MyChildHealth » Fun & Games

What to do on a Rainy Day for Kids?

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:49:19 +0000

Both parents and children dread spending long rainy or frosty days indoors with nothing much to do. Watching TV is not a very good option. Activities which interest and excite the child are necessary, as they will hone his creative skills and some activities can even be productive.

Children love to make believe so get them to dress as their favorite character and they can enact a scent too. Collect old hats like cowboy and baseball caps, costume jewelry, scarves, shirts, jackets, dresses and shoes from around the house. You can buy some funky stuff from thrift stores. Store them in a cardboard box to bring out on bad weather days. The kids can spend many hours happily by using their imagination. You can help them with makeup by drawing mustaches or pinning up hair.

Building a cave, wigwam or fort out of bedclothes and camping in it can be a source of much fun. Get breakable and valuable stuff out of the way and arrange some furniture together. Drape blankets, comforters or old sheets over the furniture to make it look like a dwelling unit. Secure the ends to legs of the furniture with ribbons or tape. Give them a rug or cushions to sit on. Sleeping bags, flashlights, books and board games will complete the fun. For light, a lantern using batteries can be used. A password can be selected by the children to allow entry to those they want.

You can help them with some simple cooking. You can bake cup cakes or cookies which they can decorate and gift to grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles or enjoy with their friends. You can select simple recipes for desserts which involve no cooking and allow them to put it together. They can use jelly, jam, cake, Chocó syrup, tinned fruit, cream or ice cream.

Handmade cards made by the children will be appreciated by the recipients. Stiffened paper can be used. Messages can be printed using the computer in fancy fonts. The cards can be adorned with glitter, sequence, ribbons, photos and colors. Supervise to see that small children do not put anything in their mouths. They can use the cards for birthdays, Christmas or thank you notes.

A fun idea would be to make rag dolls or puppets. For this, you will have to keep a utility box ready. You can build it overtime from odds and ends at home, buying from thrift shops or art shops. You and the children can collect stickers, seashells, buttons, sequins, glitter, tinsel, ribbons and decorations. When needed, use socks or small bits of clothes to make dolls or puppets. Any sewing needed to be done should be done by an adult. Cardboard boxes can be cut and colored to make the background. Again, an adult should supervise when children are working with scissors.

Many craft books and kits are available in the market which can give you step by step instructions on how to construct boats, doll houses and other things which a child might enjoy.

What to do on a Rainy Day for Kids? is a post from: MyChildHealth

Teaching Good Sportsmanship to Kids

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:02:10 +0000

Sports play an important role in the overall development of the child. When a child grows up he starts playing. At a very young age his game could be simple like hiding and running. As he grows up and starts mixing up with children of his age the process of development of sportsmanship starts. To begin with the child looks towards the parents who are his first and natural guides. In addition to the parents he will look toward the coach who will teach him the tricks of the game he intends to play.

During the age we are passing through there is a tendency amongst the youth to move away from traditions. The kids need to be reminded of the basic values needed to be followed to be a good sportsman. This makes it all the more important to train and remind our young ones as to what sportsmanship means and enable them to become good sportsmen in future life. For development of this habit the kids should be taught to keep the following in mind by.

Kids should be taught to abide by the rules of any game they play. The child should not only be taught as to how to play but also as to how to play according to the set rules. A kid knowing the rules will enjoy the game more than a kid not fully aware of the rules.

The kid should not enter into an argument with the coach or other people involved in the game. Anger always gives way to the performance so anger management is very essential for a sportsman.

The kid should be taught about the importance of playing the game as a team. He should be aware that his action or reaction is going to affect the team as a whole. Unwanted act of one player will not be condoned by the team mates.

The child should be told not to consider himself superior as compared to other players. He should try to act as a guide to the lesser talented player and encourage them to come up.

The child should be taught that those who play fair have long standing and are successful in contrast to the players who try to shine using foul means. Cheating in a game will not help.

The child should be taught to follow the orders and directions of the coach as he is a leader. Even in case of disagreement it should not be discussed in public and not in the presence of the coach with intent to vent anger.

