As we go into summer, entertaining the kids needs to get a bit more creative day by day. We, at What’s Up? Media, have a tradition of “Guides” to help our readers, from the Home Resource Guide to our Summer Dining Guide, so why not add one more. Here is our first ever Family Activity Guide, to help manage the restlessness of staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Card Games
Most households have a deck of cards, and there is an unlimited amount of games to play with them. Here are a few to get started with.
Slapjack: 4–10 players:
1. Have everyone sit in a circle around a table or on the floor. Deal clockwise until you run out of cards. Everyone holds their cards facedown without looking at them.
2. Going around the circle, each player draws a card from the top of their deck and places that card in the center of the circle. Each player continues to place their cards in the center this way. 3. When a Jack card is turned face up, the goal is to be the first person to “slap” it, or cover it with your hand. If several people slap at once, the person whose hand is most in contact with the Jack adds all the cards to his or her pile.
4. If a player incorrectly slaps a card, he or she must give the top card in his or her pile to the player who placed the slapped card. That player adds the extra card to the bottom of his or her deck.
5. When a player runs out of cards, the player is out—unless he or she can slap a Jack laid by someone else. At that point, the previously “out” player is back in and can play with the cards collected from the pile.
6. Play continues until one person wins all of the cards. For a shorter version, stop play when the first person runs out of cards. Whoever has the most cards in his or her hand is the winner.
Old Maid: 3-plus players:
1. Remove one Queen from the full deck.
Deal the cards so that all cards have been handed out, players do not need to start with the same amount of cards.
2. Each player removes all pairs from his hand face down. If a player has three-of-a-kind, they remove only two of those three cards.
3. The dealer then offers their hand, spread out face down, to the player on the left, who draws one card from it. This player discards any pair that may have been formed by the drawn card.
4.T he player then offers their own hand to the player on their left.
5. Play proceeds in this way until all cards have been paired except one—the odd queen, which cannot be paired—and the player who has that card is the Old Maid!
Cheat: 2–10 players:
1. Use the whole pack of cards, deal out all cards to players, some may have more than others but that is okay. The object is to get rid of all of your cards.
2. To complete a turn, discard one or more cards face down on the pile calling out what you are putting down (2 Threes, or 3 Kings, etc.). The first player must discard Aces, the second player discards twos, the next player threes, and so on. Once the face cards have been gone through, start again at Ace.
3. Since the cards are being discarded face down, you do not actually have to discard what you say you are putting down, but you also can’t get caught lying by another player. You must play each turn. This means, if your turn makes you put down Sevens but you don’t have any, you will be forced to play another card.
4. If another player suspects you are discarding the wrong cards, they will call out “Cheat.” This makes the cards challenged. Flip the cards and if the cards really were what you called out, the accuser picks up the whole discard pile. If the cards challenged are different from what was called out, the “cheat” takes the whole discard pile.
5. Play continues, the first player to get rid of all their cards and survive any challenge wins the game.
Neighborhood Activities
We are all in this together, neighborhood by neighborhood. What is stopping you and the kiddos from going on a safari? Or going on a bear hunt? If we are going to be living like this, we need to get creative. Here are some neighborhood activities to keep the kids entertained and give parents a little something to do as well.
Chalk Your Walk: Everyone loves sidewalk chalk, but an entire driveway of pictures may not be the mural you were looking for. Use painter’s tape to make the outline of whatever you would like, a star, a word, initials, get creative. Have the kids color in the lines of the tape and when they are done peel the tape away for a brand-new masterpiece. If you want to take the traditional route to sidewalk chalk, go right ahead! Write something motivational for walkers, runners, and bikers doing their workouts, or, even better, write “Thank You” notes to our first responders. Make sure to write them nice and big so they can see it when driving into work each day!
Bear Hunt: Going on walks for adults is for exercise, but for kids, it is to get out that extra energy. The trick is to keep their attention for the extra distance. Keep them wanting to go the extra distance to see more houses. Set up a neighborhood bear hunt by placing a stuffed bear in the window. This creates a scavenger-hunt like activity by having the kids find the window with the bear!
