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9 Fun Summer Camp Crafts and Activities you should try at Home

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Camping with your family offers a wide array of possibilities for enjoyment but if don’t feel like camping out this year, here are some kids’ crafts you can try at home. These summer camp crafts are sure to keep them…and you… occupied all season. From indoor to outdoor activities, there are activities for all ages, and you can bring the summer camp fun to your home.

Let’s go!

  1. Mess-Free Handicrafts

When I hear summer camp crafts, the first thing that comes to mind are those mess-free activities which are of course great for both indoors and outdoors. From making and decorating their own to kites to trying their hand at different friendship bracelet patterns, origami and all. It’s important that their decoration or craft is in line with the summer theme and when they are done with the craft, for example, the kite, they can run outside and have a blast in the sun.

  1. Tie-Dyed T-Shirts

As campers, we all look forward to tie-dyed T-shirt day and so does our kids. Make them excited about it by telling them a few days before the day. You can buy your tie-dye kit online or at any local craft store. Get everyone’s white shirt ready; it is recommended they use their old white shirts instead of buying an entirely new one. Although your kids may need supervision, do well to make sure everyone is hands-on with their plastic gloves and messy clothes or aprons. Let the fun begin… They’ll surely be proud of their T-shirts when it is all dried up.

  1. Nature Hunt

This can be done either at a local park or in your backyard, and it is one of the amazing ways to appreciate nature. You can craft a bug or butterfly catcher to corral summer bugs or other creepy crawlers around the field and flowers so you can give them a closer look. If actually catching them seems too adventurous, you can simply give the kids a pencil and paper to make observations about them.

Better still you can go on a bird watch or nature walk, all these will make them see nature in a whole new light and appreciate nature even more.

  1. Tabletop Game Competition

Remember summer camp and those game rooms filled with foosball, ping-pong and other tabletop games, you can have some fun time with this right at home. You might need to invest in one of these; you can also join the kids to make the game more interesting, fun and engaging.

  1. Water Game Olympics

Its summer and the kids need to cool off, so a water game competition can be a great idea. Right in the comfort of your backyard, you can get this set up, games like sprinkler limbo, sponge dodgeball or any water game idea that comes to mind. It’s water, it’s summer, it’ll be super fun!

  1. Sand and Seashell Art

Camping is mostly about discovering nature and engaging in some worthwhile activities. From dying sands and stocking them up in a glass jar to using glue to form sandy signs and designs on paper. If you have seashells either from beach vacations or ordering them online, kids can have some fun time with those too. Either by painting shells, gluing them to a drawing to create picture frames or using to them to craft necklaces or hand-beads – the possibilities are endless.

  1. Journaling

Traditionally as sleep-away campers, we were instructed to write letters to our parents or better still we were asked to keep journals in order to write down our adventures, well, let’s bring that home too. You can get your kid a new journal and some nice colored pencils and encourage him or her to write about their summer adventure.

  1. Field Day

Everyone should partake in this, the whole family or better still the whole neighborhood and let the fun begin! Group games like soccer, kickball, wiffle-ball, capture the flag or any nice game that fall into this category. Other fun games to try on your field day are sack races or the amazing Tug o’ war.

  1. Backyard Camping

To get everyone in the camping mode, you can opt for a backyard camping night where you can simply set up a tent in the backyard and get camping. You can spice things up by stargazing, telling ghost stories, having s’mores and other traditional camping foods. Fire is dangerous but if you’re good with campfires and can give proper supervision to the kids, then build a camp fire (this totally depends on your neighborhood and how large your backyard is). You can have the entire family sit around it and be memorized by the flames. Enjoy the warmth, roast marshmallows, tell stories, and enjoy how the dancing flames bring your entire family together.

Fun Outdoor Family Activities with Kids

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Are you a parent looking for fun some fun activities for kids to do in the outdoors? In modern times where smart phones, video games, computer games, television and other indoor activities are prevailing, sometimes it is necessary to entice your children to play outdoors. The idea here is keeping them active and making them enjoy various activities outdoors rather than those other indoor activities.

