Beginning Hammering

FOR AGES: 3- 7 years

Hammering nails into wood is a fun activity. Make it easy and safe for young fingers by using stryofoam instead of wood.

BEGINNING HAMMERING

MATERIALS:
Block of styrofoam (such as the ones that come in boxes for shipping computers, printers, etc.)
Small hammer (tack hammers work well) or thick stick
Nails or golf tees

DIRECTIONS:
Show your youngster how to hammer nails or golf tees into a syrofoam block. They hammer in easily making each attempt a satisfying success.

If you want to give them a more advanced experience, use screws and a screwdriver instead.

Ice Cube Distraction

FOR AGES: 3-10 MONTHS

Babies can get fussy just when you are busy making dinner. It’s probably the smells that make them hungry. Distract them with an ice cube. They have the fun of trying to catch it as it skitters. You get to cook without interruptions. . Everyone is happy!

ICE CUBE ON A TRAY

MATERIALS:
Ice cubes
Tray
Food coloring (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
Place a large ice cube on your child’s high chair tray or table for him to chase around. Make them out of plain or colored water.

When it gets too small and might be swallowed, replace it with a large one before you take the small one away.

Other fun, but messy, things to splash and squiggle are soy sauce, mild mustard, ketchup, whip cream or meringue.

Jell-O blocks are fun to touch and to watch them shimmy and shake.

Five Good Moments

FOR AGES: TEENS

Life contains many kinds of moments. Teens can get stuck on a negative moment and enlarge its significance. This game shows children that good moments are always part of the mix if one looks for them.

FIVE GOOD MOMENTS

MATERIALS:
None

DIRECTIONS:
Suggest to your Teen:
"Pay attention throughout the day for five moments that make you feel good. The moment can be an interaction with someone or something lovely that you thought or saw or heard.. What it is doesn’t matter. What matters is that for at least a moment it made you feel good.

I’ll do the same and when we get together at the end of the day, we’ll share our five good things that happened."