Most parents live in silent dread of those cold, wet winter days when the kids are stuck inside looking for things to do. It’s fertile territory for arguments and yelling matches over favorite toys and time spent on the XBox. It may be difficult to see it as an opportunity for creativity and learning through interactive, educational games, but it’s a great time to introduce kids to something new. It’s also a chance for parents and kids to have fun investigating new interests and skills. As a parent, it can be hard to hold your kids’ interest when you’re up against the latest video games, cartoons, and social media. But rest assured there’s plenty of cool stuff for your kids to do, games and activities that’ll keep them involved for hours and may even reveal talents you didn’t even know they had. Spend a couple of hours on the Internet and you’ll find websites with lessons and games for kids of all ages. Here are a few ideas that’ll help get the ball rolling.
Green thumbs
It may be freezing outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge your green thumb and show the kids how much fun gardening can be. There are many websites with instructions for starting an indoor garden. There are different ways to go, from herbs to vegetables that your entire family can enjoy. It’s a great way to learn about horticulture because growing things indoors requires you to supply the elements that nature would normally take care of. They’ll learn about the relationship between light, water and soil, and how important each component is for making things grow.
Bon appetit
Kids love to bake, especially when it means making things they love to eat. Whether it’s cupcakes, cookies or some other sweet delicacy, baking is an activity that combines math, reading and learning about kitchen tools all at once. It also encourages cooperation and teamwork – one kid could be responsible for reading out the directions, another can handle mixing, etc. Pinterest and Youtube are excellent online sources for fun and delicious recipes. Begin with something simple and “graduate” onto a more involved recipe if everyone’s liking it. You can also teach your kids about kitchen safety and pass along the importance of sustainability (i.e. not wasting food, nutritional cooking, etc.).
Carry a tune
Many schools have had to eliminate or cut back on music programs, which has deprived a generation of children from being exposed to music education. You may not even realize that your child has a real aptitude for music if he’s had no opportunity to learn about it or been introduced to different instruments and forms of music. Fortunately, there are plenty of free, online sites that teach kids to play a range of instruments, from piano to violin.
Let your kids spend some time with sites that offer free lessons to see if they have an interest. Bear in mind that if you decide to buy an instrument, you’ll have to decide whether to go new or used. Either way, the instrument needs to be easy to play, durable, repairable, and have a warranty. Spend some time learning how to select the right instrument for your child, and be sure to talk with an expert at a local music store.
Art online
Most kids love to try their hand at coloring, drawing, and painting. You’ll find a number of free drawing tutorials on Youtube and throughout the Internet, many of which offer specific lessons that are both instructive and fun (some teach kids how to draw using popular cartoon characters, a surefire way to inspire their interest). Or you could let them explore their own artistic instincts with a fun medium like mess-free glitter artwork.
It may look like any other grey winter day outside, with few prospects for fun (unless it involves a gaming console). A little online research can lead you to websites chock-full of fun and educational activities for kids of all ages. You never know – you might help your kid discover a passion for music, art or culinary creativity.
Courtesy of Pixabay.com.