Summertime is here once again. That means parents are scrambling to enroll their children in summer activities, classes or workshops like swimming, painting or ballet. What if the budget doesn't call for these? One option is to stay at home and do fun yet educational activities together with young children. The guest post for today is about these activities using things that can be found at home. Creativity is key in developing them into more engaging games that teach shapes, motor skills, our body functions and things that go together.
5 Fun Activities to Teach Young Children
Various activities can be taught to young children as they develop. In fact, many different kinds of activities can be taught based on your child’s age and skills. Make a list of activities you’d like to teach them, and divide them into two groups – those for playtime and those for a rainy day. The activities should range from fairly easy to challenging, and if you want to make it sequential, try to make them increasingly fun.
1. Assemble a Puzzle
Assembling a puzzle is a good way to demonstrate to your children how to fit pieces together. First, you need to set the pieces of the puzzle out on a table or on the floor. Separate the pieces and make sure that the image on the box is easy to see. Explain that the pieces will need to fit together to match the image on the box. Show your child how to move the pieces around until one fits into place. Continue to try and fit different pieces together until the puzzle is finished, then frame it, so you can remember it and show your child that you’re proud of them!
2. Shuffling Cards
This is great way to help your kids become dexterous. First, show the child how this process is done. Hold the deck horizontally in one hand while lifting out a part of the deck with the other. Demonstrate how shuffling is performed by dropping cards in front of one another, very slowly. Then, speed it up, so that it looks exciting. Explain that you need to move a thumb out of the way to allow the new cards to drop into place. Give the deck of cards to your child and have them attempt the process, but don’t give them the whole deck yet, just in case they don’t pick up right away. You don’t want to play 10 rounds of 52 card-pick up!
3. Whistle
Show your child how to pucker their lips to the correct shape. Do this in a mirror so your child will see their own reflection. Explain that their tongue should be just behind the bottom teeth. Have your child start to blow air out of their mouth until they make a sound. Continue this process until your child can make a sound, and don’t be afraid to laugh – it’ll likely be very amusing!
4. Jump Rope
Place a jump rope in your child's hands to get them used to holding the handles. Their feet need to be a few inches apart with the rope at the edge of the heel. Swing the rope over their head so that is lands on the other side. Have your child step over the rope and swing it over their head again. Continue this until your child is comfortable with swinging the rope. Once a few attempts have been made, have your child start to jump when the rope is in front of them. Once you’ve mastered basic jumping, start side jumping and invite friends over for double-dutch. This can be a great way to make sure you child stays active!
5. Set the Table
Grab all the place mats, plates, glasses and silverware you need for a meal and place them on the table. Have your child set each place mat in front of each chair around the table. When all of your place mats are set, have your child set a plate in the center of each place-mat. Show your child where each of the glasses go at the left corner of the place mat. Explain that the fork is placed on the place-mat, on the left side of the plate. Set the spoon and knife on the right side of the plate.
