“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Mid-term break is here and kids can rest for a while after six weeks of academic and extra-curricular activities. This means they have four full days that are filled with fun tasks and activities. Even though they are kids, they need time to relax and refresh themselves, especially from those daily routines of waking up very early for school and getting back home late due to extra-coaching classes and lessons.
Discussed below are activities your kids can engage in this mid-term break.
1. Homework
Teachers are fond of giving extra homework when kids are going on mid-term breaks. They do this so the kids can be kept busy with studying and not just playing the whole time. Due to the amount of homework these kids are given, it is better they do those first before they enter relaxation mode. If not, there is the probability they might forget – once they have their bags stuck somewhere, that’s it! You do not want to be solving quantitative or verbal reasoning questions the night before they resume.
2. A Day Out
A family day out during the weekend will be something the kids, and yourself can look forward to. You can take them to the movies to watch cartoons or go to the park where they can hang out with their peers and make friends. This day out can also be educational, whereby you can take them to the zoo for sightseeing, learning does not occur in the four walls of the classroom alone – they can learn while they play.
3. Game/Movie Night
There are families that have board games and movies, but due to their busy schedules, they’ve not been able to play the games or watch the movies. Can you remember the last time you played a board game? Remember the likes of snakes and ladders, scrabble, ludo, checkers, monopoly, jigsaw puzzles? As you play with your children, teach them how to win and lose. The theme of the selected movie could be used to bring up discussions on difficult topics. It is a simple way to find out what your children think about different issues and demystify difficult areas of life.
4. Crafting
Most children love working with their hands. A handcrafting project could be a bonding avenue for you and your children over the holidays. It could be theme-based e.g. Easter, Christmas, or educational – types of animal, or just general crafting techniques – molding, jewelry making. The internet is a great source of crafting ideas. Crafting supplies can be found quite easily; paper, string, glue, paint. The goal with crafting is not so much artistic but more creative. Children should be encouraged to participate as much as possible. It is in activities such as this that bonding occurs and talents are discovered.
5. Visit Family & Friends
We’re always complaining about how we hardly keep in touch with friends and family. Use your kids’ break to get in touch with people. Schedule a visit or invite them over, you’ll be surprised at how much your kids will even love to have people around. What will even make it more fun for your kids is if those you are visiting have kids their age, then it is settled. You’ll probably end up asking yourself why you don’t visit people more often.
Make bonding with your children this year your top priority, the sooner the better. This way, you will be able to spend more time with them. Parenting goes beyond just paying their school fees and dropping them in school. The more quality time you spend with them, the more they will get used to the idea of you being around.
