LoveToKnow Kids

Time to Pull Out the Board Games

2009-05-05T08:54:24Z

Well ladies, I just looked at the forecast and it’s going to be rainy, rainy, rainy, and rainy for the next several days. Even our nicest day next week is 70degrees and forecasted to be. . .rainy.

So it’s time to pull out the board games. We like Set, Sequence, and Monopoly. What are some of your family’s favorites that the kids can play with too?

4th of July activities

2009-06-26T01:07:40Z

So what are you all doing for the 4th of July?

We are having a b-b-q and decorating our house as if it were Christmas (as per the children’s instructions). We don’t do fireworks. Watching them requires us to be up too late and doing them (some are legal here) just seems like a bad idea since we live next to the woods (although it’s been so wet I imagine it might not matter.)

We will probably build a fire pit in our yard and roast marshmallows for s’mores…a food my kids think is synonymous with “country living.” Anyone else?

Playing Outside Alone

2009-03-24T20:28:38Z

At what age is it okay for kids to play outside on their own? I know a lot depends on the location, but we live in a suburban area with very low crime rates. I’m not worried so much about somebody doing something devious with my kids, but rather about my kids’ cognitive ability to not wander off.

Last summer I tried to let the kids play in the backyard by themselves and my daughter wound up in the front yard. When I found her she was stunned and said she hadn’t realized she had walked through the gate. Talk about scary!

She’s 5 now. Is she ready to play outside without adult supervision?

Teach your kid to use the internet

2009-05-19T09:24:55Z

My husband and I are very busy in our respective professions. That leaves us with very little time for our adolescent twin daughters. Sometimes it so happens that we are even unable to meet on a certain day due to all our schedules. I want to install a safe internet connection at home, so that I can at least communicate with my daughters. At the same time I fear their exposure to vulgar and adult sites. Is there any such service provider?

Working with horses

2009-03-19T15:48:06Z

My kids recently started working with miniature horses. It has been so good for them! They’re responsible for grooming and brushing the horses. They’re also learning to work with them on walking with a halter, jumping, and going through an obstacle course.

It’s wonderful to see them nurturing these little creatures. They’ve had to overcome challenges when a particular horse nips at them or refuses to cooperate. And the feeling of accomplishment they get from working towards a goal (winning at horse shows) is incredible as well.

It has been an overwhelmingly positive experience, one I’d recommend to everyone.

Swimming lessons

2009-04-14T22:33:58Z

Hello. Do most of you sign your kids up for swimming lessons? When I was a kid, it seems like everyone just learned to swim on their own, just kind of… naturally. Now, everyone I see has their kids enrolled in classes. Is this necessary?

Great Park Pursuit

2009-05-04T12:20:25Z

Does anyone else’s state parks department run a program like this?

Basically what they do is set up a series of “activities” at various parks and don’t charge admission on those days to those state parks. Ours is set up “scavenger hunt” style so you have to figure out a clue to figure out where to go.

We live in Connecticut, so obviously there is nothing that is more than 2 hrs. away. This will be our first year but I’m totally excited to get to go to all these state parks.

Playing at the Park

2009-04-21T10:48:11Z

Playing outside is something we took for granted growing up, but as much as my daughter likes to be outside, she just wants to sit and socialize with friends. She gets worn out fast when it comes to running and playing—how can we encourage them to run and play more?