Now your kids can get the day camp experience right in their living room. Camp TV, a new one-hour series from The WNET Group launches Jul 13 on PBS (check local listings). Episodes will also be available to stream at camptv.org.
Just like real camp, each episode of Camp TV kicks off with a welcome song, followed by an announcement of the day’s theme, silly hat day, camping day, rhyme day, silly sock day, backwards day and more.
Head counselor, Zachary Noah Piser (Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked) will guide campers through a variety of activities including exploring nature, math, science, the arts, movement, storytelling, writing and more.
Kids will learn about surface tension while making bouncing bubbles and discover shapes while creating a flying origami star. They will learn how to do magic tricks, turn sneakers into tap shoes, create an oboe from a straw and make guacamole. They will meet all kinds of animals, from a playful bearcat to chickens who like classical music. Every episode also includes a storytelling segment that features a different book of the day.
“During this challenging time, we hope we’re able to bring kids some of the magic, learning and fun of summer camp through Camp TV,” said Neal Shapiro, President & CEO of The WNET Group.
“Public media stations have stepped forward to fill gaps in creative ways to help children learn at home during the pandemic,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. “CPB is proud to support this public media effort, which brings the camp experience to children sheltering at home, while also helping to prevent a ‘summer slide’ in student learning.”
Confirmed Camp TV content partners include Bedtime Math, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, Chamber Music Society, Children’s Museum of the Arts, Franklin Institute, Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, Let’s Learn NYC!, Liberty Science Center, Lincoln Center, Macmillan, Memphis Zoo, National Dance Institute, New Victory Theater, New York Botanical Garden, New York Public Library, New York Road Runners, Playworks, ReadWorks, Story Pirates, and Wildlife Conservation Society. Additional content is provided by teachers who participated in The WNET Group’s NJTV Learning Live series.
Major funding for Camp TV is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by Joan Ganz Cooney.
More and more families are turning to puzzles, board games and playing cards as a way to keep busy. Most families have a deck (or two) lying around their house. Now on Bicycle Cards resource page you can find a new card game or magic trick to delight your kids.
Bicycle playing cards are suitable for all ages and group sizes. There are countless easy, fun and accessible games that everyone can enjoy using these cards.
While many of us typically enjoy our Bicycle Cards over a game of gin rummy or poker, a deck of cards actually has a limitless amount of ways to be used and enjoyed. This can include practicing card or magic tricks or even making up a whole new card game on your own. The company behind Bicycle Cards has created a FREE fun and educational resources page available online or through Bicycle’s How To Play app. These online tools include games to play, rules, and introductory videos for magic and the new art of cardistry.
Planning a birthday party for a child in the age of PAUSE is not what any of us were imagining for 2020, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate in style. NYC businesses are getting creative to help you throw an virtual birthday party for your kids. Options include online cooking parties, painting and art parties, yoga, singalongs and dance parties, and even an online bubble party or party with princess or a llama! Model some resilience and flexibility and get to planning the best kids’ birthday party at home ever. Let’s do this!
CAMP
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CAMP, the concept store/experience is hosting a free online birthday party for kids every day at 5p.m. Send the kid’s info 24 hours in advance (name, favorite things) and your child will be one of the online celebrants. You’ll get a link to share so friends and family can join the party. Several kids at once are celebrated, with singalongs, story time, magician shows and more. If you want a private party just for your special kid, email birthdays@camp.com for details.
Kidville is now hosting a giant online community birthday block party on the 15th of every month! This virtual pop-art party is led by Maker Morgan and her messy mascot Painty. Guests get an easy-to-procure supply list and then create a craft live at the party. This reimagined Bob Ross-style interactive party provides a fun way to say "Happy Birthday" to kids celebrating the big day. The party ends with a mega birthday song singalong. Click here to party!
Evan Paquette, AKA "Magic Evan", is one of the most in-demand birthday party entertainers around, and now is your chance to book him. (At a reduced rate at that!) He's offering three different packages for entertaining kids, birthday or not!
