Showing posts with label family night. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family night. Show all posts

Monday, May 2, 2011

Celebrate the World with Your Kids


I have just finished spring break with my girls and I have to say after two weeks of not much planned I'm a little worried about the summer. I have 1 month to plan some activities for us to do so we have something to look forward to and to also entertain us. A few days ago my husband and I decided this summer we should celebrate the world with the kids. This really shouldn't cost us any money, unless we want it to, and it will be a great learning experience for all of us.

Our goal is going to be to experience a country that we have never experienced before a couple of times a month. We aren't talking Mexico either because as Southern Californians we experience Mexican cuisine quite often. I think an African Country, an European country, a South American Country, and an Asian country are definitely on the agenda as they represent 4 of the 7 continents.

We have 8 weeks that will be available to us this summer so we will pick a country bi-weekly which allows 4 countries. I love our library system because after we pick our countries I can go to our libraries website and reserve books about the country and also some cookbooks. Of course the internet is a huge ocean of information too. Each week on our designated family night we will cook a meal in honor of the country and do a little something else too. Maybe a craft or read a traditional story or custom from the country.

This is a series of activities I look forward to. Its economical, cultural, and family oriented. I know the girls will love going through cook books with me to figure out what we will be brave enough to try. I will post our weekly menus starting in late June and perhaps some pictures to go with it. Also, I will be on the hunt for more budget friendly ideas and activities to do with the kids this summer. I want to make it a fun summer, I only have so many left with my kids.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Family Night


Monday nights around my house are deemed our Family Night. Some of our family nights are spent playing board games and games off of our family Wii, but I also like to kick it up a notch see my list below for fun ideas for the whole family.

- Family video & picture night - get out the tapes and pictures and reflect together as a family.

- Take an outdoor nature hike

- Create a family totem pole. Use gradually increasing in size clay pots. Let everyone decorate they're own and then use acrylic to prevent the paint from coming off. Stack and glue the pots on top of each other. Place them in the garden.

- Make a family banner to hang up in your house.

- Have dinner at the park.

- Play croquet in the yard

- Play tag in the yard.

- Have a water balloon fight.

- Have a yearly family preparedness night. Make sure your family knows your fire escape plan and practice a fire drill. Make a survival kit or first aid kit. Teach the kids about CPR, choking, bleeding, and water safety.

- Have American Idol Night using the karaoke machine.

- Make a craft together.

Family night can be fun and most importantly it is that one special night that we make time to be together as a family. My kids look forward to it each week.