Ways to Unplug as a Family
During this time, when we are all staying at home, it seems like everything we do is on the computer. Parent’s work and children’s school and therapy appointments are all happening through a screen. By the end of the day, we may all need ways to connect outside of the internet. Here are some ideas for activities that you can do with your kids to unplug from technology and spend some quality time together!
Cooking:
You can practice so many language and math skills while cooking! Kids can practice reading recipes, following or giving you directions, and requesting ingredients and utensils. Take advantage of your time at home to cook things that you’ve never made before. Plus, your kids will love eating the end result. Yum!
Scavenger Hunts:
You can have a scavenger hunt in your house, or organize one outside. Simply make a list of things to find and search together. You can even have your kids draw pictures of the things that you find. You can find some sample scavenger hunts here: https://buggyandbuddy.com/30-free-printable-scavenger-hunts-for-kids/
Get Moving:
Go for a bike ride. Take a walk. Have a dance party. Do some yoga. Create an obstacle course in the backyard. We all need to let out some energy and move our bodies after spending so much time in the house.
Write Your Own Stories and Plays:
Kids of all ages can help to create a story. All good stories need an introduction of the characters and setting, a problem for the characters to solve, making attempts to solve the problem, and then finally resolving the problem in the end. Older kids can use their writing skills to create a script. Then, assign the parts, practice your lines, and put on a play in your home! You could also create puppets and have them be the stars of the show.
Make Slime:
If you don’t have Play-Doh or something else squishy in your home, you can make your own slime! Kids of all ages love to squish, squeeze and pull this slimy creation. Make your favorite colored slime and add glitter for extra sparkle! Here’s an example of a slime recipe: https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-3-ingredient-slime-without-borax-245904
Books:
Reading with your children is the ultimate language learning activity. No age is too young to start enjoying reading together! Even by flipping through the pages and looking at pictures together, you can foster joint attention and introduce new vocabulary words by labeling pictures for a young child. As your child grows, you can read more complicated books and ask questions as you go to check for understanding. Ask higher-level thinking questions such as, ‘What do you think might happen next?’ or ‘What would you do if you were this character?’ to go beyond the text. Reading together should be a fun experience. It’s ok to choose stories that are slightly below their reading level in order to foster independence and a sense of accomplishment.