You don’t have to buy coloring books from a store. Search online for free coloring book pages that you can print out. If you don’t have a home computer or printer, find out if your local library has any available for use. There isn’t an age limit for coloring books, but most children lose interest by the end of elementary school. Offer to color with older children to get them interested in the project. You can engage with a child who is coloring by asking questions. For children from ages 3 through 5, try asking the names of the colors being used. [1] X Research source You can also ask about the picture being colored: “What/Who is that?” “What if we color this lighter or darker?” “Should we blend colors?” Be sure to provide only water soluble, non-toxic coloring utensils. Avoid markers and pens when using commercial coloring books. Many coloring books are printed on a type of paper that markers can bleed through, ruining the picture on the next page.
Toddlers can enjoy “drawing” with scribbles. Encourage them to develop their creativity and motor skills. While a child is drawing, ask about the picture being made. Don’t directly ask what the drawing is “supposed” to be, since this may discourage a child. Instead, ask the child to tell you about what he or she is drawing. [2] X Research source Older kids may not like being asked so many questions. Save them for when the child shows you a finished drawing. You can provide a drawing prompt for older children or ask them to illustrate a story.
Paper crafts like snowflakes Making pet rocks Fingerpaints Store-bought crafts like models and jewelry kits
Rhyming books, poems, and songs are great options to read aloud. [3] X Expert Source Sylvia RathParenting Specialist Expert Interview. 19 May 2021. Select bright, colorful picture books that don’t have a lot of text. The younger the child, the slower you should go. Speak clearly and slowly, pausing at each page. Consider letting the child decide when it’s time to turn to the next page. Older kids can still enjoy being read to if it’s a more complicated story, especially before going to sleep. Reading to kids early and often stimulates their brains and helps them learn verbal skills. [4] X Research source
Keep reading the entire story to a child who is just learning how to identify simple words. However, before turning the page, try pointing to a word or two and ask if the child can read the word. Stick to easy words like “red” and “dog” at first. Once a child learns how to read simple sentences, encourage him or her to read picture books to you. If he or she gets stuck on a difficult word, encourage the child to sound it out. If that doesn’t work, gently tell the child how to say the word. [5] X Research source
Stock up on age-appropriate books and keep them where the kids can always grab one to read. Take the kids on a trip to bookstores and/or libraries and let them pick out their own books. Participate in local community reading events and book clubs for kids. If you can’t find a children’s reading program in your area, you can try starting one yourself. You may even be able to apply for grants to help fund these activities. Give older kids access to a dictionary to use when they come across unknown words. If you’re a babysitter, bring in a few new books to keep the kids interested. Whatever you bring along will be new and exciting and special. [6] X Expert Source Jessie DavidsonChild Care Specialist Expert Interview. 7 July 2021.
Provide support while the children are telling their stories and prompt them with questions like, “What happened first?” “What happened next?” and “What happened last?”[7] X Trustworthy Source Reading Rockets Online resource supported by PBS providing research-based strategies for assisting children to become confident readers Go to source If you’re entertaining a few kids, try playing a game where everyone tells the story. Go in a circle and take turns, adding on to what the last person said. If one kid tends to hog the spotlight, try adding a rule to limit each turn to one minute or one sentence to include everyone equally. Once kids start to learn how to read and write, they can begin writing down simple stories. Give them paper or a notebook to write in. Older kids may begin to write their own novel-length stories. At this stage, it may be a good idea to let them use a computer to type their stories rather than handwrite them. [8] X Research source
Keep the kids busy, active, and well-socialized by signing them up for an organized sports team. When stuck indoors, you can get energy out with dancing to fun music. If you’re entertaining a group of kids, you can suggest a game of tag or hide-and-go-seek. You can join in on a game of tag, but don’t play hide-and-go-seek unless other responsible adults are present. You shouldn’t let kids out of your sight, and if it’s your turn to be “it” you would have to. Instead, you can be the game’s “referee” to make sure everyone plays fair. Take kids on hiking trips and nature trails. Spending the weekend camping (even if it’s just in your own backyard) is also a great option. Cool down during the summer at your local public pool. All kids, regardless of energy level, should get some exercise and time outdoors to stay healthy. Children and adolescents should generally get at least an hour of physical activity each day. [9] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Simple card games like Go Fish are easy to teach to even very young children. Make up your own card game. Assign an activity to each suit, like hearts are jumping jacks and diamonds are making a funny face. Whatever card is drawn, everyone will do that activity for the number of times on the card. Get creative and let the kids decide what activity each suit will be. [11] X Expert Source Jessie DavidsonChild Care Specialist Expert Interview. 7 July 2021. You or the kids may want to set “house rules” on certain games that may not be in the rule book. While this may be fun for most children, it may be frustrating for others. Make sure the games are age-appropriate. A 10-year-old is likely to get bored with Candyland, while Risk would probably frustrate a kindergartener. If you can’t afford to buy board games, your local library may have some available to check out. If you borrow board games, make sure the kids treat them well and avoid losing pieces.
Join in on multiplayer games. Keep the kids active on rainy days with video games that have a physical component. Make sure to pay attention to game ratings and content warnings. Video games are just like movies; they’re not all kid-friendly. It’s generally best to stick to E-rated games, especially ones specifically made for children. Studies have shown that playing up to 1 hour of video games per day is beneficial to children. However, there can be some negative effects when daily game time climbs to over 3 hours. [12] X Research source
