It’s summertime! Whether you’re traveling or relaxing at home, we’ve put together some activities so you can skip the planning part and go straight to playtime. Check them out:
ROAD TRIP ACTIVITIES
Here are our five favorite car games so you can keep kids entertained while on the road this summer!
- 20 Questions: The “answerer” thinks of an object, but keeps it to themselves, while the rest of the riders take turns asking simple yes or no questions (maybe is also okay). The first person to guess correctly becomes the next “answerer”.
- Tell a Tale: Take turns adding a sentence to create a silly story customized just for your family! The youngest player starts with the very first sentence, then go 'round in age order, each player adding a single sentence with as much detail as possible. Continue until the story reaches its natural conclusion or gets too crazy.
LET IT GROW!
Part1: Root It Out!
Inside every seed is a plant just waiting to come out! Seeds can be big or small and come in all shapes and sizes, but the process of germination is the same. What is germination? It's the process by which an organism grows from a seed or similar structure. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed. And you can do it at home!
- Wet a paper towel with water and place four or five seeds (pea or bean seeds are great!) on top.
- Wrap the towel around the seeds, place it in a sealable plastic bag, close the bag, and put it in a warm place, like on the windowsill.
- Wait a few days, then open the bag, unwrap the towel, and check your seeds. Have they germinated? You'll know if you see the start of small roots coming out of one end of the seed. This means they're ready to be planted!
- Dig a small hole in the dirt of your garden, drop them in, and pack the dirt around them, and be sure to water them daily.
LET IT GROW! (PT2)
Part2: Just Breathe!
Photosynthesis is the process plants use to make their own food. This process requires just three things: carbon dioxide from the air, water, and sunlight. Plants absorb the carbon dioxide through small pores in their leaves. Special chemicals in their leaves allow them to absorb sunlight. And they use their roots to absorb water. Once a plant has absorbed sunlight, it uses that energy to split the water molecules absorbed by the roots into hydrogen and oxygen. The plant uses the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide it's absorbed from the air to create glucose - or plant food! But what happens to the oxygen? Let's find out!
- Pick a green leaf from a plant
- Place it in a container of water and find out!
- After about an hour, you'll see lots of tiny bubbles. This is the oxygen being released from the leaf during the photosynthesis process! Use a magnifying glass for a closer look.
FATHER'S DAY ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS
Father's Day in the U.S. is celebrated on the third Sunday of June! Show your dad, husband, or father figure you appreciate them with some homemade crafts, special Father's Day activities, and more! Check them out:
- Special Breakfast: Start the day off right by making some of dad's favorite dishes! Let the kids help—toddlers can press the button on the blender and help whip up a smoothie or preschoolers can use a butter knife to slice a banana for oatmeal topping.
- Head Out for a Ride: Gather the scooters, bikes, and trikes and make the most of the gorgeous June weather! Take a trip around the block, to the park, or along the shore. Don't forget your helmets
- Get Your Giggle On: Let your kids take turns filling out lines on this fun, Father's Day Mad Lib (Dad Lib if you will), then read it to dad together.
- Play a Game: Does dad love chess? Checkers? I she a sports lover? Let him choose a game to while away the afternoon!
- Make a Print: Pick up a canvas and some paints, take off your kids' socks and shoes, and make some prints!
- Color Him Happy: Older kids can color their own Father's Day cards using art supplies at home, or use our Racoon Rumpus template to make an awesome card! Just download the template here, print, cut the along the dashed lines, fold the horizontal line to form a t-shirt, create the shirt collar with folds, and add your own message underneath the shirt to surprise dad!
- Give a Gift: Your Father's Day gift doesn't need to be extravagant. A Mason jar filled with dad's favorite nuts and a sweet, homemade tag, a hand-painted wooden spatula for the grill, or a boxed-up batch of his very favorite fudge brownies are enough to show dad how much you care.
- Hit the Park: Grab the balls, bats, and a frisbee and head out to the park for an afternoon of family fun in the sun. Pack a picnic and take a break in the shade when you've worn all your wiggles out.
- Movie Night: Grab the blankets and pillows, let dad pick his favorite movie, and end this special day with a whole family snuggle fest!
Summer Activities and DIY Crafts