Elementary school-age children are better able to understand the meaning behind events and activities, but they still like dressing up and pretending to be adults. They also enjoy projects and activities where they can express their own interests and natural creativity.
Activity Ideas for School-Age Children
- Mayor For a Day: Let your child become “mayor for a day” and participate in problem-solving and planning daily tasks involved in running your household. A mayor does many things that can be cleverly translated into running a household. Your child mayor could call a “state of emergency” (clean that room!), veto council policy recommendations (no to broccoli tonight!), and oversee city events and ceremonies (plan a family night out), or call special meetings (to play board games).
- Artist: Visit an art museum, local art studio, retail store that sells art, or the book store to get a book on art. Show your child that there are many different forms and styles of art ranging from surrealism to pointillism to abstract art. Give your child art supplies and have them create their own masterpieces.
- Photographer: Give your child a photography assignment. If you do not have a digital camera, you can purchase one suitable for children in the $90-$130 price range. Digital cameras rarely come with memory cards (a small, removable card that stores pictures taken) so you will have to buy one separately. Depending on the memory card size, they cost on average $15-$30.
- Environmentalist: Set up an in-home recycling center. Get bins for paper, cans, and bottles. Talk about how turning off lights and TVs can help the environment. Grab a trash bag and heavy gloves and clean up a park with your child. Create a list of things all members of the household can do to help the environment, like not running water, fixing leaks, and keeping the thermostat at reasonable settings).
- Fashion Designer: Many craft and discount stores sell blank T-shirts, sweat clothes, canvas shoes, and purses that can be decorated with fabric paints and glue-on accessories. Your child can complete his/her new outfit with simple jewelry made from bead kits.
- Scientist: Children’s learning stores and discount retail stores (in the toy section) sell kid-friendly science kits for everything from chemistry projects to electrical experiments.
