This fall, try these four ideas for a backyard staycation:

Backyard luau: Grill, dance, and make merry in the backyard or kitchen. A simple meal enjoyed as a family can help you reconnect during a busy time of year.

Ask your child to help skewer some pineapple chunks to put on the grill for a simple fine motor skill building activity.

Camping in style: Set up a tent or make one out of blankets and chairs for a homegrown adventure.

Put your child in charge and let them practice simple problem solving. For example, if the plastic chair falls over under the weight of the blanket, what can I use instead?

Scavenger hunt: Make a big event out of a classic scavenger hunt. Put on your adventure clothes and go roaming about the house or backyard in search of pinecones, 4 leaf clovers or interesting rocks.

Let your child practice handwriting by creating the list themselves! For pre-readers, invite them to draw pictures of what you need to hunt for.

Kickball: Leave the grocery runs and laundry for tomorrow. Today, invite the entire family and neighbors over to play a good old-fashioned game of kickball.

If you don’t have a backyard suited for kickball, head to your nearest park to play a friendly game.

It doesn’t take much to plan fun and easy family events! The most important thing is setting aside time to enjoy together.

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