May

Fun activities for you and your preschool child

Teach your child about the passage of time. Help him make a weekly or monthly calendar with pictures of upcoming events. This will help him understand the concept of time and dates.
Help your preschooler get the most out of reading. Choose a book about her favourite subject (dogs, trains or rocket ships). A subject of interest will encourage reading.
Nurture emotional intelligence. Talk to your child about expressing his emotions. Create a double-sided paper plate puppets with different emotions on each side and discuss.
With spring well underway, help your child plant a seed in your garden or in a clear plastic cup and place it on the window sill. Help her understand the importance of water and sunlight for growth.
Today, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Mexico. Locate Mexico on the map. Make tacos for dinner tonight and ask your child to help prepare the meal.
Encourage physical activity. Take your child to the playground to help improve motor skills while promoting exercise.
Talk to your child about extra activities he would like to join. Check out activities available in your community, and register him for an activity of his choice.
Create a telescope with finished paper towel rolls. Your child can decorate it. Together, use your imaginations to explore the galaxy before bedtime.
Help your child draw a picture on the sidewalk or driveway with sidewalk chalk.
Work on a puzzle with your child today. Research shows that simple activities, such as making puzzles, can help strengthen her mental capacity.
Using empty tissue boxes and rubber bands, make musical instruments with your child today. Together, dress in silly outfits and play instruments in the band.
Using building blocks, create a castle and role-play. Help your child decorate his own crown.
Tonight there will be a full moon. Look for the man in the moon with your child.
Teach your child her home address and phone number.
Take your child on a trip to the library today. Help him to sign out books that interest him.
Review the importance of safety in the car. Ask your child to always check her seatbelt and to always keep her arms inside the car.
Teach your child about opposites today. Using various items around the house, have him compare the different sizes.
Make fruit juice ice cubes today. Ask your child to help by mixing the juice or pouring it into the trays.
Let your child be an underwater explorer by allowing more time for her in the bubble bath with extra toys.
The Toronto Zoo is open later tonight. Take your child out on a date to see the animals.
Make today blue day. Suggest your child dress in all blue and find all of the blue toys in the house.
Can your preschooler spell his own name? Help him sound out the letters while writing.
Have fun making Jell-O for desert tonight. Using cookie cutters, ask your child to help create Jell-O shapes.
Help promote muscle co-ordination by cleaning vegetables with your child for dinner.
Be silly today. Play "Simon Says" and ask your child to pick up items without using her hands.
Take a walk around the block or to the park today. While walking, ask your child to point out shapes he sees in nature.
While doing laundry, invite your child to help match her socks together.
Ask your child to name parts of the body by identifying his noes, arms, legs and ears.
While putting away the groceries, ask your child to count how many apples you purchased.
Sing your child's favourite song at bed time.
Make sure that your child is aware of the safety rules when crossing the street with an adult.

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Fun activities for you and your elementary school child

