Weekend Plans - Play

got plans?

Yep. You Do.

Power of Play

This weekend’s plans are all about play. Many different animals play, and that is but one piece of evidence supporting its value. Recent research bolsters the notion of the value of play. Play reduces stress, promotes bonding, and increases problem-solving skills and creativity, among other benefits. Also, let’s not forget this very important fact….It’s fun!!!

Supplies

• Play Dough

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 3/4 cup salt

  • 4 teaspoons cream of tartar

  • 2 cups lukewarm water

  • 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut oil works too)

  • Food coloring, optional

  • Quart sized bags

• PUPPET SHOW

  • Old socks or paper lunch bags

  • Buttons, googly eyes, etc

  • Fabric glue

  • Scissors

  • Large cardboard box

• Dress up clothes

• Board games, cards, OR sporting equipment of your choice

• Notebook & WRITING TOOL

Photo by Jessica Rockowitz on Unsplash

Get Your Theater On

Put on a play

There are many ways to go with this activity. One of my favorite options, which I wrote about here, is to act out a favorite book. This is low-effort, high reward. The script is written, and the ideas for the costumes and sets are already ready for you. But you don’t have to use a book. If you or your children want to write your own script that’s great too. Have fun with designing costumes from dress-up clothes or materials around the house or classroom.

Puppet Show

Similar to the activity above, this activity will allow you to act out a story after crafting puppets and a puppet stage. Materials for the puppets can include found objects around the house, crafting or sewing scraps, or you can purchase materials ahead of time. If you already have puppets, feel free to use those.

Go see a play

So many options here. Go see a play, musical, or live puppet show. This can be very low effort (watching a street performance if you live in an urban area) to something more involved (purchasing tickets ahead of time). If your town is way WAY off Broadway, try checking out your local community or school theater performances. 

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash

Are You Game?

Play a game or a sport

There are endless options here. Peek a boo, hide and seek, patty cake, matching, Chutes and Ladders, and Candy Land are all good options for small children. But don’t forget gross motor games like soccer, softball or baseball, basketball, golf, croquet or shuffleboard. For small children it’s enough to begin teaching basic skills (like throwing, catching and kicking) and basic rules (like only using hands for throw-ins in soccer).

Playground

Hit up a favorite playground in your community or research and visit some new ones. If you’re really ambitious, you can also use found or inexpensive materials to add to your existing play space. Things like unused boards can become balance beams. Bamboo poles and seeds can grow into a bean tee-pee. Large tree stumps or logs can become a path of leaping stones.

Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash

Life Skills

Play dough

I have mixed feelings about play dough. As a child, I loved it. I can still remember standing at a small table in my childhood bedroom rolling and smooshing play dough. As an adult, I’m the person peeling that play dough off the floor, which is oddly a lot less fun.

Leaving my personal conundrum for a moment, though, play dough is pretty popular among the T-sized crowd, so this month, feel free to get your play dough on. To add a cooking and life skills component, you can try the recipe for homemade playdough found on IHeartNapTime.net.

Fair play

Teach about concepts of fairness. Most games have rules and a sense of fairness. What does it mean to “play fair?” How does it impact others if someone doesn’t play fair or follow the rules? What can people do if someone around them is not playing fair?

Not Just for Kids

Spend a few minutes writing in your journal, talking with a friend or partner or reminiscing: What did you love doing for fun as a child? As a young adult? Can you carve out half an hour some time to revisit this activity?

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