Activities
Games and activities are a great way to bond as a family, and can be learning tools as well that develop a child’s concentration, fine motor abilities and social skills. They are also an opportunity to teach children about winning and losing, playing fair and handling emotions positively. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Work on puzzles as a family. It requires brainpower and critical thinking.
- Get out art supplies. Use crayons, pencils, pens, even the backs of old envelopes or wrapping paper, or whatever you have in the house. You can paint, draw, color, and make Play-Doh or slime.
- Teach your child how to cook. Let them help with the preparation of breakfast, lunch and dinner. They can learn how to measure in cups, quarts, gallons as well as teaspoons and tablespoons.
- Tablets and computers have games and educational apps. You can use them to have your child learn individually or the family can learn a language or play memory games.
- Write letters to friends and relatives. You can’t go out to see people and no one can come to your house. So why not try reaching out with letters you write?
- Get out a deck of cards and research some games to play. Card games have been used for centuries to bring families together.
There are many online activities and educational resources you can take advantage of from home. Keeping your child on a regular learning routine ensures that they don’t fall behind and will make it easier on them when school starts up again. Check out these helpful websites and resources.
123Homeschool4me – Get online printables and worksheets to do at home.
All Kids Network – Get kids craft ideas, worksheets, dot-to-dot and hidden pictures.
Animals Are Amazing – Learn all about animals for students from the Switcheroo Zoo.
Arcademics – Learn with arcade-type games designed for kindergarten to 6th grade.
Ascend Math – Get math instruction for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. May be free through April.
Beaverton School District – Benefit from math, reading and many other activities for students from Pre-K to 12th grade.
There have been many studies that show how writing benefits a child’s imagination, self-expression, self-confidence, and cognitive growth. So each day, at the beginning or end of the day, pick one of these positive writing activities and work on positive thinking. If you have a notebook, write it in there with the date so you can look back on your experience during COVID-19. The whole family can do this and share with each other daily or when COVID-19 is over.
- Write down one small thing you accomplished today. It can be something big or little, like exercising or eating healthy.
- Write down something that you learned today. It can be something you learned about yourself, something about another person in your family, something that made you curious or something that made you more aware of your world.
- Write down something you were grateful for today. It can be a simple thing, like your family or the sunshine.
- Write down something that brought you delight today. It could be:
- Something that made you smile.
- Something you saw that was beautiful.
- Something that you heard that lifted your spirits. It might be a song, a voice or a joke.
- Pick one of the positive affirmations below, write it down in your notebook and tell it to yourself several times today. Why did you pick this affirmation?
- I am responsible and in control of my life.
- Circumstances are what they are, but I can choose my attitude toward them.
- I am setting priorities and making time for what is important.
- Life has its challenges, but I enjoy the adventure of life.
- I love and accept myself for the way I am.
- I deserve good things in my life.
- It’s never too late to change.
- I am getting better every day.
- I am learning to be myself around others.
- I am proud of doing the best I can.
- It’s okay to make mistakes.
Or make up an affirmation of your own.