It’s undeniably that children are spending far too much time playing on digital devices nowadays, and this can have a detrimental impact on their health and wellbeing. Screens are hard to avoid, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try and encourage our kids to take a break and do something else from time to time. Here are some suggestions from a Sixth Form in Cardiff of activities your child could try that don’t involve a screen.
- Board Games
Board games are fun, inclusive, and can even be educational, so they’re a valuable way for your child to spend some of their free time. Games like Scrabble, for instance, can help your child develop their vocabulary and spelling, while Monopoly is great for numeracy. What’s more, it’s a chance for your whole family to spend some quality time together rather than staring in silence at your respective phone screens.
2. Outdoor Play
Encouraging your child to spend some time outdoors not only gives them a break from their phones and games consoles, it is also great for the physical and mental health. They get to run around, breathe in some fresh air and be at one with nature. Take a short walk each evening or go on a bike ride at the weekend; whatever takes your fancy.
3. Baking
Baking is another great screen-free activity, and it’s rewarding because there’s a tasty treat at the end of it. Why not have your own family bake-off or set yourselves the challenge to find a new recipe each week. Kitchen skills are important for your child’s development and ability to care for themselves as they get older.
These are just a few ideas to get you started and there are plenty of other activities you could try with your child, from science experiments to trips to a museum on a rainy day.
Laura x
[…] they will be more likely to drop the chore as soon as they are able. On the other hand, if you encourage and reward them for tidying, they will likely end up with significantly more positive feelings […]