Bath Time with Achilles (and an Animal)

Fun little tricks to get recalcitrant kids into the bath

ADDED May 28, 2010

 

Balloon Bounce

Simple fun with what you have on hand

ADDED September 09, 2009

If you have a balloon and string, then you have the necessary materials for a fun game that can be enjoyed by children of all ages, inside or out, standing or sitting.

Here is what you do:  Tie the piece of string between two chairs inside or in the backyard. One person stands or sits on one side of the string while the other person does the same directly across from them.  Then see how many times you can gently bop the balloon back and forth without it hitting the ground. 

To keep the game going, change positions after a good bit of bopping.  For instance, if you've done well while both sitting, have one person stand.  Then try both people standing.  You could even try the bop-back-and-forth while lying on the floor!

This is a great game for kids learning how to count and good exercise.  It'll work for elementary school kids, but younger kids especially get a kick out of this one.

That is it: simple, free, fun with what you have on hand -- the best kind!

 

thanks to gorbould for the inspirational photo!

Hide the fun

And guess away the day!

ADDED September 08, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grab three cups and a small toy.  Give them to your kids . . . and you have the makings of a whole bunch of entertainment.

We have all seen the cup and balls magic trick.   You know: the magician puts a ball under one of three cups, the audience tries to follow which cup the ball is under and never can (because it is magic).

Today we are not going to teach any magic -- we really don't know any -- but what we do know is how to entertain kids.  So set up the cups, hide the small toy, mix up the cups and let them guess where the toy is.

This activity is especially "magical" for younger kids (three and under), who will ask for many repetitions.  They can also exercise some coordination and motor control by trying to trick you with the ball and cups.  (Please, no wagering, people.)

Hidden fun is just a guess away. Have fun!

What I Feel Lucky About

Help your child list things to be grateful for

ADDED November 27, 2008

It's no easy task to explain gratitude to small children.  Some people point out to kids that not everybody has similar nice stuff:  a nice house, nice parents, nice toys, etc.  We're not sure how effective this is, though we certainly respect the attempt.

For small kids, we suggest talking about feeling lucky.  I feel lucky, for instance, to have such a lovely spouse and great kids.

It's very common around this time of year to ask kids, "What are you thankful for?"  We think that question might be too vague, and it might elicit a response such as, "Um, I don't know."

To talk about gratitude with your kids, give them some easy prompts.  (In fact, this could be a car game, too, as you go over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house.)

Try asking with "what is something about _______ that makes you feel lucky?"  For instance, what is something about your friends that makes you feel lucky?

Here are some "lucky" topics to discuss with your little ones, to fill in the blank in our suggested question.

(1)  Their friends, family, and pets
(2)  Things that they play outside
(3)  Things that they play inside
(4)  Things at their school
(5)  Toys or books

Why do this with your kids?  Well, not to fish for compliments or gratitude.  We're sure your kids appreciate you, and if they mention it, great.  If they don't, that's okay, too.

One reason to do this is because grateful people are happy people, and it's never too early to start teaching that tip.  When you feel lucky about something, you are happy, right?  We all have so much to feel lucky about, and to be grateful for, both kids and adults, so why not lead our lives feeling that way?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Secret Holiday Gourd

Toy and decoration all in one

ADDED November 19, 2008

Most houses around Thanksgiving have those little holiday gourds for decoration. They are festive, but really serve no purpose beyond that.  But we have figured out a way to make them festive and fun all at the same time.

Thanksgiving leaf sculpture

Holiday beauty for all to behold.

ADDED November 18, 2008

 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than have your little ones make a cool Thanksgiving leaf sculpture?  Nothing says thankfulness like leaves.

First go out and collect some really big leaves.  We used magnolia leaves because of their leathery texture, but really any leaves will work.  Just make sure they are not to brittle and still have their stems.  Next, have your kids lay two or three leaves out in an interesting pattern, making sure the stem and leaves overlap a little bit. Then mark where the stems overlap (you can use a pencil or just eyeball it) and make a tiny cut in the leaf. Once the cut is made, insert the stem into the leaf to connect one leaf to another.  Continue inserting the stems into the leaves until your child's masterpiece is complete.

Have fun and send us photos of your sculpture and we will post them for all to admire.

 

 

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!

 

 

The Scariest Thing in the Whole House!

Get those young minds working (and teach them that there isn't really anything to be scared of)

ADDED October 29, 2008

Sit your kids down on the couch and tell them that, in honor of Halloween, you are going to show them the scariest thing in the whole house!

Return with a small object, anything in the house.  (Maybe use a paper napkin to hide the object and build the suspense.)  Make sure it is as not-scary as can be.  One of the kids' teddy bears or girl dolls would work perfectly.  Present the item with a dramatic flourish and say, "Oh my goodness!  The scariest thing in the whole house!"

Your kids are sure to look at you like you've truly lost your mind.  Good.  That's the point.  

Now try to convince them how scary the thing you're holding actually is.  Try something like this:  "Oh, it is scary!  Look how curly its hair is!  And do you see that cute little pink bow?  Scary!!!"

Of course your kids will think you're loony, but they'll also get the joke here.  Really, the thing is not scary at all!  Duh!

Now it's a kid's turn to go off and return with something completely scary (but actually not).  They should reveal the item and try to convince you that it is in fact quite frightening.

Keep taking turns and trying to scare each other with completely not scary items.

And if you want, this would be a fine time to show your slightly nervous kids that there is nothing scary in the house!  Sometimes around Halloween, movies try to make things seem scary.  But really, nothing in your house is.

(But whatever you do: don't look in the drain in the downstairs bathtub, please.  For some reason, we haven't got around to cleaning it for almost a year.  It really, really is frightful.  But other than that, nothing in our house is scary!)

Measure the stick

A fun scavenger hunt for your next walk.

ADDED October 21, 2008

It has been quite windy at my house lately, and that has caused a lot of leaves and debris to fall.  (This might be the reason that this time of year was originally named "Fall.")  So my kids and I made up this fun game called "Measure the Stick".   It makes a Fall walk outside all the more entertaining.

