5 Different Ways To Engage Your Kids As They Grow
Children are one of the greatest gifts we can ever get. And to make them something we can be proud of, we have a significant role to play in their early lives.
As parents, we have a responsibility to engage our kids through playful activities. Such activities are avenues to build them up and educate them socially, emotionally, psychologically, and otherwise.
In the end, not only do you have better kids, but you become a happier, more fulfilled parent.
So, what are some exciting ways to engage kids as they grow?
1. Assisting in household chores
Your child isn’t too young to get involved with household chores like cooking. Instead, engage them with tiny tasks like bringing the vegetables from the fridge when you’re cooking or dusting the furniture during weekend cleaning.
Such household chores will instill in your child the habit of cleanliness, responsibility, and how to look after themselves.
Assign them age-appropriate tasks. For example, you can ask them to arrange different fruits in different boxes. By so doing, they’re learning the names of fruits while helping you get the job done. And they’re happy while at it, as long as it doesn’t leave them stressed.
2. Reading and telling stories
Books open up your child to the world out there. They get to see different possibilities and happenings, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.
Although it’s fun and helps you bond with your child, you don’t always have to read those books for them, especially if they can do it themselves. Reading will help develop your kid’s brains, build their imagination, and teach them new vocabulary. Just ensure the content is age-friendly.
3. Sporting activities
Sports are fun, but not only that, they help your child to be smart, strong, and to build impressive physical techniques. Engaging your child in a sporting activity like junior tennis lessons can help develop their fitness and mental alertness. But not only that, such lessons will offer them mastery, giving them a chance to go into competitive tournaments at school and in your local area.
What parent wouldn’t be proud of seeing their child compete in a tournament?
4. Engage kids with survival skills
Survival skills are meant to provide children with the essential tools for life sustenance. Therefore, apart from teaching your child morals, they also need to learn how to preserve their lives in unfortunate situations.
Children often get lost, find themselves in strange places, get caught up in the cold, etc. So it is vital to ensure your child can survive whatever odds they face. Engage them in activities like:
- How to light a fire to keep themselves warm
- How to handle dangerous objects such as knives
- How to retain body heat and find shelter if they ever get lost
- How to act and respond when alone with strangers
- Locating landmarks to find their way when lost
- Applying first aid
All of these you can do while in your yard or when camping or hiking.
5. Get artsy
Children are fascinated with colors! Of course, they’ll sprinkle paint all over the floor and draw ugly goblins on your refrigerator, but art gives children a chance to be creative — to create.
To make it a prettier, less-messy experience, schedule art times where you can watch your kids draw. You can even head to YouTube so that they see how to draw a dog. Such activities keep your child excited while improving their skills.
Final words
These aren’t all you can do, but it’s a great start. The more you engage your kids with the above ideas, the more ideas emerge. So whether you’re playing games, reading stories, cooking, or hiking, let it be an avenue for your child to learn something new.
