Don’t forget – if you’re not already a Prime member, you need to get your free 30 Day Prime Membership here to get in on the deals.

Ready to build the capsule wardrobe of your dreams? Here we go…

After previously covering our best Prime Day Sale finds for the home, the kids, the teens, and the guys… it’s time for the ladies! 

Don’t forget – if you’re not already a Prime member, you need to get your free 30 Day Prime Membership here to get in on the deals.

Ready to build the capsule wardrobe of your dreams? Here we go…

FASHION FINDS

Double Breasted Trench Coat – $57 off

Levi’s Ribcage Straight Ankle Jeans – 50% off

New Balance 410 Trail Runners – 40% off

Pointed Toe Slide On Mule – 28% off

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – 30% off

Popular Nudes Gel Polish Kit – 56% off

Living Proof Dry Volume & Texture Spray – 30% off

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo – 20% off

Dry Bar Double Shot Oval Dry Brush – $30 off

Women’s winter puffer down coat – $45 off

Classic fit long sleeve soft touch crewneck sweater – 30% off

Women’s white platform sneakers – 35% off

Two-piece wide leg, sweater suit – 20% off with coupon

Drybar Mixologist Interchangeable Styling Iron Kit – $80 off

L’oreal Nude Tinted Serum with Hyaluronic Acid – 15%

NuFace Facial Toning Starter Kit – $75 off

COSRX Snail Mucin 92% Repair Cream – 36% off

Crest 3D Whitestrips, Professional Effects – 35% off

Women’s Oversize Teddy Bear Lapel Jacket – $18 off

Women’s Soft Touch Cardigan – $10 off

Women’s Oversize Short Down Coat – $25 off​

Paige Harper Roadhouse Jeans – $53 off

Levi Boyfriend Jeans – $30 off

The Drop Women’s Blazer – $21 off

Goodthreads Women’s Mid-Gauge Stretch Funnel Neck Sweater – 32% off

Silky V-Neck Slip Dress – 30% off

Quilted Dolman Jacket – 17% off

Hope you find something to love above- Don’t forget the sale ends tomorrow!

*Post contains affiliate links

The post Our best Amazon Prime Day Finds, part 2 – The Capsule Wardrobe of Your Dreams appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

Psst – You need to get your free 30 Day Prime Membership here to get in on the deals.

With thousands of you shopping the sales I’ve recommended in years past, I’m feeling like a bit of a veteran this time around and I’m here to share with you my secrets.

First, there are certain items that Amazon puts on deep discount today, without fail, mainly their own devices. If you’ve been eyeing a kindle, an echo, or even an Amazon Smart TV for you and/or the kids, today is definitely the day to get it – you can save up to 70%!

Tip: These are some of the best deals you’ll see all year so start shopping for the holidays now!

Finally, there are A LOT of great finds this year – a real improvement from the last several years – so I have to break it up into a couple parts – stay tuned for part 2 soon!!

Also, I wasn’t able to fit detailed descriptions below with all of my affiliate links. But just know- if it’s on this list, it’s because I absolutely love it!

My Favorite Deals this Year

For the Home…

Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee/Espresso Machine and Milk Frother – $60 off

Vitamix ONE Blender – $100 off (Only $150)

Instant Electric Round Dutch Oven – $60 off

Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender – $230 off

Kitchenaid Artisan 3.5L Mixer – $120 off

Stainless Steel Countertop Ice Maker – $65 off

iRobot Braava Ultimate Robot Mop – $100 off

Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven – $20 off

Green Tea 12″ Memory Foam Queen Mattress – $80

iRobot Roomba 671 Vacuum – $170 off

For the Kids…

LEGO Monkie Red Son’s Inferno Jet – $11 off

Magna-Tiles Builder Set – $15 off

Magformers Deluxe Building Set – $39 off

Connect 4 Spin Game – $10 off

LEGO Disney and Pixar Light Year Space Ship – $10 off

Walkie Talkie 2 Pack – $5 off

John Deere Monster Treads Lightening Wheels – $8 off

Dual Lens Toddler Digital Camera – $7 off

Nerf Ultra One Motorized Blaster – $17 off

Nerf Digital Target – Only $9 ($16 off)

