Kids need one-on-one time. Sometimes going out on an official “date” with each child isn’t optional. Hence, this idea emerged during a time of my life when I had six little kids running around and when my husband was gone to church meetings a couple nights a week. I found that a “Game Date” was […]
Lively Inside Games
Chilly dark nights bring kids indoors. Here are some games for fun times at home. Shadow Show – pull out a flashlight, turn off the lights, and let the kids make hand shadows on the wall. What animal are they creating?…a dog, a bird, a brontosaurus, a crab, etc. If you want to help get […]
Card Commotion!
This is a simple activity that takes very little preparation! Tell your family it is time for “Card Commotion!” Immediately, they are intrigued… First, you make a card for someone to send in the mail. Second, you play your favorite card game as a family. Pop-up card idea: First, fold your paper in half and […]
The Ever-Changing Treasure Hunt
Let’s go on a treasure hunt! Kids’ minds are working and their feet are running…what a perfect game. Years ago, the idea came to create a treasure hunt that you simply print out, shuffle the clues, and have a whole new experience each time. The only effort is in writing the last clue that leads […]
Salt Dough Ornament Craft
Are you looking for a children’s Christmas craft that lets kids create, uses items you already have, and requires only minimal supervision? Then salt dough ornaments may become your new tradition. Salt Dough Ornament Recipe 4 cups flour 1 cup salt 1 ½ cups hot tap water Combine the salt and the flour in a […]
Priceless Christmas Traditions
Here are some family oriented ideas to help dissipate the feeling that Christmas is too commercialized and put the “merry” back into Christmas: 1) Lie on your backs with your heads under the Christmas tree and enjoy the lights. Talk about how the Savior is the Light the World. 2) Turn out all the lights […]
Pennywise Christmas for Little Girls
Stop! Before you buy what the stores say is the latest item, watch your little girl at play…an old pillow becomes a doll bed, school is set up with stray pieces of paper and an old white board, and the doll (her student) is dressed in mismatched clothes… Does she really need the most expensive […]
Homemade Bean Bag Bocce
“Mom, what can we do?” With freezing temperatures and the sun setting early…what should kids do for fun? (The answer is not play a video game. 🙂 ) The answer is to try playing Bean Bag Bocce! This is an excellent family game for cold winter nights! Each player gets two matching bean bags that […]
Books at Bedtime
“Please, one more chapter, Dad!” “Not tonight, you need to go to bed.” “We will be nice tomorrow, if you read one more!” “Sorry, we will read more tomorrow night.” “I hate it when you do that. You always stop at the best part.” “Good night. Love you,” I say with a smile. Often the […]
Marshmallow Magic
Imagination flows as kids work to build their masterpiece—a marshmallow and toothpick sculpture. We always used to take a bag of colored marshmallows and a container of toothpicks with us on our trip to visit my husband’s grandparents. We could all sit around the table and visit while little hands were kept busy and out […]