Category — Family Activities

I had so much fun with my grandchildren making snowman sandwiches. I had 3 different sizes of circles for the kids to cut their snowman parts. I used an empty soup can, a small funnel and a lid from a peanut butter jar. They pressed the shape into the bread to make the 3 parts of a snowman. Then they spread tuna salad, peanut butter and jam on the sections. The face and buttons were raisins, olives and cashews. We also made snowmen from oranges slices. I sliced the orange and let them create their snowmen. You can also use cookie cutters and make different sandwiches throughout the year depending on the season.

This is a fun and easy activity that can be played almost anywhere. It helps your grandchildren with their SPELLING. It’s a version of “hangman”. Using a pencil draw a snowman on paper. Be sure to include the eyes, nose, mouth, hat, and scarf. Think of a word and write one blank per letter. Have your grandchild begin guessing letters. For each incorrect guess, erase one part of the snowman. Can your grandchild figure out the word before the snowman melts. I found this idea in the Home & School Connection newsletter that Granite School District sends out monthly.

Each December, in my school class we talk about many celebrations. When we learn about Hanukkah we always play the dreidel game with unshelled peanuts. The kids love it. Get Free Dreidel Pattern & Game Directions.
We also make potato latkes. I’ve included a recipe that I have used so you can try it with your children or grandchildren. This is a simplified recipe.
Get Original Recipe.

5 large potatoes peeled & grated
3 eggs
salt & pepper
oil for frying or you can just use vegetable spray & fry them as you would hashbrown potatoes
1. Make sure you strain out all excess water from potatoes.
2. Combine potatoes, eggs, salt, & pepper
3. Fry until golden brown on each side.
4. Let cool slightly while they drain them on a paper towel.
5. Serve with applesauce, sour cream or jam.

More About Hanukkah

When I saw this pattern for poppies, I thought it would be great to make a Veteran’s Day wreath. It would be fun for my grandchildren to make and a way of remembering their great-grandfather as well as all veterans.
GET PATTERN

More Veteran’s Day or Remembrance Day Activities

Columbus Day is October 12.
Download this free sailing ship pattern for your child or grandchild to make.
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Directions:
1. To make the tree truck and branches, trace your grandchild’s arm and hand on a piece of paper. I used brown paper but you could use white and color it brown.
2. For the leaves, cut up yellow, red, orange, and brown construction paper or tissue paper.
3. Have your grandchild decorate the branches with the leaves.

Constitution Day is September 17. How much do you know about the Constitution? Talk with your children at dinner and play a game or do other fun activities. Get Information & Activities

This Labor Day Weekend, when you get together with your family, why not make a time capsule. It’s fun, easy and inexpensive.
Get Ideas for Time Capsule

This year our family reunion was at a lake. At the end of a fun day of playing in the water, my daughter, Callee did a darling activity with the young kids. It was a treasure hunt. She had 5 stations. Each station had a different activity to be completed to get the clue to the next station. At each station there was an adult to supervise.
Station 1 – make a picture using tiny shell & rocks ( while the kids were doing this, Callee was burying the treasure with an “X“ on top)
Station 2 – listen to a story (picture book about a family reunion)
Station 3 – act out scenes from Star Wars ( all the kids love the Star Wars movies)
Station 4 – using white crepe paper or toilet paper, wrap up someone to look like a mummy
Station 5 – sing 3 songs
The clue from station 5 is to find an “X”. The treasure is buried in a plastic container with an “X”on top.
The kids loved it and stayed engaged because they wanted the treasure.
Callee has done this activity at home with her boys and included cleaning chores as some of the activities. It’s great for a rainy day.

This would be fun to do with the neighborhood kids, a church group or at a family reunion.
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