We know having a repertoire of toys in your head is almost impossible. One hour ran out of ideas, right? But you can take this request out of your mind and make room for another topic, as we have a selection of content where you can find, whenever you want, many activities that you can do with children at home. Just open it here and save the link there!
We already told you about the coolest games we found on Instagram so now is the time to browse Pinterest for good ideas. This is not lacking there!
In its trend report for 2021, the social network said one of the bets for this year is the alliance Entertainment + education. It makes perfect sense, given that for many kids, home has also become a classroom during a pandemic. According to data collected in its searches, Pinterest indicates a 35% increase in searches for “technical education projects” in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Projections indicate that families around the world will be looking for innovative ways to stimulate and support children’s learning, take art out of what they have at home and use a lot of recycled materials. They even named it this: “Playing to save the planet.” Nature is also present in another related fact, as there was an 85% increase in searches for “outdoor education,” another reflection of the year of the epidemic and social isolation.
Inspired by this report, we’ve picked out some games that are indicated as a trend that you can test out at home. Come on?
1) Store the pencil shavings in the sharpener!
Yes, my dad and mom must have played this when they were kids. Retroactive activity showed a 115% increase in searches last year, in countries like the UK, Indonesia and the USA.
And you can be successful there in your home, too: just keep the foil inside the sharpener, and when you’ve added enough, use the glue to make art by mixing the material with felt-tip pens and pencils.
And a little trick: When pointing the colored pencil, squeeze a little until the razor is thicker and less crunchy.
2) The cardboard is never out of stock!
Another classic revisited: The hunt for cardboard games has increased by 85% during the pandemic, you know?
Besides the reuse trend, larger boxes can be turned into a dollhouse or plane, while smaller boxes can be turned into cameras.
And note that even toilet paper rolls are great filters for spinning binoculars to complete the game. By the way, the item is so versatile that we did a whole bunch of activities just using it. just look!
3) The elements of nature in games
Tackling global warming and its consequences is a serious and objective issue that needs to be taught at an early age in order to have an impact on future generations. For preschoolers, it is worth starting with teaching about the climate, the seasons, and how the way we take care of nature affects the health of the planet.
A good idea we found on Pinterest is to paint the pebbles collected in the yard and garden (check more games with nature elements here!). Use ink to make drawings and finish with pigmented marker (Posca type) pens.
The baby’s small pieces can then be used to show the weather of the day and serve as a starting point for conversations about climate change.
The popular sensual bottles also never run out and can help with this climate mission, as well as help soothe babies. Use items like glitter, leaves, cotton, and dye to recreate each season.
4) Simplicity: Use everything you have around the house
In times of crisis, we often cannot afford to buy expensive paint materials or new craft sets. Therefore, the tendency to use the simple resources we have at home is a return to the origins of craftsmanship.
An example of using what you have is this activity with the salt you may have seen rolling into your feed. Also hit on Instagram, the art consists of applying white glue to a sulfite paper to form a drawing. Then cover with salt and wait for it to dry.
The crystals give a 3D effect to the shape and then color only with watercolor or gouache diluted in water with a dropper or brush. One of the forms is dyeing salt with dyes before pasting, which can also be fun.
5) Recycling is the focus!
In addition to the cardboard we mentioned above, materials that go into the recycling bin can be referred to and produce good crafts with children. The possibilities are endless, but we already said that a traditional egg tray can produce little monsters with articulated mouths and milk cartons can become cute little homes due to the panels that resemble the roofs.
And if you have a few scientists, the suggestion of converting a gallon of soap into a microscope may appeal to you. With adult-made scraps and a roll of tissue paper included, the creature gains shape and hours of guaranteed fun.
do you want more? We have separated 9 activities with a science background that may satisfy!