Friday Activity: Balloon Yo-Yo

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Balloon Yo-Yo

balloon
water
rubber bands
markers

First you take the balloon and fill it up with water but don't make the balloon stretch. After you do that, blow the balloon up a little bit just so its half water half air. Tie a knot to close the balloon. Take the rubber band and tie it on the end. If you want you can decorate it with the markers. Have Fun!

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Thursday Games: Blanket Food Fun

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Blanket Food Fun

blankets
pillows




My husband loves playing this game with our children! To make blanket pizza - Take a blanket and lay it on the floor for your "crust." Place your children on the blanket for the "sauce." Toss pillows on top for "cheese" (and any other topping you like.) Then pretend to eat up the food tickling and hugging your kids. We laugh and talk in funny accents as we build our dish. We make all sorts of food this way.

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Crafty Wednesday: Bark Giraffe

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a fun craft to make with your kids!

This week's craft is...

Bark Giraffe

piece of cardboard
ornamental bark from a nursery

Draw a picture of a giraffe on the piece of carboard, however big you need it. Cut up the bark into small pieces, and then glue it one by one onto some carboard (as the spots). Break or cut small pieces of grass (thin and dry) and stick them sticking outwards on the back of the giraffe (as a mane). Glue some grass or sand under its feet. Glue a leaf in its mouth, and voila! You could paint it a dirty yellowish coulour first, before putting on the bark spots.

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Tuesday Recipe: Coolwhip Art

Each Tuesday we'll bring you a tasty recipe or craft recipe to make with your kids!

This week's recipe is...

Coolwhip Art

coolwhip
food coloring
heavy paper

Mix a food coloring and coolwhip together to make desired color. Not to much food coloring or it will be too runny. Make sure you do not stir to much or the coolwhip will break down. Give to your toddler along with a piece of paper and let he/she create with thier hands, paint brush, anything really. When it dries flat on a table you have the most creative 3-d picture.

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Monday Music: Skidamarink

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

Skidamarink

Skidamarink a dink a dink (right elbow in left hand, wiggle fingers)

Skidamarink a dink a doo (Left elbow in right hand, wiggle fingers)

I love you I love you (point to eye, hands over heart, point to another)

Skidamarink a dink a dink (right elbow in left hand, wiggle fingers)

Skidamarink a dink a doo (Left elbow in right hand, wiggle fingers)

I love you (point to eye, hands over heart, point to another)

I love you in the morning (arms make circle above head, lean left)

and in the afternoon (keep arms in circle and stand straight)

I love you in the evening (keep arms in circle and lean right)

and underneath the moon (sweep arms down and form another circle above head)

Oh, Skidamarink a dink a dink (right elbow in left hand, wiggle fingers)

Skidamarink a dink a doo (Left elbow in right hand, wiggle fingers)

I love you I love you (point to eye, hands over heart, point to another)

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Friday Activity: Dad's Day Message

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Dad's Day Message

Sidewalk Chalk
hair spray

Have each child write a special message to Dad with pictures on the driveway while he is at work. When they are all done have an adult take the hairspray and spray down the art work. The pictures will last through three or four rain showers.

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Thursday Games: Dive for Pennies

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Dive for Pennies

This is a fun game for experienced swimmers at a pool party. Take a handful of pennies or other coin and throw them into the pool. Have the swimmers see who can gather the most coins. You can also do this game in a small baby pool for non swimmers, and have them bend down to gather the coins!

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Crafty Wednesday: Rock Paperweight

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a fun craft to make with your kids!

This week's craft is...

Rock Paperweight

arge rounded rock
tissue paper squares (various colors)
wax paper
diluted glue
paintbrush

Spread a sheet of wax paper on top of the workspace. Lay a square of the tissue paper on the rock and paint over it with the diluted glue. Continue painting and placing until the rock is completely covered. Allow the glue to dry.

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Tuesday Recipe: Banana Split Cake

Each Tuesday we'll bring you a tasty recipe or craft recipe to make with your kids!

This week's recipe is...

Banana Split Cake

1 white cake mix
2 cups milk
2 boxes vanilla pudding
1 8oz softened cream cheese
bananas sliced
crushed pineapple 1 can
cool whip
maraschino cherries
walnuts

Prepare cake mix according to directions and cool. Mix cream cheese, milk and pudding together in a bowl and spread on top of cooled cake. Top with sliced bananas and crushed drained pineapple. Top with cool whip and cherries and walnuts. Refrigerate for about 1 hour, then serve.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our kid's recipes and craft recipe ideas and Father's Day ideas

Monday Music: Heart Names Song

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

Heart Names Song

cut out heart shapes for each child with his/her name on them

Begin singing this song(to the tune of Bingo): There is a special boy I know and Ryan is his name-O, R-y-a-n, R-y-a-n, R-y-a-n and Ryan is his name-O. Substitute the child's name and she for girls. Before you say the child's name the first time in the song, hold up the heart with his or her name on it and have the child say his name at that part. Then point to the letters as you spell the name. Sing the song again for each child, giving each child their heart to hold until the end of the song. Extention: For a transition say or hold up a letter and have the children look to see if their name has that letter. Then have those who do have that letter give you the heart (for the next time) and be dismissed from circle.

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Friday Activity: Candy Jar

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Candy Jar

glass bottles (juice or spaghetti sauce bottles work well)
M&M's (or other candy)
fabric remnants
ribbon
glue gun

Wash bottles, and take off labels. Sort M&M's by color and layer into bottles. Cut fabric into circles about 6" in diameter. Glue fabric to lid of bottle, and tie a ribbon around the top! Now you have a great, and inexpensive gift to give!

