Games, Toys and Activities...
The moral here is garbage in and garbage out, meaning that it really is very important what and who your kids play with! Here's some great resources that are stimulating, cheap, natural and build creativity and self esteem! There's lots of TV-free activities, team building games, brain building toys and heap, heaps more. Check out the lens roll for other related sites that I love. Oh and don't forget to rate this site and fav me if you like it! Have an awesome time, I hope to bring you some great resources in the future!
Top Ten Toys to Encourage Creativity
These are the ones that you simply can't go without... please vote them, which are your favourites?
I always favor toys for children that are open ended. By that I mean the results are not predetermined. For example on a television set the images and the story unfold instantaneously before your eyes and nothing is left to the imagination. Ever heard the old saying? "Yeah I like the movie but the book was better." Well these toys are the original stories behind the mass produced tripe that lines the toy aisles of department store these days!
Lots and lots of Paint Sets, Pencils, Pastel, Felt, and Colour - Colour - Colour!
Well when we are talking about activities and toys more...1 point
The Bug Catcher
Dun dun... Yep moving right along to scientific st more...1 point
All Musical Instruments
These are just the best toys in the world. I belie more...0 points
Bikes, Scooter, Pedal Cars, Skateboards, Rollerblades and Rip Sticks!
Get some wheels, children need, need, need to feel more...0 points
Jigsaw Puzzles
Oh yeah make those pieces fit, at the same time ne more...0 points
Top 10 Fun Activities for Kids! (scroll down for the list)
Kids love using their imagination in games! I have found my kids most enjoy the simple things in life. Here are the top ten things that my kids love to play with! Incidentally, they never cost me anything extra, they are all natural, quite educational(nothing mass produced or commercial here) and readily available and the best bit - my guys will play with these things FOR HOURS!!
How Fun is that Activity or Toy?
Well, it's true what they say, fun is what you make it. You know all kids ever really want from you is some positive attention and your love. You can make any game, toy or activity exponentially more fun by just joining in! Get down to their level, maintain eye contact, laugh a little and LISTEN. The key is to observe first and then join in when you fell naturally inspired but remember not to dominate or dictate... just P L A Y! Remember???
A Tip for Amping up the FUN!
Get involved!. Get down under those blankets and experience what it feels like inside the cubby! Hop in the bath or shower with your younger kids once a fortnight and just watch how they interact with the water... Run along side as they speed away on their wheels and feel that natural rush of life!
"If you have not tried them, you should... These things are fun and fun is good! The Cat in the Hat."
1. Each Other
Number One
Yes, that's right, the best thing I ever did was have more than one child. Everything is just so much more exciting when you play it with someone else and I'm glad I don't always have to be that someone... In fact I believe kids learn more from each other than they do from any adult anywhere! 2. Water
Number Two
There was a bit of a showdown for Number Two but really nothing beats water. Hot or cold, night or day, rain and shine, boy or girl, old or young - every kid is fascinated with water! In the bath or the shower, at the beach , the lake, the river , the pool or the pond and even in the kitchen sink or puddles at the bottom of the steps... Water really is a bit of a Grandaddy in this category because when added to other list items it increases the fun exponentially. 3. Blankets
Number Three
Strange but true... There is nothing like the ultimate cubby house. The joy of creating your own private space out of your favourite soft and cuddly is one rare and unique... Magical blankets in our house have also created instant costuming for all kinds of interesting creatures including worms, snakes, horses and even a sloth! That's not to mention the menagerie of ghouls, ghosts and other mythical creatures that have haunted our hallways looking suspiciously like my satin bed sheets! 4. Sand
Number Four
There's something entrancing and soothing about sand. The feeling as it slips through your fingers and toes and is truly relaxing... and then of course it is a very flexible medium, you can build with it, bury yourself and others in it, pour it, sculpt it, make potions by the seaside and bark and grass flavoured cakes in the sandpit at the park! My kids have even used handfuls of sand for ice creams in shopkeeper games. Sand is a powerful toy with excellent 'time killing' potential! 5. Old Boxes
Number Five
Wow this is such a winner and when combined with the 'miraculous' and much worshiped sticky tape you can really get some housework done! It is by far the least messy of those discussed so far and it fosters a healthy creative imagination... which is really important. Anything can happen in box world and it's great to get our kids recycling and enjoying caring for our environment. Incidentally, when I first started saving old cartons and containers for craft I realised just how wasteful our family was and it was a great wake up call!! Conserve and recycle people - for the sakes of our children! 6. Their own Bodies!
