Thursday, July 25, 2013

Summer Games for Kids

Summer Games for Kids
Summer Games for Kids

Summer Games for Kids


After spending the winter indoors, children need the benefits of outdoor games. Outdoor summer games for kids provide children with exercise and opportunities to participate in social activities while developing large and small motor skills. In addition to skill building, summer games provide an opportunity for kids to cool off and just have fun whether at school on a playground or at home in a back yard with neighbors.

Barnyard


Take the kids outside for a game of Barnyard. Designate one child as “It.” Instruct “It” to think of three barn animals. If a large number of children choose to participate, “It” may choose a greater number of animals. Tell “It” to whisper the name of an animal to each child, rotating the animals so that several children represent the same animal. Call out “Go!” Each child must walk around while imitating the sound of the animal whispered into his ear. While imitating animal sounds, the children must discover other children who represent the same animal and herd themselves together. The first animal group to herd together wins.

Dribble, Dribble, Dribble, Drench


Play “Dribble, Dribble, Drench” the same way as “Duck, Duck, Goose,” — but with water. Provide a group of children with a cup or medium-sized pitcher of water. Have the group sit in a circle and choose an “It.” “It” walks around the group while dropping one or two drops of water onto each child’s head while saying the word “Dribble.” She continues until she finally yells “Drench” as she dumps the rest of the water onto a fellow player’s head. The drenched child chases “It” around until she captures “It” or until “It” finds her way to an empty spot to sit. If the drenched child fails to capture “It,” then the drenched child becomes “It.” Otherwise, “It” remains so until captured by a drenched playmate.

Relay Races


Set an outdoor area up for relay races. Draw a starting line with paint or mark it with durable tape. Line the kids up in rows and give the first child in each row a spoon and an egg. At the signal, the first child in each row must travel to a predetermined spot while keeping the egg in the spoon. If a child drops an egg, he must return to the starting line and begin again. Once the child reaches the predetermined mark, he must turn around and go back without dropping the spoon and hand it over to the next child in his line. Each child continues until every child in his line gets a chance to participate. The first line to finish wins. The same procedure may be used with a potato, apple, orange or water balloon. The heavier or messier the item in the spoon, the more challenging the game.

Olympic Summer Games





Kids need a lot of play time to grow and develop age appropriately, but it's also good to keep them academically challenged so that they are prepared for the next grade level. Usborne Books offers several Learning Wrap-Up Kits that are sure to keep your child academically challenged and prepared for the next level.

First Grade Reading Center Kit

First Grade Reading Center Kit

The Learning Palette Reading  Pack is an ideal way for children to have fun learning important basic phonetic, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and word usage skills. 

Each 1st Grade Reading Intro Pack includes 1-Learning Palette Base and 5 curriculum packs. Each Intro Pack will include curriculum that is grade appropriate and will provide material to last the entire school year. Each pack will offer challenges and opportunities for students at all levels and has been designed to meet state and national educational standards.  The Learning Palette Reading Packs will be great for travel, summer study, and fun day to day learning. Check it out here.   

 

First Grade Math Kit

A Learning Palette Math Intro Pack is the ideal way to help children enjoy and understand all aspects of important mathematical concepts. Each Intro Pack includes curriculum written at the specific grade level of your child. Did you know your child can learn and understand Algebra, Geometry, Probability, as well as Numeration problems as early as First Grade and Second Grade. With Learning Palette Math Intro Packs your child will have FUN and be CHALLENGED to learn the appropriate mathematical skills necessary in his or her grade level.

Each Intro Pack includes 1-Learning Palette Base, and 6 Curriculum Packs (3-Numeration titles, 1-Algebra Concepts, 1-Geometry and Measurement, and 1-Probability and Statistics). Each title which includes 12 curriculum cards has been written to correspond with standards established by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  The Learning Palette Math Intro Pack will be great for travel, summer study, and fun day to day learning.  Check it out here.

Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia

Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia
Image Credit:  NoahHerrera - Public Domain Image via Pixabay

Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia


Atlanta, Georgia welcomes residents and visitors with a variety of activities for the entire family. Rich in cultural history, Atlanta offers museums, theaters, festivals, restaurants and parks to suit a variety of tastes. When planning a trip to Atlanta, consider a variety of activities for children.


Plan to attend Macy’s Annual Tree Lighting. Family activities begin earlier in the evening, usually around 6:30 p.m. The event typically takes place Thanksgiving Weekend and includes appearances by various vocal artists and celebrities. Prepare to hear the Macy’s All-Star Holiday Choir sing a collection of Christmas carols.
The Georgia Aquarium offers enough activities to fill an entire day’s schedule. The aquarium features a shark tunnel and provides opportunities for a behind-the-scenes tour, a deep sea diver show, a 4D theater and various seasonal displays such as “The Titanic.” Check with Georgia Aquarium event planners for a full list of seasonal displays as they can vary.
Zoo Atlanta houses a large variety of animals and plants. Safely and well-maintained animal habitats offer visitors various views of the animals. Zoo Atlanta offers a variety of camps, scavenger hunts and a small amusement park for younger children. Parents can schedule birthday parties at Zoo Atlanta or sign up for various workshops.
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers opportunities for children to integrate learning with play. Exhibits allow children to play while learning about subjects such as water, solar and wind conservation and energy. Children learn about the concepts of farming and wildlife. Other exhibits offer children opportunities to explore and enhance creativity and problem-solving skills.
Plan to spend a day at Stone Mountain Park. Take the children on a train ride around Stone Mountain. Either hike or ride to the top of the mountain, where children can roam freely and take in a mountaintop view. Stone Mountain offers a variety of shops, small museums, animal exhibits, parks, picnic areas and a nightly laser show and fireworks.
Visit Atlanta’s World of Coke museum and learn about the history of the soft drink. The museum offers exhibits featuring a variety of media resources, including paper programs, videos and a 4D Theater. Allow children to taste various versions of the soft drink sold around the world. View a bottling line that actually produces a glass bottle of the soft drink for each World of Coke visitor.

Traveling with Kids?  

Usborne Books has a whole bunch of books for kids to read and interact with while traveling.
Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia

 Children can create their own busy travel scenes with this fun sticker book.  Check it out here.

Travel Pocket Puzzle Book

Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia
There are over 100 pages packed full of travel-themed activities in this pocket-sized puzzle book - the ultimate boredom buster. Contains mazes, picture puzzles, word searches, number problems and much more (with all of the answers at the back of the book). Great for tossing into a backpack or suitcase.  Check it out here
Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia

Whether you’re in a car, train, boat or plane, long journeys will pass by in a flash with this fun-packed pad. Includes over 200 tear-out pages packed with pen-and-paper puzzles to keep the whole family entertained, wherever you happen to be! Includes picture puzzles, word puzzles, simple logic puzzles, odd ones out, spot the difference and lots, lots more. Perfect for slipping into your hand luggage.  Check it out here.
Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia
With four sections of increasing difficulty, children can puzzle their way to the top. There are over 150 themes of crosswords to conquer so the puzzles never get boring, and kids might even learn a new word or two.  Check it out here.
Usborne Books
There are over a hundred doodling opportunities in this pack, and the cards are wipe-clean so you can doodle over them again and again.  Check it out here.
Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia
This tear-off pad is packed full of ideas inspiring children to get busy during a journey - all you need is a pen or pencil (no special equipment required). With 200 activity sheets included, this is the perfect antidote to rainy days or long journeys - or just tear off a sheet at a time for some quick on-the-go games!  Check it out here.
 

Scripture Printable for Wedding

Scripture Printable for Wedding
It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Genesis 2:18.

Scripture Printable for Kitchen

Scripture Printable for Kitchen
As long as the earth endures, seedtime & harvest, cold & heat, summer & winter, day & night will never cease. Genesis 8:22

Verse of the Day from Bible Gateway