Kids Activities–Top 10 Activities for the summer

December 27, 2009 by  
Filed under Parenting

Kids always look forward to summer. This is evident on how they count the days until summer break. However, when summer finally arrives, they end up getting bored. Children’s attention span can be very short and before you know it they have run out of things to do for the summer. To help you choose the best kids activities for the summer, here are top ten suggestions which you can opt to do with your children.
1. Pitch a tent and go camping. This is a good way to bond with your kids. During the day you can spend time playing Frisbee, go swimming or hiking, or simply relax in a hammock. At night, you can build a fire, tell ghost stories, and roast marshmallows. Certainly, a cheap way to keep your family entertained.
2. Pack your bags and go to the beach. The beach is an ultimate summer destination. It is also the perfect getaway for your kids as they can go swimming in the sea. Other kids’ activities your kids can do on the beach include building a sand castle, collecting seashells, and playing a game of beach volleyball.
3. Gear up and go for a nature walk. Hiking is a good physical exercise and you can share the experience with your kids. Do a research on the best places to hike and keep in mind points of interest like caves and waterfalls. Ensure that the hiking trail you will be taking is age-appropriate so that you don’t end up carrying your kid on your back.
4. Experience home away from home in a cottage. Renting a cottage is just like camping the milder way. You don’t have to live in tents and sleep on the ground. Instead, you get a cottage complete with facilities which are commonly found in a house. The activities that can be done when you rent a cottage depend on the kind of adventure you want for your family.
5. Strap on and go to an amusement park. Roller coasters tickle the fancy of every kid. The thrill of the ride makes their hearts beat fast which they love. As parents, you may already have had your time to enjoy these rides in your youth, but nevertheless, the smiles on your kids’ faces as they finish a ride is just priceless.
6. Bring them closer to nature and go to the zoo. Kids just love everything about animals. And bringing them to the zoo is a very pleasant experience for them. It is also a way for you to teach them about how animals live and why they should be loved instead of feared.
7. Get ready to be wet and visit a water park. Just like beaches, your kids will surely enjoy the wading pools, waterslides, splash pads, and wave pools found in a water park. Getting wet is definitely a good way to beat the heat of summer.
8. Contribute to your community by visiting local attractions. Sometimes, tourists experience more of a place than the actual residents living there. Now is the time to break the habit and see for yourself the amazing places your locality has to offer. Your kids will even be delighted to know that such a place exists so near to where they are living.
9. Sweat it out with a game or two. Indulge in a game of bowling or baseball with your children. Doing this will up your bonding time and will allow you to discover and nurture the talents your kids may have.
10. Spend quality time at home. As simple as it may seem, spending quality time at home is probably one of the best things you can do for summer. This involves joining your children for a computer game, teaching them how to bake, or spending time together to complete a jigsaw puzzle.
These are the top ten kids’ activities for the summer. Getting involved in your children’s development will give them a lifetime of memories that they will surely thank you for.

Summer Fun And Swimwear For Your Little Tot!

December 25, 2009 by  
Filed under Baby Gear

Summer’s finally here! It’s time to get some swimwear for your little one and head out to the pool! Babies love playing in water, and this is the best season to take advantage of this! Even babies who are just five weeks old love the water. Whilst swimming before the two month immunizations was not advised before, it is now! You can ask your health professional, but you’ll most definitely get a go-ahead!

Pool Diapers!

The first order of the day is to get a swim diaper for the baby. Swim diapers are either worn under other swimwear or worn alone. With a synthetic outer coating which is waterproof and a cloth lining inside, these diapers are machine washable and will deal with any solid waste released by the baby in the pool, efficiently taking care of your embarrassment in public pools! The chlorinated water can deal with urine, so you need not worry about that.

Swimsuits!

Similar to older kid’s swimwear, baby swimsuits consist of trunks or full body tanks for your baby boy. For baby girls, the bikini or one-piece style is the trend! Baby swimwear comes in cute designs and sun hats, which look adorable on the baby! Look around, but don’t expect too much for babies who are less than three months old.

Baby wetsuits are ideal for swimming since they are designed to keep your baby warm and comfortable in the water. Looking very professional and built to fit over the swim diaper, they are just the right thing for your future swim champ!

Baby floatation devices!

Floatation devices come in all shapes and forms today: inflatable swimsuits, inflatable boats, inflatable tubes, rubber rings, water wings and so on and so forth! Most floatation devices are built for kids who are more than a year old. First rule of the pool: Don’t leave your baby alone, even if he or she is in a floating device. Moreover, don’t accustom your kids to inflatable rings, since it’s going to be much more difficult for them to learn swimming without!

Sunscreen!

There is a special sunscreen for babies with a very high sun protection factor to protect your little one’s skin. A good waterproof sunscreen is essential for the baby, so apply it liberally. Sun rays are even more dangerous now, with the holes in the ozone layer, and can reflect off the water on to the skin of the baby. Cover the little one’s head too, for she is likely to complain if you make her wear a hat! Sunscreen is an essential part of a baby’s swimwear. Also, keep the hat handy for the moment after your baby is done swimming!