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Archive for the ‘Ultimate Activities’ category

UltimateMama wishes all of you a happy, healthy, and safe New Year!  UltimateMama welcomes in 2010 with a list of New Year's resolutions:

1. Try different kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Be exotic.  Spend the extra money to sample an interesting delight and expose your children to a greater variety of fresh food.

2. Read more (for yourself and your children).

3. Organize finances.  Establish a college savings plan, stick with it, and add money to it on a regular basis.

4. Take up a hobby that benefits you and your children (art, exercise, cooking, photography, etc.).

5. Plan all vacations for 2010 right now so that you and your family have something to look forward to every day.

6. Pre-plan meals for the upcoming week…every week.

7. Always shop with lists (grocery, retail stores, etc.).  Do not make impulse purchases.

8. Organize all closets, drawers, and bookshelves.

9. Introduce your children to different types of music.

10. Make a list of all the local places you have always wanted to visit and go with your family!

HAPPY 2010!

Cheers,

UltimateMama

UltimateMama is all about routine and when it gets broken with holiday school break she knows she must keep her little ones busy! Wherever you live, you can always find something fun and constructive to do with your children.  Both you and your young ones will love the bonding experience. 

A few ideas:

– Story time at your local public library or book store.

– Bake together — banana muffins are always yummy, easy and fun.

– Make a meal together (like pancakes, fancy sandwiches, or soup).

– Hit the museums you always wanted to go to but never had the time.

– Go to a toy train show or antique doll show. For all of you in the metro New York area, the New York Botanical Garden has a terrific train show. 

– See a ballet (The Nutcracker is fun for both boys and girls).

– Attend a musical performance.

– Create an art project that you would normally not do involving many messy supplies (such as paint, glue, glitter.  UltimateMama's children love to paint clean seashells that we collected in the Hamptons or Nantucket over the summer)

– Volunteer with your children at a soup kitchen or another worthwhile place.

– Visit friends you haven't seen in a while. Organize playdates with kids who do not attend the same school. 

– Go to an aquarium. UltimateMama loves The Maritime Aquarium in South Norwalk, CT.

– Have lunch at a pizzeria. 

– Arrange a tea party for dolls.

UltimateMama will be the first to admit that she doesn't sign her children up for EVERY class under the sun.  Although UltimateMama believes in exposing children to a variety of classes and activities she doesn't believe it should be done in one season.

Did you order your wedding cake without sampling it first?  Would you order a case of wine without trying a bottle?  Of course not.  So, UltimateMama advises you to ask for a trial or sample class before committing to a whole session or semester.  In this economic downturn many venues are more than willing to accommodate such a request. 

Think outside the box when it comes to exposing your child to classes.  Attend open houses, family days, and special events with your children to gage their interest level.  Examine the following to evaluate whether or not to sign your child up for specific classes:

– Teaching faculty:  Are they engaged? What is the teacher to child ratio?  Are they properly trained?

– Facilities:  Is it clean?  Is it large enough for the class size?  Is it safe?

– Pricing:  Do you pay per semester or per class?  Are there any discounts if you sign up additional siblings?  If your child joins a class mid-session do you only pay for the upcoming classes?

– Make-up Classes:  How many make-up classes are allowed per session?  Do the days/times of the make-up classes work with your family's schedule?

UltimateMama would have never thought to walk 25 blocks to attend a music class UNTIL she saw (and won) a GREAT package for a monthly family concert/class series at a silent auction fund-raiser.  The renowned music institution offered a series of classes that kids of any age could attend.  It was a home run for UltimateMama as the commitment was only once per month for 7 months and both children could actively participate.  UltimateMama was able to support a children's charity as well as expose her children to a variety of music!