January
Fun activities for you and your preschool child
1. Today is the first day of the year. Discuss the meaning of "first" with your child today. For example, breakfast is the first meal of the day. Ask him to come up with another example.
2. On this day in 1878, construction on the Brooklyn Bridge began. Start your own construction project and make a bridge out of glue and Popsicle sticks with your child. Even if it breaks, it's a great way for her to grasp an early understanding of weight and gravity.
3. Count to 10 with your child and skip a number, leaving a pause. Let him tell you the number that is missing. This is a great way for him to practice counting.
4. Show your child a picture of an ocean, and make drawings of what both of you think it might include.
5. Encourage your child to colour a picture today. Write her name at the top of the picture, spelling her name letter by letter as you write. Print the letters in your child's name. Ask her to name three words that begin with each letter of her name.
6. Look at a calendar with your child today. Count the days left until the next family member's birthday.7. Blow bubbles with your child using a bubble wand.
8. Go on a make believe adventure with your child and explore your surroundings in a theme of his interest.
9. Explain to your child that days, like people, have names. Say, "Today's name is (Wednesday). Tomorrow's name is (Thursday)." Show her the day's names at the top of a calendar. Help her understand the passage of time and how it is measured by month, day, hour, etc.
10. Help your child make a puzzle today. Cut up a pretty card or magazine cover in large pieces. Encourage him to put the picture back together.
11. Today is Sir John Alexander Macdonald Day, commemorating the birthday of our first prime minister. Explain to your child who this man was and why his job is still important in ways that relate to her.
12. Cook breakfast together for the rest of the family.
13. Explain to your child how opposites work. Say a word and ask him to say the opposite
14. Fill a pot or bucket with water. Have your child drop objects in the bucket to find out which will float and which will sink when you drop one in.
15. Write 10 things that your child would like to do during a snowstorm on pieces of paper. Fold the piece of paper and place it in a jar. When a stormy day arrives, have her pick one of the activities from the jar.16. Print out two sets of alphabet letters: one upper case (capitals), one lower case (small letters). Cut the letters out, mix them up and play a match-up game with your child (i.e., A-a, B-b, C-c).
17. On this day in 1929, the first comic of Popeye the Sailor Man debuted. This is an excellent opportunity to explain to your child that spinach (and other healthy foods) can help him grow big and strong.
18. Play music and dance with your child. Help her make shakers out of empty toilet paper rolls and rice. Help her cover the ends with paper and tape to secure the rice grains.
19. Go through magazines and pick out pictures of your child's favourite things. Make a scrapbook of them throughout the year.
20. Newspaper numbers. Help your child look for numbers 1 to 50 in the newspaper. Cut the numbers out and glue them in numerical order onto a large piece of paper. If he cannot count to 50 or recognise numbers that large, only collect up to the number he knows. Ask him to say the numbers to you and practice counting up to that number.
21. Practice counting with your child while you set the dinner table. How many cups are there? How many spoons?
22. Play the "coloured food" game with your child today. How many food items can your child think of that are white? black? purple? red? What different colour foods did she eat today?23. Show your child how to spell his full name, street address, city and phone number. Repeat this information often so that he can memorise it.
24. Recreate a favourite family tradition from your childhood to share with your child. Maybe she'll carry it on!25. Ask your child to draw a picture of your family today. Ask him to name the family members in the drawing.
26. Go to the library with your child and borrow a book about pets. If there is a pet in your family, discuss with your child the things she must do to care for pets properly.
27. Plan an activity party for your child's friends. Invite them over to play games.
28. Number search activity will provide your child with lots of opportunities to practice number recognition, as well as counting and writing skills. Create a chart that lists the numbers from 1 to 20. Ask him if he has a favourite number, and if so, why.29. Encourage your child to try two motor tasks at the same time. Ask her to clap her hands while she walks.
30. Ask your child to help you make muffins today. Let him choose the kind of muffins you make.
31. Enjoy a warm cup of cocoa with your child today. Don't forget the marshmallows!
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Fun activities for you and your elementary school child
1. Happy New Year! Encourage your child to make a New Year's resolution. Help him create a list of attainable goals for the new year.
2. Have your child recommend her favourite music artist to friends and get her friends' recommendations. Encourage them to discuss what they like about each artist.
3. On this day in 1496, Leonardo da Vinci tested a flying machine. Build a model plane out of popsicle sticks or paper. Ask him to decorate it with paint or markers.
4. Include your child in making simple family decisions. Allow her to decide what kind of dessert the family should have tonight.
