Birthday games that will make you a Super Parent!

Want to be a super parent? In addition to cake and presents you could also have exciting birthday party games. At the very start it wouldbe good for parents to avoid competitive games for younger children as they fail to be a sport and their feelings are easily hurt. Also ensure you involve your spouse, nanny and birthday kid’s sibling in the games so as to save your running around trying to oversee everything all at once.

Here are some great game ideas that would start off the party in a celebratory mood:

BYOB bike/tricycle race for kids above the age of 2:

This game would keep the kids happily occupied; make sure you mention in the invitation that it is a BYOB (or bring your own bike) party and parents also bring their kids helmets. It could be an obstacle course bike race, which includes a bike decorating contest and award ceremony.

Create a short obstacle course and time each rider separately, or let them all go together if it’s a large area like a park, vacant lot, cul-de-sac or driveway; the game can also be made into a relay race. Next let the kids decorate bikes with streamers, pennants and noisemakers made from playing cards placed between the spokes; you could also get traffic cones at any major home improvement store and plastic skateboard ramps at local supercenters. During summertime parties you can also have a water spray at the end of the race course. Hand out prizes like plastic trophies, water bottles and bike accessories, such as spokesters, horns and pennants at the end of the race.Nanny in jersey city also providing these activites

Prize walk for children between the ages of 2 and 4:

Write numbers from 1-30 on squares and tape them to the ground in a circle; you could also draw the squares on the ground. Then make small numbered squares to correspond with the numbers on the ground and keep them in a basket. Let each child stand on a number and then walk/run around the circle when the music starts. When the music stops they have to stand on a number. Then a number is chosen from the basket for a prize. The game continues till all the children win a prize.

Bubbles wrap races for kids above 3 years of age:

Buy and lay out a 5 feet roll of bubble wrap in a yard or open space. Ask each child to cross the bubble wrap without popping any of the bubbles. To make the game more competitive, line up three sections and have teams race across to the other side without popping any of the bubbles. The team/child who crosses without popping any/pooping the least bubbles wins. This is a fun game that would have everyone giggling.

 Mummy wrap for ages 4 to 8 years:  

This game could be incorporated for a Halloween-themed party in October. Divide kids into small groups and have them pick someone to be the mummy; you could also have an adult be the mummy. Pass out rolls of toilet paper to each group to wrap around their mummy. The team that uses up all the toilet paper quickly to wrap up their mummy wins.

Balloon burst for ages above 4 years:

One of Riggs' favorite games all the kids have to bop a balloon in the air to music till it stops; whoever was the last to touch the balloon must pop it and complete the challenge that's inside. Write and insert challenges into balloons before inflating and have enough balloons to continue with the game; challenges can be anything from trivia questions to physical tests, like trying to lick your elbow or sing a song with a mouthful of crackers.

Photo scavenger hunt for all above 4 years:

This game is fun and can be adapted to guests of all age groups. You should sketch out a map and give kids pictures of the clues to be found along the route; there will be a small reward for every clue they find. For a pirate theme party the clues could be chocolate coins, with a treasure chest of prizes at the end.

Alternatively, the child can bring their own digital cameras or cell phones and take pictures of items or scenes on a list; the winner is whoever finds the most items.

Origami boat races for kids above 5 years:

The kids/guests could be asked to blow through straw and power paper boats across a plastic pool, with the winner being first to make it across. This game could also be played in groups where the winners from each group or race could continue to play each other until a final winner is declared. The boats are easy to construct using origami paper with instructions on making the boats easy to follow.

Drama game for those above 6 years:

This game for older children starts by giving each child or group of children a grocery bag of props, which can include anything from kitchen items and costumes to make-up and assorted clothing. An allotted time is given to plan their skits before performances. Skits can be anything from a talk or cooking show, to a TV commercial. After everyone has finished, have a screening and award ceremony where each child receives a trophy for their part in the skit.

Creativity is the mother of invention; a little planning and initial preparation for a kid’s party would lead to a memorable evening that would be entertaining and fun for one and all.

Lot of child care centers in jersey city also doing these kind of fun activities.

Milestones of your baby that go unnoticed

Most of us know the important milestones of a baby as when he/she should roll, crawl, sit up, walk and talk; true we also know that our child should get his/her driving license at the age of 16. But there are some more firsts that have no publicity and we may not notice at all.

