2 minute read
Back to Nature
from Cambs July 2020
by Villager Mag
Keeping kids entertained is difficult at the best of times. But having already endured weeks in lockdown and a return to complete freedom looking to be some way off, it’s a challenge to keep your little ones occupied and to tear older children away from a screen. These ideas might help though!
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Take the indoors out
What does your child enjoy doing that could be done outdoors? Could you make cookie dough at the garden table rather than the kitchen table? Is there any reason a board game can’t be played on a picnic rug? Could you set crafts up on a plastic sheet? (On the plus side, it saves your carpet getting covered in paint, glitter and chocolate.)
Play to their interests
Younger children often like ticking off a list of things to spot when they’re out, or collecting petals, leaves and pebbles for a craft activity. If your child is an animal lover, could you go on a bug hunt? If they enjoy solving puzzles, could you go geocaching or set up a treasure hunt? Active kids might enjoy a simple obstacle course in the garden or throwing balls to knock down tin cans.
Shake things up
Most of us like a bit of variety in life. Even moving a swing to a different part of the garden or trying some different games can help to reignite a child’s interest. On a more practical level, a reorganisation of their bedroom or a shared space can be exciting for them.
Play games
My eight-year-old loathes going for a walk. With a passion. And he doesn’t hesitate to let us know just how boring he finds it. So our family walks tend to be less about walking and more about playing games on the move. His favourite is a game where we adults challenge the kids to impersonate an animal. When he was younger, it was a case of “Can you hop like a kangaroo?” “Can you slither like a snake?” Now it’s evolved into “Can you charge like a short-sighted rhino?” “Can you soar like an eagle with a broken wing?” We also play hide and seek and other games.
Build it into a routine
If you have the option, it might be worth setting a family rule that you all have to spend a certain amount of time outside every day, even if it’s just bouncing round the garden.
Don’t be afraid of bribery
I’m not suggesting you pay your child to get active, but there’s nothing wrong with promising an ice lolly or half an hour of screen time after a bike ride now and then. By Kate Duggan
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