Tag: fun activities

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10 New Things to do With Your Dog at Night

Some people say the night is dark and full of terrors, but I say it’s the perfect time to do fun and relaxing stuff with your dog! Dogs are awesome companions, and they love hanging out even when it’s pitch black outside.

That’s why nighttime is the right time—to go for a walk, make dinner together, read a book out loud, or even do some strenuous physical activity. The list goes on and on.

Recommended: Surprisingly Genuine Birthday Ideas for Dog Lovers

So what are you waiting for? Get started with these 10 fun activities to enjoy with your canine buddy at night:

Best Things to do With Your Dog at Night Outside?

1. Try a New Trail

Want to try something new with your dog? Try a new trail you think your dog might like. Trails are great for dogs who like to explore and sniff, as well as those that want to run and maybe even swim!

2. Have Your Dog Join You in Yoga or Pilates

Yoga and pilates are a great way to relax, de-stress and improve your mental health. They also help you become more flexible and improve your balance, which is good for both humans and dogs.

If you’re not into yoga or pilates yourself, then why not do it with your dog? It may seem strange at first but it can be a great bonding experience! You could even treat this as an opportunity to practice some of the techniques alone before trying them out with your pet.

3. Visit a Dog Park in the Evening

Dog parks are a great place to socialize your dog and meet other like-minded people. If you go at night, you can meet a whole new group of dog owners, trainers, and paid dog walkers. It’s a fun way to get to know people who love dogs just as much as you do!

4. Dog Walks at Night with a Flashlight

If you live in an area where it’s safe to walk your dog at night, this can be a fun way for both of you to get exercise without having to worry about sunburn or heat exhaustion. You can also use the flashlight to help your dog find things in the dark — like poop!

5. Work on Some Impressive Tricks Together

You and your dog have a lot to offer each other. You’re probably already aware of the fact that dogs are natural-born performers, but training them to do tricks is a great way to bond with your dog.

6. Have a Doggie Backyard BBQ

You’re in the mood to have a party, but you don’t want to worry about cleaning up after everyone leaves. Why not do it outside? You can host a backyard BBQ with your dog and set up some fun games and activities that will keep everyone entertained. Your dog will love running around in their favorite place while you get to spend time with friends or family—this is one of the best ways to relax after work!

Best Things to do With Your Dog at Night Inside?

7. Read a Mystery Novel or Thriller Out Loud to Your Dog

You can read a book to your dog, and it doesn’t have to be just for kids. You can choose adult books that have nothing but words—no pictures! Reading an entire novel out loud will take up some time in the evening, but it’s worth it if you’re both enjoying yourselves. Try reading something with a lot of suspense, like a murder mystery or thriller. If you have an older dog who is starting to lose vision or hearing capabilities as they age, read aloud from favorite children’s picture books which are easier to follow.

8. Watch Movies Together on the Couch

How about a movie night? You can watch movies online, on a laptop or tablet, or from your phone. Or you can stream them to your TV with an HDMI cable.

9. Go to a Pet Café

Pet cafes are a great way to spend time with your dog, especially if you live in a city where you don’t have access to dog parks or other outdoor activities. To find pet cafes, do a simple internet search. You’ll likely see several results pop up near you.

10. Make Pupcakes and Celebrate

If you have a dog, you know that every day is a special occasion. There are so many reasons to celebrate with your pup! Make your next celebration even more delicious by making one of these pupcake (individual cupcakes for dogs) recipes for your dog:

Conclusion

There are so many fun things to do at night with your dog. Try a new activity today or plan an evening of entertainment for the next time you want to get out of the house after dark.

As always, be sure that both you and your pup stay safe in your nighttime adventures!

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Simple Summer Activities For Fantastic Babysitters

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Summer is in full swing and that often means a lot of lively activities with the kids! I’ve whipped up a quick list of simple summer activities for babysitters to do with the kids they babysit.

All super fun and kid friendly activity ideas… no transporting kids anywhere, just fun and games right at home.

You might also be interested in a few of our other posts:

Interview Each Child

This one will be appreciated by both kids and parents! What parent wouldn’t love to come home to thoughtful interviews from each of their children to store as a memory?

