One of the things that kids were able to experience during lockdown was spending extra time as a family! The time spent within our homes allowed families to bond with their kids and spend quality time together by doing various activities. Now that many of us are experiencing a second lockdown and tighter safety restrictions, this means the majority of our time will be spent at home!
To make the most of the current situation, it is important that kids have structure in their lives by spending the day doing fun and relaxing activities by themselves and as a family! Let’s look at some of the exciting activities that will keep kids occupied and entertained in the house!
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Baking
Something that kids absolutely love to do is bake their favourite treats! It’s an exciting and fulfilling experience of being able to lick the sugary spoon, watching their own creations being baked in the oven to decorating their masterpiece with frosting and sprinkles. The added benefit to baking delicious treats is that kids will treasure the memory of baking with their family and this also allows them to learn the basics of baking without them realising it!
There are tonnes of treats that your little chefs can create and indulge in! Some examples could be baking cupcakes, Scottish shortbreads or let their creativity flow by creating a gingerbread house along with some gingerbread people. If looking for a recipe, why not give these a try? Here are some recipes posted by BBC Good Food, detailing the steps to take in order for you and your kids to create your very own gingerbread house and gingerbread people!
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Arts & Crafts
Another fun activity that will keep the kids entertained is by tapping into their inner Van Gogh through arts and crafts! Within this digital dependant generation, a lot of the times parents look to technology to keep kids’ active minds engaged. Arts and crafts is a fantastic opportunity for kids to turn their limitless imagination into something creative and productive! Given the emotional impact that lockdown can have on kids, undergoing arts and crafts can help kids express themselves and give parents an insight into their emotions and what they are thinking!
There are multiple creative projects that kids can undertake to get their creative juices flowing! An arts and crafts project that kids can do is create cards and drawings for their friends and families to enjoy. Another way of expressing their creative is by painting a picture of an object or whatever is in their imaginations. Other activities for kids involve creating origami, making a scrapbook filled with postcards and photos from their happiest memories to creating all kinds of designs and figurines with Hama Beads and Playdough!
Movie Marathon
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Although it seems like kids are constantly glued to the TV or iPads, there’s no harm in having a movie marathon now and then! Since the majority of cinemas are closed due to lockdown, why not make your living room an in-home cinema theatre? To set the mood; close the curtains, relax on the sofa and hit ‘play’ to your chosen movie. To complete the cinematic atmosphere, why not create delicious movie snacks for the whole family to enjoy! Examples include popcorn, nachos accompanied by a guacamole dip topped with a movie drink such as raspberry lemonade slushies!
Some great movie recommendations to watch with the kids include the Harry Potter series (pro tip: have your kids read the books first as this will help bring the fantastic world of Harry Potter to life!), or why not visit the wide range of kid friendly movies available on streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus!
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Family Game Night
Hosting a family game night gives you the chance to create long lasting memories with your kids! With our everyday lives being so busy, having a family game night tradition, filled with games and activities strengthens a family’s bond. From kids in primary school to teenagers in high school, there are various games and activities for everyone to enjoy!
Some fun examples include a game of charades that gets the whole family up and moving. However, if looking to play a traditional board game, why not go for a game of scrabble which is a fun way for kids to improve their spelling and grammar or a competitive round of the real-estate board game monopoly where the objective of the game is to be the last player to not get bankrupt! However, if looking for a fun, non-competitive activity, why not do a bit of karaoke and sing the night away!
Joys of Reading
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Reading is a wonderful activity for your kids to indulge in as it broadens their horizons by allowing them to be transported into a different universe! Children love reading and listening to books, especially if there are pictures to accompany the story. Not only can kids stick their nose into a physical book, there’s also the option of listening to a diverse range of audio books to help bring the story to life!
Why not have the kids read some Scottish classics such as ‘The Gruffalo in Scots” by Julia Donaldson, ‘Nessie The Loch Ness Monster” by Richard Brassey or the classic Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
