family activities

Make Time for Family Fun and Family Sharing with Me in a Tree-Giveaway

July 5, 2012 by Kathryn

Me in a Tree may sound like the name of a fun game, but it’s actually a website that can help increase your family’s communication, develop interaction and keep you all organized. Sound too good to be true? You need to give it a try!

The biggest issue that my family has is remembering to take time for ourselves, and that’s why I especially loved the Me in a Tree Things To Do App. It allows users to search for family activities, volunteer opportunities, parenting programs and date night activities in their area and schedule them on the family calendar. The app is still under development so it doesn’t have activities for many areas yet, but I can’t wait until it’s complete. It will make scheduling family fun so much easier! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reviews, Reviews and Giveaways Tagged With: activities, calendar, family, family activities, family sharing, family site, me in a tree, sharing, things to do, website

Get Outdoors: Five Essential Tips for First Time Family Campers

April 7, 2012 by Kathryn

Pin It

roasting marshmallow over fire Camping can be a great way to have a vacation to remember without spending a lot of cash. Once you’ve bought a tent, sleeping gear, and a small portable stove, you can go almost anywhere and stay cheaply. There is also no need to “rough it” if you don’t want to. Many modern campsites have hot showers, clean toilets and electrical hook-ups for power. Some even offer free WiFi internet access.

Camping with kids brings in a few extra challenges but it can also be very rewarding for the whole family. Suddenly even the act of making dinner will seem a whole lot more interesting if it happens outside. Kids love the excitement of setting up camp and you can make it even more fun with a few simple tips:

Everyone loves an open fire but if your campsite doesn’t allow them (some do and some don’t) you can still roast marshmallows, make smores and brew up a hot chocolate before bedtime on a camp stove. It’s almost as much fun and a whole lot easier for mom and dad.
Camping can be cold, even in summer. You can always beat the temperature with a good sleeping bag but if it’s colder than expected, tuck the kids into their camp beds with a hot water bottle. Fill an empty soda bottle with water that is not quite too hot to dip your fingers into, pop it into a woolly sock for insulation and their feet will stay warm all night long.
Try a different activity every day. You might have a passion for fishing or hiking but kids who aren’t used to spending time outdoors can get bored quickly. Pick a campsite with plenty of different activity venues nearby and try a hike in the woods, a day canoeing on a local river or lake, a mountain biking session or a horse ride…or whatever else you feel like. Older kids can be allowed to choose the itinerary for one day each, if they have been good recently!
Nighttime activities are also important. Bring along a deck of cards and some travel board games, and read up on ghost stories before leaving the house. These will also come in handy if you need to fill a few rainy hours.
Have a backup plan in case the rain really comes down heavily. It might be a local museum, a theme park or even a shopping mall. As long as you know there’s something to do if it rains, you can sleep well without worrying about the weather.

This post was contributed by Jess Spate. Jess comes from a family that loves camping, and the next generation is well on their way to loving it too. She writes for Appalachian Outdoors, one of America’s favourite outdoor stores.

Filed Under: Articles, Family, Guest Post Tagged With: activities, camp, camping, family, family activities, outdoors, vacation

Celebrate March Break with Family-Friendly Crafts and Kinder Canada! #KINDERMom

February 18, 2012 by Kathryn

Pin It

To my delight, I have once again been chosen as a Kinder Mom for 2012 and I am so excited about it! What I love about being a Kinder Mom is that I get the chance to share my fondness for playtime and my fondness for Kinder eggs with all my wonderful readers. And with March break almost here, it’s a great time to plan some extra playtime for your family!

Here in small-town Saskatchewan, March break is actually in February and runs through the week of Family Day, which means that Friday was the official start of “March break” for our household. I’m so excited to enjoy a week of fun with my boys and to get ready for the adventure, we spent the day stocking up on craft supplies so that we could enjoy plenty of creative playtime together over the next few days.

We started the activities today by decorating some wooden lion masks with markers and glitter. Tomorrow we’ll be trying our hand at melted crayon artwork. And on Sunday, we’re going to make our own Gak, that rubbery and slimy substance that no kid can resist. What I love about craft projects is that not only are they a chance for kids to express some creativity and originality, they are also a chance to bond together as a family.

If crafts aren’t your thing, though, there are lots of other fun options to make March break special. Why not head outdoors for a family hike or check out a local museum? Even cooking a favourite meal can help make spring break feel special.

When family time is done, there’s no better way to finish the fun than with a Kinder Surprise. My boys are such big fans of the chocolate treat with a toy inside. In fact, the whole family tends to agree that a Kinder Surprise is the perfect end to any activity! And because Kinder Canada knows how important family togetherness is, they are giving away $500 towards a family “staycation” on the Kinder Canada Facebook page! Just use the Kinder Moments application to frame one of your special memories and you’ll be automatically entered to win. And don’t forget to check out the amazing 2012 toy collection too; the clever new toys are guaranteed to add more fun to your day!

So this spring break, whether you’re going on a trip or enjoying all the comforts of home, make sure that you take the opportunity to bond with your kids and make some new memories. And don’t forget to showcase your favourite moments with the help of the Kinder Moments application for your chance to win $500 for your own ultimate “staycation” experience! With Kinder Canada and a little creativity, your family will be sure to have a March break that they’ll remember for years.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own. Please view full Terms of Use and Policies.