in other words/classified ads
18 2011
Better Parenting: Free and Fun Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer
june28
By Sonia Spackman MA, MFT
give a little treat or reward. To make it
bigger, give them a list of things you
We can have family fun without leaving have hidden and let them go. Or, you can
Vernonia, our houses or our back yards. hide written clues inside and outside of
This article is similar to the one printed the house to find a bigger prize.
last June. It was written to help parents
create fond memories for kids without Eat like a pig. Kids love a mess. So
spending lots of money! We can show break the rules one night and have a
our kids and grandkids we care by taking dessert-eating contest with one rule:
the time to do special activities with no hands, any excuse to eat without
them.
silverware can be funny.
Sleepover movie night. Move your
mattresses in the living room for a fun
family sleepover night. The kids will
love mom and dad joining the fun. Make
popcorn, and watch a funny movie. Or
better yet,watch family movies.
the forts or on the walls.
Have an outdoor food fight. Just make
sure you choose food that is easy to clean
up, and doesn’t hurt when it hits you. You
can let your hair down and have fun and
not take yourself seriously. Get loose,
and be a kid with the kids. You can even
hose everyone down when it’s over.
Have (your last name here) Olympics.
Hold Olympics just for your family.
Events can range from cakewalks,
walking relay with an egg on a spoon
include a water balloon toss or raw egg
toss. Make sure everyone is included.
You can even make gold, silver and
bronze medals out of cardboard and put
them on ribbons for the winners.
Culture and Dinner Night. This is a
great way to get kids to try new foods,
and learn about other cultures, even
from your family roots. For example, get
them involved cooking Greek food, play
Greek music, watch the movie “My Big
Fat Greek Wedding”. Have each member
Backwards day. Reverse everything of the family look up one fact about that
to create your own backwards day. country and have fun with it.
Put on a family play. Go to the library
Have breakfast for dinner and dinner
check out books with one or two act plays
for breakfast; put your clothes on House Campout & Flashlight Fun. and act them out as a family for other
backwards, watch a movie first thing in Grandparents can do it with the relatives. Or go to the Senior Center and
the morning and cartoons in the evening. grandchildren as well. Make a fort with act out your play at a luncheon there.
Have the kids help with the planning blankets, or use sheets over chairs, or Ask someone to videotape.
and enjoy the ideas they come up with. a table. You might use large cardboard
boxes from an appliance store. For an Play board games or cards by lantern
Treasure hunts. This can be as big or individual box play fort cut pretend or candlelight. Years ago during a
small as you wish. Ask the kids to find windows and doors on the sides. Give snowstorm the power was out for several
something “purple” and as soon as they each child a little flashlight or use days. We played Monopoly games by
find it, ask for something else. At the end larger ones for finger shadows inside candlelight. Turn off your lights and
light the candles, you don’t
have to lose your power to
have this kind of fun! Be
careful with kids around
Membership Dues:
the candles.
Friends of the Vernonia Public Library
Family:
Minimum:
$10.00
Individual:
$5.00
$1.00 plus 2 hours minimum of work in the library
Make checks payable to: Friends of the Vernonia Public Library
Mailing Address: 701 Weed Avenue, Vernonia, OR 97064
Name
Address
City
Phone
Date
State
Zip
Amount Enclosed $
I am interested in helping with the following committees (optional):
Please Circle •Membership •Endowments •Book Sales •Publicity & Public
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Junk trade off hunt. Have the family
each get something weird, the uglier
the better, from your attic, basement, or
garage. Pair up in teams or groups and
go door to door - try to get someone to
trade you their junk for your junk. Have
the family meet together after the hunt
to share what they got for their stuff. Do
not allow your child to go alone.
Cook, serve and clean up blindfolded.
Set up the rules. You cannot touch or
guide with your hands, only your voice.
The family pairs up older with younger.
Starting with setting the table. This might
be fun for cold cereal toaster waffles, a
dessert and a cold drink and of course,
include clearing the table, washing
the dishes, sweeping the floor getting
everything in the dustpan blindfolded.
Take turns on the different tasks, and
remember, no peeking! Be careful not
to use the stove or sharp instruments.
This will not be as easy as it sounds and
it is funny to do and to watch. Maybe
you can make videos.
Volunteer as a family. Call the library
and ask to help with tasks they may need.
Possibly the Senior Center knows of
some one who needs help with errands.
Maybe a park needs flowers planted.
Use your imagination and call around.
Businesses may need a temporary
helping hand too.
Sandcastles in your back yard.
Children enjoy playing at the beach with
Move
the
furniture spoons, scoops making sand castles and
around in the kid’s rooms. starfish. You can put a small amount of
Reorganize the closet, add sand in a small plastic swimming pool
furniture from other rooms, and allow them to use bucket of water to
paint a wall or hang family make their imaginary creations.
pictures or art work. Have
fun creating a “new room”.
Have a wonderful time this summer
doing safe and fun family activities that
Decorate a pair of jeans. may become cherished memories in the
Sew different fabric patches, future.
glue jewels, or add buttons,
holes or paint. As a family Resources: Craig Playstead, Melanie
everyone wear them to the Cooper,
Erin
Huffstetler,
Sonia
4 th of July parade.
Spackman.
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VHS Basketball Coach - Vernonia School Dist. is accepting
applications for Head Girls Basketball Coach. Info available
at www.vernonia.k12.or.us
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PUBLIC NOTICES
Need Food Assistance? We’re willing to help. Vernonia
Cares Food Bank, 627 Adams Avenue. Open Tues and
Thurs, 10AM-2PM. Call 503-429-1414.
Summer Meals Program - Free breakfast & lunch for
youth. June 20 - Aug. 19 at the Vernonia School Cafete-
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Meyer. 503-522-5311
