Learning Specialist - Engagement in Learning
A reflective practitioner with a deep passion for social emotional awareness, coaching and dialogic teaching.
I'm 36.
Stress controlled me for years so I turned to neuroscience.
After 1200+ hours studying elite athletes, CEOs & psychologists, my toolkit is now full of powerful neuro-hacks.
Here are the top 7 that will change your life:
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Parents ask me all the time for activity ideas to do with their kids.
Most of the time they're overthinking it. Our kids generally just want to hang out with us and do whatever we're doing (especially when they're young).
But in case you need more concrete ideas, here's a list of 101 activities you can do with your kids.
Save it so you never run out of ideas:
1. Play chess: or play any other quiet, strategic game that emphasizes critical thinking
2. Bird Watching: look out the window and identify local birds to develop an appreciation for animals and nature
3. Design a family crest: work on it together, share ideas, get it printed somewhere nice
4. Read together: seems obvious, but most parents don't do this enough (older kids like to be read to, too)
5. Cooking class: go as a family, emphasize dual skills of precision and creativity
6. Hiking: go outside and walk around, talk about the animals and plants
7. Fishing trip: talk about patience and the reward of quiet contemplation
8. Woodworking: introduce basic carpentry skills while creating something your family will actually use
9. Watch a documentary: find subjects everyone has an interest in, watch and discuss
10. Astronomy night: identify constellations, contemplate how everything got there
11. Gardening: find a small patch of land and grow something together
12. Art gallery visit: talk about the pieces you like/dislike, understand the business side of art
13. Yoga: take a class together, or just go outside and do a class from youtube
14. Volunteering: find a cause that means something to your family
15. Weightlifting: teach the basics, especially bodyweight exercises
16. Photography walk: teach the basics of photography while finding beauty in every day surroundings
17. Write letters: write letters to family members with your kids; emphasize importance of written correspondence
18. Museum visit: history/science/art museums spur endless discussion
19. Car maintenance: change oil/change a tire; teach practical skills in a constructive setting
20. Home DIY project: install a new shower head together, let them help put down new tile etc
21. Investment: let them research/pick stocks and buy shares (easy to do through robinhood or similar)
22. Historical landmark tour: find landmarks of note in your area, connect present to the past
23. Go biking: opportunity to teach road safety while getting great exercise
24. Geocaching: do a GPS-based outdoor activity and hone navigational skills
25. Map reading: same idea, learn how to get around without technology
26. Family book club: everyone reads a book, discuss as a family
27. Public speaking drills: let kids present topics to the family (make it a competition if your kids would like that)
28. Go to a farmer's market: teach about local produce and the food supply chain
29. Music appreciation: sit down and listen to music together, talk about what you like/don't like
30. Basic coding lessons: teach your kids if you know how, or take an intro class together
31. Pottery class: emphasize patience, steadiness and creativity
32. Planetarium: learn about the sky, the universe, and our place in it
33. Philosophy: engage in back-and-forth debates around philosophical questions
34. Bonsai trimming: haven't done this one personally, but could be fun
35. Make a telescope: build a simple telescope and understanding of mirrors/lenses (plenty of tutorials online)
36. Architectural walk: look at the coolest buildings in your area, talk about the different styles
37. Write poetry: read the classics together and let your kids create their own
38. Battle robots: build robot kits and let them fight it out
39. Calligraphy: practice penmanship and keep tradition of fine handwriting alive
40. Family history project: draw your family tree together...how far back can you go?
41. Work with leather: create simple belts or bracelets together
42. Canoeing: emphasize teamwork and coordination in a tranquil setting
43. Nature sketching: pick something outside near your house and draw it together
44. Physics experiments: conduct simple experiments at home to foster and explore curiosity
45. Scuba diving: if your kids are older, consider getting certified and going diving
46. Build a computer: get a simple kit online, learn about the different components that make technology work
47. Visit a courtroom: these are often open to the public, learn about our legal system
48. Tie knots: teach different types of knots, learn what they're for and how to tie them
49. Camping: go spend a night outside, cook your meals over fire, tell stories
50. Storytelling: help them understand the components of a good story, practice reciting them out loud
51. Restore an antique: find something everyone in the family likes and make it new again
52. Orchestra concert: appreciate the skill of the musicians and the complexity of the compositions
