How to Play Kick the Can and Quick Tips for Busy Parents in Friday’s Fast Five 31st Edition

Building a stronger, happier family is at the top of most parents’ list. However, we are busy! These weekly Fast Five ideas and tips are a quick way to brainstorm, check-in, and create the family relationships you really want. This week’s Fast Five includes how to play Kick the Can, a little lesson about chores, a simple service idea, and more. Happy Friday!

* These ideas are NOT meant to be a checklist or guilt trip of things we “should do.” Rather, they are intended to inspire you to find what works for YOUR family to learn, laugh, and love together. Remember to stick to the Simple Side of Parenting.

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What is Friday’s Fast Five?

Each Friday, we share five quick and simple ideas for families under the following categories:

• Something fun
• A Little Lesson
• A Service Idea
• Something Random
• A Quick Tip

As I try to simplify my own parenting journey and help others do the same, these help us think about what I feel is a simple version of good parenting…learn, laugh, love.

Subscribers also receive exclusive tips and downloads to simplify parenting life.

Yes, Please!

With that, here is the thirty-first edition of Friday’s Fast Five. (You can find other editions HERE.)

1. Something Fun: How to Play Kick the Can

Kick the Can is a simple, super fun outdoor game for families or groups of kids.

Kick the Can is a classic game. All you need is an empty aluminum can and people, the more the merrier!

How to Play Kick the Can

1. Place the aluminum can in an open space, such as on the driveway or the middle of the yard. Designate one space to be “Jail.”
2. Choose one person to be It.
3. The player who’s It closes their eyes while everyone else runs away and hides.
4. The It player tries to tag other players. If a player is tagged, he or she goes to the Jail.
   • An alternate version can be played, especially if it’s getting to be dark or there are a lot of hiding places around the can. If the It player sees someone, calls out their name and hiding place, and jumps over the can, that person is sent to Jail.
5. If a player kicks the can and calls out “Home Free!” then all the players in jail are set free.
6. The It player wins if he or she can get all the other players in Jail.

This is such a fun game that gets everyone running around and playing together. Enjoy!

2. A Little Lesson: Family Helper Jobs

When our kids develop work ethic and responsibility, it sets them up for lifelong success. Doing chores is one simple and practical way to teach those skills, and calling them Family Helper Jobs is a great way to improve attitudes.

You can find great ideas for how to teach about doing chores in the Five E’s of Teaching Kids to Work. And if the bathroom is the chore you want your kids to learn next, this free printable Bathroom Cleaning Checklist might be helpful.

Wondering how to fit Little Lessons into your busy family schedule?

The two main ways to fit important lessons into your busy family schedule are to find spontaneous teaching moments throughout the day and to schedule family learning time each week. These two posts go into detail about these two ways and tips for making it happen with your family.

How Busy Parents Can Teach Important Life Lessons

6 Tips for Family Time that Teaches Life’s Most Important Lessons

3. A Service Idea: Gardening

Help a friend or elderly individual plant their garden.

You could also volunteer to water plants while a friend or neighbor is out of town.

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Service is a great way to build a stronger, happier family. If you want more service ideas, request Raising Compassionate Children in a Conceited World, which includes 101 Service Ideas for Families.

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4. Something Random: So Much We Never Knew

until we became parents…

If it’s been a week of recognizing your own limitations, know that you’re probably doing better than you think! Just keep heading in the direction of your ideal.

5. A Quick Tip: Routine

I like to sing the praises of routine for good reason. Here’s one of them.

Is there something you’re struggling with as a parent or family? Maybe mornings are difficult or the house isn’t keeping clean. Perhaps you don’t feel like you have enough time for the things you really want to do. A great solution is to look for a way to make it more routine, a way to systematize it or do it the same over and over. Our brains may have a hard time starting a new routine, but once we stick with it long enough to make it habit, it’s an amazing way to grow confidence and save time in life.

You’ll find great tips here: How to Start Family Routines that Transform Chaos into Calm.

And that is Friday’s Fast Five!

Yes, Please!

You can also see Friday’s Fast Five on Instagram or other editions HERE.

Building a Stronger, Happier Family

It takes time and intention to build a stronger, happier family. I hope Friday’s Fast Five helps you find the ways that work for YOUR family to learn, laugh, and love together.

We will never regret the time we devote to our families and relationships with our kids.

Have a great weekend with your family, know that you’re loved, and keep on lovin’!

Do you have a great idea for a future Friday’s Fast Five? Have a question or parenting struggle you want help with? Share in the comments, shoot me an Email, or schedule a call.

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