A mom writes in asking for advice on the topic of getting her kids to entertain themselves without using electronics. She wants to keep them happy, but busy, and doesn’t know what to do in this very technological age.
Homeschool Hideout‘s Tiffany Jordon weighs in with some expert advice below.
A Mamas Uncut fan asks:
“I need advice on how to keep my kids (3,7,9) entertained and engaged without electronics. How do I keep all of them happy, but also busy?”
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
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Advice from Tiffany Jordon
With so many electronics available today, it’s important to teach your kids to balance their time both on and off of electronics. An easy way to encourage kids to put down the electronics is to join them outdoors. Shoot hoops, ride bikes, go hiking, build a clubhouse, whatever you need to do to get the kids outside. Once they’re outdoors, they forget all about electronics!
Make it a habit to go outside for an hour each day. It will help kids burn some energy and get some extra sunshine every day. Instead of coming home after school and watching TV, make it a habit to go for a walk around the neighborhood. Kids will begin to look forward to this time, as they unwind from a long day and reconnect with you.
Find affordable ways to make your yard more inviting to your kids. Build a tetherball pole, buy soccer goals, or invest in a trampoline so kids will want to go outside. This doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Aim to add one “fun” element to your yard each year and it won’t be long before your kids will go outside to play because they want to.
Cold and rainy days make going outdoors hard, so it’s important to have some fun things to do inside, too. Keep simple and fun activities on hand for the kids to enjoy on days when going outdoors isn’t an option. Paint a picture, play a board game, bake cookies or build a Lego castle. Blanket forts and spa days are the perfect way to keep kids off electronics while keeping them busy!
When presented with so many fun options to keep kids busy, kids will want to do more than just stare at a screen all day long!
[Images via Shutterstock]