How to Bingo…
Each month I publish a new mix of activity resources to help your family explore language, the arts, science, movement, mindfulness and social studies. Some also encourage helpfulness and independence. Many get kids outdoors. I “loosely” tie in three themes: the current season, a focus topic and a core value. This quarter’s themes are Summer, Animals and Kindness, respectively.
Most Bingo Squares will take about 20-40 minutes. Lots of these I’ve tried, some have been recommended by friends and some I found online. There is no right way or wrong way to use the board. It can be an idea list for parents or selections can be child led. Go for “Bingos” or just pick the activities that seem the most fun. Hope you enjoy “bingoing” as much as we do!
Activity Resources
| Project Noah: Become a citizen scientist by checking out and contributing to Project Noah, where people around the world spot, identify and post pictures of species they encounter. From flowers and mushrooms to spiders and butterflies to reptiles and squirrels… all natural life is celebrated. |
| New Idea: I always leave space for a fresh recommendation or new discovery. Also try asking the kiddos for suggestions. |
| KidNuz: In just 5 minutes KidNuz keeps your family informed with the latest in current events, politics, science, sports and entertainment. The journalist moms who create this podcast strive to deliver the day’s top stories in a child-friendly way without talking down to kids. There is also a quiz at the end of each episode to see who’s been paying attention 🙂 |
| Bubble Dance Party: Get outside with your family, turn up your favorite jam, dance and blow bubbles. What could be more fun that that? If you are feeling particularly ambitious try out homemade bubble recipes from DIY Network or learn about the science of bubbles from Sciencing.com. |
| Family Bookclub: Given a comfortable environment, many kids are eager to discuss the details and themes of the books they read. A great way to support this is through a family book club where everyone gets the chance to share their thoughts. Scholastic.com has some tips… like make it multi-generational. In a time of social distancing and Zoom visits, a book club could also be one creative and safe way to recharge connections with love ones. |
| Art with Mati & Dada: We stumbled across this channel on YouTube earlier in the year and my kid dubbed it “Xavier Riddle for Art”. Mati is a budding artist who travels back in time with Dada, her magic robot, to talk with famous artists about their process. While some elements of the cartoon might be a little silly, the way it discusses art techniques and styles is really engaging… like how Kandinsky’s paintings evoke the rhythms and harmonies of music and how Caravaggio employed chiaroscuro to create three-dimensionality. I would have liked to see more diverse artists also showcased (there are a lot of old and new masters featured). Still, it’s a great introduction to Art History. As we watch (and rewatch) episodes, I’m encouraging my kid to create work inspired by these artists. |
| Neighborhood Safari: Our family is frequently surprised by the details we discover when we really observe all that is going on in our neighborhood. Has your family experienced the same? Hand your kid a phone or camera and try a photo safari to document buildings, landmarks, cool art, creatures and any other interesting features you find in your environment. Talk together about how and why these elements create a sense of place. |
| Laundry Folding Math: Last year my child’s kindergarten teacher introduced us to a different way of teaching and reinforcing math. The idea is to really solidify math concepts by exploring them in the physical world. This is where the laundry comes in. Whenever there’s laundry to organize, there’s ample opportunity for kids to practice sorting, counting, creating sets (by color, by clothing type, by owner, etc.). Folding also helps kids understand geometry and symmetry. Plus there’s learning the important life skill of putting clothings and linens away 😉 Here’s more context from Childhood 101 and Smart Tutor. |
| Story Pirates: Take kid written stories, add an improv troupe, stir in some musical theatre with guest Broadway performers and a touch of wackiness… poof, out comes the Story Pirates podcast. My 6 year old is a huge fan and the more absurd the episode, the more he loves it (“Floor Juice” anyone?) I love how they talk to the young authors’ about their stories and encourage kids to explore imaginative play. Keep in mind it’s super high energy so not the best for bedtime. |
| Healthy Snack: Kids tend to feel proud when they can be helpful and self-sufficient. Snack-time is perfect for teaching kids to prepare easy dishes and helping them learn to make healthy choices. Take a looks at Fizzy’s Lunch Lab from PBS Kids for some inspiration. Another easy option… Hummus. Here are 5 simple takes on this classic Middle Eastern dish from The Spruce Eats that are sure to fill your family with fiber and veggies. |
| Chore Chart: Sometimes “reminders” about daily and weekly chores result in a struggle. We are going to try to remove ambiguity and excuses with a simple and visible chore chart. Find free templates options aggregated on Green Cleaning Hacks plus tips for smooth adoption and age appropriate chores from The Spruce. |
| Animal Podcasts: There are many kid-friendly animal podcasts out there. Below are a few. Happy listening and learning! Short, facts focused: – A-Z Wildlife from Fun Kids – Kid Friendly Animal Fun Facts Animal info woven into imaginative adventures: – Animal Sound Safari – Earth Rangers Longer and more scientific: – Strange Animals Podcast |
| Bonus Square: It’s probably hot! Cool off with a refreshing drink 🙂 |
| Chalk the Walk: When the sun shines…make sidewalk art! Want to try something new? With a basic image search you can find super creative ideas for chalk “illusions” (some simple, some very complex) that allow you and your kids to be a part of the art. |
| Kid President: I first saw a Kid President video at my child’s MLK Assembly in January and observed how the students reacted with cheers and affirmation. His “pep talks” are infectious (in a good way) inspiring us to be kind, to be ourselves, to share love and experience joy, to sing and dance, to basically be more awesome! In addition to the original series, which include his adventures with President Obama and Beyoncé, there is a new series where now teenager Robbie Novak, the actor who plays KP, travels across the country with series creator/brother-in-law Brad to meet amazing kids. When we need a little bright spot in our day, KP is our go-to. |
| Timeline: Recently my kid has been trying to get his head around how historical events relate to each other by asking lots of questions… “When was Lincoln president?” “Was Ancient Greece long ago?” “When were the dinosaurs?” “Was I alive during the civil rights movement?” So we posted a basic timeline on the wall and use that as a “you are here” guidepost when these questions arise. And there are so many more ways to go with this. You can create a timeline for a “universe” like Star Wars or Harry Potter. Create a timeline of when favorite books were published or take place. Creating a personal timeline is a way for kids to celebrate their own history. The options are endless. Make a simple number line or try one of these engaging timeline options from The Owl Teacher. |
| Cosmic Kids: It’s no wonder the Cosmic Kid’s YouTube channel has millions of views. Not only does Jamie make yoga fun and appealing to kids, she authentically advocates for peace and kindness in kids’ day to day lives. I love how she offers so many types of videos from the original story-based yoga, to high energy Super Yoga, to meditation practice through Zen Den, to detailed explanations of poses for more serious learners. When my kid’s got the wiggles or wants to calm down, Cosmic Kids is one of his favorite outlets. |
| Summer Nature Collage: In many places around the world each season has a distinct feel that can be best observed in flora and fauna. This creates wonderful opportunities for nature focused seasonal art projects. Whether you do something simple, as described in this Wild, Free and Crafty blog post, or go full-on with contact paper, as described on kidsactivities.com, collages are a fun way to celebrate and document the season. What found objects depict Summer in your surroundings? |
| DIY LEGOs: Watching LEGO “speed builds” is one of my child’s favorite things. Unfortunately this results in him wanting to buy more and more sets, which motivated me to find another option. Luckily, there are tons of LEGO videos out there that show you how to build cool things with pieces you likely already have. This YouTube search for “easy lego animals” gives you a glimpse into the rich world of DIY LEGO tutorials. |
| Noodle Loaf: Created and hosted by musician/early childhood music educator Dan Saks, this participatory podcast explores rhythm, rhyme, song and dance. Check your self-consciousness at the door…. goofy and fun (two of my favorite qualities) these episodes encourage families to let loose and feel the beat. There’s also a YouTube channel with some fun movement and doodling games. |
| The Imagine Neighborhood: Blending stories and song to explore how big feelings impact mind and body, The Imagine Neighborhood podcast helps families talk about emotions. As I was searching for Social Emotional Learning content, I found a lot that was geared towards parents and educators. I also found kid-focused stuff that incorporated SEL concepts. This podcast from the Committee for Children was one of the few resources that explicitly sets out to develop kids’ emotional intelligence. Because it’s interactive and encourages conversation, I recommend this for bath time, weekends, car rides… just not right before lights out. |
