Double Duty Kid Activities

Double Duty Kid Activities
by Brenda Nixon

Enjoy special times with your tot by doing projects together. Kids love spending uninterrupted time with Mom or Dad and your activity can serve a duel purpose – supporting growth and development. When learning is like play, kids don’t even realize you’re making the activity “educational.“

Try these fun, easy, and memory-making activities to “teach” your child:

***Countdown Combo Mix***
Why not reinforce numbers and counting while you keep little hands busy, minds active, and mouths watering with this tasty, healthy individual snack?
Help your child count out:
10 small round pretzels
9   raisins
8   Cheese-It crackers
7   pumpkin seeds
6   chocolate chips
5   Rice Chex
4   peanuts
3   miniature marshmallows
2   cashews
1   M&M
Then, place all items in a snack size baggie, close, shake to mix, and enjoy.

***Hand-sized Squeeze Balls***
Balls are a sure play-promoter for preschoolers. But they also strengthen small muscles in the hand and serve as sensory calming.  Stretch a balloon by blowing it up a few times and letting it deflate. Then assist your child with packing it with a cup of sand, rice, flour, sugar, or salt. You may want to use a funnel.  Place the one filled balloon inside a second stretched balloon as this makes your squeeze ball more durable. Tie off both balloons and you’re ready to play.  Toss squeeze ball in the air, play catch, aim for a bucket, or just squeeze as hard as you can. Your child will think you’re great for showing her how to make a small, personal ball but, you can feel smug knowing she’s learning during the fun.

Bringing up kids is a complex task. But your rewards come when you have fun together and, at the same time, feel competent as their most important teacher. Watch for two more fun, easy, and memory-making activities to “teach” your child tomorrow. 

Free parenting articles and discipline tips are available at http://www.BrendaNixon.com. You can follow Brenda’s life & work in 140 characters or less on twitter,  http://twitter.com/BrendaNixon.

Great tips, Brenda. I love how easy they are to do at home and on a budget!

Love reading the practicle helpful ideas of Ms. Nixon. I have been a long time reader of her books and stories and have applied the many useful helps along the years. I have a grandchild that lives with me and I still need good practical ideas. Thanks Ellie for adding her to your blog.

Children are eagar to explore their world and excited to experience the full range of their five senses in their environment. Brenda Nixon recognizes that this fact is a great opportunity to educate and nuture children. Brenda uses simple activities that creatively help a child develop intellectual, social and physical skills.  Play become a vehicle for more than just fun and entertainment.  Play is the path that leads a child to a greater understanding of his world around him.  Ms. Nixon is a gifted communicator, whose insights and skills on parenting have given her a platform to help parent on their journey to raising their children.

Ellie and Brenda, these are great tips for parents and grandparents. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your time with little ones this summer.

Brenda’s tips for counting items with kids while doing this project is a great idea! Making play both fun and educational stimulates a child’s eagerness for learning. Activities like this also strengthen the parent-child bond and create fun family memories.

I look forward to reading Brenda’s other memory-making activities on this site, as I know her Birth to Five Book is packed full of creative ideas and helpful information.

These are excellent activities for little ones. I look forward to trying them out with my three-year old. Thanks, Brenda, for sharing your creativity!

I love how Brenda combines spending time with your child with teaching your child—that’s the kind of mommy-multitasking I can do!
Even though my youngest child is out of preschool, she’d still enjoy putting together the “Countdown Combo Mix” and munching on it.

Proof that fun doesn’t have to be expensive. Thanks for the great tips!

What fun for parents and children! I love her website, too. It’s full of imaginative ideas that combine learning and loving!

Brenda is full of great ideas for families. I especially enjoy the squeeze balls - I’ve done this with my boys, and we all had a blast!

The countdown mix looks delicious! (But, when make this for myself, I’ll reverse the order so I have 10 M&Ms;.) Fun activities.

I am a grandmother, and it’s always nice to find new ideas that can be used to educate and entertain the little ones.

Brenda, though mine are older—and I’m now looking forward to grandchildren—I love these ideas. I’ve already decided,though, when we do the counting one, we’re going to switch the numbers of raisins for M & M’s!

These two tips are so fun, and promote learning while being enjoyable. Thanks for the ideas.

Brenda you are awesome! I love your writing style AND your creative ideas! I love it that the kids learn without knowing they are “learning,“ feel a sense of accomplishment, get to have fun, and get to spend time with mom and/or dad—a win-win for everyone! In my experience, kids learn more when they are having fun! Thanks for the great tips!

Wish I had this info when my kids were young. But now I’ll get to use it with my granddaughter. You always have such great ideas! Thanks.

Brenda has such great practical suggestions! I can’t wait to use them with my grandson.

Brenda always has great tips—and these are no different. Ellie, thanks for having her on your blog. :)

Brenda, thanks for the fun ideas! As a mother of a toddler who LOVES to “help” me with everything, I look forward to making the Combo Mix with him. He will love it. :-)

I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and activities to share with my three young grandchildren. Thanks, Brenda and Ellie. You saved my day!

Brenda You are awesome! I love your writing style and creative ideas! I love kids learn without knowing they are “learning” a sense of accomplishment, fun and get to spend time with the mother or father-win-win for everyone! In my experience, children learn best when they are having fun! Thanks for the great advice!I’m always looking for new ideas and activities to share with my three young grandchildren. Thanks, Brenda and Ellie. You saved my day!
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