Browse by Tags

• Are Lazy Summer Days Old School for Families?

  When I think back on my childhood summers spent with my educator parents and younger brother, the memories go something like this: Pool. Pool. Backyard pool. Backyard dodgeball. Bike riding. Camping. Beach. Pool. Some day camp. Pool. Those days were all about embracing the sunny weather and freedom to sleep in and play late. When I think about the summer I spent with my husband and preschooler son this year, it goes more like: Work. Work. Daycare shuffle. Hand kid off to hubs. Bad prime-time reality TV. Travel. Travel with laptop. Obligatory travel. Music class. Playgroup. Park. Schedule. Schedule. Stress. Collapse. Wake up early and work. Like many other mamas I know, the return of fall and preschool and the regularity of the year has blown in some regret that we didn't kick back more, slurping popsicles and poking worms. It wasn't all bad, but it also wasn't lazy or hazy or even the crazy days of summer. And I wonder: How many families pack their summers full of stress and schedules, and are summers like these a rarity, even a thing of the past? Read More... Posted Sep 13 2007, 06:04 PM by Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) with | with no comments Filed under: summer activities, schedules, The Imperfect Parent, laziness, sherry g. antonetti

• Back-to-School Parties Are Really For Parents, Right?

  Back before I was a mother (ohhh, the Saturdays of having breakfast at 1 pm) and I was all judgy about mothers (wha-? me? I know, shocking) who complained about their kids being home all summer long, I thought they were crazy for wishing the academic year to arrive already and that they should just be grateful to be privileged to spend the best part of the year at home with the young ones.  Of course, this is the kind of naivete I reflect upon with lots of laughter and big old black Sharpie to X off another day until co-op finally starts again (31 days if you're keeping score at home). Read More... Posted Aug 11 2007, 09:03 AM by Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) with | with no comments Filed under: parties, DIY, summer activities, back-to-school

• Strollerderby Playdate: Africa Hot

  Good God. I think it is a million degrees here in the D.C. suburbs. Well, maybe it is only 102, but it feels like a million. I'm from Florida. I should be used to this heat. I know when it snows I will be wishing for this weather again, but for now: Amy from Chicago Moms Blog is wishing for the fall.  Home Ec 101 has a drink recipe to cool you and the kids down. Read More... Posted Aug 09 2007, 07:02 AM by Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah with | with no comments Filed under: strollerderby playdate, summer activities

• Crafty: Fun Flip Flop Project for Fancy Feet

  AKA "what we're doing this afternoon", this project is perfect timing: all the flip flops are on clearance. Buttons, beads, jewels, sequins, all the usual craft suspects are going to be busted out for this one, which requires minimal supervision for my 3 and 5 year olds (your mileage may vary). But it begs the question: What do you glue onto flip flops if you have a kid who isn't so much about the feathery shoes? Please advise, parents of boys and tomboys. Posted Aug 06 2007, 02:01 PM by Patti with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: crafts, activities, projects, summer activities, crafty

• Cheap, Easy Entertainment for Kids

  I swear, if I hear "Mama, what can I doooo...?" in that whiny I-have-no-idea-how-to-entertain-myself-anymore voice one more time this summer, I'm going to spontaneously combust. And then they'll be sorry! So I'm pretty sure that my coming across this great post on Lifehacker today has saved my kids from the gory sight of a smoking pile of ashes with a charred and melted laptop atop it and the resultant experience of phoning 9-1-1 for the first time.  Here's a sampling: 1. A big cardboard box. We've covered this before, but it's so ingenious it deserves another mention. 2. Rubber-band-and-pencil toy. Need instructions? I did. 3. Origami projects: paper poppers, airplanes. You can make tons of stuff and instructions are easily searchable. 4. Home Depot kid's workshops. Suh-weet! I had no idea these existed. Kids can make birdhouses, airplanes, cars, and other stuff.   Read More... Posted Aug 01 2007, 10:34 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: kids, entertainment, playing, summer activities

• Kiddie Pools to Help End Summer With a Splash

  We plan to buy a little pool for our kids as soon as we can settle the argument of whether it should take up valuable patio real estate or kill a big patch of grass on the lawn. It's...almost August. We may work this out in time to grab something crappy on sale and use it once before it gets too cold. You, on the other hand, are probably in the market for a replacement pool already. Whatever you bought late last spring has probably cracked in the heat of the sun or developed a slow leak that causes a tidal wave after a half-hour of horseplay.  So for you, Slate has reviewed some kiddie pools that you'll want to check out or carefully avoid. How cute is that flower pool? I'd probably buy it even if it wasn't the highest-ranked pool in Slate's test.  And if I could talk my husband into allowing a big flower-shaped dead spot in his precious lawn. Why yes, I am married to Hank Hill, thanks for asking. Posted Jul 25 2007, 03:01 PM by Patti with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: products, Slate, summer activities, swimming

