PLAYING WITH YOUR
KIDS
Hands-on and
Constructive
M Worthylake
Guidance
Counsellor
BENEFITS OF HANDS-ON PLAY:
Being imaginative & creative
Coping with frustration
Learning (hands on)
Building confidence
Self regulation of emotions
Exercise
Problem-solving
Developing longer attention spans
Perseverance
Taking care of things
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Make play a priority! Set a date and stick to it.
Prepare ahead by having everything you need for the
activity. The costs are minimal.
If it helps, invite one of your child’s friends over to
share the fun.
Make sure your child is rested and fed.
For kids that have trouble transitioning, set a timer
and give prior notice of when you will be ending the
activity.
Make the most of You-tube for guidance and
motivation.
1.CHECK OUT THE LOCAL LIBRARY
Sign out a book,
Sign out an audio book and listen together and
discuss.
Teach your child how to use the library.
Get their schedule of upcoming events. They are
listed online.
2. FUN WITH BALLOONS
Balloons are cheap, fun and hands-on
fun!
http://handsonaswegrow.com/28-ways-to-play -with-balloons/
http://voices.yahoo.com/ten-fun-things-kids-balloons854063.html?cat=25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYo96F10Brg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apUFA5FLgAk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v
=1Fs6k64IItM
3. SCULPTING
Paper Mache
http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/quick_how_to/pa
piermacheballoon/papiermacheballoon.html
Playdough
• http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-MakePlaydough-Play-doh/
4. FUN WITH CLAY
http://www.betterkidcare.psu.edu/TIPS/Tips1102.pdf
http://www.crayola.com/products/crayola-modeling-clay product/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z1djo-T9oM
5. FUN WITH MAGNETS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak8Bh9Zka50&feature=re
lated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az0LzYmSaCs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqDSW5XUgms
More magnet magic on You-tube
6. FUN MAKING BRACELETS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2o7Oom7OCg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWkZoHVjmqI
http://jewelry-crafts.wonderhowto.com/how-to/makefriendship-bracelets-flip-flop-candy-stripe-303132/
7. FUN WITH CARDBOARD
http://pinterest.com/TeachingHeart/cardboard-box-creations/
http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/967135/diy collapsible-cardboard-playhouse
http://rustsunshine.blogspot.ca/2012/03/cardboardplayhouse.html
See ‘cardboard playhouses’ on Google images for more ideas.
8. FUN WITH BUBBLES
http://www.worldslargestbubble.com/blog/2010/05/top-11secrets-for-creating-record-breaking-big-bubbles/
http://happyhooligans.ca/2012/06/18/homemade-giantbubbles/
9. FUN WITH MARBLES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wRQ27uXoM4&feature=r
elated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ9r31KYs4&feature=related
10. FUN WITH PHOTOGRAPHY
Make a movie
Take photographs to tell a story
Trick photography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCUkj9OoUCA
Frame a photo
11. FUN WITH LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Go skating
Go for a swim
Walk the beach (any season)
Walk the park (take a camera)
Go bowling
Wickwire playground
Throw/kick a ball
Go fishing
12. FUN WITH COOKING
- NOT JUST BAKING
http://www.pbs.org/parents/food-and-fitness/eatsmart/cooking-with-kids/
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/ResourcesForYo
u/Consumers/NFLPM/UCM193075.pdf
http://www.canadianliving.com/moms/food/65_kid_fr
iendly_recipes.php
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/body/foodsmarts/article
4.html (For your child)
http://pediasure.com/kid-nutrition/child-nutritionfacts (For your child)
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/favouri
tes/kids-cooking/
13 SIMPLE BUT FUN
Plan a treasure hunt where everyone wins a prize.
Draw with sidewalk chalk
Do a puzzle together
Do a scavenger hunt
Play hide and seek
Read a book together
14. FUN WITH PLAYING CARDS
7-Up, Go fish, Crazy eights, cribbage
Dice games: 5000, yahtzee
15. FUN WITH PAPER
Make paper airplanes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QtpYt_asmE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3_VMPkzI8A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=zUM0_NqphW0&feat
ure=fvwp
Newspaper Structures:
http://craftingagreenworld.com/2012/12/10/how-to-buildnewspaper-structures-with-your-kids-its-a-toy -that-you-canrecycle/
Simple origami
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Plan it or it won’t happen.
Involve your child in the planning – that’s often the best
part.
If the projects turns out less than perfect, that’s probably
a good thing.
Start slowly by giving your child only a couple activities
to chose from.
More tips…
Respect attention spans: younger have a shorter
span of attention. Breaks may be required to
complete some activities.
If you’re playing a game, talk about losing prior to
starting so you child learns to accept loosing. Win or
lose, say, “Good game!”
Plan clean up as part of the activity. Do it together.
Remember the bottom line: Your kids just want to
spend fun time with you.
Materials You’ll NEED:
Balloons
Masking tape
String
Scissors
Magnets
Paper
Embroidery floss
Crayola markers
Marbles
Playing cards
Plastic straws
Clay
buttons