Adidas Tango Glider Ball – $10 off

Wilson NBA Outdoor Basketball – 10% off

Grown-with-Me Batting Tee – $10 off

For Pre-Teens and Teens…

Classic Crocs – $10 off

Wireless Round Keyboard and Mouse – $10 off

Fjallraven Mini Backpack – $18 off

Cloud Slippers – $12 off

Beats Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones – $180 off

Beats Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds – $50 off

JBL Clip-On, Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker – $10 off

For Men…

Mens Adidas Pants – $15 off

Echo Smart Audio Glasses with Alexa – $140 off or the Sunglasses Version – $140 off

Non-Stick Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker – $17 off

Portable Deep Tissue Massage Gun – $185 off

So that’s my list! I have stayed up into the wee hours compiling it for you guys (it was 2:30am when I sent it the first time last night) – so I really hope you find some great deals today!

But don’t wait, Prime Day only lasts for 48 hours and things have been know to sell out well before the time is up.

As always, thanks so much for your time and support,

Stephanie

P.S. Don’t have time to scroll? Here are the most exciting sales from the list above:

• Portable Deep Tissue Massage Gun – $74% off
• Magformers Deluxe Building Set – 50% off
• Beats Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones – 51% off
• iRobot Roomba 671 Vacuum – 49% off
• Echo Smart Audio Glasses with Alexa or the Sunglasses Version – 52% off

*Post contains affiliate links

The post Prime Day Finds – Part 1 appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

See exhibit A..
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Yes, that is an enormous Cedar tree that fell onto our house earlier this month. Luckily no one was hurt but, needless to say, it’s been quite the project. Add to that my daughter’s swim team, youngest’s soccer, and oldest’s TWO basketball teams and you get the picture.

So today I want to tell you two things:

#1

​My famous toy gift guides are 90% everlasting toys. What I mean by that, is I’ve always strived to highlight the toys that have stood the test of time over the years with kids (mine and others). So you can still use them to find the best educational and stimulating bang for your buck!

(Hint: my keeping kids busy indoor and out guide and my individual, cooperative, and family games guide are a great place to start!)

​

#2

I want to share with you what I’ve pick up so far for my own family. Here’s the stuff making it under our tree this year…

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Stocking Stuffers

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This is often my favorite thing to shop for and this year I’ve got something I know my 7-year-old and my 11-year-old will both love.

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Pop Its

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These mega addicting games/fidget toys have taken the elementary school scene by storm! Kids love to collect them and I love that their soft, bendy nature means they travel easily. This is currently on of my favorite tools for keeping my 2nd grader happy during his big brother’s basketball tournaments.

And just in time for Christmas, there’s the new licensed collection including PopIt!s in the shape of Darth Vader, Baby Yoda, Spider-man, Arial, Olaf and many more.

I’m getting one for each of my kids stockings, but you could also go bigger and opt for the new Pop it XL if you really want to impress.

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For my Newly Minted Teen

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Man, this age is HARD to shop for! My son really isn’t interested in much outside of his phone these days (insert eye roll here). Nevertheless, I think I found just the thing.

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​Funny AirPods Case​

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If the youngest phone owners in you house don’t already have their own airpods, they make a terrific big present. My son uses his daily since getting a pair for his birthday in October.

And whether the airpods are brand new or old hat, these hilarious cases make a fantastic accompanying gift. They come is so many cool options. I went gatorade bottle for my sports obsessed son by the sky really is the limit, I’m thinking a lot of kids, especially the girls I know, would love this avocado too.

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For my Husband

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Remember that tree I mentioned earlier? When it fell it took out a huge portion of the brand new deck my husband just spent a year building. It was a real heartbreaker.

Fortunately, we still have a small covered area of the deck that wasn’t harmed too much. So this Christmas I want to gift him something to make that area as luxe as possible while we wait for insurance to repair the rest.

