Whether it’s an off year for the winter or summer games or a year when the Olympics are going full-throttle on every screen, you can engage the grandkids in a bit of fun and exercise by holding your own outdoor competitions. There’s no better way to get some fresh air, and what child could resist the prospect of winning a shiny gold medal? Once the games are complete, hold a medal ceremony and serve special foods from the host country. Making the medals and your own Olympic torch is half the fun of preparing for the games. Any game can be part of your backyard Olympics, as long as it has clear gold, silver, and bronze medal winners. Below are some suggestions to start you off.
The Medals:
What you will need:
*Gold, silver, and bronze metallic paper cupcake liners (one for each medal)
*Two sheets each of red, white, and blue construction paper
*Glue
*Several dark markers
*Roll of red or blue ribbon
*Stapler
1. Flatten the cupcake liners with the colored side facing up to form the medals’ bases.
2. Cut circles from the construction paper to fit into the center circle of the liners. You’ll want the metallic border to show, so cut the circles small enough to retain a color frame.
3. Use the markers to draw pictures, designs, numbers (#1, #2, #3), or words (Gold, Silver, Bronze) on the construction paper circles.
4. Glue the circles to the centers of the liners.
5. Staple each end of a piece of cut ribbon to the top of the medal with sufficient length to garland around the winner’s neck.
The Torch:
What you will need:
*One large piece of black construction paper
*Two sheets each of yellow, orange, and red tissue paper
*Tape or glue
1 Roll the black construction paper into a cone and secure it with tape or glue.
2 Stuff the cone with yellow, orange, and red tissue paper to create the flame.
3 Let the children take turns holding the torch as they march out to the yard or park. Don’t be surprised if you attract the attention of other kids hoping to join the games!
