Are you looking to get your kids involved in both educational and fun activities at home and in your community? There are several activities and options you may not be aware of or have thought of. Here are some ideas to get your family started.
Visit an Escape Room
Have you ever been to an escape room? They require a group of people, like your family, to work together to solve a series of puzzles to maneuver through a themed escape room. Your kids will learn teamwork, respect, and perhaps a bit of history depending on the theme of the escape room you’re in. Not only would this experience be educational for your kids, but it would also be a blast for your entire family.
With over 1800 escape rooms in the United States in 2017, there are likely more and more popping up in populous areas throughout the country. Look into booking an escape room in your nearest city.
Write and Perform a Play
Do your kids enjoy performing? Encourage your children to find or write their own play. It can be about anything your kids want. If your kids are learning about a particular event in history in school, perhaps they’d like to incorporate that. If your kids enjoy pirates and mermaids and want to integrate make-believe aspects, they’ll have a blast with that, too.
Utilize dress-up clothes to add some pizzazz to the event. Clear out a spot in your home for your kids to perform their play. Not only will your kids work together to write, set up, and perform the play, but they’ll learn how the whole process works.
Start a Garden
Depending on where you live, you may be able to start an outdoor garden in your backyard. This would be a great opportunity for your family to work together for a common goal: plant and grow yummy vegetables for everyone to eat and enjoy. You can show your children how the gardening process works and the conditions the vegetables you choose to grow need to thrive. They may even learn fun facts about trees and plants in general while you’re outside, such as that a single tree can weigh up to 50 tons or more.
If it’s too cold to start an outdoor garden where you are, you can start an indoor one instead. Start growing a variety of herbs, and explain to your children how they’ll be utilized in the kitchen. You can also show your kids how to plant and repot houseplants. Young kids are like sponges in that learning practical knowledge at home will stick with them.
Read Books About Other Countries and Cultures
Young kids enjoy reading books with their parents before bedtime. Instead of sticking to the same group of books, consider switching it up and purchasing some books that are educational. Specifically, find books written by individuals from other countries that outline information about their country and culture in a kid-friendly and educational manner. Not only will you be supporting authors and bookstores, but your kids will learn from reading these books with you.
These books can be read in chunks. Don’t provide too much information at once. Instead, take your time through lengthier reads. Go over what you and your children have learned together. You may even try out activities and meals that the kid-friendly books suggest so your family can learn even more.
Cook a Family Dinner Together
Cooking meals together as a family is a great way for your kids to learn how to read recipes, how to cook, and how to measure ingredients. A simple meal like spaghetti and meatballs may be fun to tackle with your kids. You can show them how to make homemade red sauce, how to cook noodles, and how to season and bake meatballs. Your kids will feel a sense of pride as they eat the meal they helped prepare.
Family dinner is also an opportunity to talk about difficult topics with children, such as divorce, which may involve moving homes or dealing with child support, which is payable until children turn 21 years old. After cooking together and eating a yummy meal, use the time to sit and discuss. Your kids may have questions that you need to answer.
It’s important to spend time as a family, but it’s even better to utilize that time to teach your children something. Whether it be figuring out puzzles in an escape room, reenacting an event in history, learning how to plant vegetables, learning about other cultures, or showing your kids how to make a fun meal, make time with your kids both fun and educational.
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