Idioms for Your Kids!

Funny coded phrases

ADDED July 21, 2010

 

Art in a Rectangle!

A fun artistic trick!

ADDED May 27, 2010

 

Terrific Times Tracing

Fun with outlines!

ADDED May 14, 2010

 

Magical Memory Bag

Available for free from your nearby supermarket

ADDED March 30, 2010

 

Blind Bag

What is that thing in my paper bag?

ADDED March 26, 2010

 

 

Spring Search

Keep a watchful eye

ADDED March 08, 2010

Spring is the transition season between winter and summer.  It is a time when everything grows, birds sing, and all is renewed. And it is almost here.

The first day of Spring this year is March 20. . . .

Say Anything!

As long as it's a thing, that is!

ADDED February 18, 2010

 

 

Years in Review

Remember when?

ADDED February 10, 2010

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

The Not-Very-Good Drawer

Some not very good drawing leads to a lot of very good fun!

ADDED February 04, 2010

 

 

Color Code

Are your kids color-coded?

ADDED January 19, 2010

 

“Simon Says” eat your heart out!  This idea is pure “Today Is Fun:”  it’s simple, fun, and free.   (Well, it pretty much should be free.)

Here’s what you need to do:

Find some objects that clearly represent all the colors of the rainbow.  Colored paper, such as construction paper, works the best.  Ideally, you can find some scraps of paper that are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.  You could add more colors — black, white, brown and gray — but to start off, keep it simple with fewer colors.

(If you don’t have any colored paper on hand, you could have your kids make some paper for you to use.  Take some white scraps of paper, and have the kids color one red, another orange, another yellow, and so on.)

(You could also have the kids write "red" on a card.  That would work well and make for a good "second round.")

Next, with your kids’ input, assign some meanings to each color.

Red could be “sing a little song” or “spell out a word.”

Blue could be “Stand up, sit down, then stand up.”. . .

Animal Races

All animals win, really, just for trying!

ADDED January 18, 2010

 

Game day

All day!

ADDED December 29, 2009

Today as we continue our special-time-with-the-kids-after-the-holidays week, we are suggesting you spend some time playing games.  Card games, board games or even a game of tag or hide-n-seek.  Make today "game day."  . . .

Tube Caroling

Let's bring back caroling

ADDED December 17, 2009

Caroling is quickly becoming a lost pastime.  My extended family goes caroling every year and recently, much to our dismay, we could not find anybody home to sing to.  I don't know if people are too busy or just not interested in caroling, but I'll say it again: caroling is becoming a lost pastime.  So today's activity is a great way to bring back caroling and make a cool craft with your kids from stuff you have in your house right now!

 

GIANT MENU

It's really that big!

ADDED November 05, 2009

 

Here at Today is Fun, we toil night and day to bring you the very best in free crafts and entertainment for your kids.  But sometimes an idea is so easy and right in front of our faces that we ask ourselves why we didn't think of it sooner -- and today's activity is just one of those times.  The "Giant Menu" is simple, obvious, and just might keep your kids occupied for a few minutes while you put the finishing touches on the rack of lamb you are preparing for dinner.. . .

Homebrew Space ship

A build-'n'-play activity

ADDED November 04, 2009

Spaceships are inspirational.  They are made by a few dreamers destined to become legendary explorers.  (They are also useful for battling enemies, for saving galaxies and for general interplanetary transportation.)  Today's spaceship craft is sure to inspire even the youngest astronaut.

To create this space ship, you will need two paper plates of any size (the larger the plates the bigger the spaceship), tape, straws, bowls, one of those plastic bubble cases that come from a vending machine, and anything else that looks like it belongs on a spaceship.  The sky is the limit . . . literally. 

The craft can go one of two ways: you can ask your kids if they want to make a spaceship from the aforementioned items, turn 'em loose, let them build any kind of spaceship they can dream up or you guys can follow the simple directions below.  Your choice.

All that is needed for space inspiration.





First, with the plate or bowl on a table, trace the plastic bubble and then -- following the line carefully -- cut a hole in the center and remove for the navagation systems (probably something that a parent needs to do).

Next, with the top of the plate facing down, put the plastic bubble into the hole, like this.




Third, tape or staple the plates together.

Next, decorate with a marker, add lasers, landing gear, guidance systems, tractor beams, and secret hatches.  Check out this custom space cruiser (escape hatch not pictured).

 

We hope your kids enjoy their interplanetary explorations and don't forget to send pictures!  

Do you like this craft? Then please let us know in the comments section.
 

Add Some Words To My Story

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

ADDED November 03, 2009

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

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

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

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

thanks to arjanvandergaag for the photo!

 

Oct, Nov, Dec Holiday Memories

An activity every month . . . and some handsome art to boot

ADDED November 02, 2009

There are a lot of holidays coming up, and we have a perfect post-holiday activity for each one.  After every holiday, have your kids draw a picture of a special memory that they made of the day.  Halloween just ended so if you have a few minutes that need to be filled today or later this week, grab a pad of paper, review with your kids a few of the events that happened on Saturday (getting free candy was popular at my house), and then set them free to draw.  Anything special is fair game, and the more detailed the better.

It's a fun way to relive the day's events and a perfect way to spend some time today.  Then, one day down the road when your child comes home from college with their sweetheart, you will have a collection of art from 2009 to embarrass them with (along with some tasteful bathtime photos.)

 

This place is haunted

And that chair is looking at me

ADDED October 22, 2009

A few weeks ago, we told you about a great activity to do with your kids in which you guys find faces in the everyday objects around you.  If you missed the post, here is the link (we think its great).  Since Halloween is coming, we are taking this activity one step further and encourage your kids to make their own spooky-faced objects. What could be more spooky than all the furniture in your house looking right back at you?  Here are the simple instructions.

Gather some construction paper, tape, pens, and scissors. Have everybody gather all of their imagination to envision faces on everything in your house.  Then set your kids free to create bloodshot eyes to put on the piano, razor-sharp teeth for the side of the tub, or happy jack o' lantern eyes for the kitchen garbage pail.  Finally, tape the eyes, teeth and noses on anything that needs to be gussied up for Halloween.

Have a great time, and don't worry the furniture won't really bite.

 

 

 

Hide the fun

And guess away the day!

ADDED September 08, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

Hidden fun is just a guess away. Have fun!

In Celebration of Labor Day

Good bye summer!

