Need Activities? We’ve Got You!
Many of our kids are having to take classes at home while parents find themselves suddenly in the education field. Yes, children need to be challenged academically, but there are times when their imaginations can take them really fun places. Even better: these activities make it so parents can be pretty hands-off.
Lego Wars
Is it just me or are Legos a renewable resource? My friends and I have no idea how we inherited so many, but they seem to reproduce without much help. If you are like us and have a stockpile of Legos hanging around your house, it’s time for you to start a Lego Challenge that transcends geographical areas.
Kelly and I connected three states while keeping our kids busy for an hour creating Lego structures according to a theme. Our first one was to build a palace for a Prince and Princess. The second was to make a small Lego City. Each time we had a competition, the moms appointed a fellow parent (and/or older child) to be the judge.
We had prizes for “Most likely to appear on HGTV”, “Best Place to Wait out COVID-19” and “Most Magical”. Parents can make as many categories as needed depending on the competition. I found the kids don’t care as much about the prizes as they do about making a completed product within the time limit.
My fellow moms and I typically made the challenges to start at 30 minutes, but often had to extend to 45 or an hour. Below contains some great ideas for Lego Challenges. Invite your friends today and don’t forget to take pictures along the way.
Obstacle Courses
A big challenge for me has been to keep my high schooler and middle schooler from arguing. Anyone else with me? Yet I have also wanted to keep them physically challenged while being socially distant. In a desperate attempt to get his energy out, my oldest came up with a very demanding obstacle course throughout our neighborhood. We are lucky to have an open space behind us, but kids can design an obstacle course in the back yard as well. My older two made a course that consisted of:
- riding their bikes on a specific path
- hitting a soft, rubber ball with a golf club
- running to our house and catching a football behind their backs
- making a basketball shot to end it
- They timed each other and worked to beat each other’s time.
The beauty of my sons’ obstacle course was that it was physically challenging, required a lot of imagination on their part, and they didn’t have to compete side by side. They only competed for a better time. This helped my younger kid feel like he was competing against himself and not his older brother.
The next course will be designed by our youngest in the backyard. I can tell you the boys will be doing a lot of things she has planned, and it should be pretty fun to see their little sister in control.
Cardboard Architect
My daughter loves things like LOL Dolls, LPS (Littlest pet shop), and the characters in the Lego sets, Lego Friends, Lego Superheroes. She decided to take old shoe boxes, a hot glue gun, and some fabric and start making her homes, closets, beds, and bedding for her miniature toys. It has kept her busy for two straight days, and I sort of want her to design my room for me now. Kids could work together on this or they could incorporate it into something like the Lego challenge.
Kids can feel our stress. They miss their friends and they miss school. Here are some things they can do that involve creativity and socially distant fun.
What is keeping your kids busy?