Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)
One of the best parts of parenting is spending quality time with your children. Most of the time, creating fun memories are simple. However, there are days when it is far from easy.
This is why you must unlock the “inner child” within you by trying these inexpensive ideas:
1. BE A PART OF WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO
In the weekends, you just want to lay down and rest your body from all the week’s work. But, you also want to spend time with your beloved ones. Kill these two birds with one stone with the “Car Play Shirt”.
The Car Play Shirt allows you to relax and lay down while your kids are playing with the activity on your back. The interactive puzzle is drawn at the back of your shirt lets your boys imagine where they want their cool cars to go. You can either purchase them for S$32.17 or make your own by following this tutorial.
Image Credits: thebluebasket.blogspot.sg/2011/09/tutorial-car-shirt.html
2. TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS
Children who do not express themselves genuinely can become people-pleasers with low self-esteem or unhappy adults who cannot reach their fullest potentials. This is why as parents, it is important to encourage the child to be more demonstrative.
Do so by making “Paper Plate Emotion Masks”. The goal of this artistic activity is to open up a conversation with your children to know more about them. With this, you can emphasize more on happy situations and decrease the sad situations.
Simply gather these materials: paper plates, popsicle sticks, markers, crayons, scissors, and tape. Then, let your child create a mask with basic emotions such as happy, sad, scared and angry. If you need more help, follow the instructions here.
Image Credits: thepinterestedparent.com/2013/11/teaching-toddlers-emotions
Note: This activity is great for toddlers and preschoolers.
3. FEED YOUR CHILD’S IMAGINATION
If you want a few minutes to an hour to yourself to do some work at home, you can try indulging your child with arts and crafts. Aside from keeping him or her occupied, art therapy is especially beneficial for children since they are naturally more imaginative and creative. Furthermore, it enhances the child’s problem solving and cognitive (brain) skills.
Inspired by various craft from the Internet, a blogger that goes by the name of “A Little Learning For Two” came up with the “Sticky Window Art”. This easy craft lets your child illustrate endless images with colorful sticks drawn on the “sticky paper” that is plastered in the window. You would need these four items: scissors, clear contact paper, tape, and colored matchsticks/popsicle sticks. After which, follow the tutorial here.
Image Credits: alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.sg/2010/11/sticky-window-art.html
Much to the blogger’s surprise, her daughter played this activity for almost an hour without losing interest!
Note: A roll of clear contact paper can be found at your nearest stationery shop such as Popular Bookstore.
