Activity Popsicle Sticks

One of the blogs I follow, Activity-Mom (see link below), had a great idea about writing activities onto popsicle sticks for the kids to pick and then play. I am going to use these as independent play ideas for the kids to do together while I accomplish a task.


With my kids, we brainstormed a big list of activities they could do together (with little to no adult supervision) and that required no pre-planning on my part. So this required a lot of discussion but I found that explaining that we needed to already have the "stuff" around the house and that the activity would be safe for the kids to do by themselves.Therefore we quickly ruled out "Go to Chucky Cheese." or "Build an tree house."


I think making the sticks has built interest in toys that have been neglected and forgotten. It inspired me to clean up and get out some older toys and make nice displays to get the kids excited.

And yes, much to my son's relief, the kids can play with the toys any time and don't have to wait for a stick to be pulled out!

I color coded the sticks with green & red dots so that we could easily keep track of which ones we did. Once they all get turned over and are red, we will flip them and start over again.

 Here are the ideas we have written on our sticks so far:

Indoor Activities:
Crazy Fort Building

Domino Building

Straws-n-Connectors

Colored Wooden Blocks - build, then draw it

Play Dinosaurs
Tinkertoys

Gears, Gears, Gears

Pegs - build a high multi-layer birthday cake!
Marble Run
Frigits

Lego Challenge - build a bridge

Lego Challenge - build the tallest free standing structure

Play Doctor
Pretend Birthday Party
Mario Dress Up

Playdough

Water Colors
Beads
Bean Stick Making

Match It Math Puzzles
U.S. Puzzle
20 Puzzle Set

Candy Land
I Spy Bingo

UNO
Colorful Caterpillars
Diego I Spy
Diggity Dog
Mighty Mind

Mini Hockey Game

Pillow Fort: Bring pillows behind couch for reading & slumber party

Later on when we learn how to play together:

Super Mario Memory

Equilibrio
Snap Circuits
Checkers

Extra ideas for later in the summer!
Build a castle with blocks

Cardboard Blocks tumble down

Jigsaw Puzzles

Hide and Seek

Sticky wall

Do a Dot Painting

Yard Sale in the Playroom

Play Restaurant

Rubber Stamp Art

Indoor Obstacle Course

Body Tracing

Play Library

Dance Party

Balloon Bop - keep the balloon in the air as long as you can

Build a fort with blankets

Outdoor Activities: (kept in a separate cup!)

Sidewalk Chalk

Water Table

Sand Box

Sensory or Water Table

Pretend Cooking

Obstacle Course

Water Painting with Brushes & Spray Bottles

Bubbles

Make a pretend campfire

Play donut shop in play house

Build a fairy house

Soccer shoot out

Balance beams with 2x4's on the grass


Hot days required:
Water balloons
Wigglin' Water Sprinkler
Clown Sprinkler

Inspired by this post:
http://www.activity-mom.com/2012/06/activity-day-idea.html