Archive for the ‘Fun’ Category

Create a summer to remember

Friday, June 30th, 2017

Summer is a state of mind.

Before you blink and it’s over, create a summer to remember!

There are 31 days in July and August – here are 62 ideas.  Spoiler alert – none require tech gadgets!

  1. Make smores
  2. Have a bike decorating contest for July 4th (if you do not have a bike check out downhill bikes for sale Adelaide catalog).
  3. Fina a drive-in movie theatre near you.
  4. Plant a vegetable garden
  5. Make paper airplanes
  6. Make your own sidewalk chalk and then create outside art
  7. Build a new Lego challenge
  8. Learn a new card game
  9. Ask your parents or grandparents to teach you a game they played as kids
  10. Make and fly your own kite
  11. Go on a scavenger hunt
  12. Go to a minor league baseball game
  13. Go on a nature walk and take photos
  14. Print the photos and make them into postcards and mail to your grandparents!
  15. With your parents help, plan and make dinner one evening
  16. How long can you jump rope?
  17. Go to the library and borrow language tapes, and learn a few phrases.
  18. Catch lightning bugs
  19. Pay for ice cream of the person behind you in line
  20. Go to a water park, or run through a sprinkler
  21. Play minute to win it games
  22. Fill water balloons and play water balloon piñata
  23. Have a dance party
  24. Play board games
  25. Help take care of an elderly neighbor’s yard
  26. Hike in a state park
  27. Visit a museum you’ve never been to
  28. Reorganize your room
  29. Have a garage sale
  30. Make and mail cards to soldiers
  31. Bake cookies and take them to your local fire and/or police station
  32. Make popsicles
  33. Create a music video
  34. Try an outdoor science experiment
  35. Have a car wash
  36. Make finger paints
  37. Play ultimate Frisbee
  38. Create your own family madlibs game
  39. Attend a free concert
  40. Host an outdoor sleepover
  41. Play manhunt
  42. Visit a farmers market
  43. Go to a planetarium
  44. Try miniature golf
  45. Create a building from marshmallows and toothpicks
  46. Tie dye
  47. Make your own glitter slime
  48. Design your own pillow case with fabric markers
  49. Make your own outdoor twister game
  50. Make a puppet theatre and have a show
  51. Homemade play dough
  52. Host a joke telling contest
  53. Play Simon Says
  54. Visit a local factory
  55. Make a slip and slide
  56. Have a picnic
  57. Go fishing
  58. Go berry picking, and then make a pie
  59. Tell ghost stories
  60. Make a stand and sell lemonade
  61. Put on a magic show
  62. Play charades

Feel free to add more.

Have an amazing summer!

Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

 

Family – How to Raise a Child You Want to Meet in 25 Years

Sunday, July 5th, 2015

Family is the most important thing in the world.

Princess Diana

As made famous in the Monty Python catchphrase…’now for something completely different’ I’m sharing a video rather than simply a blog post on this week’s topic – Family.

Presenting in a video format feels a little more personal, though I’ll continue to provide helpful information to support the topic throughout the week on Facebook and Twitter.

When asked, “What is the most important thing in your life,” people will respond without a moment’s hesitation – my family, though our actions may not be as obvious as our intentions.

Here are some thought starters on demonstrating the importance of family:

  • When you were growing up, you had a sense of different kinds of families you visited
  • Now that you are the head of your household, what do you want your children to remember about growing up in their home?
    • Ask them what kind of a family they want to be
    • They can even create a family crest
    • By defining your family, you stand together

This week, please look for Parental Wisdom’s Facebook post and Twitter feed on the kinds of things families can do together.

  1. Monday, July 6th – Coolest Roadside attractions in every state
  2. Tuesday, July 7th – Top 10 Sports Halls of Fame in U.S
  3. Wednesday, July 8th – Fun Activities that create memories
  4. Thursday, July 9th – Cooking with kids
  5. Friday, July 10th – Fun ways to read with your child

As always, feel free to add your own great ideas, because after all, we are all in this together.

Enjoy and have a great week!

 

Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®

#valueoftheweek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are moved by our emotions

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart”

 -Helen Keller

One of life’s biggest frustrations is knowing the right thing to do and not doing it.

Sometimes it is because we wait for things to be perfect which is like saying I don’t want to leave for work until all the lights are green.

But a friend (thanks Suzanne!) posted a link to an article The Important Thing About Yelling by Rachel Macy Stafford which causes you to stop and think.

That article coupled with an amazing ad directed to moms demonstrates how critical moms are of the job they do, while their kids have a totally different and far more positive reaction.

The clichés express we are to enjoy each moment. Since we are driven by our emotions, I thought the article and video will help.

But simply stated moms, lighten up!

You see – the greatest impact you will have in the world is on your own family.  And you can do that every day in little ways by finding reasons to celebrate without waiting for the big traditional holidays.

First up – Trivia Day – January 4th

What I love about this ‘holiday’ is that you could tailor it to your own family.   Think about creating:

For future ‘holiday’ days/dates – please follow me on Twitter

Have a great week!

Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®

The calm before the storm

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

For those cleaning up after Hurricane Irene, hoping for the return of electricity, hot water and the comforts that only electronic devices can provide – stop a moment to realize this is actually the calm before the storm. 

Take pleasure in the few remaining lazy days of summer and spontaneity before schedules rules your life.

Enjoy the kind of fun that is possible only when single-tasking (which may not be a real word, but certainly understandable for a multi-tasking society).

Play a board game, go for a walk, talk to each other as you take full advantage of the last bit of downtime that comes with a holiday weekend.

See you in September!

 Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®

We are still here

Sunday, June 5th, 2011

 A few weeks ago, the world didn’t end on May 21st as Harold Camping predicted.   His forecast caused some folks to stop paying the mortgage and bills.  I imagine they are now trying to recover from that decision.

Most things we spend time worrying about just don’t happen.  Parents create anxiety about things that can happen to their kids, and that anxiety keeps them from just being kids. 

I’m not saying there aren’t dangers in the world and it is your job to protect your child from real danger.  But let’s distinguish danger from anxiety.  Practice safety in all aspects of life, from the use of car seats, to child-proofing your home, to cyber protecting your kids to prohibiting alcohol to minors.  These measures all make sense and do protect our children from real danger.

And then lighten up.

Allow your kids to play the way you used to play – outside and unstructured.  Look for ways to celebrate life’s small milestones which help to shape what is in your control in this seemingly out of control world.  What would you like your children to remember about their childhood?

One of life’s milestones is the last day of school.  Each year I would leave work early to pick up the kids, and they knew I would be armed with water blasters.  Of course, one was for me. 

Why should they have all the fun?

 “We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable.  It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives.”  – Maya Angelou

Have a great week!

Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®