Suggested Family Activities

Make a holiday wreath out of a plain white paper pate by cutting out the middle of the plate in a circle so that the plate becomes a wreath.  If you need a little help drawing a circle, use a smaller plate to draw around to create the opening.  Color the wreath a solid color and then decorate on top of that with small artificial flowers (easily found at places like the Dollar Tree), stickers, designs cut from magazines or old greeting cards, or any other craft supplies you have. Turn a paper plate into a Christmas tree by cutting it apart into 3 wedges (imagine a watermelon slice).  Glue the wedge pieces on top of each other with the fluted part of the plate pointing down and the pointy piece on the top.  Then color the tree green and decorate it with stickers, sequins, beads, or any other craft supplies.  You can also draw ornaments on a piece of paper and cut them out to glue on the tree.  Using a piece of brown paper, finish off your tree with a square shaped piece on the bottom for the trunk.

It’s very easy to make a candy cane ornament with a skein each of red and white embroidery floss and a pipe cleaner.  (You could also use yarn or cord in those colors – the thicker materials would also be easier for little fingers to grasp.)  Take the paper wrapping off the skeins of floss and snip each looped end to make two bunches (but you’ll only be using one bunch of each color).  Tie one bunch of red and one bunch of white in a single knot at the top of the pipe cleaner.  Starting at the top, twist the colors around the pipe cleaner to make the candy cane stripes.  When you get to the end, make another knot and trim either the floss or the pipe cleaner as necessary.  Now all that is left is to bend the top into a hook shape and add a ribbon or yarn hanger.

Winter holidays give us a great opportunity to take beautiful pictures with our families.  Take pictures of your family this year not just in front of a decorated tree, but other places as well, such as a holiday village if you have one or in front of a holiday wreath on your door.  Don’t forget taking pictures outside too.  Taking pictures at night in front of decorations that are bright with festive lights make beautiful photos.  If you don’t have decorations in your home, most businesses in your town have put up beautiful decorations.  Many will not mind someone snapping a quick picture!  Most communities also have decorations on their streets and downtown areas as well.  Also think about taking pictures of your family doing fun things like working on a gingerbread house, trying to fold a snowflake, or stringing popcorn to use as a decoration. See previous family activities on our website at https://bit.ly/3dC2vpK #NERLibrary #NERLSFA #FamilyActivity

To make a beautiful natural ornament for your tree, just pick up a pinecone on your next walk.  First, tie a piece of string or yarn to the top to be the hanger.  Next, paint the tips of the pinecone with craft glue and sprinkle glitter on the glue while it is wet.  After the glue has dried, the ornament is ready to hang!  For a more colorful ornament, you could substitute acrylic paint (thinned out with a little water) for the glue.  You could also add other small decoration that might fit into the crevices of the pinecones such as silver balls (like the ones used for cake decorating), sequins, pom-poms, or small beads.

Tomorrow is National Mississippi Day!  Mississippi is well known for being the home of wonderful writers, entertainers and athletes including Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Eudora Welty, John Grisham, Richard Wright, William Faulkner, Oprah Winfrey, Jim Henson, Robin Roberts, LeAnn Rimes, James Earl Jones, and Jerry Rice, just to name a few.  How many famous Mississippians can you name? Mississippi is home of the Delta blues and the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, which can be explored online at https://mcrm.mdah.ms.gov/.  To find out more about the Delta blues, visit their museum at https://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/.  Our state is full of beautiful scenery and natural wonders, such as those found along the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway which runs through our area.  This ancient pathway began first as a trail used by herds of bison and then was used by the hunting and gathering mound builders in the area.  Later, it would become a passageway for those transporting goods from the northern U.S. to the river town of Natchez. To learn more about the Natchez Trace, visit their website at https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm. If you have young children, do they know how to spell Mississippi?  If not, teach them the “M, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, humpback, humpback, I” rhyme that has been used for generations to teach children how the word is spelled.  Another fact about Mississippi is that people all over the U.S. count seconds of time by saying, “One Mississippi, two Mississippi, etc”.  No one knows why – it could be just that it is a fun word to say!

Make decorative leaf prints today using just paint and paper.  Head outside and look for a fallen leaf that has a pretty shape.  Since you might get messy with this project, have fun working on it outside, such as on a sidewalk, porch, or other flat outdoor surface.  Cover the area with newspapers, an old sheet, or plastic tablecloth to help with accidental spills and to make clean-up go faster.  Start by using a paintbrush to coat one side of the leaf with paint, then press the leaf onto a piece of paper.  Press down long enough to make sure all the paint transfers to the paper.  Plain white paper will show the paint color to its best advantage, but you can experiment with colored construction paper to get different results. 

