Looking for Input

Hi J.,

I have a 19 month old boy, I usually read him stories, we roll a ball back and forth, sometimes I take him for a walk, or out to breakfast. One of his favorite games is when you chase him around the house..I guess the activities depend on the age of the child. As far as family activities, there are zoos, aquariums, parks, the beach, and so on..

I like to stay up to date with Facebook and other online social groups. There are plenty of moms looking for playgroups and offering advice.

I also subscribe to Boston Central which is a weekly email about things going on in the Boston area broken up by metro areas (greater Boston, North Shore, South Shore, Metro West). You can find Boston Central at http://www.bostoncentral.com/

If you (or anyone else) are interested in joining a mother's group/playgroup on the South Shore, drop me a line!

There are probably numerous websites if you google in "activities or fun things to do with kids". I haven't tried it yet but you can find almost anything if you google it! Good luck!!

For my family ( I do not know the ages of your kids) but we can find enjoyment in the simple things. My son is 7..and just LOVES if we even go outside to play with him. In the spring, summer, and fall we take walks in the afternoons (cooler part of the day) and he can bring along a bug catcher of some sort to catch bugs or collect rocks, flowers, etc. We have even found pet toads on these walks and a baby kitten we rescued!! He also will ride his bike on these walks sometimes. We play outside with him, go to parks...in the economy we cannot afford to spend tons of money. so it's the simple things like that ,but they LOVE that stuff as young kids. Also, as a family, we try to do a "family" night every friday night (wahtever day works best for you)where we can choose to play a game, watch a movie together, go for ice cream..etc etc. ) Just some ideas!:)

very old fashion - but I read the newspaper. The daily calendars and the Thursday event guides. I also pick up the local tourist guides.

My friends don't get the paper, so when I have time, I compile an email list of events for the season, ask others to add to it and then send out with the updates.

Hi J.,
Always try your local library- it's not just for books! They often have programs going on for all ages and they may also have postings or info on community events. Also, check the Region section of your local newspaper. Community events throughout the week should be listed. Another thing that our library does is provide discounted or sometimes free passes to area museums or places of interest. Also check the blue pages in your phone book for your town's Parks & Recs phone number. They often have quarterly sign-ups for a wide range of programs- from crafts and dance to karate, yoga and horse-back riding. Although there are deadlines and fees , you can probably sign-up to be on a mailing list so if you missed out on the Fall events, you can check out Winter programs.
You can try to do some crafts at home one afternoon- nothing fancy- glue macaroni to paper plates & paint with tempera paints or make a macaroni neclace with some yarn;try a spur-of-the moment picnic- juice boxes, cut up fruit & sandwiches- go to a park with a blanket & a children's book & some bubble soap or a ball and just have fun! If you're not sure how to be creative, ask the librarian to recommend a book on children's crafts or other "fun" things to do. I hope these get you started and that you enjoy your family. Get on out there & have FUN! :)
H. Y.

Your local Parent Planner newspaper has lots of ideas. You can access it online too.

I occasionally pick up a "parent" magazine ____@____.com local newspaper is great too! I also tring to rememeber what I endjoyed and do it with them.

I have used www.myconneticutkids.com to find very cool things to do with my family/kids in CT, they run some contests too, my girlfriend won tickets for her family to a Sesame Street Show last year I would check it out!

I find some on http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/region/boston-ma-usa and also in the Boston Parent's Paper which you can pick up at many grocery stores, dr. offices or libraries. Check your local library for activities, too.

Well, that was a struggle for me for a long time, then I decided to do something about it. I created www.southernnhfamilyfun.com. I list playgrounds and other activities in the area to do with your family. Check it out and don't hesitate to email me if you have suggestions!! I am a stay at home mother of 3, the youngest just started first grade. Enjoy! And I hope that the site is useful.

You probably have a local Mothers & More group in your area www.mothersandmore.org (check out the chapter finder.) Tons of great activities, playgroups, and night out activities for mom too.

