The Picklebum challenge

Sometimes the gang is wonderfully busy at home, in the garden, in the rooms, with the dough or the puzzles or the snacking. Sometimes the tv is on and they are very busy watching Ben 10 or Barney or whoever's won that round. Sometimes we're in limbo. There's in-fighting maybe, the house is being turned upside down, we're tired and none of us feels like another book.

It's for those times, that something like this, the 10 minute pre-schooler challenge, will be my best thing.

Kate of Picklebums (love that name!) came up with the challenge to change the tone, break the cycle "before you lose it completely". Not that we ever would, of course. But I love the idea of calling out "challenge time! Callenge time!"

And here are Kates  ten challenge ideas suited to preschoolers:

1. Build a zoo/house/robot out of….
2. Draw a map of..
3. Make up a dance to..
4. Run to the big tree/fence/light pole…
5. Hop ten times, turn around twice, jump three times…
6. Pick up 20 things off the floor…
7. Find as many yellow things as you can…
8. Collect 5 leaves, 10 sticks, 2 feathers…
9. Sing as many animal/car/dinosaur songs as you know…
10. Build the tallest tower/longest line…

Son loves a challenge, we know this about him. Pixie loves being allowed to do fun stuff with her brother and mom. And mom likes a constructive game. So win win win.... I'll let you know how it all goes off.

Also on Picklebums: 6 simple playdough activities, ice painting and tons of other refreshing ideas I've been inspired by so far. This is a good blog to bookmark mums and one worth re-visiting regularly on our quest to master cool, calm and creative parenting!