4 In 2020/ Christmas/ Family/ Free stuff/ Games/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Colorado/ Things to do in Minnesota

41 Final Wintertime Activities for Quarantined Kids (Part 3)

I’ve created 101 things to do in quarantine.

Click here for the first 30 (Part 1)

Click here for the second set of 30 – all FREE! (Part 2)

Today I bring you the final 41, for a total of 101 ideas for wintertime and quarantine fun!

1. Build a Marble Maze / Labrynth

George creating his game called “The Ultimate Maze”

Your kids can use an empty box.
Glue straws to the bottom to create a maze.

2. Card Games

Play a card game with your family after dinner.

A lady I enjoy listening to, raised four amazing sons and swears by the power of spending time with your kids around the table – not just eating, but staying to play games. She said the boys didn’t always want to play, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Playing together opens up conversations you may not normally have. Games make you laugh and connect in a new way.

Some good options: Go Fish, Memory, Uno
My kids and I love Skipbo and Rat-a-tat-Cat (Best for ages 7 and up)
You can learn a NEW card game. My boys and I just started playing “Garbage” – it’s an easy game we learned on Youtube.
When I was a child, I entertained myself by playing Solitaire. Perhaps your kids can learn this one too!?
My kids don’t always want to play a card game, but I often ask them to play just ONE game. They forget how fun it is until they start playing.

3. Try winter gardening

Click here for ideas

4. Make snow slushees

If you have milk and sugar, your kids can make their own ice cream!
Click here for recipe!
Scoop fresh snow, pour any drink on top to turn it into a SLUSHEE!

5. Minute to Win it Games

Click here to read the ten fun games to play with your kids!

6. Create “Ramp Races”

A really fun and simple activity that can act as a physics lesson and opportunity for an experiment. Make a simple ramp using cardboard or a piece of wood, and roll different objects down: measure how far they go, how fast they roll, or hold races between different kinds of balls to see which wins!

7. Go Fishing With Magnets

Create “fishing poles” using pencils, string, and magnets.
Place a variety of items in a bin–some magnetic, some otherwise–and let them go to town exploring the concept of magnetism!

8. Draw self portraits

Have your kids look in the mirror and do a self portrait!
Be sure to have them write their name and age. It will be fun to look back on this when they are older.
You could have them repeat this every year around their birthday to see how their drawings improve!

9. Make a Flip Book Animation

Kids can learn how to make a flipbook animation in less than 5 minutes. All you need is a pen and a stack of paper, or even better, a sticky note pad. This video is a great and very quick tutorial

Here is one of my son’s first flip book, using index cards:

10. Create paper airplanes

Click here for ideas

11. Sledding

If you have snow like we do, this is fun for all ages!

12. Skiing

Skiing requires gloves, you can wear a mask, it’s outdoors and fairly easy to stay ‘socially distant.’ Many ski resorts have special rates and lessons for beginners.

13. Play with shaving cream

14. Have a make your own pizza and family movie night

Click here for some of our family favorites

Click here for a simple 3 ingredient pizza recipe!

15. Take a winter walk

16. Play Bingo! or Zingo!

17. Make one of a kind ornaments

Click here to read how!

18. Make a comic strip

Read the Sunday comics to your kids, then make your own!

Click here for this printable comic strip outline.

19. Stop Motion

Download a stop-motion app for your kids and let them make stop motion videos

Here’s a video my 10 year old made:

https://youtu.be/PwXNusWmltk

20. Learn and/or Practice an instrument

Piano, keyboard, xylophone, harmonica, recorder or drums…make it a family band.
Look on Youtube for free lessons.

21. Pour Paint

22. Rock Art

23. Play with marshmallows and toothpicks

24. Make Special Snacks

Take a cupcake holder and put a different snack in each section
Make Circus Sundaes – Ice Cream, Animal Crackers, Syrup, Whip Cream and a Cherry On Top!

25. Blow Art

Pour droplets of paint on paper
Allow kids to “blow” air through the straw to make a cool pattern

26. Play Follow The Leader

Have each child take a turn being the leader
Walk all around your house
Do jumps, turns, stop to hug dad, etc.

27. Mess Free Coloring

28. Playfoam Game

29. Go Retro with Lite-Brite

30. Become an author

My fourth grade teacher once gave us the title “The Entire City Lends a Hand” and had the class each write their own story. Read a rendition of that here.
Give your kids a title/prompt and let them write!
Title ideas:
- If I were President…
- Undersea Adventure…
- You Won’t Believe what Happened!

31. Got Toilet Paper?

Tape them up to create a “marble maze”
Click here for more ideas

32. Have your children create a scavenger hunt for each other!

Give them a treat to hide for their sibling
Have them create clues to search the house and find it!

