entertainment on the cheap!

Looking for a new way to keep the kids happy these holidays?  Sick of the "bored" whines?  Look no further then your local car repair shop!

The highlight of our day was a trip to our repairman to get our tires changed over.  With a friend in tow, it was 4 kids and me.  They were so excited to be going to see how someone could change a tire, it was so much cooler then going to the movies or the hot pools (ok, so they didn't have those options as alternatives, but still - they were all excited to get in the car!).

First up on the performance list of tricks was the tire jack.  The coolest invention ever, had all the girls gasping as they watched the car move up.  They all commented that it would be scary if they were still in the car.  When the car bounced as it came back down it was like the coolest encore ever.  I think Lance felt like a celebrity!






Next up was - the safety line.  The perfect practice beam for those gymnastics tricks had all four kids amused (although the repair man was a bit nervous as they walked the fine line of safety!) for ages.









And just as they started to get restless (10 minutes turned into 45 minutes), mummy whipped out the kids ipod, her iphone and their brand new tablet ....keeping four children still has never been easier.  What DID kids do in a waiting room before these things were invented?  Oh right, whine!


...And that brings me to my next topic of the day.  This entertainment source is not quite as cheap as a trip to the mechanics, but about $100 cheaper then a leappad2. The kids saved up for 6 months each for this toy!  Here is a formula to make your own "kid tablet":

Take one cheap tablet purchased on a 'one day sale' (this one was $99).

• Install "Kido'z" to make it completely safe for kids to use without them changing settings, surfing the net, hitting ad buttons, deleting apps or going shopping.   
• Download as many free (or $2) apps as you want to from Google Play.   (In comparison, leappad games are $35 each!)
• Set up Kido'z pages for each kid with age appropriate games and/or websites that you choose.  Add time limit option for bonus 'good mum' vibes.  
• Let the kids loose.  They can't get out of Kido'z once they are in it. Because only you know the password to turn this funky toy back into a boring old tablet.  
• Guaranteed to make kids happy.  And you can go have that coffee in peace.  Or read my blog.  Or whatever!  
  
   Oh, and watch out.  Some of these kids games are rather fun.  I admit to having a few sneak plays at Doctor Panda hospital and I may admit that I am now a proud owner of a "Pou" just like my girls.  ( They wanted to explore the friend option, and I was just impressed I didn't need to sign them up to some social networking site to do it.  So now our Pou's are best friends and can 'visit' each other.)  I know I am not the only mummy out there who owns one because the nickname "mummys_pou" was already taken.  Great mummy's think alike...or just secretly wish these things were around when we were kids! 

PS - For my parents....YES! I did jump on the tramp with Luke for half an hour this morning and we went on a huge long walk/scooter ride yesterday together.  All in balance here ;)