Lil’ Dig is one of the youngest members of the Konstruction Zone crew. He is full of energy and loves to have fun. Although he has a lot to learn about working in the quarry, he is always eager to try his hardest to get the job done!
Don’t let Lil’ Dig’s size fool you — he is as strong as he is brave and his friends can always count on him. One of his favorite things to do is use his long arm to dig around the quarry. What else would you expect from a guy with a name like Lil’ Dig?
There are many different types of play, including free play, creative play, constructive play, quiet play, social play and active play. The latter is the most physically intensive and helps children to hone their motor skills.
Of course, all types of play are equally important and should be explored on a regular basis. However, active play can sometimes be a seasonal activity.
Many of us don’t have room inside the house to foster a lot of active play. “Don’t play ball in the house!” isn’t a parenting cliche for nothing. Naturally, the weather has to be cooperative in order for you to send the children outside. This is one of the reasons why the coming months will present the greatest opportunities for active play.
Another reason why you should start thinking about active play is that many children are now entering their summer break. While their days were once occupied with school, now they have the chance to run off their energy. This can be their greatest weapon against childhood obesity, in fact.
Try not to overschedule the kids this summer, as playing jump rope in the backyard can be just as rewarding as organized programs. In fact, many experts warn parents about the repercussions of keeping your child too busy. Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., a child psychiatrist and author of The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap, states:
Overscheduling our children is not only a widespread phenomenon, it’s how we parent today. Parents feel remiss that they’re not being good parents if their kids aren’t in all kinds of activities. Children are under pressure to achieve, to be competitive. I know sixth-graders who are already working on their resume’s so they’ll have an edge when they apply for college.
So, when your builders aren’t having fun on Konstruction Zone, make sure they go outside and get dirty!
If you are looking for a fun and educational way to kill some time with the kids, I recommend a trip around the world with Google Earth. By combining satellite imagery, aerial photography and GIS 3D globe, the program allows you to easily zoom in on any location in the world.
Google Earth is free to download and fairly intuitive for new users. If you’ve ever used the aerial mode on a Google Map, then this is just a much grander version. One of the first things you will want to do is type in your own address. You will be pretty shocked at how close you can zoom in!
Here are a few fun things I was looking at with Google Earth today:
The ancient and mysterious Stonehenge.
The Eiffel Tower is extraordinarily clear, thanks to the construction’s height.
Your kids might get a kick out of this — it’s Disney World!
As you can imagine, Google Earth can be very educational for children. If you’d like to combine the program with a history or literature lesson, try the following resources for ideas:
Google Lit Trips - Divided by age group, this site offers Google Earth tours related to classic literature.
Google For Educators - This is an official guide from Google.
There is a growing trend of moms and dads starting personal blogs about their parental experiences. Not only is this a fun (and free) way to be creative, I also think that many of us just love an opportunity to show off our kids.
There may be an even deeper motive that drives personal blogs, however. According to a recent issue of CyberPsychology & Behavior [PDF], research shows that people who blog often feel happier and more connected to a support group than people who don’t blog.
Researchers James Baker and Susan Moore write:
Feedback from readers can serve as an acknowledgment of the author’s cognitions, emotions, and sense of self. Indeed, blogs may transcend the therapeutic value of face-to-face communication, allowing authors to communicate subject matter they might otherwise be unable to express in “immediate” social interaction.
Maintaining a blog can improve a parent’s self esteem, particularly those who suffer from cabin fever or feel otherwise isolated from other adults. “Mommy blogs” and “daddy blogs” are springing up all over the Web, creating a newfound subculture.
Interested in starting your own blog? The following sites will allow you to create and personalize a free blog in just a few minutes: