We’re pleased to post this article by guest blogger Emily Patterson (@epatt1062), on behalf of Primrose schools. Read her suggestions for family friendly fun that will get everyone active, creative, and enjoying the outdoors! Thanks Emily for sharing your great ideas!
Though the temperatures are falling and the leaves are changing, families do not have to remain confined to the house in perpetual boredom. Budget-friendly activities are abundantly available that will keep kids’ mind and body active, until it is time to retire into deep slumber.
Activity helps kids apply and retain the knowledge learned during the school year. Events may also serve as an incentive to motivate kids to learn. Kids that can apply the knowledge they learn are often more successful in the classroom and in their lives. Use creativity to engage their minds, keep their bodies active and fight boredom.
Here are ten wallet friendly boredom busters that are easy to implement in the fall months:
1. Bike Rides
Bike rides are a relaxing and fun ways to keep the body active and the mind focused. Exercise increases blood flow and energizes the body to help kids focus and study in school. Bike rides may also help kids learn about inclines, resistance, velocity and other scientific concepts that may be difficult to understand in an abstract form. Take your kids on a bike ride and surreptitiously introduce these concepts in a way that they are not even aware they are learning.
2. Raking Leaves
Raking leaves may seem like a chore, but it can be great exercise, educational and incredibly fun. While raking leaves, encourage kids to select a few interesting leaves of various colors that may be later used in an indoor project. While raking leaves, parents may discuss the process of leaf change and why it occurs in nature. The collected leaves may be arranged into an autumn collage, framed and hung on the wall for many months of enjoyment. Parents will complete a household chore while spending time educating their kids.
3. Apple Picking
Apple picking is fun for the entire family. If your home is located near an orchard, simply load the kids into the car and head to the orchard for a couple of hours. Many orchards will also host apple bobbing events, hay rides and offer recipes for apples. Kids may learn about the different apples that are grown on the orchard and the maturation process. Families may also learn historical information about the area where the orchard is located. Apple picking is an affordable outing that also provides the household with a healthy snack.
4. Family Performances:
Create teams and have the kids make up a story to reenact for other family members. The kids may select to be the actor, director or the producer of the show. Costumes may be made from old clothes or use old Halloween costumes to bring their stories to life. Music may be created by using wooden spoons, pots, pans and other empty canisters lying around the house. The performances may be recorded for future enjoyment. This is a great way to make family memories and encourage musical and artistic talents.
5. Scavenger Hunt:
Scavenger hunts can easily be combined with educational concepts to help kids understand science, math or other challenging subjects. Kids may be challenged by the clues that may include riddles to help them understand strategy and English concepts.
The clues may also incorporate simple math by asking kids to walk a number of steps, then subtract a number of steps to reach their destination. The clue may also incorporate geometry by asking kids to follow the path of an isosceles triangle or a rectangle. This helps kids retain the information is a fun and engaging way.
6. Art Treasure Chest:
Nurture the artist in your kids, by encouraging them to create a special Art Treasure Chest especially for them. In the treasure chest, kids will keep their art supplies which may include: glue, child safe scissors, tape, markers, construction paper, paper towel rolls, magazines and aluminum foil. The exterior of the box may be decorated by each child. When kids are ready to create, they may go directly to their own personal treasure chest with their supplies. This avoids arguments over scissors, crayons, markers and other supplies.
7. Backyard Camp Out:
Some parents may not enjoy the great outdoors, but camping out on a freshly cut or perfectly manicured lawn in the backyard may be more appealing to the non-outdoorsy types. Parents may purchase a tent, sleeping bag, flashlights and candles from a discount store to get them through the event.
Plan a meal that may consist of roasting hotdogs or hamburgers on a hibachi grill. Smores are also popular camping food that kids will enjoy. For those that are unfamiliar, smores consist of a roasted marshmallow and a bar of Hershey’s chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers. Kids enjoy the sweet treats. Who knows, they may even learn some basic survival skills.
8. Build a Fort:
Perhaps camping is not necessarily your family’s interest. Try building a fort instead. The forts can be simple made of sheets and chairs or they can be more elaborate construction. The fort style will depend on the skill level of the fort builders and the patience of those involved. Kids may keep focused on this event for hours. From the building stages to the actual occupation, kids will learn mathematical skills.
9. Cookbook Fun:
Math skills can be tested in the kitchen. Have your children select their favorite recipe and participate in the preparation. During the process teach them about tablespoons, teaspoons, cups and fractions. This is a fun way to test math skills while keep the mind fresh and engaged.
10. Scrapbooking:
Memories are an excellent way to build family bonds and help kids remain social. Encourage kids to take pictures and create a scrapbook of their memories. The scrapbook may be made from construction paper bound with yarn or a spiral bound notebook.
While these are some fun and engaging activities, use your imagination and devise your own affordable fun. As long as the activities are challenging without being boring, the kids should remain engaged for hours.
************************************
Emily Patterson (@epatt1062) is communications coordinator for Primrose Schools providing written work to the blogosphere which highlights the importance, and some of the specific aspects, of a quality, early childhood, education.