August

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Fun activities for you and your preschool child

1. Teach your child about summer safety this month. Explain the importance of wearing sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat to protect him from the sun's UV rays.
2. Plant a seed in the yard or a plastic cup with your child today. Help her record the progress.
3. Make a boat out of Styrofoam with your child today. Fill a basin or wading pool with water so that he can set sail and imagine he is the captain.
4. After a rainy day, help your child put on her rain boots and walk around the yard. Ask her to point out insects that are not usually spotted when it's dry out.
5. At bedtime, ask your child to tell you his favourite bedtime story by looking at the pictures.
6. Today is national Friendship Day. Help your child make a picture out of dry macaroni noodles for her friend or sibling.
7. Today is a civic holiday, talk to your child about an activities he would like to do with the family today.
8. Using old lids from frozen juice containers, help your child decorate fridge magnets. She can make one for the grocery list, family updates and her art.
9. For a snack today ask your child to help you make cold 'fruit kebobs' by placing his favourite fruits on a barbecue skewer.
10. Talk to your child about things she sees in the sky. Ask her to name as many items as she can.
11. Take your child on an early morning walk today. See if he can mimic animal sounds heard on the way.
12. Plan your family trip to an apple orchard today . Create a challenge to see who can collect the most apples.
13. Help your child decorate a pair of old or inexpensive flip flops with paint, seashells and coloured glue. Ask her to describe what she likes most about going to the beach and summer time.
14. Teach your child about measurement today. Using a ruler, help him measure items around the house such as, toys, chairs and plants.
15. Find a place to feed the ducks with your child today. Show her the family of ducks and ask her to find the mom, dad, and baby ducklings.
16. Tell your child that you love him, today and every day
17. Ask your child to help you make a smoothie today. She can help by washing her favourite fruits so that you can mix them in her drink.
18. Does your child know how to spell his name? Help him practice writing and sounding out his letters today.
19. Be silly with your child today and play dress up. She can put on a play for you as her new character.
20. Make tent in backyard with your child tonight. On a clear night look at the stars with him and catch fireflies.
21. Go exploring with your child on a bug scavanger hunt today. See how many different bugs she can find.
22. Using glow in the dark sidewalk chalk, help your child draw a picture outside close to the house. At night ask him to look out the window at his creation as it glows in the dark.
23. As a family, plan to visit a petting zoo today. Ask your child what her favourite animal is and why.
24. Using an old T-shirt, help your child decorate and create his own designs with coloured paint, glue and markers.
25. Go bird watching with your child today. When you return home ask her to draw pictures of the different birds she found.
26. When your child asks to stay up a little later, say yes and make it a 15-minute family reading opportunity.
27. Brainstorm with your child today and see how many animals he can come up with.
28. Have a family pizza night tonight. Purchase the ingredients and have your child select and place the toppings.

 

1. Teach your child about using her senses today. Encourage her to look, listen, touch and smell, while exploring the nature around your neighbourhood.
2. Purchase some lemons at the grocery store and ask your child to help you make fresh-squeezed lemonade.
3. Teach your child his home address and phone number today.

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Fun activities for you and your elementary school child

