Manatee
The eternal present
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My kid has a broken arm and shoulder, first week of summer vacation. Three days into this, and we have watched all the Pokemon cartoons existant, played every board game known to man, the A/C is cranked and the ice cream has been eaten. What now???
No swimming, no Comfest, no car rides, just sitting. A lot of sitting.
Any suggestions?
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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If they can't ride in the car, that would be tough. Is walking out?
Maybe head to the library and grab some books and make it a challenge. You might be able to hit up a dollar store or Big Lots for some cheap arts and crafts supplies. If you have an open field close to you (within walking distance) you could always go to a hobby shop and get some model rocket kits.
Core_Models
Columbus
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I believe Blockbuster rents video game systems ;)
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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When I was a sickly child these were the sorts of things that used to keep me occupied for weeks. WEEKS. I would get obsessive about them.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geek-kids/7-13-years/b13e/
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geek-kids/7-13-years/bcb5/
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geek-kids/3-7-years/b3d4/
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3098900&bhcd2=1245594363
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3151604&bhcd2=1245594299
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3081671&bhcd2=1245594539
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3151511&bhcd2=1245594751
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3089173&bhcd2=1245595026
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3039429&bhcd2=1245595077
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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oh... almost forgot an old CLASSIC: http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3052367&bhcd2=1245595305
ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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I suppose a lot will depend on whether it's her dominant hand that's injured.
I was book reader as a kid so there's that if she likes to read. Plus the sort of stuff Rockmastermike suggested
I suppose you could consider getting her the Dance Dance Revolution video game if you wanted. That really doesn't require your hands and keeps you active (plus it's fun and not seen by other kids as necessarily lame, unless that's changed.). But that could be pricey if you have to buy the game + pad + videogame system. Probably could be had total for less than 200 on ebay. They also have karoke games too I think if she likes to sing.
But other than that, a project would be good if she like building things or researching things. I did but not every kid does. I used to build model airplane kits and dinosaur skeletons. My grandmother used to make me garden.
Photography maybe? Art sets if her main hand is usable?
Nature hikes?
hard to say since I don't know the kid and I've never had a busted shoulder.
Anyway hope there is a usable idea in there somewhere for you. Hope she recovers quickly.
Manatee
The eternal present
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She can only use her right hand, and can't really walk around or move very much because it jostles her shoulder.
We watched some Marx Brothers today, she can draw, and also we are reading all the Magic Treehouse books.
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I am going to have to get ingenious to keep her from going out of her gourd with boredom.
I like the suggestion of getting her more involved with science while she is a captive audience :D
Frida Kahlua
a patio somewhere talkin' 'bout a revolution
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Last year, I impulsively entered a recycled art show...well, in the 11th hour, I had nothing, but as I was a barista at the time & had long looked for a use for espresso grounds other than compost, I fashioned a fine scupture of Kafka with coffee grounds, dryer lint, flour, salt & water, which I appropriatly named "Cofka" (He won an honorable mention :-))
So, while I now know coffee grounds are an unforgiving medium, I did come across a good project for kids...and since you are all about recycling, thought you & little one might be able to use this...
Crafts: Coffee Ground Fossils
Recycle old coffee grounds and create your very own fossils in this easy to make craft.
What you need:
- 1 cup of used coffee grounds
- 1/2 cup of cold coffee
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/2 cup of salt
- Wax paper
- Mixing bowl
- Some small objects to make impressions in the dough
- Empty can – get an adult to help you with this
Steps:
1. Stir the together the coffee grounds, cold coffee, flour, and salt until well mixed.
2. Roll the dough and flatten it onto the waxed paper.
3. With an adult’s help, use the can to cut out circles of the dough.
4. Press your objects firmly into the dough. When you take the object out, you have your "fossil". If you want to hang the fossil, poke holes into the edge to hold the string.
5. Let the fossil dry overnight and then hang it if you wish
*courtesy of Kraftskaboose.com
ps. I did also make a nice body scrub, but unfortunately it left shower looking like a crime scene... :-(
ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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Wow she must have really dinged it, that stinks.
Hmm you know what else she might like if she likes to sing (and I know I'm going to get laughed at for suggesting this)
microsoft's songsmith
| Get the Video Widget |
it's pretty hokey but I could see a kid liking it. Alright so it's very very hokey but I could still see a little kid finding it fun.
I suppose the real question would be whether you would be able to stand it, if your kid ends up liking it.
It's got a free trial version
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/songsmith/download.html
bummer is that only works for 6 hours of use, then it costs 29.95 for a permanent license I think
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Hey Mandy, if it helps, you're more than welcome to borrow our Wii for a couple weeks. There's quite a few sit-down single-handed educational games that can be found on the cheap ($8-$20):
http://www.amazon.com/Wii-Educational-Games/lm/R33BV3TOZ947PE
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
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That's really terrible, Mandy. My suggestion is that you should imbibe lots of adult beverages. Maybe you could introduce your little one to the joys of tasty, alcoholic drinks.
Just kidding.
As for ZHC's idea, I played with the Songsmith software a few months ago; it was a lot of fun. I ended up with something like the dinky version of the STAR WARS theme I used for my yard sale movie. Of course, this could drive you insane.
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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If it's the dominant arm that's out, use the time to get her proficient with the other arm/hand. Get the dart board out and practice. No college tuition to worry about when your kid can hustle darts for their tuition.
;) I'm evil...
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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lifeontwowheels wrote >> No college tuition to worry about when your kid can hustle darts for their tuition.
;) I'm evil...
on those lines it only takes one hand to learn blackjack and poker too... My great gramma taught me those when I was really young. Told me they would come in handy some day. She was right. Never too early to learn the laws of probability and the mathematics involved.
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