Christmas Gifts for Kids - Let Them Forget Their Games Consoles

It is a very rare that a child has little on their Christmas list to Santa, and although they may have asked for the latest games consoles or handheld gadgets, why not tempt them with unique and exciting Christmas gifts for kids that will make them the talk of the school playground after the school holidays!

Forget the driving games on the computer, you can now purchase gift experiences that will place your child behind the wheel of a real Ferrari on a kids' driving day experience this Christmas. With fantastic expert tutoring beforehand, your child will be given the reins of one of the world's finest supercars before he is even old enough to own a driving license!

Yet this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Christmas gifts for kids, with thrilling introductions to a host of other adventure activities, from body boarding and flow boarding to scuba diving and archery.

The beauty of these activities is that they cater to both boys and girls who will love all manner of indoor skydiving, cowboy riding and secret agent days. Make your children's Christmas cool this year with Christmas gifts for kids that allow them to experience something entirely out of the ordinary without the need for a television and an Xbox!

Parents are encouraged to stay and watch their children in action, and there are plentiful souvenirs available to purchase at the end of the day to ensure that your kids' experience lives long in the memory.

Crafts For Kids To Do - The Best Way Of Having All The Crafts You Need

I think the first question we have to ask ourselves is, why are you looking for crafts for kids to do?

There may be many reason why you are looking for crafts for kids to do. Let's have a look at some of these reasons may be:

  1. Summer is coming and you know you will have to have lots of activities to keep the kids occupied.
  2. You simply cannot think of crafts any more and need some new ideas.
  3. The crafts you do find, are difficult to do and you cannot print any of it.
  4. All the crafts do not have enough pictures to make it easy for you to see what the completed craft should look like.
  5. It takes hours of searching the net before you have crafts suitable for the stage of you kid's development. Time you could have spent doing the crafts.
  6. All the crafts for kids to do, that you do find, use specialized supplies that you do not have in the house at all times. You have to go and buy supplies before you can start crafting with the kids.
  7. You want to save money by using crafts activities to help your kids make gifts for family and friends.
  8. You want to spend quality time with you kids doing crafts.
  9. You are looking for activities to lure your kids away from the television.
  10. You are homeschooling your kids and you are looking for ways to improve your kids small motor skills.
  11. You are homeschooling and you are looking for ways to help with your kid's concentration span.
  12. You are aware of the fact that crafts improve your kids self confidence.
  13. You are looking for ways to teach the kids perseverance and know that crafts are an ideal medium to do just that.
  14. You are a play group leader and are running out of crafts.
  15. You are a kindergarten teacher and just cannot think of new crafts any more.
  16. You can not always find crafts that are appropriate for all the holidays.

Well now the next question is where you can find all these crafts for kids to do. I think the very best way is to buy an e-book with lots of printable crafts in it. With an e-book you can simply print the crafts you need and start crafting without having to look for crafts for hours.

The reason I recommend an e-book, and not a printed one, is because it is easy to print the crafts you need. If you buy a printed book you have to draw the templates or you have to make photo copies. This obviously increases the cost of doing crafts. So, with a printed crafts book it is not always possible to do crafts on the spur of the moment but with an e-book you can simply print the craft you want to do and start crafting.

So, I think if you always want to have crafts for kids to do, on short notice, a kid's crafts e-book is the best. It is well worth the time to look for a good crafts e-book as it will save you lots of time in the future.

Things to Do in Essex For Kids

Whether it's a half term break or even the seemingly long summer holidays, you will find plenty of things to do in Essex for kids.

The obvious place to start would be our counties fantastic coastline. With seaside destinations such as Canvey Island, Leigh on Sea, Chalkwell, Westcliff on Sea, Southend on Sea, Mersea Island, Brightlingsea, Clacton on Sea, Holland on Sea, Frinton on Sea and Walton on the Naze offering their own unique features, sights and attractions, I'm sure you'll agree that you are spoilt for choice.

At Southend on Sea the children will love Adventure Island. The rides at the fun park fall into three groups; Big Adventure, Junior and Mini, allowing parents or guardians to easily choose which rides are suitable for their children.

If you manage to prise them away for long enough, you could take either a leisurely stroll, or train ride, up Southend's world famous record breaking Pier.

Also available to entertain the kids is the south east's premier aquatic attraction; Sea-life Adventure, Crazy Golf, Amusements and numerous Arcades allowing you and the children to dispose of some of that loose change that's been weighing you down.

