Years in Review

Remember when?

ADDED February 10, 2010

My son turned nine a few days ago, and my daughter turned ten a month before that.  It seems that kids are excited with the prospect of increasing age, but we as parents are both excited to see our little ones grow and sad to see them grow up so fast.  So, with those two recent birthdays in my rearview mirror, I thought it would be a good idea to share a great memory-inducing activity that is fun for kids and adults as well. . . .

Sweet and Sour

A fun game for the car

ADDED February 08, 2010

When we are driving around in the car, my kids like to play a game they call "Sweet and Sour."  I know that this might not be an idea that we made up ourselves, but if your kids don't know it, they might enjoy it.

 

News of the Day

You and your kids are the newsmakers

ADDED January 29, 2010

Most activities on our site are meant be activities you and your kids can do together. Today's activity is no different, but for today's activity, you are the star . . . and your day is the big news that your family will be discussing.  Remember current events in high school? Well, your day is today's current event!

At dinner tonight, make a special point to . . .

Newsprint Poem

Little bits of fun

ADDED January 28, 2010

Most kids know how to write poems.  Sometimes, though, it can be tough to get one started. Today we have a solution for the poet's variety of writer's block: have your kid use their favorite magazines, cut out words, and create a message all their own. 

First, gather all the . . .

10 Minutes of Admiration

Sit back and enjoy the feeling

ADDED December 18, 2009

 

Christmas Countdown

Zero-Calorie Fun

ADDED December 02, 2009

For your little ones, Christmas is a long way off.  They must wait many, many weeks and even more days until the glorious event, but with a little creativity -- and today's activity -- you guys can countdown the days until Christmas.  You can even teach some math in the process.

First, you will need twenty-three of something your kids can count (if you are starting today, December 2nd).  We chose marbles.  Next, you will need two jars, one jar to hold the "Days till Christmas" marbles and the other to hold the "Days Gone By" marbles. 

When one day passes, have your kids move a marble from the "Days till Christmas" jar to the "Days Gone By." 

When the marble transfer is complete, it's time for the math "sneak attack," have your kids count the marbles in both jars or -- if they are a little older -- they can count the marbles in one jar and do the math to figure out how many marbles are still left in the other jar.  Fun, practical and educational!

We are big fans of this activity for two reasons: our idea has a lot fewer calories than one of those "chocolate" days-till-Christmas calendars, and second, doing math with your kids is very slimming.
 

Add Some Words To My Story

Just a few words will make a big, fun difference!

ADDED November 03, 2009

Next time you need a quick activity that's certain to get your kids riled up, try to add some words to the story.  You can play anywhere and with any age kids.   Try it -- you'll like it.

Here is how you play:   the first person starts the story with a brief sentence.  After that, it is up to the other players to add some words to create a truly unique and fantastically hilarious story.  For example, a story could start like this, "I was eating a frozen yougurt..." The second player can add the word "when."  Then the next player adds "a talking dog asked if he could get a lick."  See?  Hilarious and imaginative!  This game is a great way to add to your kids' vocabulary and have a silly time while doing it.

Here are a few starter sentences to get your kids going:
 

Next time you are looking for some powerful vocabulary-building hilarity, add some words to the story!

thanks to arjanvandergaag for the photo!

 

Personal Assistant

Everyone can use a hand

ADDED October 20, 2009

We all know that kids like to model what their parents do.  Children enjoy everything from yard work to taking out the trash because it resembles actions performed by Mom and Dad.  So tonight, spend a few hours with your young assistant and let them do everything with you.  Today's activity is about taking the moments in your day and using them for teaching and learning.

So let your kids help with whatever you are doing. Don't seek out kid-friendly activities -- just do what you normally do.  If you are a famous classical guitarist (we hear many read this blog), let your kids help you tune your guitar. If you are a businessman, let your kids help make a graph of projections for 2010.  If you don't have any specific "work" to do, make something up.  I know at my house we always have a light bulb to change, a cast iron pot to season, or a picture to hang.  My kids are great helpers with all of these things. They are good at holding tools, using a level, measuring flour, and even doing some electrical work (think changing batteries). 

 

In one hour

What time will it be?

ADDED October 08, 2009

Learning to tell time is hard.  Unlike the rest of the math kids learn, clocks are based not on tens and hundreds, but rather sixty.  There are sixty minutes in an hour.  Throw in AM and PM, digital and analog clocks, and kids can get easily confused.  Since we don't have six fingers, telling time can make for a tough time. (Ha! Tough time.)

So we have invented a game that can pass the time while learning about time.  You can play it just about anywhere, as long as a clock is handy.  I was able to ease my kids into telling time and get their curiosity reving all at the same time.  (Ha! Same time.)

First I started by asking my kids, "What time will it be in one hour?"  I tried to ask this question after 1 pm because it was easier for them to answer correctly.  If it was 1:15 pm, in an hour it would be 2:15 pm -- easy and fun.  Then I would try to challenge them by asking, "If it was 9:27 what time will it be in an hour?"  They became professionals in no time at all. (Ha! No time.)  As their time-telling skills improved, I would ask, "What time will it be in ten minutes?" or five minutes and even one minute.  

It was a good time for all (Ha! Good Time.)  And my kids can now tell time with the best of them (if you see one of my kids, please ask for the time).  I like to think their fine abilities are in part thanks to this simple activity.  Try it today if you have the time! (Ha! Have the time.) 

Is it time for this post to end? (Ha! Good times.)

 

Talking Out of Your Neck

Weird But Fun

ADDED September 30, 2009

 

We've admitted it in the past, and I have to admit it again here:  sometimes our ideas are a little bit weird.  But they're still fun, I think.

Okay, here's a kind of silly and strange -- but really oddly fun -- idea for you today.  It's a bit like ventrilloquist training.  I have heard of similar exercises in drama classes.

Here's what you do:

(1)  Have your kids line up.  (This activity works with just one kid, too, but it's so silly and strange that it may be better apprciated by a crowd.)

(2)  Tell the kids, "You know, everyday we talk with our mouths, right?  Well, today we're going to talk with other body parts."

(Bear with me here.)

First, let's try talking out of our necks.

Out of our necks!" you say.  "That's preposterous!"

Well, maybe.  But can your kids do it?

Of course, you guys will still need to use your mouths.  You can't do much talking without it.  But can you and your kids "project" your voices to your necks?

Different people try this challenge differently.  Some people constrict their neck muscles and tighten their lips.    Other people speak normally, but mentally focus on the front of their necks.  Still others speak in a very low voic.

(3)  Now try talking out of different body parts.  How does it change your voices?

Top of your mouth  (When you talk, imagine your breath hitting a spot on the top of your mouth.)
Tummy

Forehead
Tip of tongue
Nose
Chin

Yes, yes:  this is an odd idea today.  Maybe I'm a little self-conscious about it.  But I tried it out on my kids, and I promise you they were interested and entertained. 

At least my kids don't think I'm too nuts!  (Yet.)

Who do we know ABC's?

Find someone you know for each letter of the alphabet

ADDED September 29, 2009

 

You've probably played the game where you go through the alphabet and think up a food for each letter  (Asparagus for A, Broccoli for B, Cake for C, and so forth.)  Or maybe you've played it using animals (Aardvark, Black Bear, Catfish.) 

Well, our idea today is a variation on that time-honored, classic game.  For this one, you go through the alphabet and find people you know whose names start with each letter.  These people could be friends, family, or anyone your kids know.

For A, my boys thought of friends at school:  Ansel and Ava.

For B, they thought of their karate teacher, Bruce, and their aunt, Beth.

C was for two very good friends:  Cole and Carter.

I was flattered to be their entry for D.  (Daddy.)

The kids had almost no problem finding a person for each letter.  (Q was for Quincy on the Little Einsteins. X was for X-Ray, an invisible alien friend they recently made.)  They were enthusiastic to mentally review all the people they know. 

Making the game personal for my kids seemed to increase their overall enjoyment.  They also enjoy thinking about aardvarks and asparaguses, but this variation was just a little more exciting.

If you like this idea, please tell everybody you know!  From A to Z!

Hide the fun

And guess away the day!

ADDED September 08, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grab three cups and a small toy.  Give them to your kids . . . and you have the makings of a whole bunch of entertainment.

We have all seen the cup and balls magic trick.   You know: the magician puts a ball under one of three cups, the audience tries to follow which cup the ball is under and never can (because it is magic).

Today we are not going to teach any magic -- we really don't know any -- but what we do know is how to entertain kids.  So set up the cups, hide the small toy, mix up the cups and let them guess where the toy is.

This activity is especially "magical" for younger kids (three and under), who will ask for many repetitions.  They can also exercise some coordination and motor control by trying to trick you with the ball and cups.  (Please, no wagering, people.)

Hidden fun is just a guess away. Have fun!

Five senses walk

A treat for them all

ADDED August 26, 2009

Length:  Twenty minutes or so.

Parental Involvement:   Encourage observation and use of senses.

Kids Should Be Able to:  Spell simple words.  Observe and . . . have fun!

 

Summer continues this week, and I am sure your patience is growing thin, as is your wallet.  So why not take a trip to a local Botanical Garden?  The flowers are beautiful and if you pack a lunch, it's a free outing.  (Have i mentioned that we are fans of free?) 

My son and I went this past week, and it was a blast! Now, on the surface, two guys at the botanical gardens does not sound like so much fun, but I promise it was . . . and in true TIF fashion it was also educational.  We decided to go on a Five Senses Walk.

Here is how a Five Senses Walk works:  First explain to your kids that everybody has five senses. They are seeing, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.  For a Five Senses Walk to be successful, you need to make sure you use all five senses at sometime during your walk and then report your findings to the group. 

 

When you smell something that is good, tell the group.  If you see something that is beautiful, tell the group.  If you touch something that is soft, or carefully touch something that is rough, tell the group.. . .

Counting - Up and down

Backwards works just as good as forward.

ADDED July 29, 2009

My nephew was over for a few days. He is 18 months and we had a great time counting.  We counted cheerios, dogs and kites. When he would count something he would then say, "Now you", which meant my wife or I had to count whatever he just counted. 

Then we pretended we were rocket ships blasting off and I started counting backwards from ten.  This is where the confusion started.  I saw it in his eyes. Numbers only go one way, up?  So we took a walk and started counting things forward and then backward.  We saw a pod of four mailboxes and counted them forward, one, two, three and four, then counted them backwards four, three, two, one.  We saw three cats sunning themselves and counted them forward one, two three and then then backwards three, two, one. We also counted garbage cans, newspapers and a family on bikes.

It was very cool he picked up the concept quickly and it was good to cement the idea that numbers go up and they also go down.  Remember when you are counting with your little ones count up and then count down.  And when launching a rocket ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

 

Photo by deepblue66 via Flickr, thanks to a creative commons license.

 

A fun thank you note.

Is it possible?

ADDED July 28, 2009

For many kids, there is nothing quite as dreaded as a thank you note.  (Though not a kid any longer, I have to admit that I, too, am not a big fan of writing thank you notes.)  Of course, I very much appreciate what I have been given, but thank you notes are not great fun to write.  For kids (and me), this kind of writing is an assignment that is, well, an assignment -- a required task needing a lot of flowery language and a chore that takes up time I could be doing other things such as playing a whole house game , making some race car paper or a Creature Craft .

Given this problem, I have come up with a solution to help us all.  TIF has a way to make thank you note writing fun.  By incorporating some folding, coloring and cutting, thank you notes can become a beautiful craft and not a boring chore. 

First, you need someone to receive the thank you note -- an aunt or grandparent will do nicely. 

Secondly, you should have some construction paper, scissors, and crayons on hand. 

Instructions:

Fold your paper edge to edge to form a triangle and fold again until you have a small triangle.

Next, cut some notches out of the triangle and along the V on the bottom.

Unfold your creation

Decorate your creation and write your thank you note

Send or give your note to a deserving person

And repeat!

Hopefully this idea will make the task of thank you notes more palatable and a lot more fun!  (For both kids, and -- um -- adults alike!)

 

 

 

 

Thank you to FEP for the awesome thank you note craft!

The Anti-Nice Society

Yep, we're doing away with "nice"

ADDED July 24, 2009

 

Length:  Just an idea.  Takes no time, really.

Parental Involvement:  Switch around your vocabulary words.

Kids Should Be Able to:  Listen to your words and learn some new vocabulary.

 

"Nice" is a fine word to describe people.  In fact, we hope all people everywhere are very nice.  But to describe anything other than people, we are pretty much "anti-nice."

(I don't know about you, but in the 8th grade I had an English teacher who constantly criticized the word "nice."  I thought she was kind of crazy.  But now that I'm older, I have to grudgingly admit that 8th grade English teachers are right.  "Nice" is a bit blah.)

When encouraging my kids or complimenting their successes, I have found that I use the words "cool" and "awesome" quite a bit.  I say them so much that I've begun to notice them.  And I'm starting to bore myself with my frequent use of those two words!

We are curious:  what words do you use to praise your kids?

Today's post is not so much an activity, but an idea.  The idea is to move past "nice," "cool," "awesome," and other bland words.

We've assembled an alphabetical list of words that mean "awesome" and "cool."  On weekends, I try to vary my selections from the list, just to have some variety.  I'd like to think that I'm also teaching my kids some better vocabulary words and that they just might incorporate some of these words into their own repertoire.

So, without further ado, here's a list of better-than-nice words.

amazing
brilliant
capital
cool
dandy
dazzling
dynamite
excellent
exceptional
fantastic
first class
glorious
grand
great
h
impressive
ingenious
j
k
lovely
magnificent
marvellous
nice
nifty
okay
outstanding
perfect
q
remarkable
splendid
super
terrific
tremendous
unbelievable
v
w
x
y
z

What do you think?  Do you like some (or all) of these words?  Can you help us find suitable words for the letters with none?

And oh, yes.  You might have noticed the word "nice" is up there on the list.  You might think I'm being a bit inconsistent, but I couldn't think of any other n-word that fit the bill.  So, okay, everyone once in a while, nice is fine.  And awesome.
 

A Stool Is A Good Thing

Give your kids a leg up!

ADDED July 17, 2009

When it comes to learning, we at TIF feel that there is no substitution for firsthand observation.  You might be cooking, fixing a broken sprinkler, brushing your teeth, or putting away clothes -- but all of these activities are opportunities for your child to learn.  And a nice stool gives kids the height they need to see.

Here is a list of ten things you can do with your kids this weekend that would be educational.  And a stool will help.

1. When you make your coffee or tea Saturday morning, explain the process to your kids.
2. As you pay your bills, explain how a checking account works.
3. When you look in your tool chest for a screwdriver, explain what a "Flathead" and a "Phillips" are.
4. Demonstrate the process involved in making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
5. Teach them how to sort clothes while you do laundry.
6. Making popcorn on the stove is always a fun thing to watch and talk about
7. Watering Mommy's flower bed is great fun.  Talk about different flowers together.
8. Have you tested your smoke alarms in the last decade?  (You might need a stool for this one, too.)
9. Teach your kids how to floss.
10.  Make a refreshing summer smoothie with a bunch of fruits.

As parents, it is our job to encourage curiosity and spend a nice quantity of time with our kids.  Every moment of every day is a chance to learn.  (And this is why we say, "a stool is a good thing!"

 

Thanks to 68001867@N00 for the photo

Hi, Larraby!

A fun way to introduce a bunch of kids

ADDED July 14, 2009

 

My kids -- like many children -- are a little shy when meeting other kids, and I've found one way to break the ice is to call everyone by the wrong name.  While I am not a fan of the "Dumb Dad," for this I will make an exception.

Here is what I do:  I make up the most absurd names and introduce the kids with them. I will say, "Hi, Hortense and Vernon, nice to meet you.  This is Larraby and Gertude."  Kids being kids, everyone immediately corrects me, and I will then go around the group again and say each person's correct name.

