Tag Archives: kids party rentals

DIY Garden with Kids

It’s easy to instill a love of gardening and nature in children with DIY projects. They’re easy to implement, require very little equipment, and can teach the value of recycling. Whether parents choose to grow plants or provide food for wildlife, there are dozens of DIY garden projects that provide extraordinary bonding opportunities.

Bird Feeders

A simple box of plain Cheerios and a ribbon strung with the cereal can be a welcome treat for birds.

Butterfly Feeder

Take a clean, used pie tin and transition it into a butterfly feeder. After the string has been threaded through to hold the pan level, decorate the strings with beads before tying it at the top and hanging. Place small pieces of oranges in the pan to attract the butterflies. If a commercially prepared mixture is used, only put in enough to barely cover the bottom of the pie pan.

Fairy Garden

A small plastic tray with drainage holes, a layer of potting soil or compost, and small succulents or moss enables children to exercise their imaginations. Small accessories such as a house, twigs, rocks for walkways, and mini clip-on butterflies complete the magic.

Hanging Planters

A large water, juice or milk container makes an excellent upside down planter for a wide variety of plants. Leave the cap on and cut out the bottom. Thread some garden string or wire through the bottom by which to hang it and add seeds or a favorite plant.

Morning Glory Pyramid

This will require 8-10 bamboo poles approximately 6-10 feet in length. Assemble the poles in a pyramid shape, tying them together at the top. Tie gardening string around the outer pyramid all the way to the top and plant seeds at the bottom. As the plants grow, they’ll climb and cover the pyramid to make a fun fort. The pyramid works equally well with pole beans and small gourds.

Terrarium

An old fish tank or even clear glass bottles and jars offer opportunities. Place gravel in the bottom, followed by a layer of potting soil or compost. Choose the plants to include and arrange as desired. Add a little water and another small layer of gravel to complete the terrarium. Place in a location that provides the appropriate amount of light for the chosen plants.

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Adding a Pet to the Home

  There will come a time in every person’s life when they consider pet ownership or their child asks for a dog or cat. The decision to adopt a pet of any type shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. A pet is a lifelong commitment – their lifetime, not yours. Animals are living beings with feelings and needs – not a disposable accessory. It’s your responsibility to ensure pets are fed, vaccinated, have the physical comforts required, and children are taught how to treat the animal with kindness, caring, and compassion. No matter how much your child begs, you need to honestly evaluate your child’s maturity level before adding a pet to the family.

The Downside

  • Canines need to be trained not to relieve themselves indoors and it takes time and patience. Smaller breeds will need to relieve themselves more often.
  • Dogs and cats go through teething like kids and will chew on anything available
  • Keeping animals in ‘training cages’ often leads to boredom and destructive behaviors
  • Dogs need obedience training
  • You’ll need a pet sitter if you travel frequently
  • If you get a cat, they’ll need a litter box that will require daily cleaning
  • Pets shed and it increases when they’re stressed
  • You may be allergic and not know it
  • There are considerable expenses associated with a pet
  • Depending on their natural behavior patterns, they can be noisy at night
  • If a dog attacks someone, you can be sued for any medical costs and the dog may be taken and euthanized
  • You’re liable if your dog destroys someone’s property
  • Pets can outlive you
  • All animals don’t like kids

The Benefits

  • Pets provide unconditional love and comfort
  • They empathize with you
  • They relieve stress
  • Pets can be the impetus for you to get more exercise
  • Pets don’t judge you
  • They look to you for love and comfort – yes, even cats
  • Pets reduce blood pressure
  • Pets improve mental health
Having an animal companion can be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have, but it’s also an expensive undertaking and requires commitment. Adopting from a shelter provides a forever home to a deserving animal and aids in curtailing pet mills. Never give an animal as a gift for Christmas, Easter, or other occasion.

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Great Social Activities for Young Kids

All kids will benefit from social activities, but it can be especially difficult for parents to choose appropriate pursuits for young children. The level of involvement will depend on the age of the child and it’s best to engage in non-competitive activities for very young children.

Sports

Team sports such as pee-wee baseball are typically one of the first organized sports that parents turn to in their quest to socialize their child and set them on a path to extra-curricular activities that will hopefully lead to college benefits. Team sports are an excellent way for kids to learn to work together and to do so toward a common goal. A sport of any kind demonstrates by example how to be a good sport if the team loses and not to be braggarts when they win. Kids learn about practice and commitment, time management, and hard work. Through trying, even if they fail, they develop confidence in themselves.

