But researching and planning can take time. Time often taken up with dishes, laundry, and carpooling. Don’t let these fun activities and events pass you by. Take a half hour to sit down with your calendar and plan what will work with your schedule. Try doing this a week before the month so you can gather books and other supplies you might need. You don’t have to do it all, but pick things that you think your family will enjoy.
Have fun!!
For your convenience we have provided a link to a printable calendar for September http://www.freeprintablecalendar.net/september/2009/printcalendar.aspx
Print it out and fill it out with these activities.
September 1st -5th
Fieldtrip: 3 Events to choose from
September 3th -5th- Timpanogos Storytelling Festival
The largest storytelling festival in the West held every year in Orem. Some of the nation’s best known storytellers unite with other tellers, both young and old, for two all-day celebrations of music, merriment, but mostly stories. In addition to the daytime activities held at Mt. Timpanogos Park on Friday and Saturday, there will be public performances in the evenings, such as “Look Who’s Talking, “Bedtime Stories,” “My Favorite Stories” and “Laughin’ Night.”
September 4th-6th- Antelope Island Balloon and Kite Stampede
Balloon Launches and Glows, Professional Kite Demos, Live Entertainment, Go Fly a Kite area, Kid Inflatable, Pie Eating COntest and so much more. The event is family-friendly priced at only $10.00 per personal vehicle which includes the Park entrance fee.
September 4th-7th- Sheepdog Festival and Country Festival
Top activities to do with your kids at the Festival The Ultimate Canine Flying Dog Show Three shows daily on Saturday through Monday 2. Splash Dogs High Flying Dock Jumping Competition Practice on Friday with Competition Saturday through Monday 3. Coloring Contest all four days Every entry wins a free ice cream novelty plus there are cash prizes 4. Duck Herding Demonstrations Saturday through Monday A favorite with kids of all ages 5. Find the Sheep Contest. There are five lost sheep at the event, find them and win a prize from Bank of the West. 6. Biathalon Rifle Shoot. Kids ages 6 through adult get to take aim With Olympic Air Rifles on Soldier Hollow’s Olympic Range (small fee). 7. Face Painting (small fee). 8. Kid’s Meals. The Soldier Hollow Classic is known for great food and every vendor offers a kid’s meal for $4.00. Tickets for adults are $12 kids (6-15) $7 and 5 and under are free.
September 6th-12th
September 7th: Labor Day
We usually celebrate Labor day as the end to summer, but here is another twist on the holiday. Before your activity for the day or evening BBQ sit down with your family to review family chores. To keep the household running smoothly switch up jobs. Every one including those as young as 3 should have responsibilities at home. Chores teach children valuable lessons that increase confidence and esteem. Quality time spent together as a family can occur wile working together, not just while having fun.
If you aren’t sure where to get started or need a family chore chart try these resources or make one of your own.
Successful Family Chores- http://www.successfulfamilychores.com
Chore Charts- www.theideadoor.com/JobCharts.html
Scheduling, Calendaring, and Charting- housekeeping.about.com/od/schedulesandcharts/Scheduling_Calendaring_Charting.htm
Game of the Month: Capture the Flag
Players are divided into two teams. Each team has its own territory with a boundary designated between the two. Each team must also designate a spot to serve as a jail. This need not be anything more than a particular rock or tree that a prisoner has to touch. Another decision that must be made is how large the designated safety zone around the flag should be. When the game begins, each team must decide where to place its flag. Once placed, it cannot be moved, although it can be guarded. Those guarding their own flag may not enter the safety zone around the flag unless in pursuit of an opposing team member.
Once the flag is placed, team members are assigned to guard their own flag or to enter enemy territory to try to capture the other team’s flag. Any player in enemy territory can be caught and put in jail. The classic Boy Scout rules say that the capture is made by holding the other player long enough to say “Caught” three times. Some play that tagging the other player is sufficient. Prisoners can be released by being tagged by a teammate, but only one prisoner can be rescued at a time.
A team wins the game by capturing the other team’s flag and bearing it back to their home territory. If a flag is seized but is recaptured before reaching the opponents’ territory, the flag is set up where it was recaptured. If a game must be ended before a flag is captured, the team with the most prisoners wins.
