Get Your Kids Off The Tivi

C'mon, admit it. You often times use the tv sets as a cheap babysitter. That's ok...we ALL do it occasionally! Ah, but it's a double-edged sword, because kids who watch a lot of TV have trouble keeping themselves entertained, which within the lengthy run makes your work harder!

If you're trying to limit the TV viewing in your household, you might need just a little inspiration. Try these TV-free pursuits certain to keep the kids busy... at least for a little although or finally produce a better habits of after school activities!

1) Make paper airplanes
Warning: This one is highly addictive! My two boys absolutely love making paper airplanes. Purchase them a novel on the graphics of paper airplane making, and then put your feet up and read a book.

2) Make a tower with toothpicks and peas
Go ahead- encourage them to fool around with their food!

3) Make homemade ice cream
Put two parts milk and cream and 1 component sugar in a coffee can, with any flavorings you want. Put the lid on, then place it in a larger can and pour ice around the small can. Put rock salt on the ice. Put a lid on the big can, and give it to your youngster to roll it back and forth for about 1/2 hour or until it turns into ice cream! (Do this 1 although it's winter...I won't tell!)

4) Give them a magnet and instruct them to run it all over the house and see what they find.
And loose couch change is fair game!

5) If you have bunk beds, put blankets around the low 1 and make a submarine. Make it a yellow blanket. Then sing the appropriate Beatles tune.

6) Play Initial Family Savings and Loan
Save your cancelled checks and fake charge cards that come in the mail. Supply the children with a calculator, pencils, little table and Monopoly cash. This 1 was my preferred as a kid!

7) Build a mini log cabin with twigs

8) Have a tic-tac-toe tournament

9) Make your own soda.
Here's an simple recipe: http://www.easyfunschool.com/article2052.html

10) Make a card for Grandma.
Get out the rubber stamps, art supplies and construction paper and make a greeting card for Grandma or another loved 1.

11) Bake a cake
Purchase the children an simple cake or brownie mix and let them loose within the kitchen. Tell them they can appreciate the fruits of their labors as long as they tidy up all mess.

12) Make up a treasure hunt
Purchase cheap dollar store toys. Hide inside your closet. Make a listing of items they must find outside. (A white rock, a feather, a red leaf, a penny, etc) Tell them an exciting booty awaits when they bring all of the items to you.

13) Make a cave inside the home.
Put old blankets over the backs of chairs or over a table to make a tent. Grab a flashlight and instruct child to go read scary stories inside it.

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