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PVC Sprinkler: Lowe’s outdoor challenge

The last week here has been H.O.T…HOT!! With temps in the high 90’s and low 100’s we have been feeling the heat. So when Lowe’s challenged their Creative Network to create something to make the outdoors more fun and memorable, I knew this PVC sprinkler would be a perfect fit and would cool us off.

I have seen a few of these around, but the first one I saw was in the Family Fun magazine a couple of years ago. I have always wanted to make one.

I decided to come up with my own design and drew it out before we even got started. My husband and I made a few changes to the design when we actually put it together.

I was really happy with how it turned out. The kids LOVE it. We even had the neighborhood kids and some cousins over to play in it with us. The kids rode their scooters through it and we have plans to put it over the slip and slide. Doesn’t that sound like a ton of fun?!

PVC is really inexpensive and we were able to put this whole thing together for $25. That is a pretty great price for something that entertained the kids for a couple hours every day and cooled them off during the hottest part of the day.

I will be back to share with you the specific details for how we build this in case you would like to make something similar at your house.

What are some fun ways you are making memories outside this summer? We could always use some fun ideas around here!

Next month I will be back with another outside idea, courtesy of Lowes and I’ll be giving away another Lowes Gift Card! So be sure to keep checking back!

June 25, 2012 · Filed under: Activities, Family, Family Reunions, Fourth of July, Games, Kids, Sponsors, Summer, Tutorials Tagged with fun kids sprinklers DIY PVC sprinkler, kids car wash, make own sprinkler, make PVC kids sprinkler, PVC Sprinkler

New Year’s Eve game

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*Looking for the Silhouette Cameo Giveaway? Click here!

I thought I would share a simple game that I came up with to help entertain your kids (and even adults) during your New Year’s Eve Countdown party this year. The whole premise behind the game is fairly straightforward and simple so even the youngest of children can play along with minimal help.

We named it Rolling Around The Clock. Simply because that is all you do. First off you will need some clock faces. I found some fun free printable clock faces from White Life. They have the following four clock faces that you can download for free.

If you download some, be sure to drop them a quick note and tell them thanks! Aren’t they so fun? They also print out the perfect size.

I printed them out onto some white Cardstock paper. You can also glue them onto some chipboard or cardboard to give them some stability. Adding a quick layer of Matte Finish Mod Podge will also seal them up nicely and keep them from ripping from little hands and overuse.

I cut some thin strips of cardboard to make the clock hands. I made one small for the hour hand and then one longer one for the minute hand of the clock. I colored them black with a black permanent marker.

Then I simply took some brads which can be found in any craft store that sells scrapbook supplies and used them to attach the hands to the clock face.

Now that you have made your game pieces here are the rules for the game.

Roll Around the Clock Game Rules:

Each player will need their own clock face. You will need two dice to play. To begin each player will roll the dice. The player with the highest number will go first. Each player will start with their clock at 1:00. Then you will take turns rolling the dice. To start out everyone will just roll one dice. You need to roll the time that is next on your clock and make it from 1:00 to 2:00 to 3:00 and so on all the way to 12:00 or Midnight. The player needs to roll the number of the dice that corresponds to the next number needed. After you have gotten to 6:00 you will begin to roll two dice to get the higher numbers. If you don’t roll the number you need, your turn will end and it is the next players turn. The person who rolls to 12:00 first wins.

You can even add some strategy to the game if playing with older people. For example, if someone rolls doubles they can choose someone to trade clocks with or choose someone to lose a turn. Etc.

{Phew…that was tough…explaining the rules of play…if that doesn’t make sense, leave a comment and I will try to re-explain them. The game is much simpler than trying to explain it apparently}.

I would love to hear if some of you end up making and playing this with your kids and family this year! My kids are excited, but I think that mainly has to do with the fact that they get to stay up past their bedtimes!!

And…one last thing…I made some Oreo Pops for New Year’s Eve…who is shocked?! Haha! You knew it was coming right? But these have a special surprise inside.

I am not going to take the time to write up a tutorial since there are so many other Oreo Pop Tutorials you can choose from, that I have already shared with you, to follow if you need one. (For example my Snowman Oreo Pops, Santa Belly Oreo Pops and my Mummy Oreo Pops) This is basically a Double Stuft Oreo covered in white chocolate with some sprinkles on it. BUT…these are special because of what is inside of them…

Exploding Candy!!

{I found mine at the Dollar Store…Pop Rocks will work too…I just couldn’t find any}

How fun huh?! And…they really work! I simply removed the double stuff icing and put some melted chocolate on the inside of BOTH cookies. Then I opened and poured a package of the Exploding Candy on one of the cookies right on top of the chocolate. Stick the sucker stick on and then place the top cookie on top. Then I let them harden by popping them in the freezer. Then simply cover the Oreo with the chocolate and add some sprinkles. For full instructions for making an Oreo Pop you can see these other tutorials. For the little New Years Eve Cheers tag go here.