Tagging the opponents rather than catching makes the game a little less rough. Another variation is played with Nerf guns. Instead of catching or tagging opponents, players hit opponents with a Nerf missile.
Tagging the opponents rather than catching makes the game a little less rough. Another variation is played with Nerf guns. Instead of catching or tagging opponents, players hit opponents with a Nerf missile.
Service Project: Visit a Nursing Home
As grandparents day approaches who may be thinking of all the grandparents in nursing homes that don’t get any visitors. What a great surprise it would be to visit those that need a little pick me up. Call the facility ahead of time to see if you could bring a little treat or fall decoration.
September 13th- 19th
September 13th: Grandparents Day
Grandparents whether close or not are a huge part of our lives. Make today a special day for your grandparents and children’s grandparents. Try one of these ideas: this is a perfect time to study your family tree. Is one of your children named after a grandparent? Tell him a story about him/her. Grandparents love pictures of your children, drawings, and poems. Have your child create something just for his grandparent. If possible, visit your grandparents that will mean more to them than anything.
Read Books about Grandparents
That’s What Grandparents Are For by Arlene Uslander, What Grandmas Do Best What Grandpas Do Best by Laura Numeroff, Here Comes Grandma by Janet Lord, and Grandparents Day by Nikki Tate
Craft: Stick Art
Preserve summer a little longer by making winsome window decorations, collect leaves, grass, flower petals, and ferns. Have your child arrange them on the sticky piece of clear contact paper. (You may want to tape down the contact paper to keep it from moving.) When he’s done, place a second piece sticky side down on top of the objects and press to seal it. Trim edges, punch a hole in the top, and hang it in a window with a short length of ribbon.
September 20th-26th
Burn Some Energy: Plant Bulbs
This may seem like a weird way to burn energy, but believe me it works. Assign who will do what (dig holes, place bulbs, cover the bulbs with dirt). Assign tools and get to work. Your kids will feel great when Spring roles around and they get to see what they planted.
Party of the Month: Football Party
Have everybody where their favorite teams football jersey or t-shirt and really dress the part.
Fill your bellies with fried chicken, biscuits, corn on the cob, and for desert poppy seed cake.
Oven-Fried Chicken
2 tbs hot sauce
1 c. buttermilk
4 lb. chicken pieces (8 pieces)
2 c. flour
2 tbs salt
2 tbs chopped fresh parsley
1 ½ tbs pepper
1 tbs paprika
1 c. canola oil
Whisk together hot sauce and buttermilk in a shallow bowl. Place chicken into mixture, turn to coat, and cill 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 425. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients in a bowl. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large, deep skillet until sizzling hot (about 350).
Remove chicken from buttermilk mixture, 1 piece at a time, shaking off excess. Dredge in flour mixture, and place in hot skillet. Cook in batches, 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown.
Place fried chicken on a wire rack in a baking sheet, and bake 40 to 45 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the oven, and place on paper towels to drain. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired, and serve hot or at room temperature.
Poppy Seed Cake
Combine the follow
Yellow cake mix (18 oz.)
1 pkg instant French vanilla pudding
4 eggs
1 cup thick sour cream
½ c. water
½ c. melted butter
¼ c. poppy seeds
Blend on low, then beat on med for 5 min. Pour into a well floured and greased pan. Bake at 350 for 30 min. Cool completely.
Grab the pig skin and have yourself a good ole’ game of football to entertain your guests.
September 27th-30th
Journaling
It only takes a moment to preserve a day in the life of your child. You’ll cherish it forever.
What songs does your child like to sing or hear you sing?
What new skill has your child developed recently?
Make a list of your child’s favorite:
Stuffed animals, jokes or riddles, and foods
Family Cooking: Preserving Your Garden
Everyone helped plant the garden so everyone should help reserve it. These are some helpful tips so all that food doesn’t go to waste.
Herbs
Collect your herbs and chop them up fine enough to put in an ice cube tray. Pour in some olive oil and store them in the freezer till you are ready to use them.
Zucchini
Using your food processor shred all your zucchini and store in freezer bags to use for zucchini chocolate cake or zucchini bread.
Raspberries
After picking place your raspberries on a cookie sheet and slightly freeze them before placing them in an air tight container. This will keep them from being one big glob.
