At-Home Coding Camp, No Computer Required

We hear so much about how important it is for kids to know how to code, or at least to understand the way computer code works. Even for kids who won’t go into computer programming as a career, the world is increasingly reliant on technology, and being able to understand what makes it all work will always be helpful.

But if you’re not a coder yourself it can be difficult to know where to being or how to teach kids about something you might not completely understand yourself.

iGameMom is coming to the rescue with her at-home coding camp. The five-day series of activities is suited to kids ages 5 to 10 and involves printable games and activities — no computer required (future camps will use computers to teach hands-on coding principles.)

The first day, for instances, uses a printable game where kids have to work out the code to get a hot dog to a bun. The game helps to illustrate the skills someone needs to be a good programmer, including the ability to work backward from the goal and see the steps that need to happen in between and being willing to try again when something doesn’t work the first time.

This looks like a lot of fun and an easy way to introduce some coding concepts without going over your head. You just might learn something, too.

Looking for more ways to teach binary coding? Check out these binary Code resources.

A few years ago I shared some pumpkin themed sensory activities for kids, but I wanted to get a little more general and do some fall sensory ideas that can take you from Halloween al the way to Thanksgiving.

Playdough is a classic sensory activity, especially if kids can help make it, too. These playdough recipes from The Montessori Twin Mama are fall colored and scented with cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and apple pie spice (I honestly don’t know what the difference is!). Or try this fun maple playdough from Happy Toddler Playtime.

Throw together some cookie cutters, googly eyes and other fun things to make an easy fall playdough tray (similar to what I did on this Halloween playdough activity).

How about some fall themed slime? Natural Beach Living gave a basic slime recipe a fall twist with food coloring and glitter. Leaf shaped sequins make it even more fun. Little Bins for Little Hands also has a cinnamon slime, which is great for fall but can also carry you all the way through Christmas.

Raising Wild Things Sensory has some great easy to make fall themed sensory bottles, which you can add fall things to, or pompoms or whatever kind of I spy items you might want to include. They also have a fun apple moon sand sensory bin that has me wondering if you could add something scented to moon sand (I always hated the smell!).

And of course there are all kinds of sensory bins you can make for fall. I like this apple picking one from Happy Toddler Playtime that uses fake leaves and little apple toys. It has the added challenge of trying to pick the apples up through a mesh of branches — kind of like a low-tech game of Operation!

You can also do a short-lived sensory bin with real leaves, or use any kind of beans, brown rice, oats or lentils to make your base. Some more great ideas can be found at Fab Everyday. Their post includes some specific Halloween and Thanksgiving themed sensory bins, too.

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