Kids love being outdoors and I find that if kids don’t get the outdoor time they are hard to deal with.
How about searching for painted rocks at your local parks? Or other parks?
WEAR OLD CLOTHES AS THE PAINT MIGHT NOT WASH OUT
How to create your very own painted rocks
Rocks are essential to have, you can either find wild rocks that live in your garden or park, or you can buy smooth rocks from a craft shop (otherwise known as captured rocks). We used wild rocks that were living in our garden.
Acrylic paint in bright colours.
Sharpie pens – we used the metallic ones to add a nice shimmer and due to the twins wanting to do a space theme this looked great with their space and galaxy rocks.
Paint brushes.
Container with water to wash out paint brushes.
Baking paper to put rocks on to ensure they don’t stick to paper (You don’t want your kid to go to hours of trouble to then have paper stick to the wet paint on their rock)
Waterbased Sealer – Use Mod Podge as this is ideal for rocks. I couldn’t get any and the one I used was not perfect and some of the colour of the paint came off. Once dry was okay.
WARNING KIDS WILL GET MESSY AND NEED A SHOWER/BATH AFTERWARDS.
Check out Facebook for a Rock Group in your area, they are all over Australia so you will be sure to find one.
Online you can get clues for where to find your next rocks.
Get the whole family involved and enjoy the outdoors.
Have fun and let me know what you create, send your photos to my Facebook Page
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Are you looking at something fun and different to do with the kids?
Why not take them Diamond or Crystal mining, or maybe both?
Would it surprise you that my four-year-old and I found diamonds and crystals (AKA Rocks) at our local park? I think you would be rather impressed.
It was a great time at the local park. My little boy rode his bike to the park and while there we searched for valuable crystals and diamonds.
Alexander found a few and made sure to put them safely in his pockets or if they didn’t fit my pockets. We took them home to wash them to allow us to inspect our haul of treasures.
I know that we didn’t collect actual crystals or diamonds but the hunt and chase for the real thing was super fun, plus after we were home water was involved to clean the rocks and this meant that Alex was then covered head to toe in the water and of course spent hours playing in the water and investigating his special treasures.
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Being active is so important, walking, playing sport and just moving is ideal.
It is said that you should do 10,000 steps each day. I am not sure I get close to that at all times, sometimes close and other times I just try and move and do some exercise every day.
My kids wanted to get a Vívofit Jr. due to other kids at school having them.
It tracks how many steps and minutes of activity you do.
If you do 60 minutes of activity or more you get a certain number of moves in an online game.
You can track chores and assign pocket money or if you don’t wish to pay money you can take kids to an event, movie or special outing.
The kids wanted one so that they could compete with their friends at school.
It’s also to waterproof so kids can wear while swimming or in the shower.
We decided that it the Vivofit was a good idea, and purchased one each for the girls just before they were nine. The girls love their activity watches and find it fun to hit goals.
What the girls have loved about the new vívofit® jr. 2
The new Star Wars themed game and characters on the activity watch.
It has colour now on the screen. The original vívofit jr. the screen is just black and white.
With the new colour screen when you hit a goal you get fabulous fireworks to celebrate.
You can get adjustable bands for your new activity watch so that your child can grow with it.
“The app experience corresponds with the style of band you choose. That means the fun never has to end. Purchase additional vívofit jr. 2 bandsto let your kiddo enter a whole new world of app adventures.”
Having cool characters from Star Wars is a plus, my kids are mad Star Wars fans.
The Garmin Vívofit jr. 2 is so easy to setup and start using.
All you need to do is to download the app from the app store, available for iPhones and on Google Play.
Pair the device and then set it up with name and details for the child that is going to wear it.
You can choose an avatar, pick a name (or nickname) and once done all good to go.
If you already had the original Vivofit Jr. all you have to do is to pair the device and set it up and then it will show up on the app.
The girls called their new trial Jeff, or otherwise known as BB-8 Vívofit jr. 2.
You can set up chores and also reminders for kids that need that extra boost to do a chore.
I just synced the girl’s info from their Garmin Vívofit jr’s to get all the updated info. As you can see Jeff hit 2 goals today.
From the above image, you will see that the number in blue on the far right-hand side is the number of moves each child has in their online game.
Moves in the game are dependent on how much activity you have done.
The BB-8 Star Wars game on the Garmin Vívofit jr. 2
After monitoring the kid’s activity for a while I can clearly see that they go above and beyond 10,000 steps per day.
