Adventure

Adventures for Kids – Kids’ Programs, Preschool & Kindergarten Magic #10

Adventures for kids in early programs like playschool, daycare, preschool, and kindergarten is one parent’s wish. She remembers going places herself and wishes her kids could. Although she understands why it’s more complicated now than it was for her, it’s an understandable wish. We all have memories of places we were able to visit and things we got to do as kids. Some of them were once-in-a-lifetime special treats but many of them were ordinary, at least, adults would think so.

adventures for kids

What’s some adventures for kids you remember doing? I remember picking raspberries with my grandmother. I have no idea why this is so vivid but I remember the magic. We would tie buckets around our waists, pull on hats, and off we’d go. The raspberry rows were so long and she would remind me to “Pick the bush clean before you go to the next.” The smile in her voice was underneath her words as we worked together. This memory sits alongside an airplane trip with my grandfather to see the Midnight Sun. But they are both adventures.

connecting to nature picnic

Going out for breakfast can be special to a child, or staying at home and having a big spread for the whole family on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Eating outside is always fun but if you can’t, any meal can be a mini-adventure by putting a blanket on the floor and having a picnic.  Or, a real tea party using the play dishes. Turn an ordinary Friday night into a beach party, movie night, or pizza and popcorn feast.

The picnic in this photo happened on the sidewalk at the side of the house. It was great fun.

empty box pirate play

Adventures for kids can come in all shapes and sizes, including an empty appliance box with its big dimensions and possibilities. Set up inside or outside, the adventure is imaginary but no less magical. Vacations also have almost limitless possibilities for adventures and can be far away or close to home. Hiking is a wonderful adventure of discovery. Days at the beach or in the forest are treasures for kids while nights in a tent are better than ones in castles.

camping for kids

Farms are magical places, especially for kids in the city. Is there one your family or childcare program can visit? The fire station, police station, vet clinic, and local hospital often have available times for field trips or open houses. If the grocery store is quiet one morning and you have some extra time, ask the manager if it’s possible to show your child the giant fridges in the back. Imagine a refrigerator as big as a bedroom, that’s exciting.farm adventures for kids

With pressures on family budgets and, it’s all too easy to say that we can’t afford a holiday or an adventure. But we can make adventures for kids. Have a beach party right in the backyard, camp out in the living room, get groceries at a farmer’s market, invite an elderly neighbor over for tea. What kind of adventure be a play-of-the-day?

V= AdVENTURE: For the New Year Have Adventures with Kids

For the new year, have adventures with kids. Today’s post is still in alphabetical order because V=adVenture and we can do them every now and then. In a way, new year’s resolutions are also a sort of bucket list. Where would you and your child like to venture? Here are some ideas, some from an earlier post and some new ones:

sleep-overAdventures will depend on the age of interests of your child, as well as the rest of the family. A sleepover at a relative or friend’s house can be exciting and a special treat, even if it’s only a few blocks away. There’s an extra element of independence and a bit of risk of the unknown.

If your child is too young for an overnight visit, you may be able to go spend an afternoon. Baking a batch of cookies and inviting a friend to have some play-time in the park can be an adventure too. There may be a local facility or attraction. In our area, we can go to a butterfly and bug zoo, as well as the pool or skating rink. There are often numerous parks and playgrounds. What is available in your community? Is there a story hour for kids at the local library?

adventures for kidsGoing out for breakfast can be special to a child, or staying at home and having a big spread for the whole family on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Eating outside is always fun but if you can’t, any meal can be a mini-adventure by putting a blanket on the floor and having a picnic.  Or, a real tea party using the play dishes. Turn an ordinary Friday night into a beach party, movie night, or pizza and popcorn feast.

have an adventure with kidsGrocery shopping with kids doesn’t count as an adventure, or does it? There might be an outdoor market or place where you don’t regularly go. Instead of the main objective being to get in and out as quickly and simply as possible, go with the idea of exploring. Check out what’s new and different, as well as what’s the same. Treat it like a new venture and take a selfie of you and the kids in front of a display. Maybe pick up one or two edible souvenirs.

With a different focus, even the ordinary can be a way to have adventures with kids. Got any on your new year’s resolution-bucket list?

 

 

Colors of Childhood: Adventure in Flying Color

This weekend, we wanted to do a nature activity but the fall weather is cool and rainy. A trip to a butterfly garden was an adventure in flying color.

butterfly colorsThe butterfly garden only about an hour from where we live is more than a garden, it’s really a sort of indoor rain forest with tropical plants, brightly colored flowers, and hundreds of butterflies. Although on cloudy days, there are fewer that come out from their hiding places in all the green, we still saw many different kinds and marveled at the colors.

butterfly colorsMost of the butterflies seemed to have orange and yellow as the major colors, but these still seemed very unusual. Catching the butterflies with their wings spread in a photo to show the amazing colors was almost impossible. The biggest ones there were a deep blue that looked like velvet but they disappeared so quickly into the shadows we barely had time to look!

butterfly colorsWhen we got home, Little Sister wanted to paint. That seemed like a perfect way to play with colors. I cut open an empty tissue box and she helped trace a butterfly outline on the blank side. Because the box was quite stiff, I cut around the outline. After covering the counter and rolling up the sleeves of her paint shirt, she was ready to color her butterfly with paint dabbers. She carefully unscrewed the lid for each color and did one or two spots and then replaced the lid.

butterfly colorsHer favorite dabber this time was purple and she spread quite a bit of it in one area before she decided the butterfly had enough color but her fingers didn’t. For young children, the process is much more important than the product, especially if there is a sensory aspect. Likely, the sponge and paint felt cool and maybe a bit tickly.

Just like kids, nature seems to play with colors. Is there a place in your area where you and your child can go for an adventure in color?

P.S. We’d love to hear and read about your adventures too. You can share them on 123kindergarten’s page on Facebook.

What Makes Childhood Magical? Part 10: Adventures

 The Magic of Adventures Do you remember any adventures from your own childhood? Adventures can happen anytime of year, and, for kids, do not need to be elaborate or exotic. Then can be simple and inexpensive, adding their contribution of the magic of childhood. Adventures will depend on the age of interests of your child, … Continue reading What Makes Childhood Magical? Part 10: Adventures

Adventures and Edventures for Fun and Learning

To finish off Valentine month, here are some posts about activities that families love for children’s fun and learning. How about some adventures, or as Jacquie Fisher calls it, edventures? Jacquie has a popular blog named KC Edventures, the KC being Kansas City but many of these ideas travel around the world! Here is our … Continue reading Adventures and Edventures for Fun and Learning

Kindergarten Readiness: Connecting to New Adventures

While this is a wonderful new adventure, courtesy of his big sister, I’d be exactly like his mom who said it nearly gave her a heart attack. There are other new adventures and experiences for kids and parents, maybe not as exciting as this one is though, for fun, learning and developing kindergarten readiness. When … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness: Connecting to New Adventures

Kindergarten Readiness – Learning/Thinking Strategies #8

Having a sense of adventure can be thought of as a learning strategy that will influence children’s readiness for kindergarten and zest for life. Just like curiosity, it’s important that the adults in children’s lives encourage and support their internal motivation. For children, even playing in the mud can be adventure. Usually, kids are not … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Learning/Thinking Strategies #8