Activities for Kids
by Angela
In our world of computers, video games, and television, the simple pleasures are being lost. I see it most clearly in my own family. My sons are constantly asking for gameboys and my daughter wants any electronic gadget that features Disney princesses. I know I’m not the only one. Everywhere I go, I see kids playing or watching something. These pastimes definitely have their place, but what we are missing now is human interaction.
In order to function as a society the ability to communicate with others is essential. The best way to inspire that in our children is to practice what we preach and allow them to see us put the laptop down once in awhile. I have found and I think you will too, that the more effort I make to be social with my kids, the better they respond to activities that don’t center on electric circuits.
I believe one of the best ways to remind kids that they aren’t just video wizards is to encourage outdoor play. Weather permitting; playing outside is a good way to promote relationships with other children. It also opens the door for using imagination. Adults don’t have to leave all the fun to the kids either. Get out there and skip rope, shoot some hoops, and ride a bike. You’ll be doing that leading by example thing and having a lot of fun too. Who knows; maybe you’ll actually hear about how their day really went. Keep kick balls and outdoor equipment available for those moments when they complain that there isn’t anything to do.
To me, reading a good book or magazine is right up there with nirvana. I’m talking about pure bliss here. I also know kids don’t always see that way. When I explained to my 10-year-old son that my image of the characters and places in books is more detailed and better than any movie I’d ever seen he decided to give books a shot. Don’t get me wrong, he still likes watching movies, but now one of his favorite birthday or Christmas gifts is a Barnes and Noble gift card. With the younger ones, try reading to and with them. The oldies but goodies are a good place to start. Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe are action filled and exciting enough for them to look forward to the next chapter. Hopefully they develop a love for a great story that a DVD player just can’t provide and there isn’t a better way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Another fun way to spend an afternoon is cooking. My little ones love helping me bake. They may not realize it, but they are learning math skills like fractions and ratios. Science comes into play with oven temperatures and melting points. I wouldn’t dream of ruining their good time by pointing out the educational benefits. After all, why would they care? The benefit really is the hot chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven.
Art projects are another method for encouraging imaginative play. It’s easy to incorporate the seasons, holidays or birthdays into fun crafts for kids. Having construction paper, crayons, glue, glitter, and safety scissors on hand make for endless possibilities for creative expression. Wooden sticks, dried beans, and pompoms are other options. The great thing about crafts is there is no limit to things children can use. Give them a couple of ideas and let them release their inner artist.
It has been my experience that kids are more likely to try something new if the parents are excited about it too. So in the beginning, it may be a good idea to share in the fun until it becomes habit for the little ones. Never underestimate the appeal of a child’s interests. If you have one that likes exploring and archeology, offer to let them lead you on a dig in the backyard. Kids love to be leaders and they love to teach about topics they know about that you may not. Remember the gameboys aren’t all bad. Set firm rules about the amount of time they are allowed to spend with their gadgets and with all that extra time they are bound to rediscover their imagination.
In our world of computers, video games, and television, the simple pleasures are being lost. I see it most clearly in my own family. My sons are constantly asking for gameboys and my daughter wants any electronic gadget that features Disney princesses. I know I’m not the only one. Everywhere I go, I see kids playing or watching something. These pastimes definitely have their place, but what we are missing now is human interaction.
In order to function as a society the ability to communicate with others is essential. The best way to inspire that in our children is to practice what we preach and allow them to see us put the laptop down once in awhile. I have found and I think you will too, that the more effort I make to be social with my kids, the better they respond to activities that don’t center on electric circuits.
I believe one of the best ways to remind kids that they aren’t just video wizards is to encourage outdoor play. Weather permitting; playing outside is a good way to promote relationships with other children. It also opens the door for using imagination. Adults don’t have to leave all the fun to the kids either. Get out there and skip rope, shoot some hoops, and ride a bike. You’ll be doing that leading by example thing and having a lot of fun too. Who knows; maybe you’ll actually hear about how their day really went. Keep kick balls and outdoor equipment available for those moments when they complain that there isn’t anything to do.
To me, reading a good book or magazine is right up there with nirvana. I’m talking about pure bliss here. I also know kids don’t always see that way. When I explained to my 10-year-old son that my image of the characters and places in books is more detailed and better than any movie I’d ever seen he decided to give books a shot. Don’t get me wrong, he still likes watching movies, but now one of his favorite birthday or Christmas gifts is a Barnes and Noble gift card. With the younger ones, try reading to and with them. The oldies but goodies are a good place to start. Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe are action filled and exciting enough for them to look forward to the next chapter. Hopefully they develop a love for a great story that a DVD player just can’t provide and there isn’t a better way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Another fun way to spend an afternoon is cooking. My little ones love helping me bake. They may not realize it, but they are learning math skills like fractions and ratios. Science comes into play with oven temperatures and melting points. I wouldn’t dream of ruining their good time by pointing out the educational benefits. After all, why would they care? The benefit really is the hot chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven.
Art projects are another method for encouraging imaginative play. It’s easy to incorporate the seasons, holidays or birthdays into fun crafts for kids. Having construction paper, crayons, glue, glitter, and safety scissors on hand make for endless possibilities for creative expression. Wooden sticks, dried beans, and pompoms are other options. The great thing about crafts is there is no limit to things children can use. Give them a couple of ideas and let them release their inner artist.
It has been my experience that kids are more likely to try something new if the parents are excited about it too. So in the beginning, it may be a good idea to share in the fun until it becomes habit for the little ones. Never underestimate the appeal of a child’s interests. If you have one that likes exploring and archeology, offer to let them lead you on a dig in the backyard. Kids love to be leaders and they love to teach about topics they know about that you may not. Remember the gameboys aren’t all bad. Set firm rules about the amount of time they are allowed to spend with their gadgets and with all that extra time they are bound to rediscover their imagination.
posted by Lisa at 1:03 PM
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