Summer is about to close as the month of June drums nearer. We have had our little ones at home for almost two months, but have we really made most of our time with them? With the many things that we need to do at home and in the workplace, we often sacrifice time spent with our children. Now is the best opportunity to start creating wonderful memories that they can look back to once the school starts. Whether you want to make up for the days you were too busy or simply cap off the summer on a good note, there’s still activities available for you and your kids to enjoy. Break free from the usual trips to the mall and try these five activities instead.
Watch a theater show
In a world of video streaming and smartphones, it is rare to see children not glued to their gadgets. Introduce them to other forms of entertainment like live theater. Just make sure that you choose a show that is child-friendly. Look for youthful and energetic productions that also teach golden values through the story. A good example of this is PETA’s MgaKuwento Ni Lola Basyang! The play is like a fairytale book that has come to life as Lola Basyang shares stories of magical spells, kings and their kingdoms. Without a doubt, you’ll enjoy it too!
Join a workshop
Make your bonding activity an educational one too! There are plenty of workshops available these days but pick ones that you can do together as parent and child. This way, it’s not only you or your kid that gets to enjoy the activity. Rather, you get a chance to do it together. Afterwards, you can laugh at the little errors that you made, share the learning that you earned and even display your output at home!
Create and tell your own stories
How about exploring the art of words with your little one? Filipinos naturally love storytelling. Our rich folklore is a testimony to that. There are also many ways that you can create and tell your own story. This is a chance to let loose and be kid yourself too as you and your child learn how to tell a story in the most animated way possible!
Give visual arts a try
Simple drawing, coloring and crafts-making are always a big hit with children, but you can make the experience even better by making art together. Producing these little artworks will be a creative experience for the both of you. Watch your kid’s eyes light up as you take this artsy journey as a pair. It will surely be an experience neither of you will forget.
Compose a song together
Of course, a Pinoy family bonding option that never fails is music. Make your bonding experience emotionally enriching by asking your child what he wants to sing about, and composing a song together! You don’t even have to be musically inclined to try it out. Bring out your old guitar or even just a pen and some paper. The song may not be perfect but your little one will definitely associate it to the fun you had while writing it.
Fortunately, parents don’t have to look far for activities like these. PETA has organized a weekend of bonding activities that the whole family can enjoy together! Mommies and daddies can take their kids to the PETA Theater Center to watch a show of Lola Basyang and attend a workshop of their choice. The workshop can be on Storytelling, Puppetry and Visual Arts, and Music and Rhythm.
Cap off summer with a fun and learning experience for both parent and child. Join us at the PETA Theater Center and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with your kids. Family passes are available for the Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang play and your workshop of choice. Book your tickets through Ticketworld, . You can also call (725) 6244 local 22-23 or (0916) 4868696 for reservations.
Mum’s two cents
Sometimes I am also guilty of sacrificing precious time that I could spend with my little man while he is cooped up at home for the summer break but spending it instead doing a gazillion of other things around the home or online. He won’t be back to school until the second week of June so we still have a number of days to spend together and I sure hope we can find fun and enjoyable things to do other than lazying in front of the telly watching as many Harry Potter films as we can! The ideas mentioned above are some of the things I am considering so I can bond with my son, while putting the boxes of chalks I got before summer started to good use by decorating the garage will also prove to be worthwhile.
How do you plan to bond with the kiddos before summer ends?