As you are strolling along, scan the ground and choose a small stick.  Ask your child if they can find a stick that is the exact same length.  Once the hunt begins, you get to have fun watching your child measure and compare to see if other sticks match up.   To be honest, it is very difficult to find another stick that's exactly the same length.  So in the end, you might need to accept a stick that is 'close enough' as the 'winner.'

Enjoy all the measuring and comparing.

A Monster at the Fork Store

Bon Appétit! Well, almost.

ADDED October 17, 2008

Sit down on the floor of a room or the grass of your yard.  Tell your little one that you are a nice, healthy human being and as such, you are exactly what monsters like to eat!

And tell your child that, for the moment, he or she is the monster.  Have your kid come and pretend to eat you.

But wait!  Wait! As the monster approaches and is about to take a bite, stop and remind your monster that yes, even monsters need forks!  So, point to another place in the room or the yard and say, "You have to go buy a fork from the fork store!"

Once that 'purchase' has been completed and the monster returns for another attempt, ask the monster to go buy a spoon before starting the meal.  And ketchup.  And a napkin. And a place mat.

The trick is never to get eaten by thinking up more stuff for the monster to purchase.  Even better, try to have the monster come up with ideas as to what will be needed for the meal.

This is a fun, silly game that will provide a reason for kids to run around and release some energy.  Also, kids like acting like monsters, and adults enjoy not being eaten.

And don't forget to send the monster for a bib, eating humans can be messy business!

First to Find the Moon

Scan the sky every night for a very exciting sighting

ADDED October 14, 2008

 

 

This isn't a kids game, exactly, but rather a fun late afternoon ritual.  Who can be the first to find the moon?

Sorry to say, there isn't a glorious cash prize for the winner.  Rather, the first person who spots the moon is rewarded by being given the title "the Moon Catcher" for the day.  Hooray for the Moon Catcher!  Thank you for helping our family find the moon.

(I've found that reminiscing about past victories can help assuage the feelings of the second place finisher.  "Remember how you spotted the moon yesterday?  You were my Moon Catcher yesterday."  Another consolation prize for non-moon-catching siblings is the title "Airplane Catcher.)

Moon catching has become a fun late afternoon ritual in our family.  On a ride home from a play date, or on a walk around the neighborhood, I start to hear the kids ask, "Who's gonna catch the moon?"

It's always nice when Mother Nature provides a free, fun activity.

And please, there's just one request we have to make of the Moon Catcher of the Day:  Once you've caught it, please put it back.  Other kids are looking for the moon, too.

Close Out Sale at the Hat Store!

Tons of fun with head gear

ADDED October 01, 2008

 

How many hats does the average family own?

Our family is a bit above average in that department, I think.  A quick tally of the hats in this house revealed an amount weighing approximately three and half tons. 

If you're similarly blessed with too many hats, why not turn them into a fun activity?

Assemble all your family's hats somewhere that's easily accessible for kids:  on a bed or sofa.

Each kid gets a turn to visit the store.  What works really well is if a parent is in the other room -- that way the kids can get the hat on, then march away and show off each "new purchase" from the hat store.  "Look at my new hat!"

If you have a digital camera handy, it adds to the fun to snap a pic of each new hat on display.

When each hat receives its fair share of admiration, it's time for the kid to return to the hat store.  Oh, and scarves and gloves are fair game to be retrieved from the hat store, too.

Are you guys ready to have some fun in your house today?  At the drop of a hat!

Tip Toe Practice

Sneaky stealthy and most important SILENT fun

ADDED September 30, 2008

 

If you have a pre-schooler in your house, have you ever lain in bed early in the morning and wondered if instead you actually had a wildebeest living with you?  Or an elephant?  Or some other loudly clomping beast of the jungle?

We have wood floors, two darling but heavy-stepping children, and a Mom who likes to sleep in whenever possible.

So in honor of sleeping in, and daring the impossible, we present Tip Toe Practice.

First step:  have a tip-toeing demonstration with your little ones.  (Kids seem to like this word, too, by the way.  There's something kind of funny about it.)

Secondly, try this game:  Sit cross-legged on the floor of a hallway, with room to get around you on either side.  Close your eyes and have your kids try to tip toe by. 

If you hear the tip-toe-ers, let out a loud monster growl and -- with your eyes still closed -- grab them.  If you're right, the kids get another chance to try to sneak past you. If you're wrong, your kids will be quite proud of themselves (and delighted to see you growling and grabbing at nothing.)

It's a fun, vaguely educational activity, and it provides hope for Mommy's pleasant Saturday morning.

And just think:  maybe when they're teenagers, this Tip Toe Practice activity will help them sneak back into the house after curfew!  Oh, wait a minute . . .

(For more fun quiet games we've posted try our 1, 2, 3 Quiet Game or What do you hear?)

Childrens Books -- Who Took The Farmer's Hat?

A chapeau mishap leads to some fun hi-jinks on the farm

ADDED September 12, 2008

 

The farmer in this book really likes his hat.  What's not to like?  It's a nice hat.

Unfortunately for the farmer, he wears it outside on a blustery day . . . and the wind carries off his fine hat.

The farmer does what any hat-loving person would do:  he interviews all of his farm animals to find out if they've seen his beloved possession.

One thing leads to another, there's twists and turns, (we don't want to give away any surprises) but suffice to say there is a happy ending, though it's not exactly what the farmer had hoped.

Go to the library and pick up this book:  Who Took The Farmer's Hat? by Joan Nodset.  Read to those kids and have a great weekend!

KIDS GAMES -- What do you throw?

Family fun throwing activity

ADDED September 07, 2008

This is a good game for little ones that are still working on their throwing and kicking.  It is simple, fun, and -- as with all activities at TIF -- you can use what you have to make your own fun with no purchase required.

Here is what you do: get out every throwable and kickable item that you can find in your garage. Line them all up on the grass (like I did in the photo) and start tossing and kicking.  And when you have kicked, tossed and thrown everything in the line have your kids collect everything and do it again. Who knows, you might have a professional horseshoe player on your hands!

