3 Kids and Us

Educational Video Games/Consoles Which Include The Whole Family

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Unlike when I was growing up and us kids made our own fun and games, today’s children and the fun they have is centred around technology. Most children have a console of some sort or a tablet or a phone, or all of the above and it can be a tough thing to manage for a parent. With my 3 I’ve given the usual time limits on consoles so that my kids aren’t stuck to it, I also use tech-time as a reward as opposed to a given and as many games that they play are online, I restrict their wi-fi time as well.

Now, until a couple of years ago, it was my understanding that these games were just frivolous activities for my kids to wile away the hours either playing football or shooting bad guys. I have however, since realised that there is a whole host of video games that are fun, educational and can include the whole family and now we try at least once or twice a week to have a family hour or 2 on one of our favourite games.

If you are worried about the amount of time your child spends on their console then try out one of these games and you’ll be able to not only get some much needed family time, but educate your children at the same time.

Scribblenauts

  

This game features a character called Maxwell, it is your job to guide him through a series of levels. Each of these levels is a puzzle, you may have to take him across crocodile infested waters or over uncertain terrain. The key to this game is that it is up to you and your children to use your imagination to help Maxwell out. You aren’t given options for how to help him, what you do is write down the thing that you think will help him so if you were to write stegosaurus then it would appear and you would try to complete the level, perhaps he needs a ladder, type it in and it appears. This is such fun to do with kids as their imagination can really run wild whilst at the same time teaching them problem solving.

Professor Layton

The Professor Layton series has been a favourite in our family for years now, the game centres around the professor and you must help him solve puzzles and challenges. The challenges come  in the form of maths, science, nature, space and they are not only educational but they are genuinely fun for the kids. Half the time I don’t think that the kids realise how much they are learning because they’re having so much fun. You meet plenty of interesting characters along the way who present various puzzles and challenges and the storyline that runs through the game really keeps the kids’ concentration. Only available on Nintendo but if you have one then definitely pick this gem up.

Big Brain Academy

  

I find this one better with my 2 eldest than the younger one but we all have fun playing this, us parents included. The game is similar to Professor Layton with it’s challenges but this game splits the areas of learning into 5 categories, think, memorise, compute, analyse and identify. There isn’t as much emphasis on silly characters in this game but the idea is to make your brain heavier through practice. The challenges are fun enough to entertain the kids and the real challenge comes when you take the big test and find out how much your brain weighs. We set up a little chart and wrote down who had the heaviest brain, then each time we played we we would all try and beat our previous score. The kids all bought into the competition and practiced relentlessly to try and win. All the time they were improving their knowledge and having fun too. A great game for everyone but I will offer a word of warning, us parents aren’t always as smart as we thought we were, be careful, your kids may cause you some embarrassment!

Winter Fashion Tips For Your Toddlers

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Winter can be a tricky time to clothe your toddlers and through the years I’ve managed to learn from the many, many mistakes that I’ve made. Whether it is snow, rain or freezing temperatures that you are contending with, there are pitfalls all over the place when it comes to your delicate and excitable child. Soaking clothes, cold feet, runny noses and crying children due to the cold, I’ve had it all so here are a couple of tips to keep the kids warm, dry and still looking good.

Boots With a Drawstring

  

Wellies and insulated boots are perfect for this time of year but the only downside I’ve experience is the boots coming off, resulting in wet feet and wet stuff getting in. My advice would to be buy boots with a drawstring at the top, not only will it keep them from coming off during play, it will stop water and snow getting in and it also keeps their feet warmer by insulating them. Most clothes shops offer these style boots in some cool designs and for me they are a must.

A 2-Layered Coat

It may be cold when they go outside, but after running about for an hour your toddlers temperature will rise. Inevitably they want to discard their coat. Buying a 2 layered coat means that they can take off the top layer and still be protected. These coats are also great if the weather is cold but not freezing, simply remove the inner layer and let them go out with the top layer on. Problem solved. It does however give them more things to lose but it’s a chance worth taking.