33. Memorize a verse together

I find SO much comfort in knowing Scripture by heart and being able to quote it when I’m feeling fear.
Learn a verse together with your kids.
Click here for 12 great verses.

34. Draw it

35. Butcher Paper Family Table

Roll a large sheet of paper across the dining room table or counter top or coffee table.
Set markers in a jar on top of the table.
Draw Christmas scenes, hand prints, rainbows, etc.

37. Fashion Plates or Action Plates

38. Make salt dough ornaments

My sister made these with her girls (ages 5 and 8). They turned out so cute. I am going to make some with my boys.

Click here for step-by-step instructions.

39. Get a job or Help a Neighbor

Both working and serving can boost your mood!

If you have kids who are 8 and older, they can earn money or serve their neighbors by shoveling, cleaning up leaves, or helping any other outdoor task.

40. Find a place to explore!

Though there are some places that are closed for Covid, you can still find a new place to explore with your kids!

You can look at the website “Only in your State.”

If you are in Tulsa, Oklahoma, check out The Gathering Place or RedBud Nature Preserve.

If you live in Colorado Springs, CO – click here for ten great places to hike with kids.

If you are in Minnesota, click here to discover the Arboretum, the Eloise Bird Sanctuary, and more!

41. If all else fails…let them be bored!

Being bored is a natural part of life as a kid. Try not to offer an immediate solution to their boredom and see what they come up with! It’s often in times of boredom that children show their greatest creativity!

Click here to read 20 gifts that Minnesota gave the world. I’m guessing most inventions were made during the long, dark winters in Minnesota.

Thanks for reading!

If you missed part 1 of this series, click here!

Click here for 30 FREE wintertime activities for kids!

Click here for 55 more ideas for quarantine fun!

Here’s a video I created to show you some great gift ideas for kids:

November 28, 2020 By Kathryn

0 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Games/ Inspiration/ Motherhood/ Product Recommendations/ Raising boys

40 Fun Ways to Entertain a Toddler

While raising four energetic boys, I’ve spent countless hours searching for ways to keep them engaged. We’ve endured many LONG, COLD winters cooped up indoors together.

Pictures from one very long, extremely cold winter. Every day felt like Groundhog Day!

Through experience (and a few hard lessons), I’ve discovered that when little ones get bored—or are left unsupervised even briefly—they have an uncanny talent for finding trouble and creating chaos!

I left him un-attended for a few minutes, and he created “SNOW” with packing peanuts

I’ve searched the internet, and gathered my favorite ideas for keeping your toddlers busy!

Each link I’ve included is an affiliate link, so that means if you click on it and decide to purchase the item, I will earn a small profit. Thanks for your support!

1. Stacking cereal

Stack fruit loops or Cherries on Spaghetti noodles stuck in play dough!

2. Fingerprint Characters and Stamps

Use their cute little fingerprints to make fun little creatures!

3. Color Wheel

Set out one item of each color, have your child search the house for items of the same color. (Bonus: see if they can put the items back where they found them.)

4. Plasma car

My oldest son received the Plasma Car for his first birthday – and each of my boys have been riding it ever since. This “bike” is almost 12 years old, and still one of their favorite toys. If you have an unfinished basement, or scratch resistant floors – this bike is a life-saver!

5. Balloons or Balloon Rocket Set

Children love a simple balloon – just blow one up and bounce it back and forth! Here are some balloon game ideas.

Step it up a notch with the Balloon Rockets. Kids enjoy watching balloons soar around the room! We purchased our Balloon Rocket set many years ago and my boys still have fun with this! I recently bought replacement balloons to keep them entertained during quarantine.

6. Shape Sorting

7. Make lunchtime special

8. Don’t Eat Pete

What you need:

Any small snacks (cereal, candy, tiny crackers, peanuts, raisins)

1 piece of paper and a writing utensil

To do:

On a sheet of white paper, draw a large grid – nine squares.
Put a number on each square.
Put a small snack on each square.
Have ONE person leave the room.
Have another person choose which square is “Pete.”
Ask the person who left the room to come back. He or she eats one snack at a time. When they grab the snack that is “Pete,” everyone screams:

“DON’T EAT PETE!”

Their turn is over.

Repeat as many times as your kids are interested!

9. Ball Ramp

My older kids made this for our toddler using toilet paper tubes and paper towel rolls.

Or buy a ramp as a gift:

10. Ball Bounce

Use any plastic cups and ping pong balls.

