Children’s Square Dance Clothes
TV-Free Activities: 20 Ideas for Parents with Kids
There are certainly many wonderful programs, shows, things to learn, and inspiring messages to be found on the TV. However, one thing we all can agree on is that the overwhelming majority of images, programming, and information we are bombarded by on a daily basis from the TV are not helpful, wholesome, educational, or inspiring in any way.
The list below includes only 20 of literally hundreds of ways parents can be more proactive in ensuring their children and homes are not influenced by the often inappropriate and immoral messages and images the TV portrays. Choose the ones you like and be creative and think of your own ideas. More importantly, make the effort to turn the TV off more, and simply make time for children and family – time spent playing, talking, laughing, educating, and uplifting.
1) Appreciate Nature: Take your child(ren) outside and learn about as well as enjoy nature. Watch the clouds or weather, collect bugs, go bird watching, learn about different plants and animals, etc.
2) Use Imaginations – Puppet Shows, Plays, & Super Heroes: Go through the house and gather some clothes, toys, and random objects. Then, let your child(ren) be creative and use their imaginations to just put on a puppet show or make up a play. Let them simply use their imagination and play – being a princess, super hero, or famous athlete, etc.
3) Books, Libraries, & Cultures: Go to the library and let your child(ren) check out the books they want to read. Develop within them a love for books and reading. Whether it is fictional, educational, or just for fun – let them read; and more importantly, read to and with them often. Also, get books to teach them about other countries, customs, traditions, foods, people, religions, races, etc.
4) Community Service & Help Others: Take your child(ren) to the local park, school, or church and pick up trash. Go help an elderly neighbor with their yard. Visit the local hospital, orphanage, or homeless shelter and help someone in need. When you are done, go out for ice cream.
5) Fun at the Park or Playground: Just turn off the TV and let your child(ren) do what kids love to do – run wild, have fun, use their imaginations, and play with each other (and you).
6) Kids Loves to Draw, Color, or Paint: Allow your child(ren) to not only develop their creative ability, but to have fun just drawing, coloring, or painting. For it to be more effective – do it with them!
7) Play Games Together: Turn off the TV and play: four square, hop scotch, tag, 20 questions, rock paper scissors, musical chairs, Simon says, kick the can, red rover, jump rope, hide and go seek, etc. Pull out the dictionary and make a game out of spelling words. Play a board game, card games, or any other fun family or children’s game.
8) Maps & Geography: Pull out a map and help your child(ren) learn the 50 states & capitals. Learn what countries are located where. Learn the world’s mountain ranges, oceans, rivers, capitals, forests, etc.
9) Build a Fort: You remember doing this as a kid and loving it, right? Get out some chairs and blankets, or some card board boxes, and just build a fort for the kids. Let them watch a movie, sleep in it, eat a treat in it, play in it … and you play with them!
10) Just Write: Get out some paper and pencils and let the children just write. Encourage them to use their imaginations, be creative, improve their vocabulary, and express their feelings by writing stories, poems, or in their journal, etc.
11) Bag of Stories: Grab a bag and place inside of it many random objects from around the house. Then, have the kids use the objects to make up stories, put on a puppet show, a play, etc. Play with them and let them use their imaginations and creativity.
12) Art With Play Dough: Get some clay or play dough and let the kids be creative, artistic, and have some fun building things out of play dough.
13) Make Money: Challenge your kids to think of ways they can make money (ideas might be: lemonade stand, yard sale, collect cans, fund raise, car wash, etc). Let them think of ways, and then teach them how to save and the principle of interest.
14) After School Extracurricular Activities: Rather than watching TV or playing video games – enroll them with a sports team, dance ensemble, scouting program, choir, church group, or any other extracurricular activity.
15) Work: Yes, work! Teach kids the importance of working by having them help around the house and yard: clean bedroom, bathroom, vacuum, sweep, mow grass, clean car, etc. Ensure they have, and complete a chore ever day.
16) Scrapbooking Fun: Have children cut out pictures from magazines, or print pictures from the internet of their favorite things and make a scrapbook. It could be: sports figures, heroes, animals, nature, own family journal, etc.
17) Pen Pals: Find a child from another country and become their pen pal. Write, send pictures and updates, develop a friendship, and seek to help them.
18) Play With Friends. That’s it! Just turn off the TV, and let kids play together. Let them use their imagination or just play games outside together.
19) Reach Out To People: Pick up the phone, send an email, write a letter to a family member, grandparent, friend, etc. Also, write kind ‘thank you’ notes to the elderly, sick, and military from your area.
20) Exercise & Eating Properly: Go on a run or walk together; take them grocery shopping and teach them about proper nutrition; let them help you make meals; etc.
Never forget that the activity you choose is not even what is important – children want love and attention, not entertainment and babysitters! In fact, this is far more important than simply turning off the TV or ensuring the entertainment of the world does not influence our children; this is about developing relationships, building friendships, and strengthening trust with our children. This is about making time for who and what is most important in life.
Does this require parents and mothers to be creative, think outside the box, and actually put forth effort? It does? Will it be difficult? In many ways, yes! Will it be worth it? Absolutely! And always remember that your children will not only be grateful for the time you spent playing, teaching, laughing, and loving them now – but they will certainly more fully appreciate it once they are old enough to realize that they had a parent who cared and loved them enough to turn off the TV and spend time with them!