Give Them a Choice

  
Involving your kids in the decision making process for winter clothes, especially scarves and gloves, will be fun and hopefully give them a little more pride in what they wear. Now, I don’t suggest giving them carte blanche over the process but a good idea is to pick 3 or 4 designs out and let them decide between them. Fashionably speaking, scarves, hats and gloves look really cool on toddlers and can really help their outfit too whilst being very, very functional.

Gloves That Attach

I can’t even begin to count the amount of pairs of gloves that have ‘disappeared’ mysteriously over the years and so gloves that are attached are vital. You can buy gloves that either attach with a cord to each other, running around the back of your child. Alternatively, and my preference, is to try and pick a coat that has gloves attached at the bottom of the sleeves. This way, when they take their gloves off, they are still with them and are convenient to put back on again. The only worry then is that they don’t lose their coat…

5 Fun DIY Crafts That Your Family Will Love

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As I’ve mentioned before, I hate nothing more than the kids sat in front of the TV or a games console for hours on end. There are times that this is a necessary evil and the only way you can buy some time to get things done is to put the TV on for them. However, whenever I can help it, I prefer to get creative with my kids and I love nothing more than a little craft project. Here are 5 DIY projects that I’ve made with the kids that they loved making and playing with.

Musical Instruments

We all know how much kids love a bit of noise and often my kids and I will set out to make some musical instruments. I have 3 kids so we can almost form a band! One thing to remember is that you can make noise with anything. Rake through the garage and find any old pots and pans or blocks of wood, arm your child with a stick or a utensil and you have a drum kit. Fill old glass bottles with varying amounts of water and blow across the tops for some pipes. Fill a toilet roll with dried peas and seal for a shaker or wrap some elastic bands over a baking tray for a makeshift guitar, the list is endless.

Get Scrapping

  

All my children have a scrap book of mementos and photos through the years and it’s a great little project for them. You can buy proper scrap books but I prefer to buy a good sized book with a hard body and let the kids decorate their own. Inside they can put whatever they like, tickets, badges, photos and a host of other memories. Add some glitter, glue, ribbons and stickers and they have a book that reminds them of all their memories and achievements.

Straw Construction

I love this game, pick up some paper straws from a craft shop, give the kids an equal amount of straws and a pot of glue. The challenge then is to either build the highest tower or the strongest bridge. Make sure you are on hand for this one as it also works as an educational game. They have to strategise as to what will be the best option and you can of course ask them questions to teach them about different styles of buildings. Add a prize for the winner and this will be a great game for them.

Lego

  

Simply one of the most fun things you can do with your child in my opinion. Firstly, Lego is great for all ages (including adults,) secondly it is just so brilliantly versatile. I try to avoid buying the kits that have a particular design and prefer to buy random blocks. This way your child can really get creative, I like to suggest the strangest thing possible for them to build and see what they come up with. I always take part in this because, well I just love Lego.

Restoration

Something I’ve started doing with my eldest is to buy old pieces of furniture at a charity shop and giving them a bit of love. It started when he wanted a new set of drawers, we saw some ‘unloved’ drawers at a charity shop and I suggested we could make them better and individual. He was game so we polished them up, gave them a lick of paint and added some designs that he chose. Since then we’ve done a table and 2 chairs. A great project for them and it also teaches them about recycling or upcycling things which can only be good.

Filed Under: DIY

How To Enjoy Disneyland Paris as a Family Without Any Tantrums 

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Ah Disneyland Paris, the place where wonder and magic live, the place where kids smile and laugh and have their dreams come true. Or for many of us, the place where you finally pull out the last of your hair as you try to contain your hyperactive, over enthused, loud, teary and relentless bundles of joy. There are things that we can do to avoid having a trip to this wonderful place spoiled for everyone including you kids by a pet lip or a tantrum.

