Yesterday Jackee Swartz added a comment that reminded me of an easy trick to engage children in conversation. It’s talking about favorites — a great non-judgmental conversation. Jackee shared that her grandchildren, Niv and Itai, survey their family inquiring about their favorites. They’ll make a list and kind of poll them on whose favorite ice cream is vanilla and whose is chocolate. Then they’ll see which is the winner — chocolate or vanilla! They could do it with their younger cousin Eden by using stickers on the items being surveyed so she can get in the act. Jackee said they did it at a family picnic and it was fun for everyone and led to lots of conversation.

I like to talk about favorites, too. If you’re a long distant relative and have frequent phone conversations with a child, talking about favorites might make it easier to engage them in a fun discussion. Here’s an example. “I was wondering … what’s your favorite color? Mine is ____.” Or, try these … “What was your favorite movie this summer? What’s your favorite candy, ice cream flavor, fruit, vegetable,” etc., etc. Or, if you want to learn more about school, in addition to asking “How was school today?” you can ask … “What was your favorite class today? Who’s your favorite teacher? What’s your favorite lunch?” … Well, you get it, right? Thanks, Jackee!

Back to school is all about getting organized for you and for your child. Can you make list-writing into a creative activity? I know, this doesn’t sound like the typical KIDFUN idea but I’m just imagining how great it would be to get kids in the habit at a really young age of keeping lists — even if they can’t read them just yet!

It would be fun if you wrote a word on the list and the child found a sticker that matched it, even a little. What a great reminder that would be to pack a snack if he looked at a sticker of an apple! Maybe at the pharmacy or dollar store, there’s a package of stickers with real life objects on them, like a crayon or clothing. And, if you aren’t lucky enough to find stickers, have your child suggest items for the list and the color of the marker that you write it with. So, the word apple would be in red and that would help him remember a snack each day! It would also help him read, which isn’t really the goal of this “getting organized” tip but it sure is a great by-product!

For some of us, it’s the Jewish New Year and it’s time to enjoy that delicious tradition of dipping pieces of apple into honey. And, well, it just made me remember how yummy honey is. And, then I thought about other little tricks that make healthy food a little more fun. I really don’t think my granddaughter has tasted honey yet and I bet dipping other fruits into that just might make fruit-eating a little more enjoyable.

What healthy eating tricks do you use? I remember the first time my mother served something to eat with toothpicks. Wow! That was so cool! It didn’t really matter what I was poking. It could have even been healthy and I’d eat it! How about buying those fancy little toothpicks with the curls on top or bright-colored plastic ones? I know the kids have to be supervised, but it could be fun at one meal when eating string beans or peas is not really their plan … unless they are too busy spearing them with toothpicks to realize they are actually eating healthy food.

Do you have eating tips you can share with our KIDFUN readers? Here’s another memory — burying peas in mashed potatoes. I really didn’t like peas but somehow the game of finding them in that mound of potatoes made it more fun eating them!

Where we live, it’s the perfect weather for a walk. Try it, whether it’s a long intentional walk or just spending a few minutes with a young child while waiting at a restaurant. Make that walk a creative adventure by bringing along some imaginary friends … or telling a story about what is happening along the way. Try some of these, for example.

* Look up! WOW! Did you see Super Grover flying over that tree? (Or perhaps, Spiderman is a better choice for your young person!) Where is he going? Let’s follow him!

* Take some giant steps — “I’m a lion on this walk. Can you walk like me? Now, you walk like an animal and I’ll copy you.”

* Let’s bring Cinderella with us. “Come on, Cinderella, want to take a walk?”

I’m sure you get the picture. Ryan and I decided to leave the table the other night when the service was a little slow at a restaurant. We “met” so many of her favorite friends. Even Abby Cadabby who waved her magic wand and transformed us — right there outside the restaurant.

A funny thing happened the other night … We were having a family party when the guys started hangin’ around the kitchen and playing with the magnetic letters on the refrigerator door. Now, what could possibly attract these men …. ranging in age from 30 to over-60?? You’d think it was a game they were playing with kids … after all, they WERE playing with brightly colored letters!

So, a couple women said I should make this a KIDFUN activity. Just fill the refrigerator door with all different color letters and try to form them into words …. even intersecting words. Depending on the age of the child, this could be a real challenge … but it’s educational fun, for sure.

Do you know what kind of words these guys were intersecting, like the refrigerator door was a Scrabble board? Words pertaining to their favorite drinks and liquor brands … from beer to wine to whiskey! It really didn’t matter.

