Even More Free Ways to Have Fun with Kids

In the last few blogs we have been discussing ways to have fun with kids without spending money; interestingly many of these types of activities are very healthy for your relationship with your child as they are also very bonding. They also require more creativity then just sitting in front of the television.

One way to entertain very young children is to simply mix up some bubble solution and blow bubbles. Young children also love playing with clay or play dough. You can make your own play dough out of flour and water.

Most kids are old enough to understand the principles behind scrap booking. Give them a subject and ask them to create a scrapbook devoted to it. Teach them how to press flowers and make simple cards and book marks.

You can also get them to decorate their own T-shirts or other clothing using markers, glitter and fabric paints. Creative kids really enjoy making collages and jeweler out of macaroni. Spray paint it gold to make it extra glamorous for the kids to work with.

Another great project for kids is to decorate the front sidewalks with chalk drawings or to decorate the side of flowerpots with paints. You can also teach them how to grow rudimentary plant cuttings or how to grow an avocado from scratch in water.

Many cities and towns have free concerts in their towns and parks. Going out to socialize with others and listen to free performances is a very good thing to do with any child of any age.

If health is a concern then consider going to Yoga class with your child. Many kids also really enjoy being taken to the beach or on a stroll through the forest. Many local parks have real hikes that have educational postings for children.

Washing the family car together can turn into a fun project, especially if you can turn the whole venture into a water fight.

If you have a kid who is less physically oriented then consider teaching him or her different card games or playing Scrabble or Yahtzee together. Hanged man is also a good game for this type of child to learn.

An older child might be interested in helping to design a family website. There are many templates online that make this quite easy. If your teen is old enough help him or her put together a great facebook or myspace page.

Parenting Tips
, , , , , ,

Respect In Family Relationships

If you want to raise a kid that has excellent character then teach him or her to be respectful. You must not tolerate disrespectful behaviors like demeaning, yelling and emotional blackmail. Respecting each other’s feelings does well for the parent-child relationship.

You need to teach your kid to honor the individual worth a dignity of other human beings. All human beings have value. People are not to be used or manipulated for the power to get ahead.

Par to f respect is treating others with courtesy. Basic politeness promotes positive human relationships. They should accept the differences between individuals and judge people on their character and ability and not appearances or on how much money they have.

One of the worst things you can do is show signs of disrespect like defensive body language or a refusal to listen. Interrupting and using a nasty or sarcastic tone of voice should be discouraged in yourself and your kids. Never imitate your kid’s voice or belittle them for asking a simple question. Never ever make fun of a child’s appearance.

Kids have feelings and you can avoid a lot of trouble by letting your kid know that he or she is hard.

Self-respect is also an issue. Respecting yourself is about respecting others. When it comes to being a parent you need to respect the autonomy of other and be respectful of your child’s autonomy. This means to see the child separately from yourself. Allow him or her to make his or her own decisions.

To enforce these basic rules of respect it is important to point out to a teen or a child when he or she actually is disrespectful. Explain it but do not chastise the child too hard for it.

Learn how to agree to disagree. You can disagree with someone without demeaning them. Let your child know that differences of opinion are sometimes to be cherished; they make us all unique.

Furthermore, you have to set a good example. How you act as a parent means even more than you say. Walk your talk. Listen to your kid without criticizing and use positive language. Respect your teen’s possessions and their right to make their own decisions.

Parents should respect their teen’s privacy, unless you have cause for real concern. It is okay to check their child’s cell phone, computer or room if they think their teen is in danger or is involved in immoral, illegal or dangerous things.

Parenting Tips
, , , , ,