"A Touch of Magic" is a 30-minute interactive, virtual magic show, equal parts magic and silly fun. Plus: a personalized Magic Evan Magic Set that arrives in the mail pre-show! Rate is normally: $325; now $150.
"Magic Wizard School" is a 45-minute virtual program featuring a magic show, V.I.P. magic class, and up to 15 "Bag of Tricks" gift bags filled with three magic tricks, plus a book that teaches an additional 75 card tricks. (Guests receive their gift bags in the mail before the event.) After the show, children go 'behind-the-scenes' to become honorary magicians and learn the magic tricks. Extra gift bags can be purchased for $5/each. Rate is normally $425; now $250.
The "Magic Party Extravaganza" includes everything in the previous packages, plus a printable gift certificate for three online magic classes, plus supplies mailed right to your door. Cost is $325.
Astoria's Bubble Dad is not letting PAUSE burst his...well, you know. Bubble Dad birthday parties showcase his amazing bubble-making abilities and tricks: square bubbles, smoke bubbles, a bubble snowman, a bubble cake, a bubble snake, bubbles inside of bubbles—and even a rubber chicken that burps up a bubble. After the show, party guest learn how to make two of the bubble wands used in the performance, using common household items like straws, rubber bands and cardboard tubes. Each party begins with some meet and greet time and ends with time for "Happy Birthday" and well-wishing.
Get busy in the kitchen with Freshmade NYC, which is offering virtual party options for kids of all ages (and adults). The parties are hosted live by a Freshmade NYC teacher and one Freshmade NYC party host. Choose your date and time, then create a cooking project that will work for the age of the guests, with allergy and dietary restrictions considered, as well as accessibility to ingredients. Popular themes have included DIY Sushi Night, DIY Taco Night (homemade tortillas, use what you have taco bar), customizable vanilla cupcakes from scratch with homemade frosting, pizza, pasta and sweet or savory crepes. Personalized digital invite is included, as is ingredient list to send to attendees. Parties are one hour long, with no limit on number of guests; rates start at $20 per guest.
Host a cooking party via Zoom with Taste Buds Kitchen. Recommended for kids three-and-a-half to 12, the one-hour live party includes games, cooking and social time, as well as digital invites. Options include handmade pizza, soft pretzels and dipping sauce, mac & cheese cupcakes and brownie bites with whipped cream. You get a recommended shopping list prior to the party. Cost is $195.
The Dynamite Shop is hosting all kinds of online parties for kids and adults. Parties are 1 and 1/2 hours via Zoom, include invites, recipes (with flexible ingredients) and shopping list, a "group photo" at the end and some hang time to eat and chat. To make it extra special, order up some Dynamite Shop trucker hats or aprons ($15). Party projects include "Quesadilla Fiesta", "Choose Your Own Advenure Cookie Party", "Breakfast Bash" and a "Cupcake Challenge Party." Rates start at $350 for up to 10 households.
Is your kid less of a cookie-maker and more of a robot-creator? Host an online birthday party with the Brooklyn Robot Foundry! All supplies and tools are delivered to guests ahead of time, and you can add on a mini cake for guests (the birthday child's is included), a custom-created video of the party and more. Parties are an hour-long zoom, for six kids (you can add more for an additional fee), and there's a project for kids ages six to eight or nine to 11. Parties include a custom Zoom background for the birthday boy or girl and singing "Happy Birthday." Base rate is $300.
Have a princess drop by virtually for some birthday entertainment, story time, sing-a-longs, and magical princess activities. Your digital guest of honor can be Elsa, Anna, Belle, Rapunzel, Cinderella, to name a few. Choose from the Pixel Dust Party (20 minutes story time, sing-alongs, live interactions, Q&As.), $40; the Virtual Fairytale (30 minutes story time, sing-alongs, Q&A, a princess lesson, and a magic trick), $50, or a themed 30-minute puppet show plus a sing-along with Lucky Duck and professional puppeteer Mr. Chris. Show choices include Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the three Bears or Lion & the Mouse, for $75.
