You Have Found Something!

Hide something little in a friend's yard

ADDED March 15, 2010

 

Animal Races

All animals win, really, just for trying!

ADDED January 18, 2010

 

Ten Quick Activities You Can Do With A Blanket

Who knew one blanket could be so much fun?

ADDED January 14, 2010

Here is a list of ten creative, fun ways to use a blanket.  There are probably hundreds more, but here are ten suggestions to get you started.

 

1. A blanket could be a boat.
2. A blanket could be a cape (for good guys and bad guys alike.)
3. A blanket could be a space ship.
4. A blanket could be a reading nook.  (Or even better, a quiet reading nook.)
5. A blanket could be a sled (if you have wood floors and brave children.). . .

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.. . .

Silent Reading

Enjoy the silence!

ADDED August 14, 2009

With kids on summer break, sometimes the afternoons can get a bit rowdy.  When it gets too rowdy, I think everyone needs to take a break.  If your kids are like mine and no longer take naps, maybe a little silent reading time is what everybody needs.  It is a perfect way to settle everyone down so you can get dinner made, fold some laundry, or just have a silent reading time of your own.

Here is how we do silent reading. Feel free to make up you own rules, but this is what works for us.
 
First of all, at my house the activity is called silent reading, so there is no talking.  Secondly, each person will need a back-up book -- that is, a book that a kid can read if they finish their first book.  This cuts down on talking.  Third, silent reading has a time-limit.  Time is accurately monitored by a timer that will beep when silent reading is over.  Finally, wherever a kid is in the house when silent-reading starts, they need to stay there until silent reading ends.
 
I know it sounds like these rules were made by a dictator, but I have found that if everyone knows the rules before we start reading, a lot more reading happens, and a lot less time searching for a loophole.
 
Also, if silent reading is not something for your family, try "room time," or "yard time," or any of the other great activities here at TIF!

Happy weekend!

 

thanks to sugarpond and bastian for letting us use their photos

Lunch on a Lifeboat

Watch out for sharks!

ADDED August 11, 2009

I like the word "lifeboat."  It seems hopeful word; no matter how bad things get, a lifeboat can always save me.  And if you are seeking entertainment today for your kids, try this activity.   It just might save you.

 

Spread a blanket out on the floor and tell your kids that the blanket is a lifeboat.  Everything will have to be on the boat or it doesn't make the trip.  So they should get a book to read, a blanket, and anything else that will help them on their "voyage."   If your kids are anything like mine, the lifeboat will kind of full and sitting rather low in the water.

Here are a few fun activities you can use to make your lifeboat adventure fun:

Lunch on the Lifeboat:  Have the kids wait on their raft while you are making lunch and then "swim" their meal out to them when it is ready. Just make sure that the sharks don't eat your food!
Rest on the lifeboat:  Spread out the raft in your kids room during rest time (I don't expect too much actual resting to be done.)  Close the door and let the gentle ocean breezes float them off to dream land.
Sail the lifeboat to a far off land:  Have your kids ever flown anywhere in a plane? If they have, then why not pretend to sail there in your lifeboat?  If they have not flown anywhere, look at a map and pick an exotic destination.  (Land-locked countries could pose a challenge, I suppose.)

Whatever you choose to do, it is always fun to break up the routine.  And lunch on a lifeboat may be just that.  Have fun!

Thanks to gurms and admitone for the inspirational photos!

Kid Customer Satisfaction Survey

How do you like that? (Or rather, how much do you like that? On a scale from 1 to 5?)

ADDED August 06, 2009

 

Length:  Thirty-ish minutes

Parental Involvement:  Print the sheet.  Explain the idea.  Let the kids do their thing and, later, review their answers with them.

Kids Should Be Able to:  Think about their lives.  Make judgments about their preferences.

 

The other day, I took some of the Today is Fun crew out to dinner.  When we were all done eating, the waitress brought the bill (oh, joy) and another slip of paper:  a satisfaction survey.

 

I don't really mind participating in satisfaction surveys.  In fact, I have opinions, and I'm always happy to share them!

When my kids saw me filling out the form, they were curious.  What was I doing?  When I explained, they immediately wanted in.  They had opinions about our dining experience, too.

As it turned out, we had accidentally been given 2 surveys, so I let them fill one out, too.  My boys especially liked choosing a number between one and five to grade their time in the restaurant.

And that got me thinking...why not create a satisfaction survey geared specifically for kids?  What are your kids' thoughts and feelings about their world?  And wouldn't it be fun for them to tell you?

Unlike the restaurant questionnaire, though, we don't want your kids to rate you in any way.  You're a parent and beloved family member, period.  We don't want them to rate anything about you or your parenting.  We don't want to know how much they liked breakfast today, for instance.  As far as we're concerned, all devoted and loving parents get a five out of a possible five!

But we are interested in other aspects of their lives.   On a scale from from one to five, how much does your child enjoy:

Renting DVDs and watching the movies on them?
Drinking a milkshake?
Playing with a dog or cat?
Singing a song?
Helping you wash the car?
Helping you make dinner?
Swinging?

The goal here is to get kids reflecting on their preferences in life, and also to transforming those thoughts into a number from one to five.

