Make-Your-Body-Like-This Cards

Can your kids position their bodies like this?

ADDED December 22, 2008

 

We are proud to announce a week of Great Gargantuan Giving here at Today is Fun.  In honor of Christmas, we will have fabulous give-aways each day!  Please, tell your friends!

We're kicking off the week with our patented and popular Make-Your-Body-Like-This Cards.

Download these PDFs and cut the cards out.  Have your kids choose cards and make their bodies like the positions depicted.  It's that simple.

 

Batch #1            Batch #2            Batch #3

The body positions on the cards are intentionally a little abstract.  It's up to your kids to use their creativity and ingenuity with their own bodies.  They can interpret the positions any way they want; they can do the positions standing, sitting, or lying down.

Some more ideas with these cards:

• Your kids can color the drawings in.  They can also draw faces on them.
• On a rainy day, do a 'speed round' with these cards to get the kids' bodies moving and exercising in the house.
• Do you have kids who like princesses?  Pirates?  Ballerinas or bandits?  (Or in our house at the moment:  bad guys.)  Have your kids do the positions as a pirate or princess or whatever their favorite character is.

If you like these cards, please by all means email us and let us know.  We'll make more... (Also, we happen to think that one of these body positions definitely looks like a sumo wrestler.  Another like a zombie from the Thriller video.  If you care to take a guess as to which number is which, please email or make a comment!)

--S

ages 2-8, art supplies needed, good at home, good for a group, longer activity, rainy day fun,

Handmade Mistletoe

Crafting and kissing.

ADDED December 17, 2008

My son the decided he was going to make some mistletoe. I am not sure if he has someone in mind to use it on but his ingenuity and enthusiasm for this craft was so sincere how can I not pass a great idea along.

First he created the leaves, this was accomplished by folding a green piece of construction paper in half lengthwise.  Second he drew three half hearts on one side of the paper with the point at the bottom and the curved top pointing down. Third on a white piece of paper he drew three small circles these are the berries.  Fourth he cut all the pieces out.  Fifth he unfolded the hearts glued them together to make the leaves and added the berries. Sixth he tied the mistletoe to a string and started kissing!
 
Here is the final result. It's great.

It was fun to see him create this truly unique craft, try it today.  Because Today is fun! And I am sure you’ll get some kisses out of it.

 

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, quick activity, rainy day fun,

A Good Old-Fashioned Penny Battle

Edge-of-your-seat thrills for your little ones . . . using just a little money

ADDED December 11, 2008

Well actually, this isn't all that old-fashioned.  We've never really heard of one before.  But it's so simple and straightforward that it could have been an entertaining pastime of yore.

 

You need two people for this game, one to take heads, the other to represent tails.  (A third person could be the 'designated flipper, if you so desire.  But two people can also take turns being the flipper.)

First, your child needs to create two "boards" using pen and paper.  To do this, draw seven boxes on each page.  One of the two pages will be designated heads, the other tails.  Get a bunch of pennies, at least thirteen of them.

Then flip a coin.  If it's heads, that penny goes into a box on the heads person's board.  If it's tails, well that goes on the tails person's page.  Keep flipping.  The first person to get seven boxes filled with pennies wins!  And after that person wins, clear the boards and get flipping again.

A bunch of people think that pennies are practically worthless.  Well, those people haven't experienced the fun of a good old-fashioned penny battle!  Game on!

 

--S

ages 2-8, art supplies needed, good at home, rainy day fun,

Cereal Box Puppets

Along with the whales, Save the Socks!

ADDED December 09, 2008

 

What's something around your house that you can use to make puppets with your kids?  Socks come right to mind, but there's a problem with them:  if you make sock puppets, you can't wear those socks anymore!  (The eyes, noses and mouths make for pretty uncomfortable footwear.)

So today we present . . . little cereal box puppets!  Little cereal boxes are often found on camping trips, but these days they're also available on the shelves of almost any grocery store.  If you buy these multi-cereal samplers, you should know that they are just the right size to make brilliant puppets with your kids.

First, cut open the boxes to flip them inside out.  Use the "blank" side as the canvas for your puppets.

Second, use markers, construction paper, glue, tape, and whatever you've got handy to make fun and funny puppet faces.

Finally, tape up the puppets back into their original box shape -- ready for little hands to use.