Even if you bring out a good book and work on your tan while they play, at the end of the day, you’ll all feel better for getting a bit of fresh air. So here are a few activities the kids will enjoy doing especially one that involves the whole family.

Hide and Seek: This is a simple and fun activity that can actually be done right in the backyard of your home. Although this may depend on the size of your backyard, it gives the kids the opportunity to stretch those legs, run and explore, right in the confine of your home.

Stump Steps

For those who have this in their backyard, kids really love it. If you don’t, you can simply create one using cut logs of wood in varying height and place them in a path. You can either cut them yourself or contact your local tree trimmer to see if he can donate a few scraps. Heights of the logs should be between 2″ to 10″, there should be enough spacing between each log to let the kids test their balancing skills.

Let them get a little Dirty

If there’s a pile of screened topsoil or loam dumped in the yard, then the kids can have lots of fun time while you, of course, watch them and wish you could join… lol. They could easily mold it like clay or better still lead a mission of army men and who knows, maybe cause an invasion.

From active play that let them move around like sports games to relaxing activities that allow them to enjoy the natural environment calmly, your kids should partake in some outdoor activities.

Some simple outdoor sports games kids love are soccer, ball tossing, and running. With these, they can train their hand and leg muscles while having as much fun as possible. Kids also love running games like short races, small obstacle courses, tags or basically just running free to enjoy the wind on their cute little faces.

You can also incorporate some group games into your fun outdoor family time, games like Pictionary, twenty questions, singing and even dancing sounds really exciting, engaging and will sure have everyone smiling.

For some relaxing activities, kids love blowing bubbles, reading story books, cloud-gazing and much more. Find out what your kids love, give them an avenue to explore and get excited. It is truly fascinating, don’t hesitate to join them and have some fun time with the whole family.

Families That Garden Together Eat Together

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Do you garden? Do you get the whole family involved in garden? If you’re not gardening as a family, then you are missing a chance at helping make those family mealtimes happen – and you are missing out on so much more, too. The family that gardens together eats together and saves money together.

Here’s why gardening as a family helps make mealtime true family time.

If you have a picky eater who won’t eat his (or her) fruits and vegetables, then start showing him where it comes from. Let him pick seeds to plant and then plant them. Maybe a different variety of a particular vegetable would appeal more.  Water them, tend to them, weed them, and watch them grow. Give him the responsibility of taking care of the garden. Once he sees where a plant comes from he’ll be more willing to try it. Once he has the pride of working to grow something, he will want to show off what he did to everyone and try it out for himself to see what he created with his own hands.

Slice it up and cook it together. Make a yummy vegetable pizza out of the vegetables you just grew in your garden. Let your child help cut up the vegetables and put the vegetables on the pizza. Grow tomatoes and make a nice homemade tomato sauce together to put on your homemade pizza. Put it in the oven and then sit down as a family to eat what your child created from start to finish. Straight from the garden to the table is the best way to do it.

A child who not only grew the yummy vegetables that went into the meal that your family eats, but then also helped cook it, will grow his self-esteem as big as the garden he has created with you. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction you receive of knowing that you provided delicious food for your family from start to finish.

There are so many health benefits to gardening together too. Not only are you eating more healthy fruits and vegetables, but getting out in the sun and working in the garden is also great exercise. All things that will help you live longer. You can entice your child to put down the electronics and get outdoors by saying, “Let’s go outside and dig in the dirt.” He’ll love it.

All this time spent together creates memories with your child. These will be special moments you’ll never forget. Your child won’t forget either. You are creating childhood moments that will last a lifetime, and traditions that your child likely won’t outgrow. He will learn great skills which will last him his entire life. From gardening, to eating healthy foods, to preparing his own meals, he will be well-rounded. Not to mention all the opportunities to talk about what’s happening in his life. Gardening together, cooking together, and eating together are all moments to communicate together.

So all in all, gardening together will not only lead to eating together, but also cooking together and communicating together. The health and emotional benefits of gardening together and eating together never end.

