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Summer Kid Activities

6/11/2015

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Summer’s Here – What to Do With the Kids?

It’s the age-old question that parents in Parker, and everywhere for that matter, face every year: How do we keep the kids occupied this summer?

Well, there are always the biggies, such as theme parks or camping.
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Camping with my young kids. A family favorite summertime activity! When did they grow up?
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My youngest daughter next to her painting at a recent art exhibit.
But, with work and other obligations getting in the way, not to mention your budget, you can’t always get away from home. So, we here at ALINK Insurance Services have compiled a list of some activities that are both educational and fun — and that your kids are sure to enjoy!


Art Projects 
There are a number of ways you can encourage the young artist in your family, from programs and offerings at local museums to do-it-yourself art projects. Try these ideas from The Artful Parent, a website focused on encouraging art and creativity in children:

  • Splatter painting: Spread an old sheet out in the yard, grab some watered-down acrylic paint and a brush or a spoon. Then, have your kids dip the brush or spoon and flick their wrist to splatter the paint! Try different colors and motions to make interesting patterns.
  • Body painting: Kids love to paint themselves! Washable, nontoxic tempera paint is just the ticket, and it comes off with soap and water.
  • Grape and toothpick sculptures: This is as easy as it sounds. Get a bowl of grapes and a box of toothpicks. The grapes hold their shapes well and are easily pierced by the toothpicks to create towers and other structures. And, when you’re done, you have a healthy snack!



Science Activities

Have a budding scientist around the house? Try these basic projects from PBS:

  • Grow something. Having your kids grow flowers, herbs or vegetables creates a long-term learning activity that encourages monitoring and observation.
  • Cook something. Working together in the kitchen invites all kinds of questions: What does baking soda do? Why is gelatin such a weird consistency? How do ingredients interact?
  • Get outside. The outdoors is full of things for kids to examine — plants, worms, frogs, bugs and more! Even running through the sprinkler can be an educational opportunity, once the rainbow appears.
  • Stay up late ... and look up. A clear summer night is perfect for checking out stars and pointing out constellations. You can talk to your kids about the various planets, and maybe even catch a firefly or two.



Reading — It’s Not Just for School

Encouraging your kids to read over the summer can help them when school gets back in session, so don’t miss an opportunity. You can share the newspaper in the morning, or simply read the cereal box at breakfast. Even a few minutes a day can have a big impact.

You might also consider the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, a free online program for children from May 4 to September 4. Last year more than a million kids from 29 countries took part, and this year’s program features free book lists, a sweepstakes and the chance to set a world record.



Of course, there are thousands of things you can do with your kids in Colorado over the course of the summer. If these ideas aren’t up your alley, consider summer camp, local music and sports programs or volunteering in the community.
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My daughter in her early years of swim team. Filled our summer days!
Summer will be over before you know it, so make the most of it!
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Keep Those Wedding Bells Chiming

6/4/2015

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The warmer months are here and wedding season is in full swing.  Weddings can be a huge investment - the dress, the venue, the flowers, the food, the photographer...the list goes on and on (with three of my children's weddings under my belt, I can attest to that).
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The family together at my daughter's recent wedding back in April.  Three down, two to go!
As much as we don't want to even consider it, sometimes things fall through and don't go as planned on the big day.  Whether it be a last minute cancellation, an absentee caterer, a dress disaster, or a big storm that disrupts travel plans, wedding insurance can help protect you against unforeseen circumstances and offer you a peace of mind.  

Here is a little Wedding Insurance 101 from theknot.com.

What is Wedding Insurance?

To sum it up, wedding insurance protects a couple's investment from circumstances beyond their control, and reimburses expenses incurred.

What Does Wedding Insurance Cover?


  • Site: Check to see if your ceremony and reception site is already insured. If it's not, wedding insurance can cover the cost arising out of unavoidable cancellation (such as damage or inaccessibility to the ceremony site), if your reception hall is unable to honor your reservation because it has burned in a fire, experienced an electrical outage, or just plain closed down. Sometimes this policy covers the rehearsal dinner site, too.
  • Weather: Any weather conditions which prevent the bride, groom, any relative whose presence at the wedding is essential, or the majority of the guests from reaching the premises where the wedding is to take place. Insurance covers rescheduling the wedding and all the details involved -- such as ceremony flowers, tent rental, and reception food.
  • Vendor No-show: What if essential wedding people -- the caterer or the officiant, for example -- fail to show up? A wedding insurance policy usually covers cancellation or postponement of the wedding for these reasons.
  • Sickness or Injury: Wedding insurance may also include sickness or injury to the bride, groom, or anyone essential to the wedding.
  • Military or Job: Wedding insurance can cover postponement of the wedding due to the bride or groom suddenly getting called to military duty. This can also apply to a last-minute corporate move -- i.e. the bride's company suddenly relocates her to another city.

Wedding Insurance Doesn't Cover...
  • A change of heart. Basically, cold feet don't count.
  • Watches, jewelry, or semi-precious gemstones or pearls (even if they are attached to clothing) may not be covered.
  • While your wedding rings may be covered by the policy, your engagement ring probably will not.


There are also a number of additional coverage options that protect against damages incurred by other wedding-related items such as photography, videography, gifts, attire, honeymoon plans, and personal liability/medical coverage if an accident occurs during the course of the wedding.

Have questions about wedding insurance? ALINK Insurance Services can help. Every wedding is unique so we'll cover the details and discuss if there's a policy right for you. Give us a call!

Denver Metro/Parker: 303-752-6479
Colorado Springs: 719-473-6262
Greeley: 970-475-0900
Surrounding States: 877-643-6148
​
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