A Rocking Craft

Here, at Mom, I'm Bored!, we are all about two things: fun and easy! We like to keep our crafts, games and boredom busters not only compatible with all age groups but also all financial and time levels as well. Something that is fun shouldn't cost a ton or take more time to prepare for than to actually do! This next craft exemplifies all of these qualities.

Let's paint a rock! Grab some paints (we love washable), brushes or sponges, and a fist-sized or larger rock. Here are some ideas to get them started.

• Toddlers can just go to town with a variety of colorful brushstrokes.


• Preschoolers may enjoy painting their name or initials.


• Got a few extra rocks? Paint one for each member of the family or make your very own zoo!


• Decorate with a favorite sports team or school spirit colors!


• Is your little one a gardener? Have them paint the different names of their flowers, herbs, or veggies on the rocks to display in the garden!

Now, what exactly can you do with a painted rock? They don't exactly hang on a refrigerator very well. Here are some ideas for uses.

• As stated earlier, use your rocks to decorate a garden!


• No yard? How about decorating the corners of a balcony or setting them on a wide windowsill to shine in the sun!


• Accessorize your potted plants with a few!


• Give away as presents! They make great paper weights for the office worker and do a great job of holding open a door for someone carrying in groceries!

If you want these rocks to last awhile, don't forget to slap on a protective layer of sealant after the paint has dried!

Don't forget to check back later for this month's Mom, I'm Bored! winner! Not entered yet? There's still time. Here's how!

Friday Food Fun: Accessorize the Chef!

I have found that picky eaters aren't so picky about their food if they help make it. So let's make making food fun. Measuring, mixing and baking are all great ways to turn your little one into a chef, but in order to be a chef, you've gotta look like a chef.

Start off with the apron. You can find a plain canvas apron in child sizes at your local craft store, and spend an afternoon personalizing it with fabric paint, permanent markers, or iron on patches. You can even uses images from clip art, or your own personal pictures and print them on an iron on transfer paper (also available at the craft store) and put their picture on it! *Just a note--If you use the iron on transfer everything irons on backward, so flip/rotate your numbers and letters.*

If they really liked the apron and still want more you can always buy the paper chef hats and let them color all over it. Or stickers work well too! And BAM! just like that you can bring your selective eater into the kitchen with you.

Looking for other helpful hints for a picky eater, check out our other Friday Food Fun for ideas!
Or do you have an idea to share? Leave a comment or e-mail us at momimbored@hotmail.com.

Rock Star Birthday Party

What little boy or girl hasn't dreamed of being Hannah Montana or one of the Jonas Brothers? Turn their rock star daydreams into birthday (or anytime) party reality with these great ideas!

For decorations, you've got to have a stage! Hang an old sheet on a clothesline as a backdrop, or use two for curtains. Then lay an old area rug or piece of plywood on the ground for the stage floor. Dress up your curtain with star cutouts or let the kiddos go to town with colorful markers! Set up rows of chairs for the audience (i.e. invitees) to enjoy the show! Tons of star themed glittery do-dads can be found at party stores to brighten things up!

For fun, set up a tattoo station complete with temporary tattoos and a bowl of water with sponges for quick application. Hand out glow stick bracelets and necklaces to add to the rock star ambiance! Line your walkway to the party with star shaped confetti to lead guests in the right direction. Fill your stage with tons of instruments so everyone can take a turn being the star of the show.

Turn on the CD player and let some rock music get everyone into the the party mood! Fun snacks can include large pretzel sticks with the ends dipped in chocolate to make microphones, star shaped cupcakes, or even chicken "drumsticks"!

Hope these ideas help your little one have a rockin' time at their birthday!

Try out our Reader Tip of the Week for a fun party craft that would fit right in with this theme!

Down on the Farm

Old McMom had some kids, E-I-E-I-O
and those kiddos sure were bored, E-I-E-I-O
I bet you all know where I'm going with this! Yep to the farm!