| Handprint Animals: Looking for creative animal art projects? Check-out these hand and footprint designs from Nature Matters with Dr. Jenny. Not only is the end product super cute, this is great way for kids to explore animal tracks, starting with their own. It also creates a tangible “snapshot” of your kid today that you are bound to appreciate in years to come. |
| Flocabulary: Today’s “School House Rock”, Flocabulary uses hip-hop and rap to educate kids on on academic and social-emotional topics. While it’s primarily a subscription resource for teachers, they post a smattering of their videos on their YouTube channel. I recently busted out Hyperbole for my kid and his friend in reaction to some of their exaggerations 🙂 They’ve also put together a number of 20 second clips for hand washing. Makes me wish I could see all the videos. |
| Oldie but Goodie: Do you have an an old standby that’s a family favorite? Or maybe there’s an activity from a previous month’s board that you wanted to get to but didn’t. Insert here! |
| Outdoor Experiments: Science can get messy, so all the better if you can do it outside! Here’s a compilation of ideas from We Are Teachers. This month our family has plans to make a solar oven and a baking soda/vinegar powered boat. |
Find more ideas on the July Board
Recent Posts
- LEGOs, laundry and legumes
August has been a busier month with some vacation and outdoor day camps, but we’ve still relied on the bingo board to round things out. Recently we had a lot of fun building LEGO animals with basic bricks. I’m super excited that our LEGO conversations have moved away from which sets he’s hoping we buy. Instead my kid is making his own “sets”. I don’t think it hurt that we also rewatched the LEGO movie. Nice to see him tapping into his creativity as he strives to become a “master builder”.
Elephant and reindeer inspired by YouTube videos, plus “parrot” as envisioned by my kid We’ve also been focusing on helpfulness these past few weeks, from weeding (didn’t get that in July, but came back to it in August), to vacuuming, to folding laundry, to helping prepare food! Tonight we worked together to make falafel burgers – garbanzo deliciousness. Tying these activities to the bingo board did help garner excitement. The chore chart has been created and, at least for now, my child is proud of his helpfulness. I’m hoping to take advantage of this momentum and build a chore muscle.
First folded, then put away. Victory! - Wow, already mid-August
We’ve been out in the woods on holiday a bunch this month, so I’m a little behind posting about our August bingo adventures. With so much time driving, we had the chance to go deep into a few podcasts. Story Pirates was already a favorite and perfect for the road. The Poisonous Butterfly/Cartwheel Girl was the episode my kid loved the most in Season 3. Packed with zombies, a girl scientist who saves her town with help from bugs, and a “baby with a mustache” what’s not to love? We also all sang along with Noodle Loaf. In fact, I can’t get the “Weird Picnics” song from the July 1 episode out of my head. Plus it was lovely to hear the host’s young bi-racial daughters talk about skin color and, particularly, how much they love their own.
Try Dr. Sherri’s “Emotion Experiments” from The Imagine Neighborhood Still, the podcast that been the biggest hit with my kid is The Imagine Neighborhood. While not quite as outlandish as the Story Pirates, there is still a lot of silliness to tickle his funny bone. And it really does spark conversations about the feelings highlighted in each episode. Facing fears, calming down, practicing patience, learning to ask for help, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, problem solving… it’s all covered! 🙂 I’ve been super pleased with the content and my child’s engagement. In addition to the episodes, the site offers some really great supplemental resources including behind the scenes peeks into how sound and music interplay with feelings and “emotion experiments” with Dr. Sherri. Check out the daily activities for the Switcheroo episode as an example.
Being out camping was also a good time to try the solar oven. It worked okay, and perhaps could have performed a little better with more precise craftsmanship, but you really can’t lose when you are giving kids chocolate and marshmallows 😉 I’l tell you what really demonstrated the power of the sun… leaving Hershey bars out on the picnic table to be bombarded by the hot rays. And of course the gooey chocolate tasted just fine.
Solar oven constructed by 6 year old
Find all posts from August