Number Six
Not sure what I'm on about with this one? Well what about singing and dancing and performing and skipping and jumping and running and general having a good old wiggle... Gosh it feels good to really get into your body, personally we love kids yoga and even breathing exercises... One day I just sat down with my kids and said let's be animals, let's be shapes, what can you think of and they responded in an instant. Sometimes we do it with impersonations and sometimes in more quiet way. If I want to help younger kids become aware of their breath I say... "What kind of milkshake you do love the best? Strawberry? Well imagine you have an extra large mega massive strawberry milkshake - you probably need two hands to hold it, now put your lips around the straw and see if you can suck it all up in one big gulp.... Ready go! Now hold it there... Now imagine you are blowing the worlds biggest balloon and let all that air out again... He he he!" It's lot's of fun!Oh yes and don't forget the wheelbarrow races and piggybacks and the all time favourite... dun dun TICKLE MONSTER!!!
7. Dirt
Number Seven
Although closely related to sand the experiences are very different - think mud pies! Not to mention digging, planting, growing and discovering the many creatures that inhabit dirt...What was that song... "Digging in the dirt, to find the places we got hurt." mmm yeah Peter Gabriel. Anyway dirt is a healer, and a soother and I had the greatest pleasure in introducing my one year old to his first 'matchbox cars in the dirt pit' experience the other week... His eyes just lit up as he realized the endless possibilities, car tracks that can be built, changed and erased and then swept away.. Woohoo we love dirt!
8. String
Number Eight
Aaaahhh, string, my four year old son came to me the other day and said (in quite a desperate tone); "Mummy I just really need some string it's all I really want because with string i can do anything!". Well who could refuse such a request? And sure enough, several hours later he came back to me with tales of how he (as Tarzan)had swung from vines and rescued his Jane from the crocodile infested swamps and then scaled mountains in the freezing snow to conquer the highest mountains in the world. Led his soft lion toy for a walk down the street to visit the neighbours and finally created his latest water saving invention that grows pumpkins twice as fast with half as much water... All or these wonderful possibilities sprang from one piece of yellow twine about 1 metre long...Whats more string can be used for threading and beading, sewing and braiding and binding and hanging and tying! Get lost in it today - make a spiders web or a new hairstyle, a treasure hunt or freestyle line drawing on canvas!
9. The Stars
Number Nine
The magic and wonder of the sky begins at night... Thanks to the wonderful box office garbage society we live in, all too many children are afraid of the dark... That's why I love to get my kids out under the stars as much as possible to share with them the wonder and the beauty that is only possible to view in a shroud of darkness. The moon and the planets are also big features and really isn't it awesome to think that our ancestors for millions of year have been staring at these very same burning balls of gas an that this is maybe one of the only things left that we have in common with those forefathers... 10. The Clouds
Number Ten
Many a beautiful day has been spent by our family just lying on the grass (or the trampoline in summer when the ants are out) and staring up at the clouds and picking out shapes and people and animals and castles and giants snatching princesses and dragons breathing fire and fairy princesses having tea parties.... my daughter can even see what kind of fruit juice they are sharing and the filling of the delicate ribbon sandwiches on the plates... Freaky you might say but this is another great way to kill some time (especially when you are waiting for something, like friends to arrive at the park) and of course it inspires an imagination to run free and reminds children that quiet and still is peaceful! I love our beautiful planet and all of it's precious gifts... Stimulate Your Child's Imagination
Create a journal with your child! Explain that in their journal they can write, draw, paste or create anything at all. There are no right or wrong entries. Start with simple lists about their favorite things and then slowly move on to descriptions of people. And eventually guided visualizations in which they close their eyes and visit imaginary worlds and then write and draw about the journey. Try not to encourage or discourage their work but rather admire their skills! "I like the way you..."
Here's my favorite link:
Yo-yo's and Hula Hoops! This is my favorite traditional toy site!
Best Recycled Kids Toy Ever! - melt down your old crayons, here's a recipe for coloring fun...
Best Recycled Kids Toy Ever!
Here's how to make beautiful rainbow colored crayons in just 20 mins...
1. Collect up all of your old crayons and remove the papers. If it is difficult then just soak them in water.2. Collate the colors that you wish to mix together.
3. Add your color combinations to muffin tray molds, use silicone if available as it is much easier to remove the finished crayons. Otherwise you can add oil to the stainless ones before you add the crayons.
