Thursday, July 26, 2012
Easy Ideas to Host Your Own Backyard Olympic Games
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games begin this Friday and my family is excited. I was lucky enough to get to attend the Olympic Games in Atlanta, and ever since then I have been a huge fan of the Games. I love the athletic feats, the back stories on the athletes, and the traditions of the Games like pin trading. I was amazed at how truly celebratory the event was for athletes and audience alike. So, my family is really looking forward to watching our favorite events during this Summer's Olympic Games like basketball, beach volleyball, diving, and gymnastics. But it's just as much fun to host our own backyard Olympic Games as it is to watch the competition on TV. So, get the kids off the couch and see how easy it is to catch the Olympic Spirit. …
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Easy ideas to turn your driveway into a drive-in movie theater
Last weekend our neighborhood organized it's first outdoor movie night. It was a blast! More importantly, it was easy to pull off. One day I was talking to my neighbor and mentioned how fun it would be to host an outdoor movie night for the kids. He mentioned that he had a projector from work that we could use. From there, the idea took off. So, sharing what I learned from our event, here are 5 tips for you to plan a spectacular outdoor movie night for your neighbors, friends or family. (This would also be an awesome birthday party idea.) 1. Stay close to home. When choosing a location for your movie event, keep a few things in mind - electricity, light control, bathroom access, and rain. We have an open field near our houses where I was …
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Creative ideas to keep your kids math and reading skills sharp over the summer break
Kids really look forward to summer break, and who blames them, but it's a shame how much academic progress they lose when they are out of the classroom for so long. Studies show that students usually have to relearn four to six weeks of classwork at the beginning of every school year. According to the National Summer Learning Association, the loss is greatest in math and spelling. Your kids may not care, but minimizing this backward slide is definitely a priority for parents and educators. It's nice to take a break from the school routine and reconnect with family during summer but that doesn't have to mean that all learning stops. Here are 5 ways to keep your kids' minds active over the summer break that are fun and they may not even …
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Plan some fun activities for the family on your day off.
This year the Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday and it's messing with everyone's schedule. Do you celebrate this weekend? Next weekend? Which days do you get off of work? The fun doesn't end with the parade and the fireworks. However and whenever you decide to take some time to be with your family, here are 5 creative ideas to have fun on or around the Fourth of July. If you have friends or relatives coming over for the Holiday, you'll be sure to have a blast with these ideas. 1. Create a Backyard Golf Course. Take a look around your yard and envision a course where you, the kids, and some friends can have fun putting and chipping around obstacles. Give prizes out for closest to the cup, hole in one, ball still on the grass, etc. Here's …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Tips to get the kids active this summer with a fun family bike ride
Whether you are tackling a new trail or just heading out for ice cream, a family bike ride is the perfect way to get exercise and spend time together. Biking is a great alternative to the pool on those super hot days, too. But, what I love most about a family bike ride is that you can plan an outing with kids of any age. With teens you can plan some long trail rides to discover new places and explore some great nature trails. They can handle overnight biking trips or enter week-long biking events like Ragbrai, in Iowa. My brother-in-law and nephew really look forward to this biking event and their time bonding together every year. With kids ages 6-10, make your outings really enjoyable like heading to the park for a picnic or some fun …
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Ideas that will make Dad smile on his special day
Mother’s Day is so much easier to plan than Father’s Day. I’m not just saying that because I'm a Mom and I think it’s incredibly easy to figure out what I like. After all, what woman doesn’t appreciate a pretty bouquet of flowers, an assortment of gourmet chocolate, a spa appointment or breakfast in bed? But when it comes to the men in our lives, it can be a lot trickier to plan that perfect day. There is no tradition around Father's Day like Mother's Day Brunch, which makes it easy to plan. Every Dad has different interests. I remember as a kid, whenever I would ask my Dad what he wanted for Father's Day his answer was always "Peace and Quiet." Well, you can't just pick that up at the store, so we had to be more creative. So, how to …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
How to create a plan to have the most fun this summer with your family, so you don't miss a thing.
Summer has just started, but I'm already worried about it being over. The time goes by way too fast. I know I think I have all the time in the world to hit some of our family fun ideas or invite friends over but suddenly you look at the calendar and it's booked up. I don't know if this has happened to you but I've been bummed in the past when I didn’t get the kids to the Zoo, or get tickets to a popular kids concert, or get the bikes out enough to justify the space they take up in the garage. Summer was over and we missed out on some opportunities to enjoy it. Well, never again! Last summer our family started a Family Summer Fun Plan or a Summer Bucket List and it has made planning and scheduling our family fun a whole lot easier. We …
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Ideas to kick off summer with the kids at home or in the classroom
Are your kids counting down the hours until school is out? Do you have a family tradition of doing something special on the last day of school to kick off your summer fun? Whether you are dreading the end of school or thoroughly looking forward to summer break, the last day of school is a great opportunity to have some fun and make some memories. So parents, take the day off if you can and have some FUN! Here are some creative ideas on how to celebrate. Finally, need a cute and easy Teacher's Gift? You'll find a ton of easy, inexpensive, and unique teacher's gift ideas here. Do you do something special on the last day of school with the kids? How do you celebrate? ************ Sue Kirchner is a family fun coach, kids party planner, and …
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Tips and a checklist to get Mom and kids ready for summer camp
School is almost out and Summer Camp season is upon us. Are you ready? For months, Moms have been planning and researching local summer camps, maybe even some overnight camp options, and now it's time to get the kids ready. So, to help make a busy Mom's life a little easier I created a Summer Camp Checklist for Moms to help plan for your kids summer fun. I also did a little research on how to mentally prepare your kids for summer camp, in case they are anxious about starting camp or going to an unfamiliar camp, and thought I would share this great article on Creating Happy Campers. Even if you haven't lined up camps for your kids yet, don't panic, there are still plenty of camp options still open to keep the kids active and having fun. …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The decision of whether to open gifts at a kid's birthday party isn't always easy.
Birthday parties mean birthday presents which brings up the question, “Do you open the gifts at the party or not?” When I ask people this question I get some adamant "Yes" and "No" answers, but quite a few Moms I talk to, especially new Moms, aren’t quite sure what to do. My vague answer is, “It depends.” There are quite a few things you need to consider regarding your child’s birthday party and the answer may not be the same every year. First and foremost you need to do what is right for your child. Does he or she want to open gifts or just keep playing with friends? You also need to consider what you can handle as the party hostess. Sometimes it is hard to gauge how much time it will take. But, don’t let anyone tell you how it should …
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