If you live in the city, take your kids out of their elements and visit a farm or an orchard. They will be so curious and amazed at how our food is grown, and all the hard work that goes into running a farm. They may even try to do some of the work themselves, voluntarily!

If getting to a farm is an issue, bring the farm to your house. Lay out the overalls for everyone to wear, even you Mom! Before breakfast, have the kids do their chores, as if they lived on a farm. Have them feed the pets as if the pets were your livestock. Have them collect eggs out of the "chicken coup" and then use those same eggs for breakfast. Go apple picking by placing apples on the lower branches of a tree, and send out the kiddos with a basket to gather them up. There is so much you could do, but please refrain from shearing the cat for its wool!

During down time, have a bag of books that are farm related for your curious little minds. Visit your local library and grab all the non-fiction farm books and even a few story books for the younger ones. A few of my favorites are " Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo" by Karen Rostoker and "Click-Clack, Moo: Cows that Type" by Doreen Cronin. Grab books with pictures of the farm equipment, buildings and animals. The future farmers will love them all!

For more animal activities, check out Fun with Furry Friends!

Reader Tip Of The Week

FarmWife, from Memoirs of a Farm Wife, sent us a great boredom buster for this weeks reader tip! Check out the sidebar for the details on this picture!

Thanks for the great tip, FarmWife!

Faded Beauty

Here is a craft that makes use of this great summertime sunshine! This is a really unique and easy one that's perfect for any age.

Your supplies are construction paper, leaves or flowers from the yard, scotch tape or sticky tack and a sunny window.

Use some rolled up tape or a little ball of sticky tack to attach your leaves to the construction paper. Little ones can go with a random design while older ones can make a pattern or even design an object with different leaf combinations.

Hang the paper in a sunny window and let the golden rays go to work. The sun will fade the paper that isn't covered by the leaf. After you remove the leaves, you will be left with a beautifully faded piece of art!

Give this craft a shot and then take some pictures to share with us! Email pictures to MomImBored@hotmail.com.

And try this game while you're waiting for the sun to work it's magic!

Craft Supplies We All Have Handy

Old buttons, paint, glue, stickers, markers, construction paper, beads, yarn, we all have these supplies in our crafting basket/drawer. And I bet our children always use the items in the same way as the time before! Here are a few ideas to help them think "outside the box" and bring new life to your old craft supplies.

Toddlers: Paint! Squirt some paint in a blob on the paper and give them different items to use as a paintbrush. For example, a matchbox monster truck, or a feather. They will love the different patterns the items make.


Preschool: Jewelry! Using the yarn and beads, (if you don't have beads, pasta works just fine) challenge your preschooler to create a pattern so you can guess which bead should come next. Or you could draw out a pattern and see if your preschooler can follow it.


School Aged: Glue Hues! Drop a bit of paint in each glue bottle so each one is a different color and shake. Then on a piece of paper let them "draw/paint" with the glue. The picture could always be embellished with stickers, or because it is glue, they can stick anything on it and once it dries, it becomes 3D art!

What is something different you do with your craft supplies? Share your ideas with us and others by leaving a comment or e-mailing us at momimbored@hotmail.com! If you liked these ideas check out our Collage College!

Not Much Time Left

Our first monthly drawing for Mom, I'm Bored! readers is just around the corner on June 30th. This month you could win your choice of one of these three great imagination boosters!

How do you enter? You just grab a button code from the sidebar and post it in your blog's sidebar. Don't have a blog? Just email the Mom, I'm Bored! address to ten friends and add us (momimbored@hotmail.com) as #11! That's all you have to do to be entered.

And guess what! You'll also automatically be entered for next month, and the month after that, and the month after that, and the month after that...

Winning never disqualifies you from be entered in the future months either. So adding one little button to your blog qualifies you for great prizes every month!

Thanks, again, for being a Mom, I'm Bored! reader! Good luck!

Food Fun Friday: Fruit Kabobs

What goes better with a hot summer day than a juicy piece of watermelon! Or cantaloupe! Or pineapple! Or any kind of fruit! Here is an idea to work all of your favorites into one snack or meal!

