Educational Ways Moms Can Bond with Their Kids
Raising kids is an adventure. And it’s not fruitful to raise them like a checklist we need to perfect. Sometimes, the best way to parent responsible, intelligent, and family-oriented children is to give them the bonding time they need — and all the better if we bond educationally! Consider the following activities….
Book club with the kiddos
Countless research papers have already emphasized the importance of reading in a child’s learning development.
Finding a good book and reading it together over several days or weeks creates a peaceful and intimate zone where you and your child can bond.
Having a safe space where your child can express their thoughts invites openness and vulnerability, reinforcing your relationship.
Of course, the cognitive effects and vocabulary-enriching benefits of reading can never be understated.
Play with STEM toys together
Play is an integral aspect of children’s learning development, especially in the first five years. Through play, kids are able to explore, observe, experiment, and solve problems — all of which help them further understand how the world works and supports the development of social and emotional skills as you bond in play.
Playing with your child has its merits, as you may guide the playtime towards concepts you want them to learn. For example, children interested in exploring nature will find kids’ microscopes engaging and fun. And kids who have a passion for science might be interested in a solitaire game dedicated to notable women in tech.
Do theme crafts & experiments
The online world offers a vast resource of activities, experiments, and crafts that you can do with your child. Engaging in mind-boggling experiments expands their horizon and teaches them scientific concepts often not discussed in school.
On the other hand, arts and crafts help unleash their inner artists, and there is huge value in nurturing creativity.
Explore the great outdoors
People say nature is the best teacher because of its rich knowledge and the hidden wonders awaiting discovery.
A simple walk around the block or a hearty stroll in the park can be a great bonding experience with educational benefits.
When they engage their senses as they feel the chill breeze caress their skin and see leaves descend from the trees, your child begins to wonder. Naturally, this innocent wonderment leads to questions, and with every curious inquiry, people always hypothesize.
If there’s one principle I learned in raising adventurous kids, it’s that curious children will always seek answers. And there is no better education than instilling curiosity and the will to act on it.
Let your kids help out
Contrary to popular belief, kids do want to feel useful at home. Giving them responsibilities around the house makes them feel valued and boosts morale.
So the next time you’re in the kitchen, why not invite your child to be your sous chef of the day. Or give them simple, doable tasks like throwing out the trash, wiping the windows, or folding the laundry whenever you guys do your monthly general cleaning.
Aside from a fruitful bonding time, you teach them how to be responsible. And that’s an invaluable life skill.
Go on a road trip
The world is a collection of wondrous destinations that children haven’t even thought existed. Taking them to see landmarks or heritage parks helps widen their outlook and boosts curiosity even further.
Another meanigful experience would be to bring them to museums. Historical museums let them see the rich history of their heritage, while thought-inducing artifacts await in archeology or encyclopedic museums
As you fill their heads with unfamiliar knowledge, they grow to appreciate how much you value their education, and this builds rapport.
A li’l techno time isn’t bad
At the end of the day, technology was developed for our benefit. So a little exposure to techno outlets is not entirely evil.
You may solve some puzzles or engage in fun, stimulating games on your device. Watching educational TV shows or movies is not half bad either. Just make sure to keep them under their recommended screen time so they don’t overdo it.
Contributor: My name is Joel, and I’m a digital content creator for TheSTEMKids — a company that aims to inspire an insatiable learning curiosity among children through STEM toys. Feel free to drop by to explore future-shaping science gadgets! (Pro tip: they’d make awesome gifts for a child’s next special occasion!)
Tags: science gadgets, thestemkids