Its summer time again , giving children a long vacations to sit at home. I can see numerous advertisement of summer camps offering in different parts of city , so instead of spending thousands of money , make your home a summer camp and have fun , educational and creative activities for your children.
First things first,results grades and positions do not judge your child's understanding and potential , so if he/she has achieved low grades or the teacher recommends some extra practice please forget hiring a tutor for holidays ... Believe in your child and let them have some fun learning.
Okay now your children already have a routine , because of school days , continue with that begin your day early and just like school make a time table and decide with them what they want to do each day and for how long , add play time for every day and trips for each week
Here is the link to get free time table , you can print it our and hang in children's bedroom so that they know.
Religious Education.
You may start your day with religious education or any other time , any surah , verse , any topic like justice , truthfulness , cleanliness , stories from Quran , stories of prophet , importance of namaz and others.If your children raise any question tell them with proper rational why something is farz on us.. quote Quran and Ahadis , this will increase your knowledge too,but do not discriminate about sects and race , Allah has made us all equal , refrain from criticizing other people practices , teach them respect.
Here are some stories of prophets for kids
Educational Games
These are best types of games that we all love , its really sad that we cant see much of them , like we used to in our childhood but its okay you play can number of educational games with your children.Yes I am aware that smart phones have these games , games are much more interesting if played physically, you can have boards games, puzzles , card games , number games and many other.
Links for some more ideas
Cooking
Introduce your child to cooking , its fun and interesting , definitely healthy family activity where everybody helps mummy in the kitchen, you may start with asking children to peel vegetables , to decorate a cupcake or making a sandwich , depending on the age of the child , do not let your child go near fire when you are not around and explain them why are not letting them. The idea of cooking is make children independent , to respect people who cook them , to get acquainted with different flavors and yes gives you so much to teach them , examples acids in lemon or how are potatoes grown, also that Pakistan has best mangoes. Its like a science and geography class together.
These are just suggestions of easy recipes , you can create and make your own .
Arts and Crafts
There is an artist in each or us , so let it out use paints , colors and glitter to get artsy and crafty , before buying any extra material , use whatever is in the house which is useless , and reuse it. You will find a lot cartons of different sizes , extra paper , bottles container , old color pencils , pieces of crayons , shells , pebbles , baskets , pieces of wood , styro foam , rope , broken pots , tin cans , plastic wrapper and loads other , you can use these things to make new things and decorate the house. Encorage children to be creative and listen to their ideas even they may not make sense but let them try out if they wrong they will learn (apart from some harming them selves and others) its okay to have something different.
Moral Education
Morality is Character. Teach children manners and act them out for them , tell why good manner and moral are important to have , you can start with basic manner like how to greet people , how to eat food , how talk to someone older than them , how to sit , stand , walk , talk or use cutlery. You can discuss with also what to say when you feel bad about thing in an appropriate way and importantly what NOT say infront of people for example any personal issues about your family , for this you have to maintain a trust with your child so that he trusts you and tells you whatever he or she feels and respects you."Children with trust issues easily befriend strangers online "
Personal Care
The most important thing for a person is that he takes care and loves him/her self.Teach your child how to take care of himself and his things , how to comb their hair , fold clothes , set up cupboard , make their bed , how to wash their clothes, take shower , how to polish shoes , hang clothes , clean room. This way children become responsible for their own things , it makes them independent and feel accomplished which helps their self esteem (You can also talk to your children about their privacy and bullying) . Another things is telling about germs and how they can get sick by eating dirty food and or by eating with dirty hands , you can talk about junk and healthy food with them.
Here is the link of more details http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/hygiene_-_cyh.html
Gardening
Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.
-David Polis
Nature is the best teacher , children need mud , sunshine , plants,flowers , water to grow . To get your children closer to nature teach them gardening , explain them how a plant grows and for them have set of gardening tools and sow seeds , ask them to water it and observe it grow , you can always have indoors plants. Flower arrangement can also be taught to them by using artificial , dry or even fresh flowers. This teaches them care for nature and also it helps learn science of plants and flowers.
Here is the link of more details http://www.pleasantestthing.com/gardening-with-kids
There are loads of things you can do with your children, its a great time to bond with them , plan out trips with them , teach them to fish , discuss interesting news with them , talk about their future with them ,buy them atlas and show them other countries highlight their people , religion . language , culture. This help you much more as a parent and as a person. Happy Holidays.
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