Hug Fight

A really nice kind of fight

ADDED October 23, 2008

Everybody has heard of pillow fights, water balloon fights, and even the perennial favorite from cafeterias across the land: food fights.  

But have you ever heard of a "hug fight?"

Hug fights are best at night, right before bed.  They are actually very peaceful, gentle, and don't take a lot of effort.  To have a hug fight, all you need to do is call out "Hug Fight!" and everyone in the room hugs the person or people closest to them.  After a few seconds someone else yells "Hug Fight" again, and at this point you need to switch and hug someone else. Keep yelling "Hug Fight" until everyone in the room has been sufficiently hugged.

I like to do this at night as we are putting the kids in bed, because I get a really good tight hug from everybody.  And it's fun to yell at night.

Why not have a hug fight tonight with the ones you love?

Be the Bus Boy (or Bus Girl)

A fun (and vaguely educational) way to keep mealtimes alive!

ADDED January 07, 2009

 

Sometimes kids are antsy at mealtimes.  They're ready to leave the table and return to their toys.  While we admire their passion for playing, we also need everybody to eat some food!  Therefore, we've discovered that cooking up an interesting topic at mealtimes helps little rear ends remain in their seats.

Here's what you do.  It's simple and entertaining:

 

While the kids are starting their meals, parade out various serving dishes.  Put them on the table for your kids to see, and together discuss what each is used for.  (For obvious reasons, please don't use precious heirlooms, such as great-grandmother's fragile collectible china gravy boat.  Such items could meet disastrous ends due to overly enthusiastic toddlers.)

 

Get a bunch of different dishes out.  Talk about sugar bowls, platters, tureens, creamers -- you name it.

What is the difference between a mug and a teacup?  Or a tea pot and a tea kettle?  What is a gravy boat?  (And why is a boat anyway, do you think?)  Do your kids know what a saucer is?  And what exactly is the point of a saucer?  (We think a saucer is used out of tradition, maybe to look nice, and possibly to catch little spills.) 

The goal here is to learn new words and to start a discussion . . . and to keep those kids at the table!

 

You should award yourself some points for variety.  How many different serving vessels can you find tucked away in your kitchen cabinets?

Have some fun with this one.  And look, you're finally getting some use out of all that stuff tucked away in your kitchen cabinets. 

 

--S

 

Photo of Portuguese dishes courtesy of pedrosimoes7.  And the single corningware shot is from studiosmith.

Little Cereal Box Pickup Trucks

A Bonus From Breakfast

ADDED March 03, 2009

 

You know those little cereal boxes that come in packs of eight?  We used to get them for camping trips, but most markets sell them now, and we know some parents buy them for ready-to-go, individual-sized breakfast portions.  (If you don't get them, you might want to, after you see the craft possibilities.)

Here's a previous use we devised for these boxes:  little cereal box puppets.

My beautiful wife came up with this new use for two little cereal boxes:  little cereal box pickup trucks.

Turn the boxes inside out to get some blank canvases, and tape them back into box-shape.  Tape the two boxes together, one upright for the cab, the other horizontal for the rear cargo area.

Cut holes in the cab for windows.  Cut off the top of the one in back, for the cargo area.  Using these extra, cut-off bits, make some wheels and tape them on.

Finally, load the pickup trucks up!  Find small toys to be the drivers.  And, of course, you'll need to find some stuff to haul in the back.

Please obey a 5 mile per hour with these things.  Cardboard doesn't hold up so well in high speed impacts.  Have fun, and keep those kids eating balanced breakfasts!

 

Everything I Can Do

Emphasize abilities. Increase self esteem!

ADDED June 25, 2009

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is something you could do . . .

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

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

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

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

Crazy Letter Sandwich

A tasty, tricky and tremendously entertaining letter activity

ADDED November 14, 2008

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

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

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

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

•  Pickle relish."

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

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

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

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

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

Good luck making those crazy letter sandwiches!  Bon appetit!

Look the moon!

I'm sleepy already.

ADDED November 17, 2008

Here at TIF, we really like the moon, it's big, bright and looks like a big ball.  We shared "First to find the moon" a few weeks back , and today we have another moon activity called "Look the moon."  This activity is best played at night just before bed time; it is a simple activity that even the smallest kids will enjoy so much.   We just know you will be playing every night.
 
First, you need to find a pillow or stuffed animal to play the part of the moon.  Once everybody is in agreement about who or what will be playing the moon, on to the fun. Next make the moon rise in the sky. And when the moon rises everybody puts their head down on a pillow, the floor, or an available shoulder and goes to sleep. Then when the moon lowers on the horizon everybody opens their eyes slowly, stretches and wakes-up.  Then rise the moon and repeat!
 
Try it tonight, remember "when the moon is up heads go down." Good night moon!

 

 

Fun with Flickr

And with funny buildings, too

ADDED November 11, 2008

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Jai Alai (or Scoop Ball)

A DIY Game

ADDED June 05, 2009

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

Clue Countdown

A clue per finger until there are no more left!

ADDED November 13, 2008

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three, two, one.  Fun!