Kids Activities
An illustrated A-Z of activities, sports, hobbies and fun stuff kids can do.
As well as being a useful instruction manual for kids who won't bother looking at it - this page is also a chance to wallow in some memories of fun stuff that we adults used to do. It is a slightly wistful and nostalgic look at those simple early times.
All pictures are available on tees, mugs, cards and other gifts. For kids and adults who once were.
As well as being a useful instruction manual for kids who won't bother looking at it - this page is also a chance to wallow in some memories of fun stuff that we adults used to do. It is a slightly wistful and nostalgic look at those simple early times.
All pictures are available on tees, mugs, cards and other gifts. For kids and adults who once were.
Chores
As children get older they need to learn responsibility, effort, reward. That is where chores come in. Helpful household tasks that a child can learn, do and perhaps earn some pocket money for.
This is valuable preparation for the world of work that lies ahead of them.
There are plenty of household chores or garden tasks on these pages which might give some ideas to get children occupied and teach them life skills.
This is valuable preparation for the world of work that lies ahead of them.
There are plenty of household chores or garden tasks on these pages which might give some ideas to get children occupied and teach them life skills.
Conkers
Playing conkers is a rite of passage for English schoolboys.
A relic from a bygone age before iPhones, the internet and fast food.
The conker is the seed from the horse chestnut tree. It is covered in a spiky case and nestled inside the case is the beautiful conker.
These are desirable objects - shiny, brown and new. A treasure from Nature.
In the hands of a conker expert they become a deadly weapon.
Drill a hole through the conker, pass a string through the hole and tie a knot at one end to keep the conker on the string.
Take turns bashing your opponents conker until one of them breaks. The one that is intact becomes a One-er. If it beats another conker it becomes a Two-er. And so on.
Some people bake them in a oven to get hard or soak them overnight in vinegar. That's cheating - sort of.
A relic from a bygone age before iPhones, the internet and fast food.
The conker is the seed from the horse chestnut tree. It is covered in a spiky case and nestled inside the case is the beautiful conker.
These are desirable objects - shiny, brown and new. A treasure from Nature.
In the hands of a conker expert they become a deadly weapon.
Drill a hole through the conker, pass a string through the hole and tie a knot at one end to keep the conker on the string.
Take turns bashing your opponents conker until one of them breaks. The one that is intact becomes a One-er. If it beats another conker it becomes a Two-er. And so on.
Some people bake them in a oven to get hard or soak them overnight in vinegar. That's cheating - sort of.
Egg and Spoon Race
You need an equal number of kids, hard-boiled eggs and spoons.
Give each child an egg, show them how to hold the spoon and balance it, and set up an area they can walk from one end to the other.
Fifty yards is more than enough.
The look of concentration, the fear of dropping the egg, the need to win at all costs.
And that's just the adults.
It's much more fun when the little ones have a go.
Give each child an egg, show them how to hold the spoon and balance it, and set up an area they can walk from one end to the other.
Fifty yards is more than enough.
The look of concentration, the fear of dropping the egg, the need to win at all costs.
And that's just the adults.
It's much more fun when the little ones have a go.
Escape Artists
Babies do nothing much for a while. Then they start moving around.
This is time for a brief celebration followed by the realisation that everything in the area needs to be immediately made child safe.
Covers on electric points, sharp things put away, anything of value put out of reach.
This is time for a brief celebration followed by the realisation that everything in the area needs to be immediately made child safe.
Covers on electric points, sharp things put away, anything of value put out of reach.
Exams
One of the key stresses in anyone's life and particularly for children.
Pass the test or be held back, streamed down, or marked poorly.
Success or failure in a couple of hours of answering questions that seem to have little relation to real life.
A fairer way would be an education that offers alternatives for personal development. Apprenticeships instead of university for example. Handiwork as opposed to study skills.
Poor kids.
Pass the test or be held back, streamed down, or marked poorly.
Success or failure in a couple of hours of answering questions that seem to have little relation to real life.
A fairer way would be an education that offers alternatives for personal development. Apprenticeships instead of university for example. Handiwork as opposed to study skills.
Poor kids.
Graduation
Graduating happens at the end of studies.
Years will have passed since those first hesitant steps into school.
The learning, effort, time and money will hopefully pay off on graduation day.
