35 NO SCREEN Activities For Kids

Do you worry about how much screen time your child gets?
Do you know how much is too much?

I know we've all seen or heard the phrase "Cut the Cable". It is one of the latest trends in television watching.

I also know that it is mainly due to the economy and people trying to find ways to cut back costs, save a few bucks a month, or to get a better selection of what they view. Why pay for channels and programs you don't watch!?

But, what about cutting out screen time completely?

Okay, not completely, 100 % of the time.  I just mean cutting...wayyy back.

Did you know that using game systems, tablets, cell phones, and computers, are also considered screen time?
Studies have shown the many effects that too much screen time or stimulation can cause on children.
Did you know that too much screen time can affect children's sleep patterns, eating habits, and over all physical health? It can also cause difficulties in school, difficulty focusing for long periods, and behavior issues; such as, aggression, depression, social anxiety, and more.
Check this out:
Screen Free

Do you have NO SCREEN DAYS?

I used to. When we had our own home, we were cable free for over three years. We also had days when I didn't allow the televisions to be turned on at all! No tablets, television, game systems, computers, and occasionally they could listen to music or have ear buds for a limited time on those days.

Those days we had to find other ways to occupy our hours.

I admit some days seemed to drag on and some days I caved in and let the television be turned on. We aren't perfect, but making a conscious decision to try and limit screen time for everyone is a good step.

I know for some, this task is easier than it is for others. Most of us have had access to all these devises for quite a few years, and our children most likely have never been without at least one of them.

Remember the days of one "family TV", with 3 channels and everyone had to watch the same show or nothing at all.

Ah, those were the days. For myself, no screen days is pretty simple

Oh, wait, oops. No scratch that!

I do my work on the computer, mostly have my phone at the ready; constantly checking emails, texts, etc.

See, we all need a little less visual stimulation in our lives!

How are we going to do this NO Screen Thing?

Well, I'm glad you asked! I've come up with a list of 35 NO SCREEN Activities For Kids!

Hey, parents! Don't be afraid to join in.

Children learn by example!

1.Read a book

2. Do sidewalk chalk/play hopscotch

3.Sing a song-silliest wins!

4. Color/draw/paint

5.Build with blocks or Legos

6.Do a puzzle/jigsaw/maze

7. Run a race

8. Play dress up

9.Build a blanket fort

10.Play in the sand or dirt or mud!

11.Play a card game or board game

12.Have a scavenger hunt

13. Play I Spy or Would you Rather

14. Walk to a park

15. Play a game of catch or wiffle ball

16. Throw a Frisbee

17. Write a letter

18. Play career, be a doctor, teacher, veterinarian 

19.Play grocery store or restaurant- cashier/customer

20.Have a water balloon fight

21.Blow bubbles, make a water station

22.Call a friend, grandma, cousin

23. Make a snack, create a recipe

24. Go to a farm or petting zoo

25. Play with play-doh(who doesn't love this stuff...right?)

26.Give your toys a wash/clean up

27. Do arts and crafts

28. Play school

29. Play with a pet you have

30. Make homemade slime

31. Have a picnic indoors or outside

32. Go watch a ball game

33. Ride a bike, skateboard, scooter, roller skates

34. Go to the library

35. Go bowling

I hope this list gives you some great ideas for your NO SCREEN days!

Crayola has a ton of great arts and craft supplies and craft ideas.

Ticketmaster is a wonderful place to find deals and discounts on so many events. Concerts, games, plays, and more

Be sure to check both of those out for amazing ideas!

I would love to hear any other ideas you've found!

Sharing is caring!

Super Easy Summer Craft For Kids~Paper Plate Fans

Summer Easy and Fun

Paper Plate Fans

I am dying in this heat!

Here in Ohio, the last three days have been above 90F.

I was not made for Winter...but this heat, no rain, no breeze is about to kill me.

I have this very persuasive four year old that is determined we are going to do a craft every day..Every. Single. Day. this week. OUTSIDE!

Yes, she is also very specific. 

So...an outdoor craft that is quick, easy, and...cheap!(saving up for my iced coffee!)

I jump over to my wonderful Pinterest board filled with tons of great ideas. Seriously, my biggest addiction next to my babies and coffee!

I found this craft...

over @ The Pinterested Parent

By the way...She is awesome! Check out her stuff! I have been following her for awhile and she always has something new.

These are so cute and easy to make.

The supplies are things you probably already have on hand. Bonus!

Supply List:

paper plates

popsicle sticks or "crafting sticks"

Elmer's glue or glue gun and sticks

crayons, paint or markers

scissors(my brain is melting. I just had to google...how to spell scissors!)

optional:

stickers, googly eyes, stencils, foam stamps...

Directions:

Cut plates in half(2 fans)

Decorate, design and embellish your half plate

If using paint or anything glued, wait until dried.

Glue 2 popsicle sticks into a "V"(wider is better) for gripping your fan/handle

Then glue the other 2 ends to the back of your "fan"

(press firmly)

Allow to dry

Fan away!!

So, I survived the heat and we got them all finished. I think we made about 8 in total. I even got the middle daughter to join in!

They turned out super cute and...very useful!

Now...fan mommy!

I hope you give these a try and always check back for more fun, cheap, easy crafts!

We have great ideas!

CoffeeWastedMomma kid craft ideas!

