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5 Plain and Simple Ways to Entertain Kids

11/19/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

In the age of computers, video games, and high tech toys, people often forget about the simple things. "But my kids are not going to play without anything missing bells and whistles," some of you think as you read this. You might be pleasantly surprised. Kids are more easily entertained than you think. All it takes is a little imagination, which can equal a ton of fun!

Toilet paper rolls can be many things. Ever tried handing your child an emptied tissue roll? You'd be amused at what they can come up with. My kids have made binoculars, bird feeders, doll furniture, telescopes, noisemakers, and so much more just from toilet paper rolls. Mock binoculars are simple two toilet paper rolls fastened together with tape. Attach string to a toilet paper tube. Then, smother it with peanut butter and wild bird seed and hang it out for the birds. Possibilities are endless!

A kid with a box is a kid in heaven. Playhouses, dollhouses, cars, and more! Your kids can have it all with just one box. Have a pile of boxes? The more boxes you have, the better! Just ask my kids who I throw boxes at all the time. Entertain your kids and all their friends with interesting box creations.

Construction paper and glue can save the day! Remember when kids used to sit around for hours cutting and gluing things? They still can! Give them the necessary supplies and let them have at it. It's amazing how entertaining a little paper can be. Let them come up with their own ideas, give them patterns, or dive in and create along with them.

Yes, kids still love to color! A coloring book and a box of crayons can entertain kids for hours. In fact, spread everything out on the floor and color together. Not only will your kids enjoy this, but admit it - you love to color too! Giant coloring books are great for when everyone wants to color the same picture together. Save the colored pages to use as gift wrap in the future.

Collect pieces of nature. Take the kids on a neighborhood adventure. No, not in the car! On your feet! Walk around the neighborhood. If there are trails in your area, even better. Collect pine cones, leaves, dried flowers, twigs, and more. You can use them later in arts & crafts projects, as well as study them scientifically.

Getting back to the basics can be a fun and rewarding experience for you and your children. You may even find they enjoy it more than all the latest fad toys.

Never throw away non-biodegradable items, unless they're toxic or contaminated. You never know what can be used as entertainment for the kids. You'll be helping save their imaginations, a well as the earth!

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Sports & Fitness Options for the Kids: Spray Bottle Relay Race

6/23/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © timsackton; Flickr.com

To keep kids active and promote physical fitness, strive to provide more than just an exercise routine. You can make it fun at the same time. When you transform exercise into an active game, a child will show far more interest. Because of the element of fun, kids may not even realize, or care at all, that they are participating in a form of exercise.

One fun, active game to play is "Spray Bottle Relay Race". It's a popular game and is even used in schools as part of Field Day or just as a fun activity. In Spray Bottle Relay Race, the kids will work pretty much the entire body. Spray Bottle Relay Race should be played in an open field, such as one at a school or park. It's a team game, but can be easily modified for fewer kids. This game is fun for school-aged children of all ages.

The only materials needed to play this active game are batons and large spray bottles. The spray bottles should be ones that can spray a straight line of water, not a mist. There should be 2 batons and 1 spray bottle for each team. Setting up the game is fairly simple. First, determine how many teams there will be. Then, split up the kids accordingly.

Figure out where the start and finish lines will be and place a baton at each to mark the spot. Alternatively, a chalk line can be drawn to mark the start and finish lines as well. Have the kids line up behind both the start and finish lines. Give each of the kids located at the start lines a spray bottle, filled with water and ready to spray.

To start the game, blow a whistle or shout "Go!" The children who are first at each of the start lines will race to the finish lines and then squirt their next teammate with the spray bottle (no face shots allowed) and hand off the spray bottle. Then, that child will run to the start line and spray the next teammate and hand off the bottle. This will continue until all of the children have run at least once. Ideally, each child should run more than once. Splitting the children into small teams can help make that happen.

This active exercise will give the kids a great cardio workout, as well as helps them cool off on a hot day. It works the entire body while running and also increases the heart rate. The action of squirting the water also gives an added bonus of using the smaller muscles in the arms, hands, and wrist. It makes for a great last minute opportunity for getting kids active, as the supplies are ones that may already be on hand.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Sports & Fitness Options for the Kids: Homemade Tetherball

6/23/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © Skakerman; Flickr.com

Keeping kids exercising is often as simple as finding a fun, energetic sport or activity that they enjoy. One sport you don't see enough of anymore (besides on school playgrounds) is tetherball. Remember that game from the schoolyard where you would take turns trying to punch a ball on a string around a pole? That's tetherball.

