backyard fun – kerricreates

We are currently soaking up any sunny day we get in the midst of this very rainy season. Sidewalk chalk has always been a favorite backyard activity for my kids and I recently introduced my daughter to hopscotch. We started with your traditional, schoolyard, 10 space hopscotch, but my girl wanted to make a bigger one. Over time, we developed a super fun “Tricky Hopscotch with a Twist” that we would like to share with you.

Check out my daughter’s second “Craft Time with Karis” video where she shares her ideas on how to create a “Tricky Tricky Hopscotch.” Karis adds silly spaces in the middle of the basic numbered squares. In some, she acts like a cat, or a dog, in others she will dance or dab. The best part about this, is that kids use their imaginations and creativity to come up with their own unique hopscotch. This one simple activity combines art, writing numbers, counting, imaginary play, and exercise.

Leave Karis a comment and let her know if you made a “Tricky Tricky Hopscotch” of your own and what creative spaces you added to yours!

Star Wars… one of the most popular ongoing themes for birthday parties! When my son Micah turned 8, he wanted a Star Wars party. March is a tricky month. You never know if it will be rain or shine. Fortunately, it was a beautiful sunny day, which made this epic Stormtrooper battle possible. When each child arrived, they were given a homemade light saber made from a pool noodle cut in half, decorated with silver and black duct tape. Their mission…go out to the backyard and defeat the Stormtroopers (which in reality were white balloons hanging from string with storm trouper faces drawn on them with sharpie). The boys (and little sister) were way into this battle and it was so fun to watch them running around our yard swatting at all of the bad guys!

I made a hanging centerpiece out of a large white kitchen trash bag by filling it with air, tying it off and drawing a Stormtrooper face on it. This year I went simple on the cupcakes by purchasing some Yoda and Darth Vader toppers at Michael’s.

We ended the party with a viewing of the very first Star Wars movie, which my son had never seen. The boys each got to take a light saber noodle home with them and the left over sabers stayed at our house. Funny thing is, I expected my kids to get tired of them after a week or so, but these noodle sabers were used for many months post party. One of my boys’ favorite outdoor activities became light saber battles while jumping on the trampoline…perfect as party favors or just to use in everyday play!