playtime-activities

Playtime activity catalog

Each activity type has a reference file in references/<slug>.md with:

• What it is
• Age range (typical)
• Skills it builds
• Format spec (how to construct it correctly)
• Quality bar (what separates a delightful version from a mediocre one)
• Variations
• Material requirements
• Print considerations

Catalog

Worksheets & paper puzzles

Slug	Type	Ages
connect-the-dots	Connect the dots	3-10
mad-libs	Mad libs	5-12
maze	Maze	3-12
coloring	Coloring page	2-10
letter-tracing	Letter tracing	3-6
number-tracing	Number tracing	3-6
word-search	Word search	6-12
crossword	Crossword (kid level)	6-12
cryptogram	Cryptogram / cipher	6-12
sudoku	Sudoku (picture or number)	5-12
logic-grid	Logic grid puzzle	7-12
spot-the-difference	Spot the difference	3-10
i-spy	I-spy / hidden picture	3-10
matching	Matching pairs	2-6
pattern	Pattern completion	3-6
counting	Counting page	2-6
math-puzzle	Math puzzle	5-12
rebus	Rebus puzzle	5-10

Stories & writing

Slug	Type	Ages
story	Read-aloud story	All
choose-your-own-adventure	Choose-your-own-adventure	4-12
comic-strip	Comic strip template	4-12
finish-the-story	Story-starter prompt	4-12
letter-writing	Letter to someone	4-12
journaling	Journaling prompt	4-12
interview-prompts	Interview a family member	4-12
time-capsule	Time-capsule prompts	3-12
poetry	Poetry prompt (haiku, acrostic, free)	5-12

Drawing

Slug	Type	Ages
drawing-prompt	Open-ended drawing prompt	2-12
finish-the-picture	Finish-the-picture	2-8
how-to-draw	Step-by-step how-to-draw	3-12
map-making	Map-making	4-12
symmetry-drawing	Mirror / symmetry drawing	5-10

Crafts & making

Slug	Type	Ages
craft	Craft project	2-12
origami	Origami	4-12
paper-airplane	Paper airplane variation	4-12
building-challenge	Build with constraints (LEGO, cardboard)	3-12
sticker-activity	Sticker placement	1-6
sensory-bin	Sensory bin invitation	1-5

Active & embodied

Slug	Type	Ages
scavenger-hunt	Scavenger hunt	2-12
indoor-scavenger-hunt	Indoor scavenger hunt	2-10
movement-cards	Movement / animal-walk cards	2-8
yoga-flow	Yoga flow	3-12
dance-prompt	Dance prompt	2-10
freeze-dance	Freeze dance	2-8
pretend-play-scenario	Pretend play scenario	2-8
dramatic-play-prompt	Dramatic play prompt	4-10

Science & exploration

Slug	Type	Ages
science-experiment	Kitchen science experiment	3-12
nature-observation	Nature observation	2-12
weather-journal	Weather journal	4-10
cooking-recipe	Kid cooking recipe	3-12

Social-emotional & mindful

Slug	Type	Ages
feelings-check-in	Feelings check-in	2-10
gratitude-journal	Gratitude journal	4-12
acts-of-kindness	Acts of kindness challenge	3-12
mindfulness	Mindfulness exercise	4-12
concept-of-the-day	Concept / virtue / vocabulary	2-12
word-of-the-day	Word of the day	5-12

Music & audio

Slug	Type	Ages
song-or-rhyme	Song or rhyme with gestures	0-6
rhythm-clap	Rhythm and clap pattern	3-8

Magic & games

Slug	Type	Ages
magic-trick	Simple magic trick	5-12
riddle	Riddle or brain teaser	4-12
joke-of-the-day	Joke / pun (small extra)	4-12

Picking strategy

See commands/generate-playtime.md step 3 for the full picker. Briefly:

1. Filter by age band
2. Filter by available materials
3. Filter out recent (last 5 days)
4. Filter out "didn't land" twice in a row
5. Weight by: recent loves (+3), current learning goals (+2), current obsessions (+2), domain rotation (-1 per day since variety)
6. Pick highest-weighted with small random component

Variety

A great month touches:

• Cognitive (puzzles, logic, math)
• Language (mad libs, story, writing)
• Creative (drawing, craft, music)
• Physical (movement, scavenger hunt, yoga)
• Social-emotional (feelings, kindness, gratitude)
• Science (experiment, nature, cooking)
• Practical (life skills, real tasks)

Reference files

I'll have detailed specs for the high-value, frequently-used types. For others, the catalog table above + the activity name + context from age band reference + frameworks is enough for the generator to do good work.

Reference files included:

• connect-the-dots.md
• mad-libs.md
• maze.md
• story.md
• craft.md
• science-experiment.md
• scavenger-hunt.md
• feelings-check-in.md
• concept-of-the-day.md
• pretend-play-scenario.md
• comic-strip.md
• cooking-recipe.md
• how-to-draw.md

For activity types not listed above, use this skill's catalog + your judgment + the age-band reference + frameworks. Quality bar applies universally:

✅ feels handmade for THIS kid ✅ right developmental level ✅ self-contained ✅ genuinely fun ✅ print-ready ✅ material-aware ✅ color-mode aware