Summer Boredom Jar

Submitted by: Gwen Davidson

It seems that in the summer, us kids seem to be on screens a bit too much! Then the Adults kick us off and tell us to do something else. I can never think of anything else to do! One way I solved this problem was by making a summer boredom jar. Whenever I am ‘bored’ I can pick a popsicle stick out of the jar and VOILA! I have something to do. Here is how I made it:

Supplies:

• any type of jar, glass or cup (we used an empty pasta sauce jar)

• popsicle sticks (thick, thin, colorful, plain)

• markers, stickers, (any thing to decorate the jar)

Steps:

• First decorate the jar with markers and/or stickers.

• Next, on popsicle sticks write activities to do. Such as…

  • colour

  • learn a magic trick

  • create an obstacle course

  • draw a treasure map

  • make a bracelet

  • make a scavenger hunt for family and friends

  • Parents you might even want to add one or two like clean your room or read a book

• Then decorate the popsicle sticks

• Finally put all of your popsicle sticks in your jar and poof, you just made a summer boredom jar!

Make Your Own Desk Foot Support!

The new Bermuda Phone Books are out!  So...what do you do with the old one?

Make a desk foot support for your child, or make a few for your classroom.  Providing a stable place for your feet actually helps with handwriting.  Kids that have weaker postural/core muscles need their feet and lower half of their body supported in order to free up their arms and hands to perform a fine motor task.

A simple solution is to use duct tape to wrap 1-2 phone books together!  Completely cover the phone book in duct tape one way...then the other.  You can put two books together, or have single ones wrapped and just use a non-slip rubber mat in between if you need to stack them to get the correct height.

There are so many different themed and patterned duct tape now too...you can personalize it to your child!

Functional Handwriting Practice Ideas

Looking for ways to sneak in  a little handwriting practice without them knowing??? 

Try these:

• Write the grocery list (even just print the first letter...or sound it out)
• Make a treasure hunt on sticky notes
• Keep score during a game
• Write down a phone message (set it up that Grandma calls and has a message that has to be recorded.)
• Send a postcard (everyone loves getting mail)
• Games - pictionary, make your own Headbands cards, ...
• Hangman, crossword puzzles, tic tac toe (with other letters/words than x & o)