Next, I introduce them again, but this time I jumble up everyone's name.  I call the girls the boys' names and vice versa.  I'll even introduce the dog using one of the parents' names.  At this point, the kids are having fun -- and insistent on pointing out my many mistakes.  I ask the kids to see if they can go around the group saying the correct names. 

Soon, the ice is all broken and names are all known!  And luckily, everyone is usually quite forgiving of my bumbling attempts.  (Also, my middle name is in fact, Larraby.)

Everything I Can Do

Emphasize abilities. Increase self esteem!

ADDED June 25, 2009

 

 

 

In America today, parents give their kids a lot of praise and compliments.  This is done out of love, and it's done to help boost kids' self esteem. 

My wife and I have often told our kids how "big" they are.  Meaning, of course, how they are able to do "big kid" things. 

But I wonder:  are my kids able to make that mental leap?  Or do they think I'm just praising how large their bodies are?

Well, so there's no question, I've decided to stop using "big" as a compliment.  I've replaced it with the word "capable."  After all, I'm trying to encourage ability, not size.

And here's a fun activity you can do with your kids to emphasize their abilities.  It will get kids thinking and talking -- and it will certainly keep them occupied during dinner, a long wait, or a traffic jam.

Tell your young one, "I am going to make a list of everything you can do."  (And tell them, "I know that you can do so much!")

Then say, "Please tell me some of the things you can do."

Your kid will probably have some ready answers, and you should write them down.  If your kid isn't feeling talkative or doesn't immediately understand what you're asking, you can give them some prompts.  You can ask:

What is something you could do . . .

Remember, with this kind of kid questioning, there are no wrong answers.  If your kid responds, "What can I do with a bucket and mop?  I can fly to the moon like the Wicked Witch of the West.  And I'll pick up some mint chip ice cream on the way home," well, that's a fine response.  Yes, it's silly, but it shows some thinking (as well as an appreciation of ice cream.)

Seemingly "minor" accomplishments should also be deemed "good" responses.  For instance, if your kid says at school, she is able to "sit quietly while the teacher is talking," well, that is something!  It is positive, and it should be reinforced.

If your kid answers some of the questions sincerely -- instead of all silly -- you will have some quick insight into areas in which they feel accomplished.  And in the future, you can remind them of these proud abilities. 

Emphasizing a kid's proficiency in a variety of fields will make a "big" impression on them!

Kids’ Verbal Game: Tickle Words

Switch them on, switch them off. But no matter what, you got to keep on your toes!

ADDED June 11, 2009

 

 

 

Length: Ongoing

Parental Involvement: Explanation of the concepts, tickling

Kids Should Be Able to:  Pay attention to specific words, express themselves 

 

In the 1950's, Groucho Marx hosted a game show called You Bet Your Life.  I've seen some re-runs, and I have to admit, those old shows are pretty funny.  On that game show, there was a designated "secret" word that, if a contestant said it, he or she would immediately win big money.  (Well, it was big money for the 1950's:  one hundred bucks.)

We've taken that concept into our house and turned it on its head a bit.  In our house, we have "tickle words."  If someone -- anyone -- utters a tickle word, they get tickled!  So please, be careful.

This is how we did it:  I explained the concept of tickle words to the kids (as it turns out, they understood "say a special word, get tickled" right away.)  Then, we each chose two words to be our chosen "tickle words."

My three-year-old chose "forest" and "jungle."  His brother chose "tomato" and "plant."  I chose "pickle."  My wife, who is the only member of the family with any noticeable sanity, begrudgingly chose "pasta."

This activity is fun for a couple reasons:  because (a) tickling is generally fun, (b) everyone gets to participate and choose words, and (c) it makes everybody in our family watch what they and others say very closely.  You're not sure the kids are listening?  Slyly drop a tickle word!

Here are some other important rules and guidelines we've instituted:

• In choosing the words, no super common ones, such as the, a, but, etc.  This would lead to way too much tickling.
• Any family member can, at any time, turn off the tickle words for themselves.  This means they can talk freely without fear of a tickle attack.  Everyone has to respect the "off" request.
• No changing tickle words.  Once they're chosen, that's it.  If tickle words change all the time, I wouldn't remember what to avoid saying, I would get tickled a lot, and  I would go nuts.
• If the President, Daddy's boss, or the Queen of England comes over for dinner, all tickle words will be automatically turned off.  We don't want to cause any awkward international incidents.

Choose your family's words, and let the fun (and tickling) begin!

One year ago today...

We were surveying each and every family member

ADDED June 11, 2009

 

 

A quick and easy way to get kids talking.  We came up with  a list of simple either-or questions, and asked everybody in the family what they thought.

 

Click here to check it out, and see the list we made of everyone's responses.

 

 

Everyday Hypothesis

Lab coats and safety glasses not required

ADDED May 18, 2009

We are big fans of science here at TIF. And one of the most fun parts of science, we think, is forming a hypothesis and testing it out.  Luckily, you don't need beakers, bacteria or Bunsen burners to form a hypothesis -- just a willingness to observe and test, test, test!

A hypothesis is a statement that is testable and includes a prediction as to the outcome based on the 'variables' being studied.

To make the explanation simple, I explained to my kids that a hypothesis usually has the words if and then. For example, "If I we build a tower nine blocks high -- nine blocks is variable #1 -- it will stand.  But if we build a tower ten blocks high -- ten blocks are variable #2 -- then it will fall".  Hypothesis formed and ready to test! 

 

You can create a hypothesis from almost anything that can have a different outcome based on variables. "If I build a house out of blocks, then my three-year-old sister will knock it over in two minutes or less."  Or, "if I take a bath quickly, then Dad will read me two books before bed."  And here's a favorite:  "if I eat all my dinner, then I will get some pie!"

My daughter and I have had a lot of fun over the last few days forming hypothesis and testing them out. Just about anywhere we go, we are able to play what we call, "Make a hypothesis," and it is cute to hear a nine-year-old talking about science.  In our testing, we have bounced balls (several sizes), pushed shopping carts (with several riders) and toppled towers (of varying heights).  The result of all this scientific work has not been a research grant, colorful sash, or dinner-plate-sized medal, but a lot of fun.  And some science education along the way. 

Explain to your kids today what a hypothesis is and let the fun begin.  We would really like to hear what you think of our blog, posts, and how handsome we are, so please drop us an email info@todayisfun.com or leave a comment below.   If you leave us a message then we will be happy!

 

Thank you to estherase, mikefischer and jalb for letting us use your photos!

Big Letters

Typing can be big fun for kids

ADDED May 06, 2009

A big part of being a kid is emulating your parents. It’s fun to act like Mom or Dad, and there are some learning aspects to this mimicry, too.

Kids these day see their parents on their computers quite a bit. Of course, much of this is checking todayisfun.com, we understand.

One way for very young kids to start learning about computers is to do something very simple. In Microsoft Word or google docs, you can open a new document and change the font size to something really large. Then your child can practice typing different letters on the keyboard.

We did this when my older son was first learning his letters, and he had a great time. He said, “Now I’m going to do a lot of B’s, now I’m going to do a lot of L’s.” Then he would say, “See? Just like Daddy.”

Mini Hot or Cold

Small game, big fun

ADDED May 05, 2009

 

Here's a great game when you're waiting and your kids need some entertainment.   Our Mini Hot or Cold game is played like the classic "I Spy" game, but on a smaller scale that is much more suited for a car ride, waiting room, or  night at the opera. 

To play, you will need only a few willing players and a magazine or picture book.   This item will be what you use to "spy with your little eye."  One person starts by selecting something in the book and says, "on this page I spy with my little eye". The other players look at the page and guess what thing the person might have chosen. 

One rule we added is:  after a guess is made, the "chooser" needs to tell the other players if the guess was either hot or cold. (To check out our "run around the room with the help of hot and cold" game, click here.)

Mini Hot or Cold saved the day for us last the week when we were stuck in traffic.  The kids found a Lego catalog and played Mini Hot or Cold endlessly until we've got home. They had a great time but I did lose the Hot or Cold air conditioning battle with my beautiful wife.

You may have heard that great things come in small packages.  Well, we believe you'll have some big fun with Mini Hot or Cold!

Stories and Story Scrambles

Easy to do, but the results are magical!

ADDED April 14, 2009

 

 

When most people are asked by their kids to tell a story, they freeze up.  The idea of coming up with a new story is a bit overwhelming.  

Today we're here to help you come up with kids' stories easily and effortlessly.  This will help any parent, not just when a story is requested by a kid, but when you need something to talk about or fill the time during waiting.  Making up original stories is very easy . . . especially when you have your kids do all the hard work!

Here are three parts to any and every story:  a beginning, a middle, and an end.  Not too difficult a concept, right?

These two sentences have all that you need to know to make up stories for kids:  "A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.  Everything else is details."  Remember those two sentences, and you're set!

Start at the beginning.  Tell your kids, "In the beginning of this story, there was . . . "  If you can think of what there was in the beginning, great.  If you want to let your kids come up with the answer, even better.  What was there in the beginning of the story?  A whale, a snail, a kid who missed his mom, a guy who felt grumpy, a race car, an old neglected house.  The list is, as you might imagine, limitless.

Next the middle.  What happens next?  The kid who misses his mom goes and looks for her.  The whale accidentally swallows an empty rowboat.  Someone mysterious buys the old neglected house and brings in a team of painters.  Again, your kids are fully capable of supplying this important part.  Ask them, "What happens next?" and they will think it up!

And of course, the end.  This is the part that wraps up the story.  You can ask your kids, "What happens at the end of the story?"  Your kids will certainly have ideas about this.

And as it says above, "everything else is details."  Once you guys start your story, it's easy to add some details.  If your kid says the story is about a dog, you can chime in with "What color is the dog?  What is the dog's name?  What kind of dog is it?"  Details are so easy -- your kids will think up tons of them, and so of you.

Remember, the story does not have to be great.  No perfect prose or surprise endings are required.  Just have fun!

And what's a Story Scramble?  These are easy, too -- easy to think up and helpful for passing some waiting time with the kids.  Just tell a simple story with the beginning, middle, and ends scrambled up.  Super simple is allowed, people!  For instance, check this one out:  (1)  I brushed my teeth, (2)  I went to bed, and (3)  I ate dinner.  Can your kids unscramble the story?  Here's another one:  (1)  I watered the seed, (2) I had a beautiful sunflower, and (3) I planted a sunflower seed.  Get it?  Your kids will.

Here's one more scramble for you guys to puzzle out:
(1)  Fun, fun, fun for all!  (2)  You read Today is Fun, and (3)  You share the creative idea from the site with your kids.  (4) You tell your friends about TIF (5) They thank you!

Bunny Kisses

And how to get one

ADDED April 09, 2009

 

While bunnies are widely admired for their cute little noses, it seems they have no lips to speak of.  Therefore, bunnies are not really good kissers.  We're pleased to say, though, that bunnies still can give kisses despite the no-lip situation -- all they have to do is twitch their noses back and forth.  

Bunny Kisses are something every kid and parent can do.  You really don't need any reason to give a Bunny Kiss, but we've created a fun Easter-themed game for you.  (It was the perfect diversion the other day when we were waiting and my kids started to grow restless.)

Here's how we played:   I would say, "Whoever is wearing black gets a Bunny kiss."  And lo and behold, anyone wearing black would indeed get a Bunny kiss from me.  Then the kids would get a chance to pick the color that would warrant a Bunny kiss from them.  Even though it created a little rowdiness and some possibly disapproving stares, it was a lot of fun.  

This game is a great if your kids are learning colors and it can even be played to teach patterns like plaid,gingham or stripes.  For older kids, you can teach other concepts with this simple game ("If you have a R in your name, you're going to receive a Bunny Kiss," or, "If your age is the same as two times four, you're up for a B.K.")

If you need of a few minutes of entertainment today or any day, just remember Bunny kisses and entertainment is a few minutes away.

 

Thanks to madeleine_for letting us use your photo

What Does That Make You Think Of?

Free Association at its Finest (and Funnest)

ADDED March 26, 2009

 

 Waiting for my beautiful wife to finish shopping at Target the other day, my kids and I made up a game called "What does  that make you think of?" (Very original, I know.)

It was a life saver.  (Have you ever noticed that Target is enormous, and to finish a shopping trip you need to make several laps around the store?) The game is similar to Cute and Not-So-Cute, but maybe a little more advanced.

To play, someone spots an item on the shelves and points it out to the other players.  For example, someone could choose a light bulb.  They would then say, in their best quiz show announcer voice,"The item is light bulb.  What does that make you think of?"  At that point, it is up to the other players to do a little free association.  What does a light bulb make you think of? 

(When we played, I said a candle, my son said darkness, and my wife said a flashlight.  All approved answers and all fun. The next named thing was paper towels.  The panel thought the best answers were a mess, a spill, and a clean up!   Other items discussed on that particular trip were batteries, baggies and hand soap.)

We had a great time and the trip went very quickly!   Now, a visit to the grocery store makes us think of . . . fun!

(p.s.  If you have a grammatical problem ending a question with a preposition, please email us, leave a comment or join our facebook page and we will issue a full refund along with a sincere apology.)

 

(Photos compliments of the talented jae_yong and m_e_l_o_d_y )  

Wish Collage.

A Cut and Paste activity

ADDED March 25, 2009

At our house, we seem to get catalogs by the truckload.  I often think that a special, dedicated mailperson is at work only delivering this type of advertising.

On most days, these fine publications go straight into the recycling.  But sometimes, I forget to take them to the trash, and they slowly multiply.  Soon we are up to our ears in home gardening magazines and catalogs hawking toys and tools made in China and sold by the dozen.  When we get to this point, there is only one thing to do: get out the glue and the scissors to make a Wish Collage.

Here is how we do it:  we take all appropriate catalogs that we can find, grab some glue, scissors and let the kids cut and paste together a wish list. This little handy item can be passed along to grandparents, aunts and uncles to assist in the gift buying process for birthdays, holidays or doing a good job on a report card day.

Of course, we try to emphasize the fun of looking and of options, not of pining fervently for a specific toy or doodad.  Even if it's something that's impractical (a riding lawnmower) or not right for our budget (a dollhouse model of Buckingham Palace), it's fine and fun to have on the Wish Collage.  Those kind of things will never actually be seen in our toy chest, and the kids understand that, and it's okay.

We also have made a "Someday Maybe" Wish Collage.  This variation can include future possible jobs, houses, vacations, etc.  The Someday Maybe Wish Collage is the perfect place to paste a picture of an astronaut, Easter Island, or a St. Bernard.

It is fun for kids to do and fun for adults to look at. Try it everybody will like it.

 

(Photos compliments of the talented brandejackson and wtlphotos ) 

All the things on my list

A little help please

ADDED March 24, 2009

 

 

I went to the market with one of my kids the other day to pick up a few things for dinner.   We only needed a few things, so a list was not necessary.  But somehow, I forgot two of the things we needed and brought back three things not on the list!

(I admit it:  I have a doughnut problem.  If the kids ask, I buy). 

Needless to say we had to return to the market.

On my return trip, I decided I would use my kids to help me remember what was needed.   Therefore, again no list would be needed.  This time, it worked perfectly.

Having your kids "be" the list makes the trips to the store a lot of fun. If they remember a few things, and I remember a few things, we won't forget anything.  Everyone does a little work; it's very democratic.

The fun for the kids is multiplied when they get to remember something that they particularly like to eat.   They love to remember blackberries, marshmallow creme or roast beef . . .  but on the other hand, it is not quite as fun when they have to remember potatoes, parsley or peppercorns.  It's also great fun to see if they can remember where some of the common items we buy are kept at the store.  (Of course, everyone remembers where the doughnuts are because I will always buy them.  I have something of a doughnut problem).

Next time you go to the market involve your kids, give them some responsibility and make it fun.  (And always saying yes to the doughnuts helps, too.)

