Tag: KD Novelties

Volunteer- Getting Your Family Involved

Posted on | by KD Novelties

In the wake of the devastation in Houston and now the Caribbean, parts of Florida, and southern US, there is a demand and a need for volunteers that want to help. It is in times of disaster and loss that a helping hand can truly make a difference, though it is important to be charitable whether there is a current disaster making headlines or not. Regardless, it can be extremely beneficial for families to reach out and do what they can to help those in need after Hurricane Harvey and Irma, and it can be a great way to introduce a lifelong charitable quality in children, too.

Volunteer work can be a great family activity, exposing kids to the good in the world while reminding them to always be mindful of others and to look after them. There are many ways in which parents and guardians can get their kids involved with volunteer and charity work, and it can also help bring your own family together as well.

Hurricane Relief

Since there are a lot of drives going on right now, a simple way to introduce your kids to giving back and helping out is gathering needed supplies and bringing them along for the drop-off. This may sound simple, and it may feel a lot like going shopping on any other day, but with the idea of helping others in mind, children may have a new outlook on life and learn to realize how lucky they are. Look for things around the house that you can donate such as canned goods and extra home items like blankets, clothing, toiletries and more. For kids, you can turn this bit into a scavenger hunt and have them check items off a list as they find them.

Local Events and Drives

Many community establishments host food and clothing drives on a regular basis, especially before the new school year starts or when it begins to get cold in the winter. Instead of just donating, going out to these events can allow kids and other members of your family see the good in others who are helping as well as provide them with an opportunity to meet those they are helping out. Look for drives and other events at local libraries, churches, and schools.

Marathons and Fundraisers

Make sure to look out for any locally hosted walks and benefits where proceeds go towards finding cures and funding medical research. Chances are, many families know someone with cancer, Alzheimer’s, or other special needs that rely on the donations and the support of others in order to continue looking for a cure and to care for individuals with these conditions. Taking part in things like Relay for Life or other events can also help kids stay active while also getting involved and getting to know their community.

Animal Shelters

Many kids love animals or have pets of their own, so a good way to help encourage an interest in volunteer work is to have the family help out at your local animal shelter or foster program. Many places struggle to find homes for abandoned or stray animals, and sometimes simply coming in several times a week to play with the dogs and cats at the shelter can do wonders for their health and wellbeing. This is also a great way to introduce kids to the idea of caring for a pet if you are looking to adopt – plus, you may just help an animal find their forever home!

There are so many things that kids and parents can do to help others. Parents Magazine has a helpful resource guide for families looking to volunteer with their kids here and many community centers have programs or at least post flyers for upcoming events, drives, and other opportunities to volunteer.

Brain and Body: Engaging Indoor Activities for Kids

Posted on | by KD Novelties

 

As the weather prepares to switch gears, playing outside will become less and less of an option for kids when it comes to playtime. Keeping kids entertained indoors can be difficult, especially when they are more likely to reach for a mobile device to play a game or ask to watch TV or a movie. Parents can encourage kids to read, write, or be creative, but many of these activities are sedentary. While they may be enriching in other ways, kids still need to find ways to be active even when the weather doesn’t allow it. Here are some engaging indoor activities that get kids moving and keep them entertained.

Mastering Math and the Obstacle Course

Obstacle courses are always fun. They’re mainstays at themed birthday venues and they’re every kids favorite unit in gym class. You can create your own at-home obstacle course using string and household furniture. But to make it more engaging, you can also use – playing cards! Using playing cards or index cards with numbers or functions like plus signs and subtraction signs, will challenge kids to complete certain equations or create a path through the obstacle course that allow them to collect the cards they need to solve the problem. Kids can pretend they are super spies or secret hackers looking for the right code to unlock the secret at the end of the course, or at least earn themselves a snack.

Going Wild

Animal books are great gateways to learning and reading. Animals are diverse and many children like looking at the pictures or learning about where animals live, what they eat etc. You can learn all about animals, whether it be via a book or the internet, but you can also incorporate some stretching into the mix – challenge kids to mimic the animals they’re learning about. Stretching can help muscles but getting into these animal poses can also require some creativity and brain power as well. According to Integrated Learning Strategies Learning Corner, animal poses like a horse trot, worm crawl, or the crab walk, can be great for executive functioning within the brain, regulating emotions, and practicing gross and fine motor skills. Plus, they’re just fun to do!