To enjoy tetherball, you don't have to hunt down the nearest gym or school who happens to have access to it. All you need to do is either buy your own or make your own. It's not as hard as it may sound. The local sporting goods store will generally have an easy-to-set-up, low-cost, low-grade tetherball game, even including the pole. The instructions will come with the set.

If you want a more sturdy tetherball game, try making your own. It's very simple and depending on the ages and abilities of the kids, they may even be able to help. All you need is a small bag of concrete mix, an old tire with the rim still inside, a cheap tarp, a metal pole, a bolt with a hook, a drill with a metal bit, and a pre-strung tetherball.

First, drill a hole the correct size for the bolt into the top of the pole. Next, screw in the bolt. Mix the concrete thickly. Set the tire on top of the tarp.Now place the mixed concrete inside of the tire. Fill the entire hole. Place the pole in the center of the mixed concrete inside the tire. Smooth out the concrete. The pole should stand straight up and if the concrete is thick enough, it will not move. Allow it to dry completely. There's your tetherball pole. Now, just hang your tetherball and you and the kids can start to play.

Tetherball rules are very simple. Player one is the server. To serve the ball, much like volleyball, set it atop the non-dominant hand and punch it with the other. The goal is to get the tetherball to wrap completely around the pole without interruption from the other player. Each player must take turns hitting the ball in opposite directions until one player wraps it around the pole.

Whomever wraps it around the pole first is the winner. Players may not grab the string or hold onto the ball. Either is an automatic "out". If this occurs, the next player will come in and a new game will begin. Players may only punch or hit the ball.

As you can see, a simple project can provide the kids with a lasting way to be active. Sports like this are great because a child can play solo or with a friend or family member. This helps them reach sports and fitness goals more often.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Sports & Fitness Options for the Kids: Exercise at School

6/23/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © KWDesigns; Flickr.com

Physical fitness is important for children. It helps them gain strength in the bones and muscles, which is good for growth. It also can help fight obesity by keeping the body in shape. Kids already get some exercise in gym and PE classes at school, but they still need more. Parents should be actively involved in promoting physical activities in their kids, creating some type of opportunity for exercise every day. One place to start raising awareness is at school.

Public schools are getting more active in promoting physical fitness in children, which is great news. One thing some schools do to get kids moving is to add a rock climbing wall to the school gym or playground. They are accessible during recess, as well as on certain days during gym or physical education class. The kids seem to really enjoy these rock walls and it's a great total body workout.

School playgrounds are actually a good source of exercise as well, offering a range of physical movements. Adding other things to the outdoor play area, such as a tether ball pole, basketball court, and volleyball net add even more fun and exercise. Some schools even allow the children to use bicycles, inline skates, and skateboards in a designated area. With this type of play growing in popularity, some schools have added bicycle and skateboard ramps.

Many museums also have an interactive physical health section where children can visit to learn more. Schools can take a day trip and teachers can center a lesson around this. Some of the museums even offer lesson plans or guided tours of these interactive exhibits.

Another thing many schools do is hold a free play time at least once a week during gym or physical education time. They will have assorted things available to play with, like gym scooters, fitness balls, a rock wall, rope climbing, and many other items. These create physical activities that are disguised as fun to the kids.

Making gym and physical fitness fun is a great idea. Active kids are healthy kids, so also be sure the kids get their dose every day, in addition to what is offered at school. Dancing is a fun and versatile family activity that is also great exercise. Some schools are incorporating dance into the curriculum of the core subjects for added physical and mental benefits.

Many kids also like to play those classic games you used to play as a kid. Children don't seem to play these as much anymore. These include games like "Red Rover", "Freeze Tag", and "Dodge Ball". These games are great at school because of the larger numbers of kids to work with. Bike riding is another regular activity that’s fun and beneficial to the physical health of the children. It's great to do any time of the day, but riding bikes to and from school can help kids stay fit in an enjoyable manner.

