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childhood-unplugged-related stories
Tea Parties Are an Inexpensive Birthday Hit
I hadn't.
When the kids in her class started having "friend" parties, my daughter started getting invited to places like the roller rink, Chuck E. Cheese, and the bowling alley. But I discovered after that phone call that not only am I unable to pay $200-$300 dollars for one of my kids' birthday parties, I'm also unwilling to.
How can I make an at-home party fun and affordable at the same time? I thought to myself. Then I looked at my soon to be six-year-old and the answer hit me: Throw a tea party. She was instantly on board.
Inauguration Day - How to Celebrate With Your Kids
But our enthusiasm last November was contagious, and she pulled herself away from her Barbies long enough to join in on the fun. "Go Obama!" she'd say, when she saw him on TV. And my five-year-old very deliberately checked the box next to his name during her school's mock election. "His last name starts with an O, right Mom?" she asked me. When he won that mock election, cheers rocked her kindergarten room.
Even though their view of the world is still very limited to family, neighborhood, and community, small children seem to get that the election of Barack Obama as President is important in some big way. Older kids, of course, have a much broader world view and are capable of understanding the significance of last November's election.
So whether you're keeping your kids home to watch next Tuesday's historical inauguration, or you're DVRing it to watch as a family that night, here are some ideas for holding your very own family inauguration celebration, right in the comfort of your living room.
Kid-Friendly Charities to Encourage Your Children to Give
Money & Work, Fun & Activities
She mulled over those first five bills for quite a while. Then (making me both proud and a more than a little sheepish) she put $2 in the save can, $2 in her bank, and a dollar in her purse. She's continued dividing her allowance this way every week since.
Now granted, she doesn't need much spending money. But still, giving 40% of your income to charity? I think that deserves a pat on the back.
She's saved up enough money that we're now looking into ways to share it with others, and I thought I'd share what we've found with you.
New Year's Eve Customs From Around the World
This year, for the first time, our girls seem like they might be old enough to stay up with us without putting everyone in danger of a major meltdown. Because it won't be just the grown-ups chinking champagne glasses at midnight, I've been looking around for some fun things for the kids to do to celebrate the New Year. I found some inspiration in New Year's customs from around the world. If you and your kids are staying in tonight, maybe you'll need a little inspiration too.
Five Ways to Make This Christmas More Memorable
For children, Christmas is all about Santa and toys, toys, toys, but whether they realize it or not, it's also about family togetherness. Make this Christmas especially memorable with one of these five holiday activities.
Snow Play for a Snow Day
Many parents dread snow days, with good reason. Maybe they'll have to scramble to find alternate childcare on short notice, or maybe they had plans to get some work done and now they have a houseful of excited children eating away at their nerves.
When it comes to snow days, adopting an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude can turn the dreaded snow day into one of family fun. Who knows? Maybe next time it'll be you eagerly watching the morning news, hoping for a day off. Here are 10 ideas for turning your snow day into a play day.
Build a Gingerbread House This Weekend
Historically, it's not clear how the gingerbread house became a Christmas tradition. Crusaders brought ginger back to Europe, and originally it was a treat only for those who could afford it. But as travel and exploring became more widespread, soon everyone could afford this tasty spice. Hansel and Gretel may have popularized the idea of building a candy house.
However the gingerbread house came to be, it's now a tasty tradition that many families participate in during the holiday season. Here are some DIY houses that you can create yourself at home.
Toys for Family Togetherness
Fun & Activities, Holidays, That's Entertainment
Toys for Family Togetherness
Here's a riddle: What's the best gift you can give your children this holiday season that can't be wrapped up or put under the tree? The answer is ... your time. It's tempting to spend, spend, spend this holiday season to make them smile on Christmas morning. But when they look back, they'll never remember the latest must-have toy. What they'll remember is the memories you made together. Here are some holiday gift ideas that encourage family togetherness.