4. Bake in a moderate oven for 10 minutes.
5. Insert molds in the freezer for 10 minutes.
6. Pop 'em out and vwhalla!
These beautiful recycled crayons will last for ages and kids can create beautiful rainbow artworks with just one crayon. And you know what that means! No more arguments!
These gorgeous crafty crayons will also make great gifts or centerpiece displays in the craft room!
Top Team Building Games
These kids games are particularly good for Guides and Scouts, birthday parties, Workshops, all Kids Functions and of course After School Care, Daycare and Classrooms!
All of these games focus on kids getting together and having fun! No one is left out and no one is a loser...
- Parachute Games
And you know it is not necessary to have a parachute, an old king bed sheet from the second hand shop will do (brightly colored and thin is best). - Obstacle Courses
Another outdoor activity to get kids working together and being active!
Set a target for the team to transfer one bucket of water from one end of the course to the other using a sock or a teaspoon or a tea cup or any kind of receptacle.
How about guiding your blindfolded partner from one end of the course to the other using only a limited set of commands.
Try dress up relays through the course and encourage the team to beat their personal best time! - Problem Solving
Try to get the three cannibals and the three missionaries from one side of the river to the other in a two man boat. There can never be more cannibals than missionaries in one place at a time! Think of creative titles for the players like, Pirates and Sharks or Princesses and Dragons! - Dig For Buried Treasure!
First you need to bury something in a sandpit or maybe on camp at the beach and then encourage the team to locate the treasure and fill the treasure chest with treasure in under an hour! (Choose a suitable time frame for your event.)
All the Best WEB2.0 sites for kids!
These are the latest and greatest internet toys for kids!
- Kidzui Kids Browser
- Kids from as young as 3 years can now enjoy all the internet has to offer browsing safe, appropriate content for their age! There's a whole world of fun activities, educational games, stories, videos, photos, tutorials and so much more just waiting for your child... Kids can bookmark, rate and share their favorites with their friends and you can review everything they are doing at your own leisure... Kidzui will send you an updated report of each child's surfing habits directly to you email!
This site is fantastic A1 from me! - Tikatok Book Publisher for Kids
- Have you ever dreamed of seeing your writing or illustration in print? Well now you and your child can create an entire library of your own unique books and then order your favorites in hard cover or sell them online! You can share and browse other people's shelves and the 'story spark' function makes it super simple for anyone to get started straight away. You don't even need an idea, Tikatok will get your creative juices flowing with prompts, tips and other suggestions!
This is another super cool site for kids of all ages! - Piki Comic Creator for Kids
- How about creating and sharing comic strips? Does your child enjoying doodling, sketching, taking photographs or creating collages. Let the imagination run wild in this great new site and then print your new 'funny' to a t-shirt and sell it in your own online shop! Yes it is all FREE and the prices are low and they work at great speed and the work is one hundred percent guaranteed! Fun Fun FUN!
- Imbee Social Networking and Blogging for Kids
- Yes that's right a FREE social networking and blogging site where kids can create, share and contact their friends. Learn the trade young , that's what they say isn't it? Well with this gorgeous interactive little site your child will be a blogging genius in no time. The future is here NOW...
Books that will inspire!
Stone Soup
This is fantastic tale of how to make soup from stones and it's the absolute perfect book to take on a camping trip. Read it in the afternoon or even early in the morning, the kids will spend hours planning and preparing their stone soup and you'll be surprised how yummy stone soup can be!
Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 10/08/2008)
Where the Wild Things Are
This is such a great book especially for vibrant young boys with wild imaginations. Read at the right time of the day in the right manner and this classic tale sparks off some of the most amazing and elaborate cubby houses you've ever seen.
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 10/08/2008)
Imagine
This is just a fantastic book for teaching kids about their own tendencies to imagine. It really brings the process alive and leads well into drama games and puppetry.
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 10/08/2008)
Imagine That!: A Child's Guide to Yoga
Have you got active kids that learn through moving. I know my four year old son Ocean is present only in his body. If you try to make an intellectual connection with him you will do him an injustice but move and groove, stretch, yawn, crawl, slither hiss, moo and growl like a tiger and now you're talking his language!
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 10/08/2008)
We're Going on a Bear Hunt (Book & CD)
This is a cute package, because the book is so stimulating and for once there really is a need for the cd to complete the experience. This is another great movement activity just waiting to be unlocked and it has that element of hunt which is always enjoyed by kids. Oh yes and then the chanting... I love this one!