Here are some milestones that go unnoticed in your baby: 

When your baby is 2 to 4 months old he/she can see in stereo; your baby no longer sees in 2 dimensions but in three. It is at this time that his/her   cerebral cortex has matured enough to merge the input from both eyes.

Between the ages of 4 to 5 months your baby first laughs though most babies start smiling between 2 to 3 months. Finally someone will laugh at your Three Stooges antics; thanks to his/her rapidly developing cerebral cortex.

When your baby is 5 to 8 months he/she knows one’s name though it will take some time for one to speak it out. He/she will look up when you call it; let’s hope he/she continues to do so throughout their teenage years.

Between the ages of 1 to 2 years many children discover that it feels good to touch one’s privates. Your baby will not get angry if you barge into the room without knocking.

The age 4 to 5 years is most appropriate for children to pump on a swing; this gives you some time to leisurely enjoy a cup of coffee.  

When your child is 7 to 8 years, he/she develops two sided body control; he/she is able to hold a piece of paper with one hand and to write with the other.

When your child is 8 to 9 years old he/she will show modesty and the need for privacy. He/she will blush and cover one’s privates; thanks to no more embarrassing moments when neighbors drop in.  

Hope you agree with me that these could be unnoticed milestones in your child’s life.

Lot of child care centers in Bay area 

Ways to promote baby bonding and development part – II

The changed lifestyle of parents after the birth of a child could make them anxious and stressed wondering they are doing things right; so I thought it would be advisable to give some activities that parents could do with the baby to promote development and parent-baby bonding. I have covered some of these activities that help speech and language, hand movement and leg movement in my previous blog; now I will be covering other activities that help a newborn develop and promote parent-baby bonding.

The main purpose behind these activities is to provide warm, loving attention, build trust and help your baby reach important milestones. A word of caution; take your own time and do not push the baby too much to do new things especially when he/she is fussy or not feeling well.

Activities that promote core strength:

 Get involved in tummy time taking care to always monitor the baby for safe breathing when on his/her tummy. Make sure you add toys to tummy time and help him/her reach out to the toys; it would be interesting. It would also be creative to read a book to him/her during tummy time and try tummy time with a floor mirror.

Help your baby to roll over on both sides and also ensure he/she lies on both sides.

Do some face to face tummy time by lying down on your tummy facing your baby.

Place your baby either on your lap or hold his/her hands and pull him/her to horizontal position; ensure that his/her neck is strong. Along  with the baby sit-ups sway to some music.

Make your newborn tuck his/her knees under the belly for support.  

Activities that promote visual

You could partake in face gazing or have a staring competition.

 You could move objects either with your hands or suspended on a string and allow him/her to trace it with one’s eyes.  

Show him/her objects of bright colors. You could also hang colorful scarves from the ceiling.

Let him/her track a flashlight beam.

Go out into nature and show him/her leaves and flowers.  

   Use plastic container and toys to play "where'd it go"; however ensure you keep very small things out of the baby’s reach.

Show him/her a photo album with family members.

Activities that are just playful fun:

Story time is best time for babies; during story time replace the main character's name with your baby's name. You could also check out story time at the local library.

You could play with some toys that make noise; also you could shake a rattle and try to get her/him to grasp it. Also you could ring a bell in different places in the room and observe if he/she looks towards it.

You could try to play finger activities like counting the fingers and toes.

 Learn the "Trot Trot to London" song and bounce him/her gently on your lap supporting his head.

 You could take your baby for a walk to a playground to watch big kids play or dog park and point out all the dogs.

You could try going to a local music class or mommy and me class. It would also be great to try a mom and baby yoga class or DVD.

Blow some belly raspberries and dance in front of him/her; the baby will giggle and laugh.

A massage with lotion would be great for your baby; also show him/her his/her reflection in a mirror.

Document his/her hand and foot prints in the baby book.Sit and rock in a rocking chair at varying speeds; you could also sway from side to side holding him/her.

Have skin-to-skin contact while you catch up on your favorite daytime talk show.

These are some of the favorite newborn activities you can enjoy doing with your little ones. Do tell me some of yours.

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