Posts Tagged ‘children’
What about camps? Camps activities exist on a large range so anybody can find the appropriate activity or sports in the camps.
The holidays are near and you’re looking for something new this summer because you’re fed up of homework and sick of your computer. You’ve played all the games there are to play, watched the latest movies, so what do you do now? The answer to this would be some time spent engaging in summer camp activities. Summer camp activities are usually new experiences to most kids, especially as they’re never the same, unlike repeating a computer game. If you’re a kid reading this now its time to show your parents what a bit of camp activities could do to benefit you.
Camp activities give your kids a chance to learn and develop new skills. Your kid will learn more about life than he/she would ever have imagined before. As tradition goes, there’s nothing like a trip into the outdoor world to act as a rite of passage. A lot of the camp activities involve learning new tricks and trades that would benefit them in the long run as well as their day to day activities. Summer camps are available everywhere around the country which includes computer camps, outdoor camps, winter camps, swim camps and other variations. Depending on which type of camp you go to, you may encounter different kinds of camp activities.
The most popular type of camp is outdoor camping where kids will learn how to spend time in the wilderness. Valuable survival skills as well as many camp activities such as hiking, canoeing, mountain climbing, outdoor living, swimming, fishing and many more activities are taught at these camps. The valuable training, wealth of knowledge and the sense of responsibility would bring out the best in any youngster.
There are plenty of camps around the country to choose from. Camp activities depend on what area you want to focus on, whether it’s IT, outdoor camp activities, or filming. Most students who look to learn more about computers choose summer camps that offer camp activities which are related to networking and IT. Universities, or other educational institutions may sponsor that kind of camp and ensure that they’re staffed by experts. The same holds true for other types of camps too. Sports camps offer camp activities focused on improving a child’s ability in a certain sport. An example of this is the swim camp, that focuses camp activities on developing a child’s ability to swim. Swim camp activities are also useful to those training to enter the sporting arena as professionals.
Give your child the unparallelled experience of a camp. Kick-start his learning with camp activities in an area he enjoys. Camp awaits!
Camps can be said traditional for kids and adults. However there are different camps for different ages, even there are wide variety of learning camps.
With the holidays approaching, everyone’s looking forward to them with anticipation. Every parent wants their kid to learn something as well as have some fun during these few weeks. Then the best option for you will be sending your kids to spend some times at a boys camp. If they’re the outdoor type, they’re likely to learn plenty of new things, both about nature and other kids.
Kids nowadays are disconnected with nature with the introduction of computers and electronic devices. Technology has made many kids pick a day at home over a day outside with their friends. This is the main reason for parents to look for outdoor activities such as a boys camp for their children. Kids who go to a boys camp would find it that much easier to work in teams later on. A few of the things that kids at a boys camp get to try out are camping, hiking, kayaking, fishing and swimming.
Enrolling with such a boys camp is very easy because of the availability of camps throughout the country. Such a camp should be available in your state which you can visit without hassle.
Most of these summer camps are placed at breathtaking areas of the country with mountain ranges and national forests as the base. This allows kids to enjoy the great outdoors with all the adventure of being an explorer. Once they’ve tried it, kids who’ve been to a good boys camp usually return for as long as they can.
A common concern for parents who send their kids to summer camps would be their safety and welfare. What most parents don’t know is that a boys camp will consist of trained professionals that have the experience of camping for decades. These adults are responsible enough to ensure that the kid gets the most out of the experience without endangering him. Then again a little scratch on the knee will only teach the kid a bit more about life.
So the next time your kids think it’s boring to hang out at home or if he’s spending way too much time in front of the computer, you know what to do. A boys camp is a great way to spend the holidays. Give him the head start he deserves. Let him experience everything a boys camp has to offer.