Side note about the items in my photo, if I do it again I would recommend not using a horseshoe. Even after explaining that you do not catch a horseshoe, my kids insisted on throwing it to me, thankfully it was made out of rubber.

Send us a photo of what you are throwing send it to info@todayisfun.com.

 

KIDS GAMES -- INDOOR BOWLING

Yet another way to ignore what Mom always said about playing ball in the house

ADDED September 03, 2008

What you will need for this game:  a ball.  Some paper and crayons.  Some chairs are optional.

Do you have those things on hand?  Okay, you're ready to go.

First, have your kids create some art on five different pieces of paper.  The art can really be whatever they want:  princesses or pirate ships, gorillas or Grandma.  

When each piece of paper is sufficiently beautiful, number each one with a number from 1 to 5.  It doesn't matter which piece of art gets which number.  

Lay the five pieces of paper on the floor in a row.  

Your child will kneel down a little bit away from the papers and roll the ball over to them.  The goal is get the ball to roll and stop on top of the page with the highest number (that is, five).

If your child is having a hard time making the ball stop on the pages, you can arrange some chairs to help keep the ball in place.

Remind your kids to keep the ball on the floor, and have fun.  

This game is also a fine opportunity to teach your kids the phrase, "That's how I roll!"

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- The Sharket

A fun, sorta wet way to buy groceries

ADDED August 31, 2008

 

 

Where do creatures of the sea shop for groceries?  At the Sharket, of course!

First, designate a place in the house to be the Sharket.  Then, have your kids gather up all the sea creatures in your home.  These ocean animals could be stuffed animals, plastic toys, dolls from the Little Mermaid, or even pictures.  (If you find you don't have any sea creatures at all, your kids could make some with their art supplies.)

After the sea animals have assembled, then find all the play food in your house.  Again, use whatever you can find . . . and make more if needed.

Once the animals and food are in the Sharket, each kid takes a turn to help an animal buy an item of food.  "Look, my octopus chose an eggplant."  It's good to talk about which foods the animals would like and which foods the kids do like.

And this is quite important:  in a Sharket, the customers and employees don't walk around. They have to move in 'water ways,' such as swimming, splashing, wading, floating, and so on.  This is a good opportunity to talk about different words that mean moving in the water.  (No actual water is required here, of course.)

Try the Sharket at your house today.  And see how your kids can have fun with sea food.

How to entertain kids -- At the market

Fun times with what you have on hand

ADDED August 28, 2008

Sometimes shopping is not the most fun activity for kids.  The waiting, price comparisons and bargain hunting is an adult activity. And unless a cereal needs to be picked out there is nothing much to do but sit and wait till the shopping is done.  Of course we have a solution for that.  Let your child play with your cell phone.  

On the surface this might seem like a risky proposition but take a minute and explain to your child how careful you need to be with a cell phone and what a big responsibility it is to be able to use one.  Then open up the camera function on you phone and show your kids how to take a picture or a movie and let them entertain themselves with this little piece of technology we all have.

You will definitely end up with a lot of photos like these actual photos taken by a three year old with my lovely wifes iphone but it is so fun!

Just another tip on HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS from Today is fun.
Commenting is easy and fun so let us know how it going we are always at info@todayisfun.com and don’t forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- ANATOMY ON A PLATE

A fun way to learn about our bodies

ADDED August 21, 2008

 

Kids want to have fun, and parents want their kids to be learning all the while. Well this activity is win-win. This is a way how to entertain kids, while helping them learn, too.

Today your children are going to learn about anatomy - that is, what's inside their bodies. We'll use your child's arm as a starting place.

In our arms, we've got bones, muscles, blood, and all of the above is covered with skin. We are going to demonstrate these things using some items from the fridge.

Bones are firm and hard, so show this with a carrot, or a couple apple slices.

On top of bones are muscles. For this, use a bit of meat, such as sliced sausage or hot dog.

For the blood, use that old standby: ketchup.

And finally, for the skin the best thing is a tortilla.

Place the ‘muscle' on top of the ‘bone.' Squirt some ‘blood' on the ‘muscles,' and cover this all up with ‘skin.' That's it. Now your kid has an idea bout these anatomical parts. You can push stuff around the plate, to show how bones move. You can also show how bones can break under the skin.

This fun activity will also demonstrate a real difference between kids and adults. Once you're done learning, kids will eat this anatomical re-creation. Chances are, their parents won't find it overly appetizing.

Have a great weekend filled with fun and learning!

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- THE INVISIBLE BALL

Mom always said, don�t throw in the house (but she didn�t say anything about an invisible ball)

ADDED August 20, 2008

 

You and your child pretend to throw and catch a ball. That's it. This activity might sound a little dull, but kids seem to like it.

The fun here is in the variations on the throwing and the catching. You can throw the ball hard and throw it gently, you can toss it up high or pitch it down low. Have your kid do a diving catch or a one-hand grab. And you can vary the ball, too-see how differently you and your child throw a ball that is really hot, or sticky, or very fragile.

Have fun with this, but also remind your young ones that this is just an activity, and that society looks down on people who opt for lives as professional mimes.

How to entertain kids -- Music Lessons

No musical ability, or musical instruments, required

ADDED August 19, 2008

Kids are endlessly fun and entertaining for their parents.  So why shouldn't parents request specific entertainment?  And who wouldn't like to be serenaded with some music?

Well, before your kids can perform music for you, you'll have to teach them how to play some musical instruments.

And it doesn't matter if you own no instruments or if you have no musical ability yourself.  You can still talk about different kinds of musical instruments, and how they sound.

First, you'll need some "instruments." Use some of your kid's stuff for these:  different books and toys.  Anything that they can hold and isn't too tiny.

Once you've got the "instruments," start holding each one up and demonstrating how it sounds.  (As best as you can, imitate the sounds of various instruments.)  Say things like:  "You play a guitar by strumming, like this.  You can put your other hand here, to change the notes."

Demonstrate the strumming of a guitar, the plinking of a piano, the honking of a trumpet.  See if you guys can move on to the piccolo, flute, harpsichord, even bagpipes!

