If you find yourself stuck for ideas and falling back on the same activities week after week, here is a list of 52 fun and creative things to do with your Little.  Pick a few that jump out at you, dive right in, and start making memories!

Please note: If you meet with your Little at his or her school or in your workplace, please check with your Match Support Specialist before participating in any off-site activities listed below.

Get to Know Each Other
Volunteer and Help Out
Nature, Recreation and the Outdoors
Around the House
Civic Involvement
Connect with Others
Learn Life Skills and Plan for the Future
Entertainment
Food and Dining
Creative and Crafty
College Tours

Looking for activities in your area?  Try these:

Chester County
Delaware County
Montgomery County
Philadelphia County

Need more ideas? 
121 Additional Activities for Bigs and Littles


Get to Know Each Other


Make a list of "favorites".
A great ice-breaker.  From movies, to songs, to food, to books.  Get your minds racing and your conversation running as you discuss and enumerate the things you love.  

Select a cool wardrobe from a catalogue and compare tastes.
You and your Little can share your senses of style.  Go through those old catalogues you have that are collecting dust, or go through that new one you just can't wait to open.  It's window shopping right from your own home. 

Make an appointment at a cosmetology school and get a new hair style or cut.
Conduct some style experiments.  Take your Little to a cosmetology school where you can get a new, creative haircut at low prices.  The stylists get to learn their trade as you get spruced-up with your Little.

Draw family trees and compare them.
A great way to learn about each other is by looking back at where you came from - and a family tree is a fun and organized way of doing it.  Recount memories of relatives as you build and decorate your trees.  See how far you can delve into your family histories as you become part of your Little's personal history. 

List and prioritize 10 values.
What's important to you?  What kind of person do you want to be?  It's good to ask yourself these questions every once in a while, and it's even better to start getting your Little to ask these questions too.  Help your Little decide where family, responsibility, faith, and hard work go on their list of priorities.  This with help build your Little's moral reasoning skills and give your Little a sense of purpose and direction. 

Make a list of people you admire - research them on the internet.
Who inspires you?  Inspire each other as you an your little try to answer this question.  Go online and lookup historical figures, celebrities, scholars, or even everyday people who are making a difference.  Find out what made them admirable.  Show your Little just how many life paths there are to greatness.

[Back to top of page]


Volunteer and Help Out


Volunteer together for a United Way project.
Help others as you help your Little.  Actively promote a ripple effect as you instill in your Little a commitment to service.  Work with younger children or the elderly.  United Way projects have been shown to be an effective and fun way of enhancing your local community.  Make community service a legacy for you and your Little.  Find a local United Way activity in South Eastern Pennsylvania at:
http://www.volunteersolutions.org/volunteerway/volunteer/

Help an elderly neighbor.
The two of you can enrich a third person's life right in your neighborhood.  The elderly have so much to share and both of you can learn from them.  It's also rewarding to know that you helped a person in need not just because you felt obligated but because you wanted to - and you'll both want to because you'll be doing it together. 

[Back to top of page]

Nature, Recreation and the Outdoors


Rent roller blades.
Choose a scenic section of the city and roll along with your Little.  Get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, even race one another and see if you can do some tricks.  You could even go to a skating rink and roll around as you listen to music.

Pick apples or other fruit in season.
Find a nice orchard and go searching for a healthy snack.  Lift your Little up on your shoulders to help them pick the fruit.  Take the fruit back home and bite right in, or cut it up and make a fruit salad, or - if you are culinarily-inclined - bake it into a pie.

Go on a hike.
Build mental and social skills as you and you Little work as a team to navigate nature trails.  Discover nature and enjoy the great outdoors. Exercise, exploration, and a general enjoyment life and the world around you will envelop you and your Little - a truly fulfilling and magical experience.
Here is a site with a list of trails in Southeastern PA:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/recreation/hiking_philadelphia.aspx

[Back to top of page]

Around the House


Wash the car.
It might be a chore that you have been putting off for some time now.  But with your little helping you out it's not a chore any more.  And unlike other chores, this one involves water, soap, and the outdoors.  And when it's all over, you can both take a moment to enjoy your car's new shine and then take it for a drive. 

