Ways to Make the Olympics Fun for the Whole Family

The 2016 Olympic Games are starting soon—Friday, August 5, to be exact! The Summer Games are always eagerly anticipated with news reports of star athletes, the sports facilities in the host city, and television coverage schedules. Sometimes, all the pre-game excitement leads to a bit of a letdown once the games begin. Keep up the enthusiasm in your home with some fun Olympics-related activities and everyone will have a good time.

Preparation

Your kids will enjoy watching the Olympics with you more if they understand at least a bit about the games. Talk about how the Olympics is a sporting event that involves athletes from around the world coming together for peaceful competition. Visit the Olympic website to learn about some of the athletes and sports represented. Encourage your kids to choose a favorite flag to draw and color, or hang up a world map to track the medal winners.

Don’t forget about Rio de Janeiro! This host city is a fascinating place. Explore it online, then play some lively Brazilian music while you set the stage for Olympic Games viewing.

Team USA

Of course, Team USA is likely to be the most popular team in your home. Add some red, white, and blue streamers to your family’s main TV area. Plan a viewing schedule that lets your family see their favorite sports without overwhelming anyone. NBC is broadcasting the games this summer; a special website lists all the details of their coverage. The website also features information about Team USA athletes, including both men’s and women’s gymnastics teams. Using a U.S. map, see if your kids can locate their favorite athletes’ hometowns or training sites.

Snacks

Watching all that competition will give everyone an appetite! Plan some snacks around an Olympics Games theme. A simple snack is a vanilla ice cream cone with red sprinkles that looks like the Olympic torch. You can also decorate cookies with frosting in the colors of the Olympic rings.

Get Active

In between viewing sessions, encourage your kids to burn off their energy imitating their favorite athletes. Turn some cartwheels in the back yard or get the neighborhood kids together for a track meet at the park.

Whatever you choose to do, remember it’s meant to be fun. If your kids aren’t interested, don’t push them, but if they see you having fun, they’ll likely want to join in.