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 playing, he would marvel at how I could run and jump through all these obstacles like it was nothing. I was the superhero that could do anything and he my trusty sidekick. As a writer, I spend a lot of time working. I don’t have the time to spend playing video games like I used to. If I can squeeze out an hour or two a week, then I consider myself lucky.

My son doesn’t have this constraint. When he comes home from school, given he has no homework or chores to do, then he can play video games until dinner time. It’s not a lot of time, but enough for him to get a lot done. The other day, I found that at the end of the afternoon, I had a little free time and sat down to play a little Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

When I went to choose my game, I realized that my son had not only gotten much farther than I did, but did so without my help. He didn’t need me to help him with the boss battles or to traverse the terrain. He did it all one his own. On one hand, I was very proud that my son was following in his old man’s footsteps. On the other hand, I was a little sad that he’s growing up and doesn’t need me to help with these kinds of things anymore.

I played my game for a while, and by the time I quit for the night, I still hadn’t caught up with my son. Odds are he’s going to beat the game before I do. Wow, it was only yesterday that he was just figuring out how to run the DVD player, and now he’s taking on the Sith with a light saber and a force push.

Pretty soon, he and I will be fighting over the same games. I will admit that I am anxious to get one of those one-on-one fighting games just to see whose kung fu is better. After all, I have years of couch potato marshal arts background.

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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 on Netflix.

It didn’t take long for them to catch on to how cool the new toy was, and now it’s in high demand. The downside to having such a desirable geek machine is that the kids really don’t want to do anything else. So, with the addition of the XBOX quickly came some new rules and added responsibilities. The boys already had small chore lists that matched their ages and abilities, but it was clear we needed to make some changes. Included on the lists were other activities for them to do, so they weren’t just tuned into the TV all the time.

Along with the usual chores they have to complete before playtime, like making their beds and watering some plants, we also have a list of fun activities from which they can choose. Some of the things on the list are: coloring, working puzzles, playing with flashcards, reading books and playing catch. They have to complete their chores and do at least two other activities before they can even think to ask us for that wacky game controller. And, as an added stipulation, they can’t pick the same couple of activities two days in a row.

We realize that there is definitely an opportunity to learn and grow from certain digital games. In fact, we love them and grew up with them, too. However, we also feel that it’s important that our kids aren’t plugged in all the time, which is an easy habit to fall into–for both kids and adults.

We want our kids to engage in a variety of activities so they don’t lose interest in anything that doesn’t come with a screen. For the first of couple days, our different activity requirement wasn’t well-received. But, when they realized their new responsibilities were actually fun, and they still had choices, they warmed up to it really fast and are actually having a blast. I’m sure as they get older, selling them on other activities is going to become more challenging, but for now, it’s working, and we’re going to roll with it.

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For the last few years, we’ve done the same thing for our kids. They’d come down the stairs to find their Easter baskets on the kitchen table, just waiting for them. Their eyes would light up, but then the thrill would be over too quickly. For what it costs to put together a great basket for each of our boys, we always felt a little let down by how quickly the excitement wore off.

This year, we’re trying a different approach to stretch out the excitement and add some fun. Our boys are older, so we’re turning it into a scavenger hunt. Over the last few nights, I’ve been making clue cards out of construction paper with pictures of different stations around our house. On the outside of the folded card is a big, smiley, bunny face, so the kids know they’ve found a clue. On the inside of each card, I’ve written a task, like hop three times, and then drew a picture of where they’ll find the next clue card (ex. couch).

Between each station, we’re dropping a few plastic Easter eggs, one with each of the boys’ initials on it. Inside is a little treasure (some have a small piece of chocolate or a few jelly beans, others have a balloon or quarter).

When they finally come to the last clue, they’ll find their baskets, loaded with goodies and small gifts. We’re hoping that they will have as much fun with the Easter treasure hunt as we’re having putting it together. If all goes well, next year they’ll come downstairs to empty baskets and have to find the contents along the treasure-hunt route. We’re excited to start this new tradition and hope to carry it on and modify it over the years, so our boys are always extra surprised on Easter morning.

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With that much promotion, it was no wonder that the turnout was absolutely massive. They didn’t have the couple hundred children they were expecting. We’re totally talking a four digit turnout. There was no parking in a four block radius, and traffic, both human and vehicle, was terrifying.

