We all want to spend more time with our kids, but how do you really do so without suffering through your own boredom? Here are a few ways I spend time with my son and his friends without going out of my mind.
Coloring - Yeah, it *sounds* boring, but when was the last time you sat down to a page your child picked out for you to color? It’s really quite relaxing and gives you a rare chance to express your creative side. Besides, you child will praise the outcome, no matter what you happen to think of it, and what a boost that is!
Legos - There are two ways to go with this one… You can buy the generic set with no preset outcome models and just build whatever you like from scrap, or you can buy the slightly more pricey sets that come with detailed instructions on how to create a model that will impress even your friends when completed. Either choice can be loads of fun. I’ve found that if we buy the detailed sets and I work on the harder tasks while my son creates his own little models from the pieces I’m not yet using, not only do I occupy my own mind, but I get to see the creative side of my son.
Cartoons/Animated Movies/Children’s Movies - You know you saw the preview for the latest Harry Potter or Pixar film and thought secretly to yourself that you’d really like to see it. Well, you have a kid - what an excuse! Most children’s movies these days are full of jokes targeted at adult age groups, and even if the one you pick lacks those, they still tend to be very amusing. Plus you now have a conversation topic for you and your child to talk about later - find out what they thought of scenes that made you laugh or cry; it can be really interesting to hear something you experienced from a kid’s point of view. **As a side note - try Redbox! $1/movie/night. If you’re only going to keep it for one night anyway, why pay more at a bigger chain like Blockbuster or Hollywood Video?
Crafts - This is by far my favorite activity with my son. You can go all out and buy glitter, glue, crayons, markers, construction paper, scissors, buttons, etc. and still end up paying very little. Find an empty drawer or cupboard to keep all these things and let your imagination flow when it comes to ideas. One of our favorite and most simple projects is a Count-Down-Chain. I cut construction paper to 1"X4-5" strips, let my kiddo decorate and color them, get out the glue or tape and make circles from the strips that interlock like a chain. Say there are 14 days until Easter. Make 14 chain links, and for each day that passes tear off one link. It’s a great counting tool and helps your kid stay excited about an upcoming holiday or special date. We also like to fold pieces of paper 4-8 times and cut randomly to make fancy snowflakes or room decorations. We’ve even taken construction paper and traced/cut/colored the letters of his name to hang on the wall in his room.
These are just a few ideas to get you started on spending fun-filled time with your kids, and I’m sure after you try one or two, your creativity will take over and inspire you to come up with new and exciting things for you to do together!