This will be a fun introduction to instruments for you little ones.  And one day soon, your kid just might have a real instrument, so now you can practice listening to their musical efforts while trying not to wince too visibly.

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- CLEANING MACHINES

Fun way to get kids to clean up

ADDED August 14, 2008

Picking up toys isn’t nearly as fun as getting them out in the first place. But a twist on that chore will help get it done.

When my kids aren’t participating in the clean up, I say, “Uh oh, this cleaning isn’t happening very quickly. What we need are some cleaning machines.”

I tell my kids that now they have to crawl around the floor, because they are the machines!

And they respond immediately to this suggestion. Suddenly they are down on the floor, making odd and vaguely mechanical noises. One of my boys, in doing this activity, recently announced he was a “Toy Plow, not a snow plow,” and that his shovel was really good at cleaning the toys. And so it was.

This twist has come in handy for me, but I don’t think you should try it if time is a factor. If your machines resemble the ones in my house, the job gets done, but with lots of time spent making particular noises, breaking down, being repaired, etc.

How to entertain kids -- Clap, stomp, hop

Combine follow the leader and outrageous antics for a fun time

ADDED August 13, 2008

As the final days of summer are waning and the school year is approaching fast sometimes a little boredom combined with the need to run around can create a powder keg of childish energy.  When this perfect storm is about to strike we will head outside for a game that combines follow the leader and the outrageous antics of a game show into one kid friendly activity that is sure to get the wiggles out.
This game seems to work best when we are walking somewhere but it certainly can be played in the yard or living room with equal success. 
First everyone stands in a circle and chose someone to start, there are three moves that the leader can chose from and they can be played in any combination, either clap, stomp or hop. Say the leader starts with a hop, stomp, hop and while they are doing their moves they need to say what they are doing, “hop, stomp, hop”. When the leader finishes they say "next".  This is the cue for the group to do what the leader just did, so they all say and do a little, “hop, stomp, hop”. When they finish they say "next". And the next person in line is now the leader and they get three moves, any three moves they might chose to go for a stomp, stomp, clap or hop, clap, stomp or even hop, hop, hop, whatever moves they chose the group follows and you keep going around the circle until everyone is worn out.
Remember you can do the moves in any order and even repeat moves but you only get three moves so use them wisely.  As your players become more advanced you can make up moves to trick the group, try hop, bark, balance on one leg or jump, roll, give a high five.
The reason we like this game so much is its simplicity kids love copying their parents and they love to have fun and be silly.

Try a little hop, hop, act like a hippo today and leave us a comment, it’s easy and fun or email info@todayisfun.com don’t forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- What do you hear?

How to entertain kids with silence

ADDED August 11, 2008

Some car rides are rowdy. When a group of kids is going to a party or on an outing be prepared for a loud ride.  And when you mix in some sort of children's folk singer on the stereo be prepared for shrieks of joy and peals of laughter that only dogs can hear.

Today we have a quick idea that can quiet the car down, keep everybody entertained and it works with a group of kids or just a few.

What I will do to get everyone's attention is first I will put all of the windows in the car down.  The noise and sudden burst of wind will shock everyone into silence for a few seconds. When the group is quiet I will tell them of a new game we are going to play.  This is a quiet game and to play you need to be quiet and listen carefully, we are going to listen as we drive and we will tell each other what we hear.

Soon silence is all I here combined with an occasional, “Oh, I hear a horn and a truck” and “Oh there is a dog”.  

This is one of our favorite kinds of activities because it takes all of the rowdy excitement that kids have and transforms it into something structured with a little learning along the way. Try it and let us know how it works for you!

Commenting is easy and fun so let us know what your kids hear info@todayisfun.com don't forget to tell a friend about us. Today is fun!

Kids Games -- What Will You Bring?

An amazingly simple and amazingly effective way of passing some time

ADDED August 05, 2008

 

This works well with a couple kids, but would also have fine results with just one child.

Have your children wait in one room, such as the living room. You leave the room, but before you do ask the kids, "What will I bring back?" (If you can pull it off, try to add a lot of mystery to your voice, in order to build up the anticipation.)

Then, return with one of your kid's things: a toy, or a book, or even a shoe.

"Wow! Who had any idea that I was going to return with your shoe?"

After everyone has marveled over the object and discussed whether it was very surprising or not, then it is your kid's turn.

"First return the object I brought out to its rightful place, and then surprise me with something. What will you bring back?"

This is one of Today Is Fun's kids games that is great for filling a little bit of time, or for when the kids are waiting at home. It saved the day recently as my boys and I were waiting for Mommy to get ready to go on an outing with us.

We are very interested to know: what will you bring back?

Sticks and Stones

And leaves. They make for a fun, free art project for little ones.

ADDED August 04, 2008

 

Go for a walk with your child around the block, bringing along a grocery bag. Your kid can be in charge of choosing some free souvenirs from the walk, which you will put into the bag. These items include leaves, sticks, stones, seed pods, blades of grass, and so forth. Bougainvillea leaves can be especially nice. The only guidelines here are: don't take too much of any one thing, and don't take anything that belongs to somebody else! (A neighbor's mail, for example, is not available for this project.)

Back at home, take out some glue and construction paper. Help your little one glue the souvenirs to the paper.

Voila! It's a masterpiece! Your child is an artist. And it's fun for everyone. (Except possibly for the neighbor, if your child disregarded one of the above guidelines!)

Animal Action

A game that gets the kids moving and exercising some creativity

ADDED July 22, 2008

I recently caught my lovely spouse playing this game with the kids.  I immediately decided to steal the idea and put it up on this site, as this activity fits with our theme this week (simple and fun) and it's a great way of expelling some of the kids' energy out before bed.

To do this one, you chant the following words:  

Animal action, animal action, animal action.

Everyone act like a __________.

And you fill in the name of the animal.  The kids' job, of course, is to make their bodies into the shape of the animal you named.  They then run around in that shape, making the noise of the animal.  

The point of this exercise is not accuracy.  In our house, elephants, octopuses and guinea pigs seem to resemble each other very closely (and they all seem to growl ferociously, too, for some reason).  Instead, the goal here is to look at the different things we can do with our bodies, and to get those bodies moving!