(Here's a couple insider secrets on making these things:  (1)  Make the puppet faces first and then tape the boxes up.  It's trickier if you reverse the order of these steps.  (2)  When you tape the boxes back up, start with a couple pieces of tape on the inside.  This will help in the sturdiness department.  (3)  Make similar faces for the front and back of the boxes, but with different expressions.  That way, during a puppet show, a happy character can suddenly switch around to be a completely shocked one!)

If you don't buy those little cereal boxes, you can save and use big ones over time.  Other kinds of boxes will probably work just fine, too.

After the puppets are done, you guys are ready for a spectacular, cereal-box-puppet presentation.  Everyone will have fun and will be able to say, "No socks were harmed in the production of this show!"

 

--S

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good at home, rainy day fun,

Place Cards

A time-honored Thanksgiving tradition can be a fun and helpful activity for your kids

ADDED November 26, 2008

 

 

(Just so you know, I don't very much like place cards.  I like to be in control of my seating location, and I like to sit wherever my fancy strikes.  And I don't want to be stuck yet again with Aunt Nancy, who always regales me with stories about cats.)

That all being said, place cards do sometimes seem to show up at Thanksgiving dinner.  And making place cards can be a good thing to do for young kids.

First, it's an activity, an opportunity to do and make and to be creative.  Also, it's a good way to review with your kids all the people who they will encounter at the Thanksgiving festivities.  It's a good excuse to talk about all the guests at Thanksgiving beforehand, so they won't point and say "Who's that guy?  Why is that person here at dinner?"

If you don't like place cards (did I mention that I don't?), then change this activity from place card to a "gift card."  Have your kids make a postcard-like item for each person, and hand them out before the meal.  Each card could include a drawing and a stylized representation of the recipient's name.

And fine, if you must, you and the kids just go ahead and make place cards for the table.  It could be fun for them.  Just please don't sit me next to Aunt Nancy!

(All persons listed in this post are fictitious.  And I am always kind to seniors and will listen to cat stories!  That business was joke.)

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good at home,

Secret Holiday Gourd

Toy and decoration all in one

ADDED November 19, 2008

Most houses around Thanksgiving have those little holiday gourds for decoration. They are festive, but really serve no purpose beyond that.  But we have figured out a way to make them festive and fun all at the same time.

ages 2-7, art supplies needed, good at home,

Wheel of Fun

Round, random, and lots of fun

ADDED November 12, 2008

 

Sometimes it's all in the presentation.

If you suggest to your child, "Why don't you do eighteen jumping jacks?", they'd probably refuse.  But if a paper plate makes the same suggestion, well, to a kid that kind of presentation just can't be argued with.

Pat Sayjak and Vanna Williams, eat your hearts out, because today we are yukking it up with the Wheel of Fun. 

Draw lines on the face of a white paper plate in order to divvy it into ten equally sized segments.  In each, write a fun or silly activity for your child to perform.  Some examples:

1.  Spin in a circle while singing a song.

2.  Take three towels from the linen closet and make some funny clothes for yourself.

3.  Draw something very fast, then make people guess what it is.

4.  Call somebody in our family on the phone.

5.  Do eighteen jumping jacks.

And so on. 

After you've filled in the activities, punch a small hole in the middle of the plate.  Either insert a spinner from one of your family's board games (we used one from Chutes and Ladders in the photo) or find a wall with a protruding nail on which to hang the wheel.  Each child spins the wheel, and then gets to perform the task.  Repeat as much as you guys want.

This is a lot of fun.  It makes for a great rainy day activity. Kids love the excitement of getting random results, and they love spinning the wheel.

If you're feeling particularly cheeky, you can sneak a couple of activities onto the wheel that will benefit you alone.  You could try adding "fold the laundry" or "wash the kitchen floor" to the wheel to see what results you can get!   Have fun, and get spinning!

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good at home, good for a group, longer activity, rainy day fun,

Fun with Flickr

And with funny buildings, too

ADDED November 11, 2008

 

Most of you have probably visited the website Flickr.com.  If you haven't, it's definitely worth checking out...for a few hours.

Flickr is a site where anybody and everybody can upload and share their photos for free.  There are millions and millions of photos there, some of them dreadful and some quite amazing.  Simply put, you (and your child) can find anything there.

In fact, here's the first part of today's activity:  if you and your child are so inclined, try to think of something that Flickr can't show you.  An unusual jar? A funny race car? A chocolate bar?  Your child's favorite movie star?  Do a search for any of these:  Flickr's got pictures of them.  A skating rink?  The kitchen sink?  Things that are pink?  Englebert Humbertdink?  Yep, they're on Flickr, too.