Dance

Whether kids are enrolled in ballet, tap, swing, or interpretive dance it’s an activity that essentially teaches youngsters the same lessons as sports. It also has some additional benefits that include better balance and self-discipline, along with problem solving skills and perseverance. Dancers learn that there’s always someone better than they are at a particular skill, not to take it personally, and to keep trying.

Martial Arts

A dojo is a great place for youngsters to begin learning lessons that will stay with them for a lifetime. The first is that learning is a lifelong endeavor and even small, incremental improvements produce long-term results. The discipline helps kids focus, concentrate, and they have better balance and control. Respect, humility, discipline, and mastery of one’s self are all emphasized. Youngers discover that nothing is attained without a certain amount of risk and that adversity is overcome through mental strength and fortitude. Kids also find that there are no shortcuts to true success and not to compare themselves to others.

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Hottest Kids Toys for this Holiday Season

Dozens of toys line store aisles and parents can be overwhelmed with all the choices. For parents that are trying to obtain that must-have toy for Christmas, they may find limited supplies. The following are proving to be the most desired toys for the 2019 holiday season to help parents keep ahead of the rush. There’s a trend in toys for younger kids that foster nurturing and those that provide an element of surprise. Young social media influencers are even reaching kids and having a hand in the toys for which kids are clamoring.

Blume Dolls

Kids love surprises and Blume dolls by Skyrocket offer just that. A little bit of water activates the slow-rise foam of the doll’s hair and it springs from the soil like a plant. It’s like magic for kids and the pot doubles as a play set. At a cost of $9.99, it’s also affordable.

Scruff-A-Luvs

Offered by Little Live Pets, kids have to wash and comb the fur of their rescue pet family to determine if they have a kitten, puppy or bunny. It includes an adult and two babies. They typically retail for $29.99.

Zuru Pets Alive

Boppi the Booty Shakin Llama is the favorite robotic toy for this year, though the company offers a variety of swimming and running pets that kids can interact with in multiple ways. The recommended retail price is $24.99, but has been seen for as little as $17.99.

Hatchimal Toothless the Dragon

Kids can hatch their own baby dragon and play games like Simon Says and hot potato with this offering from Dreamworks Dragon based on the movie “How to Train Your Dragon.” The electronic toy retails for about $60.

So Much to Choose

Perennial favorites like Slime Legos and dollhouses are still popular or parents can choose a new singing Elsa Doll that’s available, along with the Nintendo Switch Lite video game and a Fortnite Jumbo Llama Loot Piñata filled with over 100 surprise good goodies. Kids can also help Rizmo the interactive musical plush toy evolve from a baby alien to fully grown adult. There’s even the Fisher-Price Kinderbot that teaches kids how to code.

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How Volunteering can Help Build Character

Every parent wants to help their child build character and one of the ways to accomplish that is through volunteering. There are opportunities to volunteer throughout the year and the holiday season is an especially needful time. Anyone with a toddler is familiar with how they think and approach their personal goals. They want it, they want it now, and they have little – if any – regard for the boundaries, feelings, or consequences to others. Volunteering teaches temperance, restraint, and value for other living beings. Depending upon their age, youngsters can participate in events that raise money for charitable organizations or donate to food pantries. They can collect essential items for the homeless, donate toys for those less fortunate, and help clean up at local parks. Even small acts help youngsters learn and embrace qualities of empathy, compassion and tolerance. Volunteering teaches gratitude, social responsibility, and makes you feel good. Even toddlers can begin learning the character-building traits that come with service to others and it provides valuable bonding time with your child. Volunteering helps connect people with humanity at large and it aids in developing confidence since the experiences take people out of their comfort zones. People that volunteer develop a unique perspective and are often innovators as adults. Individuals that volunteer learn humility, leadership, teamwork, and a sense of fairness. They learn to advocate for social justice and have a greater sense of community. Children learn a sense of gratitude that they carry with them throughout their lifetimes and tend to be happier and better adjusted in their personal and professional endeavors. There’s a myriad of volunteering opportunities in which children can participate that aligns with their personal interests. It’s best to begin with activities in which they’re interested and as they develop pride in their efforts, they may turn to other organizations where they see assistance is needed. The important thing is that you’ve spent valuable time bonding with your child, developed their character, and taught them lessons that will help them throughout their life.

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Ways for Grandparents to Connect with Grandchildren

Sometimes the generation gap can seem insurmountable for grandparents, especially if their grandchildren are tweens or teens. It’s much easier to find activities to share with youngsters when they’re young, but a loving connection is essential at any age. Grandparents can have a profound influence on their grandchildren and for those that may not know where to begin, the following are some great ways to start.

