Family Friendly Computer Camp

If the long hours of summer vacation are looming ahead, turn to your family computer for help. No, I'm not suggesting that you stock up on video games and Webkinz codes. Use your family computer as a springboard for a variety of fun, educational, and even physically active family activities.

Try out some of these ideas:

• Make your own music video - record a music video using your video camera or webcam. Edit it using readily available free video editing software.
• Make an ABC Book or have a photo scavenger hunt - Grab the digital camera and set out on a hunt for photos of things beginning with a certain letter or items for a scavenger hunt.
• Take Mystery Pictures - Mystery Pictures are close-up shots of every day objects.
• Make a Stop Motion Animation Movie - Grab the action figures or stuffed animals and a digital camera to make your own movie.
• Make a Special Family Cookbook - Spend the summer testing out new recipes. Enter your favorites into your word processor with some photos from your experimenting. Print them out and give them away with some baked goods for the holidays.

Don't let computer time turn into solitary, inactive time. Be creative and your computer can enrich your summertime activities.

Do you have any ideas for fun whole-family projects involving your family computer? Please share! And don't forget to check back. This post is part of the All About Parenting Blog Carnival. Soon you'll have lots of ideas for your Do-It-Yourself Day Camp!