24ActivityComboAs parents, I think we all dream of lazy summer days at the beach or park. We want our kids to learn, but have fun doing it.

Experts tell us that a major key to avoiding summer learning loss is getting in lots of reading. Sometimes that reading comes easily, but sometimes even the most avid readers need encouragement.

If your kids are anything like mine, the promise of a special movie night and activity is motivation enough to encourage grumble-free reading. But it’s not always an easy task to plan said special night. Well, I’ve got your back.

Here’s a list of books, movies, and coordinating activities for preschoolers right through to middle schoolers.

All the movies can be found at your local library (try requesting them if they don’t have them) or streaming service. In fact the Dove Foundation has an awesome streaming service that has many of the movies available. You’ll find the movies available on Dove Channel marked with an *.

Just a note that the ages listed below are recommendations based on Dove Foundation’s movie reviews. As always, you are the best judge of what movies are or aren’t appropriate for your children. If you would like to read the review for yourself, please visit dove.org.

Preschool

  1. Winnie the Pooh* by A. A. Milne – Play a game of Pooh sticks (World Pooh Stick Championships). If you don’t have a stream handy, make your own aluminum foil creek (Parents.com).
  2. Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Suess – Recreate the fluffy speck of Whoville dust with a fork dandelion (Crafty Rainbow). Feel free to make your fluff any color of the rainbow.
  3. Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess (PBS TV show) – Play science games inspired by the Cat in the Hat (Toddler Approved).
  4. Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – Make a fingerprint caterpillar (DLTK).
  5. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister – Sing some sharing songs with your kids. You can find 10 great ones on video here (Growing a Jeweled Rose).
  6. Curious George by H. A. Rey (PBS TV show or movies) – Play Barrel of Monkeys Game. Available for purchase here.

Lower Elementary

  1. Black Beauty* by Anna Sewell – Make a paper bag horse and act out a scene from the book or movie (DLTK).
  2. Swiss Family Robinson* by Johann David Wyss – Build a fort in your living room or back yard and pretend to be stowaways on a deserted island.
  3. Where the Red Fern Grows* by Wilson Rawls – Eat a meal like Billy, complete with Skillet Cornbread, honey fried salt pork (or bacon), and peaches. Kids can even help make the cornbread (Pioneer Woman).
  4. The Wizard of Oz* by L. Frank Baum – Make an obstacle course, then mark it with yellow tags or tape for your kids to follow the “yellow brick road.” (Martha Stewart)
  5. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder – Make hand-dipped candles just like Ma and Laura (Pioneer Thinking).
  6. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White – Weave just like Charlotte! Paper weavings work great for the younger set (Art Projects for Kids). And the older kids might like working on a cardboard loom (Instructables).
  7. Pippi Longstocking* by Astrid Lindren – Collect socks for the local children’s hospital or hospital wing.
  8. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor – Visit a local zoo and talk about the care of animals. If you have a pet, consider involving your children in its care. Give the dog a bath, change the cat’s water, etc.
  9. Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo – Create DIY Lego Minifigure Capes out of duct tape (Busy Kids, Happy Mom).
  10. The Lorax by Dr. Suess – Be the “unless” the Once-ler talks about and start an apple tree from a seed (Huws Nursery).

Upper Elementary/Middle School

  1. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis – Draw a lion. Instructions here (Crafting Goodness). Instructions for older artistic kids here (Art ala Carte). Have popcorn balls—a.k.a. snowballs—as a snack while you work.
  2. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery – Update Anne’s chalkboard by making your own dry erase boards (Dragons Den Curriculum). You can use permanent marker to decorate the edges or just leave them plain.
  3. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer* by Mark Twain – Build a catapult and shoot marshmallows at targets. (She Loves Science)
  4. Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo – Make a paper “bottle tree” like Miss Frannie, and write both the things you wish we could do over and celebrate the things you’ve done right (Great Teaching).
  5. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne – Learn to play Phileas Fogg’s favorite game, whist (Library Adventure).
  6. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine – Making “magic” Sharpie tie-dye shirts will have all the kids saying, “Yes!” just like Ella (She Loves Science).
  7. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom – Get involved with helping injustice around the world (IJM—check their Get Involved link) or at home (Lisa VanEngen).
  8. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket – Virtually adopt a child by sponsoring their food, clothing, and schooling. My family supports children through Compassion, but there are a myriad of others as well. Most organizations encourage you to connect you’re your sponsored child by becoming international pen pals.

Have a great summer and read on! If you’re interested in more craft, activity/game, or book ideas, visit my Pinterest “Keeping Kids Busy Arts/Crafts” board.

Comments? Questions? Leave them here. We’d love to hear from you.

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*These movies are available on Dove Foundation’s streaming service, Dove Channel. And if you’d like more book/movie combos, Dove Channel has a whole Literature section where you can find your own book to movie options! Just a heads-up that I do get paid a smidgen for the referral, but I think you’ll find it worth it!

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