What are Some Technology-Free Activities for Kids

We live in a dynamic environment. Our plans depend on our targets, and everything we do is already well-thought and scheduled. Sometimes, we forget ourselves and get lost deep in our obligations in order to accomplish them.

We act like robots locked up in our virtual world.

Habits and Balances in Life

Sometimes, we tend to forget that our kids live according to our way of living – that we are their role models. So, I often ask myself:

• Do we appreciate the weather and the benefits of being out in nature?
• Can we balance our work, free time, and family time?
• How do we raise our kids?
• Are we focusing on our kids’ physical and mental health, or do we let them recklessly use various gadgets?
• How can we have time to go out with our pets, but we don’t do that with our kids?

These are all rhetorical questions that parents can use as a wake-up call. We can’t allow our kids to get addicted to playing video games and social media when there are a lot of other activities we can do together in or outside our homes.

Parents should stimulate their kids to plan their day. If we want to accomplish balanced habits in life, we need to make a plan and stick to it.

Daily planning must include school time, family time, and other free-time activities.

Valuing Nature

How we see and use nature depends on us. But, we all have the opportunity to explore and enjoy all the beauty we can find outside.

We must engage with our kids and spend time out so they can appreciate and maintain nature. Kids can easily give up on tech devices if we parents motivate them with outdoor activities such as:

• Gardening– it’s useful to teach our kids to plant flowers and plants. Working, getting messy, and having fun stimulate happiness. Also, eating the plants they grow and smelling the beautiful flowers when they bloom would make any child proud of themself.
• Hiking– is always the best way to get to know nature. By exploring, our kids gain physical and mental abilities, fresh air, and socialize. Mountains also give us the best views ever.
• Birdwatching– children develop their social communicative skills by watching birds with friends or family, and also learn a lot about birds along the way.

Sports

Being part of some sport means our kids develop bonding skills, clear-mind thinking and strategy skills, and physical and mental improvement. Children can choose between team sports (football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and others) or individual sports (tennis, gymnastics, swimming, and others).

We, parents, should prioritize sports activities for our children, by letting them join clubs, letting them play with other children, or letting them play against us!

Planning Home Activities

We, as parents, are the bosses of the house. That means we can decide which activities our household will practice.

Playing with our kids can make us wake up the kid we all have inside and feel freedom. Activities that gather the family together strengthen our relationship and trust while reducing screen usage time.

Once our kids agree to spend time with us and play games together, we can choose the game together. For example, the following play-at-home games are my favorite:

• Puzzles– every kid loves putting the missing part in the right place, especially when we use big puzzles. It’s useful and fun at the same time;
• Board Games– stimulate competitive and winning character, strategy, and thinking skills. They are best for winter when we gather together and drink hot cocoa.
• Arts– we can always turn one corner of the living room into an atelier, where we can draw and even organize drawing contests.
• Crafts– develop creative, engineering, and even business skills in children! For example, your kids can sell their homemade crafts!

Reading

Reading books is a traditional habit that we should introduce to our children.

Books are irreplaceable in developing kids’ character, enriching their vocabulary, developing imagination, providing calmness, developing focus and concentration, feelings, and empathy.

We can always choose from various options of books. If your child likes bedtime stories introduce them to the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. If your child likes science fiction and magic introduce them to the Harry Potter books.

There are also many other books that you can discover just by opening your search engines.

Social Activities

We need to stimulate our kids to join in on community activities. Being a member of a community means taking part in social actions that benefit everyone. By helping others, we prove ourselves as useful members and show respect to the community.

Volunteering

Volunteering provides our kids the opportunity to focus on real-life experiences instead of the virtual world. When children choose to volunteer, they get to meet different people, their experiences, and their encounters.

By volunteering, children can also develop their social and behavioral skills, communicate with empathy, and feel they can and should help other people, making them a valuable part of the community.

Charity Work

Including kids in charities improves our children’s mentality by helping others, donating clothes, or making meals. Children can learn to value hard work and money.

Giving and sharing shape our kids’ personalities and hearts. Playing video games can’t teach these values.

Charity work includes:

• Cleaning the areas by collecting garbage;
• Recycling activities;
• Helping other kids with learning;
• Food supply to those who need it (provide, pack, and deliver.)

It is always good to force our kids to become the best version of themselves. All in all, social community activities are good for the family’s improvement. Every community should have members that can count on each other.

Conclusion

Happy families can succeed in combining tech usage with the beauty of nature, sports, and community actions. Life is happening outside of our homes too. We must be there and enjoy what is given to us as a gift.

FAQ

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