Play Dates

Summer Play Dates

The long days of summer are usually filled with small children who are full of energy and looking for something to do. Don't let this cause you to pull your hair out - arrange a play date!

Play dates for small children can be so much fun and they don't require a lot of extensive planning or large amounts of money. There is absolutely no reason for you to make this complicated or stressful because small children are much simpler and more creative than most adults give them credit for.

Choose entertainment activities that will utilize whatever resources you already have available. For example, ask each child to bring a couple of their their favorite toys and games to share. Now, suddenly the toys and games that each child took for granted becomes a lot more fun, when shared with their friends.

And, keep the snacks simple too. Some peanut butter & jelly or grilled cheese sandwiches are always a big hit. Add some milk or juice to drink and now you have a tasty treat when those small hungry stomachs begin to growl for lunch.

• If you have a safe back yard - then use it for their playground that day.
• If you have a "child-friendly" family room - then use it for the playroom that day.

The children can play together, entertain each other, and free up your time to do other things around the house. Play dates are really so much easier to do than most moms think - now let the fun and games begin!



Treasure Hunt

HIDDEN TREASURE

Wow, can you believe it's Summer 2011 already?

It seem's like we were just getting ready to start school and now school is out, again! Well, that means it's time for more tips on what to do with your children and how to keep them entertained for the next three months - without spending a lot of money.

Children are remarkably easy; it's usually the parents that make the process complicated. Okay, have you ever considered a treasure hunt? Yes, a game of hunting for hidden treasure is easy, inexpensive, and loads of fun. And, the discovery process often gives a whole new perspective on how your children see the world.

Use the natural resources that you already have and keep the rules simple and straight forward. Let the hunt for treasure begin!

1. Look at the ocean from the shore, then look at the ocean while swimming beneath the waves. What will your child find - What would your child keep?
2. Watching a spider spinning a web in a corner may seem drab, frightening, and mysterious. Looking closer your child can see a weave of silver snowflakes between the branches of a tree that actually resemble colored jewels.
3. Let your child bury his/her face in the grass and look at the world from a bug's vantage point. Water drops left over from the sprinkler become lakes and pools - rocks become mountains to climb and conquer.

Kneeling down sometimes helps your child to see more closely when looking for lost treasure and standing back can help your child to appreciate the broader picture of what they are looking at.

When you encourage your children to see the world differently they'll discover all types of hidden treasures.