Hi J.,
I own Noodle Noggin' 'N Bean, located in Northboro. (www.noodlenogginnbean.com). Please email me at ____@____.com for a coupon flyer. We have a wonderful, clean and innovative facility designed for children's creativity and fun. We have open daily play or memberships available and a great meetup group. My husband just opened a unique kidstuff resal boutique called Once Again Kids (complete with a children's playroom)located right around the corner from NNNB, I'd be happy to email you coupons for the store as well. Feel free to share with your friends.
Thanks, L.

I always check out www.hilltownfamilies.org. They have a weekly local happenings page that covers Pioneer Valley and Franklin County. It is really helpful to know what is happening and when.
-T.
mama to zoe soon to be 6

We usually just come up with stuff ourselves, but newspapers and the internet are good sources for ideas if you are running dry on ideas. And friends and neighbors are always a good source of ideas, too, if you have similar interests.

Things we like to do as a family with our 12-year-old--bike rides, game night at home (board games or cards), movies (at home, at the local theater, at the drive-in), bowling (candlepin and "big ball bowling"), golf (mini or regular), swimming, camping, hiking, blueberry picking, Boy Scout outings, go to the library, go out to eat, read books (out loud to each other or all of us in one room with our own books), play outside (catch, batting, frisbee), play inside (with Legos, stuffed animals, Wii), letterboxing (goggle it), sit by the fireplace and listen to music, ice skating, sledding, cross-country skiing, vacations (train ride from coast to coast, drive from NH to Wyoming and back while reading a Harry Potter book from start to finish to each other and stopping for all sorts of interesting sights), Museum of Science trips, meteor shower parties, going to bed at the same time in the same room on occasion and pondering life's questions, etc.

When he was younger, we used to have Fabulous Friday Dance Parties in our living room. The three of us would put on a bunch of fun music and dance our hearts out. But currently that is "not cool". Some day we'll be able to do that together again, right?! : )

When he was younger, we would also do kite flying, painting, drawing, walks, the playground, cleaning (ah, those were the days when that was still fun!), tinkering on the piano, puzzles, puppet shows of our own, plays, air guitar, drumming (on pots and pans, or whatever made a sound), swinging, climbing, tumbling, laying on the ground looking at clouds, stargazing, planting, storytelling, singing, building snow men/snow whales/snow forts, having snowball fights, making snow angels in our yard or in the neighborhood, catching snowflakes on your tongue....

Some of those things we still do, but kids' interests change as time goes on. The trick is to have unplugged time together--no earbuds, no screens--just you and your kid(s). The gift of time is the important thing...at any age. The sky is the limit!

check out whofish.org - local carnivals, festivals, fairs, puppet shows, nature walks, etc. I couldn't live without it to fill our weekends. good luck!

One thing my family enjoys doing is letterboxing. It's like treasure hunting. Go to http://www.letterboxing.org/ to learn more and find letterboxes in your area or wherever you go. A letterbox contains a stamp, ink pad, and notepad and you bring your own of those things too. Once you find the letterbox, you use your stamp and ink to stamp in the letterbox notepad and write a note, your name, the date, etc. and then stamp your notepad with the letterbox stamp and ink. It's fun for ALL ages, gets everyone outside and walking, and there are letterboxes EVERYWHERE. Some are simple, some are elaborate. For example, there's one in my town that is made up of 8 parts, that is, 8 different locations in town, 8 different stamps that when followed in order spell out the name of the town. You can also make your own letterbox and add it to the directory - another fun thing to do as a family. Then you can go back to check on it and see who has been there.

My family also refers to the town library for things to do and they often have free or reduced rate passes to local attractions. We also belong to our town's newcomer's club, although we've lived here for 10 years now. There are monthly social activities as well as interest groups (i.e., book club, poker club) that meet regularly. You can find a worldwide directory at http://www.newcomersclub.com/.

I hope these suggestions help!

our lil man LOVEs mini golfing and bowling, lol we try to do one or the other with him every weekend, as well as crafts!! he loves sitting down and doing crafts with me. and cooking, anythng that he can "help" with he is amazed with and it turns in to a fun activity for all 3 of us, what sort of things are you interested in? how old is ur child? boy or girl?