PlanetKid » Activities

The Power of P90X

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:27 +0000

I’ve long heard about how P90X is a great, body-transforming fitness program, but for years and years, I just never jumped on board — until now. Well, yesterday, to be exact, followed by a repeat today. I started with Yoga X (my mom swears by it), and I really like it. I mean, it was hard. hard. hard. but I’m mostly a fan of hard work (and a hard body) so I stuck with the entire 90-minute workout. I was sore today — but not I-can’t-sit-on-the-potty-sore — so I moved this morning to Kenpo X, which had me punching and kicking and jogging and jumping for about an hour. Also *like* — and I’d like to share with you that if you want to mix up your exercise regime, this is a super option. Running has always been my No. 1, but I’m thinking Tony Horton and his P90X might just rival the run!

Next Up: Valentine’s Day

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:44:13 +0000

The holidays never end. Seems once Halloween hits, it’s one right after the other, and, now, Valentine’s Day is on the horizon. If you’ve got school kids, that means parties and paper cards and treats. If you don’t have school kids, you might still want to plan something special for your at-home kiddos, and just in case you’re dry on ideas, there’s always Family Fun, a one-stop shop for crafts, activities, recipes, and more. The Family Fun crew features cute card ideas, terrific treats, and gifts galore! Check out all the goodness, then share your ideas for a love-ly Valentine’s Day!

Morning Mile Is Magnificent

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:33 +0000

There’s this really great program spreading through schools across the country, and it’s guaranteed to improve students’ overall fitness, energy levels, moods, and more. It’s called the Morning Mile, and if it’s not up and running at your kids’ schools, you should be the one to get the ball rolling. It’s easy to sign up, and all the materials you’ll need to get started will be sent to you or your school (including necklaces and foot charms for the runners who accomplish a certain number of miles!), and you’ll even have access to a nifty database for tracking the laps your kiddos run (or walk — walking is fine, too). It’s really a great program for all involved, and if you don’t believe me, just read more about the benefits of a little morning exercise!

Kid Travel Tools

Jacki Donaldson — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:41 +0000

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Are You Thinking New Year’s Eve?

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:48 +0000

New Year’s Eve isn’t all late nights, drunken parties, and lots of smooching. OK, well, there is a lot of that, but there are family-friendly options for ringing in 2012, too, and MapQuest is starting to roll out for young and old the hot spots across the U.S. and abroad. There’s Florida, and, specifically, Orlando, for example. And Boston and Paris and North Dakota, and if you keep checking back, you’ll find all sorts of cities, states, and countries popping up in the MapQuest Guide. And hey, if you know of a super event you don’t find featured here, leave a comment and tell all about it!

Half Marathon — Up to the Challenge?

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:09 +0000

I thought I would never run another half marathon, because I didn’t love the first one all that much. I mean, I DID love the accomplishment and all, it’s just that once was enough. Still, I’m headed for another one, all because my 10-year-old kid challenged me to run 13.1 miles with him, and how can I say NO to that? I can’t. And I won’t. So, starting TODAY, he and I embark on a 12-week training schedule. Want to join us from wherever it is that you live? We’d love the company! And just so you know, the race organizers of our event prefer kids to be 13 for the half, but they’ve approved him (he’ll be 11 on race day in February) — we just had to provide a doctor’s note. OK, so, are you in? We are!

Christmas Decorating — in November?

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:00:05 +0000

I know it’s not even Thanksgiving, and there are still a whole 11 days before the day of the turkey even arrives. Still, you might be already itching to put up your Christmas tree (OK, I might be itching to put up MY Christmas tree), but ~~you~~ I might have some reservations about the timing of it all. I mean, is it too soon? I tend to think not. I mean, if sparkly lights and stars and greenery wrapped around my front porch railings make me happy, then who cares, right? Are you with me? Will you decorate before your thankful feast? Or will you wait for December to roll around first?

Halloween Happenings

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:00:45 +0000

Halloween has in store for us two boys who will dress up for school — one will be a clown, and the other will be a nerd. There will be two classroom parties — one featuring caramel-apple making for 18 second graders, and one offering all sorts of treats and sweets served by costumed parents to 120 kiddos in the fifth grade. Then we’ll wind down and gear back up for evening trick-or-treating (even a pizza + costume party at a neighborhood clubhouse if we can get there on time), and, of course, there will be the annual sorting of candy at the end of the night. Bedtime should be fun since there will be school the day, but hey, it’s gotta be done because Halloween is fun! Now, tell us your plans for spooktacular celebrations!

Overnight Camping Kid

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:59 +0000

My kid left home. Well, just for a few days, in order to pursue an overnight camp adventure with all the other fifth-graders in his school. Two nights and three days, he’ll be gone, and it’s proving to be quite a profound experience for us at home. For one, it’s lonely — we really miss our big kid — and, two, it’s really fun for the little kid, who is loving all the solo parent love and attention. Three, I’ve realized I depend on the 10-year-old as a back-up alarm (he hops right up in the morning, dresses, reads, and I know that if I oversleep, he’ll come get me), and right now, I have no safety net. Four, we are absolutely thrilled that our oldest child has the chance to be totally independent and on his own. And finally, we hope he and his little bro both want to do a summer sleep-away camp, because they’ve both been resistant to participate in summers past, and maybe this intro to camp will be the push they need. It’s just been, overall, a great awakening for all of us. How about you? Have your kids ever left home?

Computer Kids

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:03 +0000

We’ve cycled through all types of computer interest here at our house — we’ve gone from none to some to completely over-the-top, and while my kids mostly like their iPod Touch and DSi contraptions at the moment, they do veer into the office for some computer time now and then, and I’ve got to tell you, we don’t let them tunnel too deep into the Internet. They get free reign at places like Disney.com and Lego.com, and they have access to some educational sites, too, but that’s about it. Just seems safest this way. How do you handle computer time?