Put the fruit in a bowl or on a tray, give each child a skewer and let them start building! Skewers have a sharp end so supervision is suggested. To go one step further with safety, feel free to snip off the pointed end and let your children slide the fruit onto a dull skewer. Juicy fruit should be no problem to pierce so no need to have a super sharp object in your little ones hands.

You can finish off with some cold yogurt or a mix of sour cream and brown sugar for dipping.

Want to make this a complete meal? Add cheese cubes or hunks of turkey or ham to your kabobs to balance it out.

Happy Food Fun Friday! For more yummy ideas, click here!

Flag Football Fun for Everyone

Here is an activity that everyone in the family (and their friends) can play. Flag Football! It is safe enough for the littlest of kids, yet rowdy enough that everyone wants to join in on the fun! Simply set up an end zone (use cones, sticks, spray paint etc.) grab the football, and tie on your flags!

If you do not have the proper equipment, never fear! Here is a simple way to make your own:

· Measure a length of 3-inch-wide ribbon to fit each player's waist and attach adhesive-backed Velcro closures to each end.

· Make 2 flags for each belt by cutting 12-inch lengths of ribbon that are 3 inches wide. Use two different colors of ribbon, one for each team.

· Affix a bit of adhesive-backed Velcro to one end of each flag and the belt, then press the flags in place.

The rules can be as simple or true to the real game as you’d like.

Beginners: Each team gets 4 tries to get the ball into the end zone.

Intermediate: Throw in interceptions, and field goal attempts!

Advanced: I’ve never quite understood all the mechanics of football, so I’ll leave the real rules up to the professionals.

What a great way to teach cooperation and encouragement without a lecture! Don't forget that every player needs a cheerleader!

How did you adapt the game so the whole group could play? We’d love to hear how well your team did, and how much fun you had! E-mail us at momimbored@hotmail.com, or leave us a comment!

Dance To The Music

Here is an activity that can be enjoyed out in the sunshine or even inside on a rainy day. And you don't need much, just a radio or set of lungs and your body. Let's dance! With these fun ideas, your children will hop up off the couch, get rid of some of that endless energy and have a great time all at once! Crank up the tunes and let's get started.

Toddlers: No little one can ignore a good beat. Teach them rhythm by clapping along with a song or tapping your toes. Try dancing differently to different songs. Sway to a slow song, and stomp to a faster song.

Preschool: Try acting out songs with these guys. Act like the animals in "Old McDonald" or hop like bunnies for "Little Bunny Foo Foo." Turn on a CD of many different songs and let their little imaginations go to town making up their own movements. Or you could set up a bar with a jump rope, broom or crepe paper streamer and have a limbo contest!

School Age: These older ones can handle a little more of a challenge so why not teach them some of your favorite fun dances like The Macarena or Electric Slide. Know some tap or ballet moves? They will soak up your lessons and attention. Why not crank up some old Southern Rock and have an air guitar contest!

Who knew a little dancing could be so much fun! We would love to see pictures of your little ones getting down so be sure to have your camera ready! Email pictures and ideas to MomImBored@hotmail.com!

Putt-Putting Away the Boredom

It's time to turn off that Wii and get some fresh air! Don't get me wrong, I love a good Wii bowling tournament, but there is nothing like playing a real game.

When I was younger, we played putt-putt with a plastic cup, a whiffle golf ball and a club. It was simple enough; just turn the cup on its side and aim for it. This method is great for little ones or beginners. But, once they have this mastered, you might hear "Mom, I'm bored!" and we can't have that happen!

Make it more challenging. Raid your recycling bin to find items to use as obstacles for the ball and putter. Set an old milk jug in the middle of the path, so the child has to aim around it. Or, you could take a piece of cardboard and create a ramp for the ball to travel over . Or even better, let the kiddos choose their own obstacles, just watch out for sharp edges in the recycling bin!