You can either write or record the kid’s responses to each of the following points:

  • Ask what they like to do.
  • Ask what they don’t like to do.
  • Ask about their preferences for food, friends, school, TV shows, etc.
  • Ask what they love about their parents, siblings, and other family members.
  • Ask the kids what they would like to try, but haven’t had the opportunity: “What are some of cool things you’ve heard about but haven’t tried?”
  • Ask them for suggestions for activities: “Have you ever tried any of these?” If so, ask them how it went and what could be improved in future outings with this or similar groups of people (e.g., “I’ll definitely bring more snacks next time!”).

Also, consider getting a fun microphone for the interview! I really like this Wireless Bluetooth Microphone For Kids Interview. Plus it doubles as a fun karaoke tool!

Plan a Scavenger Hunt

For this activity, you’ll need to get together a list of items that can be found outside and a prize for the winner. It’s also best done outside because it encourages exercise, but it can be done at home if no one wants to go out on a rainy day.

The game is simple: you split up into teams and each team goes out looking for different things on their list. Whichever team finds all the items first wins!

There are many variations of this activity depending on what kind of prize you’re offering: ice cream cones, movie tickets, candy, or stickers.

Help the Kids Write a Play

You can go full original material or copy a book that they really enjoy. Make it really simple by following the outline below:

  • Ask them to write down all of the steps that are in order from beginning to end.
  • Assign roles to each of the kids and help them practice by acting out the play with their assigned roles.
  • Give each child a copy of their script (you can make one for each on posterboard or print it out). When they’re ready, get together again and act out this play!

Make Frozen Hot Cocoa With Marshmallows

This is one of my favorite things to do on a hot summer day. I used to make it all the time when I was younger and my brother and I would go for long walks around the neighborhood. If you want to make this recipe, here are some tips:

  • Use hot chocolate mix instead of making your own from scratch (it’s much easier).
  • Add ice, milk, and hot chocolate mix into a blender to liquify.
  • Add lots of whipped cream, mini marshmallows, crushed candy canes or peppermint extract. You can even add peppermint schnapps if you want to get fancy!

Learn Some Magic Tricks

This is a great way to make kids feel special. Give them a magic trick that they can keep with them and show off at school during playtime or before bed.

  • Learn some simple magic tricks yourself, like how to pull a quarter out of their ear or make their hand disappear
  • Show the kids how to do it and teach them how to do it on their own so it becomes second nature (you don’t have to have a knack for magic)
  • If portable, give the kids the actual magic tricks themselves!

Teach The Kids How to Play Chess or Checkers

Chess is a game that challenges the mind and helps kids learn skills like strategic thinking and forward planning. Checkers is simpler, but still takes some brainpower and it’s fun for all ages! The best part about this activity is that you don’t need any special equipment besides a board and pieces.

Go on a Bug Hunt

Bugs come out in the summer and we come out for the bugs! There are many types of bugs to capture based on the time of year and location.

  • Find a good place to go bug hunting. Some good places include parks, farms, forests, and gardens.
  • Bring a jar and a magnifying glass for collecting bugs in the wild.
  • Bring a field guide if you have one available—or visit this website

Don’t forget to bring binoculars to get a closer look at any birds or animals on your adventure and a butterfly net (just in case)!

Make a Bird Feeder for the Backyard

The first thing you need to do is get some supplies. You will need a plastic bottle (a 2-liter soda bottle works well), a piece of string or twine, bird seed and/or snacks, and scissors.

There are various ways to make this feeder; the easiest way is to cut the top off the bottle and then poke holes all along its length with your scissors until you reach the bottom. Be careful not too go through both sides of the plastic! Then tie your string around it and hang it outside in a tree or on a fence so that birds can fly up underneath it and grab food from below.

Play Board Games

Board games are a great way for you and your younger charge to spend some quality time together.

If you’re having trouble choosing a board game, look for one that’s easy to learn but still fun after all these years. The classics like checkers and chess are still great, as well as more modern options like Battleship or Boggle.

Kids love simple, easy things that don’t cost much money and don’t make a mess. So be creative and have fun!