Summer Fun at First Chance for Children

Summer = fun in the sun, water play, active games, outdoor adventures, and family time! 

We’ve created a “Summer Games” activity kit that will give you so many opportunities for new playful learning experiences with your little ones:

  • Sun safety tips and activities
  • Water safety tips and activities
  • Host a family olympics & games that get even our tiniest kids moving
  • Nature discovery activities in Xplor magazine
  • CoMo Parks and Recreation Park Challenge activity
  • 100 activities to do outside this summer
  • Plus, we have a mini-kit just for Dads to recognize International Fathers’ Mental Health Day on June 21, 2021!

In the kit, you’ll find essential summer fun supplies such as toddler sunglasses, sunscreen, toy boat, mini inflatable beach ball, sidewalk chalk, streamers, craft sticks, paper plates, construction paper, Youth Activities Directory, Xplor magazine, CoMo Park Challenge brochure, and snacks! 

June 21st, 2021 is International Fathers’ Mental Health Day 

To raise awareness for International Fathers’ Mental Health Day, First Chance for Children has created a mini-kit just for dads! Dads will receive a special children’s book Dada by Jimmy Fallon, small journal, pen, travel lotion, and cool dad stickers – plus tips, articles, and resources to strengthen dads’ mental health. 

How do I get a kit?

The activity kits are free to local families with young children ages 0-5. If this is your first time participating in a First Chance program or activity, fill out our online enrollment form HERE.

Kits are given out first come, first serve while supplies last. Pick up an activity kit at one of our summer events (see schedule below), diaper drive thru events, weekly Columbia L&L curbside hours, or contact Charity to request delivery. Curbside pick up hours are on Tuesdays 9am-11am & Thursdays 1pm-3pm. 

Want to print the activities from home? You can download and print them HERE!

The Summer Games kit will be our final monthly play-at-home activity kit! Since the pandemic started, we’ve created 15 different activity bags with a full months’ worth of crafts, games, play ideas, supplies, books and snacks! From Messy to Creatures to Mindfulness kits, we’ve given away over 1,000 play-at-home kits to families with young children this past year. We have heard from many of you about how these kits have helped your child gain new skills and reduce your stress as a parent. 

We are still committed to partnering with you in providing playful learning experiences through our Lend & Learn program. We will be shifting our focus to in-person outdoor events over the summer and reopening our Lend & Learn play spaces in the fall.

Summer Educators Kit

We have created a Summer Educators Kit designed for Early Childhood Educators with essential summer resources including mental health resources for dads, a resource spotlight on Columbia Parks and Recreation, printable First Chance summer events schedule, 3 paper plate preschool activities, and a printable water safety infographic. Download the Summer Educators Kit HERE.

Summer Events

We are hosting 3 free outdoor events this summer for kids ages 0-5 and their families:. Here’s the schedule:

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

June 9 – 10am-12pm

Hindman Discovery Garden 2300 E Walnut St, Columbia MO 65201

Nature Hike & Explore event hosted with MO River Relief

July 13 – 10am-12pm 

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Devil’s Icebox  MO-163 S

Douglass Park Splash & Play

August 10 – 10am-12pm  400 N Providence Rd

Family Fun Fests

First Chance will also be participating in the Family Fun Fests with the City of Columbia on the 3rd Wednesdays starting in June, 5-8 pm. Each event will be held at a different park. Entertainment for the entire family that includes music, food trucks, live performances, art activities, hands-on learning, face painting, balloon art, and fun for all. 

Print a flyer with all our summer events HERE.