Frontier Fridays: Fun Ideas for Children

Okay these aren't pioneer tips, per se,  but they remind me of the days of my youth when everything wasn't available for a price...parents had to improvise and kids seemed a whole lot more appreciative of simple things! Chuckle along :)

If space is at a premium in your house attach a table or old door in your child's bedroom with hinges, add a sturdy leg (also on hinges0 and pull it down for table activities.  At night, simplly clear table, raise it to the wall, and fasten it with screen hooks attached to the wall for that purpose.

If your children don't have a child-sized table, you can make one by sawing several inches off the legs of a second hand wooden kitchen table.  Sand and paint in a bright primary color.  Makes a wonderful place for eating and crafts.  Cut down matching chairs and paint in the same or contrasting color to complete the set.

Keep children's rubber boots together by providing each child with a brightly colored clip type clothespin.  Instruct them to keep the clothespin in his coat pocket and clip boots together when removing them.  Fine for school or home. Print name inside on boot lining with household bleach.  You can also paint the child's name on the clothespin in a bright color in case they loose them.

Make quick work of drying girls crinoline petticoats by placing them in an open umbrella.  Set them in the bathtub.

If your child awakens long before the rest of the household, put a bucket of toys near his/her bed after they are asleep and they will play for awhile when they wake and gain you a bit of extra sleep.

Save baby jars and lids for storing clay, paints, insects, barrettes etc.

Use safety pins to pin hand towels to the towel rack for little ones.  No need to hang up!

This one is hilarious:  You'll be amazed at how eager little ones will be to help with household chores if you'll dress them in appropriate uniforms.  Try aprons, waitress caps for setting table, mailman's bag for collecting papers, crayons etc and a delivery truck  (a box for collecting toys).

AND lastly my Mother's tried and true method:  Keep your children interested in their toys by putting some of them away for a month or two.  Watch the reaction when you bring them out again.  (usually we had forgotten we had them or thought they were given away ha)