Let us know if this idea worked for you. What creative obstacles did your kiddos come up with? We love to hear your ideas, so leave a comment or e-mail it to momimbored@hotmail.com.

If your kiddos enjoyed this activity, you should also have them check out our obstacle course.

Flower Chains

Today's idea is a classic, lazy summer day project. Flower chains! Grab a handful of clover flowers from your yard (daisies and dandelions work great too) and let's get started!

Try to pick flowers with long enough stems to tie around the base of the other flowers. Have your children tie the stem end right under the petals of the next flower and keep going for as long of a chain as you'd like. They can make bracelets, necklaces, crowns, or even decorative table runners or streamers to drape on the walls!

A common set back in this project is stems breaking while tying the knots. A little trick to bypass this is to lighty pinch the stem between two fingernails about an inch from the end and then slide your nails to the end just like you are curling ribbon in a present. This will make the part of the stem you will tie more pliable and less likely to snap.

Enjoy a peaceful moment in the grass making these whimsical creations with your children. You're sure to make wonderful summer memories!

We Love Our Readers!

It's true! We love your great Tips Of The Weeks and every single one of your comments. And we love it when you come back to see what's new every day! So here at Mom, I'm Bored!, we want to show our gratitude.

All you have to do is grab a button code over there in the sidebar and put it in the sidebar of your own blog. Then you are entered in our monthly drawing for awesome prizes guaranteed to blast away boredom in your home.

This months drawing will be on the 30th and the winner gets to choose from the three imagination boosters mentioned in this post.

Thanks again for reading and helping to spread the word about Mom, I'm Bored!

Friday Food Fun: Dog Days of Summer

If your little ones are anything like mine, no two like the same food the same way! Sometimes I feel like Burger King: Your way, Right away!. Well, I have discovered a way to please all and also have them serve themselves all at the same time: hot dogs!

Simply boil/grill/microwave the dogs, and set out all the fixins': mustard, ketchup, cheese, onions, relish, chili etc. and let them create away. They can experiment, or be as picky as they like and you don't have to do any (okay, much) of the work! Of course, to make it a bit healthier serve freshly cut veggies or fruit as a side dish and lunch is all taken care of!

Did you try this idea? Let us know how it worked at momimbored@hotmail.com!

Fun With Furry Friends

Having a pet can be a huge job. And, often times, it's left to mom or dad to do the brunt of the work. Why not get your little ones involved too? Show them that caring for a pet is much more than a chore, and that taking care of their furry friends can be lots of fun!

Toddlers: What toddler doesn't love to spill things? Let him or her dump a spoon full of cat or dog food into the dish. They will be so proud of themselves when they see Fifi and Fido eating their work!

Preschool: These guys are older and better able to get involved in your pet's grooming. They will have a blast giving the dog a bath in the yard, helping you brush the cat's fur, or cleaning out the hamster or bird cages.

School Age: Explain to them that animals have lots of energy, just like them! And so their pets like to run, jump and play too! They can play fetch with or walk the dog, dangle some yarn or string in front of the cat or even trace their fingers along the outside of the fish tank for it to follow.

Not pet people? Try giving them a small plant or even a fun Chia pet to take care of! They can plant the seeds, water them and pull any weeds that may pop up. Puppy or plant, responsibility can be fun! How do you get your children involved with pet care in your home? Leave a comment or email a picture of your little pet lover in action at MomImBored@ hotmail.com!

New Reader Tip Of The Week

Be sure to check out our newest Reader Tip Of The Week in the sidebar. This week's tip comes from Colleen at A Spritz of Sis! It's a great craft for Father's Day. Here is a picture of one of her children's creations!

Thanks for the wonderful idea, Colleen!

Have an idea you'd like to share for the "Mom, I'm Bored!" Reader Tip Of The Week? email us at MomImBored@hotmail.com!

A Day at the Beach

Gas prices got you down? Can't take that trip to the beach now? Well bring the beach to you!