The average child spends 900 hours in school per year and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a television. In fact, most children plug into the world of television long before they even enter school and when they do, statistics show that 70% of child-care centers use television during a typical day.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children watch around four hours of television a day. The AAP guidelines however, state that children older than 2 should watch no more than one to two hours a day of quality programming. Further, children under age 2 should have no ‘screen time’ whatsoever (that’s no TV, DVDs, computers or video games) at all. During the first 2 years, a critical time for brain development, television can get in the way of exploring, learning and spending time interacting and playing with parents and others, which helps the young develop the skills they need to grow cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally.
While there are many entertaining and educational experiences for little ones to have on ‘screens’, it is important to keep in mind what children need at different ages for their healthy development. So, how much time is okay?
- Children under 2 years – very little time, preferably none.
- Preschoolers – an hour of age-appropriate programmes a day is plenty.
- Children 5 to 8 years – an hour a day maximum.
- Children over 8 years – an hour and a half to two hours a day is acceptable.
To follow these guidelines means that your children have the time and opportunity to build strong bonds with real and caring people, have time for active physical play and ‘hands-on’ activities of all kinds.
Therefore, plan what you watch and limit your child to the amount watched each day. Decide together what programs will be watched and only have ‘the box’ on then, rather than on all the time. This teaches children to think, plan, to make choices and also allows time for them to do a variety of other things important for their development.
Other issues to be aware of or implement include:
- Remember to lead by example – your child’s viewing habits may be copied from yours.
- Television viewing for a very young child should always take place in your company.
- Record programs so they can be played at a time that suits your family.
- Encourage children to talk about how they feel after watching a program.
- Play ‘spot the gimmicks and tricks’ when watching commercials.
- Decide on bedtime based on your child’s age, and not on the time a certain programme ends.
- Children need to wind down between television and sleep, so turn the volume down or off before bedtime.
- Make television one of many activities your children do – so organise outings, play-dates and activities for them that don’t involve ‘screens’. Fun arts and crafts such as coloring and drawing are always well received – especially if you join in – and especially if you choose coloring pages of a favourite character – so for example at sites like Spongebob Coloring Pages you’ll find the best Spongebob colouring pictures
Television has its advantages. It can be educational and entertaining. It can open up new worlds for kids, giving them the opportunity to virtually travel the globe and learn about different cultures.However, many down-sides also exist; many children are exposed to violence, advertising and adult material that is not age appropriate.
Like maintaining a balanced diet or regular bedtime, establishing healthy television habits is one of the most important things you can do for your family.
Here are a dozen play-time ‘recipes’ to help keep your children entertained on school holidays or rainy days. Learn how to make homespun goop, papier mâché, cinnamon ornaments, soap crayons and much more. Pull out this printed article and stick it on your fridge – it will be one of your best weapons against the ‘boredom’ gremlins!
Washable window paints
A selection of tempera paints (powdered or premixed)
Clear dishwashing liquid
Mix powdered paints with dishwashing liquid until they resemble house paint. Line the window sashes with masking tape and spread newspaper under the window area to protect flooring. To erase paint or touch up mistakes just wipe paint away with a dry paper towel.
Home-made coloring books
Go online and download a dozen or so coloring book pages and collate them into a coloring book. Put this aside for rainy days or for long car/train/plane journeys. Little girls love to color images from fairy tales and of Princesses while boys prefer images of cars and trucks and of favorite characters such as Pokemon’s Pikachu. At sites like Pokemon Coloring Pages you’ll find an array of Pokemon coloring pictures
Cinnamon ornaments
3/4-1 cup applesauce
1 (4.12-oz.) bottle of ground cinnamon
Mix applesauce with cinnamon to form a stiff dough. Roll out to a thickness of 5mm. Cut out a shape with the cookie cutter and make a hole for the ribbon using the end of a drinking straw. Carefully put aside to dry for several days – turning occasionally. This recipe makes 12 sweet smelling ornaments/drawer scenters.
Goop
2 packets of cornflour
2 cups of water
Several drops of food colouring
Place newspaper or plastic sheets on your work surface. Mix all these ingredients in a large bowl. Children love goop’s squeezy and squishy consistency. You can also use coloured or black paper to make goop paintings if you wish. To remove goop from carpets, allow it to dry, then brush vigorously or vacuum. The great thing about goop is that it may be re-used after it has dried out. Crumble it into a powder then restore it to its original consistency by adding water a tablespoonful at a time.
