Location: Originally from the Home of the only 6 times Super Bowl Champs!
Posts: 12,099
No Cost / Low- Cost Activities for Kids
*Water Play - Pull out your gum boots and find a puddle to muck around in (or fill a wading pool with water). Then, bring out the food coloring, bubble bath, whisk, funnels, ladles, water wheel, etc. to have a wild 'n wet time!
*Sand Play - Hop in the sandbox and use "tools" such as sieves, empty spice shakers, toilet rolls, tin cans with one or two ends removed, plant pots, etc. to add to the fun.
*Nature Scavenger Hunt - Alone or racing with a friend, see how many of the following items you can find: - tree bark, acorn, dead leaf, seed, bone, sand, insect, twig, dead grass, spider web, rock pine needle, clover, ladybug, and bird.
*Donut Birdfeeder - Welcome the birds back with a tasty treat! Sandwich a bagel between two plastic lids. Thread a string through the center, and tie a big knot at the bottom. Hang from a tree.
*Designer Bike - It's time to pull out the old bike again. Spruce it up by tying streamers or ribbons to the handlebars or weaving them through the spokes, and by sticking colorful stickers or tape strips onto the frames and fenders. To make a clatter noise as you ride, clothespin a playing card to the rear fender brace, with the tip of the card between the spokes.
*Scoop Ball - Make ball scoops by cutting two or more 1-litre (or 1 quart) plastic milk jugs in half horizontally. Toss a small ball back and forth to a partner, using only the scoop to catch and throw.
*Pet Rock - Create your own pet rock by collecting a few well-shaped rocks and gluing them together. When dry, paint your new creature, and add features with markers, bits of felt or fabric, pipe cleaners, etc.
*Splashy Sidewalk Paintings - Add some color to your life! Use one of your dad's large paintbrushes (or a plant mister) to create pictures on the sidewalk, using water mixed with a little paint powder, food coloring, or Kool-Aid powder.
What does it take to get the Kool Aid OFF the sidewalk? I think my preteen Girl Scout troop would love this - it's like tie dye. But I want to make sure I can get it cleaned up easily. Dawny
dawny I'd think a scrub brush (broom?) and some oxyclean would take it right off. That with a nice hard rain and you should be cleaner than when you started. What a fun idea for a Girl Scout troop. I'll suggest for my dgd's troop.
Jayne
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Originally posted by ajrsmom *Nature Scavenger Hunt - Alone or racing with a friend, see how many of the following items you can find: - tree bark, acorn, dead leaf, seed, bone, sand, insect, twig, dead grass, spider web, rock pine needle, clover, ladybug, and bird.
*Donut Birdfeeder - Welcome the birds back with a tasty treat! Sandwich a bagel between two plastic lids. Thread a string through the center, and tie a big knot at the bottom. Hang from a tree.
*Designer Bike - It's time to pull out the old bike again. Spruce it up by tying streamers or ribbons to the handlebars or weaving them through the spokes, and by sticking colorful stickers or tape strips onto the frames and fenders. To make a clatter noise as you ride, clothespin a playing card to the rear fender brace, with the tip of the card between the spokes.
*Scoop Ball - Make ball scoops by cutting two or more 1-litre (or 1 quart) plastic milk jugs in half horizontally. Toss a small ball back and forth to a partner, using only the scoop to catch and throw.
*Splashy Sidewalk Paintings - Add some color to your life! Use one of your dad's large paintbrushes (or a plant mister) to create pictures on the sidewalk, using water mixed with a little paint powder, food coloring, or Kool-Aid powder.
I think when the weather warms up, I will get my two DS and a few of their friends together for Nature Scavenger Hunt...also maybe play some "Scoop Ball". I'm not sure if they would like to make those type of birdfeeders or not. I'll have to see on that one.
The Designer Bikes are out as the boys do not have a place to ride bikes.
The Sidewalk Paintings are out too as we don't have sidewalks out here in the country!
Would anyone else possibly have some more suggestions???
Location: Originally from the Home of the only 6 times Super Bowl Champs!
Posts: 12,099
We are going to do the nature hunt too. My DS cant wait for the weather to warm up so that he can play outside again. He isnt much of a cold weather kid so he is starting to get that"couped-up" feeling---like his Mom, LOL.
2 summers ago we bought a used bike for him for $3.00. It was in really good shape but needed some TLC. We painted it red, white & blue and added a license plate with his name on it and a couple of flag stickers to it. It looked great and he was so proud of it. The bad thing is that he gave up learning how to ride a bike and never really used it. It is going out in the yard sale this summer.
We have a birdfeeder hanging from the tree in our backyard. It ends up being a squirrel feeder most of the time. Im wondering about hanging other food like that donut birdfeeder---would it attract more bugs being that it is fresh food?
I think that my son would enjoy the scoop ball too. Im always looking for things for him and his friends or cousins to do that is on the cheap side!
Location: Originally from the Home of the only 6 times Super Bowl Champs!
Posts: 12,099
Innocent, Fun Games
Daisy Chains
Kids can either do this by themselves or together, to create one long chain, see who can make the longest chain, or just to make pretty natural jewelry for themselves. This can also be done with other wild flowers - ones with stiff stems work the best.
First you have to start by picking a lot of daisies (or whichever flower you are using). Next you make a cross out of two daisies laying one over another sideways. Bend the stem of the top daisy under the stem of the bottom daisy, then up and over both stems. Pull the stem tight so that it makes a knot. Keep adding daisies in the same manner - tying them on, until you run out of flowers. You can make necklaces, bracelets and head pieces by tying the end daisy back to the beginning daisy to make a complete circle.
Acorn Finger Puppets.
Very quick and easy! Pull the tops off of acorns and use them as hair or hats for finger puppets. Simple stick them on your fingers and draw a face on your finger. Presto! Instant finger puppets!
Whistle from Grass
Crabgrass works best for this, but any long fat piece of grass will do. Pull the blade of grass and place it between both of your thumbs holding it tightly together at the top and bottom. The natural curve of your thumbs should leave a small opening in the middle. Put your lips to your thumbs and blow hard through the opening. Different kinds of grass will make different sounds. Experiment and see what you can find!
Frog and Toad Jumping
Frogs and toads are in abundance throughout the United States and can be found just about anywhere, although wet areas are the easiest place to find them. You must explain to your children however, that they must be very careful with these animals so they do not hurt them, and when done playing with them, put them back where they found them. Kids can draw "race tracks" on poster board or cardboard for their toads or frogs to have their
These games remind me of things that we used to do when we were kids. Back then, kids were kids and we really didnt have so many worries to grow up so fast.
No Cost / Low- Cost Activities for Kids 
What a fun idea for a Girl Scout troop. I'll suggest for my dgd's troop.
Special Member of the Family
The bad thing is that he gave up learning how to ride a bike and never really used it. 
It is going out in the yard sale this summer. 
