How to entertain children

How to entertain children

You can entertain children in many ways; however, adults and older teens often run out of ideas when a bored child puts them in a bind. You can avoid this problem by becoming familiar with the different ways you can keep a child happy and busy. To give them a comprehensive education, try to focus on activities that promote useful skills and good habits while limiting passive entertainment.

Entertain children with art

Give younger children a coloring book

Entertain children with art
Entertain children with art

Coloring books are a great low-energy activity for young children. Just give them a book and some crayons, markers, or colored pencils.

  • You don’t need to buy coloring books from a store. Look online for free coloring book pages that you can print. If you don’t have a computer or printer at home, find out if your local library has one available.
  • There is no age limit for coloring books, but most children lose interest when they finish elementary school.
  • You can interact with a child who colors by asking questions. For 3-5-year-olds, try asking them for the names of the colors they wear. You can also ask him the following about the image he colors: “What (or who) is it?” “How about we make this drawing lighter or darker?” “How about we mix colors?”
  • Make sure to only give them coloring materials that are water-soluble and non-toxic.
  • Shun pens and markers when using practical coloring books. Many of these books are printed on a type of paper that bookmarks can pierce, which will ruin the image on the next page.

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Stimulates the practice of drawing in children

Stimulates the practice of drawing in children
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Drawing is something that people of all ages love. Give the children printer paper or a sketchbook and some drawing supplies.

  • Young children may enjoy “drawing” with scribbles. Support them to elaborate on their creativity and motor talents.
  • As a child draws, ask him about the picture he makes. Don’t ask him directly what the drawing is “supposed” to be, as it can discourage him. Instead, ask him to tell you what he draws. [two]
  • Older children may not like being asked so many questions. Save them for when your child shows you a finished drawing. You can give him an example of drawing or ask him to illustrate a story.

Look for manual projects online or in books

There are thousands of different activities that children of all ages can enjoy. Visit websites and blogs run by parents and teachers to find ideas. They can be time-honored traditions or unique projects. The following are some examples:

  • papercrafts (like snowflakes)
  • a stone pet
  • To paint with the fingers
  • Store-bought crafts (such as jewelry models and kits)

Entertain your children with stories

Read aloud to young children

kids stories
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Until children learn to read on their own, it is best to sit with them and read aloud to them. You may need to record yourself as you read so that you can listen to yourself and make adjustments as needed. Practice holding the book in one hand and placing it in front of the child so that he can see the text and illustrations.

  • Choose books with colorful, eye-catching pictures that don’t have a lot of text.
  • The younger the child, the slower you will have to read. Speak clearly and slowly, pausing on each page.
  • Consider letting the child decide when to go to the next page.
  • Older children may still enjoy having a book read to them if it is a complicated story, especially before bedtime.
  • Reading to children from an early age often stimulates their brains and helps them learn verbal skills. [1]

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Read with elementary school-age children

Once children start learning to read, usually at the age of five or six, encourage them to take a more active role.

  • Keep reading the entire story to a child who is just learning to identify simple words. However, before turning the page, try to point to a word or two and ask if your child can read them. Stick to simple words like “red” and “dog” at first.
  • When the child learns to read simple sentences, encourage him to you read picture books.
  • If he gets stuck on a difficult word, encourage him to speak it. If he can’t do it, kindly tell him how to say the word. [2]

Help older children read on their own

entertain children to read stories by own
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As their reading skills improve, you don’t always need to entertain them by reading directly to them. Instead, encourage their independence by asking them to read alone. You can sit with them and read your book to set an example. As an adult, it’s your job to make sure they have what they need.

  • Stock up on age-appropriate books and keep them in a place where they can always grab one.
  • Take the kids to bookstores or libraries, and let them choose their books.
  • Participate in reading activities in the local community and children’s book clubs.
  • If you can’t find a children’s reading program in your area, you can try starting your own. You may be able to apply for grants to help fund these activities.
  • Give older children access to a dictionary so they can use it when they find unfamiliar words.

