JJ's Playhouse Museum & Gym

Exercise Your Child's Brain During the Holidays

2011-12-13T06:21:00.000-08:00

Just because your kids get a holiday break doesn't mean their minds have to take a vacation. Here is a way to give them a mental workout.

Take a break from the video games and try mastering strategy games, such as checkers and Battleship. A Rubik's Cube, puzzles, and visual-spatial games such as Connect Four and Squint, increases brain efficiency.

Family Fun Magazine 2011

Superlight Snowballs

2011-01-05T09:32:00.001-08:00

When inclement weather keeps you inside, let your kids hold an indoor snowball fight with ultralight "snowballs." To make them, stuff pieces of white pantyhose with fiberfill and close them with a knot. The balls are even lighter than sock snowballs and can be thrown safely in the house.

Christmas Eve Game Night

2010-12-17T03:31:00.000-08:00

For Christmas Eve, we open one special present: a new board game. Past favorites include Whoonu, Boggle, Cranium Conga, and Funglish-all no-batteries-required choices that stimulate lots of family interaction and laughs.

We set up to board next to the Christmas tree, then light a fire in the fireplace and bring out some snacks. At the end of a busy month, this tradition helps us relax, reconnect, and enjoy the best gift ever: family.

Tori Guess, Lafayette, Colorado, Family Fun Magazine, December 2010

Help for Busy Moms

2009-09-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

A Reach-the-Teacher Letter
Download It!

Inspired by Ruthann Betz-Essinger, a form letter for sending quick notes to your child's teacher. Teachers will like the note because it tells them what they need to know-no more, no less-quickly. To download a copy created by Disney's Family Fun magazine -and make your mornings less hectic visit www.FamilyFun.com/magazine.

Theme-Park and Outing Smarts

2009-07-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

The summer is in full swing and you're still probably looking forward to vacation or a few more trips to your favorite theme-park. Well, if your child is too young to memorize your cell-phone number, mark it on him. One neat idea is personalized temporary tattoos that have your number right in the design. Check it out at www.safetytat.com.