How to Keep The Kids Busy In the Dog Days Of Summer

Kids stuck at home this summer? Here's how to keep them busy

Dr Arif Khan, consultant pediatric neurologist and epileptologist, describes healthy and effective ways to keep your children busy this summer without excessive use of technology. -JR

Here are some tips to physically and mentally engage your children this summer while keeping a balance between entertainment and creative engagement:

1.) Structure the day or week with activities: Create a schedule each day so your child knows what to expect. For example, 9 to 10am: Bike riding or dog walk to the park. This type of structure works particularly well with children who have a lot of energy.  By creating plenty of activities in advance, you will reduce distractions, impulses, boredom, and ultimately depression and accidents.

2.) Encourage children to keep track of their activity: For children who spend several hours in front of a computer or TV screen, activity trackers might be the motivator they need to get moving. Activity trackers such as iBitz or the TupeloLife offer an 8-week after school programme where children can track of their steps and learn about the importance of being active every day.

3.) Keep children active and take advantage of summer camps: With so many different summer camps available for children during the school holidays, enrolling your child in a camp based on their preference, skills and interest is an option that can be very rewarding. Summer camps can help children build self-confidence and self-esteem by removing the kind of academic, athletic and social competition that shapes their lives in school. You can choose a camp that's focused on a sport or a special interest one that covers a broad spectrum of activities, including arts and crafts, social aspects and team games, encouraging children to socialize.

4.) Exercise their minds and get involved: Introducing children to creative activities that they might not necessarily have the time to do during the school year can be equally rewarding. From reading to cooking, here are some activities that can be explored by children and parents:
- Engage in Kitchen fun
- Set up free play games
- Organize family activity days
- Set a Bedtime

Read Full Article Here: