Draw on Pictures!

A lot of fun changing and enhancing existing pictures!

ADDED July 15, 2010

 

Dance A Little, Dance A Lot

Everybody dance now!

ADDED July 09, 2010

 

All the Balls in the House

That's right, all of them!

ADDED June 01, 2010

Among us parents, I'd like to share a little secret:  today's game can really help tire your kids out.  Use as necessary.

And, as a bonus, it's really fun for kids, too.

It's something of a "silly sport."

In soccer, the object is to get one ball into the goal.

In basketball, the object is to get one ball into the basket.

In hockey, the object is to get one puck into the . . . well, you get the idea.

In today's silly sport, though, your kids will score only when they get all the balls in the house into the goal.

First, gather all the balls in your house.  By all balls, I mean just that:  baseballs, footballs, basketballs, tennis balls, soccer balls -- all are needed.  (Ideally you'll find at least six balls to use.  And if you feel that you guys have too many balls for ths activity, well, of course you're allowed to pare the number down a bit.)

Choose a place in the backyard to be the goal, and point that out to all the players.  You don't need expensive, regulation goal posts, of course.  The space between two patio chairs will work fine.. . .

Ice Dancing

No ice required

ADDED February 24, 2010

As you know, we have been involved in the Winter Olympics.  We've been cheering, strategizing, and and crying along with the athletes.  All the while, we've been "trying" many of the sports in our living room and yard.  Curling has grabbed our imagination, along with snowboarding and speed skating.  But ice dancing has really proved to be the most popular, fun, and inspiring.

To re-create some ice dancing in your home, your kids need to be wearing some of these "skates."

 

Then they will need some "ice." . . .

Code Words

Your kids choose some code words. Then, silly fun ensues!

ADDED February 05, 2010

 

Long-Take TV

Try one yourself!

ADDED January 27, 2010

Next time your kids want to record themselves with the family video camera, encourage them to shoot a long take.  In movie vernacular, a "long take" is slang for recording everything in the scene all at once, in order, and without stopping the camera.  When something goes wrong,  you just have to keep acting till the shot is done.

I always encourage long takes when my kids want to film themselves.  . . .

Animal Races

All animals win, really, just for trying!

ADDED January 18, 2010

 

In one hour

What time will it be?

ADDED October 08, 2009

Learning to tell time is hard.  Unlike the rest of the math kids learn, clocks are based not on tens and hundreds, but rather sixty.  There are sixty minutes in an hour.  Throw in AM and PM, digital and analog clocks, and kids can get easily confused.  Since we don't have six fingers, telling time can make for a tough time. (Ha! Tough time.)

So we have invented a game that can pass the time while learning about time.  You can play it just about anywhere, as long as a clock is handy.  I was able to ease my kids into telling time and get their curiosity reving all at the same time.  (Ha! Same time.)

First I started by asking my kids, "What time will it be in one hour?"  I tried to ask this question after 1 pm because it was easier for them to answer correctly.  If it was 1:15 pm, in an hour it would be 2:15 pm -- easy and fun.  Then I would try to challenge them by asking, "If it was 9:27 what time will it be in an hour?"  They became professionals in no time at all. (Ha! No time.)  As their time-telling skills improved, I would ask, "What time will it be in ten minutes?" or five minutes and even one minute.  

It was a good time for all (Ha! Good Time.)  And my kids can now tell time with the best of them (if you see one of my kids, please ask for the time).  I like to think their fine abilities are in part thanks to this simple activity.  Try it today if you have the time! (Ha! Have the time.) 

Is it time for this post to end? (Ha! Good times.)

 

The Magazine March

Use your head. It's fun!

ADDED September 17, 2009

 

Length:  Fifteen minutes or more.

Parental Involvement: Explain and demonstrate. And compete!

Kids Should Be Able to: Use balance and coordination to control their bodies.

 

If you've visited our site, Today Is Fun, a few times, you know that we have quite a few ideas for children's activities.  Some of our ideas are meant to help kids learn, other ideas are designed to get kids' imaginations fired up, and some ideas are supposed to just encourage a bunch of fun.

Today's idea would fall into that last category:  just a bunch of fun.  And to be frank, this activity is a bit goofy, too.

For this somewhat goofy activity, all you need is a magazine and a kid or two.

Balance the magazine on your head and choose a point ten or twenty feet away.  Tell your kids that you're going to walk to that point, with your "new special hat."

Your kids' job is to stop you.  They are allowed to do anything *friendly* in their power to stop you from balancing the magazine all the way to the distant point.  This includes lying in your path, telling you jokes, and even giving you a hug or tickle. 

(We need to emphasize:  we don't want any violence, so please use your judgement, persuasion and authority to ensure that this game is harmless fun for all.)

Have a number of tries.  Sometimes you'll make it all the way with the magazine on your head.  Sometimes you won't.  The attempts are supposed to be fun for you and for your kids.  That's really all that matters.

If your kids want, they can each take a turn balancing the magazine and walking, too.

(If you grew up watching the Brady Bunch, as I did, you may remember the episode where Marcia balanced books on her head to improve her "poise."  If your kids' poise is improved by this goofy activity, then great.  If your kids think I have no poise because I referenced Marcia Brady, well, um, I might agree with them.)

Enjoy.  Having a little fun (and a little balance) in your life can't be a bad thing!

 

(Thank you to sflovestory for the cute balancing act photo above!)

Ball Bounce Bonanza!

(Actually, it's more throwing than bouncing, but three B's in a row was too irresistible to pass by.)

ADDED September 14, 2009

Length:  Thirty minutes to an hour.

Parental Involvement: Explain the idea.  Watch it in action.  Egg the kids on as desired.

Kids Should Be Able to:  Move their bodies. Throw a ball.  Compare distances.

 

This magical activity works for kids of any age!  It also does a fine job getting some excess energy out and it gets your kids' minds into the action, too.  Also, it's quite simple!

(Have we done a thorough enough sales job yet?)

Here's what you need to do:

Have your kids round up all the balls your family owns.  We need tennis balls, soccer balls, bouncy balls, beach balls -- you name it.  If it's a ball, it's fair game.  

(With one exception:  no hard balls, and that means no marbles and no golf balls.  We don't want anyone getting hit in the head and getting hurt.)

Next, help the kids take the balls to a big open space.  If your backyard is big, then that will work nicely.  Othwerise, a local park would be perfect.

Next, the kids should start throwing the balls.  But not in random directions -- the goal here is to see how far each of the balls will go.

So -- logically -- once all the balls have taken flight, your kid should go inspect to see how far each went, and which is the "winner" of the farthest flight.

(If your kids are old enough and so inclined, they can use a ruler or measuring tape to see exactly how much farther the "first place" ball passed up the runner up.)

Of course, to really test this, your kids will need to try many times.  Will the ball that wins the first time take first place again on the second try?  How about the third try?  

Once the balls have been thrown a bunch of times, you could change the activity up a bit.  How about having the kids roll them?

We hope you guys enjoy this one.  In fact, we hope you have a ball.

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!

Five senses walk

A treat for them all

ADDED August 26, 2009

Length:  Twenty minutes or so.

Parental Involvement:   Encourage observation and use of senses.

Kids Should Be Able to:  Spell simple words.  Observe and . . . have fun!

 

Summer continues this week, and I am sure your patience is growing thin, as is your wallet.  So why not take a trip to a local Botanical Garden?  The flowers are beautiful and if you pack a lunch, it's a free outing.  (Have i mentioned that we are fans of free?) 

My son and I went this past week, and it was a blast! Now, on the surface, two guys at the botanical gardens does not sound like so much fun, but I promise it was . . . and in true TIF fashion it was also educational.  We decided to go on a Five Senses Walk.

Here is how a Five Senses Walk works:  First explain to your kids that everybody has five senses. They are seeing, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.  For a Five Senses Walk to be successful, you need to make sure you use all five senses at sometime during your walk and then report your findings to the group. 

 

When you smell something that is good, tell the group.  If you see something that is beautiful, tell the group.  If you touch something that is soft, or carefully touch something that is rough, tell the group.. . .

