I’m sitting in my kitchen with the patio doors open enjoying the incredible weather we’re having, the sky is blue, the breeze is fresh and the birds are singing….it’s a gorgeous day.
My eldest is sitting at the other end of the table totally engrossed in her painting all the while keeping a very interesting conversation going with me. My son is eagerly looking through a kid’s magazine deciding what he will and can do with a cardboard box. My littlest one is sound asleep for her morning nap but will be up soon, ready for action with the others.
Today has been a day of ‘figuring out what to do’ the ideas are endless, the fun never ending however there is thought required on my part and sometimes that can be the hard part. During the school holidays, we as parents, are forever listening to comments like:
‘There’s nothing to do around here.’
‘I’m bored.’
‘What can I do now.’?
And the list goes on. So, in an effort to try and help you we thought we’d put together a few ideas that you may find interesting and may assist you survive the last week of school holidays.
We hope you enjoy these ideas and if you have any other great ones please send us a comment and share with everyone.
Take care and enjoy your time together. Remember to remind each other how much you love one another.
Susan & Michaela
For the small fries:
oSet up a table and chairs outside, take the dress ups out, the crayons and paper, give them their own space where they can paint, eat, dress up, throw things around and not destroy your lounge room.
o Pull out some paints and let them create a handprint piece of art that you will be able to keep for a lifetime.
o Set up a tub of water and let them play with their bath toys outside.
o Have a Teddy Bear picnic in the back yard.
For the 5 – 8’s:
o Sidewalk chalk – let them arrange a parking lot; write notes to family members or guests.
o Bake a cake but don’t use the mixer. Get them to count their stirring time, start with 100 stirs – you determine how well mixed you want the cake.
o Take all your instruments outside (recorder, drums or pots and pans, tambourine, etc.) and let them start a marching band either on their own or with the neighbours.
o Plant some flowers or a herb garden
o Give them a list of 12 things to find in the back yard eg:
feather leaves from
2 different trees
6 sticks
an old straw
flower
ball
paddle pop stick
a piece of rubbish (we all have some)
10 different rocks
bark from a tree
dandilion
grass
o Grab a disposable camera and let them document the day – you will need to give them guidelines as the camera could be used up in 5 minutes without your guidance.
o Give them a cardboard box and give them a few suggestions – maybe a TV or a puppet theatre. Arm them with some glue, paint, paper, markers and let them be creative.
o Set up a lemonade stand at the end of the driveway.
o Read a good book.
For the 9 – 12’s:
o If you have a cubby house run a power cord from the house to the cubby/playhouse and let them listen to their music in the cubby/playhouse.
o Play a game of basketball (1 on 1) or just practice their shooting skills.
o Bake something.
o Fix up an old bike – put a large wheel on the front and a small one on the back and make a chopper like bike.
o Help get the yard ready for summer (or winter for some).
o Encourage them to write a play, gather the little one’s in the house or the neighborhood and produce it – this allows them to discover their creativity and develop their leadership skills......
o For girls....set up a mini-spa at home. Use a bed for the massage table and another room for the foot spa and manicure area. Allow yourself to be pampered once the treatment areas are arranged and products in place.
o For the boys....why not let them get the tent out and set it up in the backyard in preparation for a sleep out. Make sure you give them the instructions and let them see a project unfold in front of them. Give them a few dollars to go to the corner store and get themselves some camp out munchies. Be ready to roll out your sleeping bag with them (or encourage hubby to do so).
o Scrapbook
o Read a good book
For the teens:
o Let them host a dinner party for the family. They can cook whatever they want. Give them a grocery budget and be their kitchen hand when it comes time to prepare.
o Let them invite 8 friends over and host a ‘hang out day’. You provide all the food and let them relax and enjoy their company. You will be amazed at how much laughter you’ll hear and how grateful your children will be. Allow your home to be a place of fun.
o Change their room around – maybe even let them paint it.
o Have an 80's movie marathon. Rent as many 80's movies as you can find and watch them all day. Do the same thing for other decades.
o Scrapbook
o Design some t-shirts or something cool to give their friends for Christmas.
o Research something on the Internet that they are interested in.
o Grab the family video camera and make a short video using imovie or a similar program.
o Read a good book.
©The Family Room 2006
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I love long holidays and beautiful weather when you have a great imagination!!!
Enjoy the time you have at home with your kids.
Exactly.....the time goes so quickly and sometimes we seem to wish away these incredible days. How I wish i could grab some of them back.
Enjoy mums!!!!
the holidays are almost over and i have to say thank you to the family room. i was at the end last week and then you posted the holiday ideas. thank you, thank you, thank you.
ps - i love the site keep going.
Wow the kids are back at school and the holidays were amazing. thanks for so many great tips familyroom.
Post a Comment