10 Ways To Help Your Kid Unplug
By: Nanny McFit (@nanny_mcfit)
How often does your child crave tech time? One of the simplest ways to help your child gain control over their tech habit is to establish a routine around it. Children thrive with predictable routines because it helps them feel safe and in control of their environment. Both adults and children can benefit greatly from the 30:30 routine. To gain 30 minutes of tech time, your child (and you) should engage in 30 minutes of uninterrupted, physical play. Below are 10 teacher-tested and kid-approved games to help your family unplug.
- Let your kid be the coach.
Kids love to be in charge, especially when they get to be “in charge” of adults! Allow your child to be the workout coach, coaching you through a fun workout. This activity will help your child to feel powerful through fitness, thus building their “conFITdence.” If your child struggles to lead the workout, suggest some basic moves, like: jumping jacks, walking the stairs, squats, sit ups, or marching in place. Academic Extension: practice counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, or odd numbers as you count each rep.
- Have a “Healthy Snack Challenge!”
If you’ve ever watched YouTube with your child, then you probably know how engaging “challenges” are. Score cool points by planning a “healthy snack challenge.” Winner of the healthiest & tastiest snack is awarded tech time. Set guidelines, like: “no candy”, or “must use fruit.” For less mess provide plastic utensils, paper plates and bowls. Life-Skills Extension: Remember, any mess they make can be turned into a positive teachable moment. Modeling expectations works wonders when practicing daily skills.
- Play “Sock-Ninja.”
Do you have socks? Do you have a carpet? If so, then you have everything you need to play Sock Ninja! To play, you must have socks on. Players will pull their socks off slightly, so the toe area is floppy. Players will go to the perimeter of the carpet and get on their hands and knees. One player yells “Ninja!” and everyone begins crawling around trying to pull each other’s socks off. The last player with their socks on is the “sock ninja!”
- Play Hide & Seek.
Hide and Seek is a classic game for all ages. Try different versions, like: hiding coins, toys, or stuffed animals around the house. If you’re playing with multiple people, the player who finds the most items then becomes the hider. Academic Extension: write sight words on sticky notes and hide them around the house.
- Build a fort together.
Building forts = building memories! Gather pillows, blankets and chairs to construct a family fort with your child. As you build, use any moments of failure to talk to your child about persevering through challenges. Model how to use the failed ideas to reconstruct a fort with more space. Add books, flashlights and stuffed animals to create a special place to read together. Art Extension: encourage your child to create signs and posters to decorate their fort. Provide paper, crayons/markers, and stickers to aid in the creative process.
- Put on a fashion show.
Get your cameras ready! Encourage your child to put on their favorite outfits and strut their stuff in front of their favorite dolls, action figures and stuffed animals. As they stroll down the cat walk, they’ll build self-confidence and self-worth. Play music for them to walk to, as you describe their look using positive words and phrases. Social/Emotional Extension: After the fashion show, conduct an interview with your model. Ask them questions like: “What do you love about yourself?” “What makes you unique?” “How do you feel about yourself?”
- Go on a nature walk/hunt.
Taking a walk together can be a great way to communicate and strengthen the relationship with your child. As you walk, hunt for specific items, like: red cars, squirrels, rabbits, rocks, etc. Academic Extension: as you walk, search for specific letters or sight words. *Use the free printable here for a backyard hunt.
- Go on a Trash Scavenger Hunt.
One of the best lessons you can teach your child is how to take care of their community. Grab some gloves and plastic bags and hunt for trash littered around the neighborhood. The person with the most trash collected wins! Life Skills Extension: bring the trash home with you and teach your child the difference between trash and recycling.
- Be “Kindness Secret Agents” in your community.
What’s better than receiving a random act of kindness from a child? Help your kids brainstorm positive phrases that make people feel good. Then practice writing each on pieces of paper. Young children can practice tracing/ illustrating your words, while older children can sound out the words and write independently. When the notes are ready, take your child around the community and sneakily deliver each note into random mailboxes and car windshields.
- Plan a Healthy Family Night.
Promote your child to the CEO of Healthy Family Night. Work together to brainstorm and write the ingredients for a healthy dinner menu. Then, take a field trip to the grocery store. Show your child how to find each ingredient and check nutritional labels for grams of sugar. Allow your child to assist you as you pay and check out. Back at home, work together to create a deliciously healthy meal. Social/ Emotional Extension: Pretend you are at a fancy restaurant. Encourage your family to dress fancy, and then cheers to healthy choices!
Just remember to have fun while you and your family unplug!!!
Nanny McFit offers individual & group fitness-based classes for children ages 2-13. Each class creatively combines an important fitness and social skill; helping children to feel physically and mentally powerful! Powerful kids makes powerful change!
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