ADDED September 07, 2009

 

Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. While summer may be over,  the fun need not be done.  We have plenty more in store, so stay tuned.  And if you have not subscribed to our daily activities email, please do (you can do that here).

 

We have had a full summer of great activities that are educational, free and create special ways for you and your kids to spend time together.  If you are looking for something to do today or later this week, don't labor!  Instead, check out seven of our most recent, greatest hits and make today fun!

 

1. Emerge

A coloring activity that will make the fun come out. And come forth. And just generally emanate.

 

 

2. Bring Me The Alphabet!

A fun game for beginning spellers

 

 

3. Kid's Activity: The Family Handshake

Every family should have one!

 

4. Founding Fathers Tag

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

 

5. Five senses walk

A treat for them all

 

6. Paper Bag Monster Masks

Very easy and fun. If you don't get too scared.

 

7. Race Car Paper

Because your kids draw it, they get to rule the road

 

Have fun!

House of cards

DIY game and building kit

ADDED August 28, 2009

Length:  20 minutes

Parental Involvement:  Cut cards and play along

Kids Should Be Able to:  Have a bit of dexterity

Building a house of cards can be just plain hard. I have tried and believe me, it's impossible.  Building a true house of cards is therefore not a great activity for kids, but today's craft has a cheat that makes construction not only easy but a pleasure.  A game similar to this was created in 1952 by Charles and Ray Eames.  It was fun then and still can be fun today especially when you make it yourself.

You will need to sacrifice a deck of cards for this craft.  Please make sure you don't cut up Grandpa's cherished deck of cards from the Navy.  (The 99 Cent store is a great place to pick up a pack.)


First, you will need to cut six slots on each card so the cards can lock together (I have noted where to cut in sharpie so its easy to see).  Try to cut in the same place every time this will make your structure more solid and we also have found that cutting one card at a time will yield better results.

 

When you have done that to all fifty two cards you are ready to build.  The six slots on each card enable you and your kids to lock the cards together to build fantastic structures.

Sturdy, easy, and fun!  What more could you ask for?  (We would like to ask everybody to have a lot of fun with their kids this weekend!)

Own Home Library

Check it out! (Get it?)

ADDED August 27, 2009

 

Length:  20 minutes

Parental Involvement:  Print and play

Kids Should Be Able to:  Play and have fun

 

We have a bookshelf that is quite full, and my kids really like to read books from it whenever they get a chance.  They also like going to the library and checking out books; it is a very "big kid" thing to do.  So my wife and I turned the library into our very own home library.

Every library has a few important qualities:


Really, that is it.
 
I made some very simple library cards and check out slips (you can download these popular items here.)  And once they were printed, our library was open for business.

This is a great activity to encourage sharing, working together, creative play and reading.  Needless to say we are big fans.

Remember, every library has different rules about returning books late;  at our house returning books late means you have to eat all your vegetables, even if they're brussels sprouts.


Click to download!

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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.. . .

TIF-Sign-In Sheet

For your next party

ADDED August 13, 2009

 

 Sometimes at my house, we have parties with a bunch of grown-ups, where my kids are the only children attending. 

For my kids, these parties are not the most fun:  adults sit around talking about boring adult things, and all the while the kids' "bedtime clock" is ticking.  For me, the question is usually, "what should we do with the kids for the hour before they have to go to bed?"  Well, we figured out a perfect way to keep the kids occupied.  It's also a fun way for the kids to interact with our guests.  The kids should be in charge of a Sign-In Sheet.

The Sign-In Sheet is perfect: it keeps the kids occupied for the beginning part of the evening, and when all the guests have arrived, a natural break is created for bedtime.  Everybody wins -- and we get a list of the people who attended the party just in case any of our fine silver is missing!

We have created a Sign-In Sheet for you to download and use at your next party.  Have fun, we will be checking the mail for an invite!

      (Click to download)

Thanks to russandlori for the photo!

 

Four legged box animal.

Old-fashioned fun

ADDED July 27, 2009

We have detailed the many creative uses for boxes already (and those ideas can be found here).  We've also made some scary monster masks before Halloween.  As our in depth analysis of free cardboard box fun continues, we have yet to cover the rare and elusive four-legged box animal (or the four-legged box monster depending on your preference.)

 

The four-legged box animal showed up at my house unannounced and proceeded to cause laughter, giggles and a little jostling.  The fun was endless.  Two kids turned themselves into the animal, and one person acted as the trainer.  (I sure am glad that the trainer showed up, because taking care of a four-legged box animal is a lot of work.   They always are getting into trouble.)

Making a four-legged box animal is quite simple, we're glad to say.   All you need is large enough box.   Two of your kids to put the box over their heads, and the four legged box animal is created.  I suppose if you were inclined you could color and cut the box to spiff it up a little and make it more animal-like, but for the girls at my house the plain box worked just fine. 

Here at TIF, we always want to give kids tools to spark their imagination and create their own fun.  If you have a box, try it today and see what shows up at your house!  If it's not an animal it could be a Spaceship, a car, or even a box of bears.

Hi, Larraby!

A fun way to introduce a bunch of kids

ADDED July 14, 2009

 

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

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

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

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

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.

A Picture of Freedom

Some quick activities to make the 4th special

ADDED July 03, 2009

 John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail about the celebration of American Independence: "It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

He was right; the Fourth of July is a time to celebrate all that makes America great.  Today we suggest you and your kids take the suggestions from Mr. Adams (a key player in Founding Fathers tag) and do each in your home.  We suggest you "solemnize" the day with:

Pomp and parade.  Fourth of July parades are great fun (and they're also free.)  If there's not one happening in your area . . . have your own!  Have the kids dress in red, white, and blue.  Have them march and wave flags.  A little patriotic music would probably help things, too.

 

Shows.  Encourage the little stars in your home to put on a show featuring American History.  They should use puppets or costumes.  If they want, they can use the "History of the Fourth of July" as a starting place, and explain that to their audience.

 

Games.  This doesn't need any explanation.  Family games are fun.  Use the holiday to take some out and play!

Sports.  Badminton, horseshoes, croquet or blind man's bluff are all classic, old-timey, games, that are fun for kids and parents alike.

Guns.    This was a good idea in 1776.  Not so much now.

Bells.  Do you have any bells in the house?  Sleigh bells from Christmas or bicycle bells are fair game.  Explain to your kids that in olden days, people would ring church bells as a way of letting everyone in the vicinity know about big news.  Bells were rung, for instance, after the Declaration of Independence was signed. If you have a bell handy, let the kids ring it.  America's two hundred and thirty-third birthday is big news!

