OCCOM Childcare. Advice on caring for a 7-year old girl.

It sounds like you've got some cool ideas, Bill, but here's a selection of things I found on a quick scan of the web. I bolded the ones that sounded especially good, though a movie at City Place might be fun, too. Another fun thing for a girl that age is to cook. Ask her what she wants to eat and whether she'd like to help make it. You might be surprised. Maybe you two could make dinner for her hard-working mom one night.

Also, consider getting a disposable camera and letting her take photographs to remember her "Week with Uncle Bill"....

......... OK -- FUN THINGS..............
First off, if you can afford it, rent a jetski and take her cruising. Kids LOVE this.

Club Jet Ski, 311 E. Blue Heron Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL. 561-842-2582

Intracoastal Jet Ski Rental, 700 Casa Loma Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL. 561-735-0612

Oceanside Beach Service, 1165 Blue Heron Boulevard, Singer Island, Florida. 561-881-8116 FAX: 561-882-0162

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Here are some other kid activities from the Palm Beach Convention Center website:

Calypso Bay Waterpark
151 Lamstein Lane
Seminole Palms Park
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 790-6160

Cool off at this exciting waterpark featuring an 870' river ride, two four-story high water slides, children's interactive water playground and lily pads, and a lap pool with two diving boards. Full-service food concession available.


CityPlace
700 South Rosemary Ave.
Suite 200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 366-1000

One of the largest mixed-use urban developments in the country, comprised of 600,000 square feet of retail, including ten restaurants, a 20-screen theater, open-air plaza, cultural arts theater and 570 private residences.


Coconut Cove Waterpark & Recreation Center
11200 Park Access Road
South County Regional Park
Boca Raton, FL 33498
(561) 274-1140

Coconut Cove Waterpark, like Calypso Bay, is the beach alternative, with plenty of twists. Take in the sun and fresh air while enjoying the Sea Monster Walk Pool, Twin Tubes Water Slides, waterfalls and a tubing river. The park is open on weekends through May, then everyday from June 1 to August 13; back again to weekends from August 14 to September 2; and it's closed during the winter until March (special spring break hours). Children under 3 admitted free.


DivaDuck Amphibious Tours, LLC
501 Clematis Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 844-4188

It's a boat! It's a bus! It's DivaDuck! Exciting amphibious tour over land and sea is fun for everyone. Fully narrated musical tour is 75 minutes, departing from CityPlace (near FAO Schwarz) in downtown West Palm Beach. Adults $19.95 Kids (4-10yrs) $9.95 Under 4yrs FREE!

Lion Country Safari
2003 Lion Country Safari Road
Loxahatchee, FL 33470
(561) 793-1084

Two great parks, one low price! Exciting 4.2-mile drive-through safari with a thousand animals roaming free PLUS relaxing walk-through park with Animal Theater, petting zoo, Lory bird feeding exhibit, boat tour, paddle boats, miniature golf, restaurant, gift shops and picnic area. KOA campground.


Norton Museum of Art
1451 South Olive Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 832-5196

The Museum is internationally distinguished for its permanent collection featuring 19th and 20th century European, American, Chinese and Contemporary art, photography and works on paper. View special exhibitions and attend lectures and education programs for children and adults. Shop in the Museum store and have lunch in Café 1451.


Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
1301 Summit Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
(561) 533-0887

Intimate 23-acre tropical garden is home to more than 600 animals. Visit the Zoo's new Orientation Plaza and Interactive Show Fountain. Enjoy a tropical lunch at the waterfront Tropics Café.


Sailfish Marina, Resort & 2 Waterfront Restaurants
98 Lake Drive
Palm Beach Shores, FL 33404
(561) 844-1724
(800) 446-4577

Kids and grown-ups alike love to feed the fish along the seawall at our "Seawall Aquarium." There are over 150 species of fish around the seawall and docks at the Marina.


Sandoway House Nature Center
142 South Ocean Blvd.
Delray Beach, FL 33483
(561) 274-7263

World class shell collection, historical house, shark pool and butterfly garden.


