Memorial Day has come and gone. Preschoolers are graduating from their 4-year-old programs all over Louisville. Summer is here, and those cute little preschoolers will be back with you every day for the next twelve weeks or more! Here's a sneak peek list at what's going on around town this summer with preschoolers and parents in mind. Head out together and explore, and take some fun photos while you're at it. Remember to share your love of Louisville with hashtag #LouisvilleLove.
Louisville Zoo and Louisville Nature Center offer great opportunities to learn together, stay active, and be outdoors all summer long. They are right across from each other on Trevilian Way and have gems about both of them.
Kentucky Science Center is renovating its first floor space in June to get ready for its grand reopening of the early childhood exhibit space Science in Play. The entire first floor will be closed from June 1-July 3 to install the new Science in Play galleries. When it reopens on July 4, parents, caregivers, and preschoolers are in for a real treat. #DoScience in a whole new way with your little ones!
The Parks system in Louisville is adventurous and gives eager and enthusiastic preschoolers a place to explore to their heart's content. Louisville Metro Parks has 120 parks to see; why not make a scavenger hunt with your kids all about visiting as many parks as you can this summer? A lot of them also have splash areas and spraygrounds-a must for free fun in the hot, humid summer months in Louisville. See also Skyview Splash Park in Jeffersontown and the Marshall Playground & Sprayground at Beckley Creek Park in east Louisville.
Kids Eat Free is a big plus for me in the summer. I prefer hearty warm meals of fall and winter and really don't like to cook in the summer(!), so we take advantage of eateries that offer kids eat free (or pretty cheap) options.
The Cultural Pass Program has returned for a second year for Louisville. Read more about it here; it is for residents and children who qualify for a Louisville Free Public Library card are eligible to pick up a free cultural pass at any LFPL library location or Metro Parks Community Centers. The program runs May 31-August 7.
Summer Reading will be in full swing at most reading locations like libraries and bookstores starting around June 1. Read 10 books to your child (for the most part) and get some great prizes. We all love free stuff! Of course all of the area libraries host programs suitable for children ages birth to teen years. You'll be able to find a program or storytime that is age appropriate most any day of the week at Louisville Free Public Library or at many of the surrounding county and Southern Indiana libraries.
The Parklands of Floyds Fork is a must see this summer. From their outdoor camp options for preschoolers as well as older children, to the newest option of bike rentals at the park, you're sure to fill up your summer days by spending many of them here. Pope Lick Park is also a great option located near Beckley Creek Park.
Heartland Music Together offers a summer session that lasts six weeks. It starts on June 22 and registration is open to enroll now.
Arts and crafts abound at places such as Mama's Hip and Side by Side Studio. Don't forget about Good Garbage: Center for Creative Reuse, the reuse and recycle center that is relocating from Portland to 2216 Frankfort Avenue and having their Grand Reopening this weekend! It's May 29 from 6pm-9pm.
Get active with your preschooler! You can try a yoga class together, or join the Fit4Mom Louisville East Stroller Strides group that meets up at the Parklands-Beckley Creek Park.
Where will you and your preschooler venture to this summer?
Cover photo courtesy of Kentucky Science Center, Facebook; others by Erin Nevitt
