Kids' Birthday Party Games and Activities - Useful Tips and Ideas

Your child's birthday party will not be complete without kids' birthday party games and activities. This is a major part of any children's party. Kids wait for food and cake, but they also attend the party for the games and activities and the prizes that they can get from participating.

As a parent, you should choose appropriate games for kids that are fun and exciting. You have to remember that kids are full of energy. It would be difficult for you to ask them to remain seated for a long period of time, even while they are eating.

To give you some tips and ideas about choosing the right kids' birthday party games and activities, you should check out the next few paragraphs.

- Have some planned activities while kids are waiting for the party to start. It is best to start the party when all the kids have arrived. Some kids will be earlier than others. You have to prepare activities for the early comers. You can print out coloring or activity pages that you can put on the kids' tables. Put several trays of crayons and markers on the tables which the kids can use for the activity pages.

- Choose appropriate games for your child's friends according to their age group. For example, if your child is celebrating his 4th birthday, you should consider fun activities and games that 4-year-olds will appreciate. You can have traditional games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, musical chairs, balloon popping, and so on. You can also create fun original games of your own. If your child's friends belong to different age groups, be sure to prepare different kinds of games that will allow everyone to participate.

- You can also choose kids' birthday party games and activities that are appropriate for the birthday party theme. For example, if the party's theme is pirate, you can have a 'Walk the Plank Game' where the kids have to, walk on the plank, to cross an inflated kiddies pool. Another great game idea for a pirate themed party is a 'Treasure Hunt' where you can give simple maps with some Xs that show where the kids can find the treasures.

- When planning games and activities for a children's party, you should also prepare a game or two where the parents can participate. This will let the adults enjoy the party as well. You can make them do some silly things like newspaper dance with their kids or limbo rock. You can give them their own prizes or you can give them kiddies prizes for their children.

- You should also make sure that you have prizes for everyone. You should give prizes not only to the winners but also to those who participated. This will make everyone feel happy, even those who did not win the game. Choose prizes that are appropriate for the party theme. If your child's birthday party has a pirate theme like the example in the previous paragraph, you can give prizes like fake swords, golden chocolate coins, fake parrot, and pirate puzzles.

- Make sure you have activities and games while the kids are waiting for the rest of the guests, before the meal, and even after the meal. The kids will surely remember having a blast at the party if you start and end with a fun activity.

These are some important tips you should know when it comes to planning games and activities for children's party. It is essential that you think about really fun kids' birthday party games and activities, to ensure that the guests will have a blast at your child's birthday.

Kids' Birthday Party Games and Activities - Useful Tips and Ideas

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tube. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com Equipment used in this video DSLR - Nikon D7000 Nikon Lenses 50mm 1.8 D lens and 85mm 1.8 D prime lens Lastolite Diffuser (1 stop) A short behind the scene video / tutorial of outdoor shoot. Photographing kids - children - family portraits

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tips for the Harry Potter Attraction at Universal Studios, Orlando

The latest Harry Potter blockbuster sets a new standard for amusement park attractions, drawing record numbers to Universal Studios Florida. Visitors to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will discover all the magical places they've come to know and love in the book and movie series, but they'll also find packed crowds and wait times of up to two hours for the most popular rides. Don't let the muggle mobs deter you from this extraordinary adventure!

On a recent sweltering Florida weekday, with temperatures nearly into the triple digits, we ventured in to see if the Harry Potter attraction was worth all the hype. It was hot, crowded, and loud. And yes, it was worth it. My jaded teen, a veteran of the scariest roller coasters, deemed the Forbidden Journey "THE BEST RIDE EVER!" Her tween brother vowed to read all the books as soon as he returns home. Both begged for another Harry Potter movie marathon.

Here are a few tips for making the most of your visit.

Admission - It's not cheap to visit Universal Studios. You can realize some savings if you purchase multi-day combined park tickets, especially if you take advantage of the discounts and incentives for buying online. Instead, I bought the bare bones one day, one park option for Universal's Islands of Adventure at /adults (ages 10 & up) at the gate entrance.

I was tempted to get the Express Pass which allows you to bypass the lines for the rides, but couldn't justify the expense of an additional /person. (Note that the pass is significantly less expensive at other times of the year.)

Age Level - Although the Wizarding World is compelling for those familiar with the book or movie series, you don't have to be a Harry Potter buff to enjoy the attraction. Children (and adults) of all ages will get a kick out of exploring the magical settings, and there are rides for both the under and over 48″ crowd. While the Dragon Challenge roller coaster is only for the above 48″ crowd, the milder Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster can be enjoyed by all.