Amazon Price: $12.34 (as of 10/08/2008)
New Guestbook
Wonderful ideas for Moms here!
Posted July 16, 2008
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Joan4
Thank you for the super link! You know I love all of your ideas!!! Posted July 15, 2008 |
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touchmedia
Great Lens! As a father of 4 children(maybe a magicdaddy?) these ideas have already helped me to be more interactive and imaginative in my play with the kids. Thanks heaps! Posted July 13, 2008 |
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enslavedbyfaeries
Beautifully done! It's so true that the simple things in life are usually the most fun when you add a little imagination and a couple of kids. My girls truly enjoy all of the activities you shared in this lens. 5*'s!! Posted July 09, 2008 |
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Joan4
wonderful lens and I totally and completely agree! I am so glad my grands have been taught to do all of the above! they love stars and clouds and flowers and paper and blankets and imaginative things! great job! 5*FAV and grandma gold seal from me! Posted July 05, 2008 |
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More from that Mummy Again...
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Fetching RSS feed... please stand byCute Kids Clothes about living simply and naturally!
Kids Hoodie
Cute black and white lion illustration with the caption; "I like to imagine."
Price: 18.99
Infant Bodysuit
Blue dragonfly technical illustration with the caption; "In my dreams I can fly..."
Price: 9.99
Infant/Toddler T-Shirt
Detached orange/yellow butterfly wings with the caption; "In my mind I am free..."
Price: 8.99
Kids Sweatshirt
And my favourite, the green ink splot with detailed black and white dragonfly wings hovering over some sticks. The caption reads, "I am unique."
Price: 14.99
Is TV a kids toy?
What are the implications of using television as a babysitter for your child?
Children devote much of their free time to watching television--seemingly enamored of the screen--and continuous contact is thought to influence the way they understand and interpret both television and the world in which they live.Children 6 years and under are unable to distinguish program content from commercials, especially if their favorite character is promoting the product. Children who watch more TV are more likely to be overweight, the University of Michigan researchers found.Studies revealed that just being awake and in the room with the TV on for more than two hours a day was a risk factor for being overweight at ages three and four-and-a-half. Children who watch TV are more likely to be inactive and tend to snack while watching TV and poor TV habits are a risk factor for many adult health problems.
Children who watch shows with violent content have more anxiety about the world around them, according to the Parents as Teachers National Center.
Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the messages conveyed through television, which influence their perceptions and behaviors. Children's cartoons and action programs average more than 20 acts of violence per hour, compared with 5 acts per hour during prime-time hours. Children who view shows in which violence is very realistic, frequently repeated or unpunished, are more likely to imitate what they see. Children need the opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of attitudes and behaviors and they need to experience the world outside of television. Children need to talk, play, daydream and to read, as well as watch TV.
Here's my favorite link:
String Games - this is my favorite toy for those 'waiting times'
Do KIDS really NEED toys?
Are we over stimulating our children, cluttering the environment and compromising our child's ability to develop by consuming more 'brain building toys'?
Browsing the internet I came across Brain Building Toys as a concept. Here's the philosophy behind the products which I really love...Brain Building Toys are those which encourage:
1. The children to be strategic and use their imagination when playing.
2. A positive challenge for children, so that when they have successfully completed the task they will feel a sense of accomplishment and want to do it again.
3. Children to have an enjoyable experience and love what they are learning.
But here's the strange part, many of the toys supplied mimic standard household items like this -
The Wooden Lacing Sneaker - an excellent learning tool for young children to learn lacing and tying. (as pictured above) $11.98
I'm just wondering if we as consumers are seduced by propaganda to fill our children with a lot of unnecessary rubbish. Surely you have a shoe in your house that your child can learn to lace?
My observation of children is that they much prefer to develop skill in 'real world' situations. They have a natural attraction the those items that are deemed to be important by their parents like phones and keys and computer keyboards and cooking utensils. Wherever possible I think it is best to encourage you children to investigate these 'real world' items as this is where genuine learning takes place. Interest is maintained, land fill is reduced and money is saved!
More Great Kid's Activities, Kids Games and Kids Toys!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byMy Lovely Creative Friend - Udder
If you adore beautifully crafted handmade toys as I do then you will instantly fall in love with the designer treasures created by this enviro mumma! Yum-meeeeee
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