kids activities – Page 2

March 16, 2016

How to Get Kids Reading Over Spring Break

When it’s spring break season, anything school-related can sound like “homework” to young ears. Like the joke goes: if you want to see a kid on vacation laugh, ask them if they’ve read any good books lately. But there are ways you can encourage your kids to read during their spring break, and when you shop top stores through Ebates, you can earn Cash Back and find great savings while you do it. Here are our top five tips for getting kids reading on spring break.

1. Make it Special

To encourage reading at home, create a unique reading space to make reading feel special. Whether it’s a nook behind the couch, a shady spot under a tree or the perfect spot where they can cuddle up in bed, having a special place or accessory related to reading gives it a sense of importance and encourages imagination. Find a great deal on comfy reading pillows and kids’ rugs at Kohl’s, some LED String Lights at Macy’s, or a fun kids’ lamp at Walmart. Search for a kids’ room promo code at Ebates for extra savings.

2. Set the Mood

If your kids are out and about during spring break, try matching the book to the ambiance instead of the other way around. For example, ghost stories are perfectly paired with camping, as are survival/adventure stories for the young adult set or even nature-related poetry for the advanced reader.

3. Set a Trend

Reading is an adventure, and when you go on an adventure, it’s always more fun when you bring a friend. Buy two copies of a book, one for your kid and one for them to give away. This will allow your child to read along with someone else and have someone to discuss the book with. Find big savings on the hottest titles in young adult fiction and get Cash Back at Ebates while saving even more with a children’s books promo code.

4. Embrace Technology

While good old fashioned paper can never be completely replaced, reading technology is changing the way we read. We have books that read to you, eReaders that put an entire library in your pocket and smart pens that digitize your handwritten notes. It’s almost enough to make up for still not having flying cars. Search for eBooks coupons and promo codes at Ebates and get insider savings on the latest in reading tech.

5. Buy It for Life

Although the digital age is great for gadgets, and the best keepsake of a good book is the memories, holding a copy of your favorite book can feel like shaking hands with an old friend. If your child finds a book or series they fall in love with, consider getting hardcover copies for their bookshelf. Although dog-eared paperbacks are the most likely to survive childhood and college, a well-bound book can last for generations and it puts your child’s formative reading experiences close at hand.

Reading is one of life’s great pleasures and when you make it an engaging activity for your child early on, you will make a reader for life. As a bonus to our top tips for encouraging your child to read on spring break, here are eight classic children’s book titles that are perfectly good books to read for first-time independent readers (ages 8-10). You can find these titles and more at BooksAMillion, Abebooks, The Book Depository, and Better World Books. Plus when you search for a children’s books promo code at Ebates, you can find great spring savings!

December 30, 2015

Unique Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is often celebrated as the last big shindig for the year. It’s a time to look back on your fondest memories of the passing year and to celebrate the upcoming year with loved ones and festivities. But if hanging out in your jammies and watching an oversized light fixture make its descent isn’t your cup of tea, we at Ebates suggest a few fun and unusual ways to celebrate the New Year.

Get Crafty

If you want to start 2016 in a new and one-of-a-kind way, encourage your party-goers (kids and adults alike) to forgo the prepackaged goodies for something a little more unique. Set up a craft table and get to work decorating your gear for the occasion. Set out plenty of bright colors and sparkly goodies to get the party started. Glitter, sequins, tinsel and tissue paper can be used to make the appropriate garb. Create your own party hats, noisemakers and confetti for a special celebration to mark the occasion. Kids will especially love this activity.

Create a Feast

The holidays are all about filling yourself with delicious foods without making excuses so why not celebrate New Year’s Eve with a full belly? Fill your table with a smorgasbord of options so everyone can have their fill and snack throughout the night. Finger foods can include salty and sweet snacks but you’ll also want to include a few healthy options to get your New Year’s resolutions off to a good start. And don’t forget your New Year’s tableware from Birthday in a Box!

Take on a Worldly View

The coming of a new year is celebrated the world over, but not every country celebrates it the same way.

In Columbia, they carry suitcases all day to encourage travel in the upcoming year. In Greece, people hang onions from the door to represent rebirth and break a pomegranate on their doorstep for prosperity. In Argentina, people eat beans for good luck. In Denmark, people climb onto chairs and “jump” into New Year’s Day. In some South American countries, they wear colored underwear to represent their desires for the year ahead. Spaniards consume 12 grapes, one with each chime of the clock as a symbol of luck. The Japanese clean their homes and send thank-you cards.

Many of these practices can be performed concurrently to show your appreciation for other cultures and to have some unique and fun celebrations this New Year’s Eve.

Count Down Each Hour

Why wait until the last moment to live it up when you can celebrate every final hour of the year? Create fun age-appropriate activities for your guests to complete each hour. When the clock strikes each hour, set up a new activity like games, dancing, entertainment and more. These activities are particularly fun for little ones, especially since it’ll help them stay up until midnight for the big countdown!

