Being an empty nester gives you a great opportunity to see the country and the world.
You’ve finally got the kids out of the apartment and living independently. But what do you do now that you don’t have to plan vacations around school schedules or research kid-friendly destinations?
Taking vacations without the kids can be an adjustment. Follow our tips below to plan a great trip and have a good time even though your little birds have left the nest.
Encourage your child to imagine and explore with an organized, creative playroom in your apartment.
Ideally, you’ll leave electronics, such as tablets, televisions and DVD players, out of this room so children can use their imagination, but you may opt to make the room a place where they can also watch movies, especially if you have an extra room to use as a playroom.
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If you have just a corner of a room to spare, make sure it’s in a room that’s quieter than, say, where you watch television with your spouse, or his bedroom, where he’s encouraged to rest. Otherwise, your child might feel he doesn’t have the creative space to act out characters, make noises or draw the best picture ever. Set the corner apart by putting down a kid-minded rug and flank it with organizational pieces, such as shelves or toy boxes. Fill those with books, toys, board games and personal items your child has made, and set a play kitchen, workbench or giant chalkboard or marker board on an easel in the corner.
For those who have a whole room to spare, create a playroom with four basic elements, and provide your kid a place to sit and read, a table to work or draw, organizational pieces to teach how to tidy up and room to play.
Clutter control
Let’s face it, the real purpose of a playroom is to have a place to put all of your child’s stuff. Organize homework, clothes or hobbies with a day-of-the-week hanging organizer ($4.99), utilize overhead space for stuffed animals, bath toys or sports balls with a toy hammock net organizer ($7.99) and keep small pieces together with a few vintage organizer trays ($8.95 each). This Holly & Martin Paige organizer doubles as a craft desk ($199), and a wood bookcase and toy organizer ($149) matches any décor and grows with your child (go from storing toys to storing scarves, shoes, socks and books). Add a few inexpensive wall shelves, and your child will be putting his toys away in no time.
Kid-friendly flooring
In an apartment, you probably can’t replace the floor in any room. But you can spruce it up with primary colored carpet squares, animal and alphabet squares or rugs showcasing math, shapes, the alphabet, nature, maps or music. If the playroom has different stations, such as an area to read and an area to play, set them off with different colored rugs.
Tables and work spaces
Every kid needs a child-sized hard surface to draw on, measure things out or put crafts together on. For the budget-conscious, select an unfinished table and chairs and set aside a day for your child to paint them however he wants. This IKEA children’s table ($19) doubles as a seat and storage for toys, or you could go traditional with a sturdy wood table and two to four chairs, such as this Sauder Beginnings Kids Table and Stool Set from Wal-Mart ($49), which features open cubby storage on both ends for flat items such as puzzles and notepads, or a Tot Tutors Wood Table and Chair Set ($99.88), also from Wal-Mart.
Shy away from character-themed furniture, as you’ll want this furniture to grow with your child.
Seat options
Playrooms don’t mean children go non-stop in them. Give him a place to sit down and read a book with a space-themed printed chair ($44.98, from Target), or provide her with a spot to daydream with a pink polka-dotted rocker ($53, from Luxury Lamb). For gender-neutral seating, try a plush green or neutral chair ($99) from The Land of Nod, which has the option to be personalized with your child’s name. Don’t forget to include a throw pillow. Purchase a few bean bags or large pillows so your child’s playroom guests will feel comfy, too.
Fun additional ideas
If you have the space, create a true playroom by adding an indoor slide, funky curtains, decals, a tent, canopies, a kid-sized basketball hoop or even a giant umbrella to make the room seem truly unique. Frame different maps from atlases, colorful vintage record covers and artsy wall calendar cut-outs, and the room will be as visually interesting as it is imaginative.
Get out your hot glue gun, glitter and ribbon, and you’ll be on your way to creating DIY holiday décor. From faux snow vases to a decked-out dreidel garland, use this infographic as a guide to fashion unique decorations for your home this holiday season.
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Looking for inspiration for your next craft project? Check out these top 5 blogs for crafting.
You can spend hours on Pinterest or Google searching for that perfect craft project to complete the look of your apartment, home or office. Finding inspiration and motivation can sometimes be tough, especially if some websites give you just pictures, rather than explanations. But we’ve sorted the Web and came up with a list of our five favorite blogs for crafting. Read on for our picks.
