Fun things to do with 11 year old: Things to do with kids: 72 activities to entertain them
27 Super Fun Activities And Games For 12-Year-Olds
Some exciting activities can be great for nurturing the enthusiastic tween brains.
Image: Shutterstock
Adolescence begins at the age of twelve for some, and this period signals a significant change in a child’s behavior and overall personality. You’ll observe a distinct personality, specialized hobbies, and improved cognitive ability. Encouraging them to try different activities for 12-year-olds (tweens) can assist them in meeting their developmental needs. It is also important that you give attention to your child at this age. This post covers some fascinating and fun activities for tweens to help them with their physical, mental, and socio-emotional development.
Activities for 12-year-old Children
Here are some enjoyable and entertaining activities that your 12-year-old child can indulge in with friends and family.
1. Make a comic book
Image: Shutterstock
Creative writing requires imagination. Involving your pre-teen in creative-writing activities can hone their cognitive abilities and promote out-of-the-box thinking. Choosing a theme, writing dialogues, and preparing visuals can encourage them to plan, organize, and present ideas. This productive, self-expressing activity can also boost their self-esteem and confidence.
Alternatively, your child can try to draw a comic book containing only characters and no words — a fun and challenging way to fire their imagination.
2. Do a DIY project
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DIY projects are based on the concept of “learning by doing,” a perfect way to indulge your tween in self-learning activities. The theme for a DIY project can vary, and it is best to decide on a task that is both engaging and challenging. Building a city using recyclables or preparing an effective plan to minimize plastic waste are some fun and learning DIY projects that can help boost your child’s critical thinking and logical reasoning skills.
3. Learn to code
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Gamified coding is a fun-filled and creative activity that can provide 12-year-olds an exciting learning experience. Coding can be useful in strengthening their problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. Besides, it can teach them perseverance.
4. Learn a new language
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Learning a new language can help improve your tween’s cognitive and decision-making skills. Besides, it can hone your child’s communication skills that are relevant for personal development. Depending on their interest and preferences, they can learn one or more than one language. You could enroll them in a language class or download a language-learning app.
5. Play a board game
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Playing board games, such as Brainstorm or Scrabble, is a joyful, engaging, and learning experience. But, how about preparing one from scratch? Making a board game requires creative skills.
Your child can come up with a random idea to develop a new board game or work on an existing game by introducing/removing some elements of the game. In either case, your child would be able to experiment, which can help develop their cognitive skills. Moreover, it can boost brain function and build their self-esteem and self-confidence.
6. Solve puzzles
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Solving puzzles, like a 1,000-piece puzzle or Rubik’s cube, is challenging, engaging, and entertaining. It can help enhance brain function, boost concentration, improve visuospatial reasoning, and develop problem-solving abilities. Besides, it reduces stress, enhances mood, and improves relationships by allowing effective collaboration. Board games and puzzles are great mental activities.
7. Play card games
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Playing strategy card games, like sequence, can teach sportsmanship and patience and improve your 12-year-old’s logical reasoning skills.
Also, m aking strategies and playing with a positive spirit can improve their social and communication skills and help build positive relationships.
8. Take part in a STEM scavenger hunt
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A STEM scavenger hunt is an age-appropriate indoor activity available in a worksheet format. In these activities, short-answer questions and answer keys are given. These questions are aimed at teaching the basic concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to your child. There are some other forms of STEM scavenger hunts as well. Choose one for your tween based on the desired complexity.
9. Plan a Google Maps adventure
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In this exciting activity, you have to select and share the screenshots of exciting spots on Google Street View with your child. Next, ask them to guess where that street is and identify some places near that street. There are several apps, like GeoGuessr and Pursued, that you could download for this activity.
10. Outline a novel
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If your 12-year-old reads novels, this delightful activity can boost their creative thinking abilities. Assign a theme to your child and instruct them to outline a novel. The outline should include the main characters, the novel’s setting, and the antagonist. They could work on a mystery, thriller, science fiction, or fantasy. Give a week to your child and let them experiment. Discuss the outline with them and guide them to do better. Remember, the child has to come up with an outline and not write a novel.
11. Create a photo collage
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It is a joyful craft activity for 12-year-olds with a liking for photography. It involves clicking pictures of a favorite place, item, person, or anything that the child likes and presenting them in a collage. It can stir their imagination, and help them think analytically and express themselves.
12. Brainstorm an idea
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Brainstorming an idea with family and peers can help improve your child’s critical thinking and logical reasoning skills and encourage them to be open to different perspectives.
To initiate the activity, involve your child in some serious brainstorming sessions and encourage them to come up with ideas on minimizing the family’s monthly expense, plan a low-budget weekend get-together, and revamp the house without professional help. Discuss the ideas that your 12-year-old presents, and give them constructive feedback.
13. Solve an anagram
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An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of different words or phrases. For example, FRIED, when rearranged, makes words, like “FIRED.” It may seem simple, but an age-appropriate anagram provides relatively complex words and phrases to solve. Several board games and online activities can train your tween in solving an anagram. Anagramming can help children develop concentration, build vocabulary, and hone problem-solving skills.
14. Prepare a chain reaction
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Preparing a chain reaction with dominoes is an entertaining activity involving science and creativity.
You could get some self-explanatory domino-effect kits that are suitable for your tween to try the activity independently. Discuss every step in detail. Once acquainted with the concept of the domino effect, challenge the tween to prepare a similar chain reaction with other household materials like popsicle sticks, matchsticks, and paper cups.
15. Learn to play an instrument
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Playing an instrument is a joyful activity that trains your brain and improves long-term memory. Also, it increases concentration, improves multitasking ability, and boosts creativity. More importantly, it relieves stress and makes a child feel happy by letting the emotions flow. Bongo, piano, and harmonica are some easy-to-learn instruments that you can suggest to your 12-year-old.
16. Practice woodworking
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It is a creative activity in which your 12-year-old can learn to create something useful from waste wood lying in your backyard or lawn.
Creating an item from wood involves using nails, hammer, screwdrivers, etc. It can help develop fine and gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. You could ask your kid to build a bird feeder, a hutch for your pet, or a toolbox for your garage.
17. Organize a charity event
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Guide your child in organizing a charity event, such as a fundraiser from scratch. Discuss with them the steps involved, like finalizing a charity theme, preparing promotion material, like pamphlets, and inviting people. Taking part in a charity event can help them develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and compassion. Participating in such activities can also help improve their communication skills and cognitive abilities.
