[entertain the kids]break

Entertain the kids: Give yourself a break in the middle of frenzy. Tips to keeping the kids entertained when you’re down on energy.

1.  Disco Dancing! Pop your kid’s favorite CD or log on to Yahoo Kids for their favorite music videos and let the kids boggie around the living room while you catch up on your z’s or just take a 20 minute breather.

2.  Get CookingSculpting with pizza is delicious fun. Next time grocery shopping pick up an extra bag of raw pizza dough and let the kids sculpt, shape and play chef all while avoiding the messy cleanup of clay. Bake their master piece. To create a sweet treat brush on melted butter and dust with cinnamon sugar or for a savory treat brush on olive oil infused with garlic and sprinkle some parmesan cheese.

3.  Play Dress up
With the right clothes, dress-up can provide hours of fun. Take your kids to a thrift store or hit grandma/grandpa’s attic, and let them search through the clothing racks until they find the perfect outfit.

Pull your tent and sleeping bags out of storage and set up camp in the living room or backyard. Equip your little campers with flashlights, books and snacks for an authentic camp feel.

5.  Little ArchitectsLarge cardboard boxes are perfect for making houses. A large cardboard box can entertain and encourage imaginative play for hours. Great source for boxes is your local appliance and grocery store.

6.  Shaving Cream Fun
Buy a mild, inexpensive shaving cream, squirt it with a little liquid watercolor, powdered tempra paint, or food coloring. Squirt out generously on a large sheet of paper ('butcher' paper is great). Add the color and encourge the kids to finger paint. Add 2-3 primary colors and discover color mixing.

7. Water Fun
Getting the kids in their swimsuits is the only energy this one will really require. Once they are decked in swim gear, go out into the driveway or yard, fill different size containers (sand pails and buckets or tupperware and old pots from the kitchen) with water from the garden hose pull up a chair and watch the fun! Mixing cups and spoons can be found in the dollar section of Target or the dollar store and make it even more engaging.

8. Board Games
Children as young as three can play one of them many developmentally appropriate board games on the market these days. Try any of the Eric Carle games or even old favorites like Memory and Candy Land. A low-energy activity that requires lots of brains skill from your little one.