New Year Printables

Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1RaQXqO

New week new printable for kids!

The longest night of the year is upon us and we share these Happy New Year printables to entertain your kids while they wait for the countdown.

New Year Printables for Kids

This pack has 3 pages. There is a super fun coloring page to color with lots of fireworks, party hats and other fun things. We’ve got something for the word search lovers too and this one should keep them busy for a while. They’ll also get to work on their numbers with a fun I Spy page – perfect to warm them up for the countdown.

This fun printable pack is free!

Get Access NowYes, you read that right it’s free as a part of our library that is stocked with all kinds of fun printables (and many more fun ones will be added in the future!).

Free Printable Library for Kids Printables

Right now it is a $10.99 value, but we are offering it FREE! Whoo hoo! All you have to do is CLICK THE YELLOW BUTTON: Get Access Now
If you are already a member and get our Kids Activities Blog emails, the link to the member printable library is on the bottom of EVERY email.

If you are a member, when you click on the button above, it won’t load past 50%.

The post New Year Printables appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

When Your Child Wants To Be A Vegetarian

Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1IFSO5X

When your child wants to be a vegetarian, you can do one of two things:  talk him out of it or support him in it and help him on his vegetarian journey.   If you are going to support your child, these tips can be very helpful to get you started.

Try the tips when your child wants to be a vegetarian:

• Find out Why.  Make sure that she has a good reason.
• Do not force your child to eat meat.  Your child would resent you for it.  Instead, explain what it means and look into it with her.
• Help her look into a vegetarian diet, so you can learn together.  Talk to a nutritionist and look online.
• Think about becoming a vegetarian with your child, just to try to understand and help her even more.
• Research which types of foods and nutrients you will need to eat to replace meat.
• Try to have a few meatless meals for the rest of your family every week, to save you from cooking so many meals.
• Incorporate more pastas with sauces into his diet.  You can add many vegetables to this in a pureed form.  You can add meat to half of the sauce for the rest of the family.
• Stir-fry vegetables are the perfect meal because it is all cooked in one pan.
• Explore different proteins, like tofu and veggie burgers.
• Explain to your child that he might have to eat a foods like Kale, that are a little bitter, in order to get the proper nutrients.
• Explain about how having meat is different from having milk or cheese.  (vegetarian vs. vegan)
• Remember that this may just be a phase and try to be supportive through every part of it.
• Cereal or fruit for every meal is not going to be sufficient.  Be sure that your child knows this before they embark on this journey.
• Find other means of protein: dairy products, eggs, grains, legumes, pulses, tofu and other soy foods will all work.
• Have your child help plan the meals.  Search on Pinterest and in Vegetarian cookbooks for recipes like vegetarian sliders and many more.  Make a weekly meal plan.
• Talk to other vegetarians and try to get on a meal-swap plan for a few weeks.  You both cook meals, making double, and then you swap with one another once a week.   (Freeze the meal for your friend, if possible.)
• “Vegetarian diets for children can be nutritionally complete as long as they include iron and zinc, consumed from wholegrain bread and cereals, eggs and legumes such as kidney beans.” ~Susie Burrell
• Keep a look out for any real red flags that would worry you.  They would suggest that your child is not tolerating their vegetarian diet well and you would need to make changes.   Remember that too many cereals, bagels, slices of bread or cakes are not going to make a nutritious diet.  Remind your child of that often, as well.

If your child wants to become a vegetarian, it can be hard and it can be a long journey, but if you are willing to support your child, it can help you both grow in this new area.   You can use the meal-planning time as one on one time and really bond because of this.    Check out what other parents are saying on issues like this and many others on our QuirkyMomma Facebook page. 

The post When Your Child Wants To Be A Vegetarian appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

56 New Years Resolutions Worth Keeping

Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1zWQVJG

Every year we set New Years Resolutions, but this year I wanted to set some New Years Resolutions worth keeping.  At your New Years Party this year, make a resolution and stick to it!  You can do it!

