Thankfully, we’ve all gotten better at this family travel thing. And our now-teenagers look forward to the games (mostly), even on 14-hour road trips. When you’re on the road again, plan on playing these 15 car games for kids to keep everyone entertained. 

5 Car Games for Kids Under 5

1. Puppetpoolza Party – Anything can be turned into a puppet. Using what you have on hand (See what I did there?), hold a silly conversation with your child. The first time I played this game, I used my child’s Lambie. Lambie talked with a heavy Southern accent and called everyone Pancake and Waffle. She asked my daughter all sorts of silly questions, messed up the song lyrics, and tried her hand at yodeling. That puppet calmed our toddler and made the trip fun for us all.  

2. I Spy – Yep. It’s a classic game for a reason. And while it’s not a new game for you, it is for your child.

3. Hello, Yellow – See how many yellow trucks your child can spot. Give out a small prize when he finds 10. And, yes, snacks count as prizes! Then, move on to another color and another prize, like coloring pages, stickers, or a familiar stuffed animal who “snuck into the car.”

4. Cars of Many Colors – See how many different colored cars you can spot together. Red, white, black, blue, yes! Purple? Maybe. Hot pink? Almost as rare as a Hawaiian license plate.

5. And the Letter Is? – List three words starting with the same letter. Really enunciate the words. Ask your child to guess the letter. For example, you say: Book, Bear, Banana. 

5 Games for Elementary

6. Name That Tune – Create a playlist. Include songs your kids love and your go-to songs. Shuffle the playlist and take turns naming the song. Increase the difficulty by requiring title and artist.

7. The Trifecta of Road Trip Games Printables – License plate game printable, check. Road Trip Bingo, check check. I Spy Alphabet Version, triple check!

8. Spot It – Pick five random things, such as a horse, a school bus, a church with a steeple, a construction sign, and a child asleep in a car. When someone in your car spots an item, she says, “Spot it!” and then picks a new thing for the list.

9. Minute to Win It (Car Version) – How many football teams, colors, Disney movies, instruments, pizza toppings can your child name in a minute? Add to the fun by asking your child to say how many he can name before attempting it.

10. Fortunately, Unfortunately – Make up a story together. Each person takes turns adding one sentence to the story. The first sentence starts with “Fortunately.” The next sentence begins with “Unfortunately.” Then back to “Fortunately.” For example: “Fortunately, we left the house early enough to miss most of the traffic. Unfortunately, we left the bathtub water running. Fortunately, our neighbor has a key to the house. Unfortunately, his dog ate it. Fortunately, you hid a spare key.” Unfortunately, this is one of those car games for kids you need to play yourself to find out what happens next.

5 Car Games for Tweens and Teens

11. Cows on My Side – This game works best with four people in the car. Split the car into two teams, the left side team and the right side team. Teams get a point if they see cows on their side of the road. Teams receive two points if they spot a cow doing something other than grazing. And a team earns three points for seeing an unusual farm animal on their side (llamas, yaks, etc). But, if a team spots a cemetery on their opponent’s side and says, “graveyard,” the opposing team loses all their points. The side with the most points at the end of the trip wins the game.

12. Hey, Mr. DJ – This one isn’t really a car game, but letting your tween or teen take over the music is an easy way to get to know your child a little better. Ask her about her favorite song of the moment. Why does she like that artist? How does she find new music?

13. Mental Dominoes – Start the game by saying a word. The next person picks a word somehow connected to the first one. Whoever goes next picks a word related to the previous word. For example, you say DOG. The next person says BONE. Then someone says DINOSAUR.

14. Team Trivia – Load up your phone with popular trivia apps like this one and this one, and let the fun and games begin. Split into teams or not. The only real rule is no Googling! And, hey, let the winner pick where you stop for lunch.

15. Movie Mania – Start by naming an actor. The next person needs to name a movie the actor starred in. The next person names another actor in that movie. Then, the next person recalls a different movie starring the new actor. If someone gets stumped, she’s out. Play continues until only the winner is left.

What are your favorite car games for kids?

The post 15 Family Car Games to Beat the Boredom Bug appeared first on iMOM.

Searching for a place to eat always ended up being the worst part of vacation. My husband and I just had different tastes. Do you and your husband bicker sometimes on trips? Here are 9 tips to avoid fighting on vacation so you can have way more fun.

1. Establish roles before you leave.

If you can decide who does what before you depart, it’ll make things go smoother when you’re crunched for time. Not only that, you’ll avoid blaming each other if something goes wrong.

Most of the time, my husband navigates while I drive. At a campground, he pitches the tent while the kids and I gather firewood. When we’re at a hotel, my husband checks us in while I park and unload the kids. It works when we both know what we need to do.

2. Research activities and restaurants ahead of time.

On family vacations, I like to research the fun places that appeal to the kids. Before we went to Toronto a few years ago, my husband found a great Thai place he wanted us to try.

Having a plan mapped out can save a lot of time. Plus, there’s less chance of bickering in front of the kids and more time to have fun together.

3. Establish a budget for daily expenses.

To avoid fighting on vacation, my husband and I have in the past agreed to stick to a budget. No three-star Michelin restaurants! Hoofing it rather than hailing a cab also seems reasonable in good weather.