Luckily for us, we had extra hands on deck, because we’d called my parents to join us for the day of fun. If they hadn’t been with us, the fear of losing one of my boys in the enormous mass of TV-hungry families who crowded around the field, would have made me turn around and forget about it.

When the Easter Bunny finally arrived in his chopper, the crowd went wild. At one point, I turned to my dad and said, “I was less nervous standing in a crowd at a KISS concert than I am right now.” And, I wasn’t joking…at all. Not only was I frightened that one of my boys would somehow get lost in the sea of excited egg-gatherers, but I was about to come out of my skin with the fear that some over-eager participants would trample my little dudes.

As soon as the Easter Bunny zoomed away, a countdown began. “Are you ready? Five, four, three, two, one! Go get ‘em!” Insanity. Absolute insanity.

Floods of people surged in. We were toward the middle of the flock on our side. We didn’t even make it onto the field before all the eggs were gone. Some kids had full bags of eggs. My kids had zero. I looked around as throngs of disappointed children began to cry.

Thinking of my kids’ disappointment, a tear welled up in my eye, but then I looked at my boys. They were standing around with their empty bags, looking at the chaos. My 3-year-old looked up at me and asked, “Did you see the bunny? He was in a helticopper.” My 5-year-old then chimed in, “Well, I didn’t get any eggs. Can we go to the park?” My two-year-old, who’d been nonplussed the whole time, just nuzzled in to my cheek.

At that moment, I was overcome with a swell of pride. My boys stood there, strong and tall, and were good sports about it. They were just happy to be with us…and to see the Easter Bunny in a “helticopper.”

We did go to the park, and to add a little extra sunshine, threw in some frozen yogurt. It was an awesome afternoon and, despite the empty Easter baskets, we all came out winners.

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Inevitably, a leg or small hole would break first, and a few sugary treasures would drop to the ground. All the kids would rush in, not thinking about the still-swinging bat, and parents would grab and tug them back, telling them to wait for it to be safe. When the final crushing blow came, again the kids would try to tug away before the coast was clear.

This scenario plays out around every piñata at every birthday party. Kids are fevered with the promise of chocolate as parents panic that their little ones will rush in too soon. As children get older and understand the dangers of running in before the bat is down, the standard piñata becomes much safer. But, what about the little ones?

My youngest will be celebrating his second birthday next month, and we want to get him a piñata, but we are concerned about safety. Plus, there’s no way he’d actually be able to break the piñata himself, so we feel it’s kind of an uncool tease. So, I was looking for an alternative to replace the piñata activity altogether when I found pull-string piñatas. I’d never seen them before, so I’m pretty excited.

Pull-string piñatas are quite simple. They come in all sorts of shapes and styles, just like the hit variety, but rather than trying to beat the poor clown or donkey into submission, there are a bunch of pretty, flowing ribbons on the bottom. Each child takes a turn pulling a random ribbon, and only one will actually “break” the piñata and release the goodies. The kids still get the roulette effect, never knowing who’s going to give the successful tug, but the danger element is gone. No dizzy, blindfolded, weapon-wielding children necessary.

The simplicity and safety have won me over. In a few years, when I feel more comfortable with my boys’ ability to restrain themselves until the “all clear,” we’ll bring back the traditional hit piñata. Until then, while my little men are still young, our family will be going the pull string route.

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Nipping the “Are we there yet?” blues in the bud before they even begin will make your drive much more pleasurable for everyone. Who knows? You may even carry on a decent conversation with the hubs while you’re en route, instead of refereeing the shenanigans in the backseat. Sweet, huh?

There are two tricks to choosing the right activities for your little ones:

1. Respect each child’s individuality. What works for one child may not necessarily work for another. Pack accordingly. If you pack a bag full of books and your daughter gets motion sickness when she reads in the car, the word miserable will be an understatement.
2. Variety is a mom’s best friend. Take along several options to change it up from time to time. No matter how much your son likes word searches, counting on one puzzle book to keep him happy during an eight-hour journey isn’t going to cut the mustard.

If you’re stumped as to what to bring along for an extended car ride, this list can get you started:

Reading material — Books and magazines are super, because they come in such a large variety and cover every age. If you switch out the selection between trips, there will always be something new for them to wrap their minds around.

Handheld games — Again, the endless entertainment factor is played up here. There are units for most ages, from 3 on up, so if your kids are gamers, you’ll never run out of options. Try VTech MobiGo for young children and Nintendo DS for older ones. There are also simpler handheld units that offer one or two games like hangman or solitaire. These are generally inexpensive and easy to find online and in local stores.

