How to Make Activity Cards for Your Kids

Keeping the kids busy on a snow day or summer vacation can be difficult to do. Giving them something more fun and productive to do besides winning a video game requires a bit of forethought and creativity. Planning ahead and creating some fun activity cards for your kids to select from will make even the chore of answering "I'm bored, what can I do?" feel like a game! With a few supplies you are on your way.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blank playing cards as offered on various arts and crafts web sites or stores in your area
• Markers
• Ideas

1. Get your blank playing cards from your local store or arts and crafts supplier. They are traditionally blank on one or both sides. You can decorate them with markers and write on them easily.

2. Sit the kids around the table and have them decorate one side of the card. Your deck will have 52 cards in them, but don't feel like you have to do them all right now. Start with 20 to get everyone going.

3. 
   photo by Ryan Doherty

   Now, brainstorm with your kids all the stuff they like to do. They may come up with things like; go bowling, go to the arcade, play a board game, watch a movie marathon or have a Wii game play off. Write each idea on a separate card.

4. Put the cards away for a rainy day. When the kids are bored have them pick a card and they shall do the activity.

5. Be as creative as possible to keep the kids active. Include their friends in a basketball game, an afternoon of dress up or forming a rock band!

Tips & Warnings

• Have supplies for your activities in a special designated closet or box.
• Let the kids come up with some ideas for you to do with them and have a special "family night" deck of cards to choose from.
• Get some new board games and craft kits to include in your activity set.

[majesticchild]

on 1/10/2009 What a neat idea! I remember when I was younger, my brothers and I would always mope around the house complaining aobut having nothing to do even though we had plenty of video games! I think we just needed someone to decide for us. This would have helped us out a lot back then.

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