Family Fun Inspiration for April 2020

Oh April. It’s a jam-packed month but this year in a different way. We’re on a “stay-at-home” order until the threat of  COVID-19 passes and collectively, as a society, we are able to flatten the curve. It’s an uncertain time. We’re missing our family and friends like crazy right now but we won’t be visiting anyone. There will be virtually-creative ways to celebrate birthdays and holidays instead. We’re battling the stir crazies ourselves as we’re going on about a month of isolation. But there is still a bunch of inspiration to keep us going. Many of it comes from the internet (thank you, social media) and we’re grateful. I’ve also been into clipping, pinning and writing down ideas for the family to do every since my husband and I got married. So here are a few of things that are inspiring my family this month, I hope it inspires you.

Some resources include: Mister Rogers’ Plan & Play Book by Fred Rogers; PBS LearningMedia; PBSKIDS.org; King Country Library System. 

MAKE

• Handprint cards (Fred Rogers)
• Milk carton planters
• Colorful Deviled Eggs
• Easter crafts
• Hummingbird food
• Window paintings
• Plant flower seeds
• Paper basket weaving
• Watercolor print leaf mandalas
• Treats for Poetry Tea Time
• Food themed days of the week: Pizza Fridays, Pancake Sundays, Mac and Cheese Mondays

EXPLORE/WATCH

I decided to combine Explore and Watch together this month because of our “stay at home” order. As of late, there are a ton of digital resources available to virtually participate in events at home – from the Seattle Symphony and art classes to story times with local libraries. Here are just a few of the things I’ve found. I’m also including a few favorite family programs we enjoy watching together.

• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
• King County Library System online events
• Nick on the Rocks and Nick from Home
• Lego Masters TV show on Fox
• Mental Samurai TV show on Fox
• The Great Food Truck Race on Food Network

LEARN

Here are a few notable days for the month of April to celebrate and learn about. For more about what we’re learning about, check out our Study Guide.

• National Poetry Month (Reading Rockets)
• Earth Month (Books to Grow On, KCLS)
• Autism Awareness Day, 4/2 (Sesame Street)
• Find a rainbow day, 4/3 (PBS LearningMedia)
• Sibling day, 4/10
• Easter, 4/12 (PBS LearningMedia)
• Earth Day, 4/22 (PBS LearningMedia)
• Arbor Day, 4/24 (PBS LearningMedia)

PLAY

• Block Tower Counting Game (Fun Learning for Kids)
• Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club
• Ready, Jet, Go! game collection
• Splash & Bubbles Reeftown Rangers Club
• Laundry basket basketball game (Fred Rogers)
• Pretend fishing, hand/eye coordination game (Fred Rogers)
• Clapping rhythms (play copycat with your kids) (Fred Rogers)
• “Tight rope” walking (Fred Rogers)
• Teach your kids how to play an instrument they want to learn

What does your family like to do in April?