Camping Fun and Games For Families

by: Trisha Novotny
24/7 MOMS

Are you planning a family camping trip?  Plan ahead for some family fun with one or two of these Camping trip games or activities to create simple family memories.

Bubble Fun - Bring along the wands, bubble and buckets and allow your kids to spend hours blowing bubbles all ages enjoy this activity.  Get creative and have contest biggest bubble, smallest, most creative etc.

Domino's - Pick up an inexpensive set of Domino's and teach your family this good ole' fashion game.  There are a variety of games to play and are generally included inside your box of Domino's.  Click here for additional game instructions.

Exploring- Take a family day hike.  Ask the camp host or forest Rangers for hiking trail information.  Be sure to take a back pack wit water and snacks.

Game Of Cards - Card games are a well loved camping game and can become a family tradition for all ages.  Click here for fun Card game ideas and instructions.

Camp Fire Stories - Is someone in your family a great story teller?  Assign them the fun each night of telling an ongoing campfire story each night prior to bedtime.  Be sure it is suitable for all ages listening - unless you want little ones in your sleeping bag that night.  Another idea would be to read a book each night around the campfire.

Camp Fire Sing-along - Get out the guitar and start a campfire sing along.  Click here for lyrics to traditional campfire songs.

Where are we - Prior to leaving for your camping trip go a little research on the history and tourist attractions near your campsite.  Teach your kids something new about the area or terrain.

Cloud Watching -Remember when you were little and you would look into the sky and imagine the clouds were different animal or scenes? Grab a blanket place it out i an open area and lay down with your kids and imagine what the clouds could be.

Lawn Games - Camping is the perfect tie to teach your kids lawn games such as Bocce, Croquet, Frisbee, Croquet, Horse shoe, Ladder Golf, Capture the flag, Lawn darts.  Click here for ideas and instructions.  Also google Lawn Games for more ideas.

Outdoor Cooking- Camping is a great time to teach kids cooking.  So when making your camping meal plan think about a dish or two that you can have your children help you cook.  Try making Foil packet meals that all ages can participate in creating.

Skits - Have a skit night where everyone breaks in to groups and comes up with camp skits.  You could plan ahead with ideas and scripts for those that have never participated in camp skits.

Free 24/7 MOMS Summer Planning Organizers

Plan, Prepare and Play all summer long with these TWO free printable Summer planning organizers from 24/7 MOMS


The 24/7 MOMS Summer Family Planner Template

Click here to download and print your copy.




The 24/7 MOMS Plan. Prepare, Play Summer idea list  for Staycations and Backyardcations

Summer Planning as Easy as One, Two, Three

By Trisha

In a matter of weeks, the final school bell will ring for the year, and my children will be looking forward to a fun-filled summer.

Every summer, I think we will have a less hectic schedule, more sleeping, lots of lazy days and time to create family memories.

However, I will begin hearing those three words, “Mommy, I’m bored,” if I don’t have a summer fun plan. The memories I want to create with my kids won’t happen unless I begin preparing now.
I begin planning my fun-filled summer with three simple steps:

Click Here For my three simple steps I shared over at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly organization articles.

Geocaching with Your Family

Have you heard of Geocache [GEE-oh-cash]?   Geocaching is a great way to get your whole family out of the house... exploring the nature and having fun!! 

The word geocache comes from two words. The first is the prefix geo, meaning "Earth". The second is cache which is a safe place for hiding or storing something.

So a geocache is something that is hidden somewhere on Earth! It is a new word created for the hobby geocaching. People gather up a few little odds and ends and put them in a watertight container. Then they hide it outdoors somewhere, record the coordinates using their GPS receiver, and post the coordinates on the Web.

Before You Go

•Find a geocache that will meet your immediate goals. Are you looking for a difficult hike or an easy adventure?

•If you're headed out on the trail, pack any needed supplies such as water, food and extra clothing. Bring both a map and a compass. Check geocache terrain and difficulty ratings.

•For safety, let someone know where you are going.

•Do not forget your GPS and extra batteries.

Get Out and Play

•Mark your car as a waypoint to ensure your safe return.