Have a Ball

Ring in modern times with the medieval tradition of masquerade balls. Get an era appropriate gown at Costume Express or modernize the event with a pretty dress from Barneys New York. The occasion calls for opulence so feel free to go all out with an elaborate getup. Most importantly, don’t forget your mask so your party will look the part!

Double Dip

In other cultures, New Year’s isn’t celebrated only at the dawn of the year. The Macedonian Orthodox Calendar celebrates December 31st and January 14th, with fireworks and gifts for children, respectively. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and is a two-day festival in early autumn, filled with religious service and large meals. Chinese New Year is celebrated in late January or early February in accordance with the lunisolar Chinese calendar and includes a clean home, presents and gifts of money in red paper envelopes.

Relax the Night Away Solo

Instead of getting yourself into a tizzy or dealing with the outside world, create a relaxing spa night so you can start your New Year’s with a fresh outlook. Take a long soak in a warm bath while enjoying a nice book. Paint your nails and make use of your favorite facial treatment from Sephora. Bake some cookies so your home will smell delicious and enjoy a tasty, homemade treat. There’s no harm in taking a little time for yourself on New Year’s Eve.

Plan Your Resolutions

There’s no time to plan for the future like the minute before. Use this time to set out your resolutions for the year. You can create plenty of fun activities. Write your resolution on a piece of paper and put it in a balloon to pop at midnight. Create a match game for the kids to pair similar resolutions. Cut out a handprint and write resolutions on it. You can even create a time capsule to open on New Year’s Eve next year to see how everyone followed through.

Whatever activities you plan for your New Year’s Eve, make it something you’ll enjoy. Spend time with those you love or bask in a solo night by yourself. As long as you’re spending New Year’s with a smile on your face, it’s sure to be a good year.

Prices and Cash Back percentages are subject to change.

August 6, 2015

9 Ways to Get Kids Excited to Go Back to School

As the final few weeks of summer approach, you’re likely starting to get your children prepared to return to class — which can fill them with either excitement or dread. If your child has the back-to-school blues, try some of these tips to get them excited for the new school year.

Let Them Pick Out Their Own Back-to-School Styles

Think back to your first day of school, when everyone was checking out each other’s new outfits. Your children will want to feel special on the first day of school, and a few new looks will give them that much-needed boost of confidence. Bring them along when you go back-to-school shopping, and teach them some life skills by giving them a budget and a shopping list to practice math and organization.

If online shopping is more your thing, earn Cash Back on all your back-to-school purchases with Ebates.

Get Them a New Haircut

Has your child been begging you to let them change their hairstyle? Now might be the perfect time. New school years are all about new beginnings, and a haircut is a great way to represent that fresh start. Have your kids look at popular hairstyles online (Pinterest is a great resource), then take them to a local barber or salon to get their ‘do done right! They’ll feel like a big kid knowing they picked out their own style, and they’ll be ready to rock to halls.

Set Up Play Dates

Whether your child is looking for new friends or rekindling friendships from previous years, call or email a few parents to schedule some playdates as soon as the class roster comes out. Once they get together, the kids should start to remember all the fun aspects of going to school. As an added benefit, they’re also guaranteed to have at least one buddy on the first day.

Sign Up for Extracurricular Activities

Even if your child isn’t looking forward to returning to the classroom, they might be looking forward to sports, theater, music or other after-school activities. With so many types of activities to choose from, there’s bound to be something for children of all ages, capabilities and interests. “Encouraging kids to get involved in extracurricular activities and after-school programs can help foster school spirit, especially at the beginning of the school year when back-to-school apprehension can run high,” says Dr. Fran Walfish, a child and family psychotherapist and author of “The Self-Aware Parent.”

Extracurricular activities are also a great place for children to make new friends who share similar interests. Waking up with something to look forward to after school will motivate your children to get up and go learn every day!

Create Back-to-School Crafts

Don’t wait until the first day of school to dive into some neat art projects. Together, you and your kids can create some handy school tools, such as a cool purse or pencil case made from construction foam, a study sign to hang on their door to let everyone know homework is in progress or even some nice gifts to hand out to the whole class on the first day back. There’s no better way to make a first impression with new kids (and maybe even some new friends) than with a thoughtful welcome-back treat.

Creative Breakfasts

Plan out special breakfasts for the first day of school so your kids will be excited to get up in the morning to see what you made. If you can, get them in on the fun and let them help plan the menu, shop for ingredients or even help with cooking. It will take their mind off anything causing them anxiety about the first day and make them feel important. For a little foodspiration, try these super fun breakfast ideas.

Download a New App

Let Daniel Tiger help your child adjust back to a school sleep schedule with games about morning and nighttime routines, sing-a-long songs and a musical timer to help keep routines on-track. Get more info here.

Organize Their Study Space

Providing your child with a designated space for studying and homework — and letting them decorate and organize it — will get their minds in gear for learning. Make sure they are as involved in the process as possible so the space can both express their personalities and address their needs. Together, you can create a special study nook that will put them on the path to academic success.