Remind your child that this week is teacher appreciation week. Help him make a thank you card for his teacher.
Help your child get organized this month. Show her how to use lists and calendars to keep track of daily routines.
Help your child to decorate his own collection box. Allow him to choose the items, such as rocks, stamps or stickers.
Promote outdoor activities. Take your child outside and go bike riding or rollerblading.
Play competitive games with your child while promoting good sportsmanship
Check the local newspapers for child theatre listings in your area. Take your child out to a children's play.
Today can be your child's special day. Allow her to choose which activity and meal to enjoy today.
Today is annual photo day with the Toronto Blue Jays. Take your child to get his picture taken.
Take your child to the park. Help her place a piece of paper on a tree trunk and color on the paper to create a design.
Create an outdoor duties chart with tasks such as: removing weeds, raking leaves and watering flowers. Reward him with stickers for completed tasks.
Teach your child a tongue twister today. Have her challenge everyone at the dinner table to repeat it.
If it's a nice day out today, fill up the wading pool or encourage your child to run through the sprinkler.
Look at a map of the world, and ask your child to locate three countries he has never heard of before.
Go through your child's toy box today for items that can be donated. Explain the significance of giving to the less fortunate.
Tonight there will be a full moon. Look at some pictures of the solar system in a book or on the Internet. Tonight, ask your child to look for the man in the moon.
Ask your child to draw a picture of what she wants to do when she grows up.
Help your child learn how to manage money today, by talking about an allowance. Earning money teaches skills and responsibility.
Praise your child when it is deserved. The way that you give praises to him will help to shape how he will face challenges in school and in life.
Sit down and go over your child homework tonight. If she does not have any homework read a few pages from a book and discuss what you've read.
On a hot sunny day, lay down in the backyard or at the park and look at the clouds. Together, use your imaginations to describe what you see in the clouds.
Help your child select health snacks. Before going to the grocery store he can help create the list of vegetables and fruits.
Visit a grandparent or senior citizen today. Help teach your child about the importance of spending time with loved ones and volunteering time to others
Ask your child what sports or activities she is interested in. Read through the community recreation book together and sign her up for classes.
Help your child write a letter to a family member today. Take a walk to the post office to mail the letter.
Make rice crispy squares today. Ask your child to help prepare the ingredients.
Talk to your child about not talking to strangers. Do not frighten him, but make him aware of potential dangers.
Make tonight movie night. Either go to the theatre or rent one from your local video store. Ask your child to pick the movie. Together, discuss the significance of the film.
Look through your family photo album. Show your child pictures of you when you were her age. Talk to her about other family members like aunts, uncles and grandparents.
Talk with your child about why values are important. Ask him to describe some of the qualities that he values about his friends.
There are many things that you can do at the park. Help your child make a kite, feed the ducks, or walk the dog.
Reward your child for doing well in school this month. Allow her to choose the reward, within reason.

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Fun activities for you and your middle school child

The end of the school year is approaching so check on your child's progress in school. Before it's too late, help him get the help he'll need or be sure to reward success.
Sit down on a Sunday morning with your child and read the comics out of the weekend newspaper.
It's National Teachers' Day. Have your child write a thank you note to her teacher.
Don't nag your child to do his chores. Instead, reward him by offering privileged upon fulfilment.
It's Cinco de Mayo. Use the Internet to look up this Mexican holiday with your child today. Celebrate by letting her help you make tacos or quesadillas for dinner tonight.
Having trouble getting your son to read? Studies show that boys prefer reading nonfiction. They like books about people's lives, sports or the world.
Be an informed parent. Get to know your child's friends and invite them over as often as possible.
To celebrate the warmer months ahead, get your child to spend a few hours with you outside. Find out where there are local batting cages or just take a walk with her.
Help your child be independent. Encourage him to be responsible for his own schedule by writing things on a wall calendar or a personal calendar.
Make a decision as a family like where to go on a summer vacation or what new car your family should buy. This builds co-operation and communication skills.
In the warmer months there are many activities for families to do together around the GTA. Look in your local paper for some fun activities to do as a family or for interesting places to visit.
Ask your child about something she brought home from school like a book, test or art project.
If you know your child has a presentation to make, encourage him to practice with you.
Teach your child useful acronyms such as HOMES for the Great Lakes – Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior.
Boredom can lead to drug and alcohol abuse. Help your child develop hobbies and interests.
On a warm day, plant a flower with your child. Make sure she helps you take care of it and you can watch it grow together.
Read about a problem affecting your community. What can you and your child do about it?
Learn CPR with your child. This shows one another how much you value each other's lives.
Peer pressure isn't always a bad thing. Encourage group activities with your child and his friends like sports and volunteering.
Does your child have a spelling or math test? Make study flash cards together and practice each night.
Do you know a quotation that inspires you? Share it with your child.
Time with parents is more important to kids than material things – make sure to set aside some time each week to spend with your child.
Give your child a fun responsibility like choosing a gift for an upcoming celebration.
Today is Victoria Day. Research why Canada celebrates Victoria Day and look in your community newspaper where you and your family can enjoy fireworks.
Getting your child to talk to you can be difficult. It helps to ask specific questions to get her to open up.
Re-doing your child's chores can hurt his self-esteem. Instead, offer tips on how to improve them.
Play a word game such as Scrabble or Boggle with your child today.
Studies have shown that the average person tries alcohol at 12.8 years. Discuss peer pressure with your child.
Encourage your child to stay active with her friends by suggesting roller blading, biking and walking as modes of transportation.
Watch a travel program with your child. Discuss places you'd both like to visit and how much it would cost.
On a rainy night, rent movies with your child. Make popcorn and discuss the movies afterwards.