And Flickr is great to use as reference, too.  Here's the next step of our activity today:  type "building" into the search field at Flickr.  You and your kid will find thousands of results.  Have a look at some of the different buildings people across the world have built.  Now type "weird building" in.  You'll find many, many very interesting and sometimes very weird constructions there.  

After you guys have enjoyed those sights, take out your trusty paper and markers.  It's time for you guys to create weird buildings of your own.  As you guys draw talk about what makes buildings "normal" or "regular," and what makes them different and strange.  Also ask, because it adds to the fun, "Would you like to live in this weird building?"

Have fun exploring Flickr and the wonderful world of weird buildings.  

(Today is Fun is not affiliated with Flickr in any way.  We think they're cool, though, and hopefully vice-versa.)

ages 4-12, art supplies needed, educational, good at home, longer activity,

Extremely Spooky Baby Ghost Decoration

Made out of newspaper. Oh, and did we mention the word "spooky?"

ADDED October 28, 2008

 

Alright, we're not promoting this as ground-breakingly new or anything.  It's a craft, and it may ring a bell in your brain somewhere.

But it's fun, it's good for Halloween, and it's both cheap and easy.  Come on, people: work with us here!

Here's what you do:  Step One. Grab the newspaper and remove one "sheet."  This is one piece of paper, two full pages connected (and separated by a fold.)  This will be the ghost's body.  Spread it out on the table or floor.

Step Two. Have your child crumble up other pages from the newspaper.  Amass a certain number of them (let's say seven pieces, and let's say that your child is in charge of counting to make sure that number is what's there).  These will be the 'stuffing' for the head.

Step Three. Now, in one smooth, graceful move, gather the 'sheet' up around the 'stuffing' to create the head.  The rest of the sheet will droop down and become the ghost's body.  Use a piece of string or a rubber band to keep the stuffed head separate from the body.  Have your child draw some eyes and a mouth.  Use another piece of string to hang the ghost from an appropriate ceiling light or chandelier.

Will you have created something that you and your child will treasure for years?  Is this something that will become the envy of your neighbors?  Hmmm, probably not.  But will it be a fun way to pass some time for you and your child?  And something that your child enjoys?  Yes, it will.  

And you will enjoy your new spooky baby ghost as a beloved additional family member for the rest of the week!

ages 2-8, ages 3-12, art supplies needed,

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!

art supplies needed, see our disclaimer, verbal activity,

Super Shape Doodle Art Game for People of All Ages

Make-it-yourself game with a funny name and artistic results

ADDED October 22, 2008

Today why not make your own game?  With a name like "Super Shape Doodle Art Game for People of All Ages," everyone will want to play.  This game is sort of like Miscellaneous Squiggle , but with a lot more super shapes and doodles.

First, take ten small pieces of paper and draw a shape on each:  a square, a circle, a triangle, etc. or even a silly shape or two.  (I drew a glove, lollipop and a rocket.) These are your cards for the game.

Then take a blank piece of paper.  Make sure everyone has a pencil.

Place the cards face down and have everyone take a turn selecting a card. Each person draws the shape depicted by their card onto the blank paper.  This will be your artistic picture.  The shape can be added anywhere in the picture as long as it is touching another shape.

This is a really great for a rainy day.  You can play for as many rounds as you want, just turn the playing cards over and keep drawing.

In the end, you'll have a Super Shape Doodle Art masterpiece to be admired and cherished by People of all Ages!

Here are what our cards looked like…

And here is one of our finished Super Shape Doodle Art masterpiece to be admired and cherished by People of all Ages!

ages 2-8, art supplies needed, good at home, good for a group,

Miscellaneous Squiggle

A creative and fun drawing game

ADDED October 16, 2008

 

 

So easy, so fun, and yep . . . totally free!

First, have your kid take a crayon or marker and make a squiggle or line on a piece of paper. 

Well, that was easy.  Now for the more challenging part:  you have to take some crayons and your child's squiggle and turn it into something recognizable.  You have to look at the squiggle and say, "What could I make from that?" 

It's not hard, actually.  You'll have a look at the squiggle and see that it's actually smoke curling out of a chimney, or a leopard's paw, or a fairy princess's toothbrush, or whatever.

