If you have kids, you’re likely not celebrating the New Year at bars and clubs anymore. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have just as much fun, or even more fun, celebrating with your family. From having dinner together to making a fort, the fun ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve are endless. Here are some of our favorite, kid-friendly ways to celebrate.
Camp News
Year: 2020
Five Holiday Gifts Kids Can Make from Home
There’s nothing more meaningful than a homemade gift, especially when it comes from a kid. The joy and excitement kids feel when they can contribute to holiday gift-giving is heartwarming, and they often don’t realize how sentimental their gifts are to those who receive them. Whether your kids are looking to make gifts for a grandparent, classmate, teacher, friend, or you, there are plenty of inexpensive and creative ways for them to create the perfect gift.
What’s great about making gifts at home is that it’s both memorable and a way for kids to stay busy and tap into their artistic abilities. Better yet, gift-giving helps kids instill the true meaning behind the holidays. Get crafty this holiday season with these five kid-friendly gift ideas!
Personalized Calendars
A unique way for kids to show their appreciation is by making a personalized calendar. Custom calendars are a cute and practical gift as the new year approaches. The key is tailoring the calendar to the recipient. For instance, if the calendar is for your kids’ friends, include elements that are representative of their relationship. Best of all, there are countless ways to personalize calendars. Start with the following:- Add photos
- Choose a theme
- Put stickers on special occasions
- Use favorite colors
- Attach embellishments
Refrigerator Magnets
Have your kids upgrade their art into refrigerator magnets. Magnets are a small token of gratitude that can truly touch someone’s heart all year long. They’re relatively simple to make and will add some awesome decor to someone’s refrigerator. What’s more, you can repurpose unused items around your house. All you need is magnetic strips and a powerful adhesive like hot glue or gorilla glue. Try bottle caps, arrow clips, buttons, and photos. Whoever receives this gift will love this outside-the-box idea.Reindeer Chow
Put down the arts and crafts and head to the kitchen to make some delicious reindeer chow with your kids. Reindeer chow will surely satisfy someone’s sweet touch. On top of that, you can spend quality time with your kids’. Grab a jar, pick out your favorite snacks, mix them together, and pour melted chocolate all over. Most people prefer to use pretzels, Chex Mix, M&M’s, and cereal. It’s so delicious, you may just have to make some for yourself!Custom Cookie Tins
Cookie tins are a great way to share goodies during the holidays. Start with a blank cookie tin, which you can find at any crafts or container store for 5 to 10 dollars. Fill the tin with pre-made or freshly baked cookies, brownies, or candy. Then, get to decorating. Your kids can directly draw on the container, or they can draw on a sheet of paper and transfer it to the tin. Perhaps you’re looking for something even simpler—print out a picture or type out a message. Seal the tin with a clear coating spray and wrap it up! It’s that easy.Mason Jar Snow Globes
Here’s a new variation to the traditional snow globe: have your kids create mason jar snow globes filled with ornaments. Here’s what you’ll need:- Holiday ornaments
- Clear glue
- Glitter
- Water
- Mason jar (or old sauce jar)
- Hot glue
Join Frogbridge Day Camp for Endless Summer Fun
As the holiday season wraps up, many of us are looking forward to a fresh new year start. You know what that means—the countdown to summer time officially begins! All of us here at Frogbridge Day Camp are ecstatic to get out of our winter boots and into our wet suits for a fun-filled summer. If you don’t know who we are, here’s a quick rundown. Frogbridge Day Camp is located on 86 acres of pure bliss in the stomping grounds of Millstone Township, New Jersey. Since 1999, we’ve helped campers learn, grow, and experience the world in an inclusive and warm environment. One visit to our camp and you’ll realize that we’re the ideal match for your little one. We have countless programs and activities, both indoor and outdoor, that kids ages 3–15 can participate in. Don’t wait for a second longer to join us at Frogbridge Day Camp. Call (609) 208-9050 or complete a contact form today!Five Activities to Do with Your Kids During Christmas Break
Winter break is typically best spent traveling to see family and friends or celebrating with a fun Christmas family vacation. However, a trip away may not be in the works for your family this year. During the holidays, don’t despair when these uncertain times leave you with a house full of bored kids. There are plenty of ways to take full advantage of your break—you may just have to get a little creative!