1. Today is National Kids Day. Help your child plan an activity to celebrate it with the entire family
2. Make tonight a 'No TV' night with your family. Ask your child to help select games or stories, and spend some quality time with him.
3. Help boost your child's self-esteem. Take pride in her achievements and accomplishments today and every day.
4. Put on a history play with your child today. Help him learn about important events in world history or even your own family history.
5. Make learning to write letters and numbers fun for your child. Roll playdough or clay into long thin worms and ask her to create letters and numbers.
6. Ask your child to help make lunch today. He can pick a spot in the park so that you can share lunch together..
7. Take the family out to a water park today. Help your child put on sunscreen and explain the importance of protecting her skin.
8. Go to the park and take a nature hike with your child today. Ask him to point out different animals and what they need to survive (i.e. food, shelter etc.)
9. School's on the way! Help your child make a 'countdown to school' calendar. Ask her to cross off each day at bedtime.
10. Encourage your child to make a 'to do' list today. Help him make a list of things that he would like to accomplish tomorrow, then check the items once completed.
11. Visit a community pool with your child today. Go for a dip to cool off on a hot day.
12. Take your child shopping for school supplies. Ask her to brainstorm a list of things that she will need for school.
13. Help your child make a kite today. He can decorate it and fly it at the park.
14. Teach your child about recycling. Show her how to recycle items such as paper, glass and aluminium.
15. Take your child to a petting zoo today. Ask him to draw pictures of the animals that he saw today.
16. Visit the library with your child today. Encourage her to borrow books about a different country, and learn about the people, cultures, and customs of the that country.
17. On a rainy day, set up a tent with your child in the living room. He can pretend to be a forest ranger.
18. Help your child practice her math skills. Ask her to add up all the change in your pocket or purse today.
19. Teach your child about the importance of preserving nature. Help him plant a tree in the yard and explain how littering harms the environment.
20. On a large piece of construction paper, help your child write her name vertically. Using each letter, help her write words that describe her personality.
21. Make car trips fun for your child. Play a game and ask him to point out licence plates billboards and interesting road signs.
22. Tell your child that you love her today and every day.
23. Help your child create and design his own phone book . Make a list of his friends names and phone numbers.

 

1. How much does your child know about her family history? On a map trace where your family is from and help her create a family tree.

 

1. Help your child write a letter to a grandparent or friend today. Explain the importance of keeping in touch with loved ones.
2. Get your child back in 'school mode'. Ask him to research a famous painter on the Internet. Get out the paint and let him express himself through art.
3. Teach your child about textures today. Ask her to find objects outdoors that are smooth, shiny, slimy or round.
4. Suggest that your child write a poem for a friend today. He can mail it to them for a back to school present.
5. Encourage your child to make journal entries and keep track of her experiences in a new grade this coming school season.
6. Have a back to school party for some of your child's friends.
7. Help your child prepare for school. Talk to him about setting personal goals this year.
   
   

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Fun activities for you and your middle school child

1. Take advantage of the many community swimming pools in Peel. Go to http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/outdoorpools to find one near you in Mississauga and if you're in Brampton visit http://www.brampton.ca/tourism/outdoor.tml. Don't forget to wear sunscreen!
2. The long weekend is coming up. Ask your child to use the Internet to research different campsites nearby. Give him guidelines to follow like cost, distance, activities, etc. Have him present his findings to the family.
3. Have your child come up with an activity to do with a younger sibling or neighbour.
4. Watch the news with your child today. Talk with her about which story interested her the most and encourage her to voice her opinions.
5. This weekend, take the family to Bronte Creek in Oakville. There are many facilities for kids to play for hours – and beat the heat with one of the largest man-made swimming pools that stretches 1.8 acres.
6. Today is Friendship Day. Encourage your child to make and send a card to a close friend of his.

 

1. Make home-made popsicles today using plastic cups and popsicle sticks. Add chunks of fresh fruit for an extra-special surprise.

 

1. If your child doesn't know how to already, teach her how to type. This will build an interest in writing.
2. Before allowing your child to see a movie without you, check the rating of it and look up its reviews.
3. Follow a new recipe with your child today. Have him read the directions and measure ingredients.
4. Ask your child to figure out whether your home faces north, south, east or west.
5. This weekend, treat the whole family to a day at Canada's Wonderland.
6. After dinner go for a walk with your child tonight. Look for constellations in the sky.
7. Open the dictionary to find a word that no one in the family recognizes. Find out its meaning and make a goal for everyone to use it once today.
8. Summertime is a great time to write letters. A relative would love to hear from your child today.

