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There’s No Room for Boredom with Fun At-Home Activities and Learning Opportunities

Growing minds and bodies need constant stimulation to reach their full potential. Exposing kids to different environments, settings, and activities on a regular basis will often do the trick. Sad to say, this may not be possible all the time. There may be circumstances like disasters or inclement weather that necessitate keeping kids at home for their safety, which can rob them of this much-needed stimulation for the time being.

With this in mind, it falls on you to bring the stimulating and inspiring world to them, even in the comforts of your own home. And yes, it’s well within your capabilities to do so as there’s no dearth of resources that you can easily leverage to this end.

Online Is Okay

When you have kids, you’ve likely read, heard, or been told in one way or another that screen time is no good. In fact, experts agree that too much screen time can lead to long-term damage to kids’ brains, which is truly alarming. However, the operative phrase here is “too much,” as is usually the case in this day and age. Moreover, the quality of the content that children are being exposed to figures heavily in how harmful screen time can be, as well.

Needless to say, gadget use among kids is not totally a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it can have its virtues, too, such as honing cognitive and problem-solving skills. For this reason, limited screen time is recommended, as is the use of apps and games that promote learning.

So, as a rule, limit gadget use to what truly benefits your kids. Also, look into investing in kid-friendly headphones to keep the noise at bay. Consider features like Bluetooth capabilities, volume control, and, of course, durability before you choose one as this needs to withstand heavy usage while keeping the entertainment value high for the little ones.

Make Learning a Priority

While still on the subject of learning, few things are as important as kids continuing their education while stuck at home for one reason or another. Again, apps and games that are knowledge-focused can be a great way to make use of their limited screen time, and you can rest easy knowing that your kids are learning a thing or two in the process.

But of course, there’s more than one way to learn at home. For instance, somewhat messy but oh-so-fun science experiments are always a hit among kids stuck at home. While most can be done inside with stuff you likely already have in the house, there are also some great experiments that you can do in the safety of your own backyard. Best of all, your kids will have so much fun that they won’t even know they’re picking up valuable STEM knowledge.

And yet another way to elevate learning at home is by engaging the entire family. There are, in fact, some really fantastic online activities that kids and parents alike will enjoy, running the gamut from virtual museum exhibits and zoos to exercise classes and even concerts, so make sure to check these out, as well.

Get Physical When Possible

Finally, remember that being sedentary is a no-no, especially for growing kids. Just as you devote time and effort to their intellectual growth, you must do the same for the physical. So, as a rule, throw in fun indoor physical activities into your kids’ at-home routine, as well as outdoor play opportunities. These are also great ways to expend all that pent-up energy  — undoubtedly a welcome bonus for many parents.

Suffice it to say, being stuck at home can be a real drag for children and adults both. To make this time a real breeze (or at least easier), do step up with tech, resources, and activities that will keep your kids’ intellects and attention sufficiently piqued. Who knows? With the little ones adequately occupied, you might be able to squeeze in time for yourself, too.

 

By Jonathan Warner

Photo via Pexels.com