Bonfires.  We think a barbecue would be a modern day equivalent.  A beach bonfire would work, too.

Illuminations.  Of course, fireworks shows are fun and free so if your kids can stay up, visit a local fireworks show.

And President Adams didn't say this explicitly, but of course, the Fourth is a great holiday to spend with people you love!  So do it!

Have a great Fourth -- from TIF!

 

 

 

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.)

Kids' Craft: DIY Rag Doll

Easy to make, easy to love

ADDED June 03, 2009

For today's fun DIY activity, we are going to make a rag doll.  (Boys may call them "action figures," if they prefer.)  Rag Dolls are simple to make will provide your kids with hours of entertainment.

All you will need is eight strips of fabric about eight inches long.  Eight and eleven -- easy, right?

Length: Construction for 15 minutes . . . and hours of fun!
Parental Involvement: Lots of teaching opportunities for knot tying, braiding, cutting, etc.
Kids Should Be Able to:  Be safe with scissors

First hold the eight strips in your hand so the ends are even.

 

Next step: give your doll a name.

 

Finally, give your doll a lot of love! (Or give your action figure a lot of love, as the case may be.)

 

Leave us a comment below and let us know what you child names their doll!  Have fun!

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!

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

High-Wire Flyer

Orville and Wilbur would be proud. And possibly a bit riled up.

ADDED May 21, 2009

Anything that moves is inherently interesting to kids.  Keeping that in mind, we made a really cool zip line flyer the other day out of some simple things that we had around the house. It was awesome and the end result looked like this. 

Here are the simple, household items my kids and I used to create what we call our "High-Wire Flyer:" some paper or an empty basket from a pint of strawberries, two paper clips, a string of about 15 feet, one quarter and two places to tie the string!  Easy.

First, start by making a paper airplane.  Luckily, you don't need to be fancy or an aeronautical engineer: the classic fold and fly model paper airplane will do just.  Second, bend the two paper clips to form an "S" shape, and carefully stick one end of each "S" clip through the top middle of the top plane.  Next, tape one quarter to the front of the plane (two if you can afford it in this economy) and finally, tie one end of the string to a tree, banister, slide or clothes line and tie the other end lower than the first, to a rock, shrub, chair or outdoor water valve.  (You need to make a path that travels from high to low.)  Remember, the more extreme your line's angle, the faster your plane will fly. Now, 3,2,1 launch!  With a small push your plane will travel quickly down the line making a perfect landing every time.

 

If you are really handy or have more than one kid, try making parallel lines and you can race planes.   If you have room in your yard, try crossing two lines and you can have an exciting mid-air dog fight! As with everything we make here at TIF, we suggest that the kids color the plane, because everyone knows that will make it go faster.  Or at least look faster.

To the skies, people!  And we know you have a choice when you fly, so thank you for choosing Today is Fun.

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.)

Spring cleaning

Non-toxic teamwork

ADDED April 24, 2009

 

You may remember one of our previous posts the cleaning lemon or when we wrote about cleaning out some of the toys in your kids closet and donating them.  Well spring is here and today why not have your kids help you with some spring cleaning? It is an activity that you can do with your kids and we even have included two of my beautiful wife's favorite non-toxic cleaning recipes. 

Have your kids squirt the cleaner while you scrub the counters, or turn them loose with some paper towels and window cleaner, they can clean the inside windows while you clean the outside (this is of my kids favorite cleaning activities).  Emphasize that when you all work together it is fun and you will get the job done faster.  Happy cleaning!

WINDOW CLEANER

1/4‐1/2
teaspoon
 liquid 
detergent

3
 tablespoons
 vinegar

2
 cups 
water

Spray
bottle

Put all 
the 
ingredients 
into 
a 
spray
 bottle, 
shake 
it 
up a 
bit, and 
use 
as 
you 
would
 a 
commercial 
brand.
  The 
soap 
in 
this recipe 
is
 important.  
It 
cuts 
the 
wax 
residue
 from
 the commercial 
brands 
you 
might 
have
 used
 in
 the 
past.


ALL‐PURPOSE 
SPRAY 
CLEANER

1/2
 teaspoon 
washing 
soda

A
 dab 
of 
liquid 
soap

2
 cups 
tap 
water

Combine
 the 
ingredients
 in 
a 
spray 
bottle 
and 
shake
 until 
the 
washing soda 
has 
dissolved. 
Apply 
and
 wipe
 off 
with
 a
 sponge
 or rag.


Letter Rubbing

Pop-art

ADDED March 11, 2009

For this activity, you will need some Legos, scissors, crayons, and white paper.  It also is a good idea to know you alphabet, if your child is still learning today is a great day to review!

 

To get started, have your child create their initials using the Legos; it should look something like this.

 

  We found that if you use skinny Legos to create your letters it works best.  But any size letter will do.

Also, if you can attach your letters to a bigger Lego like this, it makes the coloring easier.

Next, cover the Legos with a piece of white paper and gently rub over the letters with the crayons.

 

That should result in something that looks like this.  As your kid rubs with the crayons, the raised letters underneath will slowly be transferred to the paper. 

 

If your child likes this activity, move on from initials . . . to full names! Have fun making your own pop (and pop out!) art.

Total Utter Chaos

Also known as Make Up The Rules As You Go Along

ADDED March 06, 2009

If you've been reading our blog for a while, you know that we occasionally present ideas that may rile up the kids and -- if you're not careful -- may lead to total utter chaos.

Well, we don't want things to get out of control.  Really.  We want you and your kids to have fun, but we don't want too much wildness and craziness.  We do want you to be the parent and to be in charge.

Today's game, though, involves throwing some rules out the window and being as creative as you guys can be!  It is a great fun activity for stuck-inside rainy days.  


Round up the kids and get a couple board games.  Get the pieces out of the boxes and you're ready to play.  You could also add some cards, some extra dice, some spoons -- whatever your creative geniuses think up!

The point with this activity is to play without rules.  Or rather, with any rules that grab your kids' fancy.  This activity allows your kids to create their own rules for a change and to be spontaneous.

Here are some ideas for some fun rules for you to try:

1.  Every three minutes, everyone switches pieces.
2.  Place two or three boards from board games together.  Pieces should bounce from board to board.
3.  Roll some dice whenever you want.
4.  Everyone switch chairs.
5.  Before you take your turn, do a dance.
6.  When someone says "smiggy bop," everyone move back one space.
7.  The "loser" wins.  Everybody gets a cookie.

