Due to the current global situation, many parents are literally tearing their hair out trying to think of ways to keep their offspring suitably occupied. A few weeks in spring or summer is ok but when parents are confronted with a pandemic which means that their kids are at home for months on end, things can get pretty intense. Here are a few options for keeping your little cherubs occupied for the coming months.
Top 5 Things To Do At Home With Kids
1. Hyakunin Isshu Karuta: Bozu Mekuri
This is a belter of a card game. So much fun for everyone involved and for ages from about 3/4 upwards. My family adores this game because the outcome can go right down to the wire. The instructions and gameplay are based on noblemen, queens, and monks. The instructions can be found here and I promise you, hours of fun can be found in this simple and traditional card game.
And in case you don’t have one yet, fret not, it is available online from Amazon.
2. Wii
In times like this when exercising or even going outside is pretty much a no-no I’m glad my family bought a Wii a few years back. My daughter (and the whole family) loves games such as Wii Party, Wii Sports Resort, Just Dance and Wii Fit Plus. Fun, challenging and a form of good exercise, it makes indoor life slightly more bearable.
3. YouTube
Don’t kid yourself that YouTube is just a waste of time. Of course, there is a lot of total bunkum on the platform but there are a lot of great resources for parents and kids alike. My little pumpkin is currently learning English and loves all the teenage American dramas such as “Austin and Ally” and “The Descendants.” When she was younger she loved the NHK Education channel which has an abundance of perfect content for toddlers.
4. Language Study
My wee lady is in the last year of a Japanese elementary school and scoffs at the ALT who comes once a week to teach the same theme every time. It’s not the ALT’s fault but after a few years of ‘animals’ and ‘greetings’ things become a little dry. My daughter loves her tablet from cram school Kumon called ‘Challenge Touch’ which sets up quizzes and tests for younger learners. She then tries out her newly found knowledge with her old man which is good for both of us. If it’s not English or Japanese then any other language study is really beneficial for young’uns.
5. Creativity: Cooking
My little princess is 11 years old and has recently developed a real love for cooking. Pancakes, baking, spaghetti, and rice dishes – she is rapidly becoming a pint-sized Gordon Ramsay (especially as her father is also a sweary Glaswegian)!
We both love Nanako Okana‘s YouTube channel which is in Japanese but also comes with English subtitles. Additionally, showing and teaching kids (even fairly young children) by yourself, to make simple dishes such as omelettes and niku jaga (meat and potatoes) can be lots of fun and educational.
Looking for more?
Well, once you have played, studied, and cooked together, why not visit a virtual museum? Or connect with your inner artist and try yourself at Origami?
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