CREATIVE & ODD things to do with Kids

Some friends suggested I create a page on my website with a list of the creative (and often odd) adventures I do with my children--because maybe, just maybe, you have a kid who would like this stuff...

(self-explanatory, BUT, protective eye wear recommended--swim goggles or mask will do)

Carrot Sword Fights--Vegetables as weapons? My kids don't eat carrots, so I think this is a good alternative for the rubbery carrots in my refrigerator. When the carrot battle is over, we always give the leftover broken carrot swords to the guinea pigs. FYI--baby carrots are useless. En Guard!

Gates of Challenge--This activity is hard to explain, but I'll try. First, find a doorway. Then grab pillows and other objects (probably should be somewhat soft, but heck--anything will do)...then announce "It's Gates of Challenge Time!"--allow one child at a time to try to break through the doorway you've blocked or contorted with your body and props.  Make odd shrills and beeps and swing the pillows or blankets to make it extra-confusing. It is a high energy game that always ends with my kids wired, laughing, then crying when it's over. Only try this when you've had too much coffee.

Guerilla Art and Poetry
My daughter got a great book for her birthday: The Guerilla Art Kit by Keri Smith. I highly recommend it for adults too. It inspired us to do random acts of art and poetry. When we are in the mood, we'll leave post-it notes in restaurant bathroom mirrors with the words "Do you even know how awesome you are?" or "Smile, you're GORGEOUS!" Once we left out paper and pen on a park bench with a note daring passerbys to write haikus. Another time we left a sign with craft feathers for the taking and dared people to make art. We posted that at a bus stop and it was empty within a week (the wind might have done that, we'll never know). But, kids dig this stuff--and people walking by thing you are strange. Tip: try to be guerilla-like and do it on the sly when possible.

Write a rap song for your pet. Our dog Gizmo has his own rap song, and we make him perform all the time (Really it's us singing, and he's lip synching). When reading, try rapper style voicing:

Yo, Yo, what up?
I'm the Gizmo
Yeah, I'm all that
I'm the Gizmo
I got ears like a bat.

The ladies, they love
The babies, they hug me
The boys wanna walk me
The girls sweet talk me...
 
My Daddy thinks that I'm first rate
But, the mailman, he just won't tolerate
Me....cause I'm the Gizmo, yeah boy....(there's more, but it goes on and on...)


This is Gizmo after a performance.

Paint Your Toenails Rainbow
In a world where tattoos and piercing are the way to distinguish yourself, painting your toenails rainbow is a less permanent and fun option.  Using your toenails as a canvas makes people laugh. I will never go back to one color--ever again! Of course, all kids love this. It says: "Hey, I'm wacky! I like to break small rules!"

Here is my foot on July 4th. When I traveled to Crete, I changed the flag to the Cretan flag. Cretan ladies thought I was cool.