Yep. It's almost the school holidays already? Didn't they just go back to school? I don't know about you but I'm only just getting into our morning routine and now it's over!
Anyhow, sometimes it can be a bit crazy knowing what to do with the kids all day everyday but with a little planning, you can still have some structure in your unstructured time.
Just break up your days into activity types and let the kids decide what they'd like to do within those categories. That way, they get to choose but you ensure they get a balance of activity types fro their growing minds and bodies.
Here's our favourite indoor categories.
Arts & Crafts
Drawing, colouring, painting, gluing, building, designing, creating and making are all fundamental skills that will not only engage a child for hours on end, but will also develop their creativity, cognition, motor skills and sense of achievement.
Building & Construction
Toys as old as time itself. And for a reason. Toy blocks and other construction toys might not be as flashy as battery-powered robots or video games but children who play with them can benefit from cognitive, linguistic, physical and social/emotional boosts that can actually help them develop faster and learn while they are having fun.
Games
Games offer an environment that fosters different skill acquisition. Basic skill level starts with eye-hand coordination skills and continues to more complex skills such as problem solving, communication and collaboration, strategic thinking and social skills.
Puzzles
It has long been known that puzzles present many benefits for children as they develop. Children usually start out with simple knobbed puzzles that are outlines of simple shapes that fit into corresponding board cutouts. From there they go to more complex silhouettes and jigsaws that take more consideration into complex puzzles designed to test logic and patience.
Magic
What's better than a magic show? What about the hours of quiet while the learn and perfect their tricks. Great for hand-eye co-ordination, logic and showmanship, magic is hours of fun for all ages!
Music & Dance
Something we love to do at Hugs HQ, is have family band time. We break out the instruments and learn parts to songs to put together and play as a group. It's educational, it's fun and it really does give you a sense of achievement and togetherness. Alternatively, sometimes it's fun just to make a lot of racket for no good reason!
Pretend Play
Who doesn't like a bit of pretend? After all, it is the basis of all play. Our range of pretend play products give you some cool ideas to change things up.
STEM Fun
Yes, screen time is inevitable during the holidays and that's perfectly ok. But did you know you can combine screen time with educational activities that will not only entertain but develop necessary skills vital to your kids future success?
So there you have it. By breaking you day into types of fun, you can control the chaos and ensure your kids get a great breadth of development opportunities.
Have fun!