We are living in a digital age, so it’s no wonder our children are tech savvy – and sometimes, too tech savvy. Technology brings many benefits to our everyday lives.
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But too much time spent on screens is never a good thing. We share great ideas to get the kids away from the screens and more aware of their surroundings.
Here are 5 alternatives to screen time the kids will enjoy doing:
1. Taking old gadgets apart:
Look around the house for any broken appliances or devices like toasters, calculators or cellphones that older kids can dismantle using screwdrivers (with adult supervision) to explore the inner workings of things. This exercise will not only satisfy their curiosity but it will keep them busy and quiet for a while.
2. Send them on a scavenger hunt:
Hide treasure around the house and create a map for the kids to go treasure hunting. Not only are scavenger hunts rewarding in the discovery of hidden treasures, but it also helps kids practise their observation, communication and reading skills in a fun way.
3. Create a homemade restaurant:
Get your kids to use their imagination and creativity while boosting their self-confidence in a game of “homemade restaurant”, where you get to be the guest at the kid’s restaurant. This game is sure to bring everyone lots of laughs as your small hosts try to act professional while serving you. A great way to bond with the kids.
4. Build a cardboard box town:
Collect cardboard boxes of different sizes but that are big enough for the kids to crawl into and let them build and decorate their very own box town.
5. Play a game of “Would You Rather”:
This is a great way to start conversations with your children, especially your tweens and teens. You get to be as imaginative, smart or silly with your question as you wish. It’s a game where you offer up two challenging scenarios, of which one must be chosen, and it’s guaranteed to bring about lots of laughter and fun while reconnecting with your kids.
Here are some examples of the questions you could ask:
- Would you rather swim in the ocean at night knowing a shark could be nearby or spend the night in a house you believed was haunted?
- Would you rather your crush be able to read your mind or have access to your internet history?
- Would you rather let a spider climb over you or let a snake slither across you?
- Would you rather go a year without desserts or have to eat a spoonful of wasabi every single day?
- Would you rather be brought back as a dog or as a cat in your next life?
- Would you rather travel only by train or only by boat?
- Would you rather live solo on an uninhabited island or live in a city apartment with six roomies and one bathroom?
- Would you rather be known for always being honest or always being kind?
- Would you rather swim with eels or sleep in a bat-filled cave?
- Would you rather get a stomach bug mid-date with someone you’re into or have to go on a double date with your parents?
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