Schools out.
Only, you didn’t plan for this. You’re hoping schools will send enough work home to busy your child. I promise you, they won’t.
But the time doesn’t have to be purposeless, nor stressful.
Here are some suggestions (most free) for ways to challenge your child and connect as a family in this time of uncertainty.
Make a List of Family Values
There’s no better time than now to sit down as a family and think about what you value. I’m a firm believer that values should drive decisions in life. Take a day or two to sit down as a family and discuss what things (not character traits) you value the most. Is it family? Friends? Education? Service? Neighbors? Faith? From there, when faced with a tough decision, decide if it fits within your values. And begin thinking about how your life actions can reflect those values better. And sometimes kids provide the best values! When my wife and I did this two years ago with our kids, my three-year-old daughter valued joy. We never would’ve put that down. How awesome!
Serve Others
Again, there’s no better time to serve than when the world feels anxious. Think about those who may be struggling at this time.
- Are there elderly on the street who can’t leave the house or feel isolated? Take the kids out on a shopping trip to buy them groceries, or have the kids make cards of encouragement for them.
- Is there a single parent who needs help with child care? Offer to watch his / her kids for an afternoon to give that person a reprieve from juggling children and work. Your kids will love the play dates as much as the parent will love a break.
- Is there a family who has trouble making ends meet? Make a special meal with your kids or go on another grocery trip.
There are so many opportunities to serve right where you are. Think about those who might need a little extra help, and make it happen!
Create
We all have interests and passions that that get pushed to the margins during the busy school year. We all have gifts and talents that go untapped during seasons of homework and studying. Discuss as a family what talents you see in each other and what passions you each have. Then come up with a project, and have at it. Write a book, illustrate, take up baking, create videos, knit, podcast or write a song. Build using Legos or K’Nex, or even balsa wood and glue. The sense of accomplishment will make the time feel incredibly worthwhile.
Read Together
Brew some hot chocolate (with lots of marshmallows), grab a great book, and pass it around, listening and reading together as a family. There are so many good series for kids of all ages, including classics like The Chronicles of Narnia or Harry Potter. But some other great family series include The Wingfeather Saga, The Ranger’s Apprentice, or Fablehaven. There are tons of good sites out there with recommendations. Decide as a family what sounds great, and start reading!
Try Something Hard
Much like creating, only this time, it’s something that will really challenge you. The key isn’t to necessarily succeed. Instead, it’s to develop a sense of grit and perseverance. It’s more about developing a skill and less about creating something. This might include learning an instrument, computer coding or how to tango. Start with the basics. And every time you master that skill, move on right away to the next challenge. The key to mastering anything is purposeful practice. But committing to seeing it through will develop grit.
Go for a (Looooooong) Walk
One thing I love to do with my kids is go on long (2 mile) walks. It gives us time to talk and connect. Sometimes we’ll make a pit-stop partway to rekindle motivation (there’s a coffee shop a mile from our house that serves great hot chocolate). But great conversations happen when there’s nothing but you, your kid and nature.
Take up Running
Yes, I went there. There’s a joke I love to tell about running: “If you’re a runner, you know it’s hard. If you’re not a runner, it’s probably because you know it’s hard.” But taking your kid out for a run is surprisingly uplifting. It doesn’t have to be long; 10 minutes is plenty for a child 3-5 years old. And it doesn’t have to be fast. But a couple awesome things happen when you run with someone else.
- You share in an incredible sense of accomplishment, which creates an awesome bond; and
- You have the opportunity to speak life and value into another person in the midst of a challenge.
Use the opportunity to affirm the great qualities of your child. Saying things like, “Running is hard. I’m so proud of you for persevering through this challenge.” Or, “Your’e doing great! You’re so tough!” Trust me, it’ll lift you and your child up.
Explore
One of my favorites. Take a map of your greater city area and highlight the areas that you usually go to. Then, pick a place that’s blank, and just drive out and walk around. It’s always amazing to me how little of my city I actually know. Exploring new areas can lead to a lot of excitement and adventure.
Cooperate… with Board Games
Maybe you don’t love board games. But I bet your kids do. And cooperative board games are even better, because you succeed or fail as a team.
Some of my family’s favorite cooperative board games (for 4-7 year olds) are Race to Treasure, Disney’s Eye Found It, Gnomes at Night, and Outfoxed. But there are so many good ones out there, especially as your kids get older. Cooperative board games teach communication and teamwork, two skills every child can work on in this day of digital isolation.
Be “Bored”
In America, it’s almost a sin to suggest this. We feel the need to fill every second of our days, lest we feel “lazy.” But with a break from the anxieties of school work, homework, studying and tests, let’s take advantage.
Parents, you don’t have to fill every second of your kid’s day with something to do. And, believe it or not, boredom is actually good for creativity. Take the devices away. Let kids find ways to entertain themselves. Do boredom the right way. You might be shocked at what your kids can come up with on their own.