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​A Super Sleek Entertainment Cooler​

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Okay, okay, so this is definitely one of those gifts that’s just as much for me as it is for him. I mean, how beautiful is that Acacia wood? This cooler from Backyard Discovery is gonna be a show stopper once we’re entertaining on the deck again.

With a 100 Qt capacity, it’s also a workhorse that will allow us to keep cool drinks on hand for lots of guests. The long lasting Acacia wood isn’t just beautiful, it’s also naturally water resistant, and the soft liner has the ability to hold ice for up to 8 hours.

The solid block top is also great for food prep (slicing limes for all those drinks), it rolls smoothly to wherever we need it to go there’s even a towel rack and bottle opener.

Finally, the lid is equipped with air shocks for smooth closing, which will just up the cool factor for my husband. I really think this is gonna be a huge win on Christmas morning and can’t wait for him to open it (so we can start using it!)

​Act fastif you want one, they’ve already sold out once and have just come back into stock!

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For Me

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Whether you send this link to a loved one or treat yourself, you will not be sorry!

​A Cashmere Knitted Lounge Suite at an Amazing Price​

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I’ve been wanting a butter soft cashmere lounge set for quite a while but just couldn’t pull the trigger because of the high price tag.

Enter Amazon Fashion’s newest cashmere line. Made of Grade A super soft cashmere and selling out quick!

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For our Christmas Eve Tradition

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Lastly, we have a tradition of playing a new game with our extended family every Christmas Eve. We opened this year’s selection a little early and tried it out last week and, let me tell you, it was a hit!

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​Herd Mentality Game​

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The utter simplicity of this game makes it the rare gem that really is enjoyable for all ages.

The rules are simple. One person pulls a question card and everyone writes down the answer they thing will be most popular. The spoils (in the form of cows) go to those that guess correctly. If anyone gives an answer that no one else chooses, they get the dreaded squishy pink cow... oh and everyone starts mooing if anyone takes to long to answer.

It’s a super fun and quick paced game that anyone can pick up in under a minute. My whole family (ages 7 to 41) gives it 5 stars.

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That’s all I’ve got for you guys today but be sure to be on the lookout for my next post with my latests finds.

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*Post contains affiliate links. Some products were provided for review, all opinions are 100% my own.

The post Gift Guide: My 2021 Favs appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

If you’re like me, you’re probably pretty sick of hearing about the supply chain shortages by now.

Nevertheless, there’s a deal going on today I really want you to know about- hopefully it will not only save you a lot of money, but also a big headache from ordering cards too late and having them not arrive when expected.

Ever heard of Mpix?

They’ve been my secret for getting professional quality photography prints at a budget price for nearly a decade.

It was actually a professional photographer who recommended them to me after doing a family session with us. She said that’s where she gets all of her clients’ prints done and I’ve been a faithful customer ever since.

So imagine how psyched I was to open my email this morning to see Mpix is offering a whooping 40% off their holiday photo cards.

The catch?

The sale ends tonight at midnight!

Above is the front of the design I chose. I love it because it’s so festive- and who doesn’t appreciate a little extra cheer these days?

And here’s the back with our family portrait.


As you can see, I’m getting 50 gorgeous, DOUBLE SIDED photo cards printed on archival paper for just about $1/card!

Plus, Mpix signature paper is one of the thickest out there of 130#, giving it some serious heft.

So head over to Mpix now, to save yourself a lot of money and check those holiday cards off your list!

*Today’s post is sponsored by Mpix. All opinions are 100% my own.

If you’re like me, you’re probably pretty sick of hearing about the supply chain shortages by now.

Nevertheless, there’s a deal going on today I really want you to know about- hopefully it will not only save you a lot of money, but also a big headache from ordering cards too late and having them not arrive when expected.

Ever heard of Mpix?

They’ve been my secret for getting professional quality photography prints at a budget price for nearly a decade.

It was actually a professional photographer who recommended them to me after doing a family session with us. She said that’s where she gets all of her clients’ prints done and I’ve been a faithful customer ever since.

So imagine how psyched I was to open my email this morning to see Mpix is offering a whooping 40% off their holiday photo cards.