Marble drop

How quiet can you make it?

ADDED August 10, 2009

We have wood floors at our house, so dropping anything on the floor is loud. My kids are big fans of marbles, and occasionally someone will drop a box of marbles onto the wood floor.  I will admit that the sound of 50 marbles dropping is kind of cool, but I don't encourage it because the clean-up is rather tedious. 

 

We here at TIF international headquarters have developed a fun, scientific hypothesis experiment game based on falling marbles, floors, and the silence all parents dream of. The idea is to try and drop one marble and not make a sound. 

You will need pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and anything else that will cushion the marbles' fall. Once these items are gathered, you simply need to drop a marble onto the floor and see if it makes a sound.  The trick is to use as little of these sound-dampening elements as possible.  Obviously, if you use blankets, pillows, and heavy winter jackets, the marble will not make a sound.  But if you use one tissue, a pot holder, and a t-shirt, will it make a sound?  Experimentation is the only way to know -- and thankfully, the kids at my house are ready at any time to drop anything repeatedly.  An added benefit to this game is that to play properly, you need complete silence so your little ones will want to keep it down.

Hopefully, with this activity we have answered the age old question, "If a kid drops a marble on a wood floor will the parent hear it?"  Try it with your kids today!

 

Counting - Up and down

Backwards works just as good as forward.

ADDED July 29, 2009

My nephew was over for a few days. He is 18 months and we had a great time counting.  We counted cheerios, dogs and kites. When he would count something he would then say, "Now you", which meant my wife or I had to count whatever he just counted. 

Then we pretended we were rocket ships blasting off and I started counting backwards from ten.  This is where the confusion started.  I saw it in his eyes. Numbers only go one way, up?  So we took a walk and started counting things forward and then backward.  We saw a pod of four mailboxes and counted them forward, one, two, three and four, then counted them backwards four, three, two, one.  We saw three cats sunning themselves and counted them forward one, two three and then then backwards three, two, one. We also counted garbage cans, newspapers and a family on bikes.

It was very cool he picked up the concept quickly and it was good to cement the idea that numbers go up and they also go down.  Remember when you are counting with your little ones count up and then count down.  And when launching a rocket ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

 

Photo by deepblue66 via Flickr, thanks to a creative commons license.

 

Four legged box animal.

Old-fashioned fun

ADDED July 27, 2009

We have detailed the many creative uses for boxes already (and those ideas can be found here).  We've also made some scary monster masks before Halloween.  As our in depth analysis of free cardboard box fun continues, we have yet to cover the rare and elusive four-legged box animal (or the four-legged box monster depending on your preference.)

 

The four-legged box animal showed up at my house unannounced and proceeded to cause laughter, giggles and a little jostling.  The fun was endless.  Two kids turned themselves into the animal, and one person acted as the trainer.  (I sure am glad that the trainer showed up, because taking care of a four-legged box animal is a lot of work.   They always are getting into trouble.)

Making a four-legged box animal is quite simple, we're glad to say.   All you need is large enough box.   Two of your kids to put the box over their heads, and the four legged box animal is created.  I suppose if you were inclined you could color and cut the box to spiff it up a little and make it more animal-like, but for the girls at my house the plain box worked just fine. 

Here at TIF, we always want to give kids tools to spark their imagination and create their own fun.  If you have a box, try it today and see what shows up at your house!  If it's not an animal it could be a Spaceship, a car, or even a box of bears.

Monkey Movin'

(And mosquito movin'. And moose. And manatee.)

ADDED June 26, 2009

Kids and animals, they just go together.  Children love animals.  Have you ever happened to notice that kids' books and movies occasionally feature an animal or two?

Well, today we are going to encourage your kids to turn themselves into animals.  A lot of animals.

Today, we're going to teach the kids some verbs -- many that they probably haven't encountered before.  All these verbs describe actions that animals do. 

Say each animal-verb to your kids, and have them perform that action.  Have your kids demonstrate slithering like a snake.  Then let's see wriggling like a worm.  How about waddling like a duck?

Here are some other animal-moving verbs for your kids to demonstrate:


Now, below is a list of animal verbs that all relate to noises.  These words can involve a bit of exercise, too.  Just watch your kid's body after you've told him or her to roar like a lion, or growl like a wolf.  Kids put their whole bodies into making these sounds:


When you're done with this activity, your kids will have a better handle on some solid verbs.  And hopefully, they'll have got any beastly behavior out of their systems!

(Many thanks to e3000 for the dramatic animal photo.)

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)

Exercise Class

It's exercise! It's entertainment! It's both!

ADDED May 13, 2009

If you tell your kids to go outside and run around, you might not get the results you'd want.  Your kids might immediately start exercising their lungs with loud questions and complaints.  Their bodies might stay inside and their muscles might work up some frowns.

But, as you probably already know, it's all about presentation with kids.  Children respond better when you just use the right packaging!

We suggest you enroll your children in an exercise class right away.  No need to drive around looking for a suitable instructor, of course, because you are it. 

Have your kids stand in an area with plenty of space around them.  Now start showing your little ones some exercises to do.  We're confident you can improvise something here; you could try teaching them:  jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, jogging-in-place, etc.  If you know any yoga that might work, great.  See how the kids are doing--spend as long doing your exercises as long as all you guys are all comfortable and happy. 

And now the really, really fun part:  now it's your kids' turn to be the instructors.  Kids, we've found, really enjoy taking over the reins.  My kids love watching me as I mimic their exercises, which usually involve some extreme, crazy gestures, some wild flailing of arms, and some practically impossible yoga-ish stances.  (Needless to say, for this exercise class, you'll want to leave your dignity behind in the locker room.)

When my kids (five and three) lead the class, they flap their arms, they twist their trunks, they hop and down vigorously.  (It all is quite tiring, I must say.)

It's exercise, it's entertainment, it's both!  Have fun!

Golden Point

It's freeze tag, but more fun. And oh, also with more tickling.

ADDED April 30, 2009

 

 Even though we're about to tell you that the object of this game is for your kids to get a lot of points, really points don't matter here at all.  The true point is to get the kids running around and having some fun.

(You'll need a minimum of two children for this activity.  Go collect them now)

Put "something" down in the middle of a large room or yard.  That something could be a toy, a rock, a book, a manila envelope.  That centrally located item now becomes "the Golden Point."   When the kids touch that thing, they get a point.  When they touch it again, they get another point!  The Golden Point just keeps giving.

The next thing you have to do is keep the kids away from the Golden Point. 

First, set up some safe areas about ten feet away from the Golden Point.  (Again, use whatever you have handy for these safe areas:  chairs work very well.)  The kids can hang out in the safe areas all they want.  No harm could ever come to them there.  But the kids do need to set out from their safe areas in order to get some Golden Points.

In between the safe areas and the Golden Point, that's where the "monster" awaits.  This monster (you or, if you want, a kid) has one purpose in life:  to keep kids from the Golden Point.  Also, the monster enjoys tickling kids who are trying to get to the Golden Point.

When a kid gets touched by the monster, he or she must freeze.  Only the touch of another kid will work for unfreezing purposes.  (The monster might want to take the opportunity to do some tickling of its hapless, frozen victim.)

As we said above, points don't matter.  The kids can count every time they touch the Golden Point, or not.  But there areno winners or losers here.  It's just running around fun.  (Oh, and tickling.  There should be a lot of tickling.)

Get Kid Butts Moving

Two games for kids with benefits for parents

ADDED April 29, 2009

 

 

This might come as a huge surprise, but my kids aren't perfect.  They sometimes break our rules.  Also, they sometimes don't listen.  And they have been diagnosed with an extreme case of lollygagging.  In addition to lollygagging, my kids are often slow pokes.  They dawdle and have even been caught dilly-dallying.  No, they're not perfect.

(For the record, I am not perfect either.  And for the record, my lovely wife is pretty much perfect in every way, I admit it.)

