SBBK - Boredom Buster 1

Summer Boredom Buster Kids - Fun!

My kids enjoy playing with the weirdest things.

I found these cups in the clearance party section at Walmart. I spent a quarter for each package.

At school, in Gym, my son learned about cup stacking.

So, that is what we did today!

Everyone enjoyed playing with them.

I mean LOVED it!

This is fun for all ages, and they have asked several times to play with the cups since I pulled them out the first time!

Try it!

SBBK - Writing 2

Summer Boredom Buster Kids - Writing!

This is a Repost from OCTOBER 2012, still doing it today. 

The littler kids love it just as much!

Easy Canvas!

My kids love to draw(l). It is nice to not waste paper every once in a while. So, I bought these dry erase markers and gave each kid a paper towel and gave them my bathroom mirror.

These markers are for the mirror only.

To start, you need 3 adorable girls.

not a requirement. ;)

I let them get on the counter, and go to town on the mirror!

 They would have done this for hours.

This is a great place to keep them occupied while you are folding laundry,  or cleaning. :)

Summer 2014

I made some Labels for the Activities we are going to do with the kids this summer. You can download them HERE.  Most of the fonts are from an old Creative Lettering book, written by: Becky Higgins.  I used her fonts because my kids could color them, AND they are so adorable!

After I printed them out, we colored them, cut them, and laminated them.

Right now they are in a box, waiting for MONDAY, and the activities that awaits my kids.

In the past, I have been over scheduled (I know, I know) and it was too much on them and me, and it became unfun/hard. I had a husband in school full time, and work full time, and a preemie on therapy, that it was too hard to do my regimented, timed, activities.

For instance from 9-10 Art Time. Well, if we had sick kids and it didn't happen that day I would feel "behind" in our day. That would stress me out, and then it became a mad dash to squeeze everything in for the day. So this year, with 3 kids going to Full Time School in the Fall, and 2 toddlers...I decided to revamp my summer program with my babes.

Instead of over-schooling them in the summer, I have devised simple-quick, educational activities to keep them engaged through out the summer, while still letting them be kids. Because lets face it, that is just what they are...KIDS!

I am calling this Summer: SBBK
Summer Boredom Busters for Kids

 We talked about what we are going to do over the summer.
I decided that the labels we worked on together, will be hidden each day, so they can figure out what we are doing, and get excited about it! We will do one activity in the morning, and one in the afternoon.

What?

EXAMPLE: I will hide the Geography sign somewhere in the house.
Once they find it, that will let them know what we are working on for that day.

They will get dressed, eat breakfast, and then clean their rooms, clean their teeth and faces, etc. 
before we do activity #1.
This helps me get my stuff together while they are busily getting ready for the day.

Since I hid the label the night before, I can decide on what we are going to do, and pre-prep it for the following day ahead of time. (no scrambling around for me!)

Once the kids are ready, I will have that item ready on the kitchen table, or art table, and wait for everyone to be ready. I will explain the rules, and the how to's there and then let them have at it.

After that activity, we will discuss (if needed), then clean up, and then they have free time or whatever we need to do for that day (ex. grocery shopping, or laundry, most likely laundry)

After lunch and naps/quiet time, we will regroup at the table and do activity #2 (same label)
We will discuss, have afternoon snack and then free time or what ever we need to finish for that day.
(ex. pick up toy room, make dinner, do dishes, most likely dish mountain)

This is how I am planning that our summers will go.
I will post what we do for each topic to give you some ideas, and if you have some of your own, PLEASE SHARE!!!

I hope to hear from ya'll soon!

Leaf Fun

It might be too late, but here is an idea to get your kids to clean up those leaves.

Rake a fun path for them to play in!

Super Fun!

Sleepover!

Pick a night and have a movie/sleepover.

It is so fun to stay up and talk to your kids.

Pick a new movie, get bundled up on the floor and have a fun night!

Make popcorn, or eat suckers!

Throw evening plans out the window and chill with your favorite little people!

Someone did not want to be in the sleeping bag! LOL

It is really fun to be a kid again. Even if it is only for one night!

Growing : Plant Pansies

Did you know Pansies are great winter flowers?

The best part is that they are cheap!

So, if they die (early)...no biggie!

Hehehe.

We took advantage of our last nice afternoon before we start hitting 50 degrees.

It is amazing how much children love to be outside and touch real living things.

My kids jump at the chance to plant, get dirty and make/do.

Even the babies love it.

We chose halloween colors. :)

Children are curious, they learn by doing, and most of them love playing in dirt.

Working, cultivating, and experiencing what comes with gardening, helps children learn about the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time.

Gardening gives kids a chance to learn important life skills and teaches environmental awareness by exploration.

It is so fun, and anything outside is worth the time, in my book. :)

Date Night : Picnic Dinner at the Lake

My kids always get jealous when we have our date nights. 

They love their sitter, but love to go out too!

Each kid in our house gets one night a month with Daddy to go somewhere special.

The next month it is a night with Mommy.

We do silly things like go out for an ice cream cone, or ride bikes, or play a game.

This was one of our family resolutions to strengthen our relationships with each other.

So far it has been EXCELLENT!