Further up the coast is Clacton on Sea. There you will find a pier packed full of rides for children both young and old, and for the first time in over twenty years Donkey Rides during the school holidays on the Martello Bay Beach (weather permitting of course). You may even want to relax on the beach while watching the kids building sandcastles or burying their Mum or Dad.

Don't let bad weather stop you from getting out of the house as there are plenty more things to do in Essex for kids. Dotted across the county are various indoor play facilities allowing children of all ages to play in a fun and safe environment while the parents or guardians can relax and chat while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee and something to eat. It's a great way for the kids to have fun for a couple of hours, burn off any excess energy and get exercise at the same time.

A visit to Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve, near to the River Thames in Purfleet, is an exciting and great way to introduce children to wildlife. They have a full programme of events being held throughout the year so you are sure to find a date suitable for your visit.

Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary near Ingatestone aim to provide lifetime help and care for horses, ponies, donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs and cows who are victims of physical and mental abuse. The Sanctuary is situated in a beautiful part of our county which is also home to many interesting plants, wild creatures, birds, foxes and hedgehogs. There are many varied events available throughout the year and the Sanctuary makes for a great trip out for all the family.

As you can see from this brief overview of what's available for things to do in Essex for kids, there's lots to do when you know were to look.

How to Make 5 Gift Baskets For Kids in 10 Minutes

Can you really make 5 gift baskets for kids so quickly? You definitely can, and what more, there will still be time left over to wrap them all and hide them before the children arrive. So what is the trick to making gift baskets for kids in 10 minutes?

The secret is: organization.

Organization is a big word and I would like to split it into 4 key ingredients:

*Make a list.

*Buy everything on time.

*Work in an orderly manner and according to a clear plan.

*Always be ready for surprises.

One of the things I have discovered in the past several years is that when I want to do something in the spur of the moment, I should always invest in preparations. Then, when the moment of truth arrives (when I must make the Present for kids), what I am left to deal with will be very little and very easy.

If I know that I will anyway have to present a number of gift baskets for kids, such as at birthday parties, I will sit down once time and make a detailed list.

The list for the Present for kids:

My daughter- the fairy chest.
My son-the buried treasure.
My nephew - a creative kit.
My niece-a box of sweet jewelry.
Date
Present container
Central item
2nd Item
3rd Item
4th Item

*Of course, I add or remove rows as needed

*I keep a box full of wrapping paper is always ready, and every so often, I refresh it with ribbons or new wrapping paper.

*I buy the items on different opportunities or when there are sales when I am shopping anyway, or in bulk through the internet.

You probably already understand how easy it will be to make gift baskets for kids for future birthdays.

There are times, when I need to make a number of gift baskets for kids all at once. During the holidays, for example, I act in such a manner.

The difference is that I make a number of identical gift baskets for kids, thereby further simplifying the preparation.

This time, my table for the Presents will look like this:

Presents for the date of:
Boys
Present container
3 colorful boxes
Central item
3 race cars
3 animal stickers
2nd item
3rd item
4th item

Presents for the date of:
Girls
Present container
2 straw baskets
Central item
2 small dolls
2 sets of children makeup
2nd item
3rd item
4th item

Again, I can add or remove rows according to the number of necessary items

If dealing with gift baskets for kids that are made up of candy, the lists become even simpler.

Once everything on the list is checked off, making the gift baskets for kids takes but a moment.

*There is no more need to run between stores at the last minute

*There is no need to compromise on some random present.

*There is no need to worry or stress

Suddenly, you will see how using this method, you will easily be able to make even 5 great gift baskets for kids in only 10 minutes.

Rainy Weather Activities For Kids

Children rarely sit still, so going to the park or the beach is ideal to keep them active and burn off extra energy. But what do you do when it's rainy or cold outside? Here are some ideas to save your sanity when you need to keep your kids occupied.

The first idea that usually springs to mind on a rainy day is to take the kids to the movies. You get out of the house and change of scenery is sometimes enough, but if they are too little or you know they won't sit still there are many other alternatives.

Go Bowling

Bowling allies are usually in every suburb, so Google some near your home. As these venues can get busy on the weekends and during school holidays it's a good idea to book a lane or two ahead. Make it more fun by inviting some friends or their kids.

Go Swimming

An activity you probably wouldn't consider on a rainy day, but there are plenty of indoor swimming pools, so pack your swimsuits and towels and head to the nearest pool. Your kids will be entertained for hours and sleep well at night.