Establishing a budget greatly eliminates those last-minute impulses that cause squabbles. (Pandora bracelet, I’m looking at you!)

4. Anticipate what could go wrong and prepare.

No one’s ever accused me of under-packing. Gray cloud in the forecast? Four raincoats are in the trunk. But what happens if our car breaks down or we lose our luggage?

One 10-minute conversation with your husband the night before you leave could be all you need. Avoiding the finger wag of “I told you so!” or “Didn’t you pack the…?” might be worth it.

5. Factor in some downtime.

One of my most vivid memories of Orlando eons ago doesn’t include Mickey Mouse, but rather the outdoor hotel pool, playing with my sister. I think all the go-go-go at the park left us little time to just goof around and be kids.

My husband likes to pack 14 hours into 12, but for the sake of my sore feet (and any arguments about said feet), I know we always need to schedule downtime to unwind.

6. Be flexible if things go wrong.

Sometimes it’s hard to sleep well in a strange bed. Other times, vacation food causes uncomfortable tummy rumbles.

To avoid fighting on vacation, be prepared to flex. When I got sick in the Bahamas, my husband’s sympathy, and his willingness to spend the next day reading by the pool, made it easier for me to stomach my guilt for missing our snorkeling adventure.

7. Compromise on activities.

Before having kids, my husband’s ideal vacation would involve hiking, eating a packed lunch, hiking some more, and then pitching a tent somewhere in the backcountry. There’d probably be warning signs for grizzly bears too. To me, that sounds like something I’d only do for prize money on a reality show I’d never apply for in the first place.

These days, with kids in tow, we have to compromise. A morning for a short hike, the afternoon for sightseeing in town. And maybe a stuffed bear for each of the kids.

8. Get enough sleep.

We all know how important sleep is to avoid fighting on vacation (or anywhere else). Have a drink with your husband after the kids go to bed, but make sure you get enough shut-eye.

I’ve made the mistake of reserving a campsite near the restroom and you know what? People run those hand dryers all hours of the night. There’s nothing worse than being woken up 17 times by what sounds like a plane taking off next to your tent.

9. Be ready to apologize.

It’s humbling, but it gets you both talking again. And then it gets you sightseeing and making your next family memory!

What other advice do you have to avoid fighting on vacation?

The post 9 Tips to Avoid Tiffs When Traveling With Your Husband appeared first on iMOM.

Check out these family games for your next game night or lazy afternoon. Some require zero setup (which means zero cleanup, too!), others sneak in a little education, and others get everyone moving. So whatever family game mood your crew is in, there’s something that will bring everyone together, laughing, talking, and loving well!

Family Games to Get Silly

Games that involve a lot of strategy-making or money-counting, are fun, but sometimes families just need to let loose and get silly. Kids love seeing Mom and Dad relax and act like kids themselves, so these family games are some of our favorites.

• For families who love scavenger hunts, but want to stay indoors, our Superstore Scavenger Hunt is a/c friendly. (Save our family Selfie Scavenger Hunt for a special day when you can celebrate with ice cream at the end.)
• These two fun games will get parents to let their hair down.
• And these creative games for kids are perfect for little ones who need to exercise their creative muscles.

Family Games for Outdoors

You might picture family games being played around the dining room table, but all parents know that sometimes you’ve gotta take the fun outside. These games are ideal for those days when the weather begs you to get out and breathe in the fresh air. If you want some totally original ideas, these 15 Backyard Games are silly and fun for all ages. Don’t forget the instructions, so you can start the fun ASAP!

• If you’re feeling competitive, host your own family Olympic games. If you’re crafty, you can even make medals and play the national anthem at your family award ceremony!
• For kids who love to shoot hoops, check out these four fun basketball challenges.
• When the weather is nice, the best kind of outdoor fun is camping, so be sure to check out these camping games, and seven camping ideas.

Games to Get Families Talking

When life is busy, it can feel like the members of your family are ships passing in the night. The only words you exchange are grocery requests, pick-up times, and questions about missing socks. Family games are great for connecting and talking while having fun. Your kids will giggle over our printable Mom and Dad Love Story Quiz. How well do they know how you and your husband fell in love?

• Our Sweet Talk Game is a great game to help you grow closer as a family by listening and sharing (and eating candy!).
• How well do you know your kids? How well do they know you? Play our What Do You Know? game and find out!

Games for Traveling

Game time doesn’t end when you’re on vacation. In fact, car games are some of the best memory-makers. Who doesn’t remember playing Road Trip Bingo? We have our own version plus two more car games: Road Trip I Spy and the License Plate Game.

• If you’re traveling only a short distance, there’s still time for fun with our Car Time Rhyme game.

What kinds of games does your family like to play together?

The post Family Games and Fun appeared first on iMOM.

One thing’s for certain. It makes your heart feel full when you see your kids having a good time with their friends, siblings, or even by themselves, using their imaginations. These fun activities for kids will help your kids make fun memories without taking a ton of time and effort from you—and you’ll be known as the mom who always has a fun idea up her sleeve!

It’s that time of the year!

