No youngster in Wichita must ever complain to a
parent or caregiver that “there’s nothing to do.” From
summer camp at
Music Theatre for Young People
and
Wichita Children’s Theatre and
Dance Center to
swimming and tennis lessons at the Genesis Club, the
city brims with kid-sized opportunities for learning and
fun.
Of course, there’s
baseball,
soccer:
•
AYSO Region 105 for
Haysville/South Wichita
554-9997
•
AYSO Region 207 for Central
Wichita
•
AYSO Region 208 for West Wichita
721-4976
•
AYSO Region 253 for Valley Center
755-4440
•
AYSO Region 491 for Clearwater
620-584-4625
Biddy Basketball and
Wichita Youth League football,
but there’s also Wichita Shooting Stars youth archery
and figure skating at the city’s downtown
ice rink
and tae kwon do lessons at the
YMCA
or other local academies. Learn
swordplay at the
Wichita Academy of Fencing.
Try
Junior Golf.
Take a racquetball lesson at the
Derby Recreation Commission.
Join a
hockey league.
Sail a boat on the Arkansas River
in classes offered through the Wichita Boathouse, a
venue that will also put kids in a rowing scull for some
more strenuous exercise. Attend a cheerleading clinic or
a girls’ volleyball clinic. Go to the Wichita Table
Tennis Center and discover how much fun lies inside a
little ball of hollow plastic. Pay a little for a lot of
play at
All Star Sports Entertainment East
& West and Go fishing
at Watson Park.
Wichita kids have every opportunity to learn ballet
(Metropolitan
Ballet), pottery (Wichita
Center for the Arts),
horticulture (Botanica),
Native American culture (Mid-America
All-Indian Center), the
interactivity of visual art (Wichita
Art Museum and City Arts),
wildlife (Great
Plains Nature Center),
astronomy (Lake
Afton Public Observatory),
general science (Exploration
Place) and animal
science (Sedgwick
County Zoo).
Just opened last year is Wichita’s newest
world-class attraction, Exploration Place. This $62
million state-of-the-art science center, children’s
museum and outdoor recreation plaza promotes learning
and fun for all ages in ways never-before experienced.
Featuring four major indoor exhibit pavilions, a
miniature golf course, the “Turbo Ride” simulation
theater and a park with a community-built science and
arts playground, Exploration Place has been recognized
locally and nationally as a “must-do” experience.
Kids need time to be kids, but for the rest of the
day there will always be something structured, something
enjoyable and educational waiting just down the street
in Wichita. For even more information on different
things to do in the Wichita area, you can visit
www.visitwichita.com.
Finding Child Care
In
Wichita, the Child Care Association, seeks to bring
families and professionals together in relationships
that will support the safe, healthy growth and
development of children. The association also serves as
a clearinghouse of information for childcare
professionals and an ideal referral source for parents.
There are many childcare centers throughout Wichita
that work closely with local companies to provide an
economical child care situation for their employees.
Kansas Dance Academy
For more
than 15 years, Kansas Dance Academy has been one of
Wichita's favorite dance studios for children ages 3-99.
The professional, adult staff is here to educate and
teach Wichita's children and adults the art of dance
through ballet, jazz and tap. The Kansas Dance Academy
has earned numerous awards for performance and
choreography.
Kansas Dance Academy is home to "Dance Theatre For
Young People" the performing company of Kansas Dance
Academy. "DTYP" was formed 15 years ago to provide young
dancers a training ground to improve their performance
and dance skills to better prepare them for a career in
dance.
Whether you want a career in dance, to try out for
the school dance team or just love to dance, you will
find a place at "KDA." Under the direction of Diane Gans,
you will find a family - oriented atmosphere and staff
dedicated to teaching the art of dance to all ages.
Scouting
Wichita Boy Scouts are part of the Quivira Council,
a group of approximately 500 scouting units scattered
across 19 counties in south central Kansas. These
scouting troops serve around 15,000 boys through the
active participation of approximately 5,000 adult
volunteers.