(Just so we're all clear:  this is meant to be a fun, positive activity.  If kids start "hating on" everything, or just being negative about the questions -- or about other kids' responses to the questions -- well, that's not the point.  Try to emphasize aspects of these things that your child does like.  A little negativity goes a long way.  And frankly, negativity is pretty boring, if you want my opinion.)

Oh, and one more thing, we've created a free, downloadable and printable questionnaire for your child, with 30 questions .  Click here, print, and ask away!

We hope you enjoy today's activity.  We also hope that you're a satisfied customer, and that you'd rate our website, Today is Fun, as a five out of five!

(Thanks to sun dazed for the five star thumbs up image, too!)

 

 

Advanced Animal Guessing

Fire Up Kids' Critical Thinking Skills

ADDED August 05, 2009

Length:  Thirty to forty-five minutes

Parental Involvement:  Explain the idea.  Participate in the thinking and the guessing.

Kids Should Be Able to:  Think about aspects of animals.  Guess. 

We will tell you that today's fun kid activity is a game -- and indeed it is.  But there is so much more here lurking beneath the surface.  We're really getting kids to look at things a bit differently.  Also, today we are going to study the details that make up the bigger picture.

Oh, and we haven't yet announced:  today's activity comes with a free download.  Click here to get the guessing sheet we've made, then print and go.

Once you've got our free, fabulous activity sheet all printed out, you can explain the concept to your little one. 

 

Back to the Stone Age!

No functioning time machine necessary!

ADDED August 04, 2009

 

Length:  Thirty to forty-five minutes

Parental Involvement:  Explain and lead the excursion outside.  Make sure the kids don't hurt their fingers on the rocks!

Kids Should Be Able to:  Follow directions, manipulate cumbersome objects, and exercise a bit of care around "biggish" rocks.

We like to talk with our kids about "super olden days."

(In case you haven't read this concept here before, "olden days" means the time before your kids were born.  The 1980's?  Olden days.  Your wedding?  Olden days.  And so on.  But at some, admittedly vague point, olden days become "super olden days."  This is the time so long ago it's hard for kids to imagine or place it in any meaningful chronology.  We're talking about kings and castles, the Roman Empire, and definitely dinosaurs.)

In super olden days, there were many, many things that had not yet been invented.  For example, the car, the microwave oven, and Hanna Montana  did not exist!  And a long, long time ago, people also didn't have metal tools.

This was, in case you've forgotten 8th grade history, the "Stone Age."  That was the time before metal tools, when people used stone ones.

As it turns out, stone tools aren't half bad, and that's what today's activity is all about.

First, give your kids a brief explanation of the paragraphs above:  a long time ago, et cetera, et cetera, no metal tools (and no Hanna Montana.)  Tell them the only tools people used were made out of stone.

Next, take the activity outside.  Bring along a piece of scratch paper or two. The kids are in charge of finding two "biggish" rocks (that is, rocks that are about as large as the kids' hands -- rocks that they're just able to pick up and hold.)

You guys will now turn these big rocks into tools.  What can you guys accomplish with two big rocks?

Well, there are two simple things you can do with two biggish rocks:  cutting and grinding.

Have your kids try cutting first.  To do this, put the piece of scratch paper on the ground and have your child cut it with a rock.  As you'll all soon see, a rock is not exactly a precision cutting tool!  Instead of making a clean cut, your child will most likely shred all or part of the paper.  That's okay!  It's a good chance to teach the word "shred," and it also shows how difficult simple tasks were before metal!  If your kid has achieved less-than-perfect cutting results, have them try to find a "cutting edge" on the rock.   Tell your young one to try to make a straight cut in the scratch paper with this edge.  Hopefully, the results will be better -- but they won't be perfect.  (Again, that's okay!  We're not using "perfect" tools today!)

The next task we're going to do is grinding.  Typically, rocks are a lot better at grinding than they are at cutting; it's just the way they're "made."  Put one of the biggish rocks on the ground, and then stick a piece of the (possibly shredded) scratch paper on top.  Hold the other rock and use it to grind the paper up.  (That is, between the rocks!)  The results won't be perfect again, but again, that's okay.

(And please be careful of all little fingers and toes during biggish rock play.  Somebody could get hurt!)

Here are two more quick thoughts on grinding with biggish rocks.  First, in a way, these rocks are like molars, right?  You could use this activity to talk about molars and how they grind up food in our mouths.  Secondly, did you know that alligators swallow some large stones that stay in their stomachs and help them digest food?  It's true!  (And frankly, a little bit gross.)

We hope that you and your kids enjoy playing with Stone Age tools today.  Please remember that Stone Age tools are a bit limited, though.  Especially if you're going to be hanging a picture or doing any other kind of home improvement work in my house!

(Thanks to Dennis Wong for the "kid's hand with rocks" photo, and to Ryan Somma for the rather surly-looking alligator shot!)

Stuffed animal birthday party

Stuffed animals are people, too

ADDED July 31, 2009

If your kids are anything like mine, they love stuffed animals.  Most nights, if a certain stuffed animal can't be found, no sleeping will be accomplished until it is found and returned to the safe and loving arms of its child owner. Since these friends are such special members of the family, why not have a birthday party for them with your kids? 

