If you have young children, you know that the thing they want most is YOU! They want your attention. They want your teaching. And they want to play with YOU! How flattering! The love is awesome!
But here’s the hard part. Finding the time amidst all your work, home, and personal tasks on your to-do list. Then when your child finally gets your attention, you say, “OK I’m going to drop everything right now. Let’s play!” Then what happens? You probably end up doing the same things over and over again, wishing you could remember “What was that cool thing I thought of to do with the kids?”
Ok, so here is the answer to your your question “What Should I Do with the Kids Today?”
What Should I Do with My Kids Today?
You can either just print out the list below or you can download the document to make your own Activity Cards. If you use the Activity Cards you can either select a card by interest or you can select randomly and let fate decide for you! It can make the whole process very exciting for the kids too. A lot of these activities are great to use at family gatherings too. Get everyone involved: mommy, daddy, gramma, grampa, uncles, aunts, cousins! The more the merrier!
Safety note: always supervise children and only use age-appropriate materials.
- Pattern Play – take different shaped and/or colored objects and line them up in a pattern. (blue block, red block, Blue, red) Then have your child figure out what comes next. Any objects will do. You can also try sound patterns like clapping, tapping, funny noises, and have your child repeat them back. If they can have them make up patterns and you repeat them back.
- Sorting Play – 2 WAYS: 1) Gather some different objects like blocks, toy cars, stuffed animals, coins, spoons, and ask “How should we sort these?” Then ask if they could be sorted another way. 2) Have children help you with sorting real household items such as sorting laundry, silverware, toys, etc.
- Feel and Guess – Get a bag that you can’t see through and put about 10 different objects into it. Anything will do. (spoon, keys, yarn, toys, crayon, watch, remote control, etc.) Each person closes their eyes and takes out one object. They feel it and try to guess what it is.
- Ramp Play – make a simple ramp with a piece of cardboard or even a large book, what ever is handy. Take different objects to see how they go down the ramp. Toy cars, plastic cups, a sock, small toys. Ask child what they think will happen with each. Test it. Talk about why they are different. Have races.
- Letter Play & Number Play – Take index cards and draw the letter. On the back you draw something that begins with that letter. Let the child color it in all the while talking about the letter and the sound it makes. For numbers write the number on one side and then that number of objects on the back such as stars, smiley faces, anything. Let child color. You can do this a few each day. It’s hard to do all in one day.
- Tic-Tac-Toe – little kids love this!
- Reading Books– You read. Then let the child “read” to you with the pictures. Lots of praise. Your child will be learning to love reading.
- Sing kiddie songs -Bingo, Intsy Wintsy Spider, Five Little monkeys, Mary Had a Little Lamb, London Bridge, My Bonnie, Old MacDonald, Row Row Row Your Boat, You know all the ones. Use hand signals. Make them up if you need to. Have fun.
- Learning About Money – teach about the different coins. Ask them what they think. Talk about the difference between spending and saving, and also how we get money.
- Properties of Objects – discuss the properties of different objects: soft, furry, hard, rough, round, cold, warm, etc. Then go on hunts around the house for things with those specific properties.
- Role Play – pretend games are a young child’s favorite. Pirates, Firemen, Fairy Princess, etc. You can also use this as a way to start teaching about what to say when confronted with strangers and peer pressure for things like smoking. It’s best to start when they are young, not when the peer pressure starts. Take turns playing the “bad guy” or the “tempter.” Keep it light hearted and positive.
- Silly questions – take turns asking each other things like “Would you rather be a cat or a dog?” And don’t forget to ask why.
- What am I? – For instance you might say “I am big and gray. I have a long trunk and I live in Africa. Who am I?” And so on. It’s like 20 questions but easier for little kids.
- It Felt Like -after reading books to your child take it a step further and ask how they think certain characters felt in certain situations. Explore the world of feelings.
- Bath Party – bath paints, bath toys, what could be more fun. Let your child lead the way in this playing adventure.
- Bubbles! – make your own with water and a small amount of dishsoap and/or glycerin. Use straws or funnels for blowing the bubbles.
For more acitivities visit http://lifelearningtoday.com/2007/05/20/78-parent-child-activities-free-download/
