Youth Online Activities

  • What are these activities?  These activities are presented by Youth Program’s Group Leaders for children and teens to do from the comfort of their own home.  They offer an opportunity to get creative, to be mindful, to move their bodies, and be empowered, providing them a little piece of Good Grief Camp at home. 
  • How do the activities help? Activities are designed to help children grow and heal through learning to identify their emotions, learning how to cope with overwhelming feelings, learning how to understand their supports, and learning how to communicate their needs, and are presented in various ways.
  • Will I need to have materials for these activities? Yes.  Each activity video comes with a printable handout of the supplies you will need to perform the activity associated.
  • Are the activities meant for the kids to do on their own or with parental help?  That depends on each family’s preference.  Most of the younger kids' activities may need some assistance and guidance.  Most of the older kids’ activities can be done on their own. 


 

Activity Booklets

Download these activity booklets below filled with fun activities that anyone can do and from anywhere.

 

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Youth Program's Group Leaders Recorded Activities

 

 

Activity Created/Presented by: Nathaniel Lee

Backyard Stargazing

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
Stargazing Scavenger Hunt, Night Sky App

Instructions:
Backyard Stargazing (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Brooke Lewis

Bag of Tricks

Age Group:
7 to 9

Supplies Needed:
An empty bag, coloring items

Instructions:
Bag of Tricks (PDF)

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Activity Presented by: Celeste Arriaga

Balloon Races

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
balloons, straws, string, tape, scissors

Instructions:
Ballon Races (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Lauren Pescatore

Bubble Breathing and Art

Age Group:
4 to 12

Supplies Needed:
Bubbles, bubble wand, food coloring, plain white paper

Instructions:
Bubble Breathing and Art (PDF)

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Coloring Event

Activity Created/Presented by: Ange Marie Dwyer

Coloring Pages

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
colors, coloring pages (print pages provided below)

Print and Upload Instructions:
Right click on the image below that you would like to color, save it to your computer and print it out on 8.5" x 11" paper. Upload your creations using the form on Ange's Coloring Page website.

 

coloring page 1

coloring page 2

coloring page 3

 

coloring page 4

 

coloring page 5

coloring page 6

 

coloring page 7

coloring page 8

 

coloring page 9

 

coloring page 10

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coloring page 11

coloring page 12

 

coloring page 13

coloring page 14

coloring page 15

 

coloring page 16

 

coloring page 17

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Activity Created/Presented by: Lauren Pescatore

Cool Down Bottles

Age Groups:
7 to 12

Supplies Needed:
Water bottle or clear and see through container with a lid, water, food coloring, super glue, funnel; optional, but include at least one: beads, glitter, sequence, beans, rice, anything really!

Instructions:
Cool Down Bottles (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Celeste Arriaga

Grief Buddies

Age Groups:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
Yarn, scissors, glue, arts and crafts eyes

Instructions:
Grief Buddies (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: TAPS Youth Programs

Flat Mentor

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
Flat Mentor with TAPS logo, cardstock or cardboard, glue, printer

 

Instructions:

Email mentor@taps.org and request to participate. Create your flat mentor by right clicking on the image(s) below to save to your computer and print on 8.5" x 11" paper.  Design your avatar to resemble you and please make sure your avatar is in a TAPS Mentor shirt/gear.  You can also use Bitmoji app to make your avatar (make sure it is okay with your parent/guardian).  Glue your avatar on cardstock or cardboard.  Mail to your mentor/mentee when you receive your match from TAPS Youth Staff. Download the Flat Mentor Summer Adventure Booklet for complete instructions and flat mentor activity ideas.

 

flat mentor front side

flat mentor back side

taps round logo

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Activity Created/Presented by: Lauren Pescatore

DIY Stress Ball Activity

Age Groups:
7 and up

Supplies Needed:
Balloons, one of the following: sand, flour, sugar, salt, or kinetic sand, and a funnel

Instructions:
DIY Stress Ball (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Ange Marie Dwyer

Hollywood Movie Clapperboard

Age Group:
5 to 12

Supplies Needed:
Cardboard (old box works great here), white craft paint and brush (optional), glue (modge podge, elmers glue or glue stick), scissors, paper fastner or string, dry erase or washable marker, print out (either one provided below)

Instructions:
Hollywood Movie Clapboard (PDF)
Right click on the image below that you would like to color, save it to your computer and print it out on landscape orientation on 8.5" x 11" paper.

