We are a family of 5 with three kids ages 7,8 and 10. We had a wonderful time on Bonaire and were well prepared by communications on Bonairetalk.com.
ACCOMONDATIONS- The Bel Mar apartments were really a dream come true. We planned our trip over a year ago and everytime I looked at the picture of the Bel Mar I got so excited. I was afraid right before we came that I had built it up to be more than it was. I didn't. It was everything I thought and more. Sitting out on the patio, with the slight ocean breeze to keep you cooled down, with the ocean lapping at the ocean wall only a few feet away, watching the boats, pelicans, dolphins, airplanes(a safe distance away but fascinating to watch), occasional cruise ship, listening to the birds singing constantly and being in total awe of the sunset every evening. The staff were very helpful and friendly and the Toucan dive shop avaliable to help with anything. The Bel Mar appartments had everything including very comfortable beds! I met several visitors that just stayed there the whole time. You will need a car if you want to go into town or see the island.
FLIGHTS- We were totally prepared and had no problems. American to Curacao-ALM-Bonaire coming all the way from Oregon. We carried on important stuff(Bathing suits, windsurfing stuff, toothbrushes, snacks, medications, cammeras, regulators). People were very nice on all flights and a local person(after watching my face during take-off) told me ALM has never had an accident. We did meet several people from different flights(ALM, Jamaica both) who did not arrive with their stuff. Luck of the draw!
SEA AND DISCOVER WITH CAREN A MARINE BIOLOGIST- We(two families) signed up with Caren to get a basic education on Bonaire's Marine Environment. We spent a half of day with her and could of spent many days learning more! She is a Marine Biologist and has built a classroom on her property and has lots of hands on stuff that interested kids and parents. In fact the parents(3 doc's and a nurse) had to back off some because we were asking for and soaking up more detail than the kids wished to learn! She took us all on a snorkel and pointed out many things and took out friends on their first night snorkel which they loved. She has different programs for kids and she'll even pick them up and drop them off. We had signed our kids up but they had an experience with jellyfish on another trip(see below) and one had ear pain so we were unsure how compliant they would be.
AQUA KIDS WITH ANETTE AT TOUCAN DIVING- The kids had taken a snorkeling lesson with Annete when we first got there and learned a lot and loved Anette. This program has crafts, games, info about fish and the reefs and snorkeling and help if the kids can't stay in the water very long. We droped them off at the same place we got on the scuba boats and they were there waiting when we got back. Kids ranged from 3 or 4 to 10 while my kids were there so for some older kids it may have been too slow. My oldest loved it because she could help out with the little kids. They got to go on a boat ride to a different reef, try out SASSY(breathing through a tank while snorkeling but not going under water) and could of done Bubbles, which is as close to scuba diving they could get, if they had stayed all week. I felt my kids were very safe with Anette.
WOODWIND WITH RENE- We did take a morning snorkel trip with Rene on her boat to Kliene Bonaire and she sailed there. It was a small group and she was very accomondating- even taking one of our kids back to the shore for us so that we could keep snorkeling(see jellyfish below). She has a lot of other trips that sounded fun and I heard lots of positive comments from other people on Bonaire.
SNORKELING- We loved everything. You could see where the waves from Lenny had smashed a lot of the reefs(i think this is what others refered to as garbage) but there are a lot of fish because of this. We especially liked the northern reefs including one not on the map in the Santa barbara area off a pier called bagota i believe that Caren took us to. The wood platform at Lac Bay is supposed to have the best snorkeling on the island because it was totally protected from Lenny. Go to Jibe City and walk out to it on a not so windy day.The kids caught on very fast and a 3mm shorty worked fine to keep them warm and floating.
SCUBA DIVING- We went with Toucan diving out of the Bel Mar for the boat trips which are actually at the Plaza Resort. Very friendly and knowledgable and their store has all the supplies you could need even wet suits. We wished we would have waited and bought the kids snorkeling stuff there. The visability was pretty good but we had some windy days so I bet it can be better. Again the northern coast dives were our favorites with are last karpata being our favorite. Saw the same fish as snorkeling though the reefs and sponges and coral were so much more spectacular! Kliene Bonaire is suppossed to have great dives but the wind made it okay for us. The Hilmer Hook sunken boat dive I heard was good but our boat had already been there.
WINDSURFING- My husband had a real good time at Jibe City in lac Bay. He got to windsurf all but a couple of days. The bay is absolutely beautiful with shallow green-blue warm water knee to thigh deep all the way across. The sandy beach kept my kids entertained for hours when they wern't out trying to windsurf. My husband had a little problem hitting the bottom sometimes when the tide was out. I think he liked the windsurfing better at Margarita(an island owned by the Venezuelans near by) but the ability to snorkel, scuba dive and stay in such a comfortable setting all within easy access of each other made this perfect for our whole family.
RESTURANTS- We listened to all of you and had great meals out(preferred eating at our own apartment because of the setting and the kids happiness). Had rijsttafel at the "Old Inn"-Indonesian food eaten a lot by the dutch in Holland. It ended up being a huge sampling of everything very hearty and with lots of flavor. "It Rains Fishes" had a great crab shrimp coctail as part of it's special and it could have been a whole meal. You need reservations! "Richards" had a fantastic setting, excellent service, great sea food. They take reservations only for party's 6 or more. "De Tuin" for barbeque ribs in a patio- open house setting in town with excellent service. Had a bad experience at Zeezicht(choosen only because it was down the street from It Rains Fishes the first time we couldn't get in). They were very good about getting the kids their food(hamburgers are served if needed) but the food was so so and the wait for everything else long. We decided that "Bonaire Time" means waiting at least 30" for your bill after you are totally finished. For most vacationers this works fine because who is in a hurry but with kids who are tired this seemed like an eternity. The interesting thing is they don't seem to be concerned that it takes so long to get the bill. No sorry's or excuses or wondering why the kids are in our arms crying. This was another one of those waits and somewhere between the husbands leaving to watch the basketball games in the bar across the street and the kids running back and forth across the street I took my camera out of my bag to get my money and put it on the table or chair and there it stayed. When I went back to get it the next day no one had seen it or knew anything about it. The real bummer was it had all the film we had taken the first week including pictures of our friends that were just with us for one week. I went back several times but they said that it's the risk you take eating on the outside portion of the resturant.
WASHINGTON_SLAGBAAI NATIONAL PARK- We would suggest if you have the time visit this to do it. We wished we would have spent a whole day there instead of 3 quick hours. I copied information about the park off the internet and was glad because the info they handed out was minimal. Our kids called the trip our "Indiana Jones Adventure" because the road was very bumby and you felt like you were very far away somewhere. Best place to see Flamingoes on the whole island is in the park at the Boka Slagbaai. The lighthouse at malinok was great to explore with a good view from the top. We had an iguana experience(see below)
JELLYFISH, IGUANA"S, and FIRE ANTS-- Occassionally the wind brings jellyfish into all areas. Most of the time they are small ones that you never see but suddenly feel a good sting around a leg, arm or on your face. They said it was rare to have jelly fish like that but we heard several other people who got stung that week. A little boy got stung by a big one in Lac bay. While visiting the lighthouse at the park we started back to our car where our 7 yr old son had run ahead a little. Suddenly we looked up and there was William standing next to this huge iguana(height seemed half of his and body length at least 3 feet- and gets bigger as time goes on). It jumped towards him and bit him. By now 50-75 lizards several inches big were running out of the bushes to join him. They approached us with no fear and with aggressive behavior. Was this caused by people feeding them?
FIRE ANTS- I got bit by a black ant and over the next few days my toe turned red, swollen and hot. If this happens to you you are supposed to lance it with something the day after when the white bump forms to let it drain.
HELPFUL TIDBITS- Grocerries cheaper at the wherehouse more choice at the big supermarket. Car Rentals- when filling up gas car indicator reacts slowly-shows 3/4 tank actually full.

