JOIN USPlan for a fun weekend with your child
In today’s fast-paced world, parents and children are constantly on the go. There is work, school, severe academic pressure and countless other activities. How many times have we heard or felt that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to fit everything?
Precious weekends feel like they are over before they’ve even started. Even when
families do get together, that time is often spent individually on various gadgets or watching TV.
Yet the years seem to be flying by at supersonic speed. Waddling toddlers turn into sassy nine-year-olds in a heartbeat. Weekends are especially precious as they give us the opportunity to spend some much-needed time together to relax and have fun as a family.
It is during this time that children tend to open up more, sharing information rather than the “nothing” you get as a response to “what happened in school today?” It is also the time to share life lessons like sharing and compassion.
So, let’s seize that time together, fighting the demands and reality of modern life to create some beautiful memories. We have put together some suggestions to help plan your weekend.
1 Visiting a zoo is always fun, no matter how old one may be. Walking around the zoo, watching various animals and taking children on a jungle safari can not only be educative, but also very entertaining.
2 Another exciting visit could be to a traffic park. There is a lot your kids can learn here. Ideally, in a traffic park one can take cycles along and cycle down tracks displaying zebra crossing, miniature traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and more. The park is safer than a road with regular traffic zipping across.
3 Planetarium visits are an excellent option to learn about the constellations; they also feature many graphic shows that can entertain and educate your child. After the fun learning experience, you can plan a night camp for your children at home on the terrace with fun games, food and arrange for a telescope to gaze at the stars.
4 Dedicate a whole day to a carnival. With activities ranging from workshops to joy rides, magic shows to hobby-related activities, from meeting your favourite cartoon characters to enjoying food options, especially designed for kids, a carnival has a lot to offer for both parents and children.
5If your child is a sports buff, take him/her for a live match, be it cricket, hockey, basketball, or football. The experience of watching a live game is more thrilling and would leave an impact on the mind as compared to watching it on the television. You can also arrange for a sports match in the local park with children from the neighbourhood. Such activities encourage interaction, boost confidence and also teach team spirit.
6 Make eating out at a restaurant an exciting experience. Ask your children to spin the globe around and place their finger on a place when it stops. For instance, if they choose China, make few cue cards with information about the place — say, the population, the capital and the like; then take them to a restaurant serving Chinese cuisine. This is a fun way to teach some geography lessons.
7 Take your child to an old-age home. Plan a meal with the people over there and sponsor it. Compassion is a beautiful lesson to teach your child. There are many people out there who need a helping hand or just a patient ear to hear them out.
8 The most thrilling activity for the weekend could be planning your own treasure hunt and chalking a list of goodies your children could hunt for. A treasure hunt can be arranged from the backyard into the house. Your child’s friends could also be called over to pump up the competition.
9 Another fun weekend plan could be exploring various modes of transport — from bullock carts to rickshaws, buses to trains, perhaps even a flight to a nearby city can be a fun experience.
10 Plan a picnic and bike it down rather than driving a car to the spot. Cycling is an excellent activity and promotes the chance to notice the beauty around at a leisured pace.
11 Establish weekend rituals like game night. Introduce the kids to your favourite childhood game (monopoly anyone?) or the kids can get you updated on the latest game
on the iPad.
Whatever activities you may choose, the most important thing is committing to that time to relax and have fun together. Happy Children’s Day!
(The author is founder, Krackerjack Karnival & project director, Exhibitions India Group)