Now you don't need to make a big to-do with bouncers, elephants (a friend went to a kid's party with real elephants), and face painting.  Just a simple gathering -- maybe during lunch, with the guest of honor sitting at the head of the table. Make it fun and ask your kids what the guest of honor would like like to eat (mac-n-cheese is a favorite meal of many a stuffed animal), make some cupcakes, sing happy birthday, and open gifts. I guarantee that it will be a good time for everybody involved.

Here is a quick list of things you and your kids can do to make it a special day for that very special stuffed animal:

1. Make the cupcakes together. (Kids are expert batter and frosting testers.)
2. Have your kids make a gift. Yesterday's activity is great for this.
3. Make sure your kids ask what their stuffed animal wants for lunch.  You might be surprised to find out that some stuffed animals have very complex palates.
4. Make sure their pal is all ready for the lunch by having your kid sit them at the head of the table.
5. Set yourself up for future fun by putting the stuffed animal's birthday on the calendar.

This is a perfect activity to perk up your summer, and the best thing is it costs nothing! Happy Birthday!

 

 

Photos bykyleandkelly and kishimoto via Flickr, thanks to a creative commons license. 

 

***UPDATE***  MommyinLA (here is a link to her twitter page) sent us these pictures of her boys enjoying a stuffed animal party!  (Well, it was an alien party, actually.)   Thanks and keep the photos coming!   

 

 

The Summer Activity Belt

Batman's child would own one

ADDED July 16, 2009

Here at TIF, we try to be a few of the "Founding Fathers of Free."  Our readers trust us daily to provide activities for their kids that are not only entertaining but completely cost free.  Today is no exception:  we have an activity that not only costs nothing but that might just save your sanity later this summer.  Today we present: "The Summer Activity Belt."

It does not take a PhD in child entertainment to make a "The Summer Activity Belt."  Instead, you need just some imagination and a belt.

In our house, we re-purposed a belt from an old Halloween costume.  This old belt had some holes in it which were perfect for hanging and attaching things to.  If you choose to purchase a belt like ours -- and we don't suggest it because we like free -- the Army surplus store in your area is a cheap place to start.

Have your child attach anything to it that they might find entertaining on a walk or outing this summer. Think of things to keep them occupied in any situation or items that would be useful on an adventure.  My son -- I should mention he is the inventor of the "The Summer Activity Belt" -- chooses to carry in his belt: a pair of sunglasses, a pedometer, a house key, a library card, and (not pictured) a moleskin notebook and a wallet. The belt could just as easily carry a pencil, some Lego figures, a magnifying glass, binoculars, or a book. The great thing about "The Summer Activity Belt" is that it can carry items as varied as your children's interests, and they are solely responsible for making sure it is chocked full of activities that they find interesting.

 

 

We think you'll find that "The Summer Activity Belt" makes a bold fashion statement and can go a long ways toward keeping your kids entertained.  Make one today!

TIF Book of World Records

Get some record holders in your own home

ADDED July 13, 2009

 

We all have heard of the Guinness Book of World Records.  At the moment, it is a very popular book at my house, featuring such important entries as the furthest distance an egg has been thrown, the fattest cat, and the longest time spent ironing (this last record was definitely not achieved at my house).  The Guinness Book contains information sure to entertain any child (and guaranteed to make a good impression during one of the many power lunches I am required to attend while promoting todayisfun.com.)

The Guinness Book of World Records got me thinking that summer is here.  What a perfect season in which to achieve some of our own records!  We are not going to try our hand at competitive eating, miniature horse husbandry, or sword swallowing, but we just might see how many times we can catch a ball without dropping it (our record is 177 consecutive catches), how many times we can ride our bikes around the block in 5 minutes (the neighborhood record is 3 times), or whether it is possible to hug your father while eating a peanut butter sandwich (record not yet attempted).

This summer if you are in need of some quick entertainment, see how far, long or frequently they can do something.  It's fast, fun and free.  Use our competitions listed above as a starting point, and then create some of your own records!

Let us know what records your kids break, and we'll can send you an official TIF Book of World Records certificate (suitable for framing).  We are always available at info@todayisfun.com.

Alas, there is a record for most Brussels Sprouts eaten in one minute (24).  But my kids are not the record holders . . . not even close.

Founding Fathers Tag

They gave us Independence, let's give them a game!

ADDED June 30, 2009

 

 

 Yesterday, we were talking with our kids about the 4th of July and the story behind this most festive of holidays.  We mentioned the "Bad Guy" King George III, but didn't mention the "Good Guys" -- the heroes of early American history. To help your kids become familiar with a few of the fifty-six delegates (because fifty-six is a lot) who signed the Declaration of Independence, we present "Founding Fathers Tag."  It is a simple way to bring educational American History fun into your kids' lives (and don't worry there won't be a test.)

Monkey Movin'

(And mosquito movin'. And moose. And manatee.)

ADDED June 26, 2009

Kids and animals, they just go together.  Children love animals.  Have you ever happened to notice that kids' books and movies occasionally feature an animal or two?

Well, today we are going to encourage your kids to turn themselves into animals.  A lot of animals.

Today, we're going to teach the kids some verbs -- many that they probably haven't encountered before.  All these verbs describe actions that animals do. 

Say each animal-verb to your kids, and have them perform that action.  Have your kids demonstrate slithering like a snake.  Then let's see wriggling like a worm.  How about waddling like a duck?

