Backyard Fun

So the kids have been out of school for a few weeks now and the excitement of summer is starting to ware off. Maybe you have even heard those dreaded words “I’m BORED”!!!! Noooooooo!!!! Why not come up with some creative activities that gets the kids out of the house and gets them some fresh air and exercise with these backyard activates.

Sprinklers– Some of my best childhood memories are turning on the back yard hose and running and giggling my way through the sprinkler. This is a great way to cool off on those summer days

Bug Races– Capture a roly-poly, ladybug, caterpillar or whatever other critter you can find in your yard. Line them up and send them off and see which bug wins!

Paint the Fence– You can either use sidewalk chalk or butcher paper taped to the fence to paint a mural.

Build a Fort (or set-up a tent)- Camp in the backyard under the stars

Twister– Using spray paint, paint a twister board for some twisted family fun

Ghost in the Graveyard– Pick someone to be the “ghost. Hide while the kids count to 100 at the “base.” Then they fan out in search of the ghost. When one of them discovers your ghastly hiding place, he yells, “Ghost in the graveyard!” and all the kids sprint back to base. The child you catch becomes the new ghost.

Freeze Tag– The classic Tag game never gets old. When you’re “it,” the players you tag have to stay frozen wherever you tagged them. The other players can then tag them, which have the effect of “unfreezing” them until you get them again. The game ends if whoever is “it” manages the impressive feat of freezing everybody, or when any one player has been frozen three times (or five times for younger kids). At that point, he’s “it” and the game resumes.

Memory game– Do a twist on any old “Memory” card game!  Take the card game and tape one of each card match to various spots around the yard (without your kids watching).  Then have each kid take a turn by picking one of the remaining cards and then searching the yard for its match.  They can find each card as a group too if they prefer.  If you don’t have the card game, you can use colored paper plates, construction paper, or anything else you have around the house. (Source: Examiner)

Kick Ball Croquet- Take the classic backyard croquet and add a kicking twist. Cut pool noodles in half down the middle and each pool noodle is enough to make up two arches. Use garden stakes to keep them in place on the lawn. Use a couple of kick balls and kick the ball through the course croquet style! First one to get their ball to the finish wins!!

Create a Backyard water-bed– Take a large piece of plastic tarp and fold it in half. Tape two sides down to the ground leaving one end open. Using the water hose fill the plastic with water. Tape the end closed and voila entertainment for hours. Even adults will enjoy jumping on the water-bed!

These activities are sure to help make your summer  AweMazing!

XOXO

Themed Sidewalk Chalk Activities

It’s always fun to drive thru the neighborhood during the summer to see all the art displays on the street, sidewalks and driveways!  Yes, kids are out having fun with sidewalk chalk. While it’s always fun to let their imaginations run wild and draw what they want, however why not change it up a little with sidewalk chalk themes? Here are 10 different things you can do with sidewalk chalk.

Create a City: Draw streets, stop signs and stores with parking lots. After the town is complete, the kids can drive their cars (bikes) through the city to run their errands. Don’t forget to draw an ice cream shop for those hot days!

Basketball Court: Draw a basketball court (or soccer field, baseball field, etc.).  Use beanbags or real balls to play.

Family Portrait: Trace the kiddos and have them draw clothes on them or better yet have them play dress up with their real clothes.

Story Board: Watch a movie or read a book together and then draw their favorite scene.

Bean Bag Toss: Create boxes with numbers in them and if the bean bag lands in the square they get that many points. This will help them keep their math skills sharp.

Chalk Stakeout: Chalk a house with windows and doors. Have several areas (windows, doors, chimney) to capture. Chalk a baseline about 5 feet away (for younger children 4 feet away). Take turns tossing a small rock onto the house. When a rock lands in a section that can be captured (like a door or window) mark the capture with initials. After all the sections are captured, each player counts up his Stakeouts. The player with the most Stakeouts wins!
 Penalties:  Lose a turn if your rock lands on another player’s Stakeout. The toss doesn’t count if it lands less than half-way over the line. (idea courtesy of ListPlanIt)

Sidewalk Chalk Props: Draw a tree, a basketball hoop, a bike or whatever they desire. Now take a picture of them posing next to the tree, dunking the basketball or riding the bike.

