Mother Lode Book

Banishing boredom is simple with more than 5000 fun activities for toddlers through teens found in "Mother Lode: The Ultimate Collection of Ideas for Keeping Kids Busy", a book by Kas Winters, "The Mother of Family Ideas." If you use just one idea per day there are enough to get a family through 15 years and many favorites will be repeated. Children learn when they think they are playing and these ideas are arranged by category so each page has a learning curve that progresses from infants and toddlers through teens about a specific topic.

Busy parents and grandparents will find useful ideas to help children learn and develop into successful adults. (Teachers, Scout leaders, and home school parents find it a great resource too.) Children learn to imagine, acquire a variety of skills, discover everything from science and history to crafts and the arts, participate in sports and outdoor games that provide healthy fun, develop confidence, self-reliance, and build relationships. Creative play lets kids experience the "I did it myself!" feeling of pride. Many suggestions work well with groups of children, and with children of various ages.

Create an atmosphere that develops a child's ability to imagine, envision and create. Cherish watching them light up with delight as they accomplish one task after another and learn lifetime skills.

Topics covered in "Mother Lode" include: Active Fun (playing ball, moving, playing with water and going on wheels), The Arts (artwork, crafts, music, dance, fabric crafts, puppets, theater, and photography), Science (biology, earth and cosmos, physical sciences, engineering and communications), Learning (reading, writing, history, puzzles, games, toys, collections and camping), Life Skills (cooking and baking, cleaning and repair, decorating, personal finances, health and safety, volunteering, planning, starting a business), and Imagining (family play, story play, career play). There is a bonus section with suggestions for family holidays, special occasions, celebrations and places to go together.

Activities recommended use materials that are free or inexpensive and readily available. Batteries are not usually required. Children have long preferred playing with the box to enjoying the gift inside. How many things can you do with a paper plate, a cardboard box or recycled materials? You will find hundreds of ideas in this collection.

While parent involvement is part of raising children, kids can do most of these things on their own with supplies, a little instruction and encouragement. Of course adults should always be on hand to keep everyone safe while they are playing and learning.

Educating a child is a process of discovering, and that is fun. Relationships can be more than texting. Families can make fabulous memories doing simple things together. Try some ideas from Kas Winters, "The Mother of Family Ideas."