11. Make your own bird feeder

Take an empty grapefruit, fill with peanut butter and bird seed. We’ve had all kinds of birds visit our feeder – and they are so fun to watch.

12. Tracing

Make a “dotted” animal or letters for your child to trace, or purchase a ready-made book:

13. Sidewalk Chalk

Inside – use your sidewalk chalk with construction paper.

Outside – Create a “road” for their cars. Draw out hop scotch, train tracks, or write the alphabet!

14. Play with water

Inside – Put any toy that can get wet into the bathtub.

Outside – 1. Pour water down a sloped path or driveway to see where it goes. 2. Put their toys in soapy water and have them give them a “bath.”

15. Have fun with shaving cream

Spray it on a pan and let them draw or put shaving cream in a large baggie with some food coloring. Let your child “squish it” or practice writing letters on it with their finger.

16. Mess Free Coloring Book

My son LOVES this!

17. Have fun with Finger Paint

18. Create sounds with Pots/Pans and Wooden Spoons

Let your kids bang away. (Put in earbuds to keep it from driving you crazy!)

Or:

Give your toddler pots and pans to bang on is a classic parent move, but here is a less noisy idea. Sit your toddler down with a pumpkin, melon, or squash and let them pound the vegetable to their heart’s content with a toy hammer. Most toddlers aren’t strong enough to do real harm with their hammer, so you can still make soup with your butternut squash once they’ve had their fun. She also says this works if you swap the hammer for stickers.

19. Play a Memory Game

**We created this one on Shutterfly**, but Amazon sells many options:

20. Hide and Seek

Little ones and big ones love this game.

You can also hide a toys, stuffed animals, or plastic eggs and let them search!

21. Board Books/Flap Books

My boys enjoyed “Lift the Flap” books

They also loved Brown Bear and Goodnight Moon

22. Dance party

Go Noodle is a good website to use for dance moves

23. Water Color Painting

Give your kids white paper and let them color, draw or paint.

24. Paint Nails

25. Bubbles

Bubbles always make kids smile! A bubble machine will allow them to have fun without you having to do all the work.

26. Sock Puppets

Little ones love puppets. Make a simple one with a glove.

All four of my boys BEG me to read the “Tickle Monster” book that comes with Tickle Monster ‘puppet’ gloves.

27. Take a Drive

Strap your kids in to the car, drive around and listen to music or an audiobook.

28. Building Blocks and Magnetic Tiles

You can never go wrong with the classics.

29. Sing together

Singing to and with your child builds a unique bond with them. And just like reading to your child, singing songs with them helps to boost their vocabulary and language skills.

30. Stickers

Kids can put stickers over large letters to “trace” their name, or put sticker dots on a line you draw for them.

Click here to follow the “Busy Toddler” on Instagram for lots of fun ideas for toddlers.

31. Exercise together

My mom started exercising with me when I was a toddler, and now I exercise with my kids. Set the timer for 20 minutes and MOVE!

32. Play Dress Up

We keep a container of “Dress up” clothes for our kids. My boys have dressed up and saved the world thousands of times!

33. PlayDoh

34. Busy Bag

35. Lay in the grass (or snow) and watch the clouds

Ask them what they see!

36. MegaBlocks

This bag has brought hours of entertainment for my kiddos!

37. Have fun with ice!

Make ice in different colors with food coloring and add to their drinks.

Freeze their toys and allow them to ‘excavate’ with a toy hammer.

38. Memorize a verse together

It’s the SWEETEST thing to hear your little ones quoting Scripture!

The first verses my mom had me learn were Psalm 91:1 and Ephesians 6:. The first verse I had my kids learn was 1 Timothy 4:12.

Scripture memory is something that will benefit your children throughout their ENTIRE lives!

39. Clean together

Smaller things kids can do – wiping baseboards, lower cabinets, all door handles, pulling weeds, folding and putting away laundry, bathroom, bedroom, their closet, putting toys away and unloading dishwasher.
I offered my kids a quarter to whoever could wipe down the baseboards and bring me back the dirtiest wet wipe.

40. Play bean bag games

Toss in buckets, pans, or boxes
For more bean bag toddler games, CLICK HERE.

Do you have an activity to share? Leave a comment!

Click here for 55 activities for kids of every age!

*I am an Amazon Affiliate, so I make a small percentage off of Amazon links I share if you click through and purchase. Thank you for your support in this way!

May 11, 2020 By Kathryn

22 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Games/ Giveaway/ Motherhood

20 More Fun Activities for your Kids

My post on 55 Summertime Activities for Kids has been a big hit with parents, so I wrote another post to give you MORE ideas for keeping your quarantined kids busy.

