(Cheap) Family Fun to Enjoy With Little Ones

I am so happy for all of my friends who are readying their little ones to go back to school full-time. Yay! Summer is over, and they’re off the hook (at least during the hours of 8 AM and 3 PM)… Aren’t they lucky?! Alas, not all of us have that luxury. I’ve got two more years until Charlotte enters kindergarten and until then, Momma School is back in session every other day (C goes to a local preschool every MWF).

With that said, I figured I would compile a list of the activities that we attempted this summer that we all fell in love with as a family. I’ll be sure to revisit some of these on those days that C will be hanging at home. Because we can’t watch movies all the time.

Each description includes instructions, supplies needed, cost, and time spent prepping vs. time spent playing. As a former teacher, I pride myself on being able to incorporate “disguised learning” in all of our fun. Thus, I also made sure to include in each description what skills are being honed by participants. Enjoy, and please let me know what you think!

1. Water Gun Painting – Supplies needed: water guns with simple spray mechanisms, water-based paint; Cost: ~ $10; Prep Time: 10-20 minutes; Play time: (depending on age of player) 20-75 minutes. Fill guns with paint, hang butcher paper on clothesline (or tape to wall outside), and let your kids have at it! They will be working on spatial perception, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, color recognition (for little ones), and also just getting their creative juices flowing! This can get pretty messy, so beware and enjoy!
2. Bake a Cake! – I know this sounds super simple, but baking is one of the best ways to work in an interdisciplinary manner. Supplies needed: ready made cake mix, or a recipe, as well as all other supplies you may need 🙂 ; Cost: ~ $5-10; Prep time: Less than 5 minutes; Play time: between 20-40 minutes*. Follow directions in the recipe, and watch as your child has fun counting, sorting, and following directions (amazing)! Skills honed will include counting, fine motor skills (pouring, measuring, etc), color recognition, inductive reasoning, and the experimental approach! Plus, it’s super yummy, too. *The best thing about this activity is there is “Eat Time” too!
3. Pirate Treasure Map – This had to be my daughters favorite! Supplies needed: 1 large piece of butcher paper, 1 sharpie, 1 prize (stickers, candy, a book, whatever), matches (optional) and a huge imagination! Cost: Under $5; Prep time: ~ 10-15 minutes; Play time: Over 1 hour (if done right)! You can choose to make an imaginary map, a map of your home, or a map of your neighborhood. I chose to design a map of our neighborhood, utilizing the landmarks Charlotte knows well. The map identified things like her favorite tree, a house of distinct color, etc. It led us from our home to Starbucks (about a quarter of a mile away). I slyly handed a “treasure” (a new book) to the baristas, who eventually helped her “find” it. Skills honed include communication, critical thinking, inductive reasoning, reading/literacy, color recognition, number recognition, and goal setting. Plus, it’s soooo much fun!
4. Edible Cars – Supplies needed: toothpicks, peanut butter, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, zucchini, grapes, and any other fresh snacks you prefer*. Cost: Virtually free (as I support the “Use whats in your fridge” approach); Prep time: ~ 10 minutes; Play time: ~ 1 hour. Slice and dice them in ways that you think are conducive to building a car (think cucumber slices for tires, grapes sliced in half for headlights, carrots sliced so they can make a grill, etc). You will have to use your imagination and help along the way. Cutting some toothpicks in half may help. *for younger children, cutting the veggies and fruit in cubes (or as cubic as possible) can be good for stacking or just playing. I mean, how often do they get to just play with their food?! Skills honed include fine motor, healthy eating, object recognition, planning, problem-solving, and communication.
5. Make a Band! Supplies needed: dependent upon instrument (see link provided). Cost: ~ $10 for whole band! Prep time: ~ 30-60 minutes (depending upon how many/which ones you make); Play time: Infinite! These are the toys that keep on giving. Children love that they can create a functioning instrument, and they also love to work together to make some rhythm and tunes! Follow the link, Easy to Make Musical Instruments– there are instructions on how to make over twenty different kinds of instruments! Skills honed include spatial, fine motor, planning, organization, cause and effect, verbal and non-verbal communication, coordination, etc! C’s personal favorites to make were the coffee can drums, ocean drums, and recycled maracas!
6. Alphabet Scavenger Hunt – Supplies needed: None! (isnt that great!?); Cost: FREE!; Prep time: None; Play time: ~ 60 minutes; Directions: For those children that are school-aged and working on literacy/their alphabet, this is a great one! It requires a lot of patience, but it also keeps them moving and interacting with their environment so it’s perfect for your movers and shakers. Beginning with the letter A, make the sound that each letter makes, and then request your child to find an object from somewhere in the house that begins with that letter. You will have to say the letter over and over again, guide them in the process of figuring out what begins with what (does that banana start with the letter A? Noooo! How about that apple?). Make a collection, which will help your child visualize just how many letters they learned and mastered. They’ll love the tactile approach to learning their ABC’s and all about words. Skills honed inlcude memorization, phonetic understanding, literacy, organization, goal-setting, communication, interpersonal, intrapersonal, classification skills, etc.

I hope you enjoy these ideas! Please feel free to share your projects on Instagram and either use the hashtag “houseoflove” or tag me in the photo to let me know what you thought! Also, be sure to follow along for more activity ideas and much, much more!