Now that we’re well into July, the seemingly eternal kids’ question ‘I’m bored, what can I do?’ seems to be gaining momentum.
Here are 5 surefire ways to keep them occupied - at least for a little while! They are traditional to-do’s, tried and true. Why not write them on little pieces of paper, place them in a jar and let the kids choose what the next activity will be?
1. Play Outside
The weather’s beautiful. You grab your hats, water bottles, insect repellent and head out for a walk in the great outdoors. Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes into it - depending on their ages - up pops the ‘I’m tired/I’m bored of walking’ comments.
The Naturebag Eco-Activity Kit (www.lavishandlime.com/Activity-Kit-naturebag-eco-activities-p-330.html) is a great little bag to take along on any outdoor adventure. It’s packed with loads of great activities to keep the kids engaged and includes a step-by-step guide for parents to lead them. It was created by two mompreneurs (one a former educator) with the aim of getting kids outside and exploring nature rather than watching tv/playing video games/sitting in front of the internet. It’s received a glowing endorsement (www.lavishandlime.com/Activity-Kit-naturebag-eco-activities-p-330.html) from artist and naturalist, Robert Bateman.
2. Read
Find out if your local library has a summer reading club and join! Every library - definitely in BC and more than likely across the country - is offering a reading club for kids for the next two months,Summer Reading Club 2009 - Follow the Reader.
For preschoolers, there’s the Read-to-Me program where a record of books the preschooler shares is kept on a special card. You can drop in to the library for weekly stickers, stamps and reading suggestions.
For beginning readers to those in Grade 7, there’s the Summer Reading club where members are given a special registration package that includes a Reading Record. Kids are encouraged to report their readings, watch for special weekly programs and prizes. In September, certificates and medals are awarded.
3. Bake
It may take longer and it will definitely end up being messier, but baking with kids is a great way to engage them and you’ll have something yummy to show for it - usually.
Try banana bread (www.cookingnook.com/banana-bread-recipe.html), sugar cookies, (www.allrecipes.com/Recipe/The-Best-Rolled-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx) in season blueberry/raspberry muffins, cupcakes (can’t get enough of those sprinkles) or granola bars (www.recipes.kaboose.com/good-for-you-granola.html). Sugar cookies are one of the most time consuming but - similar to playdough - kids love rolling the dough and cutting out the shapes, then either putting on sprinkles prior to baking or icing them once they’re baked. The more unusual the cutter shapes the better. This is a great set of natural cutter shapes/www.lavishandlime.com/Kids-Cookie-Cutter-Set-5-piece-p-649.html)- featuring a moon, butterfly, fish, toadstool and bird - or go for a gift set (www.lavishandlime.com/Kids-Cookie-Cutter-Gift-Set-6-piece-p-637.html) that includes a lovely wooden rolling pin too.
4. Create Art
Arts and crafts are always a hit and usually the messier, the more fun. Try modelling clay(www.lavishandlime.com/Modelling-Clay-non-toxic-air-dry-p-408.html) that simply requires a few days to air dry, then the kids can paint it or older ones can chisel/shape it as they wish.
Soy-based, pebble-shaped crayon rocks (www.lavishandlime.com/Natural-Crayon-Rocks-16-pack-p-409.html) are great for developing the tripod grip that prepares children for writing, as are triangular coloured pencil crayons (www.lavishandlime.com/Pencil-Crayons-Lyra-Ferby-short-triangular-pencils-p-403.html). Why not give them their own special sketchbook (www.lavishandlime.com/Recycled-Sketchbooks-ecokids-pencils-p-434.html) for Summer 2009 so they can create what essentially becomes a visual diary. Check out these super funky, recycled kids sketch books (www.lavishandlime.com/Recycled-Sketchbooks-ecokids-pencils-p-434.html) that are made in Canada.
Don’t forget face painting - a true source of hours of fun. We’ve found some great non-toxic, wooden face paint pencils (www.lavishandlime.com/Face-Paint-Pencils-non-toxic-basic-p-401.html) from Germany that don’t require any water and they wash off easily, but not so easily that they disappear within minutes of being drawn on. And you can always focus on ‘tatooing’ hands and arms too!
5. Write Letters
Who doesn’t like receiving a real, honest-to-goodness letter in the post? Kids in particular absolutely love receiving something with their name on it. Encourage developing penpals, writing to cousins who live out of town and why not start a chain letter? A bit of work, but it has its rewards. We couldn’t believe how excited our daughter got when she received one for a sticker club last week. She wanted to write the letters and post them right then and there! She can’t wait to receive her 36 packets of stickers. Neither can we…
Here’s the text for the sticker club chain letter, it’s a good one to catch their interest because pretty much all kids love stickers.
_______________
Dear X
Welcome to the sticker club! Please send one packet of stickers to the person listed as Number 1. Move my name to the first spot and place your name in the second spot. Then send this letter to 6 of your friends.
If you cannot do this within 6 days, please let my mom know because it is not fair to those who participated. Within 2 weeks, you should receive 36 packets of stickers! It is lots of fun to see where all the stickers came fromand also nice to get some mail.
Good luck and thank you for joining the sticker club!
1. Name
Address
2. Name
Address
________________
Whatever activities you do with your kids this summer, remember it’s all about fun because a happy child = a happy parent.
Louise Campbell is co-founder of Vancouver-based online lifestyle boutique Lavish & Lime (www.lavishandlime.com) specializing in eco-friendly products for green living and giving. Find lots more ideas to kids busy in the Baby & Kids category at Lavish & Lime and join their email list for the chance to win a $100 eco shopping spree.
©Louise Campbell 2009