Use these five original activities to keep both you and your children busy, sane, and accomplished this holiday season. Whether you’re working from home or not, these are activities you’ll surely want to carve out time to enjoy with your kids. No need to worry—spending the Christmas break at home can be productive, meaningful, and memorable for the whole family.
Decorate Your Home with All Things Jolly
There’s no better way to spruce up your home and occupy your kids’ time than with decorating. When your kids get to be a part of the decoration process, it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll get pumped up for the holidays. Who knows, it may end up becoming a Christmas tradition for you and your family. Plus, Christmas decorations don’t have to be expensive, and you can even spread the jolly into their bedrooms. For ideas on how to decorate your home, Christmas tree, and stockings, check out these simple Christmas arts and crafts for kids!Cook and Bake: The More the Merrier!
Cooking or baking is a great way to keep your kids entertained come Christmas time. This doesn’t mean you have to make gourmet meals, but you can show them how to make your favorite holiday dishes and desserts. Not only will this get them cooking at a young age, but it will also instill comfort and happiness with food and the holidays. It’s the perfect time to bond and share family recipes or stories while preparing something delicious for your family to enjoy. Of course, kids love making a mess and mixing all sorts of things together, but we’re sure their favorite part will be seeing the masterpiece they helped create. Look over these easy Christmas recipes for you and your kids to make:- Chocolate dipped candy canes or pretzels
- Homemade hot chocolate
- White chocolate–covered Chex mix and cereal
- Gingerbread cookies and houses
- Red and green mashed potatoes
- Candy cane shaped pizza
Wrap and Make Gifts Together
Gift-giving is so special, especially when it’s homemade and unique. Receiving a gift from a kid is even more heartfelt. Whether your kids want to make gifts for their friends, grandparents, cousins, or other family members, all you need is some construction paper, markers, crayons, and colored pencils. There’s not much else to it! They can even repurpose some old things laying around the house, such as picture frames or shoe boxes. If you bought gifts, you can have your kids help wrap them or even make custom wrapping paper.Participate in Local Christmas Activities and Events
Christmas-time snow calls for outdoor fun and adventures. Gather up your skis, snow tubes, and sleds for an action-packed day in the cold. End the night with a warm cup of hot cocoa and smores. Load your family in the car and drive around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights and decorations. Drive to town to go pick out a Christmas tree together. Or, perhaps your town is hosting safe and socially distanced events for the community. Whatever the case, many of these activities are only around for the season, so don’t miss out!Watch Your Favorite Christmas Movies
Watching Christmas movies is the ultimate way to indulge in the holiday spirit without breaking the bank. If your kids have their favorite Christmas movies, pick out a few and watch them on the weekend while enjoying some of the freshly baked meals you made together. Or, you can share some of the Christmas movies you watched as a child. Luckily, there are tons of Christmas movies to choose from. Some of the best Christmas movies for you and your family to watch, both traditional and modern-day classics, include:- Home Alone
- A Christmas Story
- Elf
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Frosty the Snowman
- The Polar Express
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
Countdown to a Summer Spent at Frogbridge Day Camp
Christmas time is almost here! Before you know it, the next major event your child will be counting down to is the summer vacation season. Unfortunately, planning activities with your child for three long months is not an easy undertaking. Why not let an experienced summer day camp take over for you? Don’t miss out on the chance to give your child the best summer ever at Frogbridge Day Camp in Millstone Township, New Jersey. Frogbridge Day Camp is the best of summer day camps in Central New Jersey, complete with indoor and outdoor activities designed to give your child the opportunity of a lifetime. We’ve begun 2021 summer day camp registration and tours, so when you’re ready, come discover the Frogbridge Difference today by calling (609) 208-9050 or completing a contact form.How to Host a Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner is stressful. People wake up at the crack of dawn to start cooking the turkey, all while trying to prepare the sides that need to be ready a few hours later. Add a few children into the mix, and the scene could easily make even a world-class chef overwhelmed. Here are few tips for hosting a kid-friendly Thanksgiving, with everything from picky-eater-approved foods to keeping the kids entertained.