1. Sports Action Figures

The Sports Action Figures inspire kids in creative, open-ended play of their favorite sport (while stuck inside). The sets can also be used for parents to teach their kids the rules of the game and introduce their kids to the sports they love. The sets can also be used as centerpieces for sports-themed birthday parties – or to decorate cakes and cupcakes! Coaches use the GUYS to go over positioning and strategy with their players!

The sets by KaskeyKids.com include: Football, Baseball, Hockey, Soccer and Basketball.

Click here for more info on the set.

2. Mosaic Art

Keep your kids busy by tearing up different colors of construction paper, then gluing them onto a picture you draw or print!

3. Handmade Greeting Cards

Everyone loves to get mail! Have your kids make a ‘Mother’s day’ or ‘Thinking of you’ Card!!!

Click here for verses you could include in the card.

3. “Paper Towel/Toilet Paper Tube” May

4. Mad libs

Your kids will practice reading, writing, and language arts with this fun activity!

5. Learn to Draw

Whatever it is your kids would like to draw – an animal, flower, or character – there’s a youtube video to teach them how to draw.

6. Practice your manners!

Kids don’t automatically know what it means to “Mind Your Manners.” Summer time is the perfect time to teach them! At the dinner table, talk about table etiquette. After dinner, practice how to meet new people, and how to make a great first impression. We WILL be getting back to normal soon. We WILL be shaking hands again one day.

Practice with your kids NOW so they can impress people with their top-notch manners LATER!

7. Mystery Drawing

WooJr has TONS of fun and free printables for Kids. The “Mystery Grids” are fun for kids – they won’t know what they are coloring until it’s finished!

8. Quick Dra w with Google

Have you seen this free activity? My kids and I have had so much fun with this game! Click here to play!

9. Battleship over zoom

Click here to print a Battleship sheet. Your kids can zoom chat with a friend or relative and play this game together.

10. Hangman

This game has been around for over 100 years. Teach your kids how to play! Use their spelling or vocabulary words and call it “HOME SCHOOL!”

11. Paper Airplane

There are Youtube videos to teach your kids how to make unique paper airplanes. Have your kids build one and see how far it goes!

12. Gratitude Journal

A gratitude list or journal is EXTREMELY valuable in uncertain times. Thinking about our blessings and what we are grateful for is extremely helpful in building resiliency! I researched journals a few months ago and decided to purchase this simple one for George. I’ve loved watching him open this up (without prompting), and write what he’s grateful for!

13. Self Portrait

Have your kids look in the mirror and do a self portrait! Be sure to have them write their name and age. It will be fun to look back on this when they are older. You could have them repeat this every year around their birthday to see how their drawings improve!

14. Watercolor Painting

Have your kids PAINT their coloring books instead of coloring – or – give them a blank sheet of paper to paint!

15. Friendship bracelets

Making friendship bracelets kept me busy for HOURS when I was young. Perhaps it will entertain your kids too! Purchase embroidery floss, then search youtube for instructions.

16. Play in The Sprinkler

17. Marshmallow cup toss

All you need are two cups, two kids and one marshmallow.

18. Blow Painting

Drip some paint on paper or cardboard and have your kids use a straw to blow the paint and make a unique piece of art.

19. Crayon Art

Use crayons and a blow dryer to create art!

Click this site for some REALLY cool crayon art ideas!

20. Paint those nails!

I saw this on Facebook and HAD to share! What a cool idea.

Thanks for reading and ENJOY your summer!

For 55 other activities for kids, click here!

*I am an Amazon Affiliate, so I make a small percentage off of Amazon links I share if you click through and purchase. Thank you for your support in this way!

April 24, 2020 By Kathryn

6 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Motherhood/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Colorado/ Things to do in Minnesota

Summer Fun Unleashed: Beat Boredom with These 55 Kid-Approved Activities!

🌞☀️ Summer Fun Alert! 🌞☀️ Are you ready to banish those dreaded words, “I’m bored,” from your kids’ vocabulary this summer? 🎉 I’ve put together the ultimate list of activities guaranteed to keep young minds engaged, bodies moving, and creativity flowing all season long! From outdoor adventures to indoor escapades, there’s something for every kid to enjoy. Let’s dive in and make this summer the most memorable one yet! 🚀

Note: I put this list together during the 2020 lock down and it came in handy when my son and got Covid and had to spend two weeks in quarantine. When we were finally ‘free” he said:

“Mom, I’m sad that quarantine is done. We made so many memories.”
Luke, age 7

Thankfully, the lockdown is long gone, but this list remains incredibly useful for those moments when boredom strikes and you’re in need of some inspiration! Plus, it’s an added bonus that you’ll make ‘so many memories’ along the way!!

