Let’s face it – weekends with the family can be really hard to plan. At times, all you want to do is to stay home and not deal with the bustling outdoor crowd. However, when your kids are stuck at home, the hours can seem to drag on. To overcome this issue, think of fun things you can do at home. You can even take things one step further by creating do-it-yourself (DIY) activities.
Benefits of DIY Projects for Kids
Did you know that DIY projects can offer many cognitive and health benefits for your children? Research has shown that even at the lowest skill level, 45 minutes of doing art decreases stress levels significantly. Furthermore, it enhances hand-eye coordination and improves motor skills. Some of the other benefits include:
- Cultivating problem-solving skills
- Encouraging self-expression
- Building better confidence
- Improving physical dexterity
- Fostering more creativity
Children who engage in such DIY projects also tend to be happier and can focus much better. Additionally, you’ll experience deeper bonding with them.
Not sure what to do this weekend with your kids? In this blog, we share some hands-on activities you can do as a family.
Cooking Projects
It’s time to bust out the baking pan! Cooking is an important skill which is needed to become independent adults. When you bake with your kids, there are many opportunities for them to participate in certain tasks – such as pouring the milk, mixing the batter, and of course, eating.
One of the easiest recipes is chocolate chip cookies, and it’s also a crowd favourite with the little ones. All you need are a few simple ingredients: flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and chocolate chips. There are many recipes available online, so pick one that suits your family’s dietary needs, and get your little helpers to chip in! Toddlers can do simple things such as mixing the batter, while older children can even help operate the oven.
Apart from baking, there are also other simple cooking recipes such as making a pancake or omelette.
Science Projects
If you’re looking for activities that will provide brain training for your kids, science projects often work well. They also instill a sense of curiosity and wonder in them. So, let’s build a lava lamp. Through this cool DIY project, your kid can learn all about the density and polarity of the substances within. They can even keep the lamp at their bedside table and be mesmerised by the colourful weightless blobs.
All you need is an empty transparent bottle, some clear baby oil, water, food colouring and Alka-Seltzer tablets. Mix everything and see the mixture dance around like a party. The effervescent Alka-Seltzer tablets are what makes the lava lamp active, so let your kid watch in wonder as you drop one in the bottle. You can also replace water with tonic water, which contains quinine. It’s a queer liquid which shines an alien blue when blue light is shone on it.
If you don’t want to have to get specific materials for a lava lamp, how about something you can make from common household supplies? Homemade slime is a fun and interesting activity which your kid will enjoy, and it’s made with these simple ingredients: Elmer’s White Glue, baking soda, water, shaving cream and contact lens solution. Do note that the contact lens solution should contain boric acid and sodium borate, as these will transform the water mixture into a slimey one.
Home Redecorating ProjectsÂ
Engaging your kids with home revamping or interior decorating helps them feel a sense of ownership. They will also take pride in their own unique piece of work. When it comes to redecorating the home, the world is your oyster. You can let them repaint the room with low-VOC or zero-VOC paint, which is safe for children – or even the bed frame! Or how about converting one wall to a drawing space by pasting chalkboard paper on it?Â
Of course, it’s best to start with a room that is simple and not cluttered, or this may make things even more messy. Home redecorating need not be a massive renovation project. At Palette Box, you’ll find a wide variety of minimalist furniture and accessories which allow room for imagination to grow. For example, the loft beds in our Manis-H collection come in different configurations which can be tweaked to individual needs. You can also add some play curtains to inject personality, or bed pockets for your kids to store little knick-knacks.
Spend Time With Your Kids at Home
There are many things you can do this weekend with your kids, right at the comfort of your home. If you find yourself stocking up on DIY supplies and have no space left to store them, consider additional storage to stay organised. All our products are manufactured with young children in mind – so no harmful chemicals, and only the highest quality materials are used. We also offer free delivery with a low minimum spend.
Spending time with your child at home can help you form meaningful connections with one another, and in doing so, create a lasting impact on your child as he or she grows into a confident adult in the future.