Teach the child that to be a good sportsman he should have equal respect for the players of the other team. He should not put an effort to let the other team members down. If they perform better and win, the defeat should be accepted with humility.

The child should be made to learn to accept the orders of the coach or other team officials. Even if they have made a mistake it is not appropriate for the player to show unwanted and excessive resentment. The energy should be focused on the game only.

The child should learn to end the game smoothly and without making unwanted remarks or other gestures on the other team mates. One team has to win and other has to lose the game. Even if the other team has lost, the child should not show signs of superiority and in case of his team losing he should keep calm.

If the child is able to remember and follow these basic guidelines while playing any game, it is certain that he or she will outshine others and will become a better sportsman and team leader during future life.

Teaching Good Sportsmanship to Kids is a post from: MyChildHealth

Free Play Therapy Activities For Children

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:23:02 +0000

After school, books and homework, children want to relax in their own way, playing or any fun activity which they enjoy to do. May be indoor or outdoor, with friends or even alone, whatever it may be. This is called free play, and every child must play or spend some times freely after their daily chores.

This is the era of TV and video games, but every time watching TV or playing video game is not good for both physical and mental development.

Every parent wants their children to be best and perfect. They want their children to sing, to dance, to play basket ball, tennis and other games, to make drawings, paintings, and even to be topper in their class. And obviously for this they join different coaching classes. This hectic schedule makes them tired and stressful. So after this children need a completely free time without the binding of any rule and regulation just to play and enjoy and do whatever they want to do.

Free play therapy activities for children are not formula based. The children make their own rules according to their necessity and demand of the group. If any problem comes they discuss with each other and solve it themselves. Often they quarrel, even a good fight too but get it resolved themselves. Next day they are again ready to play with. In this way they learn to think freely and creatively. Their communication skill develops. They learn about social behavior.

Often children neglect to whatever they are taught to do or not to do, by their parents, teachers or any elder one. They do exactly what they are forbidden to. So during play sometimes they injure themselves or make some other harm. Let them to experience it. The effect of their experience will be so strong that they will keep it in their mind for ever. But just to experience they should not be allowed to indulge in any dangerous activity. Don’t interfere unnecessarily in their free play but keep watch, so that to prevent them from any major harm.

While playing any problem comes, they apply the concepts they have learned earlier and even use their own concept too, to get the problem solved. When they handle the situation themselves, it builds their confidence, and gives them internal pleasure. Here their critical thinking skill comes out. Here the parents really learn the personality and lesser known qualities of their children.

There is no pressure to perform well in free play. They just enjoy, whatever the activities they are doing. Every time a competitive attitude is not good for children. Healthy competition is not bad, but children can’t understand what is good and what is bad. So let them play freely without the tension of performing well. Playing without tension sometimes works as medicine for an overburdened and overstressed child.

Free Play Therapy Activities For Children is a post from: MyChildHealth

Fun Beach Activities For Kids

admin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:47:32 +0000

Beaches are the places where people go to enjoy themselves. People of all ages enjoy different activities like sun bathing or going swimming in the sea, bathing, fishing or racing in new age vehicles. Those living near the sea line often go out with children for a day out enjoying doing different things, each according to their choice, and eating before coming back home refreshed and recharged.

Those parents who have children and access to the beach can plan different activities for children to make the day enjoyable. Going out for a picnic is a fun for all. It will be good to make some delicious food which all the members of the family like. The children should be involved in the cooking process to increase the excitement. Once the food is ready it should be packed in a box and ample drinks for people of all ages should be kept alongside. Keep some cans of fruit juices for children. Stuff these in the car, take along some thick linen and proceed to the beach.

At the beach you can ask the children to run around playing with their companions. Take them for a swim and boating. Remember always to accompany the child while performing activities in or near the water. These can sometimes become unsafe if there is high tide or the child goes far off from sea shore in deep water. Slightly older children can form a group to play some ball games or swim around. If the facility of boating is available let them organise a competition. After some time call the child for refreshments and the whole family can sit down and enjoy food and drinks.