Sometimes you have to manufacture the fun, while other times, it’s as though a special occasion or even the weather shouts, “Let’s play!” So lean in and allow the time of the year to dictate the fun. Our free 50 Things to Do This Summer printable looks great on the fridge and can help you fill summer days with memory makers. And if you’re looking for fun activities for kids with less chance of sunburn, try our 10 Things to Do With Kids on Summer Nights.

More seasonal sillies:
Make your kids smile with St. Patrick’s Day jokes.
Enjoy the Super Bowl as a family with our family fun guide and trivia.
School’s out? Celebrate with an awesome end-of-the-school-year party!

Get outdoors.

When the kids are itching to go outside and play but are bored with hide and seek, you know they’re going to come looking to you. So check out our ideas that get them breathing the fresh air and enjoying the outdoors, like these five water games.

Stay outside and play with these ideas:
Try these 10 ideas for outdoor fun.
Teach your kids about God’s handiwork with these activities.
And satisfy a sweet tooth in a healthy and fun way with fun with watermelon!

Family time is the best time.

Fun activities for kids are great when you need your kids to get out from under your feet. But the best activities really are the ones that bring families closer together and boy, do we have a ton! If you think you’re up to it, try our 30 Day Family Time Challenge. We even made it into a handy printable for you.

Is your family ready for more?
Try our Family Fun Time Cards. Those are the originals and because they were so popular, here are more!
Here are fun activities for when the grandparents are over to play.
Here are family activities that won’t break the bank.
We’ve got these 10 memory-making activities that your kids will love.
These 20 ideas for a family fun night are sure to make great memories.

Sometimes they just need Mom.

We spend so much time with our kids, but it’s not always quality time. Here are some sweet ways to fill your kids’ love tanks with plenty of TLC. You can start with these five fun ways to show your kids some love.

More fun with mom:
Boy moms! Here are five things you can do to connect with your son.
Your turn, girl moms! These eight mother-daughter outings will help you connect with your sweet girl.
And here are 20 ideas for dates with kids that will make them feel like the center of attention.

Have some “just because” fun!

When the kids are bored or you want to try something a little different, these ideas for fun activities for kids are perfect—they’re simple, yet entertaining. Low stress, yet fun. Start with our free printable Colorful Treasure Hunt Clues for Kids.

When the treasure hunt is done, try this:
Teach your kids to tap into their imaginations with an imaginary trip.
Enjoy a bug-free campout with indoor camping ideas.
And this list of family fun box ideas is sure to have some activities you’ve never tried.

It’s finally the weekend!

Saturday or Sunday Fun Days are just what busy families need after a stressful week at work and school. Kick off the fun with these 10 wacky weekend ideas.

The weekend’s not over yet!
Missing something? Here are five tips for a meaningful weekend.
And here are 14 family activities that are so much fun everyone will feel recharged for Monday.

Get artsy-craftsy.

Even if you don’t have a crafty bone in your body, your kids will think you’re amazing with these fun craft activities. Start with our three cool crafts for family fun.

More crafty creations:
Here’s how to make paint for kids.
You don’t need an excuse to put on a crown, but these homemade crowns are the perfect addition to any celebration.
Your kids will love our homemade prayer photo frame, too!

Time to eat!

Cooking, mealtime conversations, the presence of family around the dinner table—they all lead to full hearts and bellies. So be sure to check out these four ways to make dinnertime awesome.

Still hungry?
Here are five family mealtime conversation starters.
Your kids can create their own restaurant with these ideas.
And spice up the dinner table with eight themed dinner ideas.

Small but mighty fun!

Every mom knows little kids need a lot of attention and the more colorful and hands-on the activity, the better! Here are 12 preschooler activities that are sure to keep them engaged.

More fun for little hands:
Get back to the basics with our happy words coloring page.
These five crafts for kids are fun for Mom too!

Curl up on the couch.

It’s a great day when your kids are old enough to sit still through an entire movie that the whole family can enjoy. Now the hard part is picking the movie! Here are eight great family movies and 10 throwback movies. All of these are under-the-radar but sure to make for some good conversations.

Celebrate good times!

When there are kids around, there’s always a reason to celebrate. Peeing in the potty, tying shoes, making the team, getting an A on an exam—here are activities to celebrate all the exciting moments. And of course, you’ve got to celebrate birthdays. Here are simple birthday ideas for the times you want the celebration to be more low-key.

Help them learn and grow.

When your kids are having fun but also growing into healthy, well-rounded little people—that’s when moms feel like they’ve earned a gold star. These random acts of kindness for families are great ways to grow in love while you serve others. We even created a cute printable to help you track your kindness!

More growing ahead!
These four family activities are must-dos before the kids get too old.
Teach your kids how to harness their dreams with a dream board.
Help them grow physically by teaching picky eaters how to cook.
And show them that screen-free fun is possible with these ideas for TV-free family evenings.

What are your favorite fun activities for kids? Share your ideas in the comments!

The post Fun Activities for Kids appeared first on iMOM.

So what can you do with one extra day off? Here are 5 things to do on a long weekend that will get your bodies moving without costing an arm and a leg.

