I have been a gamer my entire life. I played on the Atari and the original Nintendo Entertainment System. For years, when people needed help with video games and playing video games, they came to me. This includes my eldest son, who just started playing them about a year ago. When we first started … [Read more...]
The Activity Chart: Engaging Children in Non-Digital Entertainment
December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
As my kids are getting older, they're receiving new privileges and more advanced forms of entertainment. For example, this Christmas, our big family present was an XBOX 360 with Kinect. It's an awesome piece of equipment, with virtually endless entertainment options, from video games to streaming movies … [Read more...]
Easter Scavenger Hunt
April 22, 2011 By 1 Comment
When I was little, we anxiously awaited Easter morning. We knew when we came down the stairs, that over in the bay window, we'd find loads of treats from our eagerly-anticipated furry visitor and, without fail, there they would be, year after year. For the last few years, we've done the same thing … [Read more...]
Easter Egg Hunt: Empty Baskets, Loads of Fun
April 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
On Sunday, we took our boys to an Easter egg hunt hosted by a local church. They were taking a large school field and covering it with plastic eggs, dropped by none other than the Easter Bunny himself...from a helicopter. Along with the usual candy treats, a handful of eggs would have extra treasures … [Read more...]
Pull-String Pinatas: A Safe Alternative
March 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When I was growing up, we traditionally had piñatas at our birthday parties. All the kids would line up for their turn to be blindfolded, spun and handed a thick stick or bat to take a few swings at a tissue paper-covered character. Anticipation would swell as each guest would take a turn, from youngest … [Read more...]
Road Trip Tips: Making the Ride Better for Everyone
November 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Holiday travel will soon be upon us, and with a carload of kids, having something to occupy their time can make or break your trip. Bored children can turn a quiet drive to Grandma’s house into a full-on voyage down Misery Lane. Nipping the “Are we there yet?” blues in the bud before they even … [Read more...]
Time to Party! Fall Birthday Party Ideas
September 16, 2010 By 52 Comments
It can be hard to think up original birthday theme ideas when your child's big day falls before a holiday. My oldest son's birthday is a few days before Halloween, so his party tends to morph into a spooktacular event every year. While ghosts and goblins are fun and easy at this time of year, I don't … [Read more...]
Weekend Activity: the Nature Scavenger Hunt
August 13, 2010 By 1 Comment
Great family activities don’t have to be wallet-draining, super-fancy events. The important thing is to spend time with each other and share some smiles and laughs. If you’re looking for something fun and different to do with your family this weekend, try a nature scavenger hunt. It’s simple, … [Read more...]
Travel Games for Kids: Avoid Road Trip Boredom
June 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
How many of us remember being stuck in a car with our siblings on a never-ending road trip? Before the days of DVD players, iPods, and laptops, we actually had to think of ways to entertain ourselves. Our parents were driving the car while we drove them bonkers. As much as it seems that kids have … [Read more...]
