In this 60-second speed read, we share eight ace ideas to help children and teenagers take a break from their screens.
Many family homes across Rayleigh & Leigh on sea are now doubling up as school classrooms.
The remote lockdown learning added to gaming and social media use means many young people spend up to 80-90 per cent of their waking time looking at computer screens.
While educationally it is essential, it is also important they have some ways to ditch the digital and do something different that does not involve screen time.
I personally, have 8-year-old triplets who are being homeschool’s and although I feel we have it easy (they like to keep each other amused) I have friends and family who are finding this tough trying to do the best for our children while keeping them safe.
So, I decided to put together a short list of eight easy ideas to play around with:
1) Read a book. (We told you they were easy). – create your own little book club.
2) Play balloon sports, football, tennis etc. – works inside and outside. (although if your inside, avoid that xmas present from the mother-in-law you pretend to ‘love’)
3) Have a paper aeroplane flying contest. – this is great fun, making paper planes and throwing them down the stairs, in the garden or out the window.
4) Write a note to a school friend and post it. – It is amazing how kids love this, its such a simple idea but getting the to write will help, plus the short walk to the post box gets them out the house for 5 mins.
5) All gather around and play a board game. – unless you are a bad loser. There are tons of board games on amazon to pick up for under £10.
6) Cook a meal together. – We have been doing this a lot lately, fresh bread, fruit cake, different dinners from the cookbooks that have been gathering dust for 5 years.
7) Start the day with a walk. – I am lucky enough to back onto wheatley woods in Rayleigh but there are loads of places to go to get some fresh air, plus it gets some fresh air in the young one’s lungs and hopefully helps with an early night so you can continue your Netflix binge.
8) Draw how they think the homes of the future will look. – This can be great fun or asking them to design their dream bedroom. Its amazing the imagination of kids and can be surprising…. I am sure 2020 was meant to have flying cars if our imagination proved right as kids.
At Nest in Essex, we love points 5 (anyone for Monopoly?) and 8 – it will be fascinating to see what your architects of the future create so feel free to share their drawings with us.
Thanks for reading and stay safe, stay hopeful and stay active.
Copyright 2021 Nest in Essex
