All parents love their kids but, let’s be honest, they can be a handful. Even the most angelic child can turn into a little monster when they’re bored. If you’re a parent or guardian facing a long rainy afternoon indoors, or a school holiday with no end in sight, it can be tempting to set them down in front of the television and call it a day.
But keeping your children entertained needn’t be a chore; it can be an adventure! Turn off that telly, unplug that games console, and recapture your inner child with our list of fun and creative ways to enjoy quality time with your children.
Diamond Painting Kits
When a child is able to create something beautiful, they feel an immense sense of pride, and so do their parents. While a scrap of paper and a set of crayons will keep them busy, the end result is unlikely to be something you want to hang on their bedroom wall. A diamond painting kit is that little bit more special.
Diamond painting involves taking small rhinestones and using a no-mess glue pen to stick them on a colour coded grid, which results in a beautiful, shimmering work of art. It isn’t difficult, but it takes concentration and time, and is hugely relaxing for both parent and child. With diamond art, kids can feel a real sense of achievement by creating something stunning – whether that be a picture of some beautiful flowers, their favourite film characters, or some festive art for Halloween or Christmas.
Photography
Kids today are well acquainted with modern technology. They probably know more about your smartphone than you do. Why not put that knowledge to good use by helping them develop a new passion: photography.
Teaching them how to take high-quality pictures helps your child to see the world in a whole new way, learn the value of patience, and to think before they act. If they take to it, they could be documenting all the best moments of your family’s life for years to come.
Dramatic dress up
Dressing up is fun for everyone and allows kids to let their imaginations run wild. Give them a few old clothes and some cheap masks or face paint, and they’ll be entertained for hours. You can even occupy them further, by asking them to come up with a play by the end of the day or week. Older kids might write a script, or it might just end in chaos, but either way, you and the kids will have fun.
Get out in the garden
The only reason kids tend to go in the garden is for fresh air and a run around. But there’s so much more they can do outside than play another game of tag. Giving them some gardening gloves, some seeds and a trowel, and helping them to plant flowers and herbs in their own little corner of the garden is a wonderful way for them to spend an afternoon in the fresh air. You can also have fun making insect hotels out of old pots and leaving food out for birds and squirrels.
Gardening teaches children the value of patience and hard work, and the rewards can be great. Picky eaters can overcome their vegetable phobia by having a hand in harvesting and preparing dinner ingredients, and window sills can be brightened with a bunch of freshly picked flowers from their little patch. If you don’t have a garden, you can always try growing seeds in a window box.
Musical instruments
Many households have an old guitar or keyboard hiding in the back of a cupboard somewhere. If music was or still is a passion of yours, invite your kids to enjoy it with you. YouTube has hundreds of videos to teach children how to get to grips with guitar strings and piano keys, so they can find a new and creative way to express themselves.
