Kids' special day--ideas, please

**Cricket1** · 11-28-2006, 10:40 PM

I have been thinking that in February I will surprise my boys and keep them out of school for one day so that we can do something special and unexpected. Have any of you ever done this? If so, what did you do?
My boys are 5 and 3 so I know that they won't be missing out on physics or anything. LOL. They never stay home from school so I think it would be a neat treat for them. Let me know your thoughts!

**sunshine** · 11-28-2006, 11:04 PM

I used to do this on occasion , when mine where in elementary school. Mostly as a reward for good behavior.

We'd go to the museum, or the state capital building and watch the senators or congressmen at work. Or spend the afternoon at the zoo, or roller skating, or at a nursing home entertaining the residents (my kids thought this was fun, your milage may vary)

**Early Bird** · 11-29-2006, 06:55 AM

I'll bet that, at that age, they'd love a day with Mom reading picture books, showing old photos, and telling stories.

Especially if it's snowy out.

**MarshHen** · 11-29-2006, 06:56 AM

Oh man, I remember doing this with my kids when they were little too. Now that Mickie is in Middle School, it's not an option anymore. We used to pack a lunch and go to one of the local state parks close by, or drive down to the Jacksonville Zoo or visit the Okefenokee Swamp Park which is all within a 1-1/2 hours drive from us. Another favorite was to go over to Jekyll Island (30 min. drive) and go on a dolphin watch. We still do these things, but we have to wait for school breaks and summer vacation.

Check around your area to see what is available. Maybe you have a nice bike trail close by. Pack a lunch and spend the day getting fresh air, exercise and fun. Get off the bikes at various places and let the kids gather leaves, acorns, rocks or anything they fancy to let them remember the fun they had. Take a camera and take lots of pics. Let the kids make a little scrapbook with the pics and the treasures they collected.

My 4 yr. old grandson Ethan has quite a collection of things he has found on our walks. Turtle shells, rocks, bird feathers, you name it, LOL. Boys love stuff like this.

**Mumzy** · 11-29-2006, 09:03 AM

[QUOTE=Cricket1;644555]I have been thinking that in February I will surprise my boys and keep them out of school for one day so that we can do something special and unexpected. Have any of you ever done this? If so, what did you do?QUOTE]

Oh yes! Usually it was to go to a big movie that they were dying to see like Harry Potter or to the zoo when there wasn't a mob. Don't forget to take pictures! As for the school I just told them it was an important family day. They are older now and still talk about those special days.
Thanks for the great memory.

**Buckeye5** · 11-29-2006, 10:36 AM

Yes, we have done this too. Sometimes we watch a movie, or we have gone to the Science Center, and the museum. If you are watching pennies tight why don't you surprise them that day with game day. You could secretively make sure that you have all of the ingredients for their favorite lunch, and prepare later. At your kids ages, they may think it is cool to play with playdoh, fingerpaint using pudding, play the Memory Board game but you have to do it all with them. Call it game day. Or do they like the library? Take them to the library and let them pick out books and read, also maybe call the library before you go, and ask if they have any upcoming events planned for your kids age group, they do this around where I live. Do they like to bake cookies and decorate them? If the money is budgeted, go to Chuckie CHeeze or an arcade. My kids though loved gameday, and it was very cheap.

**danni** · 11-30-2006, 02:51 PM

I do this once a month with one child at a time. With 5 kids it's hard to have one on one time so each month one child stays home and we do something they want to do that doesn't cost much. Last month, Jake(10yrs) stayed home and we baked. I always talk to the teachers and find out what day would be a ok one to miss, and the teachers have all been great. I still do it even though 2 of the kids are in highschool.