"I'm

bored." (Note: Read that in a whiny voice and

stretch out the word bored to last close to 30 seconds).

Have you

heard that a million times already this summer (and

summer officially began today)? Well, there are ways to

quash that boredom and not all of them require money or a

chair, a corner and duct tape. There are tons of options

and activities available for you and your children. Here

are just a few.

If it is

too hot or too rainy (I wish) outside and you need to

stay around the house, pique your kids' interests with

some simple arts and crafts ideas. Collages are a

relatively simple and mess-free activity. All you need

are a poster board, old magazines and newspapers,

scissors and either tape or glue. Tape can be more

manageable and allow for pictures to be moved many times

over. Offer up some possible theme ideas and let the

children go nuts.

Another

great activity is to encourage kids to create their own

games. Card games like Pokemon would be easy to create

with construction paper, markers and an imagination.

Board games also are easy to create and again all you

need is a poster board, crayons or markers dice and small

toys (like army men) to be game pieces.

Other

staying-at-home options that don't require plopping in

front of daytime TV are reading books (perhaps one of

your favorite books), creating a story or play, drawing,

coloring, making sock puppets or even baking.

These ideas

will work some of the time and then you just have to get

out of the house. There are lots of fun places in the

area that can be a great source of entertainment and

amusement. First and foremost is Dixieland Fun Park.

There are two mini-golf courses, two race tracks, bumper

boats, batting cages, an arcade, a Lazer Tag game and a

small children's area. The prices for these activities

vary, but it is closer than Six Flags and much less

expensive.

Also

available in the Fayette County area are bowling alleys,

roller skating rinks, libraries with summer reading

clubs, recreation departments that offer camps and

classes and of course, movie theaters. The bowling alley

is on Ga. Highway 85 past the Fayette Pavilion. A roller

skating rink is in the same complex and another rink is

in Peachtree City near the post office. Movies 10, the

dollar theater in Banks Station in Fayetteville, offers a

different kid show at 10 a.m. every week.

Now, if

you're feeling daring, there are tons of options around

regionally. The crown jewel is Six Flags Over Georgia.

The amusement park features tons of exciting rides, games

and shows and there are many deals to be had (check out

your local Kroger and the backs of Coke cans for

specifics). Tied in with Six Flags is Whitewater, a water

amusement park that is a great place to cool off during

the hot, hot summer. How nice that they don't have to bow

to the water restrictions.

Also in the

Atlanta area are SciTrek, a hands-on science museum aimed

at the kids; Fernbank, a science museum for everybody;

The Center for Puppetry Arts, featuring puppet shows,

create-a-puppet workshops and a museum; The World of

Coca-Cola, an entire museum dedicated to Coke; the High

Museum of Art, and many, many more.

Summer can

either feel eternal or fleeting, the choice is yours. As

long as you maintain a positive attitude and remain

excited about the activities that you and your children

are involved in, you will have a blast and will stay

cool.

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