1. Draw a Picture and/or write a letter

Set out Pencils, markers, water color, or crayons and blank paper or coloring books.

Draw pictures and write letters to family and friends!

Click here to purchase a “How to Draw” book on Amazon.

2. Read a book

Go to the library and allow your kids to explore!
Find books that will pique your child’s curiosity.
Most early readers (and pre-readers) enjoy comic-strip style books.
Set a timer so your kids know that it’s “reading time.”
Ask an older child to read to a younger child – or –
Read a few pages of a chapter book to your kids. The “Who Was” series is great!
My 12 year old son and I recently finished Front Desk and he LOVED it and kept asking me to read more.
We read Little House on the Prairie in 2020 and laughed at how similar the “little house life” and “quarantine life” are!

3. Tell/ write a story

My fourth grade teacher once gave us the title “The Entire City Lends a Hand” and had the class each write their own story. Read a rendition of that here.
Give your kids a title and let them write!
Title ideas: The first day of school! Best Vacation Ever, If I were President, Undersea Adventure, You Won’t Believe what Happened!

4. Make a book

Buy blank books from amazon or use a notebook you have on hand.

Have your kids write a little each day about what they are doing during the summer. (It will be interesting to look back on these journals in the future!)

Another option: Have your kids write 1 thing they are grateful for each day.

Be sure to have them add the date and their name.

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5. Start a Gratitude Journal

Thinking about our blessings and what we are grateful for is extremely helpful in building resiliency! I researched journals a few months ago and decided to purchase this simple one for George. I’ve loved watching him open this up (without prompting), and write what he’s grateful for!

Research suggests that keeping a gratitude journal can boost your health and happiness.

6. HOME EC – Cook together

My boys love helping make any type of dessert. But they are also good “sous” chefs – peeling potatoes and carrots, etc.
Teaching kids how to cook builds confidence in them and is a huge help once they know what to do.
Here is an easy recipe for – Personal Pizzas

Here’s a post about the benefits of cooking together

7. Balloon games

It’s crazy how much joy a simple balloon can bring.
Blow up balloons and work together to keep them from touching the ground.
Use a string/rope/crepe paper across the living room and play “tennis” or “volleyball.”
Use a tennis racket outside with a balloon.
My son’s love this balloon rocket from amazon!

8. Go Park Hopping!

9. Clean together

My sister’s daughters (ages 4 and 7) – She says the girls enjoy the tactile nature of finding the clips, reading them, and then putting them in the container when completed.

There are so many benefits to giving your kids household chores and teaching them to clean!
Some bigger things we are working on together – the basement, baseboards, and cleaning our cars.
Smaller things the kids can do – a junk drawer, the pantry, baseboards, wiping lower cabinets, all door handles, appliance handles, pulling weeds, folding and putting away laundry, bathroom, bedroom, their closet, and loading/unloading dishwasher.
I offered my kids a quarter to whoever could wipe down the baseboards and bring me back the dirtiest wet wipe.

Click here for a “chore chart” idea!

10. Dino Dig

My boys love uncovering a treasure, your kid will too!

11. Make some homemade gifts

Friendship bracelets are back! (Thank you T.Swift)

12. Play Hide and Seek

Take turns hiding – or – Hide a stuffed animal. Say “hotter/colder” when they are getting closer or further.

13. Play bean bag games

Toss back and forth
Toss in buckets, pans, or boxes
Play “keep away!”
For bean bag toddler games, CLICK HERE.

14. Scavenger hunt

Print the list pictured above for an indoor hunt
Write a list of things to find or print a list from Pinterest for an outdoor hunt
Kids can create their own hunt around the house with “clues”
Here’s a list I created.

15. Puzzles

Do a Puzzle together
Puzzle races: 1. Time your kids and see how fast they can put a small puzzle together. 2. If you have two 50-100 piece puzzles, race to see who can put them together faster.
Optional Money-saving tip: Trade puzzles with your neighbors or buy some used ones! Dollar store sells some too!
Get a new puzzle from Amazon, or trade with friends.

16. Paint by Sticker

This sticker book has over 5000 5-star reviews! I got this for my son for Christmas and I see why it has so many positive reviews. We love it! The pictures turn out so pretty you could frame them!

17. Sidewalk chalk

Lay down and trace each other – then decorate with clothes, faces, etc.
Write a verse or word of encouragement for passers-by
Use tape and color in the spaces like stained glass (pictured above)
Color rocks around your house

18. Create an Indoor or outdoor Obstacle course

Create one in your yard, basement or around your house.
There are tons of games you can play with cones and bean bags!