Funny putty
2 tablespoons of white glue
1 tablespoon of liquid starch
Food colouring
Mix glue and desired food colour. Pour starch over top. Swish so that all the glue is covered. Let set 5 minutes. Squeeze off the extra starch and knead until mixed.
Bubbles
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of glycerine
2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap
Mix together the glycerine with the soap. Pour in sugar. Add food colouring if desired.
Papier mâché
1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
1/2 inch strips of newspaper
Balloon/s
In a large bowl, mix flour and water – add more flour is mixture is too sloppy (dripping). Place newspaper strips into mixture, then smooth onto blown up balloon. Cover balloon completely twice, letting dry in between layers. Do not cover the balloon’s knot. Dry in a nice, warm place for two or three days… then hold the knot and pop the balloon with a pin. Paint, glitter and decorate the balloon as is or cut in half so you have a bowl/hat shape to embellish.
Modelling/play dough
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
water
food colouring
Mix the ingredients and knead to a dough consistency. To speed up the drying process, place the dough artwork in the oven on a low heat.
Soap crayons
1 3/4 cups of soap flakes
50 drops food colouring
1/4 cup water
Mix water and soap flakes together. Add food colouring and put mixture into an ice cube tray. When hardened, pop the ‘ice cubes’ out. These soap crayons are fun to write with on the tub and tiles during bath time. If grouting stains, spray with a weak solution of bleach.
Sand dye
Fine sand
Water
Food colouring
Paper cups
Plastic spoons
Fill paper cups half full with sand. Next, add water to cups to completely cover sand. Add food colouring until you get the desired colour. Stir thoroughly with a plastic spoon and let set for 15 minutes. Pour off water, spoon sand onto paper towels and spread the sand out to dry. Use sand to make pictures (spread glue on paper and sprinkle sand on top) or to fill pretty bottles in layers.
Cornstarch Art/Finger-paint
3 tablespoons of cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
2 drops of dishwashing liquid
1 cup boiling water
Food colouring
Combine cornstarch and cold water – stir until smooth. Add dishwashing liquid. Pour boiling water into the bowl – then stir until the mixture thickens. Add food colouring and then set aside to let it cool. Use this exactly as you would use store-bought finger paint.
Puffy Paint
Flour
Salt
Water
Tempera paint
Mix equal parts of flour, salt and water in a bowl. Add a small amount of tempera paint to the mixture and pour into a small plastic squeezy bottle. Repeat this over and over to make as many colours as you wish. Squeeze this onto heavy paper or cardboard to make crazy designs. Mixture will harden into puffy shapes.
Colourful Salt
1/2 cup salt
5 to 6 drops of food colouring
Add food colouring to salt. Stir it well. Cook in microwave for 1-2 minutes or spread on waxed paper and let salt air dry. Store in an airtight container and use as you would glitter.
Bipolar support groups allow those who share a common diagnosis or interest to come together. This is besides the everyday medication that must be taken by a bipolar disorder victim, to offer emotional support. These people come together to share ideas and offer ideas on how to cope. While most support groups are usually led by someone who has experience in these kinds of meeting, it is not an important factor. What is important here is to just “SHARE IDEAS,” because mothers, parents or patients can form a bipolar support group and help those that are interested.
A Suitable Place
In your garage, a hall or even inside your house, every group must have a place to meet and available when you as a group need it. Another important factor here is that it must be comfortable. Sitting in a circle rather than a church style setup is your ideal sitting set up.
Some Rules to be followed
While you as a group will make your own rules later on, there are some important points that must be emphasized every time you meet.
Confidentiality: everything shared inside a meeting must not be said or used outside the meeting place.
No other sources: quoting from the bible or famous people must not be allowed into your meetings and everything shared must be from personal experience.