Landscaping with the Whole Family

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Landscaping doesn’t have to be something that is left to the professionals. It’s something we can do on our own or even as a family. Here are some simple landscaping ideas that are so easy the whole family can help you do it. So get the family together next weekend and work together making your yard the best in the whole neighborhood without having to spend a whole lot.

  1. Start a garden. If you already have a spot without grass, then that’s perfect – if not, then you will need to kill your grass in the area you want your garden. To do this, lay a thick layer of newspaper over the grass where you want a garden and then put a layer of mulch on the newspaper. Once the grass is killed you can remove the newspaper and place fresh soil and begin planting.

Know the type of environment you’re planting in. Is it sunny or shady? What is the soil like? When you go purchase your plants or bulbs, ask at the nursery for help in choosing plants that grow best given the conditions of your yard.

  1. Create a landscape design. This isn’t just for the professionals. They all use five basic things when designing a landscape. Color, form (shape of the plant), line (how the grouping of plants makes the eye move), scale (size of the area you work in), and texture.
  2. Water the lawn and the plants. You can do this with a sprinkler, but for the garden you might want to consider a more hands-on approach. A watering can and a small child are great at watering the garden. And they usually love it!
  3. Remove weeds. You can use a weed whacker for bigger jobs, but in the garden, good old-fashioned weed pulling will keep your garden healthy and looking good. Another great job for children.
  4. You can create a great backyard space on your own by adding simple things like a fire pit. Just dig a small round trench and layer it with gravel and sand. Then place large stones around the perimeter to create your fire pit to use for backyard barbecues or just sitting around the fire.
  5. Build do-it-yourself walls and patios. This might not seem like something you can do yourself, but the benefits of the internet are that there are all sorts of tutorials and easy-to-follow videos for doing this stuff yourself. With the proper space carved out and a nice sunny Saturday afternoon to work (and a few friends), you can really create your own little patio or rock wall to really add pzazz to your landscaping design in your yard.

Don’t go at any of this alone. Have a plan in advance and talk to some friends and family who have done some things you like in their own yard and see if you can get them over to help you. Remember to give age-appropriate jobs to the kids like weeding and watering for maintaining certain parts of your landscape.

You can really create your own beautifully landscaped yard by yourself for much cheaper than hiring a professional – if that’s what you want to do, that is. It’s a great way to begin working together with the family and do something you all can have pride in and sit around and enjoy together as a family. So what’s your next do-it-yourself project with the family?

Getting Everyone’s Input on Redecorating the Family Room

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The family room is the room of the house that you want to be an inviting place where the whole family feels comfortable and secure. One way to do that is by getting everyone’s input on how it should be decorated. But with numerous different people and different ideas, asking everyone’s opinion may seem like a very daunting task. It doesn’t have to be, though. Here is how to decorate the family room so the whole family is happy with it.

How to Make Your Family Room a True Family Made Room

  • Let the kids have input. Don’t turn down everything they say. If they suggest a shag carpet, get them a small shag rug and place it in their favorite area of the living space. Remember, the goal is to make the room an inviting space for the whole family.
  • Use fabrics that clean easily. Leather, microfiber, and acrylics are all great fabrics to use in a family room where the kids are going to be possibly, definitely spilling things.
  • Use your space appropriately. Divide it up with furniture if it’s a large space. Keep clutter hidden behind cabinets or inside of ottomans. If you’re going to allow toys in the family room, then find easy ways to store and hide these items when they are not in use.
  • Functional seating is important in a family room. When it’s just you and your family you might not need a whole lot of seating. But an ottoman is great in that can be used for kicking back or as a table when you have company over.  That way no one has to sit on the floor or stand and there’s a space for everyone to sit.
  • Don’t be afraid of patterns and using them to make a cozy space for the whole family to enjoy.
  • Don’t forget about window treatments. A sheer curtain in the family room allows light into the space, making it bright and comfortable.
  • Play to your family’s interests. If you’re an outdoorsy family, then use colors from the outdoors. If you are interested in boating, then do a nautical theme. Bringing the things the family loves to do together into the family room will make it the favorite room of the house for everyone to hang out in. If your family loves the beach, then bring in blues and corals into the room with pictures of beach sunsets covering the walls.

