Have Fun! Tips

Contest Rules

When entering a contest on the net, be sure to read all the rules very carefully. Many contests do not allow children to enter. Others require you to do something special to win. If you don't follow all the rules, you cannot win.

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Birthday Party Games

Who wants an ordinary birthday party? Try these ideas for great party ideas:

Arts and Crafts Parties Lots of craft ideas, theme invitations and more. Surf with a parent.

Billy Bear's Birthday Make your own invitiations, decorations, cakes and more.

Birthday Party Games Find some goofy games for indoor and outdoor parties.

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Paper Airplanes

Your parents don't want you online all day, so while you are on, find something you can do later. Paper airplanes are a great choice. Not only are they art, but you can also learn a lot about science by making, testing and flying these planes. Try these sites for some great ideas:

Paper Airplanes This site shows you the basic paper airplane with tips for having fun.

Build the Best Paper Airplane in the World This paper airplane is popular with seven-year-olds. There are actual photographs to help you build.

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Marbles

Marbles are fun to play, and not too expensive. Don't let anyone talk you into playing for keeps,though. That is gambling and just plain stupid. Remember, the kid who wants to play for keeps is really good or he wouldn't offer. If you are really good, don't play for keeps either. Taking another child's marbles is a lot like stealing. If you make someone sad, you won't have any fun. Also...their parents will probably get really mad. So, just play for fun. Visit these sites to learn more:

Marbles This article talks about marble playing in the old days. How could you tell a good player from a bad one-before he even started to play?

Kids Ark The history of marbles, basic rules and information on the international championships.

Land of Marbles This is the best marble site I've found. It has lots of illustrations to show you how to play and score your games.

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Homemade Paint

It's great when a craft can be completely your own. Making your own fingerpaint lets one craft turn into two. Try these simple recipes-but don't eat them!

Non-Toxic Finger Paint This recipe lets you make your own paint-and even grow your own dye. Do you know how to grow purple?

Recipes for Making Fingerpaint This one offers several choices, in case you don't have one of the ingredients.

Be sure to check with your parents before making any of these recipes.

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Homemade Placemats

Placemats are a great way to help decorate your house. They also make great gifts for parents and grandparents. Try this site to get some great ideas:

Placemat Leaf Rubbings Use leaf rubbings to decorate this Thanksgiving craft.

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Homemade Clay

Most kids love to play with clay, but it can be expensive if you use a lot of it. It is very easy to make your own, however. Just be sure you clean up when you are finished-clay is messy! Try these recipes for your own clay:

Homemade Playdough: This is the basic recipe. You can add food coloring, but you can't eat it.

Peanut Butter Playdough Okay, this time you can really play with your food. This playdough is edible if you stick to the recipe.

Modeling ClayThis site has several good recipes for clay and some don't need cooking. Check with an adult before you make anything!

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Magic Tricks

Magic tricks are a good way to entertain your friends or your siblings. Before doing a trick for others, be sure to practice it as much as possible to be sure it works every time. Work out the words you are going to say also. The showier the better! Try these pages to astound your friends.

Simple Magic These tricks use every day items, so you won't have to spend all your money.

Conjuror Website Surf with a parent. There are tricks for beginners on this page, as well as links to pages for more advanced magicians.

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Cooperation Games

Sometimes it can be very tricky to learn how to work together. When you and your friends have a big job to do, think about what each person is good at. Make sure you are really a team and not a bunch of people going in different directions. Talk about what you are doing. Try these pages to learn games that help you practice cooperating:

ACS NESA 2000 Cooperative Games This site is from a school and has some fun games with photographs that you can use to practice your teamwork. These use simple tools like balloons and socks.

Outdoor Adventure Activities This site is for adults, making it good to show your club leader or teacher. Learn to work together and to trust each other. Surf with an adult.

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Kites

Kites have been popular with children for centuries. You can buy them very inexpensively, or you can even make your own. Here are some sites for the serious kite-flyer.

20 kids + 20 Kites This set of directions is so easy that twenty kids can make and start to fly 20 kites in twenty minutes!

Kenyan Kids Fly Kites to Spread the Green Word This article tells how some children in Kenyan are using kites to teach others about the environment.