No preaching: not be tolerated are words such as don’t do this or don’t do that.
Offer suggestions: Use non threatening suggestion. All suggestions must be from personal experience like; “my child had that same thing and I did this” or “ I went through the same experience and I did this.”
No gossip: dragging somebody’s name down in these meetings must not be allowed.
JUST LISTEN: Most would come to a meeting not to have their problem solved but to have an opportunity to put out of their system all the frustrations of being involved with this mental illness. This cannot be emphasized enough.
First Goal
The primary goal of most bipolar support groups is to ensure that no one living with bipolar disease or this mental condition feel alone again, while at the same time providing important emotional support. Improving the physical health and well being of those taking part, support groups are more than just a safety net for patients or caregivers.
Other Functions
A critical foundation for those trying to cope with the disorder, in some places bipolar support groups are also called special interest groups (SIG), who form an important part for many health organizations. Support groups help in the daily everyday struggles and fill the emptiness of having medication. Informing about the new advancements in bipolar treatment or therapies available, support groups generally helps patients to cope and serve as educators.
Support Groups by Online
With modern technologies at our doorsteps, many have found this type of support network ideal for those living in rural areas or those who are scared of leaving their homes. Many use online support as a backup to the existing bipolar support groups in their area.
I have two children and even though I love them to bits, I have to say that at times they need motivating to do their homework or to help out around the house, for example. This article describes how I go about this child motivation. The methods have helped my own children no end and I am sure they could help other parents in a similar situation.
Now I do not work with children and therefore would certainly not class myself as any sort of expert. I am a speech coach by day helping people that have a stuttering problem to achieve fluency. I also work on various other projects including helping a company that offer a DVD duplication and also within the fostering services UK sector.
I remember when I met my step-daughter, she was five years of age and quite a character. I felt a bit sorry for her however as she spent a lot of time at a childminders. The childminder would take her and pick her up from school. On some days her mother would not be able to collect her until around 8pm.
After a few months of dating her mother, I offered to help out by stating that I could take her to school and pick her up. My step-daughter said that she wanted me to do this and it was all agreed.
Up to this point she had never really been made to do her homework, either by her mother who was very busy and often tired or by the childminder.
When we arrived home from school on the first day of me picking her up, I asked her if she had any homework. She passed me her reading folder. In the folder was a book which she was supposed to read. OK; we can read the book together; I suggested. Mummy does not make do any homework, she replied. This was rather a shock to me as was the attitude with which she had said it. Well things are going to change then because in the future, and starting now, you will be doing your homework.
My step-daughter had a bit of strop and started to cry. Your not my dad, you can not make me do it, she continued. I basically had to be very strong and made her read the book. There were a number of words which she could not read and I wrote them on a list. We then spent around ten minutes where I attempted to teach her the words. This was all rather tedious for my step-daughter.
I then told her that we would now play a game, which is called the mouthing game. She would pick a word from the list and just mouth the word without making a sound. If I could guess what she had mouthed, she would get a point and then it would be my turn.
She really enjoyed this game and on the way home from school on the next day, she asked if we could play the game again. Of course we can but we need to read the book first, I said. She replied that this was fine. The above is an example of one of many games that we as parents play to help to motivate our children; especially when the task at hand is seen as boring or mundane. It may seem a little crazy or even bizarre but it works for us.
I also compliment both children and tell them how much I love and am proud of them at regular intervals. I give them rewards when they have a good school report and encourage them to always give things ago even if they believe that they might fail in the specific task. In my opinion there is no such thing as failure if you have tried your best.
As a parent it is important that we understand what potential problems our child has. Most children have certain things that they worry about or even fear. In this article, I write about the types of fears that this might be and about how we can help our children to cope and to get through life in the best possible and stress-free way.
I am by now a child social worker and what I write within this article is just my own personal opinion. I actually work within the stammering therapy industry; I am also involved with a DVD authoring company and with a group of cost reduction consultants.