These are so fun! I had to test one out to make sure it worked. And they really do pop right in your mouth…like edible fireworks for your mouth!

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December 30, 2011 · Filed under: Activities, Crafts, Family, Food Crafts, New Year's Eve, Party Ideas, Treats Tagged with chocolate dipped oreos, clock faces, double stuft oreos, edible food crafts, food crafts, food on a stick, games, halloween classroom treats, homemade game, kids crafts, new years eve party game, oreo on a stick, Oreos, printable clock faces, thanksgiving kids crafts

Teaching Our Children Gratitude

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Gratitude doesn’t come naturally to our children. It is learned. So, as parents, “Teaching our Children Gratitude” should be at the top of our parental to-do list.

Good research has found that adults who are grateful report having fewer health problems (like digestion and headaches), more energy, and a greater feeling of well-being than those who complain. Most studies show that the more gratitude we show, the healthier and happier we are.

Can’t we assume findings would be the same for children? Children who express gratitude are kinder, more appreciative, more empathetic, happier and more enthusiastic. Grateful children understand that other people have needs and they look outside themselves. They are more polite, usually better behaved and generally more pleasant to be around.

Kids who are not taught gratitude struggle with feelings of entitlement and are usually disappointed, feeling that nothing is good enough for them.

In trying to teach our children gratitude, parents have been making the same mistakes for years. Avoid pointing out to our children that they are more blessed than others. That doesn’t teach them to be grateful. When it comes to meals, don’t tell them “you should be grateful for your food, and eat it, kids in other countries are starving”. This won’t work either.

Instead…

We need to model gratitude ourselves. We must live lives of gratitude if we want our children to really learn to be grateful. That means they need to see us serve others, including our spouse, write thank you notes, say “please” and “thank you” and show empathy. That means we need to criticize less, complain less, and point out the positives, not the negative, in people and in situations. This includes our children and spouses. We need to stop complaining about our children (and spouses), instead tell them how grateful we are for them. We need to show gratitude for adversity too. Remember, children will, for the most part, do what their parents do. That is why gratitude has to start with parents, in our homes.

Say “No”. It is important for us to be reasonable and say “No”. We also have to be careful rewarding our children for everything. We want them to do good because it is the right thing to do, and not because they get something, like a new toy or money.

Give your children responsibility. We are always more grateful for things when we have to do them ourselves. The same applies to children. Give them appropriate responsibilities. They will realize the effort and energy it takes to accomplish them, and become more grateful for the people around them that do things for them. (Like their mom and dad.)

Teach your children to be grateful for adversity. When things are hard, or uncertain, or don’t go as planned, we need to teach our children to be grateful. To recognize the blessings that comes from hard things. We don’t want to teach, “we are luckier, or better than someone else”. Instead help children see what can be learned, and how we can take what we learn into other situations to help others and ourselves.

Role Play. Practice saying “please” and “thank you” with your children. Role play situations (grandma gives you a new toy, or someone pays you a compliment). During the role play, talk about how others feel when we show them gratitude. Remember, children aren’t thinking about everyone else. They are thinking about themselves, so we have to teach them.

Teach your children to write Thank you Notes. Insist that this be done. Teach them that it is part of life. Organize a thank you note station in your home that is always stocked with papers, envelopes, stamps and crayons, etc. (Let your children see you sitting there often also). Start when they are very small by having them draw “thank you pictures” and then you write the words to go with it. Then move on to notes that have most of the words filled in. Have children write what it is they are thankful for and sign their name. By the age of 7 or 8, it shouldn’t be a problem for them to write the entire notes themselves. Don’t worry about perfection. Worry that they are remembering to do it. And doing it.

Point out the simple things. Teach children to be grateful for the creations around them, the seasons, the sunshine, the falling leaves and the rain. Children will quickly understand that there is beauty all around, and that it has come from something much bigger than we are. Celebrate creations. Jump in the leaves, splash in the puddles, and feel the sun on our skin.

Provide your family opportunities to serve. Start by encouraging your children to serve other family members, and then help them find ways to actively serve others. Let them help as you serve others. They will learn by example. The goal is to give them “grateful eyes”, so they begin to for see the need before they have to be told.

With Thanksgiving on our minds, it is a great time to encourage gratitude in our children.

Here is a video full of great family activities that encourage gratitude. Use them this year, or in the years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I am thankful for so many things. One of them, the opportunity to post here on the The Idea Room, and get to know all of you better. Thank you for reading and adding your thoughts to each post. Have a wonderful Turkey Day.