The purpose of activities according to the manual: "In addition to providing fun and entertainment, activities should build testimonies, strengthen families, and foster unity and personal growth."
If you have found yourself in charge of activity days, my number one tip is to plan out the basic ideas for an entire year of activities if you can - this ensures that you get a variety of activities (instead of ending up with half of your activities involving paper and glue and markers) and that you can spend your time actually preparing for the activity (instead of looking for ideas on Pinterest for hours every time). In January I made a big list of ideas and had the girls mark their favorites which I tried my best to include while balancing the variety of activities and requirements for Faith in God. We accomplished this in one activity with girls and one meeting with leaders, a total of two hours to put together the plan for a whole year (plus the time brainstorming the list). It has been a life saver! It is also a great way to help you plan a budget.
This is a list of Activities that we have done for the past year:
Rag Dolls
(for orphans in Peru - best service project ever!) - the girls wanted to keep their dolls!
(picture from this great tutorial) http://www.restlessrisa.com/2014/07/rag-doll-no-sewing-required.html
Hot Air balloon ornaments
I had a bunch of old light bulbs that I had saved to be re-purposed a few years ago...
So we turned them into hot air balloon ornaments. They cut out pieces of scrap fabric and ribbon and used diluted Elmer's glue (applied with a sponge - genius!). We used bottle caps to make the baskets. They turned out cute, but it would be easier to glue on the ribbon if you let the glue dry a bit in between. There are lots of ideas for light bulb crafts.
I had a bunch of old light bulbs that I had saved to be re-purposed a few years ago...
So we turned them into hot air balloon ornaments. They cut out pieces of scrap fabric and ribbon and used diluted Elmer's glue (applied with a sponge - genius!). We used bottle caps to make the baskets. They turned out cute, but it would be easier to glue on the ribbon if you let the glue dry a bit in between. There are lots of ideas for light bulb crafts.
Activity Survey
Plan/Brainstorm for the year (I printed off the list and handed it out like a worksheet, they came up with a few of their own ideas too) Here is the Survey pdf.
Plan/Brainstorm for the year (I printed off the list and handed it out like a worksheet, they came up with a few of their own ideas too) Here is the Survey pdf.
Goal Setting in spare time
Personal soapbox warning: I have an issue with treats. When treats are served at every activity the girls tend to be more focused on the treat rather than the activity. Also, I try to eat healthy and eat sweets in moderation, but that becomes very difficult went every single social gathering somehow includes a treat... that is no longer "just a little". So I try to be the change I wish to see. We've had a couple girls who have allergies, diabetes, or many dietary restrictions at home (but love sweets and feel very left out when they can't share the treat). But treats can be fun and are fine in moderation. I decided to serve treats only 4-6 times a year as a compromise. After a couple of weeks the girls stopped asking about sweets and don't seem to miss them, but of course they are delighted when they do get one, it has become a "treat" again.
Friendship Bracelets
This allowed the girls to chat and get to know each other better while they were working. Some girls had done it before but still needed a refresher. A couple younger girls really struggled with it - it can be a little tricky. I suggest having a simpler version where the knot wraps around all the treads if the girls are younger or frustrated.
Valentines Service Advent
Got cute printable service rhymes from: http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/love-letter-garland/
We did our advent as a poster rather than a garland (to see the challenge lift a flap, open a letter, or pull a heart out of a pocket)
We did our advent as a poster rather than a garland (to see the challenge lift a flap, open a letter, or pull a heart out of a pocket)
Life Size Board Game
We ended up doing the Game of Life. We set up the board using pop up tunnels and tents, hula hoops, those interlocking foam floor mat squares and sheets of paper to mark the spaces. Each space/paper had a life event. I left some blank so that the girls could write on them and make up some of their own - they enjoyed that.
I also brought costumes so that when they picked their career they could dress up - Loved it!
Made a giant spinner out of a sit and spin toy.
We ran out of time to finish since the board wasn't quite ready at the beginning of the activity. Make sure you don't make the board too long if you have a lot of players.
This is the list of career choices and life events tailored to young LDS girls I made up for my game board: Game of Life for Activity Days pdf
Made a giant spinner out of a sit and spin toy.
We ran out of time to finish since the board wasn't quite ready at the beginning of the activity. Make sure you don't make the board too long if you have a lot of players.
