Explaining America's holiday to young kids

ADDED June 29, 2009

The Fourth of July (coming to a town near you this Saturday) is a very special holiday -- and frankly, it's one of our favorites.  The United States is a great place, and we should all be grateful to live here.  And we should all celebrate America!

It's tricky to explain Fourth of July to young kids -- those who haven't yet reached the second or third grades.  But as always, we have some ideas.  Here's how we explain the significance of the Fourth of July to young children:

First, we say that the Fourth is the day, back in olden days, that America became its own country.

(We use "olden days" to convey any event in the distant past.  To a kid, this is pretty much anything that occurred before they were born.  We don't think young children can really distinguish between thirty years before they were born and three hundred years.  To them, it's all just long ago, or -- if you will -- "olden days.")

So, in olden days, America was owned by England.  The boss of England was King George the Third.  Because England owned America, King George the Third was also the boss of America.

King George and his helpers in England did not treat America well.  They wanted to take as much money as they could from the people in America, so they could spend that money themselves.

(I have a little activity to help the kids understood how the American colonists might have felt in the face of Britain's excessive taxation.  I give them five pennies -- usually I try to give them very shiny pennies, I think it helps.  I say, "These are your pennies.  Can you count them?"  When they're done, I say, "Okay, the King of England told me to take some of your pennies for him."  And then I take two away.  The first time I did that, my son was clearly unhappy and disappointed. He said, "Give those back!")

The people living in America did not like that King George and his helpers took their money.  The Americans also wanted to be in control of their own rules, instead of having England make them up.  So on July 4, 1776, a group of American leaders agreed that America should be its own country from then on.

That's why the Fourth of July is America's birthday.  That is why it's such a special day: because in olden days, the Fourth of July was the day Americans decided to be their own, separate country.

The story continues:

King George still wanted America to do what he commanded.  He sent a lot of his helpers over to America in boats.  These helpers were soldiers, and they were called the Red Coats because they wore . . . red coats.   The soldiers tried to make the American people do whatever King George the Third wanted them to do.  The Americans certainly didn't like this, and they fought the soldiers.

The Americans were very brave, because King George and the Red Coats were very powerful.  Many people did not think that the Americans could win against the Red Coats.

After a really long time -- six years, longer than many kids have been alive -- and with the help of some soldiers from France, the American people won.  They got to have their own country!

Of course, the King George the Third and the people from England were not happy about losing.  But . . . that was a long time ago, and now the United States and England are very, very good friends.  

We hope this version of America's beginning will make sense to your kids, and that it will give them an impression of why the Fourth of July is an important, special day.  Will this story make sense to your little ones?  

We might write a book about explaining history to very young kids, with pages like this.  What do you think?  Should we do it?

A series of helpful and informative learn-about-the-world books

ADDED June 27, 2009

 

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

ADDED June 26, 2009

Emphasize abilities. Increase self esteem!

ADDED June 25, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is something you could do . . .

A fun game for beginning spellers

ADDED June 24, 2009

This is an easy activity to do with kids who are beginning to figure out how to spell words.  And here's a nice bonus for you:  parents can conduct this one easily while sitting down!

So get comfortable and demand that the kids bring you the alphabet.

Here's how you do it:  Say to your child, "Bring me the alphabet!  Bring me something that starts with the letter 'A.'"  Your child should then run off to find an object that will fulfill your demand.

For the letter 'A,' acceptable items to bring you would include:  an apple, an art book, and a toy alligator.  (An actual alligator, while starting with the correct letter, should not be handled by your kids, please!)

For 'B,' your kid can bring a ball, a block, or a toy bear.  (A toy bear.  Again, wild animals can be dangerous.)

Continue on in this vein until your child has amassed enough things to represent each letter in the alphabet.  (You might have to get inventive with some of the letters.  For 'X,' for instance, your kid could cross two Tinker Toys into an X.)

And did we happen to mention that you can pretty much be sitting down and relaxing for this activity?  Don't feel guilty about this --  don't you deserve it?  You work plenty hard . . . and your kids are having fun spelling and playing with the alphabet.  Fair is fair.  And fun!

(Many thanks to tomeppy for this perfect, toy-rummaging photo!)

A smorgasbord of coloring fun

ADDED June 23, 2009

A conversation starter with the kids -- perfect for waiting or stuck in traffic

ADDED June 21, 2009

Length: Ten minutes or so

Parental Involvement: Explain some of the high points of a five dollar bill

Kids Should Be Able to:  Old enough to understand some American history and government, enough attention span to study American currency

Treat him like a king.

