Tips for Keeping Kids Entertained When the Weather is Bad

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of pep your children have, rest assured that you aren’t alone. Scientists have actually researched kids’ seemingly boundless energy and discovered that little ones have more energy than professional endurance athletes. Harnessing all that power in a productive fashion can be tough, especially when it’s raining or snowing outside.

With winter on the horizon, many parents are preparing to find ways to keep kids amused indoors. Imagine Nation Learning Center is dedicated to helping parents raise happy and healthy kids through educational yet fun activities. Read on for some expert tips on how to keep your children mentally engaged and physically active within the confines of the home this winter.

Look into music lessons

Which hobbies should you be encouraging your kids to explore? Ideally, opt for activities that will translate into subtle educational lessons and serve them as they get older. Music is a fantastic example. Kids can pick up an instrument and play it for a lifetime. Even if they don’t get serious about continuing their musical education, early-stage music lessons offer many tangible benefits. The American Psychological Association reveals that studies actually show that musical kids do better in school.

Why’s that? Kids learn the basics of rhythm and counting through music, which can improve their math skills, for instance. Music education is also a wonderful way to learn about other cultures. You can play music from different parts of the world for your little ones and then examine the country they come from. You can even use music to learn different languages. Looking at Spanish-language music videos is a great way to start learning, for example.

Get crafty with creative hobbies

Creative hobbies like coloring, puzzling, and beadwork can keep little ones engaged for hours. They are also educational. Kids can learn about colors while painting, for example, and practice their manual dexterity with beading. As a bonus, with the holidays on the horizon, you can have kids create gifts to give fellow friends and family members. This also teaches them about the spirit of giving and generosity.

Photography is another fun hobby that kids can pick up and continue as they get older. While everybody has a smartphone camera these days, giving your child a real “pro” tool will make them feel important and special. The best digital cameras for kids include a variety of options at various price points. Try the Veroyi Kids Camera for toddlers, which features extra large buttons, or the Kidizoom DUO Camera, which even comes with rudimentary editing software to create collages and more.

Give genealogy a go

Genealogy is a wonderful way to teach your children about your family’s own cultural background. You can use genealogy apps or websites to encourage kids to explore, instilling research skills that will serve them well later in their education. You can even combine genealogy and arts-and-crafts by creating your own family tree together. This guide shows you how it’s done. All you need is glue, colorful paper, and plenty of family photos.

Invest in safe indoor sports equipment

In addition to mental development, one important goal for growing kids is physical development and coordination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend kids get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. You can encourage safe indoors activity by investing in home-friendly sports equipment. An indoor punching bag is a great way to train muscles, endurance, and coordination.

Hopefully, this guide has given you some ideas for keeping your little ones entertained indoors. With a bit of creativity, you can ensure your kids have a safe and productive winter, without getting bored in the house. Meanwhile, you can rest easy knowing that they are having fun while also learning new life skills.

 

 

Article by: Carrie Spencer of thespenceradventures.net

 

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4 Tips to Help Kids Do a Digital Detox

Wherever we are and wherever we go, there’s no escaping the digital world. We live in an age of modern technology, one that is consumed by the internet, laptops, cellphones, tablets and other types of screens. While these developments have made our lives amazing in many ways, too much time spent staring at screens can be detrimental to our health and well-being, especially that of our kids. Hence the need for a “digital detox” from time to time.

What does digital detox mean? 

Digital detox is when a person unplugs and refrains from using electronic gadgets and other devices connected to the internet. Doing so gives us an opportunity to have real interactions with others and counteract our “addiction” to screens. Since we are living in a world dominated by the internet, our kids spend a significant amount of their time clicking and tapping while glued to their devices. It can be hard to strike a healthy balance between the use of technology and taking healthy breaks from staring at our screens.

It’s important for us, as parents,  to make sure our children’s development isn’t hampered by spending excessive time glued to their screens.  Here are some tips to help your kids do a digital detox.

Lead by example

Young kids look up to their parents in all aspects of life. They observe our words, actions and behaviors. Therefore, the best way to teach our children  anything is to model important actions and habits ourselves. Lead by example instead of merely talking about it.

When emphasizing the importance of taking a break from electronic devices, it’s imperative that children see their parents doing the same. It’s hypocritical for kids to see us incessantly scrolling through our phones or staying up until all hours watching Netflix if we expect them to make similar changes to their lifestyle. If you don’t lead by example, your discussion about a digital detox will fall on deaf ears.

Create phone-free zones

It’s important to limit the use of electronic devices in some areas of your home. Establish “technology-free zones” in your home. One good example is the dining area. Phones and gadgets shouldn’t be allowed at the dining table. Meal time is meant to be family time. Coming together during a meal is a perfect opportunity for bonding and having meaningful and fun conversation. It shouldn’t be a time for any family members to stare at their phones or play online games.

Similarly, the bedroom should also be a screen-free space. Growing kids need an adequate amount of sleep for their healthy growth and development. Don’t allow your children to take their phones or tablets with them to bed. Not only will this help ensure that their sleep isn’t interrupted, but it will also help you make sure their online activities are closely monitored.

Plan a family getaway

Another fun way to help curb your child’s obsession with screen time is to go on a family getaway. Think about planning a vacation or some family activities that do not involve the use of screens. Plan a trip to the zoo or museum, or take your child to an art class. You can also spend the weekend at a nearby beach. or go camping and enjoy nature. There are plenty of activities you can all enjoy without the use of technology. The more children get immersed in nature and outdoor fun, the more they’ll realize that there’s so much more to life than what they see and experience at the tips of their fingers on an electronic gadget. 

Spend more time with your kids

One of the reasons why kids may resort to spending excessive time on their gadgets is that their parents are too busy to spend time with them. Nothing beats spending adequate quality time with your child. Make it a point to spend more time together by playing with them, connecting and bonding. Help your child feel that digital devices aren’t the only source of fun and entertainment, because it’s a lot more fun to do things with you.

For example, you can invite your kids to help you cook and prepare meals. If your child enjoys books, you can find a cozy spot in your home where you can enjoy reading together. Be creative. There are plenty of exciting and meaningful activities that can take your child’s attention from digital devices. 

Electronic gadgets and the internet are beneficial in so many ways and in various aspects of our lives. However, it’s important to learn when to switch off from the digital world before it becomes detrimental to your child’s health and development. 

For more parenting tips, or if you’re looking for the best preschool for your child, please visit Imagine Nation Learning Center. 

 

 

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