games to play on paper

There are certain times of the year staying indoors because of weather can make any kid restless and give them cabin fever. You could allow them to spend that time in front of a computer console or in front of the TV all day, but, what happens when the lights go out because of an outage?

Here are a few tips you can do today to prepare for that inevitable event:

Scan websites for free printable fun activities for kids. Coloring pages, masks, paper dolls or figures, craft projects and experiments are just some ideas about what sites offer.

Create a supply chest and fill it with art supplies: crayons, non toxic paints, paper, rulers, scissors, glue, bits of fabric, etc. You can scour yard sales, thrift stores or your attic for fabric scraps, buttons, ribbon, paper, etc.

Make a list of Emergency supplies and then divide the list among the kids. Have them find as many items as on the list. You can tailor the list to include whatever items you can think of for the children to find.
This list of children fun activities isn't inclusive, there are plenty of things you can have your children do when the lights go out that will pass the time quickly.

Some game ideas:

Board games: Monopoly, Life, Trouble, Sorry
Guessing type: Game involving an even number of players and a score keeper that uses descriptions to guess words you can pre-print on 3x5 cards. One side faces the other and gives out hints without actually saying the word.
Paper or Dry Erase board: Hang Man, Drawing type game where you draw elements of the main object for others to guess.
Acting games: Charades, Name That Tune (you can hum the notes)
You're not restricted involving hand held games and can easily find many at the store; the problem with most is that when the batteries die and the spares do too, you're left with a lot of quiet hours with nothing to do especially if the weather forces everyone inside.

When the weather is the reason for everyone remaining inside, you can then open your chest of supplies and start projects using the free printable fun activities for kids as a guide. If you planned ahead, all the supplies from the list will be in the chest ready to use.

You can hold a talent show displaying anything your children made during the time the outage occurred or while the weather prevented everyone from going outside.

Bad weather or power outages need not be boring and, with a little preparation can actually bring members of the family together and make an otherwise boring situation into a fun and productive one.

games to play on paper

Proofreading PhD

The importance of proofreading any written document should not be underestimated. You could be planning to submit a manuscript to publishers for consideration, or about to hand in that all important dissertation, but whatever you've written should always be passed through the proofreading process and ideally by someone else.

Proofreading is a skill and an art; it involves understanding the intricacies of language, and having a very good eye for detail. And because of these skills being a necessary requirement within a proofreader, not everyone is capable of carrying out the task. Unfortunately it is also the case that even within the select few who claim to be proofreaders, there are varying degrees of accuracy and attention to detail.

Nevertheless, a proof reader's role in the writing process is an essential one. The types of errors that a proofreader can recognise will include: spelling mistakes, the obvious and the not so obvious, grammar errors, changes to the font, and inconsistent alignment of the text, spacing or paragraph settings. Furthermore, a proofreader will provide a general check of the text for consistency, e.g. in the spelling of a character's name, or continuity in setting or plot. For example, a proofreader would easily spot if you started a scene at night and moments later you mention the sun beating down. These types of errors are ones that as a writer it is difficult to spot, particularly if you have been working very closely with a manuscript up to that point. A copy editor would provide a more thorough review of your work but a proof reader would be a good starting point to highlight any areas of concern.

Similarly, in academic writing, it is easy to get bogged down in the arguments or the science within the essay or dissertation, and forget about the finer points of the grammar or style. A proofreader can pick up not only spelling and grammar mistakes but also incorrect referencing, or failure to adhere to the style guidelines. Having a fresh pair of eyes carry out this job for you means that the process will be far more productive, time efficient and worth the fee (if paying a professional proofreader to complete the task for you).

If you have written a manuscript, thesis, dissertation or essay and you choose not to proofread it, or not to get someone else to have a look through, then you could be setting yourself up for failure. Having worked so hard to produce your document, losing marks, or failing to secure a publishing deal simply because of bad spelling, or an inconsistent style seems like a pointless risk to take, especially when the alternative of getting a proofreader to ensure your work is perfect, is such a simple thing to do.

Proofreading PhD