Boredom Busters Project Kits

BOREDOM BUSTERS PROJECT KITS

“What’s there to do?  I’m bored, Mom!”  Well, let’s just do a little family activity/craft/game. Sound fun?  Now, all I need to do is grab a few things and……… 15 minutes later someone (including Mom) is either frustrated, crying, fighting, or has completely lost interest in the proposed “activity!”  

If you’ve always wanted to have fun and quick activities at your fingertips that don’t take a lot of time and organization, then this is the project for you.  With a little effort, creativity (Pinterest is a great resource), and planning, you can end up with a wonderful variety of “PROJECT KITS” for you and your kids to enjoy.

Here’s What You Do:

1.  Gather your children together and find out what types of activities and projects they would like to do. This could include making a homemade puzzle from a family picture, a treasure map of your neighborhood park with a real treasure to find, a video scavenger hunt or coloring kits of their favorite super hero.  These could be baking kits, science projects, crafts, storytelling activities, indoor or outdoor games, anything!!  Your activities can be simple or elaborate…it’s up to you.  Discovering what they are interested in is the key to their collaboration and participation!!   

2.  Break down each kit into specific details as to what is needed for that project or event to be completed.  Also, identify the age appropriateness for each kit.  Make sure there are plenty of kits for your divided age groups (i.e. 2-4; 4-6; 7-11, 12 & up) as well as whole family kits.

3.  Stock a Basic Supply Kit to include the following items:  glue, paint, paintbrushes, markers, crayons, permanent marker, and scissors.

4.  Plan, Purchase, Divide and Package. Each activity kit should contain an instruction sheet with specific directions and/or a photo.  Please remember, no one wants to spend time running around the house trying to gather materials and get organized. Include ALL materials needed to complete the activity. Gallon Ziploc bags work great and are easy to store.    If there are any items, like a kitchen bowl or hammer that every household has “at their fingertips” then list and highlight those items on the front instruction sheet.  Please keep these items to a minimum.

5.  CONTACT some of your friends who have kids and do your Project Kits together. That way each mom selects one Activity per Participating Child (if you are receiving kits for 3 kids, you select 3 activities).  Please label the kits using each family’s last name. Each mom needs to make enough kits for every kid (i.e. 24 kids involved, 24 kits of each activity)

6.  Come and Swap Kits

Each mom should bring a laundry basket or box to carry your kits home.

Now you have some fun activities ready to go when you're kids are bored or need something fun to do! Enjoy!! 

Cooking with your kids - Can it really be any fun???

Ever hear little voices saying, "I want to taste that." "I want to help." "I want to see." "I get a stool." "It's my turn to stir." "Can we make cookies now?" 

When we pull ourselves out of the moment, it seems clear to see how cute it is and how great it is that our kids want to help...yet in the moment, sometimes it feels like slowly getting pushed under water.  So what can we do to make meal preparation more fun for everyone when little ones are around? 

Here are some ideas:

1.   Break down each dish into small parts that can be partially done by a small child, if possible. (i.e. measuring the spaghetti noodles, cutting carrots for the salad)

2.   Begin the preparation by offering a choice whether to help or not. 
"Would you like to help me make dinner tonight or help set the table?"

3.   Give them a task...a real one – tearing lettuce, chopping salad ingredients, measuring oil, etc.  The more prepared you are for them to help, the more fun it will be and the better their skills become!  Pampered Chef makes a little flat rounded edge knife that cuts the food and not the fingers.  Let them use all that joyful energy to chop some food needed for cooking or salads. 

4.   Setting the table while you are working on dinner allows for a collaborative effort as well. If your little ones are very small, plastic or paper products can work very well.

*Have fun and enjoy the time you are spending with your kids!*

April Parents Magazine - Discipline

This months Parents Magazine is a fabulous one! We would highly recommend you pick one up!. The magazine focuses on discipline, parenting challenges and the different ways to handle many situations. The image above is from the magazine and offers 10 Discipline Don'ts. Below are links to two articles from Parents magazine. There are even more wonderful articles in the April edition. Go get one today! :)

Discipline Strategies: Good News about Bad Kids

"Oh My Word" - When Kids Say Bad Words