Archive through September 22, 2002
TV ClubHouse: Archives: Activities for children:
Archive through September 22, 2002
Wargod | Monday, September 09, 2002 - 01:27 pm     As most of you know, I have two children..ages almost 4 and 6. My daughter is in school two days a week, and has dance class on Saturdays. My son is in first grade, and in school during the week, though he has long stretches of time (4-6 weeks that he is off track.) They are bored! Since I quit work to stay home with the kids, I have been looking for things to do with them. The first few weeks we spent alot of time wandering the mall....til I realized I was spending too much money, LOL. We also go to the park...but the weather is about to change making that something we won't be able to do much anymore. I take at least one of them once a week to visit the elderly in the retirement home I worked at for so long. During the week, when my son does his homework, I work with my daughter on things like spelling her name, writing it, along with her address, phone number, letters and numbers. We read with both kids, play games, watch movies once a week. We only allow them to watch tv for half an hour a day, so video games and cartoons are limited. I need ideas to keep them busy. Both of them are happy when they have something to do, or know that something is planned. My son will be offtrack (no school) for six weeks starting at Thanksgiving and it will be too cold for outside stuff. I'm looking for arts, crafts (that both of them will be able to participate in,) simple recipes for them to help in the kitchen...even websites for their ages. Both of them started learning in preschool how to use computers...mostly for educational type games. And like their tv/video game time would be limited to 20-30 minutes a day. I've looked for some websites for my son, but they are usually to old or young for him...one I found that would have been good fr his age, wanted too much information on him, so that was a big NO! I look at this time I'm able to be home with them as non stop learning time, lol. From the alphabet to reading, from confidence buiding skills through arts and crafts to simple cooking, from internet saftey to saftey in all they do. This is also a fun time for me...and one in which I'm learning more and more that my little ones are growing up too quickly! I want to make the most of it....for them and me. |
Hillbilly | Monday, September 09, 2002 - 01:36 pm     How about the library, maybe a planetarium, skating, swimming at the YMCA (most have indoor pools) where they can take swim lessons or diving lessons. Is your son old enough to start on model airplanes...I think there are some with non-toxic glues now. Just a few ideas. Sand art, potholder looms are still available...I would take them to the nearest Hobby Lobby or Michael's and see if anything catches their fancy. The big posters with markers you can get now...my gals love those! Paint by number kits, how about getting them a rock tumbler and let them learn about different types of rocks and minerals. Books-a-Million's children's section is also a great place to find things for the kiddies. |
Wargod | Monday, September 09, 2002 - 03:07 pm     Ah, I forgot to mention the library, LOL. Starting next week, my daughter and my neice will be attending story time at the library once a week. I had the kids signed up for swim lessons, but then realized that Saturdays (the only day the kids and I had free when my son wasn't in school) would become so hectic by myself since hubby has to work Saturday mornings. So that was scrapped before it started. The potholder looms would be good for hand eye coordination, I think. Last Chistmas we did beaded key chains...was fun, and everyone we knew got a present from the kids...maybe this year could be potholders. My artsy/craftsy talents lay with painting...ceramics, glass, tshirts...something I found the kids do not do well with! The model might not be a bad idea, and the rock tumbler as well for Caleb. I think he's old enough for a project thats not done in one day, and he's always collecting rocks everywhere we go, LOL! Thanks HB! |
Rissa | Monday, September 09, 2002 - 04:12 pm     Wargod, my girls love those beaded keychain thingies too. My 6 year old loves anything messy, I buy the industrial sized finger paints and cover my kitchen table with ripped open garbage bags and give her free rein with poster paper. She LOVES playing dress-up so for Christmas last year I went to all the used clothing stores and bought... suit jacket, ties, bead necklaces, communion dress, grass skirt, plastic firemen's helmet etc., etc. and keep it in a trunk. It keeps her occupied forever.. she dresses up then play-acts with her dolls, then changes into a different character and starts all over. LOL It's a great place to toss in all those old halloween costumes too. Before she started school I used to try to teach her the alphabet but she is very hard to keep focused for longer then, oh.... 30 seconds. LOL What I did was take a sheet of paper and write out a simple word.. like CAT then gave her playdo and she had to roll it into the letters. I tried using cookie dough once because I thought eating her artwork would keep her motivated but after 30 minutes of playing with it, NO-ONE wanted to eat the results. LOL A store bought game I really loved was the Alphabet Bingo, it's really cheap... maybe 4-5 dollars and since they match letters to what's on the little pieces, they don't have to know the letter's names and kids of different ages/levels can play it together. Once she got to be older she had to name the letter in order to put it on the card. There is a number bingo too. |
Rissa | Monday, September 09, 2002 - 04:19 pm     Oh, I just thought of something else my daughter loves to do. Take a paper plate and let them colour a picture on it, they can glue feathers, beads, glitter, leaves, grass etc. as added decoration. Then cover the plate with saran wrap, tape or glue on the back to hold it really tight. Then take a second paper plate, cut out the center and glue it upside down onto the first one. Let them colour the second plate and then hang it up.. their own little framed picture. LOL |