The most sought after attraction in the Wizarding World is the Forbidden Journey, which takes you on a tour through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before depositing you at the ride. This exhilarating, total immersion ride through the monster-ridden school halls is not for the faint of heart, or those under 48″; however, you can always skip the ride at the end of the tour.

Dress For Success - When dressing for a day at the amusement park, think marathon runner. Shock-absorbing sneakers are essential when standing on long lines, and fast drying fabrics are helpful when going through fog machines, misters, or water rides.

Sun protection is critical in Florida, especially if you're unaccustomed to the strong rays. We slathered on waterproof, high SPF sunscreen before leaving the car, and carried a small tube for reapplying later. My daughter and I wore sunglasses, and I purchased a pair for my son who promptly lost them it in record time. Hats are also advisable, but we just made it a point to travel in the shade as much as possible.

Pack Light - You may be tempted to bring all kinds of essentials, but keep in mind that on many rides you won't be allowed to carry loose items or bags. Lockers are provided, for a fee, throughout the park, but who wants to waste time looking for an available locker?

One advantage of traveling with older children is that, unlike the days when I had to haul a diaper bag with snacks and sundries, nowadays the only items I carry to an amusement park are: a point and shoot camera and a Neck Wallet containing cash, ID, chapstick, and a mini-sized sunscreen.

Hydrate Often - Given the limitation on carry on items, holding onto a drink container can be tricky. Fortunately, many rides such as the Forbidden Journey provide water fountains, or you can spring for a drink when you get off a ride and finish it before the next. Consider bringing a Platypus Softbottle that can be refilled as needed, or folded flat when it's time to get on a ride.

Arrive Late - There is no advantage to arriving early; in fact, some visitors contend that lines in the Wizarding World diminish considerably later in the day. On our mid-July weekday visit, we didn't see any visible reduction. The lines were just as long at 7:30 PM as they were at 2 PM!

Still, a full day at any amusement park can be exhausting, so I recommend going with your natural inclinations. I prefer to start late, and go nearly until closing, but a morning person might prefer a different schedule. The key to enjoying the experience is to realize that you can't do everything, so choose wisely.

Timing - Universal's Islands of Adventure is laid out like an oval donut around a large pond, with the Wizarding World placed on the opposite side from the entrance. When you enter the park, you can turn left or right and eventually circle to the Harry Potter section. With older children, we chose to head left so that we could take in some of the more thrilling park rides first.

Between noon and 2PM, we managed to take in three rides: the Incredible Hulk Coaster, the Spider-Man 3D Ride, and the Jurassic Park River Adventure. All of these posted 45 minute to 1 hour wait times, but as we were willing to split up our group to get into the Single Rider line, we bypassed much of this. We could've gone on even more rides, but we finally, after years of fruitless requests, fulfilled my daughter's wish to get a hair wrap.

Wizarding World - Plan on spending the bulk of your day at this attraction if you want to see and do everything. Here is how we did it all:

