Real Estate is About More Than Sales, Happy Homes Are Priority!
Anonymous
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
If your kids are home for an extended period of time during over the next few weeks because of closures, you might be looking for things to keep them occupied. You can definitely google things and make your own list and you’ve probably been inundated with ideas on social media.
Here’s a short list of ideas to fill your day with the kiddos.
- Make a schedule that you can follow so that each of you know what comes next and you have some structure throughout the day. Here’s a loose example of a schedule that a friend shared.If you want, make a list of activities with your children so that they feel invested and excited about the schedule.
- Stick to a pretty flexible schedule; don’t be rigid but there needs to be a regular schedule to your day that the kids will readily fall into
- Start the day with some “chores” for big and little people: feed pets, empty and sort silverware’s from dish washer (very young ones can do this and/or help an older) sorting is an early learning skill, sort or fold laundry, make beds, sweep, dust, wipe up table after a meal, sanitize door knobs/handles, Etc
- Play and/or “school” lots of coloring, play dough, etc
- Something outside. EVERY DAY. Just a walk, park trip, back yard if you have one.
- Read aloud after lunch. Aim for the interest level of older children. Read more than picture books. (A great resource for reading aloud books by age appropriate levels is Sonlight Curriculum. Great list of classic books!) Reading to your kids is the number one thing you can do for your child’s academic success. If you don’t have books at home and your library is closed, check Amazon Kindle or other free digital and/or audio book options.
- Some kind of “quiet time” children can nap, or play quietly on their bed, for an hour or more.
- Screen time before dinner
- There are many “educational things you can do with your kids that will help them continue to learn even if they don’t have traditional school work that was sent home with them
- Make dinner together, teach them to cook
- Bake cookies, muffins, dessert together
- Teach them how to do laundry, clean, organize, change a tire, do yard work
- Do some family spring cleaning
- organizing closets
- sort clothes and toys, etc.
- scrub baseboards, walls, doors, etc.
- makedonation piles
- Plant seedlings for a garden
- Search for and do some simple/fun science experiments together
- Do some crafts together
- Draw pictures and/or make cards to send to elderly family, friends, or call a nursing home to see if you can send to residents
- Brainstorm ways you can help neighbors or elderly in your area, include the kids! Teach them compassion and how to serve their community in practical ways.
There are also many online learning tools that you can use. Here are some great options, but you can find many more!
http://sheppardsoftware.com/
www.abcmouse.com
Scholastic has a “Learn at Home” option with free lessons
www.artsandculture.google.com offers free virtual tours of museums all over the world.
With a little research and discussion you can find a lot to keep each family member occupied!