When the kids are getting bored and you finally think you’ve run out of ideas to do you may want to re-think and try these easy, kid-friendly activities.
When it comes to the planting season why not let the kids join in? They may not be able to till the yard but they sure can put a hand in to help grow their own vegetables and fruit. Buying seeds of plants that are drought resistant or tolerant are great ways to let them watch the fruits of their labor grow throughout the season.
First, you should make a short list of plants that are appropriate for you soil, setting, and area. You can also purchase seeds for use in pots. Not only can they enjoy a small section of the family garden, but they can watch potted plants flourish on the porch, stairs, or in the window sill and this will give them the opportunity to go hands-on and water, and care for, their own little plants.
Plants such as Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan), and Iris (Bearded Iris) are long-blooming flower perennials that will shine bright almost all year and will be a delight for the little ones who planted them. Some great annuals to work with are Daffodils, Violets, and Sunflowers. They are beautiful and safe for children to work with. Don’t forget to take pictures as they grow; they may even grow taller than the child that planted it (in the right container)!
For gardening, children will enjoy planting watermelons, strawberries (perennial), pumpkins, and herbs such as catnip (if you have a cat), or chamomile for its beautiful purple color. Strawberries are a great container plant as well and can you can reap the benefits of their growth rather quickly and keep them in the ground for their return the next year. Pumpkins and watermelon are running-vines and are so much fun to watch as they grow. The kids will have to tend to them as they begin to climb outward, but not too much. The catnip can be dried and used to create projects for a pet cat or for friends and family who have pet cats. The best part is spending time with your kids as they get a hands-on experience with the power of nature. Be sure to use proper drainage in your containers, such as rocks, so the enthusiasm for watering doesn’t impact the plants as much. Your home will look beautiful with the added flower coverage and the kids will have beautiful blooms to show off to friends and family.
We’ve all heard little children ask about relatives that have passed on, or asked about where they came from, some have heard questions like “Great Grandma, Who’s your Mommy?” Most people consider genealogy as an adult activity of exploration, but since when has a curiosity about our history been pin-pointed as an adult-only activity?
It doesn’t seem fair for those youngsters who want to know, but who can’t quit understand unless they are shown in a way that ‘lays it out’. What better way to do that than working with them to draw out a family tree-treasure map!?
This adventurous and creative activity can take as little as an hour or can become as in-depth as a year-long family project. Kids in today’s society are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to computers; what better way to constructively hone-in on that power than to work with them on a family treasure hunt.
This can be an incredibly engaging activity that will teach them history, science, allow them to be creative, and give them a glimpse into the past. They will be amazed at how similar their family members look but how different life was for them. It will give them the chance to explore other countries, traditions, and let them relive the immigration of their family to America. They could learn about the ports where their family first entered the states (such as Ellis Island), they can get a better understanding of the children of the time (their great, great grandmother’s and so on), and basically see themselves through the eyes of the past.
This will give you and your children a chance to visit (if applicable) local sites and attractions that may apply to your families past. And if there are no family related locales then it may even spark an interest in historical events that relate in general and give you a reason to take a weekend road trip with the kids. Getting them interested in history has never been so much fun, and full of possibilities.
Start small, using a thick foam-like poster board, put your child’s picture in the center of the poster board, and branch out from there. They will get to go through the family photo’s, call or write distant and local family to request copies of ancestor’s photos they do not own. It is a way to bring them together with family, both close and distant. It is a creative endeavor that may take you on a treasure-hunt of family discovery
If you have children that are old enough to read on their own, then you can use this to actively promote their skills through family involvement, while making fun game-like activities out of reading time. You would be amazed at the average reading level of most children ages 6-10. A large portion of children under the age of ten cannot read at their grade level. It is being noted that they are not getting enough practice in general. By adapting some simple games into your family life you can easily help your child get the practice he/she needs while helping them to excel above their grade level with minimal effort.
A wonderful way to incorporate reading into the family routine is to inquire with your child’s reading teacher about the list of books required by the school for that class. Using this information set up a family book club. This is a neat way to plan the family reading around the studies of your child, but also allowing the child to pick books that interest them outside of school curriculum.
You can use this book club idea to create a reading-chart that effectively gives rewards for a certain number of pages or books that are read within a period of time, including books read as a part of school work. Spend a day with your child creating the chart; ask their opinion in what types of smaller prizes they would enjoy (pizza night, movie rental, stationary, favorite doll, ect) as a simple reward system. Use glue, sequence, stickers, and markers and have them help you in designing the family reading chart. This will be used to mark who has read, how much, and it will be used as your basis for tracking your child’s reading ‘record’.
You can even give your child’s teacher progress-reports from this home reading club, to let them know the progression and the influence that it is having on their school-work and vice-versa. Each month give your child one of the acceptable prizes and gather a family meeting after dinner to discuss the progress with everyone. This is an amazing way to show your child how proud you are, and also bring the whole family closer together by creating a common bond, and an award system that shows your child how hard work, and diligence, pays off with time.
Living with allergies can be hard, and a real pain, but imagine how children with allergies feel. It can be a most aggravating condition to deal with but by developing a certain routine you too can learn to control your child’s allergic reactions within the home.
Dust mites are a major bummer when it comes to childhood allergies. They are everywhere in the home and they prefer the bedroom. Blankets, sheets and pillows are a favorite and this is where your child spends his hours trying to rest. So in an effort to make it easier on your child, begin by purchasing synthetic polyester-fill pillows and comforters. Feather-fill and down pillows are wonderful attractants for mites. Dust mite-proof covers are available for all of your bedding needs and can be a breath of fresh air for anyone with allergies.
To reduce the risk of harboring dust mites in your child’s room, shoot for a room without carpet or upholstered furniture. Tile, linoleum, or hardwood floors are the best bet. To keep your child’s feet from getting cold in the winter, you can opt to put runner-throw rugs along the floor but be sure to wash in hot water weekly, along with the child’s bedding. Don’t forget to dust and vacuum weekly as this can be a crucial step in preventing the accumulation of problem-causing dust.
The more shelving in your child’s room the more dust; idle and stationary decorative items on the shelves can be a superb attractant for dust and debris. So be aware that the less stuff there is lying around, the less dust can be attracted to it. Even stuffed animals carry dust and allergy promoting materials on them. So be selective when placing them on the bed. Choose a few select items that your child has chosen as ‘fav’s’ and be sure to wash them weekly. Any stuffed animals that wind-up on the bed should receive the same treatment.
The simplest step toward removing general debris from the air in your home is to change the central air unit filter at least once a month. Some families change their filter bi-monthly for best performance. If there are any smokers in the household take into consideration the effects of the smoke on the child and consider smoking outside. The smoke gets trapped in the carpet and upholstery around the house and this just as easily effects the child upon return to a room that has been smoked in. the safest bet is to keep the smoke away from any child.