5. On this day in 1915, Andrew H. Robinson, Canadian cartographer, was born. Ask your child to draw a map of your local area.
6. Try a winter-related sporting activity with your child.
7. On this day in 1894, W.K. Dickson received a patent for the motion picture, leading the way to the age of movies. Ask your child what his favourite movie is, and why.
8. "There" is a word that has more than one definition. Discuss the different meanings. Help your child come up with four other words that have more than one meaning.
9. On this day in 1768, Philip Astley staged the first modern circus. Try to find out if there are any such functions that you may be able to attend with your child.
10. Tell your child that you love her today and every day!
11. Today is Sir John Alexander Macdonald Day, commemorating the birthday of our first prime minister. Make sure that your child knows who he is, and also, that with practice and perseverance, he can one day have the job that Macdonald started.
12. Encourage your child to write a letter to a family member she has not seen in a while. Bring her to the post office or mail box and help her mail it. Send it in the mail for a special surprise.
13. Spend some time exercising with your child today by going ice-skating. Talk to him about the importance of maintaining a healthy body.
14. On this day in 1690, the clarinet was invented. Practice using it or another musical instrument of your choice with your child.
15. On this day in 1759, the British Museum, one of the most important museums in human history and culture, opened to the public. Ask your child what topics she might like to learn more about, and then see if there's a museum nearby that tailors to that subject in one way or another.
16. Help your child find the best time to do homework. Ask him what works best for him after school or in the evenings.
17. On this day in 1962, Canadian funnyman Jim Carrey was born. Why not watch one of his classics with your child, and see if she can guess the secret to his success?
18. Borrow a library book you enjoyed when you were your child's age. Ask him what he likes most about the book. Share your feelings with him also.
19. Ask your child to clip grocery store coupons of your favourite products. Redeem them together later.
20. Make a list of emergency numbers to hang on the refrigerator with your child. Make sure to include numbers for the police department, fire department, family members and close friends. It's important that she understands what issues are considered emergencies.
21. Hang posters of the alphabet on bedroom walls or make an alphabet poster with your child. Print the letters in large type.
22. Encourage your child to sort his books by subject. What subject does he like the most?
23. Promote healthy eating habits by introducing more vegetables in your child's diet. Explain to her how vegetables can enhance the flavour of her favourite foods.
24. Encourage your child to be as friendly and open with both peers and teachers as possible.
25. Encourage your child to think of all the things he would like to do tomorrow. Help him make a 'to do' list.
26. Remember that practice makes perfect. Help your child practice writing her name in cursive and neat printing.
27. Ask your child what changes he'd make if he were principal of his school for a day.
28. Give your child a math problem to solve. Talk with her about how she would solve the problem. Can she think of a different way to solve the problem?
29. Teach your child to be independent. Decide on a task together that would make him more independent.
30. On this day in 1961, Ham, the monkey, was sent into outer space by NASA. Ask your child what animal she would want to send into space, if given the choice.
31. Can your child name an animal that starts with each letter of the alphabet? It's okay to leave out 'x'.
Fun activities for you and your middle school child
1. Talk to your child about obedience and independence. Increase his freedoms, set responsible limits and provide options so that he will be able to make independent decisions.
2. Encourage your child to join a sports team. Teach her about responsibility she needs to know that others will depend on her to be there for practices and for games..
3. Today is the birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien, world renowned fantasy novelist. If your child has already read The Lord of the Rings books, or has seen the popular movies based off of them, discuss with him some of the themes he can see in the works, to see if his analytical eye is developing.
4. Talk to your child about the importance of volunteering. Is there a youth volunteer group in your area? Find out if your child has any interest in volunteering.
5. Help your child organize something today, be it her room, backpack or schedule. Discuss the importance of staying organised with her.6. Ask your child about the volume of homework given out on weekends, and explain that it's better to at least start a little bit on Friday rather than leave everything to the Sunday.
7. Have your child invite a friend over after school. Encourage him to suggest that they do their homework together.
8. Make today "No TV Day." Use books, games and discussion for entertainment instead.
9. Encourage your child to create a family newsletter. When it's finished, she can mail the newsletter to friends and relatives.
10. Spend some time with your child doing homework today. Have him explain the homework assignment and what he's learning.
11. Visit www.stupid.ca with your child today, and talk with her about the effects of smoking. Together, discuss ways of dealing with peer pressure.
12. On this day in 1930, Canadian cultural icon Tim Horton was born. Take your child out for donuts, bagels or hot chocolate, and catch up with him.