Brain teasers — Activity pads that include coloring, mazes, drawing exercises and more are fabulous for children who have yet to master reading. Readers can work more sophisticated mazes, word puzzles, crosswords, word searches and logic-building exercise books. I’m a geek and still like these bad boys.

Portable music players — If your kids don’t share your affinity for ’80s glam rock or country music, then they can plug into an MP3 player, iPod or CD player and listen to their own style of la-de-da. I think you’ll both be thankful. They won’t be subjected to Twisted Sister and your soul won’t die listening to Justin Bieber. If they don’t have a personal music player and you’d just enjoy some time to yourselves, then set your car speakers to play in the rear and enjoy some solitude.

Portable DVD player — If there isn’t an audio-visual solution already built into your van or SUV, then consider buying a portable DVD player. They’re compact, and you can take them anywhere. The kiddies can watch the latest Pixar masterpiece and you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Taking a long car trip over the holidays can be a scary prospect if you’re going into battle unprepared. Pack up a few of these kid-friendly brain pacifiers and a couple snacks, and you’ll still be smiling when you arrive on Aunt Mildred’s doorstep.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/twodolla/2049536696

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While ghosts and goblins are fun and easy at this time of year, I don’t want his parties to all be the same or they won’t be memorable. I love fall and my little man loves the vivid colors it brings, so last year, we had an autumn themed birthday party.

For invites, he and I went on a walk and gathered some leaves in various shapes and colors. When we got home, I folded sheets of printer papers into quarters (in ½ horizontally, then in ½ vertically). I let him pick a square to decorate. He and his brothers did leaf rubbings (put a leaf or two under the paper and then color over it with a crayon) for personalized invitations. No two were the same, so each one was a special keepsake for the person who receives the invitation. Then I just wrote in the party information, put them in envelopes and sent them out.

For food, I chose fall favorites like soups and assorted breads, finger sandwiches, a veggie tray, cheese tray and leaf-shaped cut-out cookies. The children’s parents enjoyed the soup and the kids loved the finger foods. Simplicity goes a long way at a kids birthday party, especially when they’re young and you can expect to have a lot of parents attending.

No birthday party is complete without games. The hard part is taking a guess as to what the weather will be like outside. By the end of October, we sometimes have snow, so if you really want to do outdoor activities, make sure you have a back-up plan for indoor fun.

Outdoor Games

Fallen leaves are free and shouldn’t be over-looked as useful activity materials. If you rake your yard ahead of time and have bags of leaves ready, you can have all kinds of fun. Make sure to separate out all the little twigs and sticks, so nobody gets poked.

Scarecrow stuffing race: Divide the kids into teams of two or three, plus an adult. Give them an old shirt and some jeans and some 12-inch cut lengths of baling twine. Give the teams a set amount of time to stuff the outfit for the body of the scarecrow. Have the parents tie off the sleeves and ankles to keep the leaves in (or you can do this step yourself before the party to save time). Whichever team has the best-stuffed scarecrow at the end wins. For a bonus take pictures of the kids with the scarecrow bodies in front of them (so their head looks like it’s part of the scarecrow) and send the pictures in the thank you cards.

Leaf-pile treasure hunt: While the kids are eating, pour your bags of leaves into a mound. Hide little toys and prizes inside the leaves and let the kids come out and dig through to find their treasures.

Indoor Games

Candy pumpkin guess: Fill a jar with candy pumpkins and let the kids guess how many are inside. Make sure you write down the exact number beforehand and keep it somewhere handy.

Pin the stem on the pumpkin: Cut out a large pumpkin from some orange poster board and stems from brown construction paper. Hang the pumpkin on the wall, blindfold the kids and let the fun begin.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/kimberlykv/4054839431/

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If you’re looking for something fun and different to do with your family this weekend, try a nature scavenger hunt. It’s simple, free and paired with a fabulous picnic at your favorite nature or forest reserve, it’s a day out everyone will enjoy.

Pack up a picnic lunch, some sunscreen and a cooler of refreshing beverages, choose a destination, print out the list below and you’re ready for a one-of-a-kind family adventure.

