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Things to Keep the Kids
Busy
BY JENNIFER SINCLAIR
As you look for something
to occupy your children in those long hours between the
end of the school day and bedtime, there are several
questions to consider. What does your child enjoy and
excel at? Is the activity you’re considering
age-appropriate? Is it ability-appropriate; does your
child have the physical and mental capabilities
necessary to participate in the chosen activity?
One way to answer some of
these questions is to consider the four important
aspects of child development; social, physical,
intellectual and emotional. Rather than just filling up
spare time, at least some of the things that you and
your child choose to do with those empty after-school
hours should cater to your child’s unique development
needs.
Activities that promote
social development are those activities where your child
gets a chance to hone his or her social skills, among
peers of a similar age. These can include school dances,
birthday parties and the like.
Physical development
activities can strengthen your child’s balance, stamina,
and overall health and fitness. This can include
activities such as sports, yoga, karate and dance.
Intellectual development
can be found in debate clubs, reading groups, trips to
museums or art galleries, and science projects. These
activities challenge your young one to learn, brainstorm
and problem solve.
Emotional
development-related activities encourage your child to
explore and express how he or she is feeling. This can
mean painting or drawing, drama clubs, or writing.
All of these stages in
child development are equally important, and often,
equally-present in certain activities. For example,
joining a soccer team or dance group can improve
physical fitness while teaching important social skills
like teamwork and cooperation. And encouraging your
child to write a story or paint a picture can help with
emotional as well as intellectual development. Consider
the budget and time constraints of your family and the
wants, needs and capabilities specific to your child and
make an informed decision together.
If you don’t have the
time, budget, extra car needed to get out to all of
these great local places, or if you just want to stay
home and relax sometimes, here are some
boredom-busters you can cook up right at home. Your
child can make his or her own sculpting clay out of
everyday kitchen items, or decorate his or her own
school supplies. They can make their own after school
snacks, from fruit salad to mini pizzas. Or, get the
family and neighbors together for a ball game, board
game or treasure hunt.
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COOKING PROJECTS: |
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Ants on a Log
You Will Need:
Celery
sticks
Peanut butter
Raisins |
Butter
knife or plastic
knife
A grownup |
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English Muffin
Pizzas
You Will Need:
English
Muffins
Shredded Mozzarella
cheese
A jar of tomato sauce |
Pre-sliced pepperoni
(optional)
A spoon
A grownup |
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Marshmallow Rice
Squares
You Will Need:
A pan
(13x9x12)
A large, deep pot
1/4 cup margarine or
butter
one package (10oz)
mini marshmallows |
6 cups
crispy rice
cereal
a spatula
peanut butter (optional)
a large spoon |
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Directions: First, wash your hands. Next,
wash the celery and with a grownup’s help, cut
the ends off the celery stalks. With your knife,
spread peanut butter into the curves of the
celery sticks. Drop desired amount of raisins,
or “ants” onto peanut butter and enjoy! |
Directions: After washing your hands, open
the
English muffins into halves. Use your spoon to
spread tomato sauce onto each half. Add
mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices as
desired. With a grownup, place mini pizzas into
microwave, toaster oven or oven and heat until
cheese is melted. Enjoy! |
Directions: Melt the margarine into a large,
deep pot
on low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until
completely melted. Remove from heat. Add rice
cereal and stir until everything is mixed
evenly. Using a buttered spatula, press mixture
into buttered pan. Cut when cool, and enjoy!
Tip: Before adding cereal, stir 1/4 cup peanut
butter into marshmallow and margarine mix. |
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ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECTS:
HOME MADE SCULPTING
DOUGH
You will need:
One big bowl
2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
3/4 cups water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
food coloring
Directions:
Mix everything but the food coloring
together in a large bowl (you can use a spoon
but
the best way to get everything fully mixed is
with your hands). Keep adding water or flour as
needed until dough is desired consistency (dry
and does not stick to your hands). Add food
coloring to make clay of different colors. Break
into smaller chunks and store in seal-able
plastic bags for re-use. |
DECORATE YOUR OWN SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Instead of buying
over-priced fancy notebooks and binders with
cartoon characters and superheroes
on them, buy plain-colored ones. Then, have your
child decorate their own school supplies. For
this you can use scissors, glue, markers, old
buttons, scraps of paper and fabric, stickers,
and anything else you’ve got lying around the
house. You can also encourage your child to cut
out pictures of their favorite cartoon
characters and superheroes from magazines,
coloring books and even the back of cereal
boxes, and glue these to their notebook covers.
This will not only give them something to do,
but it will encourage freedom of
expression and creativity, and give them artwork
they can use and be proud of every day. |
GAMES
TREASURE HUNT
If you have two or more children, encourage
each of them to pick a small toy or piece of
candy and hide it somewhere in the house or
backyard. Be sure to set boundaries (no hiding
objects in the garbage can or cat-litter box,
for example). Then, ask them to draw a map or
make up clues to lead to their treasure. Have
the children exchange maps and hunt for the
missing treasures. This works well for birthday
parties. If you like, for bigger groups, you can
also make pirate hats or sing songs for your
treasure hunt.
