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Copycat – a New Version

Practically anywhere you are, you can play copycat in all kinds of versions. Make it up yourself — have the kids make it up, too! You can jump three times while patting your head three times and have the kids copy you — which would be a great outside game. You can tap on the window six times in a cool rhythm and have the kids copy that, which is actually what Ryan did the other day and I called it “Catch the Rhythm.” You see, yesterday, Ryan and I demonstrated in her preschool class and all the kids got in the action. From jumping, patting your legs, hitting your cheeks, patting your head, clapping your hands … well, you get it! Make a sound, do an action and count at the same time and everyone can be just like each other.

The best part of KIDFUN is that these silly little activities usually bring along a smile, they are good for many different situations — even playing this quietly at a table at a restaurant — and throwing the switch to creative thinking. Anything is possible with KIDFUN! Just ask Ryan!

 
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Are You Getting KIDFUN?

Published on May 15, 2012 by in General Fun

Hi all — I’m just checking to see if you are getting KIDFUN. If you happen to know of someone who hasn’t gotten it, can you let us know? And, if you want to share it with your friends and others who love young children and want to giggle with them a little more, will you tell them about KIDFUN? I figured it couldn’t hurt to check in!

Thanks — Sharla (sharla@kidfunandmore.com)

 
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What is it about “Chase?”

Published on May 13, 2012 by in General Fun, Outdoors

Instant fun — that’s what playing “chase” is all about! But, how does it happen that a newly walking one-year-old, just learning to run, gives you the “eye” as a tease to play CHASE! It’s the cutest thing.  When you need a bright pick-me-up with a young child, try it.One-two-three … “Chase!”

Any psychologists reading this? I’d love you to explain it.

And, Happy Mother’s Day everyone! It is a total joy to be the mother of two mothers with two future mothers (let’s hope!) Thursday, we’re doing an-all female photo session — Grammy, two Mommies, two daughters/granddaughters! I am totally blessed, I know.

 
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Catch That Rhythm

You’re stuck in traffic and all of a sudden from the backseat you hear a little drumming on the window. That’s what happened last night. Ryan was using this little plastic toy and tapping out a rhythm on the window. It sounded pretty good so I tried to copy her, just with my hand. Before you know it, we had a little band going — mimicking each other’s sounds either on the window, the steering wheel, even her car seat. Wherever you are, you can make music — even while waiting in an examining room at the doctor’s office!

 
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The Gift That Keeps on Giving

There are so many things that could match this subject — the gift that keeps on giving — but in this case, I’m referring to dress up clothing! When we came home from Barcelona, we brought with us two child-size flamenco outfits, complete with “gorgeous”, red and black long dresses, with fringe and polka dots, matching red polka dot shoes, a flower for their hair and a fan. At first, I was concerned that while these could be fun, they aren’t princess outfits and maybe our kids wouldn’t relate. But, they were wowed by the color, the style and then the YouTube images of flamenco dancing. Of course, 1 1/2 year old Sari didn’t get the dancing aspect like 4 1/2 year old Ryan did but I just couldn’t believe how adorable they were! And, while they are cousins, not sisters, they loved being twins in these magnificent frocks! Ryan wouldn’t take it off the next day and I bet they have hours of play in this “one-of-a-kind” costume!
 
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Remember the Sketchpad!

 You probably can’t guess where I took this picture! Barcelona, Spain … in the magnificent Park Guell, designed by that amazing architect Gaudi. WOW! It’s a wonder and how great that these kid were totally into the experience because they were drawing. It made me think of KIDFUN, of course, and how great it is to take a sketchbook with you and markers, crayons or colored pencils. You never know when an artistic moment might strike. Join the kids, sit on the ground and draw. It doesn’t matter how the picture looks it matters that you are encouraging your kids to feel the experience through their art. Do it anywhere, a museum, a park, the zoo — even in a restaurant or doctor’s office. Who knows, maybe Gaudi was busy sketching, too, when he was a little boy!

 
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Alphabetical Treasure Hunt

This is so easy, educational and fun. It’s an Alphabetical Treasure Hunt.  Do you have magnetic letters, you know the bright plastic colorful ones? Hide them — all around a room. Make it a game so you both take turns. You could hide all A’s in one game. You could hide a combination of letters and when they find them they have to say what they are. You could hide only the letters of a word and when they find them, they have to make it a word. Depending on the age of your child, you can do all kinds of things with this educational treasure hunt.

 
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Change …. Places!

Try this when having a meal with the kids. Change places! No not seats … but personalities. Pretend to be each other. Ask questions and see what the kids have to say when you ask, “What did you do today?” If he’s daddy, what WILL he say? Will he change his voice? Of course, daddy has to be his son and answer the same question as if he were his little boy. It’s fun and distracting if you happened to be at a restaurant or a doctor’s office waiting to be taken care of and it engages everyone in conversation.

 
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Cherishing and Sharing Your History … ASAP!

Do you know the highlights of your childhood? Who does? Ask them! This is really a KIDFUN more for you than your kids. Think about it — who remembers the day you were born? Who remembers your first words or when you walked? How about when you rode your two wheeler for the first time? Maybe something about school … your friends? Ask them and take notes — even just bullet points. THEN, give it to your kids or save it to give them when they are old enough to value it.

I’ll tell you why I’m sharing this. Somehow ten years ago before my father died, I interviewed him about my brother. I remember doing it but I couldn’t remember if I ever gave it to my brother. There it was in my computer and when it was my brother’s birthday party on Sunday, I read it to him there. WOW! Imagine a gift like that. Giving someone his own history. Like the fact that my father (at age 92) remembered how he felt the day Barry was born and then when they discovered he was born with a broken leg and my dad’s worries. He told me. I wrote it. I told my brother and our family and now he has it. My niece read it about her dad and cried and was so grateful.

Hurry — don’t put this off. Your history is to be cherished and shared. AND, do it for your kids. As most of you know, I’m the Grammy writing KIDFUN. I better do it today about my daughters Amy and Hope — just highlights, bullet points, not their life stories that’s too hard a task! Memories! (You could write your own, too!)

 

 
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Water Play – Can She Fit in a Bucket?

The weather’s been so crazy — who would think I’d write about Water Play in April (at least on the east coast!) Yesterday I got a video of Ryan squooshed into a bucket wearing a bathing suit. (She’s not so small — but it wasn’t such a small bucket either.) And, I thought maybe it’s time for KIDFUN to think about water play when it’s unexpectedly warm. Get out those big plastic bowls, nerf balls (for basketball — or BOWL Ball), get out those paint brushes to paint with water and I guess buckets for some soaking!

 
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