Are you starting to hyperventilate at the daunting prospect of your upcoming summer vacation? Do you find yourself screaming to get out of Fornite before your teen turns into a zombie? Do you have any memories of spending time with your beloved children during online learning due to the pandemic?
Now, take a breath. Summer vacation can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your children. Here are four easy ways to see how this happens.
YouTube Art Tutorials
Using YouTube with a director is a gold mine. Watch your child transform into Rembrandt with tons of free art tutorials online. There is absolutely no need to buy expensive equipment or book art classes. All you need is a decent sketchbook (look for one with thick paper), a set of pencils, and if you're feeling particularly ambitious, some watercolor paints. If you're feeling a little more adventurous, there are some great guitar and keyboard tutorials available online. If your child is committed enough, it might actually sound okay.
Stay active
You don't have to shell out a lot of money for organized sports activities. (Of course, swimming lessons can be a godsend in the scorching summer heat.) If you live on the lawn or in an apartment complex, consider putting up a badminton net downstairs. It's light and portable, so even young children can easily pick it up and feel a sense of accomplishment when they start playing regularly in the evenings. Enjoy a bike ride with your family in your neighborhood. Go rollerblading outside your house in the evening. Or, again take help from YouTube and look for aerobic exercises online.
Board game for victory
For younger kids, old classics like Snakes & Ladders and Ludo are still best. Break down an old Scrabble board for older people who play fufu games that require luck. Make them keep score. Even an only child can play Scrabble on his or her own. (Or you can join in, if you're up for the challenge and your ego can handle it when you lose.) Chess is another great option that has been capturing the world's imagination ever since the release of The Queen's Gambit in 2020. No chessboard required. Setting up an account for your child at chess.com will save you hours as your child becomes addicted to beating their previous scores.
Teach them life skills.
Lastly, although watching your child make their bed in completely the wrong way may make you cringe, getting your child involved in household chores will be a huge benefit to your child's life. Assign chores with or without help around the house and bribe them with pocket money to get them done. Let them do their own laundry, wash their own dishes, clean their own bathroom, and take out the trash.
And if all else fails, take them to thelay wala and buy a bunch of books.
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