ideas for my son
Sallyanne Visser
One of my favourite things that I read from this group is the wonderful
ideas other people get to entertain their children or stretch an interest.
It is something I find difficult and it frustrates me no end.
For example. The other night my son (11) was watching Angels and Demons
with his Dad (like De vinci code I think?) and had that lovely wide eyed
excitement on his face while watching, then blurted out " I LOVE this type
of movie!" I asked what about it and he said he liked the whole figuring out
the puzzle and finding treasure aspect. I felt like that SHOULD have made
me go AHA! then he would really enjoy.... but I couldn't think of anything,
except making him a treasure hunt with clues. It lit him up SO much to
watch that movie that I would love to create that look on his face again,
any ideas? other movies, but also other interesting things that may spark
the same sort of figuring out, or whatever it is it was sparking in his
head?
I am practicing thinking of ideas of things to do, as we don't do much and
am amazed by how blank I go, then I read your posts and wonder why I didn't
think of THAT!
Thanks so so much
Sallyanne
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ideas other people get to entertain their children or stretch an interest.
It is something I find difficult and it frustrates me no end.
For example. The other night my son (11) was watching Angels and Demons
with his Dad (like De vinci code I think?) and had that lovely wide eyed
excitement on his face while watching, then blurted out " I LOVE this type
of movie!" I asked what about it and he said he liked the whole figuring out
the puzzle and finding treasure aspect. I felt like that SHOULD have made
me go AHA! then he would really enjoy.... but I couldn't think of anything,
except making him a treasure hunt with clues. It lit him up SO much to
watch that movie that I would love to create that look on his face again,
any ideas? other movies, but also other interesting things that may spark
the same sort of figuring out, or whatever it is it was sparking in his
head?
I am practicing thinking of ideas of things to do, as we don't do much and
am amazed by how blank I go, then I read your posts and wonder why I didn't
think of THAT!
Thanks so so much
Sallyanne
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nalmeida12
Geocaching!!!
Its a sport/hobby that combines the love of treasure hunting, the outdoors and technology. The goal is to find hidden treasures with your Gps. Check out-
www.geocaching.com
www.topozone.com
my son loves it. We do it all the time!
Its a sport/hobby that combines the love of treasure hunting, the outdoors and technology. The goal is to find hidden treasures with your Gps. Check out-
www.geocaching.com
www.topozone.com
my son loves it. We do it all the time!
--- In [email protected], Sallyanne Visser <smitten.visser@...> wrote:
>
> One of my favourite things that I read from this group is the wonderful
> ideas other people get to entertain their children or stretch an interest.
> It is something I find difficult and it frustrates me no end.
> For example. The other night my son (11) was watching Angels and Demons
> with his Dad (like De vinci code I think?) and had that lovely wide eyed
> excitement on his face while watching, then blurted out " I LOVE this type
> of movie!" I asked what about it and he said he liked the whole figuring out
> the puzzle and finding treasure aspect. I felt like that SHOULD have made
> me go AHA! then he would really enjoy.... but I couldn't think of anything,
> except making him a treasure hunt with clues. It lit him up SO much to
> watch that movie that I would love to create that look on his face again,
> any ideas? other movies, but also other interesting things that may spark
> the same sort of figuring out, or whatever it is it was sparking in his
> head?
> I am practicing thinking of ideas of things to do, as we don't do much and
> am amazed by how blank I go, then I read your posts and wonder why I didn't
> think of THAT!
> Thanks so so much
> Sallyanne
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
aldq75
One of my girls likes the Nancy Drew computer games. Some are available for the Nintendo DS and Wii. There's a Hardy Boys minigame here:
http://www.herinteractive.com/games/hb/minigame/play-now.php
I have not played the Hardy Boys ones, only Nancy Drew.
My oldest daughter loves the National Treasure movies.
Andrea Q
http://www.herinteractive.com/games/hb/minigame/play-now.php
I have not played the Hardy Boys ones, only Nancy Drew.
My oldest daughter loves the National Treasure movies.
Andrea Q
--- In [email protected], Sallyanne Visser <smitten.visser@...> wrote:
>
> One of my favourite things that I read from this group is the wonderful
> ideas other people get to entertain their children or stretch an interest.
> It is something I find difficult and it frustrates me no end.