19. Have a Spa Day!

Facials, paint nails, do hair, etc.

20. Spot It

This is a fun game for kids ages 4 and up!

21. Don’t Eat Pete Game

Click here for instructions

22. Play games with a Jump Rope

Do competitions to see who can go the longest without tripping. It’s great exercize and FUN!
I definitely recommend you purchase the segmented jump ropes (pictured above). We bought several so we could all jump rope together.

23. Build with legos or megablocks

24. Do a craft together

Lots of ideas on Pinterest
Paint by numbers are for sale on Amazon and Hobby Lobby

25. Memorize a poem or verse together.

Click here for a list of our favorites
Print verses a nd hang around the house to practice and memorize.

26. Build an arcade game out of boxes.

Clark created a game called “Hit It” – Targets for Nerf Guns

27. Play with Cheerios

Allow your kids to string Cheerios or Fruit Loops for an edible necklace
Stack cheerios on Spaghetti noodles
With older kids – turn this into a race!

28. Play a board game

How many board games do you have that you NEVER play? NOW is the time to blow the dust off and play!
The boys received “No Stress Chess” as a Christmas gift a few years ago. This set helps you learn how to play chess. Now my boys love the game!
We also enjoy Chutes and Ladders, Battleship, Monopoly, Life and Guess Who?
Click here for a list of our family’s favorite games.

29. Spike Ball

My son Clark just got this game for his 11th birthday. My boys love it. It’s best for ages 8 and up.
When it’s too cold to play outside, this game can be played in a living room or basement.

30. Play charades or download the HEADS UP app

Even little ones can play this game. Whisper what you want them to “act” out and let the sibling(s) guess.
The Heads Up app is lots of fun.

31. Build a fort

Put blankets over your dining table – or
Use boxes, or pillows and blankets.
Read a story in the fort!
“Go on a Bear Hunt“
Decorate with Christmas lights!

32. Create or Buy Kinetic Sand or Play Doh

33. Exercise!

Follow a youtube exercise video
Family Bootcamp
Run around your house for 5 or more minutes. I don’t know about your kids – but my kids NEED to burn energy in a healthy way or they start getting mischievous!
If we are outside, I challenge my kids to a foot race so that we can BOTH burn energy and get exercise.

34. Play some backyard games

Duck Duck Goose
Balloon Bounce – Kids lay down (or sit down) and have to work together to keep balloon(s) in the air.
Red Rover, Red Rover
Red Light, Green Light
Tag

35. Have a unique conversation

Has months of summer left you with nothing else to talk about than how bored you are? Then you NEED this set of cards.

Each card asks interesting questions for your family to answer or discuss. My kids ask for us to pull the cards out whenever we sit down to eat. One time my kids were eating alone and my oldest son pulled the questions out to ask his little brothers. I LOVED listening to their conversation!

36. Have a “What’s in the Box?” Challenge

Cut holes a in box
Choose an item to put inside
Allow someone to reach their hand inside the box and “guess” what it is.
Take turns finding items to hide, then guessing “What’s in the Box?”

Click here to watch the Egly boys’ challenge. They’d love for you to subscribe to their channel.

37. Homemade Tap Shoes

Sorry parents, this one’s noisy! It’s so easy, though, and will keep your kids busy.

Simply tape coins to the bottom of your child’s shoe. Voila, homemade tap shoes.

Get them to come up with a tap-dancing routine, rehearse it and record their final performance (bring your own earmuffs).

38. Look at old photos

Take out your photo albums or pull up pictures on your computer and enjoy!

39. Build a Marble Maze / Labrynth

Your kids can use an empty box.

Glue straws to the bottom to create a maze.

40. Card Games

Play “War” with the classic deck of cards.

41. Play “Minute to Win It”

Click here for 10 fun games to play with your family

42. Practice an instrument

Piano, keyboard, xylophone, harmonica, recorder or drums…make it a family band. Look on Youtube for free lessons.

43. Blow bubbles

Make some bubbles using dish washing soap, water, and sugar (for consistency).

Or check out these “bubble gloves” on amazon.

44. Make a flip motion animation book

Kids can learn how to make a flipbook animation in less than 5 minutes. All you need is a pen and a stack of notecards, paper, or a sticky note pad. This video is a great and very quick tutorial.

45. Play Simon Says or Follow The Leader

Have each child take a turn being the leader
Walk all around your house
Do jumps, turns, stop to hug dad, etc.

46. Ice excavating

Place some toys in a bowl of water and Freeze. Let the kids dig them out.

47. Build a volcano

Click here for instructions

48. Make Ice Cream

If you have milk and sugar, your kids can make their own ice cream! Click here for the recipe!

