Get Outside!

Every summer, I’m asked to compile a list of outdoor activities for families.  Our service model changes over the summer from weekly visits to intensives.  During that time, we encourage families to get outside to play and to MOVE!  There are so many fun games and activities to choose from.  Here is just a partial list:

For the little ones:

1.  Crawl around with your mason jar and find some cool bugs and leaves.
2. Dig in the dirt, use a shovel and get messy!
3. Play in the sandbox, making sure to have buckets and cups to lift the sand.
4. Water the plants with heavy buckets of water.
5. Use an old sprayer to mist the plants or “paint” a brick wall.
6. Dig up some rocks that you can then paint.
7. Put some rags in a bucket of water.  Make a chalkboard target on an outside wall.  Throw!!
8. Climb a tree.
9. Help Dad wash the car.
10. Take the dog for a walk, the more pulling the better!
11. Play tug o’ war.
12. Go on a nature scavenger hunt.
13. Jump rope.
14. Stack rocks and make a sculpture garden.
15. Make a mud pie.
16. Run through the sprinkler, then spin through the sprinkler, then jump through the sprinkler, get creative!
17. Blow bubbles outside and watch them fly away.

For older kids:

1. Set up a zip line in the back yard.
2. A slack line is also great for older kids.
3. Ride your bike around the neighborhood, try to balance on a chalkboard line in the street.
4. Go for a swim.
5. Power wash the back deck. Take some before and after photos.
6. Hang wet clothes outside on the line.  Or hang artwork, or photos. Host an art show.
7. Go skateboarding or scootering around the neighborhood.
8. Play bocce ball in the yard with friends.
9. Play hopscotch or foursquare in the driveway.
10. Bring fresh flowers or veggies to a friend.
11. Deliver newspapers.
12. With supervision, climb a ladder and wipe some windows.
13. Play some kickball!  Or volleyball!  Or tennis!
14. Set up a tent (by themselves) and sleep in it in the backyard.
15. Do a potato sack race.

Give us some of your own ideas!

Jeanne

Update:  If you have younger kids, check out these cool articles from PBS Kids on Sneaking in Learning over the summer and Best Free Apps to get kids outside.

Chore Ideas for the Summer

Ah summer!  Kids get to revel in their school free days.  They sleep late and play all day (depending on their age…your older kids may be more sedentary).  But kids should also be responsible for helping out around the house as well.  Developmentally, kids of different ages should be given appropriate tasks.  In previous posts, we’ve discussed the benefits of “heavy work” in growing a healthy body in terms of neuromuscular development.  Here’s an age by age guide to help you assign tasks that are doubly beneficial:  Both for your family and for the emotional/physical growth of your child.  For each age group, they can also do all earlier age group chores.

Ages two to three:

• Make your bed with heavy blankets
• Pick up and put away clothes
• Collect dirty clothes and bring them to the laundry room.  (Can use a bag and drag them)
• Wipe cabinets/tables/baseboards.

*Note to parents:  Please remember that your toddler, preschooler or school age child will not be doing these chores the way you do them (sometimes not even high schoolers!).  They will not be perfect. Don’t allow that to stop you.  It will always be easier to do it yourself.  But by allowing them to do these things themselves, you are showing them how to contribute, how to be part of a team and nurturing skills which will make them more independent in the future.

Ages four to five:

• Put dirty dishes in dishwasher
• Vaccuum or dust buster small carpets moving up to larger ones, then furniture cushions etc.
• Roll out recycling bin and trash bin
• Set and clear table
• Roll out dough
• Weeding the garden
• Water plants inside and out
• Carry their own books to the library

Ages six to eight:

•  Meal prep assistance
• Wipe down bathroom counters and tub
• Sweep
• Hang laundry on the line with clothespins
• Rake leaves

Ages nine to eleven:

• Fully clean tub and shower
• Plan and make a simple meal
• Clean out frig and freezer, wipe down and replace
• Wash, dry and fold clothes
• Clean toilets

Ages twelve and up:

• Mow the lawn (older kids can ask neighbors to do theirs if they’d like to earn extra money)
• Fully clean the bathroom
• Shovel snow
• Iron clothes
• Vaccuum all floors, mop all floors
• Straighten and organize closets

There are all kinds of chore charts and ways to keep track with a simple internet search.  Playtime is incredibly important, but so is being part of a family who all do things to help out.  Let us know if there are other chore ideas you have, the list is endless!

Jeanne

From my article in kidsmoveandtalk.com