1-2-3 JUMP! The Fun of Raking Leaves.

Have you heard the expression, "Many Hands Make Light Work"? This is such a true statement and the reason our family owned four pitchforks. For you see, even though the kids grumbled going to the barn to clean stalls, we always ended up having lots of fun together and everyone was smiling when we left the barn. And, the sense of pride and accomplishment of a job well done gave everyone a boost. I used to tell my boys that if we all worked together, then we would have more time to play together. However, we always mixed in heavy doses of fun into our work. Many productions were created (although, they never hit Broadway) and lots of songs were sung.

Now here is the beauty of today's activity. Not only are you working together (producing team work, sense of accomplishment and boosts to your self esteem) you can have just as much fun.
Don't dread the job of raking leaves any longer! The simplest form of this activity is to rake the leaves into a big pile, then jump in!

 

Photo property of Hidden Splendor ©

 

 

Scoop leaves up with your hands and throw them into the air making it “rain.”

Older children might like to have a contest. Section the yard into equal areas, give everyone  a rake and a large garbage bag and say "GO!".

Who can rake their section the fastest? Remember, quality work cannot be sacrificed.

Or, maybe all parts of the yard are fair game and the clock will be your guide.

Who can fill the most bags in a given time period?

No matter which version you choose, the results are sure to produce many giggles, laughs

and smiles... and not to mention a beautifully raked yard!

You don't have a yard? Not to worry. Do you know someone who does? Wouldn't they be pleasantly surprised if you and your children offered to rake their leaves? Charity and good will to others would then be added to your list of positives for this activity.

 

Take a walk down the street, introduce yourself to your neighbors and offer

to give them a helping hand.

 

Do you know of an elderly person? They would also be pleased to have help

and would enjoy the company too.

You don't live in a neighborhood with yards and trees? Then, head to the closest local park. Leaves can be swept also... not as efficient as a rake, but it would work to make a pile to jump in.

 

Safety note: If you live in an area that has ticks and chiggers, you may want to spray with insect repellent before doing this activity.

 

Wishing you many fun fall adventures!

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired from the book:
Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:
Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share
by Becky Baxa
Available from http://www.Amazon.com
in both Kindle and Paperback versions

            


 

 

            

 

Hugs All Around!

To help boost the self esteem of your children and spouse,

here are some thoughts on hugs. 

 

This excerpt was taken from the book, Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes: 

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share by Becky Baxa
(available in paper back and Kindle edition from Amazon.com) 

The Wonderful Amazing HUG!

"Hugs...there is so much to say about hugs!  Hugging is good for people.  It makes both people feel better.  One size fits all, it uses little energy but gives a huge power boost!  Hugs help     relieve tension, reduce stress, help you relax and feel loved.  They fight depression and  loneliness.  Hugs make you beam with a raised self esteem.  They are free with no  negative side effects.  They don’t require batteries or check-ups and are available in endless supply.  Hugs are chemical free, naturally sweet, and are 100 percent wholesome. 

Have you ever noticed the "huggy" people in your lives always find the positive and seem to   be filled with more joy?  Without a doubt, hugs generate good will, open up feelings of being connected, safe and accepted.   A hug might possibly be the best "medicine" you can get or give each day. 

So, your miraculous moment is to give hugs!  Hugs in the morning, hugs in the noon time,  hugs in the evening, hugs at bedtime.  HUGS!  It is a precious moment that will create magical memories for both the giver and the receiver!  So go hug someone!  Never hug tomorrow  someone you can hug today. "

Hug coupons are so much fun! Make your own, or copy the ones below and pass them out. Have a family fun night where everyone designs their own hug coupons!  Create special envelopes or containers to hold the coupons.  Each one designed to show each individual's personality.

"Children love to get these. They can save them for a time when they need a hug and you don't notice first. Then, of course, when presented with the coupon, stop and redeem the value immediately! That's a great door opener for a conversation too! Walk through that opportunity door and get to know your loved one better."

 

Have you hugged someone today?

Source:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky Baxa

Available from http://www.Amazon.com

in both Kindle and Paperback versions

I Love You...Let Me Count the Ways

There are so many ways to tell someone that you approve, like, love, or are proud of them. 

What is your favorite "praise phrase"?

"Somehow it always seems that  we use the same phrases.  I didn't believe this, until one year when I was teaching high school my picture appeared in the Year Book.  It was a photo of me with a huge smile... so far so good... my hand raised in apparent delight... again, so far so good and then the caption... "Wonderful!  Wonderful!!".  It was then that I realized, that phrase was used BY ME for everything that pleased me.  I dug out a list of ways to praise your child that  I used when teaching self esteem.  I began to explore other ways to praise my students and my children.  What is your favorite "praise phrase?"  Do you mix them up or do you have a  catch-all.  I challenge you to expand your horizons and think of more ways than on the list. I know you will do "wonderfully!""

 

Below is a list from the book:  Miraculous, Magical, Moments in Minutes: 

 Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share by Becky Baxa.

(available in paperback or kindle addition from Amazon.com) 

 

Which phrases do you use?  Do you find yourself using the same old phrase for everything? 

What new ones would you like to add to your "praise vocabulary"?

A VARIETY OF WAYS TO

PRAISE YOUR CHILD!