Here are some other animal-moving verbs for your kids to demonstrate:


Now, below is a list of animal verbs that all relate to noises.  These words can involve a bit of exercise, too.  Just watch your kid's body after you've told him or her to roar like a lion, or growl like a wolf.  Kids put their whole bodies into making these sounds:


When you're done with this activity, your kids will have a better handle on some solid verbs.  And hopefully, they'll have got any beastly behavior out of their systems!

(Many thanks to e3000 for the dramatic animal photo.)

Kids' Activities: Snail City

Fun in your own yard

ADDED June 16, 2009

Length: Twenty minutes or so

Parental Involvement: Some supervision, but for the most part hands off

Kids Should Be Able to:  Collect snails without hurting them

Snails are fascinating animals -- and a little bit odd.  They're in pretty much everyone's backyard, so today we suggest you and your kids go out and study them, for a slimy, slow kind of fun.

 

Snails are most active in the morning, evening, and -- at my house -- any time the sprinklers are on.  If your kids are anything like mine, they like to catch anything they find in the yard and put it in a plastic container for observation. Snails are perfect for this. 

What we do at our house is grab a plastic container like this and fill it with snails.  This can be little yucky, but once I showed my kids how to pick up the snails (very carefully by the shell) they were hooked. 

 

 

We have had a great time looking at snails' eyes which can be found on their upper tentacles, the different shell sizes they have, and trying to keep them in their container.  We also learned that snails smell using their lower set of tentacles, they are herbivores eating only plants and the snails found around our house are called garden snails.

 

 

When we are done with our snail observation, we gently put them back where we found them in the yard so we can continue our observations another day.

Remember, please treat all God's creatures with respect and compassion!

Have fun with this one!

 

 

 

Kids' Activities: Bike Bell Memory

Ring, Ring,Ring

ADDED June 15, 2009

 

I really try to look for fun in everything I do with my kids, and Bike Bell Memory is a perfect example of how you can take anything and have a good time with it.

Where we live, there are a lot of pedestrians on the sidewalks. Pedestrians are not always ready to be assaulted by unskilled, shaky bike riders (that is, eight and nine year olds on two wheelers), so in an effort to make innocent citizens aware of our presence, each kid in my house was presented with a bike bell.

Suffice to say, there is a lot of bike bell ringing thanks to my very enthusiastic children.  Their free-form, bell-ringing fun only stops when we play "Bike Bell Memory."  Here is how it goes:  first I use my bell to create a simple rhythm that is easy for the kids to duplicate. After they repeat the pattern I created, I will create another rhythm that is a little harder, and they repeat. We continue doing this until we have to stop for a traffic light.  Then one of the kids takes over, and they will create a rhythmical pattern that we all need to repeat.

Bike bell memory makes passing people a whole lot easier because the constant ringing is sure to get the attention of everyone within earshot (as well as all the dogs in the neighborhood.) 

You like this idea? Please leave us a comment, and let everyone know!

 

Thanks to marcusramberg for the photo

Jai Alai (or Scoop Ball)

A DIY Game

ADDED June 05, 2009

Length: 10 minutes or more.  If it's a hit, there will be repeat performances.

Parental Involvement:  Explain the activity, share ideas as to how to play.  

Kids Should Be Able to:  Coordination, motor skills needed.  This could be good, though, for kids who don't feel confident doing other sports.

 

My son made this game up, and I think its great!  It just shows that if you supply the opportunities to allow kids to be creative, they can make their own fun with just about anything. 

My lovely wife was saving a few empty oatmeal containers for some sort of school project when our son got his hands on them.  He had been throwing a hackey sac around, and when he saw the empty containers, inspiration struck.  He combined the hackey sac and the empty oatmeal containers to create a Jai Alai or scoop-ball-type tossing game that was the perfect way to pass a Saturday in the backyard.

 

 

 

 

To play, you throw and catch the ball using the empty can -- it is just that simple!  It took a little practice, but once we got the hang of it, we were able to create several variations that made the game even more fun. We counted to see how many times we could toss the ball back and forth without dropping it, then we marked out a rough court and played a game where one player tries to throw the ball over a line while the other player tries to block it.  Then we created another version of the game where one player tries to throw it as high as he can and the other player catches it. 

 

 

 

 

The game was great for practicing coordination and sportsmanship (because, yes, sometimes someone has to lose.)  Best of all it was a very creative way to pass an afternoon.

 

 

Thanks to my son for this fine and fun game!  (If your kids make up some fun games, please send them in to us!  We are always available info@todayisfun.com)

Summer Pack

Stuff to Save a Summer Day

ADDED June 04, 2009

 

Make no mistake, people.  You know it's coming.  Summer Break is almost upon us!  The kids won't be at school, they'll be at your house.  At your house, and looking for fun things to do.

In case you haven't started stocking up for the calamitous event that is Summer Break, we have a list that will help you start.  We are calling it our suggested "Summer Pack," and it contains free or very inexpensive materials you can use to keep the kids busy.  With these supplies on hand, you'll be able to get your kids doing crafts, activities, and games without much prep time.

 

While we're talking about packs to save the day, we should remind you to check out our Traffic Jam Pack, if you haven't already.  It'll help you out in the car this summer.

We keep our Summer Pack in the laundry room (since it can get kind of bulky.)  It's also out of the way there, but with ready access.