If your kid's preferences skew toward superheroes, unicorns and beyond, check out My Fairytale Party, which will create a personalized video message for your celebrant ($49), or host a 30- or 60-minute party ($99 and $129, respectively) with your kid's favorite character. Less conventional choices include "Unicorn Princess", "Ms. Captain", (Captain America) "Fly Girl" (Supergirl), "Happy" (Joy from Inside Out) and "Hula Princess" (Moana). You can see all the options here.
You can "paint and sip" (with milk and juice) with the kids at home! The Paint Place has already hosted several successful virtual painting parties for adults, and now the kids can get get in on the fun, too. Parties are 90 minutes-long, and hosted via Zoom call. The birthday child chooses the painting the kids create, and the party includes time for cake and singing. (Some parties also include a little extra time for socializing amongst the group.) Cost is $45 per person plus shipping cost.
Have a yoga birthday party with Yogi Beans and select from themes like "safari", "outer space", "unicorn island", and "birds." the 45-minute celebration include a custom birthday invite, singing "Happy Birthday" together, the birthday child as "helper" (i.e., everyone else is on mute) and a final 15 minutes of everyone wishing the bday kid well. Plus, you get a recording of the party. Cost is $135 for up to 35 kids.
Kids and their friends can go on a 30-minute Imagination Adventure via Zoom, with the birthday child finding a hidden birthday surprise at the end of the journey. (Coordinated with you ahead of time.) Treasure Trunk will tailor the theme and story to whatever your kid fancies, so anything goes! Rates start at $150 for up to 20 guests. Click here to book.
A bit of a pivot, but for a train-obsessed kid, this could be tons of fun. The New York Transit Museum is taking its annual fundraiser, Party on Wheels, online. This yearly event benefits the Transit Museum's educational programs.
The online party will include a virtual tour of the Transit Museum’s vintage train cars, singing and dancing to the music of Seth Ginsberg, costumed characters from the past, puppet performances and storytelling and making transit-themed art.
It's $50 per household, a fee that's tax-deductible and a relatively bargain for a lot of train-tastic fun.
By now you may have heard that you can have a Llama attend a virtual meeting, in exchange for a donation to an animal sanctuary. An idea pioneered by Sweet Farm in Half Moon Bay, California, the idea is such a hit, other sanctuaries around the country (including in Woodstock, NT and the Catskills) have been recruited to meet the demand. You can get a private, 20-minute tour of a farm For $65, you can get a tour that highlights a few animal ambassadors and areas of a farm for up to six connections, and for $100, you can host a group of as many connections as you like. Participants will receive a GoToMeeting link prior to the tour.
As a busy parent, you’re always on the prowl for easy dinner ideas that come together in a flash. As it turns out, a magic trick awaits and you probably already have it in your pantry––a jar of pasta sauce! From innovative noodles to soup, casseroles and more, we’ve rounded up a collection of unique recipes for pasta sauce that use this go-to staple in crazy-creative ways.
Everything is made with one pot and we don't have to precook the noodles? Sign us up! This tasty Lasagna Soup from The Blond Cook makes weeknight dinners a cinch. Pair this savory soup with a salad and crusty bread and enjoy a super easy meal.
This easier than easy recipe uses quick ingredients and results in a flavorful dish that your kiddos will love. Simple jarred sauce and a rotisserie chicken form the basis of this meal that can be paired with a salad and rice. Get the recipe from Poet in the Pantry.
An easy way to get your kiddos to stock up on the healthy properties of this superfood, Lasagna Stuffed Mushrooms use giant portobellos, lots of cheese and delicious sauce that will have you swapping them out for noodles every time. Get the recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod.
Great for tailgating, parties, appetizers or plain ole dinner, these Chicken Parmesan Sliders are tasty and perfectly paired with salad or veggies. Grab this easy recipe at Home.Made.Interest.
Comfort food to the rescue! Kick up your go-to pot roast with this Italian version that uses jarred sauce and can be served atop a creamy serving of polenta. Get the recipe at Olivia's Cuisine.