Make popcorn and talk about what's in today's newspaper.
Current events, local issues, opinions, and analysis.  At first glance, it may all look like a lot to keep track of, but you can show your Little that the rest of the world doesn't have to rush by without them.  Discuss the front page, some movie reviews, or an opinion column.  Make a snack and get your wheels turning while your teeth are chewing.   

Figure out how to program your VCR.
It's time for you and your Little to finally put an end to that annoying blinking 12:00 on your VCR.  After that you can move onto more challenging exercises like programming the time of your favorite show so you can record it.  Your Little will feel a great sense of satisfaction at having completed at having broken the intimidating code of the VCR by using his or her problem solving skills. 

Watch a TV program and identify negative stereotypes.
TV is all too often a passive activity.  And yet it's a ubiquitous part of modern life that can't be ignored.  Engage it critically with your Little.  Point out where shows oversimplify people's behavior or inaccurately depict the diverse cultures that you see in real life.  Learn the facts as you discuss and analyze fiction.

Play a board game together.
Whether it's Scrabble, Monopoly, or Trivial Pursuit; friendly competition and strategic thinking help build minds and relationships. 

Read a selected book aloud.
Simply sharing a story is perhaps the most time-honored and effective way of building connections between people.  Let the author's words jump off the page as you bring to life characters and events all for the entertainment of your Little.  Capture their attention and spark their imagination!

[Back to top of page]

Your Community


Visit a production plant via a prearranged appointment.
Most of us have wondered at one time or another how some of our favorite product is made.  Call up a local factory so that you and your Little can finally discover exactly what those pencils, toys, chocolate bars, computers, etc. go through before they get to the store. 

Take a long ride to "the end of the line" on public transportation.
If you and your Little are looking for an interesting location to just spend time and talk, take a long ride on a bus, train, or trolley.  You and your Little will get to see some of the less-explored sections of your city that the tracks run through.  Finally take time to visit those obscure places you've seen on maps but never had the occasion to go to - all the while spending quality some time bonding with your Little.  His or her local world will be expanded in a small but rich way.  

Visit a junk yard and find one treasure.
If you and your Little can stand the smell and grime, take a trip to the local junkyard; or even take a few minutes to analyze some of the old junk that a neighbor intend to throw out.  As the old saying goes, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."  Find that one object that just doesn't belong with the rest of the trash, something that deserves to be taken home and cherished by your Little for years to come as a memento of the bond that the two of you share. 

Explore a new radio station together.
Whether your Little is a talker, a listener, or a techie, a radio station is a fascinating real-time working environment to learn about.  It's a great way for you and your Little to watch radio come alive as you observe what goes on behind the scenes of you favorite radio music programs and talk shows. 

Go to the library together.
Hours can be spent simply wandering through the stacks and flipping through classic works of literature, current bestsellers, and biographies of famous figures.  Pick out a few books to read aloud.  Entertain one another with your readings, make each other laugh, or just get talking about reading.  You can make some of the most imposing volumes come alive.  

Visit the zoo at feeding time.
No childhood is complete without trips to the zoo to feed the animals.  Visit the zoo with your Little.  Get to know the animals and learn about how they live, play, and eat.  It might even give you both some insights into how humans live too.  A real social skills builder and a great ways to spend a day outdoors!

Visit the SPCA or local animal pound; offer to walk the dogs.
If you don't have your own dog to walk, check out the dogs at the SPCA or local animal pound with your Little.   It's sort of like window shopping for a pet.  Select a dog and offer to take it for a walk - think of it as test drive for a pet.  Even though you might be taking care of the dog for a brief period, you'll be exposing your Little to venture that requires responsibility. 

Civic Involvement


Compose a letter to a politician on a computer.
Get your Little politically active.  This is a great exercise of writing, persuasion, and self-assertiveness.  Let your Little see how political figures aren't just people they watch on TV and read about in the papers.  Politicians can be interacted with too.  Now your Little can finally experience and utilize the power of the little person in a Democracy. 

