Hit List #4: King/Queen of the Day (Kid Ideas)

"King/Queen of the Day" RULES

(These are some ideas our family does for the King of the Day but add your own pizazz to them!)

King/Queen of the Day!

Gideon-Monday

Judah-Wednesday

EvaLee-Friday

*Breakfast: Choose anything to eat for breakfast for the family!

*At breakfast: everyone goes around and shares what they 

LOVE about the King/Queen.

*All meals: A parent or sibling clears their plates/etc. for the King/Queen.

* Use The Special Plate and Cup at every meal.

* Dinner: Choose your favorite meal and help cook it with Mom!

* Pick ONE special outing/activity to do that day! 

(may be a family event or something by themselves)

* Stay up past bedtime with Mom & Dad!

Believe it or not, these are actually Burger King Kid's Club crowns (FREE!) that I made up for the kids in no time at all and for pretty cheap when it was all said and done.

1. Painted them (acrylic paints work great) in their favorite colors (took a guess at what Gabby's will be!) = $1/paint bottle

2. Applied shiny things purchased at WalMart = $2

3.  Applied glitter & glitter stickers (for their name) = $4

4.  Took them in to the printers and had them sealed in a heavy laminate = $9 (but could do this cheaper your self though may be a bit more work)

5.  Total cost for "lifetime crowns" = $19 (but could be cheaper if you have less children or just use stuff you have in your craft box already!)

Good Luck! 

Let me know (comments below) if you like this idea and how it worked out for you!

Hit List #3: Ten Essential Toys (Creative & Cheap)

TEN ESSENTIAL TOYS 

(Creative & Cheap or FREE!)

1. Puzzles Fun for any age.  They can provide hours of fun while teaching 

patience and logic.

2. A Costume Trunk Include clothespins with discarded outfits to customize the fit.  You can get all sorts of shoes and dress up clothes at garage sales or thrift stores.

3. A Craft Box Include crayons, markers, scissors, stickers, glue sticks, string and plenty of paper.  Leave the kids alone (depending on their age!) and let their creativity bloom!

4.  Legos Kids love these tiny plastic squares.  They can built and create almost anything with these-cars, rocket ships, castles, houses or entire cities.  This isn't just for boys.

5.  Balls  You can kick them, throw them, shoot them, roll them or even sit on them.  Get as many sizes and styles as you can!  Your kids will play with these from childhood through adulthood.

6.  Dolls Give them clothes to change them, bottles to feed them and blankets to keep them warm.  Use a box with a pillow and a towel for a bassinet.

7.  Puppets  Help your kids make their own hand puppets out of socks or papier-mache.  Use a table with a blanket over it as a stage.  Then let the show begin.

8.  Cardboard boxes  From shoe boxes to refrigerator boxes, it's amazing what kids can do.  The more variety and number of boxes the better.  Add duct tape to join boxes and markers to decorate them.

9.  Bug Jar & Magnifying Glass Go on a bug search and examine what you find with the magnifying glass.  Teach your kids to safety scoop up the critters and place them in a sealed, clear plastic jar with some holes on top.  Watch the bugs a few hours then let them go!

10.  Play Money & Toy Cash Register  Play store and stock it with empty food boxes or cans.  Provide a pen and stickers for pricing.  Then take turns being the cashier or the customer.

*From the book "List to Live By"

Hit List #2: Kid Chore Fun

Age-Appropriate Chore List for Kids

Ages 3 and 4

1. Pick up toys and books.
2. Take laundry to the laundry room.
3. Help feed pets.
4. Help wipe up messes.
5. Dust with socks on their hands.
6. Mop in areas with help.

Ages 4 and 5

Preschoolers still find helping to be an exciting venture and usually are thrilled when time is taken to teach them new chores. They are ready to do some chores without constant supervision. Rewards at this age are very motivating. A sticker chart that allows you to build up to bigger rewards can be appropriate. For some preschoolers, tying chores to an allowance is a great option and fosters independence in choosing a reward.

