ML Interest Tag: bear-hunt

29 Things to Do on a Rainy Day with Your Toddler

by Jamie Davis Smith

When the rain, rain won’t go away, pull out these things to do on a rainy day

Rainy days are great for splashing in puddles, but eventually you’ll have to come back inside. If you find yourself looking at several hours to fill inside with a toddler, don’t panic. Simply pull out our go-to list of rainy day activities that are always a hit with kids. The best part is that these ideas don’t require a lot of planning and make use of things you probably already have around the house. From building indoor forts to outdoor learning experiences your kids can enjoy (even in the rain), here are 29 things to do on a rainy day with kids.

Rainy Day Activities for Kids & Toddlers

1. Go Swimming: For most parents, the goal is to stay dry on rainy days. Why not do the opposite and go swimming in the bathtub? Throw a swimsuit on your toddler, promise that no one’s hair will be washed, and allow some splashing in the tub.

2. Air Balloon: Keep a few balloons around for a rainy day. When your toddler starts climbing the walls, help them get their energy out by blowing one up and working with them to keep the balloon in the air for as long as possible (also known as “Keepy Uppy” on Bluey). If you want to plan ahead, make things easy on yourself and try a Zuru Bunch O Balloons that are self-sealing and come with a small air pump.

a young girl plays with an indoor fort, a rainy day activities, with a sheet over a bed
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3. Build a Fort: Rain or shine toddlers love forts! Grab a blanket or take the cushions off the couch and build a fort. Crawl inside to read a book or have a secret snack. A Big Blanket that is really big at 10′ by 10′ makes epic forts in seconds but any blanket or sheet can work!

4. Reuse the Recycling: Dig into the recycling bin and pull out anything usable to create a cardboard box and bubble-wrap masterpiece.

5. Handy Handprints: Those toddler hands and feet get so big so quickly! Use your rainy day at home to make some hand-and-foot prints. As a bonus, you can save these to give to grandparents the next time they visit. To add more interest, turn the handprints into dinos, birds, or trees.

6. Make Tracks: Grab a little flour or rice from the pantry and let your toddler drive their Hot Wheels through the “snow” to create some tracks.

7. Shaving Cream Shenanigans: For an inexpensive activity that will keep your little one busy for a long time, break out the shaving cream. Paint with shaving cream on a cookie sheet or on the shower wall. If you are feeling brave, add a few drops of food coloring.

8. Colander Capers: Work on fine motor skills while passing the time on a rainy day. Grab your colander and whatever you have on hand that fits through the holes. Toddlers love watching spaghetti fall through. Pipe cleaners are great for weaving in and out if your toddler is up for a challenge.

9. Lovely Lava: Homemade volcanos never cease to amaze kids. Grab a cup and throw in some baking soda, squirt in a little dish soap, add in some vinegar, and watch the magic unfold! If you have some food coloring on hand, add some red dye to make your volcano even more realistic. Cover your table with newspaper or put your volcano on a baking sheet for easy clean-up.

Related: 13 Adorable Forts for When Inside Play Is a Must

A girl in blue sweater helps load the dishwasher
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10. Pots and Pans: This one isn’t for the faint of heart, but banging on pots and pans always brings toddlers a special kind of joy. Grab some wooden spoons and start a marching band around the living room

11. Launch a Raspberry Attack: Surprise your child by sitting quietly then launching into back-to-back raspberries on their cheeks, feet, and belly. Lots of laughter will ensue!

12. Have a Dance Party: Grab some hairbrushes and queue up the tunes while you and your sidekick sing and dance your hearts out. This is a good one to try just before nap time to tire your little one out.

13. Box Building: Chances are you have a cardboard box sitting around somewhere. Whether it’s a shoebox, an Amazon box, or a refrigerator box, it can be turned into something fabulous. Cut out a couple of flaps and make it into an instant garage for your toddler’s car collection. Or, glue some cut-out triangles on top and make an instant castle.

14. Resist Drawing: Creating a resist drawing is simple but will take some elbow grease. Take any piece of paper and help your toddler cover it with scribbles using every color in the crayon box except black. Then, take the black crayon and completely cover your colorful scribbles. Finally, supervise your child while they use something like a paper clip or sharpened pencil to go over the piece of paper. Only the black crayon on top will disappear revealing the color underneath.

15. Give Their Babies a Bath: It’s possible that your toddler’s dolls and action figures have never had a bath. Fill a large Tupperware container or the sink with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Then, help your toddler bathe their dolls or action figures. This may keep your tot busy for a surprisingly long amount of time and their toys will sparkle at the end!

a boy dumps colorful balls from a white laundry basket during indoor play on a rainy day
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16. Have a Picnic: Rainy days aren’t the obvious time to have a picnic but your children will be delighted to spread out a blanket on the living room floor for a picnic lunch.

17. Reading Marathon: Does your kiddo always ask for one more book? A rainy day trapped inside is the perfect time to say yes to all the books. Grab all of your favorite books and hunker down on the sofa for as long as it takes to get through them all.