Visit a Museum

Sydney has a lot of great museums including National Martitime Museum, Rocks Discovery Museum, Powerhouse Museum, Australian Museum, Hyde Park Barracks, Cockatoo Island, Madame Tussauds. Other great museums in NSW include the Australian War Memorial and National Dinosaur Museum in Canberra, Lady Denman Maritime Museum in Jervis Bay, Australian Fossil & Mineral Museum and National Motor Racing Museum in Bathurst.

Go Ice Skating

If there is an ice skating rink near your home, then this is lots of fun. You don't need to book and can usually just turn up, but check out the rink's website first to ensure it is open to public at the time you are wanting to go. You can hire ice skates there and they often have special frames you or your kids can hold onto if you haven't ice skated before.

Head To the Airport

Children, especially boys love to watch planes, so why not head to your closest airport and watch as the planes take off and land. You will be nice and warm and there are usually cafes and kiosks so lunches and snacks are also taken care of.

Indoor Play Centre

Another great place to go when it's cold or wet, especially if you have young children. But what about if you have older kids? Then how about finding an indoor rock climbing venue nearby.

Putt Putt Golf

If the weather is cold, but not rainy, then a fun thing to do is to play some Putt Putt golf. This is great fun for not only young kids, but older ones as well.

Visit an Aquarium

Most aquariums are indoors, so ideal during rainy days. Sydney has two excellent ones - Sydney Aquarium, located in Darling Harbour and Manly Sea Life sanctuary.

Play Tourist

Most cities have popular tourist attractions, so why not Google some fun activities in your area that you wouldn't otherwise consider. Look at your city from a tourist perspective and go exploring.

Visit a Library

Many libraries have special kids programs, so check out your local library website to see what they offer. Admittedly, the kids won't be able to run around, but you will be out of the house and the children entertained.

Go Shopping

If you need to get your grocery shopping done, then write up a list of all the things you need to buy and split the list amongst your kids. Then sell it to them as a treasure hunt! Your shopping will be done and there won't be any tantrums, especially if you promise them a little treat at the end.

But if you simply can't get out of the house, then here are some fun ideas to do at home.

Make an indoor club house out of tables, chairs and blankets.

Let the children build a maze out of boxes and furniture

Cook up a storm - find child friendly recipes and let your kids loose in the kitchen (with some supervision, of course)

Have a disco - get dressed up, turn up the music and decorate a room, then get your dancing shoes on and dance the day away.

Set up a treasure hunt - Hide some treats and special items around the house and give your kids a list of all the hidden items to find.

There is plenty you can do on a rainy or cold day ... all it takes is a little planning and preparation. Rainy weather activities for kids don't need to involve sitting in front of the TV or computer ... your children can be active and have lots of fun no matter what the weather is doing.

Exciting Adventures on the Gold Coast For Kids

There are a lot of exciting Gold Coast attractions for kids. If you have children and are looking for the perfect family vacation, then this is the spot to go. There is something to be doing all the time whether it is checking out a festival or going to a family beach playground.

For children, a variety of activities is usually quite important to keep them from getting bored and that is exactly what you will find. Although transportation may be needed for some of these areas, hiring a bike is a wonderful way to get around to each place while having a great time and taking in the view.

1. Family Beaches - What are Gold Coast family holidays without visiting the beautiful family beaches? The area offers many of these such as the Kurrawa and Broadbeach. These are equipped with playgrounds, parklands, barbeque areas, beautiful water, and more. They are close to the shopping centres, coffee shops and restaurants for your convenience. Hiring a bike is especially good if staying near these beaches to get you to those shopping malls.

2. Theme Parks - The kids will love the Lethal Weapon ride at the Warner Bros Movieworld and the 38-storey high Tower of Terror at Dreamworld. This is only the start of the rides and adventures. They can try out the bobsled ride at Wet 'n' Wild and visit the sea lions and dolphins at Seaworld. For more adventures, there is always the Currumbin Sanctuary where hundreds of animals live, or the Tropical Fruit World where they can see a fruit plantation and all of the weird and wonderful fruit grown there.

3. Themed Entertainment - If you and your children like mazes, take a visit to Infinity where your whole world will be turned into a maze. For a scarier experience, try out Dracula's Haunted House in Surfer's Paradise. These two and many more await you here.

4. More Family Fun - For outings that aren't scary or that don't send you into a maze, but give you some good old-fashioned Gold Coast fun, try out King Tutt's Putt Putt for some mini golf, or Strike on Cavill for some bowling. Other adventures that you might be interested in include the wax museum, or Le Man's Kart Racing. If you want to try your luck at fishing, get on a boat and have a family fishing adventure.