While some schools often do a great job at incorporating activities like these, others don’t. Parents can do their part by speaking up. Get together with other parents to discuss what’s happening in your child’s school. As a united front, a group of parents can make all the difference in getting schools to add more sports and fitness options.

I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

The Importance of Toddler Shadow Discovery: "I'm Right There - There's Me!" (Activities Included)

2/12/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image by Keoni Cabral via Flickr.com

"I'm right there! There's me!" Those are the words my son exclaimed as a toddler when he had just discovered his shadow was a mirror image of himself. Making this connection is an important step in a child's life. It shows the ability to distinguish connections between two objects. In this case, he is connecting his shadow to himself. Whether your child has made this distinction or not, it is important to help this discovery along. As an experienced mother, homeschooler, and care provider, I have had plenty of experience as well as study in this subject and others pertaining to childhood development. Below you will see activities for both toddlers who have already discovered their shadows, as well as those who have not. Any of the activities can be done with either group of toddlers. If the lighting is right outdoors, you may do these activities outdoors. If not, just get near a bright light or lamp in the house.

Shadow Puppets

Perhaps the most common shadow game is making shadow puppets from your hands and reflecting them onto the wall or sidewalk. Toddler favorites usually include a bunny, a dinosaur, a dog, a cat, and even people. Draw on your child's interests and be creative. For some toddlers, it may only take the easy talking mouth to entertain them. But, whatever you do, be sure to expose them to a variety of interesting characters and shapes. Depending on your child's coordination and attention span, you may be able to teach him or her how to do these on their own. That's where the game gets even more fun.

When I Move, He Moves, Too!

For this one, all you need to do is show your child that your shadow moves with you. Have the child move as well, showing the child that their own shadow will move when they move as well. Keep the game going by doing funny things and focusing on what the shadow does, too. Some toddlers will play this game for a long time, others will only last for a few minutes. Try to keep it interesting enough to last around 5 to 10 minutes.

Taller/Shorter

In this game you guess it, you'll focus on doing things that make the shadow shorter and taller. You can crouch down and come back up for one idea. Another way to do this is that sometimes when you back up, the shadow grows taller. Doing the reverse will make it shorter again. Experiment with your toddler, remembering to explain about tall and short.

Bigger/Smaller

This is similar to taller/shorter, except that with this one, you'll do what you can make the shadow wider and larger. If you are doing it inside, drawing yourself away from the wall and towards the wall can produce results with this. If you're outside, it's a matter of where and how the sun is shining,so experiment to find out what works.

Shadow Show

In this activity, you will actually put on a shadow puppet show for the child. It would be like a puppet show, except with shadows instead. To make it even better, all lights can be turned out and the show presenter can get behind a large screen, consisting of a white or light colored sheet. The light source should be coming from behind the screen. Just put on the show like you normally would on the wall, except your hands won't be in the way of the shadow. Be creative and make sure the characters talk and interact with one another.

Favorite Story In Shadow

This is very similar to the shadow show, except you will be actually reading and acting out your child's favorite story. You may need a page turner behind the screen for you, unless you have memorized the story.

Note to parents: The toddler age is an important age of discovery. Doing activities such as those listed above can help your child develop important discovery and learning skills. Be sure to practice discovery and learning skills each day through play and interaction.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Using Songwriting to Help Kids Relieve Stress

1/8/2015

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Writing and music can both be wonderful outlets for talent as well as feelings. When combined together, it can greatly help kids relieve stress. Plus, it's a fun way to sneak in some writing practice and also to let them use their creativity, imagination, and thinking skills. This is a method I've had success using with my own kids and I hope it helps others as well.

Combating Sibling Rivalry

When siblings are arguing, I find that having them write songs is a great way for them to deal with those feelings. Holding feelings in is no good. But neither is acting them out on each other. Writing a song about it helps the kids relieve tension by getting the feelings out in a more constructive manner. When the kids reread the or sing the lyrics, they may laugh and find what they wrote is not really that bad after all.