Leaves are falling everywhere!  Try out some of these fun fall activities if the weather is nice enough to go outside:  Rake up small piles of leaves around your yard to make an obstacle course.  (This is also a great activity to get children involved in helping with leaf pick up – let them have some fun with the leaves first and then help get them all picked up!)  Scatter the piles of leaves in straight lines or zigzag them around your yard so that the children must change direction frequently.  You can even make some piles taller than others to increase the difficulty.  Children can race the obstacle course over and over to see how long it takes them.    Some people like to use large pieces of carboard, a tarp, or an old sheet to gather their leaves.  If you use that method, let your kids have fun playing with the leaves before you get rid of them.  Put a small (or large) number of leaves on the tarp or sheet and then fling them all back in the air for your kids to catch.  Sure, it’s a little extra work, but the kids will really love it! 

Make Turkey Bowling Pins today by turning a plastic drink cup such as a red Dixie cup into a turkey by gluing on a triangle nose, googly eyes, and feathers sticking off the back.  Make it at least 6 pins and then let your family take turns setting them up and knocking them over with a ball.  To turn it into a STEM activity for younger children, have them start with small bouncy balls to see if they are strong enough to knock the pins over and work their way up to larger balls such as a soccer ball or basketball.

Look around your kitchen this week and see what interesting things you can use to make a fall tree.  One idea is to draw a tree trunk on a piece of paper and glue small round breakfast cereal pieces (such as Cheerios) to represent falling leaves.  Another fun idea is to trace your child’s arm and hand with their fingers spread out onto black or brown paper to be the trunk and limbs of the tree.  If you only have white paper available though, no worries!  Just trace it and have your kids color the tree trunk. You can make falling leaves for your tree by tearing up small pieces of tissue paper, crepe paper, or even regular paper in fall colors such as yellow, red, and orange.  Crumple and scrunch each piece to make it look like a falling leaf. 

Did you know our Iuka branch has cake pans you can check out to use?  In addition to basic sheet pans and tiered pans, they have other fun shapes such as stars, circle, a round hemisphere, and a bowl shape.  Thanksgiving themed ones include a cornucopia, a football, and two different turkeys.  For Christmas, they have a Christmas teddy bear, a tree, a wreath, a holiday house, a Santa face, and several snowmen. Most of the pans are aluminum (many are the legendary Wilton brand, although a few are made from plastic).  If you check one out, we would love to see your creation.  Send it to photos@nereg.lib.ms.us and we will post it on our website.  Below you’ll see a birthday cake NERL Administrative Assistant/Branch Services Coordinator Leigh Hood recently made with two sizes of heart-shaped pans.

If you and your children like to make crafts out of the imprints of their hands and feet, you can easily turn your child’s hand into a Thanksgiving turkey.  Paint the palm of their hand and their thumb with a thick layer of brown acrylic paint and then paint each finger a different color such as orange, red, yellow ,and green to be the feathers.  Press the hand firmly onto a sheet of paper to leave an imprint.  When the paint has dried, add in finishing details such as eyes, a beak, a wattle, and feet.  Check out our picture below for inspiration. Here is a cute poem you can type out to put with your turkey picture as well: This Isn’t Just a Turkey As Anyone Can Plainly See. I Made It with My Hand Which is a Part of Me. It Comes with Lots of Love, Especially to Say, I Hope You Have A Very Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Play the Thankful Alphabet game today: The first player starts with the letter A and names something that begins with that letter that they are thankful for, such as Apples.  The next person takes the letter B and so on.  Keep going until every letter has been used.  (Let us know what you come up with for X and Z!)  To turn this into a memory game, you could do the same thing but each person after the first must repeat what the other person named.  For example, if the first person said they were grateful for “Apples”, the second person would say, “Our family is grateful for Apples and Bananas” and so on.

If you are looking for a fun way to get rid of your jack o lantern, try out Pumpkin Bowling: Cut the stem off a small, round pumpkin. Set up ten (or less if you want) items like bowling pins in a staggered triangle shape.  You can use gourds, plastic bottles filled with a small amount of water, sand, or rocks to make them stand up, or anything else your family will enjoy knocking over!  Roll the stem-less pumpkin towards the items to see how many you can knock over.  (You will probably want to do this activity outside as it can get very messy.)

