Last month we spoke about the importance of self-care (click here if you missed the article). Now we know many of you, while reading the article, thought “they don’t know how busy my life is right now”. You did, didn’t you? We completely understand that finding time to set aside for yourself is often incredibly difficult, but the good news is, that with a little preparation, this can be achieved. Here are a few activities you can give to your kids to get their creativity going while keeping them occupied so you can take your much-needed breaks.
Step 1: Create a space for the kids
We know that your kids take over your whole house and you are the one needing the space, but creating a special corner, let’s call it the ‘crafty corner’, allows your kids to feel like they have an exclusive place for fun that belongs to them.
Explain to your kids that this is a very special place, and that each time they come sit in this corner, they can let their creative minds explore new worlds.
Step 2: Put on some soft background music, and let the fun begin
*Note, if your kids are excited about any of the activities you give them to do, think about how you can turn it into a longer-term project.
Activity ideas:
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Interpretive books:
Read a story book to your kids. It can be a short, simple story. Give your kids paper and ask them to design a front cover for the book that explains what the story is about. They may want to go into the garden and pick leaves and sticks to include in their design, you may have old pasta, magazines, toilet rolls, shaving cream to help kids create a 3D book cover.
For toddlers:
Make Ice-pop brushes. Place water in your ice cube trays, add some food colouring, and place a popsicle stick in each cube. Once they are frozen, your child can use the ice-pop to paint – like a melting brush.
Stress ball:
Take a balloon and help your child fill it with flour. Tie off the balloon and allow your child to decorate it with koki pens. Squeeze away!
Hero Card:
Give your kids art more meaning by asking them to design a card for a COVID-hero – a nurse, doctor, grocery teller, cleaner, any essential service provider! What an awesome surprise for someone to be able to receive this from your child.
Your new world:
Ask your kids to draw and colour in a flag for a new world. Once they have finished their flag, they need to present it to you and explain what their new world is all about.
ACTIVITIES
Sort the toys:
Explain to your kids that some other kids do not have toys to play with and that you are all going to help a child. Get a cardboard box or trunk and allow your kids to decorate it for the child who is going to receive it. Let them select x number of toys that they will need to donate to another child in need. They need to place the toys in the box. They may want to design a card that goes with the box to the new child explaining what toys are in the box.
Have an indoor campout:
Ask your kids to create a fort that you all can have a picnic under. Get some lunch snacks ready and enjoy together.
Have an indoor scavenger hunt:
Create columns on a piece of paper with the letters A-Z. See how many objects you can find around the house starting with those letters. You could also select to hide something sweet and create a treasure map for kids to follow.
Create the opportunity for performance:
If you have a child who loves to sing, dance, tell stories. Create a mini stage – even some sheets on a wall will work and ask your child to create a show for you. See if you can video call their grandparents to be able to watch the show with you.
Leaf placemats:
Get your child to collect different colour leaves from the garden – pick leaves off the trees and not those that are on the ground. Ensure they are not wet. Place the leaves in between 2 sheets of wax paper. Place the leaves in the wax paper under books for the night to perfectly flatten them. The next morning, place a cotton T-shirt over the wax paper placemats and iron the shirt. This will make the two pieces of wax paper seal shut. Trim the placemat to size after you have ironed it, so the edges are even.
Educational Worksheets
Click on this link: https://www.schoolclub.co.za/register/ and register to receive free CAPS-aligned educational content.
References:
https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/art-making-activities-for-your-kids-during-covid-19
