Category — Family Activities

Decorations: Use balloons with swirling, bubble like colors.
Food: Bake a cake in a round mold or a metal mixing bowl. Frost it smoothly with white frosting. Save 3 or 4 tablespoons of frosting to color then swirl the different colors of frosting through the white frosting on the cake, the way colors swirl through a bubble.
Serve punch with round ice cubes floating in it.
Make sandwiches of bread cut in circles.
Activities: Give each guest a large plate covered with bubble mix and a straw. Let them practice blowing bubbles then have a bubble contest.
Give prizes for:
The biggest bubble
The highest pile of bubbles
The pretties bubble
The longest lasting bubble
Blowing a bubble inside a bubble
Favors: Bubble gum, jars of bubbles, candy that looks like bubbles, or balloons.

I found this idea in the book Science Wizardry for Kids by Margaret Kenda and Phyllis S. Williams

This treat can is easy to make. All you need is a metal can, wire, paint, and embelishments.

Clean your can and remove label. You’ll need to take off the bottom of the can too. Be sure to use a can opener that doesn’t leave sharp edges.
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Using an awl or a nail, hammer two holes on each side of the top of the can.

Using the hammer pound the bottom of the can flat together.

The top remains open.
Now paint, decorate, add a wire for the handle, and fill with a special treat.

Grandparents can help their grandchildren learn to read or become better readers by:
1. Having books available when they come to visit and encouraging them to explore books.
2. Reading together and talking about what you’re reading.
3. Make reading a pleasure and show enthusiasm as you read together.
These ideas came from the Michigan Department of Education.

Download Accordion Fold Card & Book
There are so many great Valentine books to read to your grandchildren. Some that my grandchildren have enjoyed are The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting, Little Bear’s Valentine by Maurice Sendak, and Max’s Valentine by Rosemary Wells.
When you’re finished reading together you can make an accordion folded Valentine card.
Directions:
1. Print out the pattern on white or colored paper.
2. Cut out the strips only along the outside edges.
3. Tape or glue the 2 strips together and fold along the vertical lines accordion style.
4. Write a special Valentine message or story to give to someone.
5. Put it in an envelope or tie together with a ribbon.

Two of my grandsons stayed overnight with me last week. They had great fun creating things from pipe cleaners. It was fun and inexpensive!

Healthy Kids

It seems with every new year people make resolutions to get more exercise and eat healthier. This website is great for everyone but it’s especially geared toward 8 – 18 year olds. You can play games, watch the short videos and find lots of information about how to live a healthier lifestyle.

Download Rock Around the Clock
Getting Started:
1. You will need a set of cards for each player.
2. Each player places their cards face down in a circle like the numbers on a clock. It doesn’t matter if they aren’t in the number order of the clock. The 12 is the only card that faces up in the 12 o’clock position.
3. The remaining cards become the “draw pile”.

How to Play:
The goal of the game it to be the first player to turn over all the cards on their clock. You do this by taking turns drawing from the draw pile and placing the card in the correct position. The card you replace goes to the bottom of the “draw pile”. If you draw a card that is already in the correct position, you skip your turn.

This is a fun fall activity to do with your children and you’re helping the birds.
Directions:
1. Gather various sizes of milk cartons.
2. Cut out an opening.
3. Decorate with paint or permanent markers.
4. Make a small hole to push a dowel through so the bird can perch.
5. Secure a wire or heavy string at the top for hanging.
6. Fill with bird seed and hang.
You can also have an opening on opposite sides and push the dowel through so birds can perch on either side.

I saw this idea on The Katie Brown Workshop. She just took a bunch of frames, put corkboard inside, labeled them with the days of the week, and wha la you have a place to keep all your important information. They would be great in a familyroom, kitchen, or office. You could have the kids paint the frames different colors and add embelishments too.
GET DIRECTIONS

Write a note to your grandchild sharing with them something that you remember about being their age and beginning a new school year. Tell them how you felt. Maybe you were excited, scared or embarrassed. Also add a photograph of yourself when you were their age. This could become a special keepsake for your grandchild and would be a part of your personal history, so make a copy for yourself.

You’ve heard the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” well this apple can help to build self-esteem by recognizing each individual in the family and what they do well.

1. On a piece of paper draw and cut out an apple for each member of your family.
2. At dinner or another time when the family will be together plan to do the activity.
3. Each family member writes their name on their apple and passes it to the person on their right.
4. That person writes something positive about the person whose name is on the apple. It can be a talent they have, something they do well or something nice they’ve done.
5. Continue passing the apples until you have your own apple back. If you have a small group, pass the apples around again.
6. When you’re finished each person reads what is written on their apple.