• Get everyone involved in the planning. Ask for suggestions! This is a great way to encourage participation. Solve questions like: Where will we go, the duration, etc..

• Pack everyone in the car and explore the back roads (with safety in mind of course). To bring more interest, stop periodically and capture some images for your memory book. Here again, get everyone involved in choosing the shots! The images on this posting were from my personal  back road trip. Enjoy!

• Include lunch or dinner at a restaurant or diner on your route.This does not have to be planned! If a place spikes your interest…..stop!

• Pack skies, snow boards, snow shoes or any other sport equipment!  Make it simple, choose a place along the road or include a destination point during your trip prep process.

Finally, make it a day trip or simply an hour or two. The quality found in family outings is not  in the duration but in the participation and enthusiasm!

Just explore and have FUN!

1. What will the theme be?
2. How many children will be invited?
3. When will it be held?
4. Who will be participating in the planning?
5. What will the entertainment be?
6. What will the treats be?
7. Will there be prizes and for what?
8. How many adults will be helping out during the party?
9. What time will the party start and stop?
10. What is the budget?

By answering these questions (and possibly a few more), you will have a much clearer picture of how the party will come together. For example, if limiting the number of children who will be attending to 5 or 8 may not require help from additional parents during the party. Or, if you have no specific theme and home-made decorations would be fine, this choice would have a positive impact on the party budget. Just jotting down answers to some of these questions will help in planning, budgeting and organizing the party.

Secondly, and I think one of the most important things, is to include your child or children to some extent in the planning by allowing them:

1. to tell you who they would like to invite;
2. to participate in preparing  the invitations which should include RSVP from each child’s parent in order to attend;
3. to express their choices of games, movies or events (best costume award for example); and,
4. to help with the food selection and preparation.

By allowing participation, your child (children) will feel included and make the party their own.

Safety is another very important consideration. For this reason, a few safety guidelines:

1. Require permission slips from parents that include: permission for the child to attend; contact number (s); street address; and any allergies or special concerns.
2. Establish parental drop off and pick up times to the party. This way the parents know exactly the duration of the party and can plan accordingly.
3. Limit number of attendees suitable to the space, and the # of adults in attendance.
4. Never use real lit candles or other fire related decorations at a children’s party.

Entertainment can be the determining factor as to the success or failure of any party. However, when it comes to a kid’s party, it is critical! The main thing is to keep the games and activities simple and moving along smoothly! Kids do not like games or other activities overly complex, difficult or time consuming. Keep in mind the age group and plan activities that will be a hit for them. For example, a group of first or second graders might like to create their own trick or treat bags, or paint pumpkins. It will also give them something to take home. Teens, on the other hand, would not enjoy these types of activities. They might like watching a Halloween horror movie while eating spooky treats. For more games, crafts and party recipe ideas, click on the link.

Here’s to making a “pumpkin” of a good time for all!

Do you have some great ideas to add? Please share them through a comment!

Carving out Fun time…..you have got to be

A great story comes to mind. One outing in particular that I remember is when we designed and planned, with everyone’s input, the details of the outing ahead of time. Family Planning, I called it! This outing began with hiking. Yes hiking….backpacks, walking sticks (created from Mother Earth), fishing pole and bait, book, writing tablet, pencil, sheet, and most important FOOD and water! Included in my backpack was an emergency kit for those unanticipated scrapes or bites.

But first, who was on this outing! There are 3 for the trip! Jean a child who chose to bring her book; Paul, her brother! Who, of course, chose the fishing pole and bait. And then there is me, who chose the writing tablet & pencil. You must be asking why the particular supplies and how do these work into a hike.….Well let me begin the story!

I was under a deadline to write an article and needed some “think time” in a great “think spot” ….that being nature for me, and Paul wanted to go fishing and Jean wanted to lie on the beach and read! Well how was I going to meet all these individual needs? I knew the perfect spot! Our local state park had the trail, the lake, and the beach!  All I had to do was coordinate the day to fit everything in.