You guys can be as crazy and silly as you want.  What other rules can your kids come up with?
 
Be creative and see what interesting rules you guys can create.  And once you're done with your hodgepodge make-it-up-as-you go game, choose a boardgame with the kids and play by the rules.  Compare the game by the rules versus the game without the rules.  Spontaneity is fun, but rules can be comforting and fun, too!

 

(For another creative, Today Is Fun twist on board games, check out our popular big-as-a-house game.)

Oh, and we do have one final rule to propose:  everybody have a great weekend!

(Game photo courtesy of dougww.)

Heritage Feast

Take a trip to the old country

ADDED February 24, 2009

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Thanks to cobalt for use of their delicious photos

Talk Differently Day

Talking about some fun!

ADDED February 20, 2009

 

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

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

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

You guys can speak:

Loudly
Quietly
In a whisper

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

Your voices can be booming.  They can be scratchy.

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

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

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

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

Have fun, everybody.  Variations, variations, variations!

 

Red Hearts

It's like musical chairs . . . but more fun!

ADDED February 13, 2009

 

Here is a fun and rowdy game you can play today.  All you need is some red construction paper, scissors, and kids.
 
First have everyone cut out a heart and write their name on it.  Then place the hearts around the room.  Next, have everyone hold hands.  Finally -- and this might be the most important part of the game -- play some Valentine's music (we like Dean Martin or Frank Sinatara).   As the music plays, everyone should rotate in a circle. Then, when the music stops, everybody needs to run and grab a heart.  Read the person's name on the heart and give that person a hug!

Then spread out the hearts again and repeat!

This is the perfect game to play outside: with a large group or with your extended family (grandparents love hugs).  And if your kids don't want to give hugs, then just have them say "Happy Valentine's Day!"
 
Oh, and I just found a heart with my Beautiful Wife's name on it.  I think I'll go get my hug right now!  Have fun.

 

Thanks to tekmagika for the photo

 

Valentine Heart box

A great color-n-cut activity

ADDED February 11, 2009

Today we present a fun craft that you can do with your kids. Once it's colored, cut, folded, and taped, you will have a unique Valentine's Day craft that is a special way to say "I love you."

First, print one of the crafts we're including here.  We have three levels:  Level One is the easiest to cut and looks like this. (click on each craft to download)

 

Level Two requires a little more scissor skills and will look like this. 

 

 

Level Three is the most difficult and will look like this.

 

Color the boxes, adding any Valentine's messages you guys want. Then cut out the box, following all the way around the edges.  Next fold the paper along the dotted lines, and place a small strip of tape on the grey tabs, forming the box.

Try this activity with a group and let everybody encourage each other and help  with the coloring and cutting.  Remember, these Valentine's boxes can be a little delicate, so just like love:  handle with care!

 

 

****UPDATE crafting action photos****

 

 

 

 

Color Charades

A fun, print-n-play activity

ADDED February 10, 2009

Charades is a simple game that's fun for adults so why can't kids play? 

Well, now kids can.  We have created a simple, eight-card charades game for kids that uses colors, not words.  It is so easy, in fact, that even kids who can't read will love to play.

Here are the rules (in case you forgot):  first pick a card from the stack, and don't show it to anyone.  The idea is to use physical rather than verbal language to convey what color is on your card.  You can point to something that is the same color as the color or pantomime something that is the same color.  Remember you can point and act -- but don't talk.

If your kids are not understanding how to play, act out a few rounds until everyone gets it.  The game is so simple, however, that usually everybody gets it right away and is eager to play. 

At the end of this activity, all the kids will express their delight by doing some (possibly silent) thumbs ups.

 

Just click here to download!

 

 

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!)

Taste Tests

Trickiness Week continues with some tricky fun with food

ADDED February 02, 2009

 

For us, food is endless fun.  Buying food, cooking it, eating it, and yes, even talking about it provide hours of enjoyment.  Anything with so much variety is inherently interesting, right?

And here's more fun with food:  Taste Tests!

Are you old enough to remember the Pepsi Challenge?  In that test, blindfolded people sipped both Coke and Pepsi, and then announced which they liked better.  (Big surprise:  Pepsi won, and was the favorite of most of the participants.)

Why not have a taste test tonight at your house?  All you need is a blindfold and some similar foods.

Your blindfolded kids can do two things:  (1) try to guess which food is which (this can be tricky!), and (2) announce which food is their preference.

Here are some similar foods for them to compare, side by side:

Oranges vs. Tangerines
Apples vs. Pears
Crunch peanut butter vs. creamy
Different kinds of sliced cheese (cheddar vs. Swiss)
Hot dogs vs. sausages
BBQ Sauce vs. Ketchup
Different flavors of yogurt (strawberry vs. rasberry)
Whole wheat bread vs. white bread
Ice cream vs. frozen yogurt
M & M's vs. Skittles

Have fun with this one.  Please use the comment section below to let us know about your results with your kids.  With all the fun and tricky tasting, everyone will pass the taste test!  (Oh, and one more thing:  try not to get any food on the blindfold!)

 

--S

The Week of Trickiness begins with . . . One Up, One Down

The fun will be up. Way up.

ADDED February 01, 2009

In the coming months here at Today is Fun, we'll often be organizing our ideas into themes.  We think these themes will be fun, and a fun way of organizing our creative activities.  This week's theme is:  Trickiness.  All our ideas this week will incorporate a healthy dose of trickiness, which will keep your little ones engaged and entertained.  So buckle your seatbelts, people, Tricky is Fun!

 

 

One Up, One Down is a "figure it out" game.  Everybody will need to get their brains revving to catch on.

Are you One Up, One Down right now? 

You might be, but you also might be Two Up or Two Down.

So, here is a review of the three options:
(1)  One Up One Down
(2)  Two Up
(3)  Two Down

(If we had to venture a guess, we'd say you're probably One Up, One Down at the moment.  If not, then our second guess would be Two Down.)

We hope you're not too confused or annoyed . . . but that's part of the game.   When you play with your kids, they'll be the ones figuring this one up thing out.

Here's the trick:  where are your hands in relation to your chest?  They both may be above your chest (Two Up), or both below it (Two Down), or, well, One Up One Down.

Get it? 

To play this with your kids, start by telling them which of the three options they are at the moment.  Then help them figure out the trick.

