Try these ideas:

1. Road Sign Spelling Game
   
   A fun game for long trips! Select a sign that you are about to pass. Everyone attempts to make a word using the letters on the sign. The longest word wins points!
   
   Variation for older kids: Words must have 2 or more syllables.
   
   Variation for younger kids: Print out the letters of the alphabet (in upper case) before you go. Have the children identify the letters on road signs or the license plates of other cars.
   
   Variation for early readers: Think of words that start with one of the letters in the sign.
   
   
2. Food for Thought
   
   Choose a food in your home (e.g., an apple) as the word of the day. Have your child write as many adjectives as possible to describe the fruit. Have him or her think about the food’s texture and flavor to help create descriptive words.
   
   Then, try to use those descriptive words in everyday conversation throughout the day.  How many times can you incorporate these adjectives in your conversations?
   
3. Spell It Out Game
   
   For this game, draw all the letters of the alphabet on a piece of paper, or cut out each letter from a newspaper or magazine. Put all 26 letters in a bowl or bag. During each turn, a player will draw a single letter. Next, roll a pair of dice. The sum of the numbers rolled will determine how many words the players have to think of that begin with the selected letter! See how many different answers you can come up with. Don’t look at each other’s papers! This is a game the whole family can play.
   
4. Idioms for Middle School
   
   Work with your child to create a list of idioms (An expression that is peculiar to itself grammatically and cannot be understood from the individual meanings of the words in the expression, such as keep tabs on) and explain what each one means. After you have completed your list, have your child write a short story about the literal meaning of the phrase (for example, “It’s raining cats and dogs”). In your child's story, have him or her also use the idiom for its satirical meaning.
   
5. The Rhyme Scavenger Hunt
   
   This can be done with two people or the whole family. Choose a start room in your home. In this room, players pick up to 10 objects and write their names on a piece of paper. Try to choose objects whose names don’t sound the same. When you say go, everyone will go to different rooms in the house and write down other objects that rhyme with the words in his/her list. The first one finished waits in the “start” room. When you all get back compare your lists. This game can be started in any room in the house.
   
6. Syllable Comparison
   
   Look through a catalog or circular with your child and choose one item. Look through the rest of the catalog and circle items whose names have the same amount of syllables as the first item you chose. For example, if you chose turkey, look through the circular to find other words with two syllables, such as chicken.  With younger children, clap the number of syllables in each word.
   
7. Note Taking
   
   Have your child help you create the week’s shopping list. Name things that you need from the store, and have your child “play secretary” and write them down. When some words become more difficult, encourage your child to sound them out or compare the difficult words to words they know.

African Dance for Children Kit
A masterpiece!  Introduce your child to African dance and drumming, taught by Júlio T. Leitão, who creates all the African dance choreography for Sesame Street!  The DVD offers an entertaining, straightforward format that concentrates on footwork, breaking down dance sequences step-by-step. This engaging DVD inspires children to move their feet, shake their hips, and sing along to traditional African rhythms.  Wheelchair-bound children will enjoy the modified techniques presented just for them!  Your child will also enjoy learning the meaning of African makeup markings, and will love trying them out with the included hypoallergenic makeup kit!  The beautifully illustrated children’s book that recounts the meaning and origins of African dance, and the handmade grass skirt made of African raffia and Kinte-printed fabric complete this remarkable set that will encourage your child to get up and dance to the African drums while learning about African culture.  Great for birthday parties!  Ages 3 and up. To learn more about the African Dance Kit, click HERE.

GREAT SITES:

The Internet is full of information to make learning fun. You can use a search engine to find lots of information on any topic that interests you.

The list below contains some great educational web sites. Visit these sites together and have fun playing games and learning.

• Arcademic Skill Builders: Online educational games that teach math, language arts, vocabulary and thinking skills. Visit Word Invasion for grammar skills or Word Frog for learning about antonyms, synonyms, and homonyms.
• Funbrain: Find fun math games, stuff to read, and more on this great site for kids and their parents.
• GameQuarium: Lots of fun word games!
• Play Kids Games: A site designed by parents of young kids. Fun games that teach computer, math, reading and problem solving skills.
• Primary Games - Language Arts: Lots of fun language games!
• Kaboose Reading: Games for preschoolers as well as children ages 6 and up. Very colorful and interactive! The site covers many areas (one game introduces the French language) and even has games for moms.
• Game Goo - Learning That Sticks: Eye-catching selection of games which focus on many areas of learning. This site includes fun animations and story lines. A great site for children and adults.