8 Ideas for Keeping Kids Busy While Waiting in Line

Summer is almost near. While we dream of the perfect family vacation, the reality may be long lines or long car drives. Sometimes it's hard to find ways to entertain the kids away from the comforts of home. I have come up with a quick list of tips that will help you keep your kids happy and occupied, whether you're in a long line, in the car or the kids are just plain bored.

1. Teach your kids how to thumb wrestle. Remember thumb wrestling? It was loads of fun when we were kids. How to play: Wrap fingers of your right hand around the fingers of your opponents right hand, leaving your thumbs out; Chant "One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war"; Try to get the opponents thumb pinned down under yours. No using your other hand.

2. Play “I Spy, with my little eye”. The easiest way to do this is to say the color of the object. If you are playing this with younger kids, you can come up with different variations that enhance learning. For example, you can "spy" something that rhymes with ten (answer: pen), you can give extra clues to help them figure out what you are spying.

3. A great grocery store game is to try to find items for each letter of the alphabet. This can also be played on car trips or while waiting in line as long as you are surrounded by lots of letters.

4. Rhyming Games (think of all the words that rhyme with “bee”), think of as many words as you can that start with a certain letter.

5. Alphabet Categories. Think of a theme like first names and take turns thinking of first names for each letter of the alphabet. Once while waiting in a long line to get into a zoo, we tried to think of animals that started with each letter of the alphabet. That was difficult, but fun. Not sure if we finished before we got out of line.

6. Bring a pad of paper and a pen or pencil. Draw a squiggly line or a shape. Have your child finish the picture by drawing anything they want out of the mark you made. Then they can draw a squiggle and have you finish the picture. When you've finished your picture that they started, you can ask them what they would have made from the squiggly line.

7. Start a story with "Once Upon a Time...". Take turns adding on to the story. Have fun listening to your child use his/her imagination.

8. Talk to your kids. Have a nice conversation asking specific questions about their day or their dreams. You may have to prompt them. Ask about their favorite thing to do with Daddy, Mommy or Grandma. If they still won't talk to you, kids love to hear stories about when they were younger. Tell them about time when they spit up on a family friend and everyone laughed.

If you need more fun games to play with your kids, here are another blogger's ideas:

http://healthy-family.org/caryn/161

Many Schools Offering Georgia Pre-K Program Currently Accepting Registrations for 2009/2010 School Year

If you are the parent of a child who is 4 or almost 4, now is the time to start looking into options for Georgia's Pre-K program held at many schools and childcare centers in the state. Children who turn 4 years of age on September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010, whose parents are Georgia residents, are eligible to attend the Georgia Pre-K Program. Georgia Pre-K Program is voluntary for both families and communities.

Many public and private schools are currently accepting registrations for the free Georgia Pre-K program. It is a good idea to register at more than one school. Space is limited at each school and the demand is often high. The childcare centers typically offer Pre-K to current students and siblings first while public schools often give first priority to children who live within their zoning borders. Below I have a list of schools who offer the Georgia Pre-K in Fayette, Henry and Coweta counties with links to their sites where available.

It is important to find the school that is right for your child. Make sure you visit each school and get a level of comfort with the teachers and the classroom. I advise looking at the schools which are geographically closest to you first as bus service my not be available. Check the school's policies before you register. If you need after-care, it's important to know that not all schools offer after-care.

For more information on the GA Pre-K program go to the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

Fayette County Schools w/ GA Pre-K:

Adams' Little Peoples Complete Daycare, 547 E. Lanier Ave, Fayetteville, (770) 461-6613
Brooks Elementary, 119 Price Road, Brooks, (770) 719-8150
Crabapple Lane Elementary, 450 Crabapple Lane, Peachtree City, (770) 487-5425
Hood Avenue Elementary, 490 Hood Ave., Fayetteville, (770) 460-3560
Inman Road Elementary, 677 Inman Rd., Fayetteville, (770) 460-3565
Kids 'R Kids #14, 1241 Robinson Rd., Peachtree City, (770) 631-3400
Kids 'R Kids #39, 10 Lexington Pass, Peachtree City, (770) 631-3555
Kids 'R Kids #45, 95 Creekwood Trail, Fayetteville, (770) 719-9100
LaFayette Kid's World - Carnegie, 130 Carnegie Place, Fayetteville, (770) 461-7199
LaFayette Kid's World - Marquis, 125 Marquis Drive, Fayetteville, (770) 460-9149
LaFayette Kid's World - Tyrone, 115 Palmetto Rd., Tyrone, (770) 487-5567
North Fayette Elementary, 609 Kenwood Road, Fayetteville, (770) 460-3570
Oak Grove Elementary, 101 Crosstown Road, Peachtree City, (770) 631-3260
Peachtree City Elementary, 201 Wisdom Road, Peachtree City, (770) 631-3250
Primrose School of Peachtree City N. 400 Kedron Dr., Peachtree City, (770) 486-1404
RealKids Academy, 291 Jenkins Rd., Tyrone, (770) 969-7307
Robert J. Burch Elementary, 330 Jenkins Road, Tyrone, (770) 969-2820
Starr's Mill Academy Preschool and Childcare, 1361 Highway 74 South, Senoia, (770) 486-8399

Henry County Schools w/ GA Pre-K:

4 Ever Learning Academy, 689 Jonesboro Rd., McDonough, (678) 432-1809
Barrington Academy, 810 Flat Rock Road, Stockbridge, (770) 474-0772
Bright Star Learning Center @ Locust Grove, 655 Strickland Rd., Locust Grove, (770) 898-9500
Children's Friend #30, 1605 Highway 42 N., McDonough, (770) 954-1680
Concordia Early Learning & Preschool Academy, 5006 Hwy 155 N, Stockbridge, (770) 389-4668
Cornerstone Academy at Eagles Landing, 4075 Eastlake Pkwy, McDonough, (770) 957-3077
Cornerstone Academy of Lake Spivey, 700 Flippen Road, Stockbridge, (770) 474-5844
Discovery Point #32, 101 Monarch Village, Stockbridge, (678) 289-1005
Discovery Point at Stoney Brook, 94 Stoney Brook Way, McDonough, (678) 432-7029
Eagle's Landing P.R.E.P. School, 110 Northpark Trail, Stockbridge, (770) 389-9393
Eagles Landing Daycare and Learning Center, 420 Eagles Landing, Stockbridge, (770) 474-9301
Early Years, 1217 Leguin Mill Rd., Locust Grove, (770) 320-8220
East Lake Academy, Inc., 1924 Hwy. 155 North, McDonough, (770) 914-3811
Fairview Kids Academy, 2765 East Atlanta Rd., Ellenwood, (770) 474-1979
Frazier World, 171 Racetrack Rd., McDonough, (770) 957-7858
Hudson Bridge Day Care, 1801 Hudson Bridge, Stockbridge, (770) 389-0038
Jodeco Academy, 4250 Jodeco Road, McDonough, (770) 954-9353
Kids 'R' Kids #46, 1071 Jodeco Road Way, Stockbridge, (770) 389-1119
La Petite Academy - Fairview, 300 Fairview Rd., Ellenwood, (770) 474-1803
La Petite Academy - Highway 138 W, 925 Highway 138 W, Stockbridge, (770) 389-1003
Little House Academy, 2345 Mt. Carmel Rd, Hampton, (770) 707-1004
Locust Grove Academy, 84 Carter Lane, Locust Grove, (770) 898-4916
Luella Academy, 235 Walker Drive, McDonough, (770) 914-1933
McIntosh Trail ECDC, 217 Ridge St., Locust Grove, (770) 957-3524
Meadowbrook Learning Academy, 3198 Jodeco Road, McDonough, (770) 957-8365
My Child's Place, 432 Fairview Road, Stockbridge, (770) 474-2400
Superior Learning Academy, 99 City Square Blvd, McDonough, (770) 898-9817
The Sunshine House #64, 300 Eagles Pointe, Stockbridge, (770) 389-0856
The Sunshine House #68, 49 Woolsey Road, Hampton, (770) 210-7290
The Sunshine House #87, 1108 Bear Creek, Hampton, (770) 897-0603

Coweta County Schools w/ GA Pre-K:

Academy of Smiles, 80 Cypress Drive, Newnan, (770) 253-2147
All Stars Early Learning Center, 2493 East Highway, Newnan, (770) 252-5252
Arbor Springs Elementary, 4840 North Hwy 29, Newnan, (770) 463-5903
Arnco-Sargent, 2449 Highway 16 W, Newnan, (770) 254-2830
Bobby Welch Elementary, 240 Mary Freeman Rd., Newnan, (770) 254-2597
Bundles of Joy Achievement Center, 13 Saint John Circle, Newnan, (770) 253-6709
Canongate Elementary, 200 Petes Rd., Sharpsburg Local, (770) 463-8010
Carousel Early Learning Center, 127 Jefferson Street, Newnan, (770) 253-0806
Connie's Education Station, 2418 Highway 16, Newnan, (770) 251-1359
Discovery Point #28, 11 Market Square Rd, Newnan, (770) 252-2166
Discovery Point Child Development Center, 3052 Highway 154, Newnan, (770) 254-1880
Eastside Elementary, 1225 Eastside Schol, Senoia, (770) 599-6621
Grantville Elementary School, 5725 Highway 29, Grantville, (770) 583-2873
Jefferson Parkway School, 154 Farmer Industrial, Newnan, (770) 254-2771
Kids 'R Kids #37, 3025 Hwy 154 Bldg, Newnan, (770) 502-1777
Kids 4 Kompany Learning Academy, Inc., 615 Greison Trail, Newnan, (770) 502-9802
Moreland Elementary, 145 Railroad Street, Moreland, (770) 254-2875
Newnan Academy of Preschool & Child Care, 210 Jefferson Park, Newnan, (770) 253-6629
Newnan Crossing Elementary, 1267 Lower Fayette, Newnan, (770) 254-2872
Newnan Head Start, 80 East Newnan Rd., Newnan, (770) 253-0673
Poplar Road Elementary, 2925 Poplar Rd., Sharpsburg, (770) 254-2740
Senoia Kids Academy, 180 Village Cir., Senoia, (770) 599-4498
Thomas Crossroads, 3530 East Highway, Sharpsburg, (770) 254-2751
Wahoo Creek Academy, 161 Redwine Dr., Newnan, (770) 304-9897
Wee Steps Early Learning Academy, 2990 Poplar Road, Sharpsburg, (770) 252-8007
Western Elementary, 1730 Welcome Rd., Newnan, (770) 254-2790
White Oak Elementary, 770 Lora Smith Rd., Newnan, (770) 254-2860
Willis Road Elementary, 430 Willis Road, Sharpsburg, (770) 304-7995