Got Kids? Keep ‘Em Busy!
Quarantine got you stir-crazy? Your summer plans may have been turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean vacation has to be mind-numbing! Whether you have crafty kiddos, active youngsters or homebodies, the Downtown New West BIA is here to keep you and your kids busy all summer long!
If your family is the busy type, it can be hard to maintain your normal pace during quarantine. Try joining a virtual group through Family Place, host an online playdate for your kiddos, or have a physically-distant backyard barbecue with your neighbours over the fence! Enjoy the family time (and the alone time) and don’t be afraid to let your kids get bored – it sparks creativity which encourages growth!
Your kids may be homebodies, which is just as great! This allows your children to explore where boredom leads them and presents learning opportunities. Whether they choose to build at-home flower arrangements with stems from Bunches & Blooms, learn a new game from Rain City Games or plant new sprouts in the garden, they can have fun without leaving the house. Maybe you can even offer up your acting skills to perform in a kid-directed home movie or start a family band with materials you have in the house! Record your performances and tag us @downtownnewwest.
It can also be daunting to keep active children busy during a summer where socialising looks so different. Good news – The Stage New West is hosting COVID-conscious summer programs! If it feels too soon to send them back to camp, you could make an exception and let them build a fort in the living room! More affordable options include online dance or yoga classes, setting up a scavenger hunt or teaching your kids a new sport (and maybe you can finally teach your spouse to play frisbee)!
Lastly, learning is not limited to the classroom! Create an environment where your kids feel comfortable asking questions, and explain things as they come up in your daily lives to help build trust and facilitate learning. Use this time to connect with your kiddos and get to know them as people – it’s not often we have this much time on our hands.
COVID-19 doesn’t have to make your summer boring. Keep an open mind and follow us @downtownnewwest for the latest to-dos in New West!
Read more:
New West Craft is Back!
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