Monthly Archives: March 2019

Fun Activities To Do In The Spring

 

Photo by Sean Roy on Unsplash

Wondering about the different day excursions you could go on with fellow au pairs or with your host children? With Spring comes warmer weather and lots of outdoor options for fun and entertaining activities.

Here are some fun options you can try out this Spring.

  • Attend baseball games (local or national)
  • Picnic at the beach or at parks
  • Dine al fresco
  • Go hiking
  • Fly a kite
  • Camp in the backyard
  • Join a sightseeing tour in New York City (there are superhero tours, architecture tours, movie tours, etc.)
  • Borrow or rent a bicycle and find a local trail to ride on. If you’re feeling really adventurous,  you can also rent a Citibike in NYC and bike along the Hudson.
  • Sign up for a tough mudder race, a 5K run, or a steeple chase. This is a great way to get some exercise outdoors.
  • Google search local carnivals or go to this link to find fairs and festivals that are happening nearby  https://www.fairsandfestivals.net/events/search_results/
  • Check out amusement parks: Six Flags, Rye Playland, Quassy, and Lake Compounce.
  • Scoop up the kids and go to local Easter egg hunts.

We are fortunate to live in New England where many fun venues, beaches, and amusement parks are close in proximity. Take advantage and make this your best Spring yet!

Big Kids Need Interaction Too

Just because a child is old enough to occupy themselves, doesn’t mean that they should be expected to do so the majority of the time.  Host families have a certain expectation of activity and involvement for their children. Get the kids engaged and active. You can be more fun than the TV or a video game.

 

Problem:
But, my kids don’t want to do anything but watch TV or play video games.

Solution:
Instead of saying,  “Would you like to (fill in the blank with any activity)?  The answer will often be, “No.”

Try this, “Now we are going to (fill in the blank with any activity.) or “Would you rather do  _____ or ______?”  Make sure both the choices are good options.
Your chances of co-operation are greatly increased. Even kids who are reluctant to try new things will usually get in the spirit of things and have fun, if you pick a good activity.

Problem:
I don’t know what to do with school age kids.

Solution:
Look for ideas online. Google “activities school age kids” or “activities tweens”. Below is a list of some ideas to get you started.

  • Cooking
  • Making things (check craft stores like Michael’s for kits and models that are age appropriate)
  • Going fun places (pottery painting, jewelry making, farms, museums, mini-golf, go-karts)
  • Sports (soccer, tennis, swimming, bicycling, roller skating, ice skating)
  • Let them teach you to do something they enjoy. Kids this age love being the expert.
  • Get outdoors and visit local parks.  You can even make a project of reviewing all the local parks (what kind of equipment they have, is there shade, water fountain?)  They can write this up and keep, so they remember which ones they want to go to again and which ones to skip in the future.
  • Let them help you search and plan some activities.
  • Check on the APIA Pinterest page and here on our cluster blog for ideas.
  • If you have a GPS, try taking them geocaching. Here is a website with all the details.

Note: Always get permission from your host parents before taking the kids places.

Photo: Killian77