• Pickin' and Grinnin': Tips for Your Trip to the Berry Farm

  In the spirit of family togetherness and summer fun, may I suggest you take your kids berry-picking this season?  Sometimes local fruit/veggie stands have berry-picking events, as do local farms and C.S.A.s.  It's a great way to show kids how the sweet treats are grown and harvested, encourages local eating and supports local farming, and is a fun excuse to get dirty and stuff your faces.  Some pointers for first-time-pickers:  *Go in the morning, before the heat sets in (Heat + fruit + bugs + kids = LAME). *Wear your grubbies and don't forget the bug spray. *Be sure to talk to whoever is running the show about what to look for in a berry, what to avoid, and what kind of insect life might be lurking in the vines. For more tips, jump over to the fabulous Home Ec 101. Posted Jul 20 2007, 06:59 PM by Alisyn with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: fruit, summer activities, berry picking, farming, berries, field trips

• Entertaining the Kids When It's Effing Hot Outside

  All weekend here in lovely Chicago, the temperature gauge on our back porch teetered toward a hundred degrees. That's right, a hundred ass-whooping degrees. Sure, there's direct sunlight beating down out there, but there's also not enough breeze in this Windy City to balance out that kind of heat. And it isn't a dry heat either, people. It is pure, hellish, get back in the house and bundle up with damp towels heat. While I would have been content to just curl up in front of the AC with a trashy magazine and TBS movies all weekend, my kid was not having it. So, what to do when it is too hot to burn up that crazy kid energy outside and boredom makes your home feel like Alcatraz...in July...with miniature wardens bearing half-licked popsicles?  This article says it is time to vacate to cooler climes,  It suggests heading to Gymboree or another local indoor playground where the kids can go nuts and no one has to break a sweat. Also, I'd like to add to that Target doesn't charge you $18 to jump on their toys and if you can leave without buying a cart-full, then consider that a good escape. While I detest McDonald's, I do think their play lots are good in a pinch and an ice cream cone (I mean, apple dipper things) justify being there without too many trans fats or complaints by management. Finally, if all else fails, my mom suggests just going home, filling the tub with sand toys and floaties and letting the kids take a dip in the "pretend pool."  They might get a bit pruney but at least they'll also get relatively clean. And if you've got one of those wonderfully unused whirlpool tubs, you can also jump in for an hour or two, or at least until the heat index sinks down below burning.   Posted Jul 10 2007, 10:28 AM by Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) with | with no comments Filed under: summer activities, hot weather, indoor gyms

• Getting Through Summer With Your Preschooler

  First, you drop them off at Grandma's on your way to Mexico...oh, maybe not. I'm a third of the way through summer with my preschoolers and I'm pretty sure the only thing that's keeping them alive is how impossibly cute they are. It's certainly not my patience and skills or their exemplary behavior that's allowing us all to survive. Canadian nonprofit organization Invest In Kids has, for your consideration, a little guide called "Comfort, Play & Teach", downloadable as a PDF and brimming with all kinds of useful information to help ensure your child will live to see September. Activities for just about every area of interest, from quiet to full-on-party, from things your kids can do at the coffee table while you're checking your email to things the whole family can pile into the Prius and head out to experience. And because Canada rules, the guide is free.   Posted Jul 09 2007, 05:55 PM by Patti with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Canada, preschoolers, summer activities, invest in kids

