Fun Things To Do With The Family Over Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer. It’s the last chance to enjoy the sun and the warm weather before school starts. It’s also a great time for you and your family to have one last adventure before the crisp autumn air sets in.

Below, Parenting Fun 411 offers seven suggestions for you and your family to do this upcoming Labor Day weekend. Our suggestions are fairly general and applicable to just about every region of the country, but we’ve also included specific ideas for certain locales. Hopefully these “specific ideas” will inspire you to find similar destinations near your family’s home.


Camping
Labor Day and camping go together like Fourth of July and fireworks. Yet, when we think of camping we usually think of rural areas far away from major metropolitan areas. You’ll be amazed that even if you live amongst millions of people, deep in the concert jungle, great campsites are usually just minutes away.

Take the city of Boston. About a 50-minute drive to the northwest you’ll find the Boston Minuteman Campground located in Littleton, Massachusetts. This beautiful wooded campground offers restroom facilities, a playground, and WIFI—because as we all know it’s just not camping without high-speed internet access.

In Salem, Massachusetts you’ll find Winter Island Park. Located about 35 minutes from downtown Bean Town, this RV campsite offers access to Salem Harbor and features the Fort Pickering Light house.
Finally, there’s the Black Bear Campground about one hour away from Boston in the town of Salisbury, Massachusetts. Black Bear has basketball hoops, swimming pools, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, and a children’s playground.


The Beach
You don’t have to live on the East or West Coast to visit a beach (technically you do, but we’ll use the word “beach” in the broadest possible sense). You’ll be hard pressed to find a city, town, or municipality in America that’s not next to some body of water. And where there’s water their beaches and where there’s beaches there’s public parks.

Now the city of Austin, Texas is about four hours from the Gulf of Mexico but that doesn’t mean residents can’t enjoy some fun in, on, and/or near the water. For example, there’s Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park. After taking a refreshing swim in the 900-foot long pool, visitors can enjoy a snow cone and then nap under a shady pecan tree.

Lake Travis is located just outside of town and can be enjoyed via Pace Bend Park. There you can rent boats and jets skis, or take a nice long swim. It’s a very popular destination but large enough to accommodate a lot of recreationists—of course it’s big, it’s in Texas.


Music Festivals
Labor Day is a popular weekend for music festivals. Just about every major city hosts some sort of music festival or art fair. And if you happen to live in one of the few cities with nothing going on, there’s probably a music festival in the next town over.

One of the nation’s largest and most popular Labor Day music festivals is Seattle’s Bumbershoot. This 40-year-old festival not only brings acts like Bob Dylan and Mary J. Blige to the Emerald City but it also offers tons of activities for families and kids.

Bumbershoot is also an art festival so there are films, visual arts, poetry readings, and theatre events. There’s even a motorcycle thrill show although we don’t know what category that attraction falls under. And don’t forget the food. The eats at Bumbershoot are fabulous.


Fairs
Most state and county fairs have already come and gone but there are some communities that wait until Labor Day to launch their annual events. One such community is Southern California. The Los Angeles County Fair begins on Labor Day weekend. You can find all the fun at the Fairplex in Pomona. On Labor Day, between 10am and 1pm, admission is only one dollar.

The Los Angeles County Fair features attractions like “A Pirate’s Life”, “Jurassic Planet,” and “Esmeralda’s Traveling Circus.” There are also farm animals, horse shows, pig races, and an extreme dog stunt team. Oh yeah, there’s also carnival rides. While the kids are spinning around, you and your spouse can enjoy wine and spirits competitions, street performers, and cooking demonstrations.


Museums
This suggestion is less about the entire weekend and more about Monday, the actual holiday. Most museums are closed on Monday, but quite a few open their doors on Labor Day to host special family events. One such museum that’s open on Labor Day is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

All day Monday, groups of children ages 5 through 12 (and their accompanying adults) will get to tour the Met. They will also get to discuss and sketch the art. These tours are free with museum admission and last about an hour. You’ll want to go to the Carson Family Hall at either 11am, 12pm, 1:15pm, or 2:30pm. The museum’s cafeteria, as well as the Petrie Court Café and Wine Bar, The American Wing Café, and The Roof Garden Café will also be open on Labor Day.


Amusement Parks
Hey, it’s the final big weekend of summer so why not splurge and take the family to an amusement park. This doesn’t mean you have to take a long road trip to a Disney resort or Six Flags because there are great amusement parks all over the country. Odds are pretty good that at the most you’re just half a day’s drive away from some family fun.

For instance, there’s Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. This park boats 17 roller coasters—the most of any amusement park in the world. There’s also Busch Gardens Europe found in Williamsburg, Virginia. It’s home to 25 rides, including 5 roller coasters, and Sesame Street’s Forest of Fun. Another suggestion is Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. The park encompasses nearly 300 acres and admission is free (you buy rides as you go). Knoebels is all about family fun and lacks the commercialism found in your bigger amusement parks.


Stay Home
While this doesn’t sound like much fun don’t dismiss the idea until you’ve heard us out. One, there are no crowds. Two, it’s inexpensive. And three, there are no crowds and it’s inexpensive. We don’t mean stay home and twiddle your thumbs. We mean stay home and have some fun.

You can camp out in the backyard, have a barbeque, make a slip-n-slide, get caught up on all the movies your family missed over the summer, have a video game marathon, play sports, and clean out the garage. Okay, maybe that last one is pushing it.

Still, no matter where you go for Labor Day weekend remember it’s not so much what you do but who you do it with.

Ten Fun Things Your Kids Can Do On Long Road Trips

Long car trips aren’t fun for adults much less kids. The little ones are forced to sit in one place for hours on end with nothing to do. This leads to bored kids; and bored kids leads to loud and unruly kids; and loud and unruly kids leads to stressed out parents. That’s why moms and dads, especially those with more than one progeny, dread those marathon road trips.

To help make vast vehicle voyages enjoyable for the entire family, Parenting Fun 411 has compiled a list of ten fun things your kids can do in the car on long road trips. These suggestions are guaranteed to make any long automobile odyssey seem like a jaunt to the local grocery store.

But, before you embark on your epic, Jack Kerouac like-road trip, keep the following things in mind…

• Make sure your kids eat healthy before getting in the car. You don’t want any stomach aches as you’re tootling down Route 66.
• Make sure your kids have access to food and drink during the roadie. This will drastically cut down on the whining. Besides, kids can’t talk if they have food in their mouths.
• Middle-aged parents aren’t the only ones who ache after sitting in one place for long periods of time. Provide your little darlings with the necessary pillows so they can avoid back and neck pains.
• Have a motion sickness response bag ready to go. Just one car-sick-kid can take a long road trip and make it even longer.
• Be prepared to make frequent stops. This is hard for dads to swallow because the “Man Code” says you must drive as long and as far as possible—don’t they know you must make good time? Unfortunately, the rest of the family doesn’t care about making good time. Therefore, after about two hours of driving stop for about 15 minutes so everyone can stretch their legs and use the bathroom.
• Clean the car. Your peace of mind will be over before you even leave the driveway if the inside of your vehicle is cluttered and disorganized.

Now we can finally get on with the ten fun things your kids can do on long road trips. Our suggestions run the gamut from activities your wee ones will enjoy to stuff that’s appropriate for teenagers. We have just one thing to say about our list, make sure you stock up on batteries.