> For example. The other night my son (11) was watching Angels and Demons
> with his Dad (like De vinci code I think?) and had that lovely wide eyed
> excitement on his face while watching, then blurted out " I LOVE this type
> of movie!" I asked what about it and he said he liked the whole figuring out
> the puzzle and finding treasure aspect. I felt like that SHOULD have made
> me go AHA! then he would really enjoy.... but I couldn't think of anything,
> except making him a treasure hunt with clues. It lit him up SO much to
> watch that movie that I would love to create that look on his face again,
> any ideas? other movies, but also other interesting things that may spark
> the same sort of figuring out, or whatever it is it was sparking in his
> head?
> I am practicing thinking of ideas of things to do, as we don't do much and
> am amazed by how blank I go, then I read your posts and wonder why I didn't
> think of THAT!
> Thanks so so much
> Sallyanne
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
maryann
When my son shows an interest in a particular movie, book, character, subject, etc., I often find it helpful to look it up online. Researching the initial interest often leads to many other related things to explore.
For example, if you look on Amazon.com for the movie he likes, there will be a short list called "People who bought this also bought that" and then a long list of "You may also like..." And in the reviews, people may mention other similar movies while comparing/contrasting that one. Also try searching for other movies by the same director or writer. I'm so grateful for Amazon! I do make purchases there often, but the majority of the time I use it for informational purposes, then see if the movies or books are available at my library. (Or for toys, games, etc., I make a note of the ideas I found online so that I can keep an eye out for some of them when I'm browsing at garage sales or thrift stores or clearance bins.)
I also like Wikipedia for helping me find more related items or ideas or concepts. Really, just doing a general online search for info about the specific movie your son likes is bound to lead to something else which leads to something else... :)
maryann
For example, if you look on Amazon.com for the movie he likes, there will be a short list called "People who bought this also bought that" and then a long list of "You may also like..." And in the reviews, people may mention other similar movies while comparing/contrasting that one. Also try searching for other movies by the same director or writer. I'm so grateful for Amazon! I do make purchases there often, but the majority of the time I use it for informational purposes, then see if the movies or books are available at my library. (Or for toys, games, etc., I make a note of the ideas I found online so that I can keep an eye out for some of them when I'm browsing at garage sales or thrift stores or clearance bins.)
I also like Wikipedia for helping me find more related items or ideas or concepts. Really, just doing a general online search for info about the specific movie your son likes is bound to lead to something else which leads to something else... :)
maryann
--- In [email protected], "aldq75" <aldq75@...> wrote:
>
> One of my girls likes the Nancy Drew computer games. Some are available for the Nintendo DS and Wii. There's a Hardy Boys minigame here:
>
> http://www.herinteractive.com/games/hb/minigame/play-now.php
>
> I have not played the Hardy Boys ones, only Nancy Drew.
>
>
> My oldest daughter loves the National Treasure movies.
>
>
> Andrea Q
>
>
>
> --- In [email protected], Sallyanne Visser <smitten.visser@> wrote:
> >
> > One of my favourite things that I read from this group is the wonderful
> > ideas other people get to entertain their children or stretch an interest.
> > It is something I find difficult and it frustrates me no end.
> > For example. The other night my son (11) was watching Angels and Demons
> > with his Dad (like De vinci code I think?) and had that lovely wide eyed
> > excitement on his face while watching, then blurted out " I LOVE this type
> > of movie!" I asked what about it and he said he liked the whole figuring out
> > the puzzle and finding treasure aspect. I felt like that SHOULD have made
> > me go AHA! then he would really enjoy.... but I couldn't think of anything,
> > except making him a treasure hunt with clues. It lit him up SO much to
> > watch that movie that I would love to create that look on his face again,
> > any ideas? other movies, but also other interesting things that may spark
> > the same sort of figuring out, or whatever it is it was sparking in his
> > head?
> > I am practicing thinking of ideas of things to do, as we don't do much and
> > am amazed by how blank I go, then I read your posts and wonder why I didn't
> > think of THAT!
> > Thanks so so much
> > Sallyanne
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
Melissa Wiley
Sallyanne wrote:
described as Da Vinci Code for children), The Westing Game, Shakespeare's
Secret.
A fun nonfiction book my kids love: Art Fraud Detective.
Lots of role-playing games like D&D can involve figuring out puzzles and
traps.
Codes, cryptography, mazes---bet you can find loads of websites about those
things.
Geocaching is a brilliant idea!