Enter - At 2PM, we crossed into the Wizarding World from Jurassic Park. Butterbeer - At either entrance, you'll find carts selling Butterbeer, a popular wizarding in the Harry Potter books that tastes like a cross between butterscotch and cream soda, and is available as a soda or slushie. We conducted a taste test of both to confirm that the frozen version is the yummier choice! Forbidden Journey - Carrying our drinks, we went directly to what we thought was the end of the Forbidden Journey line, not realizing that this was actually for the lockers. Most of the people in line didn't realize this either, so it might have been awkward to walk past them to the real line inside the building. Indoors, you can skip the tour to join the much shorter Single Rider line, but we didn't want to miss seeing the interior of Hogwarts. And there is much to take in, as well as many hidden secrets and variations, that it's worth letting people pass so that you can fully appreciate all the effects. Filches Emporium of Confiscated Goods - One of my pet peeves is being forced to exit an attraction through a souvenir shop so I just made a beeline for the door and didn't see much of the wares. Three Broomsticks - Nearly 4PM, we had worked up quite an appetite by the time we left the Forbidden Journey, so we headed over to the Three Broomsticks, an extremely well-run cafeteria that looks like an old English Tavern. We were soon at the front of the line where a hostess assigned us our number, and the system of dedicated cashier and server soon had us moving on with our filled trays to where another host led us to our table. The food was hearty and filling, and I highly recommend the combination of fish and chips washed down by Hogs Head ale. Moaning Myrtle - Even a visit to the bathroom is entertaining! The Girls' Room of the Public Convenience located next to the Hog's Head Pub is enlivened by the sounds of Moaning Myrtle. Olivanders - After our early dinner, we carried our drinks with us as we joined the queue for Olivanders, the wand shoppe. This turned out to be the longest line, but with our drinks in hand and street entertainment that included a frog chorus and ribbon waving girls from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, it was tolerable. Inside, the store is filled to the rafters with wand-filled boxes, and spectators watch as one young boy, selected from each new group that enters every 10 minutes, is outfitted with a wand that can be purchased afterwards in the connected store, Dervish and Banges, for merely . We passed on the shopping and headed out to the rest of the rides. Dragon Challenge - The line for this ride was fairly short, just 20 minutes, but it's only for the fearless (who are over 48″.) Every rider can choose from two dragons, each a different roller coaster, that zoom and twist, nearly colliding as they come within 18 inches of each other on multiple occasions. When it was over, my kids wanted to repeat the ride on the other dragon but my stomach had had enough. Flight of the Hippogriff - With no Single Rider option, we had to wait the full 45 minutes for this ride but as with the rest of the Wizarding World, the wait is part of the attraction. In this case, you pass Hagrid's hut where somehow we missed his instructions for properly approaching a hippogriff, but it was a great photo stop. Later, my kids complained about the tame ride, but I thought it was a delightful with a splendid view of the park. Honeydukes and Zonko's - We saved the best shops for last, as we thought we might be tempted by candy and joke gifts. The two shops are connected, so we spent a good deal of time going back and forth, mulling over our options. Many items, like the foul-tasting every flavor jelly beans, we'd seen and sampled long ago. After careful consideration, we purchased the two items that my children deemed unique and interesting, the Chocolate Frog and Chinese Fortune Sticks. (FYI - The Chocolate Frog was disappointingly waxy and flavorless.)

At The End of The Day - Departing the Wizarding World, we still had two and a half hours until closing time but I was ready to call it a night. The kids selected our last rides of the night, The Cat In The Hat and a return engagement on The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and we left Islands of Adventure by 9PM.

Again, was the Harry Potter experience worth the expense and effort? Definitely! For one day, we entered a magical world where I was as much of a kid as my children. We laughed and screamed, and just enjoyed playing together. It doesn't get any better than that!

Tips for the Harry Potter Attraction at Universal Studios, Orlando

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tube. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Baby Scrapbook Tips on Scrapping Baby's Firsts

People often begin to get the scrapbooking bug soon after their first child is born. That said, it's not so usual that their first attempt at creating a scrapbook is by making a baby album or baby book scrapbook.

Having a child truly is one of the most important and memorable events in our lives. Your baby's first year is a busy, wonderful and ever changing journey of discovery. It is chalked full of important memories and milestones...

It's really no surprise then, as parents we naturally want to capture and record all those many emotional moments by preserving them in baby book scrapbooks or memory books. This is a great way to safely record and cherish those memories for years to come.

My favorite, yet timeless and extremely popular baby scrapbooking idea is to make an album that consists of baby's 'firsts'. This easy and flexible theme is especially simple for someone new to scrapbooking and is a great way to begin creating one of life's most treasured baby book scrapbooks.

This kind of baby album usually consists of a scrapbook arranged in chronological order (pregnancy to first birthday) with individual page layouts showing babies special and notable moments in life.

You can buy premade baby photo albums, journals and baby book scrapbooks, but I've found that in 100% of the cases that there are pages for things baby doesn't do and missing pages for things your child will do. That said, my very best recommendation is to create your own using kits or digital scrapbook membership sites that make it easy for you to create the perfect baby book scrapbook that is custom to your child's book of 'firsts'.

New babies, especially first child or grandchild, are so photogenic it's hard to resist capturing all the big and little things that make up their day-to-day lives. Not that the other children that come along aren't just as precious, you just have more time when you are only taking care of one... ;-)

In any case, I have no doubt that you will have lots of digital pictures to sort through - so here's a small list of 'firsts' to give you some ideas for organizing your photos:

-- first photo... usually the sonogram from the Dr's office -- first bottle/breast feeding -- daddies first diaper change (a real favorite of mine) -- dressed in grandma's first outfit (don't forget outfits handed down from your childhood) -- first trip home from the hospital -- first late night rocking chair ride -- first smiles/laughs -- first bath -- first walk/trip -- first baby food -- first tooth -- first time with your pets -- first time drinking from an open cup -- first time feeding themselves -- first time crawling -- first time walking with the furniture or your dog -- baby's first steps/walking on their own -- first hair cut -- all the first holidays -- first birthday cake!

