Here are 12 March Madness activities for kids
Saint Patrick’s Day is another event to look forward to in March. As part of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, known as March Madness, 68 teams compete in high-stakes, winner-takes-all matches. The country rallies behind this single-elimination competition, since baseball hasn’t started yet and football is over. Since workplace pools and sports betting are so popular, you’d think kids wouldn’t be participating in this tournament. Learn how to engage your children in March Madness’ fun and excitement with these entertaining and instructive ideas!
Several of them are perfect for classrooms and homeschooling, but many are also easy enough for you to practice with your kids to reinforce educational concepts. Some are simply amusing.
Roundtable discussion on mascots
Will the Wildcats be able to defeat the Spartans? What would the outcome of a Rams vs. Gators matchup look like? Using a pre-made bracket, let the kids choose their mascots after the teams have been chosen. Perhaps you’ll learn something too; do you know what a WuShock or a Billiken are?
Some facts about mascots
It is likely that you will find some obscure trivia questions by searching online. A favorite among us is this one since it focuses on well-known universities and some state history. Little ones might enjoy speculating, but older children may benefit more from it.
A mascot can be made
There must be a mascot for every team to encourage them from the stands. Online videos can be found that are easy to follow. In addition to creatures and imaginary characters, your little designer can create his or her own animal.
Playing bingo with badminton
While watching the games, mark the items you see on your bingo card or have someone else call out the items for you.
See what basketball has been up to!
What is the history of basketball? What were the rules of the original game? Can you tell me when and where the first game was played? What US college formed its first sports team? Do you know why the NCAA banned specific jersey numbers? American culture’s favorite past activity has a lot of interesting facts.
An inverted basket in a bucket
Take your shot in a deep basin or bucket. It is best to place small children at a counter or at a chair height. Use cotton balls or nerfs to shoot targets. Whoever can hit the furthest shot wins.
A trashketball game
It is best to crumple up and throw away paper. Take part in a game of “Around the Globe” or Horse. Make sure to shout “Kobe” during your shot.
Using balloons to play basketball
It seems simple enough, doesn’t it? Each end of the room should have an even number of “baskets.” Teammates pass balloons back and forth while shooting baskets and keeping them away from their opponents.
Young people might feel intimidated by teams in Mini Bracket 68. Children might enjoy finishing a Little Bracket with only 16 teams.
Add-ons to the bracket
Who said that basketball was the only sport that could be bracketed? You should find out what books, television shows, puzzles, games, stuffies, or toys your child prefers. Let the youngsters choose the starting positions at random. It will get shorter and shorter until there is only one left, just like in the NCAA tournament.
Pick a winner
Rather than making winners’ predictions, why not use alternative methods to determine your selections? In a mascot match, would the Fighting Irish win against the Blue Devils? State versus state. Are the Kentucky team’s chances of defeating the Alabama team good? Based on the season’s win-loss ratio, determine whether the unbeaten team has a chance of winning.
Beads made from Perler
These tiny plastic beads seem to be everywhere lately. To make a basketball, you will need orange and black beads. As children develop their fine motor skills, they can design key chains, coasters, or pendants for necklaces.
Making paper mâché
Create a shape by blowing up a balloon and adding newspaper and watered-down glue. The balloon can be popped and the ball can be painted once it has dried. As an additional bonus, you can turn it into a piñata filled with treats, candy, and small toys.
For a quiet activity, create your own basketball puzzle using a word search, crossword, or cryptographic puzzle maker. Here are some vocabulary words you might find helpful: A fadeaway shot, a flop, a granny shot, a swing, a zone, a traveling backboard, an alley-oop, a buzzer beater, and a couple of rebounds.
Remember, you are enjoying the tournament with the Greatest Group of People on Earth, Family!