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Homemade Art Journal "What My Hands Hold" Introduction

 

What is an Art Journal?

 

Examples of material types to use to make your Art Journal

 

Making the homemade Art Journal
Activity Created/Presented by: Ange Marie Dwyer

 

Homemade Art Journal "What My Hands Hold"

Age Group:
13 to 17

Supplies Needed:

  • Pick ONE material: an old children's picture book, 4-5 sheets of heavy thick paper (cardstock, watercolor paper ect...) and a long 20" piece of string, regular old book, spiral notebook or sketchbook
  • Acrylic Paint in white and at least one other color (cheap craft paint works great, regular artist acrylic paint and white gesso works too)
  • Large binder clip or clamp; Mod Podge (or Elmer's glue)
  • Sharpie or other permanent markers; Scrap Papers (Old construction paper, scrapbook paper, magazines or even colorful notebook paper)
  • Paint Brush, or Sponge (or if using washable paint or glue, your fingers are fine too!)
  • Charcoal Pencil or Stick (a #2 pencil will work if you do not have charcoal or a shading pencil)

Instructions:
What My Hands Hold (PDF)

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"I Am" Mixed Media Canvas Introduction

 

Activity Created/Presented by: Ange Marie Dwyer

 

"I Am" Mixed Media Canvas Project

Age Group:
9 to 12

Supplies Needed:

  • A blank canvas preferably 8x10 or 12x14 (if you do not have a canvas a piece of thick piece of cardboard or old box cut to size will work use both.)
  • Bubble Wrap (or something with a fun texture on it)
  • Acrylic Paints (any colors are great; 2 different complementary colors are ideal)
  • Scissors
  • Mod Podge (or Elmer's glue, or a glue stick)
  • Permanent Marker (like a Sharpie. Anything that isn't washable. If you do not have one, I will show another option)
  • Blank Paper (plain white paper or notebook paper)
  • Scrap Papers (this can be anything fun and colorful. Old construction paper, scrapbook paper, or even colorful notebook paper)
  • Plastic Ziploc Bag that your canvas will fit in (Saran Wrap/plastic Wrap, parchment or waxed paper will also work)
  • Charcoal Pencil or Regular #2 Pencil

Instructions:
"I am Mixed Media Canvas Project (PDF)

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Activity Presented by: Celeste Arriaga

I, Spy

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
Water bottle, small toys (legos, mini brands, plastic letters, etc),  rice (can also use lentils or small beans)

Instructions:
I Spy (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Aaron Burciaga

Kintsugi Golden Repair

Age Group:
10 to 18

Supplies Needed:

Three activities to choose from:

1. Bowl – porcelain bowl, epoxy glue, gold colored mica dust, disposable bowl, small paint brushes, disposable bowl, newspaper or table covering, sealable, plastic bag, towel, hammer

2. Picture – printed favorite picture, school glue, cardstock, gold colored pen, scissors or paper cutter

3. Mug – coffee mug, hot glue, gold colored pen, newspaper or table covering, sealable plastic bag, towel, hammer

Print Instructions:
Kintsugi Golden Repair (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Brooke Lewis

Love Lives On In My Heart

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
Magazines or old books, Glue, scissors, coloring items, heart (below)

Instructions:
Love Lives On In My Heart (PDF)
Right click heart, save it to your computer and print:

love lives on heart

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Mixed Media Gratitude and Growth Trees Introduction

 

Activity Created/Presented by: Ange Marie Dwyer

 

Mixed media Gratitude and Growth Trees

Age Group:
4 to 8

Supplies Needed:

  • Markers
  • Paints (any colors are great. If you do not have paint at home you will also be able to use colorful markers or crayons)
  • Mod Podge (or Elmer's glue, or a glue stick)
  • String, Yarn, Thin Pieces of Fabric (10 - 15 pieces of 3" string, 2-3 pieces of 20-30" string)
  • Scrap Papers (this can be anything fun and colorful. Old construction paper, scrapbook paper, or even colorful notebook paper)
  • Paint Brush, or Sponge (or if using washable paint or glue, your fingers are fine too!)
  • 5-6 Thin sticks/Branches (just random ones you find outside, great way to make a mini scavenger hunt on your walks)
  • Jar, Large Glass, Bucket or Vase

