10 Ways to Make Today Magical

Happy Monday!

Here’s a few ways to make some memories with your kiddos this week….

1.  Head to a park or other picturesque area with a digital camera and challenge the kids to take turns taking artistic pictures of each other.  Whoever has the camera gets to play photographer and the others get to model, and then switch off.  See what kind of fun shots you can get!

(Photo by Victoria Bayer)

2.  Go play mini golf together.  No mini golf course nearby or short on money?  Make a course yourself in the back yard or even living room with whatever fun props you can dream up!

 3.  Make up a few batches of colorful playdough (or buy some!) and then play with it in a new way.  Here’s 34 creative ways to do it from hands on: as we grow.

 

 

4.  Have watermelon for dessert and have a seed spitting contest in the back yard.

5.  Microwave a half a bar of Ivory Soap and see what happens!  About.com Chemistry tells how to do it and the science behind the magic.

6.  Buy or find some prisms or crystal-like beads and string them on the ends of ribbons to hang from your child’s curtain rod (out of reach of little fingers) so they’ll catch the sunlight and fill the room with mini-rainbows when the sun hits them each day.

7.  Take a slow walk.  If you have little ones, you know that their walks are typically slightly slower than a snail’s pace.  Take a meandering walk and plan to stop at mud puddles, interesting flowers, spider webs, you name it.  Take apart mushrooms or dandelions to look at their middles, toss rocks in puddles, watch ants carrying off crumbs and otherwise take the time to see the world through a child’s eyes together.

8.  Have a jam session.  Gather up instruments and make your own by filling tins with pennies and getting pots to bang on.  Find as many different types as you can, and then sit everybody down on the floor.  Have someone start with a back beat and then one by one join in.  Be as loud a you want!

9.  Go explore something together. 

10.  Get out a variety of colors of nail polish (or just washable markers!) and paint masterpieces on each other’s toenails.  Sprinkle glitter on top before they dry to really jazz them up!

I’ll close with some advice I gave in the Magical Childhood newsletter over 10 years ago.  It’s still true today!

This week, take time every day to do something for yourself.  Take a bubble bath after the kids are asleep.  Take a 5 minute break at work and savor some fantastic chocolate.  Treat yourself to a new pair of earrings.  Ask your honey for a neck rub (and give one back!).  Read a story that always makes you smile.  Call a friend.  Remember that you can’t give to others when you’re empty.  Martyrs are not magical.  😉

Have a wonderful week!