13 Old School Ways to Play

Remember the time before computers, smartphones and iPads? Those were the days. Go old school this summer and head back to the basics—kids and parents alike will appreciate any of these classic activities.

You run a tight ship, so teaching the kids about paper boat races should be second nature. Take a refresher on the required folds, grab some paper and you're off to the races on a lake, in a pool, even in the bathtub. What You'll Need: paper (normal printer-sized paper is fine, for larger boats, use bigger sizes) and markers, so kids can personalize their vessel.

You've got the ‘write' stuff in-house, so all they need is some added motivation. Straight summer journaling can seem less enchanting than the promise of a pen pal. Coordinate letter writing with family and/or friends who live near or far, invest in some stamps and stickers, and watch a wonderful relationship flourish. What You'll Need: pens, markers, paper, stickers, stamps, addresses and absent friends.

We don't mean the kids—that's counterintuitive. We're referring to a great way of getting them involved with gardening: preparing, planting and nurturing. Start them off with some organic seeds, and watch how things grow from there. What You'll Need: seeds (potatoes, peas, tomatoes, etc.), soil, a container, sunlight and water. Paint (to personalize their container) is optional.

Female fireflies have it all figured out; they signal their readiness to mate by blinking on and off. (There's a lesson for us in there somewhere.) To catch a male firefly, mimic the blinking of a female with a flashlight turning on and off, then swoop them up as they fly by. When it's ‘lights out' for the kids, it'll be time to let the fireflies out too. What You'll Need: fireflies, a glass jar with lid and air holes, some long grass and patience.

You'd be lost without your GPS, but older kids can learn the basics of ‘Never Eat Shredded Wheat' (an easy phrase used to remember the clockwise compass locations of North, East, South, West) and some beginner map skills through easy challenges and games. What You'll Need: one or more compasses and a map of your area (optional).

Kids are good at giving us all the gory details (burps, bowel movements and bloody noses for starters), so strike up some scary stories appropriate for their age. If they're used to winding down with a dose of Dora before bed, gather together instead with flashlights or nightlights and wait for the screams—of laughter or otherwise—to surface. What You'll Need: a good imagination.

We tend to forget that tents aren't intended to be used only for offsite camping. Few things make the ordinary (your backyard) seem extraordinary like a tent set up for afternoon play or even sleeping under the stars. Sure, they may come in after their ‘midnight snack' and crawl back into their real bed, but that won't take away from the marvellous memory. What You'll Need: a tent/makeshift backyard fort materials.

Since the beginning of time humans have been skipping stones. So how come it's such a difficult skill to acquire? The secret is to start young. First, they'll need to forage around to find the perfect form: flat, smooth and no smaller than the space that lies between their enclosed thumb and forefinger. After that, it's all in the art of the throw. What You'll Need: flat rocks and a reasonably-sized body of water.

You can reclaim your kids—and spouse—from their computers. A classic deck of cards should do the trick. For younger kids, it can be as easy as a modified game of ‘Snap' using red cards vs black or a small set-up for ‘Concentration.' As they get older, play ‘Snap,' ‘Spoons,' ‘I Doubt It'— the list goes on and on. Keep an ongoing tally of wins and losses, and the overall winner gets dessert served to them first that week. What You'll Need: playing cards and your kids. Learn how to play here.

The fruits of your labour, in a literal sense, are your kids. You know, the ones lounging on the couch, iPad playing? Pry those devices out of their hands and instead, grab some spoons, measuring cups and oven mitts and get them helping you in the kitchen—baking with actual fruits of the season. Deliver any extras to a friendly neighbour or family in need. What You'll Need: Fruit, baking supplies, recipe(s).

The key to this activity is a rule that no one tries to use your good glassware. Plastic cups, however, are perfect. A phenomenon south of the border in schools and clubs, the challenge of speedily stacking cups and taking them down is strangely addictive and can be done anywhere. Timing each attempt makes it even more of a spirited sport. What You'll Need: Large-size plastic drinking cups and a watch/stopwatch.

Take note, PETA. We're suggesting the kind that includes a treasure map or scavenger list. For younger kids, this activity will require heavy input/involvement on your part but older kids can team up to create and design their own hunt of either kind. Add a time element and the knowledge that a double scoop of something cool and delicious awaits them afterwards, and a summer tradition is born. What You'll Need: maps, clues, treasure (for a treasure hunt) or a list of items to be collected (for a scavenger hunt).

Science in the summer doesn't have to be a bummer, especially for city kids who often have their view of starry nights obscured by urban lights. Start with a good star chart, and see how many they can spot. Late July and early August this year will be ideal for spotting the annual Perseid meteor shower. But you knew that already, right? What You'll Need: a clear night, star chart and telescope (optional).