Does your teen constantly complain about being stuck at home? Do the younger ones throw tantrums left and right these days? Do they all spend their days glued to their gadgets because they’ve got nothing better to do at home?
Well, if they do, your kids are probably bored to death at home, mate. Not to worry, though. There are many ways you can make your kids’ time at home more fun and worthwhile. And one way you can do this is by being the fun and cool parent who spends a lot of time with the kids. Check out some helpful tips below.
Play with the kids
No matter their age, kids will always love some form of play. And this is a good thing because play, among other things, improves brain function, boosts creativity, develops social skills, and gets people’s competitive juices flowing. But how do you make play more fun and interesting for your kids? Well, you should get in on their fun once in a while. So clear your mind, do some stretching, and get your game face on!
As you’ll never be able to completely get your kids away from their gadgets, just join them when they’re playing video games. This way, it’ll also be easier for you to limit their screen time. Try to beat your teenage boy at Rugby 20 and let the younger ones beat you at Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Of course, you can play sports like basketball and cricket as well and help your kids get fit and active at the same time.
Playing board games with your kids is likewise a good idea. Match wits with your teenage boy by playing Battleship. Or get the whole family playing with Cluedo or Monopoly. Make playing board games even more fun by doing it outdoors. So buy some patio tables, chairs, pillows, and outdoor cushion covers for sale and have a place where your family can play out in the open.
Learn with the kids
For sure, your kids have a lot of free time at home. Help them make better use of their time by having them learn something new. But there’s a catch: you should learn right along with them! Do this so you can share all the highs and lows of trying to learn something with your kids. High-five each other whenever someone gets something right and just laugh it off when things go bad. Be one another’s biggest motivator.
Start with something fun and fascinating. Your kids will surely enjoy learning magic tricks like making a coin disappear into or appear out of thin air. You can also go for something creative to bring out the artist in you and your kids. Painting, sketching, papier-mâché, and origami are just some of the great creative activities you can try learning with the kids. Or you and the kids can learn how to cook or bake.
Master making meat pies, chicken parmigiana, lamingtons, or pavlova, and give your wife a break from kitchen duties from time to time. Just be sure you also clean up the mess you make in the kitchen so your wife can truly take a break!
Work with the kids
There’s nothing better than getting help for free, right? So get your kids to work with you around the house! Don’t feel guilty about this because getting your kids to help you will instill in them a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and accomplishment. Just make sure that they enjoy the task or that they’ll get something from it in return, so they won’t feel like they’re being forced to do something they don’t like at home.
For one, you can get your kids to help you take on small home improvement projects. Does your house need a fresh coat of paint? Then, ask the kids to give you a hand with the project. Sweeten them up by allowing them to choose the color scheme for their own rooms. Your kids, especially the young ones, will surely be more than willing to help as well if they learn you’re building them a treehouse. If you’ve been working on a 1974 Ford Falcon XB GT for years now, get your young man to help you restore this classic beauty faster with the promise of letting him drive the car when he goes on his first date.
With your family staying home more than ever before, your kids are bound to get bored. But the good thing is, there are many ways you can make being stuck at home more fun and worthwhile for your kids. And sometimes, this means just spending more time with them, so go play, learn, and work with your kids whenever you can.