Hand Held Video Games
This suggestion is so obvious I almost didn’t include it. Even Luddites know the one thing that occupies every child’s attention—no matter what—is video games. If your kids don’t own a handheld system, a road trip is the perfect time to treat them to one. Or you can always get them an inexpensive electronic game at any toy store.

Music
The long, boring road trip is why God invented the MP3 player and tween music stars. Pack their electronic music device full of tunes, make sure their ear buds are working properly, and you’re ready to go. Just look at it this way, in the time it takes your kids to listen to Justin Bieber’s entire “My World 2.0″ album you can drive from Boston to Framingham. By the way, you can get a 4GB MP3 player for under $30.

Movies
I did a quick internet search and found a portable DVD player with a screen for $80. That’s a lot of money, but if you already own several DVDs think of that $80 as a small price to pay for peace and quiet (remember they come with headphone jacks). You can get a system with two screens for around $150 but everyone has to watch the same DVD.

Audio Books
Your local library should have a wide collection of audio books or you can always shop Amazon.com, iTunes, audiobooks.org, or booksontape.com. Audio books are not only a great way to pass the time but listening to someone read a novel is a unique experience. Plus, your kids still get to look out the window and see all the sights.

Reading
I can’t read in a car, but maybe your kids have an iron stomach or maybe you’re road trippin’ in an RV. Regardless, reading makes those long car trips just fly by. You don’t need to buy any books you can just visit your local library. And don’t forget magazines, comic books, and e-readers.

Drawing
Procure a fairly good size box that’s only a couple of inches deep—think of the box bottled water comes in. Fill the box with paper, pens, and crayons. Presto! Your kids have their own traveling arts center. Or if you prefer, you could put some blank paper on clipboards and let them draw that way.

Alphabet Game
This is a game the whole family can play which may or may not be a good thing. The game is simple, try to find every letter of the alphabet, in order, as you’re truckin’ down the road. Everything outside of the car is fair game from license plates to billboards. When you’re finished, start again, but this time begin with “Z” and end with “A.”

Compass
Give each one of your kids a compass and have them pay close attention to which direction the car is heading. Yes, I know most cars have that information on the dashboard but help a writer out, will ya! I’m trying to keep your kids from driving you nuts. The magic of a compass may not seem like much to you, but your kids will love it. As an added bonus, having all those compasses around should prevent you from getting lost.

Puzzles
There are puzzle books, puzzle games, hand held puzzles, and of course, crossword puzzles. Not only are puzzles fun but they usually involve high levels of concentration. And as we all know it’s hard to talk when you’re busy concentrating. There are puzzles for kids of all ages so this suggestion applies to every member of your brood. As added incentives give small rewards for every puzzle your kids solve.

Talking
Seems like an obvious activity but one you might overlook. Of course by talking we mean some sort of organized discussion like storytelling, answering questions (what’s your favorite movie, who’s your hero, what would you do if you were president), or you can always enter into a robust political discussion about nuclear disarmament in Eastern Europe. Please be careful. You don’t want your conversation to distract the person behind the wheel.

Top 10 Kids’ Movies of 2010… So Far

This year has been lousy for movies, especially the summer. Fortunately, the category least affected by Hollywood’s ineptness is kids’ movies. While they are hard to master, they are easy to make entertaining. Kids have a soft spot for a few things: special effects, talking animals, and animation. If you take any or all of the three aforementioned ingredients, mixed them with a decent script, and an average director you’ll more than likely end up with a decent kid’s movie.

Below, Parenting Fun 411 lays out the 10 best kids’ movies of 2010 (through July). All these flicks are worth a trip to your local theater but not all are worth a popcorn and a soda. They are all definitely worth a rental. Word of warning though, not every movie listed below is for every member of the family—and no, I’m not talking about you and your spouse. Check out our reviews to see if the movie is appropriate for your child.

Toy Story 3
Rated G
1 hour 49 minutes

The only people who dislike the Toy Story movies are bitter bloggers who’ve never kissed a girl and still live in their mother’s basement. In the third installment of this insanely successful Pixar/Disney franchise, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the toys find themselves out of Andy’s room and on their own. Toy Story 3 is funny, adventurous, and tender. Basically, it’s great for all ages. I would go on but my mother is calling. “Coming Ma!”

Despicable Me
PG
1 hour 35 minutes

Starring the voice of Steve Carell (The Office), Despicable Me is about the world’s greatest villain who needs three orphaned girls to carry out his sinister plot. However, something magical happens along the way as the girls show him the true meaning of the word “family” (roll eyes). The movie is highly derivative of Pixar and Looney Tunes but brings enough new stuff to the screen to make it a good time. It’s funny, smart, and should please most everyone in your family.

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
PG
1 hour 22 minutes

Yes, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore hasn’t gotten the greatest reviews, but who cares? The movie contains digitally rendered talking dogs and cats. What more could you want out of life much less a movie? This is actually a sequel although you and your family have probably never even heard of the original. Did I mention there’s talking dogs and cats? The plot centers on the evil Kitty Galore who is trying to make the world her scratching post—so yes it’s based on a true story. By the way, it features dogs and cats digitally altered so they can talk. The movie stars the voices of Chris O’Donnell, Christina Applegate, and Alex Baldwin. Dogs. Cats. Talking.

Alice in Wonderland
PG
1 hour 49 minutes

Tim Burton’s take on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass” is pure eye candy. This is definitely the best looking film on our list. Alice in Wonderland features all the great characters from the books—the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat—as well as Alice’s epic battle against the Red Queen. The movie stars the great Johnny Deep and the incomparable Helena Bonham Carter.

Shrek Forever After (Shrek 4)
PG
1 hour 34 minutes

This charming sequel once again features everyone’s favorite green ogre, Shrek, and his friends from the land of Far, Far Away. It’s probably not the strongest Shrek, but at least the franchise ends on a high note (this is the last one, right?). Shrek Forever After has some laughs, some action, and plenty of tributes to the other three installments. Personally, Shrek is my fourth favorite green-skinned character (that includes non-fiction works as well).

Ramona and Beezus
G
1 hour 44 minutes

There’s some debate on whether or not this movie captures the essence of the books. Maybe it does and maybe it doesn’t, but it’s one of the few “G” movies released in 2010 so it’s going on our list. Regardless, Ramona and Beezus is positive, sweet, and completely appropriate for children of all ages. It also stars Selena Gomez. Who I’m sure is revered by lots of little girls (and maybe some boys if you know what I mean).

The Karate Kid
PG
2 hour 20 minutes

Maybe you can, but I can’t get over the fact that this movie is about kung fu fighting yet it’s called “The Karate Kid.” Nonetheless, this remake of the 1984 classic is solid and delivers a fine family experience. Jaden Smith (Will Smith’s son) is full of charisma, playing the titular character made famous by Ralph Macchio. Jackie Chan also shines as his mentor and teacher, Mr. Han. Watch this version and then show your kids the original. Then show them some old Jackie Chan movies—they will really love those.

