Getting kids away from the "idiot
box" is like pulling teeth. No longer are kid programs just
after school and on Saturday mornings. Now it's 24/7 cartoon
channels and a plethora of other colorful distractions
yelling at us from that now, not so small screen.
Firing up kids' imaginations and making them think outside
of school takes some work. Here's an idea that's fun for
everyone from preschoolers up; the educational treasure
hunt.
The Basics
Use construction paper as clue cards. Invent hints that will
lead kids from one clue to the next. Buy inexpensive lip
gloss, rubber balls, or boxes of crayons for treasure. What
they find isn't important, it's finding it that's fun.
Little Ones
Keep it simple, easy, and geared for their reading level.
Lead them from clue to clue with large, simple drawings with
the word written underneath in big letters. Don't draw? Cut
pictures from a magazine. Send kids from a chair in the
living room to a shelf in the refrigerator, then to under
their own bed, the possibilities are endless!
Older Kids
Make it trickier so older children have to work as a team.
Use a combination of directions, degrees, and word problems
to lead them to each clue. Have the kids turn south from the
stove, north six paces, turn 180 degrees south and look for
a book on a shelf or a word in the dictionary that leads to
the next clue. You could even have them find a clue in the
coat closet with instructions to put on coats and find the
next clue outside.
With a bit of preparation and a stack of treasure hunt
cards, you can have an almost infinite supply of fun
afternoon games. And hopefully keep kids away from the warm
glow of the TV.
A Healthy Breakfast
For Your Child
By
Carolyn Joana
Breakfast is usually the time
when you're busiest - what with packing your kids off to
school, looking after the house and rushing to work too.
Often moms give a ready-to-serve breakfast with sweet
cereals and cereal bars which do not have much of a
nutrition profile to boast of.
Read more...
Everything
Mom needs to know...