(Photos compliments of the talented gtstuff and martinlabar)

Cute versus Not-So-Cute

Ask the cute ones in your house to divide up the world

ADDED March 19, 2009

 

This is a simple and quick game to pass the time while you're waiting with the kids.  Break the world into two categories:  cute and not-so-cute.

To get started, ask your kids if they think puppies are cute.  Do they?

Then ask if they think babies are cute.  And how about Dory from Finding Nemo? 

How about a barking dog?  How about a crying baby?

Now, how about an old rusty car?  Or an alligator?  Or a mushed up banana?  Cute?  Or not-so-cute?

Keep asking them about things until you get to words that really might be neither cute nor not-so-cute.  For instance, is a hamburger cute?  What does your child think?

For maximum fun and best results, the idea is to get your kids talking about their ideas about the world and the things in it.  If they start bringing their own adjectives into the discussion, you've really won.  For instance, if your child answers, "I wouldn't say a hamburger is cute or not-so-cute, but I would say it is delicious," your session has been a success.

The point here is that you can view the world in a million different ways.  Choose an adjective (cute) and its opposite (not-so-cute), and examine the world with it.  This will work, of course, with any adjective:  large, lonely, fun, yellow, and so on.

With a fun activity and some ever-so-cute kids, you can't lose!

Quick Tips: Thank You Brigade and Two Points

Ideas for getting the best out of your kids!

ADDED March 18, 2009

Every so often we offer a couple of Quick Tips.  Today's suggestions are about manipulating your children into behaving well.  (That's right:  we're going be doing some manipulating today.)

First, the Thank You Brigade.  This one is designed to get some politeness out of your kids (and to instill it in them!)  The idea here is simple:  your kids are in charge of handling all the thank you's for your family.  When you go to a store or restaurant, you can handle ordering and paying . . . but turn the thanking over to your kids.  

People generally like being thanked by a kid -- and this activity helps your little ones practice being polite.

And the next tip is Two Points.  We've tested this one successfully with boys, but we think you'll have great results with girls, too.  

With this one, you randomly assign points for desired behaviors.  

For example, "two points for everyone who brushes their teeth right now."

Or . . . "two points if you clean your room by four o'clock."

We don't recommend actually keeping track of points.  And there should be no winners or losers.  That's not the point.  This is just a creative and different way of getting your kids to tow the line.  And it works!

Of course, your kids should be obeying you no matter what -- points or not.  But if you're having a little trouble and want a little help, simply start handing out points.

Thank you for reading today's post.  Please give yourself two points!

 

--S

Which One Doesn't Belong?

Future standardized exams will be a piece of cake for your kids!

ADDED March 16, 2009

As with all our ideas, our activity today will be extremely fun for you and your kids.  But this one has an added bonus.  It might -- just might -- help your kids excel on future standardized exams.  Can it be true?  Read on, and you be the judge.

Today we're playing "Which One Doesn't Belong?"  

This one requires some mental effort on your part, but it's pretty easy, we think.  The effort is nearly effortless, really.

All you have to do is think of three similar items, and one that's a little bit different.

Here's an example:

* monkey
* lion
* elephant
* tree

When you've thought of your list of items, tell them to your child.  Ask, "Which one doesn't belong?"

(Did you spot the one that doesn't belong in the list above?)

Here's another, slightly different example:

* monkey
* lion
* elephant
* seal

Obviously you can spot the difference, right?  Can your kid?

For full credit, your children have to tell you *why* the thing they've picked is different.  That's the whole fun of the game!

We think this game can really go for hours.  It works wonders in keeping kids occupied during traffic jams and waits at restaurants.  There are just that many different things in the world, that many different things to be identified and discussed.  Here are some more ready-made lists for you:


1.  

*  snake
*  snow leopard
*  shark
*  snail

2.

*  flower
*  vine
*  rock
*  palm tree

3.

*  say goodnight
*  put on pajamas
*  brush your teeth
*  drink orange juice

4.

*  truck
*  motorcycle
*  Mommy's car
*  race car

5.

*  Daddy
*  Brother
*  Grandpa
*  Aunt Wanda

In the future, "which one doesn't belong" will show up -- in some form or another -- on a standardized exam.  Your kids will be given a multiple choice question and asked to identify which of the options doesn't belong.  Your kids, we're happy to say, won't be new to this type of question.  In fact, they might even remember as a fun activity they did with their parents!

Free, fun, learning, parent-kid time.  We hope they all belong in your house!  Have fun.

 

My very own alphabet book

Cut n paste fun!

ADDED March 13, 2009

Today we have a fun activity that you can do with your kids to get rid of those old magazines and catalogs.  Work together to make an alphabet picture book.  This is an activity you can do over a few days (or even weeks), but when you are done you will have a handmade book filled with pictures and letters that your child has chosen.

Get out some scissors, glue, a notebook of any size and those catalogs and magazines.  This is a good opportunity to review the letters of the alphabet and when the review is done start thumbing through the magazines looking for photos of exciting things that start with the letters of the alphabet.  Since A is at the beginning of the alphabet we started with A.  We found a beautiful photo of some apples in Bon Appetite and some awesome close up Ants in National Geographic. When the A was completed we moved to B and found some pictures of blue sky, burritos and beluga whales.

We have only made it to the letter J so far but slowly are making our way through the alphabet.  It is fun too when the new magazines arrive because the kids are always on the look out for old magazines that can be replaced. Of course when we are done with magazines its off to the recycling bin.  Have Fun!

Top to Bottom

Fun from head to toe

ADDED March 05, 2009

 

Here’s a fun and interesting way to look at the world:  divvy it up into a top part and a bottom part.

Start by choosing a topic to explore with your kids.  You could talk about a forest, an ocean, a restaurant, their school, or outer space.

Once you’ve got your topic, it’s time to make a list with your young one.  Or rather, make two lists:  one for the top of the “thing” and one for the bottom.  For instance, let’s say that you guys selected a forest.  What stuff (animals, plants and others) would you find at the bottom of the forest?    Rocks, fallen acorns, beetles, snakes, worms, and certainly much more.  What can you find at the top of a forest?  Birds (what kinds?), leaves, pine cones, treetops, bird nests, chipmunks, and so forth.  With a little thought, your kids could come up with quite lengthy lists.  

Top to Bottom would be a great game to pass the time in the car, when you’re stuck in traffic.

And if you’re at home and have some crayons handy, your kids could create depictions of their top-to-bottom lists in picture form.  You (or they) could draw a dashed line through the middle of the image, to further help everyone see the top and the bottom.

Once you’ve explored one area of the world, repeat this activity with another!

Have fun looking at everything from top to bottom.  You may have seen this wrap-up sentence coming, but:  we’re sure that in your house, this activity will be tops!

Good News, Bad News, Better News

What's better than good news? Better news!

ADDED March 04, 2009

 

This one is a fun verbal activity.  It's perfect for passing the time while waiting.

Start by playing "Good News, Bad News."  You say to your child, "I have some good news and some bad news."  And then, make up some good and bad news.

The trick is that the bad news should completely cancel out the good news.

For instance, you could say, "The good news is I'm going to spend some special time with you now.  The bad news is:  I'm going to spend that time tickling you!"

Or a kid could say, "The good news, Mommy, is that I just brushed my teeth.  The bad news is that I didn't use toothpaste, I used ketchup!"

The other trick is too make sure that the good news and bad news are either completely pretend or completely light.   You guys should enjoy yourselves - and nobody should get upset!  And if your children aren't at an age where they understand pretending and joking, well, hold off on this one for a while!

You guys might find that you like the variation "Good News, Better News" even, well, better!  In this one, you make a simple change:  "I have some good news and some better news!"

Here is an example to get you going:  "The good news is that I just made a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  The better news is that you can have two of them!"

And a couple more suggestions for you:

"The good news is today is your birthday.  The even better news is that we're having a birthday party today!"

"The good news is we're going to do some coloring right now.  The even better news is that we're going to try to use every single crayon we've got!"

This one is for older kids, we think.  Let us know how it goes in your house.

We think it will be a worthwhile activity.  And the even better news is, it's easy to remember, and you guys can play it for years!

This Land Is Your Land!

A colorful and informative print-n-color activity

ADDED February 25, 2009

Everyone's colored a map of the United States at some point or another. It's  always fun and sometimes messy.  But here at TIF, we are fans of art with a purpose.  We're talking about coloring that tells a story and provides deeper meaning.

Today we have a cool map of the USA to download and color.  The map includes a fun and informative key that your little cartographer can use to enhance the experience.  

Have your colorer use one color for your home state, another color for states where you guys have family or friends, and yet another color for states that you have visited. Finally, find states with names that tickle your funny bone, and assign them a "funny name" color.

Of course, for little kids, this map can be a great introduction to our States and to maps in general.  For both younger and older kids, this activity could serve as the starting place for some nice one-on-one, parent-kid time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have fun making your own infographic today!

 

(And remember, you can upload your infographic artwork to our Facebook page.  If you are not a Facebook fan of TIF, join on up!)

 

Click images to download 

 

 

Heritage Feast

Take a trip to the old country

ADDED February 24, 2009

 

Many families have a special dish or dinner that they serve during the holidays, but not many kids know the history behind the dish.  So for dinner this week, make one of your special family dishes:  it could be spaghetti, sushi, or squab.  Whatever it is, have a little fun by taking a dining trip back to the old country.

While preparing dinner, let your kids help. Kids are always good at stirring and sometimes pouring.  While you are cooking, share memories you have of a time when you cooked with your parents or grandparents.

When it's time to eat dinner, you can talk about the country where this dish originated and where your family is from making special mention of the heritage you share.

For maximum points, don't forget to invite your parents or grandparents.

And of course, if you don't have a family special meal, why not start one up?  Have your family decide on a food item that you guys could make and share regularly.  

Enjoy your special meals this week!  Let us know how they go.  And yes, we'd be happy to take any leftovers off your hands!

 

Thanks to cobalt for use of their delicious photos

Alphabet License Plate Game

Entertain your little detectives with a simple game to play in the car.

ADDED February 23, 2009

 On your next roadtrip, try playing this fun game that I remember from my own childhood.  As you are driving along, tell your kids that they are alphabet detectives and that they need to find each and every letter. Only when every member of the alphabet has been found will you be able to solve the case of "The Missing Letter."

Here is how you play: have your kids scan the license plates of other cars and look for the letter A.   When A is spotted, all the detectives move onto the letter B, and so on.  When all the letters have been discovered, congratulate your detectives on their fine work and declare the case of "The Missing Letter" solved.

This game is fun because it can be played several ways: it can be played as a group as described above, or competitively (each person searches on their own and the first one done is the winner).

Remember, "travel" could mean the way to school in the morning or getting stuck in traffic in the afternoon.  Have with your fun with your on-board detectives! 
A big thanks to woodysworld1778 and ohlove for the use of their photos

 

 

 

 

Talk Differently Day

Talking about some fun!

ADDED February 20, 2009

 

You've heard your own voice before, and so have your kids.  Pretty much everybody is probably used to hearing your voice.

But we're enjoying the Week of Variation, right?  So why not try varying some your voice?  And the voices of your kids?

Gather the kids around and have them practice changing up their voices.

You guys can speak:

Loudly
Quietly
In a whisper

And if you're really brave, you guys can sing a sentence.

Your voices can be booming.  They can be scratchy.

Can you do any accents?  Give British a try, or a strong New York accent.  (In our house, we've also tried French, Spanish, German, and Southern accents.)  Doing accents is a fun (and occasionally odd) way to learn how different people speak the same language differently.

Also, ask your kids to talk like different "kinds" of people:

How does a King or Queen speak?
How about a Pirate?
How does a really nice person talk?  Or a really bad guy?
How does a grandparent speak?  How about a little tiny baby?
How would a robot talk?
How does a boss speak?  An new employee?

If your family is very adventurous (or if you guys are stuck inside on a rainy/snowy day), you could choose to declare a "Talk Differently Day," and everyone could try to avoid speaking in their regular voice.  It sounds a bit kooky, yes, but kids absolutely love this kind of thing!

Have fun, everybody.  Variations, variations, variations!

 

Trees versus Bushes

(From the people who brought you the quite tricky One Up, One Down earlier in the week)

ADDED February 05, 2009

We like trees, don't you know, but not bushes.

Speaking of which, we enjoy roots, but not branches.  That's just us.

Oh, and we like school but not learning.  And coffee but not tea.

Do you think we've lost our minds here at Today is Fun?  (That is, assuming you thought we had much of minds in the first place.)

By the way, we do like beets, but not radishes.  Sweets but not candy.  Tools but not implements.  

Before you give up on us, never to return to this blog again.  Let us explain . . .

(Well, before we explain, can you see a pattern in the words above?   That's the tricky thing here, and it's for your kids to figure out.)

What do the words we like have in common?  

The activity here is for your children to figure out the pattern.  Start by telling them words you like (such as "teens") and words you don't  ("tens").

Have you figured it out?  Once you have, it will be easy.  And once you have got the hang of it, you'll be able to create more examples for your kids.  (If you haven't cracked our code yet, don't worry.  It takes different people different amounts of time!)

Okay, here's the answer.  Double vowels.  We just really like double vowels (for the purposes of this activity.)

We hope you have fun with this one, and that you don't think we're too crazy.  (Kooky, yes.  We like the word kooky.  But not crazy!)  

--S

(Many thanks to the incomparable and always laudable Mr. David Silverman of Mar Vista, California, and to  Marina Cast. for the heart-shaped tree pic, and also to noricum for the shot of the bush.)

Tricky Fun with Punctuation

Period. Question mark? Exclamation mark!

ADDED February 04, 2009

 

 

This is a quick and simple way to teach kids about punctuation.  Basically, you choose some words with your kids and practice saying them with different punctuation marks at the end.

Let's take the phrase:  "chocolate chip deliciousness."  Try saying those words with these tricky variations:

Chocolate chip deliciousness.  (For this one, try to make your tone of voice rather flat and matter-of-fact.)
Chocolate chip deliciousness!  (Shout excitedly.  Or sound a little angry.)
Chocolate chip deliciousness?  (A question, of course.)

Obviously the point here is to get kids learning and thinking about punctuation, and how different punctuation marks change the meaning of words.

Try this trick with some favorite words and phrases.  And also run through your family's names with different punctuation. 

Grandpa.
Grandpa!
Grandpa?

And to be a bit more tricky (and ever so slightly more educational), introduce the ellipsis.  As in, "Grandpa!  We have . . . chocolate chip deliciousness!"

 

--S

 

(Chocolate chips courtesy of jessicafm, and smiling Grandpa from magerleagues.)

Four Hints

Guess the animal using four clues

ADDED January 28, 2009

If you need some quick entertainment, here is a fun game you can play with your kids.  First you need to think of an animal, lets say you are thinking of a mouse, then using four clues have your kids guess what animal you are.  Here are the four clues I use.

I will start with, "If I were an animal I would walk like this"  A mouse is very fast so I will scurry around the room.
Then I will let the kids guess what animal I am. If there are no correct answers I will continue.
"If I were an animal I would make this sound"  A mouse makes small squeaky sounds so that is what I'll do. If my identity is still a mystery I will continue with, "If I were an animal I would be covered in fur". If that clue is not enough I will finish with,"If I were an animal my name would start with the letter M". If no one is able to guess what I am then I will reveal my secret clearing the way for someone else to think up and act like another animal.

This game can be played sitting or standing, you can act out the clues or just use your very best descriptive words to explain what animal you are being.
Please remember don't try this in a busy restaurant they may ask you to leave or call an exterminator.  Have fun!

Where are we going and what should we take?

Get those imaginations packing for fun!

ADDED January 27, 2009

Here is a fun question to ask your kids at breakfast:  "If we were going on a trip to the jungle for two weeks, what would we need to take?" It is interesting to see what they would take and why.

