In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Jokes are a great way to have fun in a short amount of time, and laughing puts everyone in a happier, more relaxed mood. Learn some funny dad-appropriate jokes and tell him one at the breakfast table, when he gets home from work, or whenever he looks like he needs a laugh. Then ask him to tell you one of his favorite jokes in return. If you don't know any good jokes, there are lots of great joke books for kids at the library, and many websites full of funny jokes. Search for "jokes for kids" and get ready to start laughing. If your dad doesn't play a lot of video games, or isn't familiar with the games you like to play, give him a lesson! Invite your dad to play Minecraft or another video game you like. Show him how the controls work and explain what the point of the game is. Then give him a little while to get into it before you start killing him or blowing up his stuff. It can get pretty silly when non-gamer parents first try to play video games. Go easy on your dad, and don't be too upset if he doesn't enjoy your game as much as you do, OR if he turns out to be a lot better at it than you! Board games are even better than computer games for spending quality time with another person, because you actually have to look at each other and talk! Get out your favorite game out and set it up, and ask your dad if he'd like to play. You two will be having fun in no time! Doing chores may not sound like a lot of fun, but you might be surprised how much fun it can be to help your dad cook dinner, or do the grocery shopping, or help him with yard work. If your dad is really busy, or you have a lot of siblings, this might be your best chance for getting some one-on-one time with your dad. He will be pleased that you offered to help, and it will give you a chance to spend some quality time together. Plus, if your dad gets finished doing chores early, he might have time for a more fun activity afterwards. Make chores more fun by turning them into a competition. For example, if you are raking leaves, challenge your dad to see who can finish his half of the yard first. Not only does this make the work more fun, you might finish early and have time to do go get ice cream afterwards. This will be fun for you to hear, and it will be fun for your dad to tell. It will also remind your dad of what it was like to be your age, which might help the two of you feel more connected. Better yet, ask him if he has any pictures from his childhood he can show you. You can both share a laugh about how goofy everyone's hair was, or how much you and your dad look alike. One of the best ways to have fun with your dad every day is to not get too upset about the dad things that he does. For example, if your dad tells you to pick up your socks, don't get mad and argue about it, just pick up your socks. If your dad seems tired and grumpy in the evening, realize that he probably had a hard day at work and give him a break. Remember that being a parent is hard work, and dads are people, too.
Summary: Tell your dad a joke. Invite your dad to play video games with you. Ask your dad to play a board game. Offer to help your dad around the house. Ask your dad to tell you a story about when he was your age. Be patient with your dad.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: The best way to get a few checkers out of your area is by moving the checker on the right or left of the triangle toward your opponent's checkers. Then, you use one of the second checkers from the corner of the triangle and hop it over the third and fifth checkers. Similar to chess rules, if you keep your pieces away from the side they are less likely to become stranded. A great way to get pieces along the middle of the board is by setting up a zigzag line of your pieces. Then you can take the last piece in the line and hop over the other pieces. In Chinese checkers you can move forward by hopping over the pieces in front of your checker. So if you have one piece in the back and a zigzag of other pieces across the board, you can hop all the way down the line of your pieces. You generally want to move your marbles as a group rather than having a lead scout marble or a marble stuck in the back. If you have a marble in front or stuck in the back it is unable to use your other marbles to travel forward. Similarly, if you have a marble way in front it is of no use to the marbles behind it. Marbles can hop on one another to travel forward but they have to be next to each other for this to work. Always look to jump your last marble forward so it doesn't get left behind.
Summary: Set up your checkers correctly. Keep your pieces toward the center of the board. Avoid stragglers.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Don't just offer a blanket "I'm sorry." Think carefully about what you are really apologizing for, and be specific when you say you're sorry. If you know you hurt your friend's feelings, apologize for what you said. Say something like, "I'm really sorry I called you stupid. I respect you way more than that and my words were careless and rude." You might say, "I'm sorry that I waited so long to call you after the fight," if you honestly don't think the argument was your fault. After you apologize, let your friend talk. Listen carefully to what your friend has to say, and try not to be defensive when they tell you what they think about the fight. You might have done something to hurt or upset them that you don't even realize. You can talk about what happened, but don't use this as an excuse to rehash the fight itself. Focus on using "I" statements that focus on your perspective rather than "you" statements that are centered on blame. You could say something like, "I was feeling stressed out already that day and I lost my temper, and I shouldn't have done that" or "I felt really frustrated when you weren't listening to me, but I shouldn't have snapped at you." Don't make excuses for your behavior. It's okay to explain how you were feeling, but be sure to take responsibility for your words and actions. A lot of times, once you've apologized, your friend will say "I'm sorry too." If they do, let them know you accept their apology and you're ready to get things back to normal. If your friend doesn't apologize, ask yourself whether it's more important to hear them say they're sorry or to have your friend back. Your friend may not be ready to forgive you or even to end the argument. Respect your friend's emotions, but don't let them pull you back into the fight. If your friend is still mad, ask what you can do to make it better. If they give you an answer, try to do that. If they say nothing, your friend may need more time, or they may want to end the friendship. Try to be patient with your friend as they take the time to heal after your argument. They may need more time than you do, and that's okay. Whether you and your friend have repaired the friendship or your friend is still upset, try to end the conversation positively. If you've made up, leave with a big hug and plans to hang out soon. If your friend is still upset, close the conversation by saying something like, "I still love you and I'll be here if you want to talk."
Summary:
Offer a sincere and specific apology. Give your friend a chance to tell their side of the story. Share your thoughts about the argument. Accept your friend's apology if they say they're sorry. Give your friend more time if they're still angry. End on a positive note.