There is an overabundance of activities to play with kids these days. How do you know which ones to choose? Brainstorming ideas with kids is a great way to come up with activities everyone will enjoy. Ask yourself whether the kids enjoy themselves, what they will learn, how interactive the game is, and how inexpensive it could be.
Make It Fun
First and foremost, kids want to have fun. If you are not enthusiastic about the activity, chances are, the kids will not be either. The best way to make an activity enjoyable is to show your excitement. Wave your arms in the air and shout, "Who wants to play tag outside? I do! I do!" If you know ahead of time when you will be playing the activity, build suspense with a countdown.
You can make any activity fun, even chores. Turn morning or bedtime routines into a race. Whoever gets ready first wins a prize.
Make It Educational
Children take in the world around them at lightning speed. When playing activities with kids, it is important to make them educational. Outdoor activities can teach kids about lots of things, especially science and math by asking questions during the activity. Sample questions would be, "How do you determine the age of a tree?" "How long will it take the car to get to the beach if we travel on the highway? Back roads?"
Indoor activities can be educational as well. When cooking together, ask kids at what temperature water boils and freezes. Teach kids spell with songs or add and subtract with rhymes.
Make It Active
Put the active back in activity. Kids these days spend a lot of time indoors playing video games and chatting with their friends online. Shut off the electronic devices and get outdoors. Go for a bike ride or hike through the woods. Practice gymnastics in the back yard. Play a game of tag. If the weather is inclement, check out your local community center for gymnasium and indoor pool times.
Make It Frugal
Kids don't need to spend money to have fun, and neither do you. Choose activities that do not cost money. Gather the family or neighborhood together to write and act out a play, hide household items for a scavenger hunt, or play traditional social games like "Mother May I?" and "Red Rover."
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