We started with the hike; equipped with our backpacks, and walking sticks (that we had collected from nature during other hikes). Each stick had its own little identifying mark, besides it’s height.   The hike helped with clearing my head and grounding me; it was fun for the kids because it was discovery time; and, it was exercise for the whole family. During the hike, ideas regarding my article would pop into my head. I would grab my writing tablet & pencil from my backpack. Jot down the ideas. Return the tablet & pencil to my backpack and we would continue the hike.  The kids loved this opportunity to stop and explore the plant life or small critters. Did you know that chipmunks scurry very quickly?! It is such a joyous sight!

The hiking trail was a 3 mile trail that looped around the lake. By the time we finished the hike, a number of ideas had popped into my head and I felt pretty good about my progress. So far, so good! You ask what’s next. Lunch of course! From our backpacks, we spread out the sheet (much lighter to carry), the food and water and ate our lunch on the beach! It was such a beautiful day and soothing for all of us…. sun overhead, slight breeze, water glistening. And Food to eat!

After lunch, we shared our “ME” times collectively! With me of course, overseeing and being the mediator at times. Paul baited his hook while Jean snuggled up on the sheet to read her book. And I pulled out my writing tablet to jot ideas and work on my article while enjoying the presence of my children doing their thing! The afternoon flew by & then it was time to pack up and go home! And yes, even with a fish! Paul was so proud to be taking home that fish.  A great end to a GREAT day!

What ideas do you have in “Carving out Family Fun Time”? Share your ideas!

1. Rise one half to one hour before the family morning routine begins . This is time for YOU! Mom’s “me” time! Use this time to prepare yourself for the day. This could mean meditating, journaling, watching the news, having that cup of coffee (or two). Whatever eases you into your day!

2. If you have more than one child to get off to school, stagger wakeups. This can be managed by having separate alarms (for older children) or wake ups by Mom.

3. Establish standard bathroom schedules. This can be especially helpful when more than one child needs to be out the door around the same time. By scheduling, each child knows their time frame and can be reminded (when necessary, by Mom) that their time is up or they need to get started.

4. Breakfast can be a “Family” meal. By scheduling both the timing and the menu, quality time can be spent together at the breakfast table. It can be a “fun” time! Standardize breakfast time, plan weekly meals (with family input), and include the children with setting the table or any other tasks they can participate in safely and fit into their schedule. There are times, however, when “breakfast on the go” is the only option. Factor this into your weekly menus as well. Tools can be useful in meal planning and Molly Green has a FREE Menu Planning E-Book from Econobusters.com! You might want to check this out! Simply click on the image!

5. Review schedules, homework, and perform backpack checks the night before to make sure everything needed for the next day is completed, etc. This can save an enormous amount of time, not to mention stress!

6. Intermittent time checks. Periodic readiness checks can help in smoothing the family’s progress.

7. Handle outside interruptions quickly, or if possible, screen for later. We all have interruptions but unless they can be handled quickly, they can alter the mornings schedule significantly.

8. Build flexibility into the morning schedule. Children do not always wake up on time, are in cooperative moods, or are sensitive to their siblings feelings and because of these potential situations, the knowledge of having time to spare makes it much easier to handle and reduces tension.

9. Does the family have pets, or any particular chores that need to be met before leaving for the bus, carpool, or Mom’s back seat? Treat the family as a team and rotate chores weekly for those who can meet the task. For example, feeding pets.

10. Preparing Lunches and selecting clothing the night before, saves time, reduces morning stress, and eliminates the last minute shuffle. Even with younger children, encourage participation in the processes. For example: provide a choice of snacks and let them choose. The more they feel part of the process, the easier the selection and prep processes can be.

11. Eliminate potential distractions by establishing family rules. For example: No TV until everyone is dressed and ready for the bus. No cell phone texting or usage. No computer usage.

12. Allow time in the morning schedule to acknowledge each child’s start of their day. Whether it is to get on the bus, be transported in a car pool or exiting from Mom’s vehicle for school, give each child a loving sendoff to begin their day. This could be a hug and “I love you!” or “I’ll see you after school.” (For small children) to “Have a great day!” for teens.

What about you? What are some of the ways you can think of to create harmony in your morning schedule? I would love to hear them! Sharing and connecting is what this blog is all about!