18. Make a tie-dye apparel
Image: Shutterstock
Resist-dyeing is a technique that can be used to create uncountable patterns through sheer creativity. The basic principle of the process is to tie the areas that you want to dye with a thread and color them.
By tying the cloth, different patterns are produced.
Use a beginner’s tie and dye kit that comes with clear instructions on how to tie and dye with all the necessary materials. Involving your tween in this fun and exciting activity can help improve their creative thinking skills.
19. Prepare a healthy meal
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You could introduce various fireless cooking recipes to your 12-year-old. Let them try as many recipes as they wish by guiding them on proper safety measures. Teach them to select healthy ingredients to enhance the nutritional value of the food. You could also teach them to cook dinner for the family or prepare pastry, ice cream, sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and shakes.
20. Run an obstacle course
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This fun-filled outdoor activity can be a useful addition to your young teen’s exercise routine. Taking part in multi-step activities, like obstacle courses, can help improve their sequencing and problem-solving skills and boost strength and balance.
You can buy obstacle course kits online or make one with your child, which can be another fun activity!
21. Play laser maze
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Laser maze is a logic-based game suitable for a 12-year-old. The game involves the use of mirrors and beam-splitters to direct the laser through mind-boggling mazes to light up the target. Buy a laser maze game and get involved with your child to develop their reasoning and planning skills and provide a good learning experience.
22. Sing karaoke
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Use a microphone and create a perfect atmosphere to motivate your child to participate in this fun activity with family and friends. Singing karaoke enhances cognitive abilities, like memory, concentration, and listening. Encourage them to dance while singing to promote physical activity, boost mood, relieve stress, and encourage self-expression.
23. Learn calligraphy or hand lettering
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While calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting, hand lettering is the art of illustrating the letters by working around prefabricated and designed letters.
Motivate your tween to learn one or both techniques to utilize their time and skills effectively. These inexpensive art forms can keep a tween engaged and entertained, boost mood, and relieve pressure and stress.
24. Watch a movie
Image: Shutterstock
Watch a movie together or introduce your tween to different movie genres. You could also teach them about media and its impact on children and adolescents. It provides an opportunity to discuss their likes, dislikes, and preferences. Guide your tween to differentiate between reality and fantasy, and spend quality time building a positive relation.
25. Research on pets
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Rearing a pet is a learning experience for everyone. If you are planning to have one, then let your tween do the research. Guide them to know the best pets to rear, their suitable habitats, food habits, etc., and prepare a five-minute PowerPoint presentation to share their research with the family. This activity can help a child connect with the surroundings and develop communication skills.
27. Learn to draw and paint
Image: Shutterstock
Drawing and painting can be used as a form of art therapy activity to reduce stress and improve sleep. Introducing your pre-teen to this art can help utilize their imagination, develop existing talents and can help them develop mindfulness and tranquility, which in turn augments concentration and creativity.
1. Is 12 years old still a kid?
A 12-year-old is in their tween years when they leave childhood and enter adolescence. They can be called pre-teens or tweens and are too old to be viewed as kids and not old enough to be considered teenagers.
2. What hobbies can a 12-year-old do?
If your 12-year-old is outdoorsy, they can pursue outdoor recreation activities like cycling, kayaking, running, rock climbing, or skiing. If they love to spend time indoors, you can introduce them to gardening, crafting, reading, journaling, or painting.
Choosing a bunch of fun and exciting activities for 12-year-olds can work well in developing their skills.
They can enhance their cognitive abilities and improve their physical and mental development at a much faster pace. Encouraging them to participate in such activities will also allow them to figure out their personal preferences and utilize their skills to bring out the best in them. It eventually boosts their self-esteem and promotes social interaction, which is essential for kids on the verge of entering their teenage years.
Key Pointers
- Boost self-esteem and confidence in your 12-year-olds by involving them in making comic books.
- Encourage self-learning and critical thinking by engaging them in DIY projects.
- Enhance their communication skills by enrolling them in a language class.
- Teach them patience and sportsmanship by involving them in card games.
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Nisha Bharatan is a freelance writer with experience in writing health and finance content for various Indian and international clients.
After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing. Nisha writes articles centered around kids’ development, their activities, crafts, games, and fun elements that keep children and families entertained…. more
Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, popularly referred to as ‘The Celebrity Shrink,’ is an award-winning neuro-psychiatrist and mental health advocate with over 15 years experience. She is the medical director and psychiatrist-in-chief at Pinnacle Medical Services. She has created the innovative mental health app in Africa, HOW BODI. Dr. Kadiri is a Goldman Sachs Scholar on Entrepreneurial Management of Pan Atlantic… more
25 Fun Things To Do With Kids In California For 2022 (Family Friendly!)
Thinking about all the great places out there waiting for me to visit always my spirits high.
So I thought it’s time to share some of that positivity with all of you.
I narrowed down on my family’s next vacation destination and here’s a list of 25 fun things to do with kids in California.
1. Golden Gate Bridge
PO Box 9000,
Presidio Station,
San Francisco, CA 94129-0601
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is one of the most popular places in California.
It’s a landmark that beautifully combines a picturesque view with a tinge of history about the state you’re in.
You cannot miss it.
What to Do
It’s called Golden Gate but the bridge is a beautiful orange against the backdrop of blue waters.
It’s pretty great to look at but you can also take a hike, rent a bike or walk around the bridge which is only three miles back and forth.
You could also go for the ferry under the bridge and get a low angle view of the iconic tourist hotspot.
If you want to avoid the crowd, head to Marin Headlands.
For
Ages 5 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square
Related: Best San Francisco Restaurants
Related: Best Family Resorts in California
Related: Fun Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids
2.
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Dr,
San Diego, CA
619-718-3000
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
Because it’s the largest zoo in the world.
Its focus is on conservation and has been voted the best many times.
There are pandas, polar bears, reptiles, cheetahs and what not.
You will also find smaller animals like meerkats too.
What to Do
If you’re in California with kids, find out their favorite animal and you are very likely to find it here.
And if they are farm animals, you might even be able to feed them with your own hands.
There’s also educational shows here and a discovery tour.
It’s a day-long activity where you can expose your kids to some hands-on exhibits.
For
Ages 3 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego
Related: Restaurants in San Diego, California
Related: Things to Do in San Diego with Kids
Related: Best Things to Do in California
3.