1. Rearrange a room (or two!).

Have you ever changed up a room and thought, “Why hasn’t it been like this the entire time?” It’s wild what moving furniture can do to make you love a space again. Any time you move furniture, you end up having to do some tidying, so a long weekend gives you enough time to get the job done and still get in some relaxation. Focusing on your kids rooms will make them feel special, and it might even get them to keep their rooms clean for a few days.

2. Have a no-rules night.

A no-rules night is definitely one of those things to do on a long weekend. Sure, you can do it on a regular weekend, but you’ll be hurting on Sunday. And if you’re like me, you won’t fully recover from the lack of sleep until Tuesday. Check out All Pro Dad’s guide to a No Rules Night. Kick it off on Friday or Saturday evening, and then enjoy the bonus recovery time. You’re going to need it!

3. Try out geocaching.

A few years ago when geocaching blew up, it was not on my radar. But now that I have two kids who love the idea of a real-life treasure hunt, it’s a great family activity. Geocaching is hiking for hidden “caches” you can track by their GPS coordinates. We did it for the first time and discovered there was a cache hidden right outside our neighborhood! All you need is transportation, a pen, and a smartphone.

4. Get weirdly local.

This is a twist on the whole “be a local tourist” idea that encourages people to do the things tourists do in their city. Maybe you’ve done “that thing,” but have you done the weirdest thing? Every city has a weird museum, landmark, or tourist trap. Pick a max traveling distance, do some research with the kids, and go embrace your city’s oddities.

Take our free printable City Scavenger Hunt along if you find yourself downtown.

5. Rent a pool.

OK, this one isn’t free, but it’s less expensive than staying at a hotel. If you don’t have a pool but want to get some sun, there are websites that allow you to book a local private pool by the hour. Swimply is one of them. I did a quick search and found options near me between $15 and $60 an hour. I’d have to get over the awkwardness of being at a stranger’s house, but a few minutes of floating on a raft in cool water would definitely help.

What are some fun other things to do on a long weekend?

The post 5 Fun and Frugal Things to Do Over a Long Weekend appeared first on iMOM.

We have a scavenger hunt for each of the big holidays, which is perfect for keeping the kids occupied so you can get some of the to-do list done. And our any-day scavenger hunts are handy for sleepovers or when rain sidelines your outdoor plans. If you don’t have a prize for the end of the hunt, don’t stress. A piece of candy or a love note will leave your hunter beaming! And don’t tell the kids, but these scavenger hunts will help them work on their reading and problem-solving skills. Talk about buried treasure! Mom win!

Dollar Store Scavenger Hunt

Looking for a fun rainy day activity? Need to get out of the house and let the kids stretch their legs and exercise their brains? Try our Dollar Store Scavenger Hunt! Print the list, pile the kids in the car, and solve the riddles to grab items from the shelves. There are plenty of jobs for everyone!

Water Scavenger Hunt

Need a fun activity on your next vacation? Send your kids exploring with our Water Scavenger Hunt. Whether you’re at the beach or the lake, send your kids on an adventure to find these items. Print out whichever page of the scavenger hunt that fits your trip and soak up the memories today.

Treasure Hunt Clues

The next time your kids come up to you and whine, “I’m bored!” We have two words for you – Treasure Hunt! Download our new Treasure Hunt Clues printable.

Selfie Scavenger Hunt

Update your party with a 21st-century take on a classic: a selfie scavenger hunt. All you need is a phone (or dust off an old digital camera if you have one!) and our free printable. Print your list, pick a time limit, and go hunting. 

City Scavenger Hunt

A trip to the city offers plenty for everyone to experience. There’s so much to see! With their eyes peeled, your kids might notice more with this handy checklist. If they’re old enough, give each child a copy along with a pen to check off the sights. If the kids are little, guide them along the way by working on the City Scavenger Hunt as a team.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

No plans for the day? Then take your kids on a fun photo scavenger hunt outdoors. See how many photos you and your kids can check off this list! Or, if you have a large group, split them up and see which team can get the most photos taken in an hour.

Mall Scavenger Hunt

A mall scavenger hunt is a fun rainy day activity for families, but it’s also perfect for a tween’s birthday party. Grab a mom friend to help chaperone and then break into teams. The kids will love scurrying around, finding the items on the list, snapping photos, and being silly. No one will even mind that you’re not actually shopping.

Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

Are you ready to head outside? Print out our list of 30 items and then look high and low for each one as you walk (or bike!) around the neighborhood. How many can you check off the Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt list today?

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Nature is fascinating but easily overlooked. Our Nature Scavenger Hunt is a fun way to teach your child about how to perceive life. You can discover it in your backyard, a park, a pond, or a beach.

Birthday Scavenger Hunt

Looking for a unique way to celebrate a birthday? A birthday scavenger hunt is a fun way to build anticipation and excitement while making your child feel like the guest of honor. This hunt has eight steps, including the starting clue and the final “Happy Birthday” note. Just hand the starting clue over and let the hunter run wild!

Superstore Scavenger Hunt

This Superstore Scavenger Hunt is a blast! It’s great for a free family night out or a tween’s birthday get-together with a couple of friends. Grab the family and head to the nearest superstore. It’s fun, free and a total memory maker, so don’t forget the camera.

