Activities on the Go : One-on-One Fun for Kids and Adults

make a sculpture out of junk

These are just a few of the suggestions you’ll find in this handy pocket resource. Perfect for parents who want to mix things up, mentors looking for new ways to connect, and teachers and counselors who need to break the ice, Activities on the Go is full of inventive, easy-to-implement ideas. Each activity includes an estimated time, a list of supplies needed (if any), and a quick description.

Going beyond the typical activity book, this creative resource offers follow-up questions after every idea. These caring and thought-provoking questions are the perfect way to get kids thinking about—and sharing— their hopes and dreams, their strengths, and their place in the world.

www.search-institute.org

activities on the go

per hold anpea airpla tition compe

inv boarent your d ga own me

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Building connections with the kids in your life can be harder than it looks.

Sometimes you can get stumped just trying to answer that simple question: What are we going to do today?

BRIELMAIER

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / ACTIVITIES

go activitiesonthe

q

one-on-one fun for kids and adults

KATE BRIELMAIER

activities on the go one-on-one fun for kids and adults KATE BRIELMAIER

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed on acid-free paper in the United States of America.

Activities on the Go: One-on-One Fun for Kids and Adults Kate Brielmaier The following are registered trademarks of Search Institute: Search Institute® , Developmental Assets®, and

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Search Institute Press, Minneapolis, MN Copyright © 2009 by Search Institute All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced in any manner, mechanical or electronic, without prior permission from the publisher except in brief quotations or summaries in articles or reviews, or as individual activity sheets for educational use only. For additional permission, write to Permissions at Search Institute.

At the time of publication, all facts and figures cited herein are the most current available; all telephone numbers, addresses, and Web site URLs are accurate and active; all publications, organizations, Web sites, and other resources exist as described in this book; and all efforts have been made to verify them. The authors and Search Institute make no warranty or guarantee concerning the information and materials given out by organizations or content found at Web sites that are cited herein, and we are not responsible for any changes that occur after this book’s publication. If you find an error or believe that a resource listed herein is not as described, please contact Client Services at Search Institute.

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Search Institute 615 First Avenue Northeast, Suite 125 Minneapolis, MN 55413 www.search-institute.org 612-376-8955 • 877-240-7251 ISBN-13: 978-1-57482-271-7 Credits Book Design: Jeenee Lee Production Coordinator: Mary Ellen Buscher Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Activities on the go : one-on-one fun for kids and adults / Kate Brielmaier. p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-1-57482-271-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-57482-271-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Amusements. 2. Games. 3. Creative activities and seat work. I. Brielmaier, Kate.

GV1201.A18 2009 793--dc22 2009013969

introduction Activities on the Go: One-on-One Fun for Kids and Adults does just what it says on the cover: it’s a resource for adults (parents, teachers, and mentors) who want quick and easy ideas for fun activities to do with kids.

You probably picked up this book because you’re looking for fun ways to pass the time, but even the simplest activities provide opportunities to build relationships. When you think about “relationship building,” you might imagine lengthy discussions about Serious Issues—possibly involving pie charts and bar graphs and lists of talking points. But relationship building doesn’t have to be serious and solemn, and it certainly doesn’t have to include the latest research findings. It can be simple. It can be easy. And it can definitely be fun.

Some of the ideas in this book are quick physical activities that last half an hour, while others are gardening or art projects intended to last a week or a summer. They’re all designed to need a minimum of supplies and effort to get started, and they include options for every budget.

For each activity, you’ll find an estimated time, a list of supplies needed (if any), and some follow-up questions. These

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follow-up questions are intended to jumpstart conversations and get kids thinking—about their values, about their strengths, and about the world and their place in it. Don’t worry: they don’t involve charts or graphs or talking points. They just naturally get kids sharing their hopes, fears, dreams, and anxieties, which is what really builds strong relationships.

Search Institute has developed a concept called “sparks”— interests that motivate young people from the inside and keep them engaged in the world around them. Students who are encouraged to pursue their sparks have higher grades in school and better attendance rates, are less likely to be involved in violence or experience depression, and are more likely to report that they are “on the road to a hopeful future.”* If you find that a particular idea really creates a spark in a young person, take the opportunity to build on that. Take a class together about that topic, make a monthly date to do the activity again, or connect with an expert who can show you more.

* Benson, Peter L. Sparks: How Parents Can Help Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers.

San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008.

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activities on the go

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time: an hour 11

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supplies: _ old magazines _ newspapers _ scissors _ glue sticks _ markers _ heavy cardboard _ decorative items 4

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collage of 6

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Cut out images and words from old magazines and newspapers and glue them onto a piece of sturdy cardboard. Create a collage of images and ideas that evoke the dreams you have for your future. It can represent your own future, the future of your family or community, or even the future of the planet. Work together on one collage, or work separately on your own projects and discuss them afterward.