The catch?

The sale ends tonight at midnight!

Above is the front of the design I chose. I love it because it’s so festive- and who doesn’t appreciate a little extra cheer these days?

And here’s the back with our family portrait.

As you can see, I’m getting 50 gorgeous, DOUBLE SIDED photo cards printed on archival paper for just about $1/card!

Plus, Mpix signature paper is one of the thickest out there of 130#, giving it some serious heft.

So head over to Mpix now, to save yourself a lot of money and check those holiday cards off your list!

The post Today Only – 40% Off the Holiday Cards I’ve Loved for a Decade appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

In our house, the system was still working beautifully for keeping the kids on task doing chores and managing their allowance.

The problem was their attitudes.

Like many families who’ve been together entirely too long during this pandemic, ours has struggled with bad attitudes. In this case, our kids were still doing the chores on their Family Jobs and Money Jobs charts, but more often than not it was accompanied by dragging feet, rolling eyes, and incessant whining.

Something had to give. So I do what I always do in situations like these, I started researching.

Enter “The Chore Wheel of Doom”

Somewhere down the rabbit hole I came across an article that suggested novelty might be the key to easing our troubles. (Try as I might, I can’t seem to find this article to point you back to, my apologies!)

The author posited that kids, like adults, find being asked to perform the same tasks over and over to be super monotonous and boring. It makes them feel like a drudge.

The solution is two-fold:

1. Add a component of randomness
2. Everyone has to participate (even parents)

To add a sense of chance to our daily routine, we decided to address the kids’ daily chores. (For reference, our kids are now nearly 13, 11, and 7 but I think this would be a big hit with the younger set too.)

Everyone is still expected to pick up after themselves, keep their rooms tidy, bring down their laundry on their day, etc. But instead of always having our oldest do dishes, or consistently putting my youngest in charge of watering the plants, I picked 5 daily chores (because there are 5 members of our family) and wrote them with a sharpie on an inexpensive game spinner I bought on Amazon.

Hint #1: If you have extra spaces like we did, add a “You Pick” or “Spin Again” option.

When the kids saw what I’d done, they actually got excited. They also affectionately named the spinner “The Wheel of Doom”.

The part they like the most? Mom and Dad have to spin it everyday too.

That means, not only might they get lucky and not have to pick up after the dog, they might also get to sit back and enjoy watching me do it while they only have to get the mail or wipe down the bathroom counters.

Hint #2: I modified some of the chores for my youngest. When he lands on “dishes”, for example, he only has to do the silverware. This means I have to pick up the slack some days by doing my chore plus the rest of the dishes, but the improved attitudes all around are well worth it.

We’ve only been at this for a week or two, but so far it’s working. The whining has been significantly reduced, my daughter even made a point of telling me how much better chores are now that she doesn’t start off each day knowing she has to do the same task she dreads.

The most unexpected benefit? The family camaraderie that occurs knowing we’re all facing The Wheel of Doom together.

I’m sure the magic will wear off eventually, and I’ll start searching for (and sharing) more ideas once it does. But for now, I’m enjoying the peace and quiet.

*Post contains affiliate links

More from MPMK

Establishing “Family Jobs” and “Money Jobs” at Home

The post My New Favorite Hack for Getting the Kids to Do Their Chores appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

Remember a time when technology brought people together? When the whole family would gather around the only TV in the house instead of spreading out to separate rooms and devices?

Yes, these days personal gadgets tend to isolate people in their own cyber world, but you don’t have to feel hopeless. There are ways for you to use technology to engage your family as a unit—a movie night, for example! Here are some ideas for making the most of this evening activity for the whole family.

Step 1 – Create Anticipation

Set a date and talk it up ahead of time by mentioning a few key attractions. (Pizza from scratch, anyone? They don’t have to know it’s healthy!)

Start by just choosing one Friday night and, if that goes well, ask everyone if it should happen again the next week. If the first run-through doesn’t get two thumbs up, think about what went wrong and how to work around it, then reintroduce the idea with necessary edits a few weeks down the road.

Start this Friday with our special Ratatouille Movie Night Menu.