The kid who was wearing Jeff or otherwise known as the Star Wars BB-8 Garmin vívofit jr. 2 did 13,080 steps on Monday the 2nd of July! Yep, that’s a lot of steps. No wonder the kids are tired after school.
The activity watches also monitor sleep patterns, after a while you can easily see if your kids are getting deep sleep or constantly waking.
The kids are sad that we have to send this tester back to Garmin.
I know you can picture it but I can hear it, the tears and the constant pestering to get the new versions. Maybe we need to get the new Garmin Vívofit jr. 2 for their 10th birthday (I still cannot believe my babies will be 10 soon)
I must say that the version 2 of Garmin’s Vivofit Jr is better than the original, although the kids still love both. I think the introduction of colour and the ability to have bands change the game you play is a fab idea.
If you haven’t it would make an awesome present and help kids be more active.
Kids have iPads, computers and the television to watch and it is all more screens. Having something that helps kids get outdoors and away from screens is fabulous.
Ohhhh and having chores and incentives attached is a plus for any parent.
You can set up chores and also reminders for kids that need that extra boost to do a chore.
We loved testing the new Garmin Vívofit jr. 2. the kids had so much fun with the new BB-8 Star Wars Activity Tracker.
Note: You can get replacement bands and have access to all new games on the Vivofit jr. 2. The girls were so taken with the new version of the Garmin vivofit jr 2’s that I got them a Marvel Avengers one for their birthday this year.
Get a replacement adjustable band that allows you to play new games and have a whole new look. The twins now have the Marvel Avengers Garmin Vivofit jr 2.
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Christmas is fast approaching and I like any parent is on the lookout for a fun gift for the kids.
Something different, fun and of course that all kids can play with.
What is even better if the toy can be used inside or outdoors. Limbo Hopis a toy that does all this.
Limbo Hop is a fun active game for kids.
What is Limbo Hop?
Limo Hop from Worlds Apart is a fun game that 1-2 people or teams can play. As the name suggests it is like limbo, but with a difference.
You limbo underneath the sweeper that goes around in a circle.
Once the sweeper gets too low to limbo underneath you can then hop over it.
Teams can keep score with the tabs on the top of the main pole. Teams can either be yellow or blue and each time you miss getting caught by the sweeper (the arm that goes around the main pole) you score a point).
The team with the most points wins.
This toy is easy to assemble and can be sized for different heights. Limbo Hop can be packed away for easy storage.
All my three kids had a go and loved the Limbo Hop
Where can you buy Limbo Hop?
For Australian shoppers, you can purchase Limbo Hop online from Mr Toys Toyworld for $39.99, and also available on Amazon for $27.00 for Aussie Amazon shoppers (could be more for postage)
Alexander testing out the Limbo Hop before his sisters had a turn.
What I loved about the Limbo Hop Game
It encourages kids to get moving, be outdoors and to play with others.
If you are not able to be outdoors playing Limbo Hop indoors still means kids are getting more movement rather than sitting still and in front of a computer or television.
Limbo Hop is a healthy game for kids.
My kids love it and cannot wait to play it with their friends down the street.
The girls having fun with funny moves while playing Limbo Hop.
Get this cool and fun game for the kids this Christmas and watch the fun happen. I am sure you will love it as much as my kids do.
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Today is a lovely day and as my last post we have had a couple of weeks of constant rain and bad weather. I have been hanging for sunshine, blue skies and better weather all round.
First Day of Spring – 1st Sept 2014
The twins were super happy that it is Spring as their birthday is in two weeks, and are very excited. In their class today they are changing the calendar to show that it is September and now spring. Also they will tell the class that two children have their birthdays this month, and they are my girls. I am amazed that the girls are the only kids who have their birthday in September for their class.
Pink Flowers in our backyard
It has been getting warmer and warmer and had the hint of spring in the air. Even my garden thinks it was spring before it was. These pink flowers don’t usually bloom until spring but have been out for the last couple of weeks. The same goes for the blossom trees and other flowers. I just hope that they stay out for a bit longer as we usually love to sit under the tree to enjoy the flowers and colour. However with the rain it has not been possible.
Now the tidy up of the backyard and house begins as it is a big clean out that needs to happen and a tidy up due to the kids having a party in a couple of weeks. We are having it in a park but relatives will come over to the house for a tea and catch up.
I am hoping that you are having lovely weather where you are for the first day of spring. Enjoy!