Then it is time to get a job and starting using those skills.
Years will have passed since those first hesitant steps into school.
The learning, effort, time and money will hopefully pay off on graduation day.
Then it is time to get a job and starting using those skills.
Hair Brushing
If you are going to have long hair you need to brush it.
Otherwise it gets full of knots and tangles.
Some Princesses brush their hair a hundred times according to the nursery tales.
For most children simply being able to get the brush through the hair is a good start.
Otherwise it gets full of knots and tangles.
Some Princesses brush their hair a hundred times according to the nursery tales.
For most children simply being able to get the brush through the hair is a good start.
Hair Drying
Using a hair dryer to blow hot air requires some dexterity and common sense.
It's hot so don't point it at eyes or exposed skin for too long.
Don't overdry hair so it becomes a frizzy mess.
It's hot so don't point it at eyes or exposed skin for too long.
Don't overdry hair so it becomes a frizzy mess.
Homeschool
Home schooling used to be a small minority of people who wanted to educate their children outside the mainstream.
The Covid pandemic introduced the majority to the the pleasures, and pitfalls, of educating children at home. With Zoom classes run by teachers it was possible to give children a remote learning experience.
Will home schooling eventually become the norm? It is possible to see a future for distance learning. No commuting, no needs for expensive to maintain schools in prime real estate areas. The ability to make learning flexible along with every other facet of life.
The Covid pandemic introduced the majority to the the pleasures, and pitfalls, of educating children at home. With Zoom classes run by teachers it was possible to give children a remote learning experience.
Will home schooling eventually become the norm? It is possible to see a future for distance learning. No commuting, no needs for expensive to maintain schools in prime real estate areas. The ability to make learning flexible along with every other facet of life.
Homework
No sooner does school really get going then homework starts to appear.
Extra work to be done after school and often before the following day.
Can be a pain for kids and parents alike.
Extra work to be done after school and often before the following day.
Can be a pain for kids and parents alike.
Leapfrog
One child bends over while the other attempts to vault over them.
A simple physical activity probably now on the banned list as a child got bumped once.
The child in the picture is reasonably likely to collide with the other kid sending them both to the ground in a heap.
That is part of the fun - exercise and contact in a fairly safe way.
It takes time and practice to become an expert leapfrogger.
A simple physical activity probably now on the banned list as a child got bumped once.
The child in the picture is reasonably likely to collide with the other kid sending them both to the ground in a heap.
That is part of the fun - exercise and contact in a fairly safe way.
It takes time and practice to become an expert leapfrogger.
Money
The cost of children is well documented. Let's not dwell on that.
This is about teaching children the value of money. How it works, saving and spending. The exchange of money to purchase items or the theoretical benefit of saving some money for rainy day or larger purchases.
Pocket money for sweets and savings - it is never too early to start learning.
Children are often more switched on than we think. They soon work out what price point a parent will go for when out shopping or browsing the internet.
Not all kids will grow up to be bankers and that is probably a good thing.
This is about teaching children the value of money. How it works, saving and spending. The exchange of money to purchase items or the theoretical benefit of saving some money for rainy day or larger purchases.
Pocket money for sweets and savings - it is never too early to start learning.
Children are often more switched on than we think. They soon work out what price point a parent will go for when out shopping or browsing the internet.
Not all kids will grow up to be bankers and that is probably a good thing.
Potty Training
Potty or toilet training is a MAJOR step for kids and a blessed relief for the parents.
An end to the cost, smell and effort involved in changing nappies.
So well done junior for that most important of steps - the potty.
An end to the cost, smell and effort involved in changing nappies.
So well done junior for that most important of steps - the potty.
Roundabout
The playground roundabout or merry-go-round. Run alongside and push to make it revolve ever faster. Time your leap on to perfection.
One slip could be fatal - or result in mild bruising and abrasions.
Sit, stand, hang on, lean back - anything to enhance the thrill of the G forces created by the spinning movement.
In science in years to come you might learn what that means but for now there is the simple enjoyment of a playground roundabout.
One slip could be fatal - or result in mild bruising and abrasions.
Sit, stand, hang on, lean back - anything to enhance the thrill of the G forces created by the spinning movement.
In science in years to come you might learn what that means but for now there is the simple enjoyment of a playground roundabout.
