Take a Trip To The Tampa's Lowery Park Zoo

On May 11, 2002 Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo introduced Wallaroo Station, a 4.5 acre Australian-themed family area, where thousands of families with young children have enjoyed an interactive Australian adventure. The hands-on, family-friendly features helped the Zoo secure top honors from two national parenting magazines: Parents, "10 Best Zoos," (2009); and Child, "The 10 Best Zoos for Kids" (2004).

Earlier this year, Wallaroo Station temporarily closed for remodeling - the first significant updating of this award-winning attraction in its 13 year history. Newly re-opened for spring, guests to the "new Wallaroo" can expect this Aussie area to be even more "Auss-ome" with new animals and upgraded amenities, including:

* a female Queensland koala named "Ceduna" (a mate for our male "Heathcliff");

* "Bushland Birds" habitat with feathered friends and Fiji-banded iguanas;

* more water features in "The Billabong" splash ground;

* redesigned cafe with "grab and go" food and beverage;

* expanded dining area with additional seats and shade canopies;

* a new nursing mothers area with baby-friendly features;

* a new and fun ride for young children - Lil' Joeys Caravan;

* new midway games and activities;

* ponies on parade (twice daily) and a goat show; and

* livestock training demonstrations with ponies and llamas.

EXPLORE

Take a trip to the "Land of Oz" and visit a variety of animals of Australia and its neighbors including koala, wallabies, cockatoos, emu, singing dogs and flying fox bats. Help welcome the newest Aussie additions - a female Queensland koala named "Ceduna," colorful birds and Fiji-banded iguanas, and take a walkabout with the wallabies in their walk-thru exhibit. The petting area features a herd of friendly goats that children can brush, pet and feed. Adjacent to the petting area, families can step into a barn that houses Haflinger horses and llamas. Don't miss the new daily pony parade, goat show and livestock training demonstrations!

PLAY

The newly upgraded "Billabong" water play area takes kids "down under" to an interactive splash zone with in-ground fountains and free standing water features. Try your hand at new midway games with the chance to win prizes and souvenirs, or go mining for gems and fossils at the new Hopper's Mining Company.

RIDE

Children can take a spin on one of five fun rides: the NEW Lil Joey's Caravan, Tasmanian Tiger Family Roller Coaster, Overland Express Kiddie Train, Boomer's Flyin' Bananas and Outback Bumper Boats.

REFRESH

Parents can enjoy added shade while their little joeys cool off in the water play area. Next door is Boomer's Cafe, a redesigned grab-and-go restaurant offering a variety of freshly prepared foods and drinks. A "mommy center," designed for nursing mothers, provides shade and privacy for infants and caregivers.

About Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in education, conservation and research. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and has been rated No. 1 by Parents magazine, "10 Best Zoos," (2009) and Child magazine, "The 10 Best Zoos for Kids" (2004). The Zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48) and is open seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Parking is free. Visit www.LowryParkZoo.org or call (813) 935-8552 for information. Also find the Zoo on Facebook and Twitter.

Enjoy the Savings! Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo has offered to give my readers $3 off Zoo Admission! http://floridaparentsguide.com/coupon.php?regionid=405&bid=12004&lid=16613&dealid=1941 @L
 

MOTIVATE YOUR CHILD ACTION PLAN BOOK REVIEW

Motivate your child action Plan Book Review

I’m doing a book review for a book called Motivate Your Child Action Plan by Dr. Scott Truansky and Joanne Miller, RN,BSN.  After reading this book, I sincerely believe they wrote this book because they have a heart to help revolutionize parents and provide with tools that will build internal motivation in the hearts of their children.

Would you like to see a positive change in your child and can use some help?   If so, then, I recommend this book to you because number one, this book is about crafting unique strategies, tools, and ideas that  helps you see things from a different perspective and help your child to move from where he or she is right now to where he or she needs to be.  Number two, this book shows you how to develop godly strategies that will maximize the work you will do with your child in order to bring about a heart change because change in the heart is much more powerful than behavior adjustment.  According to the author, their methods have worked for thousands, but the book doesn’t guarantee change will take place because children are not robots under your will.  However; it assures that you will learn how to position yourself in such a way that you will be doing all you can to influence a more positive change in your child’s behavior, and it has many illustrations that you can choose from. 

Throughout the book, you will find a lot of scriptures quoted from the bible because it’s based on biblical facts, the teachings of Jesus, and Christian principles, so if you are a parent who does not practice the Christian faith, then this probably wouldn’t be a book that you may want to read, but then again, you never know.   If you’re a person who hates to read, then I would recommend that you get the audio sessions from their website. Also, you will find a lot of other resources that provide hope and encouragement for families. It also has some church solutions as well and live seminars that are helpful. http://www.biblicalparenting.org/actionplanaudio.asp

Personally, I’m happy to learn about this book because it offers so much for so little! This book to has already served as a wonderful resource for me as I’m always on the lookout for information that can help me with my parenting skills as I raise my intelligent, energetic,  autistic son because as we all know, children do not come with instructions.    

PS. You can get the eBook for only $2.99 at this website. www.biblicalparenting.com/motivateyourchild.

Recap:  You will learn:
• How to build a strong conscience to strengthen internal motivation
• How faith changes kids in practical, down-to-earth ways
• Ways to help self-focused kids think of others
• A strategy to help kids who tend to blame, rationalize, or defend
• Ways to use consequences for heart change
• Specific heart-based strategies to develop responsibility and initiative