Take this one example. When you place your tiny little person in her jumper do you honestly think like this “it is time for her few minutes of exercise?” I know I certainly didn’t and even though my daughter in law is a nurse I don’t think she consciously thought this way when she placed my gorgeous grandson into his jolly jumper.  He just liked the bouncing motion and she just loved to see his happy face and so did grandma because he has his own blog.

All you wonderful people are actually, for the most part, contributing to the future good health of your children. Now how cool is that?  Jumping and bouncing correctly actually can improve circulation in the body.  It can lead to stronger thighs and legs.  It can even help to improve balance and co-ordination in young children.

Kids need to be in control of their own bouncing though. They love to bounce and they love to ride on little trikes. They are justifiably proud of their own achievements, just as any parent is justifiably proud of being able to supply them with these opportunities to learn and hopefully achieve good health in the future.

Most kids in the 18 to 36 month age range love to ride little trikes of all kinds and they really love to bounce on beds or tiny trampolines. For something really different take a look at this it is totally RAD. You will have to search for it but it is definitely worth your time.

So lets list some places and see what we come up with:

Restaurants: Not a hard one since some restaurants either provide placemats with crossword games etc on them and others supply paper tablecloths with crayons so we can at least play tic tac toe and the kids can draw.  If you like to draw you can have fun doing that also.

On the street: It would not be the first time I have seen adults kicking a ball around as they walk to the bus (we live in the country) and who hasn’t seen grown men riding a scooter from the train or bus to work? It counts as play in my opinion even if it IS to save the environment.

In the car: There are not too many of us who haven’t played countless games of I Spy with the kids.  We even invent games about number plates to amuse each other on long trips. Playing in the car is definitely popular.

On the plane: Yes that is another easy one.  Card games, some travel games are all great ways to while away the hours on a long trip.

This was just a quick think about some places to play.  I am sure that you can all think of more. Please add a comment with your ideas. I would love to know what you come up with.

I would be surprised if you think of this one though.  You can even play in the comfort room (toilet, for the unitiated).  I have found a game of golf that is designed to play while you are busy doing what you do in the toilet. Beat that!  You can view it here and purchase it if you want. Looks cool to me!

For others it becomes a little more than that.  As they mature they purchase bigger kites going from single line kites to dual line stunt kites.  Racing kites also become a hobby.  It is not unusual to find that this kind of kite enthusiast will own multiple kites so that he/she can “fly” in almost any type of wind. There are some exceptions concerning wind of course but for the most part they will own kites which climb high quickly in search of a steady wind stream; or another which will take longer to climb in order to catch the wind closer to the ground.

Others love to build kites which can take many forms such as box kites, deltas and the like.  Kites often have long tails and beautifully bright colours.In some countries such kites can actually reach from 300 to 600 metres long and take much skill to manipulate.

Still others delight in making kites which are three dimensional and float all over the sky.  These kites are usually huge and should not be handled by an amateur as they are extremely strong.  They take many shapes too numerous to mention here but a quick google search will soon satisfy your curiosity in this regard.

Kite surfing is also a popular sport today.  The kite is made large enough and strong enough to lift a surfer and his board high into the air over the ocean.  Really expert kite surfers also perform tricks I am told but have not personally seen this.

Kite buggying is also another way to enjoy kites.  Dune buggys are attached to kites which pull them along the beach.  It sounds pretty tame but believe me there are risks involved in this sport which enthusiasts know only too well.

So kite flying is for all types of people.  The child loves just to see the kite bobbing about in the sky, the scientist loves to check out how that happens, the dreamer just wants to watch, marvel and build his castles in the air and the extreme sportsman wants to push the limits of his skill and abilities.’

You can get a kite almost anywhere these days.  Really cheap ones start at around $2.00 to $5.00 and then climb like a kite on the wind from there. There are some good kites made to Australian standards here which I am confident will help  in your efforts to get “as high as a kite.”

Think about your day with the children.  Does it go something like this:

“Good morning, good morning up you get its school today.

What’s that smell? Oh my goodness the toast!

Quickly hop in the car, we are late.

Do your hair on the way, don’t argue.