Disneyland
Disneyland Park 1313
Disneyland Dr
Anaheim, CA
(714) 781-INFO / (714) 781-4636
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is one of the top kid-friendly things to do in California.
It’s the dream of every child to see this at least once in their young age.
And if you’ve already been here, there’s a sense of nostalgia.
What to Do
There are some terrific rides for the children.
They can collect autographs of their favorite characters and munch on carnival food.
While you’re here, you want to explore Toontown and Fantasyland.
There’s also Tomorrowland and Critter Country for entertainment.
Oh, and don’t forget to visit the Sleeping Beauty Castle.
At night, there’s a firework show that the whole family will love.
For
All ages.
Some rides have height restrictions, so you’ll need to do some homework.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hilton Anaheim
Related: Fun Things to Do in Anaheim with Kids
4.
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory Rd,
Los Angeles, CA 90027
213-473-0800
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is the perfect place for families that love looking through a telescope.
There are exhibits that make the visit super fun and it also pays tribute to some of the iconic journeys human beings have embarked upon.
The entry is free and every kid who wants to see the galaxies beyond ours gets their wish.
What to Do
The incredible telescope gives a look at the universe.
There’s a park where you can bring a lovely picnic.
You will also find many astronomy exhibits to keep the children enthralled.
This place is heaven for all space cakes.
And a part of the movie La La Land was filmed here.
For
Up to 18 years.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Mama Shelter Los Angeles
Related: Places to Eat: Southern California
Related: Things to Do in Los Angeles with Kids
Related: Restaurants: Los Angeles, California
5.
Lake Tahoe
3411 Lake Tahoe Blvd,
South Lake Tahoe CA
530-542-6000
Why You’ve Got to Go
It’s a playground out there in nature and it’s open throughout the year.
It is a massive lake and it is surrounded by mountains, rivers and environment-friendly lodges.
It’s one of the classic California attractions for families.
And there’s a ton of activities for children.
What to Do
If you’re here on a warm day, take a dip in the lake.
You can also choose to go on a hike or boating and fishing if that’s more your thing.
If you’re here in the snowy months, you could opt for snowmobiling or snowboarding.
There’s also the option of going skiing or sledding on the mountains.
The surrounding areas offer a rich lesson in American history.
So there’s that too.
For
All ages.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Landing Resort and Spa
Related: Fun Things to Do in Lake Tahoe with Kids
6.
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
+1 310-458-8900
Why You’ve Got to Go
If your family is a fan of arcade games and carnival rides, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s a diner for when you want to grab a bite and kids of all ages absolutely love this place.
What to Do
There’s a ferris wheel for pure fun on a family vacation.
You can go for a swim or sit on the shore and get a tan.
You could also opt for a walk on the street and enjoy a show by one of the street performers who will keep you amused with little tricks.
If you’re in the mood for it, get a portrait for a few dollars.
When you want a change, you could hop on a walking tour and learn about the pier’s history.
For
Ages 3 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Santa Monica Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels
Related: Fun Things to Do in Santa Monica with Kids
Related: Best Family Vacations in California
7.
Yosemite National Park
9035 Village Dr
Yosemite Valley CA 95389
(866)-425-3366
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is quite a popular choice and it’s oh so worth it.
There are hundreds of hiking trails with a picturesque view of waterfalls and wildlife.
Don’t worry, it’s all safe.
Many of them are lined with sequoia trees which the little ones will love exploring.
It’s also a place that has inspired many artists for centuries.
What to Do
You can choose to go camping or hiking and fishing.
Take some wallpaper-worthy pictures while you’re at it.
Climbing the Half Dome is something teens are known to enjoy.
So challenge them to work their hiking legs.
Go along the John Muir Trail and explore the surroundings.
You can thank me later.
For
All ages.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Hotel at Black Oak Casino Resort
8.
Crystal Cove State Park
471 N Coast Hwy,
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
+1 949-494-3539
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is a gorgeous 3-mile-long state park and is a great place to spend some quality time with the kids.
It’s one of the biggest attractions in California for families and the trail system is just one of the reasons why.
What to Do
You could explore the tide pools or take a dip here.
The ocean is pretty mellow.
You could go for a stroll or try mountain biking if you’re outdoorsy and have the right gear.
There’s also space for kids to build sandcastles.
If you bring a kite along, the weather is almost always suited to that.
You could also try camping here if you don’t want to be confined in a lodge the whole time.
Although, some of those have been around since the 1930s and are a great piece of history.
For
All ages.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Resort at Pelican Hill
9.
Disney California Adventure
1313 Disneyland Dr,
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 781-4565
Why You’ve Got to Go
Don’t skip this because you’ve seen Disneyland because this theme park has seven different themes which you will not find even in Disneyland.
You’ll find Cars Land, Paradise Pier, Bug’s Land and a lot more here.
And if your kids are fans of Pixar (come on, they all are) you have to check out the Disney California Adventure.
What to Do
There’s Mickey’s Fun Wheel which is a rollercoaster with a 360-degree loop and that’s just the beginning.
The restaurants here offer a rich cuisine.
The themed areas and the characters within make for great backdrops to enhance your social media standing.
And parents, you’ll love this.
Here, there are places that serve alcohol.
So you can chill while the kids are thrilled.
For
Up to 18.
Again, do some homework on the height restrictions on some rides.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort
10. Raging Waters
San Dimas, CA 91773
(909) 802-2200
Why You’ve Got to Go
This waterpark is spread over 60 acres and is the largest in the state.
It’s a great place for the tots and mom and dad to have fun with over 50 rides and attractions.
From vertical slides to wave pools, there’s every water-based entertainment option here.
What to Do
Get your bathing suit out and hop on to rides like Aqua Rocket and the Dark Hole tube slide.
There’s also something called a Bermuda Triangle which I will leave for you to explore.
And there’s also a cabana for you to take a beat when you’re done with the rides.
For
Ages 5 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: 1 Hotel West Hollywood
11. Joshua Tree National Park
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, CA
92277-3597
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is the place where the Mojave and Colorado come together.
And it’s a place to explore a variety of trees, geological features and a whole bunch of animal species.
If you’re wondering what to do in California, I would definitely recommend this.
What to Do
The stunning atmosphere in here makes it a perfect site whether you want to go camping or hiking or mountain biking.
The weather is almost always favorable to explore the hundreds of miles of trails.
The iconic Joshua Tree itself is a great place for the family to gather around and get some good photographs.