Colorful Treasure Hunt

I spy a colorful treasure hunt for kids! Each treasure hunt clue in our newest printable has something to do with colors. And, believe me, little kids and big kids will love seeking, finding, and figuring out these clever clues.

Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt

Even though Valentine’s Day is meant for couples, kids absolutely love it! Many of us came home from school with a brown bag full of cards from our classmates. But did you ever come home to a Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt? Send your little loves on a hunt for whatever prize you have in mind.

Spring Treasure Hunt

When spring has sprung or when the weather feels like it’s spring, send your kids outside for this Spring Treasure Hunt! After being stuck inside for the winter, a fun outdoor activity will breathe life back into your family’s spirit!

Bible Scavenger Hunt

Who said thumbing through your Bible had to be boring? iMOM’s Bible scavenger hunt printable is a fun way to grow more familiar with the scriptures and have a friendly competition within your family, small group at church, or youth group. Check out both versions!

Camping Scavenger Hunt

Our camping scavenger hunt is a perfect distraction for the kids while you set up camp or prep dinner around the fire. Better yet, get the kids involved with both of those activities and leave time for everyone to do the scavenger hunt together. Then, after a nice hike around the campground, sit together around the fire or stretch out in a hammock and relax. 

Zoo Scavenger Hunt

A day at the zoo is always a fun memory for moms and kids. There are so many sights, sounds, and smells to take in. When kids see an animal they’ve only encountered in books or on a nature show, their eyes light up, and the world becomes a little more vivid. Next time you take your little one to the zoo, bring iMOM’s zoo scavenger hunt to add a fun activity to an already exciting day.

Easter Story Hunt

Children love to look for Easter eggs, but how about taking it up a notch with an Easter scavenger hunt? In this egg-citing game, your kids can hunt for eggs over and over again without ever being at risk for a cavity from too much candy. And best of all, they will actually be hunting for the best treasure of all—the story of Easter.

USA Scavenger Hunt

History is fascinating and can be a lot of fun. Download iMOM’s USA Scavenger Hunt game and watch how easily your kids can learn about our country.

Back-to-School Treasure Hunt

Make back-to-school time a fun time for your children with our Back to School Treasure Hunt for kids. As they search for clues they’ll find lots of surprises, but no homework — we promise! When a clue calls for something like crayons, or a book, you can get new ones to surprise your children, or just use things you have around the house.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Halloween is all about family and treats, right? But Mom always has a trick up her sleeve to take the fun up a notch. iMOM’s Halloween Scavenger Hunt is a not-so-spooky but perfect addition to your trick-or-treat tradition. 

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

This is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish your children are sure to love—a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt for kids! Not only will they love searching for these indoor clues, they’ll also learn some fun facts and interesting tidbits about the first Thanksgiving!

Christmas Scavenger Hunt

The Christmas season is a wonderful time of year for many reasons—but sometimes the whole Christmas thing can feel overwhelming and not so fun. So before the stress of the season makes you a mean elf, sprinkle some levity into it with our Christmas Scavenger Hunt.

Which one is your kid’s favorite? What other kinds of scavenger hunts would you like to see?

The post 22 Great Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids appeared first on iMOM.

There are activities for days you feel like getting some sun or playing in the water. We’ve got creative ways to start conversations and foster learning. And of course, because some of the best plans get canceled by mother nature, there are some great indoor activities, too. We’ve even thrown in ideas for road trips! We promise that by the end of summer, your family will have made some great memories and grown in love for one another!

Summer Bucket List

What’s on your family’s summer bucket list? Picnicking under the stars? Having a water balloon fight? Making homemade ice cream? To get started, gather everyone together and use our Summer Bucket List printable. Make one for the entire family or let each of your children fill in their own.

5 Water Games!

Summers are meant to be spent playing in and with water. This summer, cool off and play hard with these 5 water games for your kids.

10 Throwback Family Movies

Here are 10 fun, vintage family movies you might have missed.

The Schedule that Saved Our Summer

We love summer vacation! The possibilities are endless, and our bucket lists are full. Unfortunately, operating without a summer schedule often leads to either overcommitting ourselves or spending so much time relaxing that we miss out on great opportunities or adventures.

Indoor Camping Ideas for Kids

What is your favorite part about camping? Head to the great indoors for an easy summer camp out—we mean, camp in!

Road Trip Games for Summer

Before you let your kids plug into their electronics on your next road trip, think about going old school. We have three really cute printables for three awesome road trip games – Road Trip I Spy, Road Trip Bingo, and the Road Trip License Plate Game.

Water Scavenger Hunt

Restless kids are never fun. Don’t let their energy go to waste. Instead, send them exploring. Whether you’re at the beach or the lake, send your kids on an adventure to find these items.

Exploring Nature Talk

Nature is fascinating but easily overlooked. Exploring nature hands-on is the best way to experience it! You can discover it in your backyard, a park, a pond, or a beach.

5 Ways to Have Your Own Family Restaurant

The allure of eating out is big for kids. But, eating as a family at home can be fun, healthier, and less expensive too. Here are 5 ways to have your own family restaurant.