You don't have to be an amazing artist by any stretch.  Just try to make it clear to your child what you're drawing.

Now comes the fun part:  you make the squiggle, and your child has to create something from it.  (This is a bit more enjoyable, because you get to sit back and be entertained by your child's creativity.)

We think this is good, addictive fun, and in our house, kids and parents keep trading turns for quite some time.

And just as grandma used to talk about turning lemons into lemonade, you get to turn miscellaneous squiggles into fine art!

 

(In case you're interested, the above squiggle was drawn by a kid, and an adult made the art.  The squiggle below was drawn by the adult, and the beautiful art was created by a kid.)

 

ages 4-12, art supplies needed, good at home, rainy day fun,

Characteristics

Quirky Coloring Fun

ADDED September 29, 2008

Occasionally when you suggest that your child spend some time coloring or drawing, you will hear this response:  "Yeah, but I don't know what to draw" or "I don't feel like coloring anything."

Try this activity then, which we call "Characteristics."  It is one of our absolute, all-time favorite kids games.  We think it's fun, do-able, and creative.

Step One.  Have your kid choose a 'thing' to draw.

This thing could be anything that captures your kid's interest: a princess, a pirate, a monster or Mommy.  A supermarket or a superhero, a garden or a gargoyle.  Really, anything!

For example, let's say your kid wants to draw "a funny monster."

Step Two .  You and your kid(s) take turns thinking up characteristics of the "thing."  Write down each.

Here are some characteristics we came up with for "a funny monster:"

1.  Has long pointy hair
2.  Big pointy things coming out of his toes -- the same as a T. Rex
3.  Ears that stick out
4.  Curly curvy horns on his head.

 

Step Three.  Once you've made a list of ten characteristics or so, go back through and read each one out loud.  Have your child draw each characteristic you read until the 'thing' takes shape.

We play this almost every day in our house and find it an enormous "crowd pleaser."  It gets the kids' brains thinking and their fingers conjuring up art.

And there's an added benefit: you can show off around the pre-school by having your kid explain to other parents the meaning of the word 'characteristic.'

 

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good at home, good for a group, longer activity, rainy day fun,

KIDS ENTERTAINMENT -- STICKY NOTE TREASURE HUNT

Follow the Squares to the Fun

ADDED September 23, 2008

In most houses you can find those free pads of sticky notes from local realtors or doctors' offices. They are helpful for love notes, shopping lists, and doodling. But here at TIF we have created another use for them. Why don’t you turn your kids loose with a stack and let them create a Sticky Note Treasure Hunt.

All that your kids need to do to create an awesome Sticky Note Treasure Hunt is write a short note guiding you from one location to the next until you reach the Treasure.  If they are too young to write you can help with the directions and then go on the hunt with them.

Here are a few things that your kids could make a Sticky Note Treasure Hunt for:

Dinner. Make a map that starts at the front door, goes into the bathroom and finishes at the dinner table.

A bike ride. Make a map that starts in the bedroom goes to the backyard and finishes on a bike in the garage where you can go for a ride.

Your brother (or sister). Make a map that starts on the dinning room table, goes into the bedroom, outside to the mailbox and finishes on your brother (or sister) if you can catch them.

We really like this idea because all that is needed is a pad of sticky notes and a little imagination.  Here are a few highlight photos from several hunts that took place at my house the other day.

info@todayisfun.com.

ages 4-12, art supplies needed, good at home, see our disclaimer,

Sidewalk Chalk Maze

Tricky, a-mazing fun!

ADDED September 18, 2008

Last week we reminded you of a tried-and-true way to entertain kids:  hopscotch.  Well, if you've got some extra sidewalk chalk handy, here's another fun way to keep the kids busy outside.

Making sidewalk mazes is pretty easy, and doesn't require too much forethought or planning.  You can do it on the fly.  Just be sure to draw "corridors" that are wide enough for kids to navigate, with clear lines for the "walls."  

To make the maze more tricky for older kids, be sure to create a lot of crossroads and dead-ends.

To make nice, straight lines, use a long piece of string tied to two rocks.  Use the rocks to keep the string tight, and draw along its length.

And really, this site is about things for kids to do, not about more work for their parents.  So to the extent they are able, have your kids help in the construction of the maze.  Older kids can plan and draw the twists and turns.  Younger kids can have input as to where the corridors should go, whether or not there should be a dead end, and what color chalk should be used.  