Car54 | Monday, September 09, 2002 - 04:30 pm     War, are you at all into scrapbooking? Could the kids help you arrange pictures in albums and do theme pages? You could do the cutting and punching but let them do the design? That is a really popular hobby right now, and at their age, you probably have TONS of great pictures...they could make an album for their grandparents, family, etc.. Also, do you have a video camera? Can they make up a play and you film them...make a movie for Dad and the family? |
Wargod | Monday, September 09, 2002 - 04:38 pm     Hope you guys don't mind, but I'll be printing these out so I can have easy access to the ideas. Both of my kids are very active..anything that requires them to sit still too long is bound to be tortoreus for me, LOL. Paper plates are great to color, also paper bags, the big ones and little ones. We did fringed hippy vest out of the big paper bags last year for my daughters 60's birthday party....that was fun! |
Marysafan | Monday, September 09, 2002 - 04:41 pm     Board games are card games are fun and are really good at letting you interact with your children. You can teach them a lot about strategy and sportmanship. I was never one to "let" my children win. When they did win ...they know it was fair and square and did a lot to develope their confidence. We started when the girls were small with Candyland, Old Maid, and HI-HO Cherrio....gradually moving up through Chutes and Ladders, the Memory Game,and Crazy Eights then moving on to Clue, Monopoly, and the Game of Life, leading eventually to Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and this doggone movie game that my youngest daughter takes so much pleasure at beating me at. One of our favorite memories is of the time we all got snowed in for three days and spent a great deal of time playing board games. The interaction between parents and children was a real treasure. There are all kinds of educational games...games to teach numbers, letters, currency, history, geography, etc. The key is to have fun...and if they learn something too...so much the better! Our girls eventually learned to play together without us. I really think it helped them to develop a bond as they were 5 years apart. They had one game called "Guess Who" that they loved so much...eventually they learned how to play it when they didn't have the game with them! A couple of years ago, when they were well into their twenties, they were on an airplane taking a trip together. They started to play a game I had taught them called "Categories" ...their seatmate...a young soldier coming home from overseas was tickled when they asked him if he wanted to play too. It was a real icebreaker! Also, doing jigsaw puzzles helps to develope spatial concepts. You will find that your children will tell you the most amazing things when you spend quiet time with them. |
Wargod | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 11:08 am     Ok, crafty parents, I need quick help, LOL. We're having a birthday party for my daughter tomorrow night. It's a jungle themed party and I'm pretty much set on decs and stuff. But, I wanted to get some binoculars for the goodie bags. I have been every where....wal-mart, Party America, KB toys....I can't find any. Well, thats not quite true, I found some at KB, which were 4 bucks apiece....now I need 18 of them, and at bucks....NO WAY!!!!! Anyways, I know you can make some using empty toliet paper rolls...unfortunately, I didn't plan on doing this, so have no empty toliet paper rolls, let alone 36 of them, LOL. Any suggestions of what I could use instead? Most of the kids will be 5-10 years old. Old enough to work on it without help, I think. I'm going nuts, LOL, whats a jungle safari without binoculars?? |
Tess | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 11:45 am     War, do you have any wrapping paper rolls that are near empty--or in our case, empty that you're saving just cuz? Those can be cut down to the right size and then you just tape pastic wrap over the ends to mimic the glass and then tape the binoculars together. Punch holes in the outside edges on both sides and tie either string or ribbon (just the wrapping kind) and there you go. |
Spygirl | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 11:53 am     I knew Tess would come through for you War! Also, don't forget the paper towel rolls, too. <self-edited this part. I scratched this idea when I saw that you needed 18 sets of binoculars!! LOL> |
Karuuna | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 12:47 pm     War, if you don't have the cardboard rolls, I'd suggest buying a package of small paper cups and cut out the bottoms. Even tho they angle out, they work quite well for impromptu binoculars... don't ask me how I know.  |
Tess | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 01:00 pm     Um, War? You could always go TP those crazy relatives (you know the ones) and then you'd have the empty rolls you need. Should have thought of that idea first. Of course, then you have to run reaaaaaaaally fast! Spy, my idea about wrapping paper rolls is only good if I don't personally have to drive my collection of excess rolls out there by 6am tomorrow--or better yet, whip up and then drive out the 18 pairs of binoculars. Kar, paper cups would be great!  |