But also, don’t miss Black Rock Canyon, Cottonwood Spring, Skull Rock and Keys View.
For
All ages.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms – Joshua Tree National Park
Related: Restaurants in Joshua Tree, California
Related: Things to Do in Joshua Tree with Kids
12. Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
831-648-4800
Why You’ve Got to Go
If you want an up close and personal view of ocean animals, this is the place to go to.
Children will love exploring the more than 600 species of aquatic beings.
And there are a ton of exhibits that tell you a lot about these creatures.
So you get to learn a little something too.
What to Do
This is a half-day activity.
Every creature here is colorful. Start with the Ocean’s Edge Wing which is the main exhibit.
It has a ton of marine life for you to check out and you can also learn about regional fish.
The only sunfish in captivity is also available for viewing at this aquarium.
For
Ages 3 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa
Related: Restaurants in Monterey
Related: Restaurants in Northern California
Related: Fun Things to Do in Monterey with Kids
13. Calico Ghost Town
36600 Ghost Town Road,
Yermo, CA
+1 800-862-2542
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
In the late 1800s, the Calico Ghost Town was a mining town.
So it’s like you’re traveling back in time.
Considering none of us was alive back then, it is quite the experience.
But the little ones will definitely be more excited about this place.
It’s a peek into the wild, wild west. It’s called the ghost town, well, because of the rumors.
There’s nothing to freak out about or is there?
What to Do
It’s the perfect place for a full photoshoot.
The architecture, the ghost tour, the old mines there’s a ton of history and mystery to take in for people of all ages.
It’s a great place for a stroll too.
For
Ages 5 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hampton Inn and Suites Barstow
14. Six Flags Magic Mountain
26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy,
Valencia, CA 91355
+1 661-255-4100
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
This place has the most intense roller coasters you’ve ever gotten into.
That alone is a reason to camp out here for a whole day.
But there are also other tiny rides for the kids.
It’s a place for visit for some harmless horseplay and to bond as a family.
What to Do
You and the older kids will love the rollercoasters.
When you’re done, check out the other rides like Drop of Doom, Goliath and Batman.
That’s right.
The themes are endless and you’ll be surprised at every corner of the Six Flags Magic Mountain.
If you’re with toddlers, head to Canyon Blaster or Elmer’s Weather Balloons.
It’ll be a blast.
For
Ages 3 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Kimpton Everly Hotel
15. Winchester Mystery House
525 S Winchester Blvd,
San Jose, CA 95128,
(408) 247-2000
Why You’ve Got to Go
If you love ghosts and mediums, this place will intrigue you to no end.
Sarah Winchester had built this house with over 150 rooms in the 1800s after her husband and child died to appease their spirits.
Almost four decades later, it is believed to still be haunted.
What to Do
There’s the firearms museum and the blooming gardens.
You can find out all about Sarah Winchester and her family’s misfortune.
Read about what the spiritual medium predicted and try to crack the case of why this house is still haunted.
This is an experience you will remember for a long time to come.
For
Ages 6 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hotel Valencia Santana Row
Related: Fun Things to Do in San Jose with Kids
16. Living Desert
47900 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-346-5694
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is a zoo where the little ones will have the chance to learn the importance of conservation.
The natural wonders, exotic plants and animals of the desert will enthrall the whole family.
It’s the intersection of entertainment and profound education.
What to Do
You mean, apart from spotting some of the coolest animals like foxes, camels, giraffes and jaguars?
Well, there are programs at the Tennity Amphitheater.
You can also just go for a hike along the San Andreas Nature Trail.
Lookout for an opportunity to feed the camels and giraffes with your own hands.
For
Up to 18 years of age.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa
17. Crissy Field
1199 E Beach,
San Francisco, CA 94129
+1 415-561-4323
Why You’ve Got to Go
This was once an airfield which has now been turned into a campground on the beach.
Sounds great, doesn’t it?
From here, you get a great view of my favorite landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you want to spend some time immersed in nature while being in an urban space, this is it.
What to Do
You can get a bike and ride it from Marina Green to Fort Point.
Take a break from the children and ride along the promenade while the children build sandcastles or swim on Baker Beach.
If you want to spend time with kids at this family-friendly California beach, be sure to bring a picnic basket!
For
All ages.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Fairmont San Francisco
Related: Fun Things to Do with Kids in The Bay Area
18. Lassen Volcanic National Park
PO Box 100
Mineral, CA 96063
(530) 595-4480
Why You’ve Got to Go
Volcanic gas vents, boiling pools, mud pots.
If these are things that fascinate you, you must visit the Lassen Volcanic National Park.
And you get to see a ton of things powered by a hydrothermal system.
The little ones can learn about the history of volcanoes.
What to Do
You can go for a hike while checking out boiling mud and water spaces.
You could take a walk over the boardwalk and head towards the Big Boiler.
There’s also the Devil’s Kitchen where you can play-act being a witch.
While you’re here, you might want to check out the Boiling Springs Lake.
It is a bubbling lake that reaches above 125 degrees.
In fact, you might want to clear out your weekend for this.
For
Ages 5 and up.
Not for families with toddlers.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Best Western Rose Quartz Inn
19. Turtle Bay Exploration Park
844 Sundial Bridge Drive,
Redding, CA 96003
+1 530-243-8850
Why You’ve Got to Go
This park is spread over 300 acres and boasts of a museum, botanical gardens and a sundial bridge.
That’s just the beginning.
There’s also a wildlife center the kids will love exploring.
It’s a beautiful mix of sustainability and playfulness.
What to Do
You can check out the nano exhibit along with your kids and show them how plants grow in real time.
This is called the “Rooted” feature.
There’s a lot of art to soak in at the student art exhibition.
You can also go on nature trails and don’t skip the inside of the arboretum.
For
All ages.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge
20. Legoland California
One Legoland Dr,
Carlsbad, CA 92008
+1 888-690-5346
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
Well, if Sheldon Cooper (from The Big Bang Theory) picked it for his honeymoon, it’s got to be pretty extraordinary.
This is a place where the children and their imagination go wild and it’s totally safe to do whatever they want.
Legoland?
They should’ve called this wonderland.
There is also an aquarium and a water park.
You will also find spaces that are divided based on themes like Star Wars, Fun Town and Castle Hill, etc.
What to Do
Get a bathing suit for the waterpark rides.
If you want to stay on dry land, get a Legoland driver’s license and head to the race track.
