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1. Penny Toss
Provide pennies and bowls, mark a shooting spot on the grass, every penny in the pot wins a prize. [from Having Fun with Kids by Marilee LeBon]
2. Penny a Weed

We did something similar with snails when I was younger! Two pence for a snail though, it’s a dirty job.
3. Peanut Hunt
Buy a pack of monkey nuts, mark some ‘winning’ nuts, and then hide all the nuts. Give prizes to any kids who find winning nuts. [from Having Fun with Kids by Marilee LeBon]
4. …

The Simple Dollar is urging us to have a money free weekend. Spending time rather than money is a lost art for many of us. Living on one (and a bit) income, and being an avid reader of the simple dollar for some time now I have thought a lot about the activities we can do as a family that are free.
Have a DVD Night
Dig out the dvd’s you haven’t watched for a while, use snacks from the house and make your own ‘in-house cinema’.
Teddy Bears Picnic
Younger kids …

Have fun painting. Here’s some painting inspiration, and a recipe for making paint.
This is the first time Erin has painted without trying to eat the brush. A breakthrough I think

Get the building blocks out and make towers and castles.
Erin being only 11 months played with the blocks in her own way…chewing them and thrusting them at my mouth shouting “Ta” (I have requested a plastic teaset for her birthday!)
Click here for more activity ideas – Activities 2007

Fine motor skills are small muscle movements of the fingers that help your child to perform school readiness activities such as:
Painting with a paintbrush
Cutting with scissors
Drawing and writing using a pencil or crayon correctly
Holding and using a knife and fork
Holding and manipulating small objects
Craft activities
(Nursery & School Guide Edinburgh 06/07)

THE PLAN
Choose any theme you want and adapt the plan accordingly. My theme is ‘Primary Colours’.

Monday: Do three paintings. A Red painting, a Blue painting and a Yellow painting.
Tuesday: Take some magazines, old paper and cards in the three primary …

I used Erin’s sterilizer tub, filled it with water and a variety of toys; a spoon, paintbrush, ball, tub etc….
Remember to use a waterproof sheet…..

Right: Erin sitting in a pool of water after tipping the tub up

This post about dads spending time with their kids during the holidays caught my eye whilst perusing this weeks’ carnival of family life.
The importance of ‘daddy time’ is very well documented and any father worth his salt will want to spend time with their kids, however, could it be that some dads lack the creative spark or imagination or even knowledge to know what their kids will enjoy and what activities are most age appropriate.
1. Swimming
Babies through to teens they all love swimming. Cheap and fun its always a …

This is a great activity for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. It can be adjusted to suit all. For example it’s great to make a hand and foot canvas for a baby’s nursery. Toddlers can have fun painting their own feet and hands and printing onto brightly coloured paper, or green on black paper for scary halloween hands. Preschoolers can cut theirs out and decorate with glitter before putting them on their wall to make a hand and foot trail.

Hand and Foot Printing
You will need;
Newspaper or waterproof …

Babies love faces, if your child is older adjust this activity so that it is a collage of different people, long/short hair, boy/girl, different races etc…
Baby Faces Collage
You will need;
Paper (large sheet)
Old magazines and catalogues
Glue
Scissors
1.Cut out baby face pictures and stick them onto paper.

Musical Instruments

You will need;
All your musical instrument toys or
pots and pans (drums)
wooden spoon (drumstick)
a tub with rice inside (shaker)
2 pot covers steel/metal (cymbals)
glass jars filled with water (xylophone or older children)
2 baby milk tins (make a great set of bongo drums)
1. Sing and play the instruments. (Get the ear plugs out!)