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THINGS TO DO:

In order to help you come up with some activities to do with your Littles, we've included a list of them here.  Age ranges are guidelines only—many activities are appropriate for children of all ages! Please remember to regularly talk through activities with your Little’s parent or guardian—they are an important part of your match.  And remember, have fun!

Ages 5–7:

  • Bake and frost cut-out cookies
  • Fly a kite on a windy day
  • Go on a walk and collect interesting rocks, leaves, or other items
  • Feed the ducks at the park
  • Make a present for someone special
  • Play UNO, Crazy 8s, or Old Maid
  • Play badminton or croquet
  • Go for a walk and find interesting places to practice "balancing"
  • Have a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich picnic
  • Visit a pet store and decide which is the oddest pet
  • Cloud watch on a bright summer day
  • Make a collage using seeds, rice, cereal, and old buttons
  • Catch fireflies together

Ages 8–10:

  • Go on a camera scavenger hunt to find odd objects to photograph
  • Make greeting, get-well, or holiday cards for special people
  • Make a bug cage and catch lightning bugs together
  • Read a book out loud and tape-record it
  • Work on a puzzle
  • Play miniature golf or go bowling
  • Play Monopoly, Life, Sorry, or Hangman
  • Go on a field trip to the museum; focus on one exhibit and discuss it
  • Go for a bike ride
  • Make a lemonade or a hot-cocoa stand
  • Got to the library together
  • Participate in seasonal activities:  go apple-picking, carve a pumpkin, make a snowman, go puddle-jumping, paint Easter eggs

Ages 11–13:

  • Build and paint a birdhouse—watch for occupants
  • Rent rollerblades and learn to skate
  • Make a list of people you admire; look them upon the Internet  
  • Mow the lawn or wash the car together
  • Play computer and video games together
  • Participate in a community service activity to show your Little the importance of giving back
  • Plan or plant a garden or visit a community garden and offer to help
  • Pick and press wild flowers
  • Share your greatest fears with each other
  • Make a list of all the items in the house that use electricity
  • Check out a local high-school or college sports game  

Ages 14–16:

  • Research what happened on the day and year each of you was born  
  • Check out the classified advertisements and discuss what each job requires in terms of education and experience
  • Go out for dinner at an ethnic restaurant:  who else is eating there? What is your favorite dish?
  • Explore a new radio station together
  • Plan and shop for ingredients to cook dinner together
  • Go to a concert featuring a favorite performer
  • Try mastering something difficult: juggling, cooking a soufflé, watercolor painting
  • Watch a professional or semiprofessional sporting event
  • Talk about today’s news
  • Buy ten shares of stock in an inexpensive company that your Little will recognize, and watch it make or lose money
  • Take your Little on a tour of your place of work
  • Go fishing 

Need more help with ideas for your summer match activities?  Check out the following list your Case Managers put together.

Assorted Summer Activities (check websites for specific details)

Resources