Favorite Unplugged Activities

While my daughter is in the middle of a Scooby Doo marathon, I thought I would join in the discussion about Unplugged Activities. Rachel at Testosterhome and Sarah at Clover Lane are brainstorming ideas to keep kids active. Here are a few of our favorites:

 1. Puddle jumping -- We have a great puddle that forms at the top of our driveway. Okay, so I have to block out thoughts of anti-freeze and motor oil and other forms of automotive run-off, but, gosh, the little people have so much fun jumping in it. Kids and clothes are washable, totally washable.

2. Rip-sticks, scooters, or bikes - We have a beautiful green-way about five miles from here that is perfect for this. No traffic, no lumpy sidewalks, just miles of smooth sailing. I'd like to do this once per week. Reality: We do it once per month.

3. Water colors - We do quite a bit of painting. Our dining room table is washable. If yours isn't, get a card table or invest $15 in a vinyl tablecloth. Watercolors go on sale for about a buck when school supplies are everywhere. Fun, cheap, easy to clean up.

Finger painting is fun, but not so cheap and not quite as easy to clean up.

5. Legos - John spends hours and hours and hours at his work bench. Worth every time I've stepped on one of these in the dead of night.

6. Wooden Trains - My kids have logged hours incalculable sitting on the floor building elaborate tracks. Future Grandma toys that will never leave this house.

A few others: going to the library, hiking at the swamp, baking chocolate chip cookies, playing hide and seek with big brother Tim who is great fun, play doh, doing mazes printed off of Pinterest. (Pinterest has thousands of good kid ideas).

In the summer: swimming, swimming, and more swimming.

In  moments of desperation: Get in the car and drive. Anywhere. Through a drive-through. To the library that is twenty-five minutes away. Just getting out of the house can be therapeutic.

When grace is needed and your youngest is older than three: praying the rosary. Before age three, this will only raise your blood pressure. Trust me. Nothing like failed prayers to make your day.

Tim and Kolbe used to enjoy playing Store, Library, or Post Office (not to be confused with the teenage variety). If I suggest these, John looks at me with suspicion and says, "You're just trying to get me to do math or reading."

Yep.

Great discussion. Check out Rachel's list at Testosterhome and Sarah's ideas at Clover Lane and then head over to Hallie's to add your Five Favorites.