Summer is almost here and we’re ready to start dusting off our sprinklers and blowing up some floaties! As the weather starts to warm up and we get closer to slipping on our swimsuits, Dallas Moms Blog and Emler Swim School bring you a new post each week focusing on water fun & safety. Join us as we Splash into Summer!
Spring has sprung and summer will be here before we know it! The blazing heat of the Texas sun can only mean one thing for Dallas families – it’s time to get wet. When you have little ones, it can be hard to find the best spots, so I have compiled a list of my favorite tips, tricks, and hot spots for water-filled fun in the sun all summer long.
- You don’t have to go far to have fun in the water. Crack some glow sticks and add them to the bathtub for a late night bath time surprise.
- Find one of DFW’s incredible Splash Pads. These free spots are a huge hit with the preschool crowd and you can find them all over the metroplex. Some of our favorites include Klyde Warren Park, Frisco Commons Spray Park, and the eleven different spray grounds operated by the City of Dallas.
- For a unique way to get wet this summer, freeze some cheap plastic toys in a big block of ice. Give them a squirt bottle full of warm water (or a hammer if you’re brave) and let them become paleontologists.
- Take to the trails and get back to nature with a day trip to one of Texas’ natural watering holes like Hamilton Pool Preserve near Austin or Possum Kingdom Lake near Graford.
- If you don’t have a pool in your backyard, throw on their swimsuit and get a little creative. Fill a tub with water and bring out measuring cups, spoons, and pitchers for them to measure and pour.
- Visit your city’s (or a neighboring city’s) recreation center. While some rec centers have the standard pools, a lot are now decked out with enormous kids areas. You’ll find kiddie slides, spray guns, wave pools, dumping buckets, and more. Most cost less than $10 even for non-residents. For a real treat, heck out the Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Center in Carrollton, The Heights Family Aquatic Center in Richardson, or the Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium in Allen.
- Allow your kids to help you wash the car. Or give them a sponge and some soapy water to wash their own little car.
- If you’re looking for a weekend getaway, your family will love staying at the indoor water wonderland of Great Wolf Lodge or the brand new water oasis Jade Waters at the Hilton Anatole.
- Enroll your kiddos in swimming lessons at indoor facilities like Emler Swim School. If you’re worried about their safety in the water or would like them to improve their skills, you can never start them in swimming lessons too early. Last summer we had a toddler who was reluctant to swim in a “big pool”, but after a few weeks of swimming lessons, we couldn’t keep her away.
- Whether you’ve got a few hours of the whole day, your family will love larger than life adventures at one of DFW’s waterparks. Your kiddos will love the Tadpole Swimming Hole, designed just for little onset NRH2O. Hawaiian Falls Waterpark and Bahama Beach are both designed with young kids in mind. If you have a mix of older and younger kids in your party, you might want to check out Hurricane Harbor.
What are your favorite ways to have fun in the water with little ones? Share your ideas in the comments below!
If you’re looking for additional ways to keep cool this summer, Emler Swim School provides a variety of classes for children starting as young as 2 months and they encourage you to reach out and find the right class for your family. To learn more about Emler Swim School in Dallas/Fort Worth, make sure to visit their website or Facebook page.
ALLEN :: FLOWER MOUND :: FRISCO :: DALLAS :: PLANO :: McKINNEY :: SACHSE :: SOUTHLAKE