Lissa in San Diego
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> watch that movie that I would love to create that look on his face again,If he likes to read or be read to: books like Chasing Vermeer (sometimes
> any ideas? other movies, but also other interesting things that may spark
> the same sort of figuring out, or whatever it is it was sparking in his
> head?
described as Da Vinci Code for children), The Westing Game, Shakespeare's
Secret.
A fun nonfiction book my kids love: Art Fraud Detective.
Lots of role-playing games like D&D can involve figuring out puzzles and
traps.
Codes, cryptography, mazes---bet you can find loads of websites about those
things.
Geocaching is a brilliant idea!
Lissa in San Diego
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Liz Schultz
There is also letterboxing, no gps required: http://www.letterboxing.org/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lyla Wolfenstein
movies: national treasure and national treasure 2
i am sure there are many more, but i can't think of them right now. you can
do a netflix or amazon "if you like this, you might like this" type search.
michael chrichton books often have a mystery/puzzle to them as well...
oh and there's another series, but i can't think of name right now - will
write back when i do!
lyla
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
i am sure there are many more, but i can't think of them right now. you can
do a netflix or amazon "if you like this, you might like this" type search.
michael chrichton books often have a mystery/puzzle to them as well...
oh and there's another series, but i can't think of name right now - will
write back when i do!
lyla
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lyla Wolfenstein
i meant to say that many of the chrichton books have been made into
movies...
or might make good audio books too if he doesn't like to read.
movies...
or might make good audio books too if he doesn't like to read.
On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 8:30 AM, Lyla Wolfenstein <lylaw@...> wrote:
> movies: national treasure and national treasure 2
>
> i am sure there are many more, but i can't think of them right now. you
> can do a netflix or amazon "if you like this, you might like this" type
> search.
>
> michael chrichton books often have a mystery/puzzle to them as well...
>
> oh and there's another series, but i can't think of name right now - will
> write back when i do!
>
> lyla
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
shirarocklin
Other mystery ideas:
-the game Clue
-there are chapter books I read as a kid where you could choose your own ending and they were mysteries
-I loved watching Murder She Wrote when I was a kid
-Agatha Christie books, or maybe they have recordings? My mom loved those
-There were a couple of attempts at Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys TV series - it could be fun to watch them. There was a Nancy Drew in the 70s, and a high school Nancy Drew in the 90s. And there was a new show that was just like Nancy Drew, but with a blond actress and modern and she had a different name and it was a high school series. Can't remember the name.
- One of my friends liked to throw mystery parties. It was a game in a box, we each had a character told us ahead of time with details and we'd come to the party in costume and try to solve the mystery.
Shira
-the game Clue
-there are chapter books I read as a kid where you could choose your own ending and they were mysteries
-I loved watching Murder She Wrote when I was a kid
-Agatha Christie books, or maybe they have recordings? My mom loved those
-There were a couple of attempts at Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys TV series - it could be fun to watch them. There was a Nancy Drew in the 70s, and a high school Nancy Drew in the 90s. And there was a new show that was just like Nancy Drew, but with a blond actress and modern and she had a different name and it was a high school series. Can't remember the name.
- One of my friends liked to throw mystery parties. It was a game in a box, we each had a character told us ahead of time with details and we'd come to the party in costume and try to solve the mystery.
Shira
Lyla Wolfenstein
Ok james rollins is the author: amazonia, subterrania, excavation, and others ...they all have a similar concept, but do contain mystery, puzzle solving, and adventure.
-- Sent from my Palm Pixi
-- Sent from my Palm Pixi
On Apr 29, 2011 11:44 AM, shirarocklin <shirarocklin@...> wrote:
Other mystery ideas:
-the game Clue
-there are chapter books I read as a kid where you could choose your own ending and they were mysteries
-I loved watching Murder She Wrote when I was a kid
-Agatha Christie books, or maybe they have recordings? My mom loved those
-There were a couple of attempts at Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys TV series - it could be fun to watch them. There was a Nancy Drew in the 70s, and a high school Nancy Drew in the 90s. And there was a new show that was just like Nancy Drew, but with a blond actress and modern and she had a different name and it was a high school series. Can't remember the name.
- One of my friends liked to throw mystery parties. It was a game in a box, we each had a character told us ahead of time with details and we'd come to the party in costume and try to solve the mystery.