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Fun activities for you and your teen

All grown up and no time to read? Plant books and magazines in the car, bathroom, kitchen or on the microwave for your busy teen and you might just find him reading and instead of talking on the phone.
Encourage your teen to read your favourite book and discuss her opinion of the book.
Teach your teen how to budget. Ask him to make a two-column list of expenses and income. Under expenses, have him list what he would expect to spend for movies, bus tokens, lunches, etc. Then, have him add all the expenses and subtract the total from the income. Ask him to think of ways to reduce his spending. If his income is more than his expenses, talk about a savings plan.
Make your teen's favourite dinner together.
Talk to your teen about getting a summer job. Help your teen with her resume and covering letter.
Discuss future goals with your teen. Ask him to write down what he wants to accomplish in the next five years.
Check out college and university websites with your teen. Discuss the schools she is interested in attending.
Help your teen learn about people from different countries. Suggest talking to neighbours from different countries, reading library books about other cultures, reading newspapers and watching TV specials.
Make today a special one for you and your teen. Spend some time doing things you both enjoy.
Take an aerobics class with your teen. Discuss the importance of exercise.
Visit a museum with your teen.
Does your teen take a lunch to school? Make a healthy lunch together every night before you go to bed.
Encourage your teen to make a presentation to your family of what he has learned at school this year.
Talk with your teen about peer pressure and the importance of saying 'no.'
Together, watch your teen's favourite sport. Ask her to write a news report on the outcome of the game.
Talk to your teen about the type of business he would like to own. Have him write a business plan for you and the bank asking for a loan.
Encourage your teen to join a summer sport.
Discuss the importance of safety with your teen, making sure she is always with someone she knows and trusts.
Discuss four significant Canadian events with your teen. Ask him to research these events and write an essay on them.
Talk to your teen about exploring her artistic side. Take a summer painting course together.
Ask your teen to look through the newspaper and pick out a company that's in crisis. Track this company together over the next two months. What is its position on the stock market? How has this changed? What changes, if any, has the company made to overcome its crisis?
Have your teen invite his friends for a day of outdoor activities. Go hiking, in-line skating and bike riding.
Plan a no TV night. Instead, have your family sit at a table and discuss your favourite books.
Make a cake or cookies from scratch with your teen.
The key to going on outings with your teen is to plan ahead and get her input. Make each outing into a family planning meeting. Get out the trail guides, discuss what food to bring, and review the clothing to carry in backpacks.
Planning a trip this summer? Discuss where you would like to go and have your teen plan the trip. Ask him to make hotel arrangements, calculate the distance, make a list of expenses and approve it with you before confirming the trip.
Have your teen reflect on the time you've spent together this month. Discuss which activities you've enjoyed the most.
Take a walk with your teen tonight and look at the stars. Together, try to identify five constellations.
Visit the grocery store with your teen today. Ask her to select items she can use to prepare a healthy meal for the family this week.
Buy your teen a journal to keep track of vocabulary words. He can write down words that he doesn't understand while reading and later look them up and record their definitions.
Encourage your teen to volunteer for an organization that meets her career interests. Check out the volunteer board in the "Student Stuff" section of the Peel board's website - www.peelschools.org.

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