Activity Jars Full of Summer Fun

The following post is from Jennifer Burke, a lifelong educator:

source: Jennifer Burke

The first few days of summer vacation are exciting:  sleeping in, playing under the sprinkler, lunch at the park, no homework and catching fireflies!  It doesn’t take too long, though, until your ears pick up a whining, “Mom, I’m bored.  What can we do?”

A Simple Idea

Save a jar for each child.  Write their name on it and let them decorate.  Once a day, or when your child complains of nothing to do, let them pull out one of the ideas that you have tucked inside the jar.

Here are some age-appropriate activities to get you started:

For Preschoolers

(They may not be bored, but if their older siblings have a jar with their names, you can be sure that they’ll want one, too!)

• Get a paintbrush and water.  Paint the alphabet on the front porch.
• Make juice popsicles with Mommy.
• Pick a toy that has lots of pieces.  Put them into groups by color.
• Make a handkerchief doll with Mommy.
• Make homemade play dough.
• Fill a pan with rice or dried beans.  Add some cups and scoops.
• Use shaving cream on the counter to practice letters and numbers.
• Make a stuffed animal zoo.
• Practice reading readiness skills at Starfall.com

For early elementary:

• Learn how to sew on a button.
• Use different colored highlighters to mark vowels in the newspaper.
• Find a dozen different containers.  Estimate how much liquid each will hold.  Measure to check.
• Display your friends’ most popular ice cream flavors on a bar graph.
• Make ice cream in a zipper top plastic bag.
• Make butter in a jar.
• Make a map of your neighborhood.
• Draw some pictures for an elderly neighbor.
• Record books on tape for younger siblings to listen to.

For older elementary:

• Find three toys you are tired of.  Check with Mom, then organize a toy swap with your friends.
• Cook dinner for the family.  (Easy ideas:  Salad with pre-cooked chicken on top, boxed macaroni and cheese with hot dogs, or a casserole that Mom can take out of the oven)
• Invent a game using marbles and Legos.
• Write a thank you note to last year’s teacher.
• Write a letter to next year’s teacher, introducing yourself.
• Make paper mache masks.
• Organize a neighborhood Olympics.
• Open a weekly lemonade stand to raise money for a charity.
• Put on a play for your parents.
• Sweep the sidewalks for any single mothers or older neighbors.
• Publish a neighborhood newspaper.
• Play online math games at sites like CoolMathGames.com and FunMathGames.com.

Once you start filling the jars with special activities, you may have to limit your kids to one slip a day!

How do you deal with summer boredom?

	Jennifer is passionate about children and education. She homeschooled her two sons for five years, established and directed a Christian school in Maryland for 20 years, and currently teaches in a public school in a Chicago suburb. She loves investing in relationships and delights in every moment that she spends with her family.