"It's FREEZING outside."
"It's RAINING!"
"It's too WINDY. Brrrrrr!"
These are my excuses for not leaving the house with my kids. But now what? What will keep my kids away from their electronics?
Here are 5 activities that I truly found fun (and educational!) to do with my kids.
1. Decorate a Flower Pot and Plant Seeds in it!
Okay, so you will have to make a quick trip to a local nursery (or a store with a garden center, such as Lowe's) for this one. However, all you need to do is grab a flower pot and saucer, a packet of seeds, and some potting soil! Let your kids decorate the flower pot using paint or permanent markers. Maybe your kids will want to glue beads, macaroni, or buttons onto the flower pot. Once it's all decorated, throw some soil and seeds (or a seedling) into the pot, and watch your kids' hard work grow! You can make this project extra educational by teaching your kids all about the type of plant they're growing (hint: Google it).
My kids did this project with African violets, and love watching their plants bloom every few months! (They now also know all about African violets' native habitat.)
Materials: Flower pot and saucer, seeds (or a seedling), potting soil, and the materials of your choice to decorate the flower pot (e.g., paint, permanent markers, glue, beads).
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2. Create a "Beach in a Jar" or a "Park in a Jar!"
Every time I take my kids to the beach, they come home with at least 10,000 shells, a crab claw, some seaweed, and a few seagull feathers. Similarly, when we come home from the park, I find their pockets filled with rocks, sticks, leaves, pinecones, and treasures that were buried in the dirt. Get one of your mason jars or another clear container with a lid. If your kids want to make a "beach in a jar," start with some sand in the bottom of it, and then have your kids add in their beach treasures. If you put a little water into the jar, it can really look like the beach!
If your kids want to make a "park in a jar," start by putting soil into the jar (potting soil or soil from your backyard would work). Your kids can then arrange in the jar all of those wonderful things they found at the park.
Not only are these fun crafts, but they also let kids memorialize an especially fun day at the beach or park!
Materials: Mason jar (or other clear container with a lid), sand or soil, rocks, shells, twigs, leaves.
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3. Create a Woodworking Workshop in Your Own Home!
Home Depot has these amazing, educational kids' workshop kits for approximately $5. For instance, the ATM Bank Kit Pack includes an apron, an apron pin, a certificate of completion, and all necessary assembly hardware to make a model ATM. Lowe's also has many woodworking kits for kids, such as a Barn with Animals and a Birdhouse. After your kids finish constructing their project, they can paint it!
My kids LOVE these woodworking kits! I always have one on hand for rainy days! The kits are recommended for kids ages 5 and up, but younger kids can enjoy these too with with adult assistance.
Materials: A woodworking kit of your choice, plus a kid's hammer, goggles, and wood glue (optional).
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4. Create-Your-Own Postcards!
We all know that extended family love nothing more than getting artwork from kids! A cute note added to the artwork makes it even better. However, sitting my kids down to paint a nice picture for Grandma, and then finding an envelope large enough for the artwork, and then getting the correct postage on the envelope, often ends in a big FAIL.
Instead, I purchased blank postcards for my kids and a roll of postcard stamps. Problem solved! My kids can grab a postcard, make a quick drawing on the front, write a sweet note on the back, and put a stamp on it. DONE.
Materials: Blank postcards and postcard stamps.
An actual postcard sent through the mail! |  |
5. Use Outdoor Materials to Make Artwork!
Have your kids collect small stones, twigs, leaves, pieces of grass, and flowers. Glue the items onto heavyweight paper (or a canvas), and then draw around the objects with markers, crayons, or paint to complete the artwork. For instance, a twig glued vertically onto paper can be a tree trunk. Have your child complete the tree art by drawing the tree's branches and leaves right above the twig. Also, stones make great people and thin branches are great paths!
Materials: Heavyweight paper (or a canvas), glue, stones, twigs, leaves, and other materials from nature.
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