Or forget all of that and just build something with the millions of plastic bricks available.
There is every kind of fun here.
You can also play underwater instruments.
That’s right.
For
Kids up to 12 years of age.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, A Hilton Resort & Spa
Related: Best Waterpark Hotels in California
21. Universal Studios
100 Universal City Plaza,
Universal City, CA 91608
+1 800-864-8377
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
If you’re a cinephile, there’s no way you will miss this.
Get a behind-the-scenes taste of some of your favorite movies.
Go on rides that have been inspired by some classics.
Whatever genre you choose, there’s something that will blow your mind.
What to Do
You will get to see how stunts are practiced or maybe run into a Hollywood star.
And did I mention the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
You get to sample butterbeer and pick something up from Hogsmeade here.
If you love King Kong tearing buildings down, there’s a little show to relive those moments too.
For
Ages 3 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Sunset Tower Hotel
22. Catalina Island
1 Green Pleasure Pier
PO Box 217, Avalon, CA 90704
310-510-1520
Why You’ve Got to Go
This lovely island on the pacific is a great getaway spot for families.
Nicknamed Kidalina because of the love it gets from the little ones, Catalina Island has a variety of terrains for them to play on.
The Pacific Ocean is right there and the view of bisons grazing the grasslands, if you want a touch of wildlife to the scenery.
What to Do
There are a ton of activities lined up for you here.
Kayaking, snorkeling and swimming for the grown ups and building sandcastles for the kids.
For the entire family, there’s whale watch just one ferry ride over.
But if you want to stay on the shore, pick a trail for hiking or stroll along the coast of the island.
For
Kids up to 18 will be thrilled but it’s for the whole family.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Aurora Hotel
Related: Things to Do in Catalina Island with Kids
23. Lake Shasta
5350 Shasta Dam Blvd.
Shasta Lake, CA, 96019
(530) 275-1589
Why You’ve Got to Go
This is one of the largest and most pristine lakes along the California coast.
It’s a great place to soak in some wilderness and take awesome pictures.
At night, you should gather around a campfire and get some s’mores in order.
What to Do
You could rent a houseboat and cruise around exploring the coves.
You could also try fishing, water skiing and paddleboarding.
If you want to stay dry, head out for a hike or try fishing.
The best part is, this place is so huge it is pretty easy to find privacy.
For
All ages.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge
24. Knott’s Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd,
Buena Park, CA 90620
+1 714-220-5200
Why You’ve Got to Go
It’s an amusement park that is spread over 160 acres.
What’s not to love?
But I’ll pitch it to you anyway.
Roller coasters, live entertainment shows, old cartoons and joy rides.
That’s just the beginning.
Kids with a penchant for old cartoons will also get a chance to meet Snoopy!
What to Do
If your little ones love old cartoons, keep an eye out for Snoopy.
Get on a thrill ride or order a boysenberry pie and chill out.
Pick a water ride and go for it.
Look around for rides and adventures that suit your age (yes, that’s how they are divided) and go crazy.
For
Ages 5 and above.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Casa Blanca Inn & Suites
Related: Places to Eat: Buena Park, CA
Related: Fun Things to Do with Kids in Southern California
25. Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island National Park Service
Golden Gate National Recreation Area Fort Mason,
B201 San Francisco, CA 94123.
+1 415-561-4900
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Why You’ve Got to Go
If you like a little backstory to the places you visit, this will be perfect.
Alcatraz Island was once a prison.
So you get to learn a ton of things about the life prisoners led here.
It’s eerie and like nothing you’ve ever seen (unless, of course, you’ve been to jail).
What to Do
You get a behind-the-scenes tour of life in a prison cell.
There’s a tour which elaborates on the life and politics of the time.
Pick up something at the souvenir shop to remember what you saw here.
It could be anything, even prison-striped pajamas.
But not everything is dark and gloomy.
There are some lovely natural features, the opportunity to go bird watching and tide pools for everyone to kickback and relax.
For
Those under 18 must be supervised by someone who is 21 or older.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco
Related: Fun Things to Do in Northern California with Kids
List of image sources
25 Fun Things to Do with Kids in California
- Golden Gate Bridge
- San Diego Zoo
- Disneyland
- Griffith Observatory
- Lake Tahoe
- Santa Monica Pier
- Yosemite National Park
- Crystal Cove State Park
- Disney California Adventure
- Raging Waters
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Calico Ghost Town
- Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Winchester Mystery House
- Living Desert
- Crissy Field
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Turtle Bay Exploration Park
- Legoland California
- Universal Studios
- Catalina Island
- Lake Shasta
- Knott’s Berry Farm
- Alcatraz Island
50 ideas of what to do with children during the summer holidays: entertainment, activities, games, creativity
During the holidays, parents ask a long-forgotten question: how to captivate children when they are next to you 24/7? Stock up on cool ideas so that everyone remembers the holidays as a wonderful time spent with the family! In the article, we have collected 50 best activities for a student and his family in the summer.
Audio version of the article “THINGS TO DO FOR 7-11 YEARS-OLD CHILDREN ON SUMMER HOLIDAYS” The audio tag is not supported by your browser. Download. WHAT TO DO FOR CHILDREN 7-11 YEARS OLD ON SUMMER HOLIDAYS
Contents
Should I study during the holidays?
Fun activities for kids during the holidays
Educational activities for kids during the holidays
Creative activities for kids during the holidays
Ideas for family holidays during the holidays a child so that he does not get bored? How to organize life and leisure so that he does not spend three months on the phone? Some families plan a joint vacation, in others it is customary to send children to their grandmother in the village or to a children’s camp, and still others stay at home. In the article we will talk about how to have fun and productively spend school holidays with your child.
Should I study during the holidays?
Imagine that during a long-awaited vacation, your boss calls you and says that instead of resting, you should work all the time.
And you were tired, made your plans, wanted to relax … It’s unpleasant, isn’t it? The child also feels this if he is given the same study load during the holidays as at school. But, of course, I don’t want to launch the entire educational process. Suddenly he will forget the past, then it will be difficult for him to join his studies in September.
What to offer in this case:
- Discuss summer plans with your child in advance. He is already old enough to take part in the discussion of his own plans. It is unpleasant when the parents decided everything themselves, and he was only informed. Talk, take an interest in his desires, give him a choice of several options. For example, does he want to spend a few weeks at the camp or at his grandmother’s? What sections will he continue to go to in the summer? Based on this, make the very first rough plan. It can be like this: in early June, the whole family rests in the country, in July you will stay with your grandmother, and in August we will prepare for school at home.