Some chores preschoolers can do in addition to the ones above…

1. Clear and set the table.
2. Dust
3. Help out in cooking and preparing food.
4. Carrying and putting away groceries.

Ages 6-8

These school age kids may or may not still have their childlike enthusiasm for completing chores. What they do have, however, is an overwhelming desire to be independent. Parents and caregivers can guide children to become independent in their chores, using chore charts to keep track of their responsibilities both completed and pending.

Some chores that they are capable of in addition to the ones above…

1. Take care of pets.
2. Vacuum and mop.
3. Take out trash.
4. Fold and put away laundry.

Ages 9-12

Children in this preteen age are capable of increasing responsibility where chores are concerned. Keep in mind that many children this age rely on continuity. Find a system that works for your family and do not change it without the input and support of the people it directly affects. Make sure that you factor in rewards and consequences and address those issues with your children. Let them know the consequences of not completing chores, as well as the rewards for fulfilling their responsibilities.

Some Chores preteens are capable of in addition to the ones above…

1. Help wash the car. 
2. Learn to wash dishes. 
3. Help prepare simple meals. 
4. Clean the bathroom. 
5. Rake leaves. 
6. Operate the washer and dryer.

Ages 13-17

Teenagers are developmentally ready to handle almost any chore in the home. At the same time a teenager’s schedule can sometimes become quite hectic, leaving little time for chores. Make sure that the workload of your teenagers is manageable.

Some chores teenagers are capable of in addition to the ones above…

1. Replace light bulbs and vacuum cleaner bags. 
2. All parts of the laundry.
3. Wash windows. 
4. Clean out refrigerator and other kitchen appliances. 
5. Prepare meals. 
6. Prepare grocery lists.

Remember that children mature at their own pace and not all kids will be capable of advanced chores at the same age, just as some children may be ready for more difficult chores at a younger age. The most important guidelines are supervision and evaluation of your child’s needs and abilities.

Hit List #1: Sibling Glue (Growing in Friendship with Eachother)

Helping To Grow Your Children in Friendship with Each other!

There is so much talk these days about "family togetherness" and I am ALL for that...but often overlooked is a very important and potentially LIFELONG bond that can be cultivated between siblings.  I feel so passionately about this that I wanted to dedicate a page of the Cole Place Blog to it so we can come together as parents with ideas and plans on how to make our children become the best of friends!

Check out this AWESOME radio broadcast about helping to cultivate a sibling-friendship for your kids in the hopes they will remain close, even through the adult years!

(What I love about this show is that it isn't just how to get your kids to STOP fighting but talks about research that was done on what the contributing FACTORS are involved in siblings that have strong relationships)

Click on this link to LISTEN to these shows:

Binding Siblings Hearts Together

Factors That Lead to a Strong Family

SIBLING FUN JAR

Can I get a SHOUT OUT from every amazing mother out there that is constantly playing referee to their bickering children?!  Well, I for one am sick of it.  I have accepted that this will SOMETIMES just be life, but I refuse to play referee 24/7!  Thus, the "Sibling Fun Jar" was invented.  It's free, it's simple and it's SANITY some days!  

I just took a jar, decorated it then filled it with little notes decorated with the boy's fave superhero and animal stickers.  When they get into an argument, they each must close their eyes and draw out a note from the jar.  

These notes say things like, "Hug your brother as BIG as you can."  "Act like a silly monkey until make your brother laugh."  "Look your brother in the eye and tell him one thing you LOVE about him."  "Hold hands with your brother for 5 minutes (Mom sets timer)."  You get the idea!

It breaks up the usual lecturing (and I assume "in ear and out the other" most days) and gets them having fun and blessing the other person instead of being selfish and trying to get what they want.  Of course, make this age appropriate.  My examples apply to a 3 and 4 year old!  Although I would like to see two teenage boys holding hands for five minutes...what a scene that could be!

After they are do their "fun note", we try to complete the disagreement with a hug and apology...it seems like a little laugh before this though helps the apology to come more from the heart (in general, laughter helps with EVERYTHING!).  This is just a little idea that works for the Cole kids.  Let me know what works for you!