Big Kid

Wondering how to keep your kids entertained all Summer? Stave off Summer boredom with these 10 fun and affordable activities recommended by Circle of Moms members.

1. Library Programs

Local library Summer programs are recommended by numerous Circle of Moms members. As Rebecca S. advises: "Libraries are always having free events with story times, magic shows, etc." And Evelyne R. shares: "I also love to take my children to the library, most of them have a Summer reading program that offers prizes for books read. My children love this and it is free."

2. Free Bowling

Free bowling for the kiddies all Summer long? Sign us up! Thanks to Kids Bowl Free, children can register for two free games of bowling every day this Summer at participating bowling centers in the US and Canada.

3. Gardening

Gardening is a great Summer activity for children of all ages. "The garden is full of hidden surprises" for preschoolers, says Jeanette B., as they can be entertained by "just looking under rocks (and) feeling the textures of different materials, such as grass, leaves, flowers, stones, [and] fir cones." For older children, Alissa V. recommends encouraging older children to independently make or redesign a small flower bed. No backyard? See if community gardens accept children as volunteers (try the ACGA locator tool). And don't forget a field trip to the local farmers market for inspiration.

4. State Parks

To engage curious kids, says Laurie W., "the best activities involve the outdoors — lakes, ponds, streams, conservation areas and trails — to explore rocks, bugs, birds, and plants." And as Chaya S. suggests, Summer is a great time to explore state parks in your area; many have kid-friendly guided nature walks and science centers.

Keep reading for six more ideas!

Not sure how to talk about sex with your child? Many moms recommend using a book to help explain how babies are made in an age-appropriate way. As Circle of Moms member Christina H. relays: "It gives us a starting point for the conversation and helps my husband and I tailor our answers to our son's level of understanding." No matter what age your child is, there are kid-friendly books out there that can help you explain the birds and the bees. Here, we've rounded up seven suggestions from real moms, starting with books for kids as young as 5 years old and moving up through the teen years. Keep reading to see their picks.

A 7-year-old's suggestion for gun control recently received a surprising response after it was brought to the attention of Vice President Joe Biden. 

Wisconsin second-grader Myles wrote a letter to the vice president a few months ago suggesting that guns shoot chocolate bullets to help make the nation safer, according to the Associated Press, via the Huffington Post. If his idea could be implemented, no one would get hurt, he explained. 

To the boy's surprise, Biden agreed. He recently sent a handwritten note, agreeing that, "If we had guns that shot chocolate, not only would our country be safer, it would be happier." 

Perhaps a chocoholic himself, Biden added: "People love chocolate."

Do you think yelling and being firm are the same thing? Many parents do. They believe in order to be firm, you have to yell. I believe yelling is yelling, and that firmness is authority in action and requires no yelling.

Ask yourself this: do you think there's a connection between the intensity of a parent's voice and how much learning a child is able to accomplish? I think there is. I believe less learning occurs when parents yell at their children.

There are others who agree with me. Nikki S remembers her childhood, "I was yelled at constantly as a kid and to this day I hate yelling, if someone yells at me it makes me want to hide."

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Verbal defiance from a toddler who is just beginning to test limits is relatively easy to take in stride, but many parents are unnerved when bigger kids talk back. As Circle of Moms member Amanda P. shares, it's not only irritating, but downright disrespectful: "My 7-year-old thinks he can smartmouth us whenever he wants, and that it's fine for him to be disrespectful, especially to me."

Seeking suggestions from the Circle of Moms community, Amanda asks, "What do you guys use for a disrespectful child? I don't want to sit back and do nothing only [to see] this escalate into something bad. Any advice?" 

First, take a deep breath so that you don't wind up arguing back, say our moms. Then, try these four tips for taming the sass.

The first day my child started school, he became the subject of the class bully's attention. Starting at school for the first time is nerve-racking enough for both parent and child, but to have that first day memory shredded by bullying is truly awful.

Keep reading.

Have you ever witnessed a child who constantly dominates a conversation, or a child who grabs objects out in public, even after being told not to touch? What about a child who just doesn't seem to know how to wait his turn? Are these kids "bad," or are they kids who need help learning how to control their impulsive natures?

Keep reading to find out.

Today, doctors are very cautious about recommending removal of the tonsils and adenoid because of throat infections. Still, as the American Academy of Pediatrics shares, the following conditions may lead your pediatrician to recommend a tonsillectomy and/or removal of the adenoid. 

1. Breathing problems. Swollen tonsils and an enlarged adenoid can cause a variety of breathing problems, including sleep apnea. If your child has sleep apnea, snores loudly, breathes loudly, or breathes mostly through the mouth instead of the nose, then your pediatrician may recommend removing his tonsils and/or adenoid. 
2. Recurring ear or sinus infections. Does your child have frequent sinus or ear infections? A swollen adenoid may be the root of the problem. In this case, your pediatrician may recommend surgery to remove only the adenoid.
3. Speech distortion. An enlarged adenoid can also alter a child's speech. If your child has a speech distortion, then your pediatrician may check whether the adenoid is enlarged and make recommendations accordingly. 
4. Frequent sore throats or strep throat. While removing the tonsils and adenoid is much less common than it used to be, pediatricians will sometimes recommend these procedures if a child has an excessive number of sore throats and infections such as strep throat. The Academy of Otolaryngology "recommends a cautious approach for children who have had fewer than seven infections during the past year, fewer than five per year over the past two years, and fewer than three annually over the past three years."
5. Lymph nodes stay swollen. One more sign your child may need surgery is if the lymph nodes underneath the lower jaw remain swollen for at least six months, even with antibiotic treatment.

The preceding information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

Despite tweens' resistance to chores, Circle of Moms members say that there are ways to get them to pitch in around the house. Whether you're hoping to teach yours the value of work or just need some help with the cleaning or laundry, here are some great suggestions on age-appropriate chores for 9- to 12-year-olds. 

Keep reading.