August

Fun activities for you and your preschool child

Spell your child's name down the left side of a poster. Have him practise his printing on the poster.
Make your own flashcards to help improve your child's vocabulary. Buy blank index cards or cut blank sheets of paper into large squares. Create picture flashcards by cutting out or drawing pictures of cartoon characters, sports figures and food items. Have her recite the word on the flashcard.
Take your child to the park and have fun on the swings. Ask him where he would go if he could fly.
Create a "make believe" driver's license. Have your child draw a picture of herself and write her name and address. Then ask her to write words to describe her physical appearance including weight, height and eye colour.
Make a book by stapling or fastening paper together. Have your child fill the book with drawings and/or stories that tell all about himself. He can write a list of his favourite things on one page, fill another page with objects in his favourite colour (such as purple grapes, purple stickers, and a painting he did of a purple monster).
Have your child list the things she is good at, or proud of, both in and out of school. Get ideas from friends and family members. Cut a pennant out of the paper. Have your child decorate the pennant with these achievements.
Have your child make his own bookmark! Work with him to cut construction paper to various shapes and sizes, and have him decorate the bookmarks with various decorating materials.
Teach your child how to jump rope. Have her count the number of times she can jump without stopping the rope.
Go for a bike ride with your child. When you get home, talk about the different things you saw in the neighbourhood.
Buy some sidewalk chalk for your child. Go outside and help him draw a picture of his favourite animal on the driveway or sidewalk.
Ask your child to help you make our a list of items you need from the market. Specify product brands on the list. When you are at the store, have her read labels and match them to the items on your list.
Sit outside in the backyard or at a local park with your child. Ask him to tell you what sounds he hears.
At bedtime, ask your child to tell you a story by looking at the pictures of a new book.
Plan a meal with your child and write a menu including at least five menu items, such as a fruit, vegetable, entree, bread and dessert.
How may ears of corn will you cook for supper tonight? Ask your child to help count.
Introduce your child to magnets. Help her find household objects that will stick to refrigerator magnets.
Look through magazines and newspapers for interesting pictures. Have your child cut out a picture, then look through another part of the magazine or newspaper for a word that goes with that picture. He should cut out the word and glue it under the picture it describes. Repeat the process with another picture.
Put the sprinkler on and have fun running through it with your child.
On car trips, make it a game to point out and read license plates, billboards and interesting road signs.
Too tired to read aloud? Listen to a book on tape and turn the book's pages with your child. You'll still be reading with her!
When your child asks to stay up a little longer, say yes and make it a 15-minute family reading opportunity.
Take your child to a credit union or bank to open his own savings accounts. Beginning the regular savings habit early is one of the keys to savings success.
Talk about fruits and vegetables with your child. How are they similar to each other? What makes them different?
Play "Simon Says" to teach your child about space. For example, "Simon says point to something under the table," or "Simon says point to something above the counter."
With your child, come up with a secret signal to say "I love you" without saying a word.
Help your child make button jewellery. Ask her to string together different buttons to make a necklace or bracelet.
Have a "make believe" telephone conversation with your child.
Have a special breakfast made up of foods that start with the letter "B". Ask your child for suggestions on foods to eat. For example, "Should we have waffles or blueberry muffins?"
Start to teach your child his address and phone number. Practice saying it together every night.
Weigh your child. Then, weigh one of her favourite toys. Discuss how the weights differ.
Together, look at yourselves in the mirror. What colour are your eyes? What colour is your hair?

