- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Old-fashioned Fun
Stay Inside and Have a Ball By Amy Carey
Sometimes we forget how important the imagination can be. How else can you turn an egg carton into a fantastic insect or a simple kitchen table into a secret fort? With plastic gadgets overflowing our toy boxes and the ever-present temptation to sit and watch cartoons, old-fashioned fun still has a place in our lives perhaps more than ever.
"I think 'old-fashioned' becomes more and more important as the world continues to speed ahead with technology [and] video games," says Stephania Munson-Bishop, a long-time human service professional who publishes the ezine, Tidbits From the Pantry. She regularly exercises her imagination by making ant farms or growing crystals with her grandchildren. Here are a few ways you can join in the fun:
Kitchen Duty
Put on an apron and try some of these ideas. Christine Nicholls, founder of Creative Kids at Home, gives the following suggestions for old-fashioned fun in the kitchen: - Play dough Depending on your child's age, let him help you mix together ingredients for homemade play dough. You can roll out the finished product with a rolling pin, cut it with cookie cutters, ball it up like meatballs or just squish it between your fingers.
- Potato stamps Cut a potato in half and carve out a design on the cut surface. Dip the potato in child-friendly paint and stamp onto heavy paper.