18. Hide and Seek: Hide and Seek is a toddler classic. When it’s their turn to hide, add to the fun by making a big deal of not being able to find them. Make sure your hider is within earshot and say things like “Oh no! Grandma is going to be so sad she will never see Jane again!” or “I’m going to have to call Daddy to tell him I lost Sam so he can come home and help me look.” Chances are your toddler will start laughing so hard you will then be able to “find” them.

19. Time to Do the Laundry: Grab the laundry basket and put your toddler inside covered with clothes. Grab a big handful of clothes along with your toddler and pretend to walk to the washing machine to do the laundry. Never put your toddler in the washing machine but you can get close before you realize your mistake in almost washing your toddler with a bunch of dirty socks.

20. Toddler-on-the-Go: Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean your toddler has any less energy than on a sunny day. Ask them to run down the hallway and back while you time them. Then, challenge them to go faster. This is a good activity to try just before naptime to ensure you get a nice, long rainy day break.

21. Crayon sorting: Challenge your little buddy to a color sorting race by taking each color crayon and putting them in a corresponding cup. This is a great opportunity to teach colors and matching while getting your crayon collection organized.

22. Freeze Dance: A spontaneous dance party can be even sillier if you stop the music and make the kids freeze. For even more silliness suggest that your toddler try to stand on one leg or freeze mid-hop.

23. Scavenger Hunt: Hide one of your toddler’s stuffed animals and go on a search throughout the house together. Give clues along the way. Make it a bear hunt or a quest to find a tiger that went missing from the zoo to add a little more interest.

Related: 100 Indoor Activities for Kids (because It’s Cold Outside)

a toddler in a yellow raincoat with a rainbow umbrella squats over a bunch of rubber ducks in a puddle, during rainy days activities
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24. Shadow Tracing: Set up a figure like a dinosaur on a white piece of paper and ask your kids to trace its shadow. If there is any sunlight this can easily be done by setting up near a window. If it’s a very gray and dreary rainy day you can create a shadow by placing a flashlight just behind the toy.

25. Stupendous Socks: A pair of balled-up socks can be used for a surprising number of toddler-friendly games. They are safe to use to play catch in the house. Or, use them to play basketball with a plastic cup or laundry basket hoop. Another fun way to use balled-up socks is to roll them down a hallway and try to knock down superheroes or other small toys. If you find that one pair of socks isn’t working, add another pair or two to the ball.

26. How High Can You Go?: Grab all of your blocks, Magna-Tiles, and anything else that can be stacked up. Start building a tower. Then grab a chair for your tot to stand on and keep going. Build as tall a tower as you can, trying to make it all the way up to the ceiling.

27. Write a Book: Ask your toddler to tell you a story. Write no more than one or two sentences on each page then ask your storyteller to illustrate their work. Once you are done, staple the pages together and give the book a place of pride on your bookshelf.

28. Take a Walk Down Memory Lane: Toddlers usually think they are the center of the universe (and they are probably right)! A rainy day is a perfect time to go through baby pictures and the baby book and tell all the stories about when they were born, relive their first steps, and answer any questions about their first two (or three) years. Once that is over show them other family albums, like a wedding album or family reunions from before they were born, and ask them to try to spot important people like Grandma and their cousins.

29. Create a New World: Whether your child is into dinosaurs, princesses, or superheroes, their imaginary world could probably use an upgrade. Grab some construction paper and crayons and draw a prehistoric scene, a castle, or superhero HQ. Tape it to the wall and you have an instant new storyline ready for your toddler to explore. If you have an empty box lying around go a step farther and make a diorama.

Related: 19 Long-Term Projects for Kids That Will Keep Them Busy

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8 Wintry Walks & Hikes Near the DMV

by Meghan Yudes Meyers

Bundle up and head outdoors. We soused out the best walks and hikes in the DMV that go beyond stretching your legs. Go a bear hunt at the National Zoo, brush up on your history on the National Mall or illuminate your night at The REACH. From animal sightings to rock scrambling adventures, these are our favorite winter walks and hikes near Washington, DC.

The Best Leisurely Walk with Lights

The Kennedy Center

Stretch your legs on almost 5 acres at The REACH while taking in the current Lunar New Year exhibit, Winter Lanterns featuring 100 handmade lanterns and 10,000 LED lights (now-Feb. 6). If you like the idea of a twinkling trail, but can't make it in time to catch this installation before it ends, take a day trip to Frederick MD where illuminated boats line the town's canal. Paths along Color on the Creek are well paved and easily accessible by strollers.

The REACH at the Kennedy Center
2700 F St NW
Foggy Bottom
Online: kennedy-center.org

The Best Walk for Animal Sightings

The National Zoo

The National Zoo offers miles of trails with guaranteed animal sightings and, if you get cold, there are a number of animal houses you can duck into to warm up.  Due to COVID, you do need to reserve your free pedestrian pass prior to a visit (car reservations are now $30 and include entry for up to 4 visitors), but with well-controlled crowds you can rest assured that your walk in these woods will be socially-distanced. Before you go, check out this winter guide to the zoo here. 

Editor's Note: Guests must show proof of vaccination status to dine inside. 

Smithsonian National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave NW
Woodley Park
Online: nationalzoo.si.edu

 

The Best Walk with History

The National Park Service

The National Mall is teeming with monuments and memorials that create great talking points for both young and old. With 11 Smithsonian museums located directly on the Mall, there are plenty of places to pop in to when you need to beat the chill (Editor's Note: Some museums may have limited hours due to COVID). With food trucks dotting most corners, you can grab a cup of hot chocolate while you make strides up and down the paths.

Insider tip: If you're craving a sugary snack, Astro Doughtnuts & Fried Chicken is a short walk from the Mall.

National Mall
Online: nps.gov

 

The Best Walk with a Winter-Themed Playground

Susan Austin Roth via Rock Creek Conservancy

There are over 32 miles of paths and trails winding through Rock Creek Park, passing sites such as The National Zoo and Mount Zion Cemetery and stretching into Georgetown. If you want to add some playground fun to your hike, start at Meadowbrook Park (a MD park adjacent to Rock Creek) and walk along the trail towards the zoo (it's about 13 miles round-trip if you're looking for a hearty workout). There is plenty of parking at Meadowbrook Park to load & unload your gear. Bonus: this park, affectionately known as "Candy Cane Park" for its red-and-white painted playground, is handicap accessible and includes a small tot lot so kids can 

Meadowbrook Park 
7901 Meadowbrook Ln.
Chevy Chase, MD
Online: tinybeans.com

The Best Stroller-Friendly Walk

Courtesy of Georgetown Business Improvement District

Head to Georgetown for a walk along the waterfront on well-paved paths; perfect for strollers. If you need to warm up, Farmers Fishers Bakers is welcoming dine-in guests in heated tents. You can also get their amazing mini donuts to go. Have older kids in tow? Let them hop on the ice in front of the restaurant. Littles will be entertained by the toe loops, flips and axels. 

Insider tip: Cuddle up with a good book after your walk. We like this children's book about winter walks in a city. 

Georgetown Waterfront Park
31st St. to Wisconsin Ave. NW
Georgetown
Online: tinybeans.com

The Best Winter Hike with Rock Scrambling

Tatiana Syrikova via Pexels

Winter walks are more fun when littles have things to climb! Theodore Roosevelt Island is a 91-acre wilderness preserve that serves as a memorial to President Roosevelt, honoring his contributions to conservation of nature. The island has over two miles of foot trails, if you want to add a rocky adventure to your hike, take the gravel-covered Woods (2/3 mile) or Upland (¾ mile ) Trail.  There are plenty of small boulders, rocks and logs for little ones to scramble on. 

Theodore Roosevelt Island
George Washington Memorial Pkwy
Northbound lanes between Roosevelt Bridge and Key Bridge
Arlington, VA
Online: tinybeans.com

The Best Hike for Winter Bird Watching

Nellie B. via Yelp

You don’t have to drive far to be completely immersed in nature. Just 8 miles from the Roosevelt Bridge, Turkey Run Park offers family-friendly hiking on terrains that range from mostly flat to extremely rocky. Be sure to bring the binoculars; bare trees mean it is easier to spot the birds and critters that make this park their winter home. Be sure to bring this book to help i.d. one of the 140 species of birds that spend time in Turkey Run. There are a number of trails, but the short loop off the C-1 parking lot is most favored by families. It’s a steep incline to and from the parking lot but is otherwise smooth and flat near the river (and offers some pretty amazing views!). More wooded paths provide the opportunity to jump across streams and hop on rocks, but these trails are best suited for sure-footed preschoolers. If you wander away from the river’s edge, be sure to track your whereabouts by GPS; trail markers are faded or missing on many of the paths.

Turkey Run Loop Rd.
McLean, VA
703-289-2500
Online: tinybeans.com

The Easiest Winter Walk to Navigate

CJ Dayrit via Unsplash

If you want to get lost in the woods without actually getting, well, lost, head to the Bull Run-Occoquan trail that is often noted as being one of the best marked in the DMV area. Follow the blue posts for an easy to moderate walk that offers views of a lake. If you find yourself climbing onto stepping stones or wading into water, you’ve missed a blue marker! Park at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park for a loop that is easy on short legs.

Bull Run-Occoquan Trail
12619 Old Yates Ford Rd.
Clifton, VA
Online: tinybeans.com

WORTH-THE-DRIVE

The Best Place to Walk in Snowshoes

Aaron Huber via Unsplash

If you're looking to burn off those COVID pounds, up your hiking game with a pair of snoeshoes. When you hike across a snowy terrain in snowshoes you double the amount of calories you'd burn by walking the same distance. Score! Plus, it's a fun activity the entire family can enjoy: if your child can walk, they can be fitted for shoeshoes!  To walk across a  winter wonderland, you'll either need to wait for a DC snowfall or put some miles on your SUV. To hear the subtle crunch of snow underfoot, head to West Virginia's Canaan Valley, a 3 hr. drive from downtown DC.  Canaan Valley boasts 35 kilometers of marked and ungroomed natural snow trails, and if you finish all those trails, you can head to the nearby White Grass Ski Touring Center for another 60 kilometers. Canaan Valley 230 Main Lodge Rd. Davis, West Virginia Online: tinybeans.com

—Meghan Yudes Meyers

featured photo: Tim Gouw via Unsplash

RELATED STORIES:

Why Kids (and Adults) Need to Go Outside and Play

Off the Beaten Path: 6 Stroller-Friendly Hikes

12 Easy Hikes for Kids Under 5

 

 

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Twindemic Tips: How to Handle the Winter Flu & COVID

By Goddard School

In the U.S., flu season is typically October through May, with peak flu activity from December to March. This is a familiar cycle parents navigate with their kids annually. However, this season of sniffles might be a little different, with the possibility of what experts are calling a “twindemic,” the combination of a severe flu season alongside COVID-19.

