July

Fun activities for you and your preschool child

Today is Canada Day. Help your child draw a picture of fireworks lighting up the night sky. Use bright crayons and then apply black watercolour paint over the drawing. Before the paint dries, sprinkle with glitter for an extra-special glow.
Practice skipping with your child today.
Add bubble soap to an empty, small children's pool. Fill with water. Add various bubble toys like empty bottles, straws, hoops, string, etc. to create a BUBBLE wonderland, right in your own backyard.
We are reaching record temperatures this summer. Talk to your child about how to stay cool and conserve energy.
Go on a treasure hunt with your preschooler, in the backyard today. Before you begin, sit down together and make a list of the treasures that you will look for. Think of interesting things like: acorns, feathers or footprints.
Let's talk chalk! You and your child can draw a funny creature on the ground out of chalk. Start by drawing a simple shape, then take turns adding to it: a pair of eyes, spaghetti arms, etc. Keep taking turns until your child declares that the creature is done! Let your child give it a wild name and write it down for her.
In the backyard, pour poster paint into a dish. Lay a old sheet on the ground and allow your child to paint on the sheet by dipping his hands and feet into the paint.
Make or buy a kite with your child. Go to a local park and take turns flying the kite.
Play 'I Spy' with your child. See how many purple items she can find.
From a pack of crayons, help your child identify different colours. Write the names of each colour with the corresponding crayon and ask him to copy the letters.
A few spoonfuls of coloured gelatin sealed in a plastic bag¾what could be more fun? It's a great first experience of colour blending. Spoon a variety of colours into a Ziploc bag (an older child can do this herself), press out the air and seal. Tape the opening for added security. Now let your child squeeze and squash the bag.
Look through magazines, newspapers and catalogues to find pictures of people being active. What activities are they participating in?
Teach your child his address and phone number, and, if applicable, your work number.
Ask your child to help make a lunch you can share together in the park.
At the grocery store, suggest that your child choose a few non-perishable food items to donate to the local food bank.
Use your imaginations today. Go outside and pretend to be an insect with your child.
Read a book with your child and afterwards ask her which character she'd most like to be friends with and why?
Set up the sprinkler in the yard today. Run through it with your child to cool down.
Go through magazines and pick out summer pictures. Make a collage.
Take your child to a park and lay on your backs on the grass. Look up at the clouds and see how many shapes you can find.
Go through baby pictures today and talk to your child about what he was like as a baby.
Estimate how many steps it would take to get from point A to point B. Then have your child walk it and count.
Make up a story together. Pick a character and a setting, then take turns each saying a sentence. Write the story down as you go.
Take a trip to the park. Enjoy the swings together.
Check the paper for upcoming community events. Take the whole family to an outdoor concert or fair.
Purchase some molding clay at a craft store. Spend the afternoon making clay models. When they dry, decorate them with paint.
When on a road trip, call out a colour and a type of vehicle such as blue station wagon. See who can find the first one.
Pick a word and have your child come up with other words that rhyme with it.
Take the ferry across to Toronto Island today.
Visit your local bakery and pick out a loaf of bread together. Talk about how bread is made.
Sign your child up for swimming lessons.

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Fun activities for you and your elementary school child

Make a special treat to celebrate Canada Day. Bake cupcakes with your child and decorate them with red and white icing.
Ask your child to measure things around the house with a ruler or measuring tape. Have him find something that is 10 cm long, 20 cm long and one metre long.
Help your child make a list of everything she will need to bring on the family trip this summer.
Make pasta necklaces today. Use string, different types of pasta and paint to decorate. Try adding beads between the pasta.
Choose a recipe and have your child do all the measuring and following of directions.
Write a story with your child by each making up the next sentence. Write it down as you go and ask him to illustrate the story when you are finished.
Practice counting money today. Give your child some assorted change and ask her to show you 25 cents, 40 cents and 90 cents. Make sure to wash your hands when you are finished.
Set up a volleyball net in the park or your backyard. Have a friendly family competition.
It's raspberry season. Use the Internet to locate a farm and go raspberry picking.
Use a tape recorder and a blank cassette to record a radio talk show with your child. Take turns being the DJ and the caller.
Teach your child how to measure volume. How many 500 ml cans make up one litre? Find things around your home that weigh one litre.
Visit an amusement park. Ask your child about the rides he enjoys most.
Discover the many ways in which numbers are used inside and outside your home. Take your child on a "number hunt" in your home or neighbourhood. Point out how numbers are used on the television set, the microwave and the telephone.
Ask your child to help you with simple household repairs. Show her how to use a screwdriver and discuss the different types of screwdrivers that are in your tool-box.
Play a game of 'I Spy' in the park today.
Make a play date with your child's friend from school.
Go on a "shape hunt." Have your child look for as many circles, squares, triangles and rectangles as he can find in the home or outside. Do the same with three dimensional objects like cubes, cones, spheres and cylinders.
Look at a map of Canada with your child. Ask her to point out the different provinces and territories. Who is Canada's current Prime Minister? What is his job?
Find out if your local library has a summer reading program. Sign your child up and reward him when he reaches his reading goals.
Play Frisbee or catch in the park today.
Take your child to the library and look at interactive CD-ROMs and the Internet, as well as books.
Bake cookies today and visit the local fire hall to share some with the firefighters.
Hide an object in an obvious place. For example, place your portable telephone on top of the television. The first person to find the telephone gets to pick the next object and hide it. The only rule is that the object cannot actually be "hidden," it must be in a visible place and not hidden from view.
Practice the art of storytelling. Tell your child stories about your life and encourage her to tell her story.
Play a sorting game with your child. As he tidies up toys or clothing, discuss which items should go together and why. Show him how you organize food items in the fridge¾fruit together, vegetables together, drinks on one shelf, condiments on another. Encourage him to sort other household items¾crayons by colour, cutlery by type or shape, coins by denomination.
Visit a community pool today to go swimming.
Take a walk tonight and check out the stars. Can your child identify any constellations?
Pretend to be astronauts. Ask your child to use her imagination to describe what she sees in outer space.
Review bike safety tips with your child and then enjoy a ride together.
Set up the sprinkler in the backyard today. Put on your bathing suits and run through it together.
Sign your child up for swimming lessons.

