SW FL Parent & Child Staff
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
Bell Tower Halloween Spooktacular
Hundreds of costumed trick-or-treaters and their parents went to Bell Tower's Halloween Spooktacular on October 26. The kids went door-to-door for candy and snacks. Plus in the Center Court, there were pony rides and a dance party. Read more
Getty Images
Get cash for kids’ Halloween candy
On Halloween night, kids all over Southwest Florida hit the streets in costume to collect as much candy as they can carry. To save their pearly whites, dentists and orthodontists in the area often offer to buy back kids' candy. Read more
Amanda Inscore
Global Big Latch On events in SWFL promote breastfeeding
This weekend, the Global Big Latch On celebrates 10 years of bringing moms together to breastfeed all at once around the world. Lee Health is hosting two events, one in Cape Coral, another in Estero. Read more
Kinfay Moroti/The News-Press
Back-to-school sales tax holiday starts Friday, Aug. 2
In Florida, all families can buy back-to-school clothes, shoes and supplies — including computers — and pay no sales tax August 2-6. Read more
Everything you need to know about going back to school in SW FL
We rounded up the big back-to-school questions and posed them to the appropriate experts in the community to get you answers. Read more
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
United Way seeks ReadingPals volunteers
United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee is recruiting volunteers for the United Way ReadingPals program to read to 4- and 5-year-olds at 19 school sites in Lee and Hendry counties. Read more
Courtesy of Lipman Family Farms
School supply drives and giveaways
Several organizations in Southwest Florida are collecting school supplies for teachers and for students in need. Plus, several events are planned to distribute free supplies to families. Read more
RyanJLane Getty Images
New drivers can win dream trip in Lee County Tax Collector contest
The Lee County Tax Collector launched an Instagram contest for new drivers Tuesday called #LCTCRockTheRoad. Read more
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
PAW Patrol returns to Mann Hall on July 30, 31
PAW Patrol Live! is coming back to Southwest Florida this summer and tickets are now on sale. In “Race to the Rescue,” the heroic pups from the PAW Patrol series take the stage with Bunraku puppetry at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Read more
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11+ ways to celebrate Apollo 11 moon mission's 50th anniversary
You’re likely to hear a lot about space this summer. There’s a big 50th anniversary coming up: the first time humans set foot on the moon. Here are numerous ways to celebrate, both locally and at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Read more
5 Things: Out of this world
Encourage young imaginations to take off and explore the mysteries of space with these great finds in honor of the moon mission’s 50th anniversary. Read more
#momtruths: Cat & Nat are coming to Southwest Florida
Being a mom gets messy, though, and Cat and Nat — Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer — tackle it head on. Read more
The Summer of Free Stuff
This year must be the Summer of Free Stuff. We’re getting notifications about all sorts of freebies for kids and families. Read more
Jack Hardman/The News-Press file photo
Where to celebrate Fourth of July
We created a special event search just for Fourth of July and fireworks events coming up in Southwest Florida, in Collier and Lee counties. Read more
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
New hands-on IMAG exhibit uses AR to show how watersheds work
The IMAG History & Science Center has a new interactive exhibit: an augmented reality sandbox. Read more
Courtesy of Groupon
Florida can't stand dad jokes, according to new 'study'
We just had to share this Father's Day relevant research. You see, Groupon Coupons took on one of society's most pressing questions (that's mom sarcasm there): Which states love dad jokes the most? And which the least? Read more
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
Applebee's honors two Southwest Florida teachers
Two Southwest Florida teachers are among 11 educators honored by Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar’s annual Above and “BEE”yond Teacher Essay Contest. Read more
New preschool coming to Cape Coral
Kid’s World Preschool is opening a second location in Cape Coral. The new 10,000-square-foot building is designed by Art Catellanos of Castellanos + Tramonte Architects. Construction is expected to begin this fall. Read more
Wellfit Girls
Wellfit Girls expands with two new programs
Girls in Collier County have new options to help them gain confidence and fitness through two programs by Wellfit Girls. Read more
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
Sarah Georgiana of 'Dance Moms' coming to Southwest Florida
Dance got her to potty train. Now she's one of the stars of "Dance Moms" Season 8 on the Lifetime Network. This weekend, Sarah Georgiana is coming to meet and dance with Southwest Florida kids. Read more