If you're anything like me, by now you're looking for things to do with your kids so they stop driving you nuts. I find that if I plan just one thing every day, I can muddle my way through the rest of the day. I'm not talking about sending Small Fry off somewhere once a day (although wouldn't that be nice?!). I mean planning to do one thing together once a day.
It's hard. I know. And most days we spend a LOT of time in front of movies. But, I have a list of things I'd like to do with Small Fry. I thought I'd share it here and if you have any other suggestions, PLEASE leave a comment.
1. Story Time at the library - The Fort Bend Library system has storytime at least once a week at every branch. It usually lasts about an hour and includes singing songs, listening to books, watching a short film and making a craft. Check out the library website to see the monthy calander for each branch.
2. Playing with the computers/reading books at the library - Claire loves sitting at the computers and playing games. She could play for an hour at least. I love sitting next to her and reading while she plays. We usually then find a book to take home.
3. Make and paint with glimmer paint - I'm crafty. That means Claire thinks she's crafty too. Which it totally fine with me, but I don't like spending money on kids crafts supplies. Disney Family Fun solves that problem with homemade glimmer paint. I had all those ingrediants in my pantry and only had to get bottles for her to paint with. Easy, and cheap!
4. Make stamps - How easy is this? I have hundredes of those little foam stickers, and Claire LOVES to use stamps.
5. Make chalk using water and cornstarch - Mix equal parts cornstarch and water into an old muffin tin. Add food coloring and mix. Then, use foam brushes to paint on the sidewalk (or yourself!).
6. See a movie. Cinemark in Rosenberg, or Edwards MarqE on I-10 are two options. We practically lived in the theater last summer. Hey, the movies are $1 each, and it's always cold there. I get Claire a Kid-pack for $5 which includes popcorn, a drink and candy (which she doesn't eat), and I pack a bottle of water for me. Sure, it's loud in there (there's always a lot of rustling and talking and babies crying), but Claire got to see The Wizard of Oz today.
7. Better than movies? Take the kids to see a play at the Fort Bend Theater. The shows aren't too long for kiddos (usually about an hour) and I think it's so important to teach kids about theater. Yes, that may be because my husband was a HUGE theater nerd in high school. Either way, the prices are a little higher than the movies, and the shows aren't as frequent, but it's a great time.
8. Indoor playgrounds are my best friends. Sugar Creek Baptist Church (13333 SW Freeway)has a great one, as does Memorial City Mall. Sugar Creek is close and it opens early (around 8, I think), which works out really well since Claire gets up super early. She's not a fan of playing at these places by herself, but she's usually good for at least an hour. Plus, it's free! Memorial City Mall has a really good playground too, and it's far enough away from the food and carosal that she doesn't even know that's an option.
9. Go Ice Skating. Again, super cold at the ice rink in Sugar Land. It's $10 for a two hour free skate, which it a little steep, but maybe this is how you treat your kids after a week of cleaning up their room. There's also a rink at Memorial City Mall.
10. Go Rollar Skating. Am I the only one who used to rollar skate on friday nights when I was a kid? This is before rollar blades - I'm talking about 4 wheels. We played games like Limbo, 4 corners and Shoot The Duck. I thought I was so cool when I became old enough to be dropped off by myself. Dairy Ashford has a toddler skate for kids under 7. Pay $5, and bring a wheeled "vehicle" (but no bikes) and kids can go nuts. Awesome.
11. Bounce. Drive on down to my hood near the 'Shire and hit up Bounce U for open bounce. There's not a lot of information on the website, but I think I remember that you call the location, see if there's open bounce (which they have if there's no parties), pay $7 and let your kids go nuts. Claire LOVES the bounce houses, and she's usually pretty good by herself. The last time we went, she had the whole place to herself.
12. Feeling crafty? Check out One Pretty Thing for a whole list of crafts to do with kids. My favorite? The homemade watercolors.
Any other ideas? Let me know!