Can you think of anything else free or inexpensive that parents should stock in their Summer Packs?  Leave a comment below, please, or email us or Twitter us.  (twitter.com/nordink)

When the going gets tough this summer, the tough parents simply go to . . . their Summer Pack.  And fun will ride in to the rescue?

Kids' Activites: Activity Tube

Make your own fun!

ADDED June 02, 2009

After many months of tinkering and experiment, we are proud to reveal our "Activity Tube."  This invention is designed to get your kids moving, but please don't confuse today's Activity Tube with our previous Regulation Bopper, as they are two different items.

Length: Construction time 5 minutes and 10-15 minutes of activity.
Parental Involvement: Writing, reading for younger kids
Kids Should Be Able to:  Be safe with markers

 

 

First thing, come up with four different activities that would be fun for your kids.  On ours, I wrote exercises: do five push-ups, do ten jumping jacks, run in place for fifteen seconds, and do three sit-ups. Then write down each activity on a quarter of the tube like this.

 

 

 

Next, insert the smaller tube inside the two bigger tubes like this.

 

 

Now, let the activities commence!  Have your child pull open the two larger tubes to display the activity. Whatever message is revealed, the kid gets to do it!  Then the tube gets passed on to the next kid.

 

 

 

 

One handy benefit of the Activity Tube is that it can be customized to fit any situation. I made a "Job Tube" that has dinnertime jobs on it.  These jobs may not be quite as fun, but they sure are helpful.  This one encourages kids to "help with dinner preparation," "set the table" and even "clean up." 

 

Watch the magic of the Activity Tube as it occurs in your house:  your kids might roll your eyes or talk back to you . . . but they won't argue with the Activity Tube! 

 

Kids and parents will enjoy our Activity Tube much more than the boring old boob tube.  Have fun and use the comments section to let us know how you use the Activity Tube!

Kids' Craft: Creature Creation

A DIY Craft and Toy

ADDED June 01, 2009

This week we are featuring Do It Yourself crafts and games!  Each activity will involve some sort of recycled or re-purposed item.  We will be posting three fun games and two great crafts all guaranteed to make sure that Today Is Fun.

We begin with a simple craft activity that all kids will enjoy for many hours.  (We have found that the best crafts end up being toys.)

Length: Construction for 10 minutes
Parental Involvement: Verbal instruction, participation
Kids Should Be Able to:  Be safe with scissors and color

To create your own creatures you will need an empty egg carton, some pens and pipe cleaners.


First cut the round bottom off of an egg carton, it should look like this. 


Next, with a paper clip or sharp pencil, poke one, two, three or fifteen holes on each side of your creatures.  It should look something like this. We chose four legs, so two holes on each side.


Third thread the pipe cleaner legs in one side and out the other, like this.


Fourth, use a pen to draw a face on your creature.  (This would also be a good time to give your creature a name.)  Add some flair, and they are ready to go.
Let your kids' imaginations run wild.  My daughter made this great vehicle out of the left-over egg carton for all the creatures to ride in. Have fun!

 

Trip to Market

A fun and free outing

ADDED May 22, 2009

Eating "in season" is all the rage these days, and today we have a fun and free outing that you can take as a family:  a trip to a local farmer's market.  You need to eat and everybody wants to eat something that is healthy and fresh. This weekend would be a perfect time to go if you have never been.

Decide ahead of time what your budget will be (they only take cash) and then spend an hour or so looking and tasting (many vendors have samples) all that the local farmers in your area have grown.  You can even let your kids help pick some of their favorites or try something new. Here is a picture of my daughter with purple carrots.

Below is a list from eattheseasons.com of all the fruits and vegetables that are in at their peak of freshness right now.  So get your helpers, head over to the market and grab some goodness.


VEGETABLES

artichoke | asparagus | avocado | broccoli | corn | cucumber | fava beans | peas | radishes | rhubarb | spinach | zucchini


FRUIT & NUTS

apricots | grapefruit | kiwi fruit | lemons | limes | pineapple | strawberries

Exercise Class

It's exercise! It's entertainment! It's both!

ADDED May 13, 2009

If you tell your kids to go outside and run around, you might not get the results you'd want.  Your kids might immediately start exercising their lungs with loud questions and complaints.  Their bodies might stay inside and their muscles might work up some frowns.

But, as you probably already know, it's all about presentation with kids.  Children respond better when you just use the right packaging!

We suggest you enroll your children in an exercise class right away.  No need to drive around looking for a suitable instructor, of course, because you are it. 

Have your kids stand in an area with plenty of space around them.  Now start showing your little ones some exercises to do.  We're confident you can improvise something here; you could try teaching them:  jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, jogging-in-place, etc.  If you know any yoga that might work, great.  See how the kids are doing--spend as long doing your exercises as long as all you guys are all comfortable and happy. 

And now the really, really fun part:  now it's your kids' turn to be the instructors.  Kids, we've found, really enjoy taking over the reins.  My kids love watching me as I mimic their exercises, which usually involve some extreme, crazy gestures, some wild flailing of arms, and some practically impossible yoga-ish stances.  (Needless to say, for this exercise class, you'll want to leave your dignity behind in the locker room.)