Expressing Hurt Feelings

When a child gets their feelings hurt, sometimes they need someone to talk to. Other times they just want to be alone. That alone time may be the perfect opportunity for a kid to express hurt feelings through song. Sometimes just the act of writing it all down can help kids relieve stress. Performing it as a blues song can be fun for the child as well as the audience. The audience could be a parent or the whole family. It depends on what the child feels they want to do.

Expressing Other Stressful Feelings

Besides sibling rivalry and hurt feelings, there are a host of other things that may lead to stress in kids. These could be things like being bullied, keeping up with grades in school, weight issues, and many more. Writing feelings in song form gives kids a positive outlet for expression. Also, if the songs are then performed afterward, more stress relief can come in the singing and dancing. Also, in the dancing can be some great exercise, which is another fun and easy way to help reduce stress in kids.

Expressing Happiness

Yes, writing songs can be wonderful when a child is stressed, but also don't forget to do so when your child is happy as well. Songwriting is a fun activity that the family can do together. It can also lead to laughter, which in my experience can reduce stress significantly. Kids can each write their own songs or everyone can write songs together. Even try a combination. Performing the songs afterward can be fun for the kids and parents both.

*Note that the author is not a licensed medical professional and the above is for informational purposes only. If your child is stressed, as with any health issues, contact his or her pediatrician.

**I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Outdoor Activities for Kids on Rainy Days

1/3/2015

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

You wanted to go outside with the kids today, but instead it's raining on your parade. So what? As long as there's no lightning or other severe weather involved, head out anyway. There are plenty of activities you can do in the rain with the kids. My kids and I love being outdoors and we take every opportunity we get - rain or shine. Here are some of our favorite outdoor activities for rainy days.

Dance

Sing fun songs together and dance in the rain. Rain should be a cause for celebration, not gloominess. The kids might like to do classic childhood song and dance routines or they might be interested on more popular tunes. Either way, turn up the vocals and turn on the moves. Even though it's already raining, this is a good opportunity to teach the kids about Native rain dances.

Sing Silly Songs

You and the kids can also make up silly songs while dancing in the rain. Observe what's going on during the rainfall and sing about that. You might also sing about the silly dance someone is doing. There are also many classic rain songs that you and the kids can sing together. You may have sung them together many times before. If so, it should be easy to come up with something.

Look For Worms

Some of you might be turning up your faces at this one. But this is a great time to study worms. They like to come out during and after a rainfall. Put them in enclosed dark container filled with dirt. Later you can use them for scientific observation. You can even sing silly songs about worms while doing this. It might help take away the creepy part for kids who are afraid to touch them. For ytounger kids, you may also want to use my fun preschool lesson plan on worms.

Just Feel It

Have you ever just stood in the rain and let it fall on you? You and the kids can do this together. Talk about what it feels like. See which animals and insects like to come out in the rain and which ones hide. How long does it take before everyone gets soaked? Is it seconds or minutes? Are there certain clothing items that take longer to wet than others?

Catch The Rain

If you know beforehand that it's going to rain, stick a bucket outside before it starts. Leave it there the entire time it's raining. This can sit there while you and the kids are enjoying the other rainy day activities. Once the rain has stopped, get a ruler and measure how many inches are in the bucket. This is one way to measure the rainfall. Once you're done measuring it, you can reuse the bucket water to water a plant - preferably an indoor one that didn't catch the rain.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Why Children Need to Play with Toys

12/26/2014

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As a mother and former nanny, I've heard of too many instances in which permanently restricting toys from children was suggested. Either the parents felt the kids were making a mess of them, they were too old for toys, or that toys were unnecessary. While I agree that kids do not need every gadget and gizmo out there, they do need to own some toys. In fact, there are many reasons children need to play with toys and significant research to back up that fact.

History of Toys

It's probably safe to say that no one knows for sure exactly when and where the first toy was invented. They've been around for ages, possibly since the beginning of the human race. No matter the culture or country, most kids can be found playing with some sort of toy. While we can't trace the history of toys altogether, it can be interesting to peek back in time and trace the history of specific toys. IdeaFinder.com has some fun listings to explore from various toys and time periods.

Benefits of Toys

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), playing with toys is beneficial to a child's social, cognitive, physical, and emotional well-being. The same report makes the point that playing with toys is recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as being one of the rights every child has. The Museum of Play considers play a critical part of learning and human development. Playing with toys increases academic success, as well as promotes success once children grow into adults. The Elements of Play can help define play for parents, educators, and scholars.

