Home Activities for Kids

Are you struggling to keep the kids busy? It can be hard to avoid excessive screen time at home. But we are here to help! From experiments and crafts to physical activity, here are some ideas of home activities for kids.

Educational

Feed your child’s brain and curiosity with these simple at home activities and experiments.

Story Time

Reading helps children learn new vocabulary and express themselves using language. The more interactive you can make story time, the more involved and engaged your child will be. See how you can make the most of toddler story time.

Around the World 

Bring the world to your living room! You can start by making a passport with your child and having them point on a map where they want to go. Teach them a little bit about the country, what language is spoken, look at pictures and do an activity related to that country. It would also be fun to research simple recipes and try them out with your child.

Magnet Discovery Bottle

 

DIY Reading Toy

 

Fingerprint Counting Activity

 

Name Recognition Activity

 

Physical Activity

An active lifestyle is a healthy lifestyle. And kids have a lot of energy to spend! Keep them entertained with these simple exercises and join in.

10 Simple Toddler Exercises

 

Yoga for Kids (3-5)

 

Family Fun Cardio Workout

 

Arts & Crafts

Crafts play a big part on fine motor development. In addition to that, creative activities stimulate both sides of the brain and help children develop both emotional and intellectual skills.

Under the Sea

 What can you find under the sea? Use a blue background for the ocean (blue table cloth from the dollar store will work great) and create a whimsical ocean scene with jelly fish, wiggly-eyed glitter fish, sea turtle, seahorse puppets, and even mermaids! Use the crafts for pretend play.

Play Dough “Painting”
Home Activities for Kids | Root for Kids
source: Shutterstock

 

Musical Tambourine
Musical Tambourine | Root for Kids
source: Lakeshore Learning

 

Sensory Crafts

 

Paper Crafts

 

Wholesome home activities can support children’s development. If you have any concerns about your child, please fill out our online form.*

*Root for Kids serves children 0-5 in Washington County, Utah and the Arizona Strip.


Things to Do in the Summer with Kids in St. George

Summer is upon us and with it endless opportunities to have fun with the kids! It’s the season for swimming, traveling, camping, watching fireworks, going to the county fair, and so much more. Whether you are a local or planning to visit the red rock country, check out the best things to do with the kids this summer in St. George!

Cool Off on the Splash Pads

It can get pretty hot around here so splash pads are quite popular in the summertime. The kids will love playing in the water and you will love the fact that it is free. Try the splash pads at the St. George Town Square, Hidden Valley Park, Thunder Junction All Abilities Park, Sullivan Virgin River Soccer Park, Pine View Park and Archie H. Gubler Park. 

Things to Do in the Summer with Kids in St. George | Root for Kids
Thunder Junction All Abilities Park Facebook Page

Take a Music Class

Kids can learn so many skills through music and summer can be the perfect time to hone those skills. For children 0-3 years old and their parent or caregiver, Root for Kids is offering week-long Kindermusik® summer camps throughout the summer! The camps include 2 in-studio classes and one field trip related to that week’s theme. 

Kindermusik | Root for Kids

Go on a Hike

St. George is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors. There are lots of hiking options close to the city and most of them are free and open to all! A few short and easy hikes to do with the kids include Temple Quarry Trail, Chuckwalla Trail, Sandstone Quarry Trail, Jenny’s Canyon Trail and Children’s Forest at the Kiln. Make sure you bring plenty of water and plan your hiking adventure either early morning or after dinner to escape the heat!

Things to Do in the Summer with Kids in St. George | Root for Kids
Children’s Forest at the Klin | Hike St. George

Watch a Movie in the Park

It doesn’t get much better than lying in a blanket in the middle of the park to watch a fun movie under the stars. To make your summer dreams a reality, St. George’s Sunset on the Square hosts bi-monthly free movie nights at the Town Square in June, July and August. Games, food and dancing start at 6:00 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk.