Create spooky Frankenstein Feet with your child’s help! Follow these fun and easy steps: Paint the Feet: Apply a thick layer of green acrylic paint to the bottom of your child’s foot. Make the Imprint: Have them step onto a sheet of paper to leave a green footprint. Add Details: Once the green paint is dry, use black paint and a paintbrush to draw stitch marks, bolts, and paint in the toes to create Frankenstein’s hair. Draw the Face: Use a black marker or paint to add eyebrows and a squiggly line for the mouth. Add a small white paint dot for the eye, and once it’s dry, finish with a small black circle for the pupil. This Frankenstein Feet craft is a perfect Halloween activity that’s both creative and fun for kids. Enjoy making spooky memories! 👣🎃

As the weather cools down, plan a cozy family night outside with a backyard bonfire. Here’s how to make the most of your evening: Set Up Safely: Choose a safe location for your bonfire, such as a fire pit or an old grill. Roast Hot Dogs: Enjoy a simple and delicious supper by roasting hot dogs over the fire. Make S’mores: Don’t forget everyone’s favorite treat—s’mores! Or simply toast big marshmallows by themselves. Sweet Treats: If you have a sweet tooth, this is the perfect time of year to make candy apples or caramel apples. Warm Drinks: After eating, finish off the night with hot chocolate or hot apple cider. Stargazing: Pull up your lawn chairs and cozy blankets to stargaze and enjoy the beautiful night sky. You might even catch a glimpse of a big, orange Harvest Moon. This bonfire night is a perfect way to enjoy the fall season with your family. Happy stargazing! 🔥🍂🌕

Looking for a fun and creative autumn craft? Try making a cute Autumn Tree with your family! Follow these simple steps: Prepare the Paper Links: Cut paper links in fall leaf colors like gold, yellow, red, and orange, similar to making a traditional paper chain. Glue each link together individually instead of forming a long chain. Create the Tree Trunk: Cut a wide strip of brown paper for the tree’s trunk and glue it onto a sheet of paper. Assemble the Tree: Glue each paper link individually in a cloud formation at the top of the trunk until you have a full and beautiful autumn tree. This Autumn Tree Craft is a perfect way to celebrate the fall season and enjoy some quality family time. Happy crafting! 🍁🍂

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds: A Delicious Halloween Snack When you carve your pumpkin for Halloween, don’t throw away the seeds! Pumpkin seeds make a fantastic sweet or savory snack for your family, depending on the seasonings you choose. Follow these simple steps to roast pumpkin seeds to perfection: Clean the Seeds: Start by washing the seeds in a colander to remove all the pulp. Dry the Seeds: Pat the seeds dry with a towel. Season the Seeds: Toss the seeds in a bowl with olive oil or melted butter, salt, and garlic powder. Feel free to experiment with other seasonings like cinnamon, black pepper, paprika, dill, or onion powder. Roast the Seeds: Spread the seasoned seeds on a baking sheet. Roast them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for up to 15 minutes, tossing the seeds every 5 minutes. Check for Doneness: When the seeds turn golden brown, they are ready to enjoy! Roasted pumpkin seeds are a healthy and tasty treat that your family will love. Happy Halloween! 🎃

Looking for a fun and creative way to get into the Halloween spirit? Try this combination drawing project and game: Halloween Tic Tac Toe! Draw the Board: Start by drawing a Tic Tac Toe board on a piece of paper. Decorate: Add Halloween-themed decorations around the edges, such as pumpkins, bats, spiders, and other spooky symbols. Choose Your Markers: Use inexpensive bat or spider plastic rings or toy pieces from the dollar store as place markers. Alternatively, you can use pennies, small rocks, or other small trinkets you have at home. This activity is perfect for a family game night and adds a festive touch to your Halloween celebrations. Enjoy the fun and creativity of Halloween Tic Tac Toe! 🎃👻

Get creative and try some of these unusual outdoor games today for National Outdoor Sports Day: Play shaving cream Twister by adding shaving cream mixed with food coloring to the dots. Play Sardines – one person hides and everyone else tries to find them.  When each person does find the one hiding, they quietly join them until only one person is left searching.  Then that person becomes the one who hides. Have races while walking like various animals, such as crabs, horses, elephants, etc.

October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month.  This month, families are encouraged to gather at the same table to enjoy mealtimes.  When people eat meals together (as opposed to grabbing snacks at different times or individual meals ‘on the go’), they tend to eat healthier and make better food choices.  So make it a priority to eat at least one meal together as a family this month.  Eating together is also a great way to spend time together and share what you did during the day.  Ask your family: What was the best thing that happened to you today?  What was the worst?  What was the funniest?  Did you meet someone new today?

Turning a sucker into a ghostly treat is a classic Halloween craft project.  All you need is a sucker with a round top, such as a Tootsie Pop or Dum-Dum, a white coffee filter or tissue paper and a small piece of string or yarn.  Place the white filter or tissue paper around the sucker and tie the yarn around the bottom of the rounded part of the sucker to create the ghost’s head.  Then, cut off any excess paper or filter at the bottom.  As a final touch, use a marker or pen to draw in eyes and a mouth on your ghost.

During this season of scary stories and tales of monsters, play this fun variation on a classic outdoor game- zombie tag.  Choose one person to be the ‘zombie’ (or ‘it’) and everyone else (the ‘humans’) try to run away from the zombie.  As with typical zombies, the zombie cannot run and must walk around like their best imitation of a TV show zombie.  Once a human gets tagged, they turn into a zombie too.  Whoever is the last human standing wins the round!  And for another fun version – have the person who is ‘it’ walk like Frankenstein’s monster.

