With the recent belt-tightening that America is experiencing many of us are at a loss as to where to go for our vacations or if skipping a family vacation is a disappointing option this year. But fear not, for a summer waterpark can be set up in your own back or front yard and is more cost effective than a season pass. By simply attaching one of these kid-friendly hose attachments you can inspire hours of fun in the sun for your kids and their friends.
Remember to liberally apply the sun block and keep your grass well-trimmed so that the water hose is clearly visible to avoid accidents. The ends of most sprinkler heads are rubber and the base itself is made of durable plastic so that the least amount of harm can come to your child or their new entertainment. Be sure to provide adult supervision at all times, keep your cell phone near you and distractions at a minimum so you can have as much fun in the sun as your precious water sprites.
Ah, the beach. Sand, salt, and surf, interesting creatures and lots of interesting mementos to bring home! Inspire your little architect with the building of his or her first sand castle, teach them about tides and as always the importance of sunblock. Remember to reapply sunblock regularly to keep your little mermaid or aquaman from getting sunburned.
Collect shells and bring them home to ooh and aah over and turn into adorable accessories or accents for your home. Show them how to catch hermit crabs at night with nothing but a flashlight and some quick wits and as always stress the importance of staying close to shore where they are less likely to get pulled away by strong currents or riptides. An unexperienced swimmer should never be left to their own devices! Be safe and have fun.
There is nothing like watching your child grow before your very eyes, return the favor by teaching them to care for their own garden! Whether it’s a planter, window box, or half an acre, show your child the miracle of life and rebirth through the beautiful and mysterious world of plants.
You’ll be so proud of the wonderful produce your little farmer grows you might just want to sell it at the next farmer’s market. Show them what good bugs can do for a garden, how to spot poisonous plants and pesky weeds and how to avoid thorns. The possibilities are endless, so what are you waiting for, get digging!
If you’ve ever been through a drought you know just how precious and exciting a rainstorm can be. Imagine how exciting it is for a child experiencing it for the first time! As always be very careful when letting your child play in what could be unfavorable weather conditions. A light shower with minimal lightning or thunder is best, and no high winds in wooded areas, so as not to scare your child or put them in harm’s way.
Always dress warmly or as dryly as possible, with galoshes to keep your child’s feet dry and protect them from illnesses or sudden colds. Make sure your child is in an easily accessible, low traffic area such as your front or backyard free from hidden obstacles. As always be safe and have fun!
Nowadays there are more and more pressures for parents to play with their children outside and with all of the activities that are available for parents to engage in with their kids this is an easily accomplished task. Not only is playing outside a good way to receive a healthy dose of vitamin D and to make your child a well-rounded person.
In this technologically-centered world it is important to show your child that there are other ways to entertain themselves other than staring at a screen or monitor for hours at a time. If you can even supplement one hour of tv or internet time for an hour of outside play, the health benefits are invaluable and you are teaching your child healthy living habits that may very well follow them the rest of their life.
For anyone who has never played kickball, never fear, kickball, in its essence is just like one of America’s favorite games: baseball. There are four bases and two teams, the kickers and the outfielders. There is a pitcher that rolls the ball across home plate for the kicker who takes a base after a successful kick. Bases can be stolen as long as the runner doesn’t get tagged out with the ball by the opposing team.
Rotation from game to game varies, when my daughter played kickball in elementary everyone would get one kick and if it was playable they took a base, if they missed they went to the back of the line and waited for everyone’s turn to be up then the teams switched places. It was never too technical when it came to fouls, and out-of-bounds depended on the size of the field.
Kickball is mostly a game about taking turns and teamwork, it teaches coordination and sportsmanship and is a great way to not only socialize your kids but to get them interested in sports.
A classic game that most of us remember from our childhood, kickball is just as exciting now as it was a decade ago. It’s one of the many ways to teach your children about sharing, taking turns, and teamwork and also see those skills in action.
Remember the thrill of being let out of class for recess? The smell of the field, fertilized and as green as a crayon? Now all of the joys and hardships of sports can be opened up for your child as well, and together you can make memories for years to come.
So you’ve bought your child their very first sandbox, the problem is, it’s your first sandbox as well. Maybe it’s common knowledge that you need to cover the play set at night, but then again maybe it’s not. When buying a sandbox you need to look into the proper care and maintenance to make sure your children have a safe and disease free new play area. This means covering the box at night with a tarp or even heavy slab of wood to prevent animals (whether your own or neighborhood strays) from climbing into your child’s sandbox.
So maybe you didn’t know or you left it uncovered overnight and when you go out you find animal scat in the sand. What do you do? Your child’s health and safety are priceless, the best thing for you to do is to responsibly dispose of the sand, sanitize the box and buy replacement sand at a store like Wal-Mart or Home Depot.
You can take other precautions as well, such as having your children wash up every time they exit the sandbox and showing them what to look for in the sandbox, such as if there are animal leavings to come and tell you so you can take care of the problem.
One of the many things you have to worry about as a parent is your child’s development. But the word “development” covers so many things, what do you really look for to encourage or discourage?
Gross Motor Skill Development: Again, this is one of the skills that really seems to take care of itself in its own time. Gross Motor Skill Development seems to be the most memorable, though: the first time your child holds a bottle on their own, the first time they crawl, sit up on their own, stand up in their crib, or take their first steps. These are events that create everlasting memories for parents.
How to Encourage: Hands-on parenting is really the key to success here, holding your child’s hands and walking with them, showing them how to move their limbs to achieve balance and control. Even teaching a child to clap is a great accomplishment. Using walkers that roll and encourage your child’s mobility is another great step towards making memories with your child.
One of the many things you have to worry about as a parent is your child’s development. But the word “development” covers so many things, what do you really look for to encourage or discourage?
Fine Motor Skills Development: This is a familiar and almost self-solving problem for parents, as your child will naturally learn to control the delicate movements of their fingers. They’ll learn to pick up spoons and small objects (cheerios) until they can perform this skill with some finesse.
How to Encourage: Again toys with many pieces such as puzzles or even dominoes can help develop this skill. Encouraging your baby to hold their own bottle when feeding is another great way to jump start this skill, though it is only recommended when they have the ability to support themselves.