Finding the right extracurricular activity for your child can be difficult, especially if you are unsure what sport or hobby is best suited to your child. Whether they love toys with a sporting component or enjoy painting and other craft activities, there are some easy things that you can do to ensure you choose the right extracurricular activity for your child:
Communicate
One of the most important things you can do is communicate with your child. Have they told you what they might be interested in trying out? Have you had a conversation with them and asked them what they would like to do? Sometimes it’s as easy as communicating with your child first.
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If your child is struggling to get their homework done each night there are a few things you can do to help them get their work done efficiently. From removing all distractions such as toys and television to setting up a designated study area to help them concentrate, we’ve got some great tips that will help your child get their homework done:
Set up a designated work space for them
We all know if can be hard to work at the dining table with the television going and younger siblings playing. Invest in setting up a work area for your child with a desk and comfortable chair. The area should be peaceful without distractions so they can get on with what they need to do.
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Meal times can often be difficult if your children don’t want to eat. But there are a few things you can do to ensure that meal times are fun for the whole family. From toys toddlers can use to mimic your cooking to ideas for theme nights with older children we are sure that once you start implementing these tips your kids will love meal times:
The right utensils- Fun spoons and bowls with their favourite character on them can instantly make meal times more fun for kids.
Get creative- Just like adults kids love food that is presented in a fun and interesting way. Think of different ways to arrange food on the plate to make it more enticing.
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This article was written by Sonja Walker B.A.Dip.Ed
Spring has sprung and according to children’s Occupational Therapist, Dagney Hopp, the time has never been better for your kids to get outside and play.
“Outdoor play is a vital part of kids’ learning,’ says Dagney.
“We all know that outdoor exercise is good for our children’s health, but outdoor play also helps kids to build social skills.”
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This article was written by Sonja Walker B.A.Dip.Ed
As the saying goes, ‘play is a child’s work’.
Research has shown that, with the exception of children who are very disadvantaged or severely disabled, between 3% and 20% of children’s time and energy is typically spent in play.
That’s a big part of your child’s day.
Pretend play is what kids do to learn about their world and understand how to interact with the people and things that are in it.
While it might look simple, there’s actually quite a lot happening when children use their imaginations to engage in their fantasy world.
Problem solving, skill building, language development, overcoming physical and mental challenges, it’s all going on behind the scenes when kids engage in pretend play.
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“Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!”
Being stuck inside because of wet winter weather is a challenge for active, curious kids.
While computer games, the Wii and DVDs are a good standby on a rainy day, sometimes they are more trouble than they are worth, especially when they cause sibling squabbles and petty arguments.
So what can you do this winter to keep your kids engaged and entertained when they can’t go outside?
Here are three great toy tips to help you survive the winter blues.
1. Choose toys and games that your children can play with independently
Teachers and children’s health professionals recommend that children need to learn to play happily on their own. Kids who need parents to play with them, or to be their referee when arguments start, miss out on the opportunity to develop self reliance.
Puzzles are a great way to develop independent play.
Whether it comes with five pieces or five hundred pieces, a puzzle can also while away a few hours no matter what the weather.
When choosing a puzzle, make sure you select one that is appropriate for your child’s age and level of skill.
Younger children have more success when their puzzles:
• Contain large objects and distinct colours
• Are based on a photograph with clear lines between objects
• Are based on an educational theme or current favourite character.
• Have obvious border pieces that can be connected first.
Older children might enjoy a more challenging puzzle that will take several days to complete – but don’t forget to set this expectation up at the start so that your child knows that the puzzle will take time to complete. Also, make sure the unfinished puzzle is stored in a safe place where younger siblings can’t spoil your older child’s efforts.
2. Choose games that have clear rules
Cooperative play is a skill that kids need to learn. It requires communication, collaboration and compromise – things that some adults even find difficult!
Board games are a great way to develop cooperative play skills. An added benefit is that they can also develop children’s thinking and learning competencies.
There are hundreds of board games on the market and many have ‘junior’ versions suitable for children under the age of 10. Just make sure that you choose board games that are appropriate for your child’s age and interest.
Some games that encourage maths, problem solving and counting skills include:
• Snakes and Ladders
• Monopoly
• Chess
• Trouble
• Battleships
• Mastermind
Games that encourage creative thinking, story telling and literacy include:
• Scrabble
• Pictionary
• Boggle
• Hilarious Headlines
• Celebrity Head
Card games are another great standby for wet weather. They also have the advantage of being super portable and so come in very handy in airports, waiting rooms or the homes of friends and relatives who don’t have children and have no toys around to keep kids occupied.
A regular pack of cards can be used for games like:
• Memory/Concentration
• Go Fish
• Rummy
• Blackjack (without the gambling, of course!!)
Other card games that are associated with superheroes like Pokeman and Bakugans are also engaging for imaginative boys, while old favourites like Uno can be played by the whole family.
3. Encourage your kids’ creativity
Wet winter days are a perfect time to develop your child’s imaginative and creative skills. Boys and girls love to have extended opportunities to build a world of their own and there are many ways that you can facilitate this.
