June 5, 2007

Power Play

Summer means more quality time with the kids. But after a couple weeks (er, days) without school to break up the day, you might start running low on ideas. How many times can you walk to the playground and back?

Just in the nick of time, father of three and comedian Jim Breuer, a former SNL funnyman now on Sirius Radio, shares his top 10 tips for shaking up playtime (he uses his "Captain Silly" character to entertain his own kids):

1. Play "guess the animal I'm thinking of." One person dreams up an animal, and the others can ask questions, like, "How many legs does it have?", "What does it eat?", and "How big is it?" (This one's also great for keeping squirmy kids seated during mealtime.)

2. Put down that favorite book and try fill-in-the-blank storytelling: "Once upon a time there was a ____." Let them fill in the missing parts.

3. On a rainy day, challenge the kids to design a living room fort or tent using furniture, sheets, and blankets. They could even camp out in it.

4. Open a backyard theater where kids put on a show. They can dance, act or do gymnastics.

5. If you're getting work done, find a way kids can help. If it's office work, give them papers and folders, and show them what to do.

6. Flip off the lights and hand out flashlights for a more thrilling version of hide-and-seek.

7. Show them how to write a letter to Grandma, use envelopes and stamps, and bring it to the post office for mailing.

8. Buy a batch of chalk for sidewalk games. Have them draw a rocket and decide where it is headed.

9. Pretend you've lost something important, like your keys or shoes, and ask them for help finding it. They'll feel important when they do!

10. For little ones, a simple balloon can provide hours of fun. Have them chase it and try to grab it, or bump it in the air.

Monday's UrbanBaby Daily: Shoe-In

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