Kites and Kite-Flying This site will show you the history of flying, some cool kite photos and help you become an expert kite-flyer.

Newspaper Kite Short on cash? This kite only requires newspaper, tape and scissors!

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Pokemon

Most kids know more about Pokemon than they do George Washington. If you can't get enough, try these sites for extra fun:

DLTK's Pokemon Crafts for Kids One of the top Pokemon sites for kids. Your mom says quit playing the game but you can't bear to stop with the Pokemon? Try these crafts for offline fun.

Parents Guide to Pokemon Do your parents think Pokemon games are a waste of time? Send them here to find out what you are learning when you play.

The Official Pokemon Page Surf with a parent-this has a lot of downloads and sales. Get a Pokemon browser, download a game, read the news and more.

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Build a Snowman!

Winter doesn't have to be boring. You can build a snowman...snowbird....snowcat...whatever interests you. Here are some sites that will make you an expert:

Build a Snowman This site was made by kids, so you know it's good! Step-by-step directions with pictures.

Learn2 Build a Snowman This site even tells you how to dress for the job. It's not just for kids, so surf with a parent.

BlackDog's Build a Snowman: If you live in a warm place, try this online site for building a virtual snowman. Watch out for the hungry bird!

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Learn to Play the Piano Online

Learning to play an instrument takes a lot of work. However, if you are willing to work very hard every day, you can take piano lessons over the net for free. This will only make you good enough to play for fun. You need lessons if you think you would like to do this professionally. Here are some sites to get you started:

Piano on the Net This site has lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Requires Apple Quick time and Java.

Piano Education Page This site has over 600 pages of help for piano students, including tips, advice on playing the piano, a kids'page that has interviews with famous composers, and lists of competitions. You can also read this page in Spanish.

Piano Lessons Another site with free online lessons for beginners, including quizzes.

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Elephant Jokes

What's gray and goes around and around? An elephant in a washing machine.

Ummmm....these are funny? Well, most kids think so anyway. For jokes your friends will love and your parents will hate, try these jokes:

Jokes AAAHA A whole page of silly elephant jokes. The joke I told at the start of this tip came from this site.

Kids Kazoo
Ask your parents to check out this site first. Some of the jokes are a little violent.

Saint Cronan's School
A long page of elephant jokes from children at a school in Northern Ireland. While you're there, click the links to learn more about where they live.

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Jacks

Have you ever played jacks? You can buy a simple set for a dollar or two and they are small enough to carry in your pocket. They're great to play on a rainy day or one that is too hot for running around. You just need jacks, a jack ball, and a hard, smooth surface. Here are some sites that give you rules for games to play with them:

Jacks The basic rules and one fancier version.

Ehow to Play Jacks Step-by-step instructions with pictures. Surf with a parent-this leads to non-kid sites.

Game Cabinet Basic rules and some ways to play different versions. This isn't just for kids, so surf with a parent.

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Homemade Puzzles

Do you love doing jigsaw puzzles but can't find the right pictures? Maybe the puzzles are too easy? Try making your own puzzles instead. It isn't hard or expensive. Try these sites to get ideas:

Jigsaw puzzlesThese puzzles are made from your own drawings and use things you probably have around your house.

Rainy Day Puzzles You might have to do a little shopping before you make these puzzles. They use old greeting cards, so be sure to save your cards when they arrive.

Puzzles in Early Childhood Education This page is for your parents. It explains what you learn when you do puzzles-just in case you have to talk them into letting you make these puzzles.

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Learn to Read Music

Before you can play an instrument or sing in a choir, you need to know how to read music. If you can't get a teacher, you can easily teach yourself with a little help from the net.

Introduction to Reading Music This site has a series of lessons on reading music. They promise that it isn't hard.

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Sports

Sitting in front of a computer all day isn't healthy, so use the net to find some ways to get out of the house and play. These sites can help you learn to play great sports:

The Locker RoomSports for Kids Trying to figure out the rules of your favorite sport? Need to stretch before you play? Having trouble with your coach or the other kids on the team? This site can help.

Sports ID.com: Sometimes just reading the rules isn't enough. You need to see for yourself how it's done. This site has videos of sports skills using famous athletes.