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Thursday Games: Digging for Treasure

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Digging for Treasure

sandbox
rocks
gold spray paint

Use your sandbox to dig for treasure! Ahead of time - have an adult spray several rocks with gold spray paint - let dry. Then bury then in the sandbox. Let each child take a turn to find the buried treasure!

Options: you can use plastic gold coins or small toys to bury as well.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our game ideas and Father's Day ideas

Crafty Wednesday: Father's Day Picture Frame

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a fun craft to make with your kids!

This week's craft is...

Father's Day Picture Frame

old cd rom
picture of child with father
plastic knife
hot glue
hot glue gun
clay

Take a small amount of clay (about a half dollar size), and smooth it out in to a shape of a circle. Press it down to make a flat bottom. Cut a slit in the top. (this is where the CD will sit in. Cut picture out to fit inside the center of the cd. then glue picture on to the cd, let dry 15 mins, then place cd into the mold by using the hot glue gun, and presto you have a father's day picture frame! Use a air dry clay or crayola's model magic.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our crafty ideas and Father's Day ideas

Tuesday Recipe: Basic Pancakes for Dad

Each Tuesday we'll bring you a tasty recipe or craft recipe to make with your kids!

This week's recipe is...

Basic Pancakes for Dad

3 c Flour
1 ts Salt
1 1/2 tb Baking powder
2 Eggs
2 c Milk
2 tb Oil

Mix dry ingredients then add eggs and milk and then gradually add oil. Pour into heated pan into small circles. Flip them when small bubbles form on top. You can add blueberries or cooked rice or 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of sugar. To make these more special for Dad, top them off with some whipped cream, and sliced strawberries or bananas!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our kid's recipes and craft recipe ideas and Father's Day ideas

Monday Music: Best Daddy Poem

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

Best Daddy Poem

My daddy is the best, you see,
Because he takes good care of me.

He takes me to the park to play,
Or to the beach on a sunny day.

At night he tucks me into bed,
Says goodnight, and pats my head.

My daddy's the best in every way,
I love you, Daddy. Happy Father's Day!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our music and song ideas and Father's Day ideas

June Giveaway & May Winner!

Thanks to all who entered our May giveaway! The winner of that giveaway was Jessica Kestner from Virginia!

This month we have new prizes to giveaway. In honor of all those young kids out there (like my son!) that are playing America's favorite past time, we have 3 fabulous major league baseball coloring books. Also, in honor of the warmer months and a child's natural desire to explore and investigate, we are giving away a copy of How to be an Explorer of the World.

To enter this giveaway, fill in your name and valid email address on this form. One entry per day per person. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Entries will be accepted through June 30, 2009, midnight CST.

Good luck!

Sponsored by our good friends at FamilyCorner.com

Friday Activity: Alphabet Rubbings

Each Friday we'll bring you a fun activity to do with your kids!

This week's activity is...

Alphabet Rubbings

sand paper
scissors
crayons
printing paper

Cut shapes of letters or numbers out of sand paper at least 3 inches tall. Put the shapes under the paper and let the children rub over the top with the crayons. Have them rub their name, etc

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Thursday Games: Drip Drip Drop

Each Thursday we'll bring you a fun game to play with your kids!

This week's game is...

Drip Drip Drop

large container filled with water
small pail/bucket

Sit the children in a circle, this game is played exactly like Duck Duck Goose. One person is chosen to be it, and they get the small pail and fill it with water from the large container. They go around the circle saying "drip, drip, drip...." while they drip water with their hands from the pail. When they wish to say "drop", they dump the entire pail on the child, and run just like in duck duck goose. The child that dropped, just sits back down in the spot of the child they chose. The game continues until everyone is wet. No one really wins or loses, so it is a great game for all. I work in a School_Age program, and we played it on those hot afternoons and we as their teachers even got involved. The children all laugh and enjoy. If however, there is a child (or more) that do not wish to get soaked, or like water on their head, then the one who is it can drip, and drop on their feet only. Its a very easy way to keep hot children happy! Note: it can also be played by a pool, or have a hose handy. Adults can watch to see how full they fill the pail if necessary.

Visit The Idea Box for all of our game ideas and Father's Day ideas

Crafty Wednesday: Paper Dot Mosaics

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a fun craft to make with your kids!

This week's craft is...

Paper Dot Mosaics

paper hole punch
colored paper
white paper
glue

Have the children make several paper dots using the hole punch. Keep the colors seperate. Then, have them make a mosaic picture by gluing the dots onto white paper. They can make their names, a scene, animal, or just place them at random!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our crafty ideas and Father's Day ideas

Tuesday Recipe: Apple Crunch Toast

Each Tuesday we'll bring you a tasty recipe or craft recipe to make with your kids!

This week's recipe is...

Apple Crunch Toast

Butter
apples
wheat bread
cinnamon sugar mixture (equal parts)

Slice and peel the apples. Have the child spread the butter on the bread. Have them place the apple slices on the bread. Then have them sprinkle the sugar mixture on the apples. Place in the toaster oven, and toast till slightly brown. Enjoy!

Visit The Idea Box for all of our kid's recipes and craft recipe ideas and Father's Day ideas

Monday Music: Baby Bumblebee

Each Monday we'll bring you a fun song to sing with your kids!

This week's song is...

Baby Bumblebee

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
(Cup hands together as if holding bee)

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Ouch! It stung me!
(Shake hands as if just stung)

I'm squishing up the baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
('Squish' bee between palms of hands)

I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee,
Ooh! It's yucky!
(Open up hands to look at 'mess')

I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
(Wipe hands off on shirt)

I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Now my mommy won't be mad at me!
(Hold hands up to show they are clean)

Visit The Idea Box for all of our music and song ideas and Father's Day ideas