Wargod | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 01:21 pm     I went to Michaels.....looked around....didn't see anything I could use. So, I got this bright idea that I'd buy poster board and be supermom....you know, cut pieces out, roll them up, staple/hot glue them into the right shape. Got home, opened my trunk, and realized I'd lost my file locking mind, lol. I don't have time to do that. Then came here....and saw great ideas, especially Tess' of Tp'ing my nutty family....I love that. Anyways, I have a couple gift wrap rolls that are almost empty. Plus, I'm sure after wrapping presents I'll have a few more. If that isn't enough, I'll break out the paper cups, and work with those. Either way, you guys have managed to stop my insanity, lol, and give me some ideas that will have 18 sets of binoculars here tomorrow night. Hey Tess, you will be here by 7pm, right, and have them all done for me??????? |
Tess | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 04:16 pm     War, I'm nearly to the Arizona border. That's not a very big state--should be there in no time!!! Does this mean you're cooking dinner if I'm busy TPing your relatives and taping cardboard rolls together? |
Zed | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 04:17 pm     War, When my godchildren were younger, I made homemade play dough with them...it was easy & fun. Also you can make dough art. This would be a fun project to start in the fall for holiday gift giving. You make objects(santas,wreaths,bells) out of the dough,cook in oven and then paint later to use as tree ornaments. I found a fun site that includes recipes for making the play dough,dough art and lots of other potentially messy projects . Have fun! http://www.recipesource.com/misc/kids/00/rec0057.html |
Hippyt | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 04:44 pm     Hey War! My kids love making homemade bubbles outside,another fun messy time. I have the recipe somewhere if you want. My 5 yr old son is fascinated with Lincoln Logs. We sit and build different stuff for ages! I guess classic toys really are the best. Also,when I want to get out of the house (for FREE),I keep my eyes open for animals to visit. We go feed the ducks at a local duck pond every week. I found some HUGE spiders in a park,my son made me take him 3 times last week! Cows in fields,anything really. Lately we've been playing a lot of Frisbee too. We go to the airport and watch the planes land. LOL,it's amazing what you'll do to entertain a child. Although,I'm usually having just as much fun. They have a Leap pad,but just like yours,they don't sit still long. |
Hippyt | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 05:12 pm     I said Lincoln Logs,I meant Tinker Toys. We build helecopters and ferris wheels with them. |
Car54 | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 05:13 pm     Go to Sams or Price Club. Buy one of those big 36 packs of toilet paper. At the party, take the kids and let THEM TP the relatives, then your party activity is to let them make their own binoculars with the empty rolls after you go back home for cake and punch. See...problem solved... simple! |
Tess | Friday, September 13, 2002 - 06:15 pm     Car, you are a Genius!!! <turns the subaru around and heads back to MN> |
Allietex | Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 01:21 am     Go the the nearest teacher supply store and head for the arts, crafts, and activities department. You will find hundreds of books geared for children of all ages that will give you ideas for all kinds of activities from arts and crafts to cooking to book making (the kind you read, not the kind you gamble with LOL) They also carry just about every craft activity you can imagine. A lot of peopl think teacher supply stores are just for teachers, but they have a world of wonder for parents. |
Hillbilly | Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 07:24 am     NEWSFLASH: Mom turns kids into bookies! |
Wargod | Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 01:20 pm     Hehe, HB. Wonder if the kids would be any good at it, LOL! Then again, as Kota just traded a dollar bill for five pennies, I doubt it. We have decided to do gift bags for family, friends, and teachers for Christmas. Every week, I'll come up with a project for the kids and us to do with them. Maybe beaded keychains, latchhook pot holder, or wooden Christmas ornaments. That will be our project for the week....and then near Christmas, well put the crafts in a bag, and the kids will be able to give gifts that they made themselves.....plus it will keep them busy. Allie, we have a teacher supply store right next door to Michaels, so I'll check that out tomorrow. Today we had story time at the library. It was a bit bumpy, LOL. I forgot that with parent/teacher conferences today my son would be out of school, and would have to go with us. He was bored......need I say more???? On top of that, we got there right on time.....except that I thought it would be held in the children's library section, so we waited for 15 minutes for the story teller and the other children to show up. While my daughter and neice were busy going nuts because story time wasn't starting this polite, nice elderly man came over and told me story time was being held in the conference room...at the back of the library, LOL. So, a screaming 4 year old, an unhappy 3 year old, and a bored 6 year old did not make for the most pleasant first experience with story time, LOL. I'm hoping next week goes better!!!! |
Sia | Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 11:28 am     I haven't read all the posts in this thread yet, but I will do so when I get a chance. I wanted to toss this in: try yoga for children; it's wonderful. |
Sia | Sunday, September 22, 2002 - 01:01 pm     Here are a few kids' or kid-friendly web-sites, some of which I learned of through TVCH: http://kids.msn.com/kidz/artsactivities.asp http://members.tripod.com/may_lin/fireworks.html http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Rhymes.html http://www.sea-monkeys.com/home.html http://www.boardmanweb.com/party/barbie.htm http://www.barbie.com/Activities/Games http://fekids.com/kln/ http://www.permadi.com/java/spaint/spaint.html http://zone.msn.com/hub_kids.asp http://pbskids.org/ Hope you find something you like. |
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