Need Good Activities for Daughters

Hi-

I wish I had suggestions for you. I have the same issue, but even more of an age gap. I have a 2.5 year old boy and a 13.5 year old girl (and a 3 month old). I will be interested what people have to say. I just wanted to know that you aren't the allow one out there that is having a hard time with this!

Hi T.-
My older sister and younger sister are 8 years apart. For great times together, these are some of the things our parents did with us.
1. Plant a garden- grow your own squash, corn, pop corn (that one is really fun), lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, etc. Make it a project that they love and can see the results from. Also plant fruit like strawberries, blackberry or boysenberry vines, etc. We used to love going out in the morning and picking fresh berries for our breakfast. It was amazing (and I am NOT a morning person by any means!)
You can also do a couple of trees, like a lemon or a plum. THe other thing for gardening is an herb wheel. A two tiered herb garden with things like mint, opal basil, st. john's wort, etc. These are gorgeous when filled out!

2. Set up a water day- swimming, races, etc. Then after everyone is tuckered from swimming and such, go home for pizza and movies.

3. As far as baking goes, maybe get the ingredients for a sourdough starter. Make your own- you can add things like apples to it to feed it, etc., when it gets stable, and then get up daily with them and bake a loaf or two- or on the weekends, bake break for the week, make loaves for the local homeless shelter, etc. But with the things your girls love to do with you, you can feed your family and lower costs for groceries, etc.

4. Plant a garden- do some foliage, some flowers, and get some things together that will beautify your home and also give the girls something to work on and watch daily. Starting from see is great- I have some grape seeds that I saved and am trying those. Get an old egg carton (cardboard) and start the seeds. When the seedlings are hardy, transplant them.

5. A kitchen garden. My Secret Sister at work gave me a book called the kitchen garden cookbook. It has tips for growing herbs in the kitchen, on the counter, and cooking and baking with them. That may also be a neat project for both of your girls.

I hope this helps and inspires!
Good luck!
-E.

How about some of those build it/paint it yourself kits? there are birdhouses, bat houses, ladybug houses, boats they could build and race, all kinds of stuff. the older one can do the nailing and the younger can paint. if they make a garden, they can put some of these in there, like the ladybug house and birdhouse. rock painting is also fun, they could paint rocks to go here and there in the garden.

There are some great suggestions here! I would also add that if you don't already have a zoo membership, you should get one. Everyone loves the zoo, and there is always something new to see and learn about. Here in Fresno, a family membership is $55/year, which is a great deal considering that we go once or twice a month year-round (even if it's only for a few hours each time). If you have a children's museum near you, that's always a good bet too. They usually have exhibits that appeal to kids of all ages.

Have you tried the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkely? My two youngest were 6 years apart and the activities they offered offered a great blend for that age gap.

I have a 12 yr old and it is a blossoming age. She is now a tween and has left behind things that used to amuse her. She is growing up. Recently she has started teaching my 6 yr old to quilt.

It might be harder to find projects both will want to do at the same time, but encourage your 12 yr old daughter to be your younger daughter's mentor. Maybe you can encourage her by saying she can practice her babysitting skills on your 6 yr old (with you there of course)by helping her in her projects and such. It will make your 12 yr old feel "grown up" and it will help your younger daughter too.

Science inquiries are appropriate to mixed age. While the younger child is doing the tactile part, the older can draw what he sees, ask more questions, find more info on the internet, write a summery about it, take photos and send it all to a grandpa or other distant relatives.

Some of the activities on my Good Things To Do are appropriate. The are free and you can check them out on my site daliacoachesparents.com

Have them clear a space and let them plant their own garden that they will take care of.

I don't know if you are close to San Jose, but they have a really fun Tech Museum for all ages.