Keeping your children occupied is no easy task. There is a lot of trial and error involved before you finally figure out what activities they are inclined towards. With the advent of iPads and other electronic devices, children can remain engaged for hours. There is a world of useful information out there, but no matter how hard we try, we cannot completely shield them from the evils of the online world.

And even if we can, spending countless hours online does more damage than good. Kids need to do some exploring in the world they live in as well. It is not easy to keep them engaged, though. So here are some activities that will help your child grow and keep them invested: 

Building Forts

Children never get tired of building forts. Sure, they need a little bit of guidance at first, which all parents are more than happy to provide. But once they get the hang of it, they make it a very dear part of their lives. 

The great thing about building forts is that you can be as creative as possible. You can use boxes, pillows, blankets, all three items, and anything else you can find! Children have amazingly creative minds, and with a little bit of encouragement, they can build wonders.

Other than that, the fort keeps the child engaged for a long time. The building process takes a while, but not only that, the children then come up with creative ways to play in their forts as well. All in all, it is a highly fulfilling activity.

Taking them to Amusement Parks

Another amazing activity for children is found in amusement parks. Even though there is not much to learn from amusement parks, they are a lot of fun. They are an excellent way to help them relieve their adrenaline in a relatively safe and fun way.

Children never get tired of going to amusement parks. The fun continues well into their teenage and early adult years. It will keep them away from the indoors and help them relieve themselves of pent-up energy and aggression. 

Teach them to Cook and Bake

Children are very crafty and enjoy utilizing their creative sides. One way they can do that is by learning basic cooking and baking skills. 

There are hundreds of instant meals and baking mixes you can find in the market. It is difficult to have your children make things from scratch in the beginning, so instant mixes are an excellent option.

The fun part is adding your special customized touches to the mixture. You could make frosting for children and ask them to ice cupcakes as they wish. You can also buy rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, and other decorative condiments for the children.

The other fun thing about baking is licking the batter. If you are worried about salmonella, make an eggless batter but do not deprive your children of the joy of licking cookie dough!  

This a fun way to teach your children basic life skills, and it keeps them busy for a while. You will have to take time out and supervise them, but most children love this activity. 

Art Projects

Nearly all children have an artistic phase at some point. Most kids learn to draw stick figures and basic sceneries before they learn to write. It will benefit your children greatly if you cultivate this phase when it is in its prime. 

So layout whatever you have at home: play dough, construction paper, toothpicks, legos, anything. You can look up numerous tutorials on YouTube and Google on the kinds of projects you can put out.

Remember that children thrive on encouragement. As long as you validate what they do and encourage them, you can be sure your child will continue to be artistic and crafty. 

Exploring the City 

No matter where you live, we are sure there is a lot of rich cultures and history prevalent everywhere. There are hundreds of things to do in Atlanta with Kids, and many of these activities can tickle the explorative senses of your children. 

Take them to museums and other historical sites. Show them parks and gardens. Show them famous buildings and talk about their rich history. Satisfy their curiosity while at the same time enhancing their curiosity about their surroundings. 

Games

There is no doubt about the fact that children love games. Children like board games, they like playing games outdoors, they like video games, and they like sports. Try your best to take part in these activities with your children. 

Play video games with them. Playing video games with children gives them a milestone to reach, and they stay glues for hours. Video games are notorious for being harmful to the mind, but they can help strengthen reflexes and enhance creativity.

Other than that, playing games and sports outdoors with friends can help children build up their social skills and, at the same time, help in relieving aggression and excessive energy. Sports can also help children maintain a healthy weight, build strong bones and muscles and impact a child’s linear growth because it stimulates the secretion of the human growth hormone (HGH) responsible for increasing height. Some kids are even into playing volleyball for height growth.

Learning Music

We cannot stress the importance of learning music at an early age. Music is like another language that makes use of notes and sounds instead of words and literature. It helps children in developing an entirely different area of their mind. Other than that, being passionate about music in their later years will help them develop themselves further.

Exploring the Outdoors

Many children are unfamiliar to the world outdoors because:

1. There is too much activity that can be done indoors
2. The outdoor world can be scary for many people

Even so, helping children get familiar with the world outside is nothing but useful to their well-being. You can take them mountain climbing, fishing, camping, or anything of the sort. If their school presents them with any such opportunities, try to find the courage to let your children explore.

Helping your children get acquainted with nature at an early age will make them habitual of getting fresh air when they are older. It will keep them physically and mentally fresh. 

Featured Image by Katja Fissel from Pixabay