Now, of course, I’m not suggesting such a thing for the kids …. but you could spell the name of everyone in the family … or names of colors or rhyming words, something on the level of younger children. Let’s hope they’re as enthused as these “older” children were on Saturday night! Some boys never do grow up!!!!

I just realized something! When we grew up, we had photo albums. Hopefully you still do. I have stacks and stacks of them and I really don’t enjoy them enough.

But today, we all click way and take photos on our phones. So our photo albums are right there at our fingertips. When sitting at a restaurant, in the car … anywhere … your child can sit with you and share all those special memories you have stored in your phone.

My KIDFUN tip today is taking pictures of those everyday moments that don’t seem all that special but will help you remember the precious years when your child is young. It could be when helping you in the house or just playing with toys. It could be walking down the street or playing in the backyard. Hopefully, it will be a moment that brings another smile to your day and to your little child’s day. After all, he can check out those photos anytime, with your permission in your portable photo album.

Do what, you ask??? Yep — get some buckets of water, sponges, clean cloths and wash the car with the kids! It feels like the good ol’ days just writing this! Yesterday, Ryan did this … well, kinda’. She scrubbed her dad’s motorcycle with him. Her friend came by and helped and it just reminded me of my brother and me helping my dad with his car. I know some people live in the city and don’t have access to this but what else could you wash outdoors?

Maybe gather up some plastic toys that are a little dirty. Take them outside. Bring out a bucket of soapy water and scrub brushes. Old toothbrushes are great for the smaller parts. Remember the towels. Dress sloppy, or wear bathing suits, expecting to get wet and start scrubbing! Maybe a Big Wheels bike could be cleaned! How ’bout a wagon?

We hope this KIDFUN project will fill some time in a purposeful, fun way, especially if you’re home this long weekend, looking for a way to stay cool!

Do you remember the … “I’m going on a picnic and I’m taking …” game? It’s an alphabet memory game, actually story-telling exercise that works great in a car or sitting at a restaurant. One person, Joe, says, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m taking an Apple.” Scott follows with, “I’m going on a picnic and taking an Apple and a Ball.” The next person follows by repeating what Joe and Scott said and adding an item starting with “C.”

Okay, do that about “My Favorite Thing to Do this Summer was” … Actually, it can be a memory game without the alphabet aspect. It’s not so easy for anyone, any age, just remembering what everyone says. It can begin like this, “My favorite thing to do this this summer was to go to Storybook Land.” Next person, adds, “My favorite things to do this summer were to go to Storybook Land and to see the Jonas Brothers.” This game can continue and continue … and continue!! Well, at least until you arrive at your destination or have your meal finally served at a restaurant!

The world of imagination is filled with awe, especially for a preschooler. And, it can be something as simple as becoming a character like a princess or a Sesame Street friend that can build into one of those lovely, long-lasting memories.

In my world, Ryan is Cinderella and I’m Belle. It just sort of stuck … and it’s lasted at least six months and it could be one of those giggles we have for many years to come. For us, it started six months ago when Ryan wasn’t interested in wearing a gown as a flower girl in her Aunt Hope’s wedding. For some reason, when we were with the dressmaker, it came to me. “Let’s be princesses going to a ball!” It worked. Ryan named us. She cooperated. We twirled around the store. We entered the world of make believe and all her fears were gone!

And now, when playing with little princess figures or reading books or admiring one of those Disney beauties, it’s always the same — “That’s you, Grammy. It’s Belle!” ….

What is it about selections and choices? Put them in front of us and there are just so many decisions to make. I think last night was Ryan’s first salad bar. Now, of course, it’s not that there was so much to eat that thrilled her. (Just our luck, this three year old doesn’t think fruit and vegetables are fun!) But, having the opportunity to make choices was very cool … even if it were the croutons, Chinese noodles, sunflower seeds and, honestly, Parmesan cheese.

How can you make a salad bar … or buffet of some sort … at home that wouldn’t be wasteful at the same? It just might be the motivator for your child to try something a little different. Even if it’s just because those cherry tomatoes would look so pretty on her plate! Be creative with your selections. Add some little pretzel pieces to a salad bar. It’s actually pretty good. Have your child help you make selections.

I know one way you can do it that is surely a winner. An ice cream bar! A sundae bar! A cupcake decorating bar … hm, where are those M & M’s and gummy bears?

Have fun … try some KIDFUN like this at your next meal!