ADDED June 19, 2009

1) Baked goods.  There is an old saying that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and as a guy, I will testify that this statement is true. Those organs are definitely conjoined.

So for Father's Day, make his favorite cookie or pie.  Homemade treats always taste best because of all the love that gets put in them.  Also, if you are making me cookies, chocolate chip and snickerdoodle are my favorites. (For pies I am an equal opportunity eater, but I have been seeing some nice peaches lately.)

2) Matched with the Mentor.  When you are a kid, it is fun to match clothes with your best friend.  For Father's Day, help the kids find outfits that matches Dad's clothes.  (A bit goofy, perhaps, but also kind of funny.  And celebratory!)

3) Complimentary Compliments.  Have the kids say ten nice, different things to their Dad through out the day.  "Corny" is okay.  "Forced" is not.
         
4) Chore Helpers.  This weekend, have the kids accompany their father as he does his chores.  The kids don't have to actually do the chores, but they should just keep the man of the house company.  If they can express some appreciation for his doing these chores, all the better. 

5) King of the Castle.  The kids should ask Dad frequently if they can get him a drink or snack.  Usually he'll say no, but he's guaranteed to be pleased -- and amused -- by the offer.

6) Plate Plus. Tape a complimentary note to the bottom of his dinner plate.  When dinner's over, tell Dad to flip over his plate for a special surprise.  (But re-assure him that the note is not in lieu of an actual dessert.  See item #1 on this list!)

7)  Five Star Bedtime.  If the kids are familiar with this concept, have them do "turn down" service with the covers on his bed. (And in finer hotels, might I remind you, that service includes a chocolate treat on his pillow.)

8)  Gratitude.  Everybody in the house should remember to thank their Dad for being a great Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

Thanks to cheeserocfor the photo!

An unexpected but nice thing to do

ADDED June 18, 2009

We admit it:  we're all about the biggest result for the least effort and expenditure.    Here's a super easy to way to celebrate Dad this weekend, and one that is sure to be appreciated:  dress up for him!

If the Dad in your house has mentioned having some favorite clothes on the kids, have them wear those this Father's Day.  The same goes for you:  wear clothes that he's admired you in before.

Of course, there's no reason to go overboard and get too fancy.  At the same time, Dads aren't known for noticing subtleties.  If you choose to go this route, makes sure you and the kids are dressed noticeably differently than usual.  We don't want your efforts to be accidentally overlooked!

And here's one more suggestion:  have your family wear clothes representing his favorite sports team.  This is the type of clothing choice that is sure to get a reaction!  Won't he be surprised to see his loved ones all decked out and sporting clothes honoring his favorite sports team?  Lakers any one?

We'll have some more quick Father's Day ideas for you tomorrow.  (They're simple and fun, so they'll help you out if you're getting around to this holiday in a last minute fashion.)

Up with Dad!

Every family should have one!

ADDED June 17, 2009

For better or worse, kids innately love secrets. Well, at my house we have created a secret "family handshake."  (In olden times, secret handshakes were used to identify members of exclusive groups, but we just have fun with it.)

Our family's handshake changes quite often -- so much that sometimes I am not quite sure that I am still a member of the family. 

Now, I am not going to give away our secret family handshake here (unless you are family -- then send me an email.)  But here are a few hand moves you can combine to make up your very own secret family handshake:

First, start with a "normal" palm-to-palm handshake.  Like this.

After that, you can do a thumb-to-thumb shake.  Like this.

And then, on to a knuckle-to-palm shake. Like this.

Followed by a fist bump.  Like this.

Practice until you can repeat a pattern, then try adding some of these more advanced handshakes to increase the fun and secretiveness.

Try the Lion's Paw.  Making your hand into a claw, grab onto each other's wrists. It looks like this. 

Or the Floating Spider is a good one to try.

Or the Smooth Shake.

Even the classic high five to low five. (A two parter.)  Can be incorporated into you Family Handshake.

This activity is something that you and your kids can do just about anywhere, and it does signify that you are part of an exclusive group: your family. 

Have fun, and extra points will be awarded to anyone who emails us a photo or video of their family shake in action!

Fun in your own yard

ADDED June 16, 2009

Length: Twenty minutes or so

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

Kids Should Be Able to:  Collect snails without hurting them

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

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

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

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

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

Have fun with this one!

