It’s so helpful to take just a little time for some after school activities for smile worthy family moments. Best of all, they can happen right during snack time!
Those evenings after school are crazy! Between everyone getting settled in, dinner, school work, etc. It’s like everyone is flying around at warp speed and not actually getting time to enjoy each other.
By pulling double-duty with an after school snack and a couple after school activities, parents and kids can slow down a little, reconnect, and create those moments to remember.
Around 2pm I start to wrap up all I have going on at home and I anticipate the kids’ arrival…
Even though they don’t get off the bus until 3:20…
I stand at the door and watch them climb off the bus, waving hello and asking, “how was your day?”
To which they promptly say, “good” or nothing at all and run off to play outside. I may sneak a kiss on the top of their heads if they bother to drop their backpacks off with me at the door.
They find their own things to do and I head off to start dinner. By the time we’re all finished, it’s nearly bedtime.
So much, for some family time…
After School Snack Time
If the kids aren’t too busy to give Mom the time of day, they’re most likely asking for a snack.
That’s why snack time is the perfect time to sneak in some after school activities and smile-worthy moments.
Just something simple and fun where everyone can spend a little time together enjoying each other.
Goldfish Smiles
An easy snack our kiddos love are Goldfish. Just a simple and fun food to give them after school or anytime.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen them eat Goldfish without playing a little. They love to make them talk, or tell me about the smile or the color of the Goldfish they’re eating.
That’s why Goldfish are perfect for some after school activities while snacking!
Goldfish Tales
Other Goldfish fans out there have started creating their own stories with their Goldfish crackers. They create their Goldfish Tales with pictures or even stop-motion videos.
Visit the “We ❤️ Goldfish Tales” site on GoldfishSmiles.com – A fun place to see the tales that Goldfish fans have created – and see what we’re talking about!
They even have how-to videos to create your own Goldfish Tales. Our family is learning how to make stop-motion videos together.
Our own Goldfish Tale
The kiddos and I have been talking about this for quite a while. They have come up with all sorts of crazy ideas for our Goldfish Crackers.
In the end, they decided to make a big Goldfish shark with all the little Goldfish escaping from it’s mouth.
Obsessed!
You guys, this is my current obsession! — It is so much fun!
Each kiddo wanted to create their own movies. Which ended up just being a bunch of Goldfish popping up in a pile. They never wanted to stop.
I can see this being a family activity we will repeat often.
To be honest, even I can’t stop with this one. I’ve made more than a few stop-motion videos since we learned how from GoldfishSmiles.com. I’m sure you’ll see them pop up a few times on Instagram and Facebook!
Check out GoldfishSmiles.com to learn how to make your own Goldfish Tales and even stop-motion videos!
Other After School Activities
Goldfish Tales aren’t the only way we’ve been playing with our Goldfish and creating smile-worthy moments as a family.
Goldfish Sorting
The kiddos tend to do this on their own. I often see them only eating the red Goldfish first. Or saving all the green for last.
You can create these sorting moments by giving them a container with different compartments to sort each color. You can also draw different colored circles on a piece of paper, or use different colored plates or papers, to sort their Goldfish colors.
Goldfish Matching
To take this a step further, we will find something red, green, orange, or yellow and they will match their Goldfish to the item.
Reverse that and have them find things around the house that match their different colored Goldfish.
Goldfish Letters
We have a full-blown reader and one who is right at the cusp of reading. Our Little Lady is writing her letters, recognizing letter sounds, and getting really excited about reading.
Creating letters with the Goldfish is an entertaining way to practice. They have a fun time lining them up to create the different letters of the alphabet.
If your kiddo is not at the letter stage, this is easy to do with shapes too.
Goldfish Patterns
This is another easy one to do right during snack time. Encourage the kids to try different patterns with their Goldfish.
Line up a pattern for them. See if they can find the next item in the pattern. Encourage them to create their own. You can also let them test you and see if you can identify and finish the pattern.
Goldfish Mancala
This is definitely the most fun one. I remember playing Mancala as a kid, but I haven’t taught the kids until recently.
The idea came when I was just about to send our little guy out to the recycling bin with an empty egg carton…
By just cutting off the top and the closing tab, it’s practically ready to go as a Mancala board. In fact, when I looked up the rules of the game, an egg carton was suggested because it has two rows of six cups.
The fun thing about playing Goldfish Mancala is that the winner is the one with the most Goldfish at the end which is basically a prize itself!
How to play Mancala
Object: To get the most Goldfish in your “store”
Setup: Place 4 Goldfish in each of the 12 egg carton holes. Set two bowls on either side of the egg carton and designate one to each player as their “store.”
How to Play:
- The first player picks up the Goldfish from one of the holes on their side.
- Moving clockwise, they place one in each of the holes they pass.
- If they pass their own store, they place a Goldfish inside.
- If they pass their opponents store, they skip it.
- If the the last Goldfish dropped is in their own store, they get another turn.
The Winner: The game ends when all the Goldfish are gone from the egg carton. The winner is the person with the most Goldfish
We’ve been having so much fun together with our Goldfish snacks and after school activities! I see a lot of Goldfish Mancala and stop motion videos in our future!
Check out GoldfishSmiles.com with your kiddos and see what games and Goldfish Tales you can come up with!
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