Turn a plain white paper plate into an apple today by coloring it red and attaching a brown paper stem and a green leaf.  Cut out small black oblong shapes for the seeds.  For a variation that’s great for toddlers, tear up pictures of red paper into small pieces and then let them glue the pieces back onto the paper plate (or a blank sheet of paper).  In addition to helping them learn how to master glue, this activity will also help improve their hand-eye coordination.  Another way to improve manual dexterity in young children is to cut the shape of an apple out of cardboard or cardstock weight paper and give your child red, yellow, or green yarn to wrap around it to make an apple. 

Fall is also a great time to perform a Safety Inspection on your home.  Test your fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries.  Make sure young children have their first and last names, address, and an adult’s phone number memorized in case of emergency and that they know how to operate a phone to dial 911.  Have young children memorize Stop, Drop and Roll if they should get fire on their clothing and practice it occasionally to help them keep it fresh in their minds.  Sit down and discuss what to do if there is a fire, natural gas or carbon monoxide emergency.  Where will you meet outside?  Who will make sure everyone is present?  Who grabs your family’s pets?  All these questions should be decided before the unthinkable happens. 

Get ready to pull out some pirate lingo today – it’s Talk Like a Pirate Day. According to the website Grammarly, some popular pirate words to use today include “ahoy” when you want to greet someone or call their attention to something or “shiver me timbers” when something exciting happens.  If you want to talk about your friends, you call them “mateys” and you can use both “yarr” and “yo ho ho” just about any time.  In addition to trying to talk like a pirate as you go about your day today, try to turn your favorite songs into pirate versions by substituting pirate words.

September is Better Breakfast Month.  Taking time to eat breakfast can have helpful health benefits, as many nutritionists believe that starting your day by eating a regular morning meal can help control weight by setting a pattern of eating smaller, healthy meals throughout the day.  Eating first thing in the morning also gives our bodies energy to get through our day.  Children who have a healthy breakfast before school often think more clearly and behave better while they are at school. A great breakfast should contain a balance of all the major food groups - protein, dairy, fat, and carbohydrates. Including some of each in your breakfast will help you to make it to your next meal without resorting to mindless snacking.  It also may help improve your family bonding if your family makes a habit of  grabbing a quick bite to eat together each morning before everyone heads out the door.

Try some of these fun outdoor games today: Play tennis with clean fly swatters and balloons. Play shaving cream Twister by adding shaving cream mixed with food coloring to the dots. Play Sardines – one person hides and everyone else tries to find them.  When each person does find the one hiding, they quietly join them until only one person is left searching.  Then that person becomes the one who hides. Have races while walking like various animals, such as crabs, horses, elephants, etc.

Today is National Teddy Bear Day so let us see your favorite teddy bear!  Did you know Teddy Bears were inspired by an event that happened in Mississippi?  In 1902, President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi and refused to shoot a bear cub that was tied up to make it easier.  A cartoonist made fun of the incident, a New York store owner saw a way to make money, and a new toy was born.  Generations of children have found solace with a bear friend, whether it’s a Winnie-the-Pooh, a Paddington, a Care Bear, or any other soft and cuddly version.  So send us a picture of your favorite Teddy Bear and we will post in on our website.  Email it to photos@nereg.lib.ms.us.

Celebrate National Read A Book Day by spending today relaxing and reading a great book.  You can also read books out loud to other members of your family.  Even older family members or neighbors will enjoy being read to, especially if it is difficult for them to see books themselves.  Children can get into the fun too, by reading out loud to other family members, reading to their pets, or even just reading to their favorite stuffed animals.

Do your kids love dinosaurs and doing arts and crafts projects?  If you have some paper plates, you can let them make their own dinosaur today.  Grab a plain white paper plate and cut it in half to be the body of the dino.  Color the body whatever color you want, using crayons, markers, or paint.  (You can also use left-over colored plates from birthday parties to make a body).  Next, draw and cut out pieces to glue to the paper plate to finish your dino friend.  Draw a long neck and head to make an apatosaurus or one with three horns to make a triceratops.  Or add spines down the dinosaur’s back to turn it into a stegosaurus or an ankylosaur.  Don’t forget to add a tail (short and stumpy or long and curved) and legs to finish out your dinosaur.

Did you know you can write secret, invisible messages using lemon juice? Squeeze some lemon juice into a bowl and mix in a few drops of water. Using a cotton Q-tip dipped in the liquid, write a message on a blank sheet of white paper. After your message has completely dried and can’t be seen anymore, heat the paper by holding it close to a light bulb.