Family Fun (free day)

  Family fun can happen anywhere.  It just has to be 1) an activity or event be done with 2) family.

  Even a day out can be all about the family.  I checked out and planned my day for the kids today.  Free is always a nice thing so I definitely utilized that as my entertainment today!

  Today we started out with our favorite once a month activity!

The kids workshop at Homedepot!  The project was a periscope.  I will admit I had to remove a few nails with this project.  Precise nailing was most important today.

  After that we made our way to Target!  Did you know they were celebrating Dr. Suess at some locations?  Lucky for us, our location was one of them.

The kids received some fun activity sheets, sat in some very comfy chairs and heard the story Green Eggs and Ham.

 After this a small walk to celebrate 30 years was our next destination.

Happy Birthday AuntieAnnes! We enjoyed celebrating with you!

I not going to ask what the favorite activity of the day was because all I want to hear is spending time together and that may or may not be the answer.  

Either way everyone got out of the house, created, ate and even got a dose of enrichment, and imagination from the Dr.  I would say it was a good day.  Bring on Sunday because it is the day of rest and relax.

Home Depot for Kids

  The weekend is my downtime.  There's less running around with errands and more time to lounge.  The kids have their time and I have my time.  I do enjoy taking the kids to different events on the weekend.  The weekend with its slow pace is a time for us to enjoy each other.

  This past Saturday and every first Saturday of the month is a kids workshop at Home Depot.  The event starts at 9 runs until noon or when the kits are all given out.  There is registration online required at some locations.

  Each child that attends the workshop is given
                  an apron

 a sealed kit

                  a certificate of

completion and a pin!

  The tables are prepared with the necessary items for that particular kit.  Just a hammer and wood glue was the necessary items for today's kit.

         Some events have paint available!

  Open you kit and line up all your pieces. This months project was a Valentines Bean Bag Toss.

 Every kit has instructions! Most of the time they are easy to follow along too!

Then guide you child into the building process.

 

I started the first nail on each side and the kids finished the rest of them.  Yes, they have hit their fingers in the past but, have gotten much better at paying attention and keeping their hands out of the way!

There were stickers to apply to this item as there usually is. Definitely an easy step for all ages.

My son even tried the game when he was done.  He was very satisfied with his new craft.

Each month I try to make it.  My kids enjoy the building part of it.  That independence and finished project that they make is huge to them.  I like that it is a free event, the kids walk away with something they made and it's fun family time.

Registration starts about a week or two out from that first Saturday so don't forget to sign your child up.  I'm sure they will have just as much fun as my kids.

A Date with Home Depot

  The first Saturday of every month Home Depot offers a kids workshop!  Once and a while there's a bonus.  This weekend was the bonus.  I'm going to walk you through how easy it is to take your kids to this freebie in your area!


  First off sign up online at your local store.  It's not necessary but it gives them a heads up on how many kits to order.   Next even if you sign up it doesn't guarantee you a kit; it is a first come first serve deal.  The workshop is 9am-12noon.  Of course if you get there earlier versus later your chances are good.

Behold the kit of the day.  Some kits vary in size, ease of assembly and some you get to paint (on site).

The tables usually have the necessary tools. This kit also required a screwdriver not shown.  

Instructions are pretty easy to follow.  I have messed up once and a while but for the most part it's not that bad.

The instructions include an inventory of the necessary items to cross check for assembly.

The kits come usually come with all the pieces to include nails at various sizes, decals and anything relevant to the project.

The instructions are so through that it tells you when to use large nails and small nails.

 Pre-made holes make it easy to insert the nail and maybe steady it before hammering.

Hammering is not easy but I have watched my daughter get much better at hammering.

She is able to hold the piece steady and hammer the nails now.

Bring on the back of the project!

Screwdrivers were needed.  My son loves to play with his tools at home so this was exciting to him.

Screwing a screw in is hard to do.  ousting the screw down and twisting it in required another hand.

The top of the project required a screw eye!

A little finger to secure to secure the last piece of hardware.

Finishing touches were easy and I could step back and relax now.

I present you a finished product not painted but my other child wants to paint theirs and then apply the stickers.

A picture frame! A nice handmade gift for someone for Christmas or a keepsake ornament for the tree.

