I was like six years old in the summer of 1978 when Olivia Newton John and John Travolta gave me “Grease” mania. Millions like me had chills and they were multiplying; which is strange because, as I recall, that summer was super humid.

Just down the hall, Jaws 2 was showing (at least in my three-decade old recollection of things). Boy, did I want to see what all the hype was about that shark! But alas, I was just six, and the Pink Ladies and Greasers were more my speed.

Those were the first Summer Blockbusters I recall being old enough to give a hoot about. To this day, I remain a fan of musicals and sharks—though the latter I admire from afar.

There is something about the Summer Blockbuster in our culture. Kids are out of school, parents have more hours of daylight on their side and we all love entertainment, soda and popcorn!

So what’s hot for family movies in the summer of 2012? I’m so glad I asked. The link below offers all the details, but of course I offer my own thoughts for your consideration.

Because I have two kids, chances are pretty decent I will actually see some of these movies and I will accept your kudos (or condolences) in advance.

“Battlefield America”

“Battlefield America” is coming your way on June 1 st and promises to bring some ‘street cred.’ Dancing, athleticism, bad boys… Calling all Tweens! I might skip this one, but it has junior-high HIT written all over it.

“Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted”

“Madagascar 3” hits theaters June 8th. How I managed to miss its predecessors is beyond me. Anyway, the gang trudges around Europe and you’ll be happy to hear that Chris Rock and Ben Stiller will lend their voices to the cause once again.

“Brave”

“Brave” looks like it will be right up my kids’ alley. It’s from Pixar, it has a female protagonist, it’s a fairy tale and there’s a princess… Basically, if you have girls, you might as well put it on your calendar: June 22nd.

“Ice Age: Continental Drift”

If you notice a chill in mid-July, fear not, “Ice Age” is simply arriving at a theater near you. And, those familiar voices you hear are those of Dennis Leary, Queen Latifah and Jennifer Lopez. As the “Ice Age” franchise has earned nearly a billion at the box office thus far, you can bet it will be a cool place to take your kiddos this summer. Starts July 13th.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days”

My daughter and I will be seeing “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” on or around August 3rd. I will support any movie or television show that encourages my kid to take an interest in reading. Thank you, thank you Wimpy Kid series!

“The Odd Life of Timothy Green”

“The Odd Life of Timothy Green” looks like a sleeper to me. I think it will have appeal for those adults who will do anything to avoid a rainy day in the house with kids and prefer something non-animated. It’s billed as an off-beat fantasy, stars Jennifer Garner and is brought to us from Peter Hedges, writer of “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?,” “About a Boy” and “Dan in Real Life.” Look for it August 15th.

“ParaNorman”

With a cute concept and an even cuter name, “ParaNorman” arrives on the big screen August 17th. It looks like a total winner for any kid who feels a little out of place or slightly uncool. Essentially, Norman is called to save the day and defeat monsters, ghosts, zombies, witches and the occasional clueless grownup! The stop-motion animation flick is brought to us by the same folks responsible for the Oscar-nominated, “Coraline.”

Have a great summer, kids!