5 Activities for Kids - 2021
Bring on year #2 of this pandemic! These were our kids’ (6 year old girl and 4 year old boy) favorite activities in 2021.
1. Beach
It’s free and still emptier than usual. The kids particularly enjoyed exploring tidepools with their goggles, catching fish in their net, putting it in a bucket, then letting them go, collecting shells to make jewelry, glass to put in a jar with an air plant, and just seeing the fish they read about in their books. They also loved getting hermit crabs and putting them in a clear “tank” to build their own aquarium to enjoy for a couple of couple hours before putting them back where they were found.
2. Hiking
Also free and too many to mention. But we basically took them anywhere safe and walked one hour in and one hour out. That’s how we knew they’d make it in and out without having to carry anyone! ;p Investing in hiking shoes we found on Amazon with grip, was well worth it for the muddy trails and rainy days. Also bring snacks to keep them motivated! LOL! But if you’re looking for a really easy one, Moanalua Gardens Trail is flat and an easy walk to start with.
3. Paid Activities
We did sign up for a few classes and activities that made the top of our list. They included a cooking class and lunch with Wellness Kitchen in Kahala, a playground with chickens, goat, and picking a basket of produce at Keiki & Plow in Hawai`i Kai, and a visit to Bishop Museum.
4. Gardens & Markets
Our kids really enjoyed chasing birds, taking pictures of flowers, and having picnics. They really love Ho`omaluhia Botanical Gardens in Kaneohe because they can feed the fish. We also went around Koko Head Gardens where they loved the big trees and flowers. But one of their favorite things was getting some cash from us and getting to choose one thing from the supermarket or Farmer’s Market with the money they had. It’s actually pretty interesting to watch them make their decisions and shop with a budget!
5. Home Gardening & Bartering
We spent a lot of time at home and so started a home garden. And as we grew things, we started sharing things and the best part was as we shared with our neighbors, they shared with us too. After a while, we started walking the neighborhoods and bartering with those who had fruit trees and veggies we didn’t grow. But the best part, was our kids now love to eat fresh vegetables and our home is filled with small fresh marigolds!