- Change the mode slightly. Let the child get up without an alarm or move the time to wake up by 1-2 hours. At the same time, save the necessary regime moments: hygiene procedures, joint breakfast, household chores. We talked about how to involve a child in household chores here. You need to gradually return to the school regime 2-3 weeks before September 1.
- Set aside 2-3 weeks immediately after the last “doing nothing” call. This will be a great reboot for the child, he can devote this time to his favorite games, meetings with friends.
- Gradually introduce classes, but try to make them as different from school lessons as possible. Instead of half an hour of solving examples, play addition and subtraction games. Instead of copybooks, offer graphic dictations and so on. By the way, you can download an excellent selection of graphic dictations here.
- Create a lesson plan to refresh your knowledge. Agree on how much time per week the child will spend reviewing what he has learned when he reads additional literature.
- Come up with educational activities more often. For example, you can study history not only from books, but also in a museum. And instead of music and fine art lessons, you can visit exhibitions and live music concerts. And also, puppet theaters work in the summer, they often play performances based on the fiction that schoolchildren are given for the summer.
The main idea of summer classes is not to overburden your child with school during the holidays, but don’t abandon it completely. Limit yourself to repetition of the past, and let’s new knowledge in exciting interactive formats.
One of the most common parenting mistakes is to not waste time doing nothing. Here it is worth noting that rest is not idleness, it is an opportunity to restart, prepare for the next step, as well as recharge with new emotions and memories, spend quality time together with your family.
Other “harmful” parental beliefs are the opinions that the child will take care of himself or he does not need the participation of parents for rest.
Will take, no doubt, but at 90% of cases it will be computer games or gadgets. And children spend time without parents at school, they just want more communication with mom and dad. So let’s see what kids can do during the holidays so that in the essay “How I Spent the Summer” each line carried pleasant memories.
Entertainment for children during the holidays
In this section we have tried to collect not games for 20-30 minutes, but longer activities, which, by the way, can be repeated more than once during the summer. Some of them require your participation, others do not. They are suitable for several children, as well as for the parent-child tandem, for the whole family.
1. Invite your child to invite a friend over for a sleepover. It’s a lot easier than it sounds, all you have to do is make arrangements with your friend’s parents, offer dinner and snacks, and let them stay up longer. Children will find their own entertainment. And the most interesting thing is that during the holidays, most likely, your child will be offered to pay a return visit, and at that time you will be alone at home.
2. Play board games with your children. They not only entertain, but also develop logical thinking, imagination, mathematical skills. An excellent selection of logic board games for children at this link.
3. Create your own board game. You can do anything – from a simple walker to the likeness of Monopoly. If you are doing Monopoly, you can take businesses known to your children, such as favorite cafes and children’s entertainment centers. Cutting, drawing and thinking through all the details can take several days.
4. Play crocodile. The essence of the game is simple – you need to show the hidden word or phrase without using speech.
5. Use masking tape to “draw” the freeway, roads, houses on the floor. You can supplement the city with buildings made of cardboard boxes and road signs. In such a city, you can arrange long games with cars, animals or dolls.
6. Set up an obstacle course, you can do it at home or on the street. The child will have to use all his dexterity so as not to stumble.
7. Make a “floor” dartboard. To do this, draw circles on the floor with electrical tape or masking tape and start the competition. The goal is to throw a piece of paper as close to the center as possible.
8. Invite the child to arrange a quiz for the whole family. To do this, he can pick up several tasks, for example, active competitions or riddles. He will also have to think about incentives for the winners, say, painted medals. The very idea of arranging entertainment for adult children is very inspiring.
9. Play shop. This role-playing game can reach such proportions that all the rooms of the house will be occupied by counters with price tags and goods. And purchases can be made, for example, with claps and jumps, why not currency?
10. Conduct a thematic quest for the child. Successive tasks will lead the child to new clues, and in the end he will find the final prize. How to make a quest with your own hands, we told here. And you can always buy a ready-made kit for the quest on the website of the Academy of Curiosity.
Educational activities for children during the holidays
During the holidays, you can take a break from school, but this is not a reason to forget about educational toys. Add games and activities for the comprehensive development of the child. For example:
1. Make a family tree. This can help grandparents, who will tell you in detail about all the relatives.
2. Offer to assemble a large constructor or puzzle in the theme of the child’s favorite characters or hobbies. A session can be fun for a few hours or stretch for a couple of days.
3. YouTube challenge. If there is no way to completely reduce screen time, then you can make sure that children watch educational content. Write down with the child all the topics that are of interest to him, number them. The challenge is to roll the dice every day and watch one video a day on the topic that fell out today.
4. Have educational weeks. For example, one week is devoted to space exploration, the second to dinosaurs, the third to robotics, and so on.
During the week, you can hold themed games, quests, study information from encyclopedias and visual aids, and at the end of the week make a poster with the most interesting information.
Such a poster can serve as the basis for a presentation, and you can present information, for example, to dad or grandmother. This will teach you to search for information and work with it, to speak in public.
5. Offer to make a human body out of plasticine. Print out a template – a person and his internal organs. With the help of plasticine, sculpt the internal organs, attach them to the right place, discuss what each of them is responsible for. On the second template, you can sculpt the human skeleton with plasticine, on the third – muscles. If you are interested in the topic of human structure, you can play radiologists. On black cardboard, lay out different types of human bones with pasta to get an x-ray, for example, legs.
6. Make a chain of dominoes. Starting with a simple chain, you can include more elements – balls that pass through the tunnel, pendulums, etc.
This activity perfectly develops logical thinking.
7. Build a balloon from scrap materials. The idea is similar to the previous one, only now not all structural elements are moving, but only the ball. The rest of the elements should guide the ball so that it moves like on rails.
8. Conduct simple chemical or physical experiments. A large selection of experiences for children can be found in the section on the website of the Academy of Curiosity.
9. Come up with your child your own secret cipher, in which each letter is a hieroglyph or a geometric figure, a number. Writing notes in a secret cipher and deciphering received messages is difficult, it involves memory and attentiveness. But over time, the cipher will be remembered so much that both reading and writing will not cause difficulties.
10. Draw a map of the apartment/house on a large piece of paper. Attention: all measurements, proportions are the responsibility of the child, you just need to give him a tape measure and a pencil for writing.