If they get stuck for answers, you can start them off with some leading questions.  Here are a few examples: Should we bring our suitcases or our backpacks? What should we put in the suitcases? Will we need hats, boots and jackets? Should we travel around in a car or on an elephant?

My son, being a realist and very fond of numbers, decided to break it down in numbers:  he needed to pack 14 pairs of pants, 14 shirts, 16 pairs of underwear, 12 pairs of socks, hiking shoes, a guide book and money. He also wanted to stay in a hotel.  My daughter, on the other hand, was really not interested in packing clothes.  She just wanted to make sure all of her stuffed animals would be able to come.  She also would rather stay in a tent near a river or on a mountain and would ride on the elephant if it was trained.

Have fun with this one as you get those imaginations racing, and let us know what your kids would take with them on their trip.  Personally I would rather go to Hawaii for two weeks, taking a swimsuit and couple of  shirts, but I am still waiting for someone to offer!  (On a side note we would be more than happy to write up a review of any family vacation destinations.  Yes, we prefer to fly first class, and we are always available at info@todayisfun.com.)

 

 

Vocabulary builder

Teach your child other words for BIG

ADDED January 26, 2009

Big is a fine word.  It describes size, height, amount, and even age.  It can also describe importance, volume and quality.  The problem is, though, the word "big" is, well, it's too big.  It does too much -- so much in fact that sometimes using it can be a big problem.

So today while you are driving to piano lessons, eating dinner as a family or getting ready for bed, have a little fun making up sentences with the word "big."  Then encourage your kids to remove the word big and replace it with a more descriptive word like "king-sized" or "monolithic."

Start by having your child list other adjectives that do the same modifying work as big.  Here is an example sentence, "That is a big tree".   Fine . . .  but it does not create a specific picture in your mind that describes the size of the tree. Here are a few sentences my kids came up with:

"That tree is enormous."
"That tree is huge."
"That tree is tall."
"That tree is large."
"That tree is gigantic."
"That tree is massive."
"That tree is towering."

And here are a few of my attempts:

"That tree is monolithic."
"That tree is tremendous."
"That tree is fully grown."

In just a few minutes, we had all expanded our vocabulary and were on our way to becoming better writers.  (I mean superior authors.)

-Paul

 

Photo credit is given to the visionary genius of:martyportier and several_bees

thanks!

 

Syllable Flipper

A quick and tricky way to get those little minds going

ADDED January 19, 2009

 

You're driving.  The kids are in the back, and they're getting restless.

You ask, "Who knows what a 'Nut Dough' is?"

Well?  Does anyone?

Chances are very good that everyone will be baffled by this Nut Dough thing.  So give them this simple clue:  Say, "nut dough nut dough nut dough nut dough nut."  Now does anyone know what that thing is?

Try this syllable-flipping trick with any word you'd like.  Just make sure to say the first syllable last.

Here are some flipped favorites for you to try out:  Ray hoo, Pee pup, Mee mom, Yon cray, Fish gold, Kull tick, Knee fun, and of course, Larious Hee.

You guys can also try flipping the syllables in your family's names -- or in the names of favorite characters.  (We're very big fans of Lung Tai in this house now.)  And of course, see if your kids can pull off a syllable flip or two themselves.

We hope this simple game is fun and Full use.  (You can't really flip one syllable words, we've discovered.)  Spend some time with those kids, and have a great time Day to!

 

--S

 

Many thanks for the use of the photos:  Sprinkle Donuts courtesy of Flirty Kitty, and Clapping 3-year old by Rageman.

Learn the Planets

Just in case you ever get lost in space

ADDED January 16, 2009

 

When you take the time to really look, the night sky is endlessly fascinating, extremely breath-taking, and frankly, more than a little bit humbling. Have you taken your kids outside at night recently, so that you guys can do some star gazing?

Something fun you can teach your kids is the order of the planets in the solar system. All you need to do is teach them a simple sentence, and they'll be able to remember the planets in order every time!

First, you can start by telling your kids about our solar system. The sun's in the middle, surrounded by the planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. (Pluto's recently been demoted to a mere hunk of ice.)

Next, to help the kids remember the planets in order, you can throw out this simple, short sentence, "My Very Educated Mother Just Saw Uncle Nick." The first letter of every word is the first letter of each planet in our solar system. Get it? (If you learned a different such sentence in school, please let us know in the comments below.)

If your kids enjoy learning about the stars and planets, you might even want to take a trip to the library and check out a book on the solar system. Or NASA has a kids' website where you can get lots of kid-friendly space information.

Here at Today Is Fun, we believe that nothing can get a conversation going better than a little information and education. And remember, you guys aren't just having fun, you're getting the kids well on their way to becoming inter-planetary astronomical geniuses.

 

 

Photo credit is given to the talented and popular:

cfuentes

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Find this, count that, and hide behind me!

Three ways to walking fun

ADDED January 15, 2009

    

 

When it is time to go for a walk, some child inevitably does not want to go. This kid is too tired -- or they walked so much already today or their legs can't move or a scraped knee from the week prior is starting to hurt again. 
   
    So what I do is transform everyone in to secret agents. You've never heard of a secret agent that didn't feel like walking, have you?  And every little secret agent has three jobs:  finding something, counting something, and -- if they see another thing -- hiding behind me.

    This game might seem a little confusing at first, but it all will be clear quite soon.  As the captain of the secret agents, you'll need to have the answers to the following three questions before you can start assigning missions:
   
    1) What is something your kids will see on the walk that your kids can find?  It can be anything: an old car, a barking dog, a motor home, three trees in a row, or even a spider on a web.
   
    2) What will the kids see that can be counted?  It can be: silver cars, yellow houses, newspapers or even joggers with iPods.
   
    3) What is something that your kids will see and can hide from?  It can be a brick house, red flowers, black mailboxes, for sale signs or even birds.

    Once you figure out what your agents need to find, count and hide from, you can turn your walk into a secret mission. Tell them,"I need a spy to go with me today, the spy will have to: find a motorhome, count all the yellow houses they see, and hide behind me if you see any birds (because the birds might be robots controlled by the bad guys.)"

    All it takes to get a grumpy kid excited is a little imagination-stimulation.  And don't forget to use the comments section to let us know if everybody successfully hides from the bad guys!

 

 

Photo credit is given to the talented and popular:

jamesjordan

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Thumbs up? Thumbs down!

A possible hit TV show.

ADDED January 14, 2009

 

When my family and I are driving places in the car we often find ourselves listening to the radio. Everyone is happy as we ramble along . . . until the music stops, and the radio ads begin. This is when I frantically change the channel searching for music, trying to avoid the latest information on mattress sales or low, low auto financing.

As I spin through the presets on the radio, it is fun to let everybody vote before landing on a station. To get the kids talking (and sometimes keep them from falling asleep), I will stop on each station and ask them to put their thumbs up if they like the music and thumbs down if they don't.

One of my kids always gives thumbs up to Top 40 and funky oldies. The other will give a double thumbs up to classical. It is very interesting to see what they like and why. Try it with your kids and see how they vote. (And if you want, get them talking about their vote . . . and respecting the votes of others.)

 

And please, please when I break out into song, get those thumbs pointing right up!

 

 

Photo credit is given to the talented and popular:

amatthews for the blue shirt guy, 41339216@N00 for the double thumbs up girl, daedrius for the thumbs up kids

 

But this is that and that is this?

Fun with Homophones (two words that sound the same but have different meanings)

ADDED January 12, 2009

English has a lot of confusing words.  It can be plenty difficult learning to read and write (or is it right?), but then throw the tricky homophone into the mix, and it is enough to break (or is it brake?) a kid.

 

So here at TIF, we are at the ready to help take some of the confusion out of homophones.  With just a little practice and explanation, you can take this subject, make it fun, and have your kids ahead of the pack in no time at all.

What we like to do at our house is: first we talk about all the words we can think of that sound the same but have different meanings.  There is always flour and flower, knight and night, nose and knows and the ever-popular ate and eight.

When we have identified a few key offenders, I use each word in a sentence, for example, "I ate my dinner at eight o'clock." And, "Eight kids ate eight eggs, they were famished so they ate eight more."  I always try to make the example sentence as silly as possible; I think it adds to the fun and keeps the kids engaged. Then I give my kids a chance to make up a sentence using a tricky homophone.  And of course each one sentence gets progressively more silly.

This is a great activity to use anywhere you have a few minutes to kill, and since you are just talking about words, it's perfect for the car, while waiting at baseball practice, in the line at the market -- really anywhere.

We will be looking for your silly homophone sentences in the comment section below and would like to hear (or is it here?) from you!  See (or is it sea) you soon.

 

-Paul

 

***UPDATE***

One of our beautiful and intelligent readers Jackie left this helpful and insightful comment:

Homophones are fun. Go here http://pbskids.org/lions/videos/homophones.html for a great song about homophones.

Thank you Jackie!

 

Photo credit is given to the talented and popular:

stansich for the apple ,kentigern for the eights ,savannahgrandfather for the peach 

thank you!

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Interview the Expert

A creative activity for you and your kids. They get to have all the answers (and they always get to be right!)

ADDED January 08, 2009

 

This one will work nicely both in your car and in your living room.  You are going to interview an expert -- an expert who also happens to be your child.

 And just what field is your child an expert in?  Well, let them tell you!

Start by announcing to the invisible at-home audience that you're conducting a very special interview.  Say something like, "Today we'll be talking to a very special person, who has some very interesting things to tell us about.  What is your name, my young guest?"

The trick with this game, we've found, is to have some stock starter questions.  Once you've asked those, listen to your kids' responses and then ask follow-up questions.  Your part is really that simple:  just listen and ask more.

Let your children decide if they want to answer truthfully or creatively.  Either is fine for this activity. 

Here are some of our stock starter questions:

 

This pastime also works well for visits from grandparents or other relatives.  It can keep many generations occupied and entertained at the same time.  (And for best results, remember that the kids are the creative and comedy stars of the show, not their parents asking the questions.)

Many special thanks to fab father extraordinaire, Mr. David Silverman, of Mar Vista, California, for suggesting this A-plus activity.

 

--S

 

Ranger interview photo courtesy of kevin cole

Quizmaster & Answermaster

Because all good games have funny titles.

ADDED December 19, 2008

To play this game you need two people the first person is the Quizmaster the second the Answermaster.  The Quizmaster asks the questions and the Answermaster answers the questions.  This game is fantastic for all ages because the questions can be tailored appropriately to make it easy for everyone to win.  It also can be played as a group activity to include many more kids if needed.

First the person who is the Quizmaster thinks of two or three things that have one thing in common, for example shark, octopus and sea cucumber. Next the Quizmaster poses their question to Answermaster,” What is the same about these three things, a shark, an octopus and a sea cucumber?”  At this point if you have a group of kids, in an orderly manner everyone in the group takes a turn giving their best answer to the Answermaster. When all the answers are tallied the Answermaster tells the Quizmaster the answer, “They all live in the ocean”.  Now the Quizmaster becomes the Answermaster and it is their turn to think of of two or three things that are the same.

The game works great using a variety of topics and the questions can range from very simple to extremely difficult, here are some starters:

Quizmaster question:
What is the same about these three things red, blue and green?

Answermaster answer.
All three are colors.

Quizmaster question:
What is the same about these three things truck, car and van?

Answermaster answer.
All three are cars.

Quizmaster question:
What is the same about these three things elbow, toe, and nose?

Answermaster answer.
All three are parts of your body.

Quizmaster question:
What is the same about these three things sleepingbag, tent and flashlight?

Answermaster answer.
All three are used for camping.

Try it today and use the comments section to let us know what you little Quizmasters come up with!  

Sounds like a…holiday

A great game that can make a drive a festive adventure.

ADDED December 18, 2008

I am sure everybody reading this will very soon be driving in a car with kids.  There will be traffic, inclement weather and festive kids music playing on the stereo.  Instead of being frustrated with your situation embrace it.  Spend a few minutes talking with them about what specific sounds they are likely to hear at Christmas.  

Here is a list of what my kids came up with
Rain on the car and house
Music in the car and house
Dishes at a family dinner
Bells
Popcorn popping while watching a special movie
People saying, “Ho, Ho, Ho”

If your kids are younger they might also like practicing the holiday sounds they hear.  Really nothing is cuter than three year old saying,”HO HO HO”.  
If your kids are stuck for sounds use our list as a starting point and make today fun!

Indoor Holiday light show

Create a light show at home.

ADDED December 16, 2008

This time of year some people choose to create very elaborate Holiday light shows on the outside of their house but very few create this type of intricate display inside their house.  Today’s activity is silly and rowdy but as always we’ll try to add a little learning to the fun.

I will usually start this activity by playing some festive music, all good light shows have music.  Really any music will work, but try to pick something with a strong beat or peppy rhythm.  Then flick the lights on and off with the music creating a rhythmic syncopation.  While the lights are flicking on and off take turns pretending to see the different colors of the light show.  For example you can say, “I love to see the red lights” or “Oh my, the blue lights are so very pretty”.  

You can also mention some colors that your kids might not know yet to stimulate imaginations and expand their vocabulary, words like Amber, Cerulean and Vermilion.  Imagination is key to the success of this activity.

When the light show is in full effect let your kids have a chance.  Explain how they can listen to the music and anticipate the beats as they create their own light show.  Who knows you could be preparing them for a career at the “happiest place on earth” or just helping to expand their vocabulary by using Saffron in a sentence.  Have fun and let us know if the neighbors slow down as they drive by.

-P

What I Feel Lucky About

Help your child list things to be grateful for

ADDED November 27, 2008

It's no easy task to explain gratitude to small children.  Some people point out to kids that not everybody has similar nice stuff:  a nice house, nice parents, nice toys, etc.  We're not sure how effective this is, though we certainly respect the attempt.

For small kids, we suggest talking about feeling lucky.  I feel lucky, for instance, to have such a lovely spouse and great kids.

It's very common around this time of year to ask kids, "What are you thankful for?"  We think that question might be too vague, and it might elicit a response such as, "Um, I don't know."

To talk about gratitude with your kids, give them some easy prompts.  (In fact, this could be a car game, too, as you go over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house.)

Try asking with "what is something about _______ that makes you feel lucky?"  For instance, what is something about your friends that makes you feel lucky?

Here are some "lucky" topics to discuss with your little ones, to fill in the blank in our suggested question.

(1)  Their friends, family, and pets
(2)  Things that they play outside
(3)  Things that they play inside
(4)  Things at their school
(5)  Toys or books

Why do this with your kids?  Well, not to fish for compliments or gratitude.  We're sure your kids appreciate you, and if they mention it, great.  If they don't, that's okay, too.

One reason to do this is because grateful people are happy people, and it's never too early to start teaching that tip.  When you feel lucky about something, you are happy, right?  We all have so much to feel lucky about, and to be grateful for, both kids and adults, so why not lead our lives feeling that way?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Growing fun!

fun for young farmers

ADDED November 21, 2008

One of our favorite things to do with fruits and vegetables is keep the seeds and try to make them grow.   Whenever someone makes fresh-squeezed orange juice, cores an apple, cuts an avocado, or carves a pumpkin, the kids are there, ready to collect the seeds and start the experiment.
 
We put the seeds on a damp paper towel, seal it all in a baggie, and carefully place the experiment on the window sill in the kitchen.  Then we wait and check each day.  (Checking each day is important and fun -- and sometimes we need to inspect the progress more than one time a day!)   Once the seeds sprout, we transfer them to small paper cups, and when they look healthy and strong, we put them into the earth outside.  Most of our seeds don't make it to this final step, but is fun to try and to hope!

Due to my obsession with free stuff, my kids have become avid seed collectors.  Together we have grown watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapefruit, apples, oranges, avocado, corn, lemons, key limes and pumpkins.  And by the way, we live in the middle of the city, not out in the country.  Here is a photo of this year's pumpkin crop.

