Unplugged play, why?

In today's digital age, it's important for parents to prioritize screen-free activities and provide their children with meaningful and engaging experiences. Unplugged play not only promotes creativity, imagination, and social interaction but also allows for quality bonding time between parents and children. In this blog post, we'll explore a variety of screen-free activities that you can enjoy with your child, fostering their development while creating lasting memories.

Lets get to it: our top 8 activities

Outdoor Adventures:

Step outside and embrace the beauty of nature with your child. Take a hike, visit a local park, or go for a bike ride together. Engage in nature scavenger hunts, identify different plants and animals, or simply enjoy a picnic in the great outdoors. Outdoor activities not only promote physical exercise but also provide opportunities for your child to appreciate and connect with the natural world.

Arts and Crafts:

Unleash your child's creativity through arts and crafts. Set up a dedicated art station with various materials such as crayons, markers, paints, colored papers, and glue. Encourage your child to draw, paint, or make collages. Engaging in art activities enhances fine motor skills, stimulates imagination, and allows for self-expression. Display their artwork proudly to boost their confidence.

Pretend Play:

Encourage your child to engage in imaginative play. Create a dress-up box filled with costumes and accessories, transforming them into superheroes, princesses, or characters from their favorite books or movies. Build forts with blankets and pillows, turning the living room into a magical hideaway or a spaceship ready for an intergalactic adventure. Pretend play nurtures storytelling skills, social interaction, and problem-solving abilities.

Board Games and Puzzles:

Gather around the table for some good old-fashioned board game fun. Choose age-appropriate games that promote strategic thinking, decision-making, and teamwork. Puzzle-solving activities are excellent for cognitive development and critical thinking. Challenge your child with age-appropriate puzzles, from simple jigsaw puzzles to more complex brain teasers, fostering problem-solving skills while having a great time together.

Cooking and Baking:

Involve your child in the kitchen and embark on culinary adventures. Let them measure ingredients, stir mixtures, and decorate cookies or cupcakes. Cooking together not only teaches essential life skills but also enhances math, reading, and following instructions. Explore new recipes and cuisines, encouraging your child to try new flavours and textures while developing a love for cooking.

Storytime and Book Club:

Immerse your child in the world of books and stories. Set aside dedicated reading time, snuggling up together with a stack of books. Create a mini-book club where you both read the same book and discuss it afterward. Encourage your child to write their own stories or draw illustrations. Reading stimulates language development, imagination, and a lifelong love for literature.

Music and Dance:

Unleash your child's inner rock star or ballerina with music and dance activities. Sing together, play musical instruments, or create homemade instruments using household items. Explore different genres of music and encourage your child to express themselves through movement. Dancing and music promote coordination, rhythm, and self-expression while having a blast.

The gist

Unplugged play offers a multitude of benefits for your child's development and strengthens the parent-child bond. By incorporating these screen-free activities into your daily routine, you can create meaningful and engaging experiences that nurture creativity, imagination, and social skills. Embrace the joy of unplugged play and cherish the priceless moments you share with your child.

References:

• American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). "Media and Young Minds." Pediatrics, 138(5), e20162591.
• Diamond, A., & Ling, D. S. (2016). "Conclusions about interventions, programs, and approaches for improving executive functions that appear justified and those that, despite much hype, do not." Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 18, 34-48.
• Ginsburg, K. R., & the Committee on Communications, & the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. (2007). "The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds." Pediatrics, 119(1), 182-191.