As children move from distance learning during pandemic lockdowns, most parents would also be working from home. After their classes, you might yourself be overwhelmed trying to keep tabs on your kids and toddlers. What if you can supplement online school with some home activities?
If You Must Give Children Screen Time, Make Sure They are Doing Something Productive
You might be tempted to just give them some screen time just to keep them busy. Too much screen time however is not good for children but you also still have to work or do the chores. I don’t really want to leave my daughter to her own devices and I am also sometimes guilty of giving my daughter more screen time so I can rest or work. With proper guidance, letting kids use gadgets isn’t always a bad idea. When using mobile devices, children learn about technology. There are games like Roblox that help foster social interactions (albeit online). Games like Minecraft teach children about resource management and help stimulate creativity. Word puzzle games like Wordscapes can help enhance their vocabulary. So, when your children are glued to a screen, just make sure they are doing something productive.
Still, learning from an actual school setting is no doubt better than online learning. Traditional schools help a child develop social skills and personality. Children can learn from seeing things. They learn more from science experiments. They get sufficient physical activity through play. They go to visit museums and learn about culture and history. These things are very important for a child’s development. You can try to supplement these things at home.
What Activities Can You Do at Home to Supplement Online Learning?
Encourage Physical Activity
As a parent, you have to encourage children to be physically active. Limit the use of gadgets to promote more physical activity. Encourage them to play. If you have a yard, you can let them go outside. Just let them wear a face mask.
Let Them Draw or Color
Drawing, coloring and other art activities can help children stimulate their imagination. It also helps to improve fine motor skills. My daughter Chelsea has been engaging in a lot of art activities lately.
Play Some Board Games
Playing board games like Scrabble or Monopoly is a good entertaining past-time where children can learn. Scrabble can help enhance vocabulary and can also help to practice arithmetic. Monopoly can teach strategy and resource management. Monopoly can also help to build a child’s character. They can learn to accept that things won’t always go their way. If your kids are old enough, you can teach them how to play chess or checkers.
Do Some Gardening
Most schools do let children spend some time in the garden and take care of plants. However, this is not possible for distance learning. Even if you don’t have a yard, you can plant in containers. Have your child take care of a plant. Teach him/her to water the plant daily. This teaches your child how to become responsible. I’d recommend planting tomatoes. They are easy to grow and those tiny tomato fruits look really good when they start to grow. Caring for a plant also teaches a child the value of being patient.
Take Care of a Pet
Having a house pet and letting your child be responsible for the pet teaches a child many lessons. Having to provide food and water to a pet on a daily basis teaches a child responsibility, empathy and compassion.
Dealing with a pet teaches a child patience. In the long run, having to deal with the loss of a pet teaches a child how to cope with loss.
Do a Science Project
Doing a science project is a fun way to learn which is in short supply with online learning. Don’t have any ideas for a science project. There’s plenty on YouTube. For starters, you can do a baking soda and vinegar volcano. All you need is a make-shift volcano, some red food coloring, baking soda and vinegar.
Whatever activity you do with your kid, make sure it is fun and engaging for them. And remember, it’s okay to have fun but safety should always be first priority.
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