Toddlers: Buy colorful glass beads at a local craft supply store, bury them in their sandbox, and mark a giant X on top of the sand. Give them a shovel and let them dig for treasure!

Preschoolers: Use different shaped containers from around the house and create your own sandcastle. Instead of glass beads, place shells (also available at the craft store) in the sandbox, and they will feel like they are on the beach!

School Aged: Fill up a wading pool, turn on some '60's surf tunes (CD's available everywhere--I got mine at the dollar store), set up an umbrella, and drag out that beach blanket for some beach blanket BINGO! Create bingo cards with items one would find at the beach. For example: sunblock, sunglasses, bathing suit, snacks, surfboard, sand, crabs, dolphins, etc. Grab some prizes at the dollar store while you're picking up your surf music! A shovel and pail or some sunglasses would do.

Relax, have a good time and don't forget the sunblock! We'd love to see our ideas in action, send us a pic of your "Day at the Beach" at momimbored@hotmail.com.

Indoor Swimming Fun

Rainy weather can definitely put a damper on plans to head to the pool. But you don't have to take the swimsuits off! Just jump in the bathtub and try out these fun indoor water play ideas!

Toddlers: Find some fun water play items in your kitchen, like cups and bowls, sponges, funnels and big spoons. Let your little one go to town filling and dumping to their hearts content! For added fun, throw in a couple of bathtub color tablets. These can be found by the baby soap and shampoo at most store.

Preschool: Help these kiddos cut a sponge or piece of Styrofoam into a surfboard shape. They can have a truly miniature pool party by giving their Polly Pocket, Barbie, Spiderman or other plastic action figures a surf lesson! Or let them create an easily rinsed off wall mural with tub crayons, also found in the baby soap and shampoo section.

School Age: Older kids playing in the tub can leave with soaked bathmats and dripping wet walls. So keep the water level low for these guys but add tons of liquid soap or body wash. Let them swish it around until the bubbles reach the rim of the tub. They can use all the foam to create crazy hairdos, beards or pile them up on their arms for huge muscles!

Have any other rainy day, bath tub play tips? Leave a comment or email us at MomImBored (at) hotmail (dot) com! And don't forget to send in pictures of your little ones trying out these fun ideas!

RoadTrip!

Excited about vacation, but loathing the several hours in a car with your children? Here are a few ideas to keep "Are we there yet?" at bay.

• ABC Signs! Look for the letters of the alphabet (in order) on the road signs, semi-trucks, license plates, etc. For a little bit of a challenge, make it more specific--only lower case letters, or vice versa.

• Count cows! Doesn't sound that exciting does it, but add a few rules and it becomes a fierce competition! One can only count the cows on their side of the car. A completely white horse doubles your total, and a cemetery drops you down to zero cows and you have to start all over. It will keep them entertained all the way to your destination.

• B-I-N-G-O! Make up BINGO cards before hand. Instead of numbers like the original game, fill in each box with items you will see along the way. For example, a specific restaurant, a barn, a billboard for your destination, farm animals, a railroad, a semi, road signs, etc. If you have younger ones, make their card with pictures versus words so they can play too!

License plate lists! Before you leave, print off a list of the 50 United States. As you drive have your kiddos look for each state's plate. The kiddo with the most plates gets a prize, ie. choosing which restaurant to eat dinner, jumping in the pool first, etc.

We want to know how you survive long car rides with your little ones, post a comment, or e-mail us at momimbored@hotmail.com!

Don't forget to pack your Fun on the Run Box!

Wanna Win Cool "Mom, I'm Bored" Prizes??

Take a look at the sidebar right below the Reader Tip Of The Week, and you'll find the code for our brand spankin' new "Mom, I'm Bored!' button.



Simply copy and paste that into your own sidebar and you are entered in our monthly drawing for exciting prizes! We will pick one winner a month, and everyone with a button is entered in the drawing, regardless of the number of times you may have won before!

Easy Peasy, huh? So go ahead and let your readers know about us. You may just get a little reimbursement for it!