The majority of children are more than capable of being able to pick up on the anxieties of their parents. They may hear arguments about money and can then start to worry themselves about the financial situation their family may be in. I am a parent myself and try where possible to only discuss serious issues with my partner when the children are out or are asleep. I am quick to re-assure my own child if I am of the opinion that he has overheard a conversation that in truth I would have preferred he had not listened to.
Children may also worry that their parents may break up and that they will end up living apart. They will no doubt hear that this has happened to their friends and may wonder and stress about how their lives would change if this happened to them.
My children have told me that they worry and that they fear that one of their parents may die in the near future. It is quite difficult to explain to them that this is unlikely to happen as it obviously could. I try and laugh it off which may not be the best policy, by stating that I am still very young and that I have no plans to leave this planet in the near future. I explain to them the age that the average male will live to in our country and that normally, I hope, makes them feel better.
Another form of stress and anxiety for many children, is of course, attending school. Will they be able to cope and understand the work? Will they be able to obtain a good examination mark and a good report? Will they be able to make their parents proud of them? I have told my own children not to worry about these issues and to just try their best.
Socialising and meeting friends can also bring its own tensions. I am sure that we all remember our own childhoods and the fact that we regularly break friends but that we normally, eventually, make up again. It can be quite stressful when friends have a disagreement or argument. When this happens to my children, I make a point of saying that it has been the fourth time in a month that you and Amy as an example, have had a falling out. Your sure to make friends again in the near future.
As children get a bit older there is then the challenge of meeting a member of the opposite sex. We all know the problems and strains that this can bring. At this time I think it is just a matter of being there for your children and getting them through these difficult years the best and easiest way possible.
Here you have a dozen play-time ‘recipes’ to help keep your children entertained during the school holidays. Here you can learn how to make homemade goop, papier mâché, cinnamon ornaments, soap crayons and much more besides. When the kids say, “I’m bored!”, print this article and stick it on your fridge – it will be one of your best weapons against the ‘boredom’ gremlins!
Washable window paints
A selection of tempera paints (powdered or premixed)
Clear dishwashing liquid
Mix powdered paints with dishwashing liquid until they resemble house paint. Line the window sashes with masking tape and spread newspaper under the window area to protect flooring. To erase paint or to touch up any mistakes, just wipe the paint away with a dry paper towel.
Home-made coloring books
Go online and download a dozen or so coloring book pages and collate them into a coloring book. Put this aside for rainy days or for long car/train/plane journeys. Little boys love images of motorbikes, cars and trucks while little girls prefer coloring book pictures of fairytales and princesses. At sites like Pokemon Coloring Pages you’ll find many free Pokemon coloring
Cinnamon ornaments
3/4-1 cup applesauce
1 (4.12-oz.) bottle of ground cinnamon
Mix applesauce with cinnamon to form a stiff dough. Roll out to 5mm thickness. Cut out a shape with the cookie cutter and make a hole for the ribbon using the end of a drinking straw. Carefully put aside to dry for several days – turning occasionally. This recipe makes 12 sweet smelling ornaments/drawer scenters.
Goop
2 packets of cornflour
2 cups of water
Several drops of food colouring
Place newspaper or plastic sheets on your work surface. Mix all these ingredients in a large bowl. Children love goop’s squeezy and squishy consistency. You can also use coloured or black paper to make goop paintings if you wish. To remove goop from carpets, allow it to dry, then brush vigorously or vacuum. The great thing about goop is that it may be re-used after it has dried out. Crumble it into a powder then restore it to its original consistency by adding water a tablespoonful at a time.
Funny putty
2 tablespoons of white glue
1 tablespoon of liquid starch
Food colouring
Mix glue together with the desired food colour. Pour starch over top. Swish so that all the glue is covered. Let set 5 minutes. Squeeze off extra starch and knead until mixed.
Bubbles
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of glycerine
2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap
Mix water, glycerine and soap. Pour in sugar. Add food colouring if desired.
Papier mâché
1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
1/2 inch strips of newspaper
Balloon/s
In a large bowl, mix flour and water – add more flour is mixture is too sloppy (dripping). Place newspaper strips into the gooey mixture, then smooth onto blown up balloon. Cover the balloon completely twice, letting it dry in between layers. Do not cover the balloon’s knot. Dry in a warm place for 2-3 days then hold the knot and pop the balloon with a pin. Paint, glitter and decorate the balloon as is or cut in half so you have a bowl/hat shape to embellish.
Modelling/play dough
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
water
food colouring
Mix the ingredients and knead to a dough consistency. To speed up the drying process, place the dough artwork in the oven on a low heat.
Soap crayons
1 3/4 cups of soap flakes
50 drops food colouring
1/4 cup water
Mix water and soap flakes together. Add food colouring and put mixture into an ice cube tray. When hardened, pop the ‘ice cubes’ out. These soap crayons are fun to write with on the tub and tiles during bath time. If grouting stains, spray with a weak solution of bleach.
Sand dye
Fine sand
Water
Food colouring
Paper cups
Plastic spoons
Fill paper cups half full with sand. Next, add water to cups to completely cover sand. Add food colouring until you get the desired colour. Stir with plastic spoon and let set for 15 minutes. Pour off the water, spoon sand onto paper towels and spread the sand out to dry. Use sand to make sand – art – pictures (spread glue on paper and sprinkle sand on top) or to fill pretty bottles in layers.
Cornstarch Art/Finger-paint
3 tablespoons of cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
2 drops of dishwashing liquid
1 cup boiling water
Food colouring
Combine cornstarch and cold water – stir until smooth. Add dishwashing liquid. Pour the boiling water into the bowl and stir well until the mixture thickens. Add food colouring and let cool. Use this exactly as you would use store-bought finger paint.
Puffy Paint
Flour
Salt
Water
Tempera paint
Mix equal parts of flour, salt and water in a bowl. Add a small amount of tempera paint to the mixture and pour into a small plastic squeezy bottle. Repeat the procedure making as many colours as you wish. Squeeze onto heavy paper or cardboard to make designs. Mixture will harden into puffy shapes.
Colourful Salt
1/2 cup salt
5 to 6 drops of food colouring
Add food colouring to salt. Stir well. Cook in microwave for 1-2 minutes or spread on waxed paper and let salt air dry. Store in an airtight container and use as you would glitter.
Are you sick of paying top-dollar for the latest piece of over-hyped and over-priced plastic? Answer “What can we do now Mum?” by making and creating activities from items you already have around the house or that cost nothing at all.
- Shops. Save all your empty grocery cartons for a week or so and you’ll soon have a well stocked shop that any aspiring grocer would be proud of. Gluing down the flaps makes cereal boxes, jelly packets etc. look unopened. Clothes, shoes, and toys can all be used as “stock”. Paper bags and real or pretend money add to the fun.
- Paper balls. When the kids keep arguing suggest that they throw something at each other! Paper balls are easily scrunched up from torn out magazine pages to make “ammunition”. When it’s time to tidy up, stand the waste paper basket in the middle of the room and see who can throw the most in. A rolled up magazine makes a good “bat” too.
- Doctors/Nurses. A roll of white toilet tissue makes this game much more fun as Dads, Grans, teddies or dolls are mummified before your eyes. Plastic medicine spoons and cardboard box hospital beds for toys are extra props that make the game last longer.
- Tubes. Cardboard tubes from kitchen roll or foil make instant telescopes for sailors or pirates, or tunnels to roll marbles through. Littlle babies love to watch things disappear then reappear out of the bottom. Don’t leave them alone with the cardboard tube though as they will probably suck it.
- Cardboard boxes are tops – how many times have you bought your child a toy – only to find that s/he is more interested in its box? Boxes must be about the best free toys you can get hold of. Push in the ends of large ones to make tunnels and caves to crawl through. Draw-on windows and doors with felt tip pens to create a house, add a flag and portholes to fashion a boat or paper plates and a steering wheel for a car.