When my kids (five and three) lead the class, they flap their arms, they twist their trunks, they hop and down vigorously.  (It all is quite tiring, I must say.)

It's exercise, it's entertainment, it's both!  Have fun!

Golden Point

It's freeze tag, but more fun. And oh, also with more tickling.

ADDED April 30, 2009

 

 Even though we're about to tell you that the object of this game is for your kids to get a lot of points, really points don't matter here at all.  The true point is to get the kids running around and having some fun.

(You'll need a minimum of two children for this activity.  Go collect them now)

Put "something" down in the middle of a large room or yard.  That something could be a toy, a rock, a book, a manila envelope.  That centrally located item now becomes "the Golden Point."   When the kids touch that thing, they get a point.  When they touch it again, they get another point!  The Golden Point just keeps giving.

The next thing you have to do is keep the kids away from the Golden Point. 

First, set up some safe areas about ten feet away from the Golden Point.  (Again, use whatever you have handy for these safe areas:  chairs work very well.)  The kids can hang out in the safe areas all they want.  No harm could ever come to them there.  But the kids do need to set out from their safe areas in order to get some Golden Points.

In between the safe areas and the Golden Point, that's where the "monster" awaits.  This monster (you or, if you want, a kid) has one purpose in life:  to keep kids from the Golden Point.  Also, the monster enjoys tickling kids who are trying to get to the Golden Point.

When a kid gets touched by the monster, he or she must freeze.  Only the touch of another kid will work for unfreezing purposes.  (The monster might want to take the opportunity to do some tickling of its hapless, frozen victim.)

As we said above, points don't matter.  The kids can count every time they touch the Golden Point, or not.  But there areno winners or losers here.  It's just running around fun.  (Oh, and tickling.  There should be a lot of tickling.)

Major League Geography

Here comes baseball season (and another excuse for learning!)

ADDED April 03, 2009

 

Professional sports offer a fine opportunity to teach your children about American places.  If your kids love sports, wouldn't they be interested to see all the cities and states from which competing teams hail? 

For the new baseball season, we've created this handy map.  Print it out and pass it over to the kids. 

First have your children make a small X to show your city or town. And then, do you guys cheer for a certain team?  If you do, locate it on the map, and have the kids spruce it up with some colors.  Next, if your kids know and remember other teams, find those on the map.  Have your kids color each in as you go along.  And have them color each state you discuss.  For each baseball team, it's not enough to mention the city--we want to know states, too.  What state do the Boston Red Sox come from?  How about the Cincinnati Reds?  (And if the team already provides the name of the state, well then, we want to know the city.  Yes, we mean you:  Arizona Diamondbacks, Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies!)  Try to discuss all the teams and have your kids color the whole map in.

 

 

Baseball team names offer an opportunity for more interesting conversations and possibly some vocabulary learning.  What exactly is a Padre?  Why was the San Diego team given that name?  Why were the Twins given that name?  What is a Marlin?  If you don't know any of these answers, simply turn to trusty ole Wikipedia.  (My kids were particularly interested to hear how the Houston Astros got their name.  If I'm not careful, my boys, with their love of all things space- and rocket-related, might just switch allegiances on me.)

 

You can hang your kids' colorful map up.  When the baseball team your family follows is playing an opponent, the kids can be in charge of finding the opposing team on the map.

 
Play ball!  (And go Dodgers!)

 

--S

 

(Thank you, DeusXFlorida, for the use of the baseball photo above!)

Grab a Tree

A tricky version of tag

ADDED February 06, 2009

 

 

For this one, you'll need some open space (backyard, large living room) and a number of big, "grabbable" things (trees, dining room chairs).  

The game is pretty simple.  Someone (you, for starters) is "it."  And by "it," we mean, "the bad guy" or the "monster."  You know, "it."

As with traditional tag, everybody else wants to avoid being touched by "it."

When everybody else is touching a tree (or dining room chair) they are safe and can't be touched by "it."

But in keeping with our trickiness theme this week, the reason this activity is trickier than normal tag is:  "it" can tell everybody else when to leave the safety of their tree trunk or dining room chair.   It yells, "Everybody switch trees!  Everybody switch trees!"  And so everybody must.

And this, of course, is It's opportunity to grab a hapless victim.

This version of tag is just a bit different and a bit trickier.  We think it adds a bit more spice to the game.  And in keeping with good ole fair play, isn't it nice to let It have a little more say in the proceedings?

Have fun running around this weekend, indoors or out.  And we hope you enjoyed our tricky tips this past week!

 

--S

 

 (Many thanks to wheat_in_your_hair for the photo!)

A Monster at the Fork Store

Bon Appétit! Well, almost.

ADDED October 17, 2008

Sit down on the floor of a room or the grass of your yard.  Tell your little one that you are a nice, healthy human being and as such, you are exactly what monsters like to eat!

And tell your child that, for the moment, he or she is the monster.  Have your kid come and pretend to eat you.

But wait!  Wait! As the monster approaches and is about to take a bite, stop and remind your monster that yes, even monsters need forks!  So, point to another place in the room or the yard and say, "You have to go buy a fork from the fork store!"

Once that 'purchase' has been completed and the monster returns for another attempt, ask the monster to go buy a spoon before starting the meal.  And ketchup.  And a napkin. And a place mat.