Sack Race
Sack racing is for school sports day or those day out team building exercises.
Jump in a sack, grab tight and get racing.
Use the bounce or the walk method for success and enjoy the smell of that hessian sack.
Jump in a sack, grab tight and get racing.
Use the bounce or the walk method for success and enjoy the smell of that hessian sack.
Science
Some kids like science, others like art. Some like both. Or neither.
Anyhow, here is a Science design featuring some classic examples of science in the lettering, along with some in your face bright colours.
Anyhow, here is a Science design featuring some classic examples of science in the lettering, along with some in your face bright colours.
Swinging
The joy of swinging cannot be over estimated.
The cheap thrill of building momentum with your own efforts and flying through the air is not easily forgotten.
From the first gentle pushes by a parent to the pre teen extreme swinging this is a great part of a kids life.
It's a nice day. Let's go to the park and see if the swings are free.
The cheap thrill of building momentum with your own efforts and flying through the air is not easily forgotten.
From the first gentle pushes by a parent to the pre teen extreme swinging this is a great part of a kids life.
It's a nice day. Let's go to the park and see if the swings are free.
Teeth Brushing
A tough chore to get kids to do regularly and correctly.
Teeth care is a vital part of self maintenance.
It is not fair for the carer to have to look over the child every single time they are supposed to do the job.
Build good habits for dental care!
Teeth care is a vital part of self maintenance.
It is not fair for the carer to have to look over the child every single time they are supposed to do the job.
Build good habits for dental care!
Three Legged Race
The three legged race is a traditional event at school sports days or team bulding exercises.
Take two people, tie one leg of each together so they effectively have three legs betwen them, and provide a race track or obstacles for them to deal with.
Hilarity and frustration follow.
Take two people, tie one leg of each together so they effectively have three legs betwen them, and provide a race track or obstacles for them to deal with.
Hilarity and frustration follow.
Tying Shoelaces
Left over right and right over left and loop.
Nope. I cannot remember how on earth I eventually learned how to tie shoelaces. It was a mystery then and still is.
Somehow it gets ingrained and from that day on - you can tie your own shoelaces!
One day all shoes will be Velcro fastening or the self-lacing trainers featured in Back to the Future.
Being able to tie shoelaces is a milestone on the road to independence.
Nope. I cannot remember how on earth I eventually learned how to tie shoelaces. It was a mystery then and still is.
Somehow it gets ingrained and from that day on - you can tie your own shoelaces!
One day all shoes will be Velcro fastening or the self-lacing trainers featured in Back to the Future.
Being able to tie shoelaces is a milestone on the road to independence.
Washing Hands
Hands get and go everywhere. They get dirty, covered in paint, pick up germs and then transfer that to other places and people.
Two of the most important times to wash hands are after toilet and before eating.
That is because while dirty hands can make a mess of your clothes or the newly decorated room - those actions will not kill you.
But hidden germs can harm - and toilet and eating are times when clean hands are important.
We wash our hands to keep our germs from other people and hope they do the same in return.
Two of the most important times to wash hands are after toilet and before eating.
That is because while dirty hands can make a mess of your clothes or the newly decorated room - those actions will not kill you.
But hidden germs can harm - and toilet and eating are times when clean hands are important.
We wash our hands to keep our germs from other people and hope they do the same in return.
Work
Jobs and careers are the future for most children. If they are lucky or don't have hugely rich parents.
The "future" range of designs feeds into two sentiments. One is where the child might be heading and the other may be a nod back to the parent of the child and what they do for a living.
For example - "Future Accountant" can be taken as encouragement or a fun nod to the games children play and the life skills they may be learning.
Counting on an abacus or even counting beans might mean an interest in numbers in later life.
The "future" range of designs feeds into two sentiments. One is where the child might be heading and the other may be a nod back to the parent of the child and what they do for a living.
For example - "Future Accountant" can be taken as encouragement or a fun nod to the games children play and the life skills they may be learning.
Counting on an abacus or even counting beans might mean an interest in numbers in later life.
End of Page
Thanks for viewing this page. I hope you got something out of it. Maybe an idea for stuff to do with your own kid or a memory triggered of the fun that simple play and achievements can bring.
Being an adult is way overrated.
Being an adult is way overrated.