Kids Resolution Sheet

Below is a goal sheet that my kids are filling out this year, this creates fun conversations - have them fill it out on their own, you may be surprised what you learn about your kids.  Improvements is for self development, for example - learn a new language, read a book about, study a new subject, etc.

Goals for 2011 for

_________________

School:        ________________________________________________________

                   ________________________________________________________

Sports:        ________________________________________________________

                   ________________________________________________________

Other:        ________________________________________________________

                   ________________________________________________________

Improvements:    ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Things I Want:    ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Vacation:             ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Who I will help:  ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

If $ was no issue:____________________________________________________

Kids New Years Eve Party!

It's almost here and time to plan a great memory with your kids and do it without breaking the bank.  First, think back to the amount of money you would spend going out back in the days before kids on this night.  Anything we do with our kids should pale in comparison.

This has become quite the annual tradition and each year we try to make it better.  The kids are excited because they get to stay up late and we break some of our normal rules.  We get foods we normally wouldn't like soda, and appetizer like items.  My wife has made cookies with the kids in the past as well.



Quick Tips

1.  Camp in the living room - use a small tent, or create one with sheets.

2.  Decorate for a party streamers are cheap, or have a craft time and make things.

This page has a chart for tips on building party favors.

http://www.kidspartyfun.com/pages/artsandcrafts.html

3.  Make sure to set alarms for about 5 minutes to Midnight so everyone can be up.

4.  We get some fireworks and do them on the back deck - it is really big around my neighborhood to do fireworks.

5.  Pick movies to watch that night.

6.  Buy a new family game to play that night, or rent video game everyone can play.

7.  If you have friends with kids that are going out offer to take the kids - it adds to the party, and maybe next year they will do it for you!

8.  If you don't want to build your noise makers - you can buy inexpensive party kits.

This year I found a new idea I might try, it is along the lines of Easter, but do a snack hunt, hide them and let the kids find them.

The important thing that I haven't mentioned is that they get to spend time with you and that is what they will remember the most - everything else is just enhancements.

Here's another page I found - Love the idea on Amazing Moms website to build the “party favors”, we are trying to keep things inexpensive, and we can create some great memories with the kids.

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/new-years-party-for-kids.htm

 

These are home made hats - we had fun making them and I suprised the kids with my design.  Our night included many fun games so far including musical chairs, and big dance party, and we still have 2 hours to go!

Time Release Christmas

Quick tip to make Christmas joy last longer.

Obviously in most homes the moment they open their presents is amazing for them and for us to see their excitement.  So how do we prolong this incredible moment.

Here's how..

Hide one of the presents for each child, after the initial rush is gone and they have played with the toys they have opened, announce "Hey everybody we forgot some presents".  The fun is extended later into the day and so is the memory created on this day.

Other Tips

You may already do this, but when I can, to save money, I buy something they will need in the near future.  This may be sports equipment, musical instrument, to lessons for things they have interest in like guitar or gymnastics.  Now that the blog is started I will get ahead of the Holiday events.

Merry Christmas!

next blog: The Klein Family New Years Eve Party!

Dad on a dime!

So here it is after many years, a blog about all the cool things I have found to do with my kids with no budget to do anything.  My firm belief is that you can be a great dad, and give your kids great experiences without breaking the bank.

Here I will share the ideas in hope that you will find one thing that enriches your relationship with your kids.  I will tell you that I live in the St. Louis area so some of the ideas will have geographical restraints.  To the best of my ability I will try to keep that in mind, but I will talk about vacations on a dime as well, and you will find St. Louis an inexpensive city to do many things with your family.

More Details...

I will not just tell you that the STL Zoo is free, I will tell you where you can always find a free parking spot, and bonus items like the kids zoo and carousel are free at certain times.

St. Patty's Day

I will plant one seed in your head for a future Holiday.  St. Patty's Day for younger kids can be amazing,
Here's what you will need

Green cloth/fabric
Gold candy coins or to really get them going a few of those gold dollar coins.

Then the night before St. Paddy's Day you and your young child set Leprechaun traps.  Find some sticks in the yard, or use some string or rope - this part is up to you and their imagination.  I told the kids that they like to run along the fences so we would put our traps there.  If you live in a cold climate you can bring the traps indoors.  Indoors you can add your creativity as well - you can put put a flat tray with green food coloring in water "to track them".  When they are asleep you make the small footprints with your hand.

Either way indoor/outdoor after they are in bed rip up the green fabric put it over the traps, drop some gold coins around the traps and watch their amazement the next morning.  My line is, well we didn't catch them this year, but we almost did and look they dropped some coins.