If permitted, you can make a bonfire and roast some marshmallows or even meat and enjoy the evening. The children can be asked to collect shells of different shapes and sizes. They can also collect some different coloured smooth stones often found on beaches. The child collecting the best or maximum number of shells can be rewarded. You can carry a book on sea plants and animals and the children should be taught about them. They can be asked to try to locate them around them or on the ocean surface.

Always remember that the beaches are for enjoyment of one and all. It is the moral duty of everyone to keep them clean. Teach this to the children, they should consider it as their responsibility not to throw any waste material on the beach. Instead total waste should be collected and dumped properly or loaded back in your car for disposal at the appropriate place.

Fun Beach Activities For Kids is a post from: MyChildHealth

Kids Sleepover Party Games Ideas

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:34:08 +0000

Sleepover parties are a source of fun for children of all ages. Children get together for fun and activity which continues till they are fully exhausted to the extent that they are ready to fall down and sleep. As parents you also have to lose sleep to enable the children to enjoy in a group and above all to keep a tab on the activities of the group. Though children can pass time on their own with or without your help, but if the event is planned the extent of fun and enjoyment can increase a number of times.

The theme of the party will depend upon the age of your child and the number of children who will be invited to play. If you have a below teen age son the theme will be different as compared to your planning a party for a teen aged son. For the below teens children you can arrange a party in the back yard where you provide the children lot of food stuff and some games. The children can play games, run around catching some lightening bugs and collecting them in big jar. Ensure to teach the children that they should not be cruel to the bugs. The mouth of the jar should be covered with a cotton cloth and not firmly closed with the lid. The children can play, eat and enjoy till sleepy.

In case of teen age boys sleep over party ideas, you can tell them to pool resources and hire some computer games or video games and a TV set. They can continue to play and compete amongst themselves enjoying food and games. A small fire can be arranged for the children to roast some food to eat it hot. If such an arrangement is made it is essential that the children should be cautioned to be serious with fire otherwise the chances are of someone getting injured. After all the fun and food when sleepy they can sleep in a tent specially set up for them.

In case of small girls sleepover party, you can arrange some small utensils and dolls. They will continue to play kitchen and doll games for quite a long time. Similarly you can provide the group of girls some clothes and cosmetics and let the girls dress up, dressing themselves up with the objects available.

In case of the older girls, ask them to bring the best outfits, hats, bags and cosmetics. Each one can dress up in the best possible manner and compete amongst themselves. To add to the fun, make arrangement for a ramp walk event, where the winners will be declared and get small prizes.

Kids Sleepover Party Games Ideas is a post from: MyChildHealth

Outside Fun Playgroup Activities For Toddlers

admin — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 15:20:40 +0000

As babies grow as toddlers, they start enjoying the outside world at large. Going out of the four boundary walls of the house provides them a lot of happiness. Once they get into the habit of going out, they crave to go and play every day. The mother is the person who normally accompanies the child to the playground or such other place for recreation of the child. A public playground in the colony or a place near your home is perfect for an outing. In addition to it being a pastime the child also learns a lot when taken to the play ground.

The first and foremost thing the toddler learns is being social. During these times when the families are getting smaller with the parents tending to follow a single child norm, children find it difficult to mix up with others. The playground is the place where the child will be able to meet other children and mothers and mix up with them. Here the child will learn how to share his things or toys with the others and will also learn how to play with the toys belonging to others.

Moms are also able to find some time for themselves when the child is playing with friends. When the children of like age form a group they run around, or play some other energetic game like hide and seek. This gives a lot of exercise to the child necessary for the mental and physical development of the child. You can buy a CD player and taken it to the playground. Here show some good informative CD’s to the group of children. After showing those, depending upon the age group, ask the children some simple questions and let them find suitable answers. This will help increase mental development of the child.

If there are senior children around the child can be encouraged to mix up with them and spend some time playing. Your child will be able to learn a lot from senior members. The child can also spend some time listening to the children in the senior group as this will help in language development.

