Entertaining yourself and the kids

**izzyscout21** · 11-24-2011, 05:32 AM

Moving this week got me to thinking.
My 2 year olds have been without Nick JR (i.e.: Dora, Diego, Yo Gabba Gabba, Olivia, and all those other toddler TV shows) for about a week now. We're going to be without cable until the beginning of the month.

Honestly, the kids are driving us crazy at this point. They want to watch Dora, and I have failed as a father. SHould have purchased dvd's of that annoying bilingual child.

Truth be told, If I wasn't busy unpacking, I'd be a little bored.

So, we get to the meat and potatoes. How do you plan to entertain yourself and your family? There's only so many games of Battleship I can play before I really sink the submarine down the john. My wife and I can only listen to each other talk for so long before she wants to kill me.

How do you plan on keeping your family from murdering each other?

**msomnipotent** · 11-24-2011, 05:46 AM

I have some sudoku books stashed away, and rechargeable batteries for my daughter's portable DVD player and games. I have a power inverter in the minivan so we can hook up the Wii to the DVD system in the there and recharge the batteries if needed. I also have some games like travel Simon, checkers, and what-not in a closet. Other than that, I think that our entire family will be too busy trying to make do if things like the cars and power grid are down long enough. I also buy some board games every Christmas that we haven't opened yet.

If all else fails and the grid is still up, I send her and the dog to Gramma's house.

**bacpacker** · 11-25-2011, 01:35 AM

No kids to entertain here. But we already play several games. Lots of various card games, Back Gammon/acey-ducey, checkers, monopoly, and my 2 personal favorites Risk and Chess.

We also have a lot of books, many of which haven't yet been read. We both have Kindle's and are in the process of loading them up with reading and educational material along with lots of PDF of various topics. I'm working on designing some kinda set up a small solar charger system for them and other battery powered gadgets, such as my comms gear and lighting.

**mitunnelrat** · 11-25-2011, 02:19 AM

Reading is one of my prime entertainment pursuits too. In fact, I just had a major score from a friend who's moving out of state, and got a ready made library (over 250 books) on various subjects from military and world history, US history, shooting sports and reloading, North American game animals and hunting, fishing, trapping... among a few other topics. I kept a few aside for now, but the majority will be boxed up for a more appropriate time. Its gonna be great reading through them.

I also have various board games, some card games, and books on different hobbies that can be taken up without electricity. No kids now, so hopefully this'll all work for a bit.

**Stg1swret** · 11-26-2011, 12:52 AM

i always was taught that fun should also be educational, games I played with my now adult children, were always geared that way. letter substitution games, crossword puzzels and other gamesof that nature. Try naming all the presidents, states and there capitals. Triva is also a big hit. Education and fun can go hand in hand.

**Evolver** · 11-26-2011, 01:36 AM

Drawing and coloring books are good and just a suggestion when you first start buying crayons don't buy the jumbo pack of 250 colors, just get two or three boxes that just have six or so colors that way they're not complaining that bobby/sally has the color that they want and as they get older give them more colors. Home made or bought dot to dots are good too. Jigsaw puzzles, Tic Tac Toe, Hang man, treasure hunts.

**Gunfixr** · 11-26-2011, 03:03 AM

Got lots of board games, got cards, other table top games that do not require anything electrical.
Plenty to read.
Hand crank radio.
Of course, our son is now 19, and our daughter is 13, so they don't require the constant attention that they used to. Our daughter can go to her room and occupy herself for hours.