My Summer Stories

Looking for a fun craft for your child to do this summer? Why not have them create a scrapbook that will help them to remember all of the fun things that they did! iMOM’s new My Summer Stories printable is an easy and fun way for your kids to create lasting memories.

Superstore Scavenger Hunt

Are you looking for something great to do with your family when the weather is bad? The Superstore Scavenger Hunt is a blast! Grab the family and head to the nearest superstore.

Watermelon Fun for Kids

Sure they’re delicious to eat, but they’re also ripe for fun. Try these sweet ideas for watermelon games and more!

Summer Talk

Spark some conversation this summer with our Summer Talk family conversation starters.

Dreams Talk

A very wise man once said that a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. What do your children dream about doing, seeing, being? Use our Dreams Talk conversation starters to find out.

The Day You Were Born Talk

Kids love to hear stories about when they were born. So start by sharing the twelve details below about how their life began.

Glowing Words Jar Cards

Most of our kids could use some encouragement to be kinder to each other. A great place to start that lesson is with our Glowing Words Jar Cards printable. This printable will help your children see that being nice to each other can be fun.

Secret Pal Notes

Kids love secrets. So use that to your advantage to encourage them to be nicer to their siblings with our Secret Pal Notes. Let them fill in the blanks and then secretly leave the notes for their brother or sister to find.

Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness are a great way to show love in your family. These random acts of kindness are perfect for kids and grown-ups.

10 Ways to Savor Summer

Does summer feel stressful to you and you just don’t know how to slow down? iMOM has 10 Ways to Savor Summer – and it’s not a to-do list, it’s a “ta-da” list! These ideas will give you the chance to slow down with your kids and enjoy the summer.

Knock Knock Jokes

Use iMOM’s Knock-Knock Jokes printable to add some laughs to your conversation.

Reward Jar Coupons

Use our Reward Jar Coupons when you want to recognize your kids for a job well done, for doing more than expected, or for just being themselves. Just print them, cut them out, put them in a jar, and let your kids reach in to choose their coupon.

How to Make Paint for Kids

Here is how to make paint for kids that your creative children are sure to enjoy. Not only will your kiddos love to use the paint, they can even help make it!

Sweet Talk Game

The Sweet Talk Game helps you grow closer as a family by listening and sharing.

15 Fun Backyard Games

We know your kids have probably played freeze tag, but what about dragon tag? Amoeba tag or clothes pin tag? Well, tag away this weekend with 15 backyard games.

City Scavenger Hunt

If a big city is one of your summer destinations, it can be hard to know how to keep the kids occupied. Sometimes you need a break from the museum tours! Try our printable City Scavenger Hunt. Just give the kids a pencil and tell them to watch out for potholes!

3 for 1 Summer Ideas

3 for 1 summer fun is when you pack 3 special activities (they can be little activities) into 1 day. Here are some great 3 for 1 summer fun ideas to get you started!

4th of July Jokes for Kids

Independence Day is all about parades, fireworks, and red, white, and blue. But it’s also about spending time with your family and celebrating with laughter and smiles. So here are some 4th of July jokes for kids that will get everyone at your patriotic backyard cookout chuckling.

Founding Father Cards

Who knew that learning about the founding fathers could be so fun?! First, print out our seven founding fathers cards. Next, hide them around your house for a game of hide and seek with your children as the finders.

Independence Trivia Game

What were the major events that led up to the signing of The Declaration of Independence?  This trivia challenge will give you the answers – in  a fun way!

USA Scavenger Hunt Game

History is fascinating and can be a lot of fun. Play our USA Scavenger Hunt Game and watch how easily your kids can learn about our country.

4th of July Trivia Game

Do your kids know the true meaning of July fourth? If not, this trivia game will help unify your family by increasing everyone’s knowledge about our country’s freedom. Test your kids’ knowledge today!

Declaration of Gratefulness

As the founding fathers gathered in the Continental Congress long ago, gather your family. Discuss and list the freedoms, people, opportunities for which your family is grateful. Use the Declaration of Gratefulness to form your list.

20 Ideas for a Family Fun Night

Do you ever find yourself running out of ideas for fun family activities? Here is 20 ideas for your future family nights.

Staycation Ideas for Your Summer

Thankfully, with a little creativity – and help from iMOM! – I can come up with fun things we can do without leaving home. See what you think of these 10 super staycation ideas.

How to Create a Dream Board for Kids

What is your child passionate about? What are your child’s hopes and dreams? Making a dream board can be a fun and visual way for your child to express their dreams and inspire them to pursue them. All you need is some construction paper, an old magazine or two, and some glue.

Treasure Hunt Clues

The next time your kids come up to you and whine, “I’m bored!” We have two words for you – Treasure Hunt or Scavenger Hunt. Download our new Treasure Hunt Clues printable.

5 Fun Summer Activities for Under $10

If your kids will hang out at home most of the summer, with or without you, it’s nice to have a few go-to ideas. Here are 5 ways to have summer fun under $10!

Playing Talk

What is your child’s favorite board game? What would they never get tired of playing?  You can find out the answers to those questions and more using our fun Playing Talk Family Conversation Starters.

