Parenting Survival Tips

Play Games to Help Your Kids Progress in Math

Hi,

A friend called me the other day asking for advice on how to help her kids with their math development this summer (in particular with the counting of money).  I think every parent knows it is a dead end trying to have your child sit at a table and do math worksheets for an hour if they do not like the subject, so I have found that playing games is a super way to enhance their math skills while having fun!

Two of our favorite games that involve math are Monopoly and Store. I thought it would be difficult for a 5 or 6 year old to play the real Monopoly, but I was pleasantly surprised that he was able to keep up and in fact now he requests it as his favorite game on game night! Let the kids take turns as the banker and you will be impressed with how fast their counting skills and change giving skills improve. Since this game can take days to play we have found it easier to leave a card table out with a running game of Monopoly on it and we dedicate 1 hour maximum a day to playing the game. This game also helps with their reading skills as they check out the  property and chance card details. It also helps with their decision-making, negotiating skills, and entrepreneurial spirit! After playing the game on and off for the past year, I am impressed with my kids' ability to understand the value of each property and to memorize the mortgage rates for each property! Look out Trump and I hope that some day I will be able to work in one of my son's Park Place hotels! :-)

The second math game we enjoy is to set up a store and let the kids take turns running the store and shopping. We have set up a grocery store and use old food boxes, containers etc. or we set up a toy store. The toy store is fun because with two or more children I am sure you have encountered the phenomenon that they always want what the other child has so this is a great solution. Have one child select 5-10 items from their room/toy box that they are willing to part with and then let them set the price for each item based on the parameters you provide for them. Encourage them to set the price using dollars and cents so that the kids get the maximum value out of counting change.  Let the store owner set up the store, display the items and make signs for their door and create pricing stickers for each item. Ask them to stay in character the entire time the customers are in the store. If you do not have a toy cash register then improvise with a shoe box. We typically give the customer(s) $1,000 to spend using a variety of Monopoly money along with plastic coins that you can buy in a bag from the Dollar Store or Wal-Mart. Let the kids decide if they want the customers to really be able to keep the toys they buy (remind them they will also get to keep the toys they buy when they are the customer) or they can shop and then give back the items at the end of the game. My kids love playing this game and by actually swapping toys they stay interested and engaged the entire time and they want to play it over and over again. You could even do this as an afternoon game for your kids and invite their friends over to participate as well and you will be surprised at how excited the kids will be to find some great buys without actually going to ToysRUs!

I would love to hear your comments if you have other games that you play with your kids to help them with their math skills!

Enjoy!

Julie
aka: Mom

      

Summer Camp Day #2 Schedule (Drama Day)

Hi Parents -

Great suggestion Hans and I guess for many parents it depends on how many kids you have of your own and how many you invite over, but if I am running the camp in my home - you bet - all friends' kids are welcome and I have done that many times and Hans if you need me to fly to NZ to run the camp for your kids I would be more than happy to do that as well!  :-)

I received so many positive comments on how my summer camps schedules are helping other families, so I will continue to share the schedules in the hopes that all parents can either follow these schedules day by day or pull a few activities from each schedule that can add a little fun, variety and ease into their home.

Day Camp # 2 Schedule (Drama Theme Camp)

8:00am - 9:00am: Select play

• Parents select 3-5 short play scripts from the library and allow the children to read each script and together they can select 1 play that they want to create and perform.  If the kids are too young to read then the parents read to them or if the kids are older you can let them create their own scripts for each character in the play.

9:00am - 10:15am: Make Costumes

• Take the first 15 minutes of this segment as a group to collectively decide what costume each character should wear and then take the next hour working with each child to create the costume they need. You can either let them go through your wardrobe and pull scarves, jackets, etc. as needed or you can help the kids make their costumes using masks which can be made out of paper bags or paper plates with an elastic strip or glued to a stick.

10:15am - 10:30am: Snack

• Use the snack time to let the kids talk about what the scenery should look like and the props/set they will need for their play.

10:30am-12:00: Create Scenery

• Let the kids decide together what scenery and props are needed for the set. If they cannot decide then the parent should assign 1 project tied to the set to each child to own. The adult should work with the kids to create the scenery/props needed. Ex: If the play takes place at sea find a blue rug in the house or lay down blue construction paper or hodl the play outside using a kiddie pool, etc.  If it is set in the forest, you can either draw trees or cut out trees from construction paper and perhaps have a child play the role of the tree, etc.  