Plan Ahead

  

There is so much to do here that it is really important that you plan what you are going to see and do before you get there. The trick here is to involve your children in the decision making process, a lesson in democracy as well!! Disney provide a lot of information about what is inside the park and your kids will be so excited that they will pay attention to the info. My 3 wanted to do different things so we negotiated and arrived at a loose plan, of course the plan may change when you get there but it’s important to have a plan at least. The reason for the planning stage is so that kids know the expectation when they get there so that if they start running off wanting to do everything, they can be reminded of the plan that they helped make.

Set Out The Rules

Now, in addition to planning ahead you must lay out the rules, before you arrive at the park. The night before would be best as this way it may be fresher in the head. Don’t be draconian, remember this trip for them is the stuff of magic, but to avoid tantrums, rules are a must. 

Watch What They Eat 

  
Let’s remember that the theme park is a business, and a business that knows that they cater for children. As a result the park is filled with more saturated fats and e-numbers than you can imagine. Sweets, candy floss, lollipops, Ice cream and sugary drinks are everywhere in Euro Disney and if you don’t want your child to go completely crazy then I advise you manage their intake very carefully. The kids will be high enough on excitement as it is without giving them a sugar rush that inevitably leads to a crash resulting in a very tricky trip for the family. Let them be treated by all means but be very careful on how much sugar they take in. 

Of course, everyone wants to have a good time and you can’t predict if your child will have a tantrum when they get tired, which trust me they will. However, these steps should certainly help avoid too much anguish and maximise your family fun.

How to Make Your Fussy Kid Eat Healthily

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picky_eater

Getting kids to eat a healthy meal can be challenging to say the least, especially in a world inundated with fast food chains on every corner. It doesn’t have to be a struggle though if you know how to hide the healthy items in deliciousness without defeating all of the health benefits of eating healthy items.

Camouflage

If it taste good and kids don’t know something that they hate is in the dish, they will eat it without any argument. Try grating carrots, cabbage, or Brussel Sprouts into tomato based sauces such as spaghetti sauce and lasagna sauces. The tomato sauce will cover any unpleasant flavors as well as bring out the sweetness in typically bitter items like Brussel Sprouts.

Be Creative

Serve items such as zucchini bread or banana bread for dessert instead of more heavily sugar laden choices like cakes, brownies, and ice cream; kids will scarf down these healthy vegetables without knowing they are eating something good for them.

Think Smoothies

Kids love milkshakes, so why not swap them out for the healthier version and serve smoothies for snacks and on the go breakfasts. All it takes to make a quick and healthy filling treat for the road is a quality blender, a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, some plain yogurt, a few ice cubes, and to go cups.

Keep it Simple

There is no need to over complicate menu items when trying to get your children to eat a more healthy diet, especially for smaller children. Although it is good to introduce your kids to a more varied pallet of cuisine, it is also important to remember kids just want something simple that tastes good.

So keep the majority of meals simple and straight forward; a nice roast with vegetables from the crockpot is just as enticing as that chicken croquet you were thinking of making, if not more so. Not only will you be creating a meal your kids will eat without a lot of fuss, you will also free up some of your valuable time to actually spend with them.

Make the Swap

By nature kids are programmed to want to eat more natural food items such as fruit. It isn’t until they are supplied with junk foods that their natural instincts are overridden with fatty and sugary food cravings. Swap out store bought snacks like chips and cookies with healthier options when filling your cupboards. Keep a varied selection of fresh fruits, carrot sticks, celery sticks, nuts, and cheese sticks on hand for fast and easy snacks that kids can get themselves when they get home from school or when then just want a snack.

It is difficult to monitor what your kids are eating all day long when they are not in your presence and have so many unhealthy food options at every turn. However, if you make sure to provide plenty of easy to get, healthy snack and meal options at home, it will help your children maintain the healthy life style that you want for them

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!