| Cathy had a stressful day at work. After picking the | | | | coloring book and join them. Not only do they not |
| kids up from the sitter and rushing home to fix | | | | care about your skill, but they will love to turn pages |
| supper she longed to sit down with a glass of wine, | | | | on you just when you get going! Coloring can actually |
| put her feet up and watch some inane sitcom to | | | | be quite relaxing even for adults, along with another |
| relax her mind. | | | | easy to participate game... |
| Of course, Cathy has a four year old and a two year | | | | Puzzles: |
| old, so sitting around and relaxing are not a usual part | | | | Large, 25 piece puzzles will thrill anyone over one. |
| of her evening until well after the children are in bed | | | | Perhaps they are not at all able to work the pieces |
| and the supper dishes are cleared away. They | | | | themselves but they will happily slap a piece into |
| relentlessly beg her to play with them and when they | | | | position when you set it in place. Puzzles can also be |
| momentarily give up it is only to chase each other | | | | somewhat relaxing as they engage your mind in a |
| madly about the house, laughing (which turns to | | | | simple activity, thus switching off' your ability to |
| crying) and coming back to look for attention from | | | | concentrate on work or family stress. |
| mom. | | | | Clay: |
| The thing is, Cathy WANTS to play with her children. | | | | Whether you buy it or make it, playing with molding |
| With two young children she recognizes that their | | | | clay is another easy to participate game that can be |
| infancy is quickly disappearing and soon enough she | | | | very educational to your children as well as fun. |
| will be arguing with moody pre-teens instead of | | | | Having a few tools to work with makes your skills at |
| putting off happy, eager preschoolers. What is | | | | inventing less taxing. You do not need store bought |
| stressful is that Cathy doesn't know HOW to play | | | | toys made especially for clay, in fact your children will |
| with her children. | | | | likely find more enjoyment with cookie cutters and |
| Her daughters would love her to play dolls or chase | | | | other kitchen tools or items from the house. Your |
| them around but Cathy has neither the energy or | | | | children will learn colors, shapes, textures and even |
| imagination so late in the evening. However, there are | | | | counting and sorting similar shapes. |
| some easy options that Cathy and other parents | | | | The best part of all of these games is that they |
| may be forgetting. The following suggestions are not | | | | require the child's full attention which keeps them |
| only easy to do, but can actually be relaxing for you. | | | | occupied, does not place undo strain on your own |
| Coloring: | | | | imagination, and best of all they all require SITTING |
| If your child can hold a crayon then they will usually | | | | DOWN! |
| love mom or dad to get down on the floor with a | | | | |