Try to grow your own plants from free seeds today.  Healthy eating is really a lot of fun for kids, especially when they're the ones who served as farmers!

Thanksgiving jokes

Easy to remember and funny.

ADDED November 20, 2008

Crazy Letter Sandwich

A tasty, tricky and tremendously entertaining letter activity

ADDED November 14, 2008

In our extended family, there is a darling toddler girl named Mckenna.  She is insanely adorable.

For some unknown reason, my two boys, "Rough" and "Tumble," are entranced by this sweet little girl.  Any activity that invovles a mention of little Mckenna is sure to be a hit.  And so, Mckenna became the starting point for this game.  (When you play, of course you can use a name that has relevance in your family.)

To start the game, I say, "I'm making a sandwich.  Here's what I was thinking to put in it:

•  Mustard,
•  Mayonnaise,
•  Mango,
•  Melon,
•  Mckenna, (yes, that wonderful little girl) and . . .

•  Pickle relish."

Then I ask Rough and Tumble if they can tell me which ingredient doesn't belong in my sandwich.  They know that I can be somewhat tricky, and they quickly catch on to what I'm doing.  Poor little Mckenna stays in my lunch, but pickle relish is out!

After you've asked your kids about your sandwich options, do it again with a different letter.  "I'm making a sandwich.  Here's what I was thinking to put in it:  Grapes, Granola, Goat cheese, Grandpa, a Gorilla and some alfalfa sprouts."

This activity gets kids thinking about letters . . . as well as what belongs or doesn't belong in a group or category.

Because we are who we are, we're including a list of alphabetical ingredients you can download and print.  That way you don't have to think too hard.  Click here.

(Disclaimer:  we at Today is Fun in no way encourage or condone eating kids -- or biting in any way.  This game is just supposed to be silly and fun.)

Good luck making those crazy letter sandwiches!  Bon appetit!

Clue Countdown

A clue per finger until there are no more left!

ADDED November 13, 2008

 

Think of something -- anything.  Hold up one hand, all five fingers extended.

Tell your kid, "I'm thinking of something.  You can have five guesses to figure out what it is.  And I'll give you a clue before each guess."

(Let's say you're thinking of a cloud.  The first clue you provide is "It's in the sky." Lower one finger.)

If your child doesn't guess the correct answer, provide another clue and fold down on another finger.

(The second clue could be, "It's fluffy.")

I like to try to make the first clue general and then get more and more specific as the guessing goes on.  And I like the last clue to be pretty much a giveaway.

(The last clue, for instance, could be "Rain comes out of them.")

If you're kids can manage it, have them think of something and take five guesses at what it is.

This is a good variation on twenty questions.  Young kids might not know the right questions to narrow the range of answers down.  (Little ones might not ask, "Is it a mineral or a vegetable?")  With this game, you guide them and help them along towards the right answer.

Three, two, one.  Fun!

The Big, Big-As-The-House, House-Sized Board Game

New fun with the toys and stuff you already have.

ADDED November 03, 2008

My kids and I have been playing board games for while now and this activity is a new twist on a old favorite, the board game.  With this activity, we will take a few items that you already have and use them in a different way to create a giant board game that can be played literally all over your house.  This game is as big as the house!

To play this game you need at least 20 blocks or Legos and a pack of playing cards or dice.  Each player will also need to select a favorite toy to use as a 'marker', like a bear, doll or action figure.

To start, create a trail around the house with the blocks.  Make it huge -- this is a house-sized game.  Each block in the path will be a space for your game. You and your kids can make the path go under chairs, around furniture, and upstairs.  Send your path thru the tub, slide it down the stairs, you can even make it go outside. Just make sure everyone knows where the trail starts and where it ends.

Each player will draw one card from the deck and then move the number of spaces on the card. For example, if you draw a five, move five spaces; if you draw a king or ace, move eleven spaces.  (Alternately you can use dice to come up with a number of spaces to move.)

Then add some fun rules of your own, at my house each player has to act like their marker when they are moving (roaring and snorting animals are best). Another rule we like to add is anytime your marker lands on the stairs you get to slide to the bottom, this often ends in a lot of stuffed animal tumbling action that is a crowd favorite.

Now that you have your giant, house-sized board game set up, play it!  And when you are done, change it and play again, then tear it down and play again tomorrow!  Also if you have a house that is over 10,000 square feet make sure you limit your game play to just a few rooms, like the ballroom and salon.  And make sure you stay away from the grand piano and elevator.
Have fun!

Send Your Kids a Postcard

Use the post to tell 'em they are the most!

ADDED October 24, 2008

Everybody likes to get mail, but kids don't seem to get that much outside of birthdays and holidays.  So today, pick up a few cards or postcards and drop 'em in the mail.

Make each parcel special by adding stickers, writing in colorful marker, or adding stamps of their favorite animals.  You can also put on some lipstick and give it a kiss (Moms only), or add lots "X's" and "O's." If your little one has a nickname address, it to their cute little alter ego. Use your imagination to make the envelope and message fun.

Your child will love to get this special piece of mail, so try it today!

One more thing if you are feeling really adventurous: try sending a piece of mail from the dog.  That is sure to get a big laugh!

Measure the stick

A fun scavenger hunt for your next walk.

ADDED October 21, 2008

It has been quite windy at my house lately, and that has caused a lot of leaves and debris to fall.  (This might be the reason that this time of year was originally named "Fall.")  So my kids and I made up this fun game called "Measure the Stick".   It makes a Fall walk outside all the more entertaining.

As you are strolling along, scan the ground and choose a small stick.  Ask your child if they can find a stick that is the exact same length.  Once the hunt begins, you get to have fun watching your child measure and compare to see if other sticks match up.   To be honest, it is very difficult to find another stick that's exactly the same length.  So in the end, you might need to accept a stick that is 'close enough' as the 'winner.'

Enjoy all the measuring and comparing.

Book in review

A little review to help your little readers

ADDED October 20, 2008

Use this out loud reading activity at home to help your new readers (and even older ones) review words that cause stumbling.  It's called "The Book in Review," and it's not a game, but a way to build a familiarity with newly learned words.

Here is how to do it:  As your kid is reading a book out loud, keep a mental list of what words are new or that might need some review. When the reading is done, close the book and give your child a pop quiz on the tricky words.

Make it fun and, if you're up for it, make it a little bit like a game show.  Find a page that has a troublesome word, point to it and ask in a booming voice, "What is the word?"  If they get the word right, cheer and whoop.  Make "jackpot" sound effects and an all-around big deal.  

Then move onto another word and repeat the question.  If your child gets the word wrong, have them work on figuring it out, and keep that page marked for further review and move onto another word.  When your kid gets the next word right, quickly turn back to the word they previously got wrong, review it again until it is correct.  In the end, when you are finished with the review,  carry your young reader on your shoulders like they are champs that just won the big game.

Try a review with your little readers today. (But don't practice this book review with your significant other unless you are able to lift them up on your shoulders!

Now it's your turn to read the word

Letters are actually words that kids can read

ADDED October 09, 2008

When my kids first started understanding that letters make up words, and words make up sentences, it was very exciting.  After all, they were reading, and reading is something I tried to encourage constantly. One our favorite reading activities was a game called, "Now it's your turn to read the word."

Here is how we would play. I would read to my kids, and stop occasionally, point to a word that was used frequently in the book and say, "Now it's your turn to read the word."  It was usually an easy word to figure out, and I would always ask them to read the same word (they soon caught on to my tricks).  The repetition was great, and it was fun to watch them try and predict when I was going to ask them to read.

Then just to mix it up, I would pick a word that we had not read yet.  If they did not know the word, I would ask them to read the letters, and we would figure it out together. This also created many teachable moments.

It helped move reading from a passive activity to an activity that they could take part in because they were reading, too.

Check out Racer Dogs or Dear Zoo at your local library and play "Now it's your turn to read the word" today.

Donate Used Toys

A fun activity and a helping hand for people in need

ADDED October 08, 2008

The other day, as the cleaning machines were working away (see our Cleaning Machines post), my son said, "Why do we have to put so many toys away?"
 
"Because you have a lot of toys!"  I said.
 
He continued, "If we had less toys, it would not take so long to put them away".
 
I though about it for a minute, and he was right.  My kids have far too many toys. I think if I were to divide their toys in half they would still have enough toys to last at least till the 7th grade. The sheer volume of toys in most houses has brought about an industry of organizational professionals jjust to tell parents what to do with their kids' stuff.
 
Since I am kind of a do-it-yourself kind of guy, I decided to do something about the toys, something that would not require a trip to Ikea or an organizing professional.

Since this site is all about fun, I tried to make a hard conversation fun.  My kids are a little older, so they understand that some people are not as fortunate as they are, and they understand what "donate" means.  And we decided to start donating.
 
So we took all the their toys out of every bucket, tub and shoebox.  We made a little game out of getting rid of the clutter.  (Just like on one of those ever-so-popular house de-cluttering shows).
 
The activity worked really well:  just a "keep" box and a "go" box.  No questions asked.  After the boxes were sorted, we decided what toys were worth keeping and what toys needed to go . . . and just like that, it was done.
 
It was amazing:  we de-cluttered, then donated.  In the end, everybody won.  In my son's mind, he had less toys to pick up and we were able to give some nice toys to some less fortunate people.  Not to be preachy, but it's one thing to donate when everything's going wonderfully, but it's also important to give during the bad times, when the economy isn't so great and when our natural instinct is to circle the wagons and cling to our stuff.  

We donated two boxes, and it felt good for parents and kids alike.

 

info@todayisfun.com 

Magnificent Micro World

Small things look really cool with a magnifying glass.

ADDED September 26, 2008

Here at TIF, we usually don't encourage buying things. We like free and are big fans of recycling and re-purposing.  But something we think every child should have is a magnifying glass. A magnifying glass opens up a tiny world that, unless you are looking closely, would go completely unnoticed.
 
Start your magnifying glass experiments with salt and sugar.  With the naked eye, both salt and sugar appear to be similar, but under the awesome power of a magnifying glass they could not be more different.  Have your kids look at the salt and sugar on black paper for maximum contrast, and they will be amazed at the differences in shape and texture.  If your kids are not old enough for this kind of experimentation, help them look at stamps, money, or even photographs under a magnifying glass's incredible power, and see what you have been missing.  Then once they understand how a magnifying glass works, turn them loose to find their own small world.
 
 Enjoy the small today! 

info@todayisfun.com

KIDS ENTERTAINMENT -- MAKE A PARACHUTE

Learn about gravity and how to defy it

ADDED September 25, 2008

My kids and I made these really cool parachutes a few days ago.  They are nothing fancy -- just a paper towel, some string and small toy to go along for the ride.  But they are a lot of fun and really easy to build. So I put together a little how-to with pictures so that you and your kids can follow along and build this incredible and almost free toy.

I like this activity because once I showed my kids how to build the parachute, they were able to make it themselves (over and over again).  

It is a fun activity something they can do to entertain themselves. Try it this weekend.

info@todayisfun.com

KIDS ENTERTAINMENT -- VEGETABLE POWER!

Make dinner a little more interesting when your kids pick the sides.

ADDED September 24, 2008

We all have heard these words: "But I don't like to eat that."  Of course this is usually referring to some kind of vegetable that is very healthy but less than enticing to a young child.  So we have an idea that will bring a little adventure to your next trip to the market and maybe, just maybe, get your pickiest of eaters to eat their vegetables.
 
On your way to the market, tell your kids that you need a little help picking the vegetables for dinner and that you want them to choose what you are going to eat.  Give them what I call the "Vegetable Power," meaning that they get to pick what powerful vegetables you will eat for dinner.

I let them chose a vegetable from the produce section that is either green, yellow, orange or red -- and what they pick we all have to eat. (Incidentally, what they pick my lovely wife also has to cook!)  We have recently eaten delicious baby corn, broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, sugar snap peas and kabocha with very little complaining.
 
It seems that if I include my kids in the vegetable decision-making process, they are more willing to try something new (and I hear a lot less complaining.  Even when someone chooses brussel sprouts.)  Vegetable Power!
 
Show us your Vegetable Power! by leaving a comment or sending an email to
info@todayisfun.com

Kids Games - - Build a hopscotch court

Have fun this weekend with a classic.

ADDED September 11, 2008

This weekend why not put all of that sidewalk chalk your kids have in the garage to good use and make a hopscotch court?  It is an activity that you can do together and good exercise for everyone. You can build a traditional court that looks like this.

Or something more fancy like the French variant called “Escargot." It looks like this.

Try and make one of each this weekend.  Email a picture of your court to info@todayisfun.com. Hop to it!

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- WHAT DO YOU GET....

A fun problem solving activity.

ADDED September 09, 2008

Most things here at TIF are absurd and amusing.  What can I say -- we like to have fun. We revel in the ridiculous and savor the silly.  Today’s idea is no different.  I like to play this game in the car when everybody is buckled in, a little bored, and ready to get to our destination. It is called, "What do you need to get…?" 

I will ask my kids simple questions like, ”What do you need to get an egg?”
The answer is not as easy as it might seem, and there are many right answers: you might need a chicken or a store or even a hand to pick up the egg. The fun comes from the imagination used thinking up silly answers. Or the questions can be of a more educational nature, ”What do you need to get 5?”  The answer again is many things: 2+3=5 or 9-4=5 . . . and even 5 birthday parties is a correct answer. Or the question can be even more silly like, ”What do you need to to get to Hawaii?” An airplane, wings, a boat, or even money would all be answers!

This is a great activity because the kids have to figure out the answer, and the adults have to be a little creative as they try and stump them with more and more outlandish questions.

What do your need to get…
Toast.
A carrot.
A car tire.
A book.
Sand.
Seatbelt.
A dog.

Try it today and leave us a comment letting us know “What do you need to get…?”.

How to entertain kids -- House of Cubes

It's a house, it's an igloo, it's . . . missing?

ADDED September 04, 2008

This one requires a bit of patience, so it might work better for older kids.  It's one of our fine, fun kids games for the end of summer.  

A lot of freezers these days try to  prove their worth by making tons of ice cubes.  Ours does, and it seems that there is always a couple cubic feet worth of ice cubes ready to go in there that we never use.  So . . . why not use them?  They make fine building blocks.

Take as many pounds of your ice cubes outside as you can, along with a cup of water.  See what kinds of constructions your kids can make with the cubes.  We've got pretty good at a wall, a house sort of thing (complete with a roof), and the tricky but satisfying tall tower.  (Six cubes is our record.) 

As you stack the cubes, sprinkle a little water on top of each cube to act as mortar.

What can you build?  Please let us know at info@todayisfun.com.

And please, there is only one rule to remember here.  Whatever the kids do, they are not allowed to put an ice cube down Daddy's back while he's trying to build up the tower!

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- Sshhh! Library Fun

This books looks terrific!

ADDED September 02, 2008

Here at Today Is Fun, we definitely try to promote books and a love of reading, as those things can entertain kids long after they're kids.

Trips to the library are often magical for young kids, as they first see the walls and shelves full of books.  If your little ones are old enough, this game is a way to make a trip to the library even more fun.  It's also a way for young kids to experience a measure of freedom and self-reliance in a public place.

The idea is simple, really.  When you go to the library, have hunts for certain kinds of books.  For instance, on one visit we will all try to find a book that looks terrific about pirates.  Or each person will spend ten minutes trying to find a terrific book about an animal.  Of course, the topics to find for books that look terrific are endless:  rainy days, Moms, flowers, cowboys, etc.

It's important for the kids not to ransack the shelves and to keep the books in place.  Running and yelling are of course causes for immediate disqualification.

Once everyone has found a book, we read each one.  If the book is really terrific, we check it out and take it home.

One last idea about this Library Fun game:  if the librarians and library patrons aren't bothered by the young competitors, then everyone gets extra points!

