An Olympic Obsession

By Shari Einhorn

Olympic fever has hit my house! 

We weren't home for the opening ceremonies but DVR'ed it and then the kids and I watched it the next day.  I was amazed at the technology and rich cultural background of the performances -- the kids liked the colors, the fireworks and the gymnastics.  (Did you see the people that were running around what looked like the earth or the torch bearer who ran around the top of the entire stadium?!)

The Parade of Nations was the best geography lesson EVER!  We sat there with a globe and tried to find some of the countries as they walked in.   

We saw the athletes from Suriname enter the stadium, so we looked it up on the globe... In case you didn't know, it's on the northern part of South America.  Of course we found Spain because they think that's where "Dora the Explorer" is from.  Then there's Kai-Lan...another kids show about a Chinese-American girl...so we found China.  Of course, we would have found that one anyway so I could point out where Beijing is.  They were actually familiar with the Great Wall of China...my parents went to China and the kids had seen it on an episode of "The Little Einsteins."  We found France because they've heard of The Eiffel Tower.  We checked out Italy...they had seen a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa at the credit union. 

So far we've watched basketball, soccer, gymnastics, weightlifting, diving, beach volleyball and equestrian dressage. (Beach volleyball was a BIG hit...and they thought it was cool that the president was there.)

I DVR'ed swimming for them because it was on past their bedtime.

I found some really interesting stuff on the official Olympic Games web site.  You might want to check it out.

And if you're feeling up to a challenge -- let's call it an OLYMPIC CHALLENGE...try making a list of as many dates and locations of previous Olympics dating back to 1896 -- then check your answers against this official list.

And if you're ready for another test of your brain power -- see how many sports you can list that are part of the Olympic games -- then compare yours to this one.

Hey -- don't worry about how many you got wrong -- just count up the correct answers and be proud of yourself...you win a gold medal for trying!

And as a final note...I thought you'd get a kick out of these gems from my kids.  You know the saying, out of the mouths of babes?

My 5 year old isn't that impressed with the man that just did a triple flip off the rings..."Mommy I can probably do 10 -- you know that's really hard."

My 7 year old can't quite understand why it's so difficult to get tickets to see the Olympics..."When I'm in the Olympics you'll definitely come watch me, right?"

Hope you're enjoying the games as much as my family!!

Shari