What to do During School Holidays- Toys and Games Edition
School holidays are approaching and by the end of this month, your kids will be at home and you will have to find ways to keep up with their energy. While there are a lot of fun activities one can engage in, it is not always possible to go out. Furthermore, you can’t have some outdoor activity planned for their school holidays every day. At such times, toys can be really helpful. Get your child a couple of toys that will not just keep them physically engaged but will also keep their brains busy. Keep reading if you’re still not sure what sort of toys can engage your kids the most.
Outdoor Play Equipment
If you are blessed with a backyard, then outdoor play equipment is the solution to all the “I’m bored!” complaints during your child’s school holidays. There are so many things that you can install in your backyard. From cubby houses to complete play sets that include slides and swings.
Cubby Houses and Picnic Tables
The one thing that most kids want to do is to be like their parents. You’ll often see your child wanting to try on your clothes, makeup or dad’s aftershave. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that your child would love a house of their own without the hassle of a lease and mortgage of course! We have come a long way from doll’s houses. Cubby houses are big enough to accommodate 3-6-year-olds. They are designed to look like those perfect picket fence houses with a slanting roof, a door, and a window with the house being big enough to accommodate your little one. Imagine installing an entire kitchen set inside the cubby house and creating the perfect space for your child.
However, you can always go for a more elevated design that has stairs and slides attached to the house making the experience a lot more fun. Additionally, you can also have a kid’s picnic table installed along with the cubby house. This will give your child the feeling of having their own living and dining area. These picnic tables can be used for dining, arts and crafts and games. It provides extra space for your child and their friends to sit and have fun. Get your child the classic bench, table and umbrella set or a more colourful picnic table.
Playsets
Remember as a kid, you would be aching to go into the jungle gym at the playground? It almost feels like an adventure going through different types of swings, slides, crawl spaces and a lot more. You can provide your child with all that fun by installing a playset in your backyard. These playsets are smaller versions of the playsets you would see in big playgrounds. You can go for simple designs with just a swing and slide or you can go for something a bit more complicated.
Some playsets include climbing cubes or hoops.
Monkey bars
Want to train the junior to have some upper body strength? It is always better to start early. Monkey bars are a great way to keep your child active and get them to do some strength training in the process. There are different types of monkey bars and they can be divided on the basis of age and level of difficulty. If your child is training to be a gymnast, you might need something that caters to those exercises. However, if you are just looking for a monkey bar so your child can have some fun there are multiple options that are all about having fun.
Trampoline
A great way to keep your kids occupied during school holidays is with the help of a trampoline. Trampolines have multiple health benefits as they keep your body active, improve your overall balance and just keep the body in check. It’s a fun way to ensure that your child is getting enough exercise. Honestly, if the trampoline is big enough then you can consider jumping around as well as it is supposed to be an excellent stress reliever.
Outdoor Sports and Games
Basketball, lawn bowling, and archery are all things that can be easily played in your backyard. Install a basketball net in your driveway, if your child is training to get into the school’s basketball team. Even if they are not going to be playing for a team it is a fun outdoor sport that allows you to play with your child too. The same goes for lawn bowling and archery. Archery sets for kids are safe to play around with and can be quite fun. If these games are not your cup of tea, then go for something fun like a pogo stick or a kite. Kite flying requires some skill and should always be done under supervision but it is a fun activity that both the parent and child can enjoy.
Activity Toys
As the name suggests these toys are meant to make your kid engage in physical or mental activities. While a lot of activity toys are focused on brain development for toddlers, there are other toys that are just meant for having fun.
Musical Instrument Toys
Yes, these are musical instruments but in toy form. Music training can start from a very young age if you make it fun. Toy music sets are a great way to get your child to spend some time learning something new by experimenting with these musical instruments. Electronic Keyboards, drum sets and electronic guitars are a great way to keep your child busy. They won’t even realise how much they have learnt while trying to have fun with a toy musical instrument.
Battle Toys and Blasters
Speaking of fun activities, battle toys and blasters are an excellent choice. While you’ll have to keep an eye on the kids if they are playing with nerf guns inside the house, it will still keep them busy. We would recommend getting your kids to play with these toys outdoors if you want to keep your precious glass decorations intact. Nerf and dart guns are super fun to play with however, they can hurt so some level of caution is required when playing with these. If you want your child to continue their activities indoors, then simply get them an indoor archery set or a tiny pool table.
Ride-on Toys
Another activity that your kids will absolutely adore is riding their own car. Electric ride-on cars are a great way to get your kid outdoors and feel like an adult. However, we recommend this activity to be done under supervision especially if you’re taking your child anywhere near a road or even a park. These electric ride-on toys are basically normal cars transformed into kid-sized vehicles.
Indoor Play Equipment
There are many reasons why you would need to buy your child toys that they can play with indoors. However, being indoors doesn’t mean things have to be uninteresting. Puzzles, arts and crafts, board games, skills and educational toys can all be enjoyed indoors.
Puzzles, Board and Card Games
At some point in our lives, we have all played a board or a card game at home. These games allow us to put our brains to use and also give us the opportunity to enjoy a fun activity with family and friends. While card games like the Disney Marvel Trivia are often meant for kids older than 10 years old, board games can often be enjoyed by children from the age of approximately 6.
The one good thing about indoor games is that they can teach you a lot. If not have great problem-solving skills, they can definitely teach you how to be patient. Puzzles are a great way to keep your child busy for hours. Moreover, if it is a big puzzle, for example, a 1000 piece puzzle, then your child can easily spend an entire afternoon and maybe even the evening trying to piece it all together.
Educational Toys
From tiny toddlers to kids in their pre-teens and teenagers, there is always something to learn. Educational toys are a great way to keep your child’s mind occupied with something useful. Skill learning toys are great for little kids who are trying to learn basic skills like telling the time. For those curious minds, you can get them science kits and engineering toys. These allow kids to put their minds to the test and create something on their own at home.
Robotics and engineering toys come with all the necessary equipment to create a working robot or a car. It’s a great way to train your children into building something so intricate. If your child enjoys such intricate activities then you should consider getting them a robotics kit or any DIY kit.
Arcade at Home
If you have an extra room at home, consider turning it into a game room. The best part about having a game room for your kids is that it will definitely keep them busy during school holidays. You can get games that require a bit of skill for older children. Darts and foosball are games that require skill and patience. They are great games to improve your children’s concentration level.
Lastly, if you have a room dedicated to games then you can always create the perfect gaming room for all video game enthusiasts. The right furniture, gaming consoles, decor and games will be enough to keep your child and even you busy during your free time.