How to entertain kids -- At the market

Fun times with what you have on hand

ADDED August 28, 2008

Sometimes shopping is not the most fun activity for kids.  The waiting, price comparisons and bargain hunting is an adult activity. And unless a cereal needs to be picked out there is nothing much to do but sit and wait till the shopping is done.  Of course we have a solution for that.  Let your child play with your cell phone.  

On the surface this might seem like a risky proposition but take a minute and explain to your child how careful you need to be with a cell phone and what a big responsibility it is to be able to use one.  Then open up the camera function on you phone and show your kids how to take a picture or a movie and let them entertain themselves with this little piece of technology we all have.

You will definitely end up with a lot of photos like these actual photos taken by a three year old with my lovely wifes iphone but it is so fun!

Just another tip on HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS from Today is fun.
Commenting is easy and fun so let us know how it going we are always at info@todayisfun.com and don’t forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

KIDS GAMES -- Find the Shape

Fun game to help your kids learn shapes

ADDED August 27, 2008

Here at TIF we like to think that every day holds an opportunity for learning.  We also like to take every teachable moment and make it fun.  Today’s entertaining game is a great idea called Find the Shape.  It is simple and easy all at once.  It also can even help little ones learn shapes.

First find a willing player or players and second look for a shape that is easy to find.  Look for something big to start with that has an easily identifiable shape like a rectangular door or a round table.  And ask your kids to find the shape.  Then your kids can take turns trying to Find the Shape.

I will also add a few variations to the game to keep my kids on their toes.  I will ask them to Find the color or Find the empty table or even Find the guy in the red and white striped shirt.  It’s just another one of the great Kids Games we love!

Commenting is easy and fun so let us know how it going we are always at info@todayisfun.com and don’t forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

KIDS GAMES -- The human adding machine

Fun family game that everyone can play

ADDED August 26, 2008

Next time you and your kids are waiting for your meal at a restaurant or in the doctor’s office, try this fun and educational activity. This game can be played with as few as 2 people and can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. We call it "the human adding machine."

We all take turns holding up zero to five fingers and then it is the human adding machine's job to add up all the fingers. Then the game moves on to the next person, and they add all the fingers up and so on. To add some fun and make it a little more entertaining, I will talk in a robot voice and sometimes give the wrong answer just to keep my kids on their toes. I will also push the subtract button on the human calculator to create a teachable and challenging moment.

My kids love to play, and I like to think it strengthens their math skills. This is one of our most simple, easy and fun kids games.

Commenting is easy so let us know how the human adding machine works for you.  We are always at info@todayisfun.com and don’t forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- Make a card for someone

Turn boredom around by making a card for someone else

ADDED August 25, 2008

What I like to do when I hear, “but I have nothing to do” is get out the art supplies and let my kids go to town making a card. It sure is hard to be bored if you are making something to give away.

So I will look on the calendar and see who's birthday is coming up and we will make them a birthday card, handmade cards are always the best. Just paper, stickers, markers and crayons are all that are required to say “Happy Birthday” and chase the boredom away.

Try it today if you don't have any birthdays coming up create a holiday card, a thinking of you card or even a Happy Tuesday card.  I am sure it will be a big hit.


Commenting is easy and fun so let us know who you made a card for info@todayisfun.com don't forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- WATCH THE CLOUDS

Find shapes and learn a little science all at the same time

ADDED August 24, 2008

A fun activity in these final days of summer is just sitting outside and watching the clouds. It is simple easy and clouds are almost always available to watch.

Today find some time to spend together outside looking at the clouds. Eat lunch outside or take an evening walk and look for animals, people or shapes in the clouds. If your kids are having trouble finding something in the clouds give them some silly suggestions of things to look for like, Grandma, the family pet or a teacher.

 

Here at TIF we love science and want to spread the love so while you are enjoying your time chatting and searching the skies if you see "puffy" or "cotton-like" clouds you can practice with your kids the scientific name for those clouds it is Cumulus.  After all it’s never to early learn.

Commenting is easy and fun so let us know what your kids see in the clouds info@todayisfun.com don’t forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

How to entertain kids -- Clap, stomp, hop

Combine follow the leader and outrageous antics for a fun time

ADDED August 13, 2008

As the final days of summer are waning and the school year is approaching fast sometimes a little boredom combined with the need to run around can create a powder keg of childish energy.  When this perfect storm is about to strike we will head outside for a game that combines follow the leader and the outrageous antics of a game show into one kid friendly activity that is sure to get the wiggles out.
This game seems to work best when we are walking somewhere but it certainly can be played in the yard or living room with equal success. 
First everyone stands in a circle and chose someone to start, there are three moves that the leader can chose from and they can be played in any combination, either clap, stomp or hop. Say the leader starts with a hop, stomp, hop and while they are doing their moves they need to say what they are doing, “hop, stomp, hop”. When the leader finishes they say "next".  This is the cue for the group to do what the leader just did, so they all say and do a little, “hop, stomp, hop”. When they finish they say "next". And the next person in line is now the leader and they get three moves, any three moves they might chose to go for a stomp, stomp, clap or hop, clap, stomp or even hop, hop, hop, whatever moves they chose the group follows and you keep going around the circle until everyone is worn out.
Remember you can do the moves in any order and even repeat moves but you only get three moves so use them wisely.  As your players become more advanced you can make up moves to trick the group, try hop, bark, balance on one leg or jump, roll, give a high five.
The reason we like this game so much is its simplicity kids love copying their parents and they love to have fun and be silly.

Try a little hop, hop, act like a hippo today and leave us a comment, it’s easy and fun or email info@todayisfun.com don’t forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

How to entertain kids -- With letters

I see my letter!

ADDED August 12, 2008

Here at Today is fun we love reading and letters.  We also are big fans of encouraging kids to read regardless of age.
The first letter I taught my kids was the first letter of their name and I called it their letter.  They understood almost immediately that this one letter was special because it was their letter.  
Once they could identify their letter, I would occasionally stop on a page that we were reading and ask them to find their letter. From there we were able to move quickly to having them pick out a book that had their letter in the title and on to letting them pick out cereal with there letter in the name. Of course we ended up with sugar cereals but it was great, they were interested and always on the look out for their letter.

Try teaching your kids their letter today and see what happens.
Commenting is easy and fun so let us know where your kids find their letter or email info@todayisfun.com don’t forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- What do you hear?

How to entertain kids with silence

ADDED August 11, 2008

Some car rides are rowdy. When a group of kids is going to a party or on an outing be prepared for a loud ride.  And when you mix in some sort of children's folk singer on the stereo be prepared for shrieks of joy and peals of laughter that only dogs can hear.

Today we have a quick idea that can quiet the car down, keep everybody entertained and it works with a group of kids or just a few.

What I will do to get everyone's attention is first I will put all of the windows in the car down.  The noise and sudden burst of wind will shock everyone into silence for a few seconds. When the group is quiet I will tell them of a new game we are going to play.  This is a quiet game and to play you need to be quiet and listen carefully, we are going to listen as we drive and we will tell each other what we hear.

Soon silence is all I here combined with an occasional, “Oh, I hear a horn and a truck” and “Oh there is a dog”.  

This is one of our favorite kinds of activities because it takes all of the rowdy excitement that kids have and transforms it into something structured with a little learning along the way. Try it and let us know how it works for you!

Commenting is easy and fun so let us know what your kids hear info@todayisfun.com don't forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

What is my balance?

Help encourage your kids to save.

ADDED July 31, 2008

We opened a bank account for the kids the other day.  It’s their own bank account that they use for their personal savings.  It does not have a debt card or checks and it barely has a balance but it is a place they can put birthday money or money they earn from practicing the piano.

I certainly am no professional with money management but I hope it will help them understand how hard it is to earn money and how expensive it is to buy things. 

They both really like to go online (with my help of course) to check their balances and trips to make a deposits have been fun so far. I’ll let you know how it works out as time goes on.  Hopefully they will realize the car they want will not pay for itself.

Market Price

A fun game to play at the market

ADDED July 30, 2008

Next time you are at the market a need an activity while you are waiting for your number to be called at the deli counter try this little time killer.  Have your kids carefully grab a few oranges or a cantaloupe and head over to the scale in the produce section. Put the fruit in and let your kids tell you the weight.  If they don’t understand how a scale works it is a perfect opportunity to teach your kids how to read it.  Start with the round numbers first and as they grow more experienced you can even begin to explain fractions!  It can kill a few extra minutes and you can educate while you shop.  Also try to weigh something big like a watermelon that is always fun but whatever you do please don't bruise the fruit.

 

Drop us an email and let us know how much your produce weighed info@todayisfun.com and don’t forget to tell your friends about Today is fun!

Local Tour Guide

A game where your kids lead the way

ADDED July 29, 2008

During the summer when the nights are warm and long we take a walk just about every night.  It’s a good exercise habit and a fun time together as a family.  The dog also is a big fan of walks so we all win. But a problem developed I found we were falling into a bad habit where we followed the same route nightly.  So I found a fun way to mix it up and keep the kids interested. Each night I chose one of them to be our local tour guide.

The local tour guide really has a lot of responsibility they chose our walking route for the evening and are tasked with highlighting points of interest along the way.  They also make sure we cross the street safely and keep an eye on the dog so I can pick up after him.  

Next time you are out on a walk with your family appoint a local tour guide.  Have them point out their friends houses, places they like to go, houses that have barking dogs and who has the most cats in the neighborhood.  Each walk with my kids is always very enlightening after all the locals know all the secrets.


Drop us an email and let us know what you learned on your tour info@todayisfun.com don’t forget to tell a friend about us and remember Today is Fun!

Summer Bug Hunt

Fun Summer Activity

ADDED July 28, 2008

Most kids love bugs. They like to look at them and some even like to touch them.  And we have a great idea for you and your little bug lovers today.  

All you will need is an old pillowcase and a jar with a top and a rose bush or some kind of flowering plant. With these three things you will be well on your way to a super duper fun bug hunt.  

Lay the pillowcase out on the ground and give the plant a good shake, any bugs that are not holding on really tight will fall to the ground and onto the pillowcase.  Pick up the pillowcase and shake the bugs into the jar and you are all set for viewing your catch.  

Help your kids count how many bugs you caught, the number of legs on each bug and how many have wings?  You can also name the colors on each bug and if they are really brave they can touch the bugs.  

When the viewing is over let the bugs go and see if you catch some more.

 

Drop us an email and let us know what you caught info@todayisfun.com and remember if  Today is Fun tell a friend!

Ask anything you want or tell me something I don't know

A nice, nightly night-night ritual

ADDED July 23, 2008

 

In our house, we have a boy who is just old enough to have his own 'big kid' bed, but not quite old enough to understand the concept of staying in that bed at night.

We take a number of steps to remind everybody in our house that beds are for bedtime, and we have a nice nightly routine that includes reading a book and telling a story.

After the book and the story, and when the kids are lying quietly in bed, I do the final part of the nightime process. I say to each child in turn: "Ask me any question about anything you want, or tell me something, anything, that I don't know."

The point that I'm conveying to them here is that we're done talking for the day, and that it's time to move on to resting and being quiet.

This activity is also further encouragement for kids to feel comfortable sharing information or asking a question. There are many times when kids are not invited to make any statement they'd like (during school, at church, etc.), and I want to make sure to give them chances to communicate anything at all with me, and to get into the habit of doing so.

And like all the ideas on our site, there's a lot of fun to be had here, too. For instance, what will your child's minds come up with for questions, or for information you don't already know? In our house, I was recently told that a dinosaur popped his head out of a volcano and tried to eat one of our family's friends! Well, I certainly did not know that one before.

We're interested in the rituals you do with your kids in your house. To share, please email us at info@todayisfun.com, or leave a comment here.

Eat It or Don't Eat It!

Yet another of our kids games that is easy, fun, and instructional

ADDED July 20, 2008

This is another very simple game. There is a certain, almost Zen-like beauty to the simplicity of this activity, as we'll explain in a moment...

You list a few things for your kids. They have to tell you "Eat it" or "Don't Eat It" for each. A plate of spaghetti, yes. An apple, yes. An entire house . . . absolutely not!

After your turn (try to rattle off about ten different items to ask about), your kids can take a stab at listing things for you to eat or don't eat.

Once your kids understand the concept, you can start to get tricky with them. For instance, "elbow pasta" is a favorite in our house. But just plain old elbows . . . don't try to eat those!

Of course, this is a very easy way to review for small children what people eat, and what they shouldn't. As a case in point, I always remind my little guy that crayons and Play Dough are on the "Don't Eat It!" list.

And now for the beauty of this game, as we mentioned above. The thing is, "Eat it or Don't Eat It!" is simple and engaging enough for small children that they can play it themselves, once you show them how. We have witnessed kids as young as four and two playing this game by themselves for ten to fifteen minutes at a time! And ah, what a sweet, peaceful, and relaxing ten to fifteen minutes that was.

Have fun, and at your next meal time, please stick to the "Eat It" list. No houses, no elbows, please.

 

How Many Fingers Am I Holding Up?

A game for kids that helps little ones learn math concepts

ADDED July 19, 2008

This activity is another in our series about teaching numbers and counting.  And okay, it's pretty simple, we admit it.  Please don't demand your money back.  It really is a great, fun introduction to these concepts for little kids.

First, have the kids close their eyes. Then hold up a number of your fingers.  

"How many fingers am I holding up?" you ask.

Then your child guesses, while keeping eyes closed.  You respond to each guess with "More," "Less," or "Absolutely right!"

Once your kids get the concept, you can close your eyes and take a shot at guessing how many fingers they're holding up.

(During a recent run through of this game, my boy really surprised me.  After I guessed all the possible numbers - 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 - and was told that I was wrong every time, I opened my eyes to discover he was holding up all his fingers on both hands.  He was delighted, of course, and I was foiled again.)

Have fun playing this learning numbers game with your kids, but whatever you do, for your own safety and the safety of your self esteem, don't try to play this one with any teenagers!

The Big Performance

The final act for this weeks activities

ADDED July 17, 2008

Today’s craft is part three of a three part summer fun activity.

I hope you all made your puppets and worked out a little story with your child if you did not please click here and here for the activities.  

Now that the puppets are made and the story is ready it’s time to put all the pieces together for the big performance.  You can use something as simple as the back of a chair or couch for the stage really anything your kids can get behind will be perfect.
 
If you want to pop some popcorn have some drinks and light refreshments and when everybody is ready turn the lights down and enjoy the show. Cheer and have fun!

For those who are technically savvy record the show and post it on youtube.com.  That way if a special loved one can’t make it they will be able to see it. Or you can just record it to show on your TV I know my kids love to see themselves on TV.

Have a great weekend and let us know how its going remember to leave a comment or send us an email!  info@todayisfun.com

Tell that story!

An easy educational storytelling activity .

ADDED July 16, 2008

Today’s craft is part two of a three part summer fun activity.

Yesterday I hope you all made your puppets if you did not please click here for the activity.  

Now that the puppets are made it is story time!  Using a few of the puppets you have created as inspiration work with your child to create a short story that they can act out with the puppets.  If your child is older they can even write it down so important plot points are not forgotten.  Don’t be to strict with the story part just have fun and encourage their creativity. Make it a conversation, I like to give them the tools and let them create. If they are stuck or only mildly interested, you can lead gently by asking questions, “Who is in your story, where are they and what are they doing?” That is really all I have to do just give a little boost and they are off and running.

Most stories at my house usually involve a lot of falling down, at least one talking animal and many of the stories take place at school.  I have also found that the stories tend to develop and change during the performance, kind of like jazz.  

Have fun and look for part three tomorrow!

Leave a comment or send us an email to let us what your story is about info@todayisfun.com

and don't forget to tell your friends about us!

Popsicle puppets.

An easy educational craft.

ADDED July 15, 2008

Today’s craft is part one of a three part summer fun activity.