49. Nerf guns

Shoot at targets – I made some targets with construction paper and held them in place with play doh.

50. Jokes

Get a joke book from Amazon, or search for kid’s jokes on the internet and entertain each other!

51. Create Salt Dough Figures

Click here for instructions

52. Play “Would you Rather?”

Click here for questions!

53. Create “Ramp Races”

54. Leaf or Texture rubbings

Find leaves, grass, and other flat-ish items and put them under paper. Color over them.

55. Take an aimless drive.

Listen to a podcast or the radio.
Go through the drive through for ice cream or dinner.

CLICK HERE FOR 20 more ideas

Bonus Idea: Create a “I’m Bored” Jar:

Print the 55 options listed above, cut apart each idea, and put them in a container. If your kids say ‘I’m Bored’ – have them pull a paper from the jar and complete that activity.
It’s OKAY for your kids to be bored and figure it out too! Boredom leads to creativity! Clark was bored when he created his own Cardboard Arcade!
Boredom leads to new inventions. I look forward to what will be thought up during this quarantine!

Do you have an idea? Leave a comment!

Please subscribe so you don’t miss a post!

*I am an Amazon Affiliate, so I make a small percentage off of Amazon links I share if you click through and purchase, without any additional cost to you. Thank you for your support in this way!

March 22, 2020 By Kathryn

2 In 2020/ DIY/ Free stuff/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Peek into our week: Creating an Arcade

Basketball ended and it left us with an entire weekend with almost nothing to do.

I like to have things to do so I started feeling cabin fever…wishing for warmer weather.

My kids handled the free weekend better than me.

Clark watched a really cool video on youtube (see below), and was inspired to create arcade games out of boxes. His brothers saw his creativity and were inspired as well.

They are all working on creating arcade games and will invite neighbors to come over and play.

Clark created a game called “Hit It” – Targets for Nerf Guns
George creating his game called “The Ultimate Maze”

Here’s Clark’s first creation:

Here’s the super cool video that inspired the weekend’s creativity:

March 1, 2020 By Kathryn

3 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Don’t Eat Pete!

Here’s a fun and easy game to play with your children or grandchildren.

It’s also an activity I leave out for the babysitter.

What you need:

Any small snacks (cereal, candy, tiny crackers, peanuts, raisins)

1 piece of paper and a writing utensil

To do:

On a sheet of white paper, draw a large grid – nine squares.
Put a number on each square.
Put a small snack on each square.
Have ONE person leave the room.
Have another person choose which square is “Pete.”
Ask the person who left the room to come back. He or she eats one snack at a time. When they grab the snack that is “Pete,” everyone screams:

“DON’T EAT PETE!”

Their turn is over.

Repeat as many times as your kids are interested!

Parenting tip:

Are you having a hard time getting your kids to eat certain foods? Cut it into SMALL pieces and use it on the game board.

You can turn this game into LUNCH!

Cover the game board with a piece of plastic wrap.
Cut up small pieces of a protein of your choice, fruits, and vegetables.
Play!

Interested in more games for kids?

Click here for a WOULD YOU RATHER game!

Click here for many more ideas!

February 23, 2020 By Kathryn

3 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Games/ Motherhood/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

Would you Rather?

Here’s a fun game to get your kids talking! My boys love this game and ask me to play when we are having dinner together or driving.

Because this game needs NO SUPPLIES, you can play during dinner, on a walk, or anytime you want to engage with your kids.

Would you rather….

Be Superman or Batman?

Eat Pizza or Hotdogs?

Ride a roller coaster or a water slide?

Go to Target or Walmart?

Laugh or cry?

Jump high or run fast?

Have summer all year or winter all year?

Be really smart or really funny?

Drive a truck or a sports car?

Go back in time or go to the future?

Be able to fly or be invisible?

Have ONE great friend or 20 pretty good friends?

Be in the Mountains or at the Beach?

Take a ride in a speed boat or helicopter?

Go Skydiving or Swim with Sharks?

Build a Sand Castle or Play in the Waves?

Go Skiing or Ride a bike?

Watch a Movie or Read a Book?

Go Rock climbing or Swimming?

Own a Cat or a Dog?

Write a Story or a Draw picture?

Clean the Bathroom or Vacuum the carpet?

Ice Skate or Roller Skate?

Drink Pop or Water?

Play Inside or Outside?

Take a Shower or Bath?

Take a trip to Australia or Italy?

Go Fishing or Make slime?

Play a Video game or Board game?

Have more time or more money?