Step 2 – Find a Role for Any Aged Child

Sneak in extended family time before the movie by asking for help with dinner. Use language like “If you wash the veggies, this pizza will be ready to eat even sooner!” to prompt kids’ engagement without it seeming like a command. As you know, kids rarely want to help with a “chore,” so plan ahead for how each person can help based on their age, attitude, and abilities.

Little ones can watch you prep food while they snack or play in a highchair. Give them the fun tasks of dumping dough ingredients into the mixing bowl and sprinkling the cheese on top.

Elementary school-aged kids might have fun decorating their own personal pizzas into a smiley face: pepperoni eyes, a green pepper mouth and sprinkle cheese hair.

Older kids could try tossing the dough or cutting toppings while they play DJ with their tablet. Listening to their music is sometimes a headache, but it’s such a great way to gain insight into their world and you may have the opportunity to start an in-depth conversation (gasp).

By asking your pre-teen or teenager to DJ, you’re showing interest in them. This ownership might be exactly what they need to stick around all night for more than just munchies.

Here’s a simple pizza recipe you can all tackle together!

1. Put a pizza stone in the oven then preheat it to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. In a mixing bowl, pour 1 cup of hot tap water, 1 packet of yeast and 1 Tbsp. honey. Let this sit for about five minutes.
2. While that sits, sprinkle a little cornmeal over the surface of a pizza peel and prepare your toppings.
3. When the yeast foams at the surface of the water in the mixing bowl, add a big pinch of salt and 1 Tbsp. of vegetable oil. Mix in two or three cups of white whole wheat flour slowly until the dough feels like it’s the right consistency.
4. When the dough easily comes away from the sides of the bowl, empty it onto a clean countertop dusted with flour. Knead this for five to ten minutes until the ball of dough is smooth then toss it in the air (if you’re adventurous) or roll it flat. Shape it as necessary on the pizza peel.
5. Add toppings, then shuffle the pizza onto your pizza stone. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is browned. This will give you just enough time to wrangle everyone into the living room and get the movie ready.

Step 3 – Make the Room Extra Special by Going Extra Cozy

If you’re able to, do a little primping of your home “theater” beforehand. Seeing an inviting atmosphere as they walk by will pique everyone’s interest. Make sure your furniture is comfy, even if that means dragging a favorite reading chair into the room or, if it’s in the budget, getting some snug new pieces that are fun to lounge in.

The draw of the evening might be the food or film, but the environment you create around the TV is what will cause kids to linger until the final curtain drops. So, channel your inner kiddo to create super comfy blanket-fort-type nests all over the room and your furniture. Better yet—invite them to help!

Another key feature of the perfect movie-watching scene is the accessibility of food and drinks. Make sure your coffee table or side tables are conveniently located to minimize spills and that their height makes it easy for little ones to reach their next bite.

Step 4 – Prepare a Surprise!

Are they getting distracted while you do all the work on dinner or as the movie rolls?

Come up with a surprise ahead of time that will delight your kids. Think popcorn bar with lots of toppings or a special treat for dessert, and don’t mention it until attention starts to wane. It will pull them back in if their minds start to wander and the excitement of a plot twist might make them more eager to participate again in the future.

If all goes well, you could make movie night a weekly routine.

Establish some ground rules (like rating restrictions or not choosing the same movie more than once) then rotate through each family member each week, letting someone new pick the film.

Lastly, don’t forget to join your family on the couch! The whole point is to spend time together. The dishes can wait.

Julia Marchand makes her home in rural New Hampshire and writes on family and decor topics for The Home Depot. To review some decor styles that might just be right for your own active family room, you can visit The Home Depot site here.

The post 4 Steps to Start an Amazing Family Movie Night Tradition appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

I was looking through some old photos recently and I was reminded of how much we used to play with beach balls in the house when the kids were younger.

It was such a simple way to keep the kids active and happy when we were stuck indoors – plus it was super inexpensive and easy to set up (two of my favorite qualities in a kids’ activity).