Which Toys are Best?

Which toys are best will actually depend on each individual child. When choosing the best toys for kids, think of the value of the toy itself. Consider your child's interest in it, how long it will last, what purpose it will serve, and also general safety. Blocks and puzzles can help with problem-solving and other cognitive development. Dolls and other role playing toys can help children with expression and imagination. Paints and other artistic toys help develop creativity. Sports toys, such as bicycles and balls can teach teamwork and coordination. There are a whole host of great toys with many benefits. If the toy passes all of your tests for value, then it's probably one of the best toys for your child. Remember to have a variety of different toys for the most interest and benefit.

Why Toys Should not Be Taken Away Permanently

Taking away toys permanently for the purpose of avoiding messes can hinder the process of teaching a child to clean. How can she learn to do this without anything to clean up? On the contrary, if a child is instead taught organizational skills and given an exact spot for each toy, and a system that must be followed, he or she will learn to put away the toys. Taking away toys because someone feels they are unnecessary is also not a good idea. As long as a child remains interested in playing with toys, he should be allowed to keep them. Even adults can benefit from playing with toys. Limiting or restricting a child from toys can also limit and restrict a child from key life lessons that can only be gained through play.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Raising Kids Who Love The Outdoors

12/5/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

My kids absolutely love the outdoors. If you'd like yours to do the same, perhaps some of our family habits will inspire you to get your kids out there. Raising kids who love the outdoors is not as hard as you may be thinking right now. It's best to start early. But it's never too late to get in on the outdoor fun and adventures.

Make the outdoors a part of your normal family routine. When the kids and I go to any nearby stores, we always walk. We found a walking trail in our area that leads to pretty much every destination we have nearby. Whenever possible, we walk on this trail. We are a green family and try not to use vehicles if we don't have to. If we can walk or use a city bus, we will. This involves a great deal of walking. But we turn it into an adventure by using the trails or whatever else is around us. If we aren't outdoors in that way, you'll catch us outside reading, playing in the garden, and more. I work at home and the kids are homeschooled. So you'll even catch us working and studying outdoors. What each family does will vary. But the point is to be outdoors as much as possible.

Say 'get to' rather than 'have to'. When kids think they have to do something, it becomes a chore. When they know they "get to," it becomes something fun. If you tell the kids to go outside and they don't want to, don't make them. You can make it more interesting by setting up something fun for them to do. But never force them to go outdoors, Otherwise, it becomes a negative, rather than positive thing in their mind. If you stay excited about the outdoors, chances are they will as well.

Play family sports. You don't have to be expert players. Simply play the sports you are all interested in. One of my daughters enjoys soccer, so we have a goal, ball, and other supplies to play that as a family. Another daughter enjoys basketball. Other interests include volleyball, badminton, tetherball, croquet, mini golf, and more. We keep around the proper equipment and supplies for all of our favorite sports and play as a family as often as we can.

Turn off the television. Outside of NBA basketball and educational shows I watch with the kids, I watch zero TV. Why? There are better things to do. If I'm not working, the kids and I are outdoors on some kind of adventure. Television has become such a huge part of people's lives that it can keep you from doing other things as a family. Not all families will want to cut out as much TV as we do and that's fine. But turning it out and getting outdoors even a few times a week is a great way to encourage your kids to love the outdoors.

Keep it interesting. If you do the same exact thing every time you go outside, the kids will get bored easily. Mix it up. While we walk the trails quite often, it isn't the only things the kids do outdoors. They love to garden with my mom. Skateboarding, biking, mock treasure hunts, and hopscotch are some of the other activities our family enjoys. We also like to collect items from nature to use in craft projects. Twigs, fallen leaves, fallen pine cones, and dried grass are just some of the great items nature offers as crafting tools. Each family will have their own preferences. It's not so much about the exact activity as it is about staying outdoors and keeping things interesting and fun.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Grocery Shopping Tips for Those with Kids

12/4/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

As a mother of 4 who also often has other people's kids in tow, I have had plenty of experience with kids in stores. Now it's time for me to share those tips with other parents. Children can be cranky, demanding, and downright stubborn in the grocery store. Some will throw a fit because they cannot get what they wanted. Others will simply wine and complain throughout the store. There are children who actually behave in the store, but it usually takes a little creativity and quick thinking on the parents' end. A stroller for anyone under 4 is great as well. I have compiled a list of things that ease the stress on the parent by keeping the children busy, entertained, and happy in the grocery store.

