When the little ones return from school, they're sure to have pent-up energy. Here are some fun and fabulous afterschool activities your kids are sure to love:

Cooking
Instead of preparing a snack for when school's out, have your kids help make it. In giving their own input and assistance, they will be developing a very practical skill while also building confidence.

Make Decorations
There's almost always a holiday right around the corner, and home made decorations are a great way to spark a child's creativity. Whether they're made with paint, construction paper, or macaroni, these decorations are an easy and fun activity all year long.

Write a Story
Writing a story after school will boost children's imaginations. Provide a theme, ask them to write about their day, or let them write about whatever they want. You can even keep these stories in binders, letting their stories turn into books that they can feel a real sense of accomplishment over.

Scavenger Hunts
Send the kids outside with a list of objects to find. Have them find as many different kinds of rocks or leaves as they can, for example. Another great option is to have them find as many objects as they can from whatever season it happens to be at the time.

Gardening
Having a little garden for your kids to tend is a wonderful way to get them outside and provide lessons about the natural world and personal responsibility. Whether it's different kinds of vegetables in a garden or a few scattered flowerpots, a little garden is a great activity to engage kids.