Create Fairy Wings: Draw and decorate fairy wings and then have your kids lay down so it looks like they have wings. This can also be done with princess crowns,  etc…Have your camera ready!

Draw a Maze

 Wet the chalk for a whole new experience.

These are just a few ideas of how you can take sidewalk chalk to the next level. The possibilities are endless for an AweMazing time!

XOXO

Sunscreen: What does all of this mean?

Picture from (www.embroideryboutique.com)

The warmer temperatures of summer bring more fun in the sun, which means we are applying that sunscreen more often.  During a recent trip to the store, I ventured to the sunscreen aisle and found myself confused as to which sunscreen is best for the family.  What does UVA and UVB and QRS (kidding with that one) mean? What is the difference between water-resistant and water proof? What is sunscreen vs. sunblock? Help!!! I decided to do a little research to educate myself and have come up with a mini sunscreen dictionary. Here it is, I hope it helps

Broad Spectrum: Sunscreens that protect your skin from some of the UVA and UVB rays. (Source: uvawareness.com)

SPF: The Sun Protection Factor tells you how well the product will protect the skin and prevent sunburn.  The higher the SPF the more UVB rays are blocked. Keep in mind the SPF has nothing to do with UVA rays, which are the ones that cause Cancer and aging. To protect against both look for a broad-spectrum product (Source: uvawareness.com)

Sunscreen: Allows the sun’s raises to enter into the skin while filtering out some of the radiation. It protects the skin for UVA and UVB rays however it deteriorate faster when exposed to the light. (Source: uvawareness.com)

Sunblock: Does just as it sounds, it blocks the sun’s rays from hitting your skin. Sunblock is often thicker and can often sit on top of your skin. (Source: uvawareness.com)

UVA Rays:  Account for 95% of the UV rays reaching the earth’s service. The UVA rays are more intense and penetrate the skin deeper than it’s counter part UVB rays. UVA rays are the rays that help us get tan, however they have been linked to aging and skin cancer. These rays are strongest during all daylight hours; year around and can seep through clouds and glass. (Source: SkinCancer.org)

UVB Rays: Are responsible for sunburn as they soak into the top layer of the skin. UVB also contributes slight to skin cancer and aging. UVB rays are strongest from 10am- 4pm in April-October. UVB can also be strong year around at high altitudes and when reflected of ice and snow. (Source: SkinCancer.org)

Waterproof: The FDA considers a product to be waterproof if it maintains it designated SPF following 80 minutes of exposure to water. (Source: MelanomaFoundation.org)

Water-Resistant: A product is considered water resistant if it holds its SPF following 40 minutes of exposure to water. (Source: MelanomaFoundation.org)

There is a lot that goes into finding the right sunscreen.  Living in Southern California we have searched high and low for products that protect the family. Our favorite is Banana Boat Baby. It’s a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with an SPF of 50. It’s Water Resistant and is recommended by both Skin Cancer Foundation and Pediatricians.  An added feature is that it is tear and sting free, so when it’s wet it doesn’t sting your eyes. This is perfect for the baby or for daddy while he is out surfing.

Now that you’re educated a little, go have some Fun in the Sun and have an AweMazing summer!

XOXO

AweMazing Activities to do with Dad on Father’s Day

All of those hard working dads out there deserve some quality time with those they love the most. What better way to thank dad for being your rock and your biggest supporter than to plan a special day to show him just how special he is. Below are a few ideas of activities you can do with dad!

