What are a few fun cheap and easy activities to do with children....

Question

we are going camping this weekend and im looking for something diffrent to do with the kids this weekend to keep them entertained in addition to the basic camp fire marshmellow campground activities there is a 4 year old a 3 year a 2 year old and a one year old i was thinking about making t shirts with hand prints on them or getting spray bottles filling them with food coloring and letting them go to town but i dont know....what do you suggest?

Answer 1

That sounds like fun, and yes I think the normal finger paint would come off of shirts.

This is not an art project, but my kids absolutely love this game. I tell them hop like a bunny across the room and crab walk back. And go on and on until you are out of ideas. It is one of their favorite games and they are 7 & 9. It would be ideal for outdoors. Follow the leader is fun too. You could also try a scavenger hunt and since they are so little, find it all before hand and have it out in plain sight, similar to an egg hunt. You could do pictures of sticks etc. instead of a list have a picture list and have it all thing you find outdoors. Rocks, sticks etc. They could draw shaped in the dirt with sticks. Or get them maginfying glasses and let them go at it on what they find interesting. They sell them at the $ store and they are plastic lenses not glass so they are safe. My youngest LOVES looknig for bugs etc. and she is a girl as well.

How fun some of my best memories as a child are camping with my parents.

Answer 2

That sounds like fun...great ideas.. Buy bug books and try to do a bug hunt.. Also learn about the campsite where you are going.. let them take pictures for a camping journal maybe.  I would bring Jars, nets, paper and pencils so they can get creative or something.. A basic board game can be ok to bring, one time use camera, go trailing . Remember safety too.. Make sure you tell them how to be safe while camping.. Be safe and have fun.

Answer 3

Crayon rubbings of leafs are always fun and easy to do. Or collect different rocks and glue them in an empty egg carton- one per space- to display the collection. Or have each child find a bigger rock and decorate them to make paperweights or pet rocks.

You could also do a sound scavenger hunt. Make a list ( you can use words and pictures to show the items since they probably cant read) of different sounds they are likely to hear. Like a bird chirping, footsteps, any other nature sounds or things you would hear at a campsite really. They can make a check mark next to each item whenever they hear that sound. When ever you are done...could be the end of the day, end of the hour, half hour, whatever works (basically whenever they seem to be loosing interest... you might want to keep the time frame shorter with little ones) you can reward them with "prizes" of making smores, or whatever else you like. All the kids should get a reward at this age, there doesn't need to be a "winner" per say. You could also use the same idea with sights or smells. Puffy paints work well on t shirt, or you can just tie dye. you can even tie dye with koolaid packets.I'll put some links below with other ideas and activities. Have fun!!