When decorating your family room with your whole family in mind you want to remember comfort and functionality first. Creating a space that is comfortable for everyone to be in while also working to your family’s needs is what the family room is all about. A family who doesn’t entertain a lot might not care too much about having extra seating, but might want the family room to reflect the family’s interest. So figure out what works best for your family and sit down and talk to everyone about what they would like to see in this space. Then come up with a plan that works with all of these ideas.

What is your ideal family room décor?

Hosting a Family Reunion – Get Everyone Involved

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Has it been a long time since you have seen the whole family? Were you talking about your Great Aunt Suzy and your kids asked who? Then you’ll probably want to plan your next family reunion. 

However, coordinating the whole thing is a very daunting task. You need to get everyone to pitch in and delegate tasks. Here’s how to get everyone involved in planning your next big family reunion.

  • Start out by talking to your family. Send out a short questionnaire. Ask who is interested. When would be a good time to have a reunion (suggest dates that work)? What is a good location to have a reunion? Once you know what works for everyone you can start having people get their feelers out for a place that will be as centrally located as possible and the most cost effective for everyone.
  • Come up with a budget that everyone is comfortable with and stick with it. There’s nothing worse than getting everyone excited about a family reunion only to have someone unable to join because he can’t afford it. So always keep everyone in mind and what their ability to pay might be so no one has to be excluded for financial reasons.
  • Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks. Work to your family members’ strengths. If you have someone in your family who’s really great at hunting out bargains, put that person in charge of finding the location. Someone who’s creative can be put in charge of the games. A photographer in the family? See if he wouldn’t mind taking pictures at the reunion.
  • Have a clear schedule of events with expectations. This keeps everyone on the same page so they know what’s expected of them.
  • Get all ages of children involved by having them create decorative and crafty place settings so your family reunion guests will know where to sit.
  • Don’t over plan. While the idea of a family reunion is to get together with the family, also remember that too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing. So do encourage the family to go off and do things on their own or even break up into smaller groups.
  • Be open to others ideas and try to accommodate as many people as possible, but also keep in mind that you can’t please everyone all the time.
  • Remember to have fun. This is probably the most important. You have fun with it and you might even get people coming up to you offering to help without even having to ask. Don’t count on it happening that way, though. You most likely will still have to put requests out there, but people will be more inclined to help if you aren’t super bossy and are ready and willing to have fun.

Hosting a family reunion is a lot of work. But with the right attitude and a willingness to be flexible it will come together. You’ll create a great memory for the whole family and see people you haven’t seen in a very long time. So get to planning with these tips above in mind and you’ll have a wonderful time. What are your tips for hosting a family reunion?

Hiking and Biking: Get out and Get Some Fresh Air

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In this fast paced life we don’t often stop to smell the roses or pause to reflect on how beautiful this world really is.   There are many benefits to getting outside, breathing in some fresh air, and taking in the nature around us.  This is especially true for busy families who barely have time to eat dinner together.

Two activities that can pull a family together and get them moving are hiking and biking.  Not only will you get some great exercise, but also you will be able to connect with your family again and strengthen those relationships.  Not only that, but both hiking and biking have some fantastic benefits.

Hiking and Biking: Get out and Get Some Fresh Air

Great cardio – We all know how important it is to incorporate exercise into a daily/weekly routine, but this is sometimes hard to stick to especially for busy families.   However both hiking and biking are wonderful ways to get that important workout without having to visit a gym every night.  Both are wonderful for your cardiovascular system.  Your blood gets pumping and all those unused muscles are put to work helping to build strength and muscle tone.

Low/No Cost – Hiking and biking have a huge advantage over many other workouts. They are both totally free to enjoy whenever you choose.  Of course you will need bicycles and possibly some good hiking boots but other than that you are free and clear to enjoy these activities without worrying about them impacting your bank account.