Okay we are here now, hop out and have a good day.

Hey quick, I love you. Pop over here.”  (That statement is so that you can plant a hurried kiss on their foreheads as they leave).

You then arrive at your destination harried and rushed.  You try to quash that niggling feeling that something is wrong.  You feel that you are actually missing your children even though you share the same home. Well is it really a home or is it a house in which various family members live?

Warp speed parenting exists and I have a sneaking suspicion it is due to our warp speed lifestyle.  Laptop computers accompany us even on holidays so that we can work whenever we need to.

Our children have computers in their rooms. They are on Facebook, Twitter and the like.  When they are not catching up with friends in this manner they are texting them, forwarding video and now the latest fad appears to be sexting (where the teen sends suggestive videos to friends of the opposit sex).  This last is way more dangerous than the others. It often seems that their friends and even complete strangers communicate with our children more than we do ourselves.

So how do we communicate with our children.  Why not fight fire with fire in order to begin?  Do you know your child’s mobile number. I am sure you do. Why not text them?  It is easy to text something like “hope you are having a good day.”

On Facebook it is relatively easy to post a comment on your site which says something like “I miss my kids today. Might cook a special tea or go out to the golden arches if they are all home by 5:30p.m.”  If they check their facebook pages often, you can be  guaranteed they will be there. The assumption is that they are listed on your site as friends.

Twitter is also good for just sending out thoughts. Maybe use a sense of humour here such as “wonder if the fairies have come in and made the kids bed today.”  This one though is only useful if they are following you.

Seems to me that if we are to travel through live at warp speed then we need to keep up with the kids.  Maybe once we do actually catch up with them and keep up with them, we may have the opportunity to get them to slow down; put down their mobile phones, close their laptops and talk to us face to face.

Sounds good to me.

For more on a different style of parenting try:

kidfriendlyfamililes.blogspot.com

Many times I have suggested that we stop, take a deep breath and just spend some time with our family.  After all, we wanted children so that we could love them and train them.  So here are some suggestions for spending time with your family.  None of these suggestions will cost a great deal of money but will certainly enhance your time together and not dent the budget greatly.

1. Grab a bat and ball and just go outside  and play.  If you are not particularly sports minded the kids will have a good laugh at your expense. Actually this will help them to feel comfortable with their own challenges in this area.
2. Grab a jigsaw puzzle and sit down together.  Even little ones enjoy building them and forming a picture.  It is just being together that counts.
3. Maybe cook a meal   There are many suitable recipes available on the net.  Just a little exploration will yield great results.
4. A picnic can also be fun.  On these occasions I personally prefer to take a kite just for the pleasure and exercise.
5. Watch a movie together but let them choose the title.  Break out the popcorn and soft drink, times like this are not meant to be healthy.

I hope you enjoy these five quick ideas to spend with your family.  If you are looking for products to help in this area I suggest you check out www.grandmastoyshop.com.au

Week after week we hear about children on drugs, teenagers out of control, bullying, bashing, kicking other teens in the head, taking drugs, alcohol and smoking heaven knows what.  Did I mention drink driving and driving while on drugs and even before they are old enough for a licence.

Where are the parents we ask?  The truth is that most parents are caring people who are genuinely at a loss to know what to do.  They repeatedly ask/demand that their offspring stay home only to be met with gestures and expletives as their young person walks out of the door.

While there are many children and young people who show respect and act responsibly most of the time, it would appear that these are in the minority.  Perhaps these young people have “fairly odd parents” who have cultivated a sense of respect and an awareness of responsibility to themselves and the community around them.  Who knows.

All I know is that parents urgently need help in order to help their children and young people grow into mature adults who have great lives and make their own way in the world.

While there are many government agencies available to supply some form of help in this area.  There are many other avenues which are also available.  There are many parenting books in bookstores all over the world, most local churches can supply some form of counselling and advice for parents and a quick search on google will certainly yield results.

So all you parents out there.  There is hope.  Don’t despair and spend endless hours at home grieving and worrying about your young person.  Take action.  Head for the computer, pick up the phone, pop into the nearest book shop.  If you need help to help your children don’t be afraid to ask!  Your child needs you.