Tonight's Family Fun Activity was a Family Date!

We packed sandwiches and went to the lake.

It was so nice to be "unplugged."

We enjoyed listening to the sounds of the outdoors.

 Then my husband took the kids to the other side of the lake to teach them how to skip rocks.

Quiet, Fun, Peaceful.

Just what the family needed.

Free Field Trip : Pet Store/Pound

My kids (minus one) love animals. Since we will never have a pet, visiting the pet store was a better option for us. I called ahead and when we got there, the owner taught my kids all about pet safety, pet care, and about all the animals she had in her shop.

She then let the kids pick one to take out and pet.

All of the cages were at their level, and the kids were able to play and enjoy the dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, and rats.

She said all of the playing was good for the animals and good for the kids too. I would agree.

The total cost of this field trip was $0.  We were there for 2 hours and my kids wouldn't stop talking about it at dinner time.

I'd say success! 

Regression

My kid has been completely potty trained for over 6months and NOW he starts having accidents and

 intentionally peeing in his undies!! Suggestions??

Well, I just recently dealt with this in my own house.

I later found out that my 3 year old had a bladder infection, so after some AZO and Cranberry Juice we

 cleared up the bladder infection and moved on. 

Here's how I did it!

I basically re-trained my daughter, and you can too! (for your son)

1. Validate your child. Tell him and show him you know he can do it!
2. Be consistent. Make sure that you continue the "potty training methods" you used before.
3. Positive Reinforcement. Stickers, Jelly Beans, etc. - For staying dry
4. Stop Negative Attention. This was hard, because you are frustrated - but it is important to only give positive attention. If they wet, just clean it up and move on.
5. Remind Often.Don't ask them if they need to go, remind them to go. They will say no if you ask! :)
6. Hold them Accountable. If they mess their pants, they need to clean it up. Not as a punishment, but to help. It reminds them how much work it is to be messy. 
7. Be consistent.  This truly is the most important thing, that is why its on here twice!
8. Keep it Short. Don't lecture about the accidents. The kids are little and lose attention quickly. Just remind them how awesome it is to be a big kid and to be potty trained and leave it at that. Lecture to a 3 year old = in trouble. Keep up the Praise on the staying dry!
9. Do not turn this into a disciplinary matter, because it's not one. It is just part of being a toddler.

Please remember to not freak out and I beg of you...do not put them back in diapers!!!

Remember this is a process, sometimes we need to reboot and start again.

Experts identify the following reasons for regression:

1. stress (new sibling, divorce, move, new school, any change in schedule)
2. medical reasons
3. natural regression that occurs with the mastery of a any new skill
4. ignoring the body’s message

Emily Geizir from Parenting Solutions wrote this perfectly:

"Keep in mind that recently trained children need reminders to go to the bathroom. This is how you can help your child to feel successful. Help her get to the bathroom on time.

Do not take “no” for an answer if you feel it has been too long between bathroom breaks. Honor what the child is focused on at the time, while also imparting the importance of listening to one’s own body (an important life message). For example (please extrapolate to your own circumstance), “I see that you are very focused on your activity, but it is time to take a break to sit on the toilet and then you can return to your activity.”  This is not a question.  This does not need an apology. This is a directive. Directives can be said in loving and assertive ways.

Your child will be inspired by your renewed faith in her abilities.  Maximize this momentum!"

I couldn't agree more!

Good Luck, and if you need more help, please email me! Or leave a comment and we all can talk it out together!

Bird Day!

We had some friends over for a play date.

Here is what we had for lunch:

Here is what we did for an activity:

Birdhouses can be made at Home Depot on Saturdays, or purchased for $2.24 at Walmart in their kid craft area. :)

Kidspace Museum, Pasadena CA

We took the kids on a 2 week vacation and this was one of our stops.

Kidspace

We had been there once before, when we only had 2 kids and thought now that we have 5 it might be fun to go again! It is a great place and here are some highlights.

Digging Deeper Exhibit is where all these "bug" themed pictures are from.

The new baby is sleeping behind this old baby. :)

This exhibit sparked a lot of questions in my family, so we will be doing bugs for the next few weeks.

I hope you like it! Also, if you have any ideas, please let me know!

Texture Play

Everyone loves PlayDoh in my house. Last night for family night we talked about impressions and fossils.

So, we had the kids search through the house that were different textures, or patterns.

They found a comb, coins, legos, a key, pipe cleaners, a dryer sheet, a chain, and bubble wrap. 

(we may have hinted to ideas)

Then it was time to have at it!

We do family night after bath, so please excuse the wet hair and jammies. :)

This is a great fine motor activity. It also helps distinguish textural differences.

 The kids all had a blast!

 Even the one year old took a stab at it...literally!

This was just another fun way to use play doh.

We talked about ridges, grooves, indentations, and textures. They each learned new descriptive words.

We also had them predict what would happen on the other side if they pushed too hard or too soft.

Really nice and quiet activity. :)

Mummy Wrap!

Toilet Paper fun for toddlers!

This week I am making the most of our frigid temps and doing fun random stuff inside!

Toilet Paper, Imagination, and giggles, check!

I saved the remnants for tomorrow's activity.

So fun, and easy clean up!