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Lots of parents are rightfully concerned with the amount of time their children are spending playing on their smartphones and other digital devices. It can certainly be difficult to get them to put their gadgets down for any significant length of time, which may be having a detrimental impact on their physical and mental wellbeing. A private school in New York have shared the following suggestions of some screen-free activities you should encourage your child to try.
Board games are a fun way to bring the family together for some quality time, but they also have educational benefits. Scrabble, for instance, can help children develop their vocabulary, and Monopoly is great for numeracy skills. For younger children, board games and puzzles are a great way for them to strengthen their fine motor skills.
Encouraging your child to spend some time outdoors will be great for their mental and physical wellbeing. With this in mind, why not ask them to give you a helping hand next time you need to do some gardening. They could even plant their own flowers or vegetables, which will make it more of a personal project for them.
Arty activities are a great way to encourage your child to express themselves in a non-judgemental manner. Much of their school life is regimented; there are rules and regulations, and their answers are either right or wrong. With arts and crafts, they are free to experiment and try new things, which can be quite liberating and entertaining for them.
Lots of children are reluctant to read, preferring to watch movies or play computer games. However, if they find a genre that truly inspires them, they might learn to love reading. With that said, try and find a novel that suits their interests. Perhaps take them to the library so they can choose their own books.
Baking is a rewarding activity because there are tasty treats at the end of it. It’s also an opportunity for youngsters to learn some basic kitchen skills, like how to safely use the stove or oven.
Looking for more screen-free activities? If you have younger children, why not have a go at messy play at home by playing with rainbow rice, or you could invest in a screen-free audio system such as the Toniebox.