Happy to hear your family had a great time and that "our" input helped out. Masha danki for the report and helpful hints!

This is an addendum to Linda's report above. We went at the same time; we're friends from the same small town and planned the trip together. I'm too much of a slacker to write my own report...
Anyhow, I'd second all she said. A couple of things: Our family stayed at the Plaza and loved it, especially the huge rooms (we had a villa) and gorgeous bathroom. It was great to have access to both the Plaza (because of amenities and proximity to good snorkeling) and the BelMar (better apartments, I thought, and wonderful cocktail/sunset hour potential). We commented to each other, however, that we wouldn't like to have a small child at the BelMar; there's only about a 4 inch lip between you and a substantial drop to the sea!
Another thing that's maybe a "duh" but never occurred to me before our visit: I had NO desire to use the kitchen we went to extra expense to have! Normally I love to cook, even (maybe especially) on vacation, but the wonderful Caribbean atmosphere totally sapped all my ambition and we used our kitchen primarily for drinks, coffee, and snacks, leaving all our carefully bought groceries with the Densmores when we left. Be forewarned! I've already figured out that we can return in off season, get a suite, and save $100/night, plenty for dinners out. Finally I'd report that we, too, had a fabulous and very timely ALM experience. This primarily for those who are apprehensive about their already-booked passage. It really IS the luck of the draw. I've spent more travel time en route to the east coast than this took. We did, however, have overnights in Miami both ways and this took off a lot of the pressure.
Unbelieveable vacation, really; didn't understand the meaning of "relaxed" before Bonaire!

Do any of your kids have blue hair?

Um, no, why do you ask?

We were also at the BelMar during that time and there was a nice family there with a child that had recently colored the top of his hair blue. It actually matched the color of his swim suit! I just wondered if that was your family.