The Happy Home
Belinda created The Happy Home to document her journey through renovation, decorating and various projects, as well as raising her three children. Her goal is to create a happy home for her family, which includes livable spaces, creative projects and fun activities. For the holidays, she has tips on unique ways to gift wrap, little DIY steps to create the perfect accessory for your holiday outfit and décor DIY. http://thehappyhomeblog.com/
Michele Made Me
This blog isn’t your ordinary craft blog. Michele, blogger and crafting extraordinaire, creates unique items for around the house by upcycling old materials. She uses her hobbies, such as sewing, quilting, knitting and cutting and pasting to create gold from garbage. More recently, she created a Christmas snowflake ornament using junk mail. http://www.michelemademe.com
Mod Podge Rocks
Her roots are in knitting and sewing, but Amy of Modge Podge Rocks has become a decoupaging genius more recently. In addition to giving tips on transforming dull items into magical pieces, she vlogs on YouTube in addition to her everyday “real life.” On her blog, she walks you through craft projects for every member of your family. This includes patchwork for children’s chairs, holiday cases and coasters. http://modpodgerocksblog.com
Craft Test Dummies
Jenny’s blog, Craft Test Dummies, is a forum for Jenny to test out new crafts, products and techniques without any fluff. If you’re visiting your local crafts store and see a new product but aren’t sure if it will work, then Jenny will help determine its usability. And if you’re stuck this holiday season on what to get for your difficult person on your list, then check out Craft Test Dummies’ gift guides, which walk you through various ideas. http://www.crafttestdummies.com/
Dollar Store Crafts
This daily crafting blog brings you tips and ideas for projects on a budget. The finished products are chic, but getting there doesn’t mean breaking the bank and getting stressed. Most of the materials in projects on Dollar Store Crafts can be found at your local dollar store or the dollar section in various stores. Whether you’re looking for décor, fashion, wedding or kids crafts, Dollar Store Crafts has project ideas for you. http://dollarstorecrafts.com
Do you have a go-to crafting blog?
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/Green_Leaf
Rock collecting is a great, educational hobby for kids that also happens to be inexpensive.
Getting your children involved in a hobby is a great way to teach them valuable skills, learn something educational and just plain keep them out of trouble. But many hobbies can get expensive. Below are a few great hobbies for kids that won’t break the bank.
Rock collecting
This is a great hobby that is also very educational. Rocks are all around us, and free. And you can check used bookstores for a cheap rock identification guide.
Crocheting and Knitting
All you need is some yarn and a crochet hook to start this inexpensive hobby. Patterns can be found online for free, and the things your child makes can be given away as Christmas and birthday presents or sold at local fairs.
Puzzles
Putting together jigsaw puzzles, doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku is a great way to train the mind and keep kids occupied. You can purchase crossword and Sudoku books for less than $3, and most jigsaw puzzles for $20 or less. Once it’s finished, slap on some puzzle glue and your child will have her own work of art suitable for framing.
Bird-watching
Another great educational hobby, bird-watching is also very cheap. Find a cheap new or used bird-watcher’s guide (and free guides are available at Birdwatching.com) and a pair of binoculars and your child is all set to go about identifying the birds that live in his own backyard.
Astronomy
Yes, astronomy can be a cheap hobby, if you go about it the right way. Just pick up a star map and guide and a pair of binoculars and you’re good to go. You can also find plans online for making your own small refractor telescope out of cardboard.
Painting and Drawing
Paints, brushes, pencils and paper are relatively inexpensive, and are great ways for kids to pass the time, especially if they are younger. Kids love being creative, and drawing and painting helps them express themselves while also developing their fine motor skills.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/grafvision
When children are as young as 5 years old, they can help wash dishes.
Most kids hate chores, and they probably won’t actually thank you later for making them do them, but you can still pat yourself on the back for teaching children a world of valuable lessons. A sense of responsibility is the major takeaway of doing chores, but children will also develop a work ethic and learn how to help someone (you) out. As a bonus, if you give them an allowance, you’ll also teach them the value of money and how to start a savings account, but most kids love rewards of any kind, so just a chore chart with stickers for completed tasks should be enough for 4- to 6-year-olds.
First, set an example by picking up after yourself and putting your child’s things away. Then, as soon as they can walk, teach them to put their own toys away in a place they can easily reach, such as a toy box or open bin under their crib, and to put dirty clothes in a clothes hamper in their room.
