The past year has been one of the most challenging years we have ever had. The Covid-19 pandemic has been difficult to grown-ups and children alike. The pressure of the quarantine has also taken its toll on our our little ones. It has disrupted their routines in the most profound ways. It has also restricted them from spending time outdoors, which is very essential for growing children.
As we all ride out what hopefully would be the last waves of this health crisis, it is best that we help our children cope well with being cooped up at home for longer periods of time. I have listed a number of activities that would help the little ones thrive and maintin their well-being and good disposition even in this difficult of times.
Play online games at plays.org
Children absolutely love playing online games and they can spend many hours exploring different worlds with different characters. Some would even find new friends through their favorite interactive games. While they do enjoy this activity, it is a must that we let them play only age-appropriate games. Make sure to limit their daily screentime, as well.
If you are looking for a safe space for your children to play online, do check out plays.org. They have a wide assortment of online games for both seasoned and rookie gamers alike. Our little ones can choose from hundreds of games available and free of charge. These are conveniently categorized by genre, so it is very easy for any child to pick a game. What’s even better is that they also have educational games about Math for younger and older kids. And to top that, they even have Arcade Classics and Cartoon Games, which feature some of my little man’s favorite characters, like The Smurfs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Teen Titans.
Keep a journal
While the little ones are under involuntary house arrest, they still have to deal with the pressure and demands of online classes. It can be a source of stress for childern, especially for those who are accustomed to attending regular school. Starting a journal of their own is an ideal activity for the little ones to help relieve stress. Apart from that, it can also improve their memory and creativity. This will even allow them to chronicle their day-to-day activities, clarify their thoughts and feelings, and record their ideas. A constant journalling practice will also help hone their writing skills.
Encouraging our children to keep a journal is a simple as getting them a new notebook, preferably a design they chose themselves. You can also give them daily prompts on what to journal at the beginning. Slowly, they will get the hang of it and would eventually think of other things they would like to write about.
Read books
This one is a personal recommendation from the little man. And this mum reader couldn’t be happier. Last year, he started reading one of my favorite book series and managed to read 3 of the 7 books in the series. These are the first pure novels he read and even when he’d complain that it is taking him too long to read at times, I am delighted that he is trying his best to read and is actually enjoying the process.
Encouraging the little ones to read is essential in coping with staying indoors. Reading not only relieves stress but also allows them to utilize their imagination by escaping into another world without having to leave the confines of their homes. Reading is also a skill that would come handy in any stage of our children’s life that it is best that they develop and master the skill early on.
You may check this article for ideas on how to help your child start the habit of reading.
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Participate in the Emosyon Bibo 40-Day Challenge
Emosyon Bibo {Emotion Smart} is initiated by Emosyon Bibo on Instagram. This is a 40-day challenge, where parents and children are given daily activities to help them fully recognize different emotions, while teaching them how to cope and understand each of their emotions. As they mentioned in one of their posts:
Building emotional muscles is so important in helping our children become successful and happy adults one day.
The isolation of the pandemic allows for our children’s range of emotions to surface, from boredom to frustration, the list goes on. I believe this challenge is a perfect activity to help us teach our children. This would allow them to learn more about these emotions, recognize them, express them, and ultimately cope and accept them. Emotions are such complicated subjects. Helping our children learn about them at a younger age, would prove to be useful in the future.
Rest and relax
Filling our children’s day with activities can be overwhelming. It can even be detrimental to their mental health and over all well-being in the long run. It is a must that we allow them to have a break every so often. Napping after a class or after playing online would also be ideal. Let them choose their own activities of rest and relaxation. Make your home a haven for such activities by keeping a home garden your little ones can help tend to, having a pet, or investing on popular and enjoyable toys or board games that the whole family can enjoy. Of course, on some days, lounging on the sofa doing absolutely nothing, or strolling in safe areas outdoors observing nature around you, is not only ideal but can also be necessary.
What do you think your little ones’ will enjoy in the activities mentioned above, mummas? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
36 Comments
These are such great tips. The pandemic has been so hard on all of us, but I believe it’s hit the kids exceptionally hard.
I cannot agree with you more. The little ones are struggling what with having to adjust to learning online at home.
You have a great list here. I am all for resting and reading books. I find books always help me.
Thank you. Yes, reading books is perfect for rest and relaxation, too.
These sound like great books to read. My kids might like them.
I hope you check out this online game with your kids, as well.
I love these ideas. Reading books has always been a great idea. My youngest really loves to read, and so do I.
Yes, you can never go wrong with reading books. It is one of my favorite, too.
These are all really great and amazing things to do! My kids would love this for sure!
I bet they would!
These are all great activities that kids should normally do, especially while coping with a pandemic. My boys still connect with kids and themselves in so many ways.
I agree with you. They do need to connect with other kids their age, even in the midst of the pandemic.
These are wonderful tips and things to do with your children. thank you for sharing this wonderful article.
They sure are. You are very welcome.
You have shared such great tips here! My niece loves reading books plus playing online games 🙂
Thank you. It seems all kids these days love playing online games. But it is good that they can balance it with a little bit of reading on the side. 🙂
I love to encourage my kids to read more. I am trying to find out books that they will really love and are interesting for them!
Asking them to pick the books they would like to read will also do the trick. That’s what I did with my little man when he was little.
I love that online site for free games… they have tons to choose from and it is a great way to pass the time. I also enjoy reading and these are all great ideas for the kiddos 😉
Thank you. Yes, it was very difficult choose which game to play first! 😀
So many great ideas. We’ve really experienced something that so many parents before us never had to. It’s good to know we have support with each other.
Indeed, what we’ve gone through the past two years was unprecedented. It is good that we were able to make it through. Perhaps scathed, but we are very much lucky to still be here with our families.
It has really affected us all. The kids enjoyed playing with friends online and reading too.
Agree. Reading is an interesting and worthwhile activity to pass the time.
I am so glad that we have gotten back to a new normal. We did a bunch of fishing back in 2020 when you couldn’t do much.
Yes, it is a relief to be easing back to normal these days. Oh, fishing sounds interesting. I’d love to try that with my little man one of these days.
Love the journal tip! Reading books is good for the kids too, plus they get to learn.
Yes, it is one of my favorites, too.
I love plays.org they have so many easy and fun games to play with my kids. Ive always loved playing the penguin cafe
Yes, this is a perfect bonding activity with the little ones. The Marvel games are out favorites.
Aww, you brought back some memories from years ago with plays.org. I loved playing games on there. Also I am a big advocate of journaling. As much as my stepdaughter thought it was stupid, I think it is a great habit to start early on to help you understand yourself and your emotions.
Time to explore their new available games. Sadly, the younger ones do not appreciate the value of journaling. I am still getting my little man to get into the habit.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas! I will definitely share this with others.
You are most welcome!
This is a good read. Pandemic really hurts us all and it’s really a must to have something to do so we can divert our attention and would not be really anxious about what is happening around us.
Thank you. I cannot agree with you more.