53. Meteorology basics: learn about weather patterns, predict upcoming weather
54. Make a business plan: be the "investor", teach how to analyze the strength of a plan
55. Herb gardening: grow your own herbs, then use them to cook meals together
56. Etiquette lessons: teach proper manners and social etiquette, practice it at home
57. Aquarium visit: learn about marine life, food chains, watch the fish swim around
58. Start a collection: stamps, baseball cards, coins, freaking buttons, whatever
59. Learn about ancestors: Who were they? Where did they live? What did they do?
60. Distance running: sign up for a 10k as a family, trian together
61. Morse code: understand the history and usage of Morse code, practice it together
62. Visit a war memorial: pay respects to fallen veterans and talk about their sacrifices
63. Sudoku challenge: solve puzzles together, or make it a competition
64. Write a screenplay: write a movie script our outline together, let your kids mock "pitch" it
65. Build a model ship: use it as an opportunity learn about maritime technology
66. Family math bowl: race doing basic equations or math problems, winner gets a prize
67. Family quiz bowl: same idea, but with trivia questions, winner gets a prize
68. Crossword challenge: do crossword puzzles together
69. Cook an ancestor meal: cook a meal your ancestors would have eaten, enjoy as a family
70. Historical reenactment: pick an important historical event and re-enact it with your kids
71. Origami: do it together, teach about precision, attention to detail, patience
72. Community cleanup: go outside in your community and clean up some trash
73. Start a podcast: even if you never publish it, learn about recording and content creation
74. Film analysis: actively consume a movie and discuss it as a family
75. Microbiology: get a microscope and look at microbes, talk about biology
76. Survival skills lessons: foster understanding of basic wilderness survival techniques
77. Visit a power plant: many will happily give you a tour; learn about how our lives are powered
78. Bake sourdough bread: tbt to lockdowns; learn the science and art of baking from scratch
79. Visit an old books store: let them pick out some books they like
80. Build model rockets: construct and launch model rockets to learn about aerodynamics and physics
81. Family pickle ball tournament: self explanatory... find some space and make it happen
82. Build a radio: assemble a simple am/fm radio to understand the basics of radio technology
83. Attend a public lecture: go to a university or community center, listen and discuss
84. Film a documentary: pick a subject your kids like and write/record/edit the movie
85. Visit a construction site: younger kids especially love this...just go look at the equipment
86. Build a birdhouse: learn basic carpentry skills, build a place for local bird family to live
87. Martial arts training: learn a martial art to improve fitness, discipline, and self defense skills
88. Go to a shooting range: learn about firearm safety and self defense
89. Classical sculpture study: study classical sculptures (even if you just use google images) and understand historical techniques
90. Whittling: find some sticks outside and whittle them into something cool
91. Write a family diary together: every day write a few sentences about the day
92. Visit local factory: take a tour of a factory and talk about how things are made
93. Rock climbing: go to a rock climbing gym together, foster patience, deliberate movement, and strength
94. Write a family song: teach about the basics of music composition, bonus points if you record it together
95. Write a family code of values: let your kids help you come up with values that matter to everyone
96. Learn magic tricks: do this together, learn some tricks, then stage a family magic show
97. Home appliance repair: if something breaks, involve your kids in figuring out the problem and fixing it
98. Attend any kind of auction: understand the dynamics of bidding and the value of different items
99. Go to the zoo: simple, go look at some animals, talk about them
100. Visit a fire station: especially cool for younger kids, learn about keeping your community safe
101. Sew a button: everyone should know how to do this; do it together
Hopefully this keeps you occupied for a while.
This took me some time to write up, so if you got value out of it, bookmark it and share it so others may as well.
*Save this post and never run out of conversation starters with your kids*
Getting to know our kids is one of the most important things we can do as parents
But surprisingly, a lot of parents I talk to don't know where to start
The answer is simple, we just need to get in the habit of talking to our kids
And one of the best ways to do that is by asking questions and getting their opinions
So I hope this list is helpful for you all, providing you with an endless supply of conversation starters
As a dad, I treat this like a dialogue. I'll ask my oldest a question from the list, then he'll ask me one, and we take turns answering
Because as important as it is for us to get to know our kids, it's equally important that they get to know US.
HERE'S THE LIST:
