Wednesday, May 13, 2015

May Activity Summary

Thanks to all of you who are actually reading the blog! Please leave a comment so I don't feel like I'm talking to myself!
Had fun last night! Will have pictures up soon from last month's and hopefully soon of this month's activities.  Thank you so much Joanna Hurley for taking the pictures! It is a huge relief to me that you are taking care of this!!  Special thank you to Nicole Christensen for organizing the Children's Class (and for Sister Osborn and Sister Jones for teaching!) and for teaching the Gardening class, and thank you to Tanya Christopherson for taking care of the food.  It was fun and summery!

For those who did not go we'll put a few of the lists up here for you.

100 cool summer activities Thank you Kari - DO go to the website, there are TONS of SUPER things on there!!

 http://www.u-createcrafts.com/the-ultimate-summer-bucket-list/

1. picnic at the park
2. play in a kiddie pool
3. make smores
4. homemade pizza party
5. make pet rocks
6. have a cousin sleepover
7. make a lemonade stand
8. go to a summer matinee
9. tie dye t-shirts
10. write your own story
11. scavenger hunt walk
12. lunch with dad at work
13. attend story time at the library
14. make ice cream in a baggie
15. visit an IMAX theater
16. fondue night
17. catch fireflies or bugs
18. have a water balloon fight
19. make journals
20. go to a parade
21. make homemade jam
22. hunt for shapes in the clouds
23. go to a water splash pad
24. play Legos
25. go fishing
26. build an indoor fort using blankets
27. go bowling
28. backyard water games
29. go to a baseball game
30. go to the zoo
31. have a fun summer reading program
32. family bike ride
33. go to a park you’ve never been to before
34. learn to swim or go swimming
35. make a time capsule
36. go bird watching
37. make homemade popsicles
38. play catch
39. learn & play new board game
40. go see a fireworks show
41. mail a letter to someone special
42. attend a kids workshop at Home Depot or Lowe’s
43. outdoor movie night
44. make 4th of July shirts
45. learn to hula hoop
46. play dress up
47. go to a drive-in movie
48. bake cookies
49. fly a kite
50. go on a road trip
51. do a fun science project
52. go camping
53. make a bird feeder
54. play hopscotch
55. make paper airplanes and race
56. make sail boats and race
57. set up or make a slip n slide
58. play mini golf
59. skip rocks in a river
60. make smoothies
61. go to a children’s museum
62. start a rock collection
63. plant a garden
64. have a family talent show
65. run in the sprinklers
66. make friendship bracelets
67. create sidewalk art using chalk
68. have a yard sale and let the kids help
69. make homemade bubbles
70. go to an amusement park
71. make princess crowns or hero capes
72. make homemade play dough
73. do a jigsaw puzzle
74. have a pillow fight
75. play mini golf
76. camping in the backyard
77. make sand castles at the park or beach
78. make or go get snow cones
79. go the the local fair
80. homemade marshmallow guns
81. make a video
82. catch butterflies with nets
83. make homemade instruments
84. go horseback riding
85. decorate cupcakes or cookies
86. go to an outdoor concert
87. have a treasure hunt
88. play Frisbee
89. make sun catchers
90. visit a nature center
91. go to the beach
92. collect sea shells
93. go a local farmer’s market
94. have a puppet show
95. make root beer floats
96. have an ice cream party with lots of toppings
97. make recycled crayons
98. go to the skate park or a skating rink
99. favorite movies marathon
100. make treats for neighbors
They had so much fun putting this list together and we are so excited for school to get out!

And here is a copy of my fridge list:
Fridge List
Make a list of things to do that require little or no supervision from mom or dad and put it on the fridge. When Jr. starts whining about being b-o-r-e-d (A word that is banned in our house!) they can choose from the list. The trick is that once they are referred to the list, they HAVE to do something on the list before they bother mom or dad. The last item on the list should always be "Take a nap". Truly it's the most popular one. I have used this for years and sometimes kids just don't realize they are tired until they see this!  Second most popular- painting the dog’s toenails! She loves it! (Have them do this outside!)