Stress reduction – It has been proven that outdoor activities, fresh air, and sunshine can help reduce stress or worry in your life.   Getting outside with your family and connecting with them in a different way can do a world of good on any worrisome issues that are plaguing you.  Without the weight of the world pushing down on your shoulders it will be easier to enjoy your family time together, laughing and bonding in a way you wouldn’t otherwise.

Variety – Both of these activities provide variety in your workout.  When you hit the gym it can often become monotonous and boring to stare at a television screen while on the treadmill or stationary bike.  When you get outdoors and take a bike ride or hike one of the trails you get to take in different scenery every time you go.  Keep each member of the family involved and give everyone a chance to pick where they want to go one of the times you are out and about.

There are benefits to just about any outdoor activity you choose.  Hiking and biking are wonderful simply because they allow you and your family to get back to the basics and take in all the wonders nature has to offer.  It’s a great way to connect with your family and take in some beautiful scenery at the same time.  The fresh air, cool breeze, and quiet calm can make you see things from a different perspective and enjoy your family time and what really matters in life.

5 Spots To Have Fun With Your Child in Europe

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If you have a child, that is between the age of 6 and 12, you know how difficult it is to choose a spot for the vacation where he will have fun, enjoy and not annoy you too much. Furthermore, it is very important during this period to connect with him or her, so that you can build a solid relationship for the future. For this reason, it is very important to find a way to interact with him and a sport that will allow you to do it in the best way possible. We want to help you out and in this article we are going to take a look at the 5 best spots to do fun activities with your children. Are you ready to discover them? Then keep reading.

Lake Garda
Lake Garda is a beautiful lake in Italy and it is a great source of fun and sport. You can choose between a huge number of camping locations and the Italian people will welcome you. The main activities that you will be able to do in Lake Garda with your children are cycling, swimming, climbing and hiking. Even if your child is not into sports a lot, he or she will still be amazed by the beauty of the environment and the opportunities to play around in freedom.

Camping at the Bodensee
This lake in Germany is a great spot for camping. A wide variety of adventures are awaiting you and your children. Are you ready to discover them all? Try hiking trough the beautiful dark forest or have a nice swimming session with them. The water is normally chilly and this will add a challenge, which kids will love.

Going on a tour in the Netherlands
The Netherlands are the best place if you want to combine an adventurous trip and an instructive journey as well. In fact, Holland is one of the best countries when it comes to nature and using what they have to create beautiful sceneries and environment. However, main cities, like Amsterdam, are going to teach your kids some history, while having a lot of fun. We cannot recommend enough the power of the combination of an education and a fun trip.

Exploring Denmark
Denmark is the land of exploration. We do not say it just to claim something. It is, by far, one of the best spot to have fun and enjoy life. The woods are amazing and there are a lot of camping that you can choose from. The best thing? They are normally full of games and parks and have some of the best family activities you will ever see. Definitely recommended.

Flying Overseas
Kids love adventures so much that it would be a lot of fun for them to take a plane and explore what the world has to offer them. Many children dream of visiting other countries.  There’s no time better than the present to show them the world through your eyes, while they show it to you through theirs.

Resources:

  • http://www.visitgarda.com/it/lago_di_garda/
    http://www.bodensee.eu/it
    http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/information/netherlands-vs-holland.htm

5 Tips for Planning an Affordable Family Vacation

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Are you ready to start planning your family’s summer vacation? In the past, this was an exciting time. However, the economy now has many Americans in a financial bind. If you are one of those Americans, planning your family vacation may no longer be as fun. In fact, it is something you may dread. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be. Although you are on a budget, there are many ways that you can plan a cheap, yet fun family vacation this summer. How?

1 – Stay Close to Home

When many of us think of summer vacations, plane rides and faraway destinations often come to mind. People like to getaway. A family from New York is likely to opt for Hawaii or Florida as their summer vacation destination. A family from Florida may opt for the Caribbean or New York City. These vacations are nice. After all, you get away and get to experience something new. Nevertheless, if you are on a budget this year, you should think closer to home. Plan a new activity each day and have a series of daylong vacations. For example, visit a state park with a natural pool and hiking trails on day one, travel to a nearby museum for day two, visit a semi-local amusement park on day three, and so forth.

