6 Ideas to Try Right Now
Board Game Hour
- 1Pick a game you haven't played in a while.
- 2Read the rules out loud together.
- 3Play 2 rounds — loser picks the next game.
Interactive Storytelling
- 1Start telling a story about a character.
- 2Pause at key moments and ask your child to make the decision.
- 3Continue the story based on their choices!
Shadow Puppet Theater
- 1Cut a large window in a cereal box and tape tissue paper over it.
- 2Cut puppet shapes from cardboard and tape them to skewers.
- 3Shine a flashlight behind the box to put on a show.
Code a Paper Robot
- 1Write a list of 'robot commands': Move Forward, Turn Right, Pick Up, etc.
- 2Draw a simple maze on paper.
- 3Write the exact sequence of commands needed to get the robot through the maze.
This is computational thinking — the same skill behind real coding.
DIY Maze Game
- 1Glue plastic straws inside a box lid to create paths.
- 2Leave openings to form a maze.
- 3Place a marble at the start and tilt the lid to navigate it to the end.
Strategy Board Game: DIY Checkers
- 1Draw an 8x8 grid on paper and shade alternate squares.
- 2Each player gets 12 pieces arranged on their 3 rows.
- 3Play standard checkers rules: diagonal moves, jump to capture.