One-on-One Time

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with spending the day or engaging in an activity with just one of your grandchildren at a time instead of doing something as a group. They each have different interests that you can share and nurture. Just do the same for each one.

Activities and Hobbies

It’s never too early for children to discover new interests. It could be anything from collecting seashells or knitting to biking and horseback riding. If a grandchild is already passionate about a sport or activity, watch TV or movies about it with them, or try it with them.

Be Silly, Have Fun

A sense of humor and the ability to laugh at oneself are some of the greatest gifts you can bestow upon your grandchildren. If you like to sing or dance, do it with wild abandon. Let them see your own sense of humor shine through and teach by example – don’t be afraid to try new things.

Be Practical

There are dozens of practical things with which you can help your grandchildren. Essential things you learned as a child are often not taught or learned anymore, but they still have practical applications. Being able to make change without electronic means, create a budget, cook a meal or change a tire are just some examples.

Be Yourself

There’s been way too much hype about being the “cool” grandma or grandpa. Children know when adults are faking. Grandchildren want to see the real you, know that they’re important to you, and that you love them. Spending time with them enables you to be a major part of their life, pass on some of your knowledge and experience, and learn new things from them.

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Trendy Kid Costumes for 2019

Kids love the candy collected during trick-or-treating and half the fun of Halloween is dressing up as their favorite personalities from TV, movies, books and video games. Trendy costumes for 2019 encompass everything from digital characters to witches, but these aren’t the traditional “dark” characterizations of decades past. Today’s costumes incorporate glamor, glitz, sparkles, glow-in-the-dark features, and even lights. The following kid costumes are some of the trendiest for the 2019 Halloween season. Emmet from The LEGO Movie 2 – The construction worker and Master Builder has struck a chord with kids. The upbeat character is an ordinary guy that’s destined to become a hero. Jasmine from Aladdin – The release of the live-action Aladdin movie starring Will Smith as the genie has rekindled interest in Princess Jasmine and all the Aladdin characters. Pikachu – The digital character is the star of video games and movies, and the lovable Pokémon continues to be popular with the younger set. Sharks – Kids of all ages are fascinated with the deep water fish. This year’s costumes are available for the “Baby Shark” generation to older kids. Simba from the Lion King – Designed for younger kids, the character captured a new generation of fans with the release of the digitally animated, musical version of the original film. Super Mario – The charismatic plumber is one of the first characters to which kids are introduced in video games and his popularity continues. Wednesday Addams – The release of The Addams Family movie has brought the wackiness of the 1960s original TV series back in an animated form. Wonder Woman – Girl power is alive and well and kids are flocking to Wonder Woman costumes. Complete with tiara, the costume allows girls to be powerful heroes. The trendy kid costumes for 2019 have been influenced by films, unlike many of the costumes in the past. No matter what costume children choose for trick-or-treating, the most important aspect of Halloween festivities is staying safe.

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Getting Your Kids to Eat Veggies

Almost every parent has become frustrated with their child’s determination to ignore their vegetables. The best way to establish a life-long love of veggies is to start offering them at an early age. Kids that become accustomed to vegetables early will typically continue to eat them. However, if you already have a picky eater, there are some strategies that you can try to make veggies a healthy habit.

Finger Food Snacks

Fruits and veggies make a great finger food snack that kids can eat on the go. It will require a little work on your part to make them appealing and ready to eat. Carrot and celery sticks, jicama, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, snap peas, bell peppers, and cauliflower florets are all easy to prepare. You can also incorporate sliced versions using different cuts for a “fancy” touch. Salsa and other dips can make veggies more appealing.

Make a Salad

A salad is one of the easiest ways to get kids used to veggies and they’re not limited to plain iceberg lettuce. There’s romaine lettuce, endive, arugula, spinach, and kale – all of which can be utilized in combination for a salad that’s tasty and healthy. You can also add peppers, mushrooms, onions, and cheese shreds. There are also convenient, pre-bagged lettuce mixtures. Be sure to try a variety of dressings to find which one strikes a chord with your child.

Veggies at Every Meal

Every meal should include at least one veggie and you can make a game of trying a new veggie each day or week. It will give kids exposure to different types of vegetables and you’ll find out which ones are their favorites for future meals. For example, use sweet potato fries instead of traditional potatoes.

Substitutions

Veggies can be more than a side dish. There are dozens of recipes in which vegetables such as zucchini can be substituted for traditional pasta such as spaghetti.