 

 
All you will need to make a really fun puppet is a popsicle stick, a small toy and some clear tape.  If you don’t have a popsicle stick you could use a straw or chopstick.  This stick will be the part that your child holds on to use the puppet. Once you have chosen a stick have your child find a small toy that can be taped to one end of the stick. When the toy is attached the puppet is done.
 
Now show your kids how the puppet can come to life!  It can walk along the edge of the table, behind the couch and along the edge of the tub.  This is a great activity to encourage creative play and something that kids can play with on their own once the puppet is built.
 
Have fun and look for part two tomorrow!
 
Leave a comment or send us an email to let us what you are making info@todayisfun.com!

Counting everyday and every way

Daily fun with numbers

ADDED July 14, 2008

Numbers are an abstract concept. Learning how to count to ten is the easy part but learning how to use numbers to count things this can be hard. Here at TIF we love numbers and we think that the only way to get good at something is through repetition. That is why we are big fans of this game.

Once your kids have mastered counting 1-10 the next step could be to count simple things that you and your kids see. Math that they can do on their fingers is the best, as with everything we try to make it easy so it can be done anywhere.

With my kids I started with simple things that I knew they could count, when we would ride somewhere in the car I would often ask how many people are in the car? Or other times I would ask how many wheels does a car have? How many lights are on the street lamp? Or just to be tricky. I would ask how many wheels does and eighteen wheeler have?

Using simple counting questions they got really good quickly and soon we were adding up the tires on two cars, counting items in a display case and people in line at the market. Try it today and see what numbers you come up with.

Leave a comment or send us an email to let us know how you encourage counting at info@todayisfun.com!

Fishing for fun.

Entertaining activity with rowdy results.

ADDED July 13, 2008

Here is a fun game you can play in the back yard, park or pool. All you need is a kid or two, bait and tackle not required.  

I start by saying, “ I think I am going to go fishing”.
I pretend to throw my line in the water and reel one of the fish in.
As my fish comes in I will ask it, “You don’t look like a fish what are you?”

This is the part I like, hearing what I have reeled in and believe it or not I have reeled in everything from an old shoe that claimed to be just my size to a white blood cell.

Since I am a catch and release fisherman now comes the part they like a gentle toss back into the ocean.

As the game continues I will mix it up and not throw back things that are interesting to encourage the kids to use their imagination. Once I even reeled in the Mayor, she seemed to be wise so I kept her for a while to help me decide what to do with my catches.

It is fun and educational. They get to use their imaginations and verbal skills as they listen to each other and think up more and more outlandish things for me to catch. And I also have a lot of fun listening to what I have caught.

Drop us a line and let us know what you catch info@todayisfun.com and remember Today is Fun!

From Where Do You Know?

A fun and simple quizzing game about your kids' favorite characters

ADDED July 10, 2008

Your kids know the characters from a number of different books and TV shows. This activity -- perfect for the car or when you're waiting somewhere -- involves reviewing all the characters and stories that your kids know.

For example, in our house we watch shows and read books from Sesame Street, Bob the Builder, Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse, the Little Einsteins, Word World, Richard Scarry, and Winnie the Pooh.  These shows and books have become the kids' favorites, and they watch the shows and read the books over and over again.

When we need to pass some time, I quiz the kids on all the characters and shows.  I ask, "From where do you know Annie?"  (Answer:  Little Einsteins.)  "From where do you know Tigger?"  (From Winnie the Pooh, of course.)

The kids like to have their knowledge tested, and they like to review all their favorites.  Sometimes, just to get their goat, you can make a preposterous statement ("Oscar the Grouch is a character on Bob the Builder") to see how your children respond.

When the kids are older and in high school, quizzes won't be quite this enjoyable for them.  But for now, quiz away and have fun while it lasts!

Lk, M! N vwls!

that is...Look, Ma! No vowels!

ADDED July 07, 2008

If your child doesn't know what vowels are, tell them: A, E, I, O, U, and (that's right), sometimes Y. For "phase 1" of this activity, you guys just might want to talk about the vowels each day for a week.

Once your child gets the concept . . . it's time to get rid of those special letters. No more vowels for you!

In our house, we like to imagine a world with no vowels. We start with simple words, such as dog and cat. First, I ask my boys where the vowels are in each of those words, and once each has been identified, we spell the words *without* vowels: dog and cat become dg and ct. The most fun part of this exercise is trying to pronounce the words without vowels. (I think dog and cat sound like dug and kit, both sounding kind of clipped and pronounced with a lot of emphasis. I also find that I clench my teeth when uttering these vowel-less words.)

Then we start talking about family members, and what would happen to their names without vowels. Daddy and Mommy's names are especially difficult to pronounce without vowels, but we try anyway. (Three impassioned D sounds and three long Mmmm's, respectively.) We talk about our friend Paul, whose name is manageable and still sounds relatively Paul-like, but then we discuss Alicia and Ana, whose names sound nothing like they do with all of their vowels.

In our house, things generally break down from there, and the kids want to talk about every word without its proper allotment of vowels. It really is dctnl and fn, but sometimes a bit xhstng! (educational, fun, exhausting!)

Red, White and Blue hunt

Entertaining Game of finding the colors in the American flag.

ADDED June 29, 2008

4th of July is this Friday and here at Today is fun we have loads of great ideas to keep your kids entertained all throughout this patriotic and festive week.

Today’s idea will help get the smallest patriots in the mood by having them look for the colors found in the American flag, red, white and blue. If your kids don’t know what colors are on the American flag this week would be a great time to teach them because flags and displays of patriotism will be everywhere.

 

When your kids have figured out what colors they are looking for turn them loose. When they find the first color “Red” then they can find the next color “White” and then “Blue” then repeat “Red”, “White” and “Blue”.

The idea is very simple and can be used to pass a few minutes at the market or on a car ride or even while you are reading a book this week try pointing out the colors Red, White and Blue when you look at the pictures.

Also don’t forget to drop us an email info@todayisfun.com we will be wearing special 4th of July hats all week (look for this idea later in the week) and it would be great to hear from you!

Albert the Aardvark

A fun and funny way for kids to learn letters and alliterations

ADDED June 26, 2008

Ask your kids if they've met Albert the Aardvark. No? They haven't? How about Beulah the Beaver? (She's always quite busy, it seems.) Then there's Connie the Coyote and Donny the Duck-Billed Platypus.

The way our family plays this game is for the adult to supply the kids with the name, and then the kids come up with the animal. The game gets much more fun, you'll see, when your kids can provide both the name and the animal.

Even if your child can only invent gibberish names for the animals ("Frunko the Frog," for instance) as long as they are recognizing and repeating that first letter sound, it's still an approved answer in our book.

Have fun with those kids today, and say hello to Hortense the Hedgehog for us.

(For another fun alliterative word game check out one of our previous posts: Great Gadzooks!)

Have you ever seen a PoodleRex?

Word jumble silliness!

ADDED June 19, 2008

Kids are always pretending to be animals. At any time a zoo full of hamsters, hyenas or hippopotami can be found thundering thru the house.  The question that always comes up is, “Dad, what kind of animal do you want to be?” I usually choose hippopotamus because they float around, listen to the zookeeper (my daughter)  and don’t get into a lot of trouble.

But sometimes when posed with this question what I’ll do is take two animals and create a new animal. It is really simple, take the first part of one animal and combine it with the last part of another animal and presto you have the fearsome ham-opotamus, the deadly hip-yena or the poorly behaved hy-ster.

Try this idea in the car or at the dinner table.  It is fun with sound effects and acting (I always encourage gentle acting), but I love to see their imaginations light up when one of these mythical creatures appear

Here is a list of my favorites The Rabburtle (Rabbit and Turtle), Buffmunk (Buffalo and Chipmunk) and Rhinokey (Rhino and Monkey) are all favorites.  And in my sons mind nothing is better then the ferocious PoodleRex (Tyrannosaurus Rex and Poodle) I just wish we could house break him!  

Next time you are asked, “what animal do you want to be” Let us know what you and you kids come up with. We are just an email away info@todayisfun.com or leave a comment.

Morning Muffins

A simple muffin recipe makes any morning fun.

ADDED June 18, 2008

Certain mornings cold cereal does not work. So what the kids and I like to do on a weekend morning is make this simple mini blueberry muffin recipe. It is quick, easy and has little clean up so you can get on with other things. It is also best if we can make the muffins and not wake up Mom. Try it this weekend I guarentee everyone will be pleased with the results.

 

For some reason I memorized this recipe. So what I like to do is have my kids test me every time we make these just so I don’t forget something important. I like to think it helps them with reading and I can empathize with them as they memorize spelling words. They also do a majority of the measuring and all batter testing.

If you don’t want to memorize the recipe (and I don’t blame you) print it out and let your kids do the reading and measuring.

Try it and let me know how it goes. When I say everyone can do it I do mean it.
1. 2 cups of flour
2. 1/2 cup sugar
3. 3 tsp baking powder
4. ½ tsp cinnamon
5. 1/8 tsp salt
6. 1 egg
7. ¾ cup milk
8. 1/3 cup butter
9. 2 tsp vanilla
10. 1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Mix all dry ingredients add wet ingredients and fold in blueberries (or cranberries or chocolate chips!)
Fill greased mini muffin pans
Bake for 10-15 min or until golden brown.
Sprinkle tops of muffins with a little cinnamon & sugar or powdered sugar and eat!

 

Let us know how it goes and email us at info@todayisfun.com photos of the results.

 

*Original recipe for muffins can be found here
http://www.bfeedme.com/mini-fresh-blueberry-muffins-recipe/
Thank you!

The Table Captain

This Simple entertaining and helpful clean up game.

ADDED June 17, 2008

It would be very easy after dinner for everyone to rush away and leave Mom with the clean up. But this does not sound very fun for Mom so what we decided to do is make a game of clean up.

The kids and I take turns being “The Table Captain”. Table Captain is a very important job because they are the Boss, the one that makes sure every thing is cleared off the table and the only person who can give final approval to clean up process.

Here is how we do it, feel free to let me know what works for you. At our house The Table Captain decides the order things will be cleaned up in and is also available to answer any questions about what needs to be cleaned up should anyone forget where the dirty dishes go (this happens to me a lot). We all work together (even the Captain) clearing dishes, bagging leftovers, loading the dishwasher, pushing in chairs and wiping down the table and sneaking scraps of food to the dog.

When we think it is done we ask the Table Captain if the job is complete and only the Table Captain decides it is truly clean. Some Table Captains at my house are very tough.

I like this activity because everybody takes turns being the boss. We all know that when the team works together we can get the job done quickly and the kids really like telling their parents what to do. Don't forget to drop us a note and tell some of you entertaining Table Captain stories.

Sticker Story.

An activity that is sure to stick.

ADDED June 16, 2008

This is a fun activity for a lazy summer afternoon. Take some stickers and one piece of paper. Have you child put all the stickers on the paper. They can be upside down, on top of each other and all over. When all the stickers are applied to the paper now the fun begins.

Look over the page for little scenes or still life portraits that have happened accidentally on the page. Point out how it looks like two of the stickers are having a conversation or how one sticker is standing on its head in a tree. As these scenes begin to develop you and your child can start to make up a story about the action on the page. They usually are short and at my house definitley silly, but Mom always loves to hear all about it.

Yesterday I heard one about a puppy who liked to ride dinosaurs to go camping. When the puppy and the dinosaurs got to the campground they made friends with a family of hamsters and roasted s’mores. Now that’s what I call a story.

Water Painting

Part of our Summer activities series

ADDED June 15, 2008

A great way to pass an afternoon is to head outside and give your little ones a small cup of water and a paint brush. Sit down on the sidewalk you are now ready to paint. The water will make the cement dark, this is your paint and sidewalk is the canvas. Help you child practice letters, numbers or even words if you are fast enough. Explain how evaporation works and before you know it a whole afternoon has done just that. Have Fun!

Portable Game Books

Print out these handy games for anytime fun.

ADDED June 04, 2008

The other day I was looking for a simple organizer that I could print out and fold into a small pocket size to do list. I happened upon this very handy little organizer at
http://www.pocketmod.com/v2/
and as I looked thru the options for coordinating my life I found you could make little books of Tic-Tack-Toe, Dots and Boxes or a Blank Page for Doodling even little frames to make your own stories in, all you have to do is print, fold and cut to create a little portable game book to take anywhere. I immediatley printed some out and put them to use.

They really are a lot of fun and super simple to make. We have been playing a game of Dots and Boxes after dinner for the past 3 nights (this game can be very long) and the Tic-Tac-Toe book really came in handy during a recent Doctors visit and I can’t wait to use the Doodling book at a restaurant very soon.

I made five little booklets to print and take. I really like them. Let me know what you think!
Click link below to download in pdf format and print!

1) Tic-Tac-Toe
2) Dots and Boxes
3) ½ Tic-Tac-Toe & ½ Dots and Boxes
4) Blank pages for coloring
5) Make your own story

If you are having trouble folding the paper look here for a quick primer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAb31rIeGZo
and if you forgot the rules of Tic-Tac-Toe look here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe
also if you are not quite sure how to play Dots and Boxes look here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dots_and_Boxes
and of course you can always email us here to let us know how it’s going.
info@todayisfun.com

 

A little help and a lot of learning

Daily chores made fun with the help of your little one!

ADDED June 03, 2008

On laundry day the little ones in my house always like to help. But all the good jobs are taken. Dumping the mountain of dirty clothes that’s to heavy. Folding clean clothes is too hard. Sleeping on the pile of clean or dirty clothes that’s the dogs business. So what to do? Have the littlest ones sort the clothes. You can’t wash whites with colors -- and you have to do it anyway -- so put ’em to work.

It’s really not that hard. Three piles:  white, dark and colors. If they don’t understand, this is a great opportunity to teach while you work together. Explain and show them what pile the clothes go into. Before you know it the job is done and back to the fun. An unexpected bonus: training for college laundromats.

 

What jobs do you give your little ones? Drop us an email at info@todayisfun.com or leave a comment!

A lot, a little, or so-so

A simple, entertaining way of finding kids' favorite things

ADDED May 26, 2008

 

Think of something -- anything -- in your child's life.  For now, let's use the example of a grilled cheese sandwich.

Ask your child, "How much do you like a grilled cheese sandwich?  A lot, a little, or just so-so?"  

It's that easy.

Once your child answers, you can share your thoughts on the subject at hand.  Then, think of another item to discuss.  Going to the park, for example.  Or an alligator.

Even little kids can participate in this game.  And there is something intrinsically charming about a toddler saying 'so-so.'

We all feel differently about various things in our lives.  This game helps pass the time in an entertaining way by talking about those evaluations.

We've had enormous success with this one during long car rides and while stuck in traffic.

Your family is guaranteed to like this game a lot (or a little or so-so).

Fun with Vowel Sounds

Entertain the kids with their own mouths (and have them learn a little in the process)

ADDED May 25, 2008

Kids like to play with anything at hand and sometimes what is at hand is, well, a face.

 

At some point during childhood, everybody hears the old wives' tale: "don't make that kind of funny face or it will stick that way." Well, these funny faces won't stick, but the educational benefit here just might.

If your kids don't know already, list for them all the vowels: A, E, I, O, and U. (Sometimes Y.)

Then, you and your kids make the different vowel sounds: an A, an E, an O sound, and so forth. Part of the fun of this activity is looking at how your mouths are shaped for each sound: an O sound, of course, makes a circle of course, but what does a A do? In our house, we think an A stretches your lips, and an E really stretches your mouth!

It's learning and it's fun. And we hope that your kids will say, "Oh, this is A great time. Yip-EE!"

 

Great Gadzooks

Alphabetical word fun.

ADDED May 22, 2008

My kids are learning all about words at school, and lately I have seen their vocabulary increase greatly. What I do to encourage bigger words and a broader vocabulary is play a game I call “Great Gadzooks.”

It is slightly challenging and definitley something that makes them think but it can be played anywhere. The results are always hilarious.