GrandmaP

P.S. For more on this subject go to

http://kidfriendlyfamilies.blogspot.com/

But not the teddy bear.  As we get older the teddy stays no matter what.  Sometimes it holds pride of place even if its fur is thin or it is in obvious need of a trip to the dolls hospital. When we become adults and move into our homes – the bear stays!

It seems to me that the bear is the last bastion of our childhood.  Our teddy is a part of us. When times were bad – teddy was there!  When we went on childish adventures, teddy was definitely part of the game.  Boys would shoot their teddy into space and often land him in muddy puddles – it was all part of the adventure of growing up.  As girls we would often dress our teddies for afternoon tea and place them around the table surrounded by pretend cakes and tea. Whenever we moved as children our teddies came too.

Teddy bears are an ideal gift for children and adults alike.  Here are some occasions when a teddy might be in order as that special gift:

1.  The birth of a baby.  This is a great time because babys first teddy  is really a special event. It speaks of joy and love and adventure to come. What could be better?

2.  At graduation.  A graduation bear marks a special occasion in a persons’ life.  Many graduation bears can be signed with a perma-pen so can hold memories for many, many years to come.

3.  Confirmation, 18th and 21st birthdays.  The gift of a bear at these times marks the event.  It denotes the passage from childhood to adulthood but brings with it just a hint of childhood passed.

4   Wedding.  This is a great time to give a bear.  There are many bears which present as bride and groom and therefore stay as a memento of such a wonderful occasion.

5. In sickness.  If a trip to hospital is necessary a bear can sometimes go where we as parents can’t.  A bear can be there at times that parents can’t.  It is often a sign of our love for the person who is unwell and definitely in need of a cuddle.

I am sure that you can think of other times when a bear would be a more than welcome gift.  Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.  What event made your teddy so special to you?  In my life for many reasons – the teddy bear stays.

For more about teddy bears go to :

http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=158518892586668326

This is usually to no avail as a new design will come out all too soon and the little or young person will want that one.  Canny advertisers are aware that children cast a huge deciding vote on what goods are purchased when and by and for whom. They aim there advertisements accordingly and who can blame them?

By succumbing to the temptation to buy what little Johnny or Kate want I believe we are handing over control of our families to advertisers and to the children. It is now the adult seeking to please the child rather than the child seeking to please the parents.

Would it not be more acceptable if advertising were geared toward the parent?  Surely it is our decision as to what toy (for instance) would make a suitable gift for our child.  I do believe that children should have some choice but it us up to us adults to teach our children about family.

Does it always have to be Barbie or Bratz dolls?  Could it possibly be that we purchase toys that we feel have been aimed at us so we could, as adults, choose wisely to input into our family.  I don’t know about you but I can’t recall sitting down to play with Barbie or Bratz dolls with my children.

I do remember playing board games and card games with them though.  They did not realize it but they were learning how to lose gracefully, how to win without lording it over the rest of us and how to play without cheating.  All these character traits they now display in their lives as adults.

They did have the other toys but they remember best, the times we played the games that mum bought in answer to advertising aimed at my level. They remember best the long walks on hot summer evenings and the cold drinks and long chats when we got home.

As parents lets remember that as much as we love to please our children, they also need to learn to please us.  Their reward?  Not a new gadget but the pleasure of hearing our praise when they complete a task to the best of their ability.  Our reward?  Happy children who want to spend time playing with us instead of the Nintendo.

Responsible toy shops, while stocking the toys that children love to play with, also stock family games.  You will find card games, board games and the like in many of these stores.  For some different types of family activities you could try here:

http://www.grandmastoyshop.com.au/

To your family,

grandma

Todays technology is COOL! We live in an age where almost anything is possible. It seems almost a lifetime ago that the world stopped to see the first man walk on the moon. Since then our love of technology and the lifestyle it presents has grown.

Techies, as they are called, have advanced their craft in almost every sphere. New frontiers open almost daily now. There are advances in medicine, advances in science, advances in travel. The list is almost endless. Living in this time is a wonderful privilege.