Restaurant-style hoagies are ready to hit the dinner tab stat with this easy recipe. Bonus points? It uses a jar of chunky marinara to get the job done. Get the recipe from Chelsea's Messy Apron.
Whipping up a batch of soup doesn't always mean slaving over the stove for hours. Healthy veggies and that handy jar of pasta sauce all come together in one pot and cook for 15-20 minutes in this simple minestrone soup recipe. Get the recipe from Plating Pixels.
Psst! This easy dinner is done in 30 minutes or less, courtesy of your beloved Instant Pot. The ingredients are simple (think: marinara sauce, jasmine rice, brats and fresh veggies) and it's super flavorful too! Get the recipe from This Worthey Life.
Think outside the pizza box! This delish dish combines the flavor of freshly baked pizza with a hearty chicken dinner. It's easy to make, and you can use your family's favorite pizza toppings as flavor inspiration! Get the recipe from Dinner at the Zoo.
Breakfast for dinner or best-ever brunch! This cheesy baked eggs dish can be made in just 15 minutes, and it's super easy to customize with whatever cheese you have on hand. Plus, the kiddos will love dunking bread in their eggs. Get the recipe from Damn Delicious.
If you love creamy, comforting soup, you'll love this. One of the star ingredients is handy-dandy jarred Alfredo sauce, and you can always throw in extra veggies or noodles to suit your fam's tastes. Get the recipe from Little Spice Jar.
If using a jar of marinara for spaghetti seems ho-hum, you need to check out this genius recipe. It turns traditional spaghetti and meatballs into an amazing baked cheesy casserole. Trust us, this ain't your average spaghetti. Learn more at Damn Delicious.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a kid who doesn’t like pizza and grilled cheese, which is why we think this hybrid is as genius as it is delicious. It’s got the flavors of your fave pie—complete with marinara sauce—but the outer-beauty of a fab grilled cheese sandwich. Get the recipe from Mom to Mom Nutrition.
Did you know that a jar of marinara sauce can turn into a comforting bowl of vegetarian soup in about 20 minutes? It’s better than any magic trick and the best way to turn a chilly weeknight into a warm and toasty good time. Even better: You probably have all the ingredients right now. Get the recipe from The Seasoned Mom.
Take note, casserole fans! This cheesy chicken parmesan is the perfect weeknight meal and can feed a whole crowd of hungry folks. It’s also a snap to make—and it all starts with your favorite pasta sauce. Get the recipe from The Weary Chef.
What do you get when two kid food faves join forces? Spaghetti and hot dogs, of course! Just think of this one-pot meal as a neat upgrade for that box of noodles in your pantry. Don’t forget to add some veggies for an extra healthy kick! Get the recipe from Kitchen Simmer.
Is it pizza? Is it pasta? It’s both—and totally delicious. The secret to this innovative pasta is the flavors of your favorite pizza (Think customizable ingredients, sneaky veggies, and pepperoni!). And it’s ready in the amount of time it takes your noodles to cook! Get the recipe from Mom to Mom Nutrition.
Looking for hearty comfort food that the whole fam will love? Meatloaf to the rescue! This recipe gets points for using herbs and spices you probably already have in your pantry. Grab a jar of marinara, and you’re good to go! Get the recipe from Saporito Kitchen.
These stuffed shells are a baked masterpiece if we do say so ourselves. They’re a cinch to make and super cheesy, too. Plus, they reheat like a dream, so you’ll have a good weeknight meal whenever you want! Get the recipe from Taste of Home.
Give these rolls a whirl and thrill your family with their new favorite meal! This idea has the yumminess of stuffed zucchini, minus the hassle. It’s veggie-filled, cheesy, and your little chefs can even get involved. For the recipe, roll on over to Apron Strings.
Psst! This recipe is delicious, creamy, and vegan! What’s the secret? Cashews! It’s the perfect go-to meal when you’re craving a healthier version of your favorite comfort food. Try it for yourself, and go nuts for this quick-but-tasty meal. Get the recipe from Pinch of Yum.
