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Let the Internet Help You Help Your Bored Kids with Some Educational Fun
written by guest author Jenny Wise
The internet, unfiltered, may not be the best parenting option to entertain a bored, cooped-up kid that is stuck inside due to bad weather. But as a tool in your hands, it can be useful in helping your child find activities that are both fun and educational. Cold or rainy days can be great fun if you know what you’re doing. Here are some tips.
Let them further their musical education
If, much to your chagrin, your child is banging or blowing away on their instrument of choice without a hint of skill - change that! A kid that is stuck inside with nothing to do can be easily entertained with some musicality. The internet is a great resource for not only online music training courses, but also for free sheet music, which will let them mix it up with fun, new songs from movies or current pop hits they love.
You may need to buy your child a musical instrument, of course. Many instruments, like the saxophone, have beginner-level models that are affordable and easier to learn on. Buying a used instrument is a good option, but make sure you have it looked at by a repair specialist before you buy.
Turn them loose on some games
Video games? Yes, video games. In the past, video games were either fun and vapid or educational and boring. These were the only options, save a few. Today’s online gaming world is filled with games that will both entertain and educate. National Geographic Kids, FunBrain, and BrainPOP are sites that feature dozens of free titles. Check out more kid-friendly, parent-approved websites to turn your kid loose on here.
Encourage exercise
How do you tire out a child that can’t go outside and burn it off? It’s a tough question for parents everywhere. You could just force all your household chores on them, but after doing that a few times it begins to feel like indentured servitude. You can find ways to let your kids burn off steam - with the help of the internet.
Check out one of these great YouTube dance channels for kids. Or, simply put on some music videos and let them figure it out for themselves - they’ll get it. YouTube is also full of free exercise videos for kids, and even more for adults (which is ok for older kids). Beyond that, the internet is a great resource for simple but beneficial exercise routines you can perform with your child. There’s no reason you should skip out on your fitness either, even if it’s nasty outside!
Let there be paint
Very few activities expand a child’s creativity, spacial awareness, and physical dexterity like drawing and painting - and the materials necessary for them to have hours upon hours of fun are relatively cheap and you can purchase them anywhere. Online, there are tons of outlines for you to print out and let your kid color, as well as digital drawing options if you want to hand your child a tablet.
Remember: the internet is a tool, not the solution. There are still plenty of educational, hands-on activities that are sure to keep your child happy and smart - a lot of which can be ordered to your home within days via Amazon or another online shopping option. You are the administrator of their activities. With the help of the internet, you can open up a world of learning and fun that was not available to struggling parents just a few years ago. Use it.
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