staceyvalley.com

Disclosure: I was provided a free pair of booties from Arcopedico for review purposes. However, all comments here are my own opinion

Quinn, Maya, Lucy (Maya’s friend) and I hurried out the door, and we were the first in line to get in when the gates opened at 10 a.m. The small lockers are $8 for the day, and the large ones (which we got) are $12 for the day. Quinn got fitted with a life jacket, then we got our raft and climbed the stairs to the Cyclone. Quinn worked up a thirst riding the waves, so we left the older girls to play while Quinn and I walked over the concession area for a drink and a snack.

Many studies show that children whose parents tell and/or read stories to them from an early age turn out to be better readers and students later on. In part, the more stories we encounter, the more effectively our brains learn to work within the structure that most stories follow. Other brain researchers have found that different parts of the brain kick in when we encounter a story that comes with a visual image, such as on a TV or computer screen, versus when we encounter a story for which we fill in the visuals with our imaginations, as when we read alone, are read to, or listen to an audio. As a professional author and storyteller, a father, and the husband of an award-winning schoolteacher and counselor, I can attest firsthand that one of the most effective and most engaging ways to teach and to learn is through stories.

I can still picture the scene all these years later…the hot, black, asphalt parking lot that would burn your feet if you forgot your shoes, the round baby pool off to the left and the big L-shaped pool to the right as you entered the gate, the club house where we ordered delicious burgers and fries, the tall lifeguard chairs with the beautiful teenagers that manned the pool, and the late 70’s/ But one day last week, we decided to TAKE IT UP A NOTCH with a visit to WILD RIVER COUNTRY. My older two, Madison and Maya, ventured out on their own to ride the Accelerator, the Pipeline and a bunch of other rides while Quinn and I hung out at the Tad Pool. As a mom, it’s a good feeling to know that people are there at the park to keep everyone safe and focused on just having a good time.