We are all now trapped at home due to the coronavirus disease outbreak. Since there isn’t anything to do at home, kids switch to devices to keep themselves occupied. And the only way for parents to win this gadget war is to get children engaged in other things that they enjoy. It can be difficult to come up with fun ways to keep kids involved and occupied if you want to reduce screen time for your children but still need to get things done or just take a few minutes for yourself. However, making the extra effort to encourage your child to do something positive is well worth it.
Click here to find activities and useful products for your children to do when you work from home can be a full-time task itself that is why, parents who work from home must find activities for their children to keep them busy. Most children, however, are not characterized by the ability to please themselves; it takes a lot of practice. It also takes a little parental support and instruction. Children’s attention spans grow as they learn how to keep themselves occupied as they settle down with these less thrilling but still fun tasks.
So, before we look at the different ways through which we can engage children, let’s look at why it’s so important to engage them in the first place.
Why is it important to engage children in a variety of activities?
Improved interpersonal communication.
The backbone of a child’s growth is communication and social contact! Your child will be unable to learn interactive skills without adequate communication, which will affect his or her school life and, ultimately, his or her work life. However, as your child participates in meaningful events, they become more involved, engages more, and thus becomes more social.
Improved Focus & concentration
From day-to-day tasks to recreational reading, requires focus. Concentration problems influence not only academic success, but also performance on simple tasks. You can easily increase children’s concentration by involving them in meaningful games such as chess, building block etc.
Healthy body
The primary aim of early childhood physical activity is to build a healthy body, as is well known. Include your child in meaningful activities such as walking and running if you want him to be physically strong. These activities and routines will keep your kids physically fit and safe. Only then can your child grow stronger bones, muscles, faster body control, and, as a result, a stronger immune system.
So, how do parents keep their children engaged in the middle of their hectic schedules? Now let us take a closer look.
Book reading
Even though many children under the age of eight can read, they must reach a certain degree of proficiency before reading can be considered an independent practice. Children are fascinated by tales. A well-told tale will always hold a child’s attention. Books open up new worlds, stimulate the brain, increase creativity, and expand your child’s vocabulary. If your child enjoys spending time with books, he or she is in good hands. Also, it’s great if you have an e-reader or tablet but having some old-fashioned books on hand can encourage browsing, which can lead to reading.
Art and craft
Some children may be kept busy for hours by creative projects. Children should be able to do much of the arrangement and clean up on their own if this is to be an independent practice. So, keep it easy.
Drawing and painting, clay modeling, watercolor painting and arts and crafts, flower arranging, sewing, and knitting, and woodworking are all activities that students may participate in. Art and craft encourage the child’s imagination while also assisting them in concentrating. It also helps them with hand-eye coordination, color perception, and cognitive skills. Paper craft activities, including painting, help your child to express themselves while also fostering creativity (as I mentioned earlier). One of the key benefits is that you can teach your child about recycling by using old newspapers and books.
Moreover, splashing paint on paper is always a lot of fun. All you need is some paint and a brush, and you’re ready to go. You can either give your child an image to copy or let him or her draw whatever comes to mind.
Puzzle solving: The brain needs to be exercised in order to stay balanced, sharp, and growing. Choose things that will keep them occupied and make them feel good at their stage. They can become bored if the activity is too straightforward and discouraged if the activity is too difficult. Choose from jigsaw puzzles, cubes, brain games and puzzles, riddle games, word games, crossword puzzles, snakes and ladders, math, and other sports. These tasks will support your child’s critical thought, reasoning, and logical critical thinking skills.
Have them make their own cartoon: Rather than watching cartoons, encourage your children to create their own. Give them some crayons and a sheet of cardboard or a scrap of paper and ask them to draw a something. Then allow them to tell you the tale when they’re done. For their interest, listen to their story carefully and participate in the activity as well.
Allow them to play with their toys.
While it might seem self-evident, any parent who has hunted through the toy box shortly after the holidays knows how easily children lose interest in their toys. Place some toys in a secure place for a while. When they are reintroduced into the rotation, they seem to be brand new. Dolls, cards, building toys, cars, playsets, and puzzles are only a few examples of engaging toys that can keep children occupied for hours. They do, however, need to be reminded of these toys from time to time. Also, you can allow your kids to Toy wash: You just need to fill a sink, a plastic container, or a bowl halfway with water. Provide towels and a box of washable toys for the kids. Allow your children to clean away with small cars, plastic animals, toy food, plastic keys, and other things.
Dance and music: Music has the ability to get your child up and moving, headbanging, and dancing. It’s also relaxing and calming. So, the next time your child is bored, put on their favorite song and watch them dance. If your child can play an instrument, that’s even better. Dancing and listening to music are also excellent stress relievers. Music aids in the growth of the brain.
Hunting for hidden treasure
Children enjoy looking for items that are hidden. It’s here that treasure hunting comes into play. All you have to do is conceal the treasure, which may be chocolate, a package, or some other household item. Start the game by writing some intriguing clues and hiding them. The game’s goal is for your child to locate the treasure. To do so, he or she must first locate and solve each clue. The longer the game lasts, the more hints there are.
Give them a major task to complete: Give your child a mission to complete and consider it a big deal. Tell them that they need to draw an image for Daddy/ Mom or build a block house for Grandmother. If they believe the job is significant, they will not object to working on it alone.
Allow your child to interact with the children in the neighborhood: Make an agreement with another parent in the community. Send your child over to play with their child when you need a break. To be fair, you’ll have to allow them to bring their child over on occasion. When two children play together, they are kept occupied. Also encourage them to play outside, if you’re concerned about their welfare, simply keep an eye on them. They’re going to be perfect.
Listen to an audiobook: Pick up audio copies of your child’s favorite books if he or she is too young to read independently. Allow them to sit and turn the pages while a cheerful voice reads to them. If you can’t find a recording, make your own with your phone.
Before they can read, children can learn to appreciate the art of storytelling through audiobooks. Children who are able to read will broaden their horizons. A fun read can be enjoyed even by those who are not interested in reading. They should also do an individual reading while you are there to help, but if a child struggles with reading, then independent reading should not be done when you are working.
Camp out with your kids: For a game of camp, set up a tent or fort for your children and fill it with various things. Allow your kids to curl up with pillows and blankets, feed them nutritious treats, switch off the lights, and hand them flashlights to create shadow animals. Add some stuffed animals for company, goggles to keep an eye on the bears, and animal picture books to keep the kids entertained.
Give them locks and bolts to play with: Allow your child to play with a lock and a key, or a nut and bolt. Young children, in particular, would be fascinated by the act of opening something, while also sharpening their cognitive abilities. Give them a disorganized bag and ask them to find out which lock corresponds to which key.
Playing educational games: If your children have access to a computer or tablet during working hours, educational computer games provide both learning and entertainment. These games keep kids thinking, which prevents boredom.
Consider putting a time limit on video games, including educational ones, ahead of time, since children will find it difficult to disconnect from their devices. And to be frank, it’s simple as a parent to allow this short break for you to last longer than it should.
You can easily engage children indoors and acquire all of the necessary skills using these tried-and-true methods. You also get to spend more quality time with your child and strengthen your bond. Last but not the least, always make yourself available to your kids at all times. Even if you are preoccupied with your work, put it aside and spend time with your children.