Think about It

• What kinds of hopes and dreams do you have for the future?

dreams

• Why did you choose a particular image or word for your collage?

• How can you make your dreams a reality?

• What steps can you take today to make your dreams happen?

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career day time: two to four hours 11

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that might be interesting to work in, and arrange to spend some time with a professional at his or her workplace. “Shadow” someone for an afternoon, be an “intern for a day,” or take a tour of the workplace after the workday is over. Try to get a feel for what the job might be like. To prepare, you might create a list of questions to ask: the education or training you might need, the best and toughest parts of this career, and why this person chose the job to begin with. If there isn’t a nearby workplace you can visit (it might be a little difficult to visit an oceanographer if you live in the middle of the Great Plains), check out the Think about It Occupational Outlook Handbook, • How would it feel to do look up company and institu- this job every day? tional Web sites, or even rent a • What kind of education documentary about the subject. and training is required

Talk together about career fields

to do this job?

• What steps can you take today to get started on this goal?

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greening up the time: an hour 11

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supplies: _ garbage bags _ heavy work gloves 4

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by doing a quick neighborhood cleanup. Pick up stray trash and litter around the neighborhood and sort it into the appropriate categories for recycling. Make sure to wear sturdy gloves, and avoid anything that looks hazardous. Put the recycling and trash out for pickup or take it to the local recycling station.

Draw on the concept of Think Globally, Act Locally

neighborhood Think about It

• How did the trash get there in the first place?

• How much of the trash was recyclable?

• If you hadn’t cleaned it up, what might have happened to the trash?

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index

art appreciation, 30 artistic surroundings, 88 bargain hunting, 84 branching out, 62 build a blog, 86 career day, 8 the chase, 22 childhood memories, 16 civic duty, 40 collage of dreams, 6 dancing with the stars, 24 do-it-yourself board game, 90

favorite book club, 36 favorite food, 72 friendship book, 18 geography tour, 20 global dance party, 74 greening up the neighborhood, 10 half-hour Houdini, 94 home makeover, 44 how does your garden grow?, 32 ice cream social, 100 international test kitchen, 12 it’s play time, 64 109

junk art, 56 living history, 80 magnetic expression, 92 making a difference, 14 a message to the future, 26 mixed martial arts, 34 my people, 104 notes to self, 96 paper airplane derby, 82 personal best, 98 pick a card, any card, 28 reality show auditions, 76 secret identity, 38 sports fundamentals, 54 stage-struck, 52 star light, star bright, 42 a stitch in time, 58 strange but true, 68 support your local high school, 50

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that takes the cake, 60 turn it off, 78 ultimate sand or snow sculpture, 102 under construction, 70 a virtual vacation, 48 walk with the animals, 66 x marks the spot, 46

about search institute Search Institute is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge, and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities.

Search Institute has done extensive research on prevention, resilience, and development to identify what young people need to thrive, and it is the creator of the 40 Developmental Assets速, which describe qualities and experiences that are crucial to positive youth development. The 40 Developmental Assets range from external supports such as a caring school climate and positive family communication to internal characteristics such as school engagement and a sense of purpose.

Research conducted by Search Institute consistently shows that Developmental Assets provide a solid foundation for positive development and academic success, and that their presence helps protect youth from engaging in risky behavior and promotes youth acting in productive ways.

The data consistently show that the power of assets is cumulative: the more assets young people report experiencing, the more apt they are to succeed in school and live positive lives, and the less likely they are to participate in high-risk behaviors such as drug use, violence, and early sexual activity.

To find out more about Search Institute and the Developmental Assets, visit our Web site, www.search-institute.org.

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make a sculpture out of junk

These are just a few of the suggestions you’ll find in this handy pocket resource. Perfect for parents who want to mix things up, mentors looking for new ways to connect, and teachers and counselors who need to break the ice, Activities on the Go is full of inventive, easy-to-implement ideas. Each activity includes an estimated time, a list of supplies needed (if any), and a quick description.

Going beyond the typical activity book, this creative resource offers follow-up questions after every idea. These caring and thought-provoking questions are the perfect way to get kids thinking about—and sharing— their hopes and dreams, their strengths, and their place in the world.

www.search-institute.org

activities on the go

per hold anpea airpla tition compe

inv boarent your d ga own me

g

Building connections with the kids in your life can be harder than it looks.

Sometimes you can get stumped just trying to answer that simple question: What are we going to do today?

BRIELMAIER

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / ACTIVITIES

go activitiesonthe

q

one-on-one fun for kids and adults

KATE BRIELMAIER