Visit city hall or the county office building.
Sit in on a city council session, drop a letter off to a government official, or explore your town's history by delving into some records.  The seat of your local government might seem like an intimidating and confusing place, but after some exploration, your Little will be empowered simply by discovering all the resources it has to offer. 

Look up your state on the internet.
Help your Little develop a sense of civic responsibility.  Check out your state's website and review the records of politicians and the responsibilities of state departments.  Put current state developments in a broader perspective by having your Little look up some state history.  You might both end up being surprised by some of the weird facts about your state that the two of you stumble upon. 

[Back to top of page]

Connect with Others


Go shopping for a special person you both know.
Shopping is a guilty pleasure for many but you can feel less guilty about it if you and your Little do it for someone else.  Pick out one of your Little's family members or a local neighborhood friend think up a gift the might like.  If you want to be a little more generous, run an entire shopping errand for someone who needs a break. 

Celebrate a friend's religious holiday.
Open yourself and your Little to a new spiritual community.  Ask a friend if you and your Little can join in a celebration of his or her faith.  Religious holidays provide us with some of our fondest memories.  Make some truly unique memories with your Little as you both experience the best parts of a different culture.

[Back to top of page]

 
Learn Life Skills and Plan for the Future


Visit a college campus.
Introduce your Little to the hallowed halls of academia.  Sit in on a class or just watch some students play Frisbee on the lawn.  Whether your Little is in the midst of their college search or still in grade school, a visit to a university will open your Little to the power of using one's mind to achieve one's goals. 

Take a tour of a friend's job site.
Inspire and excite your little with a tour of a real live workplace.  If you don't consider your own job very interesting, visit that friend with the cool job that you are so jealous of.  A job site is not just an exciting place for your Little to inquire about and explore, it's a place where your Little can see the value of working hard and pursuing their passions. 

Go bargain hunting / shopping.
For many of us, shopping is a necessity.  But we also have to keep in mind that frugality is a virtue.  Compare and contrast your tastes in merchandise as you compete to find the best bargain.  Teach your Little some important life skills as you make responsible and budgeted shopping into a game.

Open a bank account.
See if your local bank offers junior or student accounts so that your Little can learn how to be a responsible saver.  Few things will make your Little feel more mature than knowing that they have their own money in the bank. 

Plan a hypothetical career and write a resume.
Savor the present as you plan for the future.  Talk with your Little about his or her goals and interests; explore the possible careers where your Little can one day make a difference - and put it all in writing.  Find the right place for your Little in the career world, and guide your Little's dreams into reality! 

Learn a new skill together.
You are never too young or too old to learn something new.  And learning is always more fun and more effective when you do it with a friend.  Learn a new language, how to play an instrument, master a new sport or art form.  Satisfy your curiosity and better each other as you each better yourselves.

Talk about credit cards and finances.
It is never too soon for your Little to learn the value of a dollar, how to balance a checkbook, or at least a little more respect for their parents budgets.  Growing up will be a little smoother for them because you will have introduced adult responsibility to them in small amounts early on. 

"Find" a summer job in the classified ads.
Job searches later in life will become less daunting for your Little if they are introduced to job searches in a way that is fun.  Peruse the classified ads and get your Little excited about possible summer jobs where they can learn how to earn and make a good use of those lazy summer months. 

[Back to top of page]

Entertainment


Go to an old-time movie.
It doesn't take long to grow tired of the standard weekend rush to the latest blockbuster.  Small movie-houses and community centers act as cinematic museums when they show old classics with stars that like up the screen like gods and goddesses.  Take time to appreciate the art of filmmaking with a good old-fashioned "day at the movies".

Go to a concert, ballet or opera.
Cities and towns wouldn't be as vibrant as they are without the arts.  Bands, ballets, and opera companies all offer you and your Little an opportunity to enjoy fun music and creative stagecraft.  Let you Little see that there is more to entertainment than just what they watch on TV. 