• Cool Kid-Reviewed Summer Toys

  Nobody wants to buy a kid a toy they think is way cool, only to have the kid toss it aside, roll their eyes or ask to eat a big plate of acorn squash and mung beans rather than play outside with it. One round of giving a rejected gift can have even the savviest parent feeling a little too much like the single friend who spends a gajillion dollars on a rhinestone pacifier that gets recalled the next day. That's no good. Enough play time and pool time has gone by this summer for kids to test out on some new seasonal toys and report back on what they like best. The kid reviewers in this article sum up that any toy that gets them all "wet and messy" also gets a thumbs up (way to be articulate, kids...be sure to take extra notes in Behavioral Psych and Analytic Evaluation next year, mmmkay? Come on. I'm kidding.). They tested all kinds of water-shooting, web-blasting and remote-controlled toys that will make hours in the backyard or with a (naive and well-compensated) babysitter even more fun. I give my own thumbs up to the kids for being honest. As a parent, I also love that the price tags on the toys are all mid-range, with many under ten bucks. This means it is fun for the kids and no worries when you have to run out and buy another one so your over-excited husband can join in too. Posted Jul 09 2007, 11:07 AM by Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) with | with no comments Filed under: Toys for 2007, summer activities

• Screw the Schedules and Just Let Your Kids Play

  I am so over schedules. Maybe that's because it's summer time and just this week, three parents have asked me what I'm doing to get my two-year old into kindergarten. Or maybe I should blame it on all the over-scheduled toddlers I see who who are scooped up by prompt mommies from the sandbox so they don't miss gymnastics class like they did last week when someone had the sniffles (kids...such easy targets). Most likely, it's pure laziness. But what I want for my son this summer is as much of a lack of schedule as the kid can handle. Don't get me wrong, I'm not abandoning nap or regular snack times. After all, I advocate more freedom in the summer, including freedom from insane toddler screaming frenzy hell over the fact his sandals are blue or we're out of cheese. And I love taking my boy to classes, just one at a time, and preferably the kind you drop into are penalized for when there's the occasional gloriously long nap or need to protest another group-sing of Walkin' Old Joe. Outside of those things, though, I am worrying less about strict bedtimes and a plan for each day. I'm letting it go. Read More... Posted Jul 03 2007, 06:57 PM by Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: summer activities, overscheduling kids

• Sleepaway Camp: A Mixed Bag

  We've been covering summer camp loads lately, and I know my own camp memories are not super-fond. (Note: "bookish kid" and "camp" do not make a happy mix, or at least they didn't in the olden days.) But this week we are getting to test sleepaway camp in the best possible way. Grandma is doing her own camp for my kid, complete with staying the night, and I imagine there will be a minimum of short-sheeting and toothpaste in the hair while she sleeps. Woo hoo! I love my kid, but all of the sudden I have more freedom than I know what to do with. It's awesome and a little scary, all at the same time. Mostly I'm giddy. My husband, however, made camp parent mistake number one. He just finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I won't give any plot details away (especially since I haven't read it yet, I'm no camp fool) but all you need to know is that it's the kind of book that makes you want to grab your kid and squeeze them tight, perhaps for twenty-four hours at a stretch. I just overheard him on the phone with the kid, saying, "You know I love you more than anything else in the whole world" in a cracking voice. That's right, papa played himself, the sucka. I'm imagining it will be a loooong week for him, and a short one for me. By the way, the kid is thrilled to be at Grandma Camp. Last week she said to me, "Sometimes when you talk you sound a little like grandma, and it makes me sad because I miss her. Could you try not to do that?" Now there's a brutal twist on not wanting to sound like your mother.   Posted Jul 03 2007, 07:29 AM by Kelly Mills with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: grandparents, camp, summer activities

• Babble Talk: Summer Travel Issue

  Summer is a time for exploring. Kids know this instinctively, and they'll make exciting new discoveries whether they're spending the summer in the south of France, or in the neighbor's backyard.  But no matter where your family is going during these next few months, you'll want to take a look at Babble's Summer Travel Issue for tips on what sunscreens to buy, how to survive Disney World and much more. And spend your indoor days catching up with our travel columns, Ayun Halliday's hilarious Travels with Baby and the Mates of States' addictive backstage diary Band on the (Diaper) Run. Posted Jun 29 2007, 04:30 PM by Gwynne Watkins with | with no comments Filed under: babble talk, summer activities

• Having Fun with Your Kids this Summer

  For many parents, Summer creates a scheduling nightmare as working folks try and find suitably engaging activities for their kids.  Summer isn't what it used to be.  But University of Missouri Professor Dick Robinson thinks Summer should be a time of fun and learning, a seemingly obvious statement. Some of his ideas include creating a home library, taking kids to places of historical interest, and  playing word games while in the car.  Since my husband and I are both working stiffs, we've managed a sort of middle ground on some quality summer time with our kids (two of whom are just entering Kindergarten this Fall). I think Summer is a lovely time for child-rearing.  Swimming pools, neighborhood parties, trips to the park.  Everything seems less shut-in and more expansive in the bright sunshine. Let's hope each of us can find some time to put some fun back in our kids summer... word games, home libraries or no.  Posted Jun 25 2007, 04:47 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: summer activities, children and divorce, kids activities