This activity works well with a number of kids, where everyone can be comparing each other, trying to figure out why some people are Two Up, some are Two Down, and so forth.  This game also might be a lot of fun at the dinner table with a group of people…or at a restaurant.

If your kids just aren't getting it, you might try changing your hand position as they're looking at you, then telling them "Look, now I'm One Up One Down."

Good luck with this one – we're sure that the fun will be up and the loose ends will be down.  And stay tuned this week for more tricky fun!

 

--S

 

 (Photo of up kid hands courtesy of st0rmz.) 

Syllable Flipper

A quick and tricky way to get those little minds going

ADDED January 19, 2009

 

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

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

Well?  Does anyone?

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

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

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

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

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

 

--S

 

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

Building Bit by Bit

Every budding architect gets a turn

ADDED January 10, 2009

 

Building toy buildings is a great activity to entertain kids.  It gets their motor, creative, and planning skills all into the mix.

And here's a fun, simple twist:  building bit by bit.  Basically, everyone takes turns adding to the creation.

As many people can play as want to, kids and adults included.  Use blocks, Legos, Tinker Toys, even dolls or stuffed animals – whatever you've got.  Each person takes a turn to add one block (or one whatever) to the creation.

In our house, we have a rule that each added block(or whatever) has to touch the one that went before.  Also, in an effort to discourage random and premature knockdowns, we say that anyone who doesn't knock down the structure "wins" the round.  (Yes, more than one person can win every round.)

Here at Today Is Fun, we believe that a little guidance in activities – or just a couple rules – makes all the difference, and greatly enhances the fun.  The activity "build something" with your blocks is fine . . . but having everyone collaborate as a team on the same marvelous mansion or palatial palace, now that ups the fun immeasurably.

 

Give it a try today!  (Just please don't knock down my building.)

 

--S

 

BUILDING BIT BY BIT UDDATE

The lovely, intelligent and inquisitive Julia used the comment section to ask us, " How did you make the cubes?"

 

Well, you ask and we answer, here is the link to the origami cube construction page.

Origami Building blocks

 

Construction of these blocks is best with thin origami paper but construction paper works great too.  In less than 10 minutes you can build quite a few of these delicate building blocks.  Have fun!              -Paul

 

Photo Walk

Wasting "film" is fun!

ADDED January 05, 2009

 

Ah, the blessings of a digital camera.  Remember when we were all kids, and our parents didn't want us to waste film?  That is now a thing of the past.

Take your little ones on a walk around the block.  Bring along your digital camera, and take pictures of whatever intrigues them.

It'll be fun to get outside, and it'll be fun for your kids to direct you as to the picture taking. 

Get your kids talking about why they want certain pictures taken.  (My kids wanted a lot of shots of tires, for example.  They said they like to look to see which tires are muddy and which aren't.)

During the walk, explain to your kids that they can take some of their photos and re-create them with art stuff.  You can show them one of their pictures on the computer, and then they can draw it using markers and paper.  And they can change the image to suit their imagination.  For instance, my boys wanted to change a row of cypress trees into rocket ships lined up.  A garage door with many panels was chosen to become a board game with many squares.

Finally, you can save your kids' photos on your computer and review in the future.  It's amazing how photographing something makes it "more" of something.  Suddenly it's not just a walk around the block, it's a "special walk with Mommy's camera!"

Have fun, and please be respectful of your neighbors on the walk.  Don't trample your neighbors' flower beds, so you can take pictures through their windows of them eating breakfast.  The excuse "But my kids told me to" might not work so well!

 

--S

 

 

Conversation Starter Cards

Could save the day

ADDED December 23, 2008

 

These are really simple, but might come in handy in a pinch.  They're conversation starter cards.  Download them, cut them out, and keep them in your purse or car for long waits or traffic jams.

Download here.

These cards each have many questions on them.  Ask your kids the questions, and get them talking.  Hopefully, the clock will move nicely along.  With these cards, you don't have to wrack your brain for conversation topics.

You can answer these questions, too, to keep the conversation going.  Everyone in your family gets extra points when your kids say something funny or cute.

And here's a conversation topic:  how can Today Is Fun help you in the new year?  Drop us a line if you need more help.  (And if you wanted to mention our site to a friend or two, that wouldn't be such a bad start to a conversation either!)

 

--S

Conversing father and daughter by pocketwilley via Flickr, thanks to a creative commons license.

Quizmaster & Answermaster

Because all good games have funny titles.

ADDED December 19, 2008

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

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

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

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

Answermaster answer.
All three are colors.

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

Answermaster answer.
All three are cars.

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

Answermaster answer.
All three are parts of your body.

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

Answermaster answer.
All three are used for camping.

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

Huggy!

A nice monster

ADDED December 04, 2008

Huggy is a very nice monster, just listening to his name you can discern he likes to be hugged.

When you hear him say, “ Huggy” you have to hug him or he will repeat his name over and over while chasing you.  Huggy is very fast.  If you like to be chased please don't hug him.  He only stops repeating his name and chasing when he gets a hug.  Beware if you let him into your house you will have to give him a lot of hugs.  I would suggest only those who are not stingy with hugs invite him in.  

 Moms can be Huggys, Dads can be Huggys even kids can be Huggys. They all are very polite and if you don't want a hug they will not hug you and but be aware they can be persistent in their pursuit of hugs.

Should you let Huggy into your house today?  He really is a nice monster.

Professional Food Tasters

Better than bad and better than good

ADDED November 25, 2008

What words can you use to describe food?  If you're like most Americans, there are three words you use to describe food:  good, bad, and delicious.  You might throw in an occasional "awful" or "wonderful," too, but of all those words we've just reviewed, only "delicious" is specific to food.

There are people whose job is taste food:  Professional Food Tasters.  And those people have to use better words than "awful" and "delicious," right?

Right.  They do.  There are many, many words to describe food specifically.  And what better opportunity for your kids to try some of these words out than . . . your Thanksgiving feast?

Here are some fine words to describe food . . .

•  crunchy
•  crispy
•  spicy
•  sweet
•  salty
•  buttery
•  flavorful

During meals this week, teach your kids some or all of the words in that list.  You could plan to include foods that get you guys talking about sweet and about salty (apples and pretzels, for example).  

Then, encourage your kids to use their new vocabulary to fun effect during Thanksgiving dinner.  This can also be a tool if they get restless:  talk about the Thanksgiving food.  What is the most crunchy thing on your plate?  What is the most buttery?  What is salty and what is sweet?  What is your favorite item?