Unlike premade baby books and baby albums, you'll be able to add a more interest to your custom or digital baby book scrapbook album by varying the themes and layouts. As and example: make some events into double page (side-by-side) spreads; such as coming home from the hospital or their first bath-time, which always presents an opportunity for some great digital photos!

You are also going to want to give your pages a little personal touch by adding some memorabilia, using a pocket envelope or sealed page to your layouts - add things like the birth announcement or maybe a lock of hair from their first hair cut.

Just be careful here as sharp edges, thick items and many chemicals that are part of life can not only damage, but over time can actually destroy your baby book. Instant photographs, such as a Polaroid, have chemicals that will leak and ruin your baby books and albums. Be sure and scan elements such as this and add them digitally to your page layouts.

Just as a note, you can also create your new baby book scrapbook album as a digital scrapbook and have it made into a real hardbound book that can be passed on to your child when they finally move away.

Now then, if you are new to scrapbooks and you're unsure about starting out on your first new baby scrapbook album then a good choice would be to buy yourself a baby scrapbook kit or to join a digital scrapbook membership site.

The kits contain almost everything you will need to begin scrapbooking (with a set number of pages) and are a good shortcut to creating simple layouts that you can still be proud of. Digital scrapbook membership sites will have hundreds of page options and you can customize them for absolutely any occasion or event. Add to that the fact that you can have them printed as real hardbound books and you can see why digital baby books have become the #1 method for creating baby book scrapbooks world wide.

One other item of note about digital scrapbook pages, they are perfect to have printed on photo papers and placed in frames on the walls. Much more interesting than just plain photo's with no stories to tell.

Go on... give it a try. Make yourself a baby book scrapbook album to save, enjoy and relive all those incredible memories. You'll find it's much more than just a scrapbook - it will really will become a treasured family keepsake that you'll pass on for generations to come. My kids will soon be passing theirs on to my grandchildren...

What memories will you preserve?

Baby Scrapbook Tips on Scrapping Baby's Firsts

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tube. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

5 Simple Ideas For Fun Family Photos

When it comes to the dynamics of a family, nothing is ever "posed" and stiff! A day in the life usually involves chaos and craziness at every turn. Have you ever seen those family pictures where everyone matches, the background is a muddy shade of tie-dye blue, and the kids have gone bug-eyed from posing too long? I couldn't imagine looking at a picture of my family like this and thinking, "Wow, this picture really encapsulates who we are together." Um, I don't think so!

Families involve happy times, angry times, silly times, crazy times, and everything in between. The only way to get the real-ness of a family is to find a photographer that can catch those in between reactions and go on a fun (no, really!) family photo shoot with you.

1) Go OUTSIDE the box (Or studio, that is)

Sometimes being in a studio just creates that stuffy stifled atmosphere that suppresses the real interactions of a family. I believe that each family member gets nervous because it is an out-of-the-ordinary setting and one no one is used to. So, get out of there! Take the kids and go to a park. Visit the zoo or go get some ice cream. For fun family photos, take a trip somewhere to do something your family is used to doing together. Your family photos will look more real, your photographer will have an easier time of catching those moments that make your family unique, and everyone will be relaxed and at ease with each other. No nervousness allowed!

2) Matching Smatching

I don't know any families that wear matching clothing all of the time. If you want family photos that look real, look believable, and look like YOU, wouldn't it make sense to do the things you're used to doing every day? If you don't wear matching shirts every time you leave the house, don't wear them to the photo shoot! Wear things you are comfortable in and that make each of you feel good. Bright colors usually work the best for the camera and help each person to stand out from the background. My suggestion is to pick a color scheme and stick with it. Choose just a few colors for your family photos that everyone is comfortable with and looks attractive in. Blend - don't match.

3) Ignore the Camera....no, seriously

I have seen so many occasions where people get in front of the camera and automatically freeze. There is just something about that big glass lens that makes people stiffen up and become nervous! The BEST way to become comfortable in front of the camera is to act like it isn't even there. IGNORE IT. Tell the kids to ignore the camera like they ignore you when you tell them to clean their room. Yep, that should get the message across. The more you act like yourselves, the better your family pictures will turn out.

4) Photographer knows best

Moms, you may have to take a breather on this one. For your family photos, ask your family photographer for suggestions and tips on how to make your day more successful. For example, I would tell a client to make sure you scheduled your family photo session around your normal daily schedule. Be aware of naptimes, wake-up times, work-times, and any other time that you are used to during your daily routine. Also, be very aware of the time of day that you choose for your shoot. If you want to take a trip to the park for your family photos, don't plan on having the shoot at 1pm in the afternoon. The light will not work nearly as well as it would closer to evening or late afternoon. Squinty eyes can ruin a picture! Always ask your photographer for some helpful tips and ideas to you can plan your shoot accordingly. Remember: The photographer wants to work with you!