•Be mindful of the environment, practice Cache In Trash Out.

•Bring friends and family with you; sharing the experience can be very rewarding. Pets are usually welcome, too!

•Remember that distances can be deceiving. A geocache can take longer to find depending on trails, rivers and other obstacles.

Share Your Experience

•If you take something from the geocache, leave something of equal or greater value.

•Write about your experience in the geocache logbook.
•Place your geocaching stories and photos online.

A geocache can have all sorts of things in it. Generally, there are small items of little value. When you go geocaching, you take items to trade with the geocache. For example, you might find a geocache that has a CD, a toy car, trading cards, and other stuff. You might choose to take the car and leave a kazoo. The general rule is, if you take an item, you leave an item. Most geocaches also have a log book where you record the date and your name (or code name--most geocachers have a code name just for fun). Some geocaches even have a camera so that you can snap a picture of yourself. Never take the camera.

Which geocache should I pick?

You'll probably want to start with a geocache that is close to your home (or school if you are with a school or scout group). The other consideration is difficulty and terrain. Both are rated from one to five, with five being most challenging. Difficulty refers to how hard it is to find the geocache. Terrain refers to how challenging the terrain is: fairly level ground is a one. Most kids and families should start with geocaches with a 1/1 to 2/2 rating. These are still challenging!

Below is a list of different websites to go to for all ages.  They will provide you with instructions on how to get started on your FAMILY ADVENTURE FULL OF MEMORIES!!!

geocachingkids.com

geocaching.com

REI

kidzworld

some of article provided by geocachingkids.com and geocaching.com

Kids Bowl Free All Summer Long

My two youngest have become bowling fanatics. They continually ask " Mom, can we go bowling?" So, I am one excited mom that once again the Kids Bowl Free program has launched for Summer bowling fun for my family.

The last two years we have participated and choose our favorite Bowling alley The Chalet Bowl. So, if you live in our area and are wanting a family environment bowling alley join us over at Chalet bowl this summer and let's bowl our days away.

Across the country you too can join in the fun at Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the second annual “Kids Bowl Free” program.

Easy Sign-up!

Signing your children up for the free bowling is easy! Just complete the registration form and your kids are on their way to bowling fun this summer. Click here to register now.

Mom, Dads, Teens get a deal as well: In order to accommodate parents and older children in your family that may like to bowl with the child, the participating bowling centers are offering a Family Pass. The Family Pass provides the same great "2 games a day" package for up to 4 adult family members for a one-time payment from $24.95. Click here to register now.

Put Down the Controller: 15 Ideas to Get Your Child to Play Outside

As we end National No TV / Screen time week I'm looking for ideas on how to continue to reduce my children's screen time as we approach the last School bell ringing for the year and my kids beginning their lazy Summer days.

Kids are playing more video games than ever before. Whether it’s on a pricey game console or on the computer, kids as young as three years old are playing video games. Sure, some may have educational lessons, but the vast majority are for mere fun and suck away the hours on a summer day. Get your kid outside and moving with these tips to get them away from video games.

