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Day Dr
Im looking for some homade toys to make for my ferrets.
Answer
BALLS: tennis balls, ping-pong balls, golf balls, and whiffle balls are all fun to roll around. Ping-pong balls in particular get a lot of action because of their light weight and rapid movement. They also canât be picked up! Avoid rubber or latex balls. At Easter time, plastic eggs can make great ferret toys. Try putting treats into the eggs, too!
TUNNELS: ferrets love to crawl through all sorts of tunnels. These can be made from large cardboard tubes, long mailing boxes, dryer hose, sewer/drainage pipe, irrigation tubing, legs cut from old pants/jeans, or shoeboxes taped together (with holes cut to travel through). My ferretsâ favorite is 20-foot lengths of clear dryer hose which can be purchased at some hardware stores. Be sure to tape up the exposed wire on each end of the tube. Avoid paper towel and toilet paper tubes that can trap a ferret head and suffocate them.
DIGGING BOXES: Many ferrets love to dig, but it can sure make a mess! Purchase a large plastic box with a lid, and cut a hole in the middle of the lid for ferret entry/exit. The rest of the lid will help keep the contents in. You can also attach dryer hose to the hole for even better protection. Fill the box 3/4 way with sand, rice, dried beans/peas, or even shredded newspaper. Avoid minute or precooked rice, which can cause problems if ingested. Some people use styrofoam peanuts, but only let your ferrets play with these under supervision and make sure no styrofoam is eaten. A larger option is a plastic wading pool filled with sand or dirt.
NOISY TOYS: Try filling an empty plastic soda pop bottle with pebbles, jingle-bells, beans, macaroni, or marbles and let the ferrets roll these around on the floor. Empty film canisters can make great rattles, and bells tied in the toe of an old sock makes a great toy. Plastic baby rattles and some rattling baby toys are also fun for ferrets. Crinkly plastic grocery sacks are fun, but supervise your ferrets or cut the corners from the bags so there is no danger of suffocation.
THINGS TO TIP OVER: plastic cups, wastepaper baskets, paper grocery bags, boxes or any container for a ferret to explore is fair game. Make the game even more fun by putting something in the container, such as a treat in one of many paper cups, or wadded up newspaper in a wastepaper basket.
CHASING CHALLENGES: Try tying any ferret toy to a sturdy piece of elastic, and tie the other end of the elastic to a doorknob or heavy piece of furniture. When the ferret tries to steal the toy, it gets harder and harder until the toy returns back to its place! You can also take an old childâs fishing rod and tie ferret toys to the end of the line. Cast, and then reel in the ferrets!
EXPLORATION: With some duct tape, cardboard boxes, and imagination, you can create a ferret castle. Cut lots of tunnel holes in old boxes and start taping them together! Adding cardboard tubes can make things even more fun. When the toy becomes boring or starts to wear out, just throw it away and start again!
BALLS: tennis balls, ping-pong balls, golf balls, and whiffle balls are all fun to roll around. Ping-pong balls in particular get a lot of action because of their light weight and rapid movement. They also canât be picked up! Avoid rubber or latex balls. At Easter time, plastic eggs can make great ferret toys. Try putting treats into the eggs, too!
TUNNELS: ferrets love to crawl through all sorts of tunnels. These can be made from large cardboard tubes, long mailing boxes, dryer hose, sewer/drainage pipe, irrigation tubing, legs cut from old pants/jeans, or shoeboxes taped together (with holes cut to travel through). My ferretsâ favorite is 20-foot lengths of clear dryer hose which can be purchased at some hardware stores. Be sure to tape up the exposed wire on each end of the tube. Avoid paper towel and toilet paper tubes that can trap a ferret head and suffocate them.
DIGGING BOXES: Many ferrets love to dig, but it can sure make a mess! Purchase a large plastic box with a lid, and cut a hole in the middle of the lid for ferret entry/exit. The rest of the lid will help keep the contents in. You can also attach dryer hose to the hole for even better protection. Fill the box 3/4 way with sand, rice, dried beans/peas, or even shredded newspaper. Avoid minute or precooked rice, which can cause problems if ingested. Some people use styrofoam peanuts, but only let your ferrets play with these under supervision and make sure no styrofoam is eaten. A larger option is a plastic wading pool filled with sand or dirt.
NOISY TOYS: Try filling an empty plastic soda pop bottle with pebbles, jingle-bells, beans, macaroni, or marbles and let the ferrets roll these around on the floor. Empty film canisters can make great rattles, and bells tied in the toe of an old sock makes a great toy. Plastic baby rattles and some rattling baby toys are also fun for ferrets. Crinkly plastic grocery sacks are fun, but supervise your ferrets or cut the corners from the bags so there is no danger of suffocation.
THINGS TO TIP OVER: plastic cups, wastepaper baskets, paper grocery bags, boxes or any container for a ferret to explore is fair game. Make the game even more fun by putting something in the container, such as a treat in one of many paper cups, or wadded up newspaper in a wastepaper basket.
CHASING CHALLENGES: Try tying any ferret toy to a sturdy piece of elastic, and tie the other end of the elastic to a doorknob or heavy piece of furniture. When the ferret tries to steal the toy, it gets harder and harder until the toy returns back to its place! You can also take an old childâs fishing rod and tie ferret toys to the end of the line. Cast, and then reel in the ferrets!
EXPLORATION: With some duct tape, cardboard boxes, and imagination, you can create a ferret castle. Cut lots of tunnel holes in old boxes and start taping them together! Adding cardboard tubes can make things even more fun. When the toy becomes boring or starts to wear out, just throw it away and start again!