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Fun activities for you and your elementary school child

Today is National Kids Day. Help your child plan an activity to celebrate it with the entire family
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.
Help boost your child's self-esteem. Take pride in her achievements and accomplishments today and every day.
Put on a history play with your child today. Help him learn about important events in world history or even your own family history.
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.
Ask your child to help make lunch today. He can pick a spot in the park so that you can share lunch together.
Take the family out to a water park today. Help your child put on sunscreen and explain the importance of protecting her skin.
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.)
School's on the way! Help your child make a 'countdown to school' calendar. Ask her to cross off each day at bedtime.
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.
Visit a community pool with your child today. Go for a dip to cool off on a hot day.
Take your child shopping for school supplies. Ask her to brainstorm a list of things that she will need for school.
Help your child make a kite today. He can decorate it and fly it at the park.
Teach your child about recycling. Show her how to recycle items such as paper, glass and aluminium.
Take your child to a petting zoo today. Ask him to draw pictures of the animals that he saw today.
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.
On a rainy day, set up a tent with your child in the living room. He can pretend to be a forest ranger.
Help your child practice her math skills. Ask her to add up all the change in your pocket or purse today.
Teach your child about the importance of preserving nature. Help him plant a tree in the yard and explain how littering harms the environment.
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.
Make car trips fun for your child. Play a game and ask him to point out licence plates billboards and interesting road signs.
Tell your child that you love her today and every day.
Help your child create and design his own phone book . Make a list of his friends names and phone numbers.
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.
Help your child write a letter to a grandparent or friend today. Explain the importance of keeping in touch with loved ones.
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.
Teach your child about textures today. Ask her to find objects outdoors that are smooth, shiny, slimy or round.
Suggest that your child write a poem for a friend today. He can mail it to them for a back to school present.
Encourage your child to make journal entries and keep track of her experiences in a new grade this coming school season.
Have a back to school party for some of your child's friends.
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

Make a book by stapling or fastening paper together. Have your child fill the book with drawings and/or stories that tell all about himself. He can write a list of his favourite things on one page, fill another page with objects in his favourite colour (such as purple grapes, purple stickers or a painting he did that was done in purple).
Clip out an interesting news story and cut the paragraphs apart. Ask your child to read the paragraphs and have her put them in order.
Encourage your child to think of the different things he wants to do tomorrow. Help him make a 'to do' list.
Use a new word today when talking with your child. Have her look it up in the dictionary and tell you what it means.
Spend an hour browsing in a new or used bookstore with your child. Treat him to a paperback of his choice.
Visit the local pool and go swimming with your child.
When planning a vacation, let your child see the road map and help you plan where you will drive. Talk about where you will start and where you will end up.
Have your child look through the yellow pages of the telephone directory, select a particular service, and write a clever or funny ad for it. Have her read the ad to you.
Ask your child to make a list of activities he would like to do before the end of summer. Post the list on the refrigerator and plan to do one activity per week.
Start a family book club. Take turns making selections. Encourage everyone to read the same book and then have a club meeting to share thoughts and opinions.
Visit a community centre in your neighbourhood today. Consider signing up for fall activities.
Go to the museum with your child today. Visit an exhibit she is interested in. Later, ask her to discuss what she thought to be the most interesting part of the exhibit.
Watch television with your child, paying careful attention to the advertisements. Discuss the commercials with him. Are advertisers targeting his age group? What techniques do they use to get his attention?
Go through newspaper ads with your child tonight. Have her make a list of the school supplies she'll need for September. Then plan a shopping trip together.
Word game! Summer days are the longest days of the year. Have your child list the longest words he knows.
Ask your child to plan and prepare a low cost nutritious meal.
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.
Visit a local university campus with your child. Walk around. Look at the buildings and watch the people. Discuss the importance of getting a sound education.
Have family members set a theme for supper tonight. Get your child involved with planning, preparing and serving the meal. Ask him to prepare menus and table top decorations that reflect the theme.
Visit some educational websites with your child this afternoon. A good place to start is the "Student Stuff" section of the Peel board's site at www.peelschools.org.
Help your child get a head start on the new school year by encouraging the preparation of a study area. The area should be well lit, free of distractions and have enough space to stay organized.
Plan an end-of-summer celebration. Have your child write a list of the 10 best things she did this summer and have her design a menu of her favourite summer treats.
Ask your child to read one article from the newspaper today. Discuss what makes the story newsworthy and interesting.
Encourage your child to write a letter or card to a friend or relative.
Spend some time alone with your child tonight discussing his goals for the new school year. Ask his to write a list of these goals. Put the list in a special place and review it in a few months.
Have your child pick an important news event from another city, province or country. Have her find as much information on the topic as possible—read newspapers, listen to the radio, and watch TV news. Talk about what she has learned.
Encourage your child to make a dictionary by putting together several sheets of paper for a booklet. Ask him to write a new word he has recently learned at the top of the page.
Start a summer scrapbook. Have your child include souvenirs of any trips she took, photos, ticket stubs and projects she worked on during the summer.
Have your child read aloud the names of some of the cars in the classified section of your newspaper. Work with him to design a new car and name it.
Have your child make a personal phone book. Ask her to list phone numbers and addresses of her friends and relatives.
Which constellations can you see on a clear summer night? Look at the sky using a star guide to help your child find the constellations.

