The dog is barking, the kids are hanging around your home
office wanting to know what they can do, and you’re unable to concentrate on
that work assignment that is due tomorrow. What are you to do to get things
under control? Well, it is fairly easy to put the dog outside, but it might not
be so easy to come up with a solution for occupying the children.
One might imagine that suggesting a good book might work,
but that is only possible if the children know how to read. Even an older child
may not be interested in that sort of activity. Armed with a roll of tape, a
pair of scissors, some blank paper and a stack of magazines that are headed to
the recycling bin, children can cut pictures and words to create their own book.
Often children can be entertained with board games, but maybe they have grown
tired of those games that have been played over and over again. Introducing
children of today to some of the ‘ancient games’ from Grandmother’s day might
provide the perfect solution for something new and different. Even drawing on
the sidewalk with chalk, can be modernized by using glow in the dark chalk
available today.
Think how excited they will be when they go outside in the
evening to view their masterpieces aglow. Better yet, why not install a large
chalkboard in their room where they can draw a mural. Taking out a box of
toothpicks and teaching them to play the old game of pick-up sticks can be
equally new and entertaining for most children. Jig-saw puzzles can be challenging
and provide hours of fun for younger or older children alike. Building a tent
from bed linens or blankets placed over chairs in the dining room can provide a
fort for children’s adventures. Sometimes, something as simple as a scavenger
or treasure hunt in the house can provide just the touch of adventure that is
needed to keep them occupied. If the children are older, you can supply the
camcorder to make a video story. Or let them shoot photos for a book that you
can have published later, as a keepsake. They could plan party ideas for their
next birthday. Have them list what party favors, decorations, type of cake, and
games to play. They could plan a makeover of their room, sketching and listing
ideas and gathering photos and suggestions from magazines.
The key is to give
the children original or new suggestions that spur activity and creativity.
Taking on activities that are different, yet exciting can provide them with a
new interest in activities that will keep them entertained, challenged and quiet,
while you get your work finished.
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