If you’re a host home family with RISE Services, Inc. Oregon, you may be searching for fun, screen-free activities for your foster children. Children and teens can enjoy the five activities we recommend below at any activity level. Join in on the fun with the kids and make it a memorable family event. These activities, and many others, will keep you and your foster children busy and engaged for hours.

1. Exercise

Physical activity comes in many forms, and there are several ways to encourage your family to exercise. Outdoor ideas include playing various sports, walking the dog, or hiking through the woods. For rainy spring days, search YouTube for exercise classes like yoga, stretching, or even Zumba.

2. Cook & Bake

From baking brownies and creating cute snacks to making entire meals, there are endless options for learning how to cook. If your foster child is learning for the first time, you may want to begin with something easy, like scrambled eggs or grilled cheese sandwiches. Learning to cook is a fun, creative activity and a valuable life skill for all kids.

3. Go Geocaching

This real-world outdoor adventure is quite popular for Oregon families. You and your kids can search for and locate caches in your area using a free geocaching app or GPS. There is usually a logbook inside that keeps a record of everyone who has discovered these hidden treasures. Some caches are filled with swag or trinkets as well. 

4. Build with LEGOs

Your foster kids will thoroughly enjoy an afternoon playing and constructing with LEGOs. These small building blocks offer hours of entertainment and imagination for young children and young adults. Several LEGO kits, such as Star Wars and Harry Potter, are available in classic brick boxes where kids can construct whatever they wish.

5. Volunteer

Helping others is another great family activity to plan this spring. Most local communities have several volunteering opportunities. Consider volunteering at your local animal shelter if your foster teen loves animals. If your kids love going to the park, attend your neighborhood’s next park clean-up event.

Supporting Host Home Foster Families in Oregon

At RISE Oregon, we are proud of our loving, caring host home families that offer safe and supportive environments to children and teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. If you want to learn more about becoming a host home family through RISE, contact us today. We also provide job coaching, professional behavioral services, and supported living services throughout several locations in Oregon, including Albany, Roseburg, La Grande, and more.

Source: Adair, Cam. “50 Best Screen-Free Activities by Age.” Web article. Game Quitters. Web. 20 Apr. 2024.