7 Activities for Kids and Parents to Enjoy Together
There are many ways for parents to bond with their children and have some fun time together that don’t involve using electronic gadgets. Looking for some inspiration? Here are a couple of ideas to help you out.
Play dress-up
Pretend-play is sometimes the best way to engage your little ones’ minds and get them to use their imagination, especially when it comes to primary school children. It’s also a great way to put all those extra scarves, shoes, and hats lying around to good use and have some fun together. Whether your child decides to dress up as a doctor, a chef, an astronaut, or their favorite hero, it’s certainly going to spark their imagination and boost their creativity and their social and problem-solving skills.
Have a spontaneous jam session
Toddlers and preschoolers will love this idea, mostly because they can express their creativity in a fun and interesting way. You don’t have to have any particular musical skills or follow any tune really. All you need are some musical instruments such as guitars, drums, or xylophones. The idea is to just relax and play some music with your kids. On the other hand, if music comes easy for you, this could be a great opportunity to teach concepts such as rhythm to your little ones.
Try some science experiments
Although these are more suitable for middle schoolers, there are tons of science experiments that are both safe and fun – you just need to find the ones that are age-appropriate. From milk color wheel experiments to water fireworks to baking soda volcanoes, there are many ways to turn your kitchen space into an exciting, fun-filled science lab and enjoy together with your little mad scientists.
Create a family lemonade stand
You want your children to be successful when they grow up, and the best way to ensure that is to start teaching them the value of money early on. Creating a family lemonade stand can be a great money-making venture that can help your children learn important business concepts and also help prepare them for what lies ahead. You will also have a lot of fun coming up with a name of the store, setting your prices, and decorating your lemonade stand.
Do some gardening
Spending time outside and doing some gardening with your child can be a great way to connect with nature while also teaching them some important skills. Planting seedlings and watching them grow teaches the child the importance of being patient, while watering the plants and weeding the garden teaches them how to take care of those around them. You can also use this opportunity to teach them about wildlife and plants and their benefits for the environment as well as help them understand the importance of taking care of Mother Nature.
Do good together
Aside from helping their child develop compassion towards nature and other species, parents should also take steps to help them develop empathy for other people. Something as simple as lacing up those running shoes and participating in a school fun run can be a great way for your child to build school spirit and pride while also teaching them a valuable lesson about being a part of something bigger than yourself while at the same time helping others and doing good. Some other great family bonding experiences include doing charity work together, volunteering at a local food bank, and getting involved in community engagement.
Head to a nearby zoo
Sometimes, the best way for children and parents to spend some quality time together is to opt for activities that combine learning and fun. Heading to your local zoo is a good example of this, and it can be a great way for children to learn more about their animal friends and the world around them. Get your kids engaged in the process by giving them tasks such as taking pics of the animals and then writing down some fun facts about them using informational signs as a guide. They can write it all down and add pics when they get home, creating their own zoo trip photo albums.
Wrapping up
Being a great parent is a matter of spending quality time with your children. After all, they grow up so fast, and you want to take advantage of the time you have together, bond with them, and make some wonderful memories you’ll cherish for years to come.