Tag Archives: playtime

The Dogs vs. the Laser Pointer

My new roommates just picked up a new laser pointer for playing with their cats. Let the hilarity ensue! The two cats are pretty entertaining when the laser pointer is out. They chase the spot around the room, stare at it in horror when the red dot is on a paw, and go skittering into the bathroom (and onto the tile) at full speed in pursuit. Since it was such fun and great exercise for the kitties, we decided to try it on my dogs Moose and Lally. My roommate M. was in control of the laser pointer; I sat … Continue reading →

A Dog’s Social Life (or Lack Thereof)

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I read an article recently in Prevention magazine about how dogs need friends. Not just human friends, but dog friends, too! You may have seen it before: your dog has a special canine buddy. They get SO excited to see them! They act differently (in a good way) around them. Looking at my dogs, I’m hard-pressed to think of really good dog friends they’ve had. For Lally, I think the last dog she really loved was an ex-boyfriend’s terrier mix named Jester. Jester (AKA “Pest”) was the dog who showed Lally how to fetch: after watching him do it, she … Continue reading →

The Wiffie

What the heck is a Wiffie you may be wondering? It happens to be Tabby’s favorite toy. “I thought the red and blue-and-yellow huts were her favorite toys?” those of you who have followed the continuing Tabby saga might be asking. True. They rank up there. But they’ve been out ranked by a seemingly boring white and green wiffle ball-like cat toy that Mr. Meow’s had since as far back as I can remember. He never paid it much mind, but Tabby? It’s like her security blanket. Nothing’s more playful than a young cat. ~-Thomas Fuller-~ It wasn’t her first … Continue reading →

Keeping Some Activities in Your Back Pocket

We parents can become pretty predictable and when that happens, boredom can set in around our households (of course we can‘t be the only ones to blame for the “I‘m bored“’s!). I’ve found over the years that it is helpful to have a few fresh activity ideas tucked away in my back pocket for when things get mundane. It also helped when one of my children had guests over and things got bogged down and stressed. I could suggest one of my hoarded activities and it might mean the difference between a successful or failed play date. Let’s face it, … Continue reading →

P is for Playtime

Do you get enough play time in your routines? We talked about over training yesterday and the danger that poses to your health and overall fitness, today let’s talk about play time. Play time is exactly what it sounds, where you get to go out and be physical, but instead of doing a workout – you’re doing it for fun. Summer Pool Time It’s summer time and whether you have a pool in the backyard, a community pool or a pool at your fitness club or YMCA – the swimming pool is a great place to play with the kids … Continue reading →

Build an Indoor Fort

Yes, you can buy indoor tents, castles and forts. These mass-produced nylon edifices can rise up from a crib or bed, often featuring television cartoon characters, or they are simply erected on the floor. They are usually available in the shape of castles, sun domes, etc. But where is the fun in that? Plus, they are often rather costly and frankly there is just no need to throw your money away on such a toy. I guarantee that you have enough materials laying about your home right now to make a stellar fortress/castle/cave/tunnel/igloo/whatever your child wants to pretend it is. … Continue reading →

Playing Inside A Parked Car

I am a big fan of teaching kids MORE than they need to know. I believe you can never really provide a child with too much information, assuming the details are safe for their eyes and ears. While they may not understand what you are showing them or talking to them about right then and there, the lessons, words, topics and maybe most importantly, the time shared together communicating and exploring new themes and ideas will benefit you and them over time. For example, with the car on but not running and parked in our driveway, I will let my … Continue reading →

Indoor Playtime

Let’s say you and your family are thinking about purchasing an outdoor, wooden play set next spring or summer. Why not take your family out and visit the local showroom of a play set provider and builder? You will discover that they will likely have a handful of sample play sets for your kids to take for a test drive. The way this writer sees it, there is absolutely no need to make a decision in a hurry. In fact, I recommend several 1/2 hour trips to the showroom(s). You want your kids to try every piece of equipment, standard … Continue reading →

Would You Like the Chance to Own Disney World?

While this is not a Disney specific title – it is actually quite exciting and being a huge fan of the game, I wanted to share with you the latest updates that will be released in the new Monopoly: Here & Now Edition. More than 3 million people voted on the game highlights that included replacing the Boardwalk with New York’s Time Square and Park Place with Boston’s Fenway Park. There are multiple Monopoly games out there including versions for Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings, but this version takes into account what the game would be like … Continue reading →

Toddler Tips: Toys for Tots

Never mistake that your toddler is working while they are playing. They are working while developing motor skills, hand eye coordination and more. So encouraging your toddler to play and providing them with toys to stimulate their imagination and development is a great idea. With that in mind, here are some tips on picking out toys for tots. Develop their small motor skills with stacking toys, wooden puzzles with knobs, shape sorters and pop up toys with dials and knobs that their fingers can manipulate Develop their large motor skills with pull toys, push toys, climbing toys and riding toys … Continue reading →