(It doesn't take long to make a maze.  We made one that covered our driveway and sidewalk, and it took one adult and one little kid about 30 minutes.)

Have fun walking in the maze.  Please don’t email us if you get stuck in a dead end—have one of your children help you out!

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good at home, good for a group, longer activity,

One Year Time Capsule

Some patience required

ADDED September 17, 2008

 

A year is a big chunk of time, especially for younger kids.  To them, a year feels like a decade.  Here's a way to make the passing of time into a fun activity for kids and parents alike:  create a one-year time capsule.

The concept is pretty straightforward:  you and your child should put aside "some stuff" and review it in a year.

You'll need a box, of course.  A shoe box would be perfect.  A big tupperware would work well, too.

Now, it would be an obvious dumb move to take your kid's favorite things and put them beyond reach for a year.  That would not please your young constituents.

Instead, it might be a better idea to take pictures of the favorite things, and put those into the box.  So, as part of this activity, ask your child what five (or ten) things he or she would like pictures of, to remember and review in a year's time.

Also, we've created a special Time Capsule Questionnaire for you to fill out with your kids (with questions like "What is your favorite thing to do inside?" and "What is your favorite food?")  Download it by clicking here, then print it out, interview your child, and add it to the Time Capsule.

Put the Capsule aside for a year.  Make yourself a note so you'll remember the day when you can open it.  

In a year, you and your child will be able to review similarities and differences.  And you'll both be able to reminisce a bit.

(We'll give extra Today Is Fun points out to any parent who actually buries their child's Time Capsule in a yard.  If you are up to this extra step -- one that is sure to excite your kids -- place the contents of the Capsule in a sealable plastic bag, and then wrap the outside of a box in a sturdy bag, too.)

Have some fun.  All year long.

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good at home, good for a group, longer activity, rainy day fun,

How to Entertain Kids -- Free Fabulous Signs

Coloring and communication fun

ADDED September 15, 2008

 

Coloring is a fun and easy activity. And it is good exercise for your childrens' creativity . . . so why not work it into every day?

As you may have noticed, many of our daily ideas involve a twist on coloring and drawing.  We think this kind of artwork enhances any other kids' activity.

Here are some signs for you to print and for your kids to color.  These coloring pages are meant to be fun for your kids, and they're supposed to add to other fun activities around your house. 

During reading time, hang up the colored "Reading Quiet" sign.  When playing with stuffed animals, our "Animal Area" sign could add to the fun.  And our "Big Show" sign will help for any puppet show, play, or spectacle your kids want to present.

 

Click below to download the signs:

 • Science Experiment Area:  Look out we're learning!

 

 • Please try to be quiet.  Some READING is happening.

 

 • Cooking in Progress.  If it smells good, that's why.

 

 • Careful!  Workers are working and this area is very dangerous and possibly wet.

 

 • Careful.  You might get tickled in this area.

 

 • Sit down and watch!  This is the Big Show.

 

 • Animal Area.  Some of them might be wild.

 

So color them up and hang them up.  And please, as a wise Mom once said:  "Make art, not messes."

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good at home, rainy day 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!

ages 2-8, art supplies needed, good at home, good for a group, see our disclaimer, verbal activity,

How to entertain kids -- Quarter Collectors

More fun with money

ADDED August 06, 2008

 

Turn your kids into Quarter Collectors. This activity will make trips to the store more fun, and it will teach your children about all our American states.

As you may have noticed, quarters these days don't just have the traditional eagle on the "tails" side. Lately these coins have been showing up with representations of each state on them.

Here's all that you need to do get this activity going:

First, find a container to hold the quarters. Second, print up a map of the U.S. You can get a free printable map here or download a PDF one here.

Now you guys are all set to go. Have the container, the printed map, and a handful of quarters from different states on hand to help you explain this new activity to your kid.

Each time your child adds a new state to the collection, he or she should color the state in on the map.

With every new quarter, you and your kid should talk about the state and review the images depicted there. The Indiana quarter has a race car-why do you think that is? You can see a Scissor Tailed Fly Catcher (it's a bird) on the Oklahoma quarter. And what is that very long, boxy looking thing on the North Carolina quarter?

You can choose to give your kid a new state each day, or you both can review the change you get back from your errands.

Have fun learning with your Quarter Collectors!

