5 Activities for the Kids- Week 1

Alright, time for my first series and it’s a fun one “5 Activities for the Kids”. The series be posted on Wednesdays for the next 4 weeks. I am hoping this gives you time to schedule or prepare things for the following week. I will do my best to gear things to kids multiple ages as much as possible. My two that will be enjoying these activities in my home are ages 3 & 10. This week most things will be free or under $10. Leave me a comment if you try and enjoy a certain activity.

• #1 Box Play– You know the old saying, “why get toys when all they want is the boxes to play with.” Well, today is the day. Grab some free boxes from the grocery store or ask that neighbor that gets all those Amazon orders. Let the kids make whatever they want dog house, sword, rocket ship, car, etc. You can give them some guidance if you want but I found the more you sit back and leave them be the more they will learn to use their imaginations. To keep older kids busy challenge them to Google a design and have them copy it as best they can. Suggested supplies- random boxes, crayons, scissors, random stickers, colored paper or magazines, foil, and some glue or tape.

• #2 Stuff Animal Grooming– My daughter loves doing this one. We simply go through the stuffed animal bin, pick out a few animals that we could live without (mistakes happen, keep reading for details). If you don’t have any that you would not be ok with getting rid of at the end of this activity I suggest going to a thrift store. Most stuffed animals are under $1 at least in my area. Then I let the kids, shampoo, blow-dry, brush, tattoo, color, and trim the fur. Yes, I give my kids scissors and let them go at it. My suggestion is to do this outside, on the kitchen floor, or bathroom somewhere easy to clean up the mess. A couple of mom tricks- I give the kids baby powder or flour as the stuffed animal shampoo when I am not up to a water mess, they can also skip this part completely and just give trims, let the kids know if they cut open the stuffed animal at the end of playtime it’s going in the trash can. Suggested supplies- stuffed animal, scissors, towel, comb, brush, baby powder/flour or water and shampoo, blow dryer real or fake, and whatever fun hair accessories you have around, I do find boys love using markers to add tattoos and mow hawks.

• #3 Frozen Prize Block- This one is so easy and entertains for a while. All you need to do is decide what best to freeze for your kids’ prize block. I don’t go buy prizes I simply check the kid’s toy areas for some things they may have forgotten about or things they love and would be happy to find inside. Think small character figures, bouncy balls, any small toy you have laying around. You can also do fresh fruit, and even some spending money if you feel like it. Tied balloons are great for hiding secret messages or even as chores disbursement. I like to do between 5 and 15 items depending on the item sizes. For the best results, use a larger plastic container, bowls, or old milk jugs. Depending on what container you use releasing the frozen block can be done by cutting the sides or submerging in warm water for a few seconds. Put the frozen prize cube on a cookie tray, water table, anything with sides. Now it’s time for the kids to find their prizes. My suggestions give them water to dump over the cube, put water in spray bottles, squirt guns, small hammers, and even salt (don’t use if you did fruit). This activity does take some extra prep time but it will also keep the kids busy for a good amount of time. Suggested Supplies- small toys, fruits, money, large plastic container, water, tray, cup or spray bottle, small hammer, salt.  

• #4 Donuts at the Park- I am sure like our family you have had plenty of picnic lunches in the park. How many times have you done breakfast at the park? This is a fun way to get the kids up and out of the house before it’s too hot. Our projected temperatures next week are over 100° almost every day so we need to get outdoor playtime in early. I fill each of our water bottles and pack things like juice boxes, fresh fruit, applesauce, or yogurts whatever I have on hand. I don’t count the foods I have at home in the activity budget since I would have used them for breakfast at home anyways. Then we hit the donut shop because I have some tummy fillers packed the kids just get to pick one donut each and with four of us it’s normally under the $10. Hit the park for a couple of hours of playtime before the heat rolls in and lunchtime. I find breakfast at the park gets ate better than lunches do and it is way easier for me to grab and go. Suggest Supplies- water bottles, fruit, juices, donuts, local park.

• #5 Book to Movie- You can make this one as hard or simple as you want or need. If you are new to doing a read-aloud I find reading to the kids during mealtime a great way to get them used to listen for an extended period of time. If your kids are not ready for long books read something short like Cat in the Hat and watch the movie later in the day or the following day. For older kids summertime is the perfect time to start a nice long family read-aloud like Harry Potter then watch each movie as you finish each book in the series. I am a big book-to-movie fan, I love trying to find all the differences between the two media. Make sure to read with enthusiasm and put the phone away during the movie. Enjoy some good quality time with your children. Suggested Supplies- Book and movie based on the book.