Make it Fun

Sometimes it’s all in the presentation. Different shapes and cuts can transform an ordinary vegetable into something fun to eat. You can also add veggies into dishes that you already know your child likes such as mac and cheese, tacos or pizza. If your child doesn’t like a certain vegetable, don’t give up. Kids may like certain veggies steamed or grilled rather than raw. The cooking method can make a world of difference. Don’t forget to make full use of dips such as salsa, ranch or hummus. Kids like to dip just as much as adults.

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Road Trip! Best National Parks for the Family

The U.S. has 58 national parks from unique wilderness experiences to prime spots to take the family to view natural wonders and reconnect with nature. The admission fees vary, as well as the type of activities that are available. A road trip is a wonderful way to spend family time, expand horizons, and see the many marvels the U.S. contains.

Yellowstone National Park

Encompassing the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, the park has over 48 waterfalls and 500 geysers, exploding mud pools and steam vents that hiss. There are more than 400 types of wildlife, Old Faithful geyser, the Yellowstone Caldera that’s a 45-mile wide active super volcano, and the multicolored Grand Prismatic Spring. Descend into the Grand Canyon, experience the hot springs, and view the majestic mountains while camping, hiking, horseback riding or llama packing.

Yosemite National Park

The California park is ideal for those seeking a quiet retreat. It’s famous for its oldest living trees, the giant sequoias. A pathway was cut through one in the 1800s as a stagecoach passage. Visitors can camp, hike, take a guided tram tour, bike, and go horseback riding. There’s also rock climbing, fishing, star-gazing, and winter sports.

Grand Teton National Park

Reflective lakes, towering mountains and historic settlements are all available in the park in Wyoming. There are over 200 miles of trails, campgrounds, rafting on the Snake River, and breakfast or dinner cruises to Elk Island. Hiking, horseback riding, fishing and wildlife viewing is offered, along with bus tours.

Great Smokey Mountains National Park

From the top of Clingman’s Dome in the Tennessee park, visitors can see for 100 miles on a clear day. There’s hiking, waterfalls, Clingmans Dome viewing station, a variety of flora and fauna, and the historic buildings of Cades Cove dating back to the late 1800s. There’s also the famous Appalachian Trail.

Badlands National Park

Take the kids on a fossil hunt in the South Dakota park, hike and explore landscapes that look like they belong on an alien planet. Star-gazing opportunities abound. Bear in mind that the national parks in the U.S. were established to maintain the national landmarks and untouched beauty to be found throughout the nation. Many of the parks have nearby lodgings and amusements should the kids get restless.

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8 Must-See Superhero Movies

Love Avengers Endgame? Here’s 8 Other Must-See Superhero Movies

The superhero movie genre is one of the biggest in Hollywood and it’s not just comic book fans that eagerly await each new release. They’re a good way to escape into a universe where the good guys win. They satisfy the needs and desires of people seeking social justice. They’re also just good fun. An exceptional crop of superhero movies was released during the past few years that have found favor, but not all superheroes are appreciated as such at first glance. The following are superhero movies that everyone should see that span the decades.

Thor: Ragnarok

With the release of the film in 2017, fans were treated to a comic book superhero that was the embodiment of Norse mythology, amazing special effects, great music, and a rare helping of humor.

Black Panther

Starring Chadwick Boseman, the 2018 film was the first of the genre to feature a black superhero. Set in a fantastically advanced culture, the character’s female guards absolutely stole the scenes in which they were featured.

Wonder Woman

The 2017 film was the ultimate girl power movie starring Gal Gadot as the D.C. Comics superhero. The film was a unique blend of history and myth combined with one of the strongest female role models of all time.

Captain Marvel

One of the biggest of the 2019 superhero movie releases, it has Brie Larson in the title role instead of the traditional male figure, who gets caught in a conflict of galactic proportions between two alien civilizations. It’s the first female-led superhero film by Marvel.

Blade

An oldie but a goodie, the film features Wesley Snipes as an ancient Dhampir that hunts down evil vampires to protect the human race. It was the first in a trilogy and its success provided motivation for Marvel’s following succession of superhero movies.

Aquaman

The 2018 movie stars handsome hunk, Jason Momoa, who must stop his evil brother, save Atlantis, and take his rightful place as ruler of the sea. The underwater world that was created for the film is stunning.

The Crow

Released in 1994, it features the late, great Brandon Lee in his final appearance before his death. He plays a supernatural superhero that comes back from the dead to avenge his death and the death of his fiancé.

Logan

Starring Hugh Jackman, the 2017 film bids farewell to his character of Wolverine, along with Patrick Stewart who plays Charles Xavier. It also introduces Dafne Keen as Laura, a.k.a X-23, as Logan’s daughter.

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