This content was sponsored by Audible.ca
Most of the time, it’s hard not to love the energy that kids bring into your life. Little dynamos of curiosity, wonder, and exploration, children just see the world around them differently.
And while experiencing this energy can be a joy, it can also be a challenge. How can you make sure your kids have enough to keep them occupied? How can you help them stay entertained at home? Here are three great activities that can help your children learn about the world around them, participate in home life, and develop their sense of imagination.
1. Bring Chores and Playtime Together
Small children have lots of energy, and they tend to create big messes. One way to keep them entertained while also getting some necessary work done is to set up a toy washing tub. Fill a large plastic tub with water and soap, as well as some brushes and cloths. Then ask your kids to get their favourite plastic or wooden toys, and wash them together.
Not only will this be a fun activity on its own — what child doesn’t love playing with soap suds? — it’s also a good way to return those toys to the toy box squeaky clean. But be careful: given how much splashing there will probably be, you might want to make sure there are some towels at the ready to dry any spills.
2. Listen to Audiobooks Together
While finding fun ways to help kids burn through their energy is important, it is also important to build in space for quiet contemplation during the day. Listening to audiobooks is a wonderful way to experience a thrilling narrative with your children in a way that will help bring your family together through shared enjoyment of a story, and that will also stimulate your kids sense of wonder and imagination.
Listening to an audiobook is also a great way to connect with your children’s interests. What kind of stories do they fall in love with? How can you share those joys with them? Exploring the offerings available through Audible Canada will help you expand your children’s horizons. And who knows? Perhaps it will also expand your own!
3. Start a Windowsill Garden
One of the best things a parent can do to keep little ones entertained is involving them in an ongoing project. Not only does this give them something to do every day, it can also help develop practical skills and feed their curiosity about the world.
For example, during the spring months you can start a windowsill garden. From filling the pots with earth, to planting seeds, to making sure they have enough water and to measuring their daily growth, a small garden provides endless fun, and also teaches kids about the wonders of the natural world.
Watching children encounter and explore the world is one of the best parts of being a parent. But sometimes you need to find ways of channeling all that wild energy into concrete activities.
If you’re looking for ways to keep your kids busy, cleaning toys, listening to audiobooks, and starting a windowsill garden are all great activities that won’t just entertain them, but can also help them explore and learn something new about the world around them.