All you need is a little imagination and some word power. You start at the beginning of the alphabet and use a adjective and a noun that start with the letter A.  For example, ”Awesome Apples” or “Arabian Ant,” then the game moves on to the next person. They will use the letter B for their turn, they follow suit using the same adjective and noun formula, ”Burned Bananna” or “Bouncy Blanket” -- the more outlandish the better. The next person follows with the letter C then D and so on. Some letters do get hard but we have a few "go to" words that we will use for I,V,X,Y and Z (email me if you need some help with those letters).

It is always fun. For some reason “Vacuuming Vipers” always gets a huge laugh and “Marvelous Mom” elicits cheers of joy. Let me know what makes you and your kids laugh. It would be great to read some of your "Colorful Comments".

Stroller Patrol

Finding something obvious helps keep kids occupied

ADDED May 21, 2008

Sometimes when you and your kids go somewhere fun or somewhere that’s geared for kids, there’s some waiting that must be endured, too.  For instance, if you’ve ever been to Disneyland (which is fun for kids) there are occasionally some lines to wait in (less fun.)

One way I keep my kids entertained is to deputize them into Stroller Patrol.  When I can tell that the waiting in line has started to wear thin, I proclaim, “Okay, people.  I need to account for every single stroller here!  Who can help me find a stroller?”  Since we’re at place for kids, there are always a good number of strollers.  Soon my kids are scanning and surveying the area, eagerly adding up the number of kid carriages.

Usually there is a lot of crowd movement at these places, and the number of strollers in view is constantly fluctuating.  Which is good.  I need an accurate count, at all times. 

Stroller Patrol is a very important and  time-consuming job, and no deputy has time to be at loose ends.

Zee-Papers Please?

A rowdy, running, screaming and chasing game.

ADDED May 20, 2008

This game started one night when I came home and my daughter took a parking stub that was hanging out of my back pocket and would not give it back. I really did not need the scrap of paper -- it was destined for the lint trap in the dryer. Since she would not give it back, I did what anybody would do, I started chasing her around the house while doing my best impersonation of an Eastern European Intelligence officer asking repeatedly, ”Where are ZEEEEE Papers?”

From that point on the game of “Zee Papers” was born. It is a rowdy, running, screaming and chasing game, but it is really fun.

All you need are Zee Papers and a few people to play. One of the kids will get Zee Papers and hide them. When I ask where are “Zee Papers,” they will say, “ I don’t know” or “He has them.”  Then I will tickle and chase whoever knows where Zee Papers are until they crack and tell me where they are hidden. Once I find Zee Papers, I’ll make it very easy for the kids to steal them away from me again and again. They love the chasing and hiding part of the game as much as I do.

Try it indoors or outside. Kids just love spending time with their parents. And Zee Papers is a perfect opportunity. So I ask you, “Where are ZEEEEEEE Papers?”

Fill in the blank

A simple, fun game to help pass the blank.

ADDED May 19, 2008

You say the first two words of a phrase your child knows, and wait for the blank to be filled in.

For instance, “Grandma and Blank.”  (Answer:  Grandpa.)

“Brush your blank.”  (Answer: teeth.)

“Stars and blank.”  (Answer: stripes.)

Kids quickly pick up on how this game works, and are eager to provide the right answer.  Mine are so enthusiastic at times, in fact, that they’re trying to fill in the blank before I’ve fully told them the clues.  This leads to occasional mishaps such as “Grandma and Teeth”…which everyone seems to enjoy.

Bigger or Smaller

Have fun estimating everything.

ADDED May 18, 2008

My kids are always comparing sizes of things. I frequently hear things like,” I am tall enough for this” or “I am big enough to do that” or the ever popular, ”but mine is the smallest”. What they don’t realize is that they are estimating. So to keep the estimation party going in a positive way I will ask them questions about what things they see around them and have them estimate the answers.

I will ask, ”what building, tree or flag pole is taller?” “What car do you think is heavier?” Or I will say, “What line has the most people?”

I think it helps expand their vocabulary and encourage critical thinking. Besides who doesn’t like to guess which line will move faster at the market? Somehow I always chose the slowest.

An Animal, A Place, And Something You Can Touch

A custom tale just for your kid -- what could be more entertaining?

ADDED May 15, 2008

Ask your child to tell you three things: an animal, a place, and a thing that "you can touch."

With these three bits of information, it is very easy to create a story.  And your child will be enthralled to hear the suggestions molded into the story.

Here's an example that happened in our house the other day.  For an animal, my boy said an antelope.  The place was a market and the "thing you can touch" was a cactus.

I told a story about Andrew the Antelope (always give the characters in your stories names--kids like that.  You could also pause the story to ask your child for the name as well).  Well, Andrew the Antelope went to the market with his Mom.  He wanted to run and jump around the store (as antelopes are wont to do), but his mom told him to calm down and to be careful, please!  Well, Andrew the Antelope didn't listen, and in one big jump, almost landed on a - that's right - potted cactus.  

With the three details already in mind, it was easy to tell the story.  And my kids loved it.  (Except they felt the story could have been improved if the antelope had actually fallen onto the cactus.)

Animal Automobiles

Kids have fun thinking up appropriate vehicles for our furry friends

ADDED May 14, 2008

 

 

If animals could get around in cars and trucks, what would they choose to drive?

If you'd like to know the answer to this philosophical question, just ask your kids.

But before you do, you might want to give them these examples:

A snake would drive a long green car, and you really wouldn't be able to see the wheels.

A snail would drive a little truck with a beige cab and a dark brown back. And oh, it would drive really slowly.

A frog's car would be quite green, and it would make its passengers bounce around.

A monkey's brownish car would drive pretty quickly all over the place, and its wheels would really chatter.

You get the idea. It is guaranteed to hold a pre-schooler's attention.

And please, let's encourage all these creatures to drive slowly and to respect the road!

What Color Shirt Is Mommy (or Daddy, or Somebody Else) Wearing

A simple guessing game to help you get home in one piece

ADDED May 11, 2008

 

While returning from an outing, kids can get bored and grumpy. The last couple minutes can be the worst:  when they start to recognize that they’re close, but not there yet.

One quick and easy activity I do with my kids in this kind of situation is to guess what color shirt their Mom is wearing. (Of course, it would work for anyone whom they will see at the destination: Dad, Grandma, a younger sibling, etc.)

Everybody takes a turn guessing the color. Then we fill the time with “talking up” the choices: “Mommy really does like red, so that was a good guess of yours,” or “I think Mommy looks pretty in brown, so I think I’m right—it’s going to be brown!”  Kids seem to respond well to this color commentary, and start to offer their own analyses.

(You’ll be delighted to know that this pastime works well even when you actually know the exact color of the person’s shirt.)

Another benefit to this activity is that when we arrive home, my kids are dying to see their Mom, and what color shirt she’s wearing. The reunion is all the more fun and exciting—and their Mom likes to hear the guesses (and that she’s being talked about.)

Keep them guessing, and keep them on their toes!

How many steps?

A counting adventure.

ADDED May 08, 2008

When we are out shopping and my kids are tired what I like to do is make the mundane activity of walking around Costco into a counting game.

 

This is when I let my beautiful spouse continue her shopping trip and the kids and I will break away on our own adventure.

I will say to the kids, “ok I will only take 20 more steps and then we can rest and we will look at whatever we stop by”. So I will let the kids guide me for 20 steps and stop. We usually stop by the extra virgin olive oil or some kind of bulk paper. Not very exciting to a 7 and 8 year old. So I will ask,” how many steps do you think it is to the freezer section or the book section?” They will make a guess like,”40 steps to the freezer section”. I will let them take my hands and guide me 40 steps. If they guess to many steps we will keep walking past the freezer section and that also tends to be fun.

 

Then I will let them choose the destination bikes, tires, books, toys is always a popular option. I will also try and mix it up by taking different kinds of steps. I will skip, hop or take baby steps. We will often get funny looks skipping around Costco but the employees don’t seem to mind enthusiastic customers.

Then comes the best part of the game. Asking my lovely wife how may steps it took her to find us (usually 4987).

Olden Days

Good times with the way-back machine.

ADDED May 07, 2008

This isn’t so much a game or activity, as a great topic for conversation.  It’s fun, too.

Kids naturally like learning about the world about them—everything is new and exciting.  When your kids reach a certain age (four or five?) they can begin to understand this concept:  that in Olden Days, a lot of things didn’t exist—a lot of things that kids are used to seeing.  

When I first told this to my kids, they thought it was a bizarre concept:  there didn’t used to be cars?  Or TV?  Or Barney the Dinosaur?

My kids like guessing what was around in Olden Days, and what wasn’t.  (“Were there leopards in Olden Days, Daddy?”)

Just  be careful around touchy grandmothers.  You, not your innocent child, will get blamed if a touchy grandmother is asked, “Were there horses in Olden Days, Grandma?”

Entertaining learning in the tub!

$4.00 for a cup of bubbles

ADDED May 06, 2008

Tub time is one place where teaching is not the easiest. Most books, flash cards and personal computers are not made for the bathroom. But I have found a creative way to teach fractions and math related learning without the risk of electrocution.

I will take the set of measuring cups from the kitchen and relocate their usefulness to the bathroom. Here is where the fun starts.

I will fill the tub and then ask simple questions that require my kids use the cups to measure the water and answer my questions. I will say, “ how many times does 1/2 cup fill up the 1 cup” or “ does the 1/4 cup fill up the 1 cup”? Once they understand the concept of 1/4, 1/2 and 1 then we can build on that knowledge and assign a monetary value to each cup. I will pretend like I am at a store and ask,” If 1/4 cup of tub water is one penny how much is 1/2 cup or 1 cup”?

It is a lot of fun and eventually we will start measuring shampoo, soap and bubbles and in the end I always end up paying $4.00 for a cup of bubbles. I really do love bubbles.

Note: start with 1 cup,1/2 cup and 1/4 cup. The 1/3 and 2/3 cups still confuse me.

The perfect toy

Who needs toys when you have a box

ADDED May 05, 2008

We all know that kids love boxes but here are some other uses that you may not have thought of. So I now present a list of possible uses for a box. This list is not exhaustive and let us know how a box can entertain your little ones.

 

Make it into a…
Rocket ship
Transportation for a Queen
Race car

Decorate it for…
Birthdays
Thanksgiving
Hanukkah
Christmas

Put your…
Toys in it
Pet in it
Brother in it

Wear it as a…
Suit of Armor
Big shoe
Hat

Ride it…
On a blanket (wood floors required)
On a skateboard (helmet and pads required)
To a Drive-in Movie in your living room

Make it into a…
Stage for a Puppet show
Hospital for sick stuffed animals
Garage for cars

Use it as a…
Stove for cooking
Table for eating
Throne for a King

Schmippopotamus

A quick and simple way to keep young kids entertained and on their toes

ADDED April 29, 2008

 

This one's quick and easy. I've found it also helps get a kid's attention back when they're getting bored and possibly mischievous.

All you need to do is say: "I'm thinking of an animal. See if you can guess what it is. Here's a hint: schmippopotamus."

If your kid is old enough (three and above, certainly), they'll get the joke, and correctly figure out the animal.

Keep naming animals, but with the "schm–" sound at the beginning instead of the actual consonant sound. So, make them figure out the true identity of a schmiraffe, a schmea lion, a schmuirrel, a schmelephant, and so on.

This is fun, but it's probably better for younger kids. I haven't tested this out personally, but you might not want to try it on any teenagers.

Thinking of you

Fun way to help your kids learn your phone number

ADDED April 24, 2008

On the rare occasion that my beautiful wife is able to leave the house alone I like to encourage this activity. I will say, ”Who knows Moms phone number?” And whoever can recite it can call her and tell her they are thinking of her.

Next I will ask, ”Who knows my phone number?” Whoever can recite it can call me on my cell phone,of course I go to another room.

”Who knows Grandfathers phone number?” and whoever can recite it can call him and ask if he wants to meet us at the park.

Then I will give them my cell phone a say, ”Who knows our home phone number?” Whoever can recite it can call the house and leave a funny message.

After all the phone madness we review how to use 911 and who we can call using that number and when to call that number. We also go over good phone manners and how to answer the phone.

It’s fun, the kids like using the phone and if your kids don’t know your phone number help them learn it, soon you could be on the receiving end of a thinking of you call.

Costco Fort

Hours of entertainment for kids thanks to your local gigantic warehouse store

ADDED April 23, 2008

Kids like to build—that’s why blocks (and Tinker Toys, and Lincoln Logs, and Legos) were invented.

Well, when your kids are at loose ends—and argue that they’ve already built every possible structure with their toys, direct them to your garage or storage cabinet. There you will find the bounty of Costco (or other, similar warehouse store).

My kids love building as much as anyone, but they get a special delight in stacking up rolls of paper towels, toilet paper, kleenex boxes, diaper packets, and the like. Because my wife buys these items in quantities of at least one hundred and fifty (or so it seems), we always have a lot of raw material for these structures—which quickly get bigger than the kids. If anyone causes a collapse (an inevitability—and kind of fun in of itself) no one gets hurt because, well, there are no bricks, just paper towel rolls. And then we build again.

Twist Tie Pterodactyl

Shopping can be prehistoric fun for kids with this activity

ADDED April 22, 2008

 

A Twist Tie Pterodactyl is easier than it seems. Take one of the twist ties in the produce section, gently bend it to form wings and a body. Now you have a little Pterodactyl for your little one and they can both help you shop.

 

My kids love to hold the Pterodactyl and pretend it is flying as we zip around the market. Terry The Pterodactyl also helps us choose our fruits and vegetables she is a very healthy eater for a prehistoric creature.

 

If your kids are old enough to be out of the cart, the basket acts as a perfect nest to they don't wander to far. Have fun.

Animal Hospital

Exciting Emergency Room style entertainment for kids.

ADDED April 20, 2008

My kids love their stuffed animals and every now and then one (or all) of them get hurt and need some special care. Setting up your own little ER is fun and can provide hours of entertainment.

 

First set up the hospital area. Make sure it is stocked with, a few band-aids to use for cuts, a roll of toilet paper to use for bandaging. You can even use an empty TP roll as a cast and popsicle sticks are great for splints. And don’t forget a baggie with a cube of ice for bumps and bruises.

 

Now that you are all stocked and ready for customers ask your kids to gather five or six of their stuffed animals and get to work.

 

Don't forget to ask your kids how the animals got hurt and what you can do to fix it. Or let them be the doctors and stand back as they diagnose and repair their injured friends.

 

For me the best part of this activity is hearing how the stuffed animals got hurt. I had no idea their stuffed animals are involved in so many dangerous activities. Have fun and send us some photos of bandaged stuffed animals.

Questions for the kids

Entertain the troops with a little kid interrogation

ADDED April 17, 2008

Try it here are a few starters. Questions can be simple, “what color is your favorite shirt?” informational, “how much do you like bunnies?” or outlandish, “what do you think is heavier 1 elephant or 7500 popsicles?” You can ask anything. So ask away.

I did and was surprised to find out that someone in my family would rather be tickled than eat green beans, another prefers their straw inside a cup, while a third person would rather go bowling than play croquet. Who knew! Let me know what you find out about your loved ones.

What's Your Favorite On This List

List five items in a category, and ask your child for a favorite

ADDED April 16, 2008

 

 

This activity has definitely saved the day in our house, especially when the kids had to sit and wait for adults to finish eating dinner.

List five items in a category and ask your child for a favorite among the options. Some examples of categories are: farm animals, zoo animals, ocean animals, pets (if you break these animal categories out, you will have more to talk about than if your one category was just ‘animals’), colors, lunch foods, Sesame Street characters, etc.

After your kids has chosen, tell them your favorite. They’ll be interested to know.

My kids seem to enjoy this activity even more when I hold up five fingers and point to a finger with each item in the category. They look at their own hands and fingers when deciding.

This pastime is sure to be a favorite, on anybody’s list.