VOTE WITH YOUR FEET:

If you’d like to play this game with more than one child, call it: VOTE WITH YOUR FEET! Kids have to vote for which one they’d rather do by WALKING to one side of the room! This gets kids moving and allows them to see that they have something in common with another person.

Click here for lots of game ideas for kids!

Give us another ‘Would You Rather?’ Add a comment below!

Please subscribe!

February 7, 2020 By Kathryn

1 In Food/ Free stuff/ Motherhood/ Product Recommendations/ Raising boys/ Review

Bonding through cooking & eating together

I’ve been ordering from Hello Fresh for several years. I’ve tried other subscription meal services, but keep coming back to this one. I usually order 1 box every 4-8 weeks.

You can choose from an assortment of meals each week. There’s a vegetarian option, seafood, pork, chicken and/or steak.

The 3 that I chose for this week were:

Chimichurri Steak with a Sweet Potato, Poblano, and Tomato Jumble
Balsamic Fig Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Mixed Greens
Shrimp Pasta with a Kick with Garlic Herb Butter and Zucchini

Here’s how it works:

Hello Fresh sends me a box of colorful recipe cards and perfectly portioned ingredients, allowing me to prepare a balanced, delicious meal for my family without having to spend the time planning and shopping as much as I normally would.

I love that someone else takes care of all the parts of dinner that I don’t enjoy – especially the DECIDING what to eat! With Hello Fresh, we make and try things we would have never made or tried before.

Here are some reasons why we like Hello Fresh:

#1 :

We get to cook together – spending time side-by-side!

The recipe guide has pictures and instructions that are step-by-step and easy enough for a child to follow. My sons feel great about being able to prepare a delicious meal for the entire family.

#2:

It’s an ADVENTURE!

A cooking adventure of trying and preparing something new and discussing what we like about each meal, and what we want to cook again. We discover foods and recipes we would have never tried if it weren’t for Hello Fresh.

#3:

We all sit down to eat together!!

This is my favorite part of ordering from Hello Fresh. It’s a well-balanced meal that really encourages sitting down and eating together. Hot dogs and chicken nuggets don’t do that – I warm those up and hand them out.

Cooking these delicious Hello Fresh meals has us sitting down and enjoying a meal TOGETHER!!

Many of us know that everyone benefits when we sit down and eat meals as a family.

5 Scientifically-Proven Benefits to

Eating Together as a Family:

Family dinners mean better family relationships
Eating together fosters happy, well-adjusted kids
Eating together helps kids do better in school
Eating together reduces stress
Eating together provides better nutrition

Here’s the rundown about how we felt about each meal:

Chimichurri steak – My boys LOVE steak so this was a hit. I didn’t put the chimichurri sauce on their steak, but I loved it on mine. We all enjoyed the sweet potato medley too!

Balsamic Fig Chicken – Chicken is something we eat on a regular basis, so trying this new recipe was fun and it tasted great!

Shrimp Pasta with a Kick was DE-LICOUS! Clark and I loved the meal, just as shown in the picture – pasta mixed with shrimp and zucchini. The other boys liked all their items separate, not touching. Ted, not much of a pasta eater – just ate the shrimp and zucchini.

My version – not as pretty as the picture, but definitely tasty!

I order from Hello Fresh to add some variety. To save money, I order the smallest meal size and just add my own ingredients to make enough for 6.

If you’d like to try Hello Fresh, I have a $40 discount for you.

Click here for a $40 discount off your first order!

You do have to log on to Hello Fresh about once every 6-8 weeks to choose your meals or hit “skip.” If you don’t love it, just cancel! It’s easy!

Thanks for reading and happy cooking!

Would you like some ideas about what to talk about with your kids? Here’s a game we play at dinner called: Would You Rather?

Click here to read My Struggle with Housekeeping!

Here’s my unpacking of a Hello Fresh box:

January 17, 2020 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Free stuff/ Giveaway/ Things to do in Colorado

A peek inside Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore!

Because I’m a teacher at heart – I wanted my first children’s book to be FUN and EDUCATIONAL!

Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore takes you on an ADVENTURE to the top of Pikes Peak (a Colorado mountain) and teaches you fun facts about the animals who live there.

I worked with a talented local artist who hand painted each illustration.

You can purchase a copy for $10 shipped!

Click here for PayPal, add $10, and I will send you signed 1st edition!

Prefer Venmo? Scan this:

Thanks for your support!

December 12, 2019 By Kathryn

1 In Faith/ Free stuff

One of my favorite stories of all time!

Beth Moore is one of my heroes. The way she talks, writes and teaches speaks right to my heart. Here’s one of my favorite stories she tells. It’s an incredibly powerful, touching true story!

December 3, 2018 By Kathryn

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