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Fun activities for you and your teen

Today is the last day of the long-weekend. Pack a picnic lunch and visit a park with your teen. Reminisce about the summer so far as you enjoy lunch under a tree.
Go out for ice cream tonight. Sit on the patio and talk about current issues.
Talk to your teen about responsibility. How can he assume more responsibility at home?
If your teen likes to sunbathe, encourage her to wear sunscreen that has a minimum of 15 to 25 SPF and to reapply it every few hours.
Suggest that your teen conducts research on the "Group of Seven" and tries to paint a picture in the style of his favourite artist from the group.
Visit a local conservation area with your teen. Go for a hike and talk about what she would like to do to wrap up the last few weeks of the summer.
Ask your teen to do a large task for you like weeding the gardens, cleaning the garage or basement, or cleaning the entire house. If your teen does a good job, offer to help him re-do his bedroom and purchase him the paint.
Help your teen become organized. If she asks "should" questions ("Where should I put this?" "How should I categorize this?" "Should I throw this out?"), turn the question around and ask "What do you think?" or "What are your instincts telling you?" If you do share your opinion, preface your remarks by saying, "Well, what would work for me is ... but you may find a better way for you."
Ask your teen to plan dinner once a week for the rest of the month. Give him a budget to work within and have him purchase the groceries for his meal.
Is your teen learning to drive? Visit an empty parking lot to practice.
What courses is your teen taking this year in high school? The courses she chooses will affect her future.
Discuss the value of money management. If your teen has a summer job, ask him to prepare a budget for the rest of his summer expenses.
Visit your teen's bank together. Speak with a financial advisor about how your teen can invest her money.
What does your teen think about the trend of reality television? If he could make a reality show, what would the premise be?
Ask your teen what she thinks about a controversial news issue. Encourage her to write a letter to the editor of your local paper about the issue.
If you haven't already seen it, rent the movie Hotel Rwanda. After watching it, discuss the issue with your teen and encourage him to do additional research on the topic.
What is your teen's favourite magazine? Encourage her to write a article mimicking the style of the publication.
Watch TV tonight with your teen. Talk about which characters, in the shows you're watching, are stereotypes.
Encourage your teen to invite a friend over, have them stay for dinner or sleep over.
Ask your teen to teach you how to do something he is good at. For example, how to use a computer program you're not familiar with.
Talk to your teen about different forms of advertising. Have her list as many forms she can think of.
Ask your teen to list the supplies he'll need for school. Shop for them together.
Ask your teen to list her goals for the school year. Discuss what she'll need to do to accomplish them.
Make tonight "Family Card Game Night."
Go rollarblading with your teen today.
Go out for breakfast this morning with your teen. Ask him to choose the restaurant.
Help your teen organize her binders for the new school year.
Take time today to get to know more about your teen by asking questions. Some fun and interesting questions include: What accomplishment is he proudest of? What is his favourite school subject and least favourite? What person outside the family has most influenced his life? What gift does he cherish most?
Read newspaper or magazine articles with your teen. Discuss the major stories. What makes them newsworthy?
Encourage your teen to participate in a volunteer activity. Look through the newspaper or visit the Peel board's website—www.peelschools.org—and look for volunteer opportunities in the "Student Stuff" section under "Your time counts."
Have your teen go through her closet to organize her clothes for school. Ask her to donate items she no longer fits into or needs to charity.

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