Check Off Their Summer Bucket List

As summer winds down, ask your kids if there is anything they would like to prioritize during their last school-free days. You can create a list of activities you can complete, within reason, before the starting bell rings. Maybe they wanted to go camping but the family didn’t get around to it. Have an impromptu backyard camp-out with hot dogs and s’mores! Not only are you taking their minds off of school worries, but you’re also creating memories that will last a lifetime.

With these nine tips and tricks, your children will be begging you to go back to school!

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Prices and Cash Back percentages are subject to change.

July 20, 2015

6 Road Trip Games Anyone Can Play

Passing the time on a long car ride can seem a bit tedious. There are only so many things you can read, songs you can sing and topics of conversation you can cover. And that’s just when traveling with adults. Kids’ games will definitely keep you sane on family road trips but not all are car friendly. No matter who you plan to hit the highway with this summer, we’ve got a list of six super fun road trip games for passengers of all ages.

Grocery List

Exercise your brain with this basic yet challenging memory game. The first player names a grocery store item that starts with A, like apples. The next player has to repeat the first item, apples, then add a grocery store item that starts with B, like bananas. Repeat with the next players to cover all the letters of the alphabet. The first person to forget an item on the list loses.

Story Chain

This is a great game for kids to stretch their imaginations. But it’s also one of the funniest road trip games for adults, allowing them to get a little…suggestive. Start a story with one sentence, something like “Once upon a time, there was a princess.” The next person adds another sentence and so on. There’s no winner but there will be plenty of laughs.

20 Questions

This classic game may seem easy but can be a real head scratcher. One player picks a noun and tells the group if it is a person, place or thing. The other players take turns asking yes or no questions about the noun and the first person to guess correctly wins. This is one of our favorite road trip games for kids because it calls for them to do what they do best—ask questions!

Who Am I?

Take the 20 Questions game and get personal or test your pop-culture knowledge. The first player picks a person that everyone in the car should know, whether it’s a family member, fictional character or celebrity. The other players take turns asking yes or no questions and, again, the first player to guess the correct identity wins.

Alphabet Soup

A game of keen observation will keep the kids quiet and the adults sharp when energy levels are crashing. Name objects in alphabetical order. Every player can jump in at any time to name an object and collect a point, but the objects have to be said in alphabetical order. The player with the most points wins. Play the game with objects you see on the road, types of cars, letters on license plates or all of the above!

Virtual Hide and Seek

This is one of the best road trip games ever because kids and adults will have just as much fun playing. Pick a place everyone in the car will know about, whether it’s your family home, your office building, your old high school, etc. Pick a space in that location to “hide.” The other players take turns asking yes or no questions about where you are. The first person to guess correctly wins.

Prices and Cash Back Percentages are subject to change.

February 5, 2015

DIY Valentine’s For Kids

Parents, first let us congratulate you on the extra time you happened to stumble upon in order to put any extra thought into your kids’ valentines cards this year. Doing anything other than picking up a box of punch-cut Charlie Brown cards (because Charlie Brown is still totally cool, right?) legitimately makes you a superhero. Let us help you in your quest to make Valentine’s Day too cool for school with these seven super-cute handmade gift ideas.

You Color My World
If you have more than a few broken crayons laying around the house, this Valentine craft is perfect for you. By melting up broken crayons in a heart-shaped silicon mold, you’ve created a colorful gift any child would love. Learn how to make these Heart Shaped Crayons from Cherished Bliss.

“Doh” You Want To Be My Valentine?
These Play-Doh Valentine’s from Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM are a great alternative to chocolate or candy. Another alternative is to make your own Play-Doh with your child and put them into plastic containers. Feel free to add sparkles!

May The Force Be With You On Valentine’s Day
Let your tiny Jedi be the talk of the classroom with this Star Wars Valentine from Brassy Apple. Add a glowstick to this simple Valentine’s card and it’s now transformed into a glowing lightsaber.

Our Class Would Knot Be The Same Without You
If your child loves to make friendship bracelets (or you don’t mind helping them learn), this DIY craft is unique and special. Friendship Bracelet Valentines from Dandee Designs is a bit more time-consuming than the other crafts, but definitely will be a hit among the classroom.

Follow The Trail To My Heart
If your child is allowed to bring snacks for Valentine’s Day, opt for this yummy and healthy trail mix! A Spicy Perspective has ideas on how to perfectly make the Homemade Trail Mix Valentine Snack, complete with cute bird!

Be Mine Craft-y
Kids love Minecraft, that is a fact. So these adorable Minecraft Valentines from Lolly Jane are perfect for boys who complain about how “girly” Valentine gifts are. If that’s too much work, fill the bag with bricks and instructions with how to DIY their own.

You Blow My Mind
To finish off the list, we’ve taken a cue from wedding receptions and love the idea of bubbles. Bubble Valentines from Pretty Prudent are super easy to whip up. Best of all, these bubbles don’t make a mess!

Which of these DIY Valentine’s are perfect this year for your kids? Comment below!

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Tag: kids activities