List/Grid Author Archives: MomAndKiddo
Five Fun Thinking Games For Kids
Ever been waiting in line or driving in the car with kids who cannot keep still or stop whining? Need some new thinking games and boredom busters other than “20 Questions” and “I Spy With My Little Eye…”? I thought so. It’s easy to pull out the iPhone or Game Boy to keep your kids busy, but much more rewarding to engage with your kids. Next time you are waiting to pay for groceries, on…
Five Fun Farmers’ Market Activities For Kids
I have fond memories of going to the Farmers’ Market as a kid. Every week during the growing season my mom would take my brother and me to the market to fill our bags with fresh, delicious produce. These days I am dragging my own kids to the Farmers’ Market, hoping that my love of fresh, in-season produce will rub off on them. Overtime I’ve realized that our weekly trips are more rewarding if I…
Five Fun And Messy Art Projects For Active Kids
Too often we think of art projects as something kids can do only while sitting quietly. Fortunately, for those of us with squirmy, active kids, that’s not true! Summer is the perfect time to get your active and creative kids outside to make some messy art projects. Here are five fun art activities to get you started. Splatter Painting. Encourage your little Jackson Pollocks to create a giant masterpiece. Spread out a large piece of…
Giving Up Television
Since confessing to friends and family that I put the television away in a dark closet the responses have followed a predictable pattern: “You are brave.” “My spouse/kids would never let me!” “I couldn’t do that. I need the break.” “How do you keep them busy?” “What about movies?” “But I’d miss [insert favorite TV show here].” “My kids only watch [insert number of hours or minutes here] a day.” There is also the whispered…
Benefits Of Audio Books For Children
School is out and kids are working through their summer reading lists. My six year old always has his nose in a book, but this summer I checked out a number of audio books for him from the library, including books that he has already read. While this may seem a counter-intuitive step for such a voracious reader, there are many benefits for kids who listen to audio books: Increases the Understanding of Emotional Expression….
Stay Cool This Summer With Five Easy Ice Activities For Kids
It’s summer. It’s hot. It’s tempting to stay inside with the air conditioner on full blast. But parents know it’s not fun to stay cooped up inside with active children. Instead, stay cool outside by playing with ice.* Here are a few easy ways to get started: Simply. A bucket filled with ice cubes is sure to spark some free play. For extra interest freeze water in containers of varying shapes and sizes. Paper cups…
Brother-Teacher, Mother-Learner
I confess that I sometimes fall in to the trap of scolding my kids. And by scolding, I mean lecturing, rebuking, admonishing, and teaching without love in your voice. I really hate it. It is a completely ineffective parenting tool but when my frustration level is low I hear the words coming out of my mouth before I can stop them. I’m trying to learn ways of dealing with difficult moments (and with two small…
Five Easy Sensory Activities For Kids
Many kids will happily play in a mud puddle, squishing the ooey gooey goodness between their fingers and toes, but many kids, including my oldest son, have trouble with tactile sensitivity. Getting kids with tactile defensiveness to get their hands dirty can be a challenge, but there are many ways to encourage sensory exploration. Even kids who enjoy getting messy can benefit from sensory exploration activities. In addition, parents should join in these activities with…
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