South Florida Science Museum
4801 Dreher Trail North
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
(561) 832-1988

Hands-on science center, aquarium, planetarium, museum store, weekend Sci-Fi movies, observatory, laser concerts and science trail. Permanent and traveling exhibits. Family-oriented activities for all ages. Open 363 days a year.


Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds
9067 Southern Blvd.
P.O. Box 210367
West Palm Beach, FL 33421
(561) 793-0333
(800) 640-FAIR

Watch quilters, broom-makers, candle-makers, weavers, spinners and other artisans ply their early 20th century crafts.

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Children's Museum
Boca Raton - (561) 368-6875

Hoffman's Chocolate Shoppe & Gardens
Greenacres - (561) 967-2213

Montana...have you played "tape faces" with Bill yet? Make him put tape on his nose, then pull the other end of the tape up and stick it to his forehead. He will look like a pig!!!

You can make him look Chinese, too. Put some tape at the outer corners of his eyes and pull.

Let us know what else you come up with, okay?

HAVE FUN!!!

Oh my gosh look what Piffka did!

She is such a mom! :-D

(That's a compliment!)

(Craven will probably accuse me of being matronizing again, now... sigh...)

Thanks much Piffka. My condo is right between Club Jet Ski and City Place. I think we'd have to ask mom about Jet Ski's though. As coincidence will have it; we just finished making and eating breakfast. Who knew how much fun cracking eggs is? lol, Morgan say ME!... She still hasn't brushed her teeth though (hint, hint).

Bill- I would be leery about Jet Skis. There IS a certain amount of danger involved.

Sounds like you're having fun, Bill. Jet skis scare me....

Brush your teeth, please, Morgan! ;-)

Bill is taking very good care of me so do not be mad at him about the cheese problem.

Cool, Bill, you're in the middle of fun city.

Yep, Soz, you know I'm a mom! Doesn't it look like there are lots of fun things to do in Palm Beach for kids?

Phoenix, I know that jetskis are a little scary, yes, but that's what makes them fun. Definitely should get mom's OK, though. Many people are careful with them and do just fine.

Cheese problem? Cheese in eggs is good. Cheese in teeth is just gross. Brush those teeth.

Hiya Morgan! Welcome to A2K. I'm from Canada. Maybe uncle Bill could tell you about where all of us come from, take out an atlas and have him point out all the foreign locals.

In case it rains........you could do a craft day, painting or clay.

Go Camping Bill, you've got a couple of days, explore the great outdoors. I hear there's some pretty big crocs or gators to check out down there. That could be fun.

Ceili- What a great idea about the atlas!

Piffka, the "cheese problem" regards being obliged to wear a large wedge of Wisconsin cheddar on one's head . . .

Ok, the little politician has brushed her teeth. The trick seems to be to get a "pinky swear" on agreements (otherwise they are not binding). She found a fishing pole and wants to fish off my pier but I think I left my tackle box on the boat (15 miles away). Is there anything in my refrigerator that salt water fish will like? She thinks they will like bread.

Can't you get a bucket of chum nearby?

Maybe some sharp cheddar?

As babysitter, btw, you are supposed to be sure she doesn't get a sunburn -- hat, sunblock, etc.

WAAAAAAAA WAAAAAAAA THIS PERSON CAN'T GO HA HA AT MY JOKES IN SCHOOL .HELP!

Pinky swears are binding by law, so don't be agreeing on things you won't be able to honour.
Fish like worms don't they, you could dig up a bucket full.

Or you could teach her to make bark lures. They won't be ready today but she may get a kick out of it anyway.

Takes thin long strips of bark, roll them up tightly, like a cinamone roll, stick a pin through to dry, and wait. When full dried, they will unravell slowly, looking like a worm in the water, and they wont get waterlogged.

(she's talking about some girl at school).
No bait shop real near by. Just residences. How about pre-packaged Albacore Tuna?

Might work, is it packed in water, or in oil?

She's worried we might catch a tuna, and it won't know it's eating itself.
Packed in Water (very little) in a 3 oz packet not a can.

Probably wouldn't work, Boss, it has to diffuse in the water so the fish can "smell" it . . .