Once the children have exhausted themselves after running and playing, make them sit down. Depending upon the age you can teach them nursery rhymes or some alphabets or numbers. You can take activity book of the child to enable him to learn recognising some objects or drawing lines or doing painting with crayons etc.

If there is some zoo or a museum around take the child to these places. It will be a nice and relaxing change for you and your child. The child will learn to recognise animals and will also be able to understand how the animals live and eat.

These small things do help a lot in accelerating learning and overall development of the child.

Outside Fun Playgroup Activities For Toddlers is a post from: MyChildHealth

Fitness With Fun Tips For Children

admin — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:30:58 +0000

Health is an important and the best asset one can possess in life. If the child is healthy he will most likely grow up to be a healthy adult. It is essential for the parents to motivate the child from the day he starts understanding the importance and benefits of being healthy. During these times when television, computer and video games have become common and the children are attracted to them, it is essential that some time must be fixed for outdoor activity to enable the child to get regular exercise.

The parents should fix fitness activities and rules to enable the child to get sufficient exercise necessary for building muscles and for overall development. The simple rules in this regard can be:

The time for which the child can watch TV or play with video or other indoor games should be fixed. It is better that, in consultation with the child, a time table is drawn up for all days of the week fixing the time for studies, games and recreation. The parents should ensure that this time table is followed strictly. Make sure that during play time the child gets maximum exercise.

As far as possible the whole family should go in for a joint outing, long walks, jogging or swimming. In addition, if possible, the whole family should get involved in some game. This will not only give encouragement to the kid to exercise on a regular basis but will also improve the family bond.

Kids often get bored by routine. If a child is asked to follow the same routine daily he will try to avoid going for outing on one pretext or the other. It is essential that the routine be often changed. Some day the child may go for cycling, another day he can be taken swimming or for jogging or for a game like football or cricket. If possible the cycle may be loaded in the car and the child should be taken for playing in different parks nearby. This way the child will remain interested.

Competition amongst children is a source of encouragement. Encourage your kid to bring his friends for a game. Also the children living nearby can collect at a fixed time for games. When the children are together they will run around vigorously or play together in the garden competing with other children and will get maximum exercise.

If circumstances allow you, keep a pet. Keep a dog at your home and fix the duty of the kid to take the dog for a walk in the morning and evening. This will fix a routine. Even if the child is not willing someday the pet will force him to go for a walk.

Along with exercise nutritious and balanced food is a must and should be taken care of.

Fitness With Fun Tips For Children is a post from: MyChildHealth

Enjoy Time With Your Children Without TV

admin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 07:14:32 +0000

Today TV has entered the bedroom of every house hold. It is a pass time not only for kids but for elders also. People of all ages get some or the other programme being telecast according to their taste. Though different channels telecast different programmes some of them are quite educative. Children are often interested in watching cartoon shows in particular.

This way there are chances that the child gets addicted to TV. It becomes difficult to alter this habit and in later life, effects studies. Parents should ensure that their children are not get glued to TV shows, however, if they are to watch TV shows they should tune in to informative programmes teaching craft work or other educative programmes showing animals life in jungles or how people in different parts of the world eat and live.

Children should be discouraged from watching too much TV instead they should be encouraged to do some other things. Teach your child to help you. According to age the child may be asked to help you in cooking, laying the table for dinner or may be asked to clean sofa sets in the room or to water the plants. This way the child will develop the habit of helping you in household activities.

Depending upon the weather the child should be taken to a public park to play with you and other children. This way he will learn to be social and develop the habit of sharing toys etc. with others. It will be fun and refreshing both for you and your child if you go out for a drive and have picnic, stuff a bag with eatables and stop over in a park where your child can run around, play with a ball and eat when hungry. This will help increase affection in the family and will also give much needed exercise to your kid.