Instructions:
Mixed Media Gratitude and Growth Trees (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Aaron Burciaga

My Magic Wand

Age Group:
7 to 15

Supplies Needed:
twig or wand, paints, small paint brushes, print out of "spells", disposable bowl, newspaper or table covering

Instructions:
My Magic Wand (PDF), Spells Printout

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TAPS Obstacle Course Setup

 

TAPS Obstacle Course Run

 

TAPS Obstacle Course Challenge

Age Group:
4 to 9

Instructions:
Coach Taylor Jenkins wants to help you stay active during this time while maintaining social distancing. Create your own obstacle course! This can be done in your house, in your backyard, or anywhere you have some space. Get as creative as you can and show us what you can do. Post your videos on Facebook, Twitter, even Instagram, and be sure to tag TAPS. To show your course to our friends at the NBA, be sure to tag @NBACares and include the hashtags #JrNBAatHome and #NBATogether. Go ahead and challenge a TAPS friend, your mentor or your mentee, to see who can come up with the coolest course.

Ready...Set...GO!

After finishing the obstacle course challenge, check out the Jr. NBA at Home website for more activities and videos. 

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Activity Created/Presented by: Celeste Arriaga

Olympic Torch

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
Vegetable oil, water bottle, food coloring, spoon, small container

Instructions:
Olympic Torch (PDF)

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stage

Activity Presented by: Melissa Hermosillo and Celeste Arriaga

Reverse Charades

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
Small pieces of paper to write on, something to hold all the pieces of paper (i.e. hat, bucket)

Instructions:
Reverse Charades (PDF)

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Welcome: Set Your Intentions

Set Your Intentions

Age Groups:
6 and up

Supplies Needed:
Something to write with and a note card or paper, envelope, and a stamp

Instructions:
Set Your Intentions (PDF)

 

Part One: Set Your Intentions

 

Part Two: Set Your Intentions

 

Part Three: Set Your Intentions

Activity Created/Presented by: Elizabeth Rhoten

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stage

Activity Presented by: Karl Hillway

Storytelling

Age Group:
All ages

Instructions:
Download these storytelling worksheets below to get you started brainstorming, writing and telling your story about how you are a living legacy.

Storytelling Worksheets (PDF)

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Tell Your Story Introduction

 

Activity Created/Presented by: Ange Marie Dwyer

 

Tell Your Story - Mixed Media Art Project

Age Group:
10 to 18

Supplies Needed:

Canvas or art journal, 1-2 washable crayons, pencils or markers, piece of paper, scissors, permanent marker/pen, damp paper towel or baby wipe

Instructions:
Tell Your Story - Mixed Media Art Project (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Renee Monczynski

Then and Now

Age Group:
13 to 18

Supplies Needed:
Print this workbook, an old book or magazine (if available), color pens or markers, tape or glue stick, cardstock or paper

Instructions:
Then and Now (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Weston Cowden

Thoughts and Things

Age Group:
4 to 12

Supplies Needed:
6-12 non-breakable random objects and knick-knacks from around your home of different shapes, sizes, colors and textures, Pen/pencil and some paper, backpack, grocery bag or equivalent bag/carrying device

Instructions:
Thoughts and Things (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Clynton Trewyn

Time Message

Age Group:
10-14

Supplies Needed:
Paper, pencil/pen, envelope, coloring supplies

Instructions:
Time Message (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Celeste Arriaga

We've Found Bigfoot

Age Group:
All ages

Supplies Needed:
Cardboard boxes, markers, tape, scissors, flip-flops

Instructions:
We've Found Bigfoot (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Renee Monczynski

Who's in Your Corner

Age Group:
13 to 18

Supplies Needed:
Print this workbook, 3 different color pens

Instructions:
Who's is your Corner (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Aaron Burciaga

Words that Define Me

Age Group:
13 to 18

Supplies Needed:
Dry-erase markers, paper towels, paints, small and medium paint brushes, disposable bowl

Instructions:
Words that Define Me (PDF)

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Activity Created/Presented by: Victoria Stern

Worry Machine

Age Group:
4 to 9

Supplies Needed:
Print materials provided below, index cards, scissors; large envelope, pencil/pen, crayons/markers, Elmer's glue/glue stick

Print these Pages:
The Worry Hat
Worries I Cannot Control
Worries I Can Control

Instructions:
Worry Machine (PDF)

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