What should I bring for my kids traveling internationally?
Jewel
We are going on vacation to visit family for the first time in Europe this summer but I am a little scared about the flight over and back. I have a 10 yr old, 6 yr old and a 2 yr old (all boys) and I need some serious ideas to keep them entertained during all parts of the flight (take off, supper, sleeping, landing etc). I'm especially worried about the 2 yr old and 6 yr old. What are some good traveling tips, ideas to bring (not just in general toys, what kind?) hints that would help on their first international airplane ride?
Answer
I've been traveling internationally with my son since he was born (now 26 months) and for longer than that with my nieces and nephews and with a little planning all will go smooth. Looks like you are already on the right track.
Here are some tips:
1 Arrive at the airport early to get checked in comfortably and be sure you have documents in order. In addition to a passport, it is always good to carry a copy of your children's birth certificate -- you may need it to prove you are their parent. Also if you are traveling alone with your children be sure you have a notarized letter from the other parent giving you permission to do so or you may be stopped at security.
If you need a stroller for your 2-year-old, you can go through security with a stroller and take your baby in the stroller right up to the door of the airplane -- you stroller will need a tag that you get at the gate -- and they will check it for you there. Take advantage of early boarding for families -- if your kids won't get too crazy waiting on the plane for everyone else to board. If so, board last.
2. When booking your seat, ask for seats in the bulkhead. That is the area right in the front of the plane. It has more room and will allow you to easily change your child or let him/her play when it is safe to do so. One note though: Because there are no seats in from of you, you'll have to stow all your carry-on luggage in the overhead compartments during take-off and landing and that could impede access for necessary items like toys. A window seat is great for kids and maybe your kids can share, switching off for the flight. My 2-year-old loves to look out the window and see the wing and the clouds!
3. Be sure to bring favorite snacks (we always have cheerios on hand) as many airlines don't serve food anymore and those that do either serve things kids won't eat, can't eat (peanuts) or serve junk food. (We order a kid's meal on one flight and it consisted of potato chips, candy bars and a sugery drink -- things we don't give our kid anyway, but a disaster to pump them full of sugar on a plane). Bottled water is plentiful on board so you can always bring dried cereals that can be rehydrated and heated by flight attendants, who in my experience have always been willing to help. Remember that there are limits on liquids that you can bring on through security these days -- including baby foods -- but whatever you buy after security is okay. Look for easy to carry, easy to eat foods in the airport. I know not always easy but even applesauce is a good choice.
4. Before the flight, go to a dollar store and pick up some cheap toys. I usually get one thing for every hour of flight -- that would be times 3 for you. What you get is really up to your child's interest but make it something that can carried easily. A new toy is a novelty and will keep your child entertained longer. Do pack a few favorites from home, especially some good books your child loves to read or have read to her. But if your child has an irreplaceable toy (a favorite teddy bear he has to sleep with for example) either don't bring it or don't bring it out during flight in case it gets lost. Your child will be desperate! (Don't pack it in your checked luggage eith
I've been traveling internationally with my son since he was born (now 26 months) and for longer than that with my nieces and nephews and with a little planning all will go smooth. Looks like you are already on the right track.
Here are some tips:
1 Arrive at the airport early to get checked in comfortably and be sure you have documents in order. In addition to a passport, it is always good to carry a copy of your children's birth certificate -- you may need it to prove you are their parent. Also if you are traveling alone with your children be sure you have a notarized letter from the other parent giving you permission to do so or you may be stopped at security.
If you need a stroller for your 2-year-old, you can go through security with a stroller and take your baby in the stroller right up to the door of the airplane -- you stroller will need a tag that you get at the gate -- and they will check it for you there. Take advantage of early boarding for families -- if your kids won't get too crazy waiting on the plane for everyone else to board. If so, board last.
2. When booking your seat, ask for seats in the bulkhead. That is the area right in the front of the plane. It has more room and will allow you to easily change your child or let him/her play when it is safe to do so. One note though: Because there are no seats in from of you, you'll have to stow all your carry-on luggage in the overhead compartments during take-off and landing and that could impede access for necessary items like toys. A window seat is great for kids and maybe your kids can share, switching off for the flight. My 2-year-old loves to look out the window and see the wing and the clouds!
3. Be sure to bring favorite snacks (we always have cheerios on hand) as many airlines don't serve food anymore and those that do either serve things kids won't eat, can't eat (peanuts) or serve junk food. (We order a kid's meal on one flight and it consisted of potato chips, candy bars and a sugery drink -- things we don't give our kid anyway, but a disaster to pump them full of sugar on a plane). Bottled water is plentiful on board so you can always bring dried cereals that can be rehydrated and heated by flight attendants, who in my experience have always been willing to help. Remember that there are limits on liquids that you can bring on through security these days -- including baby foods -- but whatever you buy after security is okay. Look for easy to carry, easy to eat foods in the airport. I know not always easy but even applesauce is a good choice.
4. Before the flight, go to a dollar store and pick up some cheap toys. I usually get one thing for every hour of flight -- that would be times 3 for you. What you get is really up to your child's interest but make it something that can carried easily. A new toy is a novelty and will keep your child entertained longer. Do pack a few favorites from home, especially some good books your child loves to read or have read to her. But if your child has an irreplaceable toy (a favorite teddy bear he has to sleep with for example) either don't bring it or don't bring it out during flight in case it gets lost. Your child will be desperate! (Don't pack it in your checked luggage eith
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