1. What was your favorite part of your day today?
2. What's something that made you feel proud today?
3. What's something you want to do with me in the future?
4. What do you like most about our family?
5. If you could change one thing about our family, what would it be?
6. What's something you're really good at?
7. What's another thing you're really good at?
8. What's something you wish you were better at?
9. What's something you could do to get better at it?
10. What's your favorite tradition in our family?
11. What's a special memory you have with me?
12. What's your favorite memory ever?
13. What are some of your favorite activities?
14. If you could start a business, what would it be?
15. What's your favorite book?
16. Why is it your favorite?
17. What's your favorite way to spend a weekend?
18. What's your favorite song?
19. What do you like about the song?
20. What's something funny that happened this week?
21. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
22. Where's a place you don't want to visit and why?
23. What do you like most about living in our city/town?
24. What's your favorite holiday?
25. Why do you like this holiday so much?
26. What's something you're looking forward to?
27. If you could ask me any question in the world, what would it be?
28. What's something you worry about?
29. What's your favorite thing about your bedroom?
30. What's something you'd like to change about your bedroom?
31. What's something you're saving up money for?
32. What's your favorite sport?
33. Why is it your favorite?
34. What do you want to be when you grow up?
35. What's your favorite animal?
36. What's your favorite food?
37. What's your favorite thing to do with your friends?
38. What's your favorite thing about summer?
39. What's your favorite thing about spring?
40. What's your favorite thing about fall?
41. What's your favorite thing about winter?
42. What's something you haven't tried, but want to?
43. What's something kind you did for someone else today?
44. What's something kind someone else did for you today?
45. What was a time you needed help with something?
46. What was a time you helped someone else with something?
47. What's something that you don't think is fair?
48. What's something you admire about me?
49. What's something you wish I did differently?
50. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
51. What's something you're proud of accomplishing this year?
52. What's something you've learned from me?
53. What's something you wish you knew more about?
54. What's your favorite thing about our house?
55. What's something you would change about our house?
56. If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?
57. What's your favorite game to play with me?
58. What's one thing that would make the world a better place?
59. What's something you wish I knew about you?
60. What's something that makes you feel safe and secure?
61. What's something that makes you feel afraid?
62. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
63. What's your favorite holiday and why?
64. What's your favorite thing about our community?
65. What's one thing you would change about our community?
66. What's a talent you have that you'd like to explore more?
67. What does "truth" mean to you?
68. What does "kindness" mean to you?
69. What does "courage" mean to you?
70. What does "integrity" mean to you?
71. What does "patience" mean to you?
72. What does "strength" mean to you?
73. What does "independence" mean to you?
74. What's your favorite story? Why?
75. What's something you're grateful for?
76. What does "responsibility" mean to you?
77. What does "reliability" mean to you?
78. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be? Why?
79. What's your favorite type of music?
80. What's your favorite school subject?
81. What's your favorite thing to do when you're by yourself?
82. Is there anything you'd like to start collecting? Why?
83. What's your favorite mythical animal?
84. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
85. What's something interesting you've learned recently?
86. What's your favorite thing about nature and the outdoors?
87. If you could be any animal for a day, what would you be? Why?
88. What's your favorite part of your morning routine?
89. What's your favorite way to express your creativity?
90. If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and why?
91. What's a funny joke you've heard recently?
92. If you could learn a foreign language, which would you learn?
93. What's your favorite type of car?
94. Who is a relative of ours that you admire?
95. If you could invent a gadget to make life easier, what would it be?
96. If you could time travel, where would you go?
97. What's your favorite way to relax?
98. What's something that surprised you recently?
99. What is your perfect day?
100. What's something you wish you knew about our family history?
101. What's something you admire about your sibling (or a friend)?
If you made it this far, like and share so more people see the list, and thank you as always for reading
Students at NYU asked the creators of South Park the million-dollar question:
“What makes a good story?”
They gave one of the best explanations of story I’ve heard:
“If we can take the beats of your outline, and the words ‘and then’ belong between those beats… you got something pretty boring.
What should happen between every beat you’ve written down is the words ‘therefore’ or ‘but.’”
They go on to say, “That gives you the causation between each beat, and that makes a story.”
Point 1:
There’s an idea in storytelling called ‘Promise, Progress, Payoff.’
Essentially, a story is a neverending cycle of promises that are paid off over the span of the story.
It’s a cycle of expectation and resolution. Cause and effect. Conflict and progress.
Point 2:
A story isn’t a bunch of random events thrown together.
A story is a series of but / because / therefore moments.
A famous example:
• Harry discovers he's a wizard. Because of this, he goes to learn magic at Hogwarts.
• But then he learns Voldemort wants to kill him and rule the world.
• Therefore, he must find a way to defeat him.
Point 3:
‘And’ implies a simple continuation.
‘But / Therefore’ give prior events meaning through causation.
‘But’ implies conflict. ‘Therefore’ implies progress.
I’m reminded of a Hemingway quote:
“Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.”
Great writing is intentional. It doesn’t wander. It builds upon itself.
***
I hope you enjoyed that! If so, follow @nathanbaugh27. I study the best storytellers ever and share what I learn.
Keep reconnecting with the journey, even if you have to remind yourself to do so along the way.
You can ask questions like, “What am I learning?” and, “What has surprised me about this process?”