• Parents can guide their children toward activites that are fun for their age.slow children playing image by mavrick from Fotolia.com
  
  Children between the ages of 7 and 12 often need some guidance when it comes to finding things to do, as they've outgrown the imaginative preschool playtime stage. While children this age may be happy to sit in front of the television or play video games for hours at a time, you want them to partake in more useful or productive pursuits. Parents can provide some direction by planning some fun (and maybe even educational) activities for their children.
  
  

Visit a Hands-On Museum

• Interactive children's museums provide entertainment and education for children.science image by guy from Fotolia.com
  
  In many metropolitan areas, communities offer museums that have children in mind. These museums are designed with the knowledge that children learn best when they are involved with the learning process. Without the traditional "Don't touch" rules, children are able to manipulate materials to learn more about areas of science, history, art and math.
  Even children whose strengths and interests are not typically academic will enjoy a hands-on museum, and learn while doing so. The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory in "Perspectives of Hands-On Science Teaching" states that children not only learn information in an interactive environment, but they have better retention of information, as well. Many children enjoy going back to a museum several times to see favorite exhibits, and many museums offer a yearly membership that allows frequent visits for just a little bit more than the one-day admission price.
  
  

Make A Variety of Craft Supplies Available

• Provide materials for children to try different art mediums.Paint brush and aqua paints image by PaulPaladin from Fotolia.com
  
  All children love arts and crafts, and once children reach the ages of 7 to 12, they have started to find areas of art they excel in. Parents who have provided craft supplies to their younger children can now revise their supplies beyond the juvenile glue sticks and construction paper and include more complex and intricate activities. Children this age enjoy more complex paint by number kits, painting stained glass or unfinished wood projects, simple cross-stitching or knitting or making their own scrapbooks.Craft stores have a wide supply of activities that interest children, and many come in small kits that have all the supplies needed.
  
  

Join a Sports Team

• Children's sports teams help kids learn life skills.girl on soccer field 14 image by Amy Myers from Fotolia.com
  
  The 7 to 12 year age range is perfect for children who want to try out different sports to see which they enjoy in a more relaxed setting than the competitive later years. At this age, communities usually offer teams for girls and boys in soccer, basketball, baseball, and even lacrosse. Many areas have local businesses that teach gymnastics and karate, as well. For this age range, the focus should be on learning skills while having fun, not major competition.
  
  As an added benefit, Youth Sport Psychology in the article "Five Benefits for Kids Who Participate in Sports" states that in addition to having fun, children who play sports are less likely to skip school, get better grades, and get in less trouble than children who don't play sports.
  
  

Go to the Movies

• Going to the movies can be a fun adventure for children..movie clapboard image by NataV from Fotolia.com
  
  Watching movies is a popular activity for this age group, so suggesting a trip to a local theater will usually elicit a smile from the kids. To add a new spin to the theater experience, parents could find a historic theater in their area to visit, or locate a local drive-in theater during the summer.
  Children also enjoy a movie night at home, which is fun activity to do as a family. In the summer, you can use a projector and sheet to create your own outdoor movie night.
  
  

Create an Obstacle Course

• Kids could shoot a basket as part of an obstacle course.basketball hoop image by Annika from Fotolia.com
  
  Children between the ages of 7 and 12 enjoy the challenge and competition of an obstacle course. In the article "Indoor Obstacle Course," Family Education suggests setting up a course of 10 different tasks, which could include activities such as climbing over and under things, balancing objects on a child's head, getting a ball in a bucket, somersaults and jumping jacks.
  Creating an obstacle course outdoors provides more room for running, climbing and throwing, and parents can use supplies already on hand to create a fun and challenging course. Children enjoy competing against each other, and if alone, a child can even use a stopwatch to try and beat his own time.
  
  

Find a Community Service Project

• Children may enjoy growing vegetables to benefit a food pantry.fresh natural vegetable background with tomatoes image by jonnysek from Fotolia.com
  
  Parents might not think that their child would consider community service as a fun activity, but if the project is tailored to the interest of a child, and they have some friends to join in the activity, kids will usually have fun in a service project.
  According to Kid Activities in "Community Service Ideas for Kids of All Ages," some possible activities that children enjoy are planting a garden to benefit a local food pantry, planting trees in a local park or keeping a favorite playground litter-free.