In the world of video games and computers, thinking of activities to do with your child can be overwhelming.  To get a few ideas, the internet is a good place to start.  There are many inexpensive activities for younger children that are great fun.  Give them a bucket of water, some paint brushes and paint rollers, a sunny day and they can "paint up a storm for hours.  Together you can "paint" the driveway, mailbox, sidewalk, house, tree and just about anything else that isn't damaged by water.  And there's no mess to clean up!

Got some old socks?  Try making hand puppets with your child.  Decorating old socks into different characters or "dressing" them up like each other, using extra buttons for the eyes and nose, yarn for the hair, and a red marker for the mouth is a sure way for your child to express his imagination.

The middle school child will respond well to his areas of interest.  Whether he likes sports, music, reading, star-gazing, electronics, cars, stamp collecting, chess, painting or dinosaurs, ask about his interests (listen carefully) and you can create some great family activities together.  You will find museums or special exhibits (like car shows) to visit whether he’s interested in science, art, music or history.  Not only can you bring him to a museum but you can do science experiments together, take a class together,  draw pictures, check out history books from the library, read them together, and put on his favorite songs to sing and dance to.  Visiting a zoo is also enjoyable.  By learning about the animals and their habitats it gives children an idea of how the animal kingdom survives.

Being involved in your teenager’s life is not only fun but very important to their development.  Eating dinner together is a great time to communicate.  Volunteer at his sporting events, attend every chorus concert, and allow him to have friends spend the night.  No matter how young or old your child is, no matter what you’re doing, spending time together is the most important, and memorable contribution in his life you could ever give him.
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Stumble It!
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by Laura Breite - www.MotheringGuide.com
San Diego, CA
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Please direct a courtesy copy to laurabreite@mac.com or snail mail it to:
Laura Breite
www.MotheringGuide.com
13422 Sawtooth Rd
San Diego, CA 92129