12:00noon - 1:00pm: Lunch

• Use the lunch hour to let the kids eat and then practice their lines by themselves.

1:00pm - 2:00pm: Outdoor Play Time

• Let the kids play any activity like frisbee or jump rope outside to get some fresh air or set up an organized game with all of the kids such as kickball or baseball.

2:00pm - 3:00pm: Rehearsal

• Let the kids do a full rehearsal for about 1 hour in costume and with props and use the adult as the director to keep it moving along and to help with lines when needed.

3:00pm - 3:45pm: Set-up

• If you have several kids break them into teams to create the invitations to the event and to then pass them out.  Have the other team set up the seats for the audience and set up a show curtain (if you have an old shower curtain or window shade it works great).

3:45pm - 4:00pm: Snack

• During snack encourage the kids to practice their lines by themselves.

4:00pm - 4:30pm: Full Dress Rehearsal

• During this rehearsal you should not break character and have the adult welcome the crowd and introduce the characters. Don't forget to let the kids all come out for a bow after the rehearsal is over and even let them practice signing autographs.

4:30pm - 5:00pm:  It's Show Time!

• Have the adult or an older child welcome everyone and introduce the characters and the show. After the show let the kids take a bow and then sign autographs and pose for photos.

Until the next performance...I look forward to your feedback!

Julie
aka: Mom

Day Camp #1 Schedule

Hi Parents & Friends -

If you are home with your kids during the summer or if you have a friend/babysitter watching them while you work, you may want to consider setting up a "Day Camp" at home to make it more peaceful and fun for all to survive those long summer days!  Here is a sample of the Day Camp structure that I use at home and please check back as I will be posting more camp ideas soon or please write in if you have additional camp ideas that have been working in your home!

Thanks,

Julie (aka: Mom)

Day Camp #1 Schedule

8:00am – 8:30am: Memory Game

• I put 30 items in a covered box and gave each boy a sheet of paper and a pencil and they have 1 minute to look at the items in the box and then you cover the box and they write down as many items as they remember seeing in the box (Sample of Items in the Box: rubber band, paperclip, pen, ring, whistle, toy car, quarter,…)

8:30am - 9:30am: Music Lessons

• This could be singing songs, playing a keyboard, playing a harmonica, …

9:30am - 9:45am: Snack

9:45am – 11:00am: Nature Hike

• Each child gets a paper bag with their name on it and they have to find 10 items outside that begin with s, l, g (or letters of your choice)

11am – 12:00noon: Arts & Crafts

• Make foam door hangers(you can buy a package of 12 at WalMart for a few dollars) or ask them to draw and color a picture of their favorite summertime activity, or ask them to paint a picture of a zoo…

12:00noon – 12:45pm: Lunch

12:45pm – 1:45pm:   Scavenger Hunt

• Create a scavenger hunt and write out all of the clues (like 1 st clue on paper – stand at the front door and take 3 giants forward turn right and look under something soft for your next clue and then under the pillow there is another piece of paper that says “go upstairs and look under something you sleep on for your next clue”…) – After you do the first one let the kids take turns writing their own clues for you or for each other to find the next clue and ultimately the prize at the end which could be a sticker or a snack or a quarter…)

1:45pm – 3:15pm: Working Session

• Have a table full of workbooks and allow the kids to pick which book they want to work in (either math or spelling or science…) – you can buy these workbooks at the Dollar Store or WalMart and a great refresher during the summertime

3:15pm – 3:30pm: Snack

3:30pm - 4:30pm: Sports Hour

• Set up bowling or baseball or basketball or throw the ball into the bucket or soccer or create an obstacle course for the kids to be active outside

4:30pm - 5:00pm: Quiet Time

• Reading or working on puzzles individually

Enjoy the Wait!

Ok Parents -

Raise your hand if you enjoy waiting in line or waiting at the Drs. office?

I am guessing that most hands are down but I am also guessing that most of us have experienced a wait of more than 15 minutes within the past week. Today, we live in a hyper busy world that seems to be moving faster and faster and if we can't "microwave it" the value declines! If we have to wait in line at the Post Office or wait in the Drs. office for more than 10 minutes our blood pressure starts to rise and the complaint letters are underway. Now add a few kids along side of us during this wait and the temperature can quickly rise to boiling.