This month's winner will be drawn on June 30th and will get to pick from any of the three great Imagination Boosters mentioned in this post.

Friday Food Fun: Pint-Sized Pizza

When asked "What's your favorite food?" the answer is inevitably PIZZA! Well, here are a few ways you can change it up and make it their own!

French bread pizza: Here we just thinly sliced up a loaf of french bread, spread a little marinara sauce, sprinkled the cheese and placed one slice of the classic pepperoni. I added a little Italian seasoning to mine, but the little ones don't care for the "icky green stuff" on top.

A good pizza starts with a good crust! French bread works great for wee ones, but if your kiddo is a bit older, and has a larger appetite, a bagel or english muffin can be used. We have even taken pre-made biscuit dough and used the rolling pin(excitement) to flatten it out, bake for about 2-3 minutes and then decorate to taste. For a sauce, I get out the "kitchen paintbrush" a.k.a. a basting brush, and let them paint on the sauce. Of course different toppings can be used too. Set out a variety of toppings: black olives, onion, green peppers, etc. and encourage indulgence! Sprinkle a little cheese and broil for 5-7 minutes and voila! lunch (or dinner) is served!

Because they made it, you know they will eat it! Have any other quick, easy, and edible for all picky eaters recipes? Post a comment or e-mail us @ momimbored@hotmail.com!

Library Loungin'

It's raining again, there is no setting the local wildlife (aka my children) free to roam the backyard. So we loaded into the car and set off to rediscover our local library. And much to my surprise , I was ready to go before they were!

We began our trip by signing up for our library's summer reading program. One can earn points for every book they read. Then the hunt was on for which books would earn them the most points.

While the older ones were off calculating points, the younger ones were busy with board books, puzzles, blocks and computer games. All of which we have at home, but you know how that is!

And what did I do with my time? I signed up the kiddos for the free movies each week, and the caricature class, got more information on the many other arts-and-crafts classes (have to check the calendar!) and even got myself a little something to read during nap times!

Who would have guessed that the library was today's answer to "Mom, I'm bored!"? And with all it had to offer, it just might keep the boredom bug away for awhile! What interesting programs does your library offer? Have a good book suggestion for the kiddies? Leave a comment, or e-mail us at momimbored@hotmail.com!

Inexpensive Imagination Boosters

Summer time is an endless time of running in the yard, playing pretend and using imaginations. But sometimes the imagination needs a bit of a break. Every once in awhile, children need a nudge in the direction of fun. Here are a few inexpensive tools that can bring a stagnant imagination back to life in a hurry!

Toddlers: Get these kiddos running and laughing in no time with a bubble machine. Most models run between $10 and $15 and can be found at almost any department store.

Preschool: Your children can explore the insect world with a bug sucker, like this one that is only $14.99. They're just a few batteries and a trigger squeeze away from inspecting the ants, spiders, ladybugs and fireflies in the yard. You can further their exploration by getting bug books at the library so they can identify what they catch and learn more about it!

School Age: Pick up a compass at any sporting goods store and let these guys create a treasure map. Show them how to find North and let them go from there. Have them create directions like 10 steps east, 15 steps south and 6 steps west to hide a treasure or to navigate from one place in the yard or playroom to another.

Little bits of money can lead to big time adventures with these must-haves! What summer time tools get your children's imaginations in gear?

Overcoming the Obstacle of Boredom

I was all excited, picnic packed, hiking trail mapped out, morning cup of coffee, turn on the news and the weather man reports rain, rain, rain! What am I going to do with all these kids inside all day long!?!

I let them hang out until they needed my help. I finally recognized the SOS when one kid was crying, the other was tied up and the two oldest had the glazed-over look on their faces. I asked each kid to bring me one toy for something fun, and they had ten minutes to find it. And they were off!

Time was up and they each stood in front of me, toy in hand and puzzled look on their sweet little faces. I explained that we were going to use these items to create our own obstacle course, and I could see the wheels start turning. I took the youngest few upstairs and told the older ones we would return in 15 minutes to run the course they would create.