Happy July!

Share your fun ideas!

My Homemade Slime...FAIL! (How NOT to do it!)

The Slime Nightmare

Let me just begin by saying, I am not a scientist! I am however pretty confident in my creative, DIY, Pinterest, Momma skills...until now!

It started out great. Little E wanted to make "slime"(thanks to the annoying commercial/ads posted at the beginning of, every. single. Youtube. video!)

I began by doing a quick...Pinterest search of...

How to make homemade slime

Y'all, there are seriously 100s of recipes! With borax, without. Shampoo, dish soap, cornstarch, contact lens solution, Epsom salt, shaving cream, Elmer's glue, glitter, food coloring, liquid laundry detergent...it goes on and on!

Just look <<HERE>>

The biggest factors for me were: 

A) What is the safest for my four year old, and

B) which recipe do I have all the ingredients for.

We started out with the simplest one I found.

Slime with Cornstarch

1c water(heated but not boiling)

3to 4 drops of food coloring

(mix those together)

2cups cornstarch

(slowly add to water mixture)

slowly begin to "work" mixture with hands until cornstarch dissolves and mixture becomes..."slime"

Sounds pretty easy, right???

This has got to be in the top 10 of grossest, weirdest things I have ever put my hands into.

Seriously...I'm a Momma. I have kneaded bread, made meatloaf, touched poop, vomit, dirt and a few un-identifiable substances!

This was worse!

I have NO idea, WHAT we made!

It was not slime!

It kind of had the texture of chewed gum you'd find in your kid's pocket after the wash but before it has been heated and dried. Add in a little grit from the dirt and lint that is now wrapped up and became a part of it.

One more close up pic....

Now...On to recipe #2!

Or as I like to think...almost slime. 

Slime with Epsom salt and Glue

4Tsp Epsom salt

4Tsp warm water

(combine)

in a separate bowl

8Tbs Elmer's glue

food coloring(2 drops)

combine and add to Epsom salt mixture

Again, work mixture together with hands until "slime" is made

Now, This one started out great! We thought we had finally gotten it! Real slime!

We has all the ingredients.

We had done everything just like it said.

And the "slime" was actually starting to form and feel like slime!!

Although there seemed to be a ton of extra "blue water" that the glue just wouldn't soak up. No matter how much we dipped and tried to work it into our slime.

I let Little E give it a try...

She LOVED it....for about two minutes!

And then, I don't know if it was the air or just that we didn't get all that water absorbed but it started to harden.Like first into a putty texture, then a dry playdough...then just a big, dry, gritty blob...

Like the cotton candy that sits out and gets air!

Hard. as. a. rock.!!!

I have no clue what we are doing wrong!

Making slime cannot be this hard!

Have you ever tried either of these recipes?

What works best?

I'd love to know of one we can easily make that really...works!

Learning to Homeschool...starting simple! Week # 1

Homeschooling my four year old...

I  decided a few months ago that I really needed to start teaching my soon to be four year old some basic skills. Things like learning to be on a schedule and things that should be routine. Not just something we do when I think about it or when we remember...or more likely, when she is bored and I'm scrambling to be that oh so creative Momma, with my Thirtyone bag of arts, crafts, and games to thrill and educate her on a whim!

There are some basics that she does well and I think I focused too much on those things and sort of...got lazy on other things she should or could be learning.

She is potty trained and can pretty much dress and undress herself with little help. She can put her shoes on 99% of the time. (We haven't attempted laces yet)

She does surprisingly well with bathing and brushing her teeth with supervision.

So, what else could I be teaching her now?

The last two weeks we have been learning together. 

She still wants me hovering over each"worksheet" but it is a start. If I move or try to leave her to do it herself, she immediately is "done". Unless, it is art or painting.

I have started by using free printable sites and found numerous pages for her to learn the alphabet, trace letters, find letters or objects, decorate or design her own coloring page, count and much more.

We are starting with the letter E this week. This letter is obviously familiar to her as her name begins with E, so I found her tons of pages all about that letter.

She loves that she knows "Her" letter and gets super excited every time she finds it...ANYWHERE!

This was a letter recognition paper. She found ALL the upper and lowercase E's all by herself! (working on her "circles" may be next weeks lesson)

I admit, I was totally impressed at how well she did!

We also did a little art work this week. She named each color as she asked to have it opened. I can't believe how well and carefully she finished this...on her own!

This girl can stay in the lines like a four year old BOSS!

P.S. Thank you Nani Jo for a great birthday gift! xoxo

The weather has been amazing this week, so we took our "class" outside to have some cousin, play, and learning time!

Hopscotch is always a WIN!

They had sooo much fun and we mixed it up a bit.

They could tip toe, big jump, hop or run on the numbers. They could call out a number and the other had to "jump" to find it.

There are so many ways to add learning to a simple chalk graph of numbers. They even got a little P.E. time and lots of laughs.

I think the first "jump song" was something like...1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 7

but they loved it!

School and learning shouldn't have to feel like a battle between you and the "student".

If you love to learn and show them how to do it creatively, it is a win/win!

Happy teaching...and learning!

CoffeeWastedMomma and Little E = week #1 done!

My new featured blog find of the week:

Joyfully Thriving

(i'm going to try to have a featured blog each week)

We all need a little Momma love!