These Light-Hearted Activities Are Helping Our Children Develop Lifelong Skills
Written By: Ambreia Meadows - Fernandez
I used to feel overwhelmed by the long list of lessons I had to teach my children to prepare them for the world. Lately, however, I’ve realized that big lessons don’t have to happen in tedious or painful contexts. Play-based and interactive learning are valid ways to ensure our children can navigate life's big moments. When we engage our children through activities combining fun and education, they can better grasp complex concepts, like resilience, curiosity, and problem-solving, in a safe environment.
Read on for a few light-hearted activities we use to teach our children the skills they need to be prepared for life.
Build with them
We have a family science show. The process has taught us that following instructions and making something with your hands have invaluable input. We use craft boxes to promote executive functioning and patience and get the kids to practice doing hard things. Over the years, we’ve graduated from simple projects to those with more complex steps. Our favorite craft boxes are the ones that make toys with long-term value. Building things encourages them to problem-solve and use their creativity.
Wrestle with them.
At first, I didn't understand the value of roughhousing. But with time, I learned to see my husband's wrestling battles with the kids as a great way to teach them some important lessons. Their fight matches teach them critical thinking, the foundations of self-defense, and how to think quickly on their feet. Experts note that wrestling promotes many other important lessons, including boundaries, persistence, and having fun.
Quiz them.
My husband often asks the kids math trivia questions before they can have their favorite treats. It helps them practice the math exercises they do at school and trains them to get quick on their feet. But we don’t just do math games. We play board games, have them work on puzzles, and play uno to foster their strategic thinking, decision-making, and social skills. They learn how to take turns and be good sports (if you’re a sore loser, the game gets shut down!) They’re also learning teamwork and how to collaborate.
Grow with them.
Research shows that being in nature has countless benefits. Each year, we get the kids active in the garden. This teaches them that food comes from the ground and that it’s our job to be good stewards of the earth. Some of the most important lessons that gardening teaches kids are the responsibility and the importance of healthy food. Getting outside and learning about plants, insects, and bugs is right up their alley.
Share stories with them.
During family night, we take turns making decisions about what activities we’ll play. And occasionally, this includes a story. Giving our children a chance to show up as someone new and anticipate a script attached to the role brings countless benefits. They work on their communication, creativity, and imagination as they improvise in a story or role. Family time is a safe opportunity to practice speaking to an audience and holding the floor; this will help them in leadership, too.
Our children retain lessons better when they're cloaked in fun. We’re teaching the foundation and hopefully showing them that you can learn life lessons in the smallest moments.