Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Atlanta, GA

If there is one thing my kids have helped me understand, it's that they are their own little people, with their own personalities and ideas.  And the two of them could not be more different.  But they do have some things in common and that's what is really important to them and what really isn't.  I had all these ideas about how I would raise my kids and what I would do...  As the boys get older and their personalities really come out, you can see what's important to them. 

Like everyone these days, we've been forced to cut back and look at our finances and even make some cuts in the budget -- realign our priorities, so to speak. It's made us look at the big picture.  And surprisingly, the kids seem to be fine.  They don't mind that we can't go out and spend money every weekend on different activities and go different places. 

Today's list topic is a bit different from the others. It's about looking at the big picture... things that matter to preschoolers that we may not normally think about -- or that get lost in the kerfuffle of life. 

1. Family.  Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters.  They provide a sense of security and love for little ones!

2. Friends. There is a lot to be said for kids learning how to socialize with not just family but with their peers.  It's lots of fun to eaves drop on little conversations too!

3. Independence.  "I can do it!" seems to be my 4 year old's mantra these days!  Usually when we're in a hurry to go someplace....  But giving him time to learn a new skill or show off what he can do is important to him. 

4. A Voice.  It's often easy to over look the littlest members of the family, but giving them time to be heard on any matter -- whether it's what they want for dinner or what to watch on family movie night, is important to little kids.  They are learning to express them selves verbally and want to be heard.

5. Your Time.  Bottom line is kids want your attention and they want to do things with you.  It doesn't matter if you take them to one of the many attractions around town or just spend time coloring on your kitchen table (or doing some Savvy Crafts ).  The your attention and time is what they really want.

When we take time to look at what our kids want, what they really want, it makes life so much more simple.  Helps me put things in perspective about what is really important.

So, you want to add to the list?  What about things your kids don't really care about?