Mama’s Tip: Making Work Fun
As a continuation of your Labor Day activity read below on ideas for Making Work Fun.
Making Work Fun,” Family Home Evening Resource Book, (1997),272 If the word dishes triggers your family’s disappearing act, or if you hear “just a minute, mom” from a distance, this activity is for you. Helping your family enjoy working will take creativity. Try some of the ideas given below.
Activity
1. Make a vest with two pockets for each child. Appliqué a turtle on one pocket and a rabbit on the other. Write jobs to be done on three-by-five-inch cards and put them in the turtle pocket. (If the child is too young to read, use a picture for the job description.) You may wish to start out with tasks as simple as brushing teeth or washing hands. The child can put the cards for the jobs he completes in the rabbit pocket.
2. Make an apron for each major household job with a job description written on each one. The person responsible for the job wears the apron until the job is finished. You may even include a hat for the cook. Use your favorite apron pattern and embroider, iron, stencil, or write the jobs on the aprons.
o Sew a ring onto this apron to hang a dust cloth from. Make this apron of vinyl or plastic.
3. Make a chart to show whose turn it is to set the table or wash the dishes. Slip the spoon of the assigned family member out of the container and into the paper strip on the day that it is his turn to set the table.
o On the day that someone is to wash the dishes, put his plate into the dishpan.
4. Make a “Looking Good” chart and hang it in your bathroom. List on it the things each person is to do as he gets ready. This is especially good for little children, who may need to be reminded of what they should do each morning.
5. Make a work list for family duties. Have family members brainstorm for a minute, thinking of all the jobs that need to be done around your house (prepare meals, go shopping, iron the clothes, set the table, cook food, do dishes, tend the baby, take out the garbage, pick up the clutter, mow the lawn, wash windows, or sweep the sidewalks).
o Next, arrange these jobs according to how often they need to be done—daily, twice weekly, weekly, monthly, semiannually, or annually.
o Now decide together who is capable of performing these duties and who enjoys doing them. Write those names beside the duties.
o To assign unwanted jobs, write them all on slips of paper. Place these slips inside balloons; blow up the balloons and tie them. Attach the balloons to a board or heavy cardboard with tape. Pass out darts and let the family throw them at the balloons. Each family member gets the job inside the balloon he pops. Decide together how long each person will keep doing the job. Record this on the work list.
o Brainstorm for a few minutes on the subject of the unwanted jobs. Think together of ways to make the burden light. For example, what are five fun ways to carry out the garbage? (Whistle while you’re doing it, carry it out on a skateboard, walk backwards, grumble and mumble, carry it in a wagon, pay somebody to do it for you.) Come up with all the creative solutions you can, and use them.
o Instead of a list, you may want to use a job jar to draw your jobs from. A job wheel works well with older children.
6. Reward yourself when you have completed all your work. Hold a victory party. Have a wiener roast, an ice cream party, or a water fight. You may want to divide the family into two teams and see which one can get their work done fastest. The losing team could then cook dinner for the winners, take them to a movie, or do anything else they can think of.
7. Make dinner time more fun. Try some of these ideas:
o Have a formal dinner party in the middle of the week. Brush up on table manners.
o Have all the boys, including dad, become waiters for an evening. Dress them like waiters and make sure they use good manners all evening.
o Let your family go shopping with you through the advertisement section of your newspaper. Let them help decide on good buys. Write the items you choose on a sheet of paper and plan your next week’s menu around them.
o Use shopping time as a one-to-one time with your children. Tasks such as peeling potatoes, folding napkins, or cleaning out drawers also provide moments for listening and sharing.
o s a family, set some basic guidelines for table manners, eating schedules, snack times, and cleanup.
8. Play games to make work pleasant:
o Have your children pretend to be puppets, robots, or soldiers. Wind them up and let them do their work.
o When the house is wall-to-wall clutter, hold a family “panic-pickup-time.” Set your timer and see how many things can be picked up and put away in ten minutes.
o Scrub to music, especially fast, rousing music.
o Wash the dishes for ten minutes; then dry them for ten minutes.
o Play “Beat the Clock.” Time a job to see how much time it normally takes to complete it. Then set your timer and race against the clock. Try to cut down the time without giving up quality. You can even have a family contest to see who can set the family time record.
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