A Fun Way to Bond With Your Kids at Bedtime

Pajamas are on, teeth are brushed, and nighttime prayers, recited. But there’s still time left before lights out. How your children spend bedtime can have an impact—a positive one, if they spend it with you.

10 Good Riddles for Family Fun

What starts with a Q, ends with an A, and has lots of “um’s” in the middle? A riddle! Here are 10 good riddles to keep your kids laughing and create tons of family fun.

Family Friendly Pranks

Want to get your kids excited and give them something fun to think about during their long summer days? Get them in on the family fun with these pranks.

Family Fun Time Cards

Family time can be fun time with our new family fun time cards!  Print them out, put them in a bowl, and let your children draw a card to start the fun.

How To Create Your Own Family Holiday

The days between the end of school and the 4th of July are filled with heat, humidity, and cries of boredom. Why not break that up with a new family holiday?

Kids Plant Labels

Grow some gardening excitement at your house this summer using our printable plant labels for kids.  Glue them to a plant stake, or print them on a label and place them on a pot.

Things to Do This Summer Printable

Summer is awesome… until you run out of things to do. We have a cute printable list of things to do this summer that will keep a smile on your kids’ faces as well as your own.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Perception starts with careful observation of the world around us. This scavenger hunt is a fun way to teach your child about how to perceive life.

Theme Lunch Ideas

When you’re home all day with the kids, the days can become dull and the kids can become restless. Meal time is a great mid-day reset where everyone can come together, get re-energized, and even have an adventure!

Mom Time Coupons

Give your kids what they really want—more time with you!  Surprise your children with iMOM’s Mom Time Coupons for hours of memory-making fun.

Kid Coupons

Give your child Kid Coupons to ensure you find time to spend together.  Then wait for opportunities as you play, create, and exercise to have conversations that count.

Family Tree Printable

Do you know you have a family tree? Family trees are interesting and fun and always growing. Once you make the tree, you will be able to remember how everyone is related. So what does your family tree look like?

3 Biggest Dreams List

How big are your children’s dreams? Have them write down their 3 biggest dreams to find out.

Summer Coloring Pages

Looking for a quick and free activity for your kids this summer? Just print our summer coloring pages for kids!

Happy Words Coloring Page

Just by filling your mind with the positive you can change your outlook.  So have your children use this coloring page to write their five happiest words and draw a picture to go with each.

Ask Your Child

Do you find it difficult to find time to talk, really talk, with your child? What if you spent just a couple of minutes every morning thinking about how to parent well and a couple of minutes every night talking to your child? 

Out-of-the-Box Summer Fun Activities for Kids

Summer is a great time to tackle goals, learn a new skill, or pursue a favorite interest. Use these summer fun activities to get your wheels spinning on how to fill those sunny days.

I’m Bored Jar

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. And when the days get monotonous, Mom gets creative! That’s why I love our I’m Bored Jar ideas. They’re the perfect response when your children say, “I’m bored!”

8 Great Ways to Bond with Your Child

Try one of our 8 great ways to bond with your child to slow down and just be together.

10 Ideas for Outdoor Fun

These 10 ideas for outdoor fun are great for kids of all ages. They’re also perfect for getting your children thinking about other activities they’d like to do this summer. So post the list and add to it as the warm weather inspires even more outdoor activities for kids.

Back to School Party Ideas for a Family Celebration

It’s time to throw a back to school party for your kids, and we have back to school party ideas to make your celebration a blast! We’re not talking a big bash here, just a family gathering where you can launch your children into the new school year with a lot of love and support.

For fun activities to do with teens, check out our fathering site, All Pro Dad.

Still looking for ideas for how to make summer more fun and less stressful? Check out the iMOM Podcast episode, “Summer Break(down)” and subscribe to receive new episodes every Monday.

The post 60 Days of Summer Fun appeared first on iMOM.

We hadn’t planned on traveling with an infant. How were we going to take a five-week-old on a 10-day trip to Ireland? Well, we eventually decided just to go for it. And it ended up being the best trip ever for our family. Here are 6 travel tips for families who plan to travel with a newborn or young infant.

1. Bring the birth certificate.

Something I did not realize we all need to carry while traveling with a baby is a copy of her birth certificate. After asking around, I learned many of my mama friends were also unaware of this. When you check in for your flight, the airline agent will ask to see a copy of the birth certificate to verify your child’s age. If you have a passport for your child, they will accept it in lieu of the birth certificate.

2. Get TSA Pre-Check.

I highly recommend applying for TSA Pre-Check, especially if you will be spending a lot of time in airport security. If you apply—and are approved—for the TSA Pre-Check designation, you can enter the Pre-Check lane at airport security. This line usually moves much faster than the general security line. You do not have to take off your shoes, belt, or jacket, and your electronic items can stay inside your carry-on bags. This makes the TSA process way less stressful while traveling with an infant or any child. The success of any family trip hinges on proper preparation and this tiny step makes a huge difference.

3. Carry Vaseline.

We all know airports and airplanes are major hubs for germs. If you are concerned about yourself or your baby catching something, bring Vaseline along. Yes, Vaseline can help you and your baby avoid nasty travel germs. Use a cotton swab to apply small amounts of Vaseline at the base of everyone’s nostrils while traveling. Vaseline is said to “catch” the unwanted germs before you breathe them in through your nose.