Safari: Jump in the jeep, roll the windows down, and find the animals hiding in your neighborhood. Each participating house will put a stuffed safari animal of their choice in their lawn, up in trees, or popping out of the bushes to create a real safari. Walk or drive around the neighborhood and find the zebras, giraffes, and herd of lions.
Scavenger Hunt: Scavenger hunts are fun for all ages, whether you are putting it together or trying to do the tasks. Based off the ages of the participants, make sure to make boundaries for the game. Put together a list of tasks, questions, things to bring back, the options are endless. Here are some examples: How many houses in the neighborhood (or refined area) have an American flag? Make a wish on a dandelion and bring back the stem. Take a picture going down the community park’s slide. How many houses have red doors?
Driveway Happy Hour: Okay so everything above is for the kids, this one is not! Happy hour at the bar has been suspended for you, but that doesn’t mean the hour can’t still be celebrated. Grab your neighbors, lawn chairs, drink of your choice, and have happy hour on your driveway. If everybody is on their own driveways, you will be six feet for sure, but still able to catch up, somewhat, like normal.
Easy Origami
Origami is one of the easiest and most fun mess-free crafts. Here are a few step-by-step instructions to make different paper creatures. For pictures to go along with these instructions, check out origamiway.com.
Butterfly That Flaps:
1. Start with a square sheet of origami paper, color side down. If you only have regular paper, cut the bottom section off to make it into a square.
2. Fold the Bottom half to the top half, making sure the edges meet, then unfold.
3. Fold the top and bottom edges to meet at the center.
4. Fold in all four corners so their edges meet at the center horizontal crease.
5. Fold down the top half.
6. Fold the center of the bottom half to the top half. Crease about one inch of the center only with your fingernail, do not crease all the way. Remove your finger and there should be a crease in the center only.
7. Turn the paper over, place a finger on top of the center of the paper and with your other hand, wrap the paper snugly around your finger.
8. Remove your finger so you have a loop in the middle. 9. Use your fingernail and poke in the center of the bottom of the loop. With your forefinger and thumb, grab both ends of the loop holes and pinch them together.
10. Pinch and release to make the butterfly flap! Draw whatever design you would like on the top to make your favorite flapping butterfly.
Origami Claws:
1. Start with a square sheet of origami paper, color side down. If you only have regular paper, cut the bottom section off to make it into a square.
2. Fold the top half down to make an upside-down triangle, bringing the top point to the bottom point.
3. Fold the left half to the right, making a smaller triangle.
4. Position the triangle with the flat side across the top, the diagonal moving from top right to a point at the bottom. Then, fold the left edge to line up with the right edge.
5. Fold down the small triangle, lining up the edges on the right, then unfold.
6. Open the hole in the bigger triangle to form a pocket, then tuck the small triangle all the way in the pocket.
7. Put a finger in the pocket and you’re done with one claw.
Oh the Places to Go!
Okay “go” may not be the right word, But, there are many different things and places for us to see. Many aquariums and state parks are live streaming their exhibits or doing nature cams and virtual tours online. Here are a few popular sites to visit, throughout the U.S. and beyond. Check them out!
American Museum of Natural History: Okay, it may be pretty local compared to most, but since the Smithsonian Museums are closed, check out the three virtual exhibits.
Atlanta Zoo: Check out the panda cam 24/7 without people blocking your view on the Atlanta Zoo’s website.
Boston Children’s Museum: It will feel like you really are there when you explore the virtual tour of this children’s museum.
Cincinnati Zoo: Skip the jeep but still join the safari. The Cincinnati Zoo is hosting live safari’s using Facebook live.
Ellis Island: Take a virtual tour of one of America’s most important islands. Farm Fresh 360: Check out examples of every type of farm you can dream of: a sheep farm, egg farm, mink farm, dairy cow, pig, The list goes on and on.