- Miniature gardens. The foil trays that (meat and dessert) pies and other prepared foods arrive in make lovely containers for miniature gardens. The children can enjoy hunting around the park or garden for twigs to make trees, moss for a lawn, stones to arrange as a rockery or a waterfall. Keep twigs or stones where you want them with a little blue tack or plasticine. Add toy people or animals and maybe a little water if the container is watertight. This can be a very creative and enjoyable exercise if you have children of very different age groups to entertain. A variation is to use play sand (not builder’s sand – it stains everything yellow) to make a beach scene, maybe adding shells, stones and a blue paper sea.
- Paper puppets. A picture of anything – colorful bird, clown’s face, animal or cartoon character, carefully cut out by an adult and stuck to the top of a strip of card about five inches long and one and a half inches wide becomes a very easily made puppet. These give such pleasure and are so easy to make that you will probably end up with dozens of them. Magazine pictures can be stuck on to folded card to make theatre set background and wings.
- Potato prints. After cutting a potato in half, draw on a simple shape. A triangle, circle or star perhaps. Cut away the rest of the potato, leaving a shape to dip into paint and print on to paper.
- Skittles. Skittles can be improvised from large plastic soda bottles that once contained cola or lemonade. A little sand or water in the bottom makes them more stable. A good game for learning to count.
- Dens. Building a den must be one of the most memorable parts of childhood as we all seem to recall the bliss of blankets draped over the airing rack in the garden or over the backs of chairs indoors. Even today’s sophisticated kids seem to find the thought much more exciting than just erecting the shop bought plastic play house. I think the secret is to give structural advice about making the thing stay upright, but let the children do as much as possible themselves. Really large boxes of the type that washing machines and fridges come in can be had for the asking from the big electrical goods retailers and are useful for rooms within dens. Indoors, one of the simplest dens can be made by throwing a large sheet or old tablecloth or duvet over a table. Cushions, torches, biscuits and comics or books will all be needed at the housewarming.
- String. Children find a million uses for string, from tying up toy “baddies” to making a washing line for doll’s clothes. It can be tied up to the legs of chairs to make a jump, it can be dipped into paint and twirled on to paper, plaited, knitted with, made into a parachute or mobile, used as a measuring aid or for learning how to tie shoelaces and bows. It need never linger in the kitchen drawer again.
- Sewing cards. Stick a picture on to a postcard or draw a simple duck, car or teddy shape. With a bodkin needle push holes around the outline of your design about one inch apart. Using brightly colored wool in the bodkin or a long bootlace, thread in and out of the holes.
- Create a personalized coloring book for your children and/or their friends by printing free coloring pictures from the Internet. Little boys love coloring images of trucks and cars as well as those of favorite TV characters such as Bob the Builder or Pikachu. At sites like Pokemon Coloring Pages you’ll find Pikachu coloring while at Princess Coloring Pages you can print and color many princess coloring page suitable for little girls.
- Stilts. You need to do a little drilling for this one. Take two strong tins, coffee or clean paint tins are ideal, and drill a hole about one inch from the top on opposite sides of the tin. Insert a length of string and knot securely. Check that the handle is at a comfortable length for the child before knotting the other side. These are always a very popular part-time, but never leave young children alone with them especially near stairs or steps.
- Cafes. Children’s tea sets are the best prop for this game, but a picnic set or microwave cookware is just as good. Giving the waiter/waitress a little notebook and pencil to take orders and making a tall white hat from a cylinder of paper for the chef will add realism. Place dolls and teddies around as well as willing Aunts and Grannies for extra customers.
- Playdough. Mix together two cups of flour, one cup of salt, one cup of water, one tablespoon of oil and a few drops of food coloring for an easy to make dough that will keep for about three weeks if you wrap it in polythene and keep it in the fridge. All you have to do is make sure that you knead the mixture well. Divide the mixture up first if you have more than one color available.