About the Author
Matt is the founder of http://www.Tips4Families.com/ – a website full of helpful parenting advice, fun games and activities, traditions and holiday ideas, and tips and articles for families everywhere. Matt is also the author of: “Great Games! 175 Games & Activities for Families, Groups, & Children.” To view the book and learn more, visit: http://www.GreatGamesBook.com/
Dancers of the Philippines
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Cow Print Plastic Tablecloth $3.99 This fun and festive cow-print tablecloth is exactly what you need to put the finishing touch on your farm animal-themed party! This black and white, plastic tablecloth is 54″ x 72″. Note: This tablecloth is made of thin plastic, about the thickness of a sturdy Hefty bag. It is intended for single use only. Check out our matching COW SPOT BALLOONS, VINYL COWS, NAPKINS,PLATES, etc in our Cow Spots … |
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(Price/2 pcs) BellyLady Children Latin Dancer Dress, Halter Top & Square Short Skirt, Purple $18.99 Price is for 2 pcs. The set includes 1 top and 1 skirtColor: available in purple*** Top: comes in one adjustable size. *** Skirt: Waistline: Elastic band Stretches between 10″ (25cm) to 14″ (35cm)Skirt length: approx 11 inch (30cm)Features: ** Soft and comfortable to wear. Mainly use for latin dance. ** Absolutely perfect and comfortable for performance dance. ** Sheer and elegant you will be the … |
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Rare Editions Baby/Infant 3M-24M BROWN IVORY FLORAL PRINT HALTER Special Occasion Wedding Flower Girl Party Dress Beautiful BROWN & IVORY FLORAL PRINT halter dress features sleeveless square neckline bodice with SATIN RIBBON & SIDE BOW TRIM at the waist. Knee length skirt features attached underskirt with RUFFLED IVORY TULLE HEM and back zip closure with SATIN BOW TIE SASH IN BACK. Machine washable. Imported. Matching/Coordinating SISTER SIZES available in sizes 3M – Girls PLUS Size, search for style(s): … |
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Rare Editions Baby/Infant 3M-24M RED CRANBERRY SATIN & SHEER BASKET WEAVE Special Occasion Wedding Party Flower Girl Dress Beautiful RED CRANBERRY sleeveless party dress features MATTE SATIN BASKET-WEAVE BODICE with BOW TRIMS and TRIPLE LAYER SHEER OVERLAY skirt. Fully lined with attached ruffle crinoline underskirt for added fullness. Button back closure with BOW TIE SASH IN BACK for perfect fit. Comes with matching bloomer/panty (sizes 3M-24M). Machine washable. Imported. Matching/Coordinating SISTER SIZES & M… |
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Dance All Night Magnetic Tin Dress-Up Set $5.49 A double-sided tin box provides twice as much dress-up fun, with opportunities for the two princesses to try lots of outfits on one side and then wear their favorites to the ball on the other Beautifully illustrated, with lots of detailed decorations, this magnetic activity includes over 40 extra-thick fashions and accessories. Designed for travel, all the pieces may be neatly stored in the box… |
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Cico Books: Making Children’s Clothes $13.94 Using just a few simple sewing techniques, Making Children’s Clothes shows you the easy way to create fun and stylish outfits for young children (0-5 years). From party frocks and pinafore dresses, to simple shirts and elasticated trousers, sleepwear and babies’ clothes, your child will love to wear any of the fantastic items in this book. By combining a few easy-to-learn stitches with great fabrics and trims, expert seamstress Emma Hardy explains how to make beautiful yet practical clothes for your children. Choose from 25 projects, including skirts and trousers, dresses and shirts, sleepwear and accessories, such as hats, bibs, bootees, and aprons. There are clothes for young boys and girls, toddlers, and babies, plus full-size paper patterns that can easily be scaled to suit different ages. Packed with useful tips and sewing techniques, Making Children’s Clothes provides a comprehensive guide to creating stylish, fun outfits for your offspring. Softcover: 112 pages. |
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Square Dance $93.99 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Square dance is a folk dance with four couples (eight dancers) arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going counterclockwise until getting to Couple 4. Couples 1 and 3 are known as the head couples, while Couples 2 and 4 are the side couples. Each dance begins and ends each sequence with setsinorder in the square formation. The dance was first described in 17th century England but was also quite common in France and throughout Europe and bears a marked similarity to Scottish Country Dancing. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 164 Publication Date: 2010/06/13 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.37 inches |
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Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance $63.73 Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance is a song written by Frank Zappa and first recorded and released by Frank Zappa The Mothers Of Invention on their 1968 album Were Only In It For The Money. The song was originally recorded as an instrumental by Frank Zappa The Mothers Of Invention in 1961 at Pal Recording Recording Studio. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 72 Publication Date: 2011/02/27 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.02 x 0.17 inches |
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Get Ready Girl Clothes for 17.5 Dolls (Children’s) – Multicolored $32.45 For 17.5″ dolls. These clothes are made with fabrics that are machine washable. For children ages 3 and older. Choking Hazard. |
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Get Ready Boy Clothes for 17.5 Dolls (Children’s) – Multicolored $32.45 For 17.5″ dolls. These clothes are made with fabrics that are machine washable. For children ages 3 and older. Choking Hazard. |
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Serendipity Clothes Rack $336 A clothes rack never looked so good. A great way to keep hats and clothes off the floor. Children may even want to clean up when they see how easy it is. Brilliant flowers and sweet squares combine perfectly to create this fun, hand-painted piece. Available in a variety of finishes, shown here in antico white. |
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Sewn with Love : Classic Patterns for Children’s Clothes and Accessories $19.71 No Synopsis Available |
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Teaching Children Dance – 2E $28.66 No Synopsis Available |
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Get Ready 16 Doll Sports Clothes (Children’s) – Multicolored $32.45 For 16″ dolls. These fabrics are machine washable. For children ages 3 and older. Choking Hazard. |
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Get Ready 16 Doll Career Clothes (Children’s) – Multicolored $32.45 For 16″ dolls. These fabrics are machine washable. For children ages 3 and older. Choking Hazard. |
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