Activities: Airplanes, Bubbles, Games, Sewing, Budgeting

Activities to Stimulate Children When Schools Close

Let the games begin.

Life may be different for a while, but the opportunities are endless. As family time increases, let’s explore the endless activities available at little to no cost that require few resources.

Today we add a second day to our new reality, (I live in Idaho so we’ve just begun. Maybe this can provide new ideas for those who are further into our social experiment) I will provide inexpensive activities to entertain children that require limited resources. Hopefully, these will ease the pain and provides some fun. Hug your kids and appreciate the time you share.

Paper Airplanes

The art of paper airplanes seems to be a lost art but still appreciated by inquisitive minds. With a simple Google search, multiple templates become available to guide a beginner through the process or challenge a veteran. (See one option provided.) Note: Often kids like to color their paper when it lays flat prior to folding.

After folding the paper, young aviators can practice launching their aircraft. Encourage them to guess how far it will fly and where it will land. Through experimentation, they can launch from multiple locations and discover if height, angle, temperature, or any other variable impact distance.

Educational: Students can be introduced to the scientific method as they ask questions, estimate how far the plane will fly, experiment by flying the plane and gather data as to how far it will fly and analyze the data. Review how to read a ruler or tape measure using different increments.

ABC Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt using the alphabet. Write the alphabet down the margin of a piece of paper. The kids can become explores as they find items that begin with each letter. This is easy to adjust for different ages with a slight change in the expectation: how many items can be found for each letter, add a time limit, make it a race between siblings, in the end of the exploration have the kids share responses and whoever has the most unique responses win, get creative.

Bubbles and Wands

Kids love bubbles. If this wasn’t on your list of stock-up supplies, follow this simple recipe.

Combine:

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons dish soap

1 cup of water

Mix ingredient stirring gently until the sugar is dissolved.

Next, look around the house for items to use for blowers/wands.

• Small mesh baskets — that kind that holds berries in the store
• Canning jar lids
• Cookie cutters
• Paper towel tubes
• Coat hangers — for added fun twist the wire into different shapes
• Pipe cleaners
• Kitchen utensils with slots
• Rings for a 6-pack of soda cans
• Styrofoam cup with holes cut 6 in the bottom for blowing
• Straws

Educational: This could be another chance to apply the scientific method by experimenting to see what works best.

Games

• Dig out the games (Look under the bed for the ones you forgot existed.)
• Start a puzzle
• Use a piece of cardboard for the playing area. Draw boxes for the spaces, add pictures (either drawn or cut out of magazines), find or make a dice, and then create the rules. The process requires logical thinking and creativity ending with a game everyone in the family can enjoy. (Maybe you will get luck and market the new game!)

Homemade Twister

All you need is paper and a stick. Cut the circles out and tape them to the floor so a large piece of paper is not needed. Color the paper and if crayons are unavailable, simply label them or glue a colored piece of paper or fabric. The spinner can be made in a similar fashion but if possible use a piece of cardboard; the pack side of a cereal cartoon works great.

Sew

Using needle and thread teach children to sew. (If these are not available a hot glue gun can be used sewing becomes a simple craft.) Use old clothes that were going to be thrown out, rags, towels, any material that can be re-purposed. Create simple items using imagination and encourage children to provide input.

• Fold a square in half, seal the edges, add an additional long strip of fabric to make a purse.
• Cut a hole in the top of the material to produce a doll dress and then embellish it.
• Use the buttons, sequins, small jewels taken off old clothing that was intended to be donated.
• Cut material to make blankets and diapers for dolls.
• For older children, this is a great time to teach how to read a pattern, sew a button, mend a sock — complete al those sewing projects you have been wanting to complete for years.

Build a City

Empty the pantry of boxes and cans. Use them to build skyscrapers, post offices, homes, schools, etc. Discuss with kids what makes a city and let the construction begin. Encourage kids to draw on the containers: label buildings, add doors and window, use paper to add a steeple . . . Add a couple of toy cars and a Barbie, to create a world of fun that will entertain the kids all day.

Create a Budget

Provide older kids, who are thinking of the glory days when they can get a job and move out of the house, with a dose of reality. This can be accomplished with the classified section of the newspaper or a smartphone. Determine how much their ideal, beginning job will pay (search Google). Then have them determine how much money they require to survive each month. As the knowledgeable adult, subtly mention costs they may not think of on their own: insurance, gas, taxes, entertainment, utilities . . . Then sit back and enjoy the show!

Resources

BEST Playdough

This is my favorite recipe; I’ve used it for years.

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup salt
• 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut oil works too)
• Food coloring, optional
• Plastic bags

Stir together flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a large pot. Add the water and oil and food coloring. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough has thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth. If you desire more colors, add the colors after cooling slightly by kneading the dough while inside plastic bags so it doesn’t stain your hands.

Store the play dough inside the bags once done to keep soft. Keeps for up to 3 months.

Salt Playdough

• 1 cup of salt
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup flour plus additional flour
• Saucepan

Directions

1. Mix salt, water, and flour in a saucepan and cook over medium heat.
2. Remove from heat when the mixture is thick and rubbery.
3. As the mixture cools, knead in enough flour to make the dough workable.

Glue

Flour and water is a simple formula to make glue. That’s all you need. However, to refine the process, once these ingredients are mixed until smooth, place on medium heat until it reaches a slow boil. Let it cool before use.

Each day an article shares several simple activities. My goal is to offer just enough to inspire new ideas but not so much as to overwhelm. https://iammybest.org/category/teaching-resources