Things to Do in the Summer with Kids in St. George | Root for Kids
Sunset on the Square/Write It Up St. George Facebook Page

Explore Historic St. George

St. George has a rich history and many places in the downtown area that you can explore on your own. But if you want to make it more interesting for the kids and bring history to life, check out the Historic St. George Live tour! From June 1 to August 31, you can meet historic figures such as Brigham Young, Erastus Snow, Jacob Hamblin and Judge John Menzies as well as pioneer settlers at different historic locations. Tours start at the St. George Art Museum and are only $3 for ages 12 and up (children are free with an adult). After the tour, you can use the same ticket to explore the St. George Art Museum as well. 

Things to Do in the Summer with Kids in St. George | Root for Kids
St. George Art Museum Facebook Page

Attend Local Events

St. George hosts a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year, especially during the summer. From March through October, you can enjoy the St. George Streetfest every first Friday of the month. In the beginning of August, the traditional Washington County Fair takes place and this year Root for Kids is excited to sponsor the Baby Contest! And of course you can’t miss the 4th of July Celebration at Town Square.

Things to Do in the Summer with Kids in St. George | Root for Kids
City of St. George Facebook Page

Make it Cultural

Just because the kids are out of school, doesn’t mean that the learning stops! Between library events and interactive museums, you will surely find an activity your kids will love. Most of them are free or under $5! Take your future pilot to the Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum, explore the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site and the St. George Children’s Museum, and check out Story Time at the St. George Library. Also, make sure to check the event page of the museum websites to find other unique things to do. 

Things to Do in the Summer with Kids in St. George | Root for Kids
St. George Children’s Museum Facebook Page

It doesn’t matter what activities you do this summer with the kids, the most important thing is to spend quality family time together!

Root for Kids serves 600 children every week in their homes to help them and their families. You can help us promote the success of children one family at a time by joining us on September 7, 2019 for The Secret Garden Gala.

 


Free Spring Events in the St. George Area

Spring is finally here! It’s the perfect time to be outside with the family before it gets too hot. There are so many activities and events to choose from that it can be hard to keep track of all of them. To make planning easier for you, we rounded up our favorite free spring events below. Follow the link in the heading to see the Facebook event.

St. George Streetfest

April 5, 2019

Every year St. George Streetfest brings together performers, artists, food trucks and crafters downtown St. George. The events happen every first Friday of the month from March through December from 6:00 pm to Midnight. The big highlight of this year is the new Silent Disco Party for all ages!  

Festival de la Primavera de Juan

April 6, 2019

The radio’s annual spring festival features free live music and entertainment as well as opportunities to win prizes. Everyone is invited! This year La Sonora Tropicana and Banda Arkangel R15 will present at the festival.

Movie in the Plaza: Mary Poppins Returns

April 6, 2019

Bring your blanket and enjoy free movie and popcorn on the lawn.

Dixie Power Kite Festival

April 13, 2019

The Kite Festival has been around for 20 years and it’s a St. George classic family event. Entrance, parking, entertainment and some of the children games are free of cost (other children activities are $1 to $4).

Ivins City Easter Egg Hunt

April 20, 2019

The Ivins City Easter Egg Hunt will be at UNITY Park following the Hog & Jog 5K. Children up to 12 years old are allowed in the hunting area (parents may give guidance and direction to children 4 years old and younger, but they must be able to walk and pick eggs without assistance). Don’t forget to bring your own Easter basket!

La Verkin City Easter Egg Hunt

April 20, 2019

Free Easter Egg Hunt at Wanlass Park in LaVerkin.

RedStone – Highland Games & Festival

April 20, 2019

Sandtown Park in St. George will host the first ever Highland Games & Festival this April! This fun Scottish celebration will feature traditional games, entertainment, dancers and Celtic vendors.