Boys may become a Cub Scout (first through fifth
grade) or Boy Scout (sixth grade on) at any time during
the year. Boys with disabilities or special needs are
always welcome. Usually, troops meet weekly in pursuit
of merit badges concerning camping, first aid, hiking,
conservation and dozens of other educational and
enjoyable activities. Individual and group goals are
stressed. Additional information on Boy Scouts in the
Wichita area is available from
www.quivira.org.
The Wichita Area Girl Scout Council is the premier
organization for the development of any interested girl
or young woman between the ages of five and 17
throughout Butler, Cowley, Harvey, Sedgwick and Sumner
counties. Almost 3,000 adult volunteers support
approximately 10,000 girls in activities where they can
develop their talents, learn to relate to others,
discover values and contribute positively to their
community.
Troops are usually school or church-based, serving
one of the five age levels. The volunteers work to
ensure that every girl who wants to belong to Girl
Scouts is given the opportunity to participate and that
the girl’s needs and interests are met in the process.
For more information, contact the Wichita Area Girl
Scouts at
www.girlscouts.org.
|
PARENTING RESOURCES |
Wichita Family Svcs.
Institute
American Red Cross Health & Safety Services
Child Care Association
Kansas Department of Social and Rehab. Services
• Income Assistance
• Child Support Enforcement
• Child Protective Services
• Youth Services
Kansas Children’s Service League
• Child Abuse Prevention
• 24-Hour Crisis Line
Lutheran Social Service
YWCA
Parent Helpline 263-KIDS
Starting Point: Delinquency Prevention Program
Wichita Child Guidance Ctr.
Wichita Mothers of Twins Club
Heartspring
Make A Difference
Rainbows United
CSFP
Food program for pregnant women;
postpartum women w/ children under 1;
children 1-6 not on WIC; & people + 60
Gerard House
Support for pregnant women 14+
Wichita-Sedgwick County Dep. of Public Health
• Immunization (open M-F til 7pm)
• Healthy Start; pregnancy test,
Prevention of Prematurity Project,
Prenatal care |
269-0488
268-0842
682-1853
337-7000
337-6585
337-6601
337-6601
942-4261
943-2243
686-6645
263-7501
1-800-332-6378
383-7725
686-6671
721-3765
634-8700
1-800-332-6262
-7060
267-0511
832-0777
268-8441
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Heartspring
For the Wichita community, Heartspring offers a
wide range of services. The Growing Place at Heartspring
provides early intervention and outpatient services
including speech/language, occupational, behavioral and
physical therapies, and hearing services for infants and
young children. Kid-Checks (free developmental paper
screenings), comprehensive assessments, and other
outpatient services that focus on speech/language
development, fine and gross motor skills, hearing,
augmentative communication, and eating and drinking
skills are available. The Growing Place also helps
children and families deal with such issues at
discipline, anger, social problems, sleep disorders and
family communication. Our licensed, doctorate level
psychologists specialize in the treatment of children
across the full developmental spectrum.
Heartspring School serves children from across the
country between the ages of 5 and 21 with multiple
disabilities including physical, mental and behavioral.
Each child receives consistent reinforcement of
communication skills, behavioral skills and life skills
in every setting…home, classroom and community. This
method, applied in an atmosphere of love and reward
frequently results in measurable improvement and a more
fulfilling life.
Dr. Martin F. Palmer founded Heartspring (formerly
the Institute of Logopedics) in 1934 based on the
philosophy that "a person's ability to communicate is
paramount to leading a meaningful and productive life."
More than 60 years later, Heartspring continues to
emphasize meeting the needs of individuals with
disabilities through its unique programs that integrate
education, physical, medical, psychological, and social
services in one location. In 1998, Heartspring moved to
its new campus, a beautiful 38 acre facility located at
8700 E. 29th St. North in Wichita. Contact Heartspring
for more information at
www.heartspring.org.
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