2 – Let Your Children Help Choose Activities

Staying close to home is one of the best ways to save money on a summer vacation. If you plan a series of daylong vacations for the week, start close to home. Your family can sleep in their own beds each night. As you get farther away from home, book a hotel. Unfortunately, with this arrangement many parents feel like they are shortchanging their children, especially if they were used to the above mentioned faraway vacation destinations. Remember, you are operating with limited financial resources. Planning activities you can afford is more important. However, you can reduce boredom by letting your children help plan. For example, your teenage daughter can plan day two of your vacation, your ten-year-old son can help plan day three, and so forth.

3 – Give Camping a Try

If you don’t want to stay close to home, you are likely to book your airline reservations and a hotel room. Price compare to find the best deals. However, you should never pay more than $100 a night for a hotel room. This just gets too costly, especially if you are on a budget. A good and cheaper alternative is to camp. All across the country, you will find campground parks and state parks with camping accommodations. Camping rates vary greatly, but most charge no more than $25 a night!

4 – Wisely Choose Your Travel Dates

If you don’t want to stay close to home, wisely choose your travel dates. Since you are planning a summer vacation, you will find increased rates, but look at the little things. It is cheaper to vacation at the beginning or end of the summer. The middle is the most expensive. You will find higher hotel rates and fewer available rooms when there is a popular concert, sporting event, or convention in town.

5 – Don’t Wait for Last Minute Travel Deals

When it comes to finding travel deals and discounts, many mistakenly believe you should wait until the last minute. Yes, many hotels, airlines, and car rental companies offer last minute travel deals and discounts, but they are usually less common during the summer. The summer is a peak travel seasons and they rarely have problems filling planes and hotel rooms. For most, it is too risky to wait. If you are one of those individuals, plan your trip in advance, but always be on the lookout for money saving deals and discounts. Luckily, hotels, airlines, and car rental companies offer them all year round, not just at the last minute.

 

Weekend Wanderer: Out and About Together as a Family

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It’s no surprise in this hectic, fast paced life that we live for the weekends.  In fact, sometimes it seems like that is all we do.  It’s the only way we get to experience down time from our jobs and the stress of a busy family life.  It’s important to find time to connect with one another in a fun, lighthearted way and making weekend plans with your family is one surefire way to do that.  So what are some unique, fun things you can do to get away and have some family time?

Get Out and About

Visit a local museum – Hit up a local museum for a day full of family fun and learning.  Some museums are so big that you can’t possibly see everything in one day but it will definitely be a way to keep you on your feet and moving.  Museums are always adding and changing the setup so don’t worry if you’ve been there before.  The whole family will benefit by learning something different and will be able to walk away with a newfound respect for history.  It’s a great way to learn, have fun, and spend the day together.

Hit the water park – What better way to spend a family outing than with water slides, wave pools, and fun in the sun.  You may have to settle for the indoor water park depending on where you live, but these can be just as fun.  The great thing about water parks is that you are getting a huge amount of exercise and you don’t even realize it.  Swimming, and walking up and down steps numerous times to get to the water slides, are just two ways to get a full cardio workout.  Load up the car with floaties, sunscreen, and beach towels and get ready for a day full of excitement.

Visit a Local Animal Shelter – This is the perfect way to spend some quality time together and help out a local organization.  The kids will love engaging with all the animals and it will be heartwarming to see them play, feed, and take care of them.  The only problem is that you may have them wanting to adopt one or more of the residents by the time you leave.

Camping – A perfect weekend activity for anyone who wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of normal life.  Get back to the basics and take in all the beauty nature has to offer by going on a family camping trip.  Fishing, hiking, boating, and roasting marshmallows are just a few fun activities you can experience while camping.  This is a great way to get away from technology and get your family up and moving in the beautiful outdoors.

It doesn’t matter whether you live in a big city or small town.  You can make family time happen anywhere with a little creativity and imagination.  Many family outings don’t have to cost a dime, and there are endless possibilities to the things you can do.  The important thing is, is that you are together and creating memories that will last a lifetime.