SXC
Cranium's Fun Folio: Cranium's Fun Folio screams family fun. Inside, you'll find several zany family activities that will get everyone laughing. Make family trading cards, write a silly story, or come up with your own play. Your kids will be pulling this one out again and again ... and so will you!
amazon.com
Card games: Got five minutes to fill? Try Slap Jack or Old Maid. Card games are a low-cost way to have fun together. Little ones can join the fun with a helpful card holder like this one.
toyscamp.com
Crafts: What better way to spend a rainy Saturday than creating? This big barrel of crafts has everything you and your younger need to invent all afternoon. Best of all, clean up means just throwing all back in when you're done!
highlights.com
Captain Clueless: Go sailing with Captain Clueless and find a treasure trove of fun. Designed for four to eight people, blindfolded players try to help Captain Clueless across the map with only the verbal clues of their teammates.
amazon.com
Blongo Ball: Blongo Ball is Lawn Jarts, without the trips to the ER. Safe and easy for younger children, but competitive enough for older kids and adults, Blongo Ball is sure to keep the whole family playing and laughing together.
fatbraintoys.com
Illustory: The inventive toy lets kids write and illustrate their own story, which is then turned into a hardcover keepsake book. Have Grandma or Grandpa share one of their favorite memories for your kiddo to illustrate, or retell one of your family's favorite or funniest stories.
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Yackle ball: Give Dad a Yackle ball for Christmas, and never beg him to play catch again. Yackle ball makes catching easier and can fly farther than a football.
fatbraintoys.com
Models: Models, like this trebuchet, are a great way for parents to spend quiet time with an older child. The best part of these functional type of models is that when you're finished, you can try them out together too.
fatbraintoys.com
Hyperdash: Hyperdash keeps kids on the move, inside or out. It's also a great way to bring Dad -- who thinks he's faster than anybody -- down a notch or two. My five-year-old gets better times than her dad, which brings her endless amounts of pleasure.
amazon.com
The Great Thanksgiving Staycation - Five Family Outings
Sometimes, family time means sitting together working on a project. And sometimes it means getting out and trying something new. If you're hanging around home this Thanksgiving, here are five free or low-cost outings to enjoy together:
Be Thankful for Thanksgiving Crafts That Keep Kids Out of the Kitchen
But even if they can't help carve the turkey, kids still want to be a part of the Thanksgiving celebration. Since you really don't have time to decorate anyway, why not put them to the task of putting a little color on and around your table this year? Set up a craft before company arrives, and invite all of your young guests to take part.
Here are some suggestions that are sure to keep little hands safely busy while you get your feast on the table:
Don't know much about history? That's about to change
It's triggered a new interest in royalty in our house. But instead of playing princess, my daughter now wants to know how that princess lived. She's curious about the structure of castles, how they were built, who lived in them, what life was like then. (She was particularly disgusted when I explained the concept of a chamber pot.) Best of all, there's no mention of a handsome prince that sweeps in to save the day.
15 TV-free activities for a rainy day
It's really tempting on a lazy, rainy day like this one to just put in a movie and plug the kids into the TV. And while I'll admit that we did do that for a little while, after one movie we turned it off. Without cartoons blasting, my kids rediscovered their toys, invented their own games, and generally did what kids are supposed to do ... play.
Since November isn't known for it's beautiful weather, here are 15 TV-free activities for when you're stuck inside this fall:
Take a hike
Hiking doesn't have to mean rugged backwoods or deep wilderness. Many communities have trails running right through town, so families can choose the terrain that suits them. A paved trail is obviously important if you're pushing a stroller, while older kids might like the challenge of a geocaching -- a hiking scavenger hunt.
Jack-o-lanterns - Think outside the pumpkin
The great thing about carving a pumpkin is that it's a family friendly activity that all ages can get in on. Even an older baby can sit and scoop out some goo, provided you give her some supervision. And a really cool, intricate design might encourage an otherwise busy teen to join in the fun. Plus, pumpkins are relatively inexpensive, so -- if need be -- everyone can have their own.
Continue reading for some tips on how to pick your pumpkin, plus some really great templates for inspiration.
The ultimate Halloween party
Before you start thinking, A Halloween party? Now I have to entertain in addition to making costumes, baking cupcakes, and buying candy?, consider this. A Halloween party is a great way to enjoy time as a family, spend time with busy friends, or avoid going door-to-door, if trick-or-treating just isn't your thing.
