More Simple Free Ways to Have Fun With Your Kids

The recession is a bummer but it does not have to bum out you and your kids. Here are some more free ways to have fun with your kids that cost nothing or next to nothing.

If you have a little girl then try playing dress up and playing pretend with her. Little girls really like dressing up models and playing with makeup. Both sexes of children enjoy being made up as clowns.

Kids love water fights of all kinds. On a hot day have a water fight with the garden hose or have a water balloon fight. You can also teach kids how to make their own popsicles.

Kids also love to give their imaginations a work out. Look up at the clouds and teach your kid how to look for shapes in them. Tell stories about the shapes.

All kids love a simple game of hide and seek or cops and robbers. If you have an old can on hand then play 'kick the can!' You can also make telephones with rope and a couple of cans.Never underestimate the simple fun a just climbing a tree, flying a kite or playing hopscotch. Playing a simple game like Chinese Checkers can renew your child's interest in it. Foot races, skipping and playing 'King of the Hill' are also fun games for kids.

Kids love to be barefoot. Go for a walk somewhere safe completely barefoot. Walk in the mud and the rain with no shoes. If it is rainy then hold a picnic indoors.

Kids also love simple contests. A singing or dancing contest can be very entertaining for kids.

Older kids also like cooking. You can set up the stuff for banana splits or smoothies and let the kids choose their own ingredients, topping and sprinkles. If you are more health conscious they can help you make juices (as long as you operate the juicer!)

If you really want to entertain a group of children then set up a treasure hunt. The treasure does not have to be glorious…it is the hunting that keeps the kids fascinated!

An older child might appreciate being taught how to keep a diary. Have your kid write down wishes in a book and then keep track of how many come true.

Remember it is the small things in life that can help keep your kids happy! Sometimes the key to their happiness is right under your nose.

Parenting Tips
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Things You Need to Know About Video Games

If your kid is playing a lot of video games you might be wondering if there is any harm to him or her being on the game console too much. Child psychologists and video game experts do have a great deal of advice about how to use games in an educational way and avoid the pitfalls associated with playing the game.

First of all you need never buy a game that is too violent. All of these games have ratings and the consoles often come with parental controls. The industry is controlled by the ESRB that stands for the Entertainment Software Rating Board. The ratings include EC (Early Childhood) to AO (Adult Only.) You can find a resources page online about the ESRB that can help you really understand the ratings well. This site also gives reviews of games for parents.

The information that is provided by the ESRB also provides a description of the content. For instance a game can have a warning on it that says 'Drug Reference' or 'Blood and Gore.' This can help prevent you from exposing your child to bad language or violent behavior.

When buying a game the most important thing to consider is how it will affect your child's ability to perform in school, attitude and time to do other things. To determine this you can play the game with the child to see how he or she reacts to the images and language.

As it is so easy to buy a game that your child is too immature to handle it is also suggested that you rent the movie first. That way you are not investing in an expensive game that your kid cannot even play.

You are also advised to keep this type of technology out of the kid's bathroom. This is because it is distracting and can keep a kid from sleeping. It is also easier for a kid to get up in the middle of the night, find a mature-rated game and play it. You do not want these games to interfere with your child's sleep in any way as it can affect health and performance in school.

One thing to keep in mind is that overuse of the technology can also lead to problems with attention deficit. Research from the August 2010 Issue of the Journal of Pediatrics found that playing too many video games can lead to attention problems in school. It can also lead to a fat, unhealthy child because a video game can be so addictive that he or she does not go outside anymore.

Parenting Tips
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