Have fun, but be careful.  You never know when you'll encounter a snarling octopus or a ferocious guinea pig.

Eat It or Don't Eat It!

Yet another of our kids games that is easy, fun, and instructional

ADDED July 20, 2008

This is another very simple game. There is a certain, almost Zen-like beauty to the simplicity of this activity, as we'll explain in a moment...

You list a few things for your kids. They have to tell you "Eat it" or "Don't Eat It" for each. A plate of spaghetti, yes. An apple, yes. An entire house . . . absolutely not!

After your turn (try to rattle off about ten different items to ask about), your kids can take a stab at listing things for you to eat or don't eat.

Once your kids understand the concept, you can start to get tricky with them. For instance, "elbow pasta" is a favorite in our house. But just plain old elbows . . . don't try to eat those!

Of course, this is a very easy way to review for small children what people eat, and what they shouldn't. As a case in point, I always remind my little guy that crayons and Play Dough are on the "Don't Eat It!" list.

And now for the beauty of this game, as we mentioned above. The thing is, "Eat it or Don't Eat It!" is simple and engaging enough for small children that they can play it themselves, once you show them how. We have witnessed kids as young as four and two playing this game by themselves for ten to fifteen minutes at a time! And ah, what a sweet, peaceful, and relaxing ten to fifteen minutes that was.

Have fun, and at your next meal time, please stick to the "Eat It" list. No houses, no elbows, please.

 

How Many Fingers Am I Holding Up?

A game for kids that helps little ones learn math concepts

ADDED July 19, 2008

This activity is another in our series about teaching numbers and counting.  And okay, it's pretty simple, we admit it.  Please don't demand your money back.  It really is a great, fun introduction to these concepts for little kids.

First, have the kids close their eyes. Then hold up a number of your fingers.  

"How many fingers am I holding up?" you ask.

Then your child guesses, while keeping eyes closed.  You respond to each guess with "More," "Less," or "Absolutely right!"

Once your kids get the concept, you can close your eyes and take a shot at guessing how many fingers they're holding up.

(During a recent run through of this game, my boy really surprised me.  After I guessed all the possible numbers - 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 - and was told that I was wrong every time, I opened my eyes to discover he was holding up all his fingers on both hands.  He was delighted, of course, and I was foiled again.)

Have fun playing this learning numbers game with your kids, but whatever you do, for your own safety and the safety of your self esteem, don't try to play this one with any teenagers!

The Big Performance

The final act for this weeks activities

ADDED July 17, 2008

Today’s craft is part three of a three part summer fun activity.

I hope you all made your puppets and worked out a little story with your child if you did not please click here and here for the activities.  

Now that the puppets are made and the story is ready it’s time to put all the pieces together for the big performance.  You can use something as simple as the back of a chair or couch for the stage really anything your kids can get behind will be perfect.
 
If you want to pop some popcorn have some drinks and light refreshments and when everybody is ready turn the lights down and enjoy the show. Cheer and have fun!

For those who are technically savvy record the show and post it on youtube.com.  That way if a special loved one can’t make it they will be able to see it. Or you can just record it to show on your TV I know my kids love to see themselves on TV.

Have a great weekend and let us know how its going remember to leave a comment or send us an email!  info@todayisfun.com

Tell that story!

An easy educational storytelling activity .

ADDED July 16, 2008

Today’s craft is part two of a three part summer fun activity.

Yesterday I hope you all made your puppets if you did not please click here for the activity.  

Now that the puppets are made it is story time!  Using a few of the puppets you have created as inspiration work with your child to create a short story that they can act out with the puppets.  If your child is older they can even write it down so important plot points are not forgotten.  Don’t be to strict with the story part just have fun and encourage their creativity. Make it a conversation, I like to give them the tools and let them create. If they are stuck or only mildly interested, you can lead gently by asking questions, “Who is in your story, where are they and what are they doing?” That is really all I have to do just give a little boost and they are off and running.

Most stories at my house usually involve a lot of falling down, at least one talking animal and many of the stories take place at school.  I have also found that the stories tend to develop and change during the performance, kind of like jazz.  

Have fun and look for part three tomorrow!

Leave a comment or send us an email to let us what your story is about info@todayisfun.com

and don't forget to tell your friends about us!

Popsicle puppets.

An easy educational craft.

ADDED July 15, 2008

Today’s craft is part one of a three part summer fun activity.

 

 
All you will need to make a really fun puppet is a popsicle stick, a small toy and some clear tape.  If you don’t have a popsicle stick you could use a straw or chopstick.  This stick will be the part that your child holds on to use the puppet. Once you have chosen a stick have your child find a small toy that can be taped to one end of the stick. When the toy is attached the puppet is done.
 
Now show your kids how the puppet can come to life!  It can walk along the edge of the table, behind the couch and along the edge of the tub.  This is a great activity to encourage creative play and something that kids can play with on their own once the puppet is built.
 
Have fun and look for part two tomorrow!
 
Leave a comment or send us an email to let us what you are making info@todayisfun.com!

Counting everyday and every way

Daily fun with numbers

ADDED July 14, 2008

Numbers are an abstract concept. Learning how to count to ten is the easy part but learning how to use numbers to count things this can be hard. Here at TIF we love numbers and we think that the only way to get good at something is through repetition. That is why we are big fans of this game.

Once your kids have mastered counting 1-10 the next step could be to count simple things that you and your kids see. Math that they can do on their fingers is the best, as with everything we try to make it easy so it can be done anywhere.

With my kids I started with simple things that I knew they could count, when we would ride somewhere in the car I would often ask how many people are in the car? Or other times I would ask how many wheels does a car have? How many lights are on the street lamp? Or just to be tricky. I would ask how many wheels does and eighteen wheeler have?

Using simple counting questions they got really good quickly and soon we were adding up the tires on two cars, counting items in a display case and people in line at the market. Try it today and see what numbers you come up with.

Leave a comment or send us an email to let us know how you encourage counting at info@todayisfun.com!

Fishing for fun.

Entertaining activity with rowdy results.

