Here are some of the things we’ve been keeping busy with inside:

Building forts in the living room with pillows and blankets and couches

Sock Puppets

Sculpey and Play Doh (Isn’t that a fun peapod that my friend made out of Sculpey? She came over and got into the clay with the kids!)

Lots of reading!

Playing with Little People and the many toys that have been hidden in the basement for months!

Cooking together

Movie time together with popcorn and a DVD

Trips to the children’s museum

What are your favorite “let’s stay indoors and keep cool” activities?

Post from: Play Library

Today is my dad’s birthday. Every year, on the anniversaries of his birth and death, I think about what my kids should know about him. What are the things that defined and characterized him?

One of the things that he loved to do was go bowling. He and mom actually met through bowling, though I’ll spare you that story here. (Ha! Spare? That pun wasn’t even intentional, which shows you how truly corny I am!) Anyway, as kids, my brother and I played in bowling leagues. I think soccer was not yet that popular then.

Do they still have bowling leagues for kids on Saturdays mornings? I should check that out. Though they probably have those fancy bumpers and such now. Back in our day, we didn’t have bumpers in our gutters. We had to walk 3 miles up hill in the snow just to get to the ball return. Oh wait…sorry.

Anyway, my oldest was the only of my three children who was able to bowl with her Papa. Though he was no longer able to throw a strike like he could in his heyday, we was able to roll the wheelchair up to the ball ramp that the alley had there for the handicap lane. Dad would roll his ball down the ramp, then Samantha would use her little toddler hands to roll her ball down it as well.

I wish the boys would have had that opportunity, but it wasn’t to be. Still, it’ll be fun, now that they’re old enough to remember the stories about their Papa, to take them bowling, share with them all the tips he ingrained into my brain (did I mention he was a coach, as well?), and encourage them with a big smile and a high five like he did.

They may not get to share playtime with their grandpa, but I’ll do my part to pass on the importance of play with them that he taught to me.

What playtime activities do your kids experience with their grandparents or elders?

Photo Credit: magnetbox

Post from: Play Library

Are you your child’s favorite toy? I was thinking today about how every moment of my day seems to be spent giving piggy back rides, dragging my leg around with a 40 pound weight attached, being a flipping machine for the littler kids, or turning my leg into a horsey ride. And, oh my goodness, don’t let me think that I’m allowed to sit down without my lap being immediately occupied by three kids eager to hear a story. Because, surely, I wouldn’t be sitting down to take a moment to maintain my own sanity.

I’ve noticed this because, for the last four days, my body has instead been the sole acceptable location for my feverish toddler. Four days. No one else and nothing else will do. I’m looking forward to the return of Mommy the Junglegym. I’m sure my other kids are, too.

So, airplane rides? Twirling until you’re dizzy? What are the things you do with your kids that make you more fun than the park?

photo credit: Cosmic Kitty

Post from: Play Library

I have to ask because I honestly don’t know, is Mr. Rogers an international icon, or mostly known as a US personality? I remember watching him and enjoying him as a kid on Mister Roger’s Neighborhood (won’t you be my neighbor?), and was thrilled when my daughter was younger and our local PBS station was still airing his show. It was a sad day when it was no longer showing for us.

Anyway, a quote from his book got me thinking about one aspect of playing with our kids. The quote is as follows:

Where would any of us be without teachers–without people who have passion for their art or their science or their craft and love it right in front of us? What would any of us do without teachers passing on to us what they know is essential about life?

One thing that I have to often remind myself, and so I’ll remind you here, too, is that we are our children’s most influential teachers. They will learn from so many people so many things in life, but much of what they learn will be in their own homes. No pressure, right?

My question is this, What do our children learn from us about how to live our lives? What do they know about their parents and their passions? I know that, as caregivers and providers, there are so many practical details to attend to in a day, but do we communicate the importance of play and enjoyment in activities as a lifelong need?

Do your kids know that you have a love of gardening, a passion for science, a need to craft? Do they know that you get joy from baking and love to kick around a ball? Would they describe you as you’ve once thought of yourself, an artist, a writer, or a gamer?

I do think that it’s so important to let our kids develop their own likes and dislikes for playtime, but I think it’s also important to have them join us in the activities that we enjoy. They will be able to see mom and dad getting excited about a hobby and finding joy in just participating in an event. That’s an aspect of myself that I would love for my kids to remember! Sounds like it’s time to sit down with my kids and enjoy a good book, or find something to cook with them!

How about you? How do you share your loves and passions with your kids in a way that’s fun?

Quote from Life’s Journeys According to Mr. Rogers, page 94

Post from: Play Library

Am I the only one who tries at all cost to cut down on the messy during playtime (even though the rest of the house is still a mess, anyway!)? I really am working on that. They’re only little once, and I don’t want to miss out on fun moments just for the sake of convenience. Maybe I’ll just try to jump in a bit more. It’s fun to get messy, right?

Post from: Play Library