Category — Activities

We went to my school to do a few things in my classroom. Megan helped me organize and cover bulletinboards. She had fun writing on the whiteboard.

Having lunch at Sizzler. I think Megan’s favorite part was the ice cream bar.

We had so much fun making clothespin dolls. Megan had some great ideas to decorate her dolls. I think they turned out darling.

Great ideas from the National PTA, to help your child learn to read or become a better reader.

1. License to read. On car trips, make it a game to point out and read license plates, billboards, and interesting road signs.

2. Better than TV. Swap evening TV for a good action story or tale of adventure.

3. Look and listen. Too tired to read aloud? Listen to a book on tape and turn the book’s pages with your children. You’ll still be reading with them!

4. Labels, labels, labels. Label things in your children’s room as they learn to name them. Have fun while they learn that written words are connected to everyday things.

5. Pack a snack, pack a book. Going someplace where there might be a long wait? Bring along a snack and a bag of favorite books.

6. Recipe for reading. The next time you cook with your children, read the recipe with them. Step-by-step instructions, ingredients, and measurements are all part of words in print!

7. Shop and read. Notice and read signs and labels in the supermarket. Back home, putting away groceries is another great time for reading labels.

8. Your long-distance lap. Away on a business trip? Take a few books with you, call home, and have your child curl up by the phone for a good night story.

9. A reading pocket. Slip fun things to read into your pocket to bring home: a comic strip from the paper, a greeting card, or even a fortune cookie from lunch. Create a special, shared moment your child can look forward to every day.

10. A little longer? When your child asks to stay up a little longer, say yes and make it a 15-minute family reading opportunity.

I came across an activity that Kimberlee Woodward, a teacher in Michigan, used in her classroom that I thought would be fun for a family reunion or a family gathering. Each person has 3-5 different-colored paper strips on which they write a different talent. They create a mini paper chain by linking their talent strips together. Now, get the whole group together and taking turns, each person reads their talents. Link the individual chains together using extra strips of paper. Now you have one long chain. Talk about what the chain demonstrates. For example: All our family members have talents. If we help and support each other we can accomplish more. We’re a stronger family when each individual is willing to share their talents.

Logan and I had a fun time at Wheeler Farm. There were new piglets that he got to pet.

He loved climbing on the old tractors.

And as always there’s a fun craft project. Logan loves to create things from wood and then paint them.

This is fun and easy all year long but it can also be used as a Father’s Day card.
All you need is a rectangle shape piece of paper and a pencil. You can make your house as large or as small as you like depending on the size of paper. Have your child fold the paper into a house. They may need your help. Read a story about families or traditions and then have your child write or draw pictures inside the house, about a special family activity or tradition. Stand it up to display. You can also use stickers that represent a family activity or tradition.
Download Directions for House

5 Ideas for making excursions to museums or historical sites more fun for kids:

1. Realize that you may need to spend just a short time in each area. If your child seems interested stay longer, if not move on quickly.

2. Before you go, make a list of things for the children to look for (number of steps, the colors in a specific painting, number of clocks, etc.). Then they will be challenged to find all the answers.

3. Choose places to visit that have a child’s room and have them compare it to their room.

4. Be sure to get a brochure of the site or museum you visit and when you get home, make a game similar to Monopoly. Create a simple game board by cutting out pictures and gluing them on paper. You could also play a guessing game like “I’m thinking of….” If you have two brochures you can cut out duplicate pictures and make a matching game.

5. Take a photo of you and your child, glue on a paper and each of you write about the visit. You could put it in an inexpensive frame as a keepsake.

>Kimball had his special day with me and we did lots of fun things.

We went to the park, to Wheeler Farm, we painted, and played. Then he wrote a story about all the things we did to share with his family.

Print out an ice cream cone pattern for each family member. Each person cuts out the single scoop ice cream cone and writes their name as shown in the picture. Put the cones on the refridgertor or a bulletin board so everyone can see them. Cut out the remaining scoops and put them in a place that is accessible to all members of the family. When a member of the family catches someone doing a good deed, write the deed on an ice cream scoop and attach it to their cone. Watch the ice cream cone get taller and taller as good deeds are being done.
Download Ice Cream Cone

Kate, Kimball & Megan painting their pots. Kate must have thought the paint was a treat because she wanted to lick the brush.

Megan & Logan planting their flowers.

Grandma Liz with her sweetie pies and their creations.

Download Lady Bug Pattern
This is a fun way for kids to practice math facts. Print out copies of the lady bugs for each math problem you want to create. Cut out the main body and the wings. Attach with a brad where indicated with a circle. On the wings write a math problem such as 5 x 7 or 12 + 3. Write the answer on the body. When the wings are together your child solves the problem. To check to see if the answer is correct, separate the wings.