What to Do with the Kids
If you’re like me and feeling a bit of anxiety at the idea of all the time at home and having to homeschool your kids right now, you are not alone.
School’s are most likely sending home guided curriculums and although it’s important to follow that and get the recommended 1-2 hrs in there are a lot more hours in the day and here’s the thing: we don’t have to be raising Einsteins right now.
If they are fed, well-rested , happy and alive... you are doing a good job momma ( and daddio).
I am going to give you some helpful tips here for all ages that you can implement today to help you keep your sanity! These will not only fill the gaps but are educational too!
Double whammy!
So here’s the thing. If you have to constantly be digging out stuff to do and then finding a place to put it, it’s going to be a pain. Sooo... turn your dining room table into an activity centre where you can quickly swoosh everything into a bin and take it out again the next day. Gather up the craft supplies. This is the time to get out the craft paper, the scissors, markers, and crayons & just let them go to town.
Easter is coming up and you can make a lot of Easter-themed crafts. Use Google or Pinterest for inspiration, ask the kids to come up with things based on their interests. Colouring real or wooden eggs, making baskets, nature-themed art, a big poster for Grandma & Grandpa, etc.
Clay of any kind is not only a great sensory activity but it can encourage fine motor skills, relieve anxiety and stress and can be a great break from screen time. Aaaand it’s not as messy as Slime which every kid seems to be into these days (but us moms ARE DEFINITELY NOT)
Amazing Playdough
In a pot add the following ingredients:
2 c water
2 c flour
4 tsp cream of tartar
1 1/2 c salt
4 Tbsp oil
Mix as much as possible first and then turn on the heat ( medium) and stir it will start to firm up quite quickly. It gets tough to stir and firms into a ball. Separate it into smaller balls, make a little well and add the colours, scents you would like. ( 1-2 drops of glycerine if you have it is nice too, to prolong the life of the dough)
My kids are 9 & 11 and they still love this recipe. I have them make it, and they choose the colour, scent, etc. 1-2 drops in each ball of food colouring and 1-2 drops of essential oil. And then they can go to town kneading it in and handling it.
(This playdough will keep from 3-6 months in a Tupperware container)
It’s good to have a deck of cards handy. Card games like Uno, Old Maid, Crazy Eights can be spontaneous and fun!
Of course, board games are great to do as a family too.
There are a lot of businesses online that cater to things like cookie decorating kits or activity kits for kids. Local businesses have switched things up so that now they are either delivering locally or shipping things out. So browse around online as to what’s available in your area.
Cooking & baking are both great for grasping math & science concepts so google some easy recipes they can make. We’ve been making mug cakes, sorbets, frappuccinos, brownies, quesadillas, homemade mac & cheese, veggie platters, sourdough starters to bake bread...
Setting up physical activities around your home can be as easy as shooting hoops and jumping on the trampoline to setting up a yoga mat and doing stretches together.
Getting out in nature if you can, eases stress and it gives everyone some fresh air and vitamin D - so hit the trails. Just remember social distancing.
The weather is warming up and gardening season is around the corner! Starting seeds, digging, growing chia pets, pruning fruit trees all are amazing life skills you are teaching your kids.
Turn off screens at least an hour before bed and replace with silent reading. This helps kids wind down and gets that reading/ language arts portion in for the day.
Some days will go awesome, and on other days the kids watch tv for hours and you’ll fight with them to pick up their clothes and brush their teeth ... but these are the days when they need a connection with you more than ever.
I hope I gave you some inspiration and ideas for the days when you feel & need to do ‘the things’.
So stay strong momma (and daddio) and know you are doing a great job.
❤️Allie xo
The Sweet Life
Powell River, British Columbia
Canada