- Obstacle course. An obstacle course can turn a rainy day into an adventure. Use whatever you happen to have available. A bench allows you to walk the plank, make cushion stepping stones across shark infested seas, through a cardboard box tunnel, up a chair mountain or through a duvet cave. The wilder your imagination the more your children will love it.
- Easy boats. Recycle your empty margarine cartons. Use them as miniature vessels (boats) for the bath or paddling pool. These are so easy that even very young children can help to make them. Cut out sail shapes that are triangular from white or colored paper. Make a little hole at the top and bottom of the sail so that you can poke through a straw to create a mast. Let the child fix this to the bottom of a clean margarine tub with a lump of plasticine or perhaps blue tack. They sail extremely well and will even take a couple of toy people on an exciting cruise.
- Capes. Nurses, kings, queens, Batman, Superman – they all need capes or cloaks. Luckily these are very easy to create by attaching ribbon ties to an oblong of fabric in the color of your child’s favorite caped character. Keep an eye on them though, because anything that is tied around the neck (of course!) could be dangerous.
- Leaf art. Collect leaves and draw around them. This is fun for little ones and an educational tree identification game for older children. Color in the details with crayons or paints. The leaves could then be stuck on to paper collage style or dipped into paint and then pressed firmly on to paper for a lovely leaf print.
- Make a puzzle. Stick a favorite picture on to the front of the card and allow drying with a heavy book on top. Cut into pieces, how many depending on the age of the child, for an almost instant and personal puzzle
The average child spends 900 hours in school per year and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a television. In fact, most children plug into the varied world of television way before they even enter school and when they do, statistics show that 70% of child-care centers use television during a typical day.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children watch around four hours of television a day. The AAP guidelines however, state that children older than two years of age should watch no more than one to two hours a day of quality programming. Further, children under age 2 should have no ‘screen time’ whatsoever (that’s no TV, DVDs, computers or video games) at all. During the first 2 years, a critical time for brain development, television can get in the way of exploring, learning and spending time interacting and playing with parents and others, which helps the young develop the skills they need to grow cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally.
While there are many entertaining and educational experiences for children to have on ‘screens’, it is important to keep in mind what children need at different ages for their healthy development. So, how much time is okay?
- Children under 2 years – very little time, preferably none.
- Preschoolers – an hour of age-appropriate programmes a day is plenty.
- Children 5 to 8 years – an hour a day maximum.
- Children over 8 years – an hour and a half to two hours a day is acceptable.
To follow these guidelines means that your little ones have the time as well as the opportunity to build strong bonds with real and caring people, have time for active physical play and ‘hands-on’ activities of all kinds.
Therefore, try to plan what you watch and limit your child to the amount watched each day. Decide together what programs will be watched and only have ‘the box’ on then, rather than on all the time. This teaches children to think, to plan, to make choices and allows time for them to do other things important for their development.
Other issues to be aware of or implement include:
- Remember to lead by example – your child’s viewing habits may be copied from yours.
- Television viewing for a very young child should always take place in your company.
- Record programs so they can be played at a time that suits your family.
- Encourage children to talk about how they feel after watching a program.
- Play ‘spot the gimmicks and tricks’ when watching commercials.
- Decide on bedtime based on your child’s age, and not on the time a certain programme ends.
- Children need to relax and unwind between television and sleep, so turn the volume down or off before bedtime.
- Make television one of many activities your children do – so organise outings, play-dates and activities for them that don’t involve ‘screens’. Fun arts and crafts such as coloring and drawing are always well received – especially if you join in – and especially if you choose coloring pages of a favourite character – so for example at sites like Spongebob Coloring Pages you’ll find the best Spongebob coloring sheets
Television has its advantages. It can certainly be educational and entertaining. It can open up new worlds for kids, giving them the opportunity to virtually travel the world and learn about different cultures.However, many down-sides also exist; many children are exposed to violence, advertising and adult material that is not age appropriate.
Just as you maintain a balanced diet or a regular bedtime, establishing healthy television habits is one of the most important things you can do for your family.