“Every child needs to have physical activity and cognitively stimulating tasks every day.” -Gayathri Psychologist
Children are precious gifts from the heavens, they bring immeasurable joy to parents. Inturn the parents’ goal is to raise brilliant minds, responsible children. Who will hopefully repeat the cycle with their children? That’s every parent’s dream.
Spending quality time with them, impacting their lives positively is the greatest task. Yet, with such a long holiday ahead you might wonder how to engage them. Remember, your child requires both physical activities and cognitive stimulation.
Create a Plan For the Long Holiday
A wise man once said, “If you don’t plan your day you will get the world’s leftovers.”
Well then, sit down, and plan for their school break.
School going children use timetables, so to engage your child. Create a schedule of activities for the whole week. For example, you can use your weekly activities structure. Then, adjust daily activities to make things exciting for the children.
To ensure 100% buy-in involve your child in creating these activities. They tend to be excited when they play a role in decision making. Your activities should start with daily chores before the fun activities begin. This helps parents avoid tasks that their child can easily do.
Studies state that teaching your child chores early in life makes them responsible. They tend to do better in life compared to their counterparts.
Here are 13 activities to engage your child during the long holidays.
- Daily Chores
As highlighted above, this is the best way to teach your child. If you want responsible children, let them learn how to take on some responsibilities at home.
For example, tidying up their toys after playing is a good way of helping around. Other chores your child can do include, making beds, clearing the table after a meal, watering plants, and feeding pets. Chores should match their age and capabilities.
Teaching them early frees you to concentrate on major tasks and equips them to be in charge tomorrow.
This is one way to engage your child this holiday.
- Making Crafts
Making crafts are a great way to engage your children. Crafts engages the creativity aspect of your child. Use coloured paper, old paper or newspaper to create something interesting. For example, create a duck or a boat then teach your child how to create the same item.
Take your time because crafts need you to be patient enough to teach and have the kids make similar items. Engage your children in crafts making this holiday and ignite their creative minds.
- Cooking and Baking
Children love the kitchen! I guess it’s because of the amazing food you cook and of course because it’s a restricted area. How about creating a day where they pick a recipe and you guide them in preparing the specific dish.
Whether it’s baking a cake or cooking an omelet allow them to do the heavy lifting. Kitchen tasks teach them the basics around the kitchen. How to become independent sooner than later, you will soon have kids who can fix a meal.
To top it all cooking and baking is fun, engaging and memorable.
- Painting
You have found your walls colored? This is to show you how much children love painting. Get the colours and allow them to express their feelings on canvas or paper.
This is one activity that will capture and encourage creativity. You might soon discover the next Da Vinci.
You can guide them or let their imagination take over. Buy them those colours and engage your child this holiday.
- Puzzles Solving
Puzzles are my absolute favourite. They require absolute concentration and patience to see you solve the problem. Puzzles get children excited. This is because they aim to solve the problem. Nothing is more rewarding than being able to fix that puzzle.
You can guide them and soon they will become experts. Puzzles need patience and help in developing their problem-solving skills. Buy age-appropriate puzzles for your child.
- Block building
Children love building things. Especially blocks or stacking boxes or pieces of wood. They get excited when they see the tower or castle coming up. They take time and it takes keenness to see how long and strong their structure can be.
Buy blocks or allow them to come up with materials to build a house or a tower. It can even be containers from your kitchen or cartons. When children are left to create they may amaze you with their level of creativity.
They also learn so much whenever they are making things.
- Jewelry making
Jewelry making is an interesting activity. How about making some with your child? Interesting? You are right.
Buy beads and accessories used to make them. Teach your child how to make that bracelet or necklace they always want. This will need the patience to teach and guide the kids into making their ornaments. You never know some might take this as a hobby.
They can make money by selling their inspired pieces. The thrill of making something beautiful is stimulating. It can be such an engaging activity during the holiday.
- Outdoor Cycling
Kids get excited cycling around the home. But, there are many parks and open spaces you can take your child over the weekend to cycle. These spaces are large and safe meaning your child will ride as much as they can without getting bored.
As you cycle around, you will discover new things and places. Kids can also pick up hobbies that can become their careers or passions. You end up bonding better by engaging in such tasks. It’s worth trying!
- Ball Games
Ball games are energy-consuming games. Your child must engage in physical exercises for them to grow. Get out and play football with them over the weekend. Make teams and compete with one another. I promise you, you will be exhausted before they are.
Make the games interesting by inviting other children to join in. At the end of the day, your child will sleep soundly due to exhaustion.
- Treasure Hunt
This game is one that requires you to leave clues that guide your child to find the hidden treasure. You get to dictate how long the game is by the number of clues you leave behind. Children will enjoy looking for treasure for hours without getting bored.
Spice the game by leaving real treasures like chocolates, sweets or gifts. This will motivate them to keep on looking. This is a great way to engage your child on this holiday. Try this game out, won’t you?
- Visit Fun Parks
Learning is a great part of growing up, by taking your child to different parks around. They get to explore their surroundings, See new sites that are intriguing. This opens their minds to many possibilities out there. Animal parks, fun parks, and open spaces that encourage them to learn.
Examples of fun parks in Kenya include; Uhuru Park, the national park, the giraffe center, and the museum. Children will not forget such memorable visits.
- Enroll Them In a Class
There is always a skill that your child can learn. What is your child’s need? Based on this need, look for an appropriate class or club for them to increase or polish a certain skill.
Some of the classes you can enroll your child to over the holiday include. Swimming, piano, violin, flute, basketball, ballet, dancing, acting and chess classes. Having your child learn a new skill is a great way to engage your child this holiday.
- Have a Chill Day
This is a day where you either sit and watch a movie together or go out to eat as your bond. No chores, no threats just a relaxing day. Even children need a day away from books, chores, and routines.
You can go on holiday or define your chill day.
Your children require your active involvement in their lives. Even if you are at work or away on a trip. You MUST be aware of what your child is doing.
Remember, you helped to create predictable activities to keep them busy? You must be intentional to engage your children in meaningful tasks and games.
This will help them become better, and independent individuals.
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”
When you come back from work, create time for your child. Here are some things you do.
- Avoid carrying work home.
- Avoid being on social media sites, be present with them.
- Listen to their stories and questions and address their concerns.
- Tag them around when running your errands.
Invest in things that will build your child’s mind and challenge them. What activities do you engage your child in during the holidays? Share with us.
Read How to Raise Leaders in your Home