PIN THE TAIL
ON THE DONKEY
This classic game isn’t just for birthday
parties. Get a large piece of poster board, and
encourage the children to draw the donkey
themselves. Use tape or Velcro for the tail.
Holiday variations include pin the feathers on
the turkey for Thanksgiving, pin the ears on the
bunny for Easter, and pin the nose on the witch
for Halloween. |
LOCAL ACTIVITIES FOR
THE KIDS
THE ARTS GUILD OF
RAHWAY, RAHWAY 732-381-7511;
www.rahwayartsguild.org
The Guild has autumn,
winter, and spring art classes for adults, children and
teens, ages 6 and up. They offer both eight-week long
courses, and one-day workshops in
drawing, acrylics, collage, pottery, origami, and
portfolio development. They also offer regular on-going
art exhibits, a jazz series, and a classical music
series coming
up in October.
CAROLYN KLINGER-KUETER
MUSIC STUDIO, WESTFIELD 908-233-9094;
www.carolynmusic.com
Carolyn Klinger-Kueter
has been teaching private and group piano classes in
Westfield since 1959. Presently, she is offering four
Kindermusik curricula, ranging in age
from infancy to six years old.
THE LANGUAGE WORKSHOP
FOR CHILDREN & THE THE THIBAUT TECHNIQUE, MADISON
800-731-0830;
www.thibauttechnique.com
Francois Thibaut was
described by CNN as “one of a very few experts in
teaching languages to small children.” A language
teacher in France and a college instructor in
this country, he pioneered the “Thibaut Technique” more
than 33 years ago. The Tots class is for youngsters 6
months to 3 years, who attend a 45-minute morning class
with a caregiver. The Children classes are for 3- to
9-year olds who come for one hour after school. Classes
in French and Spanish are taught on Wednesdays.
THE LITTLE GYM,
CRANFORD 908-497-1500;
www.tlgcranfordnj.com
The Little Gym is a
curriculum-based, non-competitive gymnastics program for
children ages 4 months to 12 years. Programs include
gymnastics, karate and sports.
Now, as a part of all gymnastic classes, there is a
special dance segment which includes tap dance, ballet
and “movement creation.”
Also available are
private birthday parties, Parents’ Survival Nights and
Daily Camps. At The Little Gym, motor skill development,
made fun, builds confidence that leads to a lifetime of
success. On Sept. 17 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., The Little
Gym will be celebrating its 30-year anniversary with an
open house event.
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE
NURSERY SCHOOL, MILLBURN 973-376-0739
The Neighborhood House
Nursery School offers a nurturing environment for
children from 2 1/2 to 5 years old. The school, which
operates out of Victorian home, has a new fully equipped
outdoor playground. The school is open Monday through
Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for full day, morning
and afternoon programs.
VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF
NJ, SUMMIT 908-273-9121;
www.artcenternj.org
Kids art parties are
their specialty. During the first hour, each party
begins with an art and craft project taught by a
professional. They provide the materials for the
activity
you select, and you bring the refreshments, served
during the last half-hour. There is a theme for every
age-range and taste, from beaded bracelets and polymer
pins to textured frames. They also offer Kids Art Camp,
Teen Arts Camp, and a variety of courses and workshops
for all ages.
NJ WORKSHOP FOR THE
ARTS, WESTFIELD 908-789-9696;
www.njworkshopforthearts.com
The New Jersey Workshop
for the Arts is a non-profit arts education organization
established in 1972. They offer a variety of programs
develop creative talents and encourage a greater
appreciation of the arts through both instruction and
performance.
STAGESTRUCK PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER, NEW PROVIDENCE 908-464-5916;
www.sskpac.com
Courses for your kids are
taught in a small, supportive environment, and include:
Toddler Dance Fun, Drama Fun/Fairy Tale Journey, Tap,
Voice, Lyrical Dance, Musical
Theatre, Drama and Puppet Fun, Hip Hop, and Actors
Studio. There is a Short Hills site that offers a summer
program. Camp and Music Staff Director Michelle Oram
sums it up by stating that “the Center is a one-stop
studio for dance, drama, music, art, and exercise
classes for the whole family.”
UNION COUNTY ARTS
CENTER’S MENTORS IN MUSIC PROGRAM, RAHWAY 732-499-0441;
www.ucac.org/MIM/education.htm
Workshops are geared
toward students of middle school through high school
ages as a means of allowing children of all backgrounds
to come into direct contact with the arts - not just as
a passive observer, but also as an active participant.
Each workshop highlights the unique aspects of the
presenting artist’s craft. Participants in all of the
Mentors in Music workshops work directly with
professional artists who provide both.
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