This year has been a difficult one for all of us, but not more than our children. When the pandemic began in March and we were forced to lockdown at home, our children were left without the ability to play with their friends and socially interact.
Six months on and life is still not back to normal; but it is important for us as parents to do as much as we can to make life feel more normal and exciting. Today we are going to take a look at how we can make home life happier for the kids as well as ensure they stay healthy through winter.
Get moving
One of the best things you can do for your kids this winter is get them up and moving. Keeping the kids healthy and fit during winter can be more difficult as the days are colder, but being inside is not an excuse for no exercise! One great way to get the kids moving this winter at home is to complete home workouts through YouTube. P.E with Joe is a great example of this and there are plenty of dance workouts and fun ways to get the kids moving for 30 minutes a day.
Limit technology
Technology is great for many things, but our children shouldn’t be relying on it all the time for entertainment. If your child is glued to their screens for hours on end every day it can lead to a lot of health issues like bad posture, eyesight problems and children & hearing loss can become a large problem. Limit your child to an hour of screen time a day where possible and keep them occupied with other activities such as art, learning, and play.
Create and craft
Speaking of art… one amazing way to keep your kids occupied at home during winter is to get crafty. Now that Halloween is approaching and Christmas not long after that, it is a good opportunity to get the kids to make some decorations for the house. It can start as simple as paper chains for the walls, and move onto painting polystyrene pumpkins and even creating paper snowflakes for the windows. There are so many festive craft projects you can try with your kids each weekend in the run up to the festive season and it will keep them and you busy and distracted! Check out Pinterest for ideas on simple DIYs to do at home!
Make healthy meals
Healthy food is the best way to keep your children happy and healthy all year long. Whether your children will eat anything or they are fussy, healthy meals can be made for them by hiding vegetables in plain sight. For example, a pizza with a crust made from cauliflower and broccoli is an amazing way to give your child their five a day, and a tomato sauce with hidden vegetables blended into it is the ideal way to get them eating healthy every day. Use clever methods and fun recipes to give your child the vitamins and minerals they need for a strong immune system and bones this winter!
Have fun trying out these different ways to make your child happier and healthier at home this winter!
