The Olympics are a time of excitement, inspiration, and global unity. For young children, the Games are often a magical experience that sparks curiosity and enthusiasm. I am super excited about the Olympics and look forward to finding ways to enjoy it with my kids. Let's consider this post the opening ceremonies to an ongoing series about Olympics ideas for kids you can implement at home.
Ignite the Excitement with Opening Ceremonies
The opening ceremonies are a grand spectacle that marks the beginning of the Olympic Games. To bring this excitement home, start by making a torch and flag with your kids.
The History of the Olympic Torch
Begin by discussing the history of the Olympic torch. Explain how it travels from Greece to the host country, symbolizing peace and unity. Engage your children by letting them create their own torches using simple materials like tissue paper, a toilet paper roll, and a battery operated tea light (I bought these). This hands-on activity not only ignites their creativity but also deepens their understanding of this iconic symbol. You can also track where the torch is on the website for the Olympics. This sill help build excitement as the opening ceremonies begin.
Olympics Idea for Kids: Create Your Own Flag
Next, move on to creating or buying a flag for your country. I did this a little last minute, so I grabbed these country flags from Amazon. Explain the significance of the flag and how it represents national pride. Encourage your kids to wave their flag during the ceremonies, cheering on the athletes. This is a great way to foster a sense of excitement as well as global awareness. Be sure to point out all the different countries you see and how everyone is excited to cheer on their own country.
Track Medals with a Wall Chart
One of the most exciting aspects of the Olympics is keeping track of the medal count. Create a special space on your wall where you can post medals as your country wins them. Not only is this fun, but it can provide a great way to reinforce some math skills I detail below.
Grab my FREE Printable Olympics Medals so you can start tracking medals with your kids today!
Practicing Ordinal Numbers
Tracking Olympics medals naturally leads to discussing ordinal numbers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Make sure you incorporate this language into your Olympics activities with your kids so they can build understanding of what these mean.
Practicing Counting Skills
For younger kids, this activity can be used to practice counting. Each time your country wins a medal, add it to your wall chart and count them together. If the medal count gets to be higher than their current skill set, you can focus on counting how many medals your country won today and/or model for them counting the higher numbers. This repetitive exercise reinforces basic counting skills in a fun and engaging way.
Building Number Sense for Older Kids
For older kids, use the medal count to build number sense. Discuss place value by grouping together 10 medals and showing them how this adds a 10 to the number. For example, if you had 19 medals and won 4 more, you'll now have 23 because the 9 and 1 more makes another 10. You can also practice addition skills by discussing how the total number of medals changes with each win. This interactive approach makes learning math concepts more relevant and exciting.
Build an Olympic Podium for Their Stuffies
An Olympic podium is a fun addition to your Olympics celebration. Create a podium for your kids' stuffed animals, complete with first, second, and third places (here are those ordinal numbers again!).
Understanding Ordinal Numbers
Use this podium to teach/reinforce ordinal numbers. As medals are awarded, switch out the stuffs and discuss which place each one represents. Have each stuffed animal hold a small flag representing their country. As your kids play with their podium, discuss the importance of first, second, and third places. Connect that the tallest podium, although in the middle, is where the person who comes in first stands. This playful activity helps reinforce the concept of ordinal numbers.
Encouraging Imagination and Play
Encourage your children to use their imagination by organizing their own mini-Olympics with their stuffed animals. This can include various "events" like jumping or racing, fostering creativity and physical activity.
Daily Learning with Olympic Facts Paper Chain
Create a paper chain with Olympic facts to read each day of the Games. This daily ritual adds an element of surprise and learning to your Olympics celebration.
Making the Paper Chain
Cut strips of colored paper and write an interesting Olympic fact on each strip (here is a great book with tons of facts). Every day, read the fact aloud then link it to your Olympics chain. This simple activity keeps the excitement alive throughout the Olympics.
Educational Benefits
Reading these facts daily can enhance your child's knowledge about the Olympics, sports, and global cultures. It's a great way to introduce new concepts and stimulate curiosity.
Exploring Different Olympic Sports
Introduce your kids to different Olympic sports by watching events together and trying out some of these sports at home.
Watching Together
Choose a few sports to watch together as a family. Discuss the rules and techniques of each sport. This can be a bonding experience and a way to expand your child's knowledge about various sports.
Trying New Sports
If possible, try out some of the sports you watched. For example, you can set up a mini-soccer game in your backyard or practice gymnastics in the living room. This hands-on approach encourages a love for sports and physical activity.
Conclusion
The Olympics offer a unique opportunity to create lasting memories and valuable learning experiences for your kids. By incorporating these fun and educational activities, you can bring the excitement of the Olympics into your home.
Celebrate the opening ceremonies with homemade torches and flags, track medals with a wall chart, and create an Olympic podium for stuffed animals. Engage in daily learning with an Olympic paper chain and use the games as an opportunity to explore different sports. Most importantly, use this time to have fun and learn together!
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