I usually keep the list to 25 so as to not be too overwhelming. You can make two out of this list and switch them out the next school break.  You can walk around your house for ideas, but here is one to get you started. I'll try to keep it from being too "girl" or too "boy"-- you can make different lists for each child if you wish.
1. Decorate the back patio with sidewalk chalk
2. Make a daisy chain
3. Take some blank paper and envelopes and decorate your own stationary
4. Get some magazines out of recycling and make a collage
5. Have a tea party with your friend or teddy
6. Paint the dog's toenails
7. Make a border for your room with continuous paper
8. Play with Barbies/Airplanes
9. Measure 10 things with a ruler
10. Get out your last year's school things and play school
11. Make a calendar
12. Decorate bookmarks, "laminate" with clear packing tape
13. Write a poem about something in the yard
14. Blow bubbles or take a bubble bath
15. Make a keytag to hang on your booksack - bead animal, letter beads with your name, or a scripture verse on construction paper then laminated with tape and a hole poked through
16. Make cookies (from a mix, with easy-bake oven, or from scratch)
17. Organize sock drawer
18. Write a play and produce it
19. Make a castle from toilet paper tubes and boxes in recycling
20. Write a letter to a cousin or grandma
21. Illustrate a story - write then color pictures to go with it
22. Find a scripture verse you like and type it on the computer/typewriter or write with fancy letters and color
23. Cut out hearts and hide them for loved ones to find around the house
24. Play with toy soldiers outside
25. Make a snack with fruit and vegetables
26. Take pictures with digital camera (with permission)
27. Call a friend
28. Look up your favorite animal in the encyclopedia or dictionary
29. Find your house on a map
30. Make a boredom kit for the car or for a friend. Include word searches, "mad libs", drawings to color, and supplies if you have them
31. Fluff up all the pillows in the house
32. Make a birthday card for a friend
33. Play with legos/duplos/building sets/lincoln logs/tinkertoys
34. Play a game (Chutes and Ladders, Checkers)
35. Make a list of movies/books you own. Put them in alphabetical order. Make a list of movies/books you would like to own.
36. Make a Christmas/Birthday list
37. Make animals out of pipe cleaners
38. Change your bed
39. Have a picnic
40. Read a book
41. Make something with Origami paper
42. Pick some flowers in the yard, put in vase
43. Do a secret good deed :)
44. Look in your Scout book and decide on something you can finish today/Work on your collection
45. Decorate old socks for a puppet show
46. Sing a song
47. Look through your old books, find 3 to donate; or find clothes you have outgrown to donate
48. Play a musical instrument in the house or outside.
49. look at old pictures or scrapbooks
50. Take a nap

Change out the list occasionally, adding and subtracting things that are suitable. If you have two lists, you don't usually have to worry all summer. :) Add things like Count your money... stack books as high as you can then put away...blow up balloons-- make moments that are easy photo bait. Take pictures of them doing cool stuff and the grandparents are sure to think you are the best mom ever!
Of course you can really make them happy by bringing home the occasional refrigerator or dryer box and letting them make it into a fort/house/hotel/store/rocketship/train/airplane/school/library!

Here is a teenaged version of the Fridge List!
For teenagers Fridge List

  1.     Choose one drawer or shelf to organize in the kitchen, laundry, or your room
2.     Bake something you would like to learn to make
3.     Get out your Scout manual/YW Personal Progress and sign something off
4.     Memorize a scripture verse that means something to you
5.     Memorize a Conference quote with reference
6.     Learn how to tie a knot like the Bowline
7.     Practice cartwheels
8.     Jog to the park
9.     Call a friend on the phone-or a relative-or go see a friend
10.  Make a Friend book for friends to sign, share their favorite color, movie, song, etc.
11.  Write a poem about something that made you think of God today
12.  Think of a way to be nice to someone who was ugly to you
13.  Google an art form you want to learn more about
14.  Learn about your dad’s job.  Try to get a few interesting facts.
15.  Take an experience you had recently and write it down.  Practice making it a good story.
16.  Write in your journal
17.  Check out Sparknotes on a book you have read recently or will need to read soon or that you have been thinking about reading. It’s a good way to read a little to learn a lot.
18.  Make a prayer list – people you want to pray for, and things you want to achieve that you need to pray about
19.  Draw – Take a quote that inspires you and around it draw a design or illustration
20.  Make a goal for yourself you would like to achieve and write it down in your journal and in 5 other places you’ll be able to see it often.  If you would like, share with a buddy and see if they will do the same thing and share it with you so you can encourage each other.
21.  Check out a youtube video of something you have been meaning to learn. Origami, knitting, drawing in pen and ink, yoga, web page design…it’s all there and much much more!
22.  Share a Conference quote you liked on Facebook
23.  Make something with a skill you have learned.  Give it to someone.
24.  Help your mom when she’s doing chores/cleaning
25.  Pack a lunch for tomorrow
26.  Design your own stationary using plain envelopes and paper, markers, watercolors, pen
27.  Make a goal for saving money
28.  Make a list of things you like to do that may help relieve stress –music, air temperature, location
29.  Help an older person with a technical issue
30.  Write to a missionary serving in your ward
31.  Make a healthy snack
32.  Start a thankfulness journal, writing 5 things you are thankful for every day
33.  Start a journal for your future Eternal Companion to read.  Write it for that person and when you get engaged/married you can give it to them to read. It’s sometimes easier to write TO someone.
34.  Make something for a leader you admire
Take a nap

I don't think that formatted nicely but please feel free to copy and paste and make your own list. This is something you will personalize! 

I'll try to get some Gardening stuff up here. I loved Nicole's handout, really helps to know when to plant things.  Thanks so much for coming and caring! Please comment for me!! thanks!! Heidi

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