Nothing for kids to do here? Better look again ...

Perhaps nothing is quite as irritating as listening to people making sweeping generalizations without pausing to ever consider the facts.

One of our favorites among those comments -- favorites, as in fingernails-scraping-the-chalkboard favorites -- is the tired, old complaint: "There is nothing for kids to do in this town."

Fact, is there is much to do. Plenty to keep even the most active child busy.

Enough to wear some of us out just getting our kids to all the activities on time.

The thing is though, parents have to be willing to get involved and make sure their children have a way to get to these programs in order to participate.

Scouts, organized sports, recreation, education. Take your pick.

Hiking, biking? See anything to your liking?

For example, this week the Putnam County Playhouse has been conducting its annual Youth Theatre Workshop. Directors Tim Good and Caroline Good and other volunteers have been putting local youngsters through their theatrical paces and exposing them to both the stage and Shakespeare through interesting modifications to the classic Bard tale "Julius Caesar."

That Playhouse youth workshop was mentioned at a recent City Hall meeting, and one mother in attendance frowned, saying, "I didn't know anything about that."

In unison three others responded with: "It was in the paper."

Not only was it in the paper, but it was online, on the radio and all over the Playhouse facility itself. We'd be willing to bet that someone even mentioned it on Facebook.

Again, parents need to be aware and involved if they want their children to do likewise.

The Playhouse workshop is just one example. And if you played your cards right, your kids could even have gone to the Putnam County Public Library Tween Book Club early in the afternoon and still made it to the theater workshop on time later.

Pressed for time to take care of lunch on your rounds? The library and schools have that covered too with participation in the USDA Summer Feeding Program (conducted through Greencastle Schools), which comes to PCPL Monday through Friday from 12:55-1:30 p.m. The mobile food unit also has free lunch available for kids at Robe-Ann Park from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. as well as at Deer Meadow and Ridpath schools from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Hey, there is such a thing as a free lunch!

Meanwhile, your kids can relax and cool off at the city pool, although it does require an admission fee, or simply partake of the new Bob York Memorial Splash Park, which has free admission for cooling off on hot summer days. That's if they haven't had enough time in the water with swim lessons or summer swim team action.

The Greencastle Park and Recreation Department has published an entire catalog of programs it conducts. Pick one of those up at City Hall.

Meanwhile, the library has already had a movie night this summer, and next Tuesday will offer a free "Just Dance Off" program for kids of all ages from 2-3 p.m.

And at just about any point in time during this portion of the summer, vacation Bible school is under way at one or more of the local churches.

So it's quite a busy summer if you stay involved and inspire your children to be active and take part in fulfilling activity.

Just don't let them complain that "there's nothing to do."