ADDED July 13, 2008

Here is a fun game you can play in the back yard, park or pool. All you need is a kid or two, bait and tackle not required.  

I start by saying, “ I think I am going to go fishing”.
I pretend to throw my line in the water and reel one of the fish in.
As my fish comes in I will ask it, “You don’t look like a fish what are you?”

This is the part I like, hearing what I have reeled in and believe it or not I have reeled in everything from an old shoe that claimed to be just my size to a white blood cell.

Since I am a catch and release fisherman now comes the part they like a gentle toss back into the ocean.

As the game continues I will mix it up and not throw back things that are interesting to encourage the kids to use their imagination. Once I even reeled in the Mayor, she seemed to be wise so I kept her for a while to help me decide what to do with my catches.

It is fun and educational. They get to use their imaginations and verbal skills as they listen to each other and think up more and more outlandish things for me to catch. And I also have a lot of fun listening to what I have caught.

Drop us a line and let us know what you catch info@todayisfun.com and remember Today is Fun!

Red, White and Blue hunt

Entertaining Game of finding the colors in the American flag.

ADDED June 29, 2008

4th of July is this Friday and here at Today is fun we have loads of great ideas to keep your kids entertained all throughout this patriotic and festive week.

Today’s idea will help get the smallest patriots in the mood by having them look for the colors found in the American flag, red, white and blue. If your kids don’t know what colors are on the American flag this week would be a great time to teach them because flags and displays of patriotism will be everywhere.

 

When your kids have figured out what colors they are looking for turn them loose. When they find the first color “Red” then they can find the next color “White” and then “Blue” then repeat “Red”, “White” and “Blue”.

The idea is very simple and can be used to pass a few minutes at the market or on a car ride or even while you are reading a book this week try pointing out the colors Red, White and Blue when you look at the pictures.

Also don’t forget to drop us an email info@todayisfun.com we will be wearing special 4th of July hats all week (look for this idea later in the week) and it would be great to hear from you!

Albert the Aardvark

A fun and funny way for kids to learn letters and alliterations

ADDED June 26, 2008

Ask your kids if they've met Albert the Aardvark. No? They haven't? How about Beulah the Beaver? (She's always quite busy, it seems.) Then there's Connie the Coyote and Donny the Duck-Billed Platypus.

The way our family plays this game is for the adult to supply the kids with the name, and then the kids come up with the animal. The game gets much more fun, you'll see, when your kids can provide both the name and the animal.

Even if your child can only invent gibberish names for the animals ("Frunko the Frog," for instance) as long as they are recognizing and repeating that first letter sound, it's still an approved answer in our book.

Have fun with those kids today, and say hello to Hortense the Hedgehog for us.

(For another fun alliterative word game check out one of our previous posts: Great Gadzooks!)

Fun with Money

An old but entertaining standby: looking at and playing with coins

ADDED June 24, 2008

(This activity is for young kids, but only those old enough to be trusted with coins.  If your toddler tries to run down to the 7-11 and blow the money on candy, well then, he's not ready for this one.  Seriously though, if there's even a chance your child will put the coins in his or her mouth, hold off on this game.)

But if the kids in your house resemble the ones in mine, there are never enough toys on hand.  All the toys -- even the relatively new ones -- have been played with many times already.  So now what?

One idea is to take everyday objects and re-commission them for fun and learning.  For instance, in our house, we play with money.  Quarters, to be exact.

First of all, you're never too young to learn that guy is George Washington, and that he was a great person.  (And there is something incredibly cute about hearing your very young child say the name "George Washington.")

Second, on the other side of the coin, kids like to see the eagle.  Many quarters these days have swapped out that noble bird for other images, and those are fun to find, too.  For instance, did you know that the Oklahoma quarter depicts not an eagle, but a Scissortail Flycatcher?  (It's true.)  And that Colorado's shows some very impressive big mountains?  (Those would be the Rockies.)  More information on these special quarters is here.

Once you're done with the learning quarters have to offer, you'll find they also make fun objects for play.  You can roll them, spin them, or bounce them.  You can stack a handful of quarters and make a tower.  We like to hide a quarter among some blocks as a beginner's "magic trick."

They say money can't buy happiness, but playing with it for a while sure can be pretty fun.

How does your family learn about and play with money?  We'd like to know, so please email us here.

(Thanks to Today Is Fun reader Laurie March for suggesting this activity!  We always welcome fun and creative ways of keeping the little darlings happy and busy.)

Weekend Reading: Tick-Tock, Drip-Drop!

An entertaining book about how hard it can be sometimes to go to sleep

ADDED June 20, 2008

Poor Rabbit just can't get to sleep. His friend Mole works hard to eliminate all the causes of the insomnia, stopping the ticking of the clock, putting the purring cat in another room, and so forth.

This book (Tick-Tock, Drip-Drop by Nicola Moon and illustrated by Eleanor Taylor) is highly recommended: the art is delightful and "warm." The story is pretty funny. And it contains some great onomatopoeia words for kids: the clock's tick-tock, the water's drip-drop, the garden gate's bang-bump.

My boys were thrilled when they discovered a somewhat subtle detail: in the background of one of the pages, the garden gate falls on top of Mole for a quick moment while he's trying to close it. They find this moment the peak of comedy!

As always, we don't want to give away any of the plot's twists and turns, but let's just say there's a lot of trouble and not a lot of sleeping.

 

Check it out from your local library, or get it from Amazon here.

 

Get some rest yourself this weekend. And have fun reading!

Water Painting

Part of our Summer activities series

ADDED June 15, 2008

A great way to pass an afternoon is to head outside and give your little ones a small cup of water and a paint brush. Sit down on the sidewalk you are now ready to paint. The water will make the cement dark, this is your paint and sidewalk is the canvas. Help you child practice letters, numbers or even words if you are fast enough. Explain how evaporation works and before you know it a whole afternoon has done just that. Have Fun!

Weekend Reading -- What Daddies Do Best

In honor of tomorrow's holiday, some fine reading for kids and Dads

ADDED June 14, 2008

 What Daddies Do Best, by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, is a cute book showing some busy animals (who happen to be Dads and their kids) engaged in a lot of fun, together-time activities.