How to Train Your Dragon
PG
1 hour 38 minutes

This animated tour de force features dragons and Vikings. What more could you want in a movie? How to Train Your Dragon is about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III’s quest to be a hero and train his reluctant and ornery dragon (obviously a plot stolen from Shakespeare). The film looks great, the story and dialogue are top notch, and there’s plenty of great action. See this one soon because its sequel is already on the way.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
PG
2 hour

It may seem like a Harry Potter rip-off—okay, it is a Harry Potter rip-off—but don’t let that ruin it for you. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief is a fast-paced, well-casted, family adventure with plenty of eye-boggling CGI. Furthermore, it deals heavily with Greek mythology—a topic du jour for most boys. The movie features a slew of great actors including Pierce Brosnan, Roasrio Dawson, Melina Kanakaredes, Uma Thurman, and Sean Bean.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
PG
1 hour 51 minutes

Unless your kids are mature beyond their years, they probably won’t mind spending two hours with the mentally deranged Nicolas Cage. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is made by the same creative team that gave us the “National Treasure” franchise (do with that what you will). The movie is jam packed with great CGI effects and thrilling action. It may be a little light on substance but it’s a fun, fancy free, family fantasy.

Ten Best Wii Games For The Family

The title of this blog entry should probably read “Ten Best Wii Games for the Family That Have Nothing to Do with Mario.” Parenting Fun 411 thought it would be unfair to include all the great Mario games available for the Wii. Suffice to say, if you’re at the big box store and you need to buy a Wii game for the family just grab something with the word “Mario” in the title: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Mario Party 8, Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel, New Super Mario Bros., or Super Mario Galaxy.

However, if you want something different (or perhaps you’ve already played all the Mario titles) Parenting Fun 411 has compiled 10 great Wii games that the entire family can enjoy. And by “family” we don’t just mean the kids. The ten games below will appeal to everyone from your tweens and teens to grandma and grandpa.

Wii Sports Resort

Table tennis, archery, basketball, and bicycling are just a few of the activities you and your family can enjoy with Wii Sports Resort. This title lacks depth, but it more than makes up for it with a large amount of easy and fun to play mini-games. Sports Resort comes bundled with one Wii MotionPlus accessory. Unfortunately, in order to enjoy multi-player action you’ll need the accessory for every controller.

Boom Blox Bash Party

Destruction is the name of the game in Boom Blox Bash Party. Don’t worry, it’s a wholesome kind of destruction—players must utilize their reflexes and wits to knock down large structures made of blocks. Boom Blox features a mind-boggling 400 levels (more can be downloaded or created) and your family can play either cooperatively or competitively.

Rayman Raving Rabbids 2

There are several Rayman games, but we picked Raving Rabbids 2 because it has tons of mini-games, plenty of unique ways to use the Wii Remote, and oodles of customization options. Oh yeah, one more thing, it’s hilarious. This is one of the best party titles ever released for the Wii. Its predecessor is nearly as fun and more so if you enjoy throwing cows and beating lumps into rabbids.

Carnival Games

Finally, there’s a way to experience the carnival without having to deal with carnies. Carnival Games features a slew of games you’d find at any carnival. However, with this title your family actually has a chance to win. You and the clan can test each other’s skills at the ring toss, dunk tank, shooting gallery, and lucky cups just to name a few. Do well and you can win one of over 250 carnival prizes.

Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree

The terms “big brain” and “video games” don’t necessarily go together, so if your kids giggle every time they hear someone say “Wii” you’ll probably want to skip this title. Big Brain Academy tests a player’s noggin via mental marathons, mind sprints, and brain quizzes. Yep, the game will make you think, but it’s so much fun your family won’t even realize it. The game can be played with up to eight players.

Hasbro Family Game Night 1 and 2

Hasbro Family Game Night 1 includes Connect Four, Boggle, Battleship, Yahtzee, and Sorry! The sequel features Operation, Jenga, Bop-It, Connect 4×4, and Pictureka. The original allows you to decorate your own game room while the second features the Hasbro Family Game Show. In case you’re wondering, these two titles are far more than just simple video game versions of your favorite board games.

Cooking Mama: Cook Off

You can’t get your kids to make toast, but Cooking Mama: Cook Off will have them whipping up fried crab and bouillabaisse. The way the game works is players use the Wii remote as a cooking utensil to create 55 dishes from 10 different nations. This is definitely a niche title, but if your family is into the niche they’ll have loads of fun. Cooking Mama is highly addictive, but sadly only two can play at a time.

Celebrity Sports Showdown

Your kids will appreciate all the mini-games Celebrity Sports Showdown has to offer while you’ll get a kick out of the game’s campy sensibilities—what other title allows you to play as Keith Urban, Fergie, or Paul Pierce? Up to four family members can compete in mini-games like beach volleyball, slalom showdown, smash badminton, and dodgeball (which is one of the best of its kind on the Wii).

Smarty Pants Trivia For Everyone

Smarty Pants Trivia features 20,000 age targeted questions. That means everyone in the family can play at the same time. The game has a cooperative mode—where everyone works together—and a competitive mode—where it’s every brain for themselves. Besides the questions, Smarty Pants also features several mini-games so you’ll be using more than just your brain.

Active Life Outdoor Challenge

You may not like Active Life Outdoor Challenge. Not because it’s too kid oriented, but because it’s actually active. The dozen-plus mini games, as well as the multi-player modes, utilize the Active Life Mat (comes bundled with the game). So if Outdoor Challenge asks you to jump rope, you’ll actually have to jump on the mat. This well-done game has lots of charm, but best of all it will keep your family moving.

Ways To Keep Your Kids Busy During Heat Waves

The summer is a golden opportunity for you and your family to have loads of fun, but just as a rainy day can throw a wrench into the works so can a heat wave. When the mercury threatens to burst through the top of the thermometer, kids (and adults for that matter) have a tendency to become idle.

To keep your kids busy (and cool) Parenting Fun 411 has a few suggestions for you. Don’t worry, while most of them involve water we do have a few ideas that will keep both you and your kids perfectly dry.

First, let’s start by stating the obvious—get your kids to a body of water. Load everyone into the minivan and head to the nearest lake, river, ocean, or public pool. Better yet, call that friend you helped moved—you know the one with the swimming pool—and cash in that favor they owe you.

If you go online and do a little research you’re bound to find a nearby public park with a swimming hole. For instance, in Chicago there are more than 20 designated swimming beaches monitored by lifeguards. Across the country in Colorado, Denver Parks and Recreation operates 16 outdoor pools.

Don’t forget that in many urban areas kids can cool off and splash around in public fountains. In Bean Town, you can visit the spray pool at the Boston Common’s Frog Pond. In Portland, Oregon kids have been cooling off at the Salmon Street Springs for years. The Rose City fountain goes through nearly 5,000 gallons of water per minute and contains 185 jets.

To really beat the heat, treat your kids to a trip to the local water park. You might have to drive a bit but just about every area of the country has one—many are attached to amusement parks. Some of the more popular water parks in the U.S. include Schlitterbahn in New Braunfel, Texas; Raging Waters in San Jose, California; Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin’s Dells, and Water World in Denver, Colorado.

If leaving the home is out of the question, there are several wet and wild activities you and your kids can do in the back yard. Young children love those plastic kiddie pools and most are easy on the wallet. For older kids who can’t fit inside those tiny things, you might want to try a slip-n-slide. You can buy one or better yet make one of your own. All you need is water, some Visqueen, and a slope. The trick is to make sure the water is dispersed laterally across the entire slide or you’ll encounter too much friction (ouch). To really get the most out of your slide, have it end in a pool of water.