Dress ups provide children of all ages with creative fun. You can purchase costumes representing fairies, princesses, superheroes and cowboys, or just have a box of shirts, ties, hats and jewellery that kids can experiment with. Add a mirror and your child’s role playing will hit new heights.
Construction toys like Lego, Meccano and Connex also help kids to become resourceful and inventive. In addition, these toys develop children’s fine motor skills, making them a great choice for kids of all ages.
Art and craft activities are another winner for a wet winter day. A simple easel combined with paints, textas, crayons and coloured pencils can provide children with hours of fun. Play Doh is another tried and true favourite, as are sticker and colouring books. For older children, craft packs that contain everything a child needs to make jewellery, scrapbooks or models are also a good way to spend a rainy day, while the ever popular Beados have a novelty factor that appeals to kids of all ages.
So this winter – give your children an alternative to the TV and save your sanity.
With a bit of planning and some well chosen toys and games, you and your children can survive the wet winter weather!
This article was written by Sonja Walker B.A.Dip.Ed
“Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!”
Being stuck inside because of wet winter weather is a challenge for active, curious kids.
While computer games, the Wii and DVDs are a good standby on a rainy day, sometimes they are more trouble than they are worth, especially when they cause sibling squabbles and petty arguments.
So what can you do this winter to keep your kids engaged and entertained when they can’t go outside?
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Games and toys are the most important tools in Lenora Delaney’s professional toolkit.
Lenora, who is a children’s Occupational Therapist, says that kids who struggle with poor handwriting and other fine motor challenges benefit greatly from the use of wisely selected toys and puzzles.
“The muscles in a child’s hand are very small and they tire quite easily,” she said.
“Children’s handwriting can be improved, but to do this we need to strengthen their hand muscles so that they can control their pencil better.”
“One of the best ways to achieve this improvement is through fun and functional activities”
Lenora suggests that approximately five minutes of play per day is all a child needs to develop sound fine motor skills.
‘Colouring books are popular with children and while they are getting enjoyment from trying to stay within the lines, they may not even realise that they are learning about control, pressure and posture,” she said.
‘Dot to dots books, tracing templates and activities like Aqua Doodle also encourage kids to draw different types of straight, vertical, diagonal, circular and curvy lines. All of this is very important for helping kids to cross their mid-line and to develop visual discrimination skills.’
Lenora also recommends art and craft activities that encourage kids to fold paper use scissors and manipulate Play-doh or Silly Putty.
“Kids really enjoy cutting different types and textures of paper and making things like paper aeroplanes and birds.”
“Parents can also encourage the development of their child’s pincer grip by teaching their child to roll Play-Doh into a snake or snowman and then tear it into pieces.”
“Another fun thing to do is to hide a small item like a coin or bead in a ball of Play-Doh and have the child find it by tearing the ball apart. All of these activities give hand muscles a work out and help kids to develop the dexterity they need to write more neatly.”
When it comes to games, Lenora says that toys that have small parts are best for developing fine motor coordination.
“Of course, mums and dads need to ensure that kids don’t put small objects in their mouths, but marbles, Pick-Up Sticks, Lego and stringing beads are all good choices , while puzzles of varying complexity, design and size also keep kids interested and engaged.”
Lenora advises parents to seek the support of an Occupational Therapist if play time activities do not seem to be helping the development o f their child’s fine motor skills.
“An Occupational Therapist is a professionally trained expert who can assess your child’s needs and help your child to overcome their physical challenges.”
“A good Occupational Therapist will also give you advice about how you can use the toys in your home to your child’s best advantage.”
Games and toys are the most important tools in Lenora Delaney’s professional toolkit.
This article was written by Sonja Walker B.A.Dip.Ed
Lenora, who is a children’s Occupational Therapist, says that kids who struggle with poor handwriting and other fine motor challenges benefit greatly from the use of wisely selected toys and puzzles.
“The muscles in a child’s hand are very small and they tire quite easily,” she said.
“Children’s handwriting can be improved, but to do this we need to strengthen their hand muscles so that they can control their pencil better.”
“One of the best ways to achieve this improvement is through fun and functional activities”
Lenora suggests that approximately five minutes of play per day is all a child needs to develop sound fine motor skills.
‘Colouring books are popular with children and while they are getting enjoyment from trying to stay within the lines, they may not even realise that they are learning about control, pressure and posture,” she said.
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Is it possible to find a toy that will give your child hours of fun and as well as valuable learning experiences?
The answer is a certain yes…but it is worth remembering that educational toys aren’t all about ABC and 123.
Teachers and children’s health specialists believe that toys that encourage the development of social and emotional maturity as well as physical and language skills are among the most valuable gifts you can give to a child under the age of seven.
So before you rush to the mall and spend hours searching for that elusive educational toy, consider your child’s developmental age.
With a bit of thought and planning, it is possible to find the perfect gift for a child you love this Christmas.
Babies
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