 

Some examples:

Daddies can teach you how to ride a bicycle.

They can give you a piggyback ride

and take care of you when you're sick.

Daddies can watch the sun set with you

Daddies can read you a bedtime story

and kiss you good-night.

As always, we don't want to give away any of the plot's twists and turns. You'll have to pick up a copy off Amazon or at your local library.

 

But no review of this book would be complete without letting you know that the really nice thing about it is that when you turn the book over, there is another story for you and your kids to read. This additional one is called What Mommies Do Best, and is just as cute, charming, and pro-parent.

 

Have some fun reading this weekend, and Happy Father's Day!

 

 

Kids' Games: Throw for Your Dinner

A fun throwing game for kids that works indoors or out -- and the stakes are rather high

ADDED June 10, 2008

 

With summer coming in and temperatures on the rise, we're going to be providing some ideas about having fun outside. However, sometimes it's nice to stay indoors, out of the heat, and this idea is a physical activity that can work for those times, too. You can play it inside or out.

You'll need three to five tupperware of varying sizes and shapes. You'll also need one of your child's durable plastic toys that is about the size of their fist. In our house, we have some plastic toy vegetables that work perfectly.

Arrange the tupperware on the floor (or grass) a few feet away from your child. Tell them they can't move their feet, but they have to get the toy into one of the tupperware. Of course, they'll have to throw.

They get an unlimited number of chances.

Kids enjoy this activity. It seems to be the right amount of challenging for young kids: it's hard and requires some trying, but it's not too difficult.

To up the stakes a bit, I always tell my boys that they can't have any dinner unless they get the item in each of the tupperwares. (They know I'm joking, so they're not too traumatized.)   It is fun to hear a 3-year-old say, after his throw goes wide, "Oh, no!   No dinner for me!"

Jumper Helper

A little boost for kids can be lots of fun

ADDED June 05, 2008

Okay, this is a very simple idea. We hope it's not too simple, and that you don't demand your money back...

This is a good activity for a spare minute or two. I play it with my four year old while his younger brother is getting his diaper changed.

Your child is standing around, maybe while waiting. You say, "Ready to play Jumper Helper?"

When you get a yes answer, hold both of the child's hands. You say, "I'm going to count to three, and then you jump."

You count. On three, when your child jumps up, you pull them up by their hands, lifting them just a little farther up into the air (like 1 or 2 extra inches.)

It's super simple, and kids like it. Try it out -- it's fun.

(Jumper Helper is in no way related to Hamburger Helper or General Mills, in case you were wondering.)

 

A little help and a lot of learning

Daily chores made fun with the help of your little one!

ADDED June 03, 2008

On laundry day the little ones in my house always like to help. But all the good jobs are taken. Dumping the mountain of dirty clothes that’s to heavy. Folding clean clothes is too hard. Sleeping on the pile of clean or dirty clothes that’s the dogs business. So what to do? Have the littlest ones sort the clothes. You can’t wash whites with colors -- and you have to do it anyway -- so put ’em to work.

It’s really not that hard. Three piles:  white, dark and colors. If they don’t understand, this is a great opportunity to teach while you work together. Explain and show them what pile the clothes go into. Before you know it the job is done and back to the fun. An unexpected bonus: training for college laundromats.

 

What jobs do you give your little ones? Drop us an email at info@todayisfun.com or leave a comment!

Jump, Hop and Skip.

Help make kids tired legs even more tired and stop complaining at the same time with this entertaining idea.

ADDED June 01, 2008

We have been trying to walk places lately. With gas prices being what they are I see both a health and financial benefit.  However little legs sure grow tired when they are asked to walk places. I do imagine if we were to walk to a toy store I would not hear one complaint but three blocks to the market and you would think we were walking uphill both ways.

So what I will do is make the mundane exciting. I will tell my kids, “let’s jump the next five cracks in the cement” and like magic their legs are healed and we are off jumping over the next five cracks. Once we have finished our hopping they will usually ask what is next and from there the game is on and the complaining ends. I will have them hopping, skipping, jumping, running forwards and backwards, they will be worn ragged and looking at the smiles on their faces you would not even know it.

What is great about this game is once it is started it really does not stop till we get to where we are going and usually we are having such a good old time we can not wait to get our shopping taken care of so we can get back to the hopping, skipping, jumping, running forwards and backwards.

This is a great activity for the mall, giant super store parking lot (hand holding required) or even a sporting event (again hand holding required) because you never park near your seats. Let us know where this idea works for you!

Weekend Reading: Barnyard Dance

An entertaining book: Stomp your feet and clap your hands! Everybody ready for a Barnyard Dance!

ADDED May 23, 2008

The whole point of this site is to give you ways to keep your kids entertained, without having to get more stuff.

But we also like to break the rules, once in a while.

Barnyard Dance, by famed children's author Sandra Boyton, is simply a great book, and one that inevitably leads to activities.

The book is told in the style of a country dance, kind of like a square dance.  But because it's a children's book, the animals are the ones doing the dancing.

Your little ones will want to join in, and soon they'll be bouncing with the bunny and strutting with the duck.

Our family didn't really know what 'promenading' was, until we came across it here.  Apparently, it's kind of marching next to somebody, marching two-by-two.

Needless to say, now that we do know what promenading is, we need to do a lot of it in our house.  And we do.

Stroller Patrol

Finding something obvious helps keep kids occupied

ADDED May 21, 2008

Sometimes when you and your kids go somewhere fun or somewhere that’s geared for kids, there’s some waiting that must be endured, too.  For instance, if you’ve ever been to Disneyland (which is fun for kids) there are occasionally some lines to wait in (less fun.)

One way I keep my kids entertained is to deputize them into Stroller Patrol.  When I can tell that the waiting in line has started to wear thin, I proclaim, “Okay, people.  I need to account for every single stroller here!  Who can help me find a stroller?”  Since we’re at place for kids, there are always a good number of strollers.  Soon my kids are scanning and surveying the area, eagerly adding up the number of kid carriages.