What do we love most about this pasta dish? It could be the healthy veggies, bold flavors, or sweet Italian sausage. It could be that you can customize the ingredients to suit your family’s tastes. Then again, it could be the fact that it's an easy upgrade for that jar of marinara in your cupboard. Get the recipe from Boulder Locavore.
Three cheers for chili! This recipe has a smart shortcut: pasta sauce! Combine it with ground beef, adjust the spiciness to suit your family, let it cook in your slow cooker, and voila! You’ve got a hearty meal that will amp up any dinnertime. Get the recipe from A Taste of Madness.
Is there anything better than a one-pot meal that’s truly yummy? That’s the beauty behind this 5-ingredient pasta which spotlights chicken sausage, veggies, and cheese. The pasta will even absorb the flavor from your favorite sauce—score! Get the recipe from Kristine’s Kitchen Blog.
If make-ahead meals make your heart go pitter-patter, you’re in luck. These kid-sized English muffin pizzas are the definition of convenience—sub in pasta sauce instead of pizza sauce, and you'll have a lunchbox hit or easy dinner! Get the recipe from Simple as That.
Ready for the best sloppy joes shortcut ever? Leftover spaghetti and meat sauce makes the perfect base for this classic sandwich. It's never been easier to make a quick and delicious meal (And what kid doesn’t love a dish with the word “sloppy” right in the title?). Get the recipe from Tip Garden.
File this under “Beloved Crock Pot Recipes,” STAT! There are only three ingredients in this chicken parm recipe, but the payoff is off the charts. The cleanup is easy, and you’ll love the set-it-and-forget-it part of the process! Get the recipe here.
Any parent who has spent long nights and days comforting a colicky baby can relate to the exhausting experience. Even celeb parents aren’t immune from the clutches of colic, including Hilary Duff’s daughter it seems.
Duff and her boyfriend Matthew Koma welcomed their daughter Banks Violet on Oct. 25, 2018 and it seems the newborn phase hasn’t been easy for the couple. Duff took to Instagram looking for support and tips on dealing with colic in her infant daughter.
Duff posted a pic of herself holding two-month-old Banks with the caption, “Calling all parents of colic babies…..this ends right?” In a plea that all parents can relate to Duff continues:
“Can you ever set them down with out them screaming OR waking up? We have read everything the internet has to offer… nothing besides nursing basically every hour or less helps! We have done all the obvious things ..please leave magic tricks in comments. Oh and happy new year lol.”
The post has already received thousands of comments from followers offering support and advice. Yes, colic does eventually end, but when you’re in the thick of it can feel like forever. As Duff’s ‘Gram reveals, sometimes just knowing that there’s someone else out there going through the same thing can be the best remedy in the moment, too.
Ready for the vegan recipe roundup of your dreams? From mac and cheese to vegan desserts, we’ve gathered the very best ideas to satisfy your comfort food cravings and please every palate. Find your family’s new favorite dish below—they’re very vegan and totally delicious!
This recipe is billed as “vegan lasagna nirvana,” so you know it ain’t your average pasta dish. A fab trio of protein-packed marinara, vegan spinach ricotta, and savory cashew cream come together to make a lasagna that the whole family will love. Kids can even help with the layering! Get the recipe from Pass the Plants.
Ready for a magic trick? Turn a few humble carrots into a hot dog-inspired meal! This recipe is as brilliant as it is simple: round up carrots, flavor them to taste smoky and salty, and serve them in a hot dog bun. Voila! For the full how-to, click over to Pass the Plants.
3. Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream
Psst! These vegan beauties rival regular cupcakes and are sure to be the star of any dessert lineup. They’re dense and fudgy, and the frosting is lick-the-bowl good. Get the recipe from A Taste of Madness.
Amp up your breakfast with hearty, healthy, vegan pancakes that taste just like your favorite banana nut muffins! These beauties only take 30 minutes to make (start to finish!), and the only added sugar is a dash of raw sugar in the streusel. Get the recipe over at The Minimalist Baker.
With black beans, onions, and a whole host of herbs, you can’t get much healthier than these black bean burgers. Throw them on the grill at a barbecue and give your usual veggie burger a twist! Get the recipe here.