This is the time of year to make goals, resolutions, lifestyle changes.  Everything starts over, so set yourself up on the right path and make this year your BEST year… because you deserve it!
Lets dive right in… 

The Home:

1. Try any of the house hacks to make life easier!

2. Make breakfast every day (or at least a few days a week).  These recipes will help you get started!

3. Declutter the house – clutter can cause serious stress!

4. Have everyone in the house help out with chores

5. Organize the home in 40 days – take it one room at a time!

6. Organize your home office!  You can’t work well in a chaotic area (well, maybe you can, but its easier to work in an organized area)

7. Clean your house with these hacks  and this cleaning list)

8. Make your bedroom the coziest place in the house (via Totally the Bomb)

9. Clean out your car every week and use these hacks to keep it organized

 

You:

10. Learn a new skill (crochet, sewing or even sugar string crafts, perhaps?)

11. Start meditating.  I read that one minute of meditation a day can make a huge change to our stress levels!  Try it.

12. Start a blog (and earn money while you are at it!)

13. Read a good book (here are some recommendations to get you started)

14. Write a good book – you can seriously do this!

15. Work out with your kids.  You can even workout while you are sitting at work!

16. Cook dinner 6 nights a week- these crock-pot meals will make that pretty easy.  Just throw it in before you leave and it is ready  when you get home… a home-cooked meal that your family will love!

17. Eat clean and teach your family to eat clean (even if you are just starting)

18. Resist sugar cravings even when they hit you the hardest!

19. Fix yourself up every day- no more PJ’s all day long.   When you look better, you feel better! (well- sometimes we all feel better in our PJ’s.  haha!)

20. Stop biting your nails… this is my bad habit!  (keep them looking great with nail art!)

21. Keep a journal for your family to look back on

22. Volunteer – Give your time and if you have young kids, find alternatives…  Send cards to the homebound or take a meal to someone going through a hard time.

23. These 25 Health Hacks for Mom are a great place to start this year!

Parenting:

24. Give 3 ups for every put-down.  (Every time that you say something negative to your kids, give them three positives)

25. Be more patient – don’t discipline when you are angry.  Take a minute to breath and then talk to your kids.

26. Teach your kids about money.

27. Combat sibling rivalry

28. Teach your kids to be responsible

29. Put your kids to bed earlier and help them sleep through the night… and teach them to sleep later (they need the rest!)

30. Potty Train your child

31. Listen to your child when they talk- really pay attention!  Stop what you are doing, look them in the eye and give them your attention.

32. Say yes when your child asks… “Mommy, will you lay with me?”

33. Say YES more often, like Beauty Through Imperfection.

34. Read more with your kids  and follow up by asking them questions about what they just read (have them go into detail with you!)

35. Teach your kids to be creative, be creative as a family or even teach them to be inventors!

36. Less TV… more reading.  Set a limit (an hour a day, maybe?) and try to stick to it.  Try a week of no-tech! 

37. Potty Train your bed wetter to wake up at night (even your older child)

38. Ask your kids to fill out this after-school survey to find out what they did that day.

39. Here are a few more parenting resolutions from Meaningful Mama

Saving Money:

40. Save enough money to allow your family to live on one income

41. Have a budget  (my mom used to use the envelope system when I was younger.  Every month you put money into an envelope… car, shopping, groceries…) when that envelop is empty, you are either done or you take from another envelope.

42. Save money and be frugal with these 50 ways to save!

43. Shop only on the clearance rack (everything goes on sale) or shop without spending money by finding things in your home to reuse.

44. Spend less money on your groceries (without coupons) by buying things on sale, buying on the day old rack & watching for specials.

45. Do things around your house that are free (like organizing with items you already have!)

46. Or use coupons & save a little more – here is a little tutorial on how to use coupons to shop online at Amazon!

47. Build up your savings account!   Try to only buy what you NEED, not what you WANT.  Every week put the extra money that you  WOULD have spent into a jar (example:  If you didn’t go out to eat tonight, but you wanted to, add $20 to your jar.)

48.  Try to go 40 days without spending money on anything except food, gas and bills.   I tried this for lent one year and we saved a lot of money in those 40 days!

49. Sell your things!  Go through your home and find things that you no-longer need.  List them on Facebook yard sales or other online places like Craigslist.

50.  Do more work yourself.  Cut your own grass, clean your own house, cook your own meals, make your own ingredients…

51.  Stop paying for things that could be FREE!

52- Stock up on gifts while they are on sale or on clearance and save them until you need them (you can get free new mom & baby items for free.  I do this!) 

Marriage:

53. Treat your husband like you would treat a house guest (this tip is my favorite one)

54. Have date nights without even leaving the house or even have real dates with your husband (after you have become parents!)