This is the list of career choices and life events tailored to young LDS girls I made up for my game board: Game of Life for Activity Days pdf
Decorate cupcakes
Super cute and easy! We had a young woman come in to show us some tips -she was in some sort of culinary school - My favorite is the marshmallow flowers: cut the marshmallow in half diagonally and dip the sticky side in sprinkles. Arrange as flower petals.
Super cute and easy! We had a young woman come in to show us some tips -she was in some sort of culinary school - My favorite is the marshmallow flowers: cut the marshmallow in half diagonally and dip the sticky side in sprinkles. Arrange as flower petals.
Personal soapbox warning: I have an issue with treats. When treats are served at every activity the girls tend to be more focused on the treat rather than the activity. Also, I try to eat healthy and eat sweets in moderation, but that becomes very difficult went every single social gathering somehow includes a treat... that is no longer "just a little". So I try to be the change I wish to see. We've had a couple girls who have allergies, diabetes, or many dietary restrictions at home (but love sweets and feel very left out when they can't share the treat). But treats can be fun and are fine in moderation. I decided to serve treats only 4-6 times a year as a compromise. After a couple of weeks the girls stopped asking about sweets and don't seem to miss them, but of course they are delighted when they do get one, it has become a "treat" again.
Origami
With kind notes
We did it step by step along with a you tube video on my phone to make a seed packet and a jumping frog. Some of the younger girls needed help with every step. I gave them free time at the end to fold whatever they wanted.
French Braids
and Hair Styles
I was surprised that some of the girls were really shy about it and didn't want to do anyone's hair or get their hair done. But some girls were very excited and I heard from their moms that they did their hair that way all week.
Feel free to use this original artwok - just please give credit where credit is due :)
Egg Hunt – Articles of Faith
The girls loved the egg hunt. I wanted the girls to work together so I split the girls into teams and gave each team a designated area to search for their 20 eggs (important to know how many eggs you have or you won't know if they found them all) I made some really tricky.
I cut up all 13 articles of faith into little strips and mixed them all together for extra challenge and the girls actually got it all back together in order all working together without my help. Then I let them take turns hiding the eggs for each other.
I wanted to give them an actual Easter gift (while also avoiding sugar) so I found a bunch of cute barrettes at the dollar store and used them as bunny ears. I decided to draw my own bunny clip art since I couldn't find a good one. They turned out so cute!
Feel free to use this original artwok - just please give credit where credit is due :)
Finger Painting
Write a nice note on the back of the picture and doorbell ditch them. (although the girls had to that on their own since we didn't have enough time)
Be prepared to clean up spills - best to limit the amount of paint they have access to, there were gobs of paint dumped on their papers... they were creative. Better yet choose a less messy medium or try finger paint prints in tubs
Spa Night
Mother Daughter
We had everyone grab refreshments (watermelon, cucumber sandwiches, strawberries, and lemonade) and the mom's soaked their feet while we gave a spiritual message about how Christ washed other's feet (including how the apostles were a little hesitant to accept this service that they felt unworthy of). Then each girl shared something she had done recently to serve others. Then then mother-daughter pair had to think of some way that their color of nail polish could remind them of Christ. I was really pleased with the results of that challenge.
We had the girls put lotion on their mom's feet and paint their mom's toenails. Then the mom's painted the girls nails. We told them to bring their own flip flops.
Each mom and girl shared a gift bag that included nail stickers, polish, chocolate, lotion, and the foot soak tub (dollar store really came through for me that time!)
Total cost for 10+ girls and moms was under $80!
The room was decorated with fresh roses and flowers from our gardens and we had Sunday music playing in the background. It was lovely.
Scavenger Hunt
My gospel standards theme.
My gospel standards theme.
They had to guess the gospel standard that went with each clue
used this doll template: http://famouscanadianwomen.
I liked the doll/ picture because it was girlish and cute, but also real - not super skinny or disproportionate.
One girl liked them so much she made a bunch at home with her sister designing outfits for different countries around the world.
Obstacle course
They enjoyed it of course. (I was on vacation so I don't know the details)
Jump rope
playground games:
Babysitter / Boredom Buster kits
Sew ear warmers
(1/4 yd fabric/ fleece each)
Popsicle stick nativities
Fashion Design
and Grooming/ Modesty
Decorated paper dolls with scraps of fabric.
used this doll template: http://famouscanadianwomen.
I liked the doll/ picture because it was girlish and cute, but also real - not super skinny or disproportionate.
One girl liked them so much she made a bunch at home with her sister designing outfits for different countries around the world.