5) ALL Day is okay!

Here is a fun family photo idea that I often like to throw out there: why not book a family photographer for the entire DAY? Have the photographer get the real low-down on what your family is like on an hour-by-hour basis. Booking your family photographer for an entire day of shooting will get many moments of daily life you wouldn't capture otherwise. For the moms, you are usually the one taking the pictures, right? Or you dads? This way, you BOTH can be in the photos without having to set a timer and run to pose in front of the camera. These shoots produce photojournalistic style photos - ones that tell a story, moment to moment, emotion to emotion. Get the kids in their jammies eating breakfast, the family making dinner together, and the parents tucking the kids in bed. You could break apart the day any which way you like, just so long as you get the memories that you want to hold on to.

The biggest part of fun family photography is getting everyone to act in the normal way they do when together, without a strange camera in your face. When a family is real and comfortable with each other, the true spirit of the family dynamic comes across. Using these tips for better family photos, getting that spirit across to the photographer is what will give you lasting and memorable family photos for years to come.

5 Simple Ideas For Fun Family Photos

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tube. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

How to Shoot Portraits - 5 Camera Setting Tips For Great Results

Camera setting tips for portraits:

Portrait photography delivers best results when you focus attention on the subject and control the background. Avoiding distracting elements or blurring the background draws the attention on your subject. Besides making your subject "the star" of the frame you also need proper exposure and focus, showing right skin tones and details.

Whether you are shooting for posed portraits or moving children, if you can control 5 camera settings you will capture excellent portrait shots.

Control 5 Camera settings for superb results:

1) Shooting Mode
2) Focus Settings
3) Exposure
4) Metering
5) White Balance

SHOOTING MODE

Aperture priority is the most popular shooting mode for portraits. Using this mode Photographer sets the f-stop and the camera chooses the shutter speed.

Aperture priority mode gives direct control of depth of field. Controlling depth of field means that you can blur the background to draw attention on your subject.

Alternatively you can use Manual Mode. Using this mode you can you can control both aperture and shutter speed. If there is a consistent light source use manual and you still be able to control surroundings of the subject.

EXPOSURE

When you shoot portraits and slightly overexpose you will notice that your background details will be washed out and your subject's skin tones will appear lighter. After your camera meter suggests exposure values,first shoot with suggested settings. Later shoot couple extra using plus 1EV or plus 2EV of exposure compensation to see what they look like.

FOCUS SETTINGS

Single-Shot AF (Auto Focus) mode is perfect for shooting portraits. When using Single-Shot AF Mode, select a Single Auto Focus point. For example for portrait shots, focusing closer to the subject's eyes works best. When focusing on the target point, you may use either Centre or Off-Centre settings. This way you will get sharp focus.

One of the most difficult portrait shot is a moving subject. If you are photographing moving children use Continuous AF mode. In addition choose multiple focus points. Combination of continuous AF mode and multiple focus points will increase the chance of capturing a sharp image.

METERING

For general portrait shots Multi-Segment Metering works just fine. However, if you are shooting a back-lit subject, Multi-Segment may not work properly because this mode will underexpose the subject's face. In such case take a reading from your subject's forehead or cheek using Spot Metering. Then use the values and shoot in Manual Exposure mode. Make sure that you are not shooting in Aperture Priority mode - (you will need to set both aperture and shutter speed values manually since you have use the spot metering and received new exposure values).

WHITE BALANCE

Auto White Balance is good for general shots. However shooting in different environments things may go wrong. For example if you are shooting in a shady area you will not get the proper white balance. Or if you shoot in scenes with predominant white blue or green (beach, botanic garden, forest etc...) your subject's face will reflect that predominant color. In such you can take a custom white balance reading and use it.

Keep in mind that you have the option to change white balance settings and apply correction if you are shooting in RAW mode. So if that portrait shot is quite important for you, shoot in RAW so you have an option to correct white balance later on.

How to Shoot Portraits - 5 Camera Setting Tips For Great Results

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tube. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

No URL Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com Equipment used in this video DSLR - Nikon D7000 Nikon Lenses 50mm 1.8 D lens and 85mm 1.8 D prime lens Lastolite Diffuser (1 stop) A short behind the scene video / tutorial of outdoor shoot. Photographing kids - children - family portraits