Running through the sprinkler was fun for kids 50 years ago and it will be fun for kids 50 years from now. If you don’t already have a sprinkler you can find one at any hardware store for around $10. Beyond that you have your squirt guns and your water balloons, both can be procured relatively cheaply—check out dollar stores.

To avoid chaos, injuries, and tears it’s probably best to set up some ground rules before your kids begin squirting and chucking water balloons at one another. Also, you might want to think of a handicap for your oldest if there’s a huge discrepancy in the ages of your kids. A teenager going up against a 1st grader in a water balloon fight is the epitome of a mismatch.

You can avoid the mortal water combat but still get wet if you wash the dog (or maybe the car). You might have to sell this one though. Some kids may view this as a chore and not a fun activity (I know I would).

Should water games be out of the question (perhaps you want to keep your lawn in one piece) you still have some options. Public libraries, malls, museums, and movie theaters are generally air conditioned and therefore a great place to spend the day. However, they do vary on the amount of damage they can do to your budget. The public library is obviously free; a mall can be free but it takes a lot of willpower (although it’s a great place to go if you have toddlers or infants); museums can be free since most have a monthly no-admission day; and of course movie theaters will cost you plenty.

Remember that heat rises so the coolest places in your home will be the basement or the ground floor. Also be mindful that electronics generate heat. That includes your computer, HDTV, and video game consoles. And I don’t need to tell you, although I’m going to, that using your oven is bad idea in the middle of heat wave.

With all that being said, a hot spell is a great time to find a cool place and get caught up on your reading and/or napping. Both activities are a nice change of pace from getting soaked and hanging out with hundreds of scantily clad strangers at your local public swimming pool.

Finally, if your kids are feeling industrious there’s always a lemonade stand. It’s not a way to beat the heat but it’s definitely a way to take advantage of it. Lemonade and cups are fairly inexpensive and for a “stand” your kids can use an old card table. A great trick to teach them is to fill the cups half full. It will maximize their profits and since they’re kids their customers won’t complain.

Whatever you decide to do with your kids when the temperature pushes triple-digits just remember that they need to drink lots of water and they need protection from the sun. While hot weather is a great opportunity for fun there are some hazards involved.

The Most Fun Places to Raise Kids in America

This article is about fun places to raise your kids not places with the best schools, or the best property values, or low unemployment rates. One could make the argument that if parents don’t have to worry about quality schools, affordable housing, and a good job they can focus all their energies on raising kids and having fun. That’s a great argument but not the one Parenting Fun 411 is using in this article.

We’re going the one-hundred percent “fun” route. In order for a place to make our list it has to be a guaranteed fun time for kids. Because as we all know kids don’t really care about property values, jobs, or schools—especially schools. They just want to have a good time.

The places we’ve chosen are so much fun that when your kids become adults they will look back on their childhood and say, “I grew up in [insert name of one of the cities listed below] and it was a blast.” They are not likely to say “I grew up in [insert name of boring city] and it had a high graduation rate and low median home prices.”

Don’t worry parents. We made sure that each place on our list had at least one boring attribute you’d appreciate.

Orlando, Florida
http://www.orlandoinfo.com

The inclusion of Orlando, Florida is a no-brainer especially since Universal Orlando added the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We all know that Orlando is the amusement park capital of the world (Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and the Holy Land Experience) but did you also know that it’s located in the center of Florida? Other great Florida destinations like Daytona, Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, and Miami are just a day’s drive away.

For Parents: Orlando is the third most visited city in America. So even in a down economy Orlando’s brisk tourism keeps unemployment rates low.

Anchorage, Alaska
http://www.anchorage.net

Anchorage, Alaska may not be much fun if your kids need to be continually “plugged in” and within arm’s reach of a Starbucks. But if you and your family love the great outdoors then there is no better place in America than “The Last Frontier.” Besides, where else can kids grow up living amongst bears, elk, and salmon? The list of things to do in Alaska is endless: hike, fish, hunt, snowmobile, snowshoe, cross country skiing, and dog sledding—and that’s just in the summer. All this outdoor fun and Anchorage is only three and half hours away from a major metropolitan area like Seattle, Washington… by plane.

For Parents: Anchorage has plenty of fresh air, a good economy, and a low crime rate.

Austin, Texas
http://www.austintexas.org

If your kids are musically inclined, or just love music, then they will have a great time living in Austin, Texas, the live music capital of the world. Furthermore, the city’s residents, known as Austinites, have adopted “Keep Austin Weird” as their unofficial slogan. And what kid doesn’t love “weird?” The city is home to one of the best colleges for athletics in the nation—”hook ‘em horns”— the University of Texas. Austin may receive uninterested shrugs from elementary school children, but tweens and teens will love it.

For Parents: For a city as hot as Austin real estate prices are fairly low. The city also has a reputation for supporting its public schools and cleanliness.

New York, New York
http://www.iloveny.com

Yes, it’s off the charts expensive but it’s also the capital of the world. New York is represented by 10 professional sports teams from North America’s five major sports leagues: it’s teeming with world renowned museums and art galleries: and there’s always at least one kid friendly show playing on Broadway. That’s not to mention the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Coney Island, and Central Park. If you and your family can’t have fun in the Big Apple then you can’t have fun anywhere.

For Parents: New York has some of the best public schools in the nation and the city is extremely easy to get around.

San Diego, California
http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors

Your kids will have a great time in San Diego, California. They will not only enjoy the weather but they will also enjoy the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Comic-Con, Balboa Park and the Belmont Amusement Park. The city is also home to several super cool military bases including the largest naval fleet in the world. Your kids can surf in the morning and catch a ball game in the afternoon. The Padres of Major League Baseball and the Chargers of the National Football League both call San Diego home.

For Parents: San Diego, the second largest city in California, is often rated as one of the best places to live and one of the wealthiest cities in America.

Denver, Colorado
http://www.denver.org

Denver, Colorado has a great mix of outdoor and indoor activities. The city is home to 200 public parks, 850 miles of off-street bike paths, and is located just east of the Rocky Mountains. On days when the family feels like staying inside there’s the Children’s Museum of Denver, the Denver Zoo, the U.S. Mint, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Denver is one of four cities where all four of its major sports teams—Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets, and Avalanche—play within the city’s limits.

For Parents: Denver has a low crime rate for a major city; it averages 300 days of sunshine a year; and due to its schools, healthcare, and relatively low housing costs is routinely ranked as one of the top U.S. cities for families.

Portland, Oregon
http://www.traveloregon.com/Explore%20Oregon/Portland%20Metro.aspx

I’ll admit it. It rains a lot in Portland, Oregon but don’t dismiss this fun city just because of some pesky precipitation. This very liberal city offers a bunch of fun things to do like the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Oregon Zoo, the Portland Children’s Museum, Portland’s Classical Chinese Garden, and Powell’s, the world’s largest bookstore. However, the best thing about Portland is it’s 90 minutes from the coast (beach and sightseeing), 90 minutes from the mountains (skiing), and an hour away from the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge (world class windsurfing). Portland is also home to the NBA’s Trail Blazers who play at the Rose Garden.