 

Balloon Ping Pong

Ping-pong indoors can be dangerous, but not if you change up your game equipment. Swap out a ping-pong for a balloon and your ping-pong paddle for a paper plate attached to a popsicle stick. There are plenty of other games that can be made indoor-safe as long as you trade in the traditional tools, especially hard balls that could potentially break household items or hurt others, for soft, plush things instead like pillows, poufs, balloons and other materials. These may be simple, but sports-related activities get kids up and moving but they also help them hone their hand-eye coordination skills, build better interpersonal relationships, and encourage good sportsmanship.

Are You Ready for Back to School?

Posted on | by KD Novelties

It’s already that time of year again. It may feel like school just ended, but before you know it school will be back in session. Depending on where you live, school may start in August or September, but it helps to be prepared no matter what. The summer holiday can simultaneously feel both long and short, but don’t let the first day back to school sneak up on you! Here are a few ways you can make sure you’re prepared for the upcoming school year.

Stock Up on Supplies… Early

There’s nothing like going to the store the day before, or even the day of, the first day of school and finding nothing on your child’s school supply list. Depending on how old your child is and how their school works, some kids receive school supply lists at different times. Usually, elementary schools assign classes the year before and provide children with supply lists and summer reading assignments before the summer even begins. It helps to tackle these lists as soon as possible, especially since many of the things you need will be in short supply the closer it gets to the first day of class.

But not everyone has the luxury of knowing what to get beforehand. Many kids do not receive supply lists until their first day of school, which is more common in middle or high schools. In this case, you can still make sure you’re prepared. Get the basics as soon as possible, or stock up on things like loose-leaf, binders, notebooks, pens, and pencils during the year – especially when you see them on sale. You can always store these go-to items away until they are needed. Items like these will not go to waste, either, even if you’re child doesn’t need them. You can repurpose binders for recipes, notebooks for to-do lists, or you can always donate your excess supplies to those in need.

Plan a Wardrobe

Whether your child still needs help dressing or they are old enough to dress themselves, it helps to have some go-to outfits ready. The first week or so back to school is bound to be hectic, and getting back into that morning routine can be difficult to master at first. Having some outfits planned in advance can at least make getting dressed in the morning much easier and can help save time.

At the end of the summer, take a look at your child’s clothing, even stuff that may be put away for winter. Take an inventory of the things they have, things they need, and things that may need to be replaced. Items like winter coats and boots are cheaper in the summer when many stores are getting rid of the years’ stock with major sales before they launch their official “back to school” deals. Parents can easily score expensive necessities like coats and jackets before they’re ever needed, and they can be put away until the weather changes, too.

For older kids, planning a wardrobe may require some patience. Kids in middle school and high school may be more interested in keeping up with trends and sometimes the latest back-to-school or fall styles aren’t obvious until that time of year comes around. For kids looking to be cool, parents can still stock up on basics early on so they can pick a few choice pieces once the new seasons’ looks debut.

Plan Lunches

Even if school itself is still a few weeks off, it may help to begin thinking about what kind of lunches you can pack for the new school year. Now is the time to try new things and begin making certain things so you can get an idea of what your child will want to eat, as well as how long it takes to prepare, so you can easily add lunch prep to your back-to-school schedule.

Study Spaces

Make sure your child has a place to do homework and get their assignments done. For kids with summer reading assignments and other projects, it helps to have a place for them to do this work where they can easily continue to do homework once school comes around. For kids without summer work, having a space for writing or crafts can help get kids used to working in a particular space and doing a certain kind of activity.

Having a designated space to do schoolwork is also helpful because you don’t want to be scrambling come the first week of school to find a place for your child to get stuff done. It helps if you don’t have to clear off a cluttered table or create a makeshift corner in a room for homework at the last minute, and it may contribute to putting things off early.

Do Your Own Homework

Parents should look into what their child’s upcoming curriculum will look like. This way, parents know what to expect in terms of workload, subject matter, and they can make sure there kids are prepared for anything that may come their way. Look at whether your child will be taking any standardized tests or will need to complete any big projects. If your child struggled with a particular subject the previous year, you may want to consider getting a tutor or taking advantage of summer library programs before school starts up again. It also helps to look into after-school and library programs that will be offered during the school year, too, so you can work in any extra activities your child may need or want to participate in to your s