My kids are especially sluggish when it comes to getting ready for school.  So my pretty-much-perfect wife and I have developed two helpful games to get the kids a-movin':

Race to get dressed.  Kids like racing and competitions.  They also like seeing who wins and who loses (and of course, they like to be the winner.)  When it's time to get ready, my wife will say, "Okay, race to get dressed," and my kids don't need any further explanation.  They're out of the room and off to their dressers.  Clothes fly and, though sometimes someone might need a helping hand from a parent, the process is greatly sped up.  

(Since we don't want any ruffled feelings on the way to school, we try to judge the outcomes each day as ties.  If somebody is almost done getting dressed, it's a tie.  Also, if one child would technically lose the competition due to not having a shirt on, we say, "Oh, it was so close to being a tie.  All you needed was your shirt, and it would have been a tie."  This tends to keep all the competitors happy.  And if they do get a little upset -- well, at least they're all dressed.)

Get Away from the Ogre.  Nothing will motivate children to get moving like an unpleasant and rude-mannered ogre.  Apparently, I might have a medical condition, because I transform into an ogre when it's time to get into the car.  I tell the kids that unless they are in the "safe area" (their car seats), the ogre will eat them up.  And he'll use ketchup.  I count to three, and the quite motivated kids are suddenly dashing towards the car.  No more dawdling!  (And sadly, no snacks for the ogre.)

These two games are not just fun for the kids -- they're effective in getting us out the door on time for school.  Well, almost on time.  We're more like five-ish minutes late now.  I mean, we're not perfect, except for my wife.

 

(If your kids respond well to the ogre in your house, and you want to reward them for their efforts, check out this rather cuddly ogre toy.  Yes, it's Shrek.)

 

(Many kudos and thanks to deletem3 for the awesome ogre image used above!)

Pretty Town

It is pretty. Well, it was pretty.

ADDED April 28, 2009

 

This is a great one for young boys -- boys who like to build up and knock down.  (Girls who want to build and demolish are certainly invited, too.)

In addition to some builders and knock-downers, you'll need some blocks for this activity.  (Here are some of our favorite, recommended blocks, in case you're interested.  They're sturdy and perfect for this kind of exercise.)

If you wouldn't mind a brief interruption, here's a quick story we'd like to share.

Once upon a time, there was a very pretty town.  So pretty, in fact, that it got named "Pretty Town."   (The town really was quite pretty.)

Unfortunately, Pretty Town had a problem . . . a big problem.  A giant problem.  Every so often -- and after all the townspeople had got their houses looking nice and pretty -- some grumpy, stomping giants showed up in Pretty Town.  As they stomped, the giants chanted "Fee Fie Fo Fum.  I think I smell someone!"  (That's pretty much a standard giant chant, as you probably know.)

Sadly, once the giants were done stomping and chanting, and once the dust cleared, not a house in Pretty Town was left standing.  Poor Pretty Town.  Not so pretty any longer.

The townsfolk, plucky and optimistic, dusted themselves off and built up again.  Pretty!  But no sooner were the buildings looking spiffy again than . . . the sound of screeching wheels was heard as the giants' RV rolled into town once again.

And so on and so forth.  Repeat.

We hope you enjoyed that momentary detour into story time.  And in case you haven't already guessed, that tale is also today's activity.  First, have the kids get out the blocks and build a pretty town.  (The buildings and houses should be simple -- definitely not too painstakingly constructed.)  When the kids are done, admire how pretty (and simple) the buildings are.  Then cup your hand to your ear and announce that you hear some giants coming.

The kids should switch from pretty-building-builders into grumpy, stompy giants.  Tell the grumpy, stompy giants to have at it!

Once the town is flattened, call back the builder-uppers to re-construct the town.  (And so on and so forth.  Repeat.)

This game, though simple, is a big hit in our house.  The kids really relish the two vastly different modes -- construction and destruction -- and they really like all the verbal building up we did about those scenarios.  (We also tried to trick each other by building 'hiding houses.'  These were homes built away from the main part of Pretty Town.  Sometimes the giants missed the hiding houses during their stompfests, leading to some celebrating by the surviving Pretty Towners.)

Pretty Town is sure to be a foot-stomping, fo-fumming good time.  (Please just don't plan your next family vacation there.)

 

--S

No Cut Kite

Get some Spring fun a-flyin'!

ADDED April 22, 2009

For today's fun activity, get out the crafting supplies and make a kite!  It's a perfect outdoors activity to get some creativity pumping and legs running. 

Kite construction can be as easy or difficult as you want. And if you want to be technical about it, a kite -- or deltoid -- is a quadrilateral with two disjoint pairs of congruent adjacent sides.  (I copied that from Wikipedia). With your "deltoid," be creative and let inspiration strike with different shapes and colors.  In our opinion, the funkier the better.
 
A traditional kite has a construction that looks like this.

 

 

 

We made a few kites the other day that did not require any scissors (they did, however, require a little parental folding).  Our kites had a nice, classic kite shape and very easy to make.

Here are the folding steps we used (but as I said earlier let inspiration stike because we want to see photos of crazy kites!)   First, fold the paper in half like this. 

 

 

 

Then fold down the top third like this.  Next fold each of the corners in toward the middle like this (this part might require some parental help). 

 

 

 

 

Tape the four folds down and your finished product will look like this. 

 

 

 

Now you are ready to color.

 

 

 Use markers, crayons, glitter, or even pictures cut from old magazines. If your kids are stuck for decoration inspiration, share with them the meaning of kite decoration in Chinese culture:  the pictures on kites convey certain wishes—a crane or a tortoise for a long life, a dragon for prosperity, and a carp for strength.  All kites are considered to be good-luck charms.

When the decoration is done, tape some string onto the kite and see if it will fly.  We have found that most homemade kites don't fly very well so worry not, use your kite as a decoration for a few days and then recycle it.  Have fun!

What Does That Make You Think Of?

Free Association at its Finest (and Funnest)

ADDED March 26, 2009

 

 Waiting for my beautiful wife to finish shopping at Target the other day, my kids and I made up a game called "What does  that make you think of?" (Very original, I know.)

It was a life saver.  (Have you ever noticed that Target is enormous, and to finish a shopping trip you need to make several laps around the store?) The game is similar to Cute and Not-So-Cute, but maybe a little more advanced.

To play, someone spots an item on the shelves and points it out to the other players.  For example, someone could choose a light bulb.  They would then say, in their best quiz show announcer voice,"The item is light bulb.  What does that make you think of?"  At that point, it is up to the other players to do a little free association.  What does a light bulb make you think of? 

(When we played, I said a candle, my son said darkness, and my wife said a flashlight.  All approved answers and all fun. The next named thing was paper towels.  The panel thought the best answers were a mess, a spill, and a clean up!   Other items discussed on that particular trip were batteries, baggies and hand soap.)

We had a great time and the trip went very quickly!   Now, a visit to the grocery store makes us think of . . . fun!

(p.s.  If you have a grammatical problem ending a question with a preposition, please email us, leave a comment or join our facebook page and we will issue a full refund along with a sincere apology.)

 

(Photos compliments of the talented jae_yong and m_e_l_o_d_y )  

Total Utter Chaos

Also known as Make Up The Rules As You Go Along

ADDED March 06, 2009

If you've been reading our blog for a while, you know that we occasionally present ideas that may rile up the kids and -- if you're not careful -- may lead to total utter chaos.

Well, we don't want things to get out of control.  Really.  We want you and your kids to have fun, but we don't want too much wildness and craziness.  We do want you to be the parent and to be in charge.

Today's game, though, involves throwing some rules out the window and being as creative as you guys can be!  It is a great fun activity for stuck-inside rainy days.  


Round up the kids and get a couple board games.  Get the pieces out of the boxes and you're ready to play.  You could also add some cards, some extra dice, some spoons -- whatever your creative geniuses think up!

The point with this activity is to play without rules.  Or rather, with any rules that grab your kids' fancy.  This activity allows your kids to create their own rules for a change and to be spontaneous.