55. Pursue your spouse and be intentional about it.

56. Stop arguing with your spouse  <— these 7 great tips are from Web MD  and work on staying happily married

Or you could skip resolutions altogether and just pick a word for the year. 

If you have trouble sticking to your resolutions, try this strategy.  Some New Years resolutions can turn into a lifestyle change… for the better!  Try one that you would like to stick to!   Thanks for reading & trying out a great new resolution. 

The post 56 New Years Resolutions Worth Keeping appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

Bag Lady Doll

Toddler Activities from Familyeducation.com http://ift.tt/1mqU0PY Create a puppet using a simple paper bag!

Fireworks Art for Kids

Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1OZFQfY

Fireworks Art for Kids is a fun way to make fireworks without the noise and danger! We love watching beautiful fireworks shows during New Year’s Eve and Independence Day, so we decided to make our own on paper using paint and toilet paper rolls.

When we first saw this fun activity over at Learning 4 Kids, I knew my preschooler would love it. We actually made it during our family celebration with all the cousins — it was so fun to see the different mixtures of colors that the kids came up with. Everyone — ranging in age from two to seven — loved painting their own versions.

Fireworks Art for Kids

Here’s what you need to make Fireworks Art for Kids:

• Toilet Paper Rolls
• Scissors
• Washable Paint
• White Paper

Cut 1/8-inch slits vertically in the bottom of your toilet paper rolls and bend them up to make a burst stamp.

Press the stamp into a color of paint and lightly press it onto your paper to make your fireworks outline.

Add more colors for more festive fireworks!

If you do plan on celebrating with fireworks, a DIY Sparkler Holder can help protect those little fingers!

 

The post Fireworks Art for Kids appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

DIY Brisk Bath Salts

Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1QZ5VSb

Every winter when the air gets dry and the furnace is running full speed our whole family gets stuffy. To help promote healthy breathing we like to soak in a warm bath with some of our favorite essential oils. The best ones for this sort of thing is eucalyptus and tea tree oil which is exactly what is the Epoch Brisk essential oil. So, I decided to use this amazing combo for a new bath salts recipe.

DIY Brisk Bath Salts

Brisk also has lemon and thyme and is my favorite essential oil blend for winter. Breathing it in makes me feel so refreshed. You can also rub this oil directly on your chest, the soles of your feet or put it in a diffuser.

To make these bath salts you will need:

• 1 cup of epsom salt
• 1/4 cup of sea salt
• 1/4 cup of baking soda
• 20 drops of essential oil
• Coloring (optional)

Mix together the ingredients (holding the essential oils for last) in a bowl with a fork. I added a little bit of blue coloring but that is totally optional. It makes it look more festive if you’re giving it as a gift. Then I transferred it into a mason jar.

When you take a bath just add 2 tablespoons of the salt mixture into the water – more if you’re using a larger jacuzzi tub. The vapors you’ll be breathing in from the water will feel so good.

THE ESSENTIAL OILS WE USE & LOVE

We have something special for you.  A collection of our favorite essential oils at unbeatable prices.  While quantities last, we are featuring our Good Night Deal…

The post DIY Brisk Bath Salts appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

Karate String Art

Toddler Activities from Familyeducation.com http://ift.tt/1OYA4v9 Your toddler will love this unique twist on painting.

15 Clever Toy Car Storage Ideas

Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1ICirEP

Did your kids get a ton of new toy cars this holiday? My little boy got so many! Now I’m on the hunt for some car storage ideas to contain them. Like most of our new things we received as gifts, we now are tasked with finding a home for all of them. But for the cars, I’m extra excited because there are some really clever ways to store them! (affiliates included)

15 Clever Toy Car Storage Ideas

Build your own hot wheels parking garage that will hold all your cars in a fun way. via Frugal Fun for Boys

Hang your cars on the wall (within reach of the kiddos) using metal knife bars you can find on Amazon. This is so smart! via Keeping Up With The Smiths

You can also put them on the walls with book ledges! via Stacy’s Savings

This over the door car case lets you see all your hot wheels and can easily come down and fold up.

Use a tackle-box to store up to 100 toy cars. This is awesome so you can take them room to room! via Adventure’s of Action Jackson

http://ift.tt/1ICitwe

You can create a really unique car storage from a recycled tire. This idea is so fun! via Spaceships and Laserbeams

Make your own hanging organizer so your cars can hang on the wall but also fold up. via Pick Up Some Creativity

Spray paint a toy car and the lid of a jar ot make a super cool car jar. via Simplicity In The South

A simple plastic thread organizer works awesome for toy cars!