Georgia Aquarium: The Georgia Aquarium has live cams of many different tanks, including the beluga whales, African penguins, California sea lions, and more.
Great Lakes: Buckle up for a field trip to the Great Lakes.
The Great Wall of China: Since flying long distance overseas isn’t a viable option right now, take the time to climb the Great Wall of China on the stair stepper instead.
Seattle Aquarium: Take a look at the 30-minute video tour at the Seattle Aquarium.
Walt Disney World: Travel around the world even faster by taking a virtual tour of Epcot.
Yellowstone National Park: Take a sneak peek at the park with an interactive map.
Recipe’s to Make with Kids
Running out of snack ideas? Try some of these recipes with your smallest yet most helpful sous chefs.
Crunchy Granola Pretzel Sticks: In a microwave, melt chocolate chips in a 2-cup glass measuring cup; stir until smooth. Pour into one side of a large, shallow dish. Roll each pretzel rod halfway into chocolate. Allow excess coating to drop off, then sprinkle pretzels with granola. Place on wax paper until set, store in an airtight container. Bonus: Make the pretzels your own! Sprinkle whatever you would like on top, from chocolate chips to peppermint pieces! What’s your favorite pretzel and chocolate addition?
No-Bake Peanut Butter Treats: In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder, 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats, and 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs. Bonus: This is an easy way to sneak things into your, and your family’s, diet. Throw in a scoop of flax seed, or protein powder. It will still taste great and the kids won’t even know they are there!
Chocolate Chow Mein Noodle Cookies: Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Place a 12-ounce bag of semisweet chocolate chips in a small bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 4 minutes. Combine a 5-ounce can of crispy chow mein noodles (about 2.5 cups) ,3/4 cup salted and roasted almonds, coarsely chopped, and melted chocolate in a large bowl. Stir until all the ingredients are coated with chocolate. Scoop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and allow the cookies to harden at room temperature for about 2 hours.
Mini Pepper Pizza:Preheat oven to 350°F, on a sheet pan, drizzle 4 halved and cored bell peppers with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spoon 1/2 cup of pizza sauce onto each pepper half. Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan and top with whatever toppings you enjoy most. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the peppers are crisp-tender and the cheese is melted.
Quick and Easy Beverages
Everyone likes to kick back with a nice fruity drink after a long day of teaching, learning, working, or whatever else you are doing to fill your days. Here are some easy, fun drinks to end your day (or begin it).
Easy Flavored Lemonade: Sometimes the flavored lemonades that we buy in the store can be too syrup-y and can lose real lemonade flavor. Make your own at home! Use your favorite lemonade brand, muddle the fruit of your choice (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries work best), and shake it up with the lemonade and some ice. Make it Adult: Add a shot of plain or flavored vodka!
Sunrise: Combine equal parts of lemon juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice, and a splash of grenadine (if you have it), top with two parts of ginger ale, club soda, or Sprite. Make it Adult: Add a shot of coconut rum to help you find your beach.
Rosemary Blueberry Smash: In a shaker tin, or the bottom of a cup, muddle a sprig of rosemary, 4–5 blueberries, and 1 oz. honey syrup. Add 1 oz. lemon juice and shake with ice. Pour into a cup with ice, top with 4 oz. sparkling water, stir together. Make it Adult: Add a shot of blueberry vodka for a delicious adult touch.
Cucumber Mint Cooler: An hour or two before you want to serve, combine 4 cups of coconut water, 3 thin slices of cucumber, 1/2 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup chopped mint leaves. Place in the fridge until ready to be served over ice. Make it Adult: Add a shot of plain or cucumber vodka.
Raspberry Bees Knees: Combine 1 oz. water, 1/2 oz. honey, 1/2 oz. lemon juice, and two muddled raspberries in a shaker tin. Shake and pour over ice, top with club soda. Make it Adult: Instead of the water, add one part raspberry liquor, two parts your favorite gin.
