Activities for 10 to 12 year olds
Object Play:
Model Car: To make building a model car, they could challenge themselves to build the car in the fastest time possible or have a competition with their friends to see who can build the most realistic looking car. They could also have fun customizing the car by adding decals and stickers to make it unique, or by painting the car in different colors and designs.
Rubik's Cube: To make solving a Rubik's cube, they could challenge themselves to solve the cube in the fastest time possible or have a competition with their friends to see who can solve it the quickest. They could also have fun learning different algorithms and techniques to solve the cube, or by creating their own unique patterns on the cube.
Marble Run: To make constructing a marble run, they could challenge themselves to create the most complex and interesting pathways for the marble to travel through. They could also have fun decorating the marble run with different colors and designs, or by adding obstacles and ramps to make the marble run more challenging.
Imaginative Play:
Pretend Cooking: To make pretend cooking, you can challenge them to create a dish that they have never made before. You can also have them create dishes inspired by their favorite TV show or movie. Additionally, you can have them create a dish with a unique twist, such as a dessert pizza or a savory cupcake.
Playing Dress Up: To make dress up, you can have them create a character based on their favorite book or movie. You can also have them create a character based on their own interests and hobbies. Additionally, you can have them create a character inspired by a historical figure or a celebrity.
Pretend Camping: To make pretend camping, you can have them create a camping adventure based on their favorite book or movie. You can also have them create a camping adventure based on their own interests and hobbies. Additionally, you can have them create a camping adventure with a unique twist, such as a scavenger hunt or a night of stargazing.
Social Play:
Board Games: To make board games, they can add a twist to the game by creating their own rules or playing with a timer. They can also make the game more competitive by playing for a prize or reward. They can also add a theme to the game, such as a movie or TV show, or they can create a tournament with multiple rounds.
Card Games: To make card games, they can add a twist to the game by creating their own rules or playing with a timer. They can also make the game more competitive by playing for a prize or reward. They can also add a theme to the game, such as a movie or TV show, or they can create a tournament with multiple rounds.
Charades: To make charades, they can add a twist to the game by creating their own categories or playing with a timer. They can also make the game more competitive by playing for a prize or reward. They can also add props to their charades to make it more fun, such as costumes or props from a movie or TV show. They can also create a tournament with multiple rounds and different categories.
Gross Motor Play:
Soccer: To make soccer, you can add some fun variations to the game. For example, you can play a game of “King of the Hill” where the teams have to try to keep control of the ball in a certain area of the field. You can also add some fun challenges such as dribbling around obstacles or trying to score a goal with a certain number of touches.
Basketball: To make basketball, you can add some fun variations to the game. For example, you can play a game of “Around the World” where the players have to try to make shots from different spots on the court. You can also add some fun challenges such as shooting from a certain distance or trying to make a certain number of shots in a row without missing.
Jump Rope: To make jump rope, you can add some fun variations to the game. For example, you can play a game of “Double Dutch” where two ropes are used at the same time. You can also add some fun challenges such as trying to jump for a certain amount of time or trying to jump with one foot only.
Fine Motor Play:
Drawing: To make drawing, you could encourage them to draw something that interests them, such as a favorite character or scene from a movie. You could also provide them with different tools to use, such as colored pencils, markers, oil pastels, watercolors, or chalk, to make their drawing more creative. You could also provide them with drawing prompts or challenges to make it more fun.
Origami: To make origami, you could provide them with different types of paper to use, such as patterned or colored paper. You could also provide them with instructions for more complex origami projects, such as animals or flowers, to challenge their skills. You could also provide them with origami kits with different shapes and sizes of paper to make it more fun.
Sewing: To make sewing, you could provide them with different fabrics to use, such as cotton or silk. You could also provide them with instructions for more complex sewing projects, such as clothing or pillows, to challenge their skills. You could also provide them with different types of needles, threads, and embellishments to make it more fun.
Sensory Play:
Making Slime: To make making slime, you could add food coloring or glitter to the slime to make it more visually appealing. You could also add scents such as essential oils or extracts to the slime to make it smell nice. You could also have a slime-making competition and have them create different types of slime and see who can make the best one. You could also have them create different shapes and structures with the slime and then have them guess what each one is.
Playing with Kinetic Sand: To make playing with kinetic sand, you could have them create different shapes and structures with the sand and then have them guess what each one is. You could also have them create a scene with the kinetic sand and then have them tell a story about it. You could also have them create a sculpture with the kinetic sand and then have them guess what it is. You could also have them create a game with the kinetic sand, such as a version of tic-tac-toe, and then have them play against each other.
Exploring with Magnifying Glasses: To make exploring with magnifying glasses, you could have them explore different objects and then have them guess what each one is. You could also have them explore different insects and then have them guess what type of insect it is. You could also have them explore different plants and then have them guess what type of plant it is.
Music and Movement:
Dancing: Have a dance party with friends and family. Play fun music and create a dance routine. Have a dance-off with friends and family. Create different dance challenges and see who can do the best moves.
Singing: Have a karaoke night with friends and family. Pick out fun songs and take turns singing them. Have a sing-off with friends and family. Pick out different songs and take turns singing them.
Playing Musical Instruments: Have a jam session with friends and family. Take turns playing different instruments and create a song together. Have a battle of the bands with friends and family. Take turns playing different instruments and see who can create the best song.
Making Music: Have a music-making session with friends and family. Use everyday items to create different sounds and rhythms. Have a soundscape session with friends and family. Use everyday items to create different sounds and rhythms.
Language Play:
Word Games: To make word games more, they can create their own rules and play with friends or family members. They can also try to come up with creative words that no one else has thought of and challenge each other to guess them.
Writing Stories: To make writing stories more, they can create a story with their friends and take turns adding to it. They can also try to come up with creative plot twists and characters, and have their friends guess the ending.
Creating Riddles: To make creating riddles more, they can create riddles for their friends and family to solve. They can also try to come up with creative and challenging riddles and have their friends guess the answer. They can also try to create riddles with a twist that requires their friends to think outside the box.
Outdoor Play:
Hiking: Have a scavenger hunt while hiking and have the children search for different items in nature. Have a picnic at the end of the hike the kids can old help prepare the food.
Skateboarding: Have a skateboarding competition with friends and family to see who can complete the most tricks. Have a skateboarding obstacle course and have them try to complete it in the fastest time.
Swimming: Have a swimming race with friends and family to see who can swim the fastest. Have a water balloon fight in the pool and have them try to pop the most balloons.