Do try to show respect for the person who cooked the meal, of course.  We don't want your kids using descriptive words like "icky" or "inedible" during the holiday celebration!

(We didn't want to inundate you with words, so we just featured the ones above.  But here's a quick appendix of more food adjectives, if you're so inclined:  savory, garlicky, nutty, minty, zesty, tart, tangy, sharp, mouthwatering, tasty, yummy, delectable, bitter, flavorful, lemony, chocolatey, and so on.)

Thanksgiving jokes

Easy to remember and funny.

ADDED November 20, 2008

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!

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

New fun with the toys and stuff you already have.

ADDED November 03, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

Mirror dance

A dandy dancing distraction.

ADDED October 07, 2008

During the course of the day, we all have places to be and things to do. However getting these things done is not an easy task with a little one nipping at your heels. Sometimes kids need a little distraction so Dad and Mom can get dressed, put the dog in the car, or just make lunch.
 
So what my wife and I will do with our little ones is put them in front of a mirror, turn on something with a beat, and let the mirror entertain.  All kids love to look at themselves in the mirror, and when you add music and dancing, a winning combination is guaranteed.  Also, an added bonus is how cute it is to see your little one dancing and smiling in their own musical world.
 
A mirror is also a great entertainer of older kids as well:  they too love to watch themselves dance and move to the music.  My kids literally have spent hours dancing happily away to the smooth beats. Making up plays, stories and even trying to act-out the sounds from a cartoon sound effects.  So no matter what your kids age, crank up the tunes and dance the afternoon away it will be time well spent.

info@todayisfun.com.

Beware the Bopper!

A semi-magical method of ousting kids' extra energy

ADDED October 03, 2008

 

This is a quick and easy way to get kids' bodies moving.  It is particularly useful for times when you sense the kids have a lot of pent-up energy and are on the verge of acting rambunctious anyway.

First, you need to get yourself a Bopper.  This can be any household object that would be good for bopping the kids on the head:  an empty paper towel tube is ideal.

Tell the kids you recently picked up a Bopper at the special Bopper store.  Show them your fine new acquisition and, while you're at it, explain how the Bopper works...

When you say the name of an object or animal and then touch the top of a kid's head with the Bopper, the kid turns into whatever you said!

Try it out yourself.  It really works.

I like to start off by turning the kids into the craziest, wildest things imaginable:  a cheetah, a helicopter, an amped-up jumping bean.  

Encourage the children to really create the thing you name with their bodies.  For example, with a helicopter, I need to see propellor blades straight out and spinning.

And here's the trick:  after a couple of minutes of wild re-creations, I move to "medium" for a few minutes, and then I conclude with five minutes of "quiet and mellow."

For "medium," the kids could be a car, a raindrop or a dog.  You get the idea.

For the very popular "quiet and mellow" category, I bop them and conjure up:  a turtle, a snail, a clock pendulum, an opening and closing door, a chair (inanimate objects are great), or an ice cube.

And now, the grand finale:  when I sense that the kids have got some energy out and are getting pretty mellow, I tell them we're having a contest.  I bop them on the heads, tell them they're rocks, and whoever can remain a rock the longest wins!

Ah, but in such instances, I am really the winner!  Bop on, people!

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.'

 

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

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!

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.

Kids Games -- Ice Cube Experimentation

Your kids' boredom will just melt away . . .

ADDED September 16, 2008

 

Ready, Scientists?   It's time to do an experiment.  Today we're going to see how quickly ice cubes melt in different locations around the house.

Before you get the ice cubes from the freezer, there's some prep work for you and your kids to do.

First, you'll want to name each ice cube, so you and your kids can refer to them easily.

So take five or six little bits of scrap paper (those free notepads realtors are always leaving on your doorstep work well), and write a name on each piece.  These names really could be anything your child wants: Ice Cube "J" or "giraffe" or "ginger" or even gibberish. As always, you can delegate this writing / art-making task to your kids.

Now you're ready to take five or six ice cubes from the freezer, and have your kids drop each one into a plastic cup, bowl or tupperware.  Put each ice cube and its identifying sign in different places around the house.  Go for different temperatures and different amounts of light:  in the backyard, in the shade, in the coolest, darkest room of your house, etc.  

After ten minutes, have your little scientists check on the progress of each cube.  Which ones are the most "melty?"  Which are the least?

You can take another piece of paper and record your findings on it.

When we did this in my house, there was a lot of interest and enthusiasm.  My kids ran from cube to cube, checking each and yelling out their findings, "Ice Cube Jake is really melted!"  "Ice Cube Zaw Zot isn't melted at all!"  (What can I say?  My kids were encouraged to come up with their own names for these things.)   "The dog is trying to drink Ice Cube Mommy!"

Yes, science is fun and exciting.  Just try to avoid having one of your excited little scientists kick over a melty ice cube onto the living room floor.
 

How to entertain kids -- House of Cubes

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

ADDED September 04, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- Sshhh! Library Fun

This books looks terrific!

ADDED September 02, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

KIDS GAMES -- Find the Shape

Fun game to help your kids learn shapes

ADDED August 27, 2008

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

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

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

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

KIDS GAMES -- The human adding machine

Fun family game that everyone can play

ADDED August 26, 2008

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

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

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

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

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- Make a card for someone

Turn boredom around by making a card for someone else

ADDED August 25, 2008

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

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

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


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

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- WATCH THE CLOUDS

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

ADDED August 24, 2008

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

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

 

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

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

How to entertain kids -- Music Lessons

No musical ability, or musical instruments, required

ADDED August 19, 2008

Kids are endlessly fun and entertaining for their parents.  So why shouldn't parents request specific entertainment?  And who wouldn't like to be serenaded with some music?

Well, before your kids can perform music for you, you'll have to teach them how to play some musical instruments.

And it doesn't matter if you own no instruments or if you have no musical ability yourself.  You can still talk about different kinds of musical instruments, and how they sound.

First, you'll need some "instruments." Use some of your kid's stuff for these:  different books and toys.  Anything that they can hold and isn't too tiny.

Once you've got the "instruments," start holding each one up and demonstrating how it sounds.  (As best as you can, imitate the sounds of various instruments.)  Say things like:  "You play a guitar by strumming, like this.  You can put your other hand here, to change the notes."