Usually there is a lot of crowd movement at these places, and the number of strollers in view is constantly fluctuating.  Which is good.  I need an accurate count, at all times. 

Stroller Patrol is a very important and  time-consuming job, and no deputy has time to be at loose ends.

Fill in the blank

A simple, fun game to help pass the blank.

ADDED May 19, 2008

You say the first two words of a phrase your child knows, and wait for the blank to be filled in.

For instance, “Grandma and Blank.”  (Answer:  Grandpa.)

“Brush your blank.”  (Answer: teeth.)

“Stars and blank.”  (Answer: stripes.)

Kids quickly pick up on how this game works, and are eager to provide the right answer.  Mine are so enthusiastic at times, in fact, that they’re trying to fill in the blank before I’ve fully told them the clues.  This leads to occasional mishaps such as “Grandma and Teeth”…which everyone seems to enjoy.

Animal Automobiles

Kids have fun thinking up appropriate vehicles for our furry friends

ADDED May 14, 2008

 

 

If animals could get around in cars and trucks, what would they choose to drive?

If you'd like to know the answer to this philosophical question, just ask your kids.

But before you do, you might want to give them these examples:

A snake would drive a long green car, and you really wouldn't be able to see the wheels.

A snail would drive a little truck with a beige cab and a dark brown back. And oh, it would drive really slowly.

A frog's car would be quite green, and it would make its passengers bounce around.

A monkey's brownish car would drive pretty quickly all over the place, and its wheels would really chatter.

You get the idea. It is guaranteed to hold a pre-schooler's attention.

And please, let's encourage all these creatures to drive slowly and to respect the road!

What Color Shirt Is Mommy (or Daddy, or Somebody Else) Wearing

A simple guessing game to help you get home in one piece

ADDED May 11, 2008

 

While returning from an outing, kids can get bored and grumpy. The last couple minutes can be the worst:  when they start to recognize that they’re close, but not there yet.

One quick and easy activity I do with my kids in this kind of situation is to guess what color shirt their Mom is wearing. (Of course, it would work for anyone whom they will see at the destination: Dad, Grandma, a younger sibling, etc.)

Everybody takes a turn guessing the color. Then we fill the time with “talking up” the choices: “Mommy really does like red, so that was a good guess of yours,” or “I think Mommy looks pretty in brown, so I think I’m right—it’s going to be brown!”  Kids seem to respond well to this color commentary, and start to offer their own analyses.

(You’ll be delighted to know that this pastime works well even when you actually know the exact color of the person’s shirt.)

Another benefit to this activity is that when we arrive home, my kids are dying to see their Mom, and what color shirt she’s wearing. The reunion is all the more fun and exciting—and their Mom likes to hear the guesses (and that she’s being talked about.)

Keep them guessing, and keep them on their toes!

How many steps?

A counting adventure.

ADDED May 08, 2008

When we are out shopping and my kids are tired what I like to do is make the mundane activity of walking around Costco into a counting game.

 

This is when I let my beautiful spouse continue her shopping trip and the kids and I will break away on our own adventure.

I will say to the kids, “ok I will only take 20 more steps and then we can rest and we will look at whatever we stop by”. So I will let the kids guide me for 20 steps and stop. We usually stop by the extra virgin olive oil or some kind of bulk paper. Not very exciting to a 7 and 8 year old. So I will ask,” how many steps do you think it is to the freezer section or the book section?” They will make a guess like,”40 steps to the freezer section”. I will let them take my hands and guide me 40 steps. If they guess to many steps we will keep walking past the freezer section and that also tends to be fun.

 

Then I will let them choose the destination bikes, tires, books, toys is always a popular option. I will also try and mix it up by taking different kinds of steps. I will skip, hop or take baby steps. We will often get funny looks skipping around Costco but the employees don’t seem to mind enthusiastic customers.

Then comes the best part of the game. Asking my lovely wife how may steps it took her to find us (usually 4987).

Olden Days

Good times with the way-back machine.

ADDED May 07, 2008

This isn’t so much a game or activity, as a great topic for conversation.  It’s fun, too.

Kids naturally like learning about the world about them—everything is new and exciting.  When your kids reach a certain age (four or five?) they can begin to understand this concept:  that in Olden Days, a lot of things didn’t exist—a lot of things that kids are used to seeing.  

When I first told this to my kids, they thought it was a bizarre concept:  there didn’t used to be cars?  Or TV?  Or Barney the Dinosaur?

My kids like guessing what was around in Olden Days, and what wasn’t.  (“Were there leopards in Olden Days, Daddy?”)

Just  be careful around touchy grandmothers.  You, not your innocent child, will get blamed if a touchy grandmother is asked, “Were there horses in Olden Days, Grandma?”

The perfect toy

Who needs toys when you have a box

ADDED May 05, 2008

We all know that kids love boxes but here are some other uses that you may not have thought of. So I now present a list of possible uses for a box. This list is not exhaustive and let us know how a box can entertain your little ones.

 

Make it into a…
Rocket ship
Transportation for a Queen
Race car

Decorate it for…
Birthdays
Thanksgiving
Hanukkah
Christmas

Put your…
Toys in it
Pet in it
Brother in it

Wear it as a…
Suit of Armor
Big shoe
Hat

Ride it…
On a blanket (wood floors required)
On a skateboard (helmet and pads required)
To a Drive-in Movie in your living room

Make it into a…
Stage for a Puppet show
Hospital for sick stuffed animals
Garage for cars

Use it as a…
Stove for cooking
Table for eating
Throne for a King

Silent Reading

An entertaining way to get the kids to settle down

ADDED April 30, 2008

When the kids are in bed and a little wired, a great way to temper their childish enthusiasm is with some Silent Reading.

 

Silent Reading can entail quiet talking, whispering, or total silence, whatever you feel is appropriate. But the most important thing is the kid must read (or look at the pictures) and no getting out of bed.  Make sure your child has enough books for 10 minutes . . . and that is it.

 

After 10 minutes of being all cozy in bed, most kids are ready to sleep.  And you have gained 10 minutes of silence.