• Fabulous Urban Playgrounds (for Your Kids)

  The urban parent is often willing to pony up serious dosh to insure their kiddie has good fun, even if it involves weird inflatable birthday toys. But sometimes there is no substitute for the free public parks in your own neighborhood.  Cities are investing in creative and fabulous high quality climbing toys for public parks that are a nice peaceful counterpoint to the short-attention-span-video world many of our children inhabit. Here is a round-up of some of the great parks in your area. Washington D.C. Area - If you live in the Washington D.C. area, you should check out Clemyjontri Park in McClean, Virginia  (pictured right).  "Park" seems like a vast understatement in this case. Read More... Posted Jun 25 2007, 02:34 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: children, Playgrounds, play equipment, playing, summer activities

• Toys 'R' Us Lists Best Toys for Summer

  Looking for new and exciting ways to entertain the kids now that school's out?  Toys 'R' Us has some ideas for keeping your kids happy on those long, hot summer days: thier Best of Summer 2007 toy list ranges from the hip (the miniature Vespa), to the retro (the Skip-It), to the half-assed (the Bubble Mower), to the movie tie-ins (Transformers, Spiderman Web Blaster). This cool battery-operated helicopter was fun for my whole family for the week it lasted (it met a watery death when strong breeze carried it over the fence, into the neighbor's hot tub). Of course, nothing compares to a summer day spent at the beach, or exploring a new park, or in the kiddie pool with friends - but there are those days when you just want to sit in the backyard and drink iced tea and veg out... and while Toys 'R' Us can't help you with the bickering and fighting that these toys might inspire in your young ones, they've done their best to list a few ways to help you get a little R&R, at least until the fighting breaks out.    Posted Jun 13 2007, 08:01 AM by Alisyn with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: toys, summer, summer activities, toys r' us

• Keeping Kids Safe at Summer Camp

  Shannon Coffield doesn't want me to send my children to sleep away camp ever, she is freaking me out. Not really, Coffield works with United Way of Central Iowa and wants to warn parents that the people we trust with our children, like music teachers or camp counselors, can still be predators.  Coffield points out the sickening statistics: one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by the age of 18. These children are most often abused by people they know and trust. This article is geared to a local audience directing readers to seminars in protecting children offered by a local women's center geared at helping camp staff and church groups which work with children. But the article made me think, as I often do, about how we can truly keep our kids safe without keeping them locked inside missing out on valuable experiences. I love Gavin de Becker's book for this purpose and highly recommend all parents check it out because the truth is, if we want our kids to live full lives they're going to be exposed to the risk of abuse. The best we can do is make sure we teach them all we can about protecting themselves, talking to us and being certain we will protect them no matter what someone else tells them. Maybe someday I'll be ready to leave my kids with virtual strangers for a whole week at camp. I mean, not if I keep reading articles like this but otherwise.  Posted Jun 06 2007, 09:04 AM by Melissa Summers with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: protecting children, sexual abuse, camp, summer activities

• Tips to Help Your Kids Have a Healthier Summer

  According to Amy Bohn, a physician with the University of Michigan Health System, this generation of children may be the first not to outlive their parents.  Due to the unusually high incidence of asthma, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and other illnesses often associated with poor diet and lack of exercise, parents are advised to start fostering good habits while the kids are young. Here are some tips she suggests to get your kids outdoors and more active this summer: 1. Limit screen time (for younger kids this includes those cute toddler computer games, leap frog, and other hand helds whooziwhatsits) 2. Plan fun family activities that involve the whole crew - swimming with your kids instead of just watching from the comfy lounge chair is a great way to get them excited and to model good behavior (I tried this this past weekend and showed them how mommy used to be on swim team and swam the Butterfly - - have been in traction ever since). 3. Plan healthy snacks - keeping bins of cut up and prepared carrots and celery in your refrigerator might make you roll your eyes, but it works. Summer is one of the most fun times to parent, with all the squirt guns, swimming pools, and park outings to be had.  And when the kids are small, it doesn't take much more than a bowl full of water and a turkey baster to give them serious giggles. Posted Jun 05 2007, 01:41 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: childhood illness, combatting childhood obesity, summer activities