Here’s another simple DIY wall storage idea anyone can build! via Little Bits of Home

I love this idea of labeling a metal bucket and filling it up with your toy cars. What a simple clean up! via Shanty 2 Chic

This fun hot wheels car case can take 100 cars anywhere. Complete with a handle and wheels!

You must see this simple shoe rack turned gorgeous wall garage. via A Lo And Behold Life

This toy car mat lays flat for play and then folds the cars up for storage! Love this idea. via Etsy.

The post 15 Clever Toy Car Storage Ideas appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

How to Make a Budget – that works

Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1JDn0gO

Are you looking for ideas on how to make a budget?  Saving money is one step, but we need a budget to know where we can start saving.

With all of the money saving tips floating around the internet these days it can be hard to find tips that will really work. We have pulled together the twelve tried and true tips to help you get you budget on the right track!

Thanks to 401KCalculator for the image.

Budget Tips To Do

Envelope system.

When you create your budget, put the amount of money designated for each category in envelopes. You can pull cash out as needed to use in that category(groceries, home repairs, gasoline etc). The trick is, when the envelope is empty there are no more funds for that category until the next month.

Balance your spending.

Look over your bank statements for the past few months and add up the amounts you are spending in each category. This will give you a better idea of exactly where your money is going each month. These numbers should be pretty close to each other. For example, an ideal budget would be something like 30% on housing/utilities, 15% on food (and anything at the store), 15% on transportation (gas and car bill). If your percentages are out of balance, adapt your spending habits. Adjust where you are overspending to be able to push more money into savings or towards other needs.

Start small to save big.

Many people don’t save money because they don’t feel like they have enough to save! If you start small, you can slowly build your way up to saving more and more of your income. Transfer $20 to savings whenever you can and slowly work your way up. Even doing something as simple as getting $5 or $10 cash back each trip to the grocery store can help you save big in the long run! Just $20 a week being squirreled away can pay for a vacation after several months. Think long term, when you pull out even a tiny amount to put towards your savings account, or even cash in a savings envelope at home! Many stores will tell you at the checkout counter how much you saved in coupons or rewards points that day. Run home and transfer that amount to savings!

DIY whenever you can.

There are so many things you can make yourself that will help you save a lot of money. You can make all of your household cleaners – including your own laundry soap and carpet cleaner.  DIY Toys are fun for your kids to make AND play with and homemade bread costs only pennies a loaf! If you find yourself spending a lot on a certain thing, consider making it yourself to save money on it! Each of the items listed cost only a fraction of their “retail value” if you make them from home.

Track your spending.

Hold yourself and other family members accountable for spending habits. Make a list of every dollar spent for a few months. Writing down those extra fast food stops or other things that aren’t exactly necessary and seeing how they add up over the month will help give you incentive to stop bad spending habits and replace them with a happy, healthy budget. 

Get rid of debt.

Every penny you don’t spend on interest is income! Debt piles up fast and you want to get rid of it as quickly as you can. Start with the smallest amounts of debts first, and pay them off. This way you can work your way up towards paying off your largest debts.

How to Make a Budget Work

Have a yearly spending freeze.

This does require a lot of extra planning, but it is a great exercise that will help you and your family see what is essential, and what is not. Have two weeks out of the year where you commit to spending nothing. Not a single cent! Live off of the groceries that are in the kitchen (eat everything!) and maybe ride your bikes whenever possible instead of using the cars. This can be a great learning experience for kids and adults!

Establish and emergency fund.

This will keep you from accumulating new debt when the unexpected happens. Try to have two or three months worth of your  budget in your savings account at all times.  If you were to unexpectedly lose your job or some one was to have an extended hospital stay, an emergency fund would help keep you afloat while you work out new arrangements.

Take advantage of free money.

Never say no to money! Use coupons, price matches and shop around to find the best deals. If some one is giving you a discount, take it and save the extra money, even if it’s only a dollar or two. The same goes for free products. Host a clothing swap, toy swap or even take hand-me-downs. Some restaurants offer special freebies for kids if you know where to look.

Make a goal and stick to it.