Here are some ideas for some fun rules for you to try:

1.  Every three minutes, everyone switches pieces.
2.  Place two or three boards from board games together.  Pieces should bounce from board to board.
3.  Roll some dice whenever you want.
4.  Everyone switch chairs.
5.  Before you take your turn, do a dance.
6.  When someone says "smiggy bop," everyone move back one space.
7.  The "loser" wins.  Everybody gets a cookie.

You guys can be as crazy and silly as you want.  What other rules can your kids come up with?
 
Be creative and see what interesting rules you guys can create.  And once you're done with your hodgepodge make-it-up-as-you go game, choose a boardgame with the kids and play by the rules.  Compare the game by the rules versus the game without the rules.  Spontaneity is fun, but rules can be comforting and fun, too!

 

(For another creative, Today Is Fun twist on board games, check out our popular big-as-a-house game.)

Oh, and we do have one final rule to propose:  everybody have a great weekend!

(Game photo courtesy of dougww.)

Airplane Tag

Prepare for takeoff!

ADDED February 27, 2009

Today we have a fun way to bring our Travel Week to a satisfying close:  a game called Airplane Tag.  In this game, everyone can transform themselves into their favorite air vehicle:  a passenger jet, a fighter plane, a giant cargo hauler -- even a blimp can play.  If it can fly, it's allowed!  (In case you didn't know, humans really can transform into excellent airplanes. To make the perfect flying machine, simply extend each of your arms out straight.  These will serve as your wings,  and now you are ready to fly.  Prepare for take off!)

Here is how you play the game:  all of the planes fly around, trying to avoid being touched by the plane that is "it."  Once tagged by the "it" plane, a person has to join hands with "it," creating one bigger plane.  Now, hand in hand, the multi-person "it" continues to tag other people and add players to the gigantic plane until everyone is tagged.  (The last person to be tagged will start as "it" for the next round.)

As the "it" plane gets bigger and bigger, the sound of its engine roar should increase dramatically, right?

This is a great game for a group, or even as few as three people. Everyone gets some exercise, and even parents can get in on the fun.  (I like to pretend to be a flying fortress or a supersonic jet -- two planes that are practically impossible to tag.)   

Up, up and away!  Hooray!

 

 

Thanks to trufflepig for the photos

Red Hearts

It's like musical chairs . . . but more fun!

ADDED February 13, 2009

 

Here is a fun and rowdy game you can play today.  All you need is some red construction paper, scissors, and kids.
 
First have everyone cut out a heart and write their name on it.  Then place the hearts around the room.  Next, have everyone hold hands.  Finally -- and this might be the most important part of the game -- play some Valentine's music (we like Dean Martin or Frank Sinatara).   As the music plays, everyone should rotate in a circle. Then, when the music stops, everybody needs to run and grab a heart.  Read the person's name on the heart and give that person a hug!

Then spread out the hearts again and repeat!

This is the perfect game to play outside: with a large group or with your extended family (grandparents love hugs).  And if your kids don't want to give hugs, then just have them say "Happy Valentine's Day!"
 
Oh, and I just found a heart with my Beautiful Wife's name on it.  I think I'll go get my hug right now!  Have fun.

 

Thanks to tekmagika for the photo

 

Color Charades

A fun, print-n-play activity

ADDED February 10, 2009

Charades is a simple game that's fun for adults so why can't kids play? 

Well, now kids can.  We have created a simple, eight-card charades game for kids that uses colors, not words.  It is so easy, in fact, that even kids who can't read will love to play.

Here are the rules (in case you forgot):  first pick a card from the stack, and don't show it to anyone.  The idea is to use physical rather than verbal language to convey what color is on your card.  You can point to something that is the same color as the color or pantomime something that is the same color.  Remember you can point and act -- but don't talk.

If your kids are not understanding how to play, act out a few rounds until everyone gets it.  The game is so simple, however, that usually everybody gets it right away and is eager to play. 

At the end of this activity, all the kids will express their delight by doing some (possibly silent) thumbs ups.

 

Just click here to download!

 

 

Grab a Tree

A tricky version of tag

ADDED February 06, 2009

 

 

For this one, you'll need some open space (backyard, large living room) and a number of big, "grabbable" things (trees, dining room chairs).  

The game is pretty simple.  Someone (you, for starters) is "it."  And by "it," we mean, "the bad guy" or the "monster."  You know, "it."

As with traditional tag, everybody else wants to avoid being touched by "it."

When everybody else is touching a tree (or dining room chair) they are safe and can't be touched by "it."

But in keeping with our trickiness theme this week, the reason this activity is trickier than normal tag is:  "it" can tell everybody else when to leave the safety of their tree trunk or dining room chair.   It yells, "Everybody switch trees!  Everybody switch trees!"  And so everybody must.

And this, of course, is It's opportunity to grab a hapless victim.

This version of tag is just a bit different and a bit trickier.  We think it adds a bit more spice to the game.  And in keeping with good ole fair play, isn't it nice to let It have a little more say in the proceedings?

Have fun running around this weekend, indoors or out.  And we hope you enjoyed our tricky tips this past week!

 

--S

 

 (Many thanks to wheat_in_your_hair for the photo!)

Where are we going and what should we take?

Get those imaginations packing for fun!

ADDED January 27, 2009

Here is a fun question to ask your kids at breakfast:  "If we were going on a trip to the jungle for two weeks, what would we need to take?" It is interesting to see what they would take and why.

If they get stuck for answers, you can start them off with some leading questions.  Here are a few examples: Should we bring our suitcases or our backpacks? What should we put in the suitcases? Will we need hats, boots and jackets? Should we travel around in a car or on an elephant?

My son, being a realist and very fond of numbers, decided to break it down in numbers:  he needed to pack 14 pairs of pants, 14 shirts, 16 pairs of underwear, 12 pairs of socks, hiking shoes, a guide book and money. He also wanted to stay in a hotel.  My daughter, on the other hand, was really not interested in packing clothes.  She just wanted to make sure all of her stuffed animals would be able to come.  She also would rather stay in a tent near a river or on a mountain and would ride on the elephant if it was trained.

Have fun with this one as you get those imaginations racing, and let us know what your kids would take with them on their trip.  Personally I would rather go to Hawaii for two weeks, taking a swimsuit and couple of  shirts, but I am still waiting for someone to offer!  (On a side note we would be more than happy to write up a review of any family vacation destinations.  Yes, we prefer to fly first class, and we are always available at info@todayisfun.com.)

 

 

Quizmaster & Answermaster

Because all good games have funny titles.

ADDED December 19, 2008

To play this game you need two people the first person is the Quizmaster the second the Answermaster.  The Quizmaster asks the questions and the Answermaster answers the questions.  This game is fantastic for all ages because the questions can be tailored appropriately to make it easy for everyone to win.  It also can be played as a group activity to include many more kids if needed.

First the person who is the Quizmaster thinks of two or three things that have one thing in common, for example shark, octopus and sea cucumber. Next the Quizmaster poses their question to Answermaster,” What is the same about these three things, a shark, an octopus and a sea cucumber?”  At this point if you have a group of kids, in an orderly manner everyone in the group takes a turn giving their best answer to the Answermaster. When all the answers are tallied the Answermaster tells the Quizmaster the answer, “They all live in the ocean”.  Now the Quizmaster becomes the Answermaster and it is their turn to think of of two or three things that are the same.

The game works great using a variety of topics and the questions can range from very simple to extremely difficult, here are some starters:

Quizmaster question:
What is the same about these three things red, blue and green?

Answermaster answer.
All three are colors.

Quizmaster question:
What is the same about these three things truck, car and van?

Answermaster answer.
All three are cars.

Quizmaster question:
What is the same about these three things elbow, toe, and nose?

Answermaster answer.
All three are parts of your body.

Quizmaster question:
What is the same about these three things sleepingbag, tent and flashlight?

Answermaster answer.
All three are used for camping.

Try it today and use the comments section to let us know what you little Quizmasters come up with!  

Huggy!

A nice monster

ADDED December 04, 2008

Huggy is a very nice monster, just listening to his name you can discern he likes to be hugged.