Back in the day, this one was right up there with our Life-Sized Building Blocks, Construction Sensory Box and Upcycled Inventor’s Box.

The idea is so great, I just had to re-visit it, so I sent out the call to our contributor, Alli, to help me freshen it up a bit and, as usual, she didn’t disappoint.

Today she’s got 10 fabulously fun ways to keep your littles active and happy with our friend the beach ball. Enjoy!

Will this rainy spring ever end? I am so ready for summer I can taste it.

Regardless of where you live, or what season it is, there are ALWAYS days that need to be spent inside. And those are the days that tend to drive us crazy as parents and grandparents. Am I right?

Enter the beach ball.

Such a simple toy. And the simplest toys are usually the best. Know why?

Because they’re unexpected fun. Beach balls are kind of a novelty when brought indoors, so they seem to draw kids in.

They are also a great way to help those kids burn off some energy.

We’ve noticed, though, that after a while even the most enthusiastic kiddos can get bored (or it goes the other way, things get a little out of hand and a lamp or two is sacrificed in the process). But it doesn’t have to be that way. Just by adding a little structure and creativity, a once simple toy becomes one big ball of fun.

If you’re stuck inside, grab a beach ball (or any large bouncy ball for that matter) and try any one of these games to not only pass the time, but challenge your kids to get up and get moving.

1. Letter/Color Smash: (Gross Motor Skills, Letter/Color Recognition)

Use colored construction paper to write letters and attach to any wall or door. The older your children are, the more complicated you can make it (using sight words, the answers to math equations, etc.).

My kiddos are 1-year-old and 4-years-old, so I stuck with letters and kept them at an appropriate height.

Draw a line on the floor using masking tape, then have them aim the ball at the letters or colors as you call them out.

2. Blanket Toss: (Teamwork, Silly Fun)

Have each child hold the corners of a sheet or blanket. 

Place the beach ball on top of the blanket and instruct them to bounce it as high as it will go, then catch it on the blanket.

See how many times they can catch it in a row before it hits the ground.

3. Animal Toss: (Teamwork, Gross Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Silly Fun)

Have your children stand at a tossing distance, and toss the ball back and forth.

As each child catches the ball, they make an animal sound. The key is: no sounds can be repeated!

This game gets really silly, really fast (once they start to run out of noises).

4. Beach Basketball: (Gross Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination)

Grab an empty laundry hamper and set it across the room.

Using your masking tape, draw a line on the floor at an appropriate distance per age.

Then set a timer and see how many baskets they can make in a minute. Hint: the timer really makes this game! Suddenly a simple game of basketball becomes a frenzied time challenge, which makes for loads of fun.

If you have older kids, you can also adapt this game with a pool noodle as a hoop.

5. Beach Ball Bowling: (Gross Motor Skills, Silly Fun)

Choose a hallway (the walls serve as natural bumpers) and set up your bowling pins. This is the part where you can get creative. The pins should be light, since the ball is light, but other than that…the world is your oyster.

We used some empty cereal boxes that I’d been saving but water bottles would also work really well. Then just try to get that strike!

6. Catch and Do: (Teamwork, Gross Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Silly Fun)

Write silly instructions with a marker on each color of the beach ball. Then have the children start to play toss.

As they catch the ball, they check what color their hand lands on, and do that action. The funny part: They have to keep doing that action until they catch the ball again. 

You can be as simple (or as SILLY) as you want with what you write.

Here are some ideas:

• Do a silly dance
• Tell a joke
• Bark like a dog
• Jump up and down
• Hop on one foot
• Spin around in a circle

Tip: You can use a washable marker. It’ll wipe right off with a wet paper towel, so you can change up your phrases the next time you play.

7. Beach Ball Volleyball: (Teamwork, Gross Motor Skills, Physical Activity)

Set up a “net” using a long piece of string (I used twine).

Divide your children (or you and your child) on opposite sides of the string.

Begin to bounce the ball back and forth, keeping it above the string and off the ground. See how long you can keep it going.

8. Paper Towel Roll Baseball: (Team Work, Gross Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination)

You can also use a pool noodle, but I have rambunctious boys, so we decided to dial it down a notch since we were indoors.

