Neighborhood Walk

It’s blazing hot in my neck of the woods.

Well, except for today and tomorrow with rain showers predicted and the temperature is supposed to get up to only 80 degrees or so.

Eighty is so much more bearable than 100 degree weather!

Where was I? Oh. I haven’t really started talking about what I want to talk about.

Silly me!

Wait! I sort of have. Back to how hot it is.

While our daytime temperature is hot enough to tickle a cactus’ soul, it does cool off in the evenings. In fact, the evenings are absolutely divine! And, evenings are the perfect time to take a stroll around your neighborhood with a grandchild — and to play the neighborhood walk game.

To play the game, print my neighborhood walk checklist. Have your grandchild select which page she wants to use. Give her a clipboard and a pencil. Then, head on out into your neighborhood.

As you stroll along, have your grandchild check the box when she sees one of the items on her paper. Be lenient when deciding if something ‘counts’ to be checked off.

For example, the picture on the checklist for a swimming pool is an above-the-ground type of swimming pool. But, if you see a ‘real’ one in the ground or even a kiddie wading pool, those could count, too.

For the basket ball standard, you could count a small plastic one that is only 3 feet tall. And white blossoms on a tree could count for white flowers.

You could have a walk with several grandchildren and make it a contest to see who could be the first one to get all of the items checked off their list. You could give the winner a small little prize.

If my checklist is way off for things that you would see in your neighborhood, you could create you own. Simply type up a list of things — you really don’t have to have pictures on your list. Just words would work fine — for grandchildren that can read.

After the walk, go back to your home for a root beer float, an ice cream cone, or some other sweet treat. Ending an activity with a treat will almost always guarantee that your grandchildren had a good time!