When you hear him say, “ Huggy” you have to hug him or he will repeat his name over and over while chasing you.  Huggy is very fast.  If you like to be chased please don't hug him.  He only stops repeating his name and chasing when he gets a hug.  Beware if you let him into your house you will have to give him a lot of hugs.  I would suggest only those who are not stingy with hugs invite him in.  

 Moms can be Huggys, Dads can be Huggys even kids can be Huggys. They all are very polite and if you don't want a hug they will not hug you and but be aware they can be persistent in their pursuit of hugs.

Should you let Huggy into your house today?  He really is a nice monster.

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!

 

 

Don't spill the tickle!

Training program for young mimes

ADDED November 05, 2008

At night when I am putting my kids to bed, I really don't need much of an excuse to tickle them.  However in my quest for more inventive ways to tickle and make them stay up past their bed time, I created a mime-inspired game called "Don't spill the tickle."
 
It is really easy to play:  cup your hands and pretend you are holding a tickle. Carefully pass it tickle to your child, being very careful not to spill the tickle.  After the tickle has been successfully passed, now it is their turn to pass it back to you. When they are passing, even the smallest bit of shake or wobble will cause the tickle to spill and result in a good tickling.  While the tickling is going on, encourage your child to grab the tickle and pass it back to you as fast as possible in order to stop the tickling.  When the tickle is back under control, keep passing it back and forth until it inevitably spills again.
 
I like this game because if your kids don't want to be tickled, they will be very careful not to spill the tickle.  But if they do like to be tickled, then of course there will be a big spill!

Savings plane

When you are done clipping, coupons make some fun!

ADDED November 04, 2008

At our house, coupons come in the mail on Tuesday.  After looking through the bounty of savings brought by the postman, we have started a tradition that has really become a soaring success.  We make airplanes out of the coupon pages.
 
I believe the simpler the plane the better, so we usually make the basic model.  The basic model is best because it is very easy for the kids to make and we can make a fleet very quickly, giving us more time to fly.
 
After heading outside and giving our planes some air-time, we will ground the fleet and head off to the recycling bin and wait till next Tuesday.
 
We like this idea because it is a quick activity, and it is great fun to make something fun out of what would otherwise just be simply recycled!  To the skies!

 

The Big, Big-As-The-House, House-Sized Board Game

New fun with the toys and stuff you already have.

ADDED November 03, 2008

My kids and I have been playing board games for while now and this activity is a new twist on a old favorite, the board game.  With this activity, we will take a few items that you already have and use them in a different way to create a giant board game that can be played literally all over your house.  This game is as big as the house!

To play this game you need at least 20 blocks or Legos and a pack of playing cards or dice.  Each player will also need to select a favorite toy to use as a 'marker', like a bear, doll or action figure.

To start, create a trail around the house with the blocks.  Make it huge -- this is a house-sized game.  Each block in the path will be a space for your game. You and your kids can make the path go under chairs, around furniture, and upstairs.  Send your path thru the tub, slide it down the stairs, you can even make it go outside. Just make sure everyone knows where the trail starts and where it ends.

Each player will draw one card from the deck and then move the number of spaces on the card. For example, if you draw a five, move five spaces; if you draw a king or ace, move eleven spaces.  (Alternately you can use dice to come up with a number of spaces to move.)

Then add some fun rules of your own, at my house each player has to act like their marker when they are moving (roaring and snorting animals are best). Another rule we like to add is anytime your marker lands on the stairs you get to slide to the bottom, this often ends in a lot of stuffed animal tumbling action that is a crowd favorite.

Now that you have your giant, house-sized board game set up, play it!  And when you are done, change it and play again, then tear it down and play again tomorrow!  Also if you have a house that is over 10,000 square feet make sure you limit your game play to just a few rooms, like the ballroom and salon.  And make sure you stay away from the grand piano and elevator.
Have fun!

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?

Book in review

A little review to help your little readers

ADDED October 20, 2008

Use this out loud reading activity at home to help your new readers (and even older ones) review words that cause stumbling.  It's called "The Book in Review," and it's not a game, but a way to build a familiarity with newly learned words.

Here is how to do it:  As your kid is reading a book out loud, keep a mental list of what words are new or that might need some review. When the reading is done, close the book and give your child a pop quiz on the tricky words.

Make it fun and, if you're up for it, make it a little bit like a game show.  Find a page that has a troublesome word, point to it and ask in a booming voice, "What is the word?"  If they get the word right, cheer and whoop.  Make "jackpot" sound effects and an all-around big deal.  

Then move onto another word and repeat the question.  If your child gets the word wrong, have them work on figuring it out, and keep that page marked for further review and move onto another word.  When your kid gets the next word right, quickly turn back to the word they previously got wrong, review it again until it is correct.  In the end, when you are finished with the review,  carry your young reader on your shoulders like they are champs that just won the big game.

Try a review with your little readers today. (But don't practice this book review with your significant other unless you are able to lift them up on your shoulders!

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!

Your own Freaky Friday!

Fun weekend bedtime activity.

ADDED October 10, 2008

Weekend bedtime is a great time to play this fun game.  (The weekend part for this suggestion is key, because it might rile your little ones up just a bit.)  But the joy on my kids' faces makes any rowdiness well worth it.

This game started one night as my lovely wife and I were putting our kids to sleep.  My beautiful spouse said, "Can you put me to sleep instead? Can you two be the Mom and Dad?"  Being the opportunists all kids are when it comes to staying up late, both kids in unison said, "OK!"  They quickly turned off the lights and closed the door, leaving the room dark.
 
I could see their shadows under the door wondering what they should do. They were the parents now. What exactly do parents do after the door closes?
 
I waited a few seconds and started to cry, then asked for water and said I was scared. Each statement caused a flurry of activity:  water was poured, questions were asked, hugs were given -- and each time the light went off very quickly and the door was closed.

Then I would get out of bed, and they would gently put me back in.  My wife would lose her blanket, and they would find it.   I would ask if I could eat a fried egg, and they would tell me it was best to eat eggs in the morning. It was so much fun, we played for about 10 minutes, and then the real parents put the real kids to bed.
 
My kids had a lot of fun pretending to be the parents, and they ask at least once a week if they can put me to bed.   Most of the time I say, "No, Not tonight, its to late."  But when I do say yes, they are thrilled.
 
Try tonight and have your own Freaky Friday style fun.  And try to stay in bed, okay?

Mirror dance

A dandy dancing distraction.

ADDED October 07, 2008

During the course of the day, we all have places to be and things to do. However getting these things done is not an easy task with a little one nipping at your heels. Sometimes kids need a little distraction so Dad and Mom can get dressed, put the dog in the car, or just make lunch.
 
So what my wife and I will do with our little ones is put them in front of a mirror, turn on something with a beat, and let the mirror entertain.  All kids love to look at themselves in the mirror, and when you add music and dancing, a winning combination is guaranteed.  Also, an added bonus is how cute it is to see your little one dancing and smiling in their own musical world.
 
A mirror is also a great entertainer of older kids as well:  they too love to watch themselves dance and move to the music.  My kids literally have spent hours dancing happily away to the smooth beats. Making up plays, stories and even trying to act-out the sounds from a cartoon sound effects.  So no matter what your kids age, crank up the tunes and dance the afternoon away it will be time well spent.

info@todayisfun.com.

Beware the Bopper!

A semi-magical method of ousting kids' extra energy

ADDED October 03, 2008

 

This is a quick and easy way to get kids' bodies moving.  It is particularly useful for times when you sense the kids have a lot of pent-up energy and are on the verge of acting rambunctious anyway.

First, you need to get yourself a Bopper.  This can be any household object that would be good for bopping the kids on the head:  an empty paper towel tube is ideal.

Tell the kids you recently picked up a Bopper at the special Bopper store.  Show them your fine new acquisition and, while you're at it, explain how the Bopper works...

When you say the name of an object or animal and then touch the top of a kid's head with the Bopper, the kid turns into whatever you said!

Try it out yourself.  It really works.

