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Theme Days for Summer Fun!
By Amy Heesacker
May/June 2007

With a 5‑year‑old who enjoys building things and a 2‑year‑old whodelights in knocking them down,how can I entertain,engage and enrich them both during summer vacation without exhausting my patience in the process? In a desperate search through the parenting resource section of the Athens‑Clarke County public library I came across a remarkable book that may be the answer to my question: The Absolute Best Play Days by Pamela Waterman.  The book includes 52 "Theme Day" activities, each with ideas for various ages that make it easy for you (or your babysitter) to plan a day of fun.  The book inspired the ideas below so even if you don't get your hands on the book you can get a glimpse of the possibilities.

Astronomy Theme:

  • Draw outer space using chalk and black construction paper.  Older kids can use books on space to draw actual constellations and poke holes for flashlight/closet planetariums.
  • Build and decorate a space shuttle for playing and reading using a refrigerator box - younger kids love painting large surfaces.
  • Older kids can make launchable rockets.  Tape a plastic straw along one side of an oblong balloon, run a string through the straw tying each end of the string to different locations in the room/yard, inflate the balloon and then let it go and watch it speed along the string.  Younger kids can chase after them!
  • Try walking/jumping as if you were on the moon (floating) and then on Jupiter (heavy). Older kids can create/run astronaut training obstacle courses with gravity changes.
  • Investigate the astronomy section in your library's children's area or look for these titles: Why the Sky is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale by Mary‑Joan Gerson, Min‑Yo and the Moon Dragon by Elizabeth Hillman, Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale by Gerald McDermott, Tinker and Tom and the Star Baby by David McPhail
  • Make star‑shaped sandwiches and cheeses or a rocket ship dessert with a halved banana, a chocolate bar cut into triangles and canned whipped cream for exhaust.
  • Take a field trip to the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta to visit their planetarium (http://fsc.fernbank.edu/).

Restaurant Theme:

  • Make and decorate napkin rings out of cut up paper towel tubes and design construction paper placemats that can be laminated for future use.
  • Children can name the restaurant then decorate a sign with a logo. Use a chalkboard/whiteboard to write/draw daily specials.
  • Younger kids can make menus by pasting magazine pictures on paper while older kids write out prices and practice making change.
  • Take turns playing customer, waiter (paper pad for orders, tray for serving) and chef (paper chef hat, Acook@ real/pretend food).
  • Have children assemble their own snacks from ingredients that you lay out:
    • Pizza place: English muffin/pita, sauce, shredded cheese, and meats or veggies
    • Salad bar: bowls of shredded lettuce, croutons, raisins, veggies, and dressings
    • Sub shop: sliced rolls, meats, cheeses, veggies, salt/pepper and dressings
    • Dessert shop: ice cream, cookie crumbs, candy, sprinkles, topping sauces
  • For outdoor fun older kids can set up an outdoor café with hanging 'lanterns' while younger kids make mud‑pies or sand‑cakes.  Everyone can participate in an egg‑in‑a‑spoon walking contest to test the waiter's balance.
  • Check out the cooking section in your library's children's area or check out these titles: Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop by H.A. Rey, Dinner at the Panda Palace by Stephanie Calmenson, Alphabet Soup by Scott Gustafson, Victor Vito: Two Polar Bears On A Mission To Save The Klondike Cafe! by Laurie Berkner
  • Set up a tour with your favorite restaurant!

Etc.
Consider developing activities around these other themes:

  • Theater/movies
  • Bugs/butterflies
  • Maps/traveling
  • Geology
  • Flowers/vegetables
  • Detectives
  • Castles/royalty
  • Carpentry
  • Dragons/fairies
  • Sewing/knitting/weaving
Source: www.amazon.com/Absolute‑Best‑Play‑Days‑Everything/dp/1570713952

Amy Heesacker holds a doctoral degree in Counseling and Developmental Psychology.  She is a part‑time assistant professor at the University of Georgia and lives in Athens with her husband and their children, Javi and Isa.


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