Start out small and gradually increase their responsibilities. Kids learn new ideas quickly, and they soak up information like sponges. Refer to this list to figure out what children can do when:
To teach children the importance of saving money, begin an allowance system when they’re around 6 or 7 years old. Teach them to put part or all of their allowance into savings, either a piggy bank or jar with a lid, and watch it grow. Encourage them to have a monetary goal for their savings, such as $100, instead of encouraging them to spend it on something in the future. Then, when they reach that goal, ask them what they’d like their next goal to be, and celebrate their achieving it with a small reward, such as taking them out for ice cream or to the park for a day. As they grow, motivate them to buy items on sale and make a budget. As they reach short- and long-term goals, you’re building their self-esteem, and you’ll have a clean house and happy helper along the way.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/ktaylorg
Can’t get away for a vacation? Plan a staycation in Norwich with you family and enjoy the great outdoors.
With the start of fall right around the corner, the thought of upcoming vacations may have crossed your mind. But with high gas prices and not a lot of vacation time left, your dream of getting away may be just that – a dream. That doesn’t have to be the case, though, especially for residents of Norwich and surrounding New York cities. Whether you’re looking to vacation with your family, friends or by yourself, consider planning a staycation and stay local while taking a break from your everyday life. Here are a few ideas for staycationing in Norwich.
Golf
Grab your clubs and head out for a fun and challenging day on one of these courses. Get a foursome together and make friendly wagers – closest to the hole, hole-in-one and overall winner. Some courses also offer up gorgeous views, so if you find yourself looking for your ball in the middle of the woods, at least you have a great view. Practice your golf swing and head out to play a round.
Northeast Classic Car Museum
For car enthusiasts in the Norwich, N.Y. area, there’s the Northeast Classic Car Museum. This educational facility collects, preserves, interprets and exhibits vehicles which are related to the evolution of transportation. You’ll find more than 150 classic and vintage vehicles in the museum, dating from the early 1900s through the early 1970s. Additionally, you’ll find WWI and WWII airplane engines, videos and more. 24 Rexford St., Norwich, NY 13815
Outdoor Activities
With the weather beginning to cool down, there is no better excuse to spend some time outdoors. Although all two square miles of Norwich is land, the Chenango River winds south along the eastern edge of the city, and the Canasawacta Creek flows south along the western border. Check out these outdoor activities:
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/4×6
Great playground equipment can make or break parks for kids in Chapel Hill.
School is almost out, and that means kids everywhere are looking forward to those warm summer days spent playing outside. From dinosaur-shaped slides to shaded nature explorations, check out these great parks in Chapel Hill that are perfect for kids.
Chapel Hill Community Center
The Chapel Hill Community Center is one of the largest multipurpose recreation centers in the area. This community meeting place offers an indoor pool, gymnasium, climbing wall and meeting room. On the outside, you’ll find basketball, volleyball and bocce ball courts, a large playground for kids of all ages, with equipment ranging from swings, slides, monkey bars and tire swings, bountiful picnic tables for lunching families, walking trails and the beautiful Gene Strowd Community Rose Garden.
Where: 120 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Bolin Creek Greenway
If your kid fancies him or herself a nature explorer, head down to the Bolin Creek Greenway, a paved, well maintained walking, biking and running path that runs through Chapel Hill. The shaded trail follows Bolin Creek for most of the way, so detours to explore birds, turtles, frogs and other wildlife are encouraged. If you prefer to stay on solid ground, parents with young children are welcome to bring strollers.
Where: Chapel Hill, NC 27515
Homestead Park
Even if you don’t have a dog, your children will love watching the pups run around and play at this small yet well loved dog park. In addition to having a larger section for larger dogs and a smaller section for smaller dogs, Homestead Park also offers a ton of outdoor facilities, such as a skate park, a climbing wall and baseball and soccer fields. There are also walking/running trails that surround the area. One of the main draws of this park is the “Dinosaur Playground” area, a fun, shaded playground featuring a dinosaur slide, swings and an additional play set with slides, tunnels and climbing bars.
Where: 100 Northern Park Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Southern Community Park
As Chapel Hill’s newest and second-largest community park, Southern Community Park stretches out over 72 acres and offers visitors soccer fields, walking trails, a disc golf course, picnic facilities, basketball courts, an inline hockey court, a dog park and multiple playgrounds with state-of-the-art equipment for kids looking to burn off a little energy.
Where: Dogwood Acres Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Umstead Park
Umstead Park is great for older kids as it is not fenced in. This park has a lot of athletic facilities, such as tennis, volleyball and basketball courts plus a baseball/softball diamond, as well as a small stream that accessible from the play area. Older children will have fun exploring the stream and walking through the path in the woods.
Where: 399 Umstead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Photo credit: iStockphoto/JLBarranco
Have your kids create personalized Valentine's Day crafts with these easy ideas.