1. Go for a nature walk. Kids seldom know much about nature, outside of the basics they learn in science class. Take your kids to explore the outdoors by taking them on a nature walk. Don’t worry if there’s no national park nearby, you can go down a trail at your local park or in the neighborhood and spot bits of nature as they turn up. Check out birds and collect neat leaves and flowers along the way. It teaches kids to appreciate and respect nature and gets them in tune with the great outdoors.
2. Share old school games with your kids. Today’s typical six year old may not know what Red Rover is. It’s too bad since the game is a blast! Share old school games with your kids that will make them want to get outside and start Red Rover games with their friends and neighbors. This is a great game to play at a kid’s birthday party too, since there are usually plenty of kids around
3. Hit the beach. Appreciating nature comes with seeing the many parts of it. Showing your kids the beach will expose them to the sun and sand and you can incorporate a few lessons on erosion if the crowd is interested. Of course, if your kids are swimming the day away in the water, that’s fine too. Collect seashells and walk along the shore spotting crabs along the way.
4. Go to the park. This one seems basic, but once upon a time, the park was where most families spent their weekends. Now we tend to spend the weekends running errands or at the modern day park, the mall (insert shudder here). Take your kids to the park and let them do what they want. This is a great place to let them run wild because it gives them an opportunity to interact with other kids and play on things they may not have a chance to play with otherwise, like the jungle gym or see-saw.
5. Visit a public pool. If your kids don’t regularly get an opportunity to swim, taking them to a public pool one or two weekends a month during the summer will shake up their outdoor routine. Playing in the background can grow tedious, even for the creative bunch who love the outdoors, so get your kids in the pool swimming. Most public pools are free, so pack a lunch and go early and stay late.
6. Go camping. This one is a little tricky because depending on where you live and whether or not you own a vehicle, it becomes more or less accessible. If you can go camping with your kids, take them! You’ll appreciate seeing them in new territory (and vice-versa) and it makes for a great bonding experience. Don’t forget to pack the camera, so you can take photos of the family fishing or swimming in the lake.
7. Play baseball. Gather up a few kids from around the neighborhood (or invite school friends or cousins) and set up a game of baseball at a local diamond. It’s fun, cheap and many kids will want to play again and again. This one isn’t exclusively for kids either. Teams can be comprised of both adults and kids for a fun dynamic.
8. Start a garden. This is one surefire way to get kids outside, day after day. Starting a small garden will teach kids responsibility and how to get friendly with nature. Your kids will watch their plant or fruit or vegetable grow and appreciate the process and hands-on activity that requires time in the sun, almost daily.
9. Go for a hike. It’s similar to a nature walk, but instead of spotting things along the way, you’re more just enjoying the scenery as a whole. Kids can get some fresh air and take a look at what the outdoors, besides their backyard, look like. Hiking is an affordable trip if you live near a park with sizeable trails and small hills that kids can climb to the top of to appreciate the view.
10. Play catch. No park or major yard is required! Find an empty parking lot and play catch for hours with your kid or a group of kids. Baseball gloves for kids are usually affordable at sporting good stores and can be had for even less during the off-season. Plus, the glove will come in handy when you set up that game of baseball.
11. Take photos of your neighborhood. You’ll be surprised at how careful a kid is when trusted with a digital camera. We aren’t saying to hand over your $600 DSLR, but letting your kid toy with an affordable digital camera will make them see their neighborhood in a new light. It’s a great way to teach them about shadows, lighting and proportion. Hand the camera over and let them take photos. Then head home, upload them and pick out the memorable places you’re accustomed to seeing daily.
12. Watch the clouds. This is a free, simple activity that younger kids will enjoy. On a warm day, head outside with a few snacks and watch the clouds dance by. Point out funny shapes that remind you of things and watch how the sun changes as the clouds make their way. In this setting, kids will usually organically start playing games of tag and running around, so be prepared to stay outside awhile
13. Go stargazing. This can be at a park or in your own backyard. Set out a blanket and gaze away on a starry night. Use a constellation book to guide you through the stars you’re seeing or download Google Sky for a tour of the sky from your very own backyard. It’s a free activity that will open your kids to the world of astronomy and make them look up at night in a while new way.
14. Shoot some hoops. Even young kids will enjoy yelling, “Brick!” as their parents attempt to make a basket. This is a fun way for any number of friends or family to get outside and start playing and working up a sweat. Plus, as long as you can see your kids, it’s a game they can go at alone without worrying about anyone getting hurt.
15. Go bird watching. To do this, you can spot birds at random or take along a book to see if you see any of the birds on your journey. This works best if you’re in a park or wooded area where birds tend to gather. Bird watching is a fun family activity that many children take to because it gives them a closer look at nature than checking out plants and flowers.

Video games are tons of fun, but for youngsters, playing time should be limited to a couple of hours a week. If you show your child some fun ideas for getting outside and playing, they’ll be more apt to put down the video game controller and have some fun in the sun.

National Turn Off the TV Week - 10 Ideas For Family Fun

The Novotny family is accepting the challenge once again this year , will you join us? For National Turn off the TV week beginning today April 18th  2011. We are going to unplug the talking boxes in our home and use our time to enjoy a variety of other things as a family.

