My family has gone through many changes since the Coronavirus hit. The question hits me time after time: “Now, what do we do?” We’re not supposed to go anywhere, but there’s a 3-year-old bouncing around the house and having trouble sleeping at night. This is an enormous problem because I am done parenting for the day when my kids are asleep. No rest for them equals no rest for my wife and I. It’s time to get creative with our kids and push the limits.
3 creative ways to spend time with your children during the Coronavirus are performing fun at home science experiments and crafts , block out time for creative play, and share memories from your life with your children.
Science Experiments and Crafts
There are a ton of free and exceptional things to do around your house. Everyone could learn to make invisible ink. Kids love homemade Playdough and are inept at making dinosaur sculptures until you masterfully teach them. You could pick up a $.99 bottle of pop and some Mentos at the grocery store and teach them about volcanoes while they decorate one. The recipes for these experiments are on Google.
Kids are a brilliant excuse for doing things you want to do, but you question if it is inappropriate for you as an adult. I miss felt coloring posters personally. It’s time to buy one of those again for my kids and I. Don’t forget about painting. It is often a cheap yet entertaining endeavor.
Creative Play Time Blocking
Time blocking is important. It is a powerful skill to use with children. A mission of mine is to educate dads that they can duplicate their practices at work with their family. It’s imperative to allow time for creative play without distraction.
There is a difference between typical play and creative play. Creative play uses more energy and involves learning a new skill. Kids love to replay games. There is a way to honor this and create fresh games along the way. I recommend twisting familiar games into imaginative ones and watch your kids adapt. It is mentally exhausting and healthy for them to engage these behaviors.
We have a game called the sleeping game where they use an electronic book’s noises to knock me out and wake me up angry depending on the noise. I will change-up the rules of the game and teach them to play this game a different way than what they’re use to. These new rules tire my children out and build up their skills of creativity.
I recommend planning the activities out in advance. There are benefits to being prepared such as extending the time activities last and their purpose.
Sharing Memories
There are keepsakes all over your house. This is a perfect time to share the meaning behind these items with your children.
Kids live in the present moment, and this is an excellent way to join and bond with them. It is important to give them room to play with or view the items you show them. Share the story behind it, or show them how to use it. Encourage your child to be creative.
I love to watch The Land Before Time movies with my kids. I brief them on memories of growing up with the characters and how it made an impact on my life.
A warning to the wise: Young kids will want to keep the item you show them. Choose carefully about which ones you’re comfortable seeing played with. Kids often have the mindset that everything is indestructible!
Fun for Everyone
Science experiments, creative play, and sharing memories will bond you to your children. You will enjoy the ideas you create too. The whole point is to expose them to fresh activities that you find entertaining. Coronavirus sucks. It is a challenge that we are all facing. The aim is to cope fantastically with this stress, even though it’s hard. Reach out if you get stuck. ryan.plasch@discoverymentalhealth.com.