When a mac and cheese craving hits, look no further than this creamy, comfort-food recipe. It’s made with simple ingredients, and the cheesy sauce will be a winner with vegans and non-vegans alike. Snag the recipe over at Running with Spoons.
7. Garlicky Peanut Soba Noodles with Roasted Broccoli
There’s nothing boring about this kid-approved meal! It’s healthy, features fun flavors, and totally customizable. (The kids aren't broccoli fans? Sub in green beans or another favorite veggie!) Get the recipe from My Kitchen Love.
Hear us out. This rich and fudgy dessert is made even better by some sneaky avocado. It’s also a no-bake masterpiece so you can whip it up in no time for any party, potluck, or mid-week treat. For the recipe, head to A Taste of Madness.
Prepare to have your mind (and all your buffalo wing expectations) blown. These cauliflower buffalo wings are coated in a yummy sweet hot garlic sauce and work great as a game day snack—or a fun weeknight dinner! Learn more at Jessica in the Kitchen.
Are you as mesmerized by these brownies as we are? These swirly sweets are not only pretty to look at—they taste amazing, too. Rich, fudgy, and filled with decadent caramel, you’d never guess they’re gluten-free and sweetened only with dates! Make a batch with the help of Beaming Banana.
It takes less than an hour to make these delicious, flaky, veggie-packed vegan pot pies, but the payoff is off-the-charts yummy. They’re rich, comforting, and proof that homemade cooking doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Get the recipe from The Minimalist Baker.
Thanksgiving is undoubtedly my VERY favorite holiday. And interestingly, it isn’t at all because of the food (although I DO love stuffing.) For me, it is because it offers everything I crave every other day of the year—the chance to stop time and reconnect with those I love.
On this one day we are actually given permission to turn off the world around us. We are encouraged to tune out the 24/7 news cycle and the coverage of the latest tragedies in our world and rediscover the goodness that exists right in our own homes. We can quiet the noise in our heads, take a deep breath, enjoy the aroma of familiar comfort foods, and truly relax. We are finally able to decompress and settle in one cozy spot for more than a moment with those who mean the most to us and laugh, share stories, and feel kinship and warmth in a setting without pressure.
In today’s world, Thanksgiving offers an even bigger gift and more meaning than ever before—because it brings us back to an idyllic time when life was much less complicated.
I don’t know about you, but I feel strongly that screens hamper our ability to develop profound connections and create lasting memories. And I am so focused on making this Thanksgiving one that is conducive to building meaningful connections that I’m declaring it screen-free. It will not be easy—don’t forget that I have six children ranging in age from 9 to 24 who are sadly tethered to their screens in a not-so-healthy way. But for this one day I am finally putting down my foot and requiring that everyone within and entering my home turns off their screen and puts way their smartphones and tablets.
I’d like everyone to actually look each other in the eye and focus on what they are saying rather than on a screen. My goal is to make every person in our home experience the joy of pure connection without any artificial stimulant in the way. Not so novel for those of us who grew up decades ago, but clearly a challenge today!
I believe it is a worthy challenge for all of us: Let’s promise to connect and play this holiday. I’m hoping the feeling of warmth and true, unfettered connection will be so powerful to my family members that they will CHOOSE to incorporate more moments like this into their lives even after Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas for turning off screens, turning on imaginations, and making connections.
During the Car Ride
The day before Thanksgiving is one the busiest travel days of the year. Try these activities to help pass the time:
Have a Sing-Along: Take turns teaching each other songs you know. Older kids may enjoy a challenge so do a round where everyone has to suggest a song featuring a mode of transportation or a song that features a food.
Try Tongue Twisters: Print out a list of tongue twisters and have everyone try saying them. It is hysterical and one of my family’s favorite travel activities!
Read Aloud: Assuming the grown-up in the passenger seat doesn’t get motion sickness while reading, this could be a great time to read aloud a classic for the whole family such as Swiss Family Robinson, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Charlotte’s Web, The Tale of Desperaux, Mandy, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, or any book by Roald Dahl.
