|
|
| What no gadgets?
|
| Old Skool winter activity ideas for kids
|
|
|
|
There's nothing worse than winter days when it's too cold or wet to go out and children are getting cabin fever. It's all too easy to let them wile away the hours on iPads, iPods, TV, DSs etc and have them stare at little screens all day, but clearly this is not good for them for any length of time (however much they tell you it is). So maybe it's time to go Old Skool, ban the screens and try out some activities we used to do for entertainment B.G. (before gadgets).
Do you remember what you did as a kid before computers and the Internet took over the world? If you're 35+ you may have an idea. If you're under 35 then you probably had a computer anyway and I'm very jealous of your youth.
It's a shame that children automatically revert to online activities because we used to have so much fun as kids doing all sorts of creative and non-creative.
10 Top OLD SKOOL activities
- Drawing/colouring - set up an easy still life for them to draw, download some drawing or colouring sheets or buy some cheap colouring books from BigW etc. You can also use these for cutting and sticking.
- Mr Potato - Who can forget making Mr Potato head as a kid? Just get some potatoes and any bits and bobs you can find like paper clips, string, buttons etc and let them have fun making their own Mr Potato. You can improvise and make melon heads, Mr Orange or anything you like and the more edible the better, because then they get to eat them afterwards!
- Collages - get out all your old magazines, some glue and scissors on a big piece of card and let them channel their creativity cutting, sticking and making their own artwork.
- Sewing, knitting, finger-knitting - felt animals, patchwork purses, dollies' blankets. There are heaps of "how tos" you can download and most $2 shops and hobbies and crafts shops have everything you need to get going.
- Shops - There's nothing like a good game of shops and it's great for little ones to work out things like money, adding up, taking away and shopping lists. Let them role play, dress up as shopkeepers and set up shop in the living room/playroom. Hotels is also a popular one, cafes (they can make up their own menus) and restaurants.
- Science experiments - Volcanos and other science experiments, like making sherbert, floating and sinking, the coke and mentos experiment, shiny pennies…They've all got an education element and all heaps of fun. babbledabbledo.com has some great ideas.
- Board games - when did they last play an actual real life board game like snakes and ladders, ludo, drafts, shopping trip, Operation or just something like tiddly winks. These can go on for hours…! Make them last even longer by getting them to design and make their own game with some cardboard and texters. You'll be amazed how creative they can be.
- Treasure Hunts - these can take AGES and occupy them for hours! Come up with a list of things they have to find or do. Anything like "find a button", hair pin, dead fly, catch a 'live' fly, draw yourself etc… The person who completes their list wins, but you can award an extra prize for who tells the best story using as many of their tasks/finds as possible.
- The Memory Game - do you remember doing this or watching the Generation Game? Get a tray with various items on it. They get 20 seconds to look and memorise what's there. They have to write down what they remember or just tell you if they're not at the writing stage. Then take items away and see if they know what's missing.
- Obstacle Courses - over sofas, under brooms, stand on a stool, balance on one leg, crawl under a "bridge"…you can set up a great obstacle course in your sitting room or playroom.
That should keep them busy for the odd rainy weekend or over the winter holidays.
|
|
|
|
|