Plan a Picnic in the Park

Gather the kids, pack Dad’s favorite lunch items and head to the park for some family time.  Choose a park that you don’t typically go to so it will be new and exciting for everyone.  Bring a kite, soccer balls or your sandbox toys to add some additional family fun

Go on a Nature Hike

While driving to the hiking spot, as a family brainstorm things you hope to see, hear or experience while on the hike.  Cross the items off as you come across them

Bike Ride

Check the air in your tires and dust off the seat for a family bike ride. Pick a fun destination or play the quarter game for a surprise ride. To play use a quarter (or any coin) and every time you come to a corner, a light, or ride for a certain distance flip the coin to see where you go. Heads is right and Tails is left… or straight which ever works for your area. It will make for a surprise destination and a carefree ride for the whole family

Putt-Putt Golfing

If dad is a golfer, challenge his  skills in a round of putt-putt

Take Dad to a ballgame

Nothing says summer time like America’s past time. Take Dad to a ballgame for some hotdogs, crackerjacks and a good ol’ game of baseball

Have a Backyard BBQ

Fire up the grill with dad’s favorite items and throw him a BBQ with all his favorite sides

Take a Day Trip      

Load the car with you Dad’s favorite CDs, pack some snacks and bring the kids for a road trip to Dad’s favorite place. Spend the day exploring the area as a family and engage the Kids by playing games such as I Spy

Additional Ideas

• Go to the Zoo
• Visit a Museum
• Go Fishing
• Explore a new Restaurant
• Visit the local Fair
• See a Movie together
• Go swimming

Don’t forget to tell Dad just how AweMazing he is this father’s day!  Post a comment and tell us what you have planned!

XOXO

Day 14 June Ab Challenge

65 Sit-Ups

85 Crunches

42 Leg Raises

55s Plank

Your body can do this; get your mind to believe it can!

School’s Out For Summer…

Walking around the neighborhood this morning, you could feel a sense of excitement in the air; it’s the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL…. School’s out for Summer! This means parents will have to find creative ways to entertain kids without having them in front of the TV or computer all summer.  Why not trick your kids and plan activities that are not only fun for them but will also keep their mind sharp as they prepare for the next school year?  We have come up with a few activities that will be fun for your little ones while challenging their mind:

Reading

• Choose a book to read together (if your child can read take turns reading the pages) and when the book is completed watch the movie together and discusses the similarities and differences between the book and movie.  Did you like the differences? Are the characters in the movie how you imagined they would be from the book? A few examples of books/movies: Charlottes Web, James and the Giant Peach Tree and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to name a few.

• Join a summer reading program at your local library. Our library has an amazing summer reading program for all ages.  The children log their reading activity and once they have read for 10hours they earn a prize. Prizes include ice cream, a new book, happy meal, pool day, etc. If your library doesn’t have a program similar to this create your own rewards program.

Writing

• Take all your photos from this year and create a photo album, either a standard album or a digital such as Shutterfly. Have the kids write the captions or a story about what is happening in the picture.

• Keep a daily journal of what they did this summer and include pictures, drawings or anything else that helps represent the day. At the end of the summer you can publish the journal into a keepsake book.

• Get a Pen Pal or write to a distant relative or an old friend. Exchange letters, photos and drawings of things your children did during the summer.

• Send postcards to Troops overseas or send Get Well Cards with a nice message to the Children’s Hospital.

Math/Science

• Host a lemonade stand. Nothing says summer like a lemonade stand on the corner. Have your kids create flyers with catchy wording, make a sign for their stand and post the flyers around so they gain customers. Let them be in charge of the money so they have to calculate how much is owed and the change that needs to be given back.

• Bake with your children. Have them measure the ingredients and use smaller measuring cups so they have to add to get the right amount. For example if it calls for 1c, use ¼ so they can practice adding.

• Create a count down chart for something exciting that is happening this summer like a trip, grandparent visit or birthday.

• Go on a nature walk and take pictures of the different birds you see. When you get home use the National Geographic Bird Identifier to see if you can determine what kind of bird it is.

• Lie in the backyard and take pictures of the clouds and then research the types of clouds they are.

These are just a few ideas that will be fun for the kids do and they will never know it’s educational as well! How AweMazing is that?!

Please leave more ideas in the comment section so our readers can continue to educate their children all summer long!

XOXO

P.S. Here is day 7 of the June Ab Challenge

40 Sit-Ups

20 Crunches

20 Leg Raises

30s Plank

It’s getting tough but your body can do it!

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