Shira
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Alex
We have some "Two Minute Mysteries" and "Five Minute Mysteries" books that my husband and I enjoy. They're a great quick activity you could fit into your daily routine. There's Sherlock Holmes too. The TV show House might be a little mature for your son, you know better than me, but it reminds me of Sherlock Holmes in that he's this amazingly brilliant but somewhat broken, addicted character. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes, actually was a doctor. There are some be the CSI, solve the murder, books out there that are similar if that's not too gory for him. There are some cool true unsolved mysteries out there too. There's a cool children's book about the ghost ship the Mary Celeste is one of them.
I'd also recommend stuff about secret codes. I LOVE LOVE LOVED that stuff at that age. There's some history of secret codes book out, or a few, but of course you could look for shows. I wouldn't skip the history of cryptology is he's interested--it's FASCINATING!
Or even just make invisible ink together. There are kid's criminology/CSI kits too. I've done fingerprinting stuff with much younger kids. You can fake a break-in. :) Or create mail from an imaginary secret agent, in code, or something.
Alex N.
I'd also recommend stuff about secret codes. I LOVE LOVE LOVED that stuff at that age. There's some history of secret codes book out, or a few, but of course you could look for shows. I wouldn't skip the history of cryptology is he's interested--it's FASCINATING!
Or even just make invisible ink together. There are kid's criminology/CSI kits too. I've done fingerprinting stuff with much younger kids. You can fake a break-in. :) Or create mail from an imaginary secret agent, in code, or something.
Alex N.
Joyce Fetteroll
On Apr 29, 2011, at 12:33 PM, Alex wrote:
several very short mysteries based around scientific principles. I
loved those as a kid. Each has a break before Encyclopedia reveals the
answer so you can take a stab at it. I remember one involved a summer
time burglary and some suspicious characters escaping across a parking
lot in a strange zigzag route. It turns out they were barefoot, and
walking on the white lines which were cooler.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> We have some "Two Minute Mysteries" and "Five Minute Mysteries" booksAlong that same vein are the Encyclopedia Brown books. Each book has
several very short mysteries based around scientific principles. I
loved those as a kid. Each has a break before Encyclopedia reveals the
answer so you can take a stab at it. I remember one involved a summer
time burglary and some suspicious characters escaping across a parking
lot in a strange zigzag route. It turns out they were barefoot, and
walking on the white lines which were cooler.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Gwen Montoya
How about the Indiana Jones movies?
You could also try letterboxing (similar to geocashing) - the clues can be
very clever and it is a fun way to go somewhere new. If you try it, look for
letterboxes (or geocashes for that matter) that have been recently found
(sometimes the boxes are taken by people not understanding what they are or
the terrain changes or something). Treasure hunting is much more fun when
there is actually treasure at the end. http://www.letterboxing.org/ is a
great website that explains it all and has a nice search feature.
Our local science museum hosted a CSI exhibit several months ago and an
Egyptian exhibit is ending this weekend. Here's a link to two online
activities from the Egyptian exhibit:
http://www.lostegypt.org/activities.php - I wasn't able to find a link about
where it might be going next. I don't know if the CSI exhibit is still
touring.
There are several very nice walkthroughs for the Nancy Drew games if he gets
stuck.
Gwen
On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 6:59 PM, Sallyanne Visser
<smitten.visser@...>wrote:
You could also try letterboxing (similar to geocashing) - the clues can be
very clever and it is a fun way to go somewhere new. If you try it, look for
letterboxes (or geocashes for that matter) that have been recently found
(sometimes the boxes are taken by people not understanding what they are or
the terrain changes or something). Treasure hunting is much more fun when
there is actually treasure at the end. http://www.letterboxing.org/ is a
great website that explains it all and has a nice search feature.
Our local science museum hosted a CSI exhibit several months ago and an
Egyptian exhibit is ending this weekend. Here's a link to two online
activities from the Egyptian exhibit:
http://www.lostegypt.org/activities.php - I wasn't able to find a link about
where it might be going next. I don't know if the CSI exhibit is still
touring.
There are several very nice walkthroughs for the Nancy Drew games if he gets
stuck.
Gwen
On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 6:59 PM, Sallyanne Visser
<smitten.visser@...>wrote:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> One of my favourite things that I read from this group is the wonderful
> ideas other people get to entertain their children or stretch an interest.
> It is something I find difficult and it frustrates me no end.
