•Easy Trail Mixes
by: Deborah Shelton
Before you set off on your next family walk or outing, try making one of these super easy trail mixes to keep your energy up.
* Quick Fix Mix
2 cups mini pretzels
1 cup cheese snack crackers
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup raisins
Place all ingredients into a plastic baggie, seal, and then shake. Enjoy!
* Chocolate Popcorn Mix
2 cups spoon size shredded wheat cereal
2 cups popped popcorn
1 cup dried cranberries
3 Tbsp. milk chocolate...
•Indoor Winter Fun
by: Deborah Shelton
Tell the cold weather to take a hike, and get ready to have some fun!
* Winter Beach Party
Bring that fun-in-the-sun feeling into your home with a winter beach bash. Spread beach towels on the living room floor; wear your swimsuit and a pair of flippers (why not?); feast on hot dogs; make castles out of clay and play- dough; and don’t forget to take pictures!
* Winter Word Race
Challenge your friends and family to a race of the minds. Set a kitchen timer for one...
•Musical Activities for Guaranteed Fun
by: Deborah Shelton
Music has the power to calm, sooth, energize and make everyone have fun! Try these ideas at your child's next play date or sleepover for a guaranteed good time.
1. Jamming Art: Turn on some music-upbeat or mellow-you decide. Without looking directly at the paper, draw pictures and designs to the beat of the music. Make several drawings from different types of music.
2. Animal Walk Parade: Play your favorite tunes on the radio and dance and walk the way your favorite...
•Birthday Party Fun: Goodie Bag Alternatives
by: Deborah Shelton
If you’re looking for alternatives to pricey goodie bags, here are a few ideas that will make your guests--and wallet--happy.
Any Fun Party:
Take Polaroid photos of each guest with the birthday child, and decorate cardboard picture frames, or make frames with popsicle sticks.
Dance Party:
Let the birthday child create a mix CD of favorite music. Burn copies for everybody (and play it at the party too!).
Hawaiian Party:
Decorate inexpensive plastic sunglasses with...
•20 Fun Ideas for National Turn Off TV Week
by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (214 words)*************************************************20 Fun Ideas for National Turn Off TV WeekBy Deborah SheltonNational Turn Off Your TV Week is April 21-27 this...
•Shadow Fun
by: Deborah Shelton
Are you looking for fun projects to do, but are short on supplies? The answer is simple: Shadows!
Shadow Tag
Turn an ordinary walk to the mailbox into a lively game of shadow tag. It’s played much the same way as regular tag, except that instead of tagging a person, you tag the person’s shadow.
Silhouettes
Use the combination of light and shadow to create frameable works of art. Use tacks or tape to hang a sheet of white construction paper or poster board to the...
•Fun & Fast Family Portraits
by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (282 words)Fun & Fast Family PortraitsBy Deborah SheltonMaking self-portraits and pictures of family, friends, and even pets, is a great way to connect with children (and...
•Hula Hoop Hoopla
by: Deborah Shelton
Which favorite toy pastime is fun for all ages and makes adults nostalgic for their childhood? Hula-hooping, of course! Stock up on inexpensive hula hoops and try your hand…er, hips…at these silly games.
1. Hula Hoop Contest: Challenge your mom, dad, best friend, and even your little brother to a hula hoop contest. Turn the radio on to upbeat music and watch the clock. The person who can hula the hoop longest, wins!
2. Hula Hoop Jumping: Put a fresh spin on an old...
•Back to School Show & Tell
by Deborah SheltonOne thing you can count on during the first day of school is the inevitable question of What did you do over the summer? Here are a few creative ways to describe your summer experiences for the first edition of Show and Tell.1. Flip BooksCreate a moving picture of your summer fun with a flip book. Start out with a Post-It pad or a pocket-sized spiral notebook. Draw the first picture on the last sheet of paper and work your way to the first page by changing the picture little...
•Fun & Healthy Snacks for Kids
by: Deborah Shelton
Looking for a quick and healthy snack for the kids? Here are a few tasty ideas that you can surprise them with, or let them make on their own.
1. Bugs On A Log: They'll love it just for the name! Simply spread peanut butter onto celery stalks, and then top with raisins (the bugs). Yummy.
2. Melon Balls: Show them that ice cream scoops can be used for more than just ice cream. Scoop the meat out of watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe and serve them on a tray with...
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