Serve Kid-Friendly Foods
There’s no denying that kids are picky eaters. After an entire morning and afternoon of playing, they may not be in the mood to try unfamiliar foods. With so many delicious items like turkey, potatoes, and stuffing, kids may just want a simple peanut butter and jelly. To keep with the holiday, cut the sandwich into the shape of a turkey. Some other kid-friendly foods to have at your Thanksgiving dinner are:- Mac and cheese: Mac and cheese is a classic kids food. Adults love it, too. But when making it for kids, simply make it from a box. Kids love it when the noodles look like their favorite characters.
- Turkey nuggets: Turkey may not be your kid’s favorite, but chances are you’re cooking one on Thanksgiving. Instead, cut some turkey into small pieces, cover in bread crumbs, and bake.
Have a Kids Table
Keep the adults at one table and let the kids have fun at their own table. Place a large sheet of paper on the table, provide crayons or markers, and let the kids color. They’ll finally be able to fulfill their dream of coloring on the table. Plus, it keeps your nice tablecloth mess-free. You can also buy Thanksgiving-themed paper plates to avoid one of your fancier dishes accidentally getting broken.Kid-Proof Your House
Kid proofing your house will go a long way in creating a kid-friendly environment. Remove anything breakable well before guests start arriving. Close or block off any areas that you don’t want curious kids wandering into.Keep Kids Entertained
Thanksgiving is a time for family to come together and catch up on everything that happened throughout the year. To children, however, it’s a long, dull day. Keeping them entertained before dinner is critical to ensure they don’t act out. Here are a few ways you can keep your kids busy while dinner is cooking.Play Games
Before your guests arrive, pick out a few board games for the kids to play. Monopoly, Connect 4, and Candyland are classic games, and the adults can join in on the fun too.Watch Movies
When inviting your family over, tell them to bring one of their favorite movies. Once everyone arrives, let the kids decide what film they want to watch. Make some popcorn, and they’ll be busy for at least two hours.Create a Scavenger Hunt
Put together a list of items for kids, or adults, to find throughout the house. Items could be food, decorations, or everyday objects. The person who finds the most by dinner can have first dibs on dessert.Let Kids Help
A sure-fire way to keep kids entertained is to let them help with the festivities. They can help set the table or stir ingredients with you. You could even trust older kids with cooking a dish or dessert. Children who feel like they have an important role to play are less likely to act out.Discover the Great Outdoors With Frogbridge Day Camp
While it may be challenging to keep kids entertained during the winter months, it’s easy to keep them entertained during the summer at Frogbridge Day Camp. Across our 86 acres, our campers enjoy fishing, archery, swimming, zip-lining, and rock climbing. If you’ve never experienced the wonders of Frogbridge Day Camp, we invite you to schedule a personal tour. All tours are private, with one family at a time, following all recommended protocols such as social distancing and face coverings. To schedule a Frogbridge Day Camp tour, call our office at (609) 208-9050 or complete our online contact formtoday.Top Nature Activities to Get Through the Pandemic as a Family
While the school year starts back up the same as it does every year, things aren’t quite back to normal. Sending your kids back to school while COVID-19 continues to spread requires a shift in the way things are done. One thing that makes getting through the pandemic easier is the extra time spent with family and getting outside to enjoy the great outdoors. Nature has a calming effect on adults and children, and few things are more fun than exploring all that nature has to offer together as a family.
An increasing number of studies have pointed to the considerable benefits that a good dose of Vitamin-N (for nature) has on the body. Lower stress levels, better focus, a more positive attitude, and more. Below, we lay out some of our top favorite nature activities to help you and your family get through the pandemic—all while social distancing—to help make the best of a difficult situation.