National Turn off the TV week is an annual campaign to get us to reclaim those lost hours watching talking boxes and take that time to connect with our families, engage in our communities and do things we seem to never have time for.

MOM TIP: Make a plan for the week by creating a list of what you will do each day. Make it Fun. We created a list to help you get started.


10 Alternative TV ideas:

1. Family Game night - Choose a game the entire family can participate in, maybe it's a week long game of monopoly that you play for a set amount of time each night or that game your child received at Christmas you still haven't played.

2. Something New - Make a list of things you would like to learn or would like to teach your children. This can be anything from learning a new card game, crochet, to how to download music to your IPod or teaching your child to tie their shoes.

3. Family Read aloud - Children of all ages love to be read to. Check out a chapter book from the library or grab one off your book shelf that you have been wanting to read to your children and begin a nightly reading time together.

4. Creative Fun - From scrap booking to crafty creations allow the creative side of your family to shine as you do family projects or allow your kids time to just create with left over craft supplies.

5. Kitchen Time - Create a meal together or teach your kids to bake some yummy treats.

6. Volunteer - Choose a Church or Community project that your family can serve together in .

7. Exercise - This is a great time to start a daily /nightly habit of exercising. Start with 20 minutes and add 10 minutes each night to your routine.

8. Plant a Garden - Now is the time to get out and clean up your garden and flower beds. Begin planting so you will have plenty of fresh veggies come summer.

9. Start or finish a project - Begin or finish a project that you have been putting off due to lack of time.

10. Audio Fun - Before the television was invented families sat around a big radio and used their imaginations to picture the fun and adventurous stories that were told over the radio. Why not listen to a book on tape or Cd with your children and allow their imagination to picture what is taking place in the story.


What will you do with your newly reclaimed hours in your day?

Free Park Admission During National Park Week

NPS

A young birdwatcher scans the skies at North Cascades National Park Complex, Washington.

April 16-24, 2011

Get out and discover something new about your 394 national parks. This year's focus, Healthy Parks, Healthy People, highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role America's national parks play in both.
Whether your prefer a 20-mile backcountry hike in Yosemite or a leisurely stroll around Philadelphia's Independence Hall, moving outside is good for you and offers a chance to explore these places you own. Search the events calendar to find your National Park Week "must-dos," and share your national park experience on Facebook or Twitter.


Free Admission Day at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.* April 16-24 (National Park Week)

Frugal Spring Vacation Ideas

It’s Spring Break season and our kids will be ready to party kid style with a fun and relaxing week. So, if you didn’t already book your flights to Hawaii fear no more we have some frugal ideas for you. 

Let me first warn you to NOT book every moment of your kids spring break with activities  allow them to sleep in a bit, relax and do noting but play. Remember your school vacation days that seemed full of endless hours of playing with no schedules?

Save money this Spring vacation by creating your  own home to be  Spring vacation getaway with a little preparation and planning.  When vacationing at home you don’t have to pack, you get to sleep in your own bed, and enjoy your own time schedule.

A few Spring break planning tips:

-       Plan SIMPLE meals that are easy to prepare

-       Designate field trip days and stay home days

-       Get your kids involved in the planning

-       Search for coupons for both activities and dinning

Here are some ideas 24/7 MOMS gathered for both at home and on the road locally that is.

Family Field Trip Fun:

Zoos and more:

Head out to your nearby museums, zoos, galleries, factories, historical sites and other tourist attractions.  Many museums and zoos offer free days. Be frugal and find out what these times are and plan accordingly.

Park Hopping :

Map out local parks you have been wanting to visit both in your local city and nearby cities. Spend the day hopping from park to park then vote at the end  of the day for the best park.

Take a hike:

Seek out simple hikes and trails that your family can enjoy together – don’t forget a day pack filled with snacks and liquids.

Out to Lunch : 

My kids love the treat of eating out.  Lunch time menus tend to be less expensive so why not eat a late lunch and get in on the less expensive prices.