The trick is never to get eaten by thinking up more stuff for the monster to purchase.  Even better, try to have the monster come up with ideas as to what will be needed for the meal.

This is a fun, silly game that will provide a reason for kids to run around and release some energy.  Also, kids like acting like monsters, and adults enjoy not being eaten.

And don't forget to send the monster for a bib, eating humans can be messy business!

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

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!

Kids Games -- Sprinkler Hokey Pokey

And other sprinkler amusements

ADDED August 18, 2008

It's still Summer and it's still warm.  One easy way to cool the kids down, without schlepping them off to a water park or beach, is to turn on the sprinklers and let them run around in the spray.

I am a person who likes to get my money's worth, so I want my children to get as wet as possible while the sprinklers are on.

To extend the fun and make this more than just merely running around, I try to create some games for the kids in the sprinklers.  

One game is "Sprinkler Hokey Pokey."  Call out body parts that the kids must douse in the sprinkler spray:  "Everybody stick  your right foot into the water."  (For each body part named, the kids have to run to a different sprinkler  -- they can't stay stuck in the same place.)   I try to be as complete (and as tricky) as I can while calling out what to soak:  shoulders, hair, belly button, elbows, back of the neck, and so forth.

Another method of making the kids as wet as possible is calling out things for them to find and go touch.  I tell everybody to go touch a pink flower, or a broken brick, or the kid nearest them, and so forth.

Oh, and one last thing here:  as far as I'm concerned the trick is to get the kids as wet as possible, while staying perfectly dry myself.  If you can swing that, I feel it'll be a successful outing.

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!

Kids Games -- Hide Some Treasure

And find it later

ADDED August 03, 2008

This is a way to add some fun to walks outside and visits to the park. The trick: hide some treasure along the way.

The treasure we use in our family is a penny or a nickel. (That way, if the treasure gets found by someone else or disappears forever, it's not too great a loss.)

First, you'll need to choose a public place that is fun for your kids. A park is perfect, or a grassy area near the library.

Then, find a place to hide the treasure, any off-the-beaten-track nook or cranny will do. Statues are especially good: our family has stuck a penny into the folds of historical personage's coat. We have placed a penny onto another statue's palm.

Another time, my boys wanted to hide a penny in a statue that, as it turned out, had absolutely no nooks, crannies, or crevices of any kind. We decided to hide the penny at the base of the statue, on the side farthest from where most people walk. Miraculously (we were all pretty thrilled) the penny was still there a few days later.

With this activity, we get the kids outside, learning about pennies and nickels, and looking at statues they'd probably otherwise ignore. Another way to squeeze some fun out of this is to have the kids come home, after having hidden the treasure, and draw up a map. They start the treasure map by drawing everything they can remember: the grass, the bushes, the parking lot, the sidewalk, the trees, and so forth. We don't really worry about correct scale, or even correct placement of things; if a tree winds up in the middle of the sidewalk, it's fine by me.) Then we draw a big red X to show where the treasure is hidden. We also talk about the phrase "X marks the spot," and how you can "spot" something.

On the way to go to find out if the treasure is still there, I make sure to warn everybody that it might no longer be there. There is a chance somebody else found it. That way, they are prepped and not overly disappointed by the penny's absence. I also bring along another handful of pennies, because if the first batch is missing, well at least we can all have fun hiding new ones and trying it all over again.

If you'd like to email us, and tell us the location of the money you're hiding outside, we'd be happy to know. fun@todayisfun.com

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!

Animal Action

A game that gets the kids moving and exercising some creativity

ADDED July 22, 2008

I recently caught my lovely spouse playing this game with the kids.  I immediately decided to steal the idea and put it up on this site, as this activity fits with our theme this week (simple and fun) and it's a great way of expelling some of the kids' energy out before bed.

To do this one, you chant the following words:  

Animal action, animal action, animal action.

Everyone act like a __________.

And you fill in the name of the animal.  The kids' job, of course, is to make their bodies into the shape of the animal you named.  They then run around in that shape, making the noise of the animal.  

The point of this exercise is not accuracy.  In our house, elephants, octopuses and guinea pigs seem to resemble each other very closely (and they all seem to growl ferociously, too, for some reason).  Instead, the goal here is to look at the different things we can do with our bodies, and to get those bodies moving!

Have fun, but be careful.  You never know when you'll encounter a snarling octopus or a ferocious guinea pig.

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!

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!

Machine Assembly

Put together some fun for the kids

ADDED July 08, 2008

For this one, you will assemble a machine using the materials you have on hand:  the kids.  Machine assembly is great to do during playdates at your house, because it's more fun with more kids to be the parts.

Tell the kids that they're going to be parts of a machine.  In a machine, each part does one specific action, over and over.  That's how machines work -- a machine part never changes its action.

Ask each child, or machine part, to show everybody what action they make.  (You  may want to demonstrate with an example, using your hands, arms, legs.) After each child has had a turn to invent an action, you "assemble" the machine.  That is, tell the kids stand close together, so that they're almost interacting, kind of like the workings of a real machine.  You can turn the machine on and off with your voice, or by tapping the buttons on top of the heads.

During the summer, it's fun to make a water machine outside in the yard or wading pool.  Each kid uses a water toy as part of a specific action:  squirting, pouring, dumping, etc.