Water Games
It was over cast and most of the girls didn't want to get wet. But we had fun anyway. The girls were delighted to discover that if your hand is covered in bubble soap - you can't pop bubbles with it!
Obstacle course
They enjoyed it of course. (I was on vacation so I don't know the details)
Jump rope
playground games:
This was a fantastic activity. The girls (mostly younger) were right at the perfect age to learn this skill. We probably spent about half of the time just spinning a big double dutch rope while the girls practiced running into the rope and jumping out without getting hit. They were not ready to try any rhymes yet, they just wanted to practice their skills. It was amazing to see their self confidence blossom as they experienced they joy of overcoming their fears and mastering a new skill.
We tried to play the Helicopter game, but the rope we had was really hard to spin
So we played Knockout with the basketball
Great website for playground games: http://www.playworks.org/game-tags/recess-games
I really wanted to teach them how to do a Chinese jump rope, but I didn't get one in time.
Pretend Campfire and Charades
Act out stories from the Book of Mormon about faith in Jesus Christ and the other team has to guess which one it is and briefly say what in the story needed faith. (inspired by one of the Faith in God requirements in Learning and Living the Gospel section. I told them they just needed to share there testimonies about Jesus sometime and they could pass off this one. I also took the time to remind them to be working on Faith in God and that many of the activities we do could count towards it but I usually forget to tell them. And I have heard/ noticed the girls have been working on it since then! Good reminder!)
I really wanted to do this activity mostly so I could make this yummy treat - Smores bites
(I used her picture because mine didn't turn out so cute - but still delicious!) http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2012/05/smore-pretzel-bites/#XMyYiAPR28Si3ABw.32
I really wanted to do this activity mostly so I could make this yummy treat - Smores bites
(I used her picture because mine didn't turn out so cute - but still delicious!) http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2012/05/smore-pretzel-bites/#XMyYiAPR28Si3ABw.32
I made a pretend fire for the girls to sit around (rolled/ crumbled up brown paper for logs and red and yellow tissue paper with battery tea lights for fire - it looked pretty good and was super fast) also had blankets for them to sit on and one pinned up like a tent (using big binder clips) The girls loved it.
*Although the girls are not legally old enough to babysit yet, many of them are getting close and they are all so excited to babysit and have been asking about this activity all year (we had several girls invite non-member friends to this activity!) It was also a great opportunity for the girls to get a taste of Young Women's, to be with them on a more equal level, and to see some great role models.
We ended up doing this activity combined with the Young Women. Some older girls took turns teaching about babysitting and then some anonymous suggestions from women in the ward were read to address concerns/preferences about babysitters (mainly please don't text the whole time, or let the kids watch tons of TV, or leave the house trashed, or be really silent and awkward on the car ride home)
One of the best tips was to always have someone you can call for help if you need it, like your mom, in case things get out of hand or the baby just won't stop crying.
One tip that surfaced was that following the promptings of the Holy Spirit can help you be a better babysitter and keep the kids safe (like one story that was shared: not playing outside one day even though you normally do because you have a bad feeling about it, and then later you find out there was a good reason you had a bad feeling and are glad you stayed inside)
Then the girls got their own reusable grocery bag to decorate to start a babysitting kit of their own in. They also got a nice handout of do's and don'ts
Secret Service Challenge/ Mission
http://befickle.blogspot.com/
This was Spy training in preparation for the Spy Night with their dads. During the activity they played telephone to practice passing secret messages and other "spy" games. We had a few minutes left at the end so I gave them a last minute challenge to see who could spin in circles the longest and who could run across the room after spinning for 60 seconds. It was fun to watch and they loved it.
We sent home the packet with the secret service challenge for them to do at home along with the invitations.
This was Spy training in preparation for the Spy Night with their dads. During the activity they played telephone to practice passing secret messages and other "spy" games. We had a few minutes left at the end so I gave them a last minute challenge to see who could spin in circles the longest and who could run across the room after spinning for 60 seconds. It was fun to watch and they loved it.
We sent home the packet with the secret service challenge for them to do at home along with the invitations.
Daddy Daughter
Spy night
It was Awesome! Everyone was surprised at least a little. I put it in a separate post:
http://clevercinderella.blogspot.com/2015/01/spy-adventure-daddy-daughter-activity.html
Inspiration:
(1/4 yd fabric/ fleece each)
(but we will use markers instead of paint)
What great ideas!
ReplyDelete