 

WOW     Way to go     Super     You sure are special     Outstanding     Excellent     Great

 

Good     Neat     Well done     Remarkable     I knew you could do it     I'm PROUD of you

 

Fantastic     Super star     Beautiful     Nice work     Looking good     You're on top of it

Positively 100%     Beautiful     Now you're flying     You're spectacular     You are important

 

You tried hard     You make me happy     You've got a friend     You make me laugh

You brighten my day     I respect you     That's correct     You're a JOY     You're a treasure

You're wonderful     You're catching on     Now you've got it     You're incredible     Bravo

You're fantastic     Hurray for you     You're on target     Nice     Terrific     How smart     Good job

That's incredible     Hot dog     Dynamite     You're beautiful     You're unique     Bingo     

 

Good for you     I like you     You're a winner     Remarkable job     Beautiful work     Spectacular

You care     That's perfect     Awesome     A+ job     You're OK     My buddy     You made my day

That's the best     Give them a  hug     A giant kiss     Fantastic job      You're darling    

 

You're precious     Great discovery     You've discovered the secret     You figured it out

Fantastic job     Hip, hip, hurray     Nothing can stop you now     Magnificent    Marvelous

You're on your way now     You mean the world to me     Phenomenal     Exceptional

You're a real trooper     You're real responsible     You learned it right     You are exciting

What an imagination     What a good listener     You are fun     You're growing up

Beautiful     You are important     You mean a lot to me     Say, I LOVE YOU!    

 

A nod, smile combo     A SMILE!     EYE CONTACT with all of the above!

 

Go through the list and mark your favorites. 

 

Can you think of your own to add?

 

 

There are 97 phrases listed. 

 

 Can you think of 3 more to make it 100?

 

Let me know what you come up with!

 

 

 

The Value of a Smile- Smile Coupons

Let's continue on with last week's blog entry.  After all, the simple smile is probably the fastest, easiest thing you can do, yet it is often them most overlooked

in our hurry up, electronic, screen based society.

Here is a quote from one of my favorite books.  :-)

"Smiles are such an amazing, wonderful thing. It doesn't cost anything, you never run out of them when giving them away and you never tire of receiving them.  If you give one away you are not more poor.  Yet if you get a smile you are somehow richer, boosting you up and filling you with happiness.  A smile only takes a minute, but the memory of that smile may last  a lifetime. The amazing thing about smiles is that when you give one away, it somehow makes you feel just as happy as the person you gave it to.  A smile tells someone that you like them, that you are friends, it communicates good will and   acceptance.  A smile makes the home a happier place to be and  business more pleasant.  A   simple smile cheers you up, pushes away sadness or fears, gives encouragement and makes  pain and trouble a whole lot easier to deal with.  You can not buy a smile  or steal one.  A smile  has no value at all until it is given freely and lovingly away or until it is received.  What an amazing, simple action. Yet it carries such a huge value! Why not give some smiles away today?  Your happiness tank will be filled as you fill-up the tanks of those around you!  It has been said that a smile  is worth a THOUSAND words!  Proverbs 17:22  (NIV) says:  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”  A smile is like good medicine.  It makes us cheerful.  Even if you don’t really “feel” like smiling, if you try it for awhile, most of the time,  you begin to feel happier as a   result. It will make people wonder what you have been up to.  

Make some smile coupons and give them  to your children. Use them  to help ease stressful situations, during trials and disappointments. Could you stay upset  if your child pulled out a coupon and  handed it to you?  Do you think you might get a smile from a sad child if you     presented a coupon out of your pocket especially for them?  You don’t even need a physical coupon.  Every parents pockets can be filled with an endless supply of smiles to share with  children at a needed time.  Just reach inside your pocket, pretend to dig deep looking for the perfect smile and “ta-da!” pull out their uniquely designed smile just for them!"

Give it a try! 

.  

  Gather up crayons, colored pencils, stencils and paper; and,  organize a family event.

Have everyone create their own personalized smile coupons. 

 Here is an example

 

Source: 

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes: 

                         Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share  

   by Becky Baxa 

Available from http://www.Amazon.com

in both Kindle and Paperback versions

Smile Break

Food for Thought

 

Have you looked into your spouse &/or child's eyes and SMILED at them today?

Watch their face light up as you make a heart connection.

 

How about this question?

Have you had a one-on-one conversation with each family member today?

Not the kind where you tell them to wash up for dinner, brush their teeth before they put on their pajamas for bed, clean their room or take out the trash. And, certainly not the electronic conversation!
 But instead,  the kind of face-to-face conversation where you listen with your eyes,
 as well as your ears. Listen to their feelings, fears, concerns, joys, goals, etc.

 

Teachers and child care providers often make a list of their students/children and daily check each one off the list when they have smiled at them, had a personal interaction with them or said one positive thing to them.  They do this until it becomes a habit.  No one gets overlooked and they are guaranteed that 100 % of their children  receive positive feedback every day. 

 

This is not such a bad idea for busy parents. 

Consciously choose to give positive feedback to each and every family member every day of the week.  After a while it will become a habit that will reap many benefits!

 

Smiles are such a great boost to the self esteem, for both the giver and the receiver.

  See how many smiles you can give away!

 

This blog post was inspired by the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes :
Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa available from Amazon.com both in paperback and Kindle editions.

180,full color, pages of non-stop fun!