Every Mom loves to have activities planned, but sometimes we run short on ideas about what to do. Baby Browns has put together our top list of things to do with our kids. These are things that don’t require packing up the car, a load of cash, or tons of pre-planning. Our list is guaranteed to bring smiles to your face and your children.
For once, let the laundry go... here are some great memory makers!
1. Make pancakes and decorate them. This is much easier than making sugar cookies, - buy a mix and just add water! Presto, instant fun. You don’t have to just use icing and sugary items to decorate. Use bananas, raisins, nuts, apples, etc. to make it a healthy snack.
2. Use the local pet store as your own zoo! The zoo is fun but going is a major undertaking. You’ll be surprised at some of the fun events they offer (Turtle races, watch dog training, etc.) Before you go, get on the Internet and look up fish, or dogs, birds, or guinea pigs, and color pictures of them. (Maybe you could make pancakes decorated like their favorite pet store animal.)
3. Use the bathtub for fun, not just bathing. Some days it’s too hot or cold to go anywhere. In the summer when it’s hot, have an igloo party in the tub. Have Pop-cycles in the bathtub, turn on fun music, put in ice-cubes, or have hot chocolate. In the winter, have a Hawaiian Party in the tub, wear swimming suites and goggles, put on fun music and eat ice cream. Please be safe and stay with your kids at all times.
4. Build a Fort out of a sheet. Kids like hide-away places. This one is easy to put up and easy to take down. Get out a sheet, and tuck one end into a closed drawer on a dresser. Take the other side, and tie each end to chairs. Voila! Instant fort. Allow your child to take their favorite items in. And latter, eat a picnic dinner in the fort.
5. Have a Dance Party! Get out your favorite music, give everyone a hat and dance. Have a marching parade around the house, pretend like you are playing your favorite instrument. Get crazy, don’t worry no one is watching! The bonus is you’ll get good exercise while you’re at it.
6. Layout a blanket in your backyard and watch the sky. Look at the stars or clouds and ask the kids what the stars/clouds look like (a donut, a bear, a snake, a feather). Draw pictures of what they saw.
7. Let the kids paint everything outside. Get a bucket full of water, and a paintbrush. Let the kids paint with water. They can paint the driveway, the grass, the car, even the house kids love this. Plus you may get a small portion of your car cleaned at the same time!
8. Take a nature hike. Give the kids a brown paper bag to find nature treasures. When you get home make a nature table and put all the finds on it. Or (depending on what they find!) put some of the treasures in the middle of your dinner table to look at and discuss during dinner.
9. Eat in your dinning room, for a change! Put on mood lighting if you have candles, light them, and turn off all the lights. Give the kids flashlights, and eat UNDER the table.
10. Teach the kids to start thinking of others. Pick flowers from the garden and take them to an elderly neighbor. Or you can have the kids help make dinner or dessert (warm cookies) or draw pictures to take the neighbor. Ask your kids what else you should take that would make the neighbor happy.
And a bonus idea!
Have a talent show. (Yes, burping the alphabet is a talent.) With the holidays coming up, start planning a talent show to showcase your little stars. It’s lots more fun than just eating and watching TV! Get the kids involved in planning the show, making invitations, and costumes. Anything goes baby can clap their hands and giggle, toddlers can do summersaults or dances. Older kids can put on a skit or sing. You don’t have to make it fancy, just have fun!