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Scooters

It seems like every kid has wheels now-the little ones you find on scooters. Having your own wheels, though, is a big responsibility. Did you realize that many children are seriously hurt because they weren't careful? You could even be killed. Wear a helmet, ride where it's safe and learn the rules. Check out these sites for more:

How to Choose a Scooter Safety starts with choosing the best scooter. These tips are from the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

A Push for Scooter Safety Would you die for a scooter? Several children already have. Find out why scooters are dangerous and how to protect yourself.

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Television Violence

Kids today see a lot more violence on television than ever before. Some people are worried that this is bad for kids. Does watching bad things happen on television regularly hurt you? The internet can help you learn about violence on televion and to control how much you see. Try these sites to get started:

I Want My NTV! This means non-violent television. This site by kids explains why it is so dangerous for you to watch violent programs on television. It takes a while to move through the site, but the information is good.

Children's Television is a column written by a teenaged boy. He helps children and parents figure out if a show is appropriate for them. He will warn you of the violence, swearing and other problems a children's show has. Check his bi-weekly reviews before watching a new program.

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Harry Potter

You've waited and waited and waited for the new Harry Potter movie. It's almost here-due out in November. In the meantime, it is possible to get a sneak peek at the movie by visiting this site for trailers, teasers and information:

Harry Potter Homepage This is the official site. View the trailer without going to a theater, enroll at Hogwarts and be sorted, catch up on the news, see pictures from the movie and more. This page is slow loading due to all the graphics and animation, so be patient. Surf with a parent-there is a lot to buy here.

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Slumber Parties

Planning a slumber party? Be sure to plan things to do. When kids get bored, they tend to get into trouble. Try these sites to get some great ideas:

Game Kids Sleepovers

Sock it to Me, Tidal Wave, and Food Captives are some of the games here designed just for giggly slumber partiers.

Game Girl

This site is meant for parents, so ask them to surf with you. Games include Junk Food Frenzy and a No-Mirror Makeover.

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Rug Rats

These are the funniest babies in town-so cute even an adult will watch them play. Try these sites to learn more:

Elise's Rugrats Page This site has contests, art work, fan fiction, postcards and more. There is also a chat room, so surf with a parent.

Cooltoons Rugrats There is a lot to do on this site. Print off coloring pictures, create a choose your own adventure story, learn art history, and play games. Surf with a parent.

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Homemade Bookmarks

Do you love to read but hate to turn down the corner of your books? It's easy and inexpensive to make your own cute booksmarks. Use some cardboard or ribbon and decorate them with comics, drawings, fabric or anything else you like. Try these sites for more ideas:

Bookmark Craft Project This bookmark uses old greeting cards-surf with a parent because of ads.

Rainy Day Crafts You can add sequins or lace to these cardboard bookmarks.

Mitten Bookmark Craft This is a really cute bookmark that makes a nice gift.

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Lego Building Toys

Lots of kids love to build with Lego toys. You can build what's on the package, but lots of times it's more fun to think up ideas on your own. This builds your imagination and keeps you from getting bored with the toys. Here are some sites to tell you more. (Surf with an adult-these sites want to sell you things or aren't just for kids.)

Official Lego Homepage You have to register to play some of the games here. You must be 13 or older to get the newsletter, so your parents should sign up for you if you are younger. Play games, shop for Legos and more.

Heiner Berg's Web Page Check out these photos of his train and monorail creations! Not just for kids.

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Being a Teenager

It can be pretty overwhelming to become a teenaged girl. The web can help you figure out the confusing world of teen girls. Try these sites to get you started:

Teenaged Girls: This column by a teen is aimed at younger girls and is usually in a journal style. Find out what real girls think about.

GirlStart This program was started by a young woman who wanted girls to learn about math, science and technology. For the smart side of being a girl.

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Invisible Ink

Do you love the invisible ink in the Harry Potter books? If you learn how to make invisible ink, you and your friend can pass secret messages to each other. Remember not to write on anything that you shouldn't write on-get permission first. Try these sites to find the recipes:

Harry Potter's Invisible Ink This site has a great recipe and also links to other Harry Potter fun, including instructions for inventing your own version of backyard Quidditch.

Invisible Ink This involves grape juice, so ask your parents first. Grape juice can really stain!

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