While parents may understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the flu, it can be difficult to find the right words to explain such precautions to young kids. Thankfully, it is doable!

Here are three tips from The Goddard School’s team of early childhood health and education experts to help keep these discussions cheerful, along with six indoor activities to make quarantine time fun, engaging and educational:

1. Make Healthy Habits Fun

  • Remind your child that handwashing is a great way to stay healthy, clean and safe. Have them scrub their hands to the tune of “Happy Birthday” to ensure proper timing. Washing hands as a group makes for additional fun.
  • Teach kids about keeping themselves and each other safe. Share guidelines about wearing masks and social distancing. This may mean that the “big kids” (older than 2-years-old) should wear masks if they are able. Coach them on how close or far apart to sit when indoors or outdoors. Make it a game by having kids help set up chairs in the appropriate arrangement. For some added imagination, throw a few blankets over the chairs to create a fun and socially distanced fort!

2. Talk about Quarantine

  • Quarantine can be a tough concept for young children to grasp. Remind them that sometimes teachers and friends might need to stay home to get better. And if someone in your family gets sick, explain to your child why that person is staying home. While it may be a given for you, help tie the two things together for them.
  • Ensure the conversations are easy for young children to understand. Simply explain that staying home gives them a chance to rest and get well enough to be reunited with their friends.
  • Above all, keep conversations with kids about illness, COVID-19, quarantine and the like upbeat and foster a feeling of safety and protection.

3. Teach Your Child to Be Honest about How They’re Feeling

  • Kids may want to stay silent if they don’t feel well to avoid getting sent home and be away from their friends. Who can blame them? It’s helpful to point out that going home sooner may help them feel better faster while lessening the chance of their friends getting sick.
  • It’s important to teach kids there’s no shame in feeling sick and help them feel comfortable telling teachers or other grown-ups. Be sure to keep the mood supportive and nurturing. This will help them open up, and in the long run, help everyone have less of a chance of getting sick.

4. Keep Young Minds Engaged with Indoor Activities

Whether homebound due to quarantine or just stuck inside on a cold afternoon, here are six indoor activities to keep your little one entertained while supporting their learning:

Puzzles: Puzzles are a great way to learn how to solve a problem. As your child works on puzzles, they develop self-regulation and concentration. Kids can also make their own by gluing pictures on paper and then cutting the paper into 6-12 pieces.

Cooking: Follow a recipe or create your own! Have your child engage in planning, collecting the ingredients and tools, measuring and mixing. All these activities support math, science and execution function skills such as planning and organizing. Most of all, it’s a fun way to connect with your child and enjoy what you made.

Fun Science: Simple science experiments can be a fun way to your child. For example, try the classic volcano. It’s messy but a lot of fun! To start, cover a soda can or bottle with paper and clay, leaving a hole at the top. Let the clay dry. Add about one cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of dish soap into the can. Wrap a tablespoon of baking soda in a bit of paper towel and push it into the can. When the paper breaks down, the volcano will erupt!

Child Games: Learning to take turns, counting and vocabulary development are just some of the skills kids build when playing simple board games. Get out the classics such as Candy Land, UNO for Juniors and Chutes and Ladders, and prepare for lots of giggles. You can also play games such as Under the Cups or Simon Says. Under the Cups is simple—as your child watches, place one bean under one of three cups. Move the cups around. Can your child guess where the bean is?

Creative Fun: Get out the art supplies and let your child create. You can add to the fun with special projects such as building a tower challenge (who can go the highest without it falling) or sending secret messages on paper. Your child can write a message in white crayon on paper. Then use watercolor paint and brush on the paper. Surprise, the message is revealed!

Reading: Reading together is very powerful. The experience strengthens the bond with your kids, builds their vocabulary and language skills, supports brain development, teaches life lessons through conversations about the characters in the stories and so much more. It is magical what a few moments spent with a book can do at each stage of life.

Here are a few book suggestions from Goddard’s Life Lesson Library that are designed to support emotional development and inspire on indoor days:

Infants—Toddlers:

  • I Like Myself! By Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow
  • Corduroy by Don Freeman
  • We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Preschoolers—Kindergarteners:

  • The Rabbit Listened by Cory Doerrfeld
  • The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
  • My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems

The Goddard School’s mission is to make the world a better place through early childhood education. As the nation’s leading premium early childcare provider, Goddard is trusted by parents and families, reaching more than 70,000 students from six weeks to six years old in more than 560 Schools across 38 states.

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The Most Fun Virtual Halloween Party Ideas for Kids

By Jocelyn Greene

Photo: Jocelyn Greene via Child's Play NY

Like it or not, virtual Halloween parties are where we are in October 2020. While remote activities for kids can get a bad rep, I’m here to say that, when done well, they can bring joy, safe social stimulation, and lots of pleasure for kids. Happily, there’s no shortage of awesome party games that work well over Zoom. When you throw in the excitement of Halloween itself, add a candy treat, and don a costume…then the normally fun games will be even more special. 