Create a Family List at Home and Stick To It

Before ever stepping foot in a store, this should be done whenever possible. Create a grocery list together as a family, being sure to include something everyone requests. Make it known that the family is not going to be purchasing anything that is not on the list. Stick to that plan. Even if you see something you needed, wait until the next trip. That will show the children that everyone has to follow those rules. By including everyone in the process, you are also ensuring that you have at least one thing that everyone will be happy to purchase. Let each person put all the ingredients in their cart that go with their favorite meal and snacks.

Never Give In

No matter how much whining, screaming, complaining, arm flailing, or whatever other antics a child performs, do not give in, ever. Giving in just once gives the child the idea that you may do it again and it will ultimately make the fit worse next time. The more times you give in, the worse the fit will be each time you say no. But, if you stick to meaning what you say, the child will eventually realize that no matter what they do, you will not give in.

Grocery Store ABC

Kids love a great game. Not only will this be fun, but it will take their minds off of asking for things or running and playing in the store. The youngest starts first and the oldest (one of the adults) goes last. The first person looks around for something that starts with the letter "A". Once they have found it, they will say. "A is for apple (the underlined word is the name of the item the person found). Now the next person needs to find something that starts with "B". They will say "A is for apple. B is for bananas." Each person must name the items that came before their item and then name their item, as shown in the last example. The game continues until the players reach the letter Z or the grocery trip is over.

Set Consequences

Be sure the children know what consequences they will have for acting up in the store. This should be discussed prior to leaving the house. Be sure they know that if they are good, "x" will happen. If they misbehave, they will do "x" or that "x" will be taken away. Always follow through. Remind them of the consequences right before you step into the store.

I Spy Grocery Game

This game is played just like the traditional "I Spy" game, except the items will all be found inside the grocery store. The first player (youngest able to play) will find something and say something about it that will help the others identify it. For, instance, if it was a banana, he or she could say "I spy something that is yellow with a blue sticker". The remaining players will then call out guesses. The first player to guess correctly will spy something next. This game can last throughout the entire grocery trip.

Let the Kids Help

Most children love to help with miniature tasks, such as putting items into the cart. By letting the kids help with this task, you will not only speed up your shopping trip, but they will be so intent on that task, they just may forget to ask about things or play around. The key to this method is to keep them so busy, they do not have time to count how many items their siblings have placed into the cart in comparison to theirs or to even think about doing anything else.

Discuss Last Night's Dreams

Discussing dreams is a fun and easy way to pass time. If the child did not dream the night before, they can always discuss a dream from another night. Not only will this activity keep the children busy, but it will be a great bonding tool. The time will seem to go by much faster as well.

What Would You Do With $1 Million

This is an old favorite. Many people like to discuss this topic. Grocery shopping is the opportune time. This one can sometimes take so long, it may even continue on the car ride home. Each person should tell everyone what they would do with a million dollars. As with the other games, the youngest should go first and the oldest should go last.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Tips for Teaching Kids to Volunteer

12/1/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Do your kids know what it feels like to volunteer? Do they have a helping spirit? If not, it's never too late to get them started. It starts right at home. I've always been a firm believer in helping people. I have to give my mom credit for setting a good example. Now that I have kids of my own, I try my best to teach them how to volunteer and help other people.

Volunteer Often and Bring Them Along

If kids see you volunteering, it will be a good example for paving their way to do the same. When possible you can even bring them along to see what you do. Even if they cannot come along on your particular mission, let them know what you are doing. You can even take pictures when allowed and create a scrapbook for them to illustrate some of your volunteering duties.

Read Books about Volunteering

The local library is a good place to find books on volunteerism. There will be an ample selection to choose from often. Remember that if the particular book you want is not available, most libraries will allow you to request it. If kids see the theme of being a volunteer not only in their own home, but in books as well, it can further solidify the lesson.