1. A berry

2. Some moss

3. A mushroom

4. A stick bigger than the youngest adventurer

5. A fallen tree

6. A bird nest

7. A slug

8. Something natural that resembles the letter N

9. A spider web

10. 5 kinds of leaves (Remember: they’re not only on trees)

11. A puddle or body of water

12. 3 different colored rocks

13. An acorn

14. A flower

15. Something yellow

16. A rock too heavy to lift

17. An animal burrow

18. Something that rattles (try dried pods)

19. A squirrel or rabbit

20. Loose seeds

21. Something red

22. Something spiny
23. Something shiny

24. A caterpillar

25. A pinecone

Make sure not to disturb nature. Follow the rule, “Take only pictures, leave only tracks,” and have a blast enjoying the wonders of the great outdoors.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/rastafabi/499942336

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I felt the need to step in and began thinking of ways to include all three of my children in various games and craft projects that would be easy enough for my two younger children, but still be interesting for my oldest.

Simple Games
While it may not be fair for a one-year-old to play hide-and-seek, there are plenty of easy games that can be played by children of all ages. A rousing family game of Duck-Duck-Goose is perfect for the oldest, because he gets to show off how fast he can run, and lets face it, he legally gets to bop his brother on the head. The younger kids may not completely understand the rules, but they’ll enjoy the excitement of running around and cheering each other on. My youngest is still learning to speak, so he communicates his choice with a nudge rather than saying “Goose”. They all love the game, and afterward, they nap like crazy. Can we say bonus?

Coloring
This age-old activity allows children of all ages from toddler to teen the ability to express their creativity and individuality. The younger children take pride in creating various shapes and using the different colors, while the older kids are able to create real pictures and scenarios. This is nice, because it caters to each of the children’s individual talents without causing any type of jealousy. As a mom, you’ll love the purple puppy dog that looks more like a chicken just as much as the family scene crafted by the older children.

Sing-alongs, Storybooks and Puppet Shows
Singing is an activity that children of all ages enjoy, and if the younger children can’t create the words, they can at least thrill at making musical sounds. You can add another dimension to this with the use of homemade sock puppets. You can leave the older children to their own devices in the creation of their puppets, but mom and dad can help the younger children to glue on the eyes etc. When finished, the puppets can act out the storybooks and sing along as well.

It’s hard to watch your children at play and see the tear-stained cheeks of an odd-man-out. When they’re as young as mine, they don’t have the capacity to think up ways to include each other, so your ideas have to come into play. Get creative and participate. Everyone will have a blast, including you.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/wwworks/3692990064

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Our parents were driving the car while we drove them bonkers. As much as it seems that kids have it made today when it comes to amusement in technological form, some of the best memories are made interacting with other family members.

If your summer vacation plans include traveling, take some time to put down the iPad and connect over some travel games and activities.

License Plate Blackout: Before going to a trip, create play cards with all 50 states. Then see who can mark them all off first! A modern twist? Use cameras to take pictures of the license plates along the route.

20 Questions: Just a short while ago, we pulled this old faithful out of our dusty hat of ideas, and were delighted that our nephews went completely bananas for it! Kids love to stretch their imagination. Giving them a chance to think up anything they possibly can and then using questions that can only be answered with a “yes” or “no” expands their creativity.

“Going on a road-trip”: Expand memorization skills with the game of ever-expanding items. Start out with the phrase “I’m going on a road-trip, and I’m going to bring ___.” (ice cream, a frog, a paperclip…) The next person then repeats the original phrase, adding their item to the first. The next person adds on, and around it goes as each person takes their turns until someone forgets one of the items on the list. To add a degree of difficulty, have each new item start with the last letter of the previous item. For example, one person will bring a Broom. The next person will bring a Marble and a Broom.

Scavenger Hunt: MomsMinivan created a list of things to look for on any type of trip (Suburban, City, Rural). Check them off as they are spotted!

Car-i-Oke: Just like it sounds…karaoke for the car! Get everyone singing along, and have good laughs together at creative lyrics and family harmonizing.

Give ‘em something to do: A camera in the backseat documents a new perspective on a road trip. You may wind up with a ton of pictures of feet pushed up against the seat in front of them, but you may also inspire a new hobby that could last well beyond the trip itself.

And there are always plenty of travel games that require strategy, just like mom and dad used to play…Travel versions of Battleship, Scrabble, TicTacToe, Checkers, you name it. These are also great for airplane travel to make the time just fly by!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/cookieflores/3159350092

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