Things to Do at Home with Kids: May 4 – May 10

Teacher Appreciation Week, Star Wars Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day and more … there's a lot going on this week that can inspire activities with the kids! Here are our suggestions for things to do at home from May 4 through May 10. Let them inspire ideas that work for your children's ages and interests. And be sure to check out some additional ideas and helpful links with fun activities and educational websites at the end.

Monday, May 4:

May the Fourth Be with You … it’s Star Wars Day! If your kids are old enough to enjoy the movies, it’s a great day for a movie marathon. Or you could at least check out the new shows on Disney Plus.

If you need some activities to do while you watch (or your kids aren’t the sit and watch type), we’ve got some links for you:

Star Wars LEGO Mosaic Patterns

Toilet Roll Star Wars Characters

Star Wars Mad Libs

Chewbacca Paper Bag Puppet

Baby Yoda Paper Bag Puppet

Star Wars Word Search

Star Wars Crossword Puzzle

Star Wars Preschool Printable Pack

Tuesday, May 5:

The week of May 4 through May 8 is designated Teacher Appreciation Week with today, May 5 being National Teacher’s Day. While your kids can’t give their teachers a big hug like they might like to, most of us are probably appreciating what teachers do more than ever this year. The National PTA has created a webpage filled with templates, printables and other downloads for kids to use to say “Thanks” to a teacher – flyers, thank you cards, coloring pages, and more.

If you want to send a little gift, here are just a few local spots that you can purchase gift cards online: Payton Jewelry (a 2020 Happening List Winner), OWowCow Creamery (2020 Happening List Finalist), Zanya Spa Salon (2020 Happening List Finalist). A gift card to a local restaurant is also a great way to support a local business while giving the teacher the night off from cooking!

Oh, AND it’s Cinco de Mayo on Taco Tuesday. So obviously, it’s THE night to make tacos for dinner or order from your favorite local Mexican spot. These are just a few of the Bucks County spots offering curbside pickup and/or delivery: El Barrio Cantina & Tequila Bar (2020 Happening List Winner), Mill Street Cantina (2020 Happening List Finalist), Andala Latino Grill (2020 Happening List Finalist), Casa Toro Doylestown (2020 Happening List Finalist). Get more details of what each place offers (and even more spots to order from) in our Cinco de Maya en Casa article.

To go along with your dinner, why not make a dessert with the kids. Here are some ideas:

Easy Baked Churros

Caramel Apple Empanadas

Tres Leches Cake

Easy Mexican Fried Ice Cream

Wednesday, May 6:

Lolly from the popular local entertaining duo Lolly & YoYo is hosting a virtual interactive storytime from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. She’ll be reading Toto’s Apple, the story of a worm that REEEEEALLY wants an apple. Bring your favorite fruit or veggie to story time and you can have a snack while listening to the story. Register for the Zoom session at this link.

To keep the theme going, here are a few links to apple & worm activities you can do after storytime:

Paper Plate Apple with Worm Craft

Apple and Worms Picture Patterns Worksheet

Work Counting Play Dough Mat

No-Sew Sock Worms

It’s also National Nurses Day, so be sure to send some love to any nurses that you know. Here are links to free doctor/nurse themed thank you cards and a free coloring sheet.

Thursday, May 7:

We share a lot of scavenger hunt ideas in these weekly ideas, but that’s because it’s a great way to add some interest during the MUCH-needed outside time! Today, make your outdoor time all about rocks! Here’s a link to a Rock Scavenger Hunt printable. After finding all the different kinds of rocks, find some additional smooth rocks that you can paint and leave around the neighborhood.

Wrap up your scavenger hunt by 3 p.m. because you'll want to join us on Bucks Happening Instagram Live! We're doing a live interactive session with Lolly from Lolly & YoYo. Sing, dance, play and explore!

Friday, May 8:

Let’s go fly a kite! If the weather is good for it, make it a point to fly a kite today – either in your yard or in an open space at a nearby park. (While practicing safe social distancing of course.) If you don’t have a kite, the kids can try their hand at making one at home.

Here are a few links to tutorials as well as a few kite crafts:

Paper Bag Kite

Kid’s Kite Craft with Drinking Straws

Tissue Paper Windsock

DIY Mini Paper Kites

Pasta Noodle Kite Craft

Stained Glass Kite Decoration

Looking for more to do? Newtown Discovery Preschool and Camp NAC (both powered by Newtown Athletic Club) are hosting a Curbside Characters Drive-By Event! The event will be held rain or shine from noon to 1 p.m. outside of Escape Resort at the NAC. All families in the community are welcome to come dressed in their favorite character costume for this unique experience. Characters like Belle, Minnie, Mickey, Spider-Man, Superman, Ariel and more will be performing and greeting children from a safe distance, but close enough to hear each other. There will also be music and entertainment. Guests must remain in their cars. For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.

Saturday, May 9:

It’s National Train Day! And while you can’t take the kids to any of the local kid-friendly train excursions (we love New Hope Railroad and the little ride at Carousel Village), you can still have a fun day celebrating the rails.

Here are some ideas:

Start with the obvious … play with any train toys you have!

Watch a movie about trains like The Little Engine That Could, The Busy Little Engine, Train Master, any Thomas & Friends movie or show

Make a train out of cardboard boxes

New Hope Railroad Coloring Pages

13 Virtual Train Rides From Around the World

19 Train Themed Free Printables

Toilet Paper Roll Train Craft

Sunday, May 10:

Happy Mother’s Day! We say Mom should take the day OFF from thinking of ways to entertain the kids. But if that’s not an option, we have some ideas in our Mother’s Day Guide.