By their very nature, kids are active- they need to move, they need to interact, and focus on specific activities. Doing this requires a certain level of creativity throughout the duration of the lockdown.
- Play fun group games
There are quite a number of board games that your kids can play. The most important thing to keep in mind is to stick to the kind of games that they love. You can also take part in some of the games to make things more interesting. You could pick the game once in a while but involve the kids in the selection of a game and stress to them that selecting a game is their responsibility.
- Play brain-stimulating games
Brain games or games that challenge the intellect will not only keep your kids mentally sharp, but they will also keep them competitive and entertaining. Compliment your children when they complete a level or stage to keep them motivated and feeling proud. Encourage them when they fail to complete a certain level the same way you would encourage them when they are doing their homework. Try Online games-You can also try playing online games with your kids or let them play with their friends online. However, keep a close eye on the kind of games and activities they choose to play online.
- Cooking with kids
Let your kids help make dinner or let them choose a snack to make. They may love competing with each other for the top chef that day.
making strawberry jam
- Let your kids help with the household chores
Household chores are yet another activity, aside of games, you can engage with your kids. Teach them or ask them to give you a hand with the chores and make it interesting. They can help prepare their favorite meal, help set the table, and help clean the house by dusting the furniture. They can also help with washing or folding the laundry. Some kids love it when they do something that their parents encourage or ask them to do. So, give it a try!
- Start a family project
You can come up with certain family projects that your kids can participate in. It could be any type of project that your kids will love. It does not have to be a school project. It could be the kind of project that they can actively contribute to. For example, you can grow pot-based plants, repaint the bedrooms or build a 3D puzzle or create your genealogical tree. I like writing things down that we are grateful for. You could even learn a family dance on YouTube or form a band if you have instruments laying around. Here’s ours below- GOSH! look what my kids talked me into!
- Give them books to read
Books are a great way of keeping your kids’ minds busy. So, try giving them books to read. You could give every child a different book according to their age and then ask for a 5-minute summary every day before they go to bed. This will not only keep them busy, but it will also perfect their intellect as well as feed their curiosity. Make sure there is a reward for each completed book. If I sit in the same room with them also reading it helps a lot!
- Help with their schoolwork
You can keep your kids entertained by helping them out with their homework. If the school does not give them any work to do at home, you can come up with your own assignments. Focus on areas that your child is currently struggling with at school so as to help make the work comprehensible. Google has so much to offer.
- Watch movies with them
Movies are without a doubt a great source of entertainment for both adults and kids. You could watch movies with your kids as a form of entertainment. I like watching movies that teach them something. Check out documentaries on famous people.
- Have them come up with their own ideas for entertainment
Coming up with great ideas for entertainment for your kids is a good thing. Nonetheless, if you want them to truly enjoy you can let them come up with their own forms of entertainment. Doing so is also a great way to empower them when you have run out of ideas. All you have to do is approve of the kind of entertainment they choose and participate cheerfully when asked.
- Help cultivate their talents
Find ways of improving or even discovering your child’s talent. For example, if your child is an aspiring artist encourage the artist in him or her by buying color books, pencils, and crayons. You could also go the extra mile by visiting reputable art galleries online and explaining what each photo symbolizes, where and when the painting was made, and what inspired the artist to produce that particular painting.
We went to a paint night!
