Fun and educational activities for kids
November 4, 2020, Lori Dossett
As the days get shorter and the temperatures get colder, many Minnesotans are apprehensive about how to cope with the social distancing guidelines come winter. Our match team has curated a list of fun and educational activities for you and your Little that can be done outside, even in the winter. Don’t worry – there are indoor activities, too. Be sure to follow our COVID-19 guidelines to keep you and your Little healthy and safe! Thanks to RunWildMyChild for some of these great ideas!
Track the moon
One of the pluses of fall’s shorter days is that you can do fun outdoor activities in the dark before kids’ bedtime. Observe the moon each night and note the differences you see (location, size, color, shape) throughout a new moon cycle (29.5 days). After one month of journaling, discuss your observations together.
Jump in the leaves
A favorite activity of kids and adults, with the added bonus of getting those leaves off the grass before the snow settles in for good. Have your Little help you rake a pile of leaves into a safe location. Make sure the ground underneath is relatively soft (grass, not concrete) Don’t forget to take a photo as a keepsake!
Bird watching
Birds are everywhere, even in winter, making this a great activity for kids and adults. Remind your Little that birds may be hard to see, but they’re easy to hear. Have them close their eyes and listen. Can they identify where the sound/song is coming from? Use a local field guide to identify the birds in your area.
Make a bird feeder
There are many fun and easy ways to make bird feeders with kids. One idea is to cover a pinecone in peanut butter and roll it in birdseed. Place the pinecone in a bush or hang on a tree branch. Have an extra pumpkin or gourd? Chop off the top and fill the base with birdseed for an all-natural bird feeder. Here are three more simple bird feeders to make with kids.
Hunt bats
Similar to bird watching, bat watching is a fun thing to do in the dark. Add some hot chocolate and warm blankets for the full outdoor experience as you wait for the bats to arrive. Bats are not just cave dwellers or in the country; they live in cities and suburbs, too. Watch as they swoop, circle and dive.
Show your gratitude
November is a great month to teach kids about gratitude. One way is to encourage your Little to start a gratitude journal. If you’re looking for a creative and meaningful Thanksgiving centerpiece, collect a bunch of beautiful leaves and write down one thing your Little is thankful for on each leaf with a marker. Place a bundle of sticks in a vase and then hang each leaf from a branch to create a beautiful bouquet of thankfulness. If your Little is tech savvy, create a video together sharing what you’re thankful for.
Star gazing
Take advantage of early darkness by turning your gaze upward into the night sky. See how many different planets and constellations you and your Little can find. Check out this article for the best stargazing apps for iPhones and Androids.
Geocaching
Go on an outdoor treasure hunt using your smartphone or GPS device. Use one of the many geocaching apps to find the GPS coordinates of a cache close to you, then attempt to find the container hidden at that location. Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location.
For more ideas, visit www.runwildmychild.com.