Demonstrate the strumming of a guitar, the plinking of a piano, the honking of a trumpet.  See if you guys can move on to the piccolo, flute, harpsichord, even bagpipes!

This will be a fun introduction to instruments for you little ones.  And one day soon, your kid just might have a real instrument, so now you can practice listening to their musical efforts while trying not to wince too visibly.

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- CLEANING MACHINES

Fun way to get kids to clean up

ADDED August 14, 2008

Picking up toys isn’t nearly as fun as getting them out in the first place. But a twist on that chore will help get it done.

When my kids aren’t participating in the clean up, I say, “Uh oh, this cleaning isn’t happening very quickly. What we need are some cleaning machines.”

I tell my kids that now they have to crawl around the floor, because they are the machines!

And they respond immediately to this suggestion. Suddenly they are down on the floor, making odd and vaguely mechanical noises. One of my boys, in doing this activity, recently announced he was a “Toy Plow, not a snow plow,” and that his shovel was really good at cleaning the toys. And so it was.

This twist has come in handy for me, but I don’t think you should try it if time is a factor. If your machines resemble the ones in my house, the job gets done, but with lots of time spent making particular noises, breaking down, being repaired, etc.

How to entertain kids -- Clap, stomp, hop

Combine follow the leader and outrageous antics for a fun time

ADDED August 13, 2008

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

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

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- What do you hear?

How to entertain kids with silence

ADDED August 11, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kids Games -- What Will You Bring?

An amazingly simple and amazingly effective way of passing some time

ADDED August 05, 2008

 

This works well with a couple kids, but would also have fine results with just one child.

Have your children wait in one room, such as the living room. You leave the room, but before you do ask the kids, "What will I bring back?" (If you can pull it off, try to add a lot of mystery to your voice, in order to build up the anticipation.)

Then, return with one of your kid's things: a toy, or a book, or even a shoe.

"Wow! Who had any idea that I was going to return with your shoe?"

After everyone has marveled over the object and discussed whether it was very surprising or not, then it is your kid's turn.

"First return the object I brought out to its rightful place, and then surprise me with something. What will you bring back?"

This is one of Today Is Fun's kids games that is great for filling a little bit of time, or for when the kids are waiting at home. It saved the day recently as my boys and I were waiting for Mommy to get ready to go on an outing with us.

We are very interested to know: what will you bring back?

1,2,3 Quiet Game

Quick game to help kids keep themselves quiet

ADDED July 27, 2008

I am not sure who taught my kids this game, but I overheard it from the back of the car, and it is too good not to pass on. Try this game in the car, at dinner, even in a store when your little ones are getting a little too loud.

All I do is say "1,2,3 Quiet Game" and anyone within earshot must be quiet. Once the silence is broken by any noise at all the game is over and there are no winners or losers.  Amazingly, this game has a very calming effect on the noise that a small group of children can generate.

This game is not just a game that adults lead.  I also let the kids police the game: if someone is being too loud, all they need to say is "1,2,3, Quiet Game" and the other kid will quiet down. It works like magic.

The resulting silence, no matter how brief it may be, is nice.

Try it with your kids and let us know how it works!  And don't forget we are always available at info@todayisfun.com!

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.

How Many Fingers Am I Holding Up?

A game for kids that helps little ones learn math concepts

ADDED July 19, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Big Performance

The final act for this weeks activities

ADDED July 17, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

Counting everyday and every way

Daily fun with numbers

ADDED July 14, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

Fishing for fun.

Entertaining activity with rowdy results.

ADDED July 13, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Big Show

Fun behind the couch, or around the corner

ADDED July 09, 2008

Okay, the whole point of this site is to help you entertain the kids -- without being "on" all day.  We want you to get the kids going on an entertaining activity, and then get five or ten minutes to do something else yourself during that time, if you want.

At first, today's idea might sound like it would have the opposite effect.  It might sound as if you are going to be in for a lot of creative and physical effort.  Well, you might be at first.  But really try to let the kids take over.  You'll see what we mean in a minute ...

You're going to do a show for the kids.  (Or, if it helps, think of this as telling them a story and using some of their stuffed animals to help you.)

Find a place to have the kids sit down (it can be on the floor, of course) and a place where you can get out of sight and yet show them the animals.  Behind a sofa works great, or you could even do this just outside a room, hiding yourself a bit around the corner.  

If you find it's a lot of work to come up with a story, don't worry.  First, many stories for kids can be quite simple.  You could tell a story about an animal who lost something very special, who looked here, there and everywhere to find it, and who then did find it!  If you're not in the mental place to invent a story, you can re-tell or read one of the kids' books to them.  Don't kill yourself--try to make it easy for yourself.

We've found this is an amazing way to settle the kids down, especially when they've got a lot of rambunctious energy before bed.  And for those of you who feel guilty occasionally turning on the TV for the kids, notice that this isn't TV!

 

And now the payoff:  once the kids see how fun and funny the show is . . . they'll want to present you with a show of their own!  So get a drink, put your feet up, and enjoy the show. 

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!

Lk, M! N vwls!

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

ADDED July 07, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

Red, White and Blue hunt

Entertaining Game of finding the colors in the American flag.

ADDED June 29, 2008

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

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

 

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

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

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

Albert the Aardvark

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

ADDED June 26, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Have you ever seen a PoodleRex?

Word jumble silliness!

ADDED June 19, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

Morning Muffins

A simple muffin recipe makes any morning fun.

ADDED June 18, 2008

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

Weekend Reading -- What Daddies Do Best

In honor of tomorrow's holiday, some fine reading for kids and Dads

ADDED June 14, 2008

 What Daddies Do Best, by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, is a cute book showing some busy animals (who happen to be Dads and their kids) engaged in a lot of fun, together-time activities.

 

Some examples:

Daddies can teach you how to ride a bicycle.

They can give you a piggyback ride

and take care of you when you're sick.

Daddies can watch the sun set with you

Daddies can read you a bedtime story

and kiss you good-night.

As always, we don't want to give away any of the plot's twists and turns. You'll have to pick up a copy off Amazon or at your local library.

 

But no review of this book would be complete without letting you know that the really nice thing about it is that when you turn the book over, there is another story for you and your kids to read. This additional one is called What Mommies Do Best, and is just as cute, charming, and pro-parent.

 

Have some fun reading this weekend, and Happy Father's Day!

 

 

DON'T Knock Down My Tower

A rowdy, rough-housing, fun and physical game

ADDED June 13, 2008

First, a warning. Most of our ideas are pretty mellow, and nobody will get hurt while trying them. This one is different. Be careful! Somebody could get hurt.