Story Time and Other Library Activities:

Many public libraries offer spring break events , such as story times and “meet the authors, etc. Visit the web sites of your local libraries for time and locations of activities.

Volunteering with Your Kids:

Teach your kids to give back to your community, church, local schools etc. by seeking out ways you can volunteer together from serving at a mission to asking to pick-up and do yard work at your local school, helping at church etc.

At HOME Fun:

Cooking/ Baking:

Kids love to create in the kitchen so have a morning or afternoon of baking and cooking lessons for you kids - create a new recipe they have not had prior or create their favorite recipe.  You could even include taking them shopping for the supplies.

Movie DAY Time:

Have a day time movie event -  you could create a fun at home MOVIE experience with neighbor kids . Rent movies, or better yet, borrow DVDs from the local libraries, then watch the films. Prepare popcorn and  drinks to serve during movie time. You could even create a movie snack bar with candy, treats , pizza , popcorn.

Game Day:

Pull out  the board games and puzzles that are filling the closets. Invite over a few school friends or neighbors and have a game marathon. Serve treats or a meal

Scavenger Hunt:

Create clues and have your kids go in search of a prize. This could be an indoor or out door hunt.  Search Google for hunt ideas.

Craft Day:

Do your kids have unused craft kits or supplies – get them out and get ready for a day of crafting – even cans of playdo make for a fun afternoon of creating.

Spring Cleaning:

Recruit your kids to help with Spring cleaning Offer to pay the kids to help you clean out and get organized Or give them a reward.

Already Paid :
What do you already belong to or have memberships  to?  YMCA, Zoo,  Netflix…..what about gift cards and coupons - inventory your resources and use them during Spring break

Do Nothing:

If your kids generally have a lot of scheduled activities after school, then offer them a week of doing nothing. having a week to relax together would be a fun change and could re energize your kids.

AS we always say here on 24/7 MOMS "Keep it simple and make every moment count."

What fun simple frugal ideas do you have?

Image: Sujin Jetkasettakorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Soul Surfer Movie Review - A Must See Movie

By: Karen Pecota

24/7 MOMS film journalist

The veteran filmmaker, Sean Patrick McNamara (“Big Mac”), brings to life the telling story of Kauai’s surfer girl, Bethany Hamilton in his latest motion picture Soul Surfer.  The Webster dictionary describes a Soul Surfer as, “a term coined in the 1970s, used to describe a talented surfer who surfs for the sheer pleasure of it. Although they may still enter competitions, a Soul Surfer’s motives go beyond winning.” McNamara and six screenwriters (Deborah Schwartz, Douglas Schwartz, Michael Berk, Matt R. Allen, Caleb Wilson and Brad Gann) adapt Hamilton’s book about her grueling deep water experience and the following consequences of her life choices. McNamara’s well executed narrative gets Hamilton’s story right--especially in regard to her faith. Hats off to McNamara for a proper portrayal of her Christian faith as a positive life-style and not one that is questionably strange. The stellar cast and amazing cinematography put sheer sparkle into visualizing Hamilton’s story and the amazing impact on the world thorough her eyes as a sold out surfer girl.

A Native of the island of Kauai, Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) was the third child born to surfer dude parents, Tom (Dennis Quaid) and Cheri (Helen Hunt) Hamilton in 1990. Bethany and brothers, Noah (Ross Thomas) and Timmy (Chris Brochu) were natural surfers but she was different—the type of girl that was born to surf. At the age of thirteen, Bethany and best friend, Alana Blanchard (Lorraine Nicholson) received sponsorship from the surfing icon Rip Curl after placing in several national surfing competitions. Shortly before their first major championship Bethany, Alana, Alana’s brother Byron (Jeremy Sumpter) and dad, Holt Blanchard (Kevin Sorbo) are surfing in a beautiful remote cove off the Kauai Coast known for its awesome morning waves.  Out of nowhere Bethany is attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark that takes huge chunk out of her surf board, carrying with it her left arm and almost her life.