“Let the Wardrobe Do the Acting”
When working on Batman, Jack Nicholson famously counseled Michael Keaton to “Just let the wardrobe do the acting.” Great actors have a long and storied tradition of working from the “outside-in” to make their most memorable characters.

Just like actors, kids can use costumes to boost their bravery, access their dramatic imagination, and find their character. Costumes this year (or really any year!) don’t have to be fancy or store-bought. Cat ears and face paint (i.e. your eye-liner!) work great. Similarly, repurposing a favorite outfit from the dress-up drawer or your own closet is perfect. 

With a costumed character as a focal point, kids can find:

  • Sounds: accents, yowls, and maybe even a catchphrase
  • Moves: how they walk, dance and a great defining gesture that can be mirrored back to them. 

Use Virtual Backgrounds
Get into the spirit by projecting a cool Halloween image behind you! For most kids in remote school, virtual backgrounds are a no-no. All the more reason when it is a “party” to let them use ‘em.  

As a theater director, I love that we can use virtual backgrounds. It is like an instant “set.” Kids can feel transported to a haunted house or a spooky pumpkin patch. Look for actual photographs rather than illustrations to make the experience even more realistic. Parents can download them before the party.

Start with Ice-breakers
A simple activity for kids to play together or engage in is the way to start. Here are some ideas for intro activities to get the party going and mitigate the awkwardness of kids joining the Zoom call at different times. Don’t just expect your guests to make small talk!

Halloween Jokes/Riddles for Kids: Q: Why didn’t the skeleton go to school? A: His heart wasn’t in it!

Tongue Twisters: “Which witch wished the wicked wish?”

Spot the Difference: Screen-share the image and unmute kids one at a time and ask them to spot a difference. 

Get Physical

  • A Dance Party with Freeze Dance (call out different Halloween-inspired emotions, even better!)
  • Play “Grab & Go”: Ask the kids to scavenge different “ingredients” in their house: Something shiny, something yummy, something sticky. This helps break-up the screentime, grounds kids in the “real world” and gets them moving

Give the Kids on a Mission
Tap into kids’ primal desire to be heroes. You can set up an easy mission in the party with challenges at each step. Base it off what your child loves the most. Here are some examples: 

  • Help the Witch come up with a delicious potion: Play “Grab & Go” to give her the ingredients she needs, combine the ingredients into a magic stew. 

  • Rescue a ghost trapped in a tower (play elevator to different “rooms” in a haunted house until you reach the ghost. 

  • Solve riddles to decide how to get to a trapped goblin and teach him good manners when you get there. 

  • Go on a “ghost hunt”  (it’s just like a bear hunt). Use the structure of the rhyme with little kids to scaffold the play and help decide where they should go next and what it should sound like. This can all be played in front of the computer, and you can spotlight your video with several different backgrounds at the ready depending on your next location. 

Tips for a Halloween Scavenger Hunt over Zoom

  • Hide candy in the house and use clues to go on a scavenger hunt. While you’ll need other parents to collude with you on this, it is well worth it.  

  • Pick three spots universal to all your guests’ houses and co-ordinate with the parents to put a treat at each spot. 

  • Screenshare the clues one at a time and decide together where the candy must be at each step. “It’s the bathroom sink!”  “On the welcome mat!”  “Oh! Under my pillow!” 

  • Make sure each kid has found the candy before moving on to the next clue.  

  • Watch this to learn more about how simple and fun the clues can be.

Tell a Ghost Story 
Take turns making up a ghost story or Halloween adventure using Story Clap. Use transition words or even the words “Fortunately” or “Unfortunately” to steer the direction of the tale. Post up a campfire virtual background and say “pass the flashlight” when it is the next person’s turn to add on. End by recapping the story or have an adult wrap up the action so it is a cohesive adventure!

Read a Story
A super great activity—especially if the playing has been really robust and physical, is to chill out with a good book all together. I love these diverse Halloween books from Here Wee Read. You can screen share from Epic and then kids can hear you reading while at the same time seeing the pictures on their device. You can also let the story inspire another adventure or activity. 

End with a Sweet (Trick or) Treat
You are gonna want to end on a “sweet” note. It is satisfying and very Halloween-y, of course. Patronize your local bakery or bake something ahead of time.

If you want to join Child’s Play NY for a free Halloween Party Class, please do!  

 

This post originally appeared on Child's Play In Action.

Jocelyn Greene is a Brooklyn based educator, director and mom.  With her company, Child's Play NY, she teaches hundreds of kids a year and is equally joyous adapting fairytales for 4s as she is staging Shakespaere with the teens. Check out http://www.childsplayinaction.com/ for video tutorials on game-based play to do at home! 

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Animal Games That Will Inspire Your Kid’s Imagination

By Jocelyn Greene

Animal Games are an amazing entry-point into dramatic play for kids. When parents ask me about my favorite games to play at home, I often suggest starting with the animal kingdom. Whether they are fuzzy or fierce, animals are a natural springboard for courage and silliness…they are an awesome gateway into that imaginative magic.