Ring, Ring,Ring

ADDED June 15, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks to marcusramberg for the photo

When your kids need some motivation to clean up a big mess, little lines will do the trick!

ADDED June 12, 2009

Length: As long as it takes to clean the house up!

Parental Involvement: Supervising and encouraging the clean-up.  And a little drawing.

Kids Should Be Able to:  Follow through, clean up the mess the made. 

 

Being a parent is definitely the best experience I've ever had.  My kids are constantly challenging and amazing me.  And one way they both challenge and amaze me is with their ability to make giant messes.

"How did all these toys get out?  In such little time?"

"Has any room in this house been spared the toy tornado?"

"Your mom put me in charge of clean-up time.  And you guys got more toys out just now?"

Yes, children are truly amazing.

What's more, if you ask young kids to pick up a large mess, they get easily overwhelmed and/or distracted.  You'll find yourself demanding and pleading that they continue picking up.  And sometimes you'll just give in, and pick up the mess yourself.

Well, we've got a suggestion that might help:  our Little Lines Clean Sketch.

When your house is so messy that it's in danger of being declared a federal disaster area, get out some paper and crayons.  Tell your kids that for each item you see them put away, you will draw one little line on the paper.  When everything's all clean, they'll get to see what drawing all the little lines have made.  So, one object picked up, one line made on the paper.  It's simple.

And what can you draw with lots of little lines?  Well, pretty much anything.  In our house, we've drawn a face, or the first letter of our son's name.  You could also draw a house, a tree, a maniacal monster from outer space -- anything.

You're saying, "But wait!  Shouldn't my kids clean up because they know it's the right thing to do?"  Or, "Shouldn't my kids clean up simply because I've told them to?"  Our answer is:  well, yes.  Yes, they should clean up because it's the right thing to do, or because you told them.

We also think that you all should earn much more money, be given many more compliments, and be the toast of the town.  Oh, and we think that we should get those niceties also.  But in reality, that's not always the case.  You've got to be practical, and do what works.

The Little Lines Clean Sketch does indeed work!  I've got the sort of spotless, kind of well organized house to prove it!  So next time the kids have left your house looking sloppy, get out the pens and paper!

What do you think?  What kind of results did you get with this?  Please let us know!

We were thinking about celebrating some Dads

ADDED June 12, 2009

Last year at this time, we offered some simple and creative ideas for celebrating Father's Day.  Looking back on those ideas now, they still hold up!

Check it out here!

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

ADDED June 11, 2009

Length: Ongoing

Parental Involvement: Explanation of the concepts, tickling

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We were surveying each and every family member

ADDED June 11, 2009

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

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

It's fun, it's art, and it's something you and your kids can admire each and every day

ADDED June 10, 2009

 

Length: A couple of hours

Parental Involvement: Supervision and assistance with art materials.  Driving the kids' work to Kinkos to be laminated.

Kids Should Be Able to:  Make art (draw, cut pictures a bit, etc.)  

Honestly, people, this just might be the most expensive activity we'veever suggested here on Today Is Fun.  Before you get all riled up andstart throwing things, hear us out.  This activity might just cost fouror five dollars.

You'll need some old magazines for the kids tosnip up.  Or, if you don't have those handy, you could have the kidsdraw with markers or crayons.

Take two blank pieces of paper and tape them together, side by side. You'll now have a nice canvas for your kid that is 11 x 17.  (You canput a lot of tape on the back side, because your kids won't really beaffecting that side.)

OR,instead of two pieces of paper, you could use a brown paper grocery bag(or wrapping paper, if you save that from gifts.)  Either way, it's anopportunity to recycle paper here.

Have the kids find picturesthey like in magazines and then glue them to the "canvas."  Have themdraw pictures with crayons, or they could affix stickers.

When we did this activity with our kids, we supplied them with some old National Geographicmagazines, and they created place mats for themselves that featuredvarious dangerous animals.  The collage work took them most of anafternoon, and our two boys were very proud of the finished product.

Insteadof magazine pictures, you could also use family photos.  (Such as yourchild with your family pet.)  In case you haven't noticed, there are alot of options here and a lot of room for creativity.

When theart is done, and your kids have signed off on the beauty, the placemats are ready to take to finish.  Drive the place mats to your localFed Ex Kinko's Office (or whatever those places are called) and havethem laminated.  It doesn't take long, and it doesn't cost much atall.  And your kids get to enjoy their masterpieces at each familymeal!  Everybody wins!

We'd be delighted to see your kids' place mat art.  If it's not too much trouble, please email us a photo.  We will post everyone's efforts on our Facebook page.