Decide what you are savings toward and think of it often… Maybe you want to pay off all debts within a certain amount of time or buy a new home. Whatever your goal, think of it every time you are at the store and tempted ot overspend. “Do I really want this new pair of shoes more than I want to pay off debt?”. Keeping your goals constantly in mind will help build self control and make you more likely to achieve them! They also provide the opportunity for you to reward yourself if you make it. It is almost impossible to save without seeing results or working towards something. Have a goal and a celebration in mind when that goal is achieved!

Re-do your auto deposit from work.

Instead of sending the full amount to checking every paycheck, you can have them place a certain amount in savings. That income will never touch your checking account, so you will be less likely to spend it! Pretend like you are being paid less than you are. This way you can train yourself to live beneath your means and save more money towards your future!

Plan ahead for upcoming expenses.

While you might not know the exact day things will break, you can make guesses and plan accordingly. If you have a 10 year old roof, then you know that you will need a new one in the next 5-10 years. Do some price checking and start saving an appropriate amount each year so that you will have that money on hand when the time comes. The same goes for other recurring but not regular expenses. Oil changes, air conditioners and appliances that need replaced, a new car or even Christmas expenses! Saving a bit every month towards these categories can help the unexpected be not quite as nerve wracking. You can’t plan the exact date you’ll need the money but you can do a lot to be sure it will be there when you need it!

 

These tips can do amazing things for your budget and help you and your family reach your goals! If you need more tips, check out this amazing ebook on how to save money! We love her tips!

The post How to Make a Budget – that works appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

Fireworks Theme Maths

Learning 4 Kids http://ift.tt/1QXqq1J

To keep within our celebration and fireworks theme, I have set up a couple of number and measurement activities to be completed over the New Years period.

The coloured metallic bows imitate the ‘fireworks’ to keep within the celebration/fireworks theme activities we have been completing.

These brightly coloured metallic gift bows are so inviting and motivating for children, they will be so excited to play and learn with them.

 

What you will need?

You will need a bulk pack of metallic gift bows with an assortment of sizes. You can purchase these from $1.00 to $5.00 in most variety stores. You will also need 3 cards labelled small, medium and big, and two hoops or chalk to create the circles.

 

I have also added a set of tweezers (or small tongs) to pick up the bows and support fine motor development, this is optional.

 

For other activities shown below, you will also need numbers (magnetic, wooden or from a puzzle) and a small tub.

 

Sorting by Size

Sorting big, medium and small bows is a great activity to introduce and play with the concept of measurement. Giving children the opportunity to compare objects and use language associated with measurement, such as smaller than, bigger than, biggest, smallest, etc.

Some Ideas:

• Talk about the similarities and differences – size, and shape.
• Depending in the age and ability of the child, you may only like to sort the bows into 2 groups rather than 3 as shown in the picture. Classifying by size is a skill that takes time to develop, begin with only sorting into 2 groups labelled big and small.
• Look at other objects around the room. Please find me an object that is small than a pillow or larger than a pencil.
• Use and encourage language associated with measurement. Is this one bigger that that one?

 

Hidden Numbers

Hidden Numbers in the Sensory Tub is a fun counting, sequencing and number recognition activity.

• Children search for the numbers hidden in the tub underneath the metallic bows.
• When they have found a number, say it out loud and place it along a number line in order from 0 – 10.

Other ideas:

• Jumble up the numbers along the number line and try and put them back into order from 0 to 10.
• Play another fun game called “Guess the Missing Number”. Remove one number and your child has to try and guess which number is missing from the number line.

 

Let’s Learn

To extend the learning from the above Hidden Numbers Game, you may like to count out ‘how many’ bows underneath each number shown in the number line.

 

Learning Opportunities

• Fine Motor Development
• Hand-Eye Coordination and Control
• Concentration
• Language development – bigger and smaller than, big and small
• Mathematics – measurement, comparing two or three objects (size)
• Problem solve and overcome challenges
• Number recognition, ordering numbers and counting numbers 1 to 10.

 

Click here for more NUMERACY activities & play ideas

Click here for more MEASUREMENT activities & play ideas

Click here for more CELEBRATION & FIREWORKS activities & play ideas

 

Available in our online shop:

Please click on the product names to view full product details.

Printable Dot-to-Dot Alphabet Letter Charts

Printable Dot-to-Dot Number Rhyme Charts

 

Memory

Toddler Activities from Familyeducation.com http://ift.tt/1Vn9Irv Make your own memory cards using leftover holiday gift wrap and index cards.