I’ll never forget those early days when Nathaniel was learning to ride his scooter: We’d go a half a block and then he’d stop, so tentative! As soon as I talked to him like a mother bunny and called him Peter (rabbit!), he was zooming off to find the berries from Mr. McGregor’s garden. He’d go even faster when I became Mr. McGregor. Once he got the muscle memory and confidence, it didn’t leave him, even when he stopped being a bunny and was just a 3-year-old kid on a scooter.

Ultimately, harnessing the power of imagination is not just great for our kids, it makes parenting easier!

So, with that in mind, here’s a video on ways to use animal games in your everyday parenting and tips on encyclopedia-style books that can take it to the next level.

Animal Games That Will Inspire Your Kid’s Imagination:

The structure of some of our classic Child’s Play NY games lend themselves so naturally to animal games and play:

Theater Games to Engage Creative Play 

  • Take an ‘Elevator’ to different environments and jump out as the characters that would inhabit an ocean, desert, jungle, etc (we’ve been watching a lot of Netflix’s “Our Planet” in my house lately, and seems like the first-grade curriculum is now about biomes!).   

  • Go to ‘School’ as different animals across the floor and see how the mouse squeaks the ABCs or the Tiger sings Katie Perry’s “Roar”.

  • Play ‘Taxi’ where different animals enter the car with problems to solve and places to be (Executive Function skills at work)!

  • Play ‘Silly Shop’ with an animal shopkeeper hosting various pets coming through to purchase items that they need.

  • ‘Pet Vet’ (but of course!) is a classic where an animal presents their ailment to the doc who helps to magically cure it. Remember to ask how their wound happened so they can develop their storytelling skills. Enlist helpers (siblings!) to be the caring nurse assistants who help with the imaginary treatment!

Gross-Motor Animal Games 

  • Create an Obstacle Course and play as if you were an animal.  

  • Play ‘Going on a Bear Hunt’ in different animal bodies.

  • Set up ‘Red Light Green Light’ with challenges and triumphs for your favorite animals.

If you need a courage booster as you go, use soaring, sneaky, or bouncy soundtracks to help you get in the mood of the animal kingdom and augment any of these animal games!

Props for Animal Games 

The thing to remember with all dramatic play is that you already have on hand what you need to transform. But if you are throwing an animal birthday party or want a little more springboard into the make-believe, here are some things I recommend:

  • Animal masks

  • Animal noses

  • Tails

  • Animal ears

  • A little face-paint to make whiskers or blacken a nose!

Above all, don’t forget to have fun, commit, and take risks yourself!  You are modeling silliness and bravery with your kids as you play.

Hope you have an animal-tastic time!

 

This post originally appeared on Child's Play In Action.

Jocelyn Greene is a Brooklyn based educator, director and mom.  With her company, Child's Play NY, she teaches hundreds of kids a year and is equally joyous adapting fairytales for 4s as she is staging Shakespaere with the teens. Check out http://www.childsplayinaction.com/ for video tutorials on game-based play to do at home! 

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Bear Hunts and Rainbow Walks Help Lift Spirits

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Parents are looking for new ways to keep their kids entertained. Getting out of the house to exercise and get some fresh air is recommended as long as you use social distancing practices. Some neighborhoods are setting up scavenger hunts to brighten the day of kids and parents alike. 

If you have been on a walk lately, you have probably encountered a bear or two, stuffed bears that is. People all around the country are placing stuffed animals in their windows so that kids can go on “bear hunts” in their neighborhoods. 

Linda Holihan a mother of three from Franklin, Tennessee has participated in these fun activities both by displaying items and searching for them. Since her kids have been home they have gone on a bear hunt, searched for shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, left chalk messages on the sidewalk in front of their home, participated in a scavenger hunt and searched for silly faces on their walking route. 

Other homeowners have been displaying rainbows. 

 

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Kristyn Dayter, from Scotia, NY, founded the 518 Rainbow Hunt Page on Facebook on Mar. 18. Dayter, the mom of a 7-month-old encouraged local families to hang rainbows in their windows to bring a little joy to the neighborhood. She said the group has grown massively since the first day. “It went from thousands a day to 10,000 in a week!” 

 

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518 Rainbow Hunt

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—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Kristyn Dayter

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Parenting Is Basically “Going on a Bear Hunt” Every Single Day

By Nicole Schmitz

It’s funny how, as new parents, we learn as we go, despite reading the books and listening to the podcasts. Just like what our little ones experience, once we think we have something figured out, it changes. Once a routine or a phase seems like it’s working, our children grow, learn a new way to explore or express, and we all have to learn how to navigate the next stage together.

Even though I nannied and babysat for 20 years before I had my son, there was so much I wasn’t prepared for. I wasn’t prepared for the unrelenting moments of frustration. I wasn’t prepared for my lack of freedom. I wasn’t prepared for the tears—mine, not his. Everyone told me that being a parent was the hardest job in the world. Now, I realize it’s just one of those things you need to experience for yourself to really understand.