4. Bring a car seat.

While car seats aren’t required when flying with an infant, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend it. Just like in a car, it is the safest way for your baby to travel and you can always hold him if he gets fussy or wants to play.

5. Pack pre-measured formula.

If you are planning to bottle-feed your infant while in flight, be sure to pack bottles with pre-measured formula. This will help you save room in your carry-on luggage, avoid the mess of scooping formula, and save time while prepping your child’s bottle in flight. Also keep in mind that you don’t have to buy water at the airport. Flight attendants can provide you with water for the bottle. If you’re nursing your baby, here are some helpful tips.

6. Keep a feeding and changing log in your phone.

It is easy to lose track of time while traveling and changing time zones. Keeping a log of baby’s last feeding and diaper change will help you keep up with these things so your infant doesn’t become hangry or uncomfortable. There are many phone apps out there created for this purpose, but you can simply keep a written log in the notes section of your phone.

In your experience, what is helpful (and what isn’t) when you’re traveling with an infant?

The post 6 Tips for Traveling With an Infant appeared first on iMOM.

Also, all the inconveniences of traveling with children are worth it if we can reframe our expectations of our children and the trip. Years from now, when I look back on my parenting, I’d like to believe that I chose to value shared family experiences over accumulating nice things. I want my wealth to lie in rich memories and deeply authentic relationships. In the end, it’s relationships that matter most. I wish someone would have the courage to look us mothers in the eyes and say that it’s all going to be so worth it in the middle of the epic inflight tantrum.

Lex Brinton, cofounder of Walker Family Goods, traveled to all 50 states in a span of 5 years with her family of 8 and shared a similar sentiment to what I’ve been feeling. She reminisced about her experience in a recent issue of the Magnolia Journal sharing, “I would much rather be exhausted from chasing kids around an unknown city than not travel with them at all, and I have my parents to thank for that…I think our culture can sometimes make traveling with kids seem like a daunting task – and it can be – but I’m a firm believer that it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of how-tos in this world; you don’t need an instruction manual for traveling with kids. But keep it simple- and essential.”

So, if you’re debating about taking one last vacation as summer is coming to a close or thinking about a fall family getaway, then take the trip and make the memories. Don’t be afraid to be the parent in uncomfortable circumstances. Your children will thank you one day, and they will be so grateful for the adventures you paved and paid a way for. If you’re thinking about hitting up one of these three cities, then check out our Kid-approved City Travel Guides with recommendations from our staff who’ve called these places home.

Nashville City Family Travel Guide

New York City Family Travel Guide

Philadelphia City Family Travel Guide

Bonus Tip: If it’s been a while since you’ve had a girl’s getaway or time away with your husband, then, by all means, dream up, save for and plan a kid-free vacation soon. We’ve included a getaway guide to Atlanta that’s for adults only and full of some of the most fun spots this city has to offer.

What vacation are you looking forward to?

The post On Traveling with Kids appeared first on iMOM.

You can have an old school road trip this summer. Start small with an hour or two in the car. Let your kids know that you have something different for them to try and that it’s only for 60 minutes. Then, use these road trip ideas when you hit the highway.

Play Classic Road Trip Games

We’ve got you covered! Here are printables for the license plate game, road trip bingo, and road trip iSpy. If you forget your printables, try the alphabet game. Starting with A, find a billboard or roadway sign that starts with A. Say it out loud and then move through the alphabet. Each word can only be used for one letter by one person. Words on cars or trucks don’t count. Good luck when you get to X and Z. You’ll crave just one pizza restaurant sign to put you over for the win.

And try Susan’s road trip fun bags. She would fill a prize bag with dollar store goodies and let the kids choose a reward for things like bathroom breaks that went smoothly and quickly (we all know the feeling of adding 20 minutes to a drive because of rest stop inefficiency!), being kind to a sibling, and going an hour without asking how much longer until we get there! She also draped a long piece of felt or a ribbon on the back of the front seats for each child. Then, when they played car games, the winner would get to choose a sticker or pin for their ribbon, which made it even more exciting. Everything was designed to eat up time on the road trip. Oh, stickers or pins could be taken away too and were also given every 15 minutes when the kids behaved.

Map Your Progress

Buy or print a map and let your kids mark out the route for your trip. You can also get TripTiks from AAA. Go to a AAA office and a trip planner will give you a book of your journey mapped out that your kids can flip through as you cover the miles. To make things even more interesting, leave the main highways once in a while. It’s fun to see the real towns off the beaten path. Do your homework ahead of time to see which detours are worth it.

Or print one of our Kid-Approved City Travel Guides for Nashville, NYC, and Philly and map your way as you explore one of our favorite cities. In each guide, you will find our staff picks for fun family-friendly things to do.

Camp Along the Way

To make your road trip more exciting camp out! Our friends at All Pro Dad have five great reasons to take your family camping, And here are a few activities to make your camping adventure the best ever.

What city would you visit on a family road trip?

The post How to Have an Old School Road Trip appeared first on iMOM.