Holiday Party Games for Children

At many holiday parties, there are children. These children need to be entertained as much as their parents do, but it’s not always an easy task. Instead of the same boring old games, try these exciting diversions to keep the younger crowd happy and amused.

Santa Says: This game is very similar to the traditional ‘Simon Says’. Simply have one player be Santa, and have him or her issue commands. ‘Santa says … sit down.’ ‘Santa says … hop on one foot.’ But if he doesn’t say ‘Santa says’ the children should ignore the command. Sometimes Santa will say ‘Santa says’ and sometimes he won’t, so this game makes children pay attention. The younger crowd really enjoys this game.

Fill the Stocking: Most children love relay races. For this game, the children may have to divide into teams if there aren’t enough stockings to go around. Each child has a stocking at one end of the room and a spoon. At the other end of the room is a bowl of candy. Children must take a spoonful of candy and race across the room, attempting to fill their stockings as quickly as possible. The first one to fill their stocking wins and everyone gets to take their candy home at the end of the party.

Christmas Freeze: This game is easy for even the youngest children. Simply play some Christmas music, have the children move and dance around the room until the music stops, at which point they must ‘freeze’ in the position they happen to be in. This game will result in much merriment and amusement.

Candy Cane Aim: Give each child five candy canes and have everyone gather around the Christmas tree. Taking turns, allow the children to toss their candy canes into the tree. The winner is the child who hooks the most candy canes over branches.

Gift Unwrap Race: Wrap up empty boxes ahead of time. At the party, give each child three boxes to unwrap, and place a garbage can at the other end of the room. The children must unwrap a gift, run to the other side of the room, put the paper in the garbage, and run back to unwrap the next gift. The first child to finish unwrapping all three gifts, and to get all their paper in the garbage, is the winner.

Trim the Tree: Didn’t have time to decorate your tree? Turn it into a fun game for children. The kids will love a chance to show off their creativity, and you’ll be saved the time and effort of decorating your own tree.

Make a Friend: Let the children decorate cookies shaped like people. Gingerbread cookies work well, but any kind of cookie will do. You could even go so far as to offer gingerbread houses for each child to decorate. Try to avoid having all children decorate one house. Small children especially may not be good at sharing.

There are dozens of other games that children would enjoy at any Christmas party. Many typical party games can be adapted for the holidays. The important thing is to relax, get creative, and have fun.

Treating Common Winter Ailments in Children

Kids get sick. It's just a fact of life, and parents just have to deal with it. As upsetting a fever or cough might be, a run to the emergency room or even to your doctor isn't always necessary. Many of the most common symptoms children experience through the winter months can be easily treated at home.

Fever

All kids get fevers. It can sometimes seem like your children have fevers all winter, especially if you have more than one child and they tend to rotate. Children certainly get fevers more often than adults, usually because they have less developed immune systems. If your child has a mild fever, a fever medication such as Tylenol or Motrin (appropriate for your child's age, of course). You can help your child feel better by giving them plenty of fluids and small amounts of easy-to-digest foods. Your child should also get plenty of rest and a humidifier in the bedroom might not be a bad idea.

Take your child's temperature regularly during this time. Taking the temperature orally is safest if your child is over four years of age. Under the arm is better for any child younger than four. If the fever lowering medication doesn't work, the fever persists, or the fever is unusually high, take your child to a doctor immediately.

Colds, Coughs, and the Flu

All kids get colds, most get coughs, and many get the flu (even if they've had the flu shot). These ailments are caused by common viruses, but being common doesn't make them any less irritating. Your child may expereince headaches, sore throat, sneezing, a runny nose, and general aches and pains. Many of these symptoms will abate with a little time, rest, and plenty of fluids. Some parents like to administer a medication designed to relieve these symptoms, but it's not strictly necessary. Keep the kleenex by the bed, serve warm foods that are easy to digest, and just be there. If your child is cold, get a blanket. If they're thirsty, give them ginger ale. In most cases, there aren't a lot of things you can do.

If the symptoms persist or get worse, a visit to the doctor is in order. And if your child is having trouble breathing, get to the emergency room. Breathing problems aren't something you should fool around with.