5 Nature Activities to Enjoy as a Family While Social Distancing
1. Find a Favorite “Sit Spot”
Like it sounds, a sit spot is a place to sit, be still, and observe nature. Leading nature educator, Jon Young, recommends that adults and children discover a special place outside, whether it’s under your favorite tree in the backyard, in your garden, or a nearby creek. You can get all the benefits that nature has to offer without spending a dime. All you need is some time to reap the benefits of connecting with nature and reducing that sense of isolation. A sit spot could mean building a den, fort, treehouse, or any place that could help boost creativity and provide an outdoor comfort zone for kids.2. Camp Out in the Backyard
You can still get the sense of adventure from sleeping under the stars or in a tent without leaving home! If you don’t have a tent, try getting extra imaginative by having the kids make their own tent with poles, sticks, and blankets. Urge them to stay outside as much as possible for the night and only go inside when necessary. Break out some binoculars or a telescope to turn the backyard into an observatory—watch birds and bats as the sun goes down, or see if you can spot your favorite constellations. Don’t have a backyard? Try pitching a hammock or blowing up an air mattress on your porch to provide the same change of scenery close to the outdoors that your kids will surely love.3. Plant or Adopt a Family or Friendship Tree
Whether you live in a densely populated city or a quiet, rural neighborhood, you can plant a tree or adopt one on a special occasion and watch it grow together. Planting trees is not only good for the environment, but nurturing nature sends a positive message to kids. Watch how much growth can come with a little time and care, and keep track of the changes through notes and pictures every week. It can be something special to share as both the tree and your kids grow over the years.4. Go on a Hike or Exercise Outside
While national parks may not be the best option to maintain safe social distancing, there are plenty of scenic, less-crowded trails to hike in New Jersey that the whole family will enjoy. Nature parks closer to home will have fewer visitors and still offer the excitement of getting out of the house along with a healthy Vitamin-D dose. Adding games to your family hikes is an excellent way to help younger kids get excited about hitting the trail. For example, you can try playing “Walk this Way” by imitating different animals along your hike or bring walkie talkies to pretend you’re on a jungle exploration. Encourage leadership skills by having your children take turns leading the hike, walking in front, and setting the pace.5. Watch Wildlife Up Close Through a Lens
On the days when you can’t get outside to enjoy the great outdoors, you can still have a taste online. The National Conservation Training Center and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have an eagle cam to watch live footage of a bald eagle’s nest up close and personal that’s truly remarkable. You can find various online nature cams to watch birds, dolphins, panda bears, and many other animals through different aquariums, zoos, and wildlife refuges throughout the country. Even though it’s through a lens, watching live animals in their habitat can spark your and your kids’ creativity and imagination!86 Acres of the Great Outdoors at Central New Jersey’s Frogbridge Day Camp
At Frogbridge Day Camp, there are countless outdoor activities for every child’s interests across our 86-acre facility. We are proud to offer activities not commonly found elsewhere, from traditional sports to adventure sports, arts, crafts, and aquatics. If you’ve never experienced the wonders of Frogbridge Day Camp, we invite you to book a private tour for you and your family to explore our facility. Tours are private for one family at a time to keep safe social distances, and all safety protocols are followed. We would love the opportunity to welcome your family to ours! Call our office to schedule your tour today at 609-208-9050 or complete our contact form online.Best Hikes to Go on with Kids in Central New Jersey
As autumn fast approaches, there’s no better time to get the family out in the great outdoors for an easy hike or nature walk. Hiking with kids can be an exciting experience and a great way to exercise and breathe fresh air. With a little research, a picnic of kid-friendly snacks, and allotted breaks to rest those little legs, you might be surprised at how much fun both you and your kids have as you explore the best flora and fauna the Garden State has to offer!
At Frogbridge Day Camp, our favorite areas to explore, especially with beginner hikers, are nature centers, trails, and parks throughout Central New Jersey. These trails are a great introduction with a variety of manageable parks that are less rocky than the northern parts. This time of year, hikes in Central New Jersey boast forests awash with fall colors, rolling hills, farmlands, and boardwalks across salt ponds and marshes. In this blog, we share some of our favorite hiking trails to go on with kids to have an outdoor adventure right here in Central New Jersey.
Practically in Frogbridge Day Camp’s backyard lies the 450-acre site of Clayton Park. Perfect for enjoying the fall foliage, this park is known for majestic red and white oak, ash, beech, and birch trees that create a beautiful backdrop throughout your hike. This rustic area is nestled in the rolling wooded hills surrounding the best of New Jersey farmlands. You’ll find six miles of hiking trails along Doctor’s Creek that’s not just perfect for a hike but also a favorite for family bike rides.
Clayton Park, Monmouth County