 

1. On a hot day make some lemonade and sit on your porch with your child.
2. Watch an educational television show with your child today. Choose a biography or a show about nature or history and discuss it afterwards.
3. Does your child know what global warming is? Do you? Research it on the Internet together and find ways your family can help stop it.
4. Go hiking at a local conservation area with the entire family this weekend. Bring a picnic!
5. Sort through some family photos today and pick some favourites. Put them on display

 

1. On this day in 1989, Nolan Ryan struck out his 5,000th batter. Take your child out to a local park and play baseball.
2. Find a crossword puzzle in the newspaper today and complete it with your child.
3. August is a perfect time to let your child be responsible for a plant. Pick one out together.

 

1. Ask your child to go through her closet to organize her clothes for school. Encourage her to sort the items she's outgrown so they can be donated to charity.
2. Have your child make a check list of everything he will need for school (pens, pencils, protractors, etc.)
3. Take a moment to find out what you can do at your child's school to volunteer for the coming school year. There are many options for volunteers such as one-time events, once a week, preparing things for the classroom from home, etc.
4. Help build your child's self-esteem for back to school. Tell her something you love and admire about her today.
5. Give your child a new responsibility today. Explain why he is ready for it now.
6. For coming school year, help your child think of ways to say "no" to drugs, alcohol and smoking. Talk about the effects of each, and your families morals and values.

 

1. Celebrate the last day of August outdoors – have a picnic with the family at your local park.
2. Remind your child of a past achievement today. This will help build her self-esteem.
   

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Activities for you and your secondary school child

1. Take your teen to a 'toonie Tuesday' Blue Jays Game!
2. On a rainy afternoon, catch a matinee with your teen.
3. Remind your teen that there is still one month left for him to accomplish his summer goals!
4. Agree on an adult friend with your teen who she can call if she doesn't feel comfortable asking you for advice.
5. To encourage reading, don't let your teen have a TV in his room.
6. Look for a farmers market in your area. Buy fruits and vegetables that are uncommon and try them with your teen today.
7. Encourage your teen to start budgeting for back to school clothes now.
8. Watch an educational program with your teen on television tonight. Discuss it afterwards.
9. Discourage your teen from sleeping in past noon. It's counterproductive.
10. Many clubs and activities start before school begins. Call your teen's school to get a full schedule.
11. Do you know who your teen chats with online? Find out and ask questions about people you don't know.
12. On this day in 1877, Thomas Edison invented the Edisonphone, a sound recording device. Go to your local library with your teen and look up what other inventions Edison invented.

 

1. On a hot August day, ask your teen to locate an outdoor pool in your area using the Internet. Invite the whole family and don't forget the sunscreen!
2. Talk with your teen about the best things you did together this summer.

 

1. Find inspirational quotes to motivate your teen. Post a favourite on the mirror she uses.
2. Ask your teen to put gas in the car today. Make sure he knows how to check the oil.
3. If your teen is in her last year of high school, college and university applications are due in December. Have her research some schools and what programs they offer that she may be interested in.
4. Start to get back on a school schedule. Encourage your teen to go to bed earlier to make the transition easier for September.
5. For an end of the summer treat, take the family to Canada's Wonderland today! Have your teen make lunches for everybody and put them in a cooler.
6. Does your teen want to change his room around? Do you have a new desk to put together? Ask him to help you do some home renovating before going back to school.
7. Take a walk with your teen after dinner today.
8. Challenge your teen to plan a week's worth of meals. Provide him with a budget and shop for the food together.
9. Look for ways to give your teen more responsibility such as making her own doctor's appointments.
10. Give your teen a hug today.
11. Go through an old photo album with your teen today. Tell him family stories and what it was like for you growing up.

 

1. Celebrate the second last weekend of summer by taking a day trip to Wasaga Beach with the whole family.
2. Take turns learning something new with your teen. Teach her something, such as a new skill or something you learned when you were her age. Have her teach you something like new computer software.
3. Have your teen make a check list of everything he will need for school. Give him a budget and have him shop around for the best prices.
4. Talk to your teen about the best thing you did together this summer.
5. Have your teen help you select some nutritious snacks for her lunches and for after school.
6. Start to get back on a school schedule by encouraging your teen to go to bed earlier.
   

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