> For example. The other night my son (11) was watching Angels and Demons
> with his Dad (like De vinci code I think?) and had that lovely wide eyed
> excitement on his face while watching, then blurted out " I LOVE this type
> of movie!" I asked what about it and he said he liked the whole figuring
> out
> the puzzle and finding treasure aspect. I felt like that SHOULD have made
> me go AHA! then he would really enjoy.... but I couldn't think of anything,
> except making him a treasure hunt with clues. It lit him up SO much to
> watch that movie that I would love to create that look on his face again,
> any ideas? other movies, but also other interesting things that may spark
> the same sort of figuring out, or whatever it is it was sparking in his
> head?
> I am practicing thinking of ideas of things to do, as we don't do much and
> am amazed by how blank I go, then I read your posts and wonder why I didn't
> think of THAT!
> Thanks so so much
> Sallyanne
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
Alex
--- In [email protected], Joyce Fetteroll <jfetteroll@...> wrote:
I did remember since I was last at my computer that at that age I loved Games magazine. It's a great sampler of cool puzzles, and if he loves one you'll know what to look for more of.
Alex N.
>Isn't that funny! I knew one of our not specifically kid books--the 2 minute one I think--was by the same author as Encyclopedia Brown, and I didn't even think to suggest them, though I ADORED those books myself.
>
> On Apr 29, 2011, at 12:33 PM, Alex wrote:
>
> > We have some "Two Minute Mysteries" and "Five Minute Mysteries" books
>
> Along that same vein are the Encyclopedia Brown books.
I did remember since I was last at my computer that at that age I loved Games magazine. It's a great sampler of cool puzzles, and if he loves one you'll know what to look for more of.
Alex N.
C Johnson
Dan Brown's books are really good too. There is also a Da Vinci Code game for PS2.
BB,
Chrissie
"All you have to decide is what to do with the time you have been given." Gandalf
BB,
Chrissie
"All you have to decide is what to do with the time you have been given." Gandalf
--- On Thu, 4/28/11, Sallyanne Visser <smitten.visser@...> wrote:
From: Sallyanne Visser <smitten.visser@...>
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] ideas for my son
To: [email protected]
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2011, 8:59 PM
One of my favourite things that I read from this group is the wonderful
ideas other people get to entertain their children or stretch an interest.
It is something I find difficult and it frustrates me no end.
For example. The other night my son (11) was watching Angels and Demons
with his Dad (like De vinci code I think?) and had that lovely wide eyed
excitement on his face while watching, then blurted out " I LOVE this type
of movie!" I asked what about it and he said he liked the whole figuring out
the puzzle and finding treasure aspect. I felt like that SHOULD have made
me go AHA! then he would really enjoy.... but I couldn't think of anything,
except making him a treasure hunt with clues. It lit him up SO much to
watch that movie that I would love to create that look on his face again,
any ideas? other movies, but also other interesting things that may spark
the same sort of figuring out, or whatever it is it was sparking in his
head?
I am practicing thinking of ideas of things to do, as we don't do much and
am amazed by how blank I go, then I read your posts and wonder why I didn't
think of THAT!
Thanks so so much
Sallyanne
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
plaidpanties666
He might like The Incredible Machine and related games - puzzle solving games involving building improbably "machines" to solve some dilema.
If he likes really tough puzzle games, I totally recommend the Myst series. You can start with any game in the series - they're mostly PC games and some are relatively old but the actual puzzles are marvelous.
---Meredith
If he likes really tough puzzle games, I totally recommend the Myst series. You can start with any game in the series - they're mostly PC games and some are relatively old but the actual puzzles are marvelous.
---Meredith
Misty
So many great ideas, can't wait to try some with my son.
One puzzle type book immediately sprung to my mind, Egyptian Jukebox by Nick Bantock. A challenging puzzle figured out through deciphering clues in pictures. It took 2 friends and I about a week to figure it out, smarter people might not take as long!
It is no longer in print but Amazon has lots of used copies:
http://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Jukebox-Conundrum-Nick-Bantock/dp/0670849448/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304177546&sr=1-1
One puzzle type book immediately sprung to my mind, Egyptian Jukebox by Nick Bantock. A challenging puzzle figured out through deciphering clues in pictures. It took 2 friends and I about a week to figure it out, smarter people might not take as long!
It is no longer in print but Amazon has lots of used copies:
http://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Jukebox-Conundrum-Nick-Bantock/dp/0670849448/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304177546&sr=1-1