I like to start off by turning the kids into the craziest, wildest things imaginable:  a cheetah, a helicopter, an amped-up jumping bean.  

Encourage the children to really create the thing you name with their bodies.  For example, with a helicopter, I need to see propellor blades straight out and spinning.

And here's the trick:  after a couple of minutes of wild re-creations, I move to "medium" for a few minutes, and then I conclude with five minutes of "quiet and mellow."

For "medium," the kids could be a car, a raindrop or a dog.  You get the idea.

For the very popular "quiet and mellow" category, I bop them and conjure up:  a turtle, a snail, a clock pendulum, an opening and closing door, a chair (inanimate objects are great), or an ice cube.

And now, the grand finale:  when I sense that the kids have got some energy out and are getting pretty mellow, I tell them we're having a contest.  I bop them on the heads, tell them they're rocks, and whoever can remain a rock the longest wins!

Ah, but in such instances, I am really the winner!  Bop on, people!

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?)

Backwards Breakfast

Mix up breakfast -- no blender required!

ADDED September 22, 2008

As we all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day and here at TIF we agree but we also think that breakfast should be fun. So try this entertaining idea today and show your kids what a Backwards Breakfast is.

We all know what backwards day is (the hilarious joke that is played on playgrounds worldwide) however until a few days ago I was not sure what a Backwards Breakfast was. Thankfully my daughter made up this idea and shared it with me. Now we will have a Backwards Breakfast a few times a week.

So as parents all you have to do is ask your kids if they want a backwards breakfast.  Then put the cereal where the toast and fruit should go and put the toast and fruit where the cereal goes. This is what it looked like at my house.

Let us know what your Backwards Breakfast looked like at
info@todayisfun.com.

HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- WHAT DO YOU GET....

A fun problem solving activity.

ADDED September 09, 2008

Most things here at TIF are absurd and amusing.  What can I say -- we like to have fun. We revel in the ridiculous and savor the silly.  Today’s idea is no different.  I like to play this game in the car when everybody is buckled in, a little bored, and ready to get to our destination. It is called, "What do you need to get…?" 

I will ask my kids simple questions like, ”What do you need to get an egg?”
The answer is not as easy as it might seem, and there are many right answers: you might need a chicken or a store or even a hand to pick up the egg. The fun comes from the imagination used thinking up silly answers. Or the questions can be of a more educational nature, ”What do you need to get 5?”  The answer again is many things: 2+3=5 or 9-4=5 . . . and even 5 birthday parties is a correct answer. Or the question can be even more silly like, ”What do you need to to get to Hawaii?” An airplane, wings, a boat, or even money would all be answers!

This is a great activity because the kids have to figure out the answer, and the adults have to be a little creative as they try and stump them with more and more outlandish questions.

What do your need to get…
Toast.
A carrot.
A car tire.
A book.
Sand.
Seatbelt.
A dog.

Try it today and leave us a comment letting us know “What do you need to get…?”.

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!"

Kids Games -- Sprinkler Hokey Pokey

And other sprinkler amusements

ADDED August 18, 2008

It's still Summer and it's still warm.  One easy way to cool the kids down, without schlepping them off to a water park or beach, is to turn on the sprinklers and let them run around in the spray.

I am a person who likes to get my money's worth, so I want my children to get as wet as possible while the sprinklers are on.

To extend the fun and make this more than just merely running around, I try to create some games for the kids in the sprinklers.  

One game is "Sprinkler Hokey Pokey."  Call out body parts that the kids must douse in the sprinkler spray:  "Everybody stick  your right foot into the water."  (For each body part named, the kids have to run to a different sprinkler  -- they can't stay stuck in the same place.)   I try to be as complete (and as tricky) as I can while calling out what to soak:  shoulders, hair, belly button, elbows, back of the neck, and so forth.

Another method of making the kids as wet as possible is calling out things for them to find and go touch.  I tell everybody to go touch a pink flower, or a broken brick, or the kid nearest them, and so forth.

Oh, and one last thing here:  as far as I'm concerned the trick is to get the kids as wet as possible, while staying perfectly dry myself.  If you can swing that, I feel it'll be a successful outing.

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!

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.

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!

Machine Assembly

Put together some fun for the kids

ADDED July 08, 2008

For this one, you will assemble a machine using the materials you have on hand:  the kids.  Machine assembly is great to do during playdates at your house, because it's more fun with more kids to be the parts.

Tell the kids that they're going to be parts of a machine.  In a machine, each part does one specific action, over and over.  That's how machines work -- a machine part never changes its action.

Ask each child, or machine part, to show everybody what action they make.  (You  may want to demonstrate with an example, using your hands, arms, legs.) After each child has had a turn to invent an action, you "assemble" the machine.  That is, tell the kids stand close together, so that they're almost interacting, kind of like the workings of a real machine.  You can turn the machine on and off with your voice, or by tapping the buttons on top of the heads.

During the summer, it's fun to make a water machine outside in the yard or wading pool.  Each kid uses a water toy as part of a specific action:  squirting, pouring, dumping, etc.

At our house, we have one rule with the water machine.  You can really do whatever you want as part of the water machine . . . as long as you don't get me wet!

4th of July Ice Cream.

Entertaining way to make a dessert.

ADDED July 02, 2008

Here is a fun idea to try this 4th of July. It combines a little science, a little cooking and in the end you will have made a dessert.  My kids and I have also done this with ziplock bags but I do prefer the coffee can method because it is so much more fun to roll it around.

I have adapted this recipe from the website ezinearticles.com the idea is super fun and super easy.

You will need:

1 lb. Coffee Can

3 lb. Coffee Can

1/2 cup Rock salt

From the Refrigerator:

1 pint Half and Half

1 1/2 tsps. Vanilla

1/3 cup + 2 tblsps. Sugar

You will also need to choose a flavor to make:

For fruit flavor:
1/3 cup of fruit. Blueberries add a festive holiday flare.

For a cookie flavor:
Crush 3 of your favorite cookies.

Or add 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup for chocolate ice cream.

Or 2 teaspoons of vanilla for vanilla ice cream.

METHOD:

Mix the first three basic ingredients from the refrigerator together and pour into the one pound coffee can. Add flavorings if desired. Place the lid on securely and set inside the three pound can.

Add ice, and alternate layers of ice and salt outside the small can and inside the large can. When totally full, secure the lid on the large can. You may wish to add duct tape for good measure.

Wrap in a towel and roll or gently kick the can for at least 10 minutes.  This activity is best when done outside.  When time is up carefully open the cans and check the ice cream.

If it is not starting to freeze, replace lids and roll 10 minutes more. The ice cream should be frozen to the sides and bottom of the can. If the ice cream is not thick enough, place in freezer for at least ½ hour.

And eat!

Let us know how this idea adds to your 4th of July festivities, as always we are available at info@todayisfun.com!

4th of July Parade.

Hooray for the Red, White and Blue!

ADDED July 01, 2008

This Friday is the 4th of July and I am sure everybody that reads this blog will be relaxing poolside with a cool beverage all day, with no kids to take care of. If this pipe dream is not a reality for you and your kids are saying, “I am bored what do we do now?”  Why not organize a parade?

At my house usually there are many kids from several different families so organizing a parade is rather easy. However if you find yourself short on participants even a family of four can create a very entertaining parade.

First, think of a theme for the Parade.  Something inspirational like, Freedom, Liberty or Today is Fun.

Second chose a Grand Marshall. Someone who is inspirational like a baby or a pet.

Third make an order for the participants. Youngest to oldest usually works best.

Fourth turn the kids loose into the garage to collect skateboards, bikes or really anything with wheels to be in the parade.

Fifth have the kids spend a few minutes decorating their bikes and bodies for the parade.

And sixth sit back and enjoy the parade.

Drop us an email and let us know what you think info@todayisfun.com and remember Today is Fun!

Go ashore, sailors!

A fun out-of-doors game to release some of the kids' energy

ADDED June 23, 2008

 

Tell the kids that they are now sailors. (They can certainly be sailors on a pirate ship, if that will increase their interest.)