Facing the giants of other famed surfers, Bethany’s twisted journey of broken dreams and a lack of purpose is nothing like a smooth ride through the ultimate pipeline. Youth leader and friend, Sarah Hill (Carrie Underwood), helps Bethany to look at life with a whole new set of eyes pushing Bethany’s strong faith, family ties and the will to take her adversities to a different level of maturity. Bethany’s tenacity and determination to take a horrific casualty and use it to make a difference in the world is a riveting narrative wrapped in the arms of love and grace. A story to remember!

"Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of.” -- Bethany Hamilton

Released in local theaters: April 8, 2011

Movie rating: PG (note: a scary shark attack scene)

Tooth Fairy DIY Pouch

 Create these simple tooth pouches from Purlbee for your Children's lost teeth to place out for the Tooth Fairy.

Click here for complete instructions on how to make them.


Take Note: You don't have to sew them and alternate ideas would be to  use fabric glue  to adhere the side seams and the tooth to the front.   And  you can use a fabric pen to write your child's  name and date  on the bag.

Fun April Fools Tricks and Pranks

I found these fun tricks and pranks over at Parenting.com and with only a few more days until April fools I thought we moms might be in need of more ideas.  Be sure to check these ideas and more over at Parenting.com

Breakfast Bait and Switch
Swap out sugar for salt and watch Dad put it in his morning cup of coffee. (Have a second, non-salted cup ready to go though).
For more morning fun, take out cereal bags and put them in mismatching boxes. See how long it takes for everyone to find their favorite cereal.

Backwards Dinner
Serve up a topsy-turvy dinner to throw your kids for a loop: bake meatloaf in a 12-cup muffin tin and frost with mashed potatoes for a "cupcakes" dinner -- bonus if you add food coloring to the spuds. Then toast strips of pound cake for a dessert of "French fries". Don't forget red-tinted frosting for ketchup!

If the Shoe Fits
Bunch up TP and stuff it in the toe of the victim's shoes. They'll wonder why their shoes suddenly don't fit.

DIY Daylight Saving Time
Set all the clocks in the house an hour or two early -- then ease the blow of an early wake-up by taking the kiddos out for breakfast

What do you do to create fun on April fools day?

Celebrate Book Day on April 2nd with fun ideas

Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen´s birthday, April 2, International Children´s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children´s books. Make  it a celebration with your kids and try one of our Book Day celebration ideas:

Book Exchange Party: Host a neighborhood or friend book exchange with your children's friends by asking them to each bring their no longer wanted books to exchange with the other children for some fresh reading books. 

- Create tickets to give to the children for each book they bring and then they can use the tickets to shop for the books they would like to take hone with them.

- Serve a simple snack.

- Have a time where the kids sit down before they begin shopping with their tickets and ask some book related questions.  What is your favorite book to read? who is your favorite storybook character? etc.

Library Visit:  Take your children to the library to get their first library card and/or check out books.

Craft Time: Create bookmarks to use in their daily reading. Google craft ideas for bookmarks



Summer Reading list - Take a few minutes and create a summer reading list wit your kids of the books they would like to read this coming summer and if you have time take a trip to the bookstore and purchase one of the summer reading books they are interested in.  Now no starting t early they must wait till summer to begin the book

Book Theme Day - Create  a fun day around a book theme Such as Junie B Jones and serve her favorite food Spaghetti and meatballs and you could serve  a snack in little paper cups of m&ms and pretzels (because Junie B. says she would have that at her party.) But before your kids can eat they must put on plastic gloves and hairnets which you can  purchased really cheap at a beauty supply store (Junie B. works in her school cafeteria and LOVES wearing these.)  you get the idea theme a day around your kids favorite storybook.

 For more book party ideas click here.

Book Breakfast- Start the day of with books.  Decorate the table with books, use big books as place mats, place a new book at each child's seat that they will enjoy reading.  Serve green eggs and ham to go with Dr. Seuss famous story or other food ideas from your kids favorite stories.


Book plates - Create book plates for your kids so they can place them in their special books.

Click here for FREE colorful bookplates you can download and print from Tip Junkie.

Click here for FREE children's book plates you can download and print for free from Tip Junkie.