Make Shadow Puppets

Family Camping has Many Benefits

With school out for the summer and the season's first heat wave in the rearview mirror, there's no better time to take advantage of all the outdoors have to offer.

One activity the whole family can take part in, day or night, far away or right at home, as an expert or novice, and for little to no money is camping. And according to the  National Wildlife Federation (NWF) , camping has loads of benefits for kids.

Outdoor play, the NWF reports, increases cognitive focus, encourages the use of imagination, makes for healthier children, leading to longer lifespans and healthier adult lives, and encourages the development of social skills.

If you'd like to take a trip to  one of the campgrounds in the area  or transform your backyard into a wooded campsite, the NWF offers up these tips:

Teach children to stay within eyesight, and older children within earshot. Children over the age of four can carry a simple survivor kit and a whistle around their neck to call for help when lost. When camping for more than a day, sort and pack each day of your children's clothes in individual grocery bags, making it easy for your child to grab a bag in the morning and have a full set of clothing for the day. And clothing will stay dry. Kids get cold easier than adults, so it's wise to dress them in layers, particularly on evenings when the temperature drops considerably. This also allows children to peel off a layer when they are too warm. Provide each child with a flashlight to prevent arguments. They also love to play with flashlights, and having one makes night time a little easier. Also, trips to the restroom are made easier, and they make for a fun evening of shadow puppets and reading before bed. Bring a game that you enjoy playing at home. Playing outdoors with a lantern or flashlight will enhance the experience. Teach your children to be kind to the outdoors. Ensure that all waste is properly disposed of. Bring friends. Two or more children will entertain themselves longer than a single child.

For more camping fun, you can check out these  campfire stories  from ultimatecampresource.com, or these  campfire songs from boyscouttrail.com .

Most of the items needed for camping are things you'll already have around the house.

Shadow Puppets

We’re in Arizona – I can relate to the idea of “winter” hibernation when the temperatures go over 110 degrees here. When we have excessive heat warnings, we hunker down with the indoor activities. The indoor jumping castle we bought works well to burn off energy. We set it up in the living room as needed.

Also, we converted our tile fireplace into a chalboard for the summer – took off the handles, and cut a MDF board to perfectly fit over it and painted with chalkboard paint. Obviously, the fireplace will not be needed for quite a while.

“Heat” is our rainy day.

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We are revelling in the fact that our children are old enough to play fun games (I mean something besides Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land). We play Dutch Blitz and Rummicube and Uno and Quirkle and more . . . SO much fun to have older kids! The youngest (5) either joins in to the best of his abilities, partners up with someone, or just plays something of his own choose at the table with us.

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Over the last year 2 years, Readers have sent in amazing stories about Growing a Family. Some are about adoption. Others are about pregnancy and childbirth. And some share advice. They are a treasure!

Here are 10 posts from the series (including Baby June's birth story), but you can find the whole series by clicking here .

I somehow managed to scar my hand trying to make shadow puppets ...

When you're bored at night and then you realize you can make shadow puppets on your wall with your cell phone light :D

@ Bud won't be there to make shadow puppets in my putting line or have a plane flyover when I'm on the tee

@ a flashlight tho? Lol what to make shadow puppets? ☺

@ i know nothing to do but make shadow puppets

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