#Nablopomo

Kids workshop

  You know me and my kids workshop.  I put the dates in my calendar and reminders after that.  I remind myself when to sign up all for the children.  I do value a free activity for my kids don't get me wrong but the progress my daughter has made in these just amazes me.

  I can remember taking her a couple years ago and how she would hold a hammer scared me.  Between then and now she has hit a couple of her fingers and mine but the times have decreased drastically within the last year.  I smile as I write that because yesterday I was trying to hold the pieces and was nervous with her holding the hammer.  At the last minute I decided I couldn't hold it, she had to hold it.  One little "oh" was all that came out her mouth while hammering 4 corners together.

  I love that each month I can depend on quality time with her. Scheduled time with her to let her be independent and have fun.  I stand there more now and observe her while she figures out what she needs to do and focus helping her brother (whom loves to hammer the floor ever so loudly while waiting for me to hand him the pieces).

  She is learning to interpret the directions, line up her package and nail by herself.  She may not be able to read the exact directions yet but she can see the parts she needs in step 1 and assemble them.  The workshop not only helps them create something they can play with or use later they are learning as they go.

  English, math and reading all play a part in the construction of the project.  Patience also plays a role with both parent and child.  I refrain from jumping into help her as its good for her to struggle and figure it out.  It's pure excitement when she does figure it out.  She knows her numbers so she can follow the steps.  She decides on how many long or short nails she needs for the particular step shes on and proceeds from there.

  I applaud Home Depot for providing the community with such a fun event.  For giving families an opportunity to share this experience with their children.  The staff assistant that runs our local group is the best fit for this area.  She is friendly and helpful.  It's nice to see her every month.  She knows my kids by name as we have been faithfully going for years now.

  The instructions are pretty clear to understand although I have been known to mess up a project or two due to my own misinterpretation of the directions.  Some projects you have stickers/decals for some you get the privilege of painting and others are plain.  With that being said dad's or mom's can make/assist in these projects with their kids.    Like I stated my daughter can line the pieces up but not necessarily determine the right way or angle accurately.

  After completing your project you get a pin and certificate for all that hard work.  Place that pin on your child's  complimentary apron and snap a picture of their project and certificate.  Good job and try again next month.  We could display shelves of all our projects.  Some so love they are falling apart.

  There is a suggested age range but we have never had a problem.   Check your local store for hours and days of their kids workshops.  Some stores do require advance sign ups.  The projects change monthly and there are special builds such as on Mother's  and Father's Day.  Next month is fire safety! So that's definitely a fire truck!!

Kids workshop

Free event for children under 12! Lowe's and Home Depot offer children's workshops in most areas.  Today I wanted to showcase these family friendly events.  I have been taking my youngest daughter for years and it's amazing how much better she is getting.  These workshops are helping her in more ways than just the basic assembly.  She's learning new skills, patience, reading, math and having fun along the way.

Home Depot projects are the first Saturday of the month start time is 9.  You are suggested to register online to provide them with a headcount.  Lowe's is the second Saturday of the month and you NEED to register the 2nd Monday before the event.  Lowes start time is 10 am and will hand out leftover projects at 10:15 to a first come first serve line.  When you register online you also will be printing out a waiver to bring with you.

The summer time brings on more projects every other week with a specific theme.  Lowe's is going with an Avenger's theme.  You missed this week but the next signup is June 15th with a workshop on June 27th.

The children not only walk away with a project they completed by themselves or with the help of mom or dad but an apron, certificate, and badge (Lowe's) or pin (Home Depot).

I have gotten better with helping my daughter but as I look back it wasn't really as hard as I thought!

Here is this week's kit and the tool necessary for the job!

The directions! They are usually cut and draw.  At this point we usually line up all our pieces with the top picture to follow along easier.

This project was easy this week. It was perfect for little hands to

hammer

 apply stickers

 hammer some more

 apply more stickers!

The end result is a tribute to the Avenger's for this summer series.

She is always happy with her completed project.  It is always different and she is getting much better at her abilities.  She did start out with hammering her fingers and is now starting nails off herself!  Sign up for the 27th opened today to log on to Lowe's for this great event and series.

http://lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx

Don't forget to check out Home Depot for thier children's workshops to:

http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops?cm_sp=vanity-_-Kidsworkshops-_-DEC13