The end of school is here, albeit a very different end of school this year. For many families the end of the school year came in March when schools closed, and learning shifted to the home. For others, school continued in some fashion until the end of May or early June. Now that school is officially over, it is time to think about summer.
COVID-19 still has us concerned about catching the virus, spreading the virus, or otherwise being at risk or putting others at risk. Perhaps we’re worried about grandparents, young children, or those with health issues.These are valid concerns. Even though Wisconsin has ‘opened up’ and the state is no longer on restriction, many families are choosing to remain so to some degree to keep themselves safe and healthy. That is a perfectly fine decision; however, how do we keep our kids busy this summer with many traditional summer activities now considered at-risk behavior, and many events, such as summer camps and programs, cancelled? After all, gifted kids have minds and/or bodies that never stop. Below is a list of activities to not only keep youngsters (and adults) occupied, but also to work on building their bodies and minds while outside. Below the list of activities are links for websites with even more outdoor ideas. The lists could be endless so there are only a few activities and resources listed. I encourage you to investigate your favorite places online; better yet, ask your gifted student to do the investigating and inform the family of what they learned. Many of these links have unique activities and ideas for the summer that do not include actually being at the location. You may even start some new traditions with some new activities. Always remember to follow CDC guidelines and practice social distancing if playing with others outside your own family. Wear a mask, wash hands a lot, use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available, and disinfect equipment after use to limit the spread of germs (balls, chalk, gardening tools, jump rope, etc.). Here are some guidelinesHow to Protect Yourself & Others, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Enjoy the summer months together with your family. It is sure to be a summer as unique as this year has been. Activities to Build the Body and Mind Fine Motor (Small Muscles) Skills Dig in dirt or sand Scavenger hunt Sidewalk/driveway chalk art Blow bubbles with bubble mix you make Play with a ball (catch, basketball, softball, dodgeball, badminton) Gardening Collect leaves, rocks Make mud pies Wash the car Stacking cups Fishing Gross Motor (Large Muscles) Skills Climb a tree Play in water Kick ball Jump rope by yourself or with family members, reciting the rhyme you created (see Creativity below) Hopscotch Play with a ball Sidewalk/driveway bowling Exercises (jumping jacks, lunges, squats, run in place) Bike ride Skateboarding Scooter ride Rollerblading Walking Field Day Activities 100-yard dash Distance runs (run around the perimeter of the yard) Ball throw (shot put) Long jump (short jump) Frisbee throw (discus) Hurdles (use a box or something with age appropriate height) Relay Run Creativity Skills Pretend play Make up your own games Make new rules for well-known games Create the rhyme to recite while jumping rope Sidewalk/driveway chalk art Obstacle course Write letters to family or friends Birdwatching Calming Skills Read a book (many libraries have curb-side pick-up, or are open for limited use, and for eBook checkout online) Write a short story or book Keep a journal Create art Meditate Yoga Websites with Activities Keeping Kids Active and Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic Johns Hopkins University https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/04/20/keshia-pollack-porter-keeping-kids-active-during-covid-19/ Nature-Based Activities to Do While Practicing Social Distancing University of Minnesota Extension https://extension.umn.edu/natural-resources/nature-based-activities Keeping Children Active During the Coronavirus Pandemic (free PDF) American College of Sports Medicine https://www.exerciseismedicine.org/assets/page_documents/EIM_Rx%20for%20Health_%20Keeping%20Children%20Active%20During%20Coronavirus%20Pandemic.pdf How To Keep Kids Engaged During COVID-19 Wisconsin Public Radio, Central Time Podcast https://www.wpr.org/how-keep-kids-engaged-during-covid-19 Playing It Safe While Getting Cooped-Up Kids Outside, National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/2020/04/playing-safely-outside-coronavirus/ National Park Resources, National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.org/idea/national-park-resources/ Junior Ranger Online, National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/kids/junior-ranger-online.htm Family Activities to Try During Closures-COVID-19 Checklist Ohio, Department of Health https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/families-and-individuals/coping-with-covid-19-anxiety/Family-Activities-to-Try-During-Closures-COVID-19 101 Ideas to Keep Your Kids Busy During Coronavirus Closures, Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/tarahaelle/2020/03/15/101-ideas-to-keep-your-kids-busy-during-coronavirus-closures/#1fb4b68874a4 Explore.org Animal Live-Cams, World’s Largest Nature Network Live cameras of wild and domestic animals around the world. https://explore.org/livecams Explore.org Free Nature Lesson Plans https://explore.org/education How to Make These Next Few Weeks A Little Easier, Courtesy of Birds All About Birds, The Cornell Lab, Cornell University https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-make-these-next-few-weeks-a-little-easier-courtesy-of-birds/ CESA 6 COVID-19 Resources CESA 6, Curricular and Instructional Support (click links of subjects for resources) https://www.cesa6.org/covid19.cfm CESA 6 Websites and Lesson Ideas (including extended learning for GT) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ql86a9eUg04PzUrOmCYpN0iMkxCE7CBqm-tqIJbwT_g/edit COVID-19: Travel, Wisconsin Department of Health Services https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/travel.htm Keep Children Healthy During the COVID-19 Outbreak, CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children.html Physical Activities Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition U.S. Department of Health and Human Services https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf
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