Along with the benefits have also come many challenges. We are faced with moral dilemmas in medicine, scientific advances cause us to ask questions and with the advances in travel etc comes the challenge of global warming.

Were we to concentrate on these things we may begin to wonder what sort of a future we now face. Perhaps this is why the present generation has retained some of their childhood qualities. The modern generation, while they acknowledge that work is necessary, likes to play as well. Ask your friends what they like to do in their spare time. Chances are they will say they like to go to concerts, go to the movies to relax (you can take time out from the real world there) or visit theme parks where the rides are updated regularly to provide more thrills per minute.

Now we even like to play at work and that play reaps benefits both for the employee and his employer. There is a positive plethora of office toys out there now. There are little desk top games such as ten pin bowling and tiny pool tables. Little micro golf sets are also available for those with the room. The wise employer knows that allowing his employee to destress using these means usually results in more efficient work from his employee ie of course as long as the privilege is not abused.

Toys it would appear now have a place in the modern working sphere. Technology has also advanced in this area. Cars are more efficient making it possible to travel greater distances to work and home. Computers have become smaller and more efficient also. Not only do we have smaller computers at work and home, we have laptops (so we can work while commuting if we like), portable notebooks so we can make quick notes of anything that comes up while we are not at our desks – this obviously saves carrying pen and paper everywhere we go. It keeps our clothes cleaner too since we don’t have to worry about leaking pens any more.

Even spy pens have their place in the modern workforce. Just to set the record straight I do not believe they should be used to spy on anyone at work or at home for that matter. I hold to the view that such behaviour is ethically incorrect. The privacy of an individual should always be protected and modern gadgetry should not be used in an unsuitable or unsavoury manner. Having said that, the spy pen as it is called is a brilliant piece of equipment in my opinion. It is the size of a normal pen and can be used as such. This is great if you need to sign a form, jot down an address or whatever you might need a pen for. It has another purpose though. These spy pens are now often digital cameras. This means that you can now record an unexpected meeting or training session, then take the pen to the computer and download it. Obviously this would greatly enhance efficiency in the workplace while also adding a sense of fun to the day.

As I said earlier,.living in this technological age seems to be the best time to be alive. A time when we can work and play and still get paid to do so. Yes Virginia grown ups can play too. Celebrate life! For more on spy gadgets and how kids use them go to www.kidfriendlyfamilies.blogspot.com.

]]> http://weareforfun.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/yes-virginia-grown-ups-can-play-too/feed/ 0 weareforfun http://weareforfun.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/three-benefits-of-story-telling/ http://weareforfun.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/three-benefits-of-story-telling/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:47:44 +0000 weareforfun http://weareforfun.wordpress.com/?p=71 ]]> Whether we realize it or not children hear stories all the time. As parents, grandparents, extended family or friends it is our duty to make sure that the stories are wholesome ones. We want our children to learn moral virtues, spiritual values and the social norms of society. There are other benefits as outlined below. I have recently found that reversible dolls are a great resource in the quest for increasing awareness and interest as I tell stories. Here are some benefits of story-telling particularly using these dolls:

Increases Attention Span Children are familiar with dolls so are not nervous when they sit to listen to the story. In fact they are usually intrigued as they watch the story teller flip the doll upside down and create a new person. Using a doll in this way to tell a bible story or relate a fairy tale holds the childrens attention as they wait to see what will happen. If they have heard the story before they sit in eager anticipation of the rest of the story.

Increases Memory Retention. Children love to play with dolls. Most reversible dolls are strongly made and are designed for little hands to hold them. Allowing the children to grasp the doll and tell the story themselves helps them to concentrate on the story - most kids love this activity even the somewhat shy ones. This leads to a side benefit where some shy children actually find it easier to combat their shyness  by telling the story even if it is only to mum or dad.

Increases Vocabulary. As children grow physically and mentally the majority of children develop a wider vocabulary. Story telling obviously involves the spoken word. As children experience the pleasure of telling stories their vocabulary widens as they look for words that help them to make their stories clearer to their friends.

For more on the subject of reversible dolls in teaching check out:

http://kidfriendlyfamilies.blogspot.com/

I wish you well in your story telling adventures.