When Grandparents Let The Kids Have Too Much Screen Time

Kids Activities Blog http://ift.tt/1mmP26Y

Recently on our Facebook page, a mother posted that the grandparents let the kids have too much screen time.  Both sets of grandparents were watching her kids for her while she worked (they were taking turns), but one set let her kids watch TV and play on their tablet all day.  She felt frustrated by the situation and asked for advice.  This can be very hard, because the grandparents are helping you out by watching your children, but you also want to make sure that they are not be over-stimulated with electronics.

Our supportive Facebook followers had some amazing advice for when grandparents let the kids have too much screen time and we want to share it with you.

• “Honestly, let them enjoy whatever they are doing…..within reason.  It used to really bother me what they ate, watched, played with, went, and got bought for them….but now I let it go.  It’s a fun time and not all the time.  Now, the only way I’d regulate it more is if they watched my kids every day or we lived with them. Then it would almost be like a co-parenting situation instead of a purely grandparent situation.” ~Ariel Evans
• “Right now the kids are little, so the issue should stay “little”. However, when they are older a more clear direction will need to be given due to homework, more structured activities (soccer, dance lessons you can’t really know what the children will want to participate in). ” Jo-Anne Peregrim
• This story is a great reminder: “My dad’s mom now has dementia and can barely remember my 7 year old twins. They have so many memories with her, though.  There were a million times that I had  wanted to say (and sometimes did) for her to not do things with them, because it was against the way we wanted to raise them: like letting them pull everything out and put them all over the floor.  Or like letting them drink Coke with her, during their makeshift tea parties, or her crawling around on the floor with them because they asked her to do this, even though she KNEW she’d hurt and be sore the next day.   The thing is that she was happy in the moment and so were they.  Now, she’s lost her memory of that day but they haven’t. It was 100% worth it.” ~Ariel Evans
• “Maybe have a discussion as to why you don’t permit so much screen time and offer some activities in place of that? If there is a reason they can’t be physically active with the grandchildren, there are still plenty of quiet activities that are fun and educational- coloring, reading, crafts, etc. ” ~Heather Haugn
• Take a few new board games over to grandma’s house.
• Have a “grandma’s box” collection of toys.  It goes to grandma’s house and the kids know that they will only get it when they are there.  It is more exciting this way!
• Think about yourself as a child.  I can remember sitting in front of my grandma’s television with a plate full of pancakes and bacon, while we watched a show on her living room floor.   I remember it because I wasn’t allowed to watch a lot of TV at home and I certainly wasn’t allowed to eat in our living room.  It was like a whole new adventure for my seven-year-old-self!   It may become a fun memory for your child one day.
• Ask your child about it.  Maybe grandma is watching it with them and they are talking/bonding/snuggling during the show.
• Limit screen time at your own house on weeks where they will be at grandma’s house.   Maybe even have a no-technology week.
• Choose the shows that they watch, or pick the apps.  Maybe you can take over educational movies (you can rent these for free at most local town libraries).    Even schools are using technology throughout the day- this could be a positive experience if you can suggest ideas.   If the kids don’t want to do this, they can find something to play with that isn’t an electronic devise.
• Take over baking kits.  Maybe a “make your own gingerbread house” kit or a recipe with ingredients to make your favorite cookies.  Something fun like this to involve the kids would be an easy way to take up some of that TV time, without need to say anything about the issue.
• “You have to remember they are older and may be limited as to what the grandparents can do.  I am not down on the floor with my grandkids. Give the grandparents a pass, as they are the grandparents. Grand parents are not the parents and are not there to make rules or anything like that…they are just there to love the kids and to just indulge the child.
• “The bonding time with their grandparents is very important and it is okay that they’re views are different from yours. Remember, your child is in your home, following your guidelines the most, so the few times he will be with his grandparent(s), its not going to hurt him to do things a little different, but will help him see different perspectives.” ~Laura Reed

 

In the end, remember that this is your child.  Think about how you want to handle it carefully.  Try to be open-minded either way.   You need to think about what is best for your child and everyone involved.  Maybe even suggest one of these ten-minute kid activities to break up the TV time.  It could be a win-win! In the meantime, stop by our Facebook page, where we talk about topics like this on a daily basis!

The post When Grandparents Let The Kids Have Too Much Screen Time appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.