Activities for Kids

School Is Out – Keeping the Kids Busy

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It’s the end of June, school is out, and the kids are ecstatic. You may be a bit overwhelmed not knowing how you are going to entertain you children for the entire summer. They are used to being in school for the majority of their days and now they are free and clear to do as they please and it is up to you that they stay busy. Or is it?

Yes, children need activities to learn and have fun, but it is also just important for them to have some free play time too. So, while you are planning all of the activities and outings for them to participate in remember that they need some free play time too. Depending on the age of your children and their level of independence the free play time may take different forms. For younger children independent time will have to be supervised but for older children it can be a nice break for both of you to let them play alone in their room or outside in the yard.

Let your kids have a say in what goes on too. Have a couple of options ready; let them help plan how you will spend the day. Letting your kids plan what goes on in the day is a sure way to get their buy-in and participation. Just be sure that if there isn’t any wiggle room in what you have planned for the day you make it clear from the beginning. When there are choices (limit them to two to three) ask and when there isn’t a choice simply tell them what is planned for the day.

A good balance between planned activities and free play or independent time will make for a fun-filled summer for the kids and for you too.

Timeless Running Games – Part 2

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Some running games are best done in teams of four or more children per team. These are great activities for a summer birthday party of if a large group is meeting up at a local park. These games involve all of the children, and no one is going to feel left out.

Red Rover is a game made up of two teams with equal numbers on both sides. The two teams face each other in a line holding hands with their team members space about 20 feet apart. The first team calls over to the other team, “Red rover, red rover, we call child’s name over.” Once a child’s name is called, they run towards the other team trying to break the link of two children holding hands. If the running child is successful and is able to run through, he or she gets to return to their team. If the running child is unsuccessful and can’t break through the held hands, they then join that team. This continues back and forth until there is only one team left or a halt is called to the game.

Soccer is always popular, and everyone knows the basic rules. If there are no nets, make some with either rocks, natural posts such as trees or use outdoor toys. The same idea can apply to football, don’t worry if you don’t have the right kind of ball anyone will do – kids have great imaginations.

Or run just for the sake of running by having a relay race. You can use sticks as the batons or get more creative. Have the kids say silly word or a joke as the pass-off instead of physically passing something back and forth. Or it can be a getting to know you game, each kid has to tell their partner something about themselves for the pass-off.

 

Timeless Running Games – Part 1

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You probably remember playing them as a child and they are still around today. The running games with the simplest of rules (like tag) that require nothing more than space, imagination, and energy. These games don’t need any preparation and can be played almost anywhere.

Red light, green light is a game where one person is “it” and the rest of the children have to try and sneak up. The child that is “it” stands at least 20 feet away from the other children. When they are ready to start, they turn their back towards the kids and yell green light. All the kids run towards “it” until he or she turns around and says red light.

Everyone must freeze, if anyone moves, they have to go back to the beginning. The purpose is to reach the person who is it while they have their back turned during green light. Whoever reaches “it” first gets to play the traffic light in the next round.

Mr. Wolf is a game that is set-up similar to Red light, green light. The child who is “it” is Mr. Wolf. The rest of the children ask, “What time is it Mr. Wolf?” and then take the appropriate number of steps depending on what time it is. For instance, if Mr. Wolf said it was three o’clock than all the children would take three steps towards him. This continues until Mr. Wolf decides that it is lunch time. When the children ask what time it is and Mr. Wolf replies, “It’s lunch time!” Everyone runs away, the person Mr. Wolf catches “is” the new Mr. Wolf.

Children love the anticipation of being chased especially if they don’t know when it is going to happen. If the same children are always “it” you may want to step in to make sure everyone has a turn.

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