And when you've got all fifty states, please mail the collection to us here at Today Is Fun. We also will accept any other forms of currency in your collection.

ages 4-12, art supplies needed, educational, good at home, rainy day fun,

Sticks and Stones

And leaves. They make for a fun, free art project for little ones.

ADDED August 04, 2008

 

Go for a walk with your child around the block, bringing along a grocery bag. Your kid can be in charge of choosing some free souvenirs from the walk, which you will put into the bag. These items include leaves, sticks, stones, seed pods, blades of grass, and so forth. Bougainvillea leaves can be especially nice. The only guidelines here are: don't take too much of any one thing, and don't take anything that belongs to somebody else! (A neighbor's mail, for example, is not available for this project.)

Back at home, take out some glue and construction paper. Help your little one glue the souvenirs to the paper.

Voila! It's a masterpiece! Your child is an artist. And it's fun for everyone. (Except possibly for the neighbor, if your child disregarded one of the above guidelines!)

ages 2-7, art supplies needed,

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!

ages 2-7, art supplies needed, educational, good at home, quick activity, see our disclaimer, summer activity, verbal activity,

4th of July Parade.

Hooray for the Red, White and Blue!

ADDED July 01, 2008

This Friday is the 4th of July and I am sure everybody that reads this blog will be relaxing poolside with a cool beverage all day, with no kids to take care of. If this pipe dream is not a reality for you and your kids are saying, “I am bored what do we do now?”  Why not organize a parade?

At my house usually there are many kids from several different families so organizing a parade is rather easy. However if you find yourself short on participants even a family of four can create a very entertaining parade.

First, think of a theme for the Parade.  Something inspirational like, Freedom, Liberty or Today is Fun.

Second chose a Grand Marshall. Someone who is inspirational like a baby or a pet.

Third make an order for the participants. Youngest to oldest usually works best.

Fourth turn the kids loose into the garage to collect skateboards, bikes or really anything with wheels to be in the parade.

Fifth have the kids spend a few minutes decorating their bikes and bodies for the parade.

And sixth sit back and enjoy the parade.

Drop us an email and let us know what you think info@todayisfun.com and remember Today is Fun!

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good for a group, longer activity, may rile them up, see our disclaimer, summer activity,

4th of July party hat.

Make it, color it, wear it. Fashionable entertainment.

ADDED June 30, 2008

Since 4th of July is this Friday here at Today is fun we want you to look your best. What better way to show your patriotism (and entertain your kids) then by having them make and wear their own stylish and festive hat?

Using 1/2 sheet of newspaper follow these directions...

The hat is very simple and in 5 minutes you can fold several hats. Then have the kids decorate the hats using markers and crayons. Not forgetting to add stars, stripes and even fireworks. Don’t forget to make one for Dad or Mom, Grandparents, friends and even the dog.

Then send us an email with a photo of your kids in their party hats to info@todayisfun.com. We will be wearing our 4th of July hats all week and it would be great to see yours!

ages 2-8, art supplies needed, good at home, good for a group, longer activity,

Coloring Shape By Shape

A fun new twist on coloring and drawing

ADDED June 25, 2008

 

Kids love drawing with crayons and makers. But what happens when the coloring book is all filled in? Or when your child says, "I don't know what to draw now."

Here's a fun way to make a new activity out of drawing and coloring.

First, think of something that your child can draw, something that can be segmented into shapes.

We'll use the example of a tugboat.

You and your kids can draw a tugboat, shape by shape. Here's how: You draw a triangle for the bow and then your child colors it in. Draw a rectangle right next to the triangle to form the main body of the boat. Again have your kid fill it in. Keep adding and coloring parts, shape by shape (a triangle for the stern, a rectangle for the smoke stack), until the boat (or whatever) is done.

The mystery for the kids is a big part of the fun. Don't tell your children what it is they're working on. My kids like to make a guess after each shape. And there is a great deal of excitement in our house when the kids realize what it is they've been so busily coloring.

Here are some other things you and your kids can draw, shape by shape:

a truck
a house
a castle
a teapot
a chef
a monster

If you think of other shape-by-shape coloring items that work well, by all means please let us know.

You and your young artists will have quite a bit of fun on this one, bit by bit.

ages 3-12, art supplies needed, good at home, longer activity,

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.

ages 2-8, art supplies needed, educational, good at home, good for a restaurant or public place, longer activity, may rile them up, see our disclaimer, verbal activity,