Watch Movies and Television Shows that Include Volunteerism

When kids can physically see others getting active and helping out, it can make all the difference. This is true for observing it firsthand. But when it trickles into other things, such as movies and television, it really sends the message. Of course, they shouldn't only watch it on TV, but in combination with other efforts, movies can be an excellent resource.

Donate to Charities

This may seem obvious, but donating to charities can really drive home the spirit of volunteerism in children. As with most things, teaching is about doing. It's true that donating and volunteering are not the same thing. But they are closely related. A giving spirit in general is a huge stepping stone along the road to a love for volunteerism.

Being Kind to Others

In addition to doing things directly related to volunteerism, indirect actions can also be useful. Teach kids to be respectful and helpful toward others. This will lead to a natural love and compassion toward helpfulness. If someone is carrying groceries into the house and needs help, you and the kids can offer to help. Someone may be crossing the street with difficult. Lend a hand. Take every opportunity to help people and teach the kids to do the same. This will inevitably lead to them wanting to volunteer and make a difference in a more official capacity.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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10 Little Things I Love About Having a House Full of Kids

3/15/2013

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Love may not be the first thing some envision when they hear how many kids are in my house. How in the world do you avoid chaos with four kids? That must be a nightmare! No, I can honestly say that I love it. I am not saying every day and every moment is perfect. But I truly enjoy being a single work-at-home mom with a house full of kids and I wouldn't reduce the number for anything in the world.

Boring is overrated.
With four kids around, I never have to worry about getting bored. There's always plenty to do and I love that. Don't know how to sit still? Have some kids and they'll keep you entertained, for sure. Whether it's a game of hide and seek, having family movie night, or even chasing around the mischievous one, there's always something to keep me going.

Ditch the eery silence!
Some people might like a quiet house but I find that quite unnerving. I love the fact that my house will never ever be quiet during waking hours. My kids see to that for me without even trying. There's no such thing as calling the Ghostbusters around here. It's too loud for that. What ghost in its right mind would even dare to take a step in this house?

More kids means less money on clothing.
Say what? Kids grow so fast that one barely has time to wear an outfit before it gets handed to the next. Sure, each kid does get their own new things. But it's nice to know that most items will get their fair use in before donating them to the local shelter.

I don't need the T.V. for background noise.
I've never been a fan of television, unless the NBA is on. So it's a good thing I have lots of kids. They provide plenty of background noise during my day-to-day tasks and I love it because it helps me get my work done.

I can have a fancy dinner every night.
Who needs to go out to eat when you have a bunch of little chefs-in-training around? My kids and I take turns cooking and sometimes we all cook together. Every night is gourmet when the food is made with love.

No one wants to come disturb me while I'm working.
I work at home, which means I prefer no company during certain hours. Having a house full of kids remedies that situation. Everyone knows that if they come over, I am not going to ditch my kids. So, many just avoid me altogether. We love it because it means I have more time to work and the kids have extra time to learn.

In-house hair stylists keep me well-groomed.
There's no need to go to a fancy salon when I have three girls in the house. OK, so I let my son in on the fun, too. Shh, don't tell their dad! I think my kids have more fashion sense than the 'professionals' these days, anyway.

Last-minute parties are all the rage!
We have enough people to throw a decent party without even making a phone call. We can just throw together some homemade pizza, pop some popcorn, pop in some music, pull out the board games, and we're good to go. We do of course invite others sometimes too. But it's so cool that we don't have to.

Everything I do is amazing!
At least that's how the younger kids see it, anyway. Mommy is a magic miracle worker who can make anything happen. When's the last time your boss thought you were as awesome as Santa?....never? Yeah, I thought so. I love having lots of people in my house who think I'm the most amazing creation ever - and guess what? I think they are too!

There's never a shortage of love.
Having a bad day? Try hugging a kid and watch how quickly those troubles melt away. Each time I see one of the kids smile or hand me one of their latest crafty creations, the worries I have disappear in a flash. Love is the cure for everything and when you have four kids around, there's plenty of it.

Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi

*I originally published this on Yahoo! Contributor Network (some words were changed here, due to outdated info)

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