As my preschooler recently turned three and reached a few major milestones, he also learned a few new things about his independence and ability to express himself. The routines and consistency that I had worked so hard to create for us in the last two or so years suddenly were no longer of interest to him. My brief, predictable hours of freedom during nap and after bedtime had become a battle…along with everything else, it felt like: meals, baths, cleaning up, getting in the car, getting out of the car, getting dressed and getting undressed.

Being someone who actively promotes self-care to my friends, family and clients, I know how important it is to prioritize my own needs, from meals and showers to alone time and quiet time. It took me a while to figure all of that out. If I can’t have these things, how can I be the best me? I couldn’t—and my son’s new demeanor was throwing all of this off track. I didn’t like it.

I found myself struggling with his behavior and my own reactions to it. This wasn’t what I expected. This wasn’t our routine. This wasn’t fair.

I started feeling something I remember vividly from his infancy. I felt disappointed for feeling disappointed and worse, guilty for my immature selfishness—and those feelings made me want to crawl out of my own skin. I was obsessed with and in love with my son. I had always wanted to be a mom. I read all the books. I ate all the organic foods. I breastfed. I gave up all of my time and my work and my body and my social life for him.

At that time, I thought, “Why doesn’t he see that? Why was he still crying? Why am I not happier?” I couldn’t believe more women weren’t shouting this from their Twitter feeds and at our park play dates. Most of them seemed elated every time I saw them; I know know they weren’t, really.

Two-and-a-half years later, I found myself on his bedroom floor, leaned against his crib, crying almost as loudly as he was while he refused his nap and my hugs, unable to express how confused and frustrated he was with his tiredness, lack of pacifier and a new schedule. I’m sure he desperately wanted to convey his wants and needs. He was probably thinking something like, “Why are you doing this to me?” (Ditto, kiddo.)

Well, I am sure most of this is all too familiar to some of you. But weirdly, I found solace in one of the unlikeliest of places: one of my son’s children’s books. You probably know the book, or at least the little chant of “Going on a Bear Hunt.”

Can’t go over it. Can’t go under it. We’ve got to go through it.

And it’s so true when it comes to parenting.

We’ve been reading this book nightly as of late and it started making me giggle when I considered its symbolism. My child, who, five minutes prior was screaming while refusing his evening bath (like, “I feel I should email my neighbors asking them not to call CPS” type of screaming), was now snuggling with me in the rocking chair, our cheeks touching, singing along to the book and making eye contact as though I was the only human in the world.

It’s a phase. But it’s also a process: it’ll pass, it’ll get easier…and it’ll get harder, too. We’ve got to go through it—and learn from it.

What I’ve been learning is that we can’t have expectations. I’ve learned to be grateful for my flexible work and lifest‌yle, my ability to mindfully change my thoughts and reactions, and for resources like friends and Janet Lansbury’s podcast and books to shift my understanding around my child’s totally normal brain. The frustration and hurt will return from time to time but I just have to remember: can’t go over it. Can’t go under it.

We’ve got to go through it—and we will, too.

Nicole L. Schmitz, helps others to improve their energy, digestion, sleep, nutrition, weight, and health conditions with simplified, cleaner eating, and better self-care. She is a mother, aspiring yogi, writer, and artist, loves living by the beach, and inspiring others to make clear and confident healthy lifest‌yle choices every day. 

 

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15 Outdoor Games That’ll Make Your Summer Bash

by Allison Sutcliffe

For your kids, summer is reason enough for a celebration. But you’ve got your sights set on bigger events to come. Whether you’re planning your kid’s birthday bash, rocking a 4th of July BBQ or arranging the neighborhood block party, you know epic outdoor games will do more than get your party started … they’ll keep it going. Read on for our favorites!

photo: woodleywonderworks via Flickr

1. Devour the Donut
Have you heard? Donuts are the new cake. That’s why we love this sweet twist on the typical way to end a party. Part game, part speed-eating contest, everyone at your party will want in on the action. Simply hang a length of string across a deck or between two trees (make sure to have a clean or covered surface underneath). Then loop a donut for each player onto the string so it hangs at “mouth level.” When you say go, each player scarfs the donut in front of them as fast as they can. The twist? No hands allowed. First one to finish wins!

2. Balloon Relay
Turn your party decorations into props for this easy-to-run game. Line up your tots Madeline-style (that’s two straight lines), before handing each line leader a balloon and having them place it securely between their knees. Then it’s time to start the game! Players pass the balloon, knees-to-knees, down the row until it reaches the finish. It doesn’t get easier than that!

photo: ewan traveler via Flickr

3. Rainbow Hunt
Who needs to go on a bear hunt when you can hunt for rainbows instead? This one is especially exciting for toddlers because rainbows and face paint are totally their jam. To play, hide craft sticks dipped in different rainbow colors around the yard (make sure you’ve got all the rainbow colors represented). Alongside them, place a face paint crayon that matches the stick’s color. When a player finds a stick, they use the crayon to draw a colorful rainbow smear on their face. First one to complete the rainbow wins!

