Hi Ladies! I have 2 wonderful boys who are almost 3 and almost 7. My 1st grader is on break for the next 2 weeks. Most of his friends are travelling during the break so I am looking for ideas to help him not be bored out of his skull. He's totally into Bionicles right now and has already used up his computer time for the week. I would love to hear your ideas!
EDIT: Just realized this got posted to the Single Parenting section, which I'm not - but please still share your wisdom with me! : )
IT's hard this time of year because it is still too cold to play outside much, but maybe indoor games like bowling, lazer tag, indoor playgrounds, etc would be fun. Arts and crafts are great too. For a cheap and fun activity try an indoor "campout" with smores from the oven, a pretend campfire, a makeshift tent, sleeping bags, scary of silly stories, things like that are great fun for kids.
If you have a digital camera, help him make a stop animation film. Have him draw or paint a "set" and create characters from his bionicles. Encourage him to write a script and teach him to use the camera. If you take pictures frame by frame of the bionicles moving and having battles and then put it all together on a program such as windows movie maker. He will have at least a full day!
If you aren't that tech saavy, have him build as many cool bionicles as he can and take pictures of them. Same idea, have him paint a set or multiple sets and he can upload them to bionicle fan sites when he gets more computer time.
My son created a kids bionicle website, he's 12. He and his buddy are working on that this week and should be ready to upload pics soon. If you want, I can send you the web address. :)
check you YMCA camps too. The one in Boulder has swimming, crafts, etc. I think it's $5 bucks a day.
Good luck!
They are the perfect ages for The Children's Musuem of Denver - awesome place. Check out www.mychildsmuseum.org :)
HAve fun!
Does he have his own library card yet? My kids felt so important when they first got their cards, and a day at the library is a great way to spend time indoors when it's cold like it's supposed to be this week. There is going to be snow Thursday, so he can catch up on all the sledding he missed out on during the winter.
My family just had an overnight trip to Colorado Springs. It was so nice to get out and do something new, and the kids loved that they weren't stuck at home for the WHOLE spring break. If your husband can take a night away from work, I recommend that as well. Not the Springs necessarily, but you get the point.
My kids and I also go on long bike rides. It's a fun way to spend time together, and they are getting exercise, AND they aren't in the house all day.
I'm sure you will get plenty of suggestions..I'm going to keep my eye on them because My kids are home until next Monday!
If your near Littleton this time of year Hudson Gardens are free and its fun to walk around and see all the trees and flowers start to blossom ( assuming they dont die in the snow that is coming) You can bring food for a picnic. . Also there is a Littleton History Museum that is a working farm of the 1860's and 1890s. There are a ton of lambs there right now and its fun to show your kids how people lived without a lot of todays comforts. It is also free but if you could give a few dollars donation its appreciated.
I like the library idea.. I was going to respond with that. :) The library may also have story time or arts and craft specials going on also.. not just checking out books.
I also found this great site with alot of freebies or bogo coupons, you just have to sign up for them using an email account. (Suggestion: create new email specifically for these emails for freebies.. otherwise they will overwhelm your inbox) Take some time to look through! There are also a list of restaurants for free meals for kids
http://mommyswishlist.blogspot.com/
Also, check out Lowe's and Home Depot for their free Build and Grow workshops.
https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/
I haven't found a link for Home Depot that shows their workshops.. but a quick trip to a store or even a phone call will net you this information. The kids get to build something and take it home!!!
Here's one for Michael's: http://www.michaels.com/art/online/static?page=kids_events
Use google too. Search for free craft ideas or the such!
And please check out Mommy's Wish List link at the top. That's where I found all these links I just shared.
Also, do you have an entertainment books? There are a ton of places you can check out also. Your 7 y/o may enjoy the Dinosaur Muesum in Woodland Park. I am pretty sure there is a coupon for them in one of the entertainment coupon books.
http://mommyswishlist.blogspot.com/2009/02/free-eats-in-e... These books are now 50% off the usual price.
Well, I hope this helps! Have a great spring break!!
T. K
a wonderful computer social site for kids is www.clubpenguin.com. They can't share any personal info but they can interact with other kids. My kids would call friends and cousins and arrange to meet on the site - there are many servers and you have to know which one to be on. I highly recommend it.
Michael's also has craft workshops for kids - find them on their website.
I always think spring break is made for the dollar movie theater!
i'm not sure where you live but if you have an indoor pool near by that is alway's fun. The dollar theater at Tiffany plaza has 50 cent Tuesday's, or 1.50 I think during the day. The zoo is fun, and the museum of nature and science is alway's a good one. Have fun!