At our house, we have one rule with the water machine.  You can really do whatever you want as part of the water machine . . . as long as you don't get me wet!

Happy 4th of July.

Party like you're 231.

ADDED July 03, 2008

Today America is 231! Enjoy a BBQ, watch a parade, hug a veteran, take a swim, see some fireworks and just enjoy sometime with your family.

If you are short on entertainment for the kids take a look thru the archives but most of all have a great day.

Today is Fun!

4th of July Ice Cream.

Entertaining way to make a dessert.

ADDED July 02, 2008

Here is a fun idea to try this 4th of July. It combines a little science, a little cooking and in the end you will have made a dessert.  My kids and I have also done this with ziplock bags but I do prefer the coffee can method because it is so much more fun to roll it around.

I have adapted this recipe from the website ezinearticles.com the idea is super fun and super easy.

You will need:

1 lb. Coffee Can

3 lb. Coffee Can

1/2 cup Rock salt

From the Refrigerator:

1 pint Half and Half

1 1/2 tsps. Vanilla

1/3 cup + 2 tblsps. Sugar

You will also need to choose a flavor to make:

For fruit flavor:
1/3 cup of fruit. Blueberries add a festive holiday flare.

For a cookie flavor:
Crush 3 of your favorite cookies.

Or add 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup for chocolate ice cream.

Or 2 teaspoons of vanilla for vanilla ice cream.

METHOD:

Mix the first three basic ingredients from the refrigerator together and pour into the one pound coffee can. Add flavorings if desired. Place the lid on securely and set inside the three pound can.

Add ice, and alternate layers of ice and salt outside the small can and inside the large can. When totally full, secure the lid on the large can. You may wish to add duct tape for good measure.

Wrap in a towel and roll or gently kick the can for at least 10 minutes.  This activity is best when done outside.  When time is up carefully open the cans and check the ice cream.

If it is not starting to freeze, replace lids and roll 10 minutes more. The ice cream should be frozen to the sides and bottom of the can. If the ice cream is not thick enough, place in freezer for at least ½ hour.

And eat!

Let us know how this idea adds to your 4th of July festivities, as always we are available at info@todayisfun.com!

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!

Go ashore, sailors!

A fun out-of-doors game to release some of the kids' energy

ADDED June 23, 2008

 

Tell the kids that they are now sailors. (They can certainly be sailors on a pirate ship, if that will increase their interest.)

Show them one part of the yard, which will be their ship. Show them another part of the yard which is the shore. (Ideally, the ship and the shore should be far away from each other.)

Show them a couple other things they'll need to know: how a sea captain salutes and how a mermaid swims (for this, the kids should lie down on the grass and "swim.") One more thing: sometimes on a ship at sea, there are cannon balls being shot from time to time, and when that happens, everybody will definitely want to duck.

Now the motley group of young sailors will need some direction from you. Have the kids stand on the ship and then call out, "All the sailors go to shore!" The kids, of course, have to run from the ship to the shore. As they move, call out, "Salute the captain" or "Swim like a mermaid!" The kids need to react accordingly. When they reach shore, it's time to go back to the ship. Call out, "Cannonball" or "Mermaid!" You get the idea.

This game is fun, it's tiring (in a good way), and it can help show your kids the difference between ship shape and landlubbers. Ahoy!

Monster Class

A fun activity for kids that may involve some growling and howling

ADDED June 22, 2008

This is creative, physical and fun: Have a "Monster Class" with your kids.

You and your kids will all march around the house or backyard like monsters.

But first, you'll need to be the teacher and show the kids how. There are three things to know about monsters:

(1) Each kind of monster walks in its own, special way. ("Big step, little step" is a favorite walk in our house. Also: "stomp, stomp, stomp.")

(2) Each kind of monster does something interesting with its hands and arms as it moves. (Waving arms and claws around, for example.)

(3) And of course, each kind of monster makes a very unique and often unusual noise.

Demonstrate each of those things to your little ones and lead them in practicing how to be monsters. Then, each of the kids can have a turn being the teacher, and you can be the student.

If your child isn't "into" monsters, then you can have "Animal Class" (highly recommended), "Princess Class," "Pirate Class," or "Robot Class."

No matter what, fun is on the curriculum today, and all monsters will get high marks for their efforts!

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!

The gate is open, the gate is closed

Release some of the kids' energy, and have fun doing it.

ADDED April 27, 2008

This requires a piece of furniture in the center of a room (as opposed to one pushed up against the wall.) A dining table would work, or a sofa, or an armchair.

Sit a few feet from the furniture, and stretch out your arm straight in front of you. Tell your kids, “the gate is closed.”

Now bend your arm at the elbow, so that your hand is pointing towards the ceiling. Show them, “the gate is open.”

Leave the “gate” open, and start the game. Have your kids run around the item of furniture. (If you’re more comfortable moving this game outside, by all means do so.) The first couple times the kids pass by, announce, “The gate is open.”

Now make it interesting: as a child nears, lower your arm and say, “The gate is closed.” The kids stop, and have to wait until the gate opens, before resuming their running.

My kids especially like it when they think they’ve passed through the open gate, but it comes ‘crashing down’ and grabs them suddenly. I can see their excitement and curiosity—will they make it by, or will they get grabbed by the gate?

This activity is a favorite in our house.