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Posts filed under School Age. Show all blog posts.
Fun Family Activities to Do Over March Break
Make this March Break the week you take a step back from your busy schedule and spend some quality time with your family. Plan a few activities but keep it simple and relaxed and you’ll be sure to have a great time together.
Use their week off to find that work/family balance. Take some time off work, if possible, and go out of town. If travel isn’t in the forecast, act like tourists in your own city. Visit the landmarks, go to some local events and exhibitions, and let the kids help plan the activities they want to do. Having them involved in the process will help the excitement grow leading up to the outings.
If you’re looking for a creative outlet, let your kids redesign old pieces of clothing. Give them fabric paint, beads and other embellishments to decorate pieces. Or visit a pottery shop where you can all paint your own ceramics, customizing them however you want. If a sibling or friend’s birthday is coming up, suggest making something as a gift, but any creation of theirs will be a great keepsake.
Another way to spend quality time together is to stage your own blackout. Unplug your electronics and leave technology behind for a night. Use flashlights and candles, play board games, tell stories and snack on homemade treats you whipped up together earlier that day.
Cooking with your kids is another great activity. Whether they’re helping you bake a batch of cookies, make dinner or plan a meal, they’ll learn how to work in a team, develop their fine motor skills and become more independent in the kitchen. For an added learning opportunity, ask them to pick a country and then make a food that is specific to that culture. Find some music associated with the region to listen to and learn some interesting facts about the area to discuss when you sit down to eat the meal you’ve prepared together.
A week may seem like a long time, but it will pass before you know it. Make sure to spend that time together, doing things that you normally wouldn’t have time for.
More on this topic — Crafts & Activities,
More on this Age & Stage — School Age,
How to Deal With the Death of a Pet
The death of a pet can be an experience of sorrow, confusion and growth. If you’ve never discussed the life cycle before, it can be tricky to know where to start.
Pointing out happenings in nature on a regular basis is a great way to encourage discussion around all parts of the life cycle, such as when the seasons change or when a plant or insect dies.
If the subject comes about suddenly, here are some valuable tips to help you begin:
- A child’s experience may be different than your own. Even though you’ve had this animal for 14 years, your toddler is unlikely to feel quite as attached. Alternatively, the fish that you just flushed might have been Sally’s very, very best friend.
- Know what you are going to say before you start. Planning a few simple points can be helpful in taking you through what could be an emotional conversation (for you and/or the child).
- Use real words. Euphemisms like ‘losing a pet’ or ‘putting him to sleep’ can be very confusing for a child. Even very religious sentiments like ‘God took Rex’ might sound a little scary to your child and lead to thoughts like, ‘What if God takes you next?’ or ‘If we lost him, let’s go find him!’ or ‘I don’t want to go to sleep tonight if I’m never coming back.’
- Stick to the facts. Mr Kitty’s body isn’t working anymore. He is dead now. He won’t be drinking or eating anymore and he doesn’t feel anymore, so he is not hurting.
- It’s final. Kids might not realize that death is final—the fish won’t end up back in the bowl tomorrow. They may ask you the same questions a few times. It’s not that they weren’t listening—they just take time to understand.
Don’t be surprised if they play ‘death’ for a while. Also, it can be helpful to make a memory book about the pet or to do a small ceremony to mark the death of the pet. Your child might have some wonderful ideas about how to do just that.
More on this topic — Parenting Solutions,
More on this Age & Stage — Toddlers, School Age, Preschool,
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