After the pencil sketch, draw the plan with a marker. Now offer to “arrange” the furniture. You can not only draw it, but also decorate it with the help of materials for creativity, candy wrappers. This activity is great for developing spatial thinking.
Creative activities for children during the holidays
Creative activities involve a lot of a child’s skills. For example, drawing and modeling develop fine motor skills, reading and music involve imagination and memory.
Try out original creative ideas together:
1. Offer to put on a shadow play. We already wrote about how to do this here.
2. Organize literary evenings. Choose books to read together. Some can be read in turn, others in roles. After reading, you should spend at least 10 minutes discussing.
3. Make your own slime. Adults often do not understand what is attractive in this sticky semi-liquid mass, but children are delighted with it, especially if you add sparkles, balls and other elements.
4. Watch a foreign cartoon in the original language. To begin with, choose simple cartoons that the child is already familiar with so that everything is clear.
5. Invite the children to draw comics with their own hands: come up with heroes, a small heroic story. To make it more interesting, print out templates for direct speech and thoughts of characters, just like in real comics. Add special effects: question and exclamation marks, stars, inscriptions.
6. Teach the kids how to weave baubles (and boys too!). They can be woven from beads, rubber bands, floss threads and other materials.
7. Make your own family periodical. A home magazine can be published once a week – manually or on a computer, depending on the skills and desires of the child. On its pages you can have life stories, observations of nature, anecdotes, drawings, puzzles and crosswords, just like in real children’s magazines.
8. Make collages from different materials: newspaper clippings, cardboard and colored paper, dried leaves and flowers, buttons, candy wrappers, ribbons.
The assembled collage can be different, for example, depict a fairy, a city with cars, a superhero.
9. Color the white clothes with fabric paints. An ordinary cotton white T-shirt can become a real work of art in your hands with your child.
10. Invite the children to make their own salt dough to make their own. Tested test recipes can be found here.
Food coloring and glitter can be added to it. From this dough, children can make crafts, after drying, color them.
11. Learn the origami technique, it can captivate for a long time. Animals, flowers, bookmarks for books, volumetric balls – this is only a small part of the products in this technique.
12. Encourage your child to create their own painting by gifting a paint-by-number kit or a diamond mosaic.
13. Make your own soap, candle or bath bomb.
14. Teach the children to knit, crochet or special yarn on the fingers, and if you don’t know how, learn this type of needlework together.
Set a goal, for example, to knit a scarf for the fall or a beautiful napkin for your grandmother’s birthday.
15. Make a simple light table with your own hands from a LED string and a transparent container. Try to master the technique of sand painting together. It relaxes and greatly develops the imagination.
16. Sew a felt toy. The felt does not crumble, it is easy to glue the parts to it with hot glue. Start with a small toy, and if the activity is fun for the kids, you can offer them a larger sewing project.
17. Make a paper mache elephant. Or a piglet. Or any other figurine that the kids will like. The activity is very exciting and can take several hours, if not days.
18. Write poetry. It sounds too loud, in fact, you need to come up with a quatrain dedicated to the holidays. Then the most interesting thing is to invite the children to find in old magazines and newspapers all the letters that are in this quatrain. Make a collage out of them, hang it in a conspicuous place.
19. Make a cartoon on a notepad using the flipbook technique. It is necessary to draw successive “frames” on all pages of the notebook, so that when turning over the drawing seems to come to life, it starts to move.
20. Write a funny story. You can do this like this: one participant writes several sentences and wraps the sheet so that only the last phrase remains visible. Based on it, the next participant continues the story and wraps the sheet again. The result is a funny fable that the whole family can laugh at.
Family vacation ideas
Summer is a great time for hiking, nature watching and outdoor activities. It is doubly great if the whole family is involved in this.
Here are some ideas that can become a family summer tradition:
1. Choose 1 day a week when you cook dinner together. Come up with interesting recipes, bake sweets and bread with your own hands, set the table for all family members and discuss the past week together – what did you remember about it that you want to repeat.
The maximum involvement of the child in cooking will make such evening gatherings memorable and valuable. And cooking skills will definitely come in handy in life!
2. Plant a small garden/flower garden on the balcony or in the front garden. The whole process of gardening can be shared equally with the child, he can loosen the earth, and plant seeds, and water them. Growing a plant from seed to fruit is a real experiment, as well as a useful (and tasty) worldly experience.
3. Get to know the city and surroundings. Every weekend, choose a time to explore, where you have not yet gone with your child. It can be parks and lakes, zoos and nature reserves, museums and theaters, sights and simply unfamiliar places – good playgrounds, cozy streets. You can simply recharge with new impressions on a leisurely walk through unfamiliar places.
4. Go on a picnic in nature. Bring groceries, a comfortable blanket, sports games like frisbee or badminton, and a road board game.
Don’t forget insect repellant so your picnic isn’t ruined by bites and annoying buzzing.
5. Go to the beach, swim, build castles and sand dams, play beach volleyball. Games on the beach and in the water perfectly harden and energize.
6. Look at the stars at night through a telescope. If the city has a planetarium, you can watch the stars there. Is the child interested in the theme of stars? Great, then you can tell him about the constellations, find them in the starry sky. And here is a selection of games to explore the constellations.
7. Go fishing with the whole family. If possible, take a barbecue, a pot and vegetables with you. Freshly caught fish soup is surprisingly tasty, and the appetite in nature is played out twice as much.
8. Take the child to the stable. You can sign up for horseback riding lessons, volunteer to take care of the horses, or simply hand-feed them carrots and sugar.
9. Visit a rope city or climbing wall to make the child feel brave and agile, and throw out energy.
With the same goals, let your child climb trees, walk on fallen trees, training balance.
10. Make a time capsule. In the box, put a message to yourself, but after 5 years. Let the children write wishes, important points to remember, put valuable little things. This box must be wrapped tightly with polyethylene and buried in the ground. If you have your own summer cottage, you can do it there. If this is not possible, you can find a secluded place somewhere in the forest. Then be sure to draw a map of where this time capsule is located. After 5 years, it may not be so easy to find her without a clue.
Don’t miss the amazing opportunity to spend three summer months with your child. Very soon, school classes will begin again and there will only be a few hours left for the games in the evening, seize the moment!
Games with baby 11-12 months | School “MamaPapa”
Over the past year, the baby has gone from a helpless baby to a creature calmly and confidently standing on its feet.
The achievements in its development are simply amazing.
