sanctuary is nestled in the serene setting of Somanahalli Village, off Kanakpura Road. Open to visitors’ everyday from 7 am to 7 pm, this interactive sanctuary is a safe haven for rescued hooved animals, small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. At Prani, they’ve recognized the importance of the mutually beneficial bond that can be created between children (or adults) and animals. Most of us have never had the chance to interact with these animals at such close proximity; at Prani, you can experience this first hand, in a safe and controlled environment. Animals have the special ability to teach children about empathy, responsibility, and love. Children and adults can really benefit from this off-beat class in emotional intelligence! For a day well spent, get in touch with Prani Pet Sanctuary: http://prani.co.in/ CUBBON PARK Covering about 300 acres, Cubbon Park is known as the “lungs” of Bengaluru. This lush, tranquil green space has over 6,000 plants/trees, of both the indigenous and exotic kind. It’s a landmark in the heart of the city, which has a museum, an aquarium, and is also where the children’s amusement park, Jawahar Bal Bhawan is located. The must-try attraction at the park is the Putani Express, a toy train that runs on biofuel. Children can enjoy the train ride through the park for 1.5 kms, which takes approximately 20 minutes to cover. The Park is closed on Mondays, and the timings are 6 AM to 6 PM. During summer, the early mornings or late afternoons would be the perfect time to visit the park. For timings and other information, visit: http://www.jawaharbalbhavan.com/ SNOW CITY Beat the heat, and head to Snow City, Bengaluru’s first indoor snow park. Open every day of the year, this is a onetime experience, you should not miss. With temperatures dropping to -5 Degrees Celsius, don’t forget to bundle up! Kids and adults alike will enjoy frolicking in the snow and the different activities will keep you entertained while you’re there. You can go snow rafting, snow tube riding, snow mountain climbing, snow sliding and even dancing on the snow floor! Also, get a chance to meet snow animals or even plan your kid’s next party at Snow City. To book your tickets online or for more information, visit: http://snowcityblr.com/index.html JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PLANETARIUM Our fascination with the sun, sky, and stars, usually starts young. However, regardless of your age, the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (JNP), should definitely be on your to-visit list this summer! In addition to the Planetarium, there is also a Science Centre, which has some interesting exhibits. The Planetarium itself is divided into two sections, the Sky Theatre and the Exhibition Hall. At the Theatre, two shows are playing in both Kannada and English: Dawn of the Space Age and Our Solar System.The vast expanse that is our galaxy, is full of infinite unexplored possibilities and the JNP should be able to peak your kid’s curiosity into learning more about this. Visit the website to know what’s happening this month at the Planetarium: http://www.taralaya.org/ SUMMER CAMP Sending your kids to a summer camp can be a great idea to keep them busy for a couple of days or weeks, depending to the kind of camp you enroll them for. However, for tiny tots, parent’s might find the idea of sending them away from home a bit nerve-racking! The aomi Summer Camp is the perfect solution to this dilemma. In collaboration with Rhythm n Rhyme, the Tumble, Leap & Grow Summer Camp, is designed to develop strength and coordination in your young ones (ages 2-4), through a combination of games, soft play, and activities. It’s from 8th May to 12th May 2018 and the timings are 10:30 AM to 12 PM. The registration fee is Rs. 3,750, but you can register now for early bird discounts. To register today call 96329-61700 for details or Register Online at www.rhythmnrhyme.com The summer holidays should be about spending fun quality time with your children. Happy moments shared as a family is what makes summers so special. Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to do just that. Let us know in the comments below what you would recommend to do this summer in Bengaluru with kids!
