Search for the basic food groups on trips to the grocery store. Keep track of the food groups presented at each meal. Are there any frequently missing from the table?
Are you wondering what to do with those stained clothes? Are there shirts that just need a button? Your child can be involved in this decision making process.
Your child may have conflict in the cafeteria, on the bus, in gym class, or at piano lessons. Write up potential situations and have the family act out solutions.
Visit the local Fire Department's Open House to discuss safety issues. Check out Boater Safety or Hunter Safety courses offered in the community.
Family recipes have been handed down through generations. Is there any way you and your child can alter the recipes to make them healthier?
Compare the more expensive name brands to the generic varieties available. Keep a chart of the cost differences. Estimate how much it might save in a week, a month, or several months.
It's time to have a heart to heart talk about issues that could make a life and death difference.
Has your child heard of e-coli bacteria? What are some common practices that children need to be taught to avoid?
Jump in and join the fun. Make containers to sort the items for recycling. Talk about what things can and cannot be recycled. Construct a flowchart the follows the bottle from beginning to end.
Stress can affect your child more than you realize. Take time to discuss feelings and how to cope with situations.
Why are there phases of the Moon? Start sketching the changes...
Experiment with seeds planted in a liter container. What kinds of things help them grow?
Keep track of family fitness levels with resting pulse rates. Compare how fast everyone's heart rate returns to normal after moderate exercise.
Did you ever notice that most of your family members have brown eyes? Is your child asking why? Check it out!
What's the weather today and how does it affect me? Look into some suggestions for younger and older children relating to the weather.
Try to create a chemical reaction of your own with this recipe for Play Dough!
Guess the cost for one week of school lunches. Then compare the cost of putting together your favorite brown bag varieties. What did you find out?
Search ads with your child to see what items are on sale at the grocery store. What foods could be combined into a healthy and cheap alternative. Recipe for Chex Mix included.
Interview community members to gain knowledge about peoples' careers.
Help your child examine problems in the workplace and possible solutions.
Use situations in the family as a stepping stone to solving real world problems.
Don't people love to root for their favorite sports teams? Build this same camaraderie and family spirit by encouraging relatives to select community projects.
Build skills in math and language by estimating numbers of relatives or the cost of food and learning how to write invitations. Practice speaking politely to elders!
Use this real world opportunity to plan the amount of space, the type of seeds, the cost of the production, etc. with your child. Enjoy the "fruits" of your labor!
Use the grocery store as a means for comparison shopping. See if your child can devise inexpensive meals based on sale items.