In addition to recreation the child should be encouraged to read books. Buy your child some books for his age and in the beginning fix reading time. This will increase his learning capability which will help him in later life. If there are some sports clubs nearby the child should be admitted there. While playing with other children of his age, or younger or older to him, he will learn how to deal with people of different ages and will get much needed regular body exercise necessary for healthy development.

Enjoy Time With Your Children Without TV is a post from: MyChildHealth

Fun Activities For Toddlers At Home

admin — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:50:06 +0000

Exercise is an important aspect for development of the child. At different stages of growth, toddlers need different exercises to tone up muscles and build bones. When too young to move or walk, the child vigorously move arms and legs when he gets up in the morning after sound sleep and when feeling happy. When he grows up and starts walking, running or playing other games, it gives necessary exercise for the proper development of bones and to provide strength to the muscles.

The mother should plan the fun activities of the child in a manner that not only is it a source of fun but also imparts learning and is a source of education. Safety should be monitored at all times.

The activities can be classified into indoor activities and outdoor activities.

Depending upon the age of the child, different indoor activities can be selected. The child can be taught how to draw objects and color them. When the child draws an object this provides a source of entertainment to him as he gets appreciation from parents. When coloring the object, try to make the child realise that the color should not go out of the object outline. This will help the child develop control on movement of hand. The child will learn and have fun. While buying crayons or other coloring material ensure that these are non toxic, so that the child is not harmed even if he accidently puts them in his mouth.

There are a number of indoor games available in stores. These include building blocks, plastic toys which can be assembled to make various shapes or engineering sets which can be used by the child to make small bridge by using nuts and bolts. These will be a source of fun and learning for your child.

Outdoor activities play a very important role in the healthy development of muscles and bones. When the child runs around he gets necessary exercise. To begin with, when the child is too young to play any regular game, the mother can play ball game with the child. A soft ball should be thrown towards the child for him to catch and throw back towards the mother. This way the child will learn sense of direction while having fun. The child should be encouraged to play games which involve a lot of running which is necessary to make him healthy. The toddler should be taken to some public playground to enable him to play with other children on swings or seesaw. This will enhance his social skills as well.

Encourage the child to learn brushing teeth, and maintaining personal hygiene so that it is not burdensome for the child but is also a fun.

Fun Activities For Toddlers At Home is a post from: MyChildHealth

Why Do Children Invent Imaginary Playmates ?

admin — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:22:11 +0000

These days both the parents go to work to meet with the financial demands of the family. The child is left at home or with a babysitter. It has become a fact that parents often have one child. Being on his own, and without the company of other children or elders, the child often develops a feeling of loneliness, and to overcome it develops imaginary friends. This can be some toy dear to the child or some pet or in case of girls quite often dolls. In some cases the child may be friendly with some imaginary human being.

The imagination of the child enables him to communicate as if he is talking to a real friend. Parents should not worry over this, as this is sometimes natural with lonely children. In case if something wrong is done by the child he will try to pass the blame on the nonexistent friend. Like if the child breaks a glass or spills water on a sofa or carpet, he will pass on the blame to the imaginary friend like some dog or cat etc. to save himself from punishment. Parents should understand this and should not punish the child. Similarly, if the child fears the dark, he will put blame on his friend and ask the parents to keep light of his room on. Taking note of this fear, parents should leave a small light on in the child’s room.

If the child happens to make some friends or starts going to school, may be play school, in all probabilities, he is likely to make real friends and slowly forget about imaginary friend. Imaginary friends often help the lonely child to socialise. The child will play with such a friend, talk and share his achievements and problems with him. Parents should keep a watch on the communication between the two. This way they will be able to know problems, if any, faced by their child and will be in a position to help him out.

Parents should remember not to try to convince the child that his friend is nonexistent. They should not start talk with the child about the friend. However if the child starts talking about the friend, they should carefully listen to him and should never try to belittle him for being friendly with a nonexistent person.

Remember this is a passing phase, and the parents are also to be blamed to some extent, being unable to give proper and desired company to the child. This friend will vanish when the child is in school.

Why Do Children Invent Imaginary Playmates ? is a post from: MyChildHealth

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