Show them one part of the yard, which will be their ship. Show them another part of the yard which is the shore. (Ideally, the ship and the shore should be far away from each other.)

Show them a couple other things they'll need to know: how a sea captain salutes and how a mermaid swims (for this, the kids should lie down on the grass and "swim.") One more thing: sometimes on a ship at sea, there are cannon balls being shot from time to time, and when that happens, everybody will definitely want to duck.

Now the motley group of young sailors will need some direction from you. Have the kids stand on the ship and then call out, "All the sailors go to shore!" The kids, of course, have to run from the ship to the shore. As they move, call out, "Salute the captain" or "Swim like a mermaid!" The kids need to react accordingly. When they reach shore, it's time to go back to the ship. Call out, "Cannonball" or "Mermaid!" You get the idea.

This game is fun, it's tiring (in a good way), and it can help show your kids the difference between ship shape and landlubbers. Ahoy!

Monster Class

A fun activity for kids that may involve some growling and howling

ADDED June 22, 2008

This is creative, physical and fun: Have a "Monster Class" with your kids.

You and your kids will all march around the house or backyard like monsters.

But first, you'll need to be the teacher and show the kids how. There are three things to know about monsters:

(1) Each kind of monster walks in its own, special way. ("Big step, little step" is a favorite walk in our house. Also: "stomp, stomp, stomp.")

(2) Each kind of monster does something interesting with its hands and arms as it moves. (Waving arms and claws around, for example.)

(3) And of course, each kind of monster makes a very unique and often unusual noise.

Demonstrate each of those things to your little ones and lead them in practicing how to be monsters. Then, each of the kids can have a turn being the teacher, and you can be the student.

If your child isn't "into" monsters, then you can have "Animal Class" (highly recommended), "Princess Class," "Pirate Class," or "Robot Class."

No matter what, fun is on the curriculum today, and all monsters will get high marks for their efforts!

Have you ever seen a PoodleRex?

Word jumble silliness!

ADDED June 19, 2008

Kids are always pretending to be animals. At any time a zoo full of hamsters, hyenas or hippopotami can be found thundering thru the house.  The question that always comes up is, “Dad, what kind of animal do you want to be?” I usually choose hippopotamus because they float around, listen to the zookeeper (my daughter)  and don’t get into a lot of trouble.

But sometimes when posed with this question what I’ll do is take two animals and create a new animal. It is really simple, take the first part of one animal and combine it with the last part of another animal and presto you have the fearsome ham-opotamus, the deadly hip-yena or the poorly behaved hy-ster.

Try this idea in the car or at the dinner table.  It is fun with sound effects and acting (I always encourage gentle acting), but I love to see their imaginations light up when one of these mythical creatures appear

Here is a list of my favorites The Rabburtle (Rabbit and Turtle), Buffmunk (Buffalo and Chipmunk) and Rhinokey (Rhino and Monkey) are all favorites.  And in my sons mind nothing is better then the ferocious PoodleRex (Tyrannosaurus Rex and Poodle) I just wish we could house break him!  

Next time you are asked, “what animal do you want to be” Let us know what you and you kids come up with. We are just an email away info@todayisfun.com or leave a comment.

Sticker Story.

An activity that is sure to stick.

ADDED June 16, 2008

This is a fun activity for a lazy summer afternoon. Take some stickers and one piece of paper. Have you child put all the stickers on the paper. They can be upside down, on top of each other and all over. When all the stickers are applied to the paper now the fun begins.

Look over the page for little scenes or still life portraits that have happened accidentally on the page. Point out how it looks like two of the stickers are having a conversation or how one sticker is standing on its head in a tree. As these scenes begin to develop you and your child can start to make up a story about the action on the page. They usually are short and at my house definitley silly, but Mom always loves to hear all about it.

Yesterday I heard one about a puppy who liked to ride dinosaurs to go camping. When the puppy and the dinosaurs got to the campground they made friends with a family of hamsters and roasted s’mores. Now that’s what I call a story.

DON'T Knock Down My Tower

A rowdy, rough-housing, fun and physical game

ADDED June 13, 2008

First, a warning. Most of our ideas are pretty mellow, and nobody will get hurt while trying them. This one is different. Be careful! Somebody could get hurt.

This activity can get a little rough, and it might be a fun one to do with Dad over the weekend.

Okay, now that we've offered that disclaimer, here's the game . . .

Set up a stack of things: dominos, blocks, whatever you have available. It should be a 'tower,' and it should be a foot or so high.

Now you tell the kids, "DON'T knock down my tower!"

If your kids are like mine, they'll immediately see the game here, and they will absolutely want to do just that very thing.

The object is for the adult to try to stop the kids from knocking the tower down.

That's it. The kids do whatever they can to knock the tower down, and you do whatever you can to stop them.

This can be difficult, especially the more children are involved in the activity, and especially if your kids are determined and wily, the way mine are.

Because this game can potentially be rough and can involve some falling down, you'll want to play it somewhere that offers 'soft landings:' on the grass, for instance, or on a nice thick carpet. And it's a better game for older kids than for littler ones.

Have some fun with Dad this weekend. And whatever you do, don't knock down my tower!

 

(See the post right below this one for some great, possibly last minute ideas and suggestions for Father's Day.)

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.)

 

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!

Out of the Box

Seriously, get out of the box, kids!

ADDED May 27, 2008

 

 

An unquestionably physical activity, this will hopefully tire the kids out when they've got an excess of energy.  But make no mistake, you've got to be ready to get physical, too.

Play this at the beach, the park, or any large-ish space.

I draw a square in the sand and stand in it.  "No kids allowed in my box!" I say.

Of course, my kids need no further invitation.  They want in!

My job, of course, is to stick to my guns, and keep those little guys out!

They run in, and I lift them out.  And so on.

At the end, I let all the kids into the square (without seeming to be giving up.)  I then stand outside the box and say, "Nobody allowed out of the box!

Great Gadzooks

Alphabetical word fun.

ADDED May 22, 2008

My kids are learning all about words at school, and lately I have seen their vocabulary increase greatly. What I do to encourage bigger words and a broader vocabulary is play a game I call “Great Gadzooks.”

It is slightly challenging and definitley something that makes them think but it can be played anywhere. The results are always hilarious.

All you need is a little imagination and some word power. You start at the beginning of the alphabet and use a adjective and a noun that start with the letter A.  For example, ”Awesome Apples” or “Arabian Ant,” then the game moves on to the next person. They will use the letter B for their turn, they follow suit using the same adjective and noun formula, ”Burned Bananna” or “Bouncy Blanket” -- the more outlandish the better. The next person follows with the letter C then D and so on. Some letters do get hard but we have a few "go to" words that we will use for I,V,X,Y and Z (email me if you need some help with those letters).

It is always fun. For some reason “Vacuuming Vipers” always gets a huge laugh and “Marvelous Mom” elicits cheers of joy. Let me know what makes you and your kids laugh. It would be great to read some of your "Colorful Comments".

Zee-Papers Please?

A rowdy, running, screaming and chasing game.

ADDED May 20, 2008

This game started one night when I came home and my daughter took a parking stub that was hanging out of my back pocket and would not give it back. I really did not need the scrap of paper -- it was destined for the lint trap in the dryer. Since she would not give it back, I did what anybody would do, I started chasing her around the house while doing my best impersonation of an Eastern European Intelligence officer asking repeatedly, ”Where are ZEEEEE Papers?”

From that point on the game of “Zee Papers” was born. It is a rowdy, running, screaming and chasing game, but it is really fun.

All you need are Zee Papers and a few people to play. One of the kids will get Zee Papers and hide them. When I ask where are “Zee Papers,” they will say, “ I don’t know” or “He has them.”  Then I will tickle and chase whoever knows where Zee Papers are until they crack and tell me where they are hidden. Once I find Zee Papers, I’ll make it very easy for the kids to steal them away from me again and again. They love the chasing and hiding part of the game as much as I do.

Try it indoors or outside. Kids just love spending time with their parents. And Zee Papers is a perfect opportunity. So I ask you, “Where are ZEEEEEEE Papers?”