Draw bases on your floor with masking tape.

Then play your own mini-baseball game right in your own living room.

Tip: Let your little ones tape the bases by themselves. The little things can be the most fun!

9. Beach Ball Obstacle Course: (Gross Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Silly Fun)

Using objects from around the house, set up your very own obstacle course.

Then have siblings time their sisters/brothers as they make their way through the course.

10. “Foot” Ball: (Gross Motor Skills, Physical Activity)

Have your child take off his/her shoes, and lay on the floor with their feet in the air.

Place the ball on/between their feet, and see how long they can hold it there. It’s not as easy as it seems! In fact, it was pretty much impossible for us to catch a picture of him balancing it.

We hope these games will keep you entertained the next time you’re trapped inside.

For even more great play ideas, be sure to check out:

13 Kitchen Science Projects to Blow Your Kids’ Minds

How to Build Reading Skills at Home w/ Reggio Activities

Quiet Time Activities Perfect for Getting Kids to Calm Down for Bed

*Post contains affiliate links.

The post 10 Cheap & Easy Indoor Beach Ball Games to Keep Kids Active appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

Like many of you, I watched it live this morning with my kids on TV (tears were shed). But in case you haven’t yet, I wanted to let you know that a special inauguration day children’s special covering all the events is available here!

I love that this historic day is being presented in such an accessible way to students all over the country, and the world, and I really hope you check it out!

And if you watch nothing else with your family today, I hope you watch 22-year-old Amanda Gorman (history’s youngest inaugural poet) give her incredibly inspiring address, “The Hill We Climb”!

As soon as she finished her poem, I knew I wanted a copy. Luckily, her debut poetry collection, including “The Hill We Climb” is available for pre-order.

I can’t wait to give this beautiful book a place of honor on our coffee table and I’m tempted to order a copy for every special kid (and adult) in my life!

You can grab your copy here.

*Post contains affiliate links.

The post What to Show Your Kids on Inauguration Day appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

This is the time I always ask myself: Should I make New Year’s resolutions this year? This year the answer is a resounding YES.

I’m aiming for goals that are both aspirational and attainable.

Luckily, we also happen to have a simple tool to help you and your family make some goals for this year while reminiscing all the happenings of last year. Download yours here…

At our house, we’ve been chatting over dinner about our favorite memories of this year – our first family trip to the ocean, loose teeth and braces- plus, you know, surviving our first pandemic – and we’re excited to have somewhere to record it all.

It really is amazing how fast each child changes in just the space of a year.

Helping our kids to share all of their experiences and growth makes them real, and fun, and sets us all on the road to fabulous new adventures next year.

Use this free printable to start conversations about goal setting and using small steps to reach them.

These printables make great memory keepers from the year as well as easy references for family fun ideas to put on the calendar for 2021 too!

More New Year’s Ideas for Families

• Family New Year’s Eve Idea: DIY Balloon Drop
• Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Families
• New Year’s Eve Treat: Sparkling Jell-O Push Pops
• Top 10 Ways for Families to Celebrate New Year’s Eve

The post Free Printable: Family New Year’s Resolutions & Year-in-Review appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

On the first day he appeared, always the day after Thanksgiving in our house, he arrived with this Advent Calendar (only $15!) and an explanation.

The idea is simple. Our elf asked the kids to take a minute each day to write something nice about each other and place it in that day’s pocket. The next morning the kids wake up to find the notes they wrote about each other and a small chocolate hug.

The kids loved this little tradition and I loved that they were taking time each day to show some kindness towards each other– especially since at 8 and 6 they can get into quite a few sibling squabbles.

Plus, at the end of December you’ll have a whole stack of sweet notes your kids have written about each other as a keepsake.

I hope you’ll try it this year!

*Post contains affiliate links.

More Advent Ideas from MPMK

Free Printable: Daily Jokes Advent Calendar

Family Advent Activity List & DIY Advent Calendar

The post How to Make a “Sibling Appreciation” Advent Calendar appeared first on Modern Parents Messy Kids.