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Encourage children to create their own stories

Reading and listening to stories is fun, but creating them can be just as entertaining, especially for young children. Ask the children to tell you a story. You can teach them how to tell a story by first telling a simple one. Then ask them to create one of their own.

  • Support them as they tell their stories and ask them to answer questions like “What happened at the beginning?” “What happens after?” and “What happened in the end?” [3]
  • If you are trying to entertain a few children, try playing a game where everyone tells a story. Form a circle and take turns continuing with what the last person said. If a child tends to get attention, try including a rule to limit each turn to one minute or one sentence to include everyone equally.
  • When children begin to learn to read and write, they can begin to write simple stories. Give them a piece of paper or a notebook to write.
  • Older children can begin to write their own stories to the length of a novel. At this stage, it may be a good idea to let them use a computer to write rather than write by hand. [4]

Play games to entertain children

Play sports and other outdoor activities

Play games to entertain children
Play games to entertain children

If you entertain kids with a lot of energy, they will likely prefer more intense activities like sports. If you don’t have a large yard, take a field trip to a local playground or park.

  • Keep kids busy, active, and sociable by signing them up for an organized sports team.
  • When they stay home, they can discharge their energy by dancing to fun music.
  • If you are entertaining a group of children, you can suggest playing tag or hide and seek. You can play a game of tag, but don’t play hide and seek unless other responsible adults are present. You must not lose sight of the children and if it is your turn to “search” you will have to do it. Instead, you can be the “referee” of the game to make sure everyone plays fair.
  • Take the kids on hiking trips and nature trails. Spending the weekend camping (even if only in your backyard ) is also a good option.
  • Cool off during the summer at the local public swimming pool.
  • All children, regardless of their energy level, should get some exercise and spend time outside to stay healthy. In general, children and adolescents should get at least one hour of physical activity a day.

Read Also: Effects of mobile phones and tablets on the brain

Have some board games or a deck of cards handy

entertain your children with card board games
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Board games are a traditional part of childhood and help entertain children. Also, at the same time, they teach them valuable life skills, like taking turns.

  • Simple card games like “Go Fishing!” are simple to explain even very young children.
  • You or the children may want to establish “house rules” in certain games that may not be in the rules manual. While it can be fun for most children, it can be frustrating for others.
  • Make sure the games are age-appropriate. A 10-year-old will likely get bored with Candy Land, while Risk will likely frustrate a kindergarten kid.
  • If you can’t buy board games, your local library may have some available. If you do borrow board games, make sure the children treat them well and avoid losing the pieces.

Play video games with your children but set limits

Play video games with your children
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While video games tend to get a bad rap with parents, they are a good way to entertain children when played in moderation.

  • Join multiplayer games.
  • Keep kids active on rainy days with video games that have a physical component.
  • Be sure to pay attention to game scores and content warnings. Video games are like movies, not all of them are suitable for children. It’s generally best to stick with games that are rated for everyone, especially those made specifically for kids.
  • Studies have shown that playing video games for up to 1 hour a day is beneficial for children. However, there can be some negative effects when the daily playtime amounts to more than 3 hours. [5]

Read Also: How to prepare your child to stop playing video games

Tips to entertain children

  • Always ask first what the children want to do.
  • Sometimes it is fun to ask your child what the rules of the games are.
  • If you know what they like and what they don’t like, use this information to your advantage when inventing games.
  • Singing and playing music is another good way to entertain children.
  • You may want to let older children surf the internet. If so, make sure to keep your kids safe with parental controls and monitor their activity.
  • One simple way is to put yourself in the children’s shoes (it shouldn’t be too difficult.) Think about what kids can enjoy and choose safe and enjoyable activities.
  • Make sure to properly supervise children at all times.
  • Playing dress-up with clothes and makeup (sure) is another fun activity. Just make sure the kids wear clothes that you don’t mind ruining.
  • Maintain a stable level of authority if you are the only adult in the group. Have fun, but if you let them get away with it, they are less likely to respect you when it matters.
  • While too much screen time has been linked to issues like childhood obesity and behavior problems, you may want to let kids enjoy TV and movies in moderation. Limit this activity to 2 hours a day or less. [6] [7]

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