The school holidays are fast approaching and for some parents, that means figuring out what they are going to do with their children whilst they are at work. Not only is it important to keep your children busy and active over the holiday periods for their minds, it is also important for their overall physical well-being. Promoting physical activity in children at an early age is extremely important to help them develop the habits and skills needed to remain active (mind & body) throughout their lives.The school holidays are fast approaching and for some parents, that means figuring out what they are going to do with their children whilst they are at work. Not only is it important to keep your children busy and active over the holiday periods for their minds, it is also important for their overall physical well-being. Promoting physical activity in children at an early age is extremely important to help them develop the habits and skills needed to remain active (mind & body) throughout their lives.
There are so many reasons physical activities are so important for children. Physical activity helps children build strong bones and muscles, promote healthy growth and development, and develop their gross motor skills and improve overall balance. Physical activity can also increase your child’s self-esteem as it will increase the production and release of their serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels. All the necessary neurotransmitters that make us feel happy and positive.
In addition to this, mind and mental activities are equally as beneficial. When your children play with puzzles, building blocks, or even board games, it can assist in developing and improving their logic and reasoning skills. Depending on the type of activity your child engages in, it may help develop their general cognitive, imaginative, and social skills.
As parents, you can join in on the fun activities with our children to get them more active such as jumping jacks, going to the park and climbing on a jungle gym, taking a walk, going for a swim or playing hide & seek. Incorporate these activities into your family’s weekly routine to make it easier for you. For example, dedicate Friday evenings to board games, puzzles, Lego building or any mind benefitting activities (this does not include watching TV or sitting in front of a smart device). In saying this, it is also important to note that having a relaxed, ‘do-nothing’ day now and again is also normal and advised.
Here are some inexpensive ideas to keep your children busy during their upcoming break:
1. Creating your own hop scotch with masking tape: Simply create numbers (1 – 10) with your tape by sticking them on the floor. This can even be done indoors as well should the weather not permit outdoor play.
2. Creating an obstacle course in your home: Using some string or wool, create a spider web-like design around your lounge, for example. Ask your children to climb through one end and find their way out. This can be a fun activity for the whole family.
3. Make a friend or a stress ball out of balloons, flour, & a few craft materials: This is an inexpensive activity that encourages your child to make use of their imagination and it also assists in improving their find motor skills. Simply fill a deflated balloon with flour and decorate it as you please. You can make use of googly eyes, glitter, markers etc.
4. Decorate a plain t-shirt with crayons, paint, and/or craft materials: You can find a plain white t-shirt at Pick n Pay, Mr Price, or China Mall. Your children can create their own design using crayons, markers, paint, or any craft materials which may be available in your home.
5. Creating a tennis game: Your children can make their own tennis game which is safe for indoor or outdoor play. You will only need 2 paper plates, 2 popsicle sticks/any sticks you may have around, and a balloon. Simple blow up the balloon and stick the popsicle sticks to the back of your paper plates. Now your children and their friends can play tennis safely indoors or outdoors.
6. Simple baking activities: This seems like a daunting task for parents; however, your children can bake safely and hassle free without making use of an oven. A simple icing sugar mixture, biscuits and sweets is all they need to create a delicious treat for themselves.
We know what you may be thinking, where am I going to find the time to get all the resources needed?
TutorBox has the answer for you!
Our highly skilled team has created an activity box called Holiday@Home.
We have developed five boxes, each comprising of their own theme:
South Africa
Seaside
Space
Spring
Dinosaurs
These boxes are currently catered for Foundation Phase children (Grades R – 3; Ages 6 – 9 years). Each box also includes all the necessary materials needed for the activities.
Each box has a total of 15 activities including fine motor skills, gross motor skills, baking, a story & questions, an emotional tracker, a visualization, and colouring in pages. One box should keep a child busy for 1 week, depending on the speed they would like to work through the activities.
This is an easy, one-stop solution to keep your children busy and entertained, whilst developing their skills and learning about interesting topics. Contact us on 011 450 4528 or email us at info@tutorbox.co.za for information and to orders yours now!
Your child’s brain is like a sponge; they are constantly taking in information and will easily become bored if they are not provided with the opportunity to do so. A stimulated brain encourages a better memory, increased experiences of a positive mood, increased concentration and boosted motivation and self-confidence levels.
“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” _ Fred Donaldson