Play the License Plate Game: One of my favorite childhood car ride games was the license plate game (which has now been turned into a real life Melissa & Doug game!) Each player picks a number of license plates they believe they will find during their travel time. They then call out different state plates as they see them. A state can only be called once, and once it is called it is out of play and credit is given to the first player who saw it. Whoever gets closest to their chosen number of states wins!
Guess Arrival Time: Our family members also enjoy guessing the exact time we will arrive at our destination. Closest guess is the winner!
Before Dinner
Decorate a Sign for a Device-Free Basket: Enlist kids to help you decorate a basket where tablets and phones can be placed during the Thanksgiving festivities.
Cook Up Some Fun: Invite children to help with the cooking. Kids enjoying nothing more than finding ingredients, measuring them out, and mixing them up! Stimulate their senses by encouraging them to taste, smell, and touch different ingredients. Ask them to describe their observations.
Get Crafty: Set out art supplies and encourage kids to make place mats or place cards. Is there a kids’ table? Charge kids with making a unique centerpiece for that table. Send them outside to seek out pretty pebbles, twigs, leaves, or pine cones that can be wiped off and brought inside for the arrangement.
After Dessert Look Through Photo Albums: Kids love looking at pictures. Instead of scrolling through digital photos, pull out your old photo albums and boxes. This is especially fun at the grandparents’ house when kids can guess who is who and enjoy looking at styles and hairdos from the olden days. Plus, they can learn about their relatives and what they did for fun before smart phones!
Put on a Talent Show: Everyone has a talent—whether it is singing a song, doing a cartwheel, telling jokes, doing an impression, performing magic tricks, or simply wiggling your ears. Challenge the whole family to think of one talent they can show off to the others. Give them enough time to think of their talent and practice it if necessary. Encourage group acts as well. Perhaps the young cousins will want to choreograph a quick dance. Set a showtime, designate a “stage,” and enjoy the laughs!
Play a Family Game or Work on a Puzzle Together: Family games get the whole family together in such a fun and engaging way to build connection and laughter. We love games like PicWits, Apples to Apples, Scattergories, and Heads Up that are fun no matter what the age. Another fun activity that the whole family can enjoy and come back to again and again over several days is a high-piece-count jigsaw puzzle. Younger kids can participate by sorting out straight-edge pieces, sorting by primary color on the piece, or searching for corner pieces.
Interview a Grown-Up: Encourage kids to get to know their grandparent (or another grown-up family member) by interviewing them. Tell kids to pretend like they are the host of a talk show and have to get the interview subject to open up about their life. Some questions to ask:
Who was your best friend when you were my age? What did you play?
Describe the house and town where you grew up?
What was your favorite toy?
What was your favorite game?
What are some funny things my mom or dad did when they were a kid?
Get Outside: We make it a tradition to go to the Thanksgiving Day football game at our high school which is a tremendous rivalry and festive fun. But if not that, be sure to find time to get outside as a family. Start a Thanksgiving tradition such as an annual flag football game, 2-on-2 soccer or basketball tournament, a relay race, or a nature hike! There is no better way to connect than through nature!
Share Thanks, a Compliment, or Good News: Go around the dinner table, each saying what you’re thankful for, what you admire about the person next to you, and a story about something interesting that happened to you this past year.
What ideas do you have to successfully unplug your own family? Share in the comments and good luck unplugging this week. Here’s hoping for a warm, uplifting and wonder-filled holiday for all!
School’s back in session and the witching hour—those afternoon moments when crankiness is at its peak—has cast a spell over your little ones. Time to pull out your arsenal of activities to keep kiddos busy and happy before dinner’s served. Need a few new ideas? We’ve got you covered. Read on to discover our Red Tricycle checklist of fun, filled with 30 easy, awesome ways to help little minds unwind. Print it out, pin it up, and revisit for activity inspiration.
Psst—click on the blue text in the pdf to get the tutorial! If you want to go green and save paper, opt to check off each box digitally. Remember to save the file to save your progress. Click here to download the pdf (right click and “save as” to save onto your computer).
