Are you a tired parent? We all know that children can be exhausting, yet they are one of the most rewarding aspects of our lives. In daily routines, it’s reasonable to keep kids busy with activities so you are able to complete chores and duties throughout the home. Sometimes, it’s just easier to do things yourself. Due to the recent circumstances, some families are now facing challenges that they aren’t used to, such as feeding their children three meals a day, having to homeschool them, and merely managing being cooped up in the house all day. To prevent chaos and conflict, keep your children engaged. Kids get into mischief when they have too much free time on their hands. Make it one of your priorities to keep them busy each day; here’s how!
Clean
When it comes to cleaning and putting away toys, children are typically not a fan. However, it is so important to teach your kids how to clean. Not only will educating your children about cleaning make life simpler, but it also gives them another activity to do daily. Not to mention, it gives them valuable life lessons as well. First and foremost, it is something you can do as a family and also a way for them to see how it’s done efficiently. Eventually, it will be a standard task that they can do without you. Once they know that cleaning a home is essential and their help is relied on, the life lessons are unavoidable. In the end, children absorb hard work and personal responsibility, as well as being more connected to their home.
Bonus Tip: One idea to spark their interest is a colorful “Cleaning Chart.” Use a poster board and draw a table chart. One side states the children’s names and the other will have their cleaning activities (i.e., sweeping, cleaning windows, picking up toys, putting away laundry, and dusting.) Then, color the row for each task a bright color and laminate it or use clear packing tape. Finally, they can use whiteboard markers for crossing off duties they complete weekly.
Create
When it isn’t time for daily household responsibilities, having time set aside for crafting is another perfect way to hook your children’s attention. Arts and crafts is an area that some don’t think to incorporate into their daily schedule. First of all, kids love doing crafts. Secondly, expressing creativity will benefit the kids in numerous ways. When kids pick up a crayon, pipe cleaners, beads, or anything else, they are improving their motor skill development. When they are given tasks like coloring a picture and instructed to stay in the lines, they are pushed to focus. Arts and craft time will generally help them with self-expression, too. When they are driven to create something with little or no direction, this provides a safe environment for them to really express themselves.
Bonus Tip: One craft idea that they’ll love is painting picture frames. It’s something out of the box that they can be unique with, and even display it in their room to admire. Find some basic photo frames for them to transform completely. They can paint them and add various embellishments. Add in a photo of the whole family, and then display in their room. This exercise will grab their attention, improve their fine motor skills, and increase their confidence knowing they can create something unique.
Cook
Another area of the daily routine that tends to be a struggle for some families is being able to cook a meal without interruption from their children. Instead of trying to complete a meal without them, intentionally include them. Usually, cooking is not an area where children are included due to a hot stove, knives, etc. Instead of trying to keep them away from critical factors, have them right under your nose, learning how to use these items of worry properly. For starters, give them tasks they are capable of completing. Whether it’s giving them the responsibility of setting the table, gathering ingredients, washing dishes, or helping with the meal itself, make them a part of the process. A lot like crafting, using their hands for such duties pushes their developmental skills to evolve accordingly. Most importantly, you are again teaching them valuable life lessons.
Bonus Tip: When you cook with kids, you are essentially teaching them about nutrition as well. They won’t assume that a bag of chips is the only option when they feel hungry. They’ll know that they can combine multiple ingredients into a more fulfilling result. One idea that’s healthy but fun for them is making a fruit pizza. Starting with a sugar cookie foundation, you are able to add in many variations of fruit, and top with a drizzle of icing or honey! Although it is a sweet treat, there are some nutritional elements in there, too.
Play
Physical activity is another area of a child’s day that is crucial. It should be a natural part of their schedule because it helps use their energy in a positive way. While being active, their physical and mental health prospers. A child running around is playtime, but they are, in fact, exercising, too. They will strengthen muscles and bones, relieve stress, and lower their opportunity of mental illness later on in their life. Kids ultimately use energy in everything they do, but when being physical, they are using more of it and faster. The more energy they use, the more physical they will be throughout their entire life. Not to mention this will improve their sleeping cycle as well!
Bonus Tip: One idea perfect for optimal engagement during playtime is “freeze dance.” You turn music on, and while it is on, they dance. Then, when the kids least expect it, turn the music off. The game is, freeze when the music is off, and whoever moves has to do something. Such as, run up and down the stairs five times. A fun and simple way to keep them active.
Keeping kids engaged is not an easy task. However, don’t look at keeping them busy as a chore, rather as an opportunity to spend more time with them. Including them with daily responsibilities to run a home carries multiple benefits. Whether increasing developmental growth teaches them valuable life lessons or simply sparking their inner creativity, in the end, the days will fly by, and they will grow up knowing who they are as a person, as well as the daily tasks that adults perform daily.