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Children’s Festival at USF has plenty to keep kids busy

Posted Mar 4, 2010 by Beth Gaddis

Updated Mar 4, 2010 at 10:53 AM

It’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend in the Tampa Bay area, and if you’re looking for something fun to do with your kids, head over to the Children’s Festival at the University of South Florida’s College of Education.  It runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Lowry Park Zoo and Nature’s Classroom will bring animals the children can touch and observe.  There will be lots of activities, including a “photo booth” that allows kids to manipulate their images to get a funhouse-mirror look and then e-mail the pictures to themselves or others.  Another popular activity is sure to be “Garage Band,” which allows kids to sing and play different instruments.  Plus, kids can poke around the XRKade Research Lab and enjoy “exergaming” and other interactive games. 

There’s stuff for parents too, including learning how to use play therapy, art therapy and songs to help children cope with their fears, anger and other emotions.  Associate professor Jennifer Baggerly has lots of good tips, some of which she shared with me during an interview last week.  Read the story.

The festival is geared toward ages 3 to 13 and is free.  Parking is also free; just look unreserved spaces surrounding the College of Education.

USF is at 4202 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa.

Photo from USF

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