Posted by drozzell on December 28, 2008
I really like things that I can do with my kids that are also good for me, such as exercising together. Even better is when the activity helps others as well. Try signing up together with one or more of your kids for a walk-a-thon or walk for charity. You spend some fun time together with your kids, get outdoors for a little exercise, and support a good cause, all at the same time. This parent-child activity is like having your cake, and eating it with frosting!
Posted by drozzell on December 18, 2008
Is the weather too cold for a “camp out”? Not really up to sleeping outside yourself? Then make a “tent” or “fort” with bed sheets and blankets and pretend to have a camp out—really a camp-in, since you will do this activity with kids indoors, not outdoors. You can lay out sleeping bags, or just layer a few blankets on the floor. Bring flashlights and turn off the lights in the room to create the feeling of a dark night. Take turns telling scary stories. No camp-in would be complete without some food to enjoy together. Snacks are even more fun when shared under the makeshift tent you have created.
Posted by drozzell on December 17, 2008
This post is admittedly self serving, but so be it! My new book “Mr. Buddy and Grandy” is a group of short stories about a grandfather and his grandson and the things they did together. The overarching theme of this book is that just doing simple things together with a child pays big long-term benefits in building a strong relationship. Although the stories focus on a grandfather and his grandson, many of the same activities would translate equally well to things that any adult could do with children, boys or girls. Fully illustrated, “Mr. Buddy and Grandy” was written in a style for reading to children, yet also enjoyable for adults.
This book is a tribute to my grandfather to memorialize what my he did for me, and also to offer ideas to other parents and grandparents of activities they can do with their children and grandchildren. I believe that the more time adults and children can spend together exploring the world around them, just doing simple things together, the stronger their family bonds will be and the better prepared for adolescence and adulthood the children will be.
“Mr. Buddy and Grandy” is available directly from the author at his Web Site http://www.rozzell.com. The author can be contacted by e-mail at david@rozzell.com.
(60 pages) Perfect-Bound Paperback, fully-illustrated, $12.95 post-paid when paying with Paypal account or a credit card through Paypal
Posted by drozzell on December 15, 2008
A movie night is a great activity with kids, whether you have one, ten, or any number in between. Rent a DVD or video, find a great movie on TV, or watch a video or DVD that you already own. All our kids like watching movies, and we filter what they are allowed to watch based on their ages. My 6 year old daughter doesn’t enjoy many of the action movies that my teenage boys like (although she does like the Star Wars movies!), and many are not even appropriate for her, so when she is with us we may watch an animated movie, a Disney feature, or something similar.
Interestingly, my older son has certain movies he enjoys to watching more than once. However, as much as he likes certain movies, he gets the most enjoyment from watching them when I am watching with him. He wants to share this great experience he is having, and I can see that it gives him a lot of joy! In my household we often make popcorn to munch on as we watch, but whether you enjoy snacks or not is up to you. The most important part of the activity is simply the time together. Family movie night is a great thing to do with kids.