This activity can get a little rough, and it might be a fun one to do with Dad over the weekend.

Okay, now that we've offered that disclaimer, here's the game . . .

Set up a stack of things: dominos, blocks, whatever you have available. It should be a 'tower,' and it should be a foot or so high.

Now you tell the kids, "DON'T knock down my tower!"

If your kids are like mine, they'll immediately see the game here, and they will absolutely want to do just that very thing.

The object is for the adult to try to stop the kids from knocking the tower down.

That's it. The kids do whatever they can to knock the tower down, and you do whatever you can to stop them.

This can be difficult, especially the more children are involved in the activity, and especially if your kids are determined and wily, the way mine are.

Because this game can potentially be rough and can involve some falling down, you'll want to play it somewhere that offers 'soft landings:' on the grass, for instance, or on a nice thick carpet. And it's a better game for older kids than for littler ones.

Have some fun with Dad this weekend. And whatever you do, don't knock down my tower!

 

(See the post right below this one for some great, possibly last minute ideas and suggestions for Father's Day.)

Portable Game Books

Print out these handy games for anytime fun.

ADDED June 04, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Eggs are gone, but the fun has just begun

Make recycling items into toys

ADDED June 02, 2008

 

The other day my beautiful wife was cleaning out the refrigerator and putting away some groceries.  She set aside and empty egg carton for recycling.  Our daughter asked if she could have the carton.

 

“I could paint it and make it into a ride for some of my toys," she said.

 

“Great idea," I said.  And that is exactly what she did.

So that got me thinking about what else we have that can be recycled for fun. With a little cleaning and some tape, paint or stickers, all sorts of things that were heading to the recycling bin but could be put into the fun bin.

So over the next few days, we were playing with empty water bottles in the tub, stacking tin cans left over from a pot of chili and making tunnels for hot wheels from tubes of empty toilet paper rolls. It has been fun to try and see something else in what we would have just thrown away.

We do this all the time!  And now this is not a parent guided activity. My kids are always on the prowl for new things to reuse and play with.

And when the fun is done you can still recycle, of course. We would like to hear what recycled toys you come up with. Be safe and have fun.

Jump, Hop and Skip.

Help make kids tired legs even more tired and stop complaining at the same time with this entertaining idea.

ADDED June 01, 2008

We have been trying to walk places lately. With gas prices being what they are I see both a health and financial benefit.  However little legs sure grow tired when they are asked to walk places. I do imagine if we were to walk to a toy store I would not hear one complaint but three blocks to the market and you would think we were walking uphill both ways.

So what I will do is make the mundane exciting. I will tell my kids, “let’s jump the next five cracks in the cement” and like magic their legs are healed and we are off jumping over the next five cracks. Once we have finished our hopping they will usually ask what is next and from there the game is on and the complaining ends. I will have them hopping, skipping, jumping, running forwards and backwards, they will be worn ragged and looking at the smiles on their faces you would not even know it.

What is great about this game is once it is started it really does not stop till we get to where we are going and usually we are having such a good old time we can not wait to get our shopping taken care of so we can get back to the hopping, skipping, jumping, running forwards and backwards.

This is a great activity for the mall, giant super store parking lot (hand holding required) or even a sporting event (again hand holding required) because you never park near your seats. Let us know where this idea works for you!

Out of the Box

Seriously, get out of the box, kids!

ADDED May 27, 2008

 

 

An unquestionably physical activity, this will hopefully tire the kids out when they've got an excess of energy.  But make no mistake, you've got to be ready to get physical, too.

Play this at the beach, the park, or any large-ish space.

I draw a square in the sand and stand in it.  "No kids allowed in my box!" I say.

Of course, my kids need no further invitation.  They want in!

My job, of course, is to stick to my guns, and keep those little guys out!

They run in, and I lift them out.  And so on.

At the end, I let all the kids into the square (without seeming to be giving up.)  I then stand outside the box and say, "Nobody allowed out of the box!

A lot, a little, or so-so

A simple, entertaining way of finding kids' favorite things

ADDED May 26, 2008

 

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

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

It's that easy.

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

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

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

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

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

Great Gadzooks

Alphabetical word fun.

ADDED May 22, 2008

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

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

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

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

Build a Bridge

Entertain the kids by transforming them into busy bridge builders

ADDED May 12, 2008

First take all the cushions and pillows off the couch. Next gather five stuffed animals. Then have your kids close their eyes and count to ten.  While they are counting place the stuffed animals around the room, these will be the alligators.  When they open their eyes tell them they need to work together and use the pillows and cushions to build a bridge to get across the river (from one side of the room to the other) without touching the alligators or falling off the bridge.

My kids love this game and I like to see them solve problems by working together. It is also fun to see how serious the game can become especially when construction takes place near an alligator.  Their genuine concern for each other is so cute.

If they fall off the cushion or touch a stuffed animal tell them that you have to see them fall or make a rule that if they fall and return to the bridge before you count to ten they are safe.  Whatever you do make it fun.

Try it with a flashlight or have the kids blindfold you and be your guides across the deadly gator infested river.  Be sure to clean up before company comes over, most people are scared of alligators.

Costco Fort

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

ADDED April 23, 2008

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

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

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

Animal Hospital

Exciting Emergency Room style entertainment for kids.

ADDED April 20, 2008

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Big Words

Really, when was the last time you had fun with the dictionary?

ADDED April 18, 2008

A kid's early years are so exciting for everybody involved. Kids like new words and concepts--and their parents like watching all the learning.

One activity we do is to learn a 'big word' every day. Every day, my four year old and I flip through the dictionary, and he puts his finger on one of the words. Some days he wants a word with a specific letter, other days he just chooses randomly.

I tell him the word, and what it means (sometimes I change some of the words so they make better sense to him.)

We've learned the words perplexing, butter churn, landmark, scrub, and gratifying, among others.

(If the word is ever inappropriate or something I've never heard of, I just chose a word nearby, of course.)

Some words he remembers and uses, others are forgotten immediately (I think.) But it doesn't matter. I don't care. He and I aren't prepping for the SAT or for law school. We're just talking, and having fun.

Questions for the kids

Entertain the troops with a little kid interrogation

ADDED April 17, 2008

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

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

On the Road

Entertain your kids anywhere with an invisible racetrack

ADDED April 04, 2008