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Fun activities for you and your middle school child

Today is Canada Day. Ask your child to list five things he loves about his country in his journal. What would he change?
Have your child make a map of your neighbourhood. Include as many landmarks as possible.
Ask your child to plan a menu that includes "foods of summer." Buy some of them at the local farmer's market.
Encourage your child to learn five words in another language. Ask her to share the words with you.
Watch a commercial with your child. See if he can tell what advertising strategy is being used.
A child is never too old for reading aloud. Find a book to read aloud together today.
Make a list of birthdays of family and friends. Have your child make a graph of them.
Encourage your child to do a surprise act of kindness today. Ask how she feels about doing it.
Look for an educational show on television to watch with your child tonight.
Do you know your child's friends? Make a list of their names and phone numbers to keep on hand.
Let your child plant some flowers that bloom well in the late summer. Ask him to take care of the flowers.
Let your child look in a closet for one minute. Then close the door and have her list what's inside.
Open the dictionary and find a word that is new to everyone in the family. Try to use it twice today.
Teach your child how to read a road map.
Have a "Predictions Day." Predict how long it will take to get to the store, prepare dinner, swim a lap, etc.
Follow a recipe with your child. Have him read the directions and measure the ingredients.
Laughter is the best medicine. Watch a funny movie with your child today or read from a book of jokes.
Make some lemonade and read the comics with your child today.
What is your child's favourite song? Have her write the words in her journal.
Give your child a box of toothpicks and some glue. Ask him to build an intricate structure.
Have your child read an article about a political issue. Ask her to tell you what she thinks about it.
Eat at least one meal as a family today. Keep the TV and radio off. Talk about what you have been doing.
Ask your child to name two ways to be a better friend (such as listening and sharing things you enjoy).
Check your child's summer reading list. Is he making progress?
Have your child pretend to be a clothes designer. Have her show you some of her designs.
Say "I love you" to your child today and every day.
Encourage your child to have a collection. It's a great way to build organization and sorting skills.
Encourage your child to volunteer his time at a community event.
Take advantage of the late daylight this month. Go for an after-dinner walk with your child.
Summertime is a great time to write letters. A relative would love to hear from your child today.
Plan a fun summer outing with your child. Let her do the research. Encourage her to invite a friend.

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Fun activities for you and your teen

It's Canada Day. Celebrate by having a Canadian trivia contest. Who was the first Prime Minister? What is the smallest province? For more ideas, visit www.ocanada.ca/trivia.
Take your teen out for ice cream and then enjoy the summer day by going for a walk.
Challenge your teen to a game of "Crazy 8s." If you've forgotten the rules, have him look them up on the Internet.
Encourage your teen to volunteer with a local organization over the summer.
Ask your teen about her hopes and aspirations. Stay interested.
Talk to your teen about starting a summer project. Paint his bedroom, plant a garden or clean out the garage.
Ask your teen to make a list of summer chores. Together, decide on an appropriate summer allowance.
With summer here, teens have more time to surf the Internet. Don't forget to monitor their Internet use.
Explore a new bike trail with your teen.
If your teen is interested in babysitting for some additional money, consider enrolling her in a babysitting course offered through St. John's Ambulance.
Ask your teen to plan a summer barbecue. Let him pick the menu and invite his friends.
Encourage your teen to read the newspaper this morning. As you eat breakfast, ask her to fill you in on current events.
Ask your teen to teach you his favourite video game. Spend some time playing the game together.
Ask your teen to plan a weekend trip for your family. Leave all the details up to her –finding a location, making hotel arrangements and calculating food and gas costs.
Look through the newspaper and pick out a community event for you and your teen.
Visit the library with your teen. Look for a book you enjoyed when you were his age and encourage him to read it. Ask him to recommend a favourite for you to read.
Encourage your teen to start her own summer business with her friends. How about cutting the neighbours' grass or cleaning their pools?
Ask your teen to go fishing with you. Pack a lunch and head out to the lake together.
Plan a summer day trip for your family. How about visiting an amusement park?
Encourage your teen to cook breakfast for your family this morning.
Ask your teen to invite some of his friends over tonight to watch a movie.
Plan a day at the beach with your teen. Discuss the importance of using sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays.
Plan to attend a special activity such as an outdoor theatrical performance with your teen. Pack some refreshments and spend the evening enjoying the performance with your teen.
Go to the grocery store today. Ask her to select items she can use to prepare a healthy meal this week.
Challenge your teen to a game of one-on-one soccer.
Make tonight "family night." Play boardgames out on the patio.
Ask your teen to take his siblings or cousins to the park today.
Encourage your teen to think about her career plans.
Choose a book and read it together. Discuss what you've read on a regular basis.
Does your teen want to stay out later or get a higher allowance? Ask him to write a proposal outlining what he would do with the extra time/money and why you should make the change.
Ask your teen about current events. What makes the news?

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