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.

Don’t Drop the Baby

Seriously . . . don't drop the baby

ADDED May 13, 2008

I did it to my kids when they were very young—and it was a surefire way to get a smile. This is also one of the first ways I really started interacting with my infant children—before I discovered this trick I was kind of a separate, distant admirer.

What you do is hold the young child up a bit, about to the height of your face. Say, “Don’t…drop…the…baby.” When you say the last word, move your hands very slightly off the child and let them fall.

Of course, you don’t let them fall. You are very, very careful…and after a tenth of a second, after they’ve dropped a foot or so, you stop their descent. This isn’t really ‘catching’ the child, since you’ve never really let go.

Anyway, safety admonitions aside, kids generally enjoy this brief free fall. It usually gets a big smile. And once they understand the game…that they always get dropped on ‘baby,’ there is further fun as they anticipate what will happen during the recounting of the preceding words.

Have fun, and whatever you do, don’t drop the baby.

Build a Bridge

Entertain the kids by transforming them into busy bridge builders

ADDED May 12, 2008

First take all the cushions and pillows off the couch. Next gather five stuffed animals. Then have your kids close their eyes and count to ten.  While they are counting place the stuffed animals around the room, these will be the alligators.  When they open their eyes tell them they need to work together and use the pillows and cushions to build a bridge to get across the river (from one side of the room to the other) without touching the alligators or falling off the bridge.

My kids love this game and I like to see them solve problems by working together. It is also fun to see how serious the game can become especially when construction takes place near an alligator.  Their genuine concern for each other is so cute.

If they fall off the cushion or touch a stuffed animal tell them that you have to see them fall or make a rule that if they fall and return to the bridge before you count to ten they are safe.  Whatever you do make it fun.

Try it with a flashlight or have the kids blindfold you and be your guides across the deadly gator infested river.  Be sure to clean up before company comes over, most people are scared of alligators.

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).

Entertaining learning in the tub!

$4.00 for a cup of bubbles

ADDED May 06, 2008

Tub time is one place where teaching is not the easiest. Most books, flash cards and personal computers are not made for the bathroom. But I have found a creative way to teach fractions and math related learning without the risk of electrocution.

I will take the set of measuring cups from the kitchen and relocate their usefulness to the bathroom. Here is where the fun starts.

I will fill the tub and then ask simple questions that require my kids use the cups to measure the water and answer my questions. I will say, “ how many times does 1/2 cup fill up the 1 cup” or “ does the 1/4 cup fill up the 1 cup”? Once they understand the concept of 1/4, 1/2 and 1 then we can build on that knowledge and assign a monetary value to each cup. I will pretend like I am at a store and ask,” If 1/4 cup of tub water is one penny how much is 1/2 cup or 1 cup”?

It is a lot of fun and eventually we will start measuring shampoo, soap and bubbles and in the end I always end up paying $4.00 for a cup of bubbles. I really do love bubbles.

Note: start with 1 cup,1/2 cup and 1/4 cup. The 1/3 and 2/3 cups still confuse me.

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

On the go hairdo

Did you know how entertaining hair care can be?

ADDED May 04, 2008

I don’t really spend time doing hair -- my kids' hair or my own.  There are about a million other things in life to do before I get to those chores.

But when we’re waiting in line, or at the check out, it helps to pass the time to get out some hair care products.

Of course, I don’t really have any. But I make my hand into a ‘comb,’ and ask, “Who needs a good combing?” My kids volunteer, and I ‘comb’ their hair with my fingers. They think it feels weird, and kind of tickles.

Then I offer to use the hair dryer on them (a contraption that has always held a certain fascination for kids.) Making a loud, hair drying noise, I quickly move their hair around with my fingers and hands.

Then it’s time for some goop—a necessary finale to any good haircut. I hold an invisible goop bottle out, and squirt it all over the kids' hair. This involves random, crazy tickling of the top of their heads.

When I’m through, everybody’s hair certainly looks a little worse and a lot more messy…but everybody’s had a decent time, and the waiting is over.

The gate is open, the gate is closed

Release some of the kids' energy, and have fun doing it.

ADDED April 27, 2008

This requires a piece of furniture in the center of a room (as opposed to one pushed up against the wall.) A dining table would work, or a sofa, or an armchair.

Sit a few feet from the furniture, and stretch out your arm straight in front of you. Tell your kids, “the gate is closed.”

Now bend your arm at the elbow, so that your hand is pointing towards the ceiling. Show them, “the gate is open.”

Leave the “gate” open, and start the game. Have your kids run around the item of furniture. (If you’re more comfortable moving this game outside, by all means do so.) The first couple times the kids pass by, announce, “The gate is open.”

Now make it interesting: as a child nears, lower your arm and say, “The gate is closed.” The kids stop, and have to wait until the gate opens, before resuming their running.

My kids especially like it when they think they’ve passed through the open gate, but it comes ‘crashing down’ and grabs them suddenly. I can see their excitement and curiosity—will they make it by, or will they get grabbed by the gate?

This activity is a favorite in our house.

Costco Fort

Hours of entertainment for kids thanks to your local gigantic warehouse store

ADDED April 23, 2008

Kids like to build—that’s why blocks (and Tinker Toys, and Lincoln Logs, and Legos) were invented.

Well, when your kids are at loose ends—and argue that they’ve already built every possible structure with their toys, direct them to your garage or storage cabinet. There you will find the bounty of Costco (or other, similar warehouse store).

My kids love building as much as anyone, but they get a special delight in stacking up rolls of paper towels, toilet paper, kleenex boxes, diaper packets, and the like. Because my wife buys these items in quantities of at least one hundred and fifty (or so it seems), we always have a lot of raw material for these structures—which quickly get bigger than the kids. If anyone causes a collapse (an inevitability—and kind of fun in of itself) no one gets hurt because, well, there are no bricks, just paper towel rolls. And then we build again.

Twist Tie Pterodactyl

Shopping can be prehistoric fun for kids with this activity

ADDED April 22, 2008

 

A Twist Tie Pterodactyl is easier than it seems. Take one of the twist ties in the produce section, gently bend it to form wings and a body. Now you have a little Pterodactyl for your little one and they can both help you shop.

 

My kids love to hold the Pterodactyl and pretend it is flying as we zip around the market. Terry The Pterodactyl also helps us choose our fruits and vegetables she is a very healthy eater for a prehistoric creature.

 

If your kids are old enough to be out of the cart, the basket acts as a perfect nest to they don't wander to far. Have fun.

Uh Oh, Here Comes A Pillow

You know that this way of entertaining kids was thought up by a Dad

ADDED April 15, 2008

A little odd, maybe, but definitely fun.

Have your kid lie down, facing up. Take a sofa pillow--or one off a bed--and announce, "Uh oh, here comes a pillow." Gently throw the pillow onto your child. And repeat.

My kids like this quite a bit. The seem excited and curious to see whether I'll throw the pillow onto their faces or their stomachs. (I promise, I throw very gently. No one requires a helmet for this game--and no one gets hurt.)

When a kid is covered with a few pillows, I say, "Okay, now I have to sit down," and I apply light pressure to the pile of pillows. Sometimes my kids pretend to be an article of furniture, and other times they indignantly proclaim that they are children, and that I should find a more suitable seating arrangement.

On the Road

Entertain your kids anywhere with an invisible racetrack

ADDED April 04, 2008

Running low on kisses

Really, who needs an excuse to kiss a child?

ADDED March 24, 2008

Often on a lazy Saturday I like to play this game with my kids, they will be playing outside and I will call them over, look them up and down, feign concern and say, “ You look like you are running a little low on kisses, Let me fill you up”. Then I will grab them and kiss them non-stop while they wiggle and try to get away. After a few seconds I’ll let them continue with what they were doing. A few minutes later I will call them over again and begin my charade all over.

Once they are “wise” to my antics, I resort to chasing and kissing them and that too is fun. This game also works well with adults, I like to play it with my Beautiful Wife but she does not like the chasing part as much as the kids do.