We were throwing toys. And vegetables.

ADDED June 10, 2009

Yes, we were throwing kids' stuff around.  But don't worry, it was a fun activity, and it wasn't as destructive as it sounds . . .

Read the whole post here.

Outside and summer fun. It's messy -- and washes right off!

ADDED June 09, 2009

Length: Fun in the backyard that could last 15 minutes . . . . or hours!

Parental Involvement: "Light" backyard supervision, wash hands off before kids come back in the house

Kids Should Be Able to:  No special requirements, really.

For this activity, you'll need some chalk and some water.  It's perfect outdoor fun for Summer afternoons.

Have the kids scribble on the driveway or sidewalk with the chalk.  They don't need intricate or detailed drawings -- really, the point is to get some color on the ground.

Next, pour some water onto the ground where the chalk is, creating sort of a colored chalk paste.

(To tailor this activity for boys -- which we have here in my house -- call it "chalk slime."  For girls, "chalk paint" would probably be a good term.)

Once you've got the chalk slime or paint going, it's time to really unleash your young artists.  Have them make hand prints and foot prints.  And tell them to do some finger painting.  Or, dip paintbrushes into the chalk slime and paint with it.

My kids tried to make 'color rivers' -- that is, making streaks of color by pouring small amounts of water onto the chalk areas.  They were quite pleased with the results.

This chalk paste is also okay (at least in my house) for painting on skin.  My kids made hand prints on their legs (and on mine.)  This was okay with me, because the color washes off easily.

And it quickly washes off the ground, too, if that's something you'd like.  Just a little squirt from the house, and the "canvas" will back to blank again.

It's fun, it's colorful, it's outside -- and it washes right off.  If only everything kids did had all those qualities!

Have fun with your Summer-time Picassos.  (And if you're interested, here is an approved bunch of chalk we recommend for this and other activities.)

A fun and easy way to get the sillies out!

ADDED June 08, 2009

Length: About 10 minutes

Parental Involvement: Explain the rules, press "pause" on the CD player

Kids Should Be Able to:  Shake it like they just don't care. (Seriously, no special requirement for this one.)

 

Here's what you need for this activity:  a CD with music and a stereo with a pause button.  If you're in possession of those items, you're set for this one, and you're ready to get some energy out of the kids.

(We've noticed -- as you may have -- that sometimes kids have a lot of energy.  And sometimes those same kids have more energy than their parents have.  It's as if they have secret access to Starbucksventi ultra-cappuccino lattes or something.  This extra amount of kid energy can cause challenges for dinnertime, bedtime, and other parts of your day.  So we like activities that help kids expel some of their energy.  This one works very well about half an hour before dinnertime, we've found...)

Explain the simple concept to your kids:  when the music is playing, all kids have to move their bodies as much as possible.  We're talking dancing, running in place, somersaults, and the like.  We're also talking arms failing, legs kicking, and fists pumping.  The more movement, the better.  Being silly is encouraged, too, because it adds to the fun and will release even more liveliness.

Of course, even energetic children can't keep up the craziness for many minutes on end.  They need a break or two.  So push pause on your CD player, and keep the music off for fifteen or twenty seconds.  Ideally, this will enhance the kids' interest and fun, and they'll be eagerly anticipating the next burst of music and moving.

Keep going until the kids are tuckered out.  Then follow up with a "wind-down" activity like reading a book together.

This activity is simple, fun, and effective!  Parents and kids win!  What more do you want?

(In case you're interested, here are two of our favorite kids' CDs.  We're very picky about kids' music.  A lot of children's music, we think, is too juvenile and too light on 'good music.'  We like these twoCD's because they sound good, they're creative, and because kids seems to respond well to them:  They Might Be Giants Here Come the ABCs and Peter Himmelman's My Green Kite.  Please let us know any of your favorite kids' CDs, too, because we are always looking to expand our collection.  But we're picky!)

A DIY Game

ADDED June 05, 2009

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Stuff to Save a Summer Day

ADDED June 04, 2009

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

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

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

Second, using one of the smaller strips of fabric, tie a scarf on your doll's head.

 

 

Third, using another small strip of fabric, tie a scarf around your doll's neck.

Next, tie a small strip of fabric onto two strips of the fabric to form your doll's feet.

 

Draw a face.

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!

Make your own fun!

ADDED June 02, 2009

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!

A DIY Craft and Toy

ADDED June 01, 2009

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

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