On an Rainy Day
Go "Camping." Get out old sheets or blankets and make tents. We also have a small pop up tent which works for an 'outpost'. Have the kids set up camp, build a pretend campfire, get out the flashlights and stock the campsite with books, snacks and whatever else your little one might like to play with.
Play a Board Game. . Bingo, Hullabaloo, Boggle Jr. Candyland, Checkers (age 4 and up), Chutes & Ladders and Charades for Kids and card games like old maid and go fish are hits.
Get Crafty. Try out the Playdoh, paint with your watercolors, let the kids stamp or do any type of arts & crafts. Make a collage of pictures of favorite times with the family. Add words and pictures from magazines and you’ll make a treasure to keep.
Play Hide and Seek or do a Treasure Hunt. This can be as easy or difficult as your child will permit. For the little ones you can make a map of pictures and for the other children make maps with words or directions/hints. Hide their toys or special little treats you may have stocked up on throughout the year.
Bake Cookies! Let children add a variety of additions to a basic cookie dough. Have a taste contest to decide which combination is most delicious.
On a Car Trip
- Count cows, cars, barns, railroad tracks
- Play ‘I Spy’ for certain colors or kinds of cars and trucks
- Sing, sing, sing: Sing silly song, kids songs, made up songs and pop songs
- Make up stories by encouraging everyone in the car to add to the story and keep it going. For instance, Dad may start by saying, “Once there was a family who took a trip to the moon. When they arrived they…... Then the next person continues the story. For instance big brother might say, “After they stepped onto the moon’s surface they realized that the ground was made out of chocolate chip cookies so they….” Then Mom might add, “So they decided that they would look for some ice cream over the hill. They hiked and hiked and found a whole lake full of strawberry and vanilla and chocolate ice cream….”
- Encourage Dad, Mom or Grand mom or Gran Dad to tell a story about when they were young
Take a Hike
- Take a listening walk. No talking; just walking and listening. When you have gone a ways, stop and talk about the different sounds you heard around you. For instance you might hear crickets or a train whistle or children’s voices in the distance.
- Take a naming walk. Walk along and see how many things you can name as you walk. It’s a great vocabulary builder for little ones too. For instance, as you walk in the park you may say, “sky, grass, trees, dogs, path, dirt, bugs, people, bikes, feet, breathing, running. “ There’s no right or wrong way to have a naming, noticing walk. It is very calming too.
- Check out opportunities in your area for walking. Parks, zoos, lakes, neighborhoods, the school track, country roads, hiking trails or down town all offer opportunities to get out and get moving together.
- Take a firefly walk late in the evening. Walk around the neighborhood or near a meadow or close to some woods. See if you can spot some summer fireflies. Can you count them?
Quiet Times
- Read together
- Listen to music
- Make up stories
- Talk about your day
- Have a puppet act as an interpreter for your thoughts
- Listen to one another’s dreams and hopes and wishes
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