5. Bicycle Tours - Bicycle tours are available all over the area adding to your adventure. Many Gold Coast attractions are accessible by bike so if you don't want to venture there out on your own then you can schedule a hired bike tour from an agency. They offer adults and childrens bicycles, and tandem bikes as well. This offers a new way to experience the tourist excitement.

As you can see there is a lot of fun and excitement waiting on

Hottest Christmas Toys For Kids in 2009

Christmas time is coming up fast, and the season has arrived when moms and dads will once again begin searching many shops in order to locate the ideal present for their darling children. Watching kids open their presents and seeing their eyes light up is a moment to be treasured.

In order to satisfy your little ones this holiday season, you will want to search out several websites that list the greatest holiday presents for children. This column will discuss some of the hottest Christmas toys for kids in 2009.

Bakugan warriors are highly coveted toys this year. The warriors are miniature characters taken from Japanese animated shows that can be viewed on the Cartoon Network. They are a favorite program of kids. The series focuses on a bunch of kids called Bakugan Battle Brawlers who can exert command over beasts known as Bakugan. Similar to Pokemon, these figures are an extremely hot product that your kids would love to own.

Your children might like video games, and if they do, you might consider buying them the most current games this year. The Nintendo Wii has released a number of entertaining video games that incorporate a good amount of physical actions. In addition, many new games have been released for the Sony PlayStation, the Nintendo DS Lite, and the Xbox 360.

Zhu Zhu pets are another one of the hottest Christmas toys for kids in 2009. If your kid is between the ages of 3 and 10, he/she will love these toys. Zhu Zhu pets are equipped with fake intelligence so they are able to respond to a variety of environments.

They make cute little sounds if they are cuddled or embraced. If you turn on the explore mode, these toys will travel short distances by themselves. Any child would love to own a Zhu Zhu pet. If you have older kids, a nice present might be the Cupcake Maker, which allows them to safely learn about baking.

Things to Do in the Summer (For Kids)

As the summer holidays approach the major thing that's on the mind of a child is, "What's next? What will I do this summer?" This thought has to be catered to, by considering that each child is unique and a different individual than the other one. So the most important thing to know is what interests a particular child. It could be art, games, traveling etc.

This is important, as in a school, all children learn the same curriculum as the other, but what distinguishes them is the different level of interests they have and whether or not these have been encouraged in their growing years. Considering this, the summer vacation is the best time to hone their skills, which in the future will help them stand out as different and versatile individuals. There are numerous activities from which one can pick and choose depending upon their age and interests some of them are as follows:

Gardening: This is seen to make children realize the importance of trees and other flora, giving them a personal introduction to the beauty in nature, while making them appreciate the environment.

Camping: Hike to some place with your kid and camp their, along with this you can teach them how to click photographs or ask them to voice record every sound around the camp side. This is good training for your child's observation and travel skills.

Crafts: A child could make a craft each day which could help them to explore their creative sight. Craft and art books and guides are available at most stationary stores and on the internet.

Summer Sports: You should introduce this concept where a child is required to explore a new sport and then learn it. This idea of summer games for kids is inexhaustible and continuously enjoyable.

Treasure Hunt: Design a treasure hunt for your kids with the help of a string of interesting clues, one leading to the other, a prize at the end.

Zoo visit: If your kids haven't visited a zoo take them to one in your city. It again expands their horizon by allowing them to observe other species in nature.
Scrapbook: Ask them to make a scrap book of every thing they do this summer. This not only hones your child's creative skills but also evolves their thought processes and finally becomes a lover memoir of his/her young days.

Reading books: This is a great habit but parents face a problem with young children here. The problem is that children are bored with reading in school. To initiate them into this habit, ask them to compare a book and the movie adapted from it. This makes reading a fun activity.

Perspective drawing: Ask your kids to draw their own home. This again does good to their thought processes.

Learn a foreign language: This would provide them an insight on a different culture apart from their own and also equip them better for their future in the world.
Go to a concert or a cricket match: This would make them enjoy their holidays to the hilt and also understand concepts like team spirit, determination, hard work, etc.

Visit a national park: This will make them realize how different animals survive in a jungle. It is great insight into life not only for kids but for all.

Make their own band: If the kids are interested in music encourage them to make their own. They could build their own band and 'jam'. This is great fun and more productive than being pinned to the television all summer.

It is exposures such as these, along with an education that finally make children well rounded individuals.