FollowNowadays, parents struggle to keep their kids busy and engaged without sitting them down in front of a television or putting a smartphone in their hands. While some forms of electronic media can be enriching, too much screen time can negatively affect children. Here are four ways to keep your child entertained the old-fashioned, screen-free way.
1. Games Galore
Interactive board games are a great way to entertain children while teaching them valuable life skills. Through low-stakes, friendly competition, your child can learn how to win and lose with sportsmanship and grace. Additionally, board games can be used as fun tools to teach children how to follow rules and directions.
2. Bring Out the Books
Reading stimulates brain development and promotes future academic and financial success. Help your child master the art of reading by providing them with books that align with their interests. Take at least twenty minutes out of your day to sit down and take turns reading aloud with your child.
3. Outdoor Adventures
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children aged between 6 and 17 years get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day. Playing outside allows children to freely run, jump, and tumble. Being in the outdoors may also get them interested in nature, which could lead to a passion for science in the future. A little mud and dirt never hurt anyone.
4. Arts, Crafts, and More
A pile of scrap paper, a box of crayons, and some glue sticks can go a long way. Crafting encourages creativity in young people, especially since they are still figuring out what they like, what they dislike, and how they see the world. Let your child get wild with their creations. Rather than toss out used items like bottle caps, spare cardboard, or bent paperclips, recycle them into craft supplies.
Children’s entertainment should be engaging, enriching, and educational—and, of course, fun. Don’t let your child become fixated on screens. Encourage them to use their imagination, play pretend, and explore their surroundings.
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