Balance homework with play time for kids
AS parents we like to see our children excel academically, but we tend to forget how important it is to also focus on a child’s physical, as well as emotional development.
An increasing amount of experts are starting to agree that too much emphasis is being placed on academic performance, while there is a shocking lack of life skills evident among the youth of today.
What we may not realise is the fact that ‘ordinary play’ is a valuable teacher of life skills, and that we should allow our children more time to do what they do best: being children.
Here are some activities you should encourage your child to do, in addition to homework: • Play. Free play creates new learning experiences and teaches children vital social, emotional and intellectual skills.
• Talk. Conversation is the best way for all of us – especially young children – to learn about our world and cultivate empathy.
• Sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to poor attention, behaviour problems, academic difficulties, irritability and weight gain among kids.
Yet, between 25 and 30% of children aren’t getting enough sleep.
• Read. Books not only help children excel at school, but also teach them things that they’d never learn in a classroom. • Listen to a story. Studies show that kids who are read aloud to have better vocabularies.
• Wild play. ‘Risky’ activities, such as climbing a tree, allow kids to explore their own limits, enable them to assess risks and teach them independence, which leads to a more confident child.
• Get dirty. The next time your child wants to bake mud pies, remember that this kind of sensory play is critical for his/her development.
• Play with a friend. As human beings, it is essential that we practise our social skills. The class situation does not encourage informal social interaction, and technology has robbed us of basic one-on-one interaction opportunities, so we need to encourage our children to socialise.
• Help with dinner. Kids who learn about new foods, and how to prepare them, may be more likely to choose more nutritious foods later on in life.
• Walk the dog. Kids who help take care of family pets may be less anxious, less likely to develop allergies and asthma, and are more active.
• Plant a garden. Little gardeners get to actively engage in scientific concepts and practice math skills as they learn about plants. • Play a musical instrument.
Playing a musical instrument can increase their memory, improve hand-eye coordination and boost their listening skills.
• Participate in a community service project. Through volunteering, children can become more grateful, empathetic and feel more connected to the wider community.
• Draw pictures. Drawing allows children to express themselves and relax.
• Play dress up. When kids pretend they’re superheroes or talk to stuffed animals, they’re learning about social roles, setting the stage for later learning, and processing ideas from the world around them. • Wrestle with a sibling. ‘Rough and tumble’ play teaches kids decision-making skills, it relieves stress, improves their ability to read social cues and enhances their cardio-vascular health.
• Clean their room. A University of Minnesota researcher has discovered that one of the best predictors of a kid’s future success is whether they contributed to household chores as a young child. It teaches them responsibility, how to contribute to family life, a sense of empathy and how to take care of themselves.
• Write a story. By writing down stories, kids can express their feelings, stretch their imaginations and practice fine motor skills.
• Zone out. ‘Chill time’ is just as important as play time and homework time. These moments allow children to reflect, rest and reset their minds and bodies.
• Ride a bike. Kids who are physically active have stronger hearts, lungs and bones. They are less likely to be overweight and more likely to feel good about themselves.
• (Source: http://www.parent. co/31-things-your-kidsshould-be-doing-insteadof-homework/)