13. Talk to your child about the importance of recycling. You can make recycling a part of her weekly chores.
14. Ask your child to take some photographs of the family. Put them together in a scrapbook. He can write captions or descriptions to accompany each picture.
15. Encourage your child to participate in class more.
16. Find out when your child's next big test or exam is, and make sure that both of you have time to study for it.
17. The next time you have a conversation with your child, stress the importance of eye contact.
18. With your child, sign up for an exercise class to participate in during the winter months. Talk to her about the importance of a healthy body and maintaining physically active.
19. Tell your child that you love him today and every day.
20. Take your child out on a date tonight. Ask her to choose the movie or restaurant for the evening.
21. Give your child a journal. Encourage him to write for five minutes every night before bed.
22. Ask your child what she would do differently if she were prime minister for a day.
23. Ask your child to come up with a new winter activity the whole family will enjoy. Then, let him help plan the next family outing.
24. Make sure that your child is dressing appropriately for winter conditions. Show her ways she can be snug and stylish at the same time.
25. Encourage your child to participate more in extra-curricular activities.
26. Discuss safety rules and guidelines with your child when he is using the Internet.
27. Look for volunteer activities on the Internet or in your local newspaper that you and your child can do together. Talk to her about the importance of volunteering.
28. Have your child plan an activity he can do with his younger siblings.
29. Give your child a math problem. Ask her to solve it. How did she get to the answer?
30. Subscribe to an educational magazine the whole family will enjoy.
31. Tell your child something you learned this week. This will reinforce the value of education.
Fun activities for you and your teen
1. Discuss Internet safety and security with your teen today. Make sure he knows never to give out his personal information to anyone.
2. Go to the library together and borrow a book that has been made into a movie. After you have both read the book, watch the movie and discuss what is different with your teen.
3. Encourage your teen to save. Explain the importance of this practice as she is approaching adulthood.
4. Encourage your teen to take candid photos of the family. Put them together in a scrapbook.
5. Ask your teen to help around the house more with cleaning activities that involve winter conditions, such as clearing ice off of a windshield, or shovelling snow.
6. Talk to your teen about peer pressure, and make sure he knows that he doesn't need to give in to negative trends, especially at parties on the weekend, to be cool.
7. Ask your teen about some of the differences in driving in winter conditions.
8. Check out the "Student Stuff" section of the Peel board's website with your teen to see what's new – mdx.peelschools.org.
9. At the dinner table tonight, have each family member share news about their day. Ask her to lead the conversation.
10. Is there a college or university nearby? Make plans to take a tour with your teen. What is he interested in? Does he know what he wants to study?
11. On this day in 1980, Nigel Short became the youngest chess champion ever at age 14. Play a few rounds with your teen to see if either of you have what it takes to be a chess champ.
12. Is your teen learning how to drive or interested in getting her driver's licence? Make time to talk about safe driving and the possibility of driving school.
13. Get into a friendly snowball fight with your teen.
14. On this day in 1639, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were established, effectively making that state the first with a constitution that guaranteed individual rights to everyone. Discuss the significance of individual rights with your teen.
15. Spend some time talking with your teen about his homework assignments. Have him explain to you what he's learning.
16. The National Sleep Foundation recommend that high school students need nine to 10 hours of sleep each night. Is your teen getting enough rest?
17. Visit your local library and borrow a book about career choices. Talk to your teen about the steps she must take to pursue different careers.
18. Today in 1964, The Beatles appeared on the Billboard music charts for the first time. Talk with your teen about their songs and themes, and discuss whether or not they can still be captivating and relevant.
19. Ask your teen to compose a family newsletter. Encourage him to mail it.
20. Regular exercise is important. Join an exercise class with your teen to stay in shape during the winter months.
21. Find a volunteer activity you can do with your teen and other members of your family.
22. Talk to your teen about some of the things she has done recently that has made you proud. Encourage her to continue making a difference.
23. Leave notes of encouragement around the house for your teen.
24. Ask your teen to name his favourite band. What does he like about them?
25. Donate old clothes with your teen to a homeless shelter to help the less fortunate fight the cold.
26. Turn off the TV tonight and make it family game night.
27. If you're planning to make a large purchase, ask your teen to conduct some research. Which store offers the best buy?
28. Visit the library with your teen and borrow a book you will both enjoy. After you are finished, discuss what you liked and did not like about the book.
29. Ask your teen to think about purchases she may need to make in the coming month. Encourage her to start saving now.
30. Declare today a Random Act of Kindness Day. Ask your teen to come up with ways to help others today.
31. Try to get your next haircut with your teen. It will be a good excuse to catch up, and finding out the style that he likes might help you understand him better.