I was amazed at what these children could do with a bowling set, a toy broom, two buckets and a robot arm/grabby thing (not sure what the technical term is). I added the tunnel and pop-up tents for some extra flare. We all had a great time running the course and cheering each other on! A great thing about this is when we exhausted the original course, we just rearranged and ran a whole new course.

Reader Tip Of The Week

Our very first "Reader Tip Of The Week" is up on the sidebar. This weeks tip is perfect for this time of year so be sure to check it out. Here is a picture of our contributor's son in action!

So, how do answer the cry of "Mom, I'm bored!"? Be sure to email your tips, and pictures if you have them, to MomImBored@hotmail.com and you may just be featured next!

Collage College 101

A collage is a never fail answer to "Mom, I'm bored!" It's easy. Who doesn't have a pile of old magazines waiting to be recycled? Now all you need is some glue, scissors and a little imagination. But if your youngster is already bored the imagination juices might need a little squeezin'. Start them off with a few of these ideas.

Toddler: This age doesn't need a theme just start tearing paper and watch their little eyes gleam. Dab some glue all over and let them place the paper. Who knows what kind of masterpiece you'll get!

Preschool: Ask your preschooler to find pictures of a certain shape, or numbers, or a certain color. Just think your little one's square collage could be the next big thing on the Cubism art scene!

School Aged: Here is where the creative juices can really start flowing! National Geographic would be the perfect magazine for your child to use to create their own species of animal. It could have the tail of a lemur, mane of a lion, and nose of an anteater! And the best part--they get to name this lovely new creature. If animals aren't their thing, try creating another person. Find different ears, eyes, cheeks and make the family or a character from a book they've read. There are endless possibilities: a street scene, a dream clubhouse, a new bedroom, a futuristic car, etc.

Have your creative juices started to flow? Give us your ideas for a collage at momimbored@hotmail.com!

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Have you ever asked a child to wait patiently and they listen? Me neither. I've seen many failed attempts at The Quiet Game, you know the one where the person that is the quietest the longest wins? There is always someone who yells, "I'm out!" because they don't find the game interesting enough. Well, here is a game which keeps every one interested and quiet at the same time!

Next time you find yourself with a few minutes to kill, ask your child(ren) "What's Different?" Let your child(ren) examine you. Tell them to look real good. Ask them to close their eyes and then change something on yourself. Untie your shoe, zip up your jacket, remove an earring, etc. Tell them to open their eyes and ask "What's different?" Whoever guesses correctly gets to change something on them and ask "What's different?"

Before you know it, it will be your turn in line, and the kids won't want to go because they are so busy thinking of what they would change, or trying to figure out what each other has changed!

What do you do with your wee ones while you wait? Post a comment or e-mail us at momimbored@hotmail.com!

Fun On The Run

Motherhood is a busy job. Many times we find ourselves running all over the place to get groceries, take children to and from practices and driving all over for a slew of other reasons. Quality play time with our little ones can be hard to come by when we are busy with everything else life hands us. So why not be prepared to squeeze in some fun between all the endless errands! Having a "Fun On The Run Box" in your car can help you do just that!

Toddlers: Storing a few small balls and a bottle of bubbles can turn the wait between their older siblings soccer practices from boring to exciting!

Preschool: Some sidewalk chalk, action figures, and even a small container of building blocks can make a quick trip to the park between the post office and grocery into a fun break!

School-Aged Children: A day spent in the car won't leave your children tired and grumpy if they can take a quick break with fun things like Frisbees, jump ropes and yo-yos.

This "Fun On The Run Box" can be a plastic storage container, old backpack or cardboard box. Just fill it up with goodies, shove it under the back seat or in the trunk and you're ready for fun at a moments notice! Even the box alone can be fun to play in. This box is excellent to have on hand for long car trips as well. Break it out at rest stops or take it into the hotel with you to keep little ones far from bored!

What fun things would you pack in yours?