Though you generally can't prevent all illnesses, you can help your child cope with them. You can also teach your child to wash his or her hands frequently and avoid touching the eyes and nose. These practices will help prevent the spread of illness. Feed your child a decent diet and keep away from others who are ill. Prevention will help keep your child healthy and maybe even stop your child from contracting many of the illnesses floating around this winter.

You might also consider the annual flu shot if your doctor recommends it. My children don't get the shot, and they almost never become ill, but this is a decision for you and your doctor.

For more information, view this video:

Family Recipes: Sweet & Savory Oatmeal

Who didn't grow up on oatmeal? When I was a child, oat were a staple in our house. They could be prepared, becoming oatmeal, but we also sometimes ate them dry (do not ask me why; maybe we were horses in our past lives). They were delicious, but they were more than that. Oatmeal is also a superfood, though I wouldn't realize this until I became a fully fledged adult.

With high levels of beta-glucan soluble fiber, oat flakes help lower cholesterol (the bad kind) and protect kids' hearts. But oats will also help stabilize blood sugar level, helping to keep highs and lows at bay. For our family, the best thing about oatmeal is that it's a complex carbohydrate. This means kids will burn up the calories they gain from oats slowly, resulting in them being more alert and better behaved at school or at home. This, combined with how easy this simple recipe is to prepare, make this the perfect breakfast food.

So before reaching for the cereal every morning, consider throwing this sweet and savory oatmeal together.

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup oats
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ cup fresh blueberries (or any berry you enjoy)
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• maple syrup

Method

1. Put the water and the oats into a medium-sized pot, add the salt, and bring to a boil. As soon as boiling occurs reduce heat to low. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg, stirring well. Simmer this mixture, leaving it uncovered, until the oatmeal is soft. Stir occasionally so the oats don't all stick together.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Mix in the walnuts. You can really use any nut you like, substitute with a seed of your choice, or even skip this step altogether. You might also choose to use granola instead.
3. Divide the oatmeal into serving dishes. Top with blueberries (or another fruit; I like blueberries and raspberries) and drizzle with maple syrup. Serve immediately.

Oatmeal is incredibly versatile, so get creative. You might want to add cold milk, leave out the berries, use a different syrup, or use honey or brown sugar instead. The options are limited only by your imagination and personal tastes.

Family Recipes: Fun With Broccoli

Broccoli is a wonderfully healthy food. It's full of vitamin A and calcium, making it essential for building strong bones, but it does so much more. It helps eyes due to the zeaxanthin and lutein buried in the stalks and it boosts the immune system by means of beta carotene, zinc, vitamin C, and selenium.

The healthiest way to eat broccoli is either raw or steamed, but getting kids to eat it can prove a problem. When in doubt, try these tried and true favorites every parent should know about.

Broccoli Stir-fry

Heat a skillet or wok over medium-high heat and saute chopped onions and firm tofu (you can use diced chicken or turkey if you like). Add chopped broccoli and cooked rice. Brown is best, but any rice your kids like will do. Combine until warmed through. Remove from heat and add soy, tamari, or teriyaki sauce.

Broccoli and Cheese

This one is so easy it almost makes itself. Chop your broccoli into bite-sized pieces and steam. Place in a serving bowl and top with melted cheese. Cheez Whiz is probably the most common cheese to use, but you can use any cheese your kids enjoy. Mine like mozzarella, so experiment and find what works for you and your family.

Broccoli Frittata

This one is great if you have any leftover broccoli that you're trying to use up. Take four to six eggs and beat them before pouring into an oiled frying pan. Heat over low heat and top with chopped broccoli and grated cheese (any kind is fine). Keep this over the heat until the eggs are just set. Place under a broiler for two minutes to give the frittata a golden-brown top and serve immediately.

Broccoli Salad

This is my personal favorite and a great way to enjoy raw broccoli. Take your favorite lettuce (mine happens to be romaine) and toss with chopped broccoli, diced cucumbers, chopped red onions, and tomatoes. Drizzle with your favorite dressing and a little feta cheese. Both my boys will happily eat any salad with a little broccoli and some cheese, so they get their vegetables for the day, which can only be a good thing.

Get creative with broccoli and you'll find a delicious and nutritious snack or even a meal for your children and yourself. There are many ways to use this versatile vegetable. You're only limited by your imagination.

Can't get your kids to eat broccoli? Try this classic video and see if a Muppet can't convince them.