Cotton Days

April 23 to April 28, 2019

Another traditional event in the area is the Washington City Cotton Days. The week is packed with events and activities such as rodeo, movie in the park, 5K, parade, car show and much more. Most of the activities are free! Check out their event page for more information.

Spending quality time as a family is important to build strong relationships with your children. See how you can help over 600 families in Washington County every week.


Fun Father’s Day Activities

Father’s Day is just around the corner and it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy some quality family time together. Here are some of our favorite Father’s Day activities for fathers and children!

Play outside

The possibilities are endless when it comes to playing outside in the summer. You can have a picnic in the park (or the backyard), play catch, go on a bike ride, toss a Frisbee,  or even go on a hike if you’re feeling more adventurous. The key is to have fun and connect with the kids!

dad-playing-kidsSource: One Tough Job

Movie night

Go all out for movie night! With the kids’ help, build a blanket fort and prepare fun snacks. There are a lot of good family movies out there to choose from, but to keep the Father’s Day theme going with movies such as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and The Lion King.

movie-night-blanket-fortSource: Parents.com

Cook together

Special dates are by default “cheat” days so indulge yourself. Look for recipes that the kids can be involved with – if you need a little inspiration, Kids Create has good recipes and suggestions. Not only it will strengthen your bond, but the kids will learn essential life skills.

kids-dad-cookingSource: Sign Up Genius

Make a music video

Combine dancing, singing and dressing up and you’ll have a recipe for success. Share with the kids your favorite songs when you were their age and make it a throwback video for extra fun.

kids-dancingSource: Snap Happy Mom

Game night

Have everyone in the family pick their favorite card/board game and take turns playing all the games. You can keep a running up score and whoever accumulates more points overall get a special prize.
family-games

Fathers and father figures play such a big part in a child’s life. We wish all the dads and father figures a happy Father’s Day!

To support Root for Kids and our mission of promoting the success of children, click here.


Volunteers Help Assemble “I Spy” Bottles

“I Spy” bottles are a great way to entertain young children while working on skills such as sensory, language and even math. Last week, volunteers helped assemble 100 “I Spy” bottles that will be used by our home visitors with our enrolled families!

We are extremely grateful for this wonderful group of 30 volunteers that came all the way from Draper, UT to help us out. Thank you leaders and youth from the LDS Corner Canyon 6th Ward for choosing our organization to do a service project with!

I Spy Bottles | Root for Kids

To support Root for Kids, check out the ways you can get involved.


5 Easy and Cheap Activities for Kids on Valentine’s Day

Sometimes planning activities for the little ones can be messy and overwhelming. But there are tons of ideas out there to make Valentine’s Day fun without the hassle. Check out some of our favorite easy and cheap activities for kids!

1.Hand print Flowers

Can’t wait for spring? Try this cute hand print flowers activity! Besides keeping the kids entertained, it’s such a precious memento.

Nanny She Can Do

2. Heart Butterfly

This is the perfect craft for the insect enthusiasts in your home. Let the kids take their time painting the clothespins and help out with the heart cutouts. They will have a good time flying this little guy around!

Glue Stick and Gumdrops

3. Bead Heart

Looking for an activity that doesn’t involve paint or glue? This one is for you. On top of being messy-free, it puts those fine motor skills into practice, making it fun and stimulating. Have the kids sort the beads by color, count them or even come up with a pattern, as the author suggests.

4. Touch and Feel Valentine’s Day Hearts

Let your creativity run wild with these cute touch and feel hearts. Basically anything you have available at home would work on these! Think interesting textures and making a good number of hearts to keep the youngsters entertained for a while.

Simple Play Ideas

5. Salt Dough Footprint Keepsake

Can you ever have too many keepsakes of your little one? Time is a thief and they grow up so fast. Try this adorable footprint keepsake made with salt dough. Have the kids help you measure the ingredients and mix them up, they will love being part of the whole process.

We hope you enjoy making these fun activities with the kids! Share your creations with us on Instagram using #rootforkids.