Super Bowl Activities for the Kids

Are you ready for some football? Whether you are a serious football fan or just want to watch the fun commercials, all families watching need to find engaging ways to keep the kids entertained during the big game.

4 Super Bowl Activities for Kids

We’ve got some ideas for you!  While you are enjoying the Super Bowl, your kids can have their own fun with these themed activities (including Free Printables) inspired by Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl.”  

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PRINTABLES HERE AND FOLLOW ALONG!

Football Field Sensory Bin:

Activity is for ages 3+ due to small items, however, it can be modified for younger children! Toddler/Baby modifications marked with **

Supplies:

1. Empty Bin
2. Filler to represent turf/grass (Green dyed rice/beans, dried split peas, green shredded paper, dyed green spaghetti, or green playdough)

**For Toddlers: you can use pieces of green cloth or scarves as sensory bin filler or even use a green rug as a playmat (instead of having a sensory bin).

3. Safari Ltd.®  Dogs TOOB® and/or Domestic Cats TOOB®

**For toddlers: (use our larger figures) Great Dane, German Shepard, Golden Retriever, Border Collie, Poodle**

4. Handy Scoopers, Jumbo Tweezers, tongs or spoons
5. Optional Football Easter Eggs (Found on Amazon)
6. Optional Mini Plastic Toy Field Goals (can be found at the Dollar Store, Party Supply Stores, or Amazon)
7. Optional free printable with images of the figurines from the Dogs TOOB® and Domestic Cats TOOB®
8. Optional Number Markers (can write numbers on small tiles or print out number discs from free printable)

Procedure:

1. Fill bin about halfway with filler of your choice to represent turf/grass of the football field.
2. Insert mini plastic field goals into filler at each end of the bin.
3. Provide play items (Safari Ltd.® Dog and/or Cat figurines, Football Easter Eggs, Scoops, Number Markers)
4. Let kids free play with the sensory bin while you enjoy the game!
5. Optional activity: kids can find and match figures to the free printable (with images of the figurines from the Dogs TOOB® and Domestic Cats TOOB®).
6. Optional activity 2: Cut out the images of dogs and cats from the free printable, and then place the images inside of the football easter eggs. Kids will open eggs and match the corresponding figure to the image found inside of the egg.

Bonus Tips:

• Either of the optional activities  (#5 & #6) from above can be turned into a race between two players (player 1: Dog Team & player 2: Cat Team)-who can find their figurines and match them to the images first.
• If you are worried about the rice or filler getting everywhere, put the bin on a big sheet or inside of a larger empty tub/plastic kiddie swimming pool to catch spills)*

Dog and Cat Training Course:

Activity is for Ages 3+ but can be modified for younger toddlers. See modifications marked with **

This is a fun STEM activity! Watch creativity explode when your kids use the various supplies to create an obstacle course for their Safari Ltd.® dog and/or cat figurines. Your kids are the obstacle course designers as well as the trainers getting their players in shape for the Big Game.

Supplies:

1. Building blocks, toilet paper rolls, paper, tape, other small recycled cardboard items, pipe cleaners, straws, etc.

**For toddlers:  large containers, lightweight scarves/pieces of cloth, and large blocks to use with the larger dog figures

2. Safari Ltd.®  Dogs TOOB® and/or Domestic Cats TOOB®

**For toddlers: (use our larger figures) Great Dane, German Shepard, Golden Retriever, Border Collie, Poodle**

Procedure:

1. Use the various supplies to create an obstacle course (or playground) for your Safari Ltd.® dog and/or cat figurines.
2. Free play with your dogs and/or cats on their new obstacle course.

**Toddlers will put the larger dog figures in/under/on top of the items (items suggested above in supplies “ **for toddler”).

Football Recruiters (Find your team):

Most kids love a good Easter Egg or Scavenger Hunt. This activity mimics those ideas!

Supplies:

1. Safari Ltd.®  Dogs TOOB® and/or Domestic Cats TOOB®

**For toddlers: (use our larger figures) Great Dane, German Shepard, Golden Retriever, Border Collie, Poodle**

2. Printable of images from Safari Ltd.®  Dogs TOOB® and/or Domestic Cats TOOB®

Procedure:

1. Have kids determine if they are the coach for the Dog Team or Cat Team.
2. Someone hides the Safari Ltd.® dog and/or cat figurines around a room or outside. Kids have to find (recruit) all of their “players” from their dog or cat team.
3. Match figurines to free printable of images as they are found.

**For older kids: you can write clues that lead to the figures (think scavenger hunt) or use the free printable containing generic clues to print.

4. Repeat as many times as they want to play

The Big Game:

Supplies:

1. Green towel, rug, or fake grass mat to represent the football field.
2. Safari Ltd.®  Dogs TOOB® and/or Domestic Cats TOOB®

**For toddlers: (use our larger figures) Great Dane, German Shepard, Golden Retriever, Border Collie, Poodle**

3. A small football (the size of a tennis ball or smaller). You can also use one of the football easter eggs, tennis ball, racket ball, etc.)
4. Masking tape
5. Optional Number Markers (can write numbers on small tiles or print out number discs from free printable)
6. Optional Mini Plastic Toy Field Goals (can be found at the Dollar Store, Party Supply Stores, or Amazon)

Procedure:

1. Use masking tape to mark off end zones or designate the edge of the mat as the end zone line.
2. Dogs vs Cats: each “coach” uses their figurines to bump a ball across the mat to score in the opponent’s end zone. The other team can try to block the ball. Just like football, if a team doesn’t score on the attempt, they would start the next attempt where the ball was blocked. A team can have 3 tries to make it down the field before it is the next team’s turn.
3. Note: Kids may come up with their own set of rules, or even a completely new game! Encourage the creativity!

And that's a wrap! Let us know if any of these activities inspire your big game day experience in the comments below! Have any other great ideas to share? We wanna hear those too!

About The Writer

Anji Audley is an educator with teaching and tutoring experience in PreK through elementary grades. She is also a mom of two active and creative boys. Anji is a strong advocate for play-based learning. Pulling ideas from Montessori, Reggio Emelia, and Waldorf, she infuses learning with hands-on STEM activities, nature, play, and art to inspire discovery and creativity. Follow her on Instagram.