This Valentine’s Day, get your kids involved with creating special Valentines for their classmates and gifts for others. Have them lend you a hand with cutting, gluing and coloring to create personalized treats and decorations for your home. If you’re stuck or aren’t sure what to do, here are a few ideas.
Lollipop Flowers
This is a simple twist on the traditional Valentines that your kids give to their classmates. Here’s what you’ll need:
Have your kids cut out heart shapes from the red construction paper. Make sure the hearts are slightly larger than the lollipop. Place a small dot of glue and attach the paper to the lollipop wrapper. Cut out leaves from the green paper and glue to the lollipop sticks. Have your kids write their names on the back, as well as the name of their classmate.
Crayon Hearts
Colorful and simple, these crayon hearts are easy to make and bring a touch of color into your apartment.
Fold a sheet of the wax paper in half. Place the crayon shavings in a thin, even layer on one half of the paper. Fold the other side of the paper over the crayon shavings, and protect the ironing surface with kraft paper. Cover the wax paper with another sheet of kraft paper. On medium heat, lightly iron over the paper, checking after every few passes. Stop when all of the shavings have melted. After it has cooled, have your child trace and cut out hearts of various sizes. String the hearts on a silk thread and hang near a window.
Valentine Bracelets
The perfect Valentine’s Day outfit is not complete without a Valentine bracelet. You’ll need:
Cut pieces of the craft foam into 1-by-7-inch strips. The band should overlap about one inch around your wrist. Use the ruler and mark a line down the center of the band. Use the hole punch to punch holes down the center line, about ¾ of an inch apart. Weave the ribbon in and out of the holes from one side to the other, and then glue the ends down. Use the foam shapes to decorate the top of the bracelet. For the finishing touch, add the Velcro tabs on the ends of the bands.
Personalized Chocolates
A sweet treat with a personalized note is an easy way to win over someone’s heart on Valentine’s Day.
Carefully melt the milk chocolate over a double boiler on low heat, whisking frequently. Place one lollipop stick in each chocolate mold, and then carefully pour the melted chocolate into the mold. Let the chocolate set. Meanwhile, melt the white chocolate in the double boiler on low heat, whisking frequently. Place in a plastic bag and snip the corner. Let your child write or decorate the chocolates, and then let them dry. Wrap each lollipop and secure with ribbon.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/matka_Wariatka
Make moving easier for your children by trying some of these tips geared for families on the move.
Picking up and moving to a new city or new home can be hard for everyone in a family, but especially tough for children. Kids enjoy structure, and change can be difficult. Make moving easier for your children by trying some of these tips geared for families on the move.
Keep the conversation going
Surprises aren’t always fun. They can be scary, so it’s important to keep your kids informed about an impending move throughout the entire process. You don’t need to bog them down with stressful details about hiring movers and finding a new home. Instead, help your children prepare with clear information about the structure of your move. When will it happen? Where will you be moving to? What will the neighborhood and the schools be like?
Knowing some specifics should help your kids feel less anxious about the move and more prepared for a change in their routine. You can also use a little moving psychology to ask your children what their fears are about moving or to find out what are they looking forward to. If you build a good dialogue about the topic of moving, your kids won’t be afraid to ask questions when they come up.
Give kids a sneak peek
In addition to talking about your upcoming move, you should show your kids what their new home will be like. If you are moving to a new home in the same city, drive by your new place and show them the amenities and the neighborhood. Spend an afternoon playing in the local park and eating at a restaurant in the area. You can also drive by their new school to help ease any fears about that part of the transition.
If you are moving to a new city, visiting in person might be a challenge. Why not give your kids a virtual tour? Ask them to help you search online for pictures of the new town that you’ll be living in. Look up fun things to do and check out Web sites for the zoo, children’s museum, amusement parks or other attractions. Make a list of things you want to try when you get to your new home.
If you can explore and talk about your new hometown ahead of time, your kids will likely be more excited about the move and might actually look forward to it.
Make their goodbyes great
No matter how prepared you are for a big move, you still have to say goodbye to your home, your friends and your favorite places. Instead of downplaying your goodbyes, make them a big deal. Host a going-away party for your kids and let them help with the guest list. Create a special memory book where friends can write a goodbye note and their address, so it’s easy to keep in touch. In addition to a big party, you could also hold a cozy family dinner where you do a tour of your old house and talk about the great memories you had while you lived there. Commemorating your past experiences will help make moving easier on your kids because they will have time to process the change and say farewell in a fun way.
It’s not easy to know how to make moving easier for your family, but any effort you make to keep everyone involved and excited will make the transition better for both kids and parents!
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / gabczi