Tired of seeing zombies in front of the TV set??? Want to
see them entertained in a different way? Here is a few alternative ideas that they can enjoy without the TV
on.
Outdoor Activities
Hopscotch:
You'll need: sidewalk chalk, stone, and a good place to play.
First, you will need to draw a hopscotch pattern (see drawing).
The first player tosses the stone unto square 1 then hops on one foot over square 1 to square
2, landing on one foot. The player will then hop on one foot to square 3, and then lands with one foot in square 4 and
one foot in square 5. He or she then hops again and lands on one foot in 6, and with another leap, lands one foot in
7 and one in 8. The player then jumps and turns around, and, with feet still in 7 and 8, reverses the hopping pattern-bending
down on one leg while in square 2 to pick up the marker. Finally a single hop onto square 1 and out. If this player
succeeds in making it through all of the squares, he or she tosses the stone to square 2. If it lands in square 2, the
jumping process starts again. If not, the next player will take a turn. NOTE: If a player loses his/her
balance, they lose a turn.
Make your own homemade bubbles:
You will need:
2 Cups dishwashing soap
3/4 Cups corn syrup
6 cups of water
shallow pan
bubble wands In a small mixing bowl, combine water, dishwashing
liquid, and corn syrup. Let sit for about 4 hours, then pour into your shallow pan. Use bubble wands. Enjoy.
Marbles:
You'll need:
6 marbles plus 1 shooter per player
Draw a circle in the dirt about 6 feet in diameter.
Each player's marbles are put randomly in the center. Each player takes a turn trying to shoot the others' marbles out
of the circle using their shooter marble.
To keep score: The shooter marble must remain
inside the circle for the shot to count. As long as the player hits the marble, they get to shoot again from wherever
the shooter stopped inside the circle. Once the shooter goes outside of the circle, or they miss a hit, their turn is
over. If their shooter marble is still inside the circle, it stays there until their next turn. The player with
the most marbles at the end wins.
Other suggestions...
Spring: Go fly a kite... literally...,
search for buds on shrubs, flowers, and trees,...plant seeds to grow your own flowers...
Winter: snow angels, snowball fight, sledding, build
a snowman, make a snow igloo, go ice skating...
Summer: cloud watching, lemonade stand, hopscotch,
jumprope, bubbles, tag, build a treehouse (with adult supervision), go to the beach, zoo, or library...
Fall: rake leaves and then jump in them, fly
some helicopters (maple seedlings, of course), ride your bike, go to the cider mill...
Indoor Fun
Make homemade playdough:
You will need: • 1 cup of salt • 1 cup of flour •
1 cup of water • rolling pin • cookie cutters Put salt and flour in a deep unbreakable bowl. Dress your
child in an old t-shirt to protect his/her clothing. Have your child mix the dry ingredients thoroughly with hands or a wooden
spoon. Slowly add water to which some drops of food coloring have been added. Continue to mix, then knead dough until it is
smooth and elastic without being sticky. Dump the playdough onto a flat floured surface and roll it out with the rolling pin.
Use cookie cutters to make shapes. You can also use store-bought playdough and all of the many accessories that they
offer to go with it.
Kids love to put on shows! It
is a great way for them to express themselves. Click above for this great puppet show theatre from Hearthsong.
They also have MANY other arts and crafts and old fashioned games and activites.
Other books and items for TV-free
activities:
Stretch body and mind with stress-relieving postures parents
can practice with you.
You may think that
six-inch bubbles are impressive,
until you see the SIX-FOOT bubbles your family can make with this plastic and nylon Bubble Thing.
Bug Drawing Book
Learn how easy it is to
draw complex subjects - like insects
