You have just put the baby down for a nap and smile at the thought of peace and quiet. One problem: your older child is still up and about, wanting to be entertained. Television isn’t the activity of choice, and you can’t go anywhere for at least 2 hours — how do you keep him or her occupied?
You’ve heard of (and tried) all the classic activities (tracing letters, doing a puzzle, moulding with Play-Doh). Here are some more fun games and projects that will keep the entertainment up and the noise down!
- Build a Birdhouse
What’s better than finding an activity based on your own garden? Teach your child about the neighbourhood birds. Then, make a birdhouse together. It doesn’t have to be fancy — just use a clean milk carton, staple the top shut, and cut a five centimetre hole on one side. Add a heavy cardboard lid for a bird stand and some string to hang it and hey presto! — a bird house. The children will love painting and decorating it too.
- Put on a Puppet Show
The great thing about puppet shows is that they can be week-long productions. Grab those “single” socks from the laundry (you probably won’t find their partner anyway) and make sock puppets. Children will enjoy decorating each puppet and you can work on one each day. Feeling inspired? Build a puppet theatre. Sofa cushions work well or you can make a small theatre out of an old cardboard box and lolly sticks.
- Chronicle Me
Create an “All About Me” book for your child. Ask questions that include: favourite colour, best friend, favourite food, and how I know I’m special. Then add height and weight information. For an easy visual measure and illustration, measure your child using a thick piece of knitting wool or string. It will give him a great sense of how big he is, especially if you do this project once a year!
- Go on “Dates”
Want an easy way to teach children etiquette and manners? Go on a mock dinner outing. Have more than one child, even better! Pretend to be the waiter or the diners and practice manners such as holding the door for your friends, ordering food, eating properly, and saying “please” and “thank you.” All the practice should pay off the next time you are at a restaurant.
- Send a Video message
Film you and your child reading out loud together and send it to relatives. The extra praise from Granny and Grandpa will give him the extra confidence he needs to keep practicing.
- Send Cards
Kindness and knowing how to express it, is something we all need in order to build relationships in our lives. Ask the question “Who do you want to do something nice for today?” Have a child help you make cards (they can draw a picture on the front) for someone whose day they want to brighten or someone they want to thank. They will also love the follow-up outing – going to the postbox to post the letter.
- Make Sand Art
Find a small vase and make a sand art creation. Layer different levels of sand and then use a fork, stick or plastic utensil to create unique lines and patterns. Don’t have sand? Use dirt of different shades or add various food colouring to sugar and salt — and mix.
- Build a Garden
We all want to eat healthy. Plant a small seasoning plant (basil, rosemary, parsley) in the kitchen. Have the child take the lead in caring for it and watching it grow. Children will be more excited about eating healthy when they have been nurturing the plant.
- Create a Song Themed-book
Working with songs like “Wheels on the Bus” or “Old McDonald,” have children create scenes from a favourite visual-based tune on paper. When you’re out of animals, bus parts, etc, punch a hole in the corner of each page and tie them together with string. Then get them to present the book while singing the song to the family.
Other Quiet Time Activities:
- Read books together
- Practice and trace the alphabet
- Complete a maze
- Play with Legos
- Mould something with Play-Doh
- Complete a patterned puzzle
- Learn about trees
- Learn about flowers