I recently returned from a trip to Disneyland with my 2 young boys and oh yes - I am sure you will agree that Disneyland is the line-waiting capital of the world!  Even with a Fast Pass you can expect your wait time to exceed 15 minutes, so I hope that you will print this Post out TODAY and tuck it into your bag TODAY so that anytime - anywhere you encounter a line with your children you are prepared to keep this experience enjoyable instead of stressful (the best part is this list is all you will need and you don't have to worry about having special props or other materials to enjoy your wait). Instead you can use this time to bond with your children while setting an example about the lifelong gift of patience.

Tips to Enjoy the Wait! - Part 1 (check back soon for more fun while you wait tips!)

1) I SPY - 1 person choses a item they can visually see and then provide 1 clue and allow the other peope to guess what item you chose.

2) Sing-a-Long - take turns selecting favorite songs to sing together or take turns teaching each other new songs.

3) Ink Pink - Oh - one of my absolute favorite games that I play with a group of kids that may be getting wrestless as we wait for our turn to march in the parade or waiting for our turn to go on stage etc. You select 2 words that rhyme and then provide 1 clue for each word to the kids to see if they can guess the 2 rhyming words. Ex: The first word is a color and the second word is something you wear. Answer: Blue Shoe

4) Twenty Questions - I am sure everyone has played this game but you think of 1 object and then the kids get a total of twenty questions that must be "yes" or "no" questions to guess the correct object you are thinking of.

5) Alphabet Soup - Take turns drawing a letter or for older kids spelling out an entire word on a person's back and see if they can guess the letter or word within 3 guesses. This was a lifesaver as we waited for 45 minutes in The Aladin Show!

6) The Magnificent Story Teller - One person starts a story by making up the location, the characters, and plot and then turns it over to another person to add to it until the last person who gets to make up the ending. If the kids are younger, the adult can ask them questions to help bring the story along.

7) Blink - Whoever looks away or talks first gets 2nd place (notice there are never winners and losers when working with children)

8) Follow-the-Leader - If there is enough room (great for the Dr. office wait if they are feeling up to it or while waiting with a group for the team photos), take turns making up an exercise that the others have to follow and you repeat 10 times, such as arm circles, hop on 1 foot, neck rolls, etc.

9) Nursery Rhyme or Super Hero Game - Describe a character with 3 clues and let the others guess who you are or what Nursery Rhyme you belong to. Ex: 1) I'm oval 2) I like to sit on walls 3) I have a great fall. Who am I?

10) The Letter Game - Pick a letter and ask the other people to find 10 items that you can all see that begin with that letter. Ex: Letter B, the kids start to guess "boy", "baby", "bridge"...but they have to be items that you all can see.

I hope you find a few of these tips useful and be sure to check back for more tips that are coming soon to help you and your family enjoy the wait!

Julie
a.k.a. Mom

Why Now?

Hello Parents -

It's that time of year again...school is out...it's the first week of summer...kids are fancy free and parents are pulling their hair out! I am blessed with 2 amazingly energetic boys and I work full-time so I have found that by taking a little up front planning time at the beginning of each week can result in a calm, cohesive, cooperative and fun-filled summer for both the kids and the parents. 

I am blessed to have a mom who is a former elementary teacher who has passed on her passion for children and her creative teaching style to me.  I am thrilled to create this blog as a forum for me to share the parenting survival tips that have worked for me in the hopes of making it a little easier and more fun for all families!

My parents are visiting us for a few weeks this summer so I created "Camp Fremont" and each day I provide a camp itinerary of new and fun activities to help keep the kids occupied, happy and learning while making it easier for my parents to enjoy the day!

The first day after school was out this summer I had several friends who are home with their children call me and ask what I was doing with the kids this summer and telling me their stories about how they were already counting the days until the next school year begins!

So, I began to share my "Camp Fremont" stories with them and they immediately asked if I could email them the camp itineraries and soon they started emailing and calling asking for more itineraries to last the entire summer and asking for my advice on math games or how to handle specific behavioral issues and that is when I knew I needed to get this blog going and fast!

If you find any ideas or tips here on my blog that make your family life a little more enjoyable then please write me a note or share your own parenting techniques that could help others. By working together and sharing our experiences we can put more joy and peace in our lives while building stronger, happier and healthier families!

Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you!

Julie
(a.k.a. Mom)