4. Don’t Step on the…
Let kids lead the blind(folded) in this easy-to-set-up game that requires at least four kids. To start, you’ll need to set up a “minefield” for the players to navigate. We suggest designating Frisbees or sports cones as the “mines” that get scattered around your play space. Then comes the skill. Split the kids into two teams, each with one player blindfolded. It’s up to the blindfolded players’ teammates to shout out directions (take three steps forward! One step to the right!), helping her make it safely from one side of the field to the next, without stepping on a mine. Whoever makes it to the far end of the course first (and without blowing up) is on the winning team. If you’re looking for an extra challenge, play it in reverse (have the kids walk backward) for the return trip.

photo: Allison Sutcliffe

5. Shaving Cream Race
Who needs a canvas when the kids can paint each other with shaving cream? Pit two teams against each other in this race to completely cover lucky human “canvases” in white foamy fluff. Setting up this silly competition is easy. Empty tons of shaving cream into kiddie pools and then hand each kidlet a brush. The game runs itself from there. A word to the wise—bathing suits and a hose on hand are total “musts” for this one.

6. Popcorn Relay
Little party-goers will get a kick out of this relay race that’s all about running popcorn from one bucket to another. To play, you’ll need to strap plastic cups to each runner’s foot (psst … gluing the rubber band to the bottom of the cup works best). When the whistle blows, each runner’s teammate fills up the cup with popcorn and sends it dashing very carefully down the yard to a waiting bucket. Then it’s dump and run (no hands allowed) before heading back and passing the cup to the next player. Work your way through each line to determine a winner in this pop-ular game!

photo: All For The Boys

7. Cup Race
Think NCAA tourney when you whip out this fun cup race. All the tiny guests will get a chance to work their way through the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight for a shot at the big time—the Final Four—as they compete head-to-head, racing plastic cups down a string, propelled by squirt guns. Allison spells out the setup and racing deets on her blog, All for the Boys, so you can run the races like a pro.

8. Balloon Stomp Romp
This one’s a blast no matter what your age. Blow up a few balloons, tie them around kids’ ankles with string and send them off to pop each others’ air-filled companions. The game ends with the last balloon standing. Want to make it more challenging for the big kids? Forget playing in the whole yard—just set boundaries with cones or string to keep them penned in while they play. The smaller the space, the bigger the challenge and the faster the game gets played!

photo: Valentina Powers via Flickr

9. Ice Pool Challenge
Chill out with this simple-to-stage game that kids of (almost) any age can play. To set it up, fill your kiddie pool with water and dump in a bag of party ice. Then divide kids into two teams, each with a bucket. Their goal is to fill the bucket with as many of the submerged ice cubes as they can, using only their feet to move those little rascals from one place to the next.

10. Bandana Tag
Transform the typical game of tag into a free-for-all (this one works best with older kiddos). The twist? They’re all “it.” To play, hand out bandanas to your crew to tuck in along their waistline. Then let the great chase begin! Players tag each other by snagging bandanas, while simultaneously guarding their own until one player is left standing. It’s a wild romp they’ll want to play over and over again.

photo: Caleb Zahnb via Flickr

11. Bob for Apples
You know how this one is played, parents. Apples. Barrel. Then sit back and watch as the kids take turns trying to grab a crispy piece of fruit using only their teeth. It’s the perfect way to cool off on a hot day!

12. Water Balloon Pop
The tot lot will log plenty of giggle mileage when they play this fast-paced game. Break your group into two teams, each with a heaping bucket of fully loaded water balloons. When you say go, one member of each team grabs a balloon, races down the yard, and tries to pop it with his or her body (think: stomping or sitting on it!). Guarantee a dousing by making guests break balloons on a chair, or let the ground take the brunt of the splash. Once the balloon is popped, it’s back to the start to tag the next kid. On your mark, get set, go!

photo: Mike Gifford via Flickr

13. What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?
If this classic game doesn’t ring any bells for you parents, think Red Light, Green Light with a lot more shrieking and mad dashing. A total blast, even for young kids, this is a must-try at your next kiddie-bash. Want to know how to play? We love the simple instructions offered up by Childhood 101.

14. Ninja Attack
In this game, ninjas-in-training test their skills by quietly sneaking up on a ninja master. Intrigued? Start by setting up a ninja course (think: paintball course) using oversized moving boxes, play tunnels, and other objects kids can quickly duck behind (or into). This is where the little ninjas will try to hide as the ninja master scans the yard for tiny foes. Then, have the master stand at one end of the yard, opposite her ninja attackers. When you say go, the ninja master turns her back on her opponents, while they stealthily make their way toward her. When you say stop, little ninjas duck behind whatever’s closest in the hopes the master ninja won’t spy them. If she does, they’re out. But if you’ve got the skill, and can reach her first, you become the master!

photo: Michael Smith via Flickr

15. Mushroom Tag
This new look for an old fave works best with school-aged kids and a huge play space. It’s a game where everyone’s “it” and kids drop in and out of play quickly so the number of players is as on the move as the players themselves. Here’s how it (usually) works… since everyone is “it,” when a player gets tagged, she’s also (probably) tagging back. So the two tagged players stop and Rochambeau (that’s rock, paper, scissors) to see who sits down and who keeps playing. The winner goes off to tag more players, while the loser sits and waits to return to the game. Players get back into the game when the person who tagged them sits down. Put this one in the play till they can’t play anymore category. It’s a riot!

— Allison Sutcliffe

 

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Feature photo: jona263d via Pixaby

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