A child of this age is a researcher and experimenter. And the more you show interest in the finds of the baby, the more energetically he continues his search.
Again and again
In every situation, the baby looks for something to play with, and this determines his behavior. He puts small objects into the container and takes them out, strings rings on a large rod, puts cubes on top of each other, pushes objects of various shapes and sizes into suitable holes. Freely makes detours, for example, takes out a toy hidden behind a transparent screen. The child shows particular interest in small objects, often preferring them to larger toys. If the kid ever put the ring on the pyramid rod, he will repeat it again and again. The game can be made even more interesting by swinging the rod from side to side. Show your imagination, think about what else in the house is suitable for stringing games. Your little one will especially love toys that you can control.
Give him a spinning wheel, the movement of which he can regulate with the help of a lever fixed on top. He will like toys with figures inside – if you hit hard with your hand, they pop out. The kid is already able to return objects to their original form: he puts the cubes into a box, connects the scattered beads. If the toy animal is thrown on its side, the child will return it to a sitting position.
Catching and throwing a ball is a wonderful activity for a baby. Try to throw the ball against the wall together so that it bounces. The kid will happily try to catch it. Give a ball to a child and see what he does with it. If he tries to imitate you, catch the ball and throw it back into the baby’s hands. A child at the age of ten or eleven months easily finds a toy that interests him, hidden in front of his eyes. It’s time to offer him a more difficult task, hiding the object from one place to another. You will see how confidently the baby goes to the new location of the toy. Performing actions with an object, the baby is looking for the most effective way to use it.
Trying to get delicious cereal from a bottle with a narrow neck, he eventually turns the bottle upside down and shakes out its contents. And having become interested in the handbag, the baby first takes out the items one by one, then puts both hands into the handbag and takes out everything that is there. A backpack made of soft fabric will bring special joy to the baby. He will put toys there, carry them, take them out and put them back again.
Kitchen games
Have fun with your little one: Sprinkle a thin layer of flour on a clean, smooth surface and run your finger over it to draw circles, zigzags and straight lines. The kid will imitate you. If you are busy in the kitchen with something more serious, invite the baby to play alone by placing a cup, plate, bowl and spoon in front of him. Pour some dry breakfast into a cup, and you will see how the child immediately begins to pour it from one vessel to another. And when you are free and can help the baby, try to play with water in the same way.
For more interest, put ice cubes in the water. Offer a sieve as a scoop, it will be interesting for the kid to find out the difference between a real scoop and a sieve. Small toys floating in a bowl are also great to catch with a sieve or a spoon. In addition to developing eye-hand coordination, this game gives an idea of volume. For games in the bath, use an inflatable ring, in the center of which the child can throw objects. However, the circle can also be used on land. Show your child how to place some small cubes on the surface of the circle. Feeling the instability of the surface, the child will get a visual idea of balance and improve coordination of movements. “Yearman” can already transfer the actions learned in one specific situation to another. For example, not only feed the doll if the mother suggests it, but also do the same with the dog and the teddy bear on her own initiative. The kid manipulates objects purposefully and voluntarily and anticipates the results of his actions.
Soon the baby will celebrate his first birthday. This is a good reason to buy him new toys. If the baby is especially deft with objects, he deserves to be bought the simplest model of the designer.
We invite you to classes for moms and dads!
From gesture to word
See how a one year old baby behaves. If he wants to play with the dog, he looks at her, then turns to his mother to “express” his desire. But the kid dropped something on the floor and immediately raises his hands up and screams. In itself, this is a small achievement, but it leads to a serious conclusion. The child understands that if he is not able to do something himself, he can ask someone else to do it. And if until recently the baby tried to do this with the help of gestures or individual sounds, now he pronounces phrases like “give-give”, “mom”, etc. more and more confidently. At the same time, he imitates you with pleasure. It’s worth taking advantage of this. Try to draw the baby’s attention to yourself and, looking into his eyes, say the same syllable 5 times with an interval of 10 seconds (for example, “ma”, “pa” or “ba”).
The kid will certainly repeat this syllable after you. Then pronounce the next syllable, and after waiting for the answer, the third one. The child will repeat it after you. Now add a touch of humor to these activities. Talk to your child through the cardboard tube, trying to change your voice. See with what attention the baby will listen to you. Now give him the phone. He may want to repeat the sounds you uttered. In general, playing with a baby is becoming more and more interesting. He often laughs when he sees something funny. Pretend you want to put on his shoes or hat. See how this made your little one happy? Put a finger puppet on his hand and try to make it move. Maybe the crumbs will even be able to voice this dancer?
Little steps
Once your little one has mastered the science of crawling, their legs are strong enough to take on the new task. And it will be easier for the spine to cope with additional loads. And the baby is no longer averse to demonstrating her readiness to stand up to her full height.
Most kids can stand on their own by their first birthday. Often the baby takes the first steps by pushing the stroller in front of him. And this is a reason to continue talking about gifts. It’s good if the baby has new mobile toys that can be pushed, pulled and carried. Mom and dad can please their child with a wonderful invention in the form of a toy cart. Large, firmly standing on four wheels, it will help to keep balance longer, and also make it easier for the baby to move. If your baby has not yet taken his first step, do not worry. Doctors consider it quite normal if this happens before a year and a half.
Don’t miss the moment
This period is the best time for the child to develop the first basic self-care skills. Have you noticed that he likes to put things in a box and get things out of there, play with water, shows interest in shopping? Excellent! All this must be used! Invite your child to open the box of raisins on their own. When you serve corn, carrots or other vegetables, let the baby put what he wants on his plate.
After breakfast or lunch, give your baby a sponge to help you wipe down your chair and table. And while bathing in the bath, the baby scoops up water and pours himself over himself, carefully rubbing his body with a washcloth. Take the baby’s hand holding the washcloth in your hand. Gently rub your palms with it, saying: “My palms”, then move on to the arms, legs, feet. As the first household chores, the baby is able to lay out the fruits you brought from the store from the basket, put the cubes in the box after the game. Show your little one how to zip up and unzip the doll suit. And then give him a big glove so that, after making more than one attempt, he still learns to put it on the handle.
Getting started
This has been the most amazing year of your child’s life. Rejoicing at how much he has learned, do not be surprised to find certain difficulties in his behavior. For example, the manifestation of negativism, obstinacy and stubbornness. Be patient! Such age-related manifestations indicate that your baby is ready to move to a different stage of development.