Go to a professional baseball game.
For many, a baseball game is the best way to spend an afternoon, period.  Even if your Little finds the sport somewhat slow there is always the mascot, the ice cream, or other fun activities to entertain him or her.  The game itself, of course, is the great American pastime.  It's also a great way for the both of you to connect with your own local community of Americans.

Find a place to sing karaoke.
If you've ever heard karaoke before, you know that being a good singer is not a prerequisite.  Give yourself and your Little a chance to bond through silliness as you belt out the lyrics to your favorite songs. 

[Back to top of page]

Food and Dining


Bake cookies.
The way to the heart is through the stomach.  Find a unique recipe, mix the ingredients together, and enjoy fresh baked cookies right out of the oven.  Pour some cold glasses of milk and you and your Little can bond over a great snack that you made yourselves. 

Make dinner together.
Hospitality, creativity, resourcefulness.  By making a meal for the two of you to enjoy, you are expressing and enhancing these priceless character traits that fortify the self, nurture the other, and nourish the body. 

Go out for dinner at an ethnic restaurant.
Sometimes the other side of the world can be right around the corner.  Take your Little on a culinary excursion.  Discover a different culture by sampling new tastes in a unique atmosphere.  Bond with your Little as you experience how all cultures bond. 

Plan a week's worth of ideal meals and figure out costs.
Enhance your Little's culinary creativity and financial discipline in tandem.  Go through some cookbooks - the kinds that focus on cheap and easy-to-prepare meals.  Look at the prices of the foods you need at the supermarket, and determine the best way to satisfy your Little's hunger without breaking the bank.  Here are three books that can get you started:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596091657/sr=1-1/qid=1153510925/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-3681339-6045614?ie=UTF8&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764226134/sr=1-2/qid=1153510925/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-3681339-6045614?ie=UTF8&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963530534/sr=1-3/qid=1153510925/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-3681339-6045614?ie=UTF8&s=books

Go to a fish market, meat market, or other place where food is not prepackaged.
Show your Little that there's more to food shopping than just grabbing a package from the shelf.  Go to a market and see how meat, fish, and vegetables are freshly cut and prepared by dedicated butchers and grocers who use their craft and their skill to serve their customers. 

[Back to top of page]

Creative and Crafty


Celebrate your name by crafting items via carving, alphabet soup pins, drawing, etc.
Be creative and decorative.  Celebrate your Little's name and your own by putting your art skills into action.  See what you can make out of the materials you have lying around or take a short trip to the art store for supplies.  A great way to experiment artistically while centering all the attention on your little.

Make up stories about funny pictures you have collected during the week.
Let your Little's imagination run wild.  Look through newspapers, magazines, or a set of recently taken photos.  Point to the things in the pictures that you find funny or amusing, then start to draw connections between those different funny things.  Before you know it, you and your Little will have some hilarious stories to tell one another or even write down.

Make a present for someone special.
It's one thing to go shopping and buy a present, but it can be so much rewarding for you and your Little to put some elbow grease into it and actually make a present for someone.  Get some supplies from a craft or fabric store, get to work, and get ready to make that special person smile. 

Start a scrapbook.
A great way to turn all of those random objects your Little has sitting in his or her room into a creative collection of treasures and memories.  Make your Little's life history into something beautiful by turning photographs, stickers, and ticket stubs into works of art. 

Write a short story.
Telling a story is a great way of building a connection with your listener.  Writing a story is a great way of building connections with your imagination, creativity, and when you do it with your Little, you build connections with each other.  Introduce your little to the personal enrichment and personal enjoyment that come from a creative partnership.

Take a roll of photographs of "unusual" sights.
Grab a camera and explore your city or town.  Help your Little look at their world with new eyes as they scout for "unusual" sights.  Even the most mundane tree or building can look strange if it's framed right.  And once the pictures are developed, come up with a creative way of presenting them.  

[Back to top of page]

  College Tours

Interested in taking your Little to tour a college campus in the area?  We compiled a list of college tour information for you.  Check it out.