What do you do with an eight year old?

Vicky - posted on 06/22/2009

My 8 year old is a collector of barbie, Ken etc dolls. She role plays being a teacher with them as her students, likes to do shows, trampoline, swimming, crafts, chalking on footpath in garden, making her own mixes with anything she can get her hands on, Best one she did was flour and paint drops mixed together while dry then adding water till dough style great effect, never the same. Above all just have fun and time together she will enjoy whatever you do. Have a nice time

Vicki - posted on 06/19/2009

Take her to see the new movie, "Up" :)

Heidi - posted on 06/19/2009

Well I don't have any little girls(3 boys) but I have nieces, and friends with daughters and you can set up a beauty parlor in your home and give eachother manicures, pedicures, do each others hair and have some makeup. At that age you can have a talent show if there are more then 3 kids. I do child care and the girls that I have in care love doing talent shows, and hair and makeup. They also like to play dress up so I have a box of clothes, shoes and purses for them. But crafts and games are good as well. I am sure whatever you do you will enjoy your time with your niece.

Karen - posted on 06/18/2009

Hello,
My 8 year old daughter loves games , crafts , books . Also they love makeup. Goood luck and have fun.
Karen

Allanya - posted on 06/18/2009

My first thought is sell her to the circus...jokes! LOL. I threaten my sons with that when they are getting too boistrous!



I have 2 boys, 6 and 10, and a sure winner is putting on a CD and dancing your butts off. You get a workout and have a laugh together. My boys like to do music videos too (they dance, I tape it) to email to their Dad or Grandparents who live in other cities to us.



When I was a young one I also loved to get into my Mum's clothes and dress up, so I'm sure she'd love to be let loose amongst your clothes (I esp loved the high heels as only real ladies got to wear them). If you have some old makeup or some you never wear she'd have fun finishing off her look with a bit of that too. You could turn it into a fashion parade, and take photos for her to share with her family when she goes home, and to remember her stay with you.



Or how about baking with her? My sons love to bake, and the reward is eating the result. Snack time and play time all rolled into one!



Any kinds of crafts/artwork are fun too...perhaps she could make wee gifts or drawings to take home to loved ones when she leaves. My Nanna and I used to make scented pouches for your drawers or wardrobes...we used old pillowcase for the fabric or you can use any off cuts or other fabric you choose, and filled them with dried lavender or other nice smelling things like cinnamon sticks or whole cloves. Just cut the shape you want, hand-sew it most of the way around leaving an opening so you can turn it inside out (then the edges look tidier and the stitching is inside, and for adding the filling. Fill it with your frangranced product at the opening and then sew it shut. You can also use uncooked rice, wheat, legumes etc. to bulk it out if you have a small amount of fragranced filling. You can add pieces of ribbon or buttons to make it pretty. Great developmentally as it uses the fine-motor skills, and another cheap option as you just use the odds and ends from around the house. Salt dough is also great fun...its cheap to make and then you bake in the oven or leave it to dry in the sun so its permanent although you play with it just like play dough. Here's a recipe for you:



2 cups of Plain Flour

1 cup of table salt

1 cup of water



OPTIONAL

1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (makes it a little easier to knead)

1 tablespoon of wallpaper paste (gives the mixture more elasticity)

1 tablespoon of lemon juice (makes the finished product harder)

A few drops of food colouring to add colour, or paint with craft paints when its dried



METHOD

Put plain flour, salt and any, or all, of the optional ingredients into a mixing bowl and gradually add the water, mixing to soft dough. This should be neither too sticky, in which case add more flour, nor too dry, in which case add more water. When mixed remove from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead for 10 minutes to help create a smooth texture. If possible it is best to let the dough stand for approximately twenty minutes before beginning a project. Unused dough can be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container or cling film, for up to a week. Children always love making models, and as long as you don’t add wallpaper paste all of the ingredients are natural. So if they are tempted to put it in their mouths, all it will do is taste incredibly salty.



DRYING

The drying of your work can either be done naturally in the open air, or it can be baked in an oven. However it is not recommended that you have your oven hotter than 100C (200F/Gas Mark 1/4) as this can cause unsightly bubbles and cracks in your pastry. Personally, I tend to start at 50C and after 30 minutes increase to 100C. The drying time needed for each piece varies according to size and thickness, but an average time for natural drying is 30-48 hours, whilst oven times are generally reduced to 3-4 hours. These figures are only offered as a rough guide and remember that both sides must be dried out. When your model is dry, turn off the oven and leave it inside to cool down.



I hope you have LOADS of fun with her!

Christi - posted on 06/18/2009

My 8yr old son loves to play dominoes,he likes to skate and we are not wealthy so just kicking around painting and going to the park. He loves swiming anything you do with him is what he likes

User - posted on 06/18/2009

I used to live in VA Beach for 6yrs. Why not try other parks around area like Redwing Park- my kids love Japanese Garden in there. Jumping Monkey (near Lynnhaven Mall) If you want to travel little: Bluebird Gap Farm have alot of animals she can feed and also other exoctic animals like white peacocks. Also playground. I know they do events there during Summer. What local those free if not $1 at local movie. If you are military, do one of their waterparks/pools on base. Depending on when she arrives why not take her to one of base concerts. Oceana will have air show in Aug. Northside Park in Norfolk have a indoor community pool where you pay like a $ 1 or $2 to swim. Also check VA Beach and Norfolk website to see what events they may have. I used to run playgroup there how I found thing to do with my 7yr old and still let her brothers (4 and 2) have some fun too.

Leigh - posted on 06/18/2009

There are always the tide's games, I always enjoyed thema s a kid...I don't remember how much the tickets are anymore...but I know the 23rd og June it is turn back the clock night and that is when Hot dogs, popcorn, and Cokes are like 25 cents...

Jaime - posted on 06/18/2009

Head to a dollar store and pick up craft supplies, or scrapbooking supplies. My 8 year old loves to scrapebook, and pretty much do any craft you can think of. Another thought is heading to the movies, or do you have a drive in close by?