Learning at home can be difficult for some children, but it can be even more challenging for parents—especially for those who have no previous teaching experience or training like you would find at a top private school in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia beach. So, what’s a flustered mom or dad supposed to do when the kids are getting antsy and you’ve run out of ideas on how to keep them entertained while also providing learning tools at the same time? We’re here to help!
Below are a few fun and educational activities you can do with your children at home to keep them active and excited:
– Simon Sez It: Okay, so the name of the game may be grammatically flawed, but this old standard can help keep kids active and teach them to pay attention at same time. If you’re not familiar with the concept, you are Simon and everything “Simon sez” must be done by the children participating. So, if you say “Simon sez, hop like a bunny,” everyone should be bouncing around, including you.
The idea is to trip your audience up by rattling off several “Simon sez” things to follow in a row, then doing one gesture without saying “Simon sez” first. Example: “Simon sez, hop like a bunny (you hop). Simon sez, touch your nose (you hop and touch your nose). Stop hopping (you stop).” Anyone else who stops hopping is “out.”
– Scavenger Hunt: Create a “map” for your children to follow, then provide clues to help them move on to each new phase of the hunt. You can do this in your home, the backyard, or at a local park. There are several ways you can create clues. One is to take a picture of something where the next clue will be. Your children then need to find that object and go to it.
To make things a little more difficult, you can cut the picture up and they will need to piece it back together first. Or, you could create a cypher where the number “1” is associated with the letter “A” and so on, then leave clues with numbers that, when solved, will lead to the next clue location.
Example: 2-1-20-8-18-15-15-13 spells out “BATHROOM.” For extra fitness, throw in an activity at each clue station, such as “Do 10 jumping jacks before solving” or “Make up a crazy dance move.” For additional fun, you can also leave small toys, treats, or snacks at each stop.
– Missing Number Match: Write numbers from 1 to 9 on a popsicle stick, leave one number off each stick. Then write a single number from 1 to 9 on nine different clothespins. Give your child one of the popsicle sticks and have them find the right clothespin that matches the missing number. Then have them clip it to the stick to fill in the sequence.
When doing a search for a “top private school near me,” click on Strelitz International Academy. We use similar educational games to keep your children active and help them learn at the same time while they are under our care. As a top private school serving Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, we’d love to have your children come join us, so we can all learn together.
If you’re ready to send your children back to school, contact us on 757-424-4327 or schedule a visit to learn more.