For Parents: Portland is clean, green, and bends over backwards for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Honolulu, Hawaii
http://www.gohawaii.com

Like New York, Honolulu is super expensive but what do you expect living in paradise. If your kids love the surf and the sand Honolulu is the place for them. The city’s average high temp is 80-89°F while the average low is 65-75°F. How’s this for perfect weather: the mercury rarely gets above 90°F or falls below 60°F. The water temperature off the city’s coast ranges from 82°F in the summer to 77°F in the “winter.” Local attractions include Diamond Head, Kāneʻohe Bay, and the Waikiki Aquarium.

For Parents: Honolulu has a low crime rate, a robust economy, and is one of the nation’s fittest cities.

Ten Great Books For Parents Of Toddlers

In the olden days–and we mean long before there was Facebook and Twitter–if you needed help raising your toddler all you had to do was ask one of your umpteen extended family members all of which had raised, or were raising, umpteen children.

Those days are gone.

Nowadays, we are much more spread out. Family members, at least the few that actually have children, are not often available to give counsel. So when a parent needs help they are forced to find other sources of reliable and trustworthy advice. And one of the best places for a parent to find that kind of help is in books.

Parenting Fun 411 has compiled a list of 10 great books for parents raising toddlers. These volumes include a wide variety of material ranging from what to expect from your toddler, to how-to advice, to communication tips, and even how to get them to sleep better.

While some of the techniques and philosophies differ, all ten books listed below have one thing in common. They all want to help you nurture your child so they have a healthy and happy toddlerhood.

What to Expect the Toddler Years, 2nd Edition
Heidi Murkoff

What to Expect the Toddler Years is really a reference book for parents. This digest is divided into four sections. The first part deals with development and milestones. The second part is concerned with health and safety. Part three delves into your toddler’s relationships. The fourth and final part features great recipes, basic home remedies, activities, and handy forms for charting your toddler’s growth. This is less of a book you’ll read cover to cover but more of a resource you’ll continue use for guidance and assistance.

Toddler 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Toddler, 2nd Edition
Ari Brown, Denise Fields

Toddler 411 features advice from pediatrician Dr. Ari Brown, the spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as a medical advisor to Parents Magazine. This book is packed with information and erudite advice. It’s arranged in a way that readers can jump around, picking and choosing the chapters they feel are the most relevant to their situation. If there is one drawback to this well-written and informative book it’s the layout. The book is long, narrow and quite thick. It may be a bit cumbersome to read at times, but that doesn’t detract from its contents.

The Secret Lives Of Toddlers: A Parent’s Guide To The Wonderful, Terrible, Fascinating Behavior Of Children Age 1 To 3
Jana Murphy

This entertaining and affectionate book demystifies 52 common toddler behaviors. It does so with the help of pediatricians, child development experts, and behavioral psychologists. After reading this book parents will understand the world as seen through the eyes of their toddler; learn which bad behaviors need attention and which don’t; be able to encourage good manners and good behavior; reduce frustrations; and improve the way they interact with their offspring. If you’re looking for explanations as to why your toddler acts the way they do, this is the book.

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers
Tracy Hogg with Melinda Blau

Tracy Hogg is a British-trained nurse with more than 20 years of experience working with parents, babies, and toddlers. In her follow-up to Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, Hogg basically helps parents get out of their own way. The Baby Whisperer for Toddlers offers advice on overstimulation, toilet training, tantrums, and sibling rivalries. She also reveals her new technique H.E.L.P: Hold yourself back; Encourage exploration; Limit their exposure to frustrating situations; and Praise. This manuscript is highly recommended for fans of Hogg as there is little background to her philosophy. If you are not familiar with her work, you may need to do a little research before tackling this opus.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers : Gentle Ways to Stop Bedtime Battles and Improve Your Child’s Sleep
Elizabeth Pantley

Author Elizabeth Pantley has helped thousands of parents put their kids to sleep. In No-Cry Sleep Solution, she provides parents with strategies for getting one- to six-year old children in bed and sleeping all night. To effectively do this, Pantley explains ways to navigate bedtime battles, early risers, naptime problems, and nightmares. She also explains how to stop breastfeeding all-night, and ending those nighttime visits to your bed. Come to think of it, this book might actually be more for you than for your toddler. Pantely’s advice is culled from the latest prevailing theories, exhaustive research, and her own independent surveys.

The Big Book of Recipes for Babies, Toddlers & Children: 365 Quick, Easy, and Healthy Dishes
Bridget Wardley and Judy Moore

Bridget Wardley and Judy Moore have put together something that’s much more than just a cookbook. Their Big Book of Recipes for Babies, Toddlers & Children offers information on nutrition and easy food preparation. It also deals with weaning, how to introduce solid foods, 7-day meal planners, and healthy ideas for snack time. Wardley and Moore’s book is easy to read and simple to use. It’s a welcome addition to not only the kitchens of parents of toddlers, but also to the kitchens of any parents who wish to teach their kids sound eating habits.

Toddler: Real-life Stories of Those Fickle, Irrational, Urgent, Tiny People We Love
Jennifer Marqulis

This is not an in-direct how-to book. Instead of some doctor or psychologist spouting their latest theory or regurgitating some institution’s latest study, readers learn the in’s and out’s of raising toddlers from the stories of real parents. These tales of wonder, comedy, and even distress reveal the awe and joy of what it’s like to be older than a baby but younger than a kid. Toddler: Real-life Stories comes highly rated and no matter where you find it on-line, the user-reviews are almost always favorable. It will both teach you a thing or two about being a parent as well as remind you that when it comes to raising a toddler, you’re not alone.

The Toddler’s Busy Book
Trish Kuffner

Prevent boredom; stimulate a child’s curiosity; encourage a child’s physical, mental and emotional growth; and keep toddlers busy during car trips. Those are just some of things Toddler’s Busy Book will do for you and your toddler. Trish Kuffner has put together 365 toddler-friendly activities for both inside and outside that are for the most part easy on the household budget. The Toddler’s Busy Book is creative, fun to read, and very insightful.

How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

If you want to improve your ability to communicate with your toddler, then you’ll need How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. Much of the content in this book references a communication tool kit developed by authors Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. To help you hone your skills the tome includes helpful “Reminder” pages, cartoon illustrations, and exercises. The great thing about How To Talk is it’s not only applicable to toddlers but it’s applicable to kids of all ages. Many readers have commented that the book has even helped them improve their communications with other adults.

Take Back Your Kids: Confident Parenting In Turbulent Times
William J. Doherty

The first question you might ask about this book is “who has my kids?” According to William J. Doherty it’s our media-saturated, internet-dependent world that constantly tells our kids they should be happy all the time and always get what they want. The author gives you the necessary tools to pluck your toddler out of this me-first world by outlining what parents should expect from themselves and from their children. The book helps build a parent’s confidence by showing them the value of saying “no” and the meaning of respect. Doherty also offers sage advice for fathers, single parents, and step-parents.

101 Things To Do With Your Kids On A Rainy Day

Rain used to ruin the day for every kid and parent. Now, kids pray for rain. With cable television, video games, the internet, texting, and Blu-Ray DVD’s staying inside seems far more enjoyable than going outside.

Still, there are kids that aren’t as “plugged in” as we make them out to be and certainly there are children too young to be tempted by the allure of the aforementioned technology. Besides, what we really mean when we talk about things to do with kids on a rainy day is not necessarily how to combat boredom but how to spend quality time together.

All 101 things we’ve listed below are about being with your kids and having fun with them when the weather just isn’t cooperating. These activities—which were not created by scientists in white lab coats or by some impersonal super computer—have been field tested by real-life parents and are guaranteed to bring families closer together. In fact, some are so much fun you might even do them when the sun is out.

1. Read a Book
2. Read out aloud to your kids and have them read to you
3. Bake
4. Cook
5. Make lunch and enjoy it picnic style on a blanket inside your home
6. “How Many Things Can You Remember To Do?”
For this game give your kids an activity to perform. For instance, “hop to the door.” After they correctly perform the activity, give them another thing to do, “knock on the door twice.” Keep adding to the list (crawl under the dining room table, crab walk into the kitchen, spin around five times, etc…) until someone forgets one of the steps. The family member who remembers the most things to do wins.
7. Play a board game
8. Make up your own board game
9. Learn to play chess
10. Play cards
11. Write a story
12. Write poems
13. Do mad libs
14. Start a blog
15. Write letters to friends and/or relatives
16. Draw pictures
17. Color
18. Paint
19. Sculpt
20. Build a fort
21. Movie Festival
Now, we’re not talking about a bunch of animated classics, movies about wizards, or flicks about vampires; we’re talking about a movie festival that your family can really get into. Roll out some old movies, and by old we mean from their great-grandparents heyday—if you can acquire some silent films that’s even better. Have you ever seen Mystery Science Theater 3000? Watch a really bad, but family appropriate movie and while you do take turns making jokes and cracking wise (please don’t fight over who gets to be Crow). Along those same lines, turn the sound off and provide voices for the characters on the screen.
22. Make a movie
23. Write and perform a play
24. Listen to music your kids like
25. Listen to music you like
26. Turn down the lights, lay down, and really listen to classical music
27. Sing songs
28. Have an American Idol-like singing competition
29. Hold a dance-off
30. Choreograph a dance to one of your kids’ favorite songs
31. Write a song with your kids
32. Make instruments using things around the house and play as a band
33. Hold a photo shoot
34. Record Household Sounds
Get a tape recorder or any type of electronic device that records sound (if you don’t have one you can find a sound recorder at a thrift store for cheap). Help you kids record everyday sounds from around the house: running water, the door bell, footsteps, and of course, the toilet flushing. When finished, have your kids play back the sounds. They will probably hear things they never heard before. You can easily turn this activity into a game. Everyone takes turns recording a sound and then the rest of family tries to guess what they’re listening too.
35. Build a house of cards
36. Build a tower out of paper cups, see how high you can go
37. Take a nap
38. Create your own word search puzzle
39. Assemble a jig-saw puzzle
40. Try a sudoku or crossword puzzle
41. Reach for the Stars
For this activity you’ll need a frozen juice can, tape or a rubber band, a flashlight, and some paper. Fold the paper and cut small stars or other shapes—like you would when creating a paper snowflake. Take that juice can and cut out both ends. Now wrap your “star paper” around one end and secure it with a rubber band or a piece of tape. Insert the flashlight in the other end. Then turn off the lights and turn on the flashlight. Shine your device on a wall or ceiling. Your kids now have their very own star maker. If it’s stilling pouring down rain challenge your kids to make an actual constellation.
42. Have your kids ask a question and help them find the answer on Wikipedia
43. Learn how to say “hello” in as many languages as possible
44. Help your children memorize the capitals of all 50 states
45. Perform a science experiment
46. Look on-line at colleges and universities
47. Clean the house (hey, it could happen)
48. Create a treasure or scavenger hunt
49. Play balance games (walk on a beam, balance things on your head)
50. Make paper dolls
51. Make a book of favorites (favorite animals, favorite places, favorite movies, etc…)
52. Make Perfume or Makeup
If you have tween girls this is a great rainy day activity. We’ll leave it to you to find detailed instructions on the internet but these beauty products are not that hard to make. You will need some supplies though. For example, to make lip gloss you’ll need a couple tablespoons of petroleum jelly, a teaspoon of beeswax, some flavored extract of your choice, and a vitamin E capsule. For the perfume you’ll need essential oils, pure grain alcohol (or vodka), and water. The makeup may involve a stove while the perfume is about mixing and waiting (two days to six weeks).
53. Play dress up
54. Tell ghost stories
55. Scrapbook
56. Make something out of old clothes
57. Use pictures from a magazine to make a collage
58. Play “Hide And Go Seek”
59. Play “Hot Potato”
60. Play “I Spy”
61. Play “Charades”
62. Indoor Obstacle Course
Design an obstacle course in a safe part of the house that’s appropriate for the age of your children. You can time your kids’ performances and alter the course as they get better at it (adding seconds to your older kids’ time is a good way to handicap the course). Some ideas for obstacles include: crawling under or over a row of chairs, jumping in and out of a Hula-Hoop, walking on a balance board, throwing a beanbag into a container, doing a handstand, skipping in place, rolling, tossing a ring, and don’t forget to create a tunnel. Kids love tunnels.
63. Do aerobics
64. Teach them a skill
65. Look through old photo albums
66. Show your kids videos and pictures from when they were babies
67. Show your kids videos and pictures from your wedding, your high school days, and/or when you were their age.
68. Make calendars and then add important dates
69. Make puppets and put on a puppet show
70. Make and fly paper airplanes
71. Have Them Teach You How To Play A Video Game
Okay, your kids are older and you know you won’t be able to spend the entire raining day with them doing crafts and playing games. So before they check out and do their own thing, have them teach you how to play their latest and greatest video game. We’re not talking some namby-pamby Wii game, we’re talking the hardcore beat ‘em up, shoot ‘em up title. Guarantee they will laugh hysterically while watching you bumble your way through level one. But when you do get it (if you do get it), they will think you’re one cool parent.
72. Make a family tree and/or tell your kids about their family history
73. See who can make the funniest face
74. See who can walk the funniest (silly walks)
75. See who can do the best impressions of either famous people or family members
76. Learn a magic trick
77. Throw a tea party
78. “Indoor” Snowball Fight
In a part of the house where there’s nothing to break, divide your family into two teams. Give each team a stack of newspaper (hopefully you still have some lying around). Each team crumples up the newspaper and uses the resulting wad as a “snowball.” Of course the best part about this activity is after the fight is over you get to watch the teams race to see who can pick up the most snowballs and put them in a trash bag.
79. Use a waste paper basket and some paper bound for the recycling bin to play indoor basketball
80. Using empty plastic cups and a ball, set up your own bowling alley
81. Using safe and house-appropriate activities, hold your own olympics
82. Play bocce with rolled-up socks and a racquetball
83. See what you can find in a junk drawer, a drawer of old toys, or out in the garage
84. Play hopscotch or Four Square in the garage (use chalk to draw lines on the floor).
85. Using rolled up newspaper for clubs, masking tape for holes, and a ball of some kind play Newspaper Golf
86. Pamper a pet
87. Finger painting with pudding
88. No Sand-Sand Box
Procure a large plastic tub, say 22″x15″x12″, that comes with a lid. Fill the tub with rice, flax seed, or oats. Your kids now have a little “sand box” to play in. Place the tub on an easy to sweep surface or on a sheet where you can grab the four corners and dump the “sand” back into the container. When they are done playing, secure the lid and store it away. Flax seed usually comes in the biggest bag; oatmeal, although the messiest, is usually the most enjoyable of the three substances; but rice is the cheapest.
89. Have your kids make every letter of the alphabet using only their bodies
90. Sew
91. Quilt
92. Bead
93. Play school or store, or post office or restaurant or…
94. Play with your children using their favorite toys
95. Play with Legos or other types of building blocks
96. Using The Internet For Games and Crafts
You’ve probably noticed that minus a few activities we’ve shied away the internet. Again this list is about bonding with your children and the internet isn’t always conducive for togetherness. However, you should know that it’s a great resource for arts & crafts projects as well as game ideas. In just a few minutes, you can find a bunch of things for your kids to make and oodles of games for them to play. So when the rain starts falling, don’t panic. Conduct an internet search and in minutes you’ll find a day’s worth of activities. Remember, after you find something you think your kids will like, print off the instructions, and then turn off the computer.
97. Make birthday and/or Christmas cards for the family
98. Make Christmas presents for the grand parents
99. Use masking tape to make tracks for Hot Wheels and/or Matchbox cars, then race’em
100. Talk
101. Just watch It rain

20 Ways To Have Fun With Your Kids

Parenting Fun 411 has compiled another great list this one featuring 20 ways to have fun with your kids. All the activities below have two things in common, you and your kids. While it’s a blast to spend hundreds of dollars at an arcade or an amusement park, all your kids really want is quality time with mom and dad.

Of course, it’s easy to have fun when you spend a lot of money. The challenge is having a great time on a budget. That’s why Parenting Fun 411 focused on inexpensive or free activities. No worries though, despite being light on the pocketbook they will still provide countless fond memories for you and your family.

Before tackling one of these activities you should take stock of what your child likes and incorporate that into the activity. If your kids like flowers take them to a garden. If they like animals take them to a zoo. Also, it’s okay to do something you both find interesting. You and your kids will have even more fun if the activity appeals to everyone.

Finally, don’t worry if your original idea goes astray. You know, like when you bought your kid that expensive toy for Christmas but they liked the box it came in better. Be flexible and don’t be afraid of spontaneity. Some of the best times kids have come out of nowhere.

1. Create A Fort
Using pillows, sheets, cushions, and the like create some kind of fort you and your kids can play in. Kids love this kind of stuff and it’s free. Just make sure there are no breakables around. While building the fort’s roof I’d hate to see the cushion from the easy chair accidently knock the vase off the end table.

2. Read To Each Other
You can not only read to your child but they can also read to you. If your kid’s reading level is high enough, you can take turns reading a book you both find interesting to one another. To make this activity free, use books you already own or books from the library. If you have a few dollars to spare, make a day of it and take a trip to the used bookstore.

3. Go To A Park, Library, Museum, and Art Gallery
Obviously parks and libraries are free, but you’ll be surprise how many free museums and art galleries there are for you and your kids to visit. Furthermore, many of the premier institutions have free admission days. If you do a little internet research you can find tons of free events occurring at all four of these locations throughout the year.

4. Start A Blog
If you have a PC and an internet connection you and your kids can blog for free. There are several sites offering free blog hosting and most are easy to use and quick to set up. If the internet worries you (and it should) you can make the blog private and allow only friends and family to log on.

5. Kitchen Time
Depending on the age of your kids, you can assist them in baking cookies, making dinner, or preparing snacks like popsicles and milkshakes. You can use ingredients you already have in the kitchen or take them to the store and have them do the shopping themselves. Who knows, they may even start making dinner on a regular basis.

6. Play Outside
If the weather is nice and you have a backyard, or access to a park, take your kids outside to play a game suitable for their age and skill level: kickball, touch football, hide-and-seek, and tag are just a few ideas. If they grow tired of games, have them look around for bugs and other such crawlies. Kids love that kind of stuff.

7. Make Up A Game
We touched on this in a previous article, Ten Great Ideas For Family Fun Night. Our premise is playing a board game is great but making up your own board game is even better. You can also make up your own sport. Just be prepared for all the rules to be mysteriously in your kids’ favor.

8. Donate to Charity
Have your kids clean out their rooms or have them help you clean out the garage. Then take the stuff that is no longer being used and donate it to charity. This sounds like a chore but if you come at it with the right attitude you and your kids could have lots of fun and feel good about helping others.

9. Draw On The Sidewalk With Chalk
Chalk is cheap. So even if you have to buy some this is a relatively inexpensive activity. Kids love to draw on sidewalks and driveways with multicolor chalk. The best part: it’s easy to clean up afterwards and it’s outside. Now, don’t just hand them the chalk and walk away. Challenge your kids to game of tic-tac-toe or hangman.

10. Water Fun
Getting wet is perhaps the most fun a kid can have. You can help them get wet in a variety of ways. First, if you’re so inclined you can take them to a public pool or a local swimming hole. If that’s not an option, head out to the backyard where they can run through the sprinkler, engage in squirt guns fights, and make water balloons.

11. Introduce Your Child To A Job They Find Fascinating
You might not think a tow-truck driver is fascinating but your little boy who falls asleep every night holding a truck sure does. Set up a meeting with a friend that has a job your child finds interesting. Your friend will be flattered by your child’s curiosity and your child will never forget the experience.

12. Arts and Crafts
If you have really young ones, checkout our article Ten Arts and Craft Projects You Can Do With Your 2-Year-Old. If you have older kids, arts and crafts are still in the mix but you’ll have to be a little more creative. For instance, see if your kids can turn the junk in your garage into some great work of art.

13. Write, Compose, Make, and Create
The previous activity was for 3-D creations, but there are many other forms of expression. Write stores with your kids, compose a family theme-song, make a movie (most PC’s can edit video), write skits to perform for neighbors and other family members. These activities are generally free and create lasting memories.

14. Listen To Music
Take turns listening to each other’s favorite music. If your kids haven’t been introduced to them yet, play some Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. If they are a little older, introduce them to The Clash, U2, and Bob Marley. Depending on how far you go back, tell them all about vinyl, cassettes, and compact discs.

15. Send A Care Package
This will actually take some money, but not any more than you would spend at the movies. You and your kids will need to go online and find a member of the military available to receive a care package. You can shop for the items, package it up, and then take it to your local post office. This can be a fun activity and one that will make both of you feel great for giving back to someone who is sacrificing so much to protect our freedoms.

16. The Family
Want your kids to get to know your family better? You can have them write letters to grandparents, aunts, and uncles or help them create a family tree. If you have the capability, make a movie where your kids tell grandma and grandpa all about their rooms, their schools, and other aspects of their lives.

17. Play Fighting
Moms may not like this, but kids love to play fight. Don’t worry mom, no one will get hurt. If it’s a nice day, go outside for a squirt gun fight. Roll up newspapers to use in a sword duel or get those Nerf guns and do battle in the backyard (wear safety goggles). Don’t forget the classic pillow fight.

18. Scavenger Hunt
Who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? This activity can be free and done indoors on a raining day or outdoors when the sun is shining. Winners can be rewarded with an extra hour of video gaming or they can skip a chore of their choice. Make sure your kids create a scavenger hunt for you too.

19. Waste Time
In doing research for this article, I stumbled crossed an article that listed 101 Things To Do When There’s Nothing To Do. This list featured stuff like playing Rock-Paper-Scissors, counting backwards, making faces, and throwing an imaginary ball. While the list was designed to waste time at the airport or the doctor’s office, it’s also provides tons of fun ideas for you and your kid to do while just hanging out at home. What could be better than that?

20. Take A Hike or Go For A Walk
Along the same lines as “waste time,” taking a hike or a walk is a great way to spend quality time with your child. It’s free and super easy. While the rigors of a hike may make it difficult to communicate, a walk around the block is a great opportunity for you and your kids to talk and get to know each other better. It’s also great exercise.

Family Fun from Around the World

You probably don’t give it much thought. After all, between taking care of your kids and working long hours you don’t have time to think about how families in other parts of the world have fun. Besides, you probably have enough trouble keeping your own family entertained without worrying about the good times happening on the other side of the globe.

Needless to say, families are having a blast on all seven continents—we assume there’s at least one family living on Antarctica. While some of the stuff these families do for fun is similar to the stuff your family does for fun (after all who doesn’t love going to the park and playing board games) there are few differences.

Therefore Parenting Fun 411 thought it would be interesting to look at a variety of ways families from all over the world celebrate, play games, vacation, and overall just have a good time together. Some of what you’ll read you and your family will be able to try at home. The rest are just fascinating tidbits to share while sitting around the dinner table.

Games
In Ghana, kids play a game called “Pilolo” and it’s one that you can easily play with your family at home. In the back yard, hide some sticks and stones, or if that would be too hard to find, try pennies or something like that. Have your kids line up opposite a finish line and then yell “Pilolo” (”time to search”). As soon as a kid finds a hidden item they must pick it up and race across the finish line. First one to do so gets a point. Play to a certain number of points or until your kids run out of energy. To further measure the competition get a stopwatch and time each “Pilolo.”

In the United Kingdom, families play “Pass the Parcel.” It’s a game that’s been around since the medieval era. Take a small prize or a white elephant gift and wrap it in several layers of paper. Have the children stand or sit in a circle and then turn on some music. The kids should then pass the “parcel” to one another. When the music stops (either you or your spouse is running the jukebox) the child holding the “parcel” unwraps one layer of paper. This continues until the gift is completely revealed. The kid that removes the final sheet of gift wrap gets to keep the prize.

This next game originates from China and is named “The Dragon’s Tail.” Have your family (hopefully there are at least four of you) line up in a conga line. The person at the front of the line is the “head” while the person at the end of the line is the “tail.” The goal of this game is for the “head” to catch the “tail.” Once the “head” catches the “tail,” the “tail” becomes the “head” and the “head” goes to the middle of the line. The fun part of this game is the “body” trying to prevent the “head” from catching the “tail.”

Birthdays
This may be hard to believe considering this country’s sunny disposition, but children’s birthday parties originated in Germany. One of the traditions of the so called “kinderfeste” is the lighting the candles on the birthday cake in the morning and allowing them to burn until they are blown out after dinner. The number of candles corresponds to the birthday boy’s or girl’s age plus an additional candle for good luck.

In Denmark, parents fly a flag outside their house to show the neighborhood that someone inside is having a birthday. Then presents are placed around the birthday kid’s bed so when they wake up they will immediately see all the gifts they received.

In Israel, the birthday person wears a crown and sits in a decorated chair. His or her friends dance and sing around the chair while the parents lift it high into the air.

In Brazil, the birthday boy or girl gets a tug on the earlobe for every year they’ve been alive. A similar tradition is followed in Hungary and Italy.

In Mexico, and some other Latin American countries, parents break out a piñata for their child’s birthday party. A piñata is made out of paper mache and is filled with candy and small toys. While blindfolded, kids take turns whacking the piñata with a stick until it breaks and the contents fall to the floor. At that time, all the kids scramble to grab as much swag as they can.

Not get this, in Vietnam all birthdays are celebrated on New Year’s Day or Tết. In fact, the Vietnamese don’t even acknowledge the actual date they were born. While this may strike fear in the hearts of children everywhere it’s not as bad as they may think. On Tếtl, Vietnamese children received red envelopes filled with money from parents, grandparents, and other close relatives.

Disney
We all know about Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida but did you know there are three other Disney Resorts located in three other countries?

The first Disney Resort built outside of the United States is Tokyo Disney located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. It opened in 1983 and features the largest parking structure in the world—that’s not the claim to fame you want in an amusement park but it’s a claim to fame nonetheless.

Disneyland Paris opened in 1992 in the Marne-la-Vallee, a suburb of Paris, France. The park was originally known as Euro Disney, but that name got such a bad rap that the company had no choice but to change it.

In late 2005, Disney opened a resort in Hong Kong. It’s the smallest of all the Disneyland parks but probably the only one adhering to the principles of Feng Shui. That is until Disney opens its next theme park in Shanghai, China. The company expects the resort to be ready for tourists sometime in 2014.

While these parks are as Disney as the parks in America, they are not necessarily owned and operated by the mouse ears. The Tokyo resort was built by Disney’s “Imagineers” but it’s owned by a Japanese company. Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Hong Kong are only partially owned by the Robert Iger-run conglomerate. Of course, it doesn’t really matter who owns what as all the resorts adhere to strict guidelines laid out by Disney.

Amusement Parks
Most amusement park enthusiasts tend to agree that the United States is far and away tops in this unique field of entertainment (Universal Studios, Cedar Point, the various Six Flags parks, and Bush Gardens). Even so, there are a few great amusement parks located elsewhere in the world.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire, England bills themselves as the roller coaster capital of the world. Their main attractions are the coasters “Valhalla” and “Infusion.”

Not to be out down, Park Asterix in Plailly, France is home to the “Tonnerre de Zues,” a wooden roller coaster that features several double loops, and the 950-meter long “Goudurix.” This wild ride turns passenger upside down not once but seven times.

Tivoliland is located in Dalborg, Denmark and is home to the area’s biggest steel roller coaster, “Boomerang,” as well as the “Ghost Train,” “Spacecar,” and “Break Dance.” Visitors can also enjoy a 55-meter free fall in the Gravity Tower. While Tivoliland appears to be a destination for those with iron stomachs, the park does offer several children-friendly attractions like a junior roller coaster and the Fairy Tale Twined City Park.

Etiquette
This doesn’t really fall under the category of fun but we thought you might like to know some children etiquette from around the world. These examples might be fun to share with your kids—a way to let them know just how easy they have it.

In Egypt, children can’t show the soles of their shoes to others because it’s considered offensive. Furthermore, they can only use their right hand while eating. The left hand is meant for performing other tasks that are… well, let’s just say they aren’t very clean.

In Brazil, it’s impolite for children to eat with their hands and that includes pizza and fruit. In Japan, kids trade their shoes for slippers before entering the house. And the French don’t appreciate their children pointing at adults or chewing gum in public.

Not get this, public schools in Japan teach children all about manners because in their culture being considerate to others is extremely important (if only). When kids are being scolded by a teacher or a parent they must look down at the floor and avoid making eye contact because it’s seen as sign of disrespect.

Sadly, not all the kid protocol is as parent